The Beginning of Glory

The Beginning of Glory

"Did you hear? A second-year senior got an item on the 30th floor of the World Tower last week. After coming out, she sold it for several hundred Points!"

Several pretty young girls walked along a lush, tree-lined path within The Academy, chatting as they carried their books.

"Really? ...Honestly, I'm kind of jealous! Several hundred Points—my monthly allowance is only five hundred."

"She's amazing. She made it to the 30th floor while still in her second year!"

"Hmph, amazing my ass! Everyone knows she only got there because of her boyfriend from the physical combat department. With a master who's cleared a hundred floors leading her, even a dog could make it to the 30th floor!"

"Amazing guys who can clear a hundred floors before graduation are practically hot property. Isn't it a skill in itself that she managed to keep dating him?"

"Why are you all being so bitchy? If you ask me, relying on others is the most useless thing! When I'm in my second year, I'll personally charge up to the 30th floor!"

"Wow, Nannan is the best! You have to take me with you then, okay? I love being carried..."

"..."

No one knew when it had begun, but technology in the world had grown ever more advanced while resources became increasingly scarce.

Nor did anyone know when a seemingly ordinary tower had appeared in the world.

Everyone knew the tower had one thousand floors, yet from the outside, it clearly could not contain so many bizarre spaces.

The tower was called World.

Over the weekend, the world's largest First Consortium held an exceptionally grand and lavish celebration banquet at a mountaintop villa hotel in the south.

The guests included elites from every field and every corner of the world—not only celebrities, wealthy businessmen, and officials, but also authorities and experts from countless fields, along with Deans and instructors from major academies.

And the brightest central figure in the venue was none other than the main subject of this celebration: Wang Wen.

"Congratulations, Captain Wang. On the 699th floor of the World Tower, you've once again set a new record for humanity's highest climb."

"Wang Wen, your team has given us old folks quite a headache. We'll have to revise another batch of textbooks. The 699th floor... I can hardly imagine how you managed it."

"Professor Li has spoken for all of us! For decades, humanity was stuck at the 659th floor. Who would have thought you'd break through forty floors in one go? It's practically a miracle!"

"What do you mean, miracle? That's because Mr. Wang's strength is extraordinary! Mr. Wang, please forgive my boldness, but I have a proposal. This week, Tiansheng Group has prepared a modest banquet at our northern estate. We sincerely hope that you and your team members will honor us with your presence!"

"Haha, they're getting desperate. Tiansheng is so desperate that they're poaching people at someone else's celebration banquet."

"Watch your words. What poaching? We simply wish to befriend Mr. Wang!"

No matter their status, everyone present crowded toward the center, trying to strike up a conversation with that dazzling figure.

Even if all they could do was show their faces, shake his hand, raise a glass, or offer a word of congratulations, that was enough.

"Everyone." Wang Wen stood in the center of the crowd, impeccably dressed, a faint smile at the corners of his eyes. Raising his glass and looking around, he said, "Thank you for your support. Our team's achievements today would not have been possible without everyone's help. But please forgive me, I cannot accept any invitations. Next week, we will continue challenging the World Tower. Time is limited, and my teammates and I need to conserve our strength. My apologies, Tiansheng Group."

"Mr. Wang, what are you saying? I was the one who was presumptuous. Please focus on climbing the tower with peace of mind. Tiansheng Group's doors will always remain open, and we will patiently await your arrival!"

"Neither arrogant nor impatient, never stopping—well done, Wang Wen. If you have time in the future, you're welcome to return to The Academy and teach your juniors a few lessons."

Everyone raised their glasses, followed by another round of flattery and praise.

"Captain Wang! Captain Wang, look over here! Captain Wang, I'm your biggest fan!"

"Oh? Even a big star can turn into a fangirl?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't admire a great hero like Captain Wang?" A beautifully dressed woman with exquisite makeup squeezed into the center of the crowd without regard for her composure. She took out a large fluorescent marker and pleaded pitifully to Wang Wen, "Captain Wang, could you please give me an autograph?"

Wang Wen smiled, set down his wineglass, and took the pen. "I wouldn't dare call myself a hero. Where should I sign?"

"Ah, I forgot to bring my textbook! Then... here, on my chest!"

"..."

In the hotel's rear hall, a group of people laughed so hard they doubled over.

A skinny young man who looked somewhat dull-witted ate delicacies while gazing happily at the enormous screen. "The captain looks pretty handsome in formalwear."

A stunning beauty who looked like a fairy descended to earth stared at the celebrity on the screen, who was standing tall with her chest out, and snorted displeasedly. "Flirting shamelessly. No sense of decency."

Someone beside her immediately teased, "Could Xiao Yi be jealous?"

The girl called Xiao Yi raised a hand to inspect her nails, speaking unhurriedly. "Next time we encounter the upside-down mechanism on the 600th floor, I'll be the last one to help you solve it."

The entire room erupted into laughter again.

The person who had teased her went pale at once, repeatedly smiling apologetically, bowing, and begging Goddess Yi for mercy.

A few days later.

A new week began.

At the base of the tower, sparse groups of people emerged from the gates of light. Among the many anxious waiters around them, some wept with joy, some cried bitterly, some stood dazed in loss, and some convulsed before passing out.

At an estate in the north surrounding a vast natural lake, a middle-aged man in a soft, long robe sat lazily by the lake, fishing.

Many people stood respectfully around him. The moment he caught a fish he found satisfactory, someone would step forward to take it.

They would then race to a pool far away, slaughter and clean the fish, then run back and hand the prepared fish to the chefs.

The chefs, who had long been waiting in formation, skillfully divided the fish into portions and cooked each part according to the dish they were best at preparing.

Steamed, boiled, roasted, fried, and sliced raw.

Before long, small carts carrying little plates of different fish dishes were wheeled to the most convenient spot beside the middle-aged man.

The man continued fishing while casually picking up small plates and pouring their contents into his mouth.

If he liked the taste, he would nod, pick up his wineglass, and take a sip of the pale golden liquor. One of the chefs would then reveal a delighted expression.

If he disliked it, he would frown slightly and silently return the plate to the cart. One of the chefs would begin sweating profusely, their hands and feet trembling.

Finally came the raw fish. He took two bites, chewed them, then expressionlessly tossed the fish to the little black cat at his feet.

The little black cat ate happily.

But one chef's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

A capable-looking woman standing to the middle-aged man's left, beautiful and dressed in a shirt and a crisp pencil skirt, took out a tablet and made several notes before waving behind her.

Several burly men immediately approached and dragged away the chef who had prepared the raw fish, who had collapsed to the ground.

On ordinary afternoons, the middle-aged man would usually eat fish until he was full, then take a brief nap on a recliner prepared by the servants.

But today, contrary to usual, he did not take his afternoon rest. Instead, he remained seated, sipping wine and admiring the scenery.

As though waiting for something.

Only when the capable woman received a message from her subordinates did she approach him, lean down, and say, "Boss, they're out. Our Tower Climber successfully cleared the 700th floor."

"Good!" The middle-aged man, who had shown no emotion until then, slammed the armrest of his chair and burst into rare laughter. "Excellent!"

"Seven hundred floors! Tiansheng finally has a team that doesn't lose to Wang Wen's! The World Tower will no longer be dominated by the First Consortium alone!" He stood and hurried toward the estate. "Prepare the car. I'm going personally to welcome our great heroes!"

Regional Guard Headquarters.

"Sir, something terrible has happened!" Someone stumbled into the headquarters office. Before he could even straighten his hat, he reported in panic, "That big boss in the north who loves eating fish is dead!"

The officer behind the desk, his uniform immaculate, calmly pointed at him and criticized him with displeasure. "Why are you panicking? Calm down and explain. Which big boss who loves eating fish?"

The man swallowed. "The head of Tiansheng."

"Crash!"

The officer shot to his feet with a bang, his face full of disbelief. He stood there speechless for a long while before a single word burst from his throat. "Fuck?"

The man turned and shut the office door, blocking out the reckless onlookers outside who had poked their heads over after hearing the commotion.

When the officer behind him asked, "Have you found the murderer?" he turned back with helplessness on his face. "The murderer didn't run at all. He stayed right where he was, waiting for someone to come. I heard he even plans to take over the entire Tiansheng Group."

"How arrogant!" The officer slammed the desk. "Have you arrested him? I'll beat him to death myself!"

"We can't arrest him." The man shook his head with a bitter smile. "That man is a Tower Climber who cleared the 700th floor. Apparently, he was avenging his father. His father seems to have been a chef working for Tiansheng Group years ago..."

The officer had no mind to listen to anything else.

He slumped back into his chair and waved impatiently. "How many times have I said it? Is a Tower Climber's business something we can interfere with? How many floors? Seven hundred? That's fucking world number one! Get out, get out! Don't bother me with this kind of thing again."

The 900th floor of the World Tower.

"Captain! Retreat!"

"Captain, Xiao Yi is dead! On the second day after leaving the Reincarnation Illusory Realm, she avoided everyone and killed herself!"

"Boom!"

The 909th floor.

"We can't hold on! It's too hard!"

"Without Xiao Yi, the team lacks a mechanism master. We can't last much longer!"

"Boom!"

The 919th floor.

"Old Wang, I can't keep going. It hurts so much."

"You should go. Leave me behind."

"Boom!"

The 929th floor.

"Wang Wen, wake up! You have to be awake to leave the tower! Say something! Don't give up—open your eyes!"

"Where... Found it! Reincarnation, maximum twenty years... Activate!"

"Boom!"