Outside the Three-Step Pagoda.
"Stop right there, junior. No one enters without permission."
The moment Mu Nianbing arrived, two senior students guarding the gate blocked his path.
"That's already been taken care of," he replied calmly.
Mu Nianbing handed over a certificate bearing Dean Xiao's official seal.
The two guards examined it carefully. When they confirmed it was genuine, their eyes widened in surprise.
A seven-day training permit? That was no ordinary privilege. Could this newcomer be related to Dean Xiao himself?
The brown-haired senior exhaled and said, "Everything checks out. Come with me."
Mu Nianbing nodded and followed him inside.
The entrance opened into a long, dim corridor that stretched toward a glowing platform.
"This is the Three-Step Pagoda," the senior explained. "The passage ends at the first floor. Remember—don't overestimate yourself."
After giving the brief warning, the senior turned and left.
Mu Nianbing immediately advanced down the passageway.
Before long, he saw a staircase floating in midair, leading upward to a circular platform—the first floor.
He ascended quickly. At first, it felt like an ordinary climb, but soon a dizzying pressure pressed down on him. His Ice Element energy began draining slowly, though not alarmingly fast.
When he finally stepped onto the first platform, a powerful surge of elemental energy surrounded him.
"Twenty times the elemental density... With the Ice God's Protection and the Nebula Magic Tool assisting me, the cultivation efficiency here should be at least one hundred and twenty times higher."
He couldn't help but click his tongue in awe.
And this was only the first level.
The second level doubled the elemental concentration again—forty times. The third? Eighty.
If he reached the third level, a single day of cultivation here would equal an entire year of normal practice.
With such terrifying efficiency, not advancing would be nearly impossible.
Without wasting time, Mu Nianbing continued toward the second staircase.
The pressure on the way up increased sharply, but it was still within his limits.
"Forty times the elemental density..." he murmured, feeling the power coursing through him.
He didn't rush straight to the third floor. The Three-Step Pagoda had a known flaw—the longer one cultivated inside, the weaker the effect became over time.
Every holy cultivation site had similar diminishing returns.
If he climbed to the third floor too soon, the following days' efficiency might drop below that of the second.
So, he decided to stay on the second level for one full day before challenging the third.
Seven Days Later
Mu Nianbing emerged from the Three-Step Pagoda invigorated and refreshed.
In just seven days, he had advanced his Ice Element to Intermediate Level Three and his Summoning Element to Intermediate Level Two.
"The Ice Element's reached Intermediate Level Three," he said to himself. "Next step—earn money to buy the Galaxy Vein."
He suddenly thought of the Qingtian Hunting House. If he could collaborate with Lingling, the master-level young hunter, monster hunts would become far easier.
Of course, part of him simply wanted to meet that famous child prodigy in person.
Acting on his decision, Mu Nianbing hailed a taxi and gave the driver the destination.
Qingtian Hunting House was well known across Modu—just saying the name was enough for any driver to know the place.
When he arrived, he stood before what looked like an old teahouse.
He couldn't help but chuckle. "So this is the world-renowned Qingtian Hunting House? Doesn't look like much."
But he knew better. Remote, quiet places like this often hid extraordinary people.
And within this humble teahouse resided a Forbidden Curse Mage, a former Priest of the Holy City—the legendary Bao himself.
Pushing open the door, Mu Nianbing saw a little girl with twin ponytails perched on a high stool, her small legs swinging as she tapped on a keyboard.
"Tsk, tsk… three years of profit, five years of stability," he muttered to himself, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
Before he could say anything, the girl spoke in a flat, businesslike tone:
"Are you here for a commission? Minimum price is three hundred thousand. The final rate depends on difficulty. If not, turn left and leave."
Her bluntness made Mu Nianbing's mouth twitch.
Even though he was prepared for Lingling's attitude, hearing such ruthless words from such a cute little girl still caught him off guard.
"Hmm? Why are you still standing there?"
Lingling glanced up from her computer, noticing he hadn't left. Her sharp eyes sized him up.
But when she saw his composed demeanor and the faint magical aura surrounding him, she instantly became interested and hopped down from the stool.
"You must have a big commission, right?" she asked eagerly.
"Uh… what?"
Mu Nianbing blinked in confusion.
Her excitement vanished instantly. "Oh. Guess I was wrong. Thought you were rich."
Her gaze turned cold again, filled with open disdain.
Mu Nianbing resisted the urge to sigh. Great. Now I'm a walking ATM to her.
Sure, he had about twenty million in savings—but he wasn't here to spend it.
"I'm here for an interview," he said simply.
He had already registered as a hunter back in Bo City, though only as a Junior Hunter.
"Interview?"
Lingling tilted her head, eyeing him curiously. "You want to be a hunter? Does your family even agree with that?"
"...What?"
Mu Nianbing's expression darkened. Did he really need family approval for this?
If Old Man Bao weren't sitting inside, he might've given this cheeky little girl a piece of his mind.
No wonder she has no friends, he thought. Though with that genius-level IQ, she probably can't stand ordinary kids anyway.
"Main Element: Ice. Secondary Element: Summoning," Mu Nianbing said evenly. "I've just broken through to Intermediate Level Three in Ice. Is that sufficient?"
Lingling's eyes widened. The contempt vanished instantly, replaced with intrigue.
"Intermediate Level Three? Hmph. That's… barely acceptable," she said, though her tone softened. "But joining us depends on whether Grandpa approves."
She studied him closely.
If Mu Nianbing really joined, he'd make a great partner—still young, already powerful, and with clear potential to reach the Advanced Level. That meant more dangerous (and higher-paying) commissions.
Just then, a deep, aged voice came from the inner room.
"If you want to join, prove it with a mission first."
Mu Nianbing turned toward the sound. As expected, Old Man Bao was sitting inside.
From the moment Mu Nianbing entered the building, the old hunter must have already sensed his cultivation level.
"Grandpa, this guy's just a junior hunter. Too green," Lingling complained.
"That's perfect," Bao replied calmly. "You'll team up with him."
Lingling blinked, stunned.
Bao's tone left no room for argument. He could see what others couldn't—Mu Nianbing was no ordinary hunter.
There would be no danger in pairing him with Lingling. In fact, it might be exactly what she needed.