Chapter 47: Practice Tower, Level 30!

Outside the Practice Tower, on the square.

A white teleportation beam flared to life, and countless eyes snapped toward it.

The light faded, and Zhao Yu’s disheveled figure stepped out from within the Practice Tower.

His meticulously styled hair was now a messy nest, his face smeared with soot and blood.

“Pant… pant…”

Zhao Yu gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.

Yet he still forced his body upright, straightening his spine with stubborn pride etched on his face.

Thirteenth level!

This was his final score.

Though he had stopped at the thirteenth level, he was utterly confident.

After all, in past exams, barely a handful of candidates had cleared the tenth level—let alone reached the thirteenth!

This result was enough to tower over all rivals, enough to become a legend of Jianghai City!

Zhao Yu scanned the crowd around him.

Seeing the dense sea of candidates on the square, his smile deepened.

“Hmph. Of course.”

“Looks like most got eliminated.”

At that moment,

Several of Zhao Yu’s lackeys scurried over.

“Zhao… Zhao Shao! You’re out!”

The lead lackey held a towel and water, but his expression was strangely uneasy.

“Hmm.”

Zhao Yu took a sip of water, frowning: “Why that face? Someone in your family die?”

He was furious.

His score was the peak of an S-rank genius.

Shouldn’t these fools be cheering, screaming “Zhao Shao is awesome!”?

Who the hell are they trying to impress with these funeral faces?

“N-no…”

The lackey wiped sweat from his brow, stammering:

“Zhao Shao, your score… is indeed impressive. Thirteen levels—by past standards, it would’ve been Top Graduate.”

“Enough!”

Zhao Yu hurled the water bottle down, glaring angrily at them:

“If you know it’s impressive, then why this reaction?”

“Do you think my score isn’t good enough? Or do you think someone in Jianghai City is stronger than me?”

“This…”

The lackeys exchanged uneasy glances.

Each shrank back, none daring to speak first.

Finally, the lead lackey ventured cautiously:

“Zhao… Zhao Shao, look at the leaderboard behind you…”

“What?”

Zhao Yu sneered, turning away dismissively:

“Look at my unmatched…”

“Second place?!”

In that instant, Zhao Yu froze.

He couldn’t comprehend—he wasn’t number one.

He couldn’t fathom how far behind he was from the top.

Most unbearable of all—the top scorer was Lin Mo, the aristocrat he’d always looked down upon!

“No… impossible…”

“This can’t be!”

Zhao Yu’s pupils shrank violently as he muttered:

“The system must have a bug. Wrong display? Or Lin Mo cheated!”

“Yes, Lin Mo definitely cheated!”

The nearby lackey crept closer, whispering:

“We’ve been watching for a long time—Young Master Lin… he’s insane. He just blasted straight through.”

“Shut up!”

Zhao Yu whirled around, eyes bloodshot. “Did I tell you to speak?!”

The lackey flinched, and no one dared utter another word.

Zhao Yu turned back, locking his gaze on Lin Mo at the top of the list.

Though he’d blurted out “cheating,” he knew deep down it was nearly impossible.

In this world, cheating carried the punishment of clan extermination.

Lin Tianhao wouldn’t dare.

Besides, with their wealth, they had no motive.

But he still couldn’t believe it—how could Lin Mo, that plain mage, be this strong?

As he pondered, another lackey couldn’t help asking:

“Zhao Shao, you think… Lin Mo might actually clear Level 30?”

“The historical record is only 27. If he clears it…”

Before he finished,

Zhao Yu sneered:

“Level 30? No one’s ever done it in all these years—what makes a plain mage think he can?”

“Do you think all those SSS-rank geniuses are fools?”

“Hmph.”

Zhao Yu straightened his disheveled collar and pointed toward two imposing stone lions outside the exam hall’s gate.

“If Lin Mo really clears Level 30, I, Zhao Yu, will swallow those two stone lions whole today!”

“No chewing—straight down!”

At these words, the crowd erupted in shock.

The lackeys exchanged glances, but to please their master, they shouted in approval:

“Zhao Shao is awesome!”

“Those stone lions? Lin Mo won’t get them!”

…

Inside the Practice Tower, Level Twenty-Nine.

A barren desert stretched before him, wind whipping sand grains that stung his face.

From Level Twenty-Six onward, the terrain was no longer uniform—it shifted wildly.

【Congratulations, candidate Lin Mo! Level Twenty-Nine cleared!】

【Time: 56 seconds!】

“Huh…”

Lin Mo brushed sand off his backside and sighed—rarely.

At his feet lay dozens of massive 【Desert Poison Scorpions】—lifeless.

These monsters had incredibly hard shells and could burrow to ambush—extremely tenacious.

“This is getting tough…”

Lin Mo stretched his stiff neck, eyeing the few cracked 【Earthflow Walls】 around him.

In this battle, he hadn’t even been able to stay seated.

To dodge the monsters’ attacks, he’d had to move constantly—even used 【Earth Submersion】 once.

“Tired. Destroy it. Just end it already.”

Lin Mo muttered wearily.

【‘Fireball’ loudly proclaimed: Awesome! This is combat! Those scorpions actually tanked two of my ‘Multiple Exploding Fireballs’!】

【‘Fireball’’s battle spirit surged: Only battles this intense can forge true Forbidden Spell mastery!】

【‘Earth Shield’ trembling: Brother, don’t say that… that was way too close! This place is insane—monsters are getting worse!】

【‘Earth Shield’ started backing out: Master, maybe we should just quit? Let’s go home? I miss my bed…】

【‘Fireball’ exploded in rage: Coward! You’re quitting at the door? I won’t be humiliated! We’re clearing it!】

【‘Earth Shield’ weakly protested: But… but the next level will be harder, what if…】

“Enough. Shut up.”

Lin Mo rubbed his temples and sighed helplessly:

“Since we’re here anyway, we’ve got to see the final level. I’ve got the priest buff—I can’t die.”

“Besides, Little Soil, didn’t you forget the combo technique we just mastered yesterday? Haven’t tested it in battle yet, have you?”

At these words, “Earth Shield Art” froze.

【“Earth Shield Art” suddenly enlightened: Right! That combo technique of mine and Brother’s! Looks incredibly tanky…】

【“Earth Shield Art” instantly perked up: With that turtle shell… wait, with that battle armor, what’s there to fear?】

【“Earth Shield Art” changed its tune faster than flipping a page: Master! I feel ready again! Let’s charge! We must clear it! Whoever doesn’t clear it is a bastard!】

【“Fireball Art” rolled its eyes: Hmph. A fickle coward.】

At that moment,

the teleportation countdown reached zero.

The surrounding space twisted and shifted.

Before Lin Mo appeared a vast, circular arena.

Towering stands rose into the clouds, empty yet echoing with the imagined roar of millions.

A chilling, deadly atmosphere surged toward him.

Trial Tower, Thirtieth Level!

The final level!

“Congratulations, candidate Lin Mo, you have reached the final level of the Trial Tower!”

“This level is the Ultimate Trial!”

“Monster level: 25. Monster count: 50. Boss: 1!”

“Good luck to you…”