Custom arrows couldn't be made quickly. Even without enchantment, they demanded masterful craftsmanship. It simply took time.

The first batch would be ready in a day.

Now, Zhang Luan would enter a Mage Tower as the Holy Son.

He’d schemed hard for this title just to access that place.

The Akamana Temple had sealed it off. Outsiders couldn’t enter. Forcing in meant death by traps.

Even the Force of Creation’s teleportation failed. A barrier blocked spatial powers. Only the main gate worked.

Without Holy Son status, entry would be extremely troublesome.

Since the Mage Tower stood outside the city, he rented a civilian Magic Conveyance. It sped through streets like a car from Azure Star—but fueled by magic. After twenty minutes, a colossal tower, three to four hundred meters tall, loomed ahead.

An army camped outside. They wore Acamana City knights’ standard armor. Clearly Temple personnel.

Paying a gold coin, Zhang Luan stepped out. Knights spotted him and immediately blocked his path.

"Halt! Who are you? Don’t you know outsiders aren’t allowed here? Leave now, or I won’t hold back."

Zhang Luan said nothing. He pulled out the Divine Scripture. The man’s pupils shrank instantly. He knelt, deeply respectful.

"My lord, may I ask your position?"

"I am Zhang Luan, the Temple’s Holy Son. Appointed yesterday. It’s normal you don’t recognize me."

His voice wasn’t loud, but carried clearly. All turned, eyes filled with admiration for the Holy Son.

Unlike the young Guardians inside the Temple, these outer knights felt no jealousy. Brainwashed through rigid training, they’d never betray Temple leaders. Or envy anyone.

If Zhang Luan ordered them to kill now, they wouldn’t hesitate.

He avoided interacting with these brainwashed knights. Stowing the Divine Scripture, he stated bluntly:

"I’m entering. Open the gate."

The knights saluted fervently.

"Yes! Honored to serve you. May the great Akamana God bless us!"

The Mage Tower’s gate creaked open. Zhang Luan walked in without pause. A pitch-black staircase led upward before him.

Summoning Stellar Flame to light the way, he climbed step by step.

Wood groaned underfoot with each creak. This ancient Mage Tower lacked magical upkeep. That it still stood was a miracle.

Taxidermied monster heads lined the stairs. Millennia had reduced them to bones. In the gloom, they looked deeply eerie.

Darkness grew heavier as he ascended. Zhang Luan intensified the Stellar Flame, brightening his surroundings. Finally, after an unknown time, he reached a platform. The system’s voice echoed in his mind.

[A-Rank Quest Triggered: {Ancient Mage’s Secret} Objective: Uncover the Mage Tower’s hidden secret. Reward: 1 Rare Magic Item]

Zhang Luan froze. He hadn’t expected a quest here—especially A-Rank. With his current strength, such a rating meant life-threatening danger.

Safely, he should retreat. But that wasn’t his style. Greater risks meant greater rewards. He’d come for something specific. Leaving now would be humiliating.

He pressed forward. The darkness shifted—thicker, alien. Stellar Flame’s light vanished as if absorbed. He stepped back. Sure enough, he couldn’t return.

Summoning the Azure Righteous Sword, he sent it ahead to scout. Feeling its position, he groped blindly onward.

A cold wind swept past. Zhang Luan grabbed something soft—but the sensation vanished instantly. The wind died.

Others might dismiss it as illusion. Zhang Luan knew he’d touched something real.

[???]

Tier: ???

Level: ???

Attributes: ???

Attack: ???

Defense: ???

Description: RUN!!!

This panel chilled him. For all stats to show ???, the entity had to be at least one tier above him. The red "EXTREME DANGER" warning confirmed its terrifying power.

He focused intensely. Stellar Flame coated his body. The Choice Coin gripped tight, ready for escape.

His Force of Creation teleportation couldn’t break free here. But the Choice Coin’s power came from Afan Yin—a divine-level being. This tower couldn’t contain her strength.

Treasure was worth seeking, but not at the cost of his life. When to run, he’d run.

The Azure Righteous Sword clanged against a wall. A fork appeared ahead. Zhang Luan tossed a gold coin, listened to its bounce, and chose the left path.

He trusted his luck.

Soon, he spotted a slightly open door. Soft light glowed beyond it. In the oppressive dark, it radiated hope.

He approached, hand on the Choice Coin to activate escape. He pushed the door wide.

Light flooded everywhere. No danger appeared.

Instead, Zhang Luan stared into a pink, girlish room.

He took deep breaths, stunned. After all that tension, the door opened to a room bursting with teddy bears???

Walls were covered in them—from fist-sized to three meters tall. He’d never seen so many varieties.

A small magic pot bubbled on a table. Uncracked eggs sat beside it. Someone clearly lived here.

The cold wind returned. A chill brushed Zhang Luan’s neck. Instinctively, he drew the Ends Bow and swung backward. A massive force blocked it mid-air.

"Hmm," a voice murmured. "You should knock before entering someone’s home."