Kai and Nova raced up the staircase as the Beast Tower continued to shake.
Every few seconds, a powerful explosion echoed from outside.
The Shadow Cult's attack was becoming more violent.
Kai clenched his fists.
"I hope Principal Evelyn and the others can hold on."
Nova looked determined.
"They will."
"And we'll become stronger quickly so we can help them."
At last, they reached the Sixth Floor.
The moment they stepped inside, the surroundings transformed.
Instead of a battlefield or a valley, they found themselves in a quiet bamboo forest.
A clear stream flowed gently through the middle of the forest.
Birds sang peacefully.
The atmosphere was so calm that it felt completely disconnected from the war raging outside.
At the center of the forest sat an old man wearing simple gray robes.
He was fishing beside the stream.
Kai blinked.
"...Another fisherman?"
The old man chuckled without turning around.
"So you've already met that old fool."
Kai immediately thought of the Fishing Immortal.
"You know him?"
The old man nodded.
"We've argued for over three thousand years about who catches better fish."
Nova giggled.
"That's a very long competition."
The old man finally stood and smiled kindly.
"I am Master Shen, Guardian of the Sixth Floor."
Kai bowed respectfully.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Master Shen nodded.
"This floor tests wisdom."
"There will be no fighting."
Kai relaxed slightly.
"That's a relief."
The old man smiled mysteriously.
"Don't celebrate too early."
He waved his hand.
Three stone doors appeared before Kai.
Each door had a sentence carved into it.
The first read:
The Door of Absolute Strength
The second:
The Door of Endless Knowledge
The third:
The Door of Infinite Compassion
Master Shen spoke calmly.
"Only one door leads upward."
"The other two will trap you for one hundred years."
Nova's ears drooped.
"One hundred years?"
Kai studied the doors carefully.
His instincts told him the answer wasn't as simple as choosing the most noble option.
He activated Eye of Truth.
To his surprise...
Nothing appeared.
"The System can't help?"
[This trial cannot be analyzed.]
Kai smiled.
"So I really have to think."
He sat on the ground and closed his eyes.
"Master?"
Nova asked quietly.
"I'm thinking."
Several minutes passed.
Then Kai opened his eyes and looked at Master Shen.
"I don't choose any of them."
The old man raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Kai smiled.
"You said only one door leads upward."
"You never said I had to enter a door."
Master Shen laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
"Excellent!"
He struck the ground lightly with his fishing rod.
The three stone doors immediately disappeared.
A staircase emerged behind them.
Nova's tails wagged happily.
"Master figured it out!"
Master Shen nodded approvingly.
"Wisdom is not merely choosing the correct answer."
"It is questioning the question itself."
He walked toward Kai and handed him a jade scroll.
"I have nothing else to teach you."
Kai accepted it respectfully.
The scroll glowed before dissolving into countless points of light.
Skill Learned
Calm Mind
Rank: Legendary
Effect:
Immune to panic.
Greatly increases concentration.
Improves learning speed.
Kai smiled.
"This will be useful."
Master Shen's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Kai."
"There is something you must know."
Kai listened carefully.
"The hooded man leading the Shadow Cult..."
"...is not their true master."
Kai frowned.
"What?"
"The one attacking your academy..."
"...is merely the Shadow King's left hand."
Kai's heart sank.
"If someone that powerful isn't even the leader..."
Master Shen nodded slowly.
"The enemy you're destined to face..."
"...is far beyond your current imagination."
Nova looked at Kai.
"We'll still beat them."
Kai smiled and gently scratched behind her ears.
"Of course we will."
The old man chuckled.
"Your confidence reminds me of someone."
"The First Beast Sovereign?"
Master Shen nodded.
"He always smiled before impossible battles."
"He used to say..."
'If the world says something is impossible, then I'll simply create another possibility.'
Kai froze.
"...Create another possibility."
He looked at the All Encompassing System.
Then he smiled.
"That really sounds like him."
Master Shen stepped aside.
"The Seventh Guardian awaits."
"Be careful."
"He enjoys testing people's resolve."
Kai bowed once more.
"Thank you, Senior."
Together, Kai and Nova climbed the staircase toward the Seventh Floor.
As they disappeared from sight, Master Shen looked toward the heavens.
"My old friend..."
"The child is walking the same path you once did."
"I only hope..."
"...his ending will be different."
Meanwhile, outside the Beast Tower...
The battle had grown even more desperate.
Principal Evelyn's Ice Phoenix crashed into the ground, bleeding heavily.
Dozens of academy instructors had already fallen.
Lucas and Sophia fought side by side against a group of Shadow Cult members.
Despite their efforts, they were steadily being pushed back.
High above them, the hooded man raised another spear of darkness.
"This attack..."
"...will erase the Beast Tower forever."
He slowly pointed toward the tower.
"Die."
The enormous spear began to descend.