Chapter Seven: Claiming the Challenge

“Recruitment notice from the Demon Bear Guild: seeking a warrior to descend to the second level of the underground lair and defeat the Flame Mouse. Requirements: possess at least one origin force or have internal energy at level three or above. Reward: all loot to be divided equally.”

“Recruitment notice from the Chosen of Bacchus: seeking a warrior to escort us to the third level of the underground lair to gather ingredients. Requirements: possess at least one origin force or internal energy at level five or above, able to ensure the safety of the three of us, prior experience as a bodyguard preferred. Reward: ten gold coins and two bottles of the famed wine ‘One Sip to Forget Sorrow.’”

…

At the entrance to the underground lair on the outskirts, there was a row of bulletin boards, each plastered with all sorts of recruitment notices.

Most of them were posted by adventurers.

The underground lair had existed for so long that no one could recall its history—only that it had appeared in Torrent City even earlier than the deities themselves.

There were seven levels in total, each filled with abundant ingredients and medicinal herbs, making it an ideal place for gathering.

Within the lair, all manner of ancient giant creatures dwelled—massive, fierce, and savage—making it both a paradise for adventurers and a graveyard where many warriors had met their end.

Each level was guarded by a formidable gatekeeper, either the leader of the giant beasts residing there or a mutated creature, but without exception, each was immensely powerful.

A tacit rule in Torrent City dictated that renowned experts and those whose internal energy had reached level ten or above were forbidden from entering levels one through five of the lair. Thus, the gatekeepers of those levels were still very much alive.

Levels one through five belonged to young adventurers; only the sixth and seventh levels were the domain of the most famous experts.

Yet, up to now, the gatekeepers of all seven levels remained undefeated, while the grass on many adventurers’ graves had grown two feet high.

Everyone knew that the city’s acknowledged top expert, Hidden Dragon, once entered the sixth level with Zhi Yu, the Chosen of the Sixth Divine Temple, and Farmer Guang, the Chosen of the Thunder Temple.

In the end, Zhi Yu returned severely wounded, Hidden Dragon crawled out, and Farmer Guang was carried out on a stretcher—his title “Hammer God” mocked and twisted into “Blowhard God.”

Ye Ran arrived at dusk, finally stopping before the third bulletin board.

“Tiding Academy Adventure Team Recruitment: seeking a porter to enter the fourth level of the underground lair. Requirements: courage, must sign a death waiver. Reward: twenty gold coins.”

This announcement, posted on the third bulletin board, attracted many who were drawn by the promise of twenty gold coins. However, upon seeing the requirement to sign a death waiver, they all shook their heads and walked away.

In Torrent City, a porter’s life was worth little. If an adventurer died in the lair, the team would have to pay heavy compensation, and in serious cases, be taken away by the constabulary.

But once a porter signed a death waiver, death meant just that—death. In the lair, their bodies were often not even recovered, with no compensation, no grave, and not even anyone to collect the remains.

And for those recruitment posts requiring a signed waiver, the porter's fate was… usually death.

A ninety-five percent mortality rate—that was the statistic published by the constabulary for those who had signed death waivers.

Twenty gold coins was a tempting sum for the city’s dwarves, goblins, and destitute poor, but when their lives were at stake, even they hesitated.

The fourth level of the underground lair—giant spider monsters, gatekeeper: the Mutant Spider King.

The reward: twenty gold coins. With that, Ye Ran could finally afford the tuition for Maple Leaf Academy.

Ye Ran only hesitated briefly before accepting the job, drawing astonished looks from the dwarves and goblins nearby.

To their eyes, his back as he walked toward the waiting area was no different from that of a dead man.

The third bulletin board corresponded to the third area of the waiting zone. Ye Ran, familiar with the place, made his way there with ease.

Beneath a makeshift canopy, a young man with a head of golden hair sat at a long table.

A sign on the table read: “Tiding Academy Adventure Team.”

He sighed. “Such a dangerous task—no one is daring enough to come. It’s been posted for three days.”

He rubbed his sore arm, numb from propping his chin up for so long, and opened his mouth for a yawn just as he caught sight of Ye Ran in his white shirt, holding the notice and looking straight at him.

He was taken aback. Had someone truly come, unafraid of death?

“Did you post this?” Ye Ran walked up and placed the notice on the table.

The blond youth snapped out of his daze. “Yes—haha, yes, I did.”

“I’m accepting it. Ye Ran.”

“Hello, I’m Mars,” the youth replied, a bit excited, reaching out his hand.

Ye Ran shook his hand perfunctorily. “The notice isn’t very clear, especially regarding why you want to enter the fourth level.”

Mars smiled awkwardly. “Ah, well, my fe—classmate needs a two-color mushroom from the fourth level for her experiment. It’s too dangerous for her to go alone, so I have to accompany her.”

He looked Ye Ran up and down. “Ye Ran, if you’ll forgive me, you don’t seem… very strong.”

“Oh, really?” Ye Ran picked up the short sword lying on the table, drew it, and gave it a gentle squeeze… but it didn’t break.

Mars almost laughed. “This sword is forged from pure steel; most people—”

“Hmph.”

A crisp snap rang out as Ye Ran brought his four fingers together and sliced down. The short sword broke instantly. Mars, who was about to smooth things over with a quip, was left speechless.

This man… was very strong, with impressive skill, yet his true abilities remained unclear. Did he possess origin force? What level was his internal energy?

Still, the display was formidable; even among the upper classes at Tiding Academy, few could so effortlessly cut through a pure steel sword.

“The sword’s not bad—just a bit lacking in flexibility. So, have I passed?” Ye Ran rubbed his slightly sore palm.

“You’ve passed, you’ve passed, absolutely!” Mars nodded vigorously.

No question about it—hiring such an expert for twenty gold coins was a bargain compared to the clumsy dwarves or the unimpressive goblins.

Especially since this adventure would be extremely dangerous…

Ye Ran glanced around. “Is it just you and your classmate?”

Mars chuckled. “Not at all. I’ve invited a very skilled friend as well. With you, this expedition is sure to go smoothly.”

“They’ll arrive before seven tonight. Let me take you for some food first—you’ll need your strength for the fight. Here are your twenty gold coins. Once you’ve signed the death waiver, they’re all yours.”

…