Zeus, now rejuvenated from his breakthrough to three-star, began to systematically scour the thunderstorm area for anything of value.


    The concentrated thunder mana had nurtured thend, producing rare herbs, minerals, and other resources that would be invaluable for future cultivation or trade.


    Zeus moved swiftly, collecting Thunder Grass, Lightning Crystals, and the cores of the beasts he had in earlier. Each item he gathered held immense potential, either for strengthening his own abilities or for bartering within the Celestial Academy.


    With his spatial pouch filled to the brim, Zeus took onest look at the stormyndscape before turning to leave. The thunderstorm had served its purpose, and now it was time to return to the academy.


    Upon arriving back at the Celestial Academy, Zeus made his way to the mission center, where he approached the reporting officer toplete his assignments. The officer, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, nced up as Zeus approached.


    "I''vepleted the missions and brought back the designated items," Zeus said, his tone calm andposed as he presented the materials.


    The officer''s eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. His gaze lingered on the Lightning Grass, which emitted a soft, electric hum, and the perfectly preserved beast cores that seemed to pulse with life.


    "You finished all three three-star missions this quickly?" the officer asked, disbelief creeping into his voice as he looked up at Zeus.


    Zeus met the officer''s astonished gaze with a casual shrug, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It wasn''t really hard," he replied nonchntly, as if the task had been nothing more than a routine errand.


    The officer, still visibly impressed, nodded slowly as he picked up a piece of the Lightning Grass. The des of grass were smooth and radiated a faint, electric glow, sparking lightly under his touch. His eyes widened as he examined the pristine condition of the items, clearly marveling at their quality.


    "Incredible," he murmured, almost to himself, before looking up at Zeus with genuine admiration. "Thank you for your efficiency. These items will be invaluable to the academy," he said, his tone sincere and full of respect.


    As the officer meticulously recorded thepletion of the missions, noting each item with care, he handed Zeus a small pouch containing the corresponding points. Zeus took the pouch but hesitated, his mind already moving to the next challenge he had set for himself.


    "I have a question," Zeus began, his voice thoughtful. "How does one go about challenging one of the top 10 outer disciples?"


    The officer paused, his pen hovering over the parchment. He looked up, his expression shifting from admiration to seriousness.


    "To challenge a top 10 outer disciple, you need to be ranked high enough yourself," he exined. "Usually, only those within the top 50 can issue a formal challenge. Otherwise, it''s not allowed."


    Zeus frowned at this information, his brow furrowing as he mentally calcted the number of missions and points it would take to climb the ranks quickly. "That will take too long," he muttered, the frustration evident in his voice.


    Noticing the subtle shift in Zeus''s demeanor, the officer''s stern expression softened, and a knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.


    He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if to share a secret known only to a select few. "There is a shortcut, if you''re interested," he offered, his toneced with a hint of intrigue.


    Zeus''s curiosity was immediately piqued. He arched an eyebrow, his interest clearly captured. "A shortcut?" he repeated, his voice steady but eager. "Go on, tell me more."


    The officer straightened up, his fingers tapping lightly on the counter as he gauged Zeus''s reaction. "You can pay to challenge them directly," he exined, his eyes locking onto Zeus''s.


    "It costs 100 points for a single attempt. Not exactly cheap, but it allows you to bypass the usual ranking restrictions."


    Zeus''s eyebrow lifted higher, the surprise evident in his expression. "100 points? That''s a hefty price," he mused aloud, considering the amount. He knew he had umted a substantial sum frompleting the three-star missions, but the cost was still significant.


    The officer nodded in agreement, his face serious. "It''s no small amount," he admitted, "but that''s the cost of cutting through the ranks quickly. If you''re serious about challenging the top 10, it''s the most efficient way." He paused, studying Zeus''s reaction, before adding, "And sometimes, time is more valuable than points."


    Zeus weighed the officer''s words carefully, the thought of waiting and slowly climbing the ranks was far from appealing.


    He had the resources to elerate his progress, and the idea of a shortcut was too tempting to pass up. However, the thought of managing the challenge process himself felt tedious and time-consuming.


    "I''ll pay the 100 points," Zeus dered, his decision firm. "But I''d rather not bother with the arrangements. Can you handle it for me?" As he spoke, he reached into his pouch and pulled out five intermediate mana stones, their polished surfaces catching the light as he ced them on the counter with a soft clink. "These should cover any additional trouble."


    The officer''s eyes lit up at the sight of the mana stones. Intermediate mana stones were a rare and valuablemodity, and the offer was more than generous.


    He could hardly conceal his excitement as he eagerly nodded. "Absolutely, sir. I''ll take care of everything. Your challenge will be arranged in no time."


    Zeus watched the officer''s enthusiastic response with a satisfied smile. "Good. Let me know when it''s done."


    The officer nodded vigorously, already mentally calcting the steps he needed to take. "You''ll be the first to hear," he assured Zeus, pocketing the mana stones with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.


    With the matter settled, Zeus turned to leave, a sense of anticipation simmering beneath his calm exterior. The shortcut was indeed costly, but it would bring him closer to his goal much faster than the traditional route. Now, all that remained was to wait for the news and prepare for the uing battle, knowing that every move was bringing him closer to the power he sought.