Pulling back from Ai Tutu, I smiled warmly, noting her blushing cheeks. I hadn't planned starting things so soon, but if she wanted it, why not?
Seeing her blush deepen, I shifted to another pleasant topic:
"Before you dragged me into defining us, I was hunting you to show off something cool." Spotting interest spark in her eyes, I pulled the Three-Step Tower pass from my spatial ring—where I'd stashed it.
"Ta-da!" I held it out.
Ai Tutu took it, reading intently. Her brows climbed higher with each line, eyes brimming with shock.
"This is a Three-Step Tower pass! Over two years! How'd you score it?" Her golden eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Haggled it from Director Xiao for all the faculties' resources." I said proudly.
"Quite the deal for you. After all, thanks to your sugar mommy, you don't need resources, Mr. Legendary Gigolo." She grinned mischievously, sticking out her tongue.
"Legendary Gigolo!? God, who came up with that crap! Hope it doesn't stick." Though, officially pushing it at international uni comps might be hilarious.
"You don't know the best part yet." I hugged Ai Tutu again, foreheads touching. She blushed anew.
"Others I give it to can use it too. See where I'm going?" But no expected joy—just self-deprecation.
"Don't waste that on me. My talent's decent, but Dad predicts no higher than High-level without massive resources. Family elders even suggested skipping Galactic Veins for me." Her eyes reddened mid-explanation. The topic hurt, but she raised it to dissuade me. Such a silly goose. My silly goose.
"Tut u, don't worry. I've got a way to rocket you to High-level peak at top-genius speed. Just trust me and come to the Three-Step Tower with me. Gotta legitimize your fast cultivation jump somehow." I kissed her forehead.
"You're serious? Is that possible?" Ai Tutu's eyes widened in shock and genuine joy—no distrust. Felt great when your girl trusted you fully.
"Of course—in this deadly world, where death lurks everywhere, how could I leave my girl defenseless?" Smiling warmly, I offered my elbow. She squealed joyfully, grabbing it, and we headed for the Three-Step Tower.
Outside, the Three-Step Tower was a short silver-metal spire, seemingly solid metal. Glistening in the sun, you'd never guess it was centuries old.
At the two main-campus students guarding, I showed Director Xiao's pass.
If envy killed, we'd have died dozens of times over from those guards' stares. But it didn't stop them from letting us in.
Inside, the tower was cosmic void lit by tiny star-like glows. In the emptiness hung steps glowing soft gold, leading to tower levels.
"So beautiful!" Ai Tutu gasped in awe.
And I understand her. Even I, in my previous life, when I first came here, stood there with my mouth open for a couple of minutes. But now, I'm prepared and show Ai Tutu a cool, rugged poker face.
"Since you're at the peak of the Initial Level, you can break through to the Intermediate Tier even on the first floor of the tower. But I want to raise you even higher, so we need a good excuse." Focusing on Ai Tutu, I enveloped her in a protective field of the Spirit Element. Thinking a bit more, I scooped her up princess-style in my arms. It's more romantic that way, and most importantly, it uses less magic.
"This is..." My girl gaped in shock, feeling what element was enveloping her.
"Shhhh, I'll explain everything later. For now, get comfortable and stay quiet." Sealing her plump lips with my finger, I began ascending the steps hanging in the void.
The climb wasn't long on one hand. To reach the top, third level of the tower with my burden, it took me 15 minutes. But on the other hand, on normal steps, I could've gone much faster. In those 15 minutes, I spent almost my entire reserve of Spirit Element.
Setting Ai Tutu down on the platform that was the third level of the tower, meant for High Level mage cultivation, I removed her Spirit Element protection.
Still, on the platforms representing the tower's various levels, there was no spiritual pressure, unlike the steps. Otherwise, calm cultivation here would be impossible.
"Let's sit here for now and cultivate. I'll finish my cultivation before you, then prepare to raise yours. Got it?" Ai Tutu nodded quickly. She knew now wasn't the time for questions.
Sitting in the lotus position, I first cast on myself an Initial Level, fifth-step Time Element spell—Sixfold Acceleration. With it, my cultivation would take much less time.
This is actually a great way to save pass time. Two years seems like a lot, but I'm thrifty by nature—who knows when saved days might come in handy.
Diving into meditation, I felt the incredibly dense magic background around me. The third level of the tower boosted cultivation speed by 80 times, and with my pendant boosting it another three times, I could make several breakthroughs in this session.
Too bad that as the body adapts to the heavy magic flow, cultivation speed gradually drops. Otherwise, I wouldn't leave here until I hit the peak of High Level in all elements. But what can't be, can't be—no point dwelling on the sad stuff.
Entering my spiritual world, I first directed magical energy for a breakthrough in the Ice Element to the third step of Intermediate Tier, which went pretty smoothly. Especially in real-world time.
Stabilizing the breakthrough a bit, I redirected the magic flow to the Summoning Element, achieving a similar breakthrough to the third step of Intermediate Tier. After all, the Three-Step Tower is more useful for breakthroughs; filling steps to their peaks, I can do outside.
In the remaining time before my body fully adapted to the magic flow, I managed to raise the Spirit Element to the second step of Intermediate Tier. I chose it specifically so I wouldn't spend the whole reserve carrying TuTu up here in the future.
That wrapped up my stay in the Three-Step Tower for the next three months. Now I just need to wait for my body to fully reset its adaptation to the magic flow.
Opening my eyes and looking at Ai Tutu diligently cultivating a bit away from me, I realized it was time to start boosting her.