Matthew slowly exhaled a long breath, which condensed into a white streak in the dim room, lingering for a long time.
An indescribable sense of comfort spread through his body like ripples.
First was the sharpening of his five senses.
The sound of air flowing in the enclosed stone room, previously so faint it was almost inaudible, was now clearly discernible, as if he could "hear" the trajectory of settling dust.
The pulse of light within the glowing stone of the wall lamp, though extremely weak, now appeared layered and distinct in his eyes.
His skin could keenly capture the slightest changes in the temperature and humidity of the air.
His sense of smell could even distinguish the different layers between the aged earthiness deep within the stone and the scent of his own sweat.
The entire world flooded into his perception in an unprecedentedly high-definition and rich manner.
Second was the transformation of his physique.
The breaking of the Silver Rank barrier brought not only a surge in energy but also a qualitative change in his life level.
He could clearly feel his bone density quietly increasing, emitting an extremely faint yet solid hum.
Under the infiltration of energy, his muscle fibers were reorganized and strengthened, with every bundle of tissue containing explosive power and endurance far exceeding the Black Iron Rank.
His body felt as if it had shed a layer of invisible, heavy shackles, becoming incredibly light while simultaneously settling into a sense of rock-like stability.
With every movement, his control over his own strength reached a new level of precision. With a slight thought, force could be instantly transmitted to his fingertips or toes, allowing him to exert or retract it at will.
Most core was the circulation of his life energy.
Within his dantian and meridians, the newborn life energy possessed a texture as condensed as silver liquid mercury, flowing silently yet powerfully.
They spontaneously circulated according to the trajectory of the White Snake Breathing Technique. With every cycle, they absorbed a meager but continuous supply of energy from the heavens and earth to replenish themselves, creating an endless cycle.
That feeling of being "full" and having a "steady stream" of energy dispelled all fatigue, bringing an extreme sense of vitality and peace.
It was as if a lamp that would never go out had been lit within his body, warmly and steadily illuminating his entire life system.
Matthew slowly opened his eyes, a flash of silver light passing through them before they returned to a deep, calm state.
He opened his palm and gently clenched his fist, the air in his palm emitting a tiny popping sound.
A faint glow of life energy, characteristic of a Silver Rank Class holder, flickered on the surface of his skin before vanishing as he withdrew his focus.
“The Silver Rank is truly extraordinary!”
“Another evolution of the life level!”
With these thoughts, a panel appeared before his eyes.
【Name: Matthew
Age: 16
Strength: 36.25 (+8), Agility: 32 (+8), Constitution: 28.25 (+8), Perception: 7.5, Spirit: 8.35
Equipment Slots: ...........................................
Skills: ................................................】
“All my attributes increased by eight points?!”
Seeing this, Matthew couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise. Feeling the full and surging life energy within him, a hint of astonishment rose in his heart.
“No wonder the feeling of this breakthrough was so intense... the increase is much larger than expected.”
He then felt a wave of confusion.
According to common sense and general knowledge, every breakthrough for a Class holder certainly brings an improvement, but the transformation from an ordinary person to the Black Iron Rank is usually the most significant, as it is the first fundamental leap in life level.
As for subsequent advancements, while they also increase strength, the perceived "leap" is usually not as revolutionary as reaching the Black Iron Rank.
The next revolutionary leap would be the breakthrough from the Silver Rank to the Gold Rank.
That is a crucial Heavenly Barrier, and the qualitative change it brings will far exceed the progress within the Silver Rank.
Yet he had merely advanced from the Brass Rank to the Silver Rank. Why was the growth of life energy and physical strengthening he felt so obvious, even faintly exceeding the scope of a conventional novice Silver Rank?
Matthew did not believe his talent or constitution was superior to others.
He carefully retraced the entire breakthrough process, repeatedly analyzing every detail in his mind.
Ultimately, all clues pointed to a single source—the goat demon crystal core he had swallowed to assist the breakthrough.
“I see...” Light dawned in his heart, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. “The crystal core of a Gold Rank magical beast's offspring is indeed extraordinary.”
The energy contained within this crystal core was not only pure and majestic, far exceeding ordinary magical beast cores, but its quality also seemed to carry a hint of the "height" and "potential" unique to a Gold Rank bloodline.
It was this high-quality energy supply that made up for the slight deficiencies in his life energy accumulation phase and acted as both a catalyst and an enhancer during this breakthrough, magnifying the results and making his foundation exceptionally stable.
Thinking of this, a faint, slightly lucky smile appeared on Matthew's lips.
“I didn't expect that forest trip, with its desperate counterattack and gains, would bring such a huge improvement to me now.”
An unexpected encounter and a precious trophy had become a crucial boost on his path of advancement.
The fortune and feedback involved were truly sentimental.
The residue of the breakthrough had not yet completely settled, and the surging life energy within his body was still circulating spontaneously, nourishing every inch of his transformed physique.
Matthew did not rush to stand up. Instead, he closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully sensing the trajectory of this newborn power rushing through his body, allowing his mind and body to gradually adapt to this brand-new level.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he slowly opened his eyes, completely emerging from his focused state.
A clear sense of emptiness came from his stomach, as if the recent transformation had consumed a huge amount of energy reserves.
His gaze swept toward the food prepared on the low table beside him—the plate of dried magical beast meat jerky and several rye biscuits.
Without hesitation, Matthew reached for the food and began to chew and swallow steadily, washing it down with fresh water.
The magical beast meat jerky was tough and chewy, quickly turning into a warm current that spread after entering his stomach. The rye biscuits were coarse and solid, providing a stable sense of satiety.
He ate focusedly and calmly, feeling the food turn into nourishment to replenish what was consumed after the breakthrough, echoing the endless life energy within him and further stabilizing his newly elevated realm.
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