Uneventful

Having finished his meal, Matthew sat quietly and regulated his breathing for a moment.

His breathing became long and steady once more, and the cycle of his Silver Rank life energy flowed even more smoothly and naturally. The faint glow of energy could now be completely drawn inward with a simple thought, showing no outward sign at all.

Everything was in order; his state was perfect.

Only then did Matthew stand up and stretch his limbs, a crisp, powerful pop echoing from his joints. He changed into a spare set of clean clothes, gathered his used towels and other miscellaneous items, and walked to the heavy door of the stone room.

“Creak—”

The stone door was pushed open, and light from the corridor outside flooded in, blending with the dim glow inside the room.

Matthew stepped out and pulled the door shut behind him, sealing off the enclosed space that had witnessed his crucial breakthrough.

He walked through the corridor, his vision gradually growing clearer and brighter. Finally, he stepped into the main hall, where the light suddenly became brilliant.

Aidan was pacing anxiously, but the moment he saw Matthew appear, he quickly hurried over, his eyes eagerly scanning him up and down.

Before him, Matthew wore a clean set of ordinary cloth clothes. He showed none of the fatigue or physical decline that one might expect from a failed, violent breakthrough attempt.

On the contrary, his steps were steady, his breathing was deep, and his calm expression carried an inward, healthy glow.

If one looked closely, they might even notice an indescribable sense of “progress” beneath his usual calm demeanor. It was not an ostentatious, sharp edge, but rather a heavier, more solid presence that naturally flowed after his life level had risen. It was as if the foundation of a mountain had anchored itself even deeper—unnoticeable on the surface, yet possessing an innate weight.

After taking this in, Aidan first let out a sigh of relief. Then, his expression turned incredibly complex, a mix of awe, disbelief, and an irrepressible trace of excitement.

“Big Brother Matthew... you succeeded?!” His voice rose unconsciously, filled with obvious shock.

“A Silver Rank Class holder...”

He was astonished in his heart:

‘A Silver Rank before even turning eighteen! What kind of concept is that?!’

As far as he knew, even among the direct descendants of the great nobles in the inner city—who were born with mithril spoons in their mouths, showered with resources, and guided by famous masters—those who could step into the Silver Rank at this age were exceptionally rare, and every single one of them was nurtured as a future pillar.

As he thought about it, he couldn't help but smile. The anxiety born from waiting transformed into heartfelt excitement, even carrying a hint of proud self-satisfaction.

If he talked about this in the future, his big brother Matthew was a Silver Rank genius under the age of eighteen!

At the same time, a more intense flame quietly ignited deep within Aidan's eyes. Witnessing Big Brother Matthew's rapid progress with his own eyes, a strong sense of urgency and determination to catch up welled up in his heart—he had to work twice as hard!

Before they had set out, Instructor Calm's warning still rang in his ears: “If the gap between you and Matthew grows too wide, you will eventually be left behind, unable to keep up.”

Aidan had already engraved these words into his heart, using them to spur himself on at all times. Yet, witnessing Big Brother Matthew's logic-defying advancement speed and steady composure now, his heart was still filled with a myriad of emotions. He was both awed by his big brother's talent and foundation, and more deeply aware of how far the road ahead truly was.

That flame of desiring progress and refusing to fall behind was completely ignited at this moment, burning ever more intensely in his chest, forging an incredibly clear determination.

A voice interrupted Aidan's thoughts. He looked up to hear Matthew replying:

“Yes. There are too many eyes and ears here. Go back to the inn first, and we'll talk tonight.”

Matthew looked at Aidan's mixture of emotional sighing and excitement, his own expression not showing much variation.

Aidan's awe and praise were merely like a gentle breeze blowing across the water's surface to him, causing a few ripples before returning to absolute calm.

He knew very well that his path of advancement was not purely due to talent. Only he himself knew the hardships, calculations, opportunities, and even life-and-death crises involved.

The awe of others was merely them seeing the result, without necessarily understanding the process.

He nodded slightly, acknowledging Aidan's feelings, and said in a flat tone:

“Let's go.”

With that, he took the lead and walked toward the guild entrance.

Aidan quickly reined in his smile and hurried to keep up.

As they walked, Matthew's thoughts drifted away from his newly successful breakthrough. This advancement to the Silver Rank had brought a comprehensive upgrade—his Strength, Agility, and Constitution had surged, his life energy was as condensed as mercury and circulated endlessly, and his Perception had also become far more acute.

This leap in strength undoubtedly boosted his confidence. When facing potential dangers and the unknown, he now held many more cards in his hand.

The idea he had briefly set aside before surfaced once more: it was time to investigate that courtyard more deeply and obtain the treasure.

With his Silver Rank Perception and physical prowess, he should be able to gather information that was previously out of reach.

Impulsiveness was the devil.

A calm warning immediately echoed in Matthew's mind.

Having just broken through, the majestic life energy converted from the goat demon crystal core inside him had not been fully absorbed and integrated. A significant portion of it was still hidden deep within his limbs and bones, requiring time to be completely digested and stabilized, turning it into an unbreakable foundation.

Although acting rashly now would indeed mean a massive increase in strength, he was ultimately not in his perfect state. If he encountered an emergency that required his full effort, this incompletely digested energy might become an unpredictable variable.

There is no rush, he muttered to himself.

The joy and sense of power brought by the breakthrough were real, but his years of cautious habits made him prefer to plan before acting.

Digesting the remaining energy, fully adapting to his Silver Rank body and power, and adjusting his condition to its peak was the safest course of action.

He looked up at the sky and estimated the time.

“I still need at least half a day to stabilize.”

He pondered,

“Tomorrow morning, once the energy in my body has completely settled and my Perception is tuned to its best state, I will go investigate the courtyard. A single night's difference shouldn't bring any earth-shattering changes. There is plenty of time.”

Having made his decision, his mind grew even calmer.

He stopped thinking about the courtyard and shifted his focus inward. As he walked, he silently guided the vast life energy to flow slowly along its brand-new cycle path, accelerating the process of digestion and integration.

At a fork in the road, he instructed Aidan to return to the inn first, while he turned and headed toward a specific district in the inner city.

His steps were steady, but his speed was much faster than usual. The physical enhancement brought by the Silver Rank made his casual stroll highly efficient.

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