Running three rank 2 breathing techniques as passives, Jiang Lin felt his stamina and mental energy beginning to drain.
The effect of rank 2 breathing techniques was indeed significantly more powerful than rank 1.
He estimated the speed of gathering magic essence.
If he focused entirely, he could likely level up in five days.
Currently, both his physical and mental attributes were at 400,000, meeting the requirements for the peak of rank 2, which was equivalent to level 30 stats, so there were no physical restrictions.
This allowed him to level up at will.
As for the upper limit, based on past experience, he should be able to reach the peak of rank 3, which meant stats equivalent to level 40.
After reaching rank 3, the gap between each level was 50,000, so he estimated his maximum attribute value could reach 900,000.
He wondered if the God of Holy Light could help him reach his physical limit early this time.
He had asked Big Guy before; it seemed only during the first advancement quest could one directly reach max level, while subsequent levels required manual training.
Only in rare cases, upon receiving special missions, could one obtain rewards that directly boosted the body to the current rank limit.
It seemed his advancement speed might be slowed down.
Jiang Lin pondered while sensing the two breathing techniques running as passives in his body.
Compared to his previous efficiency, it was about three times faster.
This meant he could gain 3,000 attribute points per day.
That already exceeded the system's rewards.
It seemed the system's daily tasks were lagging behind his progress.
He would have to take it one step at a time for now.
Jiang Lin did not leave; he found a corner in the Temple Headquarters to sit cross-legged and practice.
At the same time, due to the drain on his stamina and mental energy, he took out the medicinal food he used to supplement energy back at rank 1 and began eating in large gulps.
Little Black, who had been following Jiang Lin, didn't know what to say seeing him return to that state from school.
Didn't he say he would relax for a few days?
Why did he start practicing after wandering for only one day?
He called this relaxing?
Outside the window, the lights of the Royal Capital flickered out one by one, with only the clock tower of the Temple Headquarters in the distance still glowing faintly.
Jiang Lin's level rose steadily.
The night passed quickly.
The next morning, Jiang Lin went to the Task Reward Department.
The doors were still tightly shut; they hadn't started work yet.
How lazy.
Thus, Jiang Lin continued his meditative breathing at the reward department's entrance.
Soon, someone arrived.
It was a staff member of the Task Reward Department.
He was surprised to see someone practicing at the door, but he quickly got to work.
After Jiang Lin showed his gold badge and explained his purpose, the middle-aged deacon took a file stamped with the Emerald City operation seal from the filing cabinet.
"Mr. Jiang Lin, this is the contribution assessment and reward list for your actions in Emerald City."
The deacon pushed the document forward, his tone respectful.
"Including the base mission reward, intelligence provision reward, frontline combat subsidy, and special contribution allowance... it totals fifty thousand gold coins."
"Additionally, you may choose one rare-quality piece of equipment or three superior-quality supplies from the temple warehouse."
Jiang Lin's hands trembled slightly at the news.
Fifty thousand gold coins...
He wouldn't have to worry about gold coins for a long time...
This massive sum was enough to support his cultivation and supply purchases for a long period.
After some thought, he chose a rare-quality biological storage space.
It had about twenty cubic meters of storage space inside.
It could hold living things.
For weapons, he already had the Eight Extremities Holy Sword.
As for armor, given his growth speed, it would quickly fail to keep up with his strength.
Besides, he didn't find any items that particularly caught his eye.
So, he picked a tool for Little Black that would allow it to hide when necessary.
After collecting the rewards, Jiang Lin sent farewell messages to Big Guy and Aria via the short-range communication crystal.
Both replied quickly.
Big Guy: "Safe travels! Next time you come to the Royal Capital, I'll treat you to another big feast."
Aria: "Remember to stay in touch with the communication crystal; you can come to me if you need alchemy tools."
Jiang Lin smiled, then headed toward the Royal Capital's Court of Space.
The streets grew crowded, and the calls of morning market vendors rose and fell.
He passed through the bustling commercial district and arrived at a building with a white dome.
This was the Court of Space of the Royal Capital, the long-distance teleportation hub connecting the kingdom's major cities.
Since he had twenty cubic meters of additional storage space, he exceeded the free limit.
Therefore, he had to pay an extra fee.
The principle was similar to checking luggage on a plane.
Since spatial items like spatial rings do not create a new spatial dimension but rather compress space into a very small area, these compressed spaces cause more consumption during teleportation.
Thus, spatial items exceeding a certain size required extra fees.
However, Jiang Lin was no longer short on money.
He generously paid the extra storage fee and stepped into the teleportation hall of the Court of Space.
People came and went in the hall, which smelled of the ozone characteristic of spatial magic as batches of travelers were sent off.
He found the teleportation array to Clearwater City and waited in line.
Stepping into the array, the familiar dizziness hit him again.
But compared to his previous long-distance teleports, this experience was much gentler.
Perhaps it was the adaptability brought by his increased strength, or perhaps it was just a contrast to the previous crude experiences.
The light faded, revealing the familiar sights of Clearwater City's Court of Space.
He left the teleportation array and ran directly toward Saint Brilliance Magic Academy without stopping.
There were few pedestrians on the streets in the early morning; Jiang Lin's pace was light as the three limit-broken breathing techniques inside him ran automatically, constantly absorbing magic essence from the world and converting energy from the medicinal food to replenish his drain.
He could clearly feel his physical foundation rising at a steady and considerable pace.
When he returned to Saint Brilliance Magic Academy, the gates were open, and the morning sun cast a tranquil and solemn light on the white stone steps.
Entering the campus, the teaching buildings were still quiet, though many diligent students were already exercising on the field or hurrying to the library with books.
With three days left before the start of the semester, Jiang Lin decided to let his teacher know he was back and report his safety.
Afterward, at worst, he would skip classes and devote himself entirely to cultivation.
With his mind made up, Jiang Lin headed toward the office of Vice Dean Keith, from whom he had originally requested leave.
Moments later, he left the building.
It was too early; he hadn't started work yet...
Thus, he chose to return to the dormitory.
The window was still open; it seemed Anya and Aili were still staying in his room.
Jiang Lin facepalmed.
He lived in a single room...
However, walking to the window, the scene inside the dorm was not what he expected.
Please tell me, why are there seven people in my single room?!!
Besides Anya and Aili, the others from Boulder City who had been admitted to Saint Brilliance were now in his room!
Naturally, these seven people were sitting cross-legged on the floor, each practicing their own cultivation.
They were Anya, Aili, Zach, the toxic healer duo, and the pervert duo!
Are they crazy?!!
Feeling someone looking at them resentfully from outside the window, the pervert leader Frederick opened his eyes.
"Hiss... who is this handsome guy?"
Hearing this, the other six opened their eyes.
Anya and Aili cried out in surprise: "Jiang Lin!"
Hearing the name, the other five stared wide-eyed.
Good grief, did Jiang Lin get plastic surgery?
How did he become so handsome?
Evidently, Anya and Aili had already told the other five about the change in Jiang Lin's appearance.
So, everyone quickly accepted this new setting.
"Jiang Lin is back! He's not dead!!"
"I knew it, Jiang Lin wouldn't die so easily."
"I told you, Jiang Lin couldn't be the 'Holy Son' of the secret cult; he's a paladin..."
"Do you even believe that yourself?"
"I feel like Jiang Lin escaped from the temple's encirclement..."
"Jiang Lin, tell us the truth, was that 'ascension ceremony' your doing?"
"..."
Hearing the noisy chattering in the room, Jiang Lin's face darkened.
What's that supposed to mean?
Do I look like the kind of person who would become a 'Holy Son' of a secret cult?
Besides, why are you all huddling in my dorm?
Then, Frederick said: "Old Jiang, don't just stand there, come on in. Don't be shy, make yourself at home."
Jiang Lin was speechless, and he skillfully flipped into his room and asked: "Why are so many of you in my dorm?"
Frederick replied: "Don't you think pulling an all-nighter together creates a better atmosphere?
"After the Junior Adventurer Exam ended, many of us felt we were slackers.
"But once we came to your room, especially seeing the bedding you hadn't touched for nearly a semester, it ignited a desire to strive within us!"
Hearing this, Jiang Lin fell silent.
After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out: "Fine."
Then, everyone began chattering with concern again: "So why did you go to Emerald City?"
"Did you know something big was going to happen there?"
"Are you hurt?"
"What exactly happened in Emerald City?"
"..."
Jiang Lin answered their questions one by one.
He told them what he could and said it was inconvenient to disclose what he couldn't.
Soon, the doubts in everyone's hearts were answered.
Looking at the seven people around him, Jiang Lin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"By the way, since news of the Emerald City incident broke, Vice Dean Keith has frequently come to your room to ask us about your situation," Frederick said.
Jiang Lin nodded, indicating he understood.
But he also noticed a key point: "Did the vice dean say anything when he saw you all?"
However, the response was a synchronized shake of seven heads.
Seeing this, Jiang Lin was silent for a moment.
Eventually, he accepted the reality.
It was just a single room becoming a multi-person dorm.
It would increase the cultivation atmosphere.
It's fine.
Having answered everyone's doubts, he resumed his cultivation.
The scene of a crowd practicing alongside him strangely reminded him of the good times at Radiant Junior Magic Academy in Boulder City.
He wondered what kind of shock his former classmates would bring to the other students now that they were in Middle Magic Academy...
However, Jiang Lin didn't practice for long before a powerful aura appeared at his window.
At the same time, Jiang Lin felt the other party's aura lock onto him.
He opened his eyes helplessly and saw a familiar face.
It was Vice Dean Keith.
"Student Jiang Lin, you're back."
A smile of relief was on his face.
"If something had happened to you, I wouldn't have known how to explain it to your Temple Master and City Lord in Boulder City."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin echoed with a smile: "I've worried you, Vice Dean."
"I just returned today; I checked your office this morning but found I was too early, so I came back planning to report my safety later."
Vice Dean Keith nodded in satisfaction: "Hahaha, it's good that you're back."
"You didn't encounter any danger in Emerald City, did you?"
Jiang Lin thought for a moment.
No danger at all, just almost killed by a 6th-rank powerhouse and someone transitioning from 7th to 8th rank...
"Emerald City has indeed been quite restless these past few days."
"But thanks to the help of the temple's experts and some good luck, I managed to escape safely."
Vice Dean Keith skillfully climbed through the window into Jiang Lin's dorm and began inquiring about his situation.
Jiang Lin was speechless at the way the vice dean skillfully climbed through the window.
Has the vice dean... picked up bad habits from his students?
Sigh, really, learning the bad instead of the good...
"It seems it's often quite lively here," he said, patting Jiang Lin's shoulder.
"It's good for young people to communicate and practice together, but be careful not to disturb the rest of the other dorms..."
The seven students other than Jiang Lin nodded like quails in agreement.
Afterward, he sat down and chatted with Jiang Lin for a while.
Jiang Lin naturally told him what could be said and kept quiet about what couldn't.
"Well, you're a good young man, keep working hard; I'll be going now, remember to attend classes on time..."
"Take care, Vice Dean..."
After seeing off Vice Dean Keith, Jiang Lin quickly returned to his breathing technique practice.
Seeing that Jiang Lin was still so diligent and hardworking, the other seven felt a surge of pressure and began their own cultivation.
The system's daily tasks had to be done as usual, and Jiang Lin had already found time to complete them.
At the same time, the medicinal food needed to be upgraded to rank 2.
So, after exhausting the energy of the rank 1 medicinal food in his body, Jiang Lin ran to the school cafeteria to collect rank 2 medicinal food.
The auntie in the cafeteria recognized Jiang Lin, as he had come almost every day throughout the summer vacation, collecting one portion of medicinal food and leaving.
If she remembered correctly, didn't he only start collecting rank 1 medicinal food about a month ago?
And he's already at rank 2?
As expected of a student from Radiant Magic Academy!
The cafeteria auntie was not a professional adventurer and didn't know much about how adventurers improved, especially the progress of such geniuses.
So, she naturally wouldn't know that Jiang Lin's progress over these two months of summer vacation was exaggerated to an incredible degree...
Rate on N.U.
