A massive influx of memories surged in, and Jiang Lin gritted his teeth to endure it once again.
His resistance to these memories was steadily growing.
Next, he just needed to rest a bit before he could start upgrading his low-level skills.
He headed out for a simple breakfast and encountered another swarm of ants in front of the breakfast stall.
Refine immediately!
Although he had been encountering these ants frequently, Jiang Lin hadn't gone out of his way to find their nest. He wanted to ensure 'sustainable development' on a daily basis.
Besides, no matter how large an ant nest in Boulder City was, it couldn't possibly grow to hold a hundred thousand ants. Only nests in the wild, free from human interference, could reach such a scale.
【stamina】：10000→11000
【mental power】：7400→8400
【Random Skill Upgrade 34 → 35】
Returning to the school, since there were no classes scheduled for today, most teachers were still on leave. Many students who had been eliminated early on didn't even know the assessment had ended.
Naturally, there were no theory classes today.
However, this didn't affect the students of the All-Nighter Group. They remained at school, magic potion in their left hand and exercise books in their right, each focused on their own tasks.
Jiang Lin began studying the two skill books the Temple Master had given him.
Just as Jiang Lin sat down and opened a skill book, Tie Chen leaned his head over.
Seeing the dense, complex text and a bunch of unfamiliar magic symbols, Tie Chen asked, "Old Jiang, can you actually understand this?"
Jiang Lin smiled slightly and said calmly, "Naturally. I can learn it in a single glance."
Then, he closed the two advanced versions of the 【Strengthening Technique】 and left Tie Chen with a profound-looking silhouette.
Magic was too complicated; he’d wait for Little Black to return and explain it.
Jiang Lin hadn't even touched upon much of the foundational knowledge for mid-tier magic yet. Trying to learn it directly was impossible; he couldn't understand a word.
So, he flipped open the mid-tier combat technique, 【Holy Light Heavy Slash】.
'Mm~ Swordsmanship is much simpler!'
Perhaps because his talent for swordsmanship had improved, Jiang Lin completely understood this mid-tier skill after reading it only three times. It was even faster than when he had self-taught low-level skills.
He immediately ran to the training grounds to begin practicing.
Five hours later, after completely clearing the network of meridians in his body, Jiang Lin successfully released the mid-tier skill for the first time.
He held an iron sword high and slashed downward. The blade carried a heavy momentum as it crashed toward the earth, simultaneously flashing with a holy light. Since there was no target, the light elements directly carved a significant crater into the ground.
Magic arrays for automatic repair were carved into the floor of the training grounds. As long as the damage wasn't intentional or excessive, it wasn't a problem.
【Holy Light Heavy Slash (uninitiated) → (initiated)】
Jiang Lin was quite satisfied. He had learned this skill entirely on his own!
Next, Jiang Lin consumed one random skill upgrade use.
Since there was only one skill available to upgrade, the 'random' aspect essentially became a 'targeted' one.
【Holy Light Heavy Slash (initiated) → (superlative)】
Memories flooded his brain. This time, Jiang Lin only dazed for a moment before accepting the knowledge.
He felt the volume of this memory; compared to before, it was greatly reduced. In the system's memory of his cultivation, the instances of sudden enlightenment were much more frequent. It seemed his talent in swordsmanship had indeed improved significantly!
Jiang Lin returned to the classroom and cultivated with the rest of the All-Nighter Group until the afternoon.
At that point, the classroom door opened.
A familiar figure walked in—it was the grade director, Wills.
The director's expression was currently beyond complex. It held admiration for Jiang Lin, an unspeakable sense of conflict, and the feeling of a survivor who had been stared down by several big shots during the meeting.
Fortunately, the mastermind behind that final farce was a toxic healer priest from Boulder Magic Academy. The other grade director could share the heat with him; otherwise, all the focus of the meeting would have likely landed on his shoulders.
Actually, he hadn't been targeted much during the meeting. It was just that, whether explicitly or implicitly, being in the presence of the Temple Master was incredibly high-pressure. Furthermore, the man had specifically mentioned a student from his school, which put Director Wills under a lot of stress.
He stepped forward and handed a spatial ring to Jiang Lin.
"This spatial ring is a reward from the school. It has a storage space of 20 square meters. Inside, there's a skill book, which is my personal reward to you. Additionally, there are three pieces of magic gear. I heard these were pre-determined; if you can't use them, sell them. The Temple provides a buy-back service.
"There's also a card. That card contains the borrowing points for the Temple library. You can use it to borrow skills from there. If I recall correctly, high-tier skills cost 10 borrowing points, mid-tier skills cost 5, and low-level skills cost 1."
Jiang Lin thanked his grade director.
Afterward, Director Wills placed a hand on Jiang Lin's shoulder and said, "Student Jiang Lin, are you free right now? Let's go out for a chat."
Having completed his official duties, Director Wills decided to have a heart-to-heart with Jiang Lin and get a better sense of the students' situation.
Jiang Lin nodded and followed him out of the classroom.
However, the corridor outside the tail-end class, which should have been empty, was now filled with students exercising. Consequently, Wills led Jiang Lin to a teacher's office instead.
Jiang Lin was full of doubt, wondering what Director Wills wanted with him. Was he going to ask for a user guide on the 【Jetting Aura】?
"Sigh, being a teacher isn't easy. I just want to do my job dutifully..."
To his surprise, the man actually started venting his grievances.
"Too many things have happened these past few days. The pressure on my end is quite high..."
Jiang Lin looked at his grade director, wondering what he was really up to. Seeing him hesitate and the conversation stalling, Jiang Lin encouraged him:
"Teacher, it's right to feel pressure! Comfort is for the dead! We should work hard, suffer a bit, and endure pressure while we're young! When we're old..."
Wills's built-up emotions were interrupted. "What? When we're old, we can enjoy the rewards?"
Jiang Lin shook his head. "When we're old, we'll be used to it."
Hearing this, Director Wills was choked up again, having not expected Jiang Lin's eccentric logic.
He coughed lightly and stopped beating around the bush. "Ahem, let's not talk about that. Jiang Lin, recently there's been the evil god incident, the joint exam accident, and the collective all-nighters... especially since everything exploded in these past few days, the pressure on me is immense."
Jiang Lin looked at him and didn't respond.
"And you are at the center of all these events. So, can I ask a favor of you... in the future, try not to stir up any more earth-shattering trouble...
"If you have any requests or any dissatisfactions, feel free to tell me. I'll do my best to satisfy them."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin said in confusion, "But Teacher, I was a victim of the evil god incident too. Besides, wasn't the joint exam fairly normal? As for the all-nighters, that's just the result of everyone's passion for learning."
Director Wills nodded understandingly. "I know, it wasn't intentional. However, the impact of the joint exam was indeed quite negative. The first joint exam in Boulder City ended prematurely due to an accident; having that in the city's annual report looks very bad. Especially since it ended because students from two schools used... that method. The pressure from above is very high."
Clearing his throat, Director Wills continued, "But that kind of thing is for us adults to handle. I'm mainly asking you now if you can slow down this trend of staying up all night that's currently popular in the school. I heard that students from other grades have already started pulling all-nighters. Parents have already come to the school, saying there's something wrong with the education at Radiant Junior Magic Academy."
Jiang Lin was puzzled. "Isn't staying up all night a good thing? Everyone is doing it voluntarily; I didn't force anyone. Originally, everyone had to sleep at least eight hours, but by not sleeping, they gain half as much time every day. That much time can be used to improve themselves more efficiently. It's a good thing!"
Director Wills gave a bitter smile. "That's the logic, but it doesn't align with normal concepts. Many parents think their children have joined a secret cult. Combined with the previous evil god incident, many parents are already requesting transfers."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lin fell into thought.
Looking at it that way, the impact did seem a bit negative.
"I hope you can understand my difficulties. I hope you can persuade the students around you. If you can't, at least don't be so conspicuous. And... with your current level, the tail-end class certainly isn't suitable for you anymore. Starting tomorrow, go to the elite class for lessons."
Jiang Lin looked troubled. "Teacher, you have to realize that if someone like me, who always pulls all-nighters, suddenly tells everyone not to do it, it will actually have the opposite effect. They'll think I'm trying to trick them, and they'll work even harder at staying up late."
Hearing this, Director Wills sighed. "Sigh, I still have a high-tier skill book at home that can be learned by physical-based classes. I was planning to save it for my nephew later, but it's just sitting there for now..."
Jiang Lin's spirits lifted. "Teacher, I actually have a plan that can relieve our school's pressure!"
...
The sun dipped toward the west, and soon it was time for school to let out.
Jiang Lin appeared at the entrance of Morning Star Junior Magic Academy.
At dismissal time, there were many people around and school entry wasn't strictly controlled, so Jiang Lin successfully slipped inside.
After asking around, he found the third-year elite class of Morning Star Junior Magic Academy.
There weren't many people in the classroom now; after all, the third-year students hadn't come to class today because of the joint exam.
However, a few of Jiang Lin's acquaintances were there. As the top two in their grade, Frederick and Eli had been eliminated too early in the assessment to receive rewards, but they had still come to school on their day off to cultivate and study.
As school let out, the two were preparing to go home when they saw Jiang Lin walking through the door.
"Jiang Lin?! What are you doing here?"
Jiang Lin smiled slightly and pulled over a stool to sit down.
"Do you want to know the reason why I am so powerful?"
The two looked at each other and, without hesitation, said simultaneously, "Because you're a degenerate."
Jiang Lin's face darkened, but he was a big enough person to overlook their pettiness. "No, it's because I am hardworking enough!"
Confusion and doubt appeared on their faces. After all, they were students who were still in junior magic academy in their third year and hadn't skipped grades early; their talents wouldn't differ that much. Among those at the top of the grade, almost no one was lazy.
"Not only that, I have also created an atmosphere of diligent study at Radiant Junior Magic Academy. Do you want to experience it?"
At these words, their confusion deepened.
"If you want to know, then follow me. I believe you will be inspired."
The two looked at each other again and decided to follow him to see what was going on.
After all, he was a paladin. No matter how much of a degenerate he was, he wouldn't go as far as kidnapping them or sacrificing them to an evil god.
"Wait, this direction isn't toward Radiant Junior Magic Academy?" Frederick asked suspiciously after they had walked a bit away from the school gate.
"We're going to pick up a few more people."
...
Half an hour later, Jiang Lin arrived at his own school with four people.
"Sir Jiang Lin, what is the meaning of bringing the four of us here at this time? Logically, your school's students should have all left. If you want to show off a learning atmosphere, it shouldn't be at this hour."
Lina Greenwood's brow furrowed slightly, her emerald eyes filled with confusion.
However, Jiang Lin just laughed and led the four of them upstairs.
"You'll know once we get there."
Then, the four of them witnessed a shocking scene.
The corridors that should have been empty were now crowded with people. Some were reading texts aloud, some were practicing magic incantations, some were exercising, and others were meditating. Everyone was doing their own thing, undisturbed by the others.
As Jiang Lin led them into a classroom, they saw that many people were still holding their ground there, grinding through problems or cultivating. Although it was already time for school to let out, no one chose to leave.
Seeing this, the four of them were slightly dazed, and Jiang Lin said, "Our school has no mandatory requirements, and I have never launched any mobilization activities. All these people staying behind to cultivate is entirely due to their own initiative."
"Then how long will they stay? When do they go home?" Eli asked the question on all four of their minds.
Hearing this, Jiang Lin gave a profound smile. "Go home?"
He sat down cross-legged and adjusted his body into the posture for his breathing technique.
"Why don't you stay and see for yourselves? The stools in this classroom are all taken. Go to the next classroom and grab some. Don't be polite; treat it like your own school."
After saying that, Jiang Lin immediately began his meditative breathing, leaving the four of them staring at each other.
Confusion filled their eyes as they looked at the serious students around them. They felt that this atmosphere was indeed good, but surely he hadn't brought them here specifically just to see this?
Could it be that they actually slept at school and didn't go home at all?
"Sigh, forget it. Cultivating is the same whether we're at home or here. We might as well stay and see how long they study for," Frederick spoke first.
The other three also nodded, agreeing with his statement.
Until the moon gradually climbed over the mountain peaks...
Seeing that not a single student around them had any intention of leaving, and that Jiang Lin remained motionless in his seat, the four of them began to feel unsettled.
"Why aren't they leaving yet? Are they really going to spend the night at school?"
"Look, what is that they're holding? It looks like a magic potion, right? Why are they drinking magic potions when they aren't even fighting?"
"What's with that guy selling potions in the classroom? 【Mental Invigoration Potion】? And 【Mental Concentration Potion】?? They're using drugs to study?!"
"What on earth is going on at this Radiant Magic Academy?!"
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