Little Black looked at him, speechless.
After going through the familiar city entrance process, Jiang Lin returned to Boulder City.
"First, I'll pack up my daily essentials, then head to the temple to collect my rewards. After that, I'll pick up a few skills, say goodbye to my friends, and set off for Clearwater City."
Jiang Lin discussed his plan with Little Black.
He skillfully completed today's daily quest.
【Stamina】: 43,000 → 44,000
【Mental Power】: 39,000 → 40,000
【Random Skill Upgrade 11 → 12】
Returning to the small hut where he used to live, Jiang Lin realized it had been a long time since he was last here. A layer of dust covered all the furniture.
Jiang Lin tidied up briefly, packing clothes and other items he thought might be useful into his spatial ring.
After checking that nothing was left behind and locking the doors and windows, he headed to the temple to find the gold badge warrior Crixus.
The reason he didn't look for Salas was primarily because Salas was quite familiar with the City Lord. If Salas went to inquire directly, Jiang Lin's identity would be exposed too quickly.
"Mr. Jiang Lin, is there something I can help you with?"
Crixus looked at Jiang Lin, who had already reached level 10, with some surprise.
Jiang Lin then told Crixus the information from his notebook.
Since Jiang Lin already had two successful reports under his belt, Crixus was inclined to believe him. However, he still asked, "Mr. Jiang Lin, may I ask how you obtained this information?"
And so, Jiang Lin began his performance.
He pulled the City Lord's recommendation letter out of his spatial ring.
"I'm leaving Boulder City tomorrow to enroll early in Clearwater City. This is a recommendation letter written for me by the City Lord himself."
As he spoke, he gave the recommendation letter a little wave.
"Some things... well, those who know, know. If you don't know, I can't say it plainly. I hope you can keep this a secret, Mr. Crixus. I just want to collect the reward for a successful report."
Hearing that the source of the information seemed related to the City Lord and was confidential, Crixus nodded.
"No problem, Mr. Jiang Lin. However, the authenticity of the information still needs to be verified. Once we've conducted a field investigation, the reward will be issued.
"Verification will take a day. Around what time are you leaving? If you have time, you can come to claim your reward before you depart."
Jiang Lin was a bit disappointed that he couldn't get an advance payment, but he still replied, "Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Crixus!"
Crixus nodded, seemingly remembering something. "By the way, Mr. Jiang Lin. My younger brother is still quite fixated on his battle with you. He wants to challenge you again after training for a while. If you have the time, I can notify him to come and spar with you before you leave."
Jiang Lin thought about it and accepted the challenge.
He and the top two students from the other two schools had become friends through their sparring. During this time, they would occasionally visit Saint Brilliance Magic Academy to ask questions and voice their confusion regarding the all-nighter sessions.
"I'll be passing by Morning Star Junior Magic Academy later. I'll just go find him directly."
Crixus nodded. "I'm sorry for taking up your time."
Afterward, Jiang Lin went to the hall where the statues of the seven gods stood. Holding his borrowing points card in his hand, he followed the previous process to top it up.
【Borrowing Points: 1 → 11】
Returning to the borrowing desk, Jiang Lin selected two spells:
【Low-level Fireball】 and 【High-level Restoration】.
The two skills cost exactly 11 borrowing points, bringing his balance to zero.
【Borrowing Points: 11 → 0】
At the very least, when he burned corpses in the future, he'd try not to let black flames sprout.
Carrying his two newly acquired skill books, Jiang Lin arrived at Morning Star Junior Magic Academy.
He found their grade's top student—Frederick.
Frederick was surprised to see Jiang Lin, and upon hearing his intent, he became quite excited.
"Come on, then. I've already figured out a way to deal with you."
Soon, the two of them arrived at an empty training ground.
Frederick pulled out his twin axes and immediately activated his 【Berserk】 skill.
A holy light longsword appeared in Jiang Lin's hand. Simultaneously, two layers of shields manifested around his body: one was the 【Shield of Divine Grace】 and the other was the 【Iron Wall Barrier】.
Since he had asked the guy's older brother for a favor, Jiang Lin planned to exchange a few more moves with him before defeating him.
However, to Jiang Lin's shock, the berserking Frederick clapped his hands together, instantly sending a shockwave out from his body.
And along with that shockwave... his clothes were shattered to pieces!!
Then, he charged toward Jiang Lin with his bare buttocks exposed.
Jiang Lin stood frozen in place at the sight. It was simply too much of an eyesore.
He felt as if his eyes were being assaulted.
Is this... to guard against my 【Jetting Aura】?
Jiang Lin instantly changed his mind. He would no longer drag this out and would end it in one blow.
Jiang Lin immediately swung out a massive cross-shaped holy light sword qi.
This cross-shaped sword qi was formed by combining two individual slashes, its primary purpose being to block all of the opponent's paths of retreat.
Bang!
The twin axes collided with the cross-shaped sword qi. Because Jiang Lin's physical attributes were far superior, even though Frederick had used a high-tier skill, he was completely outmatched and was sent flying.
"Cough... cough cough!"
Frederick struggled to get up, looking at Jiang Lin in shock. "When did you become this strong?
"And why didn't you use that Jetting Aura of yours?"
Jiang Lin stood with his sword sheathed. "This is what they call a genius's slow-cooked success. You're not a genius, so it's normal that you don't understand."
Frederick felt a bit dejected. He pulled a pair of pants from his storage space and began putting them on.
Jiang Lin chatted with him for a bit longer, informing him that he would be leaving Boulder City tomorrow and had come to say goodbye.
"I'm also planning to take the exam for Saint Brilliance Magic Academy. If you get in now, you'll be my senior by then, won't you?"
"Keep it up, junior. Work hard to catch up to my footsteps!"
Afterward, Jiang Lin went to Boulder Junior Magic Academy to find Lina, the toxic healer who shared a mutual understanding with him, and her best friend, the summoner Eve.
Many of his current tips for using strengthening techniques and the toxic methods for other skills had been shared with him by Lina.
"I see. Well, I wish you a safe journey, Jiang Lin!"
"Both of us are planning to take the exam for Saint Brilliance Magic Academy as well, so we'll see you then!"
...
Back at school, Jiang Lin began learning the two skills he had just acquired.
With magic power flowing through his fingertips, Jiang Lin studied the skill books on his own.
Time passed minute by minute.
A fist-sized, orange-red fireball condensed with a "poof" above his palm.
The flames danced, emitting a scorching heat.
【Low-level Fireball (uninitiated) → (initiated)】
Following that, he used a 【Random Skill Upgrade】.
【Low-level Fireball (initiated) → (superlative)】
After glancing at the contents of 【High-level Restoration】, Jiang Lin gave up on the idea of self-study.
He pulled out Little Black, and after completing their transaction, Little Black began explaining 【High-level Restoration】 to him.
The difficulty of high-tier magic was more than a hundred times that of low-tier magic.
Consequently, his progress was much slower than when he was learning the low-tier spells.
By the time the sun began to set once more, Jiang Lin had completely mastered the new spell.
【High-level Restoration (uninitiated) → (superlative)】
Once he found another opportunity to learn mid-level healing, he could create a consolidated version of the healing spell, just like he did with his strengthening technique.
According to Lina, when a consolidated healing spell was cast with full force, it could cause the target's flesh to proliferate. If it was powerful enough, it could even turn the target into a ball of meat.
Since even she couldn't control the intensity of that move, she rarely used it in combat against other people.
By now, the people from the temple should have started searching the various nooks and crannies outside the city for the hidden cultists based on his notes.
Jiang Lin also began practicing his breathing technique for the first time in a while.
However, after practicing for just a short while, Jiang Lin stopped.
The reason was simple: the speed of practicing his current basic breathing technique was just too slow. The cost-performance ratio was really not high; he might as well spend more time learning other skills.
Jiang Lin naturally wanted to break through to rank-1, but even the system told him to consider the "0-rank peak Blood Demon" challenge carefully.
Therefore, he didn't dare to be overconfident and head straight into the 【Blood Realm · Trial Ground】 with his current strength.
After all, while he was powerful, he was still within the bounds of rank-0.
Furthermore, his attributes could still be accumulated. At the very least, tomorrow's self would be stronger than today's.
He could only say that he was invincible among these students of the same rank, but he hadn't yet reached the level of the world's strongest rank-0.
Thinking of this, Jiang Lin decided to head to the library to see if there was any relevant literature regarding a so-called limit.
Although the library would be locked at night, Jiang Lin was leaving the school tomorrow anyway.
So, Jiang Lin walked up to the main doors and gave them a hard tug, directly ripping the lock off the library doors.
He'd just let Director Wills help clean up the mess later.
Then, Jiang Lin began searching for relevant books.
Time trickled by.
Soon, the next day arrived.
After a night of searching, Jiang Lin finally found a relevant description in an old book:
'Physical attributes and mental power determine the upper limit of one's level. If physical attributes and mental power are insufficient, the level cannot be increased, and the life level cannot leap forward. After breaking through to rank-1, one can use more powerful breathing techniques, and the growth rate of physical attributes and mental power will experience a qualitative leap. At this point, the level will also limit the growth of physical attributes and mental power. If the level does not increase, physical attributes and mental power will also stop growing.'
Jiang Lin was a bit surprised. He didn't know such a rule existed.
Then, Jiang Lin looked at the cover of the book—《Middle Magic Academy Basic Knowledge Teaching Manual》.
Emmm... hopefully Director Wills could forgive him.
He continued reading.
'These level limits are primarily restricted by rank. For example, the limit for rank-1 is 200,000 attribute points. Once 200,000 is reached, no further improvement is possible.
'Note: The author does not recommend that everyone accumulate their attribute points to the limit before breaking through. After all, once you break through, you can use a higher-rank breathing technique, and the growth rate of these attribute points will be faster, making it more cost-effective. The data above was obtained by predecessors who sacrificed their own cultivation speed to reach a conclusion. It is hoped that future scholars will treat these predecessors with respect.'
Unfortunately, there was no description of the rank-0 limit.
Putting the Middle Magic Academy textbook, which had appeared here for some unknown reason, back in its place, Jiang Lin left the school library.
Afterward, Jiang Lin tidied up his seat and said goodbye to his classmates.
Everyone looked at this degenerate in a daze, and for some reason, they felt as if tears were about to well up in their eyes.
This guy... was finally leaving!!!!
They were almost at the point of hugging each other and cheering out loud.
However, as they looked at the classmates around them who were taking their medicine for the new day—especially a certain simp who was currently injecting his muscles—everyone felt a wave of sorrow.
The students around them, including themselves, had been completely reshaped into this guy's image.
They could never go back—back to those days when they could sleep every day.
Jiang Lin also went to the office to say goodbye to each of his teachers before jogging toward the temple.
He completed his daily quest along the way.
【Stamina】: 44,000 → 45,000
【Mental Power】: 40,000 → 41,000
【Random Skill Upgrade 10 → 11】
Crixus, the gold badge warrior, looked at Jiang Lin and sighed, "Mr. Jiang Lin, your intelligence was incredibly accurate! All five locations have been confirmed as cult strongholds."
Jiang Lin took it as a matter of course. "Naturally. Brother, you didn't leak the source of the information, did you?"
Crixus smiled warmly. "Of course not, Mr. Jiang Lin. You can trust me completely in that regard. Bring out your borrowing card; I'll transfer the borrowing points to you."
"Thanks a lot, Brother Crixus!"
【Borrowing Points: 0 → 25】
With the borrowing points in hand, Jiang Lin returned the two newly borrowed skill books and set off for the location of the long-distance teleportation array.
This long-distance teleportation array was a property managed by the temple, though it wasn't built inside the temple itself but in another building known as—the Court of Space.
A long line stood outside the door, with people buying tickets to different locations at the entrance.
Jiang Lin sensed the auras of these people; many of them were 1st or 2nd-rank adventurers.
A few whose auras he couldn't sense were likely 3rd-rank or higher.
It seemed these adventurers were all quite wealthy.
Holding Little Black, Jiang Lin waited for a long time until it was finally his turn.
He pulled out the student certificate issued by the temple and grandly placed a gold coin down, buying a ticket for the long-distance teleportation array.
After counting his 30 silver coins in change twice to make sure there were no issues, Jiang Lin stepped into this massive, ancient building.
The main hall was constructed from enormous white stones, with a soaring dome painted with ancient star patterns.
The hall connected to many rooms, each labeled with its destination.
Jiang Lin found the room for Clearwater City and lined up at the door.
The line for the Clearwater City room was the longest, likely because it was one of the most developed cities in Qinghe County.
Ten people were admitted each time, and each batch took about ten minutes to teleport. This speed was quite acceptable for Jiang Lin, who had been to several amusement parks in his previous life.
After all, in some amusement parks, waiting for two hours only to play for one minute was no joke.
Soon, it was Jiang Lin's turn.
Stepping into the teleportation room, the temple staff began mechanically repeating the safety precautions:
"Passengers, welcome to the civilian-grade long-distance teleportation array service operated by the temple. Today's destination: Clearwater City. To ensure a safe and smooth teleportation process, please listen carefully and follow these instructions.
"During the teleportation, you may experience mild to moderate dizziness, a sense of spatial displacement, or a brief feeling of weightlessness. Tinnitus, lightheadedness, momentary blurred vision, or mild nausea are all normal occurrences and will typically resolve on their own within seconds to minutes after the teleportation is complete.
"Please ensure that all items you are carrying have been properly stored in your spatial storage equipment..."
The person's mouth didn't stop moving, and Jiang Lin took the opportunity to examine the teleportation array.
It was an array about twenty meters in diameter, with complex and profound silver runes deeply engraved into the black foundation stones. At this moment, they were flowing with a gentle yet powerful spatial energy glow, resembling liquid moonlight.
Having finished the long list of precautions, the staff member began the closing remarks:
"Basic insurance is included in the fee for this teleportation. In the event of a teleportation accident caused by force majeure or reasons not attributable to the passenger, the temple will handle the aftermath according to regulations.
"The teleportation is about to begin. Passengers, please confirm that you are ready. We wish you a pleasant journey!"
The light of the teleportation array gradually grew brighter, and the staff member stepped out.
Jiang Lin felt a slight surge of excitement in his heart.
Clearwater City, here I freaking come!
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