Intermediate!

"Mo Fan, take your brother's advice—don't buy a house yet. Buy a defensive magic item first to protect yourself. That way, I won't have to lend you my Sickle Bone Shield every time we go hunting demons."

Lin Lan advised Mo Fan, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.

"Why would I buy a defensive magic item? Can't I just use yours?"

Mo Fan was baffled. He wasn't buying a house for himself—it was for his father.

"Where's your shame?"

"Then go buy a Star Chart Book. Once you break through to Intermediate Mage, you'll be able to directly use Intermediate Level Magic."

Lin Lan was speechless. Why was Mo Fan always trying to mooch off his things? Little Mudfish was just as shameless as its owner.

"Fine, then I'll wait until I reach the intermediate level before buying a house."

Seeing how insistent Lin Lan was, Mo Fan agreed. Refusing again would make him seem rather tactless.

"Good. Transfer the money to me, and I'll use some connections to get them."

"Damn it, so that was your plan all along!"

Mo Fan might have complained, but he still transferred one million to Lin Lan. He also planned to buy a magic item for self-defense. It really was awkward to keep borrowing one.

Lin Lan contacted Tang Yue as well and told her that he wanted to buy Star Chart Books. Teacher Tang Yue told him to wait at her home.

"Teacher Tang Yue's home is truly a palace of pearls and jade."

Tang Yue's house was located in the center of Bocheng. It was spotlessly clean, with neat furnishings, and the exquisite carved decorations made one's heart stir at the sight.

"It was all arranged by the Arbitration Council."

A small box of Duyun Maojian sat on the tea table, presumably reserved for visiting Arbitration Council members or other guests. When Lin Lan arrived, Tang Yue brewed two cups for them.

"Have some tea."

Tang Yue handed one of the cups to Lin Lan, steam still rising from it.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp~"

Lin Lan took it and drained it in one go.

"Teacher Tang Yue, you're so thoughtful. I was just getting thirsty after rushing over here."

Lin Lan said with a smile.

"You didn't even think it was hot? Drink this cup too."

Tang Yue's eyes were gentle, and her voice carried a hint of concern. As she spoke, she handed him the other cup as well.

"No, no, Teacher, you should have it. I didn't come here just to drink tea—but the tea really is good."

Lin Lan waved it off. After all, he had important business here.

"I can give you two Star Chart Books. If you need more, I can help you buy some."

"You really are a prodigy. You're already about to break through to Intermediate Mage at this age."

Tang Yue's beautiful eyes were filled with admiration. After speaking, she took a sip of tea and set her cup down.

"Teacher Tang Yue, don't call me that. I'm not a demon—how can you describe me as a prodigy?"

Lin Lan teased.

"Such a glib tongue."

"Alright, take these two Star Chart Books first. How many more do you need?"

Tang Yue handed the two Star Chart Books on the table to Lin Lan and asked.

"The more, the better."

"Seven or eight would do."

Lin Lan said with a grin.

"Do you think these things can be used casually? If you overuse Star Chart Books, be careful not to become dependent on them."

Tang Yue said somewhat irritably.

"Then help me buy four more. I still need to give two to Mo Fan."

Lin Lan thought it over and said.

"Mo Fan! He's about to break through to the intermediate level too?"

Even Tang Yue could not help being shocked. Were these students all a little too impressive?

"Yeah~ But he's still far from it. He needs more time to build up his foundation."

Lin Lan said.

"You students are all quite outstanding—far stronger than we were back then."

Tang Yue could not help sighing. The first students she had taught were all exceptional, and as her beautiful eyes fell on Lin Lan, the seventeen-year-old before her was even more remarkable.

Once Lin Lan returned home, he began closed-door cultivation. With the determination not to stop until he broke through to the intermediate level, he began meditating...

"Your Reverence, it's here. Based on our week of observation, that brat has been cultivating inside the whole time and hasn't gone out."

"Now is the perfect time to strike. As you instructed, the other two cultists have already infiltrated his home. We're just waiting for your order."

On the hillside outside Lin Lan's home, a Gray-robed Cultist knelt before the Black-robed Scholar of the Black Vatican, reporting the information and awaiting further instructions.

"Dark night, strong winds. Make your move."

At the Black-robed Scholar's command, "Lin Lan" inside the room came under attack.

Inside Lin Lan's room, six Black Beast Demons smashed through the door and pounced on the cultivating "Lin Lan." Countless claws slashed out, yet none could hit him; they passed through as though striking empty air.

"Fire Spark—Burst."

"Ice Vines—Cover."

The two Gray-robed Cultists could no longer remain calm. They immediately unleashed third-tier fire and ice magic. Fire and ice passed straight through "Lin Lan's" body, first setting the entire room ablaze, then covering it in ice.

"This is insane. He's clearly standing right there, but we can't hit him!"

"What the hell is that?!"

The two Gray-robed Cultists were pale with terror and shock. They had lived this long without ever witnessing anything so bizarre.

"You started wrecking my room without my permission. Where are your manners?"

"Oh—sorry. I forgot you're all just a bunch of beasts."

Lin Lan's mocking voice sounded from behind them. The two Gray-robed Cultists turned around and saw a sight that made their pupils contract—Lin Lan had been standing right behind them. But then what the hell was on the bed?

"Alright, I can't be bothered wasting words on you."

"Spatial Rhythm—Compression."

Silver light lit up in Lin Lan's eyes as the space throughout the room was crushed by immense gravity. The two Gray-robed Cultists and the Black Beast Demons were forced to their knees beneath the terrifying pressure, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"S-Space Element..."

"An Intermediate Mage!"

The two Gray-robed Cultists went deathly pale. Their leg bones were nearly crushed beneath the gravity, and they screamed in agony, "Aaaahhh!" As the pressure intensified, their internal organs ruptured, and they died on the spot. The Black Beast Demons were flattened into piles of pulp as well.

"You've dirtied my whole room."

To Lin Lan, killing these people now was no different from crushing a few ants.

"Looks like there are two more outside."

After advancing to the Intermediate Mage level, Lin Lan's mental power had also reached the Third Realm, making his senses extraordinarily sharp.

"Your Reverence, it seems they failed."

"Mm. We'll leave first."

The two had naturally heard the heart-wrenching screams coming from inside the house. The Black-robed Scholar knew the plan had failed and prepared to return and report the situation to his superiors.

"Won't you stay for a cup of tea before you go?"

"Otherwise, I'll seem like a terribly inhospitable host who doesn't know how to treat his guests."

Not long after the two started running, Lin Lan emerged directly from the woods, blocking their path with an amused smile.

"Fiery Fist—Heavenly Blast."

The Black-robed Scholar did not waste any words and immediately hurled a Fiery Fist at Lin Lan.

"Sickle Bone Shield—"

The Fiery Fist slammed into the Sickle Bone Shield. It held for only a moment before shattering apart.

"Phasing—"

"Lin Lan" remained where he stood and was swallowed by the Fiery Fist, while the forest was set ablaze by the raging flames.

"Your Reverence is amazing! That brat should be dead. He didn't seem all that impressive—he died just like that."

The Gray-robed Cultist immediately began flattering him.

"It doesn't seem that simple."

The Black-robed Scholar remained tense. His instincts told him Lin Lan would not die so easily.

When the flames dispersed, "Lin Lan" was still standing in the same place, completely unharmed. Even his clothes had not been scorched.

"Sky Flash—Lightning Seal—Raging Strike."

"Dodge!"

A thick bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky toward the heads of the two Black Vatican members. The Gray-robed Cultist's head was blasted open, while the Black-robed Scholar narrowly escaped the thundercloud's range.

"Interesting."

A faint smile curled at Lin Lan's lips. This Black-robed Scholar's perception was rather sharp.

"What kind of monster are you? You were clearly there—how did you suddenly appear behind us?"

Even the Black-robed Scholar could no longer remain composed. He had never heard of such an ability before. It was terrifying.

"Space Annihilation."

Lin Lan raised a hand, and a powerful Space Element energy formed in the air. Energy condensed from countless particles exploded at the Black-robed Scholar's head.

"Bang~"

The air itself exploded, and the Black-robed Scholar's head shattered, fragments scattering across the ground.

"This new skill is awesome! It just drains mana like crazy—I lost a third of it in one go."

"Phasing has gotten stronger too. I can create a clone and leave it somewhere far away for ten seconds, then have the real body appear nearby. That'd scare anyone half to death."

Thinking of the expressions on those two Gray-robed Cultists' faces, Lin Lan wanted to laugh.

"Looks like I really do like headshots."

Lin Lan muttered as he looked at the Black-robed Scholar's corpse.

"Oh right, there's still a new skill I haven't tested. Killed him a little too fast."

Lin Lan couldn't help feeling somewhat regretful.

I probably can't write today. I'll make up four chapters tomorrow. (Failed a course, currently taking the retake exam.)