Seven Years

A few days later.

Jonathan passed the Level 3 mage examination and officially became a third-year student at Ulada Magic Academy.

As soon as this news broke, it immediately sparked heated discussions throughout the academy.

However, Jonathan himself continued to maintain his daily low profile.

Except for when he was in class, others only caught glimpses of him around the academy on rare occasions.

Jonathan balanced his training in both magic and as a warrior, and in the blink of an eye, seven years passed.

He became a Level 3 mage at nine, Level 4 at ten, and Level 5 at thirteen. Now, at sixteen, everyone still believed he was a Level 5 mage.

After all, the cultivation of a mage is extremely difficult.

In the eyes of others, this speed was already monstrous.

Mages in their twenties who were only Level 5 were everywhere in the academy, and there were even those in their forties or fifties still stuck at Level 5.

Becoming a Level 5 mage at thirteen was already considered a very fast cultivation speed at Ulada Magic Academy.

His roommates were all Level 4 mages.

To reach Level 5, the fastest among them would still need another year or two, while the slower ones might need two or three. Reaching Level 6 in ten years of cultivation was considered normal.

In the eyes of everyone else, Jonathan's cultivation speed could no longer be described as rapid, but in reality, ever since he reached Level 3, he had always tested at one level lower than his actual strength.

When others thought he had become a Level 4 mage, he had actually already stepped into the realm of a Level 5 mage; when they thought he was Level 5, he was already a Level 6 mage.

At this very moment, he was a Level 7 mage and a peak Level 6 warrior.

With the soul reinforcement provided by the Soul Dao Fruit every time he broke through, his progress continued to stack, ensuring that his breakthroughs as a mage would not slow down.

However, he did not have such a luxury when it came to his warrior cultivation; he had to accumulate strength bit by bit before he could break through.

A sixteen-year-old peak Level 6 warrior was absolutely top-tier talent in the Yulan Continent.

Although he was temporarily stuck at this realm, he believed this bottleneck would not hold him for long.

Seventeen—he could definitely do it!

The soul protection ability of the Dao Fruit had already recovered, which could be considered a significant trump card; even if he suffered a fatal wound, he would not die for a while.

As his own injuries healed, he could even return from the brink of death.

With that soul mist, even the rules of the Underworld could not draw his soul away in a short period of time.

Black Phoenix City, where the branch of the Saber organization was located.

"Your talent truly exceeded my expectations, kid. Sixteen years old, Level 5 mage, peak Level 6 warrior."

Xue Yan had gone from initial annoyance toward Jonathan to finding him acceptable, and now, he held him in high regard.

"There is nothing left for me to teach you. From today on, you will officially become an assassin for the Saber organization."

"I will gradually arrange missions for you. Some things can only be improved through actual combat, especially the path of a warrior."

"You have no objections, right?"

Xue Yan could no longer treat the other party as a mere brat. Based on his current Assassination Art, even a Level 7 warrior would fall at his hands.

Jonathan thought for a moment. He had pretty much exhausted the utility of the Saber organization, and he now possessed a certain level of self-preservation.

However, joining was fine.

At the very least, before he truly grew strong enough, it could continue to provide him with shelter.

"No problem, I'm ready whenever."

"By the way, how is my father doing now?"

Xue Yan said, "I knew you would ask, so I already had someone send word. He is now the chief instructor of Blackstone Town, drawing a salary from the lord of Blackstone Town."

"He's living quite well, teaching the youths and occasionally having a drink or two. The only drawback is that he lacks a woman."

"It's you who lacks women!"

Jonathan retorted irritably. After these years of getting along, he had gained a considerable understanding of Xue Yan.

He worshipped Hesai so much that he had also fallen in love with Hesai's hobbies.

First, women; second, stone carving.

Xue Yan just smiled slightly, taking it as an admission.

"I'm going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range in a while. I'll go see him after I'm done."

"You're going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range? With your strength, as long as you don't go too deep or encounter magical beasts above Level 7, it shouldn't be a problem. You should be close to becoming a Level 6 mage, right?"

Jonathan said frankly, "Almost there. I'll go get certified once I return from the mountain range."

"Is that so?"

Xue Yan caught the implication in Jonathan's words, knowing that the other party already possessed the strength of a Level 6 mage and only lacked the recognition of others.

"Truly a genius!"

"Lord Xue Yan, there's nothing else, right? Then I'll head back to the academy first."

"Go on then."

Jonathan returned to the dormitory, happening upon his roommates who were all present.

"Our great genius has returned. Off secretly training again, are you? Jonathan, with your cultivation speed already like this, you really ought to learn how to enjoy life a little."

"Even Ford has become a real man now!"

Ford chuckled.

A major city like Black Phoenix City naturally had a place similar to Bishui Paradise in Fenlai City, and it was called Above the Moon.

Hearing that name, Jonathan always felt a bit distracted, a melody inexplicably playing in his mind.

He had been to that place a few times with the others, but he never messed around.

Collette mocked him for being a prude who didn't know what he was missing, but who could know that with the memories of his past life, he had long since grown indifferent to such things.

What kind of messy positions were there that he hadn't already tried?

Spending an hour or so doing that was far less productive than accumulating his own magical power.

Charles smiled and said, "That is why you are a level four mage, while Jonathan is a level five mage!"

"Charles, don't talk about me. Aren't you level four as well? Talent is what it is; what can I do about it? Ford, tell him I'm right."

"That's the truth."

Charles had nothing to say. Even though he wasn't as indulgent as Collette, and even though he had reached level four earlier than the two of them, it would still take at least another year for him to become a level five mage.

Of the group that enrolled at the same time, besides Jonathan who broke through early, only those two with super-tier talent had reached level five last year.

"Stop being bitter. Diligent cultivation is the right path. Be careful, or you won't become a level six mage by sixty and will be expelled from the academy. Don't say you know me then; I can't afford the embarrassment!"

Collette laughed, "You can rest easy on that. If that day ever comes, I will definitely cling to you."

"By the time I'm sixty, you'll probably be a level nine mage!"

"Such a big shot is rare even in the entire Bandas Kingdom. If I don't cling to you, who would I cling to?"

"As long as your skin is thick enough, I have no objections."

"Don't worry, my face is very thick."

The others all burst into laughter.

After a while, Jonathan said, "Jokes aside, let's talk business. In a few days, I plan to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for some experience."

Hearing this, the expressions of the other three turned serious.

Collette said, "Although our academy has a tradition of going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for graduation trials, you are only a level five mage. There is no need to be in such a hurry."

"I'm not applying for a graduation trial; I'm just going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for some training. It will only be for a month or two."

Please keep reading. I ask all you gentlemen who have bookmarked this to read the latest chapters daily. Even just moving your fingers to click on the latest chapter and staying for 30 seconds is enough.

You must not let a new book sit in your library, or by the time you remember it, the book might have already been forced to end.

Since the recommendation system reform, more and more books have been rushed to an end or abandoned because of insufficient daily reads, lack of recommendations, and poor performance.

Please pay more attention to this. If you think it's decent, please read it daily during the new book period. I'm counting on you!