Time flew by! Five months later.
In a secluded spot behind the Ernst Institute, Zhao Nan let out a breath and looked at his system panel.
[Host: Zhao Nan Talent: Wind Element—Superior; Earth Element—Superior; Fire Element—Intermediate; Bloodline: None; Magic Level: Eighth rank; Warrior Level: Seventh rank; Secret Art: Visualization Technique Disciple: (SSS rank) Linley Baruch (shared); Items: One set of eighth-rank equipment; System Acceleration: Level One.]
Zhao Nan looked at his system panel and breathed a small sigh of relief. After five months of cultivation, he had finally reached the eighth rank as a magus.
On the Yulan Continent, Zhao Nan now counted as someone of some standing.
Then he remembered that he had been away from Wushan Town for quite some time. It was time to go back and check on his disciple.
Before setting off, however, he opened the entry for Linley under the disciple section.
[Disciple Name: Linley Baruch Disciple Rank: SSS Disciple Talent: Wind Element and Earth Element—Superior; Fire Element—Intermediate; Disciple Bloodline: Dragonblood Warrior (not yet awakened); Disciple Magic Level: Second-rank Magus; Disciple Warrior Level: First-rank Warrior.]
Linley had already advanced to the second rank as a magus. Though he was still a first-rank warrior, Zhao Nan was quite satisfied. Without a way to cultivate battle-qi, a warrior's progress was bound to be slow.
Still, Zhao Nan wasn't surprised. In the original story, Linley had always been extremely strict with himself.
Then Zhao Nan remembered that, given Linley's age, he was probably almost seven years old by now.
In the original story, when Linley was six and a half, Hogg had proposed testing the concentration of his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline.
Perhaps Hogg hadn't suggested it this time because of Zhao Nan, but Zhao Nan had been away from Wushan Town for nearly half a year. Hogg had probably tested Linley's Dragonblood Warrior bloodline by now!
In that case, Zhao Nan would need to prepare dragon blood to help Linley become a Dragonblood Warrior.
After thinking it over, Zhao Nan decided not to help Linley obtain dragon blood just yet.
Not only was Zhao Nan not strong enough at present, but Linley was still young—under seven years old. Even with Blue Heart Grass to help him, awakening his bloodline on his own would leave Linley in unbearable pain.
They could take it slowly.
This time, Zhao Nan would first teach Linley the secret art of the Visualization Technique for cultivating spiritual force. When he visited Linley next time, he would improve his own strength first, then seek out dragon blood for Linley and help him awaken his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline.
Once he had made up his mind, Zhao Nan returned to his dormitory. He invited his three roommates, who had already returned, to a meal at Bishui Paradise. The next day, he applied to the institute for permission to go on an expedition.
That was right: he applied for permission to go on an expedition again, instead of applying to graduate.
The Yulan Continent had two major powers, the Radiant Church and the Darkness Church.
In the original story, Linley had repeatedly faced assassinations by hostile forces. Zhao Nan didn't want to deal with that. Better to take things slowly. His strength was his own; what did he need an empty reputation for?
Besides, while at the Ernst Institute, he could look for promising youngsters, make a note of them, and take them on as disciples!
Although Zhao Nan had hoped to recruit disciples at the Ernst Institute, in the past five months he hadn't found a single disciple there with an S-rank or higher.
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