Late at night, in the Baruch family estate, in Linley's bedroom.
Linley, who had just learned to meditate, opened his eyes. Doering Cowart's soul floated before him.
"Grandpa Doering," Linley said excitedly. "Does this mean I succeeded?"
"Of course." Doering Cowart smiled warmly. "Linley, I have to say, you're a genius. I'm not talking about your talent, but your way of thinking."
Doering Cowart's tone held a note of emotion.
As a Saint-level Magus from over five thousand years ago, Doering Cowart had experienced countless things in his life.
He had also seen countless geniuses. He had even been a genius himself.
Linley had a strong affinity for the Earth Element; Doering estimated it was probably at the extraordinary level.
His spiritual power was about ten times that of others his age, which was average among magi.
But what Doering valued more was Linley's approach to cultivation.
Linley quickly grasped what Doering had just explained, even managing to apply the principles to other situations.
For their school of magic, spiritual power could be strengthened through certain methods, but one's approach to cultivation was innate.
Perhaps the great Overgod had taken pity on him, which was why he had brought him together with Linley!
"Meditation can't replace sleep. In fact, because of meditation, you may need even more rest." Doering's expression turned serious. "So, little Linley, make sure you get plenty of rest every day from now on."
"I understand, Grandpa Doering." Linley nodded solemnly. "I'll go to sleep now."
With that, Linley lay down in bed and pulled the covers over himself.
Seeing this, Doering also entered the Coiling Dragon Ring.
"Linley!" Lin Ke's voice suddenly sounded in Linley's mind. "You don't need to speak. Just talk to me in your mind. I'll block Doering from hearing us."
Lin Ke's words made Linley, who had been about to fall asleep, open his eyes wide.
Inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, Doehring floated cross-legged beside a drop of blue liquid. Feeling Linley's spiritual fluctuations, he hesitated for a moment.
"Never mind." Doehring shook his head slightly. "He's just a child, and he's only just begun studying magic. It's natural for him to be a little excited."
Doehring mistook the spiritual fluctuations Linley made while communicating with Lin Ke for a sign that Linley was too excited to sleep.
Meanwhile, Linley excitedly spoke with Lin Ke.
"Big Brother Lin Ke," Linley said in his mind. "I've learned to meditate. I'll be a magus soon!"
"I know." Sitting in the System Space, Lin Ke smiled at Linley's excitement. "As it happens, you can check your Attribute Panel and the System Mall, too. Just think 'Attribute Panel' or 'System Mall' and you'll be able to see them."
"Attribute Panel?"
Linley, a native of this world, was bewildered by Lin Ke's words.
But when he thought the words, a pale-blue screen appeared before him.
Name: Linley Baruch
Age: 8 years old
Energy Points: 10 (White)
Constitution: 0.91
Spiritual Power: 1
Battle Qi: 0
Magic Power: 0
Elemental Affinity: Earth Element (Extraordinary), Wind Element (Extraordinary), Destruction (Superior), Fire Element (Average), Water Element (Extraordinary, Hidden)
Law Comprehension: None
Battle Qi Manual: None
Meditation Method: Pu'ang Royal Meditation Method
The instant the panel opened, information flooded into Linley's mind, and he immediately understood what everything on it meant.
"Besides the Earth Element, my Wind Element affinity is extraordinary, too." Linley's eyes widened. "Destruction is superior, and the Fire Element is average. But, Big Brother Lin, why is my Water Element affinity hidden?"
"This is related to your Dragonblood Warrior bloodline." Lin Ke didn't plan to tell Linley everything just yet. "You'll learn more about that in time. For now, take a look at the mall."
Hearing Lin Ke's words, Linley stopped dwelling on it.
But when Linley opened the Mall Panel, he was still dumbfounded. "One Energy Point can be exchanged for one gold coin?"
The Life Mall section before Linley contained all sorts of items related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
What Linley cared about most was the exchange rate for gold coins.
Gold Coin × 1: 1 White Energy Point
"Linley, I have to remind you of something." Seeing Linley's excitement, Lin Ke furrowed his brows. "Remember, this world ultimately belongs to the strong. Strength—especially your own strength—is what matters most."
Lin Ke's warning brought Linley back to his senses.
Ever since he had tested the concentration of his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline, Linley had been consumed by guilt.
He couldn't help his father. All he could do was watch as his father sold off the family's assets.
But the Baruch Clan had been around for thousands of years, and it had seen no shortage of wastrels.
In truth, there wasn't much of the family estate left for Hogg to sell.
Linley desperately wanted to change his family's circumstances.
So when he saw that he could exchange Energy Points for so many gold coins, he had momentarily lost himself.
"I understand, Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley came to his senses, looking ashamed. "I lost control of myself."
"I don't blame you." Lin Ke's tone was calm. "You're not even nine yet. You're doing very well. But I think you should take a look at the Combat Mall."
At Lin Ke's prompting, Linley became interested and hurriedly opened the Combat Mall.
Compared with the Life Mall's countless products, the Combat Mall had only two items.
Purple Light Dew: 10 White Energy Points
T-Virus: 10 White Energy Points
"A single drop of Purple Light Dew can increase your Constitution by 0.1," Lin Ke said, sounding somewhat boastful. "And a single dose of T-Virus can increase your Spiritual Power by 0.1."
After Lin Ke finished speaking, Linley's breathing grew more and more ragged.
He had been attending the children's training in Wushan Town for some time.
He had always remembered Uncle Hillman's teachings.
Most importantly, he had the bloodline of a Dragonblood Warrior, so he could only cultivate the Dragonblood Secret Manual.
But his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline didn't meet the requirements.
In other words, he would never be able to cultivate Battle Qi.
However, if he could increase his Constitution, he could still grow into a warrior.
Although Grandpa Doering was teaching him, Linley didn't want to give up training as a warrior.
But the T-Virus could also increase his Spiritual Power.
And Spiritual Power was naturally the most important attribute for a magus.
But he only had 10 Energy Points. Faced with two choices, which should he pick?
At the thought, Linley hesitated.
"Big Brother Lin Ke," Linley asked after a moment's silence. "Which one should I choose?"
"For now, choosing Purple Light Dew would improve your strength the most noticeably." Lin Ke lounged in the sofa, tapping his right index finger against his knee. "Besides, unless you can guarantee that you'll successfully cast a spell within the next two or three days, choosing Purple Light Dew is the best way to complete the upcoming mission."
Hearing Lin Ke's words in his mind, Linley paused. "The upcoming mission?"
"That's right!"
Lin Ke smiled faintly and snapped his fingers.
The System Panel before Linley changed in the next instant.
[Mission: Kill Beasts within Wushan] [Mission Reward: Depends on the strength of the beasts killed] [Note: This is a long-term mission]
Before you continue