Chapter Eleven: Ernst Academy

After setting out from Fenlai City and heading south, it took little more than half a day for Ernst Academy to come into view.

Ernst Academy stood among the hills and forests, a little over twenty miles south of the Holy Capital, Fenlai City. Naturally, this institution, built with funding from the Radiant Church, had deep pockets and occupied a vast area, nearly ten miles across. An academy this large was practically the size of a city.

There were no people living outside the academy, only a stretch of open hills. Restaurants, clothing shops, bars, and other service establishments were all inside the academy. In other words, Ernst Academy's students lived entirely on campus and could meet all their everyday needs without ever leaving.

"So that's Ernst Academy?" Linley stood before the gates, his eyes wide.

The main gate of Ernst Academy was a full fifty meters across. Above it stood an enormous, semicircular structure, carved with all kinds of mysterious magical runes. Its intricate design alone made it clear that the magic array above the academy's entrance was a large one. Faint magical fluctuations radiated from it.

"It's huge..." Linley murmured, staring in amazement.

Bebe poked his head over Linley's shoulder, his round, black eyes widening. He let out a squeak, as if expressing his astonishment.

Lin Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, too. This was Ernst Academy—the foremost magical academy on the Yulan Continent, a place countless magic apprentices dreamed of attending.

And he was about to become one of its students.

The entrance was fairly busy. A row of administrative staff were on duty, and quite a few students carrying their admission letters and identification documents stood in line to complete their enrollment.

Linley and Lin Yun immediately joined the queue with their admission letters and identification documents. One step in the enrollment process was another assessment of each student's abilities—after all, Ernst Academy had to guard against people stealing admission letters and impersonating their rightful owners.

The assessments were over quickly. The brothers placed their hands on the Testing Crystal Ball and displayed their talents once more. The teacher in charge watched the light blooming inside the crystal ball, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He said nothing, merely nodded and marked their forms.

The two soon finished the tests and received their Ernst Academy Student IDs, along with the keys to their dormitory.

"Uncle Hillman, we're heading in." Linley turned to Hillman, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Hillman nodded and patted the two boys on the shoulders. "Study hard, and don't bring shame to your father. If anything happens, write home."

"Okay," the brothers answered in unison.

Hillman watched them turn and walk through the academy gates. He stood there for a long while before finally driving the carriage away.

At Ernst Academy, every student had to live in the dormitories, regardless of whether they were rich or poor. Both tuition and lodging were completely free. This was one of the major reasons the academy attracted so many talented commoners.

Their dormitory was No. 1987. Following the signs, they set off to find it.

As befitted Ernst Academy, every dormitory was a detached residence, with several thousand courtyards arranged in neat rows across the hillside. The courtyard walls were made of white stone, and the roofs were covered in red tiles. Neatly trimmed shrubs grew beside the gates. The buildings weren't luxurious, but they were clean and tidy, and looked comfortable enough to live in.

When they opened the gate to Dormitory No. 1987, they found a small courtyard. An unfamiliar tree grew in its center, with a stone table and several stone chairs beneath it. A row of rooms stood opposite the gate. There were four bedrooms and a shared living room, so it looked as though four people would be living there.

Two people were already inside the dormitory.

A boy in lavish clothes was fiddling with something in the corner. He wore a finely made blue robe, and it was obvious he didn't come from an ordinary family. When he saw Linley and Lin Yun come in, he immediately stood up.

"Hello! You must be our new roommates, right? I'm Yale. I'm from the Holy Union, more or less." His voice carried an innate warmth that made people feel drawn to him.

"I'm Reynolds! I'm from the O'Brien Empire!" Another boy poked his head out from behind a desk. He was a little shorter than Yale, but looked sturdier. A few freckles dotted his face, and when he smiled, he showed a row of white teeth. "Are you two brothers? You look so much alike!"

"I'm Linley Baruch, and this is my younger brother, Lin Yun," Linley introduced them, a little shyly.

"Where are you from?" Reynolds asked curiously.

"Wushan Town, Fenlai Kingdom."

"Wushan Town? Isn't that pretty close to here?" Reynolds said. "My family lives in the O'Brien Empire. It took me a whole year to get here from home."

As they were talking, the door opened again.

A handsome boy with glasses walked in. He wore a gray robe and carried a thick stack of magic books.

"Hello, I'm George. I live next door, in Dormitory No. 1988." His voice was gentle and polite. "I heard some new students had arrived, so I came over to say hello."

Linley quickly introduced himself and Lin Yun.

George pushed up his glasses and said earnestly, "I saw your names on the new student roster. I heard you did very well on the tests: top-grade talent in both Earth and Wind Elements, and top-grade talent in both Thunder and Light Elements..."

He looked at Lin Yun, amazement flashing in his eyes. "Top-grade talent in two elements and mid-grade talent in two more—that kind of aptitude is rare even at Ernst Academy."

Lin Yun smiled. "You're too kind."

"If there's anything you don't understand, we can help each other out," George said. "I specialize in the Water Element, so I know a little about it."

"I'm an Earth Element student!" Reynolds raised his hand. "My talent's only upper-grade, though."

"I specialize in the Wind Element!" Yale said. "But I'm mostly here to make friends. As for magic, as long as I get by, that's good enough for me."

Linley couldn't help laughing. They all had different personalities, but they were easy to get along with.

"By the way, have you heard?" George suddenly lowered his voice. "There's an exceptionally talented genius among this year's new students. I heard his Spiritual Energy is more than sixty times that of his peers, and his Elemental Affinity is top-grade, too."

"You mean Dixie, right?" Yale said. "The O'Brien Empire chancellor's grandson. He really is a genius."

"Dixie..." Linley murmured.

Early the next morning, the new students were summoned to the academy's grand hall to select their courses and receive their instructors.

The grand hall could hold over a thousand people, and it was packed to capacity. The new students took their assigned seats, chattering excitedly about the academy life that lay ahead.

Linley and Lin Yun sat beside Yale and Reynolds, while George sat in the row behind them.

"Silence." A deep voice reverberated through the hall, and everyone immediately fell quiet.

An elderly man with a head of white hair stepped onto the stage. He wore a robe embroidered with the magical crest of the Light Element, and a gold badge was pinned to his chest—the mark of an advanced-level Magus. His gaze swept across the room, and everyone he looked at instinctively straightened up.

"I am Delan, the dean of Ernst Academy." His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the hall. "First, congratulations on passing the entrance examination and becoming students of Ernst Academy. But let me remind you: entering the academy is only the beginning, not the end. Here, you will receive the most rigorous magical education and study the most systematic magical knowledge. Whether you become true magi will depend on your own efforts."

He paused, then continued, "Today, you need to choose which schools of magic you wish to study. The academy offers courses in the Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Thunder, and Light Elements. After making your choices, you can adjust them according to your progress and your instructor's advice."

Lin Yun ultimately chose the Thunder, Light, Water, and Fire Elements. As for the Earth Element, Doehring would teach him privately. Having lived for five thousand years as a Saint-level Magus, Doehring was far more accomplished in Earth Element magic than any instructor at the academy. With Doehring's guidance, Lin Yun had no need to take Earth Element courses there.

As for the Wind Element, he planned to learn alongside Linley. Linley had top-grade talent in the Wind Element, and with Doehring's guidance as well, his progress wouldn't be any slower than if he formally enrolled in the courses.

As for the Dark Element... Doehring didn't know Dark Element magic, either, and Ernst Academy didn't offer courses in it. But Lin Yun wasn't in a hurry; he could learn Dark Element magic when he got the chance. Mastering all seven elements was his goal, but he didn't have to accomplish it right away.

That meant he would actually be studying six elements at once: Thunder, Light, Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. The workload was indeed astonishing, but he had the advantage of cultivating in two worlds—studying magical theory in the Coiling Dragon World, then using Spiritual Force to simulate and analyze it in the Swallowed Star World. With time from both worlds added together, he could accomplish far more in a day than anyone else.

From the day classes officially began, Lin Yun became the busiest student at Ernst Academy.

His schedule was packed, leaving him barely a moment of free time.

Monday mornings were devoted to basic Thunder Element theory, with Light Element magic principles in the afternoon. Tuesday mornings covered Fire Element studies, and the afternoon was devoted to introductory Water Element magic. Wednesday mornings were for practical Thunder Element lessons, while the afternoon brought Light Element Healing Spells. Thursday and Friday were filled with intermediate Thunder and Light Element courses...

And that was only his official class schedule.

Every morning, he had to get up an hour earlier than everyone else to meditate and cultivate in the dormitory, refining his magical power. During class, he had to pay even closer attention than the others, because taking courses in four elements meant remembering several times as much material. After classes, while everyone else could rest and relax, he had to review what he had learned that day and prepare for the next day's lessons.

On top of that, he had to find time to study Earth Element magic with Doehring.

Every evening, Lin Yun found a quiet corner and received Doehring's instruction through Linley. Doehring couldn't communicate with him directly, but Linley faithfully conveyed every word. The essentials of Earth Element magic, spellcasting techniques, practical applications—Doehring taught him everything he knew, and Lin Yun devoted himself completely to learning.

"The core of Earth Element magic is 'heaviness' and 'stability.'" Doehring's voice came through Linley. "The Earth Spike and Petrified Skin you've learned are only the basics. Next, I'll teach you more advanced Earth Element magic: Earth Crack and Saint Armor of Earth Protection."

Lin Yun nodded seriously and began practicing according to Doehring's instructions.

As for the Wind Element, he studied it alongside Linley. Every night, the brothers discussed what they had learned that day in their dormitory. Linley explained the key points of his Wind Element classes to Lin Yun, while Lin Yun used his own understanding of magic to help Linley work through difficult concepts.

"The key to Wind Element magic is 'flow' and 'cutting,'" Lin Yun said during one discussion. "When you cast Wind Blade, don't think about 'creating' wind. Guide the wind instead, and let it flow according to your will."

Linley nodded thoughtfully and adjusted his spellcasting as his younger brother had suggested. The results were indeed much better.

An ordinary person would have collapsed under a schedule like that.

But Lin Yun persevered.

His Spiritual Energy far exceeded that of ordinary people, allowing him to remain highly focused through long hours of study and cultivation. His memory was astonishing; after reading a magical theory once, he could remember it perfectly. His understanding of the elements was even more remarkable. Many concepts that his classmates had to puzzle over repeatedly, he could grasp completely after hearing them just once.

More importantly, he had the advantage of cultivating in two worlds.

At night in the Swallowed Star World, while the body in the Coiling Dragon World slept, his other body used meditation and analysis to digest and reinforce the magic knowledge he had learned during the day. The magical power he refined in the Coiling Dragon World also nourished the strength of his soul in this world. With time from the two worlds added together, he could study twice or even three times as efficiently as other people.

Even so, the demands of studying six elements at once were astonishing.

"Lin Yun, aren't you tired?" Reynolds couldn't help asking one day after class as he watched Lin Yun hurry off to his next lesson.

"I'm fine," Lin Yun said without looking back.

"You're fine?" Reynolds' eyes widened!

Lin Yun smiled and hurried toward his next classroom.

Linley wasn't overshadowed by his younger brother's brilliance.

His talent was just as outstanding: he had top-grade talent in both the Earth and Wind Elements, placing him among the best at Ernst Academy. His diligence was plain to see as well. Every day, he got up before dawn to cultivate and practiced until late into the night.

After a month, he had firmly reached level two in magic. His Spiritual Energy ranked among the best for his age, and his practical abilities had earned high praise from his instructors.

"Linley Baruch has top-grade talent in Earth Element magic and top-grade talent in Wind Element magic. He has strong practical abilities and a serious attitude toward his studies." His instructor wrote in his evaluation. "He has a bright future."

In the dormitory, Linley was also the most popular person. He was gentle and sincere, and never put on airs. Yale liked chatting with him, Reynolds liked sparring with him, and even George from next door often came over to discuss magic.

"Linley, your brother's incredible," Reynolds exclaimed one night as he lay in bed. "He's studying four elements and still gets excellent marks in every class... Is he even human?"

Linley smiled. "He's always been better than me."

"You're no slouch, either," Yale said. "Top-grade talent in both Earth and Wind. You must be in the top ten among this year's new students, right?"

"Top ten?" George pushed open the door and came in. "I think he could even be in the top five. Linley's Earth Spike takes only 0.8 seconds to cast. That would be considered excellent even among second-year students."

Linley felt a little embarrassed by the praise. "You're exaggerating."

"Not at all," George said seriously. "One of you has top-grade talent in two elements and mid-grade talent in two more, and the other has top-grade talent in two. Your family is going to rise to prominence."

Linley froze for a moment, then smiled.

Rise to prominence—that was exactly what he and Lin Yun dreamed of.

Night fell, and Ernst Academy settled beneath the peaceful moonlight.

Lin Yun lay in bed with his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep. His consciousness was wandering between two worlds.

In the Swallowed Star World, his other body was meditating cross-legged in a cheap apartment in Yangzhou City. He used Spiritual Force to simulate and analyze the magical knowledge he had learned during the day in the Coiling Dragon World. The magical power he refined there, in turn, nourished the strength of his soul in this world.

In the Coiling Dragon World, his body was asleep—but sleep didn't mean his cultivation had stopped. The meditation method Doehring had taught him continued to operate at a minimal level even as he slept, slowly refining his magical power on its own.

This was the most efficient rhythm he had worked out for cultivating in two worlds at once: one body studied intensely while the other digested and reinforced what it had learned; whenever one body rested, the other kept cultivating. He was making the most of the time in both worlds.

Doehring drifted out of the Coiling Dragon Ring and hovered beside Lin Yun. He looked at the sleeping boy, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

He had officially enrolled in the Thunder, Light, Fire, and Water Elements, studied Earth Element magic with Doehring, and learned the Wind Element alongside Linley—six elements in all. His daily training was several times more demanding than that of ordinary students. Yet the boy had not only persevered, but made astonishing progress in every element.

"What a freak," Doehring sighed once again, repeating a sentiment he had voiced countless times.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell across Lin Yun's peaceful face. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he were having a pleasant dream.

In his dream, he saw two worlds—one where magic and Battle Qi intertwined, and another where genes and Origin Energy coexisted. And he stood at the crossroads between them, advancing step by step toward the summit.