Ernst Institute

Departing from Fenlai City and heading south, it took little more than half a day before the Ernst Institute appeared in view.

The Ernst Institute was located in a mountainous forest region over twenty li south of the Holy Capital, Fenlai City. This institution, funded by the Radiant Church, was naturally wealthy and imposing, covering a vast area of nearly ten li in circumference—an academy of such size was almost comparable to a city itself.

Outside the academy, there was little human activity, just an expanse of open, hilly terrain. Restaurants, clothing stores, bars, and other service establishments were all located within the academy grounds. It could be said that the students of the Ernst Institute lived entirely within the academy, able to satisfy all their daily needs without ever stepping outside.

"Is that the Ernst Institute?" Linley stood before the main gate, his eyes wide with amazement.

The main gate of the Ernst Institute was a full fifty meters wide. Above the gate sat a massive, crescent-shaped structure engraved with various profound magic runes. Just by looking at its complexity, one could tell that the magic array on the gate was a large-scale one, emitting faint magical fluctuations.

"So big..." Linley murmured, his eyes fixed in a stare.

Bebe also poked his head out from his shoulder, his beady black eyes wide as he let out a "chi" sound, as if expressing his awe.

Lin Yun also narrowed his eyes slightly. This was the Ernst Institute—the number one magic academy on the Yulan Continent, a place countless magic apprentices dreamed of entering.

And he was about to become a part of it.

At this moment, the academy entrance was quite bustling. A row of administrative staff was present, and many students holding admission letters and identification documents were queuing up to process their enrollment.

Linley and Lin Yun immediately took their admission letters and identification documents to join the queue. During the enrollment process, there was a requirement to re-test the students' strength—after all, the Ernst Institute was concerned about the possibility of someone stealing an admission letter to impersonate another.

The testing process was quick. The brothers placed their hands on the Testing Crystal Ball, once again demonstrating their respective talents. The teacher in charge of the testing looked at the light blooming within the crystal ball, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, but he said nothing more, merely nodding and making a mark on the form.

The two completed the test quickly, received their Ernst Institute "Student ID" cards, and were given their dormitory keys.

"Uncle Hillman, we're going in." Linley turned to look at Hillman, his eyes filled with a hint of reluctance.

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

"Mm." The brothers replied in unison.

Hillman watched them turn and walk into the academy gates, standing there for a long while before driving the carriage away slowly.

Within the Ernst Institute, regardless of poverty or wealth, all students were required to live in uniform dormitories. Both tuition and accommodation fees were completely waived—this was one of the key reasons why the Ernst Institute attracted countless genius commoners.

The two were assigned to dormitory number 1987. Following the instructions, they began to search for their room.

The Ernst Institute lived up to its reputation; every dormitory was a standalone courtyard, with thousands of such dwellings neatly arranged along the hillside. The courtyard walls were made of white stone, the roofs covered in red tiles, and neatly trimmed shrubs were planted in front of each gate. Although not luxurious, it was clean and tidy, and it seemed like a comfortable place to live.

Pushing open the gate to dormitory 1987, they found a small courtyard inside. In the center of the yard grew an unknown tree, with a stone table and several stone chairs placed beneath it. Directly facing the gate was a row of rooms, consisting of four bedrooms and a common living room; it seemed this place was meant to house four people.

There were already two people in the dormitory.

A youth dressed in luxurious clothing was tinkering with something in the corner. He wore a finely crafted blue robe, clearly not from an ordinary family. Seeing Linley and Lin Yun enter, he immediately stood up.

"Hello there, you must be our new roommates? My name is Yale, and I suppose you could say I'm from the Holy Union." His voice carried an innate sense of affinity, making one feel an unconscious desire to be close to him.

"I'm Reynolds! From the O'Brien Empire." Another youth poked his head out from behind a desk. He was shorter than Yale but looked sturdier, with a few freckles on his face and a smile that revealed a set of white teeth. "Are you brothers? You look so much alike!"

"My name is Linley Baruch, and this is my younger brother, Lin Yun." Linley introduced them somewhat shyly.

"Where are you two from?" Reynolds asked curiously.

"Fenlai Kingdom, Wushan Town."

"Wushan Town? That's not far from here, is it?" Reynolds said. "My home is in the O'Brien Empire; it took me a full year to get here from home this time."

As they were talking, the door was pushed open again.

A youth wearing glasses with a refined appearance walked in. He wore a gray robe and held a stack of thick magic books in his arms.

"Hello, I'm George, living next door in 1988." His voice was gentle and polite. "I heard new students had arrived, so I came over to say hello."

Linley hurriedly introduced himself and Lin Yun.

George pushed up his glasses and said earnestly: "I saw your names on the freshman roster. I heard your test results were excellent—super-grade in both Earth Element and Wind Element, plus super-grade in Thunder and Light Elements..."

He looked at Lin Yun, a flash of amazement in his eyes: "Super-grade in two elements plus medium-grade in two others; such talent is rare even at the Ernst Institute."

Lin Yun smiled: "You flatter me."

"If you have anything you don't understand in the future, we can consult each other," George said. "I major in the Water Element, and I know a thing or two about it."

"I'm Earth Element!" Reynolds raised his hand. "But my talent is average, only high-grade."

"I major in the Wind Element!" Yale said. "But I'm mostly here to make friends. Magic and such, as long as I'm decent, that's enough."

Linley couldn't help but laugh. These few people had different personalities, but they were all easy to get along with.

"By the way, do you know?" George suddenly lowered his voice. "Among the freshmen this year, there is a particularly formidable genius. It's said his Spiritual Energy is over sixty times that of his peers, and his Elemental Affinity is also super-grade."

"You're talking about Dixie, right?" Yale said. "The grandson of the O'Brien Empire's chancellor; he is indeed a genius."

"Dixie..." Linley murmured.

The next morning, the freshmen were summoned to the academy's grand auditorium for course selection and mentor assignment.

The auditorium could hold over a thousand people and was packed to capacity. The freshmen sat in their assigned seats, chattering away as they discussed their upcoming academy life.

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

"Quiet." A low voice echoed through the auditorium, and everyone immediately fell silent.

A white-haired old man stepped onto the podium. He wore a robe embroidered with Light Element magic emblems, and a golden badge was pinned to his chest—the mark of a high-level mage. His gaze swept across the room, and everyone he looked at couldn't help but sit up straight.

"I am the dean of the Ernst Institute, Delan." The old man's voice was not loud, but it was clearly audible in every corner of the auditorium. "First, congratulations on passing the entrance examination and becoming members of the Ernst Institute. But I must remind you—entering the academy is only the beginning, not the end. Here, you will receive the most rigorous magic education and learn the most systematic magical knowledge. Whether you can become a true mage depends on your own efforts."

He paused, then continued, "Today, you need to choose the magic elements you wish to study. The academy offers courses in Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Thunder, and Light. Once chosen, you may adjust your path based on your progress and the advice of your instructors."

Lin Yun ultimately chose the Thunder, Light, Water, and Fire elements. As for the Earth element, Delin would teach him privately. As a Saint Realm magus who had lived for five thousand years, Delin's mastery of Earth magic far exceeded any instructor at the academy; with Delin's guidance, he did not need to enroll in Earth magic at the academy.

For the Wind element, he planned to follow Linley Baruch. Linley's talent for the Wind element was super-grade, and with Delin's guidance, his progress would not be any slower than those officially enrolled.

As for the Dark element... Delin did not know Dark magic, and the Ernst Institute did not offer courses in it either. However, he was not in a hurry; he could learn Dark magic when the opportunity arose in the future. Mastering all seven elements was his goal, but it did not have to be completed right now.

Calculating it all, he was effectively studying six elements simultaneously: Thunder, Light, Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. The workload was indeed staggering, but he possessed the advantage of dual-world cultivation—learning magic theory in the Coiling Dragon World and using Spiritual Force to simulate and deduce it in the Swallowed Star World. With the time from both worlds stacked together, he could accomplish far more in a single day than anyone else.

From the day classes officially began, Lin Yun became the busiest student in the entire Ernst Institute.

His schedule was packed to the brim, leaving him almost no moment of leisure.

Monday morning was basic theory for the Thunder element, and the afternoon was the principles of Light magic. Tuesday morning was Fire element studies, and the afternoon was an introduction to Water magic. Wednesday morning was a practical Thunder class, the afternoon was Light Healing Spell, and Thursday and Friday were intermediate courses for Thunder and Light...

And this was only the official course schedule.

Every morning, he had to wake up an hour earlier than everyone else to meditate in his dormitory and refine his magic power. During the day, he had to be more focused than others because the four-element curriculum meant he had to memorize several times more knowledge than his peers. After classes ended in the evening, while others could rest and relax, he had to spend time reviewing what he had learned that day and previewing the next day's lessons.

On top of that, he had to find time to learn Earth magic from Delin.

Every evening, Lin Yun would find a secluded corner to receive Delin's guidance through Linley. Although Delin could not communicate with him directly, Linley would faithfully relay every word. The secrets of Earth magic, casting techniques, and practical applications—Delin taught him everything he knew, and Lin Yun studied with total concentration.

"The core of Earth magic is 'heaviness' and 'stability'." Delin's voice came through Linley. "The Earth Spike and Petrified Skin you learned before are just the basics. Next, I will teach you more advanced Earth magic—Earth Crack and the Saint Armor of Earth Protection."

Lin Yun nodded earnestly and began to practice according to Delin's instructions.

As for the Wind element, he studied alongside Linley. Every night, the brothers would exchange what they had learned that day in their dormitory. Linley would explain the key points of the Wind courses to Lin Yun, while Lin Yun would use his own understanding of magic to help Linley analyze difficult concepts.

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

Linley nodded thoughtfully and adjusted his casting method according to his brother's suggestion; the effect was indeed much better.

If an ordinary person had faced such a schedule, they would have collapsed long ago.

But Lin Yun persisted.

His Spiritual Energy was far beyond that of an ordinary person, allowing him to maintain a high level of focus during long periods of study and cultivation. His memory was astonishing; he could firmly remember any magic theory after reading it once. His comprehension of the elements was even more terrifying; concepts that many classmates needed to ponder repeatedly to understand, he could grasp thoroughly after hearing them once.

More importantly, he had the advantage of dual-world cultivation.

At night in the Swallowed Star World, while his body in the Coiling Dragon World was sleeping, his other body would use meditation and deduction to digest and consolidate the magic knowledge learned during the day. The time from the two worlds stacked together, allowing his daily learning efficiency to reach twice or even three times that of others.

Even so, the intensity of studying six elements at once remained staggering.

"Lin Yun, aren't you tired?" One day after class, Reynolds watched Lin Yun's back as he hurried to his next lesson and couldn't help but ask.

"I'm alright." Lin Yun said without looking back.

"Alright?" Reynolds' eyes widened!

Lin Yun smiled and walked quickly toward the next classroom.

Under his younger brother's brilliance, Linley was not overshadowed.

His talent was equally outstanding—super-grade in both Earth and Wind elements, which was already at the top level at the Ernst Institute. His diligence was also plain for all to see; he would wake up before dawn to cultivate every day, practicing until late at night.

After a month, his magic level had steadily reached the second rank. His Spiritual Energy was among the best of his peers, and his practical combat ability had received high praise from his instructors.

"Linley Baruch, super-grade talent in Earth magic, super-grade talent in Wind magic, strong practical combat ability, serious learning attitude." The instructor wrote in his evaluation, "A promising future."

In the dormitory, Linley was also the most popular person. He had a gentle personality, treated others with sincerity, and never put on airs. Yale liked to chat with him, Reynolds liked to spar with him, and even George from next door often came over to discuss magic problems with him.

"Linley, your brother is just too fierce." One night, Reynolds lay on his bed and couldn't help but sigh. "Studying four elements at once and still getting 'excellent' in every subject... is he even human?"

Linley smiled. "He's been better than me since we were kids."

"You're not bad either." Yale said. "Super-grade in two elements; you must be in the top ten among the freshmen this year, right?"

"Top ten?" George pushed the door open and walked in. "I think top five is possible. Linley's casting speed for Earth Spike has already reached 0.8 seconds. That result would be considered excellent even for a second-year student."

Linley felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. "You guys are exaggerating."

"Not at all." George said seriously. "You two brothers—one with super-grade in two elements plus two medium-grade, and the other with super-grade in two... your family is going to rise."

Linley was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

To rise—that was exactly his and Lin Yun's dream.

The night grew deep, and the Ernst Institute was immersed in the tranquil moonlight.

Lin Yun lay on his bed with his eyes closed, but he was not asleep; his consciousness was wandering between the two worlds.

In the Swallowed Star World, his other body was sitting cross-legged in the low-rent housing in Yangzhou City, meditating. He would use Spiritual Force to simulate and deduce the magic knowledge learned during the day in the Coiling Dragon World; the magic power refined in the Coiling Dragon World would feed back into the soul strength of this world.

Meanwhile, in the Coiling Dragon World, his body was sleeping—but sleep did not mean stopping his cultivation. The meditation method Delin taught him could maintain a minimum level of operation even during sleep, allowing magic power to slowly refine itself.

This was the optimal rhythm he had discovered through parallel cultivation in two worlds—one body engaged in high-intensity learning, while the other body digested and consolidated; when one body rested, the other continued to cultivate. He utilized the time of both worlds to the absolute limit.

Delin floated out from the Coiling Dragon Ring and hovered beside Lin Yun. He looked at the sleeping youth, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Thunder, Light, Fire, and Water elements as official electives, Earth with him, and Wind with Linley—studying six elements at once, his daily cultivation volume was several times that of an ordinary student. Yet, this child not only persisted but had also made astonishing progress in every element.

"What a freak." Delin once again uttered this exclamation he had already said countless times.

The moonlight spilled in through the window, shining on Lin Yun's calm face. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if he were having a good dream.

In his dream, he saw two worlds—one where magic and Battle Qi intertwined, and one where genes and genetic energy coexisted. And he was standing at the intersection of these two worlds, walking step by step toward the peak.