After the Breakthrough

Life after breaking through to a Level 4 Warrior didn't seem all that different. Lin Qin continued to follow his almost rigid daily routine.

During his morning physical training, thanks to the comprehensive improvement in his physical fitness, he could easily handle heavier loads and cover longer distances. When he swung his sword, his arms were steadier, the sound of the broadsword cutting through the air was deeper and more resonant, and the wind from his blade left clearer marks on the ground.

In his morning magic theory class, he remained focused. The slight increase in mental power brought about by his breakthrough made his perception of the structure of magic elements more acute. During the lecture on "Stability of Earth-type Magic Element Arrangements," he was able to grasp the complex models described by the instructor faster, even simulating the subtle differences in mana flow under different arrangements in his mind.

At lunch, he sat in his usual spot, eating quickly. Only today, he ordered an extra serving of roasted meat. After the breakthrough, his body's demand for energy had clearly increased.

In the afternoon at the Warrior Division training grounds.

"Huh?" Buck had only traded a few blows with Lin Qin before he felt something was off. When he blocked Lin Qin's slash, the force hitting his arm was significantly heavier, leaving his palm tingling.

"You... you broke through?" Buck stepped back, eyeing Lin Qin in surprise. He remembered Lin Qin being at the peak of Level 3 Warrior, but this increase in strength clearly signaled he had stepped into Level 4.

"Yeah, a few days ago." Lin Qin lowered his sword and admitted it straightforwardly.

"Good man!" Buck grinned and patted Lin Qin's shoulder hard. "Congrats! Now I have even more reason to spar with you! Come on, come on, we can use a bit of Battle Qi this time. Let me feel the power of a Level 4 Warrior!"

The two engaged again, both channeling a small amount of Earth Battle Qi into their wooden swords. Buck's attacks were more powerful and heavy, while Lin Qin's defense appeared even more effortless, his Battle Qi clearly more refined than Buck's. Although Buck still held the advantage in experience and tactical variety, Lin Qin's terrifyingly solid foundation and superior strength and speed put Buck under real pressure.

After the sparring session, Buck was drenched in sweat, looking at Lin Qin with even more admiration. "Your foundation... how exactly do you train it? I feel like I was hitting an anvil."

"Swinging my sword every day." Lin Qin's answer remained simple.

Buck looked up at the sky, speechless. He believed it, but he had never seen anyone else reach Lin Qin's level of dedication.

During his evening training in the back mountains, Lin Qin began attempting to apply his Level 4 Battle Qi more precisely to his magic practice. When casting Earth Spike Spear, he tried to integrate a thread of Earth Battle Qi into the magic guidance; the speed and piercing power of the spear seemed to have improved by an imperceptible margin. While maintaining the Earth Wall Technique, he channeled his Battle Qi to stabilize his stance, and the shock resistance of the wall also subtly increased.

These attempts to combine magic and Battle Qi at such a granular level were still very crude, but they represented the start of him exploring his own path. His Heaven Rewards Diligence talent seemed to be quietly exerting its influence in this new direction of "effort" as well.

Back at the dormitory that night, Luo De and the others noticed the change in Lin Qin's aura; that sense of deep, steady pressure was more pronounced.

"Lin Qin, did you get stronger again?" Luo De asked curiously.

"Yeah, my Battle Qi broke through to Level 4." Lin Qin replied while organizing his toiletries.

The room went quiet for a moment.

"F-four?" Karl's eyes widened. "You've only been at the academy for half a year, right? This speed..."

Keane also muttered, "No wonder you're so desperate..."

They all knew Lin Qin trained hard, but breaking through from Level 3 to Level 4 in just over half a year was considered excellent even in the Warrior Division. Considering he also had magic to cultivate, the way they looked at Lin Qin couldn't help but carry a hint of viewing him as a monster.

"Congratulations." Luo De was the first to react, saying it sincerely.

"Thanks."

After the brief congratulations, the dormitory quickly returned to its usual atmosphere. Luo De began bragging about how he had dodged all the soft balls during reaction training, Karl complained about the tediousness of his magic array homework, and Keane shared rumors he had heard about the academy's year-end assessment.

Lin Qin finished washing up and sat on the edge of his bed, listening to his roommates' idle chatter and occasionally chiming in. The changes brought by his breakthrough to Level 4 were slowly integrating into his disciplined life, becoming the new normal. Feeling the more abundant power within him, he felt no great ripples of emotion regarding the upcoming year-end assessment or the more distant future.