Accumulation

Breaking through to a Level 4 Warrior did not disrupt Lin Qin's rhythm; instead, it was like injecting more efficient fuel into his cultivation engine. He did not reduce the time and energy he invested by even a fraction, and because his increased strength allowed him to withstand higher-intensity training, his daily routine became even more compact and... monotonous.

At the Warrior Division, Buck had completely come to view Lin Qin as his best sparring partner. The two practiced regularly, moving from simple basic swordsmanship to gradually incorporating more applications of Battle Qi. Buck discovered that Lin Qin's rate of progress was simply inhuman. He almost never made the same mistake twice, and his control over his strength was becoming exquisite at a speed visible to the naked eye. Originally, Buck could still rely on his richer combat experience to hold the upper hand, but now, Lin Qin could often use near-instinctive, precise blocks and counters to fight him to a standstill.

"You guy, did you secretly eat some kind of miracle pill?" After one sparring session, Buck sat on the ground, panting, and couldn't help but ask as he looked at Lin Qin, whose breathing was only slightly hurried.

Lin Qin shook his head and picked up his waterskin to take a sip: "Just following the routine." He was telling the truth; his "medicine" was the day-in, day-out swinging of his sword, meditation, and countless repetitions of spellcasting.

Buck rolled his eyes and gave up on investigating entirely. Some people were just born to crush others' self-confidence.

His progress in magic was equally significant. Level 2 Earth-style magic was no longer difficult for him, and he had even begun to delve into the theories and basic elemental models of Level 3 magic. However, his focus remained on the deep excavation of basic magic.

In the open space behind the mountain, Lin Qin stood with his eyes closed. He did not chant any incantations; he simply concentrated his mental energy to a high degree, guiding the earth elements.

"Pop!" "Pop!" "Pop!"

Three Earth Spike Spears erupted from the ground in front of him from different angles almost simultaneously, forming a simple triangular formation. This was not the Level 3 spell Chain Earth Spike Spear, but rather a similar effect he had achieved through countless practices of forcibly compressing and linking the casting process of multiple Level 1 Earth Spike Spear spells. The magic consumption was higher than a true Level 3 spell, but it had the advantage of being flexible, rapid, and a technique he had mastered through pure practice.

He dispersed the magic and began practicing the Earth Wall Technique. An earth wall rose, and immediately after, the wall surface began to thicken locally, forming several protruding support points to make the structure more stable. He even attempted to make the surface of the earth wall rough and uneven to increase the difficulty of climbing it.

These improvements were insignificant and far from reaching the level of profound laws, but they were the most intuitive understanding and application of earth element characteristics he had gained after thousands of practices. His Heaven Rewards Diligence talent was slowly settling and accumulating these seemingly small improvements and insights, like a stream flowing into a deep pool.

In the dead of night, as Lin Qin meditated, his mind not only sank into his body but also faintly merged with the heaven and earth elements outside. Especially after practicing Earth-style magic and Earth Battle Qi, his perception of the land beneath his feet became increasingly clear.

It was not visual or auditory, but a heavy, all-encompassing "sense of presence." He could vaguely feel the pulse of the earth, sensing its thickness and stability. During one deep meditation, he even captured a trace of an extremely faint rhythm belonging to the "power" of the earth—a rhythm that resonated strangely with the tempo of the power he exerted when swinging his sword and the trajectory of his Battle Qi flowing through his body.

This feeling was fleeting, impossible to grasp, and even harder to understand. But Lin Qin knew that this was perhaps what Doering Cowart had once mentioned: the surface of the "laws" that transcended techniques and magic power to point directly to the origin of the world.

He did not rush for success, nor did he mention it to anyone. He simply kept this feeling silently in his heart, and in every subsequent sword swing, every spell cast, and every meditation, he focused more intently on experiencing the trajectory of the flowing power and sensing the arrangement and vibration of the elements.

He knew that this required more accumulation and an even greater volume of "effort."

Meanwhile, Linley's reputation at the Ernst Institute was growing louder and louder. His dual-element super-grade talent, combined with the astonishing comprehension he displayed in stone carving, made him the focus of the institute. Lin Qin occasionally encountered Linley in the cafeteria or on the road and could feel that the aura on him was becoming increasingly refined; clearly, he was progressing rapidly.

When the two met, they still only exchanged simple nods, occasionally discussing cultivation insights. Lin Qin could feel that Linley seemed to have some hidden concerns, but he never asked. Everyone had their own path and their own secrets.