Edge of the Magic Beast Mountain Range

During the remainder of his vacation, Lin Qin accepted several more mercenary missions. He deliberately chose gathering or hunting tasks that required entering the fringes of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

Having learned his lesson from last time, he became much more cautious. Every time he entered the mountain forest, he remained vigilant throughout, slightly extending his spiritual energy to sense the surrounding environment. He no longer easily trusted any stranger or animal that appeared harmless.

In actual combat, he fully displayed the results of his daily hard work. The battle qi of a level five warrior, combined with exquisite control, allowed him to efficiently slay level one and level two magic beasts. His instant-cast Earth Spike Spear and flexible Earth Wall Technique played key roles in providing support and crowd control during battles.

Once, he encountered a level three magic beast, the Iron-Backed Mountain Cat. This magic beast was extremely fast with sharp claws and fangs. Lin Qin did not engage it head-on; instead, he used Earth Spike Spear to restrict its movement and Earth Wall Technique to create obstacles, eventually seizing an opportunity to pierce its eye with a single sword strike.

Another time, in order to gather a type of herb that only grew on cliffs, he had to deal with the Sharp-Clawed Eagle, a low-level wind-type magic beast circling in the sky. He utilized the terrain, using Earth Wall Technique to create cover in a recessed part of the cliff, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike it down with a precise Earth Spike Spear.

These battles were not high-intensity, but they allowed him to accumulate valuable experience in wilderness survival and actual combat. He learned how to identify the tracks of magic beasts, how to utilize the environment, and how to execute the most effective attacks in the shortest amount of time.

His mercenary rank also rose from Black Iron to Bronze. The money pouch at his waist gradually grew heavier, containing not only gold coins but also a few low-level magic cores and some magic beast materials.

Before the vacation ended, Lin Qin returned to the Ernst Institute. He did not rest and went straight to the back mountain.

Compared to when he left, his aura was more restrained, his gaze more composed, and his movements carried a hint of sharpness tempered by real combat.

He drew his broadsword and began to swing. The movements were still standard, but the meaning contained within them was already different. Every hack carried the decisiveness of fighting magic beasts in the Magic Beast Mountain Range; every block incorporated the adaptability used to counter sneak attacks.

It was the same when he practiced magic. The angles at which his Earth Spike Spear emerged were more devious, and the shapes formed by his Earth Wall Technique were better suited to the needs of actual combat.

When Luo De and the others saw him return, they crowded around to ask him all sorts of questions. Lin Qin spoke briefly about his experiences, omitting the dangerous parts. However, his roommates could still sense the change in him—an indescribable temperament that came from having weathered the storm.

The new semester began. The classes remained the same, and the cultivation continued as before. But Lin Qin's mindset had changed. Learning at the institute was about accumulation, while the trials in the Magic Beast Mountain Range were about verification and application. He knew he needed to find a balance between the two.

He still went to the Warrior Division every day to train and spar with Buck. Buck clearly felt that Lin Qin's sword was more elusive, his defense more impeccable, and his combat awareness had improved by a significant margin.

"You kid, did you run off somewhere for special training during the break?" Buck couldn't help but ask.

"I took on a few mercenary missions," Lin Qin replied.

Buck realized, then sighed, "Actual combat really is the best teacher."

Lin Qin deeply agreed. His Heaven Rewards Diligence ensured the efficiency of his cultivation, while actual combat allowed that power to truly come alive.

He stood on the back mountain, looking toward the direction of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. He would return to that vast and dangerous mountain range again.