Graduation and a New Journey

Time passed, and the graduation season of the Ernst Institute arrived.

For Lin Qin, these years at the institute were a golden period for laying a solid foundation and accumulating strength. Today, he is already a seventh-rank warrior, and his earth-style magic has stabilized at the fourth rank. This level of strength, anywhere on the Yulan Continent, would be considered quite formidable. More importantly, the foundation he forged through "Heaven Rewards Diligence" and his understanding of the essence of power, which far exceeds that of his peers, are his greatest assets.

The graduation assessment posed no difficulty for him, and he passed with ease. He politely declined the olive branches extended by several major powers, including the enthusiastic invitation from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. He knew that joining an organization in a routine manner would limit his growth speed. He needed a freer, more dangerous environment to hone himself.

Aileen successfully broke through to become a fourth-rank water-style mage. She accepted a researcher position at the Magic Guild in Fenlai City, which was relatively stable and conducive to her continued studies. This was a wise choice.

By the lake at the institute, the two walked side by side.

"Have you decided? Where are you going?" Aileen asked softly, her eyes filled with reluctance, but even more so with understanding and support.

"First, to the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range." Lin Qin replied, casting his gaze toward the distant, rolling mountains. "The challenges there are more suitable for me now. Afterward, I might travel to the O'Brien Empire in the north or the Yulan Empire in the south."

He paused and looked at Aileen. "Your choice is excellent. The Magic Guild can provide you with a stable environment. Establish yourself there first and improve your strength."

Aileen nodded. She knew that Lin Qin's path was destined to be a lonely and dangerous pursuit; she could not, and did not want to, become a burden to him. She stopped, faced Lin Qin, took an amulet embroidered with a simple water-style magic array from her bosom, and handed it to him. "This is for you. I made it myself; it can help calm your mind a little. When you are out there... be careful with everything."

Lin Qin took the amulet, which still carried the girl's body heat, and tucked it away carefully. He was not a man good at expressing himself; he simply looked at Aileen and said earnestly, "You too. Take care of yourself. When I am strong enough, I will come back for you."

This was no grand oath of eternal love, yet it gave Aileen more peace of mind than any sweet words could. She believed in every promise this man made. "Mm, I'll wait for you." She revealed a gentle and firm smile.

Without excessive lingering, the two parted simply but solemnly. They both understood that this brief separation was for a longer time standing side by side in the future.

After the graduation ceremony, Lin Qin went to see Linley. Linley had also rejected the recruitment of major powers; he seemed to have his own clear goals. The two met at their usual clearing in the back mountain.

"Ready to leave?" Linley asked. He could feel the determination to travel far radiating from Lin Qin.

"Mm, leaving tomorrow." Lin Qin nodded. "And you?"

"I'm almost there too." Linley's gaze was somewhat distant, his fingers unconsciously stroking the Coiling Dragon Ring. "There are some things that must be done."

Lin Qin did not press for details on what those things were, only saying, "Take care. If you need anything, you know where to find me." He was referring to the Mercenary Guild, where messages could be left for registered mercenaries through specific channels.

Linley smiled and patted Lin Qin on the shoulder. "You too, take care. I hope that when we meet again, we will both have become stronger."

"Definitely." Lin Qin's tone was certain. For someone who possessed "Heaven Rewards Diligence," becoming stronger was inevitable.

The two youths who had walked out of Wushan Town said their goodbyes at this moment, heading toward their respective unknown but destined-to-be-extraordinary paths.

The next morning, Lin Qin carried his pack, his broadsword still carefully wrapped in cloth strips, and left the Ernst Institute alone, without alerting anyone. He went first to the Mercenary Guild in Fenlai City.

Now that he was a Silver Mercenary, he was qualified to take on higher-difficulty missions. He bypassed the C-rank and D-rank tasks, setting his sights on B-rank and even a few A-rank missions.

[Mission Rank: A-]

[Content: Investigate the cause of recent abnormal energy fluctuations in the "Mist Canyon" within the core area of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Suspected high-rank magic beast activity or the emergence of rare treasures. Warning: Danger level is extremely high; multiple scouting teams have been confirmed lost.]

[Requirements: It is recommended that seventh-rank or higher warriors or magi form a team to proceed.]

[Reward: Determined based on investigation results, minimum five thousand gold coins, no upper limit.]

This mission caught Lin Qin's attention. Mist Canyon, located deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range, was fraught with danger, but also offered opportunities. Abnormal energy fluctuations often meant change—it could be danger, or it could be a stroke of fortune. Most importantly, this environment could put him under immense pressure, facilitating his rapid growth.

He did not hesitate and accepted this A-rank mission. Then, he spent most of his savings purchasing high-quality antidotes, healing potions, stamina recovery potions, a more detailed map of the core area of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and other essential survival supplies.

A thick, primitive wilderness atmosphere rushed toward him. Towering ancient trees blocked the sun, and the air was filled with a mixture of soil, rotting leaves, and the faint, fishy scent of magic beasts. The magic elements here were far more violent and dense than in the outside world.

Lin Qin took a deep breath, feeling the battle qi and mental energy within his body stir with excitement in this environment. He knew this was his true stage.

Following the map's instructions, he began his trek toward the Mist Canyon. Every step was cautious; his mental energy spread around his body like a spiderweb, sensing any movement.

Only half a day into the depths, he encountered a seventh-rank magic beast, the "Shadow Leopard." This beast was as fast as a ghost and skilled in sneak attacks. Lin Qin sensed it in advance thanks to his powerful perception, and a fierce battle erupted.

The Shadow Leopard's sharp claws tore through the air with a shrill whistle. Lin Qin blocked steadily with his broadsword, his battle qi erupting with the sound of clashing metal. He no longer limited himself to defense; his swordsmanship unfolded, sometimes heavy as a mountain with immense pressure, other times tricky as a snake, targeting vital points. He integrated his understanding of "momentum" into his swordsmanship, making every strike carry the weight of the earth, severely limiting the Shadow Leopard's speed advantage.

At the same time, his instant-cast Earth Spike Spear and occasional use of the Gravity Technique always interfered with the Shadow Leopard's attack rhythm at just the right moment. This battle was more dangerous and intense than any he had experienced at the institute or the edge of the mountains.

In the end, Lin Qin seized the opening when the Shadow Leopard lunged too aggressively. With his broadsword infused with the strength of his entire body, he delivered a simple, swift, and fierce thrust that precisely pierced its heart.

Looking at the massive magic beast lying on the ground, Lin Qin panted slightly, his body marked with a few shallow bloodstains. He skillfully began processing the materials; the magic core and fur of a seventh-rank magic beast were worth a fortune.

This was just the beginning. The closer he got to the Mist Canyon, the more powerful and bizarre the magic beasts he encountered became. There were "Bewitching Demon Foxes" skilled in mental attacks, "Thorn Demon Vines" capable of controlling plants, and the "Blood-Tooth Wild Boar," a sixth-rank magic beast that traveled in packs and fought without fear of death.

Lin Qin pushed what he had learned to the limit in battle after battle. His battle qi became more refined through life-and-death struggles, and his use of magic became more flexible and varied. He began to try to combine the characteristics of Earth Battle Qi with earth-style magic more deeply—for example, infusing a trace of battle qi's piercing power into his Earth Spike Spear, or using battle qi to stabilize the core structure of his Earth Wall Technique while maintaining it.

His "Heaven Rewards Diligence" talent became increasingly effective in this high-intensity, real-combat environment. Every recovery after an injury made his constitution stronger; every meditation after exhausting his magic power made his mental energy more solid; every realization at the brink of life and death gave him a deeper understanding of power.

A month later, after enduring many hardships, Lin Qin finally arrived at the outskirts of the Mist Canyon. Before him lay the entrance to a massive canyon shrouded in thick, gray-white fog. Even standing outside, he could feel the heart-palpitating energy fluctuations coming from within, as well as the thick, suffocating aura of death—the despair left behind by the previously lost explorers.

At the entrance to the canyon, he was not the only one. Three other groups were also lingering here, clearly all strong individuals who had either accepted the mission or heard the news.

One group consisted of five burly men wearing uniform armor. Their auras were fierce and their discipline strict, looking like the private army of some great family or an elite squad from a large mercenary group. Their leader was an eighth-rank warrior whose aura was no less than Lin Qin's.

Another group consisted of three mages, two wearing fire-red robes and one wearing earth-yellow robes. Judging from the magic power fluctuations emanating from them, they were at least sixth-rank mages, and the red-haired old man leading them was likely at the level of a seventh-rank magus.

The last group consisted of only two people: one shrouded in a black cloak, face obscured, with a cold and chilling aura; the other was a tall woman carrying a longbow, her eyes as sharp as a hawk's, clearly a formidable archer.

These groups kept a wary distance from one another. Seeing the lone Lin Qin arrive, their gazes lingered on him for a moment. After detecting his seventh-rank warrior fluctuations and his steady demeanor, they stopped paying much attention, though they did not underestimate him. Anyone who could walk here alone was certainly no ordinary person.

Lin Qin had no habit of chatting with anyone. He found a corner slightly away from the others to sit down, resting to recover his strength while carefully observing the entrance to the Mist Canyon and his potential "temporary neighbors." He knew that the upcoming exploration would require him to face not only the unknown dangers within the canyon but also to guard against these "companions" who had come for the same profit.