Barrier-Breaking Pill and Level Six

September 1st, 9996 Yulan Calendar.

Ernst Institute welcomed a new academic year.

Akes stood in front of the teaching building, watching the students coming and going. The fifth-grade classrooms were on the third floor, but he didn't need to go there today—a few days ago, he had just passed the sixth-grade examination.

The patterns on his cuffs had changed from five stripes to six.

"Level six." He whispered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

It had taken him exactly five years to go from level one to level six. This speed could rank in the top ten in the history of Ernst Institute.

"Third brother!"

Reynolds' voice came from behind. Akes turned around and saw four people walking toward him.

Reynolds was running in the lead and spotted the patterns on his cuffs at a glance: "Level six?!"

"Yeah, just passed a few days ago."

"So fast!" Reynolds widened his eyes, "Weren't you only at the late stage of level five?"

"After the late stage comes the peak, and after the peak comes the breakthrough." Akes said it nonchalantly.

Reynolds rolled his eyes: "You make it sound so easy."

Yale walked over and patted Akes on the shoulder: "Not bad, third brother, the first level six in our dormitory."

"Linley is almost there too." Akes looked at Linley.

Linley's cuffs still had five stripes, but his aura was significantly stronger than last semester. He nodded: "I'm at the peak; I should be able to pass by the end of the year."

"Then we'll both be in the sixth grade by then." Akes said.

George laughed from the side: "You two are planning to graduate in sync."

"It's possible." Akes said, "What about you? Fourth grade?"

George nodded: "Just promoted to fourth grade. Yale as well."

Yale shook his cuffs, showing four stripes with a smug look on his face.

Reynolds made a bitter face: "I'm still in the third grade..."

"Take your time." Akes said, "What's the rush?"

The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward their respective classrooms.

Akes and Linley parted at the stairwell—the sixth-grade classroom was on the fourth floor, and the fifth-grade was on the third.

"Same place this afternoon." Akes said.

Linley nodded.

The sixth-grade classroom was smaller than the fifth-grade one, and there were fewer people. When Akes pushed the door open, there were only seven or eight people sitting inside.

There were fewer classes in the sixth grade than in the fifth, only four per week. Most of the time was spent on self-cultivation, with teachers coming by occasionally to provide guidance. Akes flipped through the newly issued schedule, calculating his next plan in his mind.

"Level six to level seven is a major hurdle." He thought, "Liquefying spiritual energy isn't something that can be achieved just by accumulation."

But there was no use in rushing. The path had to be walked one step at a time.

The morning class covered the principles of advanced fire-style magic. The teacher was a level seven mage who lectured in great depth, and Akes listened very attentively.

In the afternoon, at the back mountain.

When Akes arrived, Linley was already waiting. The others hadn't come yet.

"You're early." Akes walked over.

Linley was sitting on a rock, looking at the waterfall in the distance: "Yeah."

Akes sat down beside him, and neither of them spoke.

After a while, Yale and the others arrived. Reynolds was running in the lead, holding a few pieces of dried meat, gnawing as he ran.

"Late, I'm late!" He shouted, "Ran into a beauty on the way and took a few extra looks."

"Keep bragging." Yale said from behind, "Where would there be a beauty?"

"It's true! Water-style, she looked so good!"

The group sat down, and Akes began to circulate the Fallen Heart Flame.

Milky white flames overflowed from his body, slowly spreading out to cover a radius of five meters. The concentration of fire elements increased sharply, and the air became warm.

All five of them entered a state of meditation simultaneously.

An hour later, the cultivation session ended.

"Comfortable." Reynolds stretched, "I feel like I made particularly fast progress today."

"You say that every day." Yale retorted.

"That's because it's really fast!"

George laughed from the side: "Alright, stop bickering. What are we eating tonight?"

"Whatever." Akes stood up. "The usual spot?"

"Sure."

The five of them packed their things and walked back, chatting and laughing along the way.

Days passed by just like that.

Every morning was for classes, the afternoon for training together, and the evening for chatting in the courtyard. Occasionally, on weekends, they would head into Fenlai City to stroll around, buy some things, and have a good meal.

At the end of September, Linley had a breakthrough.

"You broke through?" Akes asked.

Linley nodded.

"Congratulations," Akes said.

"Thanks."

The two exchanged a glance, neither saying anything more.

During dinner that evening, Yale was the first to notice the change in Linley.

"Fourth brother is also at the sixth rank?!" He nearly dropped his chopsticks.

Reynolds leaned in to look. "It's true!"

George was also surprised. "Did you two plan this?"

"Coincidence," Linley said.

"Too much of a coincidence," Reynolds marveled. "You both broke through one after another over the summer, and now you've both hit the sixth rank one after another. Did you two secretly train together?"

"We were already training together," Akes said.

Reynolds thought about it. "Fair point."

Yale raised his glass. "Come on, let's celebrate fourth brother reaching the sixth rank!"

The five of them clinked their glasses.

One evening in mid-October, the five of them were chatting in the courtyard.

The moonlight was beautiful, and the evening breeze was cool.

"Third brother, you mentioned before that you might go to the Yulan Empire after graduation?" George asked suddenly.

Akes nodded. "Yeah, it's not fully decided yet, but it's almost certain."

"Why do you want to go there?" Yale asked.

"The magical atmosphere is good, and there are plenty of resources," Akes said. "Fenlai is decent, but it's only a kingdom after all. The Yulan Empire is the oldest empire on the continent, with a deep magical heritage. If I can develop there, it will be helpful for my future training."

George nodded. "Indeed. The Yulan Empire is certainly more suitable for a mage's development."

"You know quite a bit," Akes said.

"My family is over there, so I know a thing or two." George thought for a moment. "If you really go, you can stay near my family's place, and we can look out for each other."

"Sure," Akes smiled. "I'll come over for free meals then."

"You're always welcome."

Yale chimed in from the side, "My family's merchant guild has a branch there too, I'll come find you guys then."

Reynolds raised his hand. "Count me in! Although my family is in O'Brien, it's not far from Magnolia; it only takes half a month by boat."

The group looked at Linley.

Linley was silent for a moment. "I'm staying in Fenlai."

Akes knew the reason why.

"Let's keep in touch," Yale raised his glass. "No matter where we go, we're still brothers."

Back in the dormitory at night, Akes lay on his bed, reflecting on today's conversation.

The Yulan Empire. He really wanted to go there and see it for himself. As a transmigrator, he had some impressions of the Yulan Empire from the original story—it held the oldest families on the continent, the deepest magical heritage, and the highest number of Saint-level mages.

If he could develop there, it would definitely help his path forward.

Besides, George was there too. Having an acquaintance around was better than going in blind.

[Ding—Detected that this month's check-in opportunity has refreshed.]

[Do you wish to check in?]

Akes recited in his heart: Check in.

[Check-in successful.]

[Reward obtained: Azeroth Arcane Intellect (Permanent)—Mental perception increased, meditation efficiency increased by 10%.]

A cool sensation surged into his mind and instantly spread outward.

Akes closed his eyes, feeling this subtle change. The elemental fluctuations around him became clearer, and he could even vaguely perceive the presence of his brothers in the neighboring rooms.