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The giant dragon attacked for a while longer. It looked like it had run out of dragon breath; it circled at the edge of the sky, roaring furiously without pause.

Unfortunately, Huo Ling could not understand it yet. Otherwise, he could have listened to what the dragon was shouting.

But Huo Ling guessed that this dragon was definitely cursing up a storm.

It seemed the enemy fighting the giant dragon was quite formidable and had not been wiped out by it. Otherwise, the dragon would not have ended up like this.

Before long, the giant dragon flew away amid a stream of curses.

Looking down from the high-rise, there were still quite a few flames flickering over on the battlefield. But it was too far away, and the buildings blocked the view, so he could not make out the details of the battlefield.

After enjoying the spectacle, Huo Ling prepared to rest again. Tonight's meditation had been interrupted, and it was no longer suitable to continue. He needed to recuperate.

He lay down on the bed, ready to get some sleep.

But he had barely closed his eyes, not yet asleep, when rustling footsteps sounded through the night sky, which had already fallen silent.

Huo Ling hurriedly got up and looked through the window. A large horde of corpses was passing outside the residential complex.

Fortunately, Huo Ling had already blocked up the complex's two gates and the gaps in its walls during the day. When the walking corpses encountered the obstacles, they did not stubbornly try to climb inside.

Of course, if there had been sounds or the scent of blood within the complex, its walls probably would not have stopped the walking corpses.

The walking corpses went around the walls of the complex and advanced toward the battlefield where the giant dragon had attacked, as though something over there held an immense attraction.

He did not know whether it was because of the sounds of battle or the smell of blood.

But that did not matter to Huo Ling. Even if there were treasures beyond measure, he would not go out at night.

Going out at night in such a terrifying city—was that not just delivering extra rations to the walking corpses?

Without even looking, he could guess that the walking corpses within ten or twenty kilometers were probably all swaying and staggering toward that battlefield.

After witnessing the giant dragon battle that night, Huo Ling decided to abandon his plan to go out and hunt walking corpses.

He was still too weak. Even if walking corpses had little offensive power during the day, this abandoned city likely contained more than just walking corpses and goblins.

Even a creature as rare as a giant dragon had appeared. It would not be strange at all for other creatures from the Spirit Realm to show up in this city.

There was no need to risk his life for Potential Points. Huo Ling's future was bright; as long as he was a little more cautious, a little more cowardly, he would definitely climb to great heights.

Moreover, he wanted to be the master of Potential Points, not their slave.

Potential Points could speed up his cultivation, but Huo Ling could not rely entirely on them. Otherwise, how would he be any different from a slave to Potential Points?

Time quickly reached the seventh day. According to the circumstances of Spirit Awakening, students transported to the Spirit Realm generally stayed for three to seven days.

If nothing unexpected happened, today would be the day Huo Ling returned to Blue Star. The Blue Star Beacon in his mind had nearly finished gathering energy.

By his estimate, it would finish charging in another hour or so. Then he could return.

Ever since seeing the giant dragon that night, Huo Ling's inflated confidence had been firmly pressed back down. He was merely a tiny apprentice mage, and he only knew three zero-tier cantrips. There were far too many creatures in the Spirit Realm stronger than him.

With this little strength, he could not hold himself up at all. So over the past few days, he had obediently stayed hidden in the high-rise.

Every day, aside from eating, drinking, and answering nature's call, he sat cross-legged on the bed and meditated.

Heaven did not disappoint those who persevered. Meditating like this every day, Huo Ling naturally made progress.

Name: Huo Ling

Bloodline: Human

Mental Power: 2.7/2.7

Mana: 27/27

Skills: Dark Breath Meditation Method Zero-tier Spells: White Bone Fangs, Ashen Mist, Touch of Fatigue

Potential Points: 0

Through these days of meditation, his mental power had increased by 0.1, while his mana had increased by one point.

Calculating the time he had spent meditating, it took roughly four days to increase by 0.1. This meditation speed was fairly good.

According to the records in the magic book, an apprentice mage needed their mental power to grow to ten times that of an ordinary person in order to break through to become a Black Iron Mage.

Based on Huo Ling's current mental power and cultivation speed, that meant it would take about a year.

One year!

In one year, he could become a Black Iron Mage!

That would be a complete leap across social classes. Huo Ling closed his eyes and looked forward to his future life.

Among ordinary people, Huo Ling's family could be said to have had little room left for advancement. His parents' combined monthly wages were only a little over four thousand.

They were both already forty years old. After all these years, they were still ordinary workers. It could be said that relying on themselves, they no longer had any chance of promotion.

And Huo Ling—if he had failed his Spirit Awakening this time, he could only have gone to a technical college. After graduating four years later, he would merely have followed in his parents' footsteps.

After graduation, he would find work at a factory. Perhaps after saving money for several years, he would marry an equally ordinary woman, have children, and repeat his parents' lives.

That was not the life Huo Ling wanted, so he had come for Spirit Awakening. Fortunately, he had succeeded!

Now, his first priority was staying alive. Only then came improving his strength.

As long as he lived, no matter what, a spellcaster—even an apprentice-level spellcaster—would earn far more than his parents.

As long as he lived, there would be opportunities. At the very least, he wanted his parents, who had toiled for so many years, to get some rest.

He could finally become the pillar of his family!

That was also the main reason Huo Ling had not gone out to hunt walking corpses these past few days. He no longer needed to gamble with his life.

Even if he simply meditated and cultivated steadily, he could reach the pinnacle of the apprentice rank in a year. Why take risks?

Feeling that the Blue Star Beacon in his mind had finally finished charging, Huo Ling stood up and gathered all his equipment onto his back.

He walked to the window and took one last look at this abandoned city outside—the empty streets, the mottled walls, the plants growing unchecked.

"I will come back!"

Huo Ling took one deep look, then no longer hesitated. He summoned the Blue Star Beacon from his mind.

Looking at the beacon in his hand, shaped like an hourglass, Huo Ling gripped both ends and applied a little force.

Crack!

The beacon shattered, and Huo Ling took two steps back.

At the spot where the beacon had shattered, an oval-shaped portal opened. The other side of the portal gave off a warm feeling.

Blue Star was on the other side. Huo Ling adjusted his equipment and strode through.

As a blinding flash of light passed, the portal left behind in the Spirit Realm began to shrink until it vanished.