After several transfers, Lynn once again stood in the teleportation hall of Bone Spire.
The floor was paved with gray-black stone slabs, and glowing runes were embedded in the walls.
The air carried the negative-energy aura unique to Eternal Night Graveyard—cold, dry, with a faintly rotten sweetness.
He stepped out of the teleportation array. The apprentice on duty looked up, hurriedly rose, and bowed. "Good day, sir."
Lynn nodded and crossed the teleportation hall, heading toward the experimental area along the corridor.
Although he had advanced, he had not immediately gone to Stigma Hall to certify himself as an intermediate Stigma Wizard.
There were two reasons.
First, his advancement had been too fast!
He had gone from beginner to intermediate in less than a year.
If that pace were noticed, it would draw unnecessary attention and discussion.
He was not afraid of others finding out, but there was no need to place the information directly before everyone.
Second, when he advanced to beginner, he had received two years of "realm stabilization leave," meant for consolidating his cultivation, refining his methods, and avoiding the academy's mandatory missions.
The same was true after advancing to intermediate. He would receive another two-year leave period.
At present, he still had more than a year left of his beginner leave.
If he certified his intermediate rank now, the remaining leave would be overwritten. The academy would recalculate his new leave period, meaning he would waste that year or more for nothing.
He could not waste it.
Lynn made up his mind. He would not certify his rank for now. He would continue operating within the academy as a beginner and wait until his leave was nearly over.
After returning to his laboratory, he shut the door, activated the restrictions, and took out the list of