Becoming a [Scholar]!

In the study.

The servants carried everything inside and left. From there, Lin Ke moved it into place himself.

First, Lin Ke struggled to drag a chair taller than himself across the carpet, all the way to the farthest bookshelf.

"You... why didn't you let the servants do that?"

Ove seemed to rarely interact with people, but even he knew Lin Ke did not need to move these things himself.

"You traveled such a long way to come here. As the master of Azan Castle, it's only right that I do something small for you," Lin Ke said, delivering the explanation he had prepared beforehand.

"Your father paid me..." Ove replied.

"His paying you is his business. That doesn't stop me from respecting my teacher, does it?"

Lin Ke hauled the chair in front of the bookshelf, keeping his distance from Ove. He caught his breath, then started lifting the ice basins.

Azan stored large quantities of ice in its cellars during winter, bringing it out to enjoy when summer arrived.

Summer was still some time away, but what was a little ice meant for comfort if it helped him keep this socially anxious teacher around?

Only then did Ove seem to react. Standing behind the bookshelf, he waved his staff and said softly, "Servant of Truth!"

"Bzzzt..."

Suddenly, purple currents gathered in midair, then formed a triangular frame crackling with electricity.

"Go and sit down. Let the servant handle these things."

Ove's tone remained calm, but his voice seemed a little gentler.

Lin Ke did not insist. Expressing his goodwill was enough.

He returned to his seat and curiously examined the Servant of Truth.

The triangular Servant of Truth floated in midair. Two slightly thicker arms of electricity extended from its body and attached to an ice basin, suspending it like two cords as it carried it through the air.

The two ice basins and four chairs were arranged on Lin Ke's side and Ove's side respectively.

Next, the exquisite morning refreshments were likewise divided into four portions, one for Ove and one each for Lin Ke and the others.

Strictly speaking, John was not allowed to eat them. He was still a servant, after all.

But Lin Ke could not worry about all that. He could not let Ove think John was unusual and divert his attention to him.

Teachers tended to pay attention to those who stood out, whether for excellent grades, mischief, or exceptionally poor performance.

"Today, I will teach you how to become Professionals. Of course, the process is not easy. It depends on whether you possess sufficient wisdom."

Feeling the cool air around him and the soft, smooth velvet seat beneath him, Ove could not help shifting his bottom comfortably, though Lin Ke and the others could not see it.

"All right," the three of them answered together.

Lin Ke had already briefed John and the other boy: for ordinary remarks, they should use all-purpose replies like "yes" and "all right," and remain as unremarkable as possible.

If a question came up, they were to let Lin Ke answer alone.

Scheming Lin Ke face.jpg

After all, Lin Ke had to become Ove's apprentice as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the lessons ended, he would have no reason to keep Ove there.

"Now, let me explain how to acquire a class..."

Ove began his explanation. Lin Ke and the others listened attentively, each with a bound parchment notebook and a quill, diligently taking notes.

Simply put, acquiring a class was a process of combining traits.

A bloodline passed down the ancestors' skills, bloodlines, classes, and traits alike.

Traits were one of the things that could be inherited.

For example, the traits of the [Scholar] class included "learning," "research," and "recording."

By imparting one's insights and memories concerning these traits into one's bloodline, then combining them, one formed a class.

However, this combination had to be viable.

For example, combining the "learning" trait with the "destruction" trait might produce something other than the [Scholar] class. They might not combine at all, failing to form a class.

The trait formulas for many classes had taken countless years of development, deduction, and exploration to take shape. These formulas were closely guarded secrets of the various factions.

Only a few basic formulas were common knowledge, such as the [Scholar] class Andrew had first discovered.

What Lin Ke and the others needed to do now was experience and gain insights into "learning," "research," and so on, then become professional [Scholars].

Yes, all three of them had to do this.

That was because [Scholars] could change to other classes quite easily. After all, a [Scholar] could research and study magic, or research and study combat.

Later, they could change to a Mage-type class or a Warrior-type class without any difficulty.

"So, over the coming days, I will lead you in learning, research, and exploration... I will leave only after you have gained sufficient insight and combined those traits to become [Scholars]... Do you have any questions?"

Ove finished his explanation and waited for the three of them to absorb it.

But Lin Ke was completely stunned...

Was... was it really that simple?

All he needed was enough insight and experience?

Ove seemed to notice Lin Ke's dismissive attitude and cautioned him, "Little Lin Ke, your talent is good-exceptionally good, one might say-but you must still take this seriously."

He sighed. "Your talent is 'outstanding,' but you must understand that acquiring a class has little to do with talent. What matters is whether you truly have your own understanding of those traits."

"According to the rumors, the Star Prince-the only person with Andrew-level talent-took nearly three days to become a [Knight]. Oh, [Knight] is a class like [Scholar], one of the foundations of all classes."

Three days, huh...

Lin Ke slowly nodded at this, but still asked, "Teacher Ove, may I enter my Soul Space and try now?"

"Heh, certainly."

Ove smiled. Many beginners thought they could form a class, but things rarely went as they hoped.

Some people were so stupid they were even stupider than Gula Fishmen, unable to gain sufficient insight into a single trait even after two or three years.

The better ones might manage it in five or six months.

He estimated that with little Lin Ke's clever mind, he might need only a week or two.

"All right, let's all give it a try." Lin Ke gave John and the other boy a meaningful look.

John and Nix immediately understood and closed their eyes. Lin Ke followed suit.

Entering the Soul Space was easy.

Once there, Lin Ke saw his three little saplings, much as they had been when he last left.

His soul form walked over and touched the "knowledge" sapling. Memories slowly began to flow.

They were... memories of his previous life.

The "learning" trait: six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, three years of high school, four years of university, three years of master's studies, four years of doctoral studies, and even the life that followed... learning had been everywhere!

Next came the "research" trait and the "recording" trait...

Memories of his previous life flowed slowly, eventually turning into four or five clusters of light and shadow that passed from Lin Ke's hand into the little sapling.

Lin Ke opened his eyes.

At the tip of the little shoot, those clusters gradually merged, rippling and flickering a few times before slowly solidifying.

It was simple. Effortless!

The shoot began growing outward, eventually forming a slender branch.

Was... was that it?

Lin Ke had only intended to give it a try and experience the process firsthand. Who knew his shoot would somehow grow out of the soil at the bottom of his Soul Space?

He touched it again, and a piece of information surfaced in his mind.

[Scholar].

At the same time, the insights into those traits he had just imparted turned into light and shadow, flowing through his mind one by one.

"Learning," "research," "recording"...

It seemed... he really had done it!

Half believing and half doubting, Lin Ke left his Soul Space.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Ove standing by the bookshelf a short distance away, staring in his direction with astonishment and uncertainty.

Yet Ove still wore a smile, making Lin Ke wonder whether his teacher's facial muscles were frozen.

"You... how did you... it's only been half an hour..."

Ove's gaze became a pie chart, as though the King of the Gods were about to die.

Sixty percent shock, thirty percent lament, and... a trace of jealousy.

Puzzled, Lin Ke turned to John.

"Young master, twenty-three minutes have passed." John counted silently for a moment, then gently reminded Ove, "Lord Ove, there are still seven minutes before it reaches half an hour."

John had always been meticulous. Yes, always meticulous.

Although Azan Castle had no clocks, they still had their own methods of keeping time.

"You became a [Scholar] in half an hour..." At John's words, Ove was utterly speechless. "Do you know what half an hour... fine, twenty-three minutes means?"

By all the pioneers of the Professionals, by Andrew...

Lin Ke truly was a genius!

"Teacher, even the seed of the most beautiful flower needs a gardener to plant and guide it. Otherwise, it remains only a seed," Lin Ke replied with a smile, humble and courteous.

All of Ove's emotions instantly turned into affection for this gifted child. "Little fellow, your future achievements might...

Might shine even brighter than all the stars!"