Linley Baruch

Yulan Calendar, year 9990. Spring.

The Ernst Institute welcomed its annual intake of new students.

New students poured into the institute, completing their enrollment procedures under the instructors' guidance. Their youthful faces were filled with anticipation for the future, mixed with a little nervousness and unease.

Haoyue stood by a window in the new student reception building, watching the bustling crowd below.

A year had passed.

It had been a year since he returned from the Magical Beasts Mountain Range. During that time, he had devoted himself to training at the institute, waiting for someone to arrive.

That person was finally going to appear today.

"Brother Haoyue, what are you looking at?" Luo'en came over and followed Haoyue's gaze. "Oh, the new students. It's like this every year. What's there to see?"

Kaluo also put down the magic book in his hands and teased him with a smile:

"That's right, Brother Haoyue. The new student getting all the attention this year is Dixie. He has supreme-grade talent in two elements, and his spiritual power is sixty-eight times that of his peers. They call him the institute's greatest genius in a century. Everyone at the institute says his talent beats yours and that he'll definitely surpass you in the future."

Luo'en eagerly agreed:

"Exactly! Everyone's convinced that even though you became a sixth-rank mage in three elements at fifteen, with Dixie's terrifying foundation, he'll only be faster and stronger! You've never bothered to give a heaven-defying genius like him a second glance, so why are you so absorbed in watching some new student you've never met? What's so special about this black-haired boy?"

The corners of Haoyue's mouth lifted slightly. His expression was calm, and there was no ripple in his eyes:

"Dixie's talent is certainly dazzling. But you can't judge someone by the talent you see on the surface alone. Judging by talent alone, he certainly deserves to be called the greatest genius in a century. But geniuses need to grow too, and a person's growth can't be judged by talent alone, right? Talent only determines your lower limit."

Luo'en and Kaluo exchanged glances, both secretly scoffing.

Outsiders didn't understand, but they had lived with Haoyue for five years and knew better than anyone how monstrous his foundation was.

He could seamlessly cast magic of all three elements instantaneously, and starting last year, its power had also changed in a way that made it seem somewhat stronger than when others used the same magic.

The gap in talent that outsiders praised wasn't worth mentioning in the face of real strength.

"You don't understand." Haoyue looked away and said calmly, "A very special new student will be arriving today."

"Special? How special?"

"You'll find out when the time comes."

Luo'en pursed his lips, displeased with Haoyue's mysterious attitude. But he knew what Haoyue was like: if you didn't ask, he wouldn't tell you, and even if you did, he might not. Luo'en gave up asking and went back to lying down.

At the new student registration area.

A brown-haired boy stood in line, with Reynolds in front of him.

The boy looked to be only eight years old, but his eyes held a composure beyond his years. He stood ramrod straight, and even surrounded by children his own age, he showed no trace of nervousness.

Linley had already completed the full set of talent tests in advance at the end of last year. Today, he only had to formally register his enrollment and undergo a simple recheck at the institute gates.

"Linley Baruch?" The instructor in charge of registration looked through the register and picked up the red envelope that represented top-tier talent. He looked up at the boy. "Eight years old. You're here for the new student magic talent confirmation test."

"Yes," the boy answered. His voice was quiet but clear.

The instructor nodded and indicated that he only needed to complete the simple test at the entrance.

Just then, Linley suddenly sensed someone watching him.

It was a very strange feeling-as if something deep in his bloodline was stirring, calling out.

He raised his head and looked around.

Then he saw a young man standing by a window on the second floor.

The young man looked fifteen or sixteen and wore an ordinary institute uniform. He was looking down at him.

The moment their eyes met, Linley froze.

The feeling grew stronger.

The stirring deep in his bloodline nearly broke through some kind of restraint, giving him an urge to throw back his head and roar.

How strange.

Why do I feel this way when we've only just met?

What he didn't know was that the young man standing by the window-Haoyue Bolei-felt the same way at that moment.

Haoyue stared fixedly at the black-haired boy, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.

We've finally met.

The protagonist of the Yulan Continent, the Dragonblood Warrior, one of the Four Ultimate Warriors-Linley Baruch.

The simple retest formation lit up faintly, and the instructor read out the final results for everyone to hear:

"Linley Baruch, retest confirmed: earth element, supreme grade; wind element, supreme grade; fire element, mid grade; spiritual power, high grade."

By the window, Luo'en and Kaluo perked up the instant they heard the results, their faces full of surprise.

"Whoa! So he's a top-tier genius! Supreme-grade talent in two elements, and high-grade spiritual power!"

"That talent is only a tiny bit worse than yours, Brother Haoyue! No wonder you're paying so much attention to him!"

Once the retest was over, Linley and Reynolds finished their paperwork and headed into the institute side by side.

Seeing this, Haoyue turned and went straight downstairs, then strode over and stopped in front of the two of them.

"Junior Linley?"

Linley looked up and immediately recognized the young man from the window that morning.

"Hello, my name is Haoyue Bolei." Haoyue smiled and held out his hand, his gaze passing gently over Reynolds. "You two have just enrolled. If there are any institute rules you don't understand or questions you have about training, you can come find me in dormitory 1688 anytime."

Linley hurriedly stood up and took his hand.

"Hello, senior."

The moment they shook hands, the feeling returned.

The stirring deep in his bloodline seemed to be responding to something.

Linley's pupils contracted slightly, and he stared fixedly at Haoyue.

His surname is Bolei.

The Tiger-Striped Warriors, one of the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans, are also named Bolei.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, the Tiger-Striped Warriors had been just as renowned as the Dragonblood Warriors among his own ancestors. Now they too had fallen into decline, and there had been no word of them.

Could it be...

"What's wrong?" Haoyue looked at him with a smile. "Why are you spacing out?"

"N-no, it's nothing." Linley pulled himself out of his thoughts, but the doubt in his eyes remained.

His instincts told him that the senior before him was no ordinary person.

"Sit down first," Haoyue said gently. "Care to eat together?"

Linley hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

That afternoon.

The dining hall was buzzing with voices as new and old students ate together.

Linley carried his tray to a corner and sat down. Just as he was about to start eating, Haoyue came over with Luo'en and the others and sat down with him.

For the next while, Haoyue chatted with Linley on and off.

They talked about life at the institute, their insights into training, and trivial matters.

Linley responded, but his mind was entirely elsewhere.

He was observing Haoyue.

As a descendant of one of the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans, he knew something about the other three. The Tiger-Striped Warriors were known for their powerful transformation ability. Once transformed, their combat strength could rival that of the Dragonblood Warriors.

Haoyue's aura was very calm, and Linley couldn't sense anything special about him.

But Linley kept feeling that something was off.

That feeling of resonance in his bloodline was all too real.

It wasn't false.

His mind wandered throughout the meal.

Afterward, Linley followed Haoyue to the dormitory area.

As they walked, Linley finally couldn't resist speaking up.

"Senior, may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Are you..." Linley paused, lowering his voice. "A Tiger-Striped Warrior?"