Chapter 18: Temporary Farewell

Yunluo Li, Year 9998, December 5.

The early morning at Ernst Institute was shrouded in thin mist, with Hou Shan faintly visible in the distance. Aikesi stood at the dormitory entrance, watching Linlei walk out with a pack on his back.

He stood there quietly, carrying a not-too-large bundle, looking as if he were about to embark on a long journey, or perhaps just going to Hou Shan for a day of cultivation.

"Just this?" Aikesi asked.

Linlei patted the bundle behind him, a hard outline visible beneath the fabric: "Enough."

Yelu, Qiaozhi, and Leinuo came out too. The four stood in the courtyard, looking at Linlei. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy; even Leinuo, who was usually talkative, fell silent.

"Fourth brother," Yelu spoke, his voice a few tones lower than usual, "I had someone send that stone carving to the secret room at Huadeli Hotel. Three layers of protection, guarded by a Level 7 Warrior. It won't be lost."

Linlei nodded: "Thanks."

"What's there to be polite about?" Yelu waved his hand, feigning ease. "When you return, handle it yourself. Whether you want to auction it or keep it then, it's up to you. Anyway, leaving it there is safer than carrying it with you."

Leinuo stepped closer, wanting to say something, opened his mouth, then swallowed it back. Finally, he just patted Linlei's shoulder and gripped it firmly.

Qiaozhi stepped forward: "Be careful on the road. The Magical Beast Mountain Range is no joke. That place, Mist Valley, I've heard even Level 9 Magical Beasts are there."

"I know," Linlei said.

Qiaozhi nodded and stepped back.

Linlei looked at Aikesi.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

Morning mist flowed slowly between them, carrying the chill of early winter. Aikesi looked at the friend he had known for nearly eight years—from entering school at nine until now, cultivating together, fighting together, experiencing those big and small events. He knew what Linlei was going this time for. Grandpa Delin, the Dragonblood lineage, and those things Linlei had never spoken but always kept pressed in his heart.

"When will you return?" Aikesi asked.

"I don't know," Linlei said. His voice was very calm, but Aikesi could hear the determination within it. "I don't know" meant it could be soon, or it could be a long time, or perhaps—no, there was no "perhaps."

Aikesi nodded and said no more.

Linlei turned and walked toward the institute gate. The thin mist gradually swallowed his figure, first blurring the outline, then the back, leaving only a vague shadow, and then disappearing completely.

The four stood where they were, none moving.

The courtyard was very quiet, quiet enough to hear the sound of mist droplets falling.

"He just left like that," Leinuo said in a low voice, his tone carrying a bit of an indescribable sense of loss.

Yelu sighed, placing his hand on Leinuo's shoulder: "Let him go. For this kind of thing, others can't help. If it were you or me, we could only walk it ourselves."

Qiaozhi nodded: "When he returns, he should be different."

Aikesi said nothing, just looking at that road.

He knew better than them what Linlei would become upon returning. Mist Valley, Dragonblood transformation, Purple Blood God Sword—the plot from the original work ran through his mind, clear as a novel he had read just yesterday.

Some things must be experienced personally. Some roads must be walked personally. Even though he knew everything, he could not walk those roads for Linlei. That was Linlei's own destiny, his own transformation.

"Let's go back," he said.

The four turned and walked into the dormitory.

In the days that followed, everything was as usual.

Only one person was missing.

Aikesi went to the sixth-grade classroom for morning classes, cultivated at Hou Shan in the afternoon, and chatted with Yelu and the others in the courtyard at night. Occasionally he went to Fenlai Cheng for a stroll, bought some things, and had a good meal.

At the end of December, the institute went on holiday.

Students surged out of the school gates like a tide; some rode in carriages, some rode Magical Beasts, and some followed their families' guard units. The campus, bustling for a few days, suddenly became quiet.

Yelu returned to Dawson Chamber of Commerce, saying his father had assigned him some family affairs again. Qiaozhi returned to the Yulan Empire; his mother had written saying she missed him. Leinuo returned to the O'Brien Empire; before leaving, he hugged Aikesi's arm and wailed for a long time, saying things like "Big Brother Aikesi, you must take care" and "I'll bring you good food when I return," before Yelu slapped him away, and he ran off with a grin.

Aikesi stayed at the institute, continuing to cultivate.

The cafeteria was still open, but far fewer people were eating. The library was also open, but empty; even footsteps echoed. Only a handful of people remained in the dormitory building, mostly sixth-grade students like him who stayed at the institute to cultivate.

He had already touched the edge of the threshold from Level 6 to Level 7.

That afternoon, he sat by the waterfall cultivating. The Falling Heart Flame pulsed slowly within his body, like a miniature sun, emitting gentle and lasting heat. The Fire Spirit Bead pressed against his chest, glowing faintly, continuously absorbing the surrounding Fire Element. The Five Spirit Wheel operated at full capacity, refining and compressing the absorbed elements, then sending them into the Middle Dantian.

Fire Elements from the surroundings constantly flowed into his body; he could feel his Magic growing at a steady rate. Bit by bit, drop by drop, as if adding water to a Vessel. The Vessel was nearly full, but still lacking just a tiny bit.

Just a little more.

He opened his eyes, looking at the waterfall before him.

The water fell from the heights, never ceasing. Just like time, just like cultivation, just like this destined path. He knew he was already very fast—from Level 1 to Level 7, it took only eight years. This speed could rank in the top three in the history of Ernst Institute. But he also knew this was only the beginning.

Above Level 7 is Level 8, above Level 8 is Level 9, above Level 9 is Saint Domain, and above Saint Domain is God Level. This road has no end.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and continued cultivating.

One day in mid-February, Yelu sent someone with a message.

The messenger was a capable young man who rode a fast horse from Fenlai Cheng, handing a sealed envelope to Aikesi. The envelope bore the wax seal of Dawson Chamber of Commerce, stamped with a hammer and a gear.

Aikesi opened the letter; it was Yelu's handwriting.

"A caravan returned from the Magical Beast Mountain Range and said they saw Fourth Brother on the outskirts of Mist Valley," Yelu wrote in the letter. "He was alone and seemed fine. But the caravan dared not approach; there were too many Magical Beasts in that place. According to the leader, his complexion was okay, and no injuries were seen on his body, though he had lost some weight. When the caravan members called out to him, he looked back once, didn't come over, and went straight into the valley."

Aikesi looked at the letter and felt a weight lift from his heart.

As long as he was fine.

He continued cultivating.

At the end of the month, he broke through.

That afternoon was no different from usual. He sat by the waterfall, operating the Five Spirit Wheel, absorbing Fire Elements. Everything was the same as during the thousands of cultivation sessions before. Then, suddenly, something changed.

The Magic in his Middle Dantian shook violently, as if breaking through some barrier. Immediately after, the spiritual power in his mind began to fluctuate intensely, and then—liquefied.

That feeling was hard to describe. It was as if something in his brain suddenly melted, becoming incredibly clear. The spiritual power, which had been like mist, had now become liquid, flowing slowly. Every drop contained ten or a hundred times the power of before.

He opened his eyes.

The world was different.

The fluctuations of the surrounding Elements became exceptionally clear; he could "see" Fire Elements jumping in the air, perceive Water Elements flowing in the waterfall, and even sense the trembling of leaves in the distance—not hearing, not seeing, but directly sensing. That feeling was wonderful, as if the entire world had come alive.

"Finally." He said softly, a faint smile rising at the corner of his lips.

Level 7 Mage, Senior.

From Level 1 to Level 7, it took a full eight years. This speed could rank in the top three in the history of the Ernst Institute. If the teachers at the institute knew, they would probably have their jaws drop.

But he knew, this was only the beginning.

He stood up, looking at the waterfall before him. The water flow remained the same, but in his eyes, everything was different. He could see the distribution of the Water Element within the waterfall, could see the elemental fluctuations triggered when the waterfall struck the pool, and could even vaguely feel the pulse of the Fire Element deep beneath the ground.

"When the fourth brother returns, we will graduate together," he thought.

In early March, Linlei returned.

That afternoon, Aikesi was cultivating at Hou Shan when he suddenly felt a familiar aura approaching. It was not simply that the aura had grown stronger—although it had indeed increased significantly. It was a deeper change, as if the entire person was different.

He opened his eyes and saw Linlei walking out from the woods.

At first glance, he knew things were different.

Linlei wore ordinary clothes, no different from when he left. But the aura he radiated was completely different. His eyes were deeper, his steps more steady.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground. A breeze blew, carrying the scent of early spring.

"You're back," Aikesi stood up.

"Mm." Linlei nodded.

The two walked back side by side. Neither spoke the whole way, but that understanding remained. No need to ask what happened, no need to ask why he had changed. Some things, without saying, both understood.

Reaching the dormitory door, Aikesi suddenly asked, "Are you okay?"

Linlei paused his steps: "I'm fine."

Aikesi nodded and pushed the door open to enter.

Yelu and the others were all there. Seeing Linlei return, they all crowded around. Leinuo was the most excited; with a "Ao!" he lunged forward, hugging Linlei and spinning him around, before being slapped away by Yelu.

"That's enough, that's enough, let the fourth brother rest," Yelu said. "Tonight at Huadeli, I'm treating."

"You're treating?" Qiaozhi looked at him sideways, his tone filled with doubt. "The last time you treated was three months ago, and that was because you lost a bet."

"That's because you wouldn't give me a chance!" Yelu argued with righteous indignation. "Today I'm in a good mood, the fourth brother is back, I'm happy, so what if I treat? If you don't like it, don't go."

"I'm going, why wouldn't I go?" Qiaozhi smiled. "It's rare for you to treat; I'll order the most expensive."

"I'll order the most expensive too!" Leinuo raised his hand.

The group laughed together.

Aikesi stood aside, watching them make a scene. A rare smile also appeared on Linlei's face.

That evening, the five sat at Huadeli's usual spot and ordered a table full of dishes. Yelu was indeed fleeced; Qiaozhi ordered a bottle of the oldest vintage red wine, and Leinuo ordered every most expensive dish on the menu. Yelu winced in pain, but still smiled and told the waiter to take the whole bill.

"Fourth brother, how were these three months?" After a few rounds of wine, Yelu asked.

Linlei fell silent for a moment, then said, "It was fine."

"What does 'it was fine' mean?" Leinuo leaned in. "Did you encounter any danger? Did you fight any powerful magical beasts? Did you—