Chapter 111

Early morning.

The sky was just light.

Linke Grand woke up on time, got out of bed, and opened the window.

A cool morning breeze brushed his face, refreshing and invigorating.

Two months have passed since the start of the spring semester; the period has been peaceful, with little turmoil.

The lively events that happened during the vacation have also quieted down.

No one talks anymore about the Storm Sea Newbloods who died outside the academy and the local apprentices.

The once-booming witch rights movement quickly subsided after an unspeakable force intervened.

As the midterm exam approaches, whether on the academy's 'forum' or in private chats, everyone's top concern is the Two Districts Grand Comparison held three days after the midterm exam ends.

The points of concern for the Storm Sea Newbloods of the South District and the local apprentices of the North District are naturally different.

Different roles, different stances, thus different considerations.

The North District local apprentices dug up past results of the Two Districts Grand Comparison and proudly showed them off.

It seems they haven't even started yet, and they've already achieved another overwhelming overall victory!

They selectively ignore that the North District always fights with more people each year.

Moreover, they have never squeezed the South District Newbloods out of the top three even once.

The Storm Sea Newbloods of the South District are hotly debating which 30 people will represent this batch of Newbloods to face off against the North District's over a thousand local apprentices of the same year!

30 versus 1000.

Just hearing the numbers comparison gives a vague sense of tragedy and heroism.

Lin Ke feels none of that; he is simply steadily advancing his preparation for the Two Districts Grand Comparison while studying the new spring semester courses.

"System."

After washing up, Lin Ke dried the water marks on his face, looked at his slightly taller self in the mirror, and silently muttered.

A plain, unadorned subtitle-style panel appeared before his eyes.

【Linke Grand

Wizard Qualifications: Fourth tier middle, innate mental power 17, high affinity for water element, high affinity for wood element.

Wizard Rank: Second-tier Wizard Apprentice, mental power: 75

Zero-ring Wizardry:

Water System (28): Lesser Mist Rain Technique (Innovation), Water Shield Technique (Innovation), Water Ball Technique (Perfection), Purify Water Technique (Perfection), Water Blade Technique (Perfection), Ice Cone Technique (Perfection)……

Wood System (28): Growth Technique (Perfection), Thorn Entanglement (Innovation), Thorn Whip (Perfection), Leaf Arrow Technique (Perfection), Wither Technique (Perfection), Green Wilds Tracking (Perfection)……

Card Pack: None

Used: "Brain Seal Technique" study card, "Pomona Sprout's Botany Talent" talent card, "Filius Flitwick's Spellcasting Talent" talent card, "Severus Snape's Potion Talent" talent card

Draw count: 1 (10 standard second-tier Magic Stones)}

Compared to two months ago, Lin Ke's improvement is significant.

First, he has completed the third layer of the meditation method; his mental power has reached the standard for promotion to third-grade wizard apprentice, 75 standard units, and the nine runes have also been fully constructed.

The reason he has not yet been promoted from second-grade to third-grade wizard apprentice is that his sea of consciousness/mental power ocean has undergone a minor transformation.

Before this minor transformation ends, Lin Ke remains a second-grade wizard apprentice.

Everyone's aptitude differs, what they study differs, their understanding of the meditation method differs, their mastery of rune studies differs, so the duration of the transformation period also varies, being longer or shorter.

During this period, one can continue studying the fourth layer of the meditation method, and also continue accumulating mental power quantity.

This is why some geniuses remain second-grade wizard apprentices even in their third year, yet are not at all anxious.

Once the transformation ends, the cultivation progress shoots up suddenly.

Lin Ke estimates that even if he cannot be promoted before the Two Districts Grand Comparison, he can still complete this minor transformation in the early stage of the Two Districts Grand Comparison.

So it's not a big problem; there's hardly any impact.

Secondly, his reserve of wizardry is extremely rich and comprehensive.

He has mastered 28 spells of zero-tier water-element wizardry and zero-tier wood-element wizardry.

Among them, reaching the level of innovation, water and wood each have 2 spells;

Those reaching the perfection level, each have 10 spells;

The remaining small portion is at the proficiency level, an even smaller portion at the skilled level, while the vast majority are at the just-beginner stage.

In both offense and defense, what Lin Ke currently relies on most is not wizardry, but magical implements.

Stockpiling so many zero-tier wizardry spells is to cope with various situations, aiming for complete functionality.

Lastly is the number of card draws.

After two months of accumulation, and after the wizard Serlin's continuous big sales of the Lilac Grass series for nearly two months, a generous supplement of a little bit of Magic Stone was issued.

Lin Ke finally had enough standard first-grade Magic Stone, exchanged it for one standard second-grade Magic Stone, and obtained one card draw.

Better to pick a day than to wait for an auspicious one; Lin Ke decided to draw it now!

"May the European God bless us!"

Lin Ke silently murmured it in his heart and began to draw a card.

Plain and unadorned, the system card draw without any special effects ended in an instant.

The subtitle-style panel updated one item of content:

【Card Pack: "Multithread Thinking" Status Card (once every 96 hours)】

Lin Ke couldn't help but wonder in his heart, how did he draw a new card instead of continuing to draw talent cards?

The three talent cards from the HP world before were very powerful, helping Lin Ke a lot.

The benefits haven't been fully exploited yet, how did it suddenly change?

I don't know how strong the effect of this "Multithread Thinking" state card is, which costs one standard grade‑two Magic Stone and is equivalent to 1,200 standard grade‑one Magic Stones.

If the effect is strong, just how strong is it?

After all, it's specially noted that it can be used only once every 96 hours!

Without wasting any time, Lin Ke immediately used the "Multithread Thinking" state card.

His whole person changed in an instant!

The world he perceived also changed instantly.

Lin Ke felt as if he had completely replaced his brain!

It was like upgrading from a Pentium 486 all the way to an Intel i9‑13900KS.

Perhaps the wording is a bit exaggerated, but that's the meaning.

Lin Ke intuitively felt that his brain's computing power had increased severalfold, allowing him to think about at least eight problems at once and to mobilize all his memories and knowledge to attack every doubt.

Doubts he had accumulated in subjects such as Mathematics, Runology, Potionology, Physiology, and Pathology were instantly resolved.

If he hadn't promptly activated the Brain Seal Technique at full power, Lin Ke felt his brain would overload and be burnt out.

It was just like a computer running too fast, the CPU overloading and burning out with smoke.

Even though his brain could endure it, Lin Ke only maintained it for less than three seconds before "unloading" the "Multithread Thinking" state card.

The drain on mental power from this card is truly terrifying.

It is almost burning mental power at a rate of three points per second, wildly burning.

With Lin Ke's current mental power reserves, fully sustaining the "Multithread Thinking" state card would last at most 25 seconds.

But, considering his life, he can maintain it at most 10 to 15 seconds.

Any longer and it becomes impossible.

Otherwise, if his mental power is depleted in a short time, wouldn't he pass out from shock on the spot?

Taking advantage of the lingering aftereffects of the "Multithread Thinking" state card, Lin Ke figured out the best combination and optimal usage scenarios for this card.

"Brain Seal Technique" + "Multithread Thinking" state card = a humanoid supercomputer equipped with top‑tier AI.

Whether in study, research, experimentation, or in decryption, exploration, and combat, it can exert astonishing power.

Roughly calculated, Lin Ke felt his abilities had been instantly boosted by two to three times!

"Terrifying beyond measure."

Lin Ke hissed as he drew in a breath of cool air, making a tiny contribution to the warming of the wizard world's climate.

He rubbed his slightly swollen head, Lin Ke walked out of the restroom, changed his clothes, and went downstairs.

Cafeteria.

Mo Li had already prepared Lin Ke's breakfast and was waiting at their usual seat.

"What's up? You're a bit late today."

Mo Li had also grown a bit taller, her features exquisite, her figure graceful, her blond hair shining, her green eyes clear, her demeanor elegant and gentle, intelligent and tender.

Her current demeanor has changed so much compared to when she first entered the Ruowosuosi Academy.

As if she were a completely different person.

"Just a small matter."

Lin Ke sat down, picked up his knife and fork, and did not explain directly.

How could one possibly explain cheating like this?

Not wanting to lie and deceive, he could only give a vague answer.

"Boss, big sis, good morning."

The five brothers—Ba Ke Wa Te, Da Er Dun Ke Lun, Ai Ji Ou Li Ji, Di Jie Fen Li, and Lin En Xiu Yi Te—came over holding their trays and greeted politely.

Judging by appearance and everyday behavior, the five brothers have distinct looks and are easy to tell apart.

Ba Ke Wa Te is tall with a square face, talkative, loves to show off, loves to boast, loves to bully others; he became the nominal leader simply because he talks a lot.

Ai Ji Ou Li Ji is slender and slightly thin, with facial lines as sharp as a knife carving, matching his stiff temperament; he doesn't talk much.

His foolish, silly demeanor is merely a disguise and protective coloration.

Di Jie Fen Li is a delicate young man; if he doesn't deliberately make his voice husky, his tone is soft and could rival the Rain Factory Flower.

But his character is genuinely honest and stubbornly principled.

Lin En Xiu Yi Te's appearance is very ordinary, the kind that's hard to spot in a crowd, quiet and reserved, yet a classic case of great wisdom appearing foolish.

After the five brothers banded together, under Ba Ke Wa Te's leadership they behaved wildly for a considerable period.

They offended many people, yet still managed to get along smoothly with everyone.

This is thanks to Lin En Xiu Yi Te offering plans and strategies.

"Morning."

Lin Ke put down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin, wiped his mouth, and asked lightly, "How prepared are you guys?"

He naturally wasn't asking about preparation for next week's midterm exam, but about the Two Districts Grand Comparison.

All seven present could easily rank in the top fifteen, even the top ten, in the midterm exams.

That goes without saying.

After the five brothers gathered around Lin Ke, he didn't hold back and led them in preparing for the usual formats of the Two Districts Grand Comparison over the years.

Without reservation.

As for how well they prepared, Lin Ke usually didn't inquire, relying solely on their self‑discipline.

Now that the Two Districts Grand Comparison is imminent, he just asked that one question.

"Pretty good."

Ba Ke Wa Te answered first.

Not bad.

Aijiao Liji nodded.

Dijie Fenli replied hoarsely: "Thanks for the guidance of the elder brother all along."

Lin En Xiuyite then pondered for a moment and said: "Look at the format of this year's Two Districts Grand Comparison. If there's no new format, then there's no problem. If there is a new format, it's hard to say."

Hmm, I think so too.

Dade Dun Kelun, whose presence is extremely weak and easily overlooked, spoke up in agreement with Lin En Xiuyite's view.

"And you, Mo Li?"

Lin Ke looked at Mo Li, who was listening quietly.

Her personality gradually became calm; aside from chatting a few more sentences with Lin Ke, she gradually didn't like to talk much.

Mo Li extended her right hand, making a gesture with her index and middle fingers.

Lin Ke understood instantly.

This is a promotion to second-rank wizard apprentice.

Not bad.

Everyone has a new beginning.

A good start.

(End of chapter)