He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Shen Man: “Teacher Shen, I spent 1.54 million. I bought a Tier 2 B-rank lightning spear and some potions.”
Shen Man’s reply came instantly as usual: “Send me the details.”
Lin Yuan took a photo of the receipt and sent it over.
After about ten seconds, Shen Man sent a voice message.
Lin Yuan tapped it, and Shen Man’s lazy voice came through the speaker. In the background, someone could be heard shouting, “Teacher Shen, are you going to join the Examination Institute meeting or not?”
“Purple Lightning? Good eye. Because of the Tier 4 monster core, that spear has high requirements for the user’s lightning control. Usually, low-tier ability users can’t handle it.
“The fact that you can use it right away shows I wasn't wrong about you.”
Immediately after, she sent another one.
“But why did you buy Bone Tempering Pills? You’re already at nine rounds, why are you still taking mid-grade ones? Mid-grade should be useless to you now.”
Lin Yuan thought for a moment and typed back: “Just for backup. Habitual hoarding.”
“Fine. Let me know when you run out of money, don’t be stingy. S-rank resource quotas are issued monthly, but you can use yours in advance; I’ll approve it for you.”
“Thank you, Teacher Shen.”
“Don’t mention it. Go take the exam. If you make it into the top ten in Hangzhou, I’ll reimburse you for Purple Lightning.”
Lin Yuan smiled and tucked his phone back into his pocket.
The top ten in Hangzhou.
He looked down at the Purple Lightning in his hand.
The peak of Tier 1, Level 7, nine rounds of bone tempering, S-rank space-time system Tier 1, Level 3, a Practiced level 《Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens》, plus this Tier 2 B-rank Purple Lightning.
Top ten in Hangzhou?
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
My goal is first place!
Lin Yuan felt that the pace of this city was slower than Donghai City, and people here knew how to enjoy life more.
He walked past a shop selling Dingsheng cake, and the aroma was so enticing he couldn't help but stop and buy two pieces.
He continued walking while eating the cake, but as he turned a corner, his footsteps suddenly paused.
At the end of the shade from the sycamore trees, three people were turning a corner down the street.
Despite the heat, all three were wrapped in deep gray overcoats with red hoods pulled low, hiding their faces completely.
The person at the very back tilted their head slightly, revealing a small patch of skin at the edge of the hood.
It was pale, almost bloodless.
The three of them turned the corner and disappeared into a small alley.
Lin Yuan stood there, staring in that direction for a few seconds.
Wearing overcoats and hoods in thirty-degree weather—they were either crazy or hiding something they didn't want others to see.
However, Hangzhou was a strong second-tier city. The control exerted by the City Defense Army and the Ability User Association was more than a level above Donghai City.
No matter how arrogant the Blood Eye Cult was, they wouldn't dare to operate on a large scale in a place like this.
It was likely just some other cult that also liked wearing cloaks, or simply some eccentric youngsters who were afraid of the sun.
Lin Yuan took a bite of his Dingsheng cake and set the matter aside for now.
If the sky fell, the Hangzhou City Defense Army would be there to hold it up. His most important task right now was finding a place to stay.
After walking for another ten minutes, he saw a hotel on a relatively quiet street.
The storefront wasn't large, with beige exterior walls and dark brown window frames. A line of text was pasted on the glass door: “Our hotel features an ability user training room, free for guests.”
Lin Yuan’s eyes lit up.
A training room. Free to use.
He pushed the door open and went inside.
The receptionist was a young girl wearing round-framed glasses, watching a drama on her computer.
Seeing someone enter, she pressed pause and gave a professional smile.
“Hello, checking in?”
“Yes. You have a training room?”
“Yes, yes.” The girl with round glasses pulled out a laminated price list from under the counter and handed it over.
Lin Yuan gave it a quick glance before returning it, then pulled out his ID and bank card.
He was a wealthy man now; he didn't need to look that closely because he could afford it!
“I’m staying. Reserve the lightning-specific room for me.”
The girl’s smile grew even more radiant.
She tapped on the computer a few times and handed over a room card.
“Room 306, king-sized bed, with an independent bathroom. The elevator is on the left. The entrance to the training room is at the end of the first-floor hallway; just swipe your room card to go down.”
Lin Yuan took the card, went upstairs to drop off his luggage, then headed back down to the first floor and walked to the end of the hallway.
There was an unremarkable gray iron door with a sensor embedded in the frame.
He swiped his card, and the iron door slid open silently, revealing a staircase leading down.
The training room on the basement level was much larger than he had imagined.
At the end of the corridor was the door to the lightning-specific room, with the word “Vacant” displayed in green on the electronic screen.
Lin Yuan swiped in.
The room was about thirty square meters and perfectly square.
The walls were covered in a deep gray energy-absorbing material. These were energy-absorbing walls, capable of soaking up the excess energy released during training to prevent the room from exploding.
In the corner was a small control console with a touchscreen that could adjust the intensity of the energy suppression field, ranging from “Zero Suppression” to “Tier 3 Suppression,” divided into ten levels.
Lin Yuan closed the door, leaned Purple Lightning against the wall, and sat cross-legged in the center of the room.
He opened the system panel.
【Host: Lin Yuan】
【Weak Spark: E-rank, Tier 1, Level 7 (Peak)】
【Space-Time Ruler: S-rank, Tier 1, Level 3】
【Bone Tempering: 9 rounds (89% progress)】
【Combat Technique: 《Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens》 (Proficiency: Practiced (Nearing breakthrough))】
【Ability Points: 1147】
One thousand one hundred and forty-seven points.
The days of frantic hunting in the wilderness before leaving Donghai City had not been in vain.
He checked the upgrade cost for his space-time ability. To go from Tier 1, Level 3 to Tier 1, Level 4, he needed 800 Ability Points.
Upgrading the lightning system by one level only cost 500, but the space-time system required 800. The gap between S-rank and E-rank was reflected in every aspect.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath.
“Upgrade.”
【Consumed 800 Ability Points. Space-time ability increased from Tier 1, Level 3 to Tier 1, Level 4】
【Remaining Ability Points: 347】
A familiar warmth surged from deep within his dantian, feeling completely different from the sensation of a lightning system breakthrough.
Tier 1, Level 4. His perception range expanded from ten meters to fifteen meters.
【Detected that the host’s space-time ability has reached Tier 1, Level 4. System reward has been issued】
【Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Space-time combat technique 【Sands of Time】 (Tier 5)】
Tier 5?
Lin Yuan was stunned.
He opened the technique description.
【Sands of Time】
【Grade: Tier 5】
【Attribute: Space-Time System】
【Proficiency: Entry】
【Effect: Condenses space-time power into invisible “sand grains” scattered within a three-meter radius around the body. Any object entering this range (including but not limited to weapons, ability attacks, monsters, and human bodies) will have its movement speed obstructed by the “sand grains,” slowing down by 10% to 30%. The specific effect depends on the opponent’s realm and attack intensity.】
【Duration: 5 seconds】
【Cooldown: 30 seconds】
【Description: As proficiency increases, the deceleration ratio, duration, and range of effect will all grow.】
Lin Yuan read the description from beginning to end twice.
After finishing, he remained silent for about three seconds.
Rate on N.U.
