Were we... really not focused enough...?
Yeah, it must be that. That's why there's such a huge gap between us and Jiang Lin...
Wait, is this really just a matter of focus?
Gaining a level in five days—is that a speed humans can actually reach?
Is this guy really not some demon king from the demons in disguise, infiltrating human society??
......
However, even more students began reflecting on their own lack of focus.
So, they started guilt-tripping themselves and calmed their minds to restart their cultivation or studies.
Time flew by once more in that quiet atmosphere.
In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed.
The fact that everyone in the elite class was pulling all-nighter sessions finally became impossible to hide, and the news spread.
Meanwhile, the fact that Jiang Lin had defeated a 4th-rank powerhouse while at the 2nd-rank during the practical combat class was kept secret by the school’s request, so it didn’t spread widely.
But everyone now knew that the elite class was pulling all-nighter sessions because they had been triggered by the top student of their class, a boy named Jiang Lin.
Some students from Boulder City were quite familiar with this name.
Jiang Lin wasn't the only student from Boulder City to get into Saint Brilliance Magic Academy.
After all, the quality of students from the other two schools wasn't bad either, and Jiang Lin only knew the top two from those schools.
As a result, Jiang Lin's past deeds in Boulder City began to circulate.
"The protagonist of that news story about the evil god possession was him?!"
"Now that you mention it, I remember seeing that in a small section of the Clearwater City Morning Post one day."
"What do you mean he has a skill that makes people sprint for the latrine uncontrollably?"
"What do you mean he teamed up with someone during the mid-term joint exam to make over forty people sprint at once??"
"Holy crap, I'm glad I never fought him, or my dignity would have been in tatters..."
"What do you mean the three best schools in Boulder City started pulling all-nighter sessions because of him alone??"
"I’m starting to understand that evil god who tried to assassinate him..."
"Say, he couldn't actually be an evil god in disguise, could he?"
"......"
As more and more of his deeds came to light, his actions in Boulder City and the elite class of Saint Brilliance Magic Academy earned him back his old nickname:
"This guy... he really is a degenerate rising sun..."
Even though they critiqued him this way, their bodies were very honest.
Many students began to look up to the big shots of the elite class and started pulling all-nighter sessions alongside them.
After all, if people even more talented than them were working this hard, what excuse did they have not to?
Other students who hadn't planned on pulling all-nighter sessions felt a pang of anxiety when they saw their classmates starting to do it.
Every time they saw them sitting in their classroom seats early in the morning, a thought would inevitably rise in their hearts: 'I'm just too lazy.'
So, more and more people began to follow the trend, cultivating through the night.
At the same time, more and more combinations of all-nighter potions were developed.
Add to that the fact that the qualifiers for the National Youth Adventurer Competition were this semester.
Clearwater City only had a limited number of spots.
So, many were afraid that if everyone else worked too hard, they wouldn't get a turn.
......
As the first light of dawn touched the school, the clock tower of Saint Brilliance Magic Academy struck eight for the first time that morning.
On the third floor of the teaching building, inside the fifth-grade elite class classroom, the light from the magic crystal lamps was gradually diluted by the dawn peeking through the windows. Jiang Lin slowly opened his eyes, a nearly imperceptible trace of satisfaction flickering in his golden pupils—just now, his level had quietly jumped to 23.
It had only been five days since his last breakthrough to Level 22.
Not even a full week had passed.
However, everyone seemed somewhat numb to it by now.
There wasn't much of a reaction.
Jiang Lin swept his gaze around the room like a lion patrolling its territory.
He found that no one was distracted enough to look at him; the classroom remained as quiet as it had been in the early hours of the morning.
Jiang Lin felt quite satisfied.
Not bad, now this is the state a student should be in.
Jiang Lin stood up and walked out of the classroom, heading to the cafeteria to collect his medicinal food and check on the ants.
He pushed open the classroom door, and the cool morning air rushed in.
In the hallways, students from other classes began to appear.
Many had dark circles under their eyes from the all-nighter, rushing toward their classrooms or training grounds with refreshing medicinal tea or small vials of potions in their hands.
This had become the norm in the third week since Saint Brilliance Magic Academy opened.
As Jiang Lin passed the fourth-grade elite class, he saw Anya, Lina, and Frederick sitting by the window through the glass.
Anya was holding a thick book titled "Advanced Magic Array Energy Dynamics," her brow furrowed; Lina was rapidly calculating something on a piece of scratch paper, small arcs of electricity occasionally sparking from her fingertips; Frederick was meditating with his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint pale yellow glow.
Jiang Lin nodded and continued toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria in the early morning was quieter than usual.
Many students, to save time, chose to eat their breakfast in the classrooms or training grounds.
When Jiang Lin returned to the classroom, he found one familiar figure and two unfamiliar ones standing at the door.
They seemed to be waiting for him.
The familiar voice belonged to Vice Dean Keith.
Seeing Jiang Lin approach, he coughed a few times and said:
"Ahem, Jiang Lin, let me introduce you. This is the academy’s academic inspector general, Ms. Allison. And this is the academy’s dean, Lord Algernon."
Vice Dean Keith stepped aside to let Jiang Lin see the two people behind him.
One was a middle-aged woman in deep blue mage robes, her expression serious and her gaze as sharp as a hawk, with a six-pointed star badge pinned to her chest. The other was an elegant middle-aged man, also dressed in deep blue mage robes.
Inspector General Allison gave a slight nod, her gaze scanning Jiang Lin’s body like a sensor, her voice cold:
"Student Jiang Lin, regarding the 'all-nighter cultivation' and the related potion cycle protocol you’ve been promoting within the academy, the committee has received over twenty formal inquiries and risk assessment reports."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin remained silent.
There was actually a follow-up to this.
"Furthermore, because the all-nighter trend you’ve caused has had some negative impact, someone has reported you to the Temple, suggesting you might be a member of a secret cult."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Seriously... which cultist was out here filing random reports again?
However, Allison continued:
"But since Vice Dean Keith has vouched for you, these reports were directly classified as malicious reporting."
Jiang Lin looked at Vice Dean Keith and found him nodding slightly toward him.
Allison then added:
"Actually, everyone believes they were malicious. After all, with a paladin of your god-tier talent, no sane person would think you’re a cultist."
Jiang Lin wasn't surprised.
In fact, even if he did go to the Clearwater City Temple, it wouldn't take him long to get out.
After all, he already knew the Temple Master of Clearwater City, and she seemed to have a good impression of him.
Going there was like going home.
Allison continued:
"Regarding the matter of all-nighter cultivation, our teaching committee has held a discussion and drafted a proposal.
"We have decided to launch the 'High-Intensity Cultivation Management Regulations.' Any student wishing to adopt the 'all-nighter cultivation' method must first pass a physical and magic adaptability test to obtain a permit issued by the medical room.
"Additionally, the academy will centrally procure quality-tested refreshing potions and provide them to students at cost. Private trading of potions from unknown sources is prohibited."
She paused before continuing:
"Also, the academy will arrange for specific teachers to patrol during the late-night hours. If a student is found to be in an abnormal state, they have the right to force them to rest."
Jiang Lin nodded, indicating his understanding.
"So, do I need to take the test too?"
Allison nodded: "Yes."
"Is there anything else the teachers need from me?" Jiang Lin asked.
"I’m mostly here to tell you about the handling of the all-nighter cultivation. As for Dean Algernon, he’s here for something else."
Dean Algernon gave a gentle smile:
"Student Jiang Lin, there are some things regarding your talent and background that I think we can discuss in a different place.
"Also, as the dean of Saint Brilliance Magic Academy, I’ve come to meet a young hero like yourself.
"I was often away on business before, so I didn't have the chance to have private chats with the geniuses of our academy."
......
Dean Algernon sent the other two away and led Jiang Lin through the long hallways of the teaching building, where sunlight filtered through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the floor.
They didn't head to the dean's office but instead went to the top floor of the tallest building in the academy—the Star-gazing Tower.
He pushed open the heavy oak door, revealing a spacious circular room. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows, it offered a panoramic view of the entire Saint Brilliance Magic Academy.
A round table and several chairs were placed in the center, with tea and snacks already prepared on the table.
"Take a seat."
Dean Algernon gestured for Jiang Lin to sit and then took a seat opposite him.
There was another person in the room—an elderly man with white hair but spirited eyes, standing before an astronomical telescope and observing something.
Hearing the noise, he turned around, his eyes flashing with the light of wisdom.
"This is our academy’s honorary dean, and also a member of the Kingdom's Royal Magic Research Institute, Grandmaster Antonio."
Algernon introduced.
Grandmaster Antonio walked to the round table and scrutinized Jiang Lin carefully, as if looking right through his soul.
"Not bad, truly not bad."
Grandmaster Antonio nodded.
"Barely fifteen years old, yet you already possess the strength to defeat a 4th-rank powerhouse.
"What's even rarer is that your mastery of breathing techniques has reached such a level."
Perhaps seeing through the three breathing techniques passively running in Jiang Lin’s body, Grandmaster Antonio made a brief comment.
Jiang Lin bowed slightly: "The senior overpraises me."
Dean Algernon flicked his finger, making the teapot float to pour tea for the three of them before speaking:
"Jiang Lin, I asked you here today primarily to discuss a few things with you.
"First, regarding your growth rate. While this is your private matter, as the academy's dean, I must understand some basic circumstances."
He paused and continued:
"Vice Dean Keith has already reported your situation to me in detail. A speed of one level every five days is rare even in the history of the Saintas Kingdom. Not to mention your ability to face a 4th-rank powerhouse head-on as a 2nd-rank."
"And we’ve learned that you showed extraordinary growth speed back in Boulder City as well.
"As far as we know, you were just an average student at the start of your third-grade's second semester, but in just one short semester, you leapt from an average level to being first in your grade, even influencing the teaching atmosphere of the entire city."
Hearing this, Jiang Lin wasn't surprised.
After all, without a major powerhouse backing him, this information was hard to hide.
Anyone who cared to look could easily find it.
Jiang Lin didn't bat an eye:
"Indeed. It must be that I had a sudden epiphany and discovered a more efficient way of learning and cultivating, which I then shared with my classmates."
The dean nodded noncommittally at this:
"I won't pry into whatever secrets you may have. After all, the growth of many geniuses is always met with certain opportunities.
"Old fogies like us in the academy aren't that interested in those things. We only hope to see more and stronger geniuses emerge from our juniors.
"Perhaps it's because we spend all year in an environment like an academy, but our mindsets are relatively young. So, we couldn't bring ourselves to do something like snatching a young person's opportunities."
He paused before continuing:
"However, that is also one of the reasons I sought you out this time.
"While we won't harm you, it doesn't mean everyone else will share the same mindset.
"If other big figures notice you, some might covet the opportunity that made you strong so suddenly, which would be detrimental to you.
"And it's not just these old fogies looking to seize potential opportunities; there are also powerhouses from foreign races. Seeing a human prodigy rise, they will surely strike to strangle you in the cradle.
"At the moment, you haven't participated in the National Youth Adventurer Competition yet, so your fame is temporarily limited to a few schools in Boulder City and Clearwater City, and you haven't attracted too much attention.
"But with the talent you've shown, the day will come when your name shakes the world. So, you will inevitably face the things that all geniuses experience."
At this, Jiang Lin remained silent.
The dean continued:
"You were very clever before, using the names of the Boulder City lord and the Temple Master as a front to create a fake background of a powerful hidden family for yourself.
"But such a disguise only works as long as no one seriously investigates your background.
"If you had stayed low-profile, or if your talent weren't as prominent as it is now, that package might have protected you for a long time.
"But you are too dazzling now, so that disguise no longer works."
Jiang Lin took a sip of the tea in his cup and asked:
"Then, does the dean have any solution for this?"
The dean nodded:
"That's why I found you this time.
"While talent and effort are both important, if you want to be able to grow safely and establish a firm foothold, a reliable background is indispensable."
Jiang Lin nodded in agreement.
The dean then continued:
"However, as far as the school is concerned, I only have the strength of a 7th-rank. While I can offer some degree of deterrence, it is ultimately not enough.
"So, I wanted to ask you, would you be interested in taking a 9th-rank powerhouse as your master...?"
Rate on N.U.
