After returning to the academy, I contacted the Jaejun Merchant Guild and began preparing for a full-scale seclusion training.

‘Now is the time to focus on growth.’

The remaining time was only a year. To become stronger in such a short time, I had to use extreme measures.

Therefore, upon arrival, I found a sacred cave within the sacred mountain through the mountain keepers. And I began to remodel that place for training.

After a few hectic days, when I visited the advanced student building, there was a credit item next to my name.

[Top-grade request, destruction of the Macheon Cult’s Sichuan headquarters, 10 points]

[Top-grade request, execution of Pa Eun-seong, 10 points]

I had earned 20 points in just one activity.

With this, I had secured 35 credits.

Since I had enough credits, I suspended all my remaining department schedules and applied for a temporary leave of absence. It was a measure possible because there was a lot of autonomy from the advanced students.

‘I’ll have to postpone the battle with Gu Ja-beom for later.’

Since it would be better to fight after getting stronger.

I headed for the training cave I had prepared inside the sacred mountain.

There, spiritual medicines sent from the Jaejun Merchant Guild were piled up by the cartload.

‘Incredible.’

In the original work, ‘Magic Knight Academy,’ which was the basis of this body’s talent, there was a unique growth method from the 5th circle.

Although the immediate growth was ten times more difficult, it was a high-risk, high-return method that would return with dozens of times the efficiency later.

The method was simple. After growing to the limit, one would reach the realm of the 6th circle.

If one reached the 6th circle after increasing the size of the 5th circle by packing it with mana to the limit, the subsequent growth would become much easier.

Although it seemed like a simple method, the reality was not so.

Because the 6th circle was the realm of a high-level mage.

Just like the Transformation Realm of Murim, when one reached a certain level, a natural differentiation would begin, but I had to forcibly suppress that and maintain overgrowth in the 5th circle.

It was an impossible task without a decent amount of mana control and talent.

‘But if I succeed, I can grow rapidly after the 6th circle.’

In other words, if I was aiming for a realm of the 7th circle or higher, I had to lay a good foundation in the 5th circle.

‘Of course, it’s an impossible method without a decent amount of talent and spiritual medicine.’

I looked at the spiritual medicines that the Jaejun Merchant Guild had brought. Among them, the resistance poison that Tang Pung-ok had packed was also piled up.

‘It’ll take at least a few months just to absorb it.’

I thought, looking at the spiritual medicines piled up by the cartload.

Since the amount of mana was important, I had gathered them regardless of their quality, but it was still enormous.

It was at a level where all the spiritual medicines of the Central Plains had been gathered.

It must have cost an enormous amount.

Although the merchant guild would have been staggering, since Ji Bok-hyeon had said it was okay, I decided to accept it for now.

I heard that he had secured a large amount of investment on the pretext of artificial spiritual medicine.

‘Since immediate growth is more urgent than the profit that will be made by cultivating it in a few decades, it’s a wise judgment.’

Although it was an unreasonable investment for the merchant guild, it was a perfect support from the perspective of the guild leader.

Because all the money I had earned so far was for this.

I sat in the very center of the auspicious place and activated the grand ritual. As the large-scale formation that had been formed to draw and gather the energy of the entire sacred mountain unfolded, the entire sacred mountain trembled faintly.

Soon, along the earth veins, an enormous amount of energy began to fill the inside of the auspicious place. I could feel a full sensation that filled my whole body as if I was having a sacred experience.

‘Incredible.’

I sat cross-legged and began to eat the spiritual medicine.

The moment the fresh grass I had chewed first went down my throat, the energy that filled my body.

But I didn’t stop there. I ate more. As a pure power filled the blood vessels of my whole body, this time I chewed and swallowed a summoning pill.

I could feel the circle and the dantian, which had accepted the qi to the limit, pulsating.

Only then did I begin to circulate my qi.

It was about half a day later that I finished the first great circulation and finished the absorption.

Since I had been unreasonable to increase the effect by eating the spiritual medicines that reacted most violently or had good compatibility, it had taken quite a bit of time.

‘But I can feel that my mana has increased.’

Although it wasn’t as noticeable as before, perhaps because I had grown a lot now.

It didn’t matter. Because there were still spiritual medicines piled up in front of me.

After that, I continued to ingest the spiritual medicines in order, according to their compatibility, in the middle of the auspicious place. I continued to pack them into the circle with the energy of the sacred mountain.

I absorbed them to the limit of the circle, adapted again, and then pushed them into my body again.

It was a reckless act that would have been impossible without [Transcendental Growth].

‘It’ll take a huge amount of time to digest this.’

Even now, while I was continuing my seclusion training, the spiritual medicines sent by the Jaejun Merchant Guild were pouring in.

Since I opened the entrance in the auspicious place once a week to receive them, the amount that was piling up was more than the amount I was absorbing.

The reason was that Ji Bok-hyeon’s skills were better than expected.

The fact that the supply of spiritual medicine had increased due to the widening of the area where the mountain keepers could enter, as the forces of the Blood Cult and the Heretic Alliance had disappeared, also played a part.

‘But I’ll eat it all.’

Even if it took much longer than expected, if I could become stronger, I was planning to do it as much as I wanted.

I chewed and swallowed two hundred-year-old ginseng roots as they were.

A month passed after that. I was able to swallow and digest three of the things I had been eating two at a time and circulating my qi.

The third month. I was eating five spiritual medicines each time and was growing my mana amount enormously.

I could feel that the circle was gradually expanding to the point of exploding.

‘At this rate, it’s doable.’

By the time summer was approaching, I had started to take six spiritual medicines each. The amount of spiritual medicine I had piled up was slowly decreasing.

And so, about half a year had passed since I had entered seclusion training.

“…It’s a record.”

I opened my two eyes, feeling the enormous mana fluctuating within the circle.

Even in the game, I had never pushed the circle to its limit on such a scale.

It was definitely the 5th circle. But the mana pool was in a different dimension from before.

Not only had its size expanded several times, but I could also sense and operate mana more clearly than before.

‘I should start moving soon.’

Before I knew it, summer had passed, and autumn was deepening. It was time to gather the forces for the surprise attack on the Demonic Cult.

I looked at the rock that was blocking the entrance of the training cave. At that moment, light began to seep in from beyond the crack in the rock.

The giant rock, which would have required three or four peak-level martial artists to barely move, was pushed away all too easily by psychokinesis.

Natural light seeped in through the open crack, and I finally left the entrance of the training cave.

It was outside after a long time.

Although there were many things to do, I first had to withdraw my leave of absence. Because only then could I graduate.

I took a light step towards the center of the Martial Academy.

My vision changed in a flash, and in an instant, the panoramic view of the academy was visible. I had leaped ten meters in just one step.

I immediately arrived at the advanced student building and went through the procedures.

Perhaps because I had appeared so spectacularly, I could feel the gazes of the other students from the surroundings.

“It’s the Great Mage.”

“He hasn’t been seen for a while, but he’s changed so much?”

Since I had grown taller and had put on some muscle while training, it seemed I looked that way.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from among the students.

“How long has it been? Since I last saw you.”

It was Cho Min-ha. He looked at me with curious eyes and asked.

“You know that if you take a leave of absence, you’ll immediately fall out of the rankings, right?”

“Yes, well. So I’m planning to go up a bit from now on.”

I said, looking at him. Since I was looking for an opponent, it was a good thing.

“You’re full of confidence. But I’ve also grown in the meantime. I’ve reached the pinnacle, you know. I won’t be as easy as before.”

“You talk too much.”

Soon, we arrived at the training ground and began a duel with our credits and rankings on the line, in the presence of an instructor.

The one who moved first was Cho Min-ha.

“Let’s have a go!”

Cho Min-ha’s Taiji-Hye-Sword, which rushed, bending as if to dominate the atmosphere of the area. In the infinitely threatening single sword, the numerous subtleties he had accumulated were contained.

On the other hand, I just raised the Demon-Slaying Sword and struck down vertically.

But the result was the opposite. Before I knew it, the opponent’s sword was pointing at the floor, and my sword was at Cho Min-ha’s neck.

A single blow. It was a scene that had happened in just one move.

“Because I wasn’t just playing around either.”

“You, you, don’t tell me?”

In an instant, Cho Min-ha’s pupils widened. A face that couldn’t believe this situation at all.

He must have never thought that the gap would have widened this much.

I put away the Demon-Slaying Sword and mentioned.

“I crossed a wall a while ago.”

I had finally reached the Transformation Realm.

‘The enlightenment came with achieving immunity to ten thousand poisons with Tang Pung-ok’s grand ritual. I was lucky.’

“You reached the Transformation Realm before you were of age?”

Cho Min-ha, who was frozen in surprise. I looked at him and asked back.

“Yes, that’s what happened. But where is Cheon Ga-seong now?”

“…He’s said to be on an external activity.”

“That’s a shame.”

Since I was out, I was planning to go for a ranking cleanup.

‘Since Gu Ja-beom is also on a business trip, I’ll have to do my external activities first.’

And so, after establishing my school ranking to some extent in one day, I moved my steps to a deserted place.

Under the clear sky, when I sent a signal via telepathy.

“You called?”

The mountain keeper who had been assisting me appeared. I handed him a letter.

“Send a message to the Martial Alliance Leader. That I’ve reached the Transformation Realm.”

It was now time to gather.

There were many things to do. Externally, I had to form an alliance and a joint front, and internally, I had to start preparing for graduation.

‘The urgent thing to do is this.’

I headed for the advanced student building. What was there were the numerous request forms attached to the wall.

What I needed now was to fill my credits.

Graduation was the priority.

Before I knew it, the rumor had spread, and I slowly examined the request forms among the murmuring students.

As I moved my gaze to the request column that went from advanced to top-grade, I saw some familiar names.

[Subjugation of the Black Serpent Gang’s Henan branch. Reward for participation in subjugation, 2,000 nyang. Estimated scale of 80 people. Advanced grade, 9 points]

[Northern Hubei, execution of a Blood Fiend. Bounty, 6,500 nyang. Estimated super-peak level. Top-grade, 10 points]

[Eastern Shaanxi, subjugation of the Shadow Hall’s main camp. Solo reward, 9,500 nyang. Top-grade, 10 points]

[Execution of the Thousand-Jin Power Bear, Seo Chae-gang. Bounty, 340,000 nyang. Transformation Realm. Top-grade, 10 points. Credits will also be given for contributing to seriously injuring or killing him.]

The last request was especially welcome.

‘Seo Chae-gang.’

Seeing the related content attached to the other request forms, it seemed he had caused trouble in several places.

Just like in Pa Eun-seong’s case, it was highly likely that it would be lucrative after the hunt.

The remaining credits for graduation were now 65 points.

‘If I just sweep up the 9 and 10-point ones, I’ll fill it up quickly.’

It was a thought that would have made the other students gasp if they had heard it.

Because they were opponents whose lives would be in danger just by encountering them for a decent advanced student.

Although I was also an enemy I couldn’t even dream of a year ago, not anymore.

‘I can win.’

And easily at that.

Although Seo Chae-gang was a concern, now it seemed I could face him alone.

‘He’s an opponent I have to defeat someday anyway.’

I picked up the top-grade request forms and classified them according to my future plan’s route.

‘It seems I can handle it by going around Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi in a circle.’

And in the meantime, I would also reveal to my allies that the day of the plan was approaching.

After taking all the requests through the instructor, I received an outing pass and left the academy.

An outing after half a year.

I moved my steps and headed north.

My first move was to hunt a Blood Fiend.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep