30: Breakthrough Silver Advanced

In March of the year 31598 of the dawn calendar, the violent aura that had shrouded the Storm Sea Region for several months finally began to subside. The raging hurricanes ceased their activity, the turbulent ocean currents grew gentle, and the lead-gray clouds were torn apart by the warm sunlight, casting down a long-awaited warmth. Iron Sand Island, an island that had lain dormant for so long during the winter storms, began to radiate vigorous vitality like a waking giant.

At the pier, the noise was deafening. Clay and his deputy, Alexander, held the long whips he had learned to use from Morton; though they didn't swing them, just standing there was enough to make all the slaves and freemen stay alert. Under his shouting and direction, bags of grain arriving from the Nocturne Territory, along with 500 slaves and military equipment, were orderly moved ashore, piling up like small mountains.

At the same time, a new batch of seeds—including salt-tolerant improved barley, short-cycle tubers, and some local specialty vegetables—was also distributed.

“Quick! Quick! You lazy maggots! Spring plowing waits for no one!” Morton's voice was hoarse yet extremely piercing. “Turn the soil deeper! Apply all the fertilizer! If anyone dares to slack off and delay the Lord's harvest, I'll throw him into the sea to feed the Sea Demons!”

Under his high-pressure management, busy figures were everywhere on Iron Sand Island's limited flat land and the newly reclaimed terraced fields. Plowshares broke through the moist soil, emitting a fresh scent. This was the hope of the year, the key to whether the territory could achieve food self-sufficiency and even stockpile military rations. Linn stood on the high ground of the Lord's manor, watching this busy scene with a slight sense of peace. Although Morton's methods were harsh, he was truly unmatched in terms of efficiency and execution.

Meanwhile, deep within the Lord's manor, a quiet room for cultivation was empty. But in reality, Linn was inside the space within his ring—the breath of life space.

After a month of accumulation and consolidation, he had already touched the threshold of High Silver Rank. At this moment, he sat cross-legged, floating at the core of the breath of life space, surrounded by a thick, inseparable emerald-green halo. The vast amount of life energy stored within the space, like summoned streams, converged from all directions and poured into his body.

The magic source within his body rotated, compressed, and condensed at an unprecedented speed. His mental sea was also churning violently, his perception range constantly expanding, and his sensing of the magical elements in the world became clearer and more acute. The process of Breakthrough was not smooth sailing; the powerful energy surged through his Meridians, bringing waves of tearing pain, but Linn's will had long been tempered as firm as Bedrock through repeated adventures and battles. He kept his mind clear, guiding the majestic energy to wash over the barriers of advancement again and again.

After an unknown amount of time, a subtle sound, like an eggshell cracking, came from the depths of his Soul—

“Boom!”

An aura several times more powerful than before erupted from Linn's body! High Silver Rank was achieved!

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them for a moment. Feeling the surging magic power within him, as majestic as a river, a sense of unprecedented strength filled his entire body. Not only had the total amount and purity of his magic power increased significantly, but even his physical fitness, reaction speed, and Mental Energy had been comprehensively enhanced.

Half a month before Linn broke through to High Silver Rank Magician, his Soul Power had already reached Gold Initial Rank. Coupled with his recent Breakthrough, his Soul Power was far beyond that of an ordinary Gold Initial Rank professional, showing signs of breaking through to Gold Intermediate Rank.

Following his Rank Breakthrough, the breath of life space also underwent significant changes. The boundaries of the space rapidly expanded outward; when it finally stabilized, the area had surged from the previous ten-plus square kilometers to approximately twenty square kilometers! More vast land meant more magical plants could be grown. The breath of life permeating the space also became denser, even faintly forming a light mist. What pleased him most was that the precious Spring of Life's eye seemed to have expanded, and the life force contained in the gushing spring water became increasingly pure.

And the core ability of the breath of life—ripening plants—had also improved again. The time flow ratio had increased from twelve times to a staggering fifteen times! This meant that for every day that passed in the outside world, the plants in the space grew for the equivalent of half a month! For Linn, who urgently needed a large amount of Materials to refine potions and increase his strength, this was undoubtedly timely help.

“Fifteen times speed... plus the expanded planting area...” Linn felt the changes in the space, his heart filled with excitement. “As long as I have enough seeds and time, I will no longer worry about low and Intermediate Materials! This will also be my greatest source of income.”

“Congratulations, Master! We're one step closer to the time I can go out and play!” The little sprite Dolia flew rapidly up and down around Linn.

Linn raised his hand and stroked Dolia's light green long hair. “Don't worry, Dolia. I believe it won't be long before you can follow me to see the outside world.”

“Hehe! Just thinking about it makes me excited, Master.” Dolia was full of longing for the outside world. “By the way, Master, the fourth-level Materials are almost mature. In a while, we can try making a fourth-level potion.”

Linn nodded. Although a level three potion could also allow him to break through to Gold, it was far less potent than a fourth-level potion. A fourth-level potion could help him quickly overcome the major hurdle of the Gold Rank. “I'll conduct the research after I've finished dealing with the Flamingo Pirate Group.”

Linn bid farewell to Dolia, and with a thought, his figure appeared within the quiet room.

When he walked out of the quiet room feeling refreshed, Elise, who had been waiting outside, immediately came forward. She keenly perceived the powerful aura on Linn that had not yet been fully restrained, and a flash of joy and admiration appeared in her eyes: “Congratulations on your successful Breakthrough, Young Master!”

Linn smiled as he looked at Elise's exquisite face and, on a sudden impulse, gave her cheek a pinch. Having spent so much time together, with Elise handling all his daily needs, their relationship had grown closer day by day.

“Ah!” Elise hadn't expected Linn's sudden action and cried out, hurriedly backing away. A blush instantly rose on both her cheeks.

An awkward atmosphere instantly filled the room.

Linn was also snapped back to his senses by her cry and scratched his head tactically. “Er! Sorry, Elise, I was just a bit too excited from breaking through to High Silver Rank.” Linn used his joy over the Breakthrough as an excuse to break the awkward atmosphere.

“It's... it's alright, Young Master!” Elise didn't dare look Linn in the eye, while simultaneously regretting her behavior for making the Young Master feel awkward and having him apologize. Her life belonged to the Young Master; what did it matter if he touched her? Besides, the Young Master was so handsome and dashing... Not only was he a wise and martial Lord, but also a great Magician and Apothecary... “Elise, you must work hard too and break through to Silver Intermediate Rank as soon as possible. Only then will you have the ability to protect yourself in the coming crisis.”

Linn's words interrupted Elise's daydreaming, and the blush that had just faded from her face reappeared.

“I will, Young Master.”

Seeing this, Linn couldn't help but find it funny and suddenly felt like teasing her, stepping closer to Elise. Linn, who was nearly one hundred and ninety centimeters tall, walked up to Elise and looked down at her, who was also not short.

“Elise, you...” Linn looked at Elise playfully. “What were you just thinking about? Were you afraid I would do something out of line to you?”

Facing Linn at such close range, combined with his extremely seductive gaze, Elise could only slowly retreat.

“Bang!” Elise's leg hit the table, and her balance faltered as she fell back into the chair. She no longer had any of the poise she showed when piercing hearts with an arrow on the battlefield.

Linn took the opportunity to step forward quickly, bracing both hands on the armrests of the chair. He pinned Elise into the chair and leaned down, looking at the distressed Elise.

With nowhere to retreat, Elise was surrounded by Linn's arms on the chair. “Young... Young Master, it's not dark yet...”

Linn was speechless. What kind of man could withstand this kind of temptation? However, he still reined in his mind and silently calmed his 'little brother.' With a great battle imminent, he could not afford to be self-indulgent.

“What if it's not dark yet? Can't we discuss work during the day?” Linn looked serious now, changing his expression extremely fast. His hands left the armrests and were placed behind his back, looking like a master.

Thinking of the words that had just escaped her mouth, Elise wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

“Hahaha!” Linn couldn't hold it in anymore. “Alright! Alright! I won't tease you anymore. Tell me! How has the territory been while I was in seclusion?”

Elise looked at Linn's mischievous look with annoyance, her eyes full of grievance. She stood up and adjusted her breathing rhythm.

“Everything is proceeding according to plan,” Elise reported. “Captain Ocean Jack successfully broke through to High Silver Rank three days ago and is currently adapting to his new power. The two brothers, Shirei and Evan, also did not disappoint, both advancing to Bronze Junior.”

Hearing these two pieces of news, Linn was even more satisfied. Ocean's Breakthrough finally gave Iron Sand Island some confidence in terms of high-end combat power. As for the brothers Shirei and Evan, they were young and talented, and more importantly, loyal and reliable. They were young soldiers who had followed Linn since he first arrived at Iron Sand Island. After the baptism of blood and fire and the focused cultivation of resources, they were finally starting to stand out.

“Elise, help me call the brothers Shirei and Evan, along with Morton.”

“Yes, Young Master.” Elise quickly fled the scene filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.

Linn watched Elise's hurried back and smiled faintly.