86: Earth Mage

Spring passed and autumn arrived; the cold and heat alternated.

That 'Earth Rank' barrier, which appeared as thin as a cicada's wing but was actually as firm as Bedrock, proved far more stubborn than Linn had anticipated. He had originally thought that with vast resources and the environmental aid of the breath of life, the Breakthrough would happen naturally. However, he ultimately underestimated the limitations of his Innate Aptitude, as well as the difficulty of the essential life leap from Gold Rank to Earth Rank.

The immense energy from the potions repeatedly struck the barrier. Each time, it seemed to shake his Foundation, but it always failed at the last moment. That boundary stubbornly blocked the path of evolution. Linn was not discouraged; he knew his starting point was low, and reaching his current state was already a stroke of luck. The Breakthrough required not just energy, but also comprehension of Rules and the refinement of his life essence.

Seclusion, Charge, comprehension, adjustment, resource replenishment... the cycle repeated.

Time lost its clear meaning in his focus. The fourth "Star Sea Day" quietly arrived, and Linn still hadn't taken that final step. He didn't stay in Absolute Seclusion; every few months, when his state of mind needed adjusting or external matters required handling, he would temporarily leave Seclusion.

When he emerged, he was still the calm and wise Lord. He listened to the reports from Morton, Clay, and others, reviewed the Territory development reports, and made clear plans for the expansion and construction of the Star Sea Territory. Under his guidance, the Star Sea Territory launched a new round of military expansion to deal with potential future changes. The number and tonnage of Warships continued to grow.

The most significant change occurred in Star Moon Town. Relying on its advantageous geographical location, increasingly prosperous trade, and abundant resource investment, this former inland town on Shattered Star Island expanded at an astonishing speed. Before the third Star Sea Day arrived, Linn officially signed the order to upgrade it to Star Moon City. The loyal and highly capable Ronald was appointed as the first chief executive officer of Star Moon City, fully responsible for the governance and development of the emerging city. Meanwhile, Evan focused wholeheartedly on training the Dragon Scale Knights, an elite force composed entirely of at least Apprentice Professionals, which had become the sharpest Spearhead of the Star Sea Territory on land.

It was the 31606th year of the dawn calendar, the thirteenth year since Linn arrived in this world, and the fourth year of his governance over the Star Sea Territory. It was June 7th, the last day of the Star Sea Day Celebration.

Within the breath of life space, a Strange Phenomenon suddenly arose.

The originally peaceful and abundant Elemental Energy began to churn violently without Warning, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand. The dense breath of life transformed into visible pale green airflow, surging madly towards Linn, who was sitting beside the divine spring, forming a massive energy vortex. His body trembled slightly, and streams of light seemed to dart beneath his skin. His aura fluctuated intensely at the limit of the Gold Peak, sometimes soaring as if about to Breakthrough, and sometimes settling back into solidity.

This process lasted for a long time, as if engaged in a final tug-of-war with some invisible Law.

Finally!

"Crack..."

A faint shattering sound, which only Linn himself could "hear" and which originated from the depths of his Soul, rang out. This was immediately followed by more frequent and denser cracking sounds, as if a layer of thick Glazed Glass wrapped around his core was cracking and peeling away inch by inch.

"Boom!"

An unstoppable sense of power instantly surged through his limbs and bones. Every cell cheered with joy, greedily absorbing the massive energy pouring in from the outside. His bones emitted a faint hum, becoming denser and tougher; his blood flowed like mercury, containing stronger Vitality and power; and his internal organs were thoroughly cleansed and strengthened by the life energy.

More importantly, his Mental Energy perception became incredibly clear and sharp. Wherever his mind reached, the flow of every wisp of energy within the space, and even the subtle life pulsations deep within the soil, seemed to be reflected in his Heart Lake. His Soul seemed to have broken free from some restraint, becoming solid, heavy, and full of resilience, while his perception range and intensity skyrocketed!

Earth Rank, Elementary!

Soul Power, High Earth Rank, just half a step away from the mysterious Sky Rank threshold!

Linn slowly opened his eyes. The sharp light in his pupils was restrained, yet deep as an abyss, seemingly capable of seeing through Reality. He was twenty-seven years old. His face had shed the last trace of youthful naivety, appearing calmer and more resolute. The accumulation of charisma from his long tenure in high office and dedicated Cultivation gave him an imposing presence without needing to show anger.

"Master! Congratulations, Master! You succeeded! You really succeeded!" Dolia's exceedingly cheerful voice sounded in his mind. She spun rapidly around Linn, scattering dots of joyful Light Dust.

Linn showed a joyful and satisfied smile. Three years of hard work had finally borne fruit. He stood up tall, carefully sensing every subtle change in his body and Soul. "This is the power of the Earth Rank..." He clenched his fist, and the air gave a slight pop. His pure physical strength far surpassed the Gold Rank several times over. His Mental Energy spread out, easily covering the entire breath of life space, and he could even faintly sense the activity within a certain range of the Castle outside.

Only then did he have time to observe the changes in the breath of life itself.

The scope of the space had indeed expanded again, reaching a diameter of about three hundred kilometers. The outlines of the mountains, forests, and plains were clearer, and it had even begun to evolve rudimentary miniature rivers and lakes, making the ecology increasingly complete. The central divine spring remained the absolute core of the space; the spring mouth was deep, and the water sparkled, seemingly without obvious changes. However, the Ancient Tree beside the spring had become thicker and more majestic, its canopy like a Splendid Cover. The wisps of breath of life hanging down intertwined with the divine spring's radiance, making it appear extraordinarily mysterious.

What concerned Linn the most was the space's Accelerating Maturity Effect on plants—it had increased to an astonishing thirty-five times! This meant that one year outside equaled thirty-five years inside. This was undoubtedly a strategic-level enhancement for his Potion Planting and the Cultivation of rare magic plants.

Having adapted to his newfound power, Linn's gaze involuntarily and intensely fell upon the calm surface of the divine spring water.

Earth Rank was achieved, and Soul Power met the standard.

It was time.

He looked at the joyous Dolia, his eyes burning:

"Dolia, I have now stepped into the Earth Rank, and my Soul Power has reached the sufficient level, just as the Goddess of Life's Revelation stated. Regarding the Dragon Egg at the bottom of the spring... what should we do? I need to know more details."

"Master, your current strength is enough to dive into the divine spring. The main issue is the Dragon Egg's Soul Pressure! You must use your Soul Power to resist the Dragon's Might and try to establish communication! Awaken the sleeping Young Dragon."

"What about establishing a Contract?" Linn continued to ask.

"That will be up to Master. When the Great Dragon is willing to recognize you as a Partner, he will sign an Equal Soul Contract with you using the Dragon Clan's method. You will gain tremendous benefits then."

After hearing Dolia's Warning, Linn was impatient. He slowly approached the divine spring. Taking advantage of his current Peak state in all aspects, he leaped down.