Five months passed in a flash at Notting Academy, in the back mountains.
It was late autumn, the weather was turning cold, the grass and trees were yellow and withered, and leaves were falling everywhere. Some solitary birds were still pecking at the ground, searching for seeds and insects to fill their stomachs.
At this moment, a figure as swift as a wild rabbit was moving through the forest. That figure was exceptionally agile, dodging and weaving like an ape, startling several birds that were originally pecking at the ground.
However, they still didn't escape. Just as that figure flashed past, the several birds that had flown into the air all vanished.
A moment later, that figure returned to the ground, opening his hands. Seven or eight birds he had caught in his hands were then able to escape his clutches, flapping their wings and chirping as they quickly fled the area.
This figure was none other than Wang Li. He had been living at the academy for eight months. Compared to eight months ago, he had grown significantly taller, with broad shoulders and a robust physique. His school uniform, which was originally a bit loose, now perfectly fit his powerful body.
His muscle tissue was thick and strong, his subcutaneous fat was as hard as iron, and even his skin was as tough as cowhide.
This was the result of Wang Li constantly crashing into trees. The process was tortuous, but the results were gratifying. Now, with every movement, Wang Li could unleash the full power of his body. Coupled with his formidable physique, he was completely on par with an attack system Spirit Master of the same realm.
Moreover, compared to an attack system Spirit Master, Wang Li also possessed extremely high speed and agility. Through continuous experimentation, he had created his own movement Spirit Ability.
Explosive Feet!
By utilizing super control over spirit power, he compressed spirit power in his soles and artificially controlled its direction of eruption, thereby achieving the goal of increasing his own speed. He could even achieve temporary suspension in mid-air and change direction, though it consumed an enormous amount of spirit power.
Wang Li, a tenth-level Spirit Scholar, could only use it a few times, which gave him a huge headache. Finally, he made an improved version.
He compressed the spirit power in his soles, making it concentrated and unscattered. At this point, by pushing off the ground, this concentrated and compressed spirit power acted as a spring, leading to the second type of movement Spirit Ability.
Instant Step!
Instant Step consumed less spirit power, but it was equally difficult to control. When jumping around on the ground or in trees, controlling the force and direction was no small challenge.
Furthermore, he also had to learn Heart Separation Control, because the spirit power cluster on his soles always needed to be maintained with his focus. Once he was distracted in battle, if the spirit power cluster exploded, his feet would be the first to be injured.
Wang Li's legs had been exploded countless times, but with his vitality and resilience, they always recovered and became even stronger, allowing him to be less injured the next time they exploded.
Explosive Feet and Instant Step, when used flexibly, were the key to Wang Li's ability to move through the forest like a swift wild rabbit and an agile ape.
The development of Explosive Feet and Instant Step was just the beginning. His spirit power would continue to increase, and his control over spirit power would also continue to strengthen. Once these two movement Spirit Abilities were truly perfected, he would have the qualifications to establish his own sect.
Looking back once more at the academy's back mountain, where he had stayed for five months, Wang Li sighed, "Time really flies. I probably won't be coming back here anymore!"
After speaking, Wang Li walked down the mountain.
At Notting Academy, one semester was one year, or to be precise, ten months. It had only been eight months now, and it wasn't yet time for the first-year students' vacation, but it was time for the sixth-year students' graduation.
Because it involved hunting Spirit Beasts, which was a dangerous, time-consuming, and labor-intensive task, preparations had to begin two months in advance.
Tomorrow was the day of the sixth-year assessment, and Wang Li also planned to participate and then, with the help of the academy's teachers, hunt a Spirit Beast to obtain a spirit ring.
The next day!
Wang Li skipped his morning class and ran to the outside of the sixth-year classroom. Many students had already gathered here, but they were not sixth-year students; they were students from other grades.
The sixth-year students were all inside the classroom, undergoing their assessment. Clearly, there were quite a few students who skipped class to watch the sixth-year assessment, as this was a process they would all have to go through in the future.
Wang Li squeezed into the crowd and looked into the classroom. There were five teachers, led by Director Su of the Academic Affairs Office, and more than forty students. Except for Xiao Chenyu, who had already obtained a spirit ring and become a Spirit Master, the others' faces were a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
As a teacher called out a name, a student would walk up and place his hand on the crystal ball used for testing spirit power. If his spirit power reached the tenth level, he would be overjoyed. If his spirit power did not reach the tenth level, he would be full of dejection.
This was an assessment that would determine their fate. If they reached the tenth level now, the academy teachers would take them to hunt a Spirit Beast for free. If they did not reach the tenth level, they would face withdrawal from school and be unable to graduate normally. Even if they cultivated to the tenth level in the future, if they wanted to obtain a spirit ring, their parents would need to hire a Spirit Master to help them hunt, which would be a significant expense.
One student after another stepped forward, either overjoyed or full of dejection...
Soon, Wang Li saw an acquaintance. Wang Sheng placed his hand on the crystal ball, and the crystal ball emitted a brilliant light, which was a sign that his spirit power had reached the tenth level.
Wang Sheng was so excited he almost jumped up. Wang Li smiled at the sight. Yesterday could definitely be said to be Wang Sheng's most diligent day of cultivation, just in case something went wrong with the assessment.
Those self-funded students generally came from good families. Even if they didn't pass this assessment, their parents might grit their teeth and pay to hire a Spirit Master to hunt a Spirit Beast in the future. However, for work-study students like Wang Sheng, unless they sold themselves to other forces, no Spirit Master would help him hunt a Spirit Beast without any personal connection.
Not long after, all forty-plus students in the classroom had completed their assessments. Among them, only twelve had reached the tenth level of spirit power, which showed that it was quite difficult for a Spirit Master to emerge from a remote small city like Nuoding City.
At this moment, Wang Li walked directly into the classroom and, amidst the astonished gazes of the others, loudly declared, "Teachers, I also want to participate in the assessment. My spirit power has also reached the tenth level now."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.
Finally, Director Su spoke, "What's your name? Which grade are you from? You said your spirit power has also reached the tenth level? Then come over and test it!"
Wang Li quickly stepped forward, saying as he walked, "My name is Wang Li, a first-year student."
He walked to the crystal ball, without panic, only calmness. Wang Li placed his hand on the crystal ball, and in an instant, a brilliant light erupted.