First came the shocking scandal: Ethan Jiang, a student from Imperial Capital University, had secretly used the forbidden talent Doom of Talent, attempting to cripple Noah's newly awakened S-grade combat talent. When his scheme was exposed, the Jiang family was annihilated overnight.
But the chaos didn't end there. That very evening, a Battle King from the Anti-Alliance Organization infiltrated Jiangnan No. 2 High, launching a deadly ambush meant to end Noah's life once and for all.
Two incidents in one day—both involving Noah—threw the internet into an uproar. The uproar grew so intense that it caught the attention of the Demon-Hunting Institute's Central Headquarters
By midnight, the Institute had issued a Level-One War Order: an indefinite nationwide campaign to root out and exterminate every Anti-Alliance cell hiding within the Chinese Nation. These parasites who gnawed at humanity's roots would be purged without mercy.
And yet, that wasn't enough.
Fearing the outbreak of a full-scale Talent War, the Institute commanded local branches to tighten security around schools and public Link Crystal hubs. From the Central Headquarters itself, elite powerhouses led by Lin Nan were dispatched to the Land of Divine Punishment, patrolling the newbie zones twenty-four hours a day.
…
Inside Jiangnan No. 2 High's newly established **Top Scholar Class**.
After presenting Noah with his special rewards, the old principal began distributing prizes from yesterday's combat drills as well. Growth Packages and weekly resource supplies were handed out one by one.
The classroom erupted into cheers. Unlike Noah's impossibly rare treasures, these were rewards that actually felt tangible to the rest of the students.
The Growth Package contained one random level-20 B-grade weapon or piece of equipment, along with two teleport scrolls. As for the weekly resource supply, it granted 3,500 gold coins, one teleport scroll, and a full set of health and mana potions.
This year, Jiangnan No. 2 High was determined to push Noah to the title of Provincial Top Scholar. They were going all in. Everything was being bet on him.
"Alright, that's enough for today," the old principal finally said. "No need for me to hover over you. Go grind your levels."
He grabbed a stool, dragged it to the classroom door, and sat there like a personal guardian deity.
Noah, however, wasted no time. He politely refused his classmates' invitations to team up, then reached out to press his palm against the shimmering surface of the Link Crystal.
Whoosh!
His consciousness blurred.
The next moment, Noah's figure re-emerged at the fractured boundary wall of the Forest Kingdom
The path to the next map now lay wide open.
"Time to test out my new skill—Aerial Step
Unable to contain his excitement, Noah hurried to a flat patch of ground. He activated the SS-grade ability.
Hum!
A surge of power erupted beneath his feet. His body shot skyward like a launched blade, soaring higher and higher.
"Damn, that's high!"
In seconds, Noah was already tens of thousands of meters above ground. A sea of clouds spread out beneath him, while golden rays of dawn spilled across the horizon like a dreamscape.
For the first time since entering the Land of Divine Punishment, Noah felt true freedom.
After a brief adjustment to the dizzying altitude, he stretched out his body and streaked forward, racing across the border of the Forest Kingdom.
His speed was staggering—like a thunderbolt tearing through the skies.
Far below, his streak of motion left a blazing trail across the heavens.
A few players relying on lesser aerial skills like Flight or Sky Soar gawked upward, nearly dropping out of the sky.
"Holy crap, who's that? A Battle King wandering into the Forest Kingdom?"
"No way. Must be a Demon-Hunting Institute powerhouse. Didn't you hear? The Anti-Alliance has been way too cocky lately. The Institute sent heavy hitters into the Land of Divine Punishment to keep watch."
"So badass… I swear, I'll become one of the Institute's elites someday!"
…
Crossing the Forest Kingdom took mere moments.
Noah entered the next map: the Endless Desert.
This region stretched up to level 500 at its peak. Just as the textbooks described, the map was nothing but boundless sands.
Long ago, after humanity evacuated the newbie zones, allied Elves had helped establish a temporary stronghold here—a fortress called Sandsea City.
But when the Lizardfolk, rulers of the desert, united with swarms of Sandworms, they launched a brutal assault. Humanity's defenders collapsed under the siege, abandoning Sandsea City and retreating from the Endless Desert altogether.
Noah shook his head. "Doesn't matter if it's reality or the Land of Divine Punishment… humanity's still having it rough."
Braving the howling sandstorms, he soared straight toward Sandsea City.
In the past, most of his time in this world was wasted on endless travel. Now, with Levitation Art, his traveling speed was maxed out.
In only a few minutes, he was hovering above the ancient fortress.
Boom!
He dropped like a cannonball into the city streets, rushing before any wandering players could recognize him. His destination: the Job Advancement Hall.
It was time. His path as a Divine Fury Mage had reached the threshold for second advancement.
Noah entered the hall, unsurprised to find no NPCs. Everything here had to be done manually. With practiced motions, he triggered the interface.
[Second Class Advancement Quest Accepted!]
He skimmed the requirements. His expression darkened.
The materials list had doubled compared to first advancement. Now it demanded ten separate SSS-grade rare materials.
At minimum, these items sold for a million gold each at auction. Worse, two of them—Blue Sea Pearl and Dragon-scale Incense Powder—weren't even listed on the markets.
"Tch. Good thing I've got deep reserves. Stockpiling pays off."
Grinning, Noah dug through his inventory. The hoard left behind by that gluttonous Storage Rat was practically bottomless.
Every single item on the quest list was already in his possession.
"Beautiful. Saved myself over ten million gold. Only I could pull this off!"
The materials problem solved, the quest now only required him to kill a specific field boss.
"Let's see who's on the chopping block."
He opened the quest panel.
[Target: Lizard Emperor]
[Level: 255]
Noah's lips curled. "Easy."
He left the hall, ignored the gawking players, and activated Levitation Art once more.
Boom!
His figure rocketed into the skies, vanishing into the distance.
Five minutes later, he stood tall in the middle of the desert.
The sands suddenly exploded outward, birthing a raging sandstorm that swallowed everything in sight.
From within the storm emerged a colossal figure—over ten meters tall. A crown rested atop its scaled head, golden armor wrapped its waist, and its eyes gleamed with burning radiance.
The Lizard Emperor
A voice like thunder bellowed: "Insignificant human! To awaken me from my slumber… you will know my wrath!"
The Emperor thrust his staff forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless shells of compressed sand and wind rained from the sky, detonating against the desert floor. Waves of destruction surged like tsunamis.
Noah stood unmoving amidst the chaos, his cloak whipping in the storm. The blasts struck him head-on.
Not even a scratch.
"Finished showing off? Good. My turn."
He flicked his staff. A simple Fireball spell hurtled toward the Emperor.
The giant sneered. "Pathetic! You dare cast such a trifling spell before m—"
The rest of his words drowned in a thunderous BOOM.
The Fireball erupted inside his chest, blasting scales and flesh apart.
"ARGHHHHHH!"
The mighty Lizard Emperor's scream tore across the desert.
"This… impossible…!"
His towering form collapsed like a crumbling mountain. The monarch who had ruled the Endless Desert for two centuries was reduced to dust in mere seconds.
"Done."
Noah smirked, already turning back toward Sandsea City. His mind buzzed with anticipation. How much more devastating would his spells become after completing his second advancement as a Divine Fury Mage?
Just then—
[Congratulations! You have triggered a Desert Encounter!]
[See that sandstorm ahead? Step inside boldly… unexpected rewards await!]