Chapter 528 - Taming the Fourth Year: Advanced Studies and Control

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Chapter 528: Chapter 528 - Taming the Fourth Year: Advanced Studies and Control Ren’s classes had changed to reflect his new status. His group now consisted almost entirely of "advanced students" who received mostly readapted classes designed to be useful for them at the request of various high-level individuals like Julius, Arturo, and Selphira. Some classes, like Wei’s new curriculum, even allowed Ren to integrate his input or deliver most of the lesson himself. The theories he discussed now were complex enough that often he was the only student in class who could fully follow the implications, making translation difficult for Wei and other professors. His days now followed a routine similar to his early academy years but different in status. Morning training with Lin, who had evolved her Panther to Silver 2 and seemed determined to maintain relevance as his personal instructor. Lin had grown more technique intense as the gap between their capabilities widened. Where once she had been the teacher guiding a promising student, now she fought desperately to remain useful to someone whose power was rapidly approaching levels that could make her own expertise obsolete. "Again!" she would shout during their sessions, sweat beading on her forehead as she pushed both their limits. "Your form is still sloppy when you’re using more than one element. Power without technique is just mana expensive showing off!" Her fang grew with frustrated determination. The Panther that had once seemed so impressive as her first time at Silver now appeared almost quaint compared to the forces Ren could command. Yet Lin refused to give ground, finding ways to challenge him that relied on experience rather than raw power. Afternoons were dedicated to writing and refining new cultivation methods... work that had begun as financial necessity but now represented his most significant contribution to the kingdom’s cultivation knowledge. The methods he developed were revolutionizing understanding of how beasts could evolve beyond their apparent limits. The ten-thousand-day method his parents were following was just one of them. These were techniques that could allow beasts of practically any lineage to reach ranks previously thought impossible. But his public books still had a cap at Silver 1 this year by Arturo’s appeal... The social and economic disruption higher techniques could cause made them hesitant to publish more immediately. And these innovations were already creating enemies. Established cultivators who had based their fortunes and status on monopolizing traditional techniques weren’t pleased to see their competitive advantages eroded by a preadolescent’s publicly available methods. He had begun receiving offers to buy exclusivity of some of his higher techniques... offers generous enough to be tempting but which came with implications that made him nervous. The latest proposition had arrived just yesterday... The sum was astronomical, but the letter’s tone suggested it wasn’t entirely a request. "Young master Patinder surely understands the delicate balance of knowledge distribution," the letter had read. "Some discoveries are too dangerous for widespread application without proper... oversight." Apart from the barely veiled threats, there were also those who simply couldn’t believe someone so young could have developed such advanced techniques. These skeptics frequently sent representatives to "test" his methods, challenges that usually ended with the challengers in the infirmary due to the sheer amount of power Ren’s multiple sources provided. ♢♢♢♢ A considerably taller Ren, after a final growth spurt the previous year, collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. His lean muscles ached in a familiar but intense way after another brutal session with "tryhard fused Lin". Each training session had become a silent competition where she pushed his limits as much as her own. Though lately, Lin was sadly falling behind. The thought bothered him more than he cared to admit. Lin had been his first real supporter, the person who had believed in him when everyone else saw only the "mushroom boy" with the weakest beast. Now he was outgrowing her guidance so rapidly that their sessions felt more like nostalgia than necessity. He contemplated the long months remaining until the end of the academic year. If his projections were correct, he would be approaching Gold 1 just as fourth year concluded. And then, finally, he would have the tools necessary to confront the "crystal problems" he had been carrying for just over two years. The question was whether he would be strong enough to handle the answers he might find. The mushrooms in his hair pulsed with a dim glow, reflecting both the fatigue and frustration that had been accumulating for weeks. The door burst open with a crash that made Ren sigh deeply. "The Lord of Mushrooms is very tired from so much grandeur!" Min entered with that mocking smile he had perfected over the years. His water snake, now enormous and a respectable Silver 2, slithered around him with movements that had gained a weird elegance. Ren didn’t bother opening his eyes. "The Lord of Mushrooms is going to use the Lord of Serpents as a floor mop if he doesn’t shut up." There was an edge in his voice that normally wasn’t there. The irritation surprised him. Usually, Min’s teasing was a welcome distraction, a reminder of simpler times when their biggest worry was passing their next exam. Today it felt like one more demand on "social energy" he didn’t have to spare. "Ooh, threats," Min feigned terror, placing his hands over his body dramatically. Then he smiled, recognizing the opening for a fight. For months they had been following Director Ignatius’s recommendations about constant elemental combat. Control only improved with use, and regular battles between roommates had proven effective for refining their abilities. The Director had been quite explicit about this during his private class with them: "Theoretical knowledge means nothing for elemental control. You could memorize every cultivation manual in the kingdom, but without regular experience, you’ll be helpless when it truly matters." "You know what?" Min moved toward the center of their new big room, where they had cleared a space specifically for these training sessions. "I think the genius lord needs a reminder of humility." The cleared area bore marks from previous elemental clashes, testament to the intensity of their regular practice. Protective mana enhancements and runes from Ren carved into the floor prevented serious structural damage, but they couldn’t eliminate all traces of their battles. Ren opened his eyes, and for a moment seemed to consider ignoring the challenge. But then he sat up on the bed, something in Min’s challenge cutting through his fatigue. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺 "Fine. Water and wind then." It was their usual arrangement. Min had a considerable advantage in water element combat. His serpent granted him 150% water control, and his more recently contracted amphibian added another 160%, totaling 310%. Additionally, since both were beasts with elemental bias toward water, that percentage was multiplied by 1.5, giving him truly formidable control. Ren, by contrast, only had 250% water control without big elemental bias. To compensate, he usually incorporated wind, which was dominant over water, creating a "more balanced" battlefield. The elemental interactions were complex, but Ren had long since mastered the framework. Wind could disrupt water’s flow, freeze it into ice, or disperse it into mist. The key was also understanding not just individual elements but how they interacted in a three-dimensional space. Ren fused with his multi-elemental Wolverine to acquire some bias, only an extra 25% but always useful against Min’s already advanced control. The wolverine’s integration always felt different from his other beasts. Where the fungus brought knowledge and the hydra brought raw defense and strength, the wolverine brought adaptability. Min did the same with his serpent, scales shimmering as the bond activated. His scales gleamed with deep blue as water began condensing from the air around him. Within seconds, he had enough water floating around him to launch a serious attack. Ren felt his own abilities activate, the familiar tingle of elemental control flowing through his veins. The sensation never grew old... it was like having additional limbs, extra senses that could reach out and reshape the world according to his will. Controlling elements never lost its wonder and pleasant sensation. Perhaps the most fun and stress-relieving thing to do in his free time. The feeling was addictive in its way. During his earliest years, when the mushroom had first granted him some small control, he had sometimes spent time simply moving water from one container to another, marveling at the fact that it would bend to his intentions... Min attacked first, sending a concentrated torrent of water directly toward Ren. It was a straightforward move, relying on superior brute force rather than finesse. The attack carried enough force to knock a normal person unconscious, compressed water moving with the impact of a battering ram. But Min knew Ren could handle it... this was just the opening move in what would likely be a longer engagement. Ren didn’t even move. With a casual gesture, he mixed wind with his water control, transforming Min’s attack into a fine mist of ice that dispersed harmlessly through the room. The ice crystals caught the afternoon light, creating tiny rainbows that danced through the air before melting. It was beautiful, but the casual display of superior technique clearly frustrated Min. "Seriously? That boring trick again?" Min frowned. "You’re not even going to try to make this interesting?" Ren shrugged, forming an ice lance in his hand with movements that seemed almost bored. "If you want it to be interesting, improve your technique." The response clearly irritated Min, who had started relaxedly out of habit. So he launched a series of more complex attacks, trying to use his superior water control to create unpredictable patterns. But Ren’s enhanced perception and reaction speed made every attack easily predictable. He countered each movement using combinations that required a fraction of the effort Min was investing. The contrast was becoming embarrassing. Min fought with the desperate creativity of someone reaching for every trick in his arsenal, while Ren defended with the casual competence of someone barely paying attention. The battle ended when Ren cooled all the water around Min, effectively cutting off his access to the element. Taro entered at that moment, carrying several books under his arm. "Why are you practicing so early today?" he asked with that tired patience he had developed after years of dealing with Min’s antics. "Again," Min growled, clearly frustrated by the one-sided nature of their encounter. "What for?" Ren dissolved the ice with another casual gesture, returning the room’s temperature to normal. "The result’s going to be the same." The dismissive tone was unlike him. Usually, Ren approached their training sessions with enthusiasm, using them as opportunities to experiment with new techniques or help his friends improve their own abilities. Today felt different... colder, more distant. "Maybe because we’re supposed to be training, not just showing off who’s better." Min was right, and normally Ren would have acknowledged that. But today there was something different in his attitude, an impatience that hadn’t been there before. The weight of constantly being the strongest, the smartest, the most capable was wearing on him in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Every interaction had become a demonstration of his superiority, even when he didn’t want it to be. "If it’s so easy," Min challenged him, recognizing the unusual irritation in his friend’s voice, "why don’t you use just wind instead of ice? Or do you need more than the elemental advantage to win?" The question hung in the air between them. Using pure wind against Min’s water control would eliminate Ren’s primary advantage, forcing him to rely on way superior technique rather than elemental dominance. Ren considered the suggestion. Wind was effective against water, but his control was significantly lower... probably around half of Min’s power. "Fine," he accepted finally. "Wind only."

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