Chapter 150: Cultivating Beside an Origin Source (2)

"I thought I'd never get past the third level. It feels so good to finally advance." Zara said after she had gotten up."Same here. An origin source is so incredible. It's like the mana is ten times denser than normal." Finn couldn't help but add.

"Yeah... it's a rare opportunity. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for Kyle."

The group nodded, their gazes shifting toward their silent benefactor. Kyle remained unmoving, his focus unwavering as he continued to cultivate.

Lina tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Why is he still cultivating? Wasn't he supposed to be the first to finish?"

Her words hung in the air for a moment before the others exchanged knowing looks.

"That dude," Lina said with anger. "He must have broken through already. He's always one step ahead."

"Always," Finn muttered grimly.

"Monster," Zara said, shaking her head with a wry smile.

Celine, however, couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. "Even if he's already in the fourth stage, shouldn't he be tired by now?"

"He must be trying to push for the fifth stage and here we are, celebrating just getting to the fourth."

"If we get back to cultivating now, we might be able to catch up while he's recovering."

Lina smirked, already settling back into her position. "Then let's not waste time. He'll have to rest eventually, and we'll use that to close the gap."

With renewed determination, the group resumed their cultivation, unaware that Kyle had lonf surpassed the fourth stage and was even pushing for the fourth. Worst of all, he'll be able to go on for eight hours until he reached his goal.

***

The night stretched on as Kyle and his team continued to cultivate near the mana origin source. The concentrated energy flowing from the pool and the power it would bring them was almost intoxicating, urging them to push their limits further than ever before. .

Except for Kyle and Void, the group followed a steady pattern: They would cultivate for an hour before taking a brief rest to recover their stamina. Despite the richness of the mana, the intense focus and discipline required took a toll on their bodies, leaving them fatigued after each session.

They would drink water, stretch, and exchange a few words before resuming their efforts.

Kyle, however, remained motionless, utterly focused on his cultivation. While his teammates alternated between cultivating and resting, he pushed forward relentlessly. The system notification about gaining 10 EXP per second had motivated him like never before. With his body being able to handle more of the pressure and exhaustion, he was determined to use this rare opportunity to its fullest.

By the time the morning sunlight broke through the forest canopy, Kyle's teammates had just completed their third hour of cultivation. They rested again, sitting together near the pool as they admired the sunrise.

"The mana here really is something else," Finn said, marveling at how the morning light reflected off the shimmering pool.

Zara nodded, her expression one of both exhaustion and satisfaction. "It's incredible. I feel like I've made more progress in one night than I usually do in a month."

Celine glanced toward Kyle, who was still sitting cross-legged, completely engrossed in his cultivation. "He hasn't moved an inch," she said with a mixture of awe and concern in her voice. "Do you think he's taking breaks while we're cultivating?"

"Probably," Lina replied, though her tone betrayed some doubt. "He's always ahead of us, so maybe he doesn't need as much rest. He's probably using our breaks to push even further."

The group nodded in agreement, though they all felt some sense of frustration. Kyle's seemingly unending stamina were both inspiring and slightly intimidating. Still, they resolved to keep going, determined to narrow the gap between themselves and their year mate.

***

Kyle kept on continued cultivating between breaks and soon, it didn't take long for noon to come, its harsh sunlight filtering through the forest and casting long shadows across the clearing.

The once cool and serene atmosphere had grown hot and humid, but Kyle paid no attention. Sёarch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

[EXP +10]

[EXP +10]

[EXP +10]

...

[EXP: 18000/18000]

[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]

[Beginner Mage: Lv 7 >> Lv 8]

[All stats: +10]

"Status!"

———————

Beginner Mage: Lv 8*

EXP: 10/27000*

HP: 200*

Energy: 236*

MP: -*

Agility: 111*

Strength: 115*

Vitality: 100*

Stamina: 118*

Intelligence: 101*

SP: 0

[Elements]

[Skills]

[Lightning Bolt(Lv 3)]

[Lightning Dash(Lv 3)]

[Inspect(Lv 2)]

[Gobbler(Lv 2)]

[Undying]

Skill Points: 100

———————

A satisfied smile spread across Kyle's face as he stared at his status panel, letting the feeling of accomplishment wash over him. He could feel the strength coursing through his body and his core was now brimming with energy unlike anything he had experienced before.

"Perfect," he muttered. "This was worth every second."

Turning his gaze toward his teammates, he saw that they had all fallen asleep, sprawled across the ground in various positions. Kyle laughed a little at their indiscipline as he looked at their peaceful expressions. Usually he was the one who tended to oversleep but he had managed to triumph against sleep this time.

'It only makes sense for them to fall asleep. Cultivation takes a toll on the body, and they've been at it for hours.'

Kyle debated waking them but decided against it, understanding that they needed the rest. Instead, his eyes shifted to Void, who was still in a meditative state near the edge of the clearing. The tiny dragon's form radiated a faint glow, a sign of his progress.

Kyle's lips curled into a thoughtful smile. 'Assuming Void's cultivation speed is also multiplied by ten due to the mana density, it should take him about 10–11 hours to break through. He's been at it for a while now, so he must be getting close.'

Satisfied that Void was making progress, Kyle turned his attention back to the mana pool. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what came next.

"Let's form that Chaos Core," he murmured to himself.

***

The village of Windrest was nestled in a serene valley, surrounded by lush greenery and towering mountains. For generations, it had been a place of peace and contentment.

The villagers lived simple lives, tending to their crops and animals, sharing laughter during festivals, and gathering around bonfires to exchange stories of their ancestors. It was a place untouched by the chaos of the outside world, but that tranquility had been shattered by the beast tide.

The first attack had come without warning, a wave of feral creatures descending from the forest and leaving the villagers injured. It was so bad that some died, something that rarely happened in Windrest.

When Kyle and his team arrived, hope returned like the dawn breaking through a stormy night. Their swift and decisive action during the wave they faced of the beast tide had saved lives and restored confidence. That was why the villagers, overwhelmed with gratitude, had thrown a feast in their honor that evening.

They had all eaten to their full, laughed and enjoyed moments together. For the first time in weeks, the villagers had slept soundly, trusting their safety to the protectors who had come to their aid.

Morning broke gently over the village, sunlight filtering through the curtain of a certain room. Henrick, the village chief, stirred in his bed and opened his eyes groggily.

"Eight-thirty?" he muttered, glancing at the small wooden clock on the wall. "I must've overslept. Too much ale last night, Henrick, you fool."

Rubbing his temples, he sat up and stretched. His thoughts drifted to the feast, the joy on everyone's faces, and the confidence in Kyle's team. "It's been years since I've seen the village so lively," he murmured with a smile.

After dressing quickly, he left his room to begin his day. Villagers bowed respectfully as he passed.

"Good morning, Chief!" called a young boy hauling a basket of freshly picked herbs.

"Good morning, Henrick!" an elderly woman greeted with a warm wave.

Henrick replied to each with a kind word and a smile, his heart swelling with pride. Windrest was more than a collection of homes; it was a family. And as the chief, it was his duty to protect them.

Entering his modest kitchen, he found his wife already preparing breakfast. She turned and smiled at him. "You're up late, Henrick. The feast must've worn you out."

"It's not every day we celebrate victory," Henrick chuckled. "But listen, prepare something special for Kyle and his team. They've earned it."