Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

Following the dragon assassination, the Guardian Academy strengthened the defenses of the secret realm and its surrounding area. Instructor Gavin stayed by Lynn's side almost constantly, partly to protect his safety and partly to accelerate his training progress.

Lynn was not deterred by the assassination attempt; instead, it strengthened his resolve to cultivate. He knew that only by becoming powerful enough could he withstand the dragons' assassination attempts and fulfill his mission. Therefore, he worked even harder and devoted all his time and energy to cultivation.

Ether tempering remained a daily ritual, but Instructor Gavin adjusted the training plan, doubling the pressure of the ether tempering array. Under extreme pain, Lynn's ether foundation became increasingly solid, his ether sea expanded continuously, and the purity of his ether reached a new level. The ether power within his body became increasingly condensed and powerful, and he was able to control it more and more skillfully.

In terms of combat skills training, after Lynn mastered the Judgment of Light, Instructor Gavin taught him another advanced combat skill—Shield of Light. This skill differs from the basic protective light membrane; instead, it condenses ether into a sturdy shield that can not only withstand physical attacks but also purify the impure ether of the dragon race and the shadow ether of the demon race. It is an extremely powerful defensive combat skill that perfectly compensates for Lynn's lack of defense.

Cultivating the Shield of Light is far more difficult than the Judgment of Light. It requires precise control over the condensation and flow of ether; the slightest mistake can cause the shield to shatter or even backfire. Lynn was not discouraged. He practiced again and again, refining the details of his combat technique. With his amazing comprehension and unwavering will, he mastered the basic usage of the Shield of Light in just half a month, able to condense a sturdy shield to withstand mid-level attacks.

In addition, Gavin, the mentor, designed practical training specifically for Lynn—daily entering the secret realm's combat trial array to simulate dragon combat power of varying intensities for real-world practice. The trial array included not only scaled beasts and Drakhan warriors, but also simulated low-ranking dragon generals, all possessing formidable combat power; each battle felt like a true life-or-death duel.

In the trial array, Lynn continuously accumulated practical experience, refining the use of the Judgment of Light and the Shield of Light, perfectly combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. His combat skills became increasingly proficient, and his adaptability also improved. He no longer relied solely on instinct to fight, but learned to analyze the weaknesses in his opponents' moves, formulate combat strategies, and achieve a balance between offense and defense, advancing and retreating with measured steps.

On one occasion, Lynn encountered a simulated low-ranking dragon general—a Dragonman Captain—in the trial array. The Dragonman Captain was burly, clad in heavy dragon scale armor, wielding a giant axe with dragon patterns, possessing formidable ethereal power, and his moves were fierce, far surpassing those of ordinary Drakhan warriors.

At the start of the battle, the Dragonman Captain struck first, his giant axe, imbued with immense, corrupted ethereal power, slashing down at Lynn with tremendous force. Lynn did not take the blow head-on, but instead used Instant Step to dodge quickly, while simultaneously conjuring a shield of light to defend against the opponent's wave attack.

The dragon captain's attacks were extremely ferocious. His giant axe flashed, creating a flurry of axe shadows that completely blocked Lynn's escape routes. Relying on his keen combat instincts, Lynn nimbly weaved through the axe shadows, constantly seeking opportunities to counterattack.

After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, Lynn's etheric power was greatly depleted, his Light Shield cracked, and he suffered several cuts from the axe winds. But he did not give up; instead, he fought with increasing ferocity. He carefully observed the dragonman captain's attack rhythm and discovered that after each axe swing, there would be a brief opening, which was the best opportunity for him to counterattack.

Just as the Dragonman Captain swung his axe down again, Lynn seized the opening, used his Instant Step to its fullest extent, and instantly appeared behind the Dragonman Captain. The Light Judgment in his hand shone brightly, gathering the remaining ether in his body, and stabbed fiercely towards the Dragonman Captain's back!

With a soft chuckle

The Judgment of Light pierced the Dragonman Captain's back with pinpoint accuracy. Golden ether erupted instantly, completely destroying the Captain's internal meridians. The simulated Dragonman Captain paused for a moment, then crashed to the ground, dissipating into particles of light.

Lynn collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, drenched in sweat, his ether nearly depleted, yet his eyes shone ever brighter. This battle had taught him the importance of combining offense and defense, and had also made him more proficient in using the Judgment of Light and the Shield of Light.

Gavin, the instructor, stood outside the trial array, watching Lynn's performance with eyes full of approval: "Very good. You have grasped the essence of combat, knowing how to observe weaknesses and formulate strategies. You are no longer a reckless brute who charges blindly. Given time, you will surely become a top-tier guardian, and may even be able to contend with high-ranking dragon generals."

Lynn slowly stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will continue to work hard."

As Lynn's cultivation progressed, his strength grew stronger and stronger. He had already cultivated the Judgment of Light to the intermediate level, and the Shield of Light could withstand high-level attacks. The Ether Sea had also expanded to the peak of the initial level. He was only one step away from breaking through to become an intermediate-level guardian.

On this day, Instructor Gavin approached Lynn and said solemnly, "Lynn, your current strength far surpasses that of a beginner student. Ordinary training and trials can no longer meet your growth needs. In three days, the academy will open the intermediate-level secret realm trial. The secret realm not only contains abundant ether resources and high-level herbs, but also powerful magical beasts and remnants of the dragon race. It is an excellent opportunity to break through realms and improve your strength."

He paused, then continued, "However, the intermediate-level secret realm trial is extremely dangerous. Within the secret realm, there are not only powerful enemies, but also complex terrain and unknown traps. In previous trials, many students have been seriously injured or even perished. Although you are powerful, you have not yet broken through to the intermediate level. In this trial, you must be careful and act according to your abilities."

A flicker of excitement crossed Lynn's eyes. He had long heard of the existence of the intermediate-level secret realm trial and had always longed to participate in it, to obtain more resources, break through his realm, and improve his strength. Hearing Instructor Gavin's words, he immediately bowed and replied, "Disciple understands. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Instructor. I will be careful and live up to your expectations."

"Hmm." Instructor Gavin nodded slightly. "In the next three days, Ni should adjust his condition and familiarize himself with the relevant information about the intermediate-level secret realm. I will also teach Ni a high-level evasion combat technique—Light Shadow. This technique is faster and more flexible than ordinary Instant Step. It can help you avoid fatal attacks in critical moments and will be of great help to your trial in this secret realm."

Over the next three days, Lynn adjusted his condition, familiarized himself with the terrain, resource distribution, and potential dangers of the mid-level secret realm, and diligently practiced the Light Shadow Technique. The Light Shadow Technique requires extremely high precision in the manipulation of ether, requiring the ether to be condensed under the feet and released instantly to achieve short-distance teleportation-like evasion.

Lynn has a very high level of comprehension, and with the personal guidance of his mentor Gavin, he mastered the basic usage of the Light and Shadow Technique in just three days. Although he cannot achieve long-distance teleportation, he can flexibly dodge high-level attacks in battle, greatly improving his own survivability.

The day of the trial arrived as scheduled.

Hundreds of students participating in the intermediate-level secret realm trial had gathered in the central training ground. Most of them were at the peak of the initial stage or the early stage of the intermediate stage, and each of them wore a look of tension and anticipation. Lynn stood in the crowd, his aura calm and his gaze resolute. The golden wings on his back were slightly unfurled, indicating that he was ready for the trial.

Lina also signed up for the trial. Although she hadn't yet condensed her wings, she had reached the peak of the initial stage and wanted to use the resources in the secret realm to break through to the Wing Condensation stage. Seeing Lynn, she quickly came over, looking somewhat nervous: "Lynn, the intermediate-level secret realm is very dangerous. We must be careful, and it's best to travel together."

"Okay." Lynn nodded. "After the trial begins, Ni will stay by my side and not act on your own. I will protect you if you encounter any danger."

Lina felt a warmth in her heart and nodded vigorously: "Yes, I believe you!"

Before long, Instructor Gavin and several mid-to-high-level instructors ascended the platform. Instructor Gavin's gaze swept over all the students, his tone solemn: "Today, the mid-level secret realm trial begins. The secret realm will be open for three days. Within these three days, you must survive within the secret realm, acquiring as much ether resources and high-level herbs as possible. Additionally, there is a secret realm core within the secret realm. The student who obtains the secret realm core will receive additional generous rewards from the academy."

"Remember, the secret realm is fraught with danger. Not only are there magical beasts and remnants of the dragon race, but there is also competition from other students. You may travel in groups or alone, but remember, you must not kill each other. Otherwise, you will be immediately eliminated and your cultivation qualification will be revoked!"

"Now, I hereby declare the Intermediate-Level Secret Realm Trial officially open!"

As the voice faded, a massive entrance to a secret realm slowly opened beneath the high platform, releasing a dense aetheric aura mixed with a faint stench of magical beasts.

The students leaped into the air and flew towards the entrance of the secret realm, their figures disappearing one after another into the realm.

"Let's go too," Lynn said to Lina, then spread his golden wings and flew into the entrance of the secret realm with Lina in his arms.

As you pass through the entrance to the secret realm, the scenery changes instantly.

Within the secret realm, the vegetation is lush, the mountains stretch endlessly, and the etheric aura in the air is several times stronger than that of the secret realm behind the academy. On the distant mountain peaks, one can vaguely see the shimmering light of etheric crystals, and various high-level herbs grow among the grass, emitting a faint halo.

This seemingly prosperous secret realm, however, harbors hidden dangers. From the distant forest, the roars of demonic beasts echo, and the air is faintly filled with the filthy aura of the dragon race. Scattered animal bones and weapon fragments can be seen on the ground, clearly indicating that a fierce battle had taken place here.

Lynn folded his wings, took Lina's hand, and cautiously entered the bushes, observing the surroundings warily: "It's dangerous here. Let's find a safe place first, familiarize ourselves with the environment, and then look for resources."

Lina followed closely behind Lynn, nodded, and scanned her surroundings warily, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

The two proceeded cautiously, avoiding several areas where magical beasts gathered, and collected some high-level herbs. Just as they were preparing to head to the distant mountain peak to search for ether crystals, a roar suddenly came from the forest ahead, followed by a huge magical beast charging out of the forest and blocking their way.

It was a giant bear, enormous in size, covered in stiff brown fur, with thick limbs, exposed fangs, and scarlet eyes. It was surrounded by a rich aetheric aura, and its strength far surpassed that of ordinary magical beasts, having already reached the peak of the initial stage.

The giant bear saw Lynn and Lina, its eyes filled with ferocity. It roared and charged towards them, its huge paws bringing a sharp gust of wind as they slammed down.

"Watch out!" Lynn roared, immediately shielding Lina behind him. His aether erupted instantly, and he condensed the Judgment of Light in his hand while simultaneously casting the Shield of Light in front of him.

boom!

The giant bear's paw slammed heavily onto the Light Shield, causing it to shake violently and ripple. Lynn staggered back slightly, his arm numb, and he was astonished: "This giant bear's strength is incredible!"

The giant bear, having missed its first attack, gleamed even more fiercely in its eyes. It roared again, brandishing its paws and launching a frenzied attack on Lynn. Each strike was powerful and heavy, causing the surrounding vegetation to snap.

Lynn's expression turned serious as he manipulated the Shield of Light to defend against the Megalodon's attacks while searching for an opening. He discovered that although the Megalodon was incredibly strong, it was relatively slow, and there would be a brief moment of vulnerability when it turned around.

"Lina, stay where you are and don't move!" Lynn shouted to Lina, then used the Light and Shadow Technique on his feet, his figure moving like a ghost, and circled behind the Giant Tooth Bear.

The giant bear sensed the movement behind it and tried to turn around and fight back, but it was too late.

The Light Judgment in Lynn's hand shone brightly, gathering all the ether in his body, and stabbed fiercely towards the back of the giant bear.

With a soft "pfft!"

The Judgment of Light pierced the back of the giant bear with precision, and the golden ether erupted instantly, completely destroying the opponent's internal meridians.

The giant bear let out a mournful roar, its massive body crashing to the ground. It twitched a few times before losing its life.

Lynn withdrew the Judgment of Light and breathed a sigh of relief, having consumed a significant amount of ether within her body.

Lina rushed over, her face full of worry: "Lynn, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I just used up some ether." Lynn smiled slightly. "There might be an ether core inside this giant bear. Taking it out would be of great help to our cultivation."

After saying that, Lynn stepped forward, dissected the giant bear's corpse, and took out a fist-sized brown crystal core from its body. The crystal core was surrounded by a rich aetheric aura, which was the giant bear's aetheric crystal core of high quality.

"That's great! With this crystal core, your cultivation speed will definitely increase significantly!" Lina said with a look of delight.

Lynn handed the crystal core to Lina: "Here, take this crystal core. It will be of great help to your breakthrough to the Winged Realm."

"No, no, this is what you got from killing the giant bear, it should belong to you!" Lina quickly declined.

"My etheric sea is almost saturated now, so this crystal core won't be of much help to me, but it'll be different for you," Lynn said with a smile, forcefully placing the crystal core into Lina's hand. "We're companions, so helping each other is only right."

Lina looked at the crystal core in her hand, then at Lynn, her eyes filled with emotion. She nodded vigorously, "Yes! Thank you, Lynn! When I break through to the Winged Realm, I will protect you too!"

Lynn smiled slightly, remaining silent as he cautiously observed his surroundings once more. He knew this was only the beginning of the trial in the secret realm; even more powerful enemies and more dangerous traps awaited them.

After resting for a while and recovering some of their etheric power, the two continued their journey, heading towards the distant mountain peaks. Unbeknownst to them, after they left, a figure silently appeared beside the giant bear's corpse, its eyes fixed on the direction they had gone, a cold smile playing on its lips.

That's Karen.

He had spent some time training at the border fortress, and his strength had improved considerably. This time, he also signed up for the intermediate-level secret realm trial. He had never forgotten the humiliation of the ranking competition and wanted to find an opportunity in the secret realm to eliminate Lynn and reclaim his rightful glory.

"Lynn, this time, I will not lose to you again. I will make sure you stay in this secret realm forever and never be able to leave!" Karen murmured, her eyes filled with resentment and killing intent. She got up and quietly chased after the direction where Lynn and Lina had left.

Within the secret realm, the winds and smoke rise once more.

Lynn and Lina search for resources while navigating the dangers within the secret realm. Karen's pursuit, the threat of the remnants of the dragon clan, and competition from other students are all drawing ever closer. This intermediate-level secret realm trial is not only a contest of strength but also a test of character. Only the strong will reach the end, obtain the secret realm's core, break through their cultivation level, and embark on a new path of cultivation.

The two slowly made their way along the mountain path. The aetheric energy along the way grew increasingly dense, and the number of high-grade herbs by the roadside gradually increased. They even spotted a few rare Flying Wing Grasses. This herb had miraculous effects on cultivators who had not yet formed wings, accelerating the condensation of aether and helping them break through the bottleneck of wing formation. When Lina saw the Flying Wing Grass, her eyes were filled with surprise and joy. She carefully picked it and gently put it into her jade bottle, her face full of anticipation.

"With these Wing-Gathering Grasses and that Giant-Toothed Bear Crystal Core, my chances of breaking through to the Wing-Gathering stage are much greater," Lina said softly, her voice brimming with excitement. Lynn, seeing her joyful expression, smiled gently and advised, "Don't rush into cultivation. The secret realm is fraught with danger. It's not too late to refine these resources slowly once we find a relatively safe place to stay."

Lina nodded vigorously, carefully placed the jade bottle close to her body, and followed closely behind Lynn. The two remained vigilant, avoiding several patrolling magical beasts, and finally arrived at the foot of the mountain. The mountain was steep, and many shimmering ethereal crystals were embedded in the rock walls. The ethereal aura emitted by the crystals was extremely pure, and if they could collect them, it would greatly help Lynn break through to the intermediate level.

"Let's climb the mountain first, collect some ether crystals, and then find a secluded cave to rest," Lynn said softly, spreading his golden wings and gesturing for Lina to grab his arm. Lina quickly reached out and grabbed Lynn's sleeve. Lynn gently exerted his strength, lifting her up and flying towards the summit.

Just as the two were about to reach the summit, a sharp wind blade suddenly shot out from behind the rock wall on the side, moving with incredible speed, aiming straight for Lina's back! Lynn's eyes sharpened, and he instantly used the Light of Shadow to teleport Lina several meters away, barely avoiding the wind blade. The wind blade struck the rock wall, scattering a shower of gravel and leaving a deep scratch.

"Who!" Lynn shouted sharply, conjuring the Judgment of Light in his hand. The ethereal light around him burst forth instantly as he warily scanned the surrounding rock walls. Lina also gripped her short blade tightly, her face slightly pale, but she still tried to remain calm, her eyes fixed on the direction Lynn indicated.

A familiar figure emerged from behind the rock wall, dressed in the uniform of the Guardian Academy, with a sinister face and eyes full of resentment. It was Karen, who had been tracking him all along. At this moment, Karen's aura of ethereal energy was much stronger than during the ranking competition, having reached the peak of the initial stage. The wings on her back had also become more solid, clearly indicating that she had gained a lot from her training at the border fortress.

"Lynn, long time no see." Karen sneered, stepping forward step by step, her ethereal aura growing increasingly violent. "In the ranking match, you narrowly defeated me, causing me to lose face. Today, right here in this secret realm, I will personally avenge you and ensure you die a horrible death!"

Lynn's eyes were cold as he gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, his tone indifferent: "Karen, the outcome of the ranking matches depends entirely on strength. A loss is a loss, why make such a fuss? The Secret Realm Trial is dangerous. If you insist on making a move, don't blame me for being impolite."

"You're too kind?" Karen sneered, her eyes flashing with even more killing intent. "You? Today, I will not only kill you, but also take all your resources, so that everyone will know that I, Karen, am the top genius of the Guardian Academy!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Karen used her Instant Step technique, moving towards Lynn Mengpu. A sharp blade of light materialized in her hand, surrounded by dense ethereal light, clearly indicating that she had also mastered a high-level combat technique. Seeing this, Lina immediately wanted to rush forward to help, but Lynn sternly stopped her: "Lina, step aside and don't come any closer. I'll handle him!"

Knowing she was outmatched and that going forward would only hinder Lynn, Lina gritted her teeth, pushed herself against the rock wall, and kept a close eye on the battle, ready to deal with any unexpected situations.

"Judgment of Light!" Lynn roared, his lightsaber blazing brightly as he slashed at Karen's light blade. The two blades collided, golden light erupting instantly, shockwaves surging, and both of them were forced back several steps, a tingling sensation spreading through their arms.

A flicker of surprise crossed Karen's eyes. He hadn't expected Lynn's strength to improve so quickly, reaching a level that was evenly matched with his own in just a few months. But this surprise was quickly replaced by resentment. He unleashed his power once more, his aether surging, and the light blade in his hand becoming even more powerful as he launched a frenzied attack on Lynn.

Karen's combat skills were fierce and ruthless, each strike aimed at Lynn's vitals, clearly intending to kill him. Lynn calmly countered, casting a Light Shield to defend against the attacks while using his Light Shadow to nimbly dodge and seek opportunities to counterattack. The two clashed fiercely beside the mountain cliffs, the sounds of clashing light blades and the roar of exploding ether echoing through the mountains, attracting the attention of many magical beasts in the distance.

After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, both men had exhausted a considerable amount of ether and sustained some wounds. Karen's breathing gradually became erratic, and his eyes grew increasingly impatient. He hadn't expected that after months of arduous training at the border fortress, he still couldn't quickly defeat Lynn. His killing intent intensified, and his moves became increasingly ferocious, gradually losing all structure.

Lynn keenly sensed Karen's weakness and secretly resolved to abandon passive defense and begin to counterattack. He used the Light and Shadow Technique to its fullest extent, his figure moving like a ghost through the gaps in Karen's attacks. His Light Judgment precisely locked onto Karen's weaknesses, launching fierce attacks time and time again.

With a soft "pfft!", the Judgment of Light pierced Karen's shoulder with precision. Golden ether erupted instantly, and Karen let out a shrill scream. She staggered back several steps, blood streaming down her shoulder, and the light blade in her hand almost slipped from her grasp.

"Impossible! How could I possibly lose to you again!" Karen's eyes were filled with resentment and madness. He suddenly detonated the remaining ether within his body, and the light ether around him surged, wanting to perish together with Lynn. Lynn's eyes turned cold, and he immediately cast a light shield. At the same time, he grabbed Lina beside him and used the Light Shadow Technique to instantly teleport several feet away.

Boom! With a deafening roar, Karen's body exploded in the etheric self-destruction, blood and flesh splattering everywhere. Lynn stared at the scene before him, his eyes unwavering. Karen's obsession ran too deep; in the end, she was destroyed by her own hand.

"Lynn, are you alright?" Lina rushed forward, looking at Lynn with concern, wanting to check his wounds. Lynn shook his head and said, "I'm fine, I just used up some ether. Let's find a cave to rest and recover our strength before collecting ether crystals."

The two found a secluded cave atop the mountain. The cave wasn't large, but it was very dry, and there were no signs of magical beasts around, making it a relatively safe place to stay. Lynn took out some healing potions, quickly treated his wounds, and then sat cross-legged to begin refining the ether within his body to recover his strength. Lina also sat down beside him, taking out the Giant Tooth Bear Crystal Core and carefully refining it, a faint aura of ether surrounding her.

After an unknown amount of time, Lynn was the first to open his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. After a brief rest, his aether had recovered significantly, and in the fierce battle just now, his control over his aether had become even more skillful, bringing him one step closer to breaking through to the mid-level guardian realm. Just then, Lina also slowly opened her eyes. A rich aetheric aura surrounded her, and the faint phantom of golden wings appeared behind her, clearly indicating that she was about to break through to the Winged Realm.

"That's wonderful, Lina! You're about to break through!" Lynn said with a face full of joy. Lina blushed and nodded, "Thanks to the crystal core and Winged Grass you gave me, otherwise I don't know how long it would have taken me to break through."

Just as the two were about to get up and continue collecting aether crystals, a low roar suddenly came from outside the cave. Immediately afterwards, a thick, foul aether aura wafted in from outside the cave, carrying a suffocatingly violent aura—it was the aura of the remnants of the dragon race, and it was even stronger than the aura of the Drakhan warriors they had encountered before!

Lynn's eyes sharpened. He immediately shielded Lina behind him, gathering the Judgment of Light in his hand, and his ethereal light erupted instantly, preparing for battle. He knew that an even more dangerous battle was about to begin. And this time, they might be facing dragons with combat power far exceeding that of a peak early-stage dragon. Whether they could escape safely remained an open question.

The roars outside the cave grew closer, the footsteps heavy and powerful, each one feeling like a blow to the heart. Lynn stared intently at the cave entrance, his expression grave. He could sense that the newcomers were extremely powerful, at least at the level of a low-ranking dragon general. Lina also gripped her short blade tightly. Although she felt some fear, she did not back down. Her eyes were fixed firmly on Lynn's back, and she secretly vowed to break through to the Winged Realm as soon as possible to share the danger with Lynn.

"Come out, you Celestial brats! I can smell you!" A rough, hoarse roar echoed from outside the cave, carrying the characteristic ferocity and arrogance of the dragon race. "By order of Lord Molok, we have purged the remaining Celestials from the secret realm. Today, you will all die!"

Lynn took a deep breath, his eyes resolute, and whispered to Lina behind him, "When the battle begins, try to stay behind me. If you have the chance, take the opportunity to retreat to the center of the secret realm and seek help from other students. Remember, don't be reckless."

Lina shook her head vigorously, her eyes filled with determination: "I won't leave, I want to fight alongside you! Even if I haven't broken through to the Winged Realm yet, I can still help you hold off the enemy!"

Looking into Lina's determined eyes, Lynn felt a warmth in his heart and stopped trying to persuade her. He simply nodded and said, "Okay, then you must be careful. Don't get close to the enemy and protect yourself."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lynn rushed out of the cave, the Light Judgment in his hand blazing brightly as he slashed at the figure outside. Outside the cave stood a burly dragon-man general, clad in black dragon-scale armor, wielding a dragon-patterned longsword, surrounded by dense, murky ethereal energy, his eyes bloodshot and filled with killing intent—it was none other than Glock, a low-ranking dragon general and deputy lieutenant.

Glock saw Lynn and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he sneered: "I didn't expect you to be a mere early-stage peak Celestial brat. No wonder Lord Molok specifically instructed me to get rid of you. You do have some skill, actually managing to kill a spy from my Dragon Clan."

"Dragon minions, here to die again!" Lynn roared, unleashing the Light Judgment in his hand once more as he lunged at Glock. Glock scoffed disdainfully, swinging his dragon-patterned longsword, unleashing a dense, tainted ethereal blade that slashed towards Lynn with power far exceeding that of an ordinary Drakhan warrior's attack.

Lynn dared not take the attack head-on, immediately using his Light Strike to dodge quickly while simultaneously conjuring a Shield of Light to defend against the aftershocks of the Aether Blade. The Aether Blade struck the ground, blasting a huge crater and sending debris flying. Lynn became secretly wary; Glock's strength was far greater than he had imagined, and defeating him would be extremely difficult.

Seeing this, Glock's killing intent intensified. Wielding his dragon-patterned longsword, he launched a frenzied attack on Lynn. The longsword flashed, creating a flurry of blade shadows, each strike carrying a powerful, impure ethereal force, unstoppable. Lynn, relying on his keen combat instincts and agile light-based movement, struggled to dodge the blades while searching for an opportunity to counterattack. Occasionally, he would launch an attack, but each time it was easily deflected by Glock.

Lina stood at the cave entrance, watching Lynn being suppressed by Glock, her heart filled with anxiety. She desperately tried to activate the ether within her body, wanting to break through to the Winged Realm and join the battle as soon as possible to help Lynn relieve the pressure. The ether within her body circulated wildly, continuously releasing the power of the Winged Grass and the Giant Tooth Bear Crystal Core. Behind her, the phantom of golden wings became clearer and clearer, and the etheric aura around her grew stronger and stronger.

"Kid, stop dodging, you're no match for me!" Glock sneered, his dragon-patterned longsword increasing in power as a massive, corrupted ethereal blade slashed fiercely at Lynn, blocking all of Lynn's escape routes. Lynn's pupils constricted, and he tried to dodge, but it was too late. He could only gather all the ether in his body, raising his Light Shield to its maximum to block in front of him.

With a loud bang, the Aether Blade slammed into the Shield of Light, shattering it instantly. Lynn was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth. His Aether energy was completely depleted, and he was wracked with excruciating pain.

"Lynn!" Lina exclaimed, trying to rush forward, but was blocked by an invisible force—the ether within her body was fluctuating violently, and at the critical moment of breaking through the condensed wings, she was unable to move at all.

Glock slowly walked up to Lynn, looking down at him with a cruel smile in his eyes: "It's over, you brat from the Celestial Clan. Your talent is indeed impressive, but unfortunately, you're too young. You haven't even had a chance to grow before you die here."

Glock raised his dragon-patterned longsword and slashed fiercely at Lynn's chest, intending to kill him. At this critical moment, Lina suddenly let out a soft shout, her ethereal energy erupting instantly, and her golden wings fully unfurling, radiating dazzling golden light—she had finally broken through to the Winged Realm and become a true guardian!

Without hesitation, Lina conjured a blade of light in her hand and shot it fiercely towards Glock's back. Glock sensed the attack from behind and was startled. He quickly turned to block, and the blade of light slammed into the dragon-patterned longsword. Although it didn't injure Glock, it forced him to retreat several steps. The longsword he was about to use to strike Lynn also deviated from its course, grazing Lynn's shoulder and leaving a deep bloody gash.

"Hmm?" Glock turned to look at Lina, a flicker of surprise in his eyes quickly turning into intense killing intent. "I didn't expect there to be a brat who's just developed wings here. Interesting, though. But even with one more piece of trash, it won't change the fact that you're all doomed!"

Lina spread her golden wings and hovered in mid-air, her body surrounded by a slowly flowing ethereal light. Although she had just broken through to the Wing Formation stage and her aura was not yet fully stable, her eyes were resolute. Two more light blades materialized in her hands as she stared intently at Glock: "You are not allowed to hurt Lynn!"

Taking advantage of this brief respite, Lynn struggled to sit up, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His ether was nearly depleted, yet his eyes remained sharp. He knew that Lina had just broken through and was still weak, no match for Glock. She could only barely hold him back. To win, he needed their cooperation and to seize any fleeting openings.

"Lina, don't fight head-on. Use Instant Step to restrain him and find his weakness!" Lynn roared in a low voice, enduring the excruciating pain all over his body. He activated the last bit of ether within his body, and the Light Judgment in his hand regained a faint golden light. The wings on his back also trembled slightly, ready to counterattack at any moment.

Remembering Lynn's words, Lina used her Instant Step technique, her figure moving like a nimble shadow, rapidly circling Glock. Her light blade launched surprise attacks intermittently, though lacking in power, it still kept Glock busy. Frustrated by Lina's constant attacks, Glock roared and swung his dragon-patterned longsword violently, unleashing a ring of tainted ethereal blades that forced Lina to retreat and dodge, her breathing becoming somewhat disordered.

Just as Glock was fully focused on dealing with Lina, a glint of light flashed in Lynn's eyes. He seized this excellent opportunity, pouring all the remaining ether in his body into the Judgment of Light. He used the Light Shadow Technique to its fullest extent, instantly appearing behind Glock. The lightsaber in his hand shone brightly, gathering all his strength, and thrust it fiercely towards Glock's neck—the weak point of the dragon general, where the dragon scales were relatively thin and it was also a key point for the flow of impure ether.

"You're asking for death!" Glock sensed the killing intent behind him, his expression changed drastically, and he tried to turn around to block, but Corina had already anticipated his movements and launched an attack in time. A blade of light accurately struck his wrist, causing his hand holding the sword to go slightly numb, and slowing down the movement of the dragon-patterned longsword.

That half-beat of time is enough to decide the outcome.

With a soft "pfft!"

The Judgment of Light pierced Glock's neck with pinpoint accuracy. Golden ether erupted instantly, frantically washing away the impure ether within his body, destroying his meridians and dragon scales. Glock let out a mournful roar, his massive body convulsing violently. The dragon-patterned longsword in his hand crashed to the ground, and the impure ether around him dissipated like a tide. The crimson in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by endless resentment and bitterness.

"Lord Morlock... I... failed to complete the mission..." Glock murmured, his body swayed, and then he collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless. The tainted ether within his body gradually dissipated, leaving only a dragon crystal with a black halo, which lay on the ground, emitting a faint aura.

The crisis has been averted once again.

Lynn could no longer hold on. The Judgment of Light slipped from his hand, and he collapsed heavily to the ground, panting heavily. He was covered in cold sweat, his ether was completely depleted, and excruciating pain shot through his wounds. His vision blurred, and he was on the verge of losing consciousness.

Lina quickly folded her wings and ran to Lynn's side. She knelt down and anxiously helped him up, her voice choked with sobs: "Lynn! Lynn, how are you? Don't scare me!" She carefully examined Lynn's wounds, seeing the deep gash on his shoulder and the blood at the corner of his mouth, her heart filled with self-blame. "It's all my fault. If I were stronger, you wouldn't have been so badly injured."

Lynn slowly opened his eyes, looked at Lina's worried face, smiled weakly, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Don't cry... I'm fine... just... a little tired..." He paused, his gaze falling on the dragon crystal on the ground, "That dragon crystal... is very precious... it will be of great help to my breakthrough to the intermediate level..."

Lina nodded quickly, carefully helped Lynn sit down on a rock next to the cave, then walked quickly to Glock's corpse, picked up the black dragon crystal, returned to Lynn's side, and handed him the dragon crystal: "Here you go, Lynn. Quickly refine it to restore your strength and break through to the intermediate level as soon as possible."

Lynn accepted the dragon crystal and sensed the rich ether contained within it. Although it was impure ether, it had become relatively mild after being purified by the Judgment of Light. With a little refining, it could be transformed into his own luminous ether, which would not only quickly restore his physical strength but also expand his etheric sea and help him break through to a higher realm.

"Lina, you should sit down and rest too, and consolidate your Winged Realm." Lynn said softly, holding the dragon crystal in his hand, sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes, and beginning to refine the ether within the dragon crystal. Golden light ether emanated from his body, enveloping the black dragon crystal, purifying and absorbing its power little by little, and his aura slowly recovered.

Lina nodded, sat down next to Lynn, and also sat cross-legged, closing her eyes to consolidate her realm. Having just broken through to the Winged Realm, her ether was not yet fully stable. She needed to quickly refine the remaining crystal core and Winged Grass power within her body to solidify her wings and enhance her own strength in order to truly help Lynn.

Outside the cave, the wind gradually subsided, and the roars of the magical beasts faded into the distance. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a soft warmth upon the two figures. Inside the cave, golden luminous ether intertwined with faintly impure ether, as the two immersed themselves in cultivation, their auras slowly rising.

After an unknown amount of time, Lynn opened his eyes first, a dazzling golden light flashing within them. The aetheric energy around him surged, becoming several times stronger than before—he had finally broken through! From the peak of the initial stage, he had successfully advanced to the intermediate stage Guardian! The aetheric sea had expanded several times over, and the purity of the aetheric energy had reached the level of the early intermediate stage. The power of the Judgment of Light and the Shield of Light had also increased accordingly, the Shadow of Light had become more agile, and the golden wings on his back had become more solid, radiating a dazzling light.

"I've broken through... I've finally broken through to the intermediate level..." Lynn clenched his fist, feeling the immense ethereal power within him, his heart filled with excitement. He knew that breaking through to the intermediate level meant he possessed greater strength, could better protect Lina, and could more easily deal with the threat of the dragons. He was one step closer to revenge, closer to becoming a true guardian.

Just then, Lina slowly opened her eyes. Golden wings unfurled behind her, more solid and dazzling than before. Her ethereal aura stabilized at the peak of the initial stage, only a step away from the intermediate stage. She looked at Lynn, her eyes filled with joy: "Lynn, you've broken through to the intermediate stage! That's wonderful!"

Lynn smiled slightly and nodded: "Yes, thanks to this dragon crystal, and thanks to you too. If you hadn't broken through in time and restrained Glock, I'm afraid I would have died by his blade."

Lina blushed slightly and smiled shyly, "We're companions, it's only right that we help each other. Now that you've broken through to the intermediate level, we're more confident in dealing with the dangers in the secret realm, and we have a better chance of finding its core."

Lynn nodded, his gaze turning serious as he looked out of the cave. "However, we cannot let our guard down. Glock is a low-ranking dragon general. His presence here indicates that there are more dragon remnants in the secret realm, and perhaps even stronger dragon generals. Moreover, Karen's death might attract the attention of other students, making the competition in the secret realm even more intense."

He paused, then continued, "The secret realm will open in two days. Let's rest here for a day to consolidate our respective realms, and then head to the center of the secret realm to find its core. It is said that the core contains extremely pure etheric power, which can not only enhance our strength but also unlock some of Atreia's secrets, greatly helping us understand the dragons' conspiracy."

Lina nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say!"

The two sat down cross-legged again to consolidate their respective realms. While refining the remaining power of the dragon crystal, Lynn honed his combat skills, integrating the Judgment of Light, the Shield of Light, and the Shadow of Light to adapt to the etheric power of a mid-level guardian; Lina, on the other hand, refined the remaining crystal core and the power of the Winged Grass, solidifying her wings and improving the precision of her etheric manipulation in preparation for breaking through to the mid-level.

As night fell, the secret realm grew increasingly dangerous, filled with the roars of magical beasts and the occasional howls of the remnants of the dragon race and the sounds of students fighting. But within the cave, all was quiet. Golden ethereal light surrounded the two, forming an invisible barrier to protect them from the dangers of the outside world.

During breaks in his cultivation, Lynn would occasionally open his eyes to look at Lina beside him, his eyes filled with tenderness. He knew that with Lina's companionship on this journey, he was no longer alone and had even more motivation to become stronger. Lina, too, would often wake up during her cultivation, and seeing Lynn's focused expression filled her with a sense of security.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the cave, Lynn and Lina opened their eyes simultaneously, their auras becoming more composed and powerful. Lynn had fully adapted to the strength of a mid-level guardian, and his combat skills had become increasingly proficient; Lina had also consolidated her Winged Realm, her control over ether was more precise, and her strength had increased significantly.

"Let's go." Lynn stood up, his golden wings unfurling, his aura of ethereal energy calm and steady. He looked resolutely out of the cave. "We'll head to the center of the secret realm, find its core, and uncover more secrets. At the same time, we must be careful to deal with the challenges from the remnants of the dragon clan and other students."

Lina stood up, unfurled her golden wings, and stood beside Lynn, her eyes filled with determination: "Yes! Let's go together! Whatever danger we encounter, we'll face it together!"

The two leaped into the air, flying out of the cave and heading towards the center of the secret realm. Sunlight shone on their wings, reflecting a dazzling golden light, like two rays of hope, as they traversed the lush and verdant secret realm.

Unbeknownst to them, after their departure, deep within the secret realm, a colossal figure slowly opened its eyes, its gaze filled with bloodlust and violence, its body shrouded in suffocating, foul ether—it was Morak, a mid-level dragon general and dragonman captain. He sensed Glock's deathly aura and also noticed Lynn's breakthrough to the mid-level, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Lord Morlock was right after all; this Celestial brat is indeed no ordinary being," Morak murmured, his figure flashing as he disappeared into the depths of the secret realm. "However, so what if he's broken through to the mid-level? Today, I will personally slay him, avenging Glock and eliminating this thorn in the side of the dragons!"

In the heart of the secret realm, shrouded in mist, a crystal palace could be vaguely seen floating in mid-air—the very core of the realm. But the path to the crystal palace was fraught not only with powerful magical beasts and remnants of the dragon race, but also with other formidable students, and even with Morak's relentless pursuit.

Lynn and Lina flew slowly towards the center of the secret realm. The road ahead was still fraught with thorns and dangers, but neither of them felt any fear. Lynn had broken through to the intermediate level, greatly increasing his strength; Lina had also successfully condensed her wings, becoming a true guardian. They fought side by side, trusting each other, sharing a common goal—to obtain the core of the secret realm, enhance their strength, uncover the dragon clan's conspiracy, protect Atreia, and avenge Falling Wind Village.

The wind swept through the mountains and forests, carrying with it the rich scent of ether and the lingering smell of war. Within the secret realm, a struggle for its core is about to unfold. Lynn and Lina will encounter stronger enemies and endure more brutal battles in this struggle, but they will also grow stronger step by step, steadily progressing towards becoming true guardians.