The dragon persisted in its attacks for a while longer.
Evidently, its dragon''s breath had been depleted, as it now circled the sky, unleashing furious roars.
Regrettably, Kael still couldn''t comprehend the dragon''s language.
Otherwise, he''d be able to decipher those thunderous roars.
However, Kael surmised that the dragon was likely hurling some rather colorful curses at the moment.
It seemed that the adversary the dragon was facing was no pushover, considering it hadn''t been overpowered by the dragon.
Otherwise, the dragon wouldn''t be in such a state.
Before long, the dragon took off, grumbling and growling as it flew away.
From the vantage point of the tall building, numerous flickering lights still dotted the battlefield.
Yet, due to the vast distance and the obstruction of buildings, the finer details of the battle remained obscured.
After enjoying this "spectacular show," Kael readied himself to rest once more.
His meditation had been disrupted that night, making it ill - advised to resume immediately.
He needed to allow his body to recover.
He lay down on the bed, eager to catch some sleep.
But scarcely had he closed his eyes when, in the now - silent night, he heard the faint rustling of footsteps.
Kael swiftly sprang up and peered out of the window.
A massive horde of zombies was trudging past the residential area.
Thankfully, the two gates of the residential area and the gap in the wall had been blocked by Kael during the day.
When these zombies encountered the barrier, they didn''t attempt to force their way through.
Of course, if there were sounds or the telltale scent of blood within the residential area, the walls would likely prove ineffective in halting the zombies'' advance.
The zombies veered around the residential area''s walls and made their way towards the battlefield where the dragon had been attacking, as if irresistibly drawn by some powerful force.
Whether it was the clamor of the battle or the alluring smell of blood remained uncertain.
But for Kael, it was immaterial.
Even if there were priceless treasures on offer, he had no intention of venturing out at night.
In such a terrifying city, going out at night was tantamount to offering himself as easy prey for the zombies.
Without even seeing it, he could easily imagine that perhaps the zombies within a twenty - kilometer radius were all shambling towards the battlefield.
After experiencing the dragon battle that night, Kael resolved to abandon his plan to hunt zombies.
He was still far too weak.
Even though zombies had minimal offensive capabilities during the day, this abandoned city was doubtless teeming with more than just zombies and goblins.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Given that such a rare creature as a dragon had made an appearance, it wouldn''t be the least bit surprising if other formidable Spirit Realm creatures emerged.
There was no sense in taking unnecessary risks for the sake of potential points.
Kael had a promising future ahead.
As long as he remained cautious and a bit circumspect, he was bound to achieve great things.
Moreover, he aimed to be the master of the potential points, not their captive.
Although potential points could expedite his cultivation, Kael knew better than to rely solely on them.
Otherwise, he''d be no different from a slave to these points.
...
Time flew by, and soon it was the seventh day.
According to the norms of Spirit Awakening, students teleported to the Spirit Realm typically stayed for three to seven days.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, today was the day for Kael to return to Blue Star.
The Blue Star beacon in his mind had nearly completed its energy recharge.
It was estimated that within an hour or so, the beacon would be fully charged, and he could then make his return journey.
Ever since witnessing the dragon that night, Kael''s overconfidence had been thoroughly deflated.
As a mere apprentice - rank mage with only three zero - level spells under his belt, there were countless creatures in the Spirit Realm far more powerful than him.
With such limited might, he couldn''t afford to be reckless.
So, for the past few days, he had been holed up in the tall building, biding his time.
Each day, aside from attending to his basic needs, he sat cross - legged on the bed, engrossed in meditation.
As the saying goes, "Hard work pays off." Through his daily meditation, Kael had indeed made progress.
Name: Kael
Bloodline: Human
...
Spiritual Power: 2.7/2.7
Magic Power: 27/27
Skills: "The Breath of Darkness Meditation Method", Zero - level Spells: Bone Tooth, Gray Mist, Touch of Fatigue.
Potential Points: 0
Thanks to these days of meditation, his spiritual power had increased by 0.1, and his magic power had also seen a slight boost.
Calculating the time spent in meditation, it took approximately four days to achieve this 0.1 increase in spiritual power.
His meditation speed was quite commendable.
According to the records in the magic book, for an apprentice mage to break through to the Black Iron rank, their spiritual power needed to reach ten times that of an average person.
Based on Kael''s current spiritual power and cultivation pace, it meant that it would take roughly a year.
A year! In just a year, he could become a Black Iron mage! This was a monumental leap in rank.
Kael closed his eyes and envisioned his future life.
In his ordinary existence, Kael''s family had very little room for upward mobility. His parents'' combined monthly income was a meager four thousand or so.
And both of them were already forty years old.
After all these years, they were still ordinary workers, and it was clear that there was no chance of promotion for them.
As for Kael, if he hadn''t succeeded in the Spirit Awakening this time, he would have had to enroll in a technical college.
After graduating four years later, he''d likely follow in his parents'' footsteps.
After graduation, he''d find a job in a factory.
Perhaps, after saving up for a few years, he''d marry an ordinary woman, start a family, and lead a life mirroring that of his parents.
This was not the life Kael desired, which was why he had come for the Spirit Awakening.
Fortunately, he had been successful! Currently, his top priority was to stay alive, with improving his strength taking a backseat.
As long as he remained alive, even as an apprentice - level spellcaster, he would earn significantly more than his parents.
As long as he was alive, there was hope.
At the very least, he could enable his hard - working parents, who had toiled for so many years, to finally take a well - deserved rest.
He could finally become the mainstay of the family!
This was the primary reason why Kael hadn''t ventured out to hunt zombies in the past few days.
He no longer needed to risk his life.
Even by meditating and cultivating steadily, he could reach the pinnacle of the apprentice rank in a year. Why take unnecessary risks?
Sensing that the Blue Star beacon in his mind was finally fully charged, Kael stood up and gathered all his equipment, strapping it firmly to his body.
He walked over to the window and took one last look at the desolate city outside.
The empty streets, the dilapidated walls, and the overgrown plants.
"I''ll be back!" Kael gazed intently for a moment and then, without a moment''s hesitation, summoned the Blue Star beacon in his mind.
Looking at the beacon in his hand, which resembled an hourglass, Kael grasped both ends firmly and applied a gentle but decisive force.
"Pop!" The beacon shattered, and Kael took two steps backward.
At the spot where the beacon had broken, an oval - shaped teleportation gate materialized.
On the other side of the gate, a warm, inviting aura emanated.
That was Blue Star on the other side.
Kael adjusted his gear and took a bold step forward, entering the gate.
With a blinding flash of light, the teleportation gate remaining in the Spirit Realm began to contract until it vanished completely.