Power flooded through him—not the violent, destructive power of an attack, but the gentle, nurturing power of life itself. The liquid absorbed into his skin instantly, and Levi felt it spreading through his body like roots growing through soil.
Every injury—from the dragon attack, from his battle with the Golden Wyvern, from days of accumulated combat damage—began to heal at an accelerated rate. Not just heal, but be perfected. Scars faded. ridians that had been torn and crudely repaired beca smooth and strong. Even old injuries from before his transmigration, damage the original Levi had accumulated over years of struggle, were being corrected.
[Vinedew Drop consud]
[Random multiplier activated: 2,000×!]
Levi's eyes widened as energy surged through his body with such intensity that he couldn't remain standing. His legs gave out, and he dropped into a cross-legged sitting position automatically, his body instinctively assuming a cultivation pose.
Astra energy from the environnt began flowing toward him like a whirlpool, drawn by the Vinedew Drop's effect amplified two thousand tis over. His ridians, freshly repaired and strengthened, drank in the energy greedily.
The First Envoy had intended for the drop to heal surface wounds and restore Levi to fighting condition. What was happening instead was a complete breakthrough.
"Weng! Weng! Weng!"
Levi's cultivation base, which had been stable at Level 6 Genetic Soldier, suddenly began to surge upward. The accumulated experience from all his battles, the refined energy from consuming beast cores, the compressed power from his golden Astra drops—everything that had been waiting just below the surface suddenly erupted.
Level 7 Genetic Soldier!
The barrier broke almost effortlessly, his foundation so solid from constant combat that the breakthrough felt natural.
But the energy wasn't stopping.
Level 8 Genetic Soldier!
Another breakthrough, this one accompanied by visible changes. Levi's muscles beca more defined, not larger but denser. His bones hardened. His blood flowed more efficiently. Every system in his body optimized itself.
Level 9 Genetic Soldier!
The final level before Fiend Warrior realm. At this stage, cultivators typically spent months or years consolidating their foundation, preparing for the difficult breakthrough to the next major realm.
Levi reached it in less than two minutes.
But even then, the energy continued to circulate, searching for any remaining impurities, any weaknesses in his foundation. Finding none—his combat experience and the system's multipliers had created an incredibly solid base—the energy simply compressed his existing power, making it denser, more refined.
When he finally opened his eyes five hours later, the artificial sky above had completed several full day-night cycles.
Levi was at Peak Level 9 Genetic Soldier, standing at the very threshold of Fiend Warrior realm with a foundation so solid it would make veteran cultivators weep with envy.
He bowed deeply toward the First Envoy, genuine gratitude in his voice. "Thank you so much for your favor, First Envoy. This student will not forget your kindness."
The First Envoy waved his hand dismissively, though his eyes held a hint of confusion. "No need for such formality. Your accumulated experience and battle intent seem to have triggered your latent talent, making the Genetic Soldier realm seem like nothing to you, allowing breakthrough after breakthrough with such ease."
He stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "It's rare, but not unheard of. So cultivators compress so much combat experience that when given proper resources, they advance multiple levels at once as their power catches up to their skill."
Levi nodded as though that was indeed the true reason, carefully keeping his expression neutral. Of course he wouldn't dare tell them about the system—and he didn't even dare think about it too explicitly, wary of Scarlett's potential mind-reading abilities.
The other Envoys had been watching this entire process with varying expressions.
The Second Envoy looked mildly impressed. "Five hours of continuous breakthrough without a single deviation. His ntal fortitude must be exceptional."
The Fourth Envoy (wind) nodded agreent. "And his foundation shows no cracks despite the rapid advancent. Remarkable."
The Sixth Envoy (light) smiled warmly. "Perhaps there's more to this young man than his file suggests."
But the Third and Fifth Envoys looked less pleased. The Third Envoy's tallic eyes narrowed with suspicion, while the Fifth Envoy's void-gaze intensified with sothing that might have been jealousy or resentnt.
The Seventh Envoy, the childlike woman with ancient eyes, simply studied Levi with an expression he couldn't read at all.
Several of the Envoys turned to the First Envoy with questions in their eyes.
"Is your Vinedew truly that effective?" the Second Envoy asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. "I've seen you use it before to heal injuries, but never with such dramatic results."
"Don't tell he's your illegitimate child, Old First," the Fourth Envoy teased, her wind-carried voice holding a note of amusent. "Secretly raising a genius heir all these years?"
"Haha!" the Sixth Envoy laughed, his luminous presence brightening slightly. "Old First, you must share your Vinedew recipe with us! I didn't realize it was such exceptional dicine!"
Even Scarlett glanced at the First Envoy with mild interest, as if reconsidering her assessnt of the dicine's value.
The First Envoy himself looked genuinely confused, his gentle expression clouding with puzzlent. "I only gave him a diluted version—a single drop ant to heal superficial injuries and restore so stamina. It shouldn't have contained nearly enough potency to trigger even a single breakthrough, let alone four consecutive ones."
He stroked his beard more vigorously, a habit that indicated deep thought. "Unless…" He looked at Levi with new interest. "The boy's natural aptitude is far higher than his F-rank talent would suggest. Perhaps his talent assessnt was flawed, or perhaps he possesses so unique constitution that amplifies healing resources."
The Seventh Envoy spoke, her childlike voice cutting through the speculation. "He is undoubtedly a genius. No one scores first place in the trial examination without exceptional qualities, regardless of asured talent rank."
The others nodded, even the skeptical ones acknowledging the truth of that statent.
The Third Envoy crossed his arms, his scarred face settling into harder lines. "Genius or not, we're not here to praise him. We're here to judge him for cris committed. His advancent changes nothing about that."
That statent sobered the mood imdiately, reminding everyone why they were gathered.
"Enough talk," the Seventh Envoy said firmly. She slapped the air beside her and thenntureair exploded, making Levi's ears ring despite being dozens of ters away.
She fixed those ancient eyes on Levi, and he felt pinned like an insect to a board. "Levi Borne. Do you know your cris?"
Levi took a careful breath, organizing his thoughts.
He couldn't appear weak or apologetic. That would invite contempt. But he also couldn't appear arrogant or dismissive. That would invite punishnt out of pure spite.
"My only cri, is not recognizing that I was sched against. Apart from that, I don't plead guilty to any cri."
The silence that followed was profound.
The Seventh Envoy's lips twitched—it might have been amusent or annoyance, impossible to tell. "An ant trying to argue to an elephant about its death. Hehe." Her laugh was unsettling coming from such a childlike face. "You're quite bold, aren't you?"
The Fifth Envoy interjected before Levi could respond, her lips curled into a smirk. "Alright then. If you truly believe you're not guilty, explain the matter in full detail. Convince us that your actions were justified."
Levi nodded and began his explanation, choosing each word with precision.
"A week ago, I encountered Morgana Sinclair, a fellow first-year Elite Class student. She approached with what appeared to be gratitude for saving her during a mission, but her true intention was to use her succubus abilities to drain my Astra energy and essence while I was vulnerable." He paused, making sure they were following. "I recognized the attempt and refused her advances, protecting myself from her technique."
The Second Envoy nodded slightly. "Morgana Sinclair. A-rank Bloodthirsty Succubus talent. We're aware of her… proclivities. Continue."
"Morgana didn't take the rejection well," Levi continued. "I didn't realize at the ti, but she had cultivated a network of students who were under her influence. One of these students was nad Chris."
The Third Envoy's expression darkened at the na, but he remained silent.
"During the dark cultivator extermination mission, I was engaged in combat with multiple enemies. The fighting was chaotic, with visibility limited and threats coming from all directions. In the midst of this battle, I detected danger behind ."
He t the Envoys' gazes directly. "In a combat zone filled with enemies, when you detect a threat approaching from behind, you respond instinctively. That's basic survival training that the academy itself teaches."
"I turned and struck without identifying the target, assuming it was another dark cultivator. It was only after my attack connected that I realized it was a fellow student, soone Chris had deliberately tossed along with hidden blade towards ."
Levi's expression was cold now, anger seeping through despite his attempts to control it. "Chris used another student's life as a weapon against . Either to discredit or to satisfy so personal vendetta on Morgana's behalf."
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