Chapter 13 The Source of Growth

A deep black spherical dome, sharp and mechanically beautiful spires, and the extremely tall tower body.

Even from ten streets away, one could see the black tower.

This was the most famous building of the Sugg Ruins Transcendent Academy.

Sugg and the Transcendent Academy's "Hall of Fame Tower."

Apart from commemorating historical figures who made great contributions to Sugg Transcendent Academy and had significant research in transcendent academics,

the Hall of Fame Tower also had many other functional facilities.

Such as the Source Pool Capacity Testing Transcendent Testing Instrument.

At this moment, in Gune's small team of several people, Yulai, Lanxier, Hei Luo, and Gune himself gathered before the source capacity testing instrument.

Before the four stood a very tall but extremely thin youth.

His gaunt frame, combined with the loose top, gave him the style of a bamboo pole waving a large flag, especially comical.

The youth's nearly skin-and-bones palm pressed against a black crystal silicon sphere about the size of a basketball.

After a moment, a "Weng!" sound.

On the display beside him, a number 24 appeared.

The gaunt youth looked at the number 24 and nodded with satisfaction.

The number displayed on the monitor represented a standard unit of source capacity.

One standard unit of source capacity was the source consumed by a standard casting of a basic transcendent spell with a spell syllable count of 4.

For example, 24 meant the youth could cast a four-syllable transcendent spell 24 times.

Of course, this was a conventional spell calculation, not counting any extra source potions carried.

Moreover, if the battle reached a critical moment and there was no time to drink a potion,

one would often desperately draw on the source hidden deep within the body.

At such times, the stronger and more robust the body, the longer one could hold out.

But this "bamboo pole youth" with such a frail body would probably collapse after three to five draws.

However, as a non-transcendent, having a source reserve of 24 points was already quite good.

After testing, the youth, satisfied with his number, stood to the side and did not leave.

Glancing slightly at the bamboo pole youth, Gune understood his intention.

He wanted to... show off!

Bamboo pole youth with 24 points, do you really think you're strong?

Yulai stepped forward first to test.

His palm pressed against the black crystal silicon sphere, and after a moment, the number appeared.

This time, the value was 42.

Seeing this number, Yulai frowned slightly.

"I've been slacking off lately, and sure enough, my progress has slowed," Yulai murmured softly.

"Yulai, I need to step it up, no more slacking." Clenching his small fists, Yulai said to himself.

At that moment, the bamboo pole youth who wanted to show off and find some presence nearly had his eyes pop out.

The other's source capacity value completely crushed his.

Gune, unhurried, also stepped forward and pressed his palm against the black crystal silicon sphere.

With a hum, the number appeared.

64!

Seeing this number, the bamboo pole youth could no longer hold back and walked away in sorrow, covering his face.

At this moment, Yulai, Lanxier, and Hei Luo all looked at Gune in surprise.

Even many spellcasters from the Spell, Element, and Contract departments waiting in line began to discuss among themselves.

Gune was also slightly surprised.

A month ago, his source capacity was only 44.

But now, it had soared to 64. Clearly, it was the powerful effect of idling in the [Cyberna Source Pool].

"Indeed... the intermediate source pool transcendent method is powerful."

"The Cyberna Source Pool cultivation method, combined with my strong physique, yields remarkable results!"

"50 source capacity units is already the threshold for a first-rank spellcaster, and judging by this trend, 100 units is not far off. 100 units is the entry capacity for a second-rank spellcaster."

"And I haven't even opened my source pool yet. Once I do..."

Gune narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"I got a source pool cultivation method a while back, and I've been making good progress lately," Gune murmured softly.

Seemingly talking to himself, but actually meant for others to hear.

"What a terrifying guy."

Soon, Lanxier and Hei Luo also finished testing.

Lanxier's source capacity was as high as 82. This did not surprise anyone.

Because Lanxier seemed to have already received the guidance of a transcendent artifact; even if not a true transcendent, she was a half-step transcendent, higher than anyone else, which was normal.

Hei Luo's was also not low, 38 points, quite excellent.

...

Around ten o'clock,

under the guidance of the instructor,

over sixty spellcasting students boarded the transcendent steam train heading to the northern mine.

Unlike the previous world, where the width of two horses' backsides determined that the train track gauge was 1435 millimeters,

in this transcendent world, the track gauge of the transcendent steam train was determined by the backsides of the transcendent giant beast Black-Horned Bison, a full 2655 millimeters.

It must be said, sometimes history is so similar.

A 2655-millimeter track gauge meant that the carriage width of the transcendent steam train reached five meters.

Consequently, its height reached five and a half meters, and its length was about forty-five to even fifty meters.

Each carriage was a behemoth with enormous capacity.

Half a carriage accommodated all the students.

"Woo... woo..."

A low and melodious whistle sounded.

Clank, clank... clank, clank...

The transcendent steam train slowly started.

Students either chatted and laughed or played Cthulhu-themed role-playing games together.

Gune, however, quietly watched the wilderness scenery outside the window.

In the previous life, people could freely drive into the wilderness to enjoy the vast grasslands, mountain ranges, majestic snow peaks, boundless deserts, and even the ocean.

But in this transcendent world,

the transcendent wilderness was never a place humans could easily venture into.

Various powerful transcendent plants, even transcendent creatures, some evil spirits, and even powerful wilderness tribes dwelled there.

Humans who rashly intruded would become their extra meal.

Every time the academy organized a wilderness practice class,

for Gune, it was a rare opportunity to enjoy the natural scenery of this transcendent world.

"Hey... Gune, what are you thinking?"

Paul from the same room slapped Gune on the shoulder and laughed.

Gune calmly pushed his big hand off his shoulder and said flatly, "If you want to test my physical strength, you can just say so. We'll go down later and have a one-on-one spar."

"Heh..." Paul, caught in his little scheme, gave an embarrassed laugh. "Nothing of the sort."

Paul Korchagin!

Known as the Philosophical Knight, his creed was: Fist is Truth.

His favorite saying was: "When my hammer smashes your dog head, you'll know you should apologize to me."

This saying had gotten him into no small amount of trouble.

But given his Behemoth bloodline, wealthy family, and noble status,

he could usually smooth things over after causing trouble.

However, this guy with the Behemoth bloodline had never gained any advantage over Gune.

In this team,

Paul Korchagin was a knight known for defense, with Behemoth bloodline and transcendent equipment.

Ai Li was the academy's top shadow, skilled in all kinds of stealth and assassination techniques.

Lanxier had a half-step transcendent inheritance and abundant source power.

But in the team, Gune was still undeniably the strongest.