Compared to the first seal, the second had been far smoother.

After the initial sensation of being boiled alive, his body adapted quickly. His blood roared through his veins, reshaping him from within, but the pain dulled until it was barely noticeable.

Then came that same indescribable sensation.

As before, his awareness faded, leaving him unable to grasp what was happening. All he sensed was something within him cracking apart, a looming danger pressing in.

But unlike the first seal, which had felt like his body was about to explode into nothingness, this time there was no such despair. The pain was muted, distant, almost hollow.

"That's right. You succeeded." Grandpa Miel's voice rang out, filled with satisfaction.

He appeared in a flash of light, his form clearer, more solid than before.

"How do you feel?" Grandpa Miel asked.

Ray considered it. "Good. It wasn't nearly as painful as last time."

Grandpa Miel nodded. "That's because you were better prepared. Your body and soul power have advanced greatly over the past three years. Your compressed soul power refined your meridians and increased their tolerance. On top of that, you found high-quality spirit items. All of it eased the process."

Ray's face brightened. "So my effort wasn't wasted! Grandpa Miel, what changed this time? You said there'd be a surprise."

"There is," Grandpa Miel said with a faint smile. "But you'll have to experience it yourself. For now, don't dwell on it. Instead, focus on preparing for the third seal."

Ray laughed. "Isn't the deadline twenty years old? I still have six years. Plenty of time."

Grandpa Miel raised an eyebrow. "Who told you the third seal's deadline is twenty?"

Ray froze. "Isn't it? Five years between seals. I broke the second one early, so five plus fifteen makes twenty."

Grandpa Miel shook his head. "That's not how it works. The third seal must be broken by the time you turn sixteen. You have three years."

"What?" Ray stared at him.

"The countdown for the next seal starts the moment you break the previous one," Grandpa Miel continued. "The earlier you break a seal, the easier the later ones become. Fifteen was the absolute latest for the second seal. Now, you have three years to prepare for the third."

Ray felt his scalp tingle. "So… the time between seals keeps shrinking?"

"That's right," Grandpa Miel replied. "Each interval shortens. From now on, the pressure will only increase."

The smile vanished from Ray's face. If this pattern continued for all eighteen seals… the later ones would be terrifying. Failure wouldn't just mean stagnation. It would mean death.

"What's the shortest preparation time I'll have in the future?" he asked quietly.

Grandpa Miel answered, "Each seal shortens the preparation window by three months. After the ninth seal, you'll only have one year per seal."

Ray exhaled slowly. One year… per seal?

Even with two seals already broken, he now truly grasped how ruthless this path was.

"I'll tell you what you need for the next seal," Grandpa Miel said. "But remember, the stronger your body and soul power become over the next three years, the easier it will be. If you're unprepared, you'll face a tribulation. You might even—"

"I understand," Ray said softly.

A list of spirit items surfaced in his mind. He checked them one by one, and only then did he relax slightly.

They were all thousand-year spirit items.

If any of them had been ten-thousand-year items, he would've given up on the spot.

"You can go now. Keep working hard."

The world before Ray dissolved like mist under the sun.

Cold.

His eyes snapped open.

The bathwater had cooled considerably, no longer scalding, but pleasantly refreshing. Golden mist still lingered faintly in the air, but the violent turbulence from before was gone.

Ray glanced down at his body. There were no obvious changes, no dramatic transformation carved into his skin.

Then—

Grrr—

An overwhelming emptiness clawed at his stomach.

I'm starving! How long has it been?!

He scrambled out of the bathtub, dried himself in a hurry, and pulled on his clothes. Food. He needed food immediately.

But the moment he pushed open the washroom door, his steps froze.

Four people were sitting in the room.

And one of them was a white-haired woman he didn't recognize.

"Whoa—!" Ray nearly jumped back.

"You're finally awake!" Raziel sprang up and rushed toward him.

Ray's heart leapt. "So… I made it in time?" If they were still here, then surely the exam hadn't started yet.

Raziel clicked his tongue. "In time? We're already late."

"Huh?" The word hit Ray like a hammer. Even his hunger vanished on the spot.

"Let's go." Giselle stood up, giving Ray a long, meaningful look before walking straight out.

Violetta and Lily followed. Violetta smiled brightly at him, while Lily's expression remained cool and distant. Yet her eyes betrayed her, concern flickering unmistakably beneath the surface.

Ray nodded at them, then leaned closer to Raziel. "Who… is she?"

"A friend of Teacher's from Central Academy," Raziel replied quietly. "We're already three hours late. Teacher is handling things at the academy right now. If we don't hurry, we might miss our last chance."

Ray's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

His voice was heavy with guilt.

Trying to save money… delaying the bloodline refinement… dragging everyone down with him… possibly missing the only chance in their lives to enter Central Academy.

Raziel laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "What's the point of saying that now? When you jumped in front of danger to protect us, did we ever thank you? How'd the deep meditation go? You alright?"

Ray forced a small smile. He couldn't explain the seals. "I don't really know… but I feel great."

And it was true.

Aside from the hunger gnawing at his gut, his condition was excellent. Strength coursed through his body, his soul power thicker and more refined. He guessed he was around Rank 27 or 28 now. Just like last time, the increase in soul power wasn't dramatic.

But his body—

His body felt terrifyingly stronger.

At least thirty percent stronger.

Given his already monstrous physical strength, that increase was enormous.

What he truly looked forward to, however, was the evolution of his bloodline… and the "surprise" Grandpa Miel had mentioned.

Sadly, now was not the time to test anything.

"I… do you have anything to eat?" Ray asked weakly.

Raziel shook his head.

At that moment, Lily silently held out a small bag.

Ray accepted it without hesitation. Just from the weight and warmth, he knew what it was.

Steamed buns. Meat.

Nothing fancy, but to him, it might as well have been a feast fit for a king.

He didn't thank her.

Between them, thanks were unnecessary.

Life-and-death bonds didn't need polite words.

Three steamed buns and a portion of meat. The smell was plain, but desperation erased all pickiness.

Ray devoured everything at a speed so horrifying that, if anyone dared to claim first place in speed-eating, they would immediately renounce the title upon witnessing it.

By the time they reached the first floor, not a single crumb remained.

Giselle's dark-green soul car was parked out front.

"Get in," she said as she took the driver's seat.

Raziel climbed into the back—only to be promptly dragged forward by Lily and forced into the front passenger seat.

Violetta covered her mouth, giggling.

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