After leveling up and moving into a new bracket, he was now a Level 3 newcomer, which would make extending his winning streak even more difficult.

This meant a winning streak wasn’t broken by leveling up. Continuing a streak after advancing to a higher tier was a true measure of skill.

He stretched.

Lu Cang left the arena.

As he passed the front desk, he saw the familiar receptionist.

He greeted her and noticed the Slime Lamp sitting on the corner of her desk.

’Looks like she didn’t just toss it.’

Lu Cang had given it to her fully expecting she might just throw it away.

After leaving the arena, Lu Cang put on a half-mask and pulled down his hood.

To onlookers, his form began to distort and blur.

"Enchantment: Perception Disruption"

"Enchantment: Cognitive Blur"

At the same time, Lu Cang also wore a ring with the "Enchantment: Destiny Concealment".

He had heard that this Enchantment Effect could cloud a Divination Master’s Divination, or even cause them to see a false outcome.

He hadn’t caused any trouble, but he was carrying a lot of valuable items and was afraid of being targeted by the wrong kind of people.

Not to mention he still had the appearance of a child.

He was highly recognizable.

Chi Cheng had been picked on at the Adventurer’s Guild by someone who clearly didn’t even know who he was.

Lu Cang realized then that this world wasn’t entirely filled with good people.

While he had met more good people than bad so far, he couldn’t deny that evil people certainly existed.

Especially since this world had all sorts of criminal Professions.

"Assassin," "Thief," "Death Priest," "Skin Taker"...

Lu Cang arrived at the Life Church. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The City in the Circle was indeed different from a small town like Raine Town.

It had a complete Church, clergy, and a dedicated altar and Divine Statue.

He could even see Divine Officers on the streets, preaching and praying.

In his previous life, Lu Cang wouldn’t have given these charlatans the time of day.

But in this world, gods were real—their existence had been proven.

Lu Cang still held a certain reverence for the gods of this world.

’At least... I’ll maintain that reverence until I become a god myself.’

The Life Church was packed with people.

With his tiny frame, Lu Cang was jostled about in the crowd, making it difficult to move forward.

’The Life Church is this popular? Business is booming, huh?’

’Isn’t there a dedicated Life Hall for healing?’

Lu Cang was just about to go in and find out what was going on, but suddenly his feet left the ground.

He turned his head and saw Chi Cheng.

Chi Cheng had lifted him up.

"Yo, kid."

"You here to see Kumironi too?"

Lu Cang blurted out, "Chi Cheng, how did you know I just learned Root Magic?"

Chi Cheng asked, "You learned Root Magic?"

"Yeah, just now," Lu Cang said. "I came right after finishing off Atelindo, a Level 2 who’d grasped Extreme Intent."

"Oh! So it was that Atelindo kid."

’That kid?’

’Chi Cheng, you’re not that much older than him, are you?’

Chi Cheng was only twenty, while Atelindo was almost forty.

"I fought him back when I was Level 2. Can’t believe after all this time, he’s still just a Level 2."

’Chi Cheng, that’s not the point!’

’The point is that I learned Root Magic!’

’Sigh... It was a mistake to share my good news with this blockhead.’

"Still, you really learned Root Magic that fast?"

"How many days has it been?"

Lu Cang’s ears twitched as he fought to keep his lips from curving into a smile.

He said nonchalantly, "It was nothing special. Inspiration just struck during my 298th consecutive win, so I figured it out without even using the Spring of Origin."

Despite himself, the corners of Lu Cang’s mouth curled upward.

After all, learning Root Magic in just over ten days was a better feeling than getting a promotion, a raise, and winning the lottery all at once.

Even an adult wouldn’t have been able to keep from grinning.

Chi Cheng laughed, "Haha, that’s almost as fast as Iz."

’Almost...’

’Wait a second...’

’Huh?’

’I’m not the fastest in the world?’

Lu Cang’s smile froze.

"But, since you’ve learned Root Magic, doesn’t that mean you’re going to advance to a Level 3 Mage?"

"No wonder you came to the Life Church."

"Yeah, and I wanted to see you guys, too," Lu Cang said.

He didn’t mention he had come specifically to get promoted; that would have sounded too calculating.

"By the way," Lu Cang asked, "how long did it take Iz to learn Elemental Void?"

Chi Cheng tilted his head, recalling. "I think he said it was a little over a month after he reached Level 2."

Lu Cang pressed, "How much is ’a little over’?"

"How would I know? That’s just what he said at the time," Chi Cheng replied.

The answer left Lu Cang feeling conflicted.

’So was I faster than Iz at learning Root Magic, or slower?’

Suddenly, Chi Cheng hoisted Lu Cang onto his shoulders.

This new posture... made Lu Cang feel very strange.

In his past life, when he was little, his dad had carried him like this.

And so, at this moment, Lu Cang felt a complex mix of emotions.

But the view was certainly better. Lu Cang saw Kumironi in the distance, standing in the center of the hall, chanting from the scriptures.

Lu Cang had indeed wanted to see what kind of work Kumironi did at the Life Church.

’Does she just drone on and on, preaching like those charlatans outside?’

’It’s hard to imagine.’

’Although, I don’t need Kumironi. I could use "Root Magic—Primordial Origin" to advance on my own.’

’According to Izparut’s explanation, there’s nothing wrong with that Magic.’

’But it was given to me by a major villain. Since there’s an official, safe route available, I’d rather not use this risky plug-in...’

"Sophia brings us life. Through Her, all things are born, awakened, and grow to flourish. Above the sky, below the earth, and even in worlds we have yet to perceive, there is soil from which new life springs..."