The Miraculous Birthmark!

Flowing Frost City.

Bart's Manor.

"Father! Mother!"

"My mental power is indeed strong, as Luo Ye said."

"But my elemental affinity and strength are only average!"

"Father, you understand what that means better than I do."

Lei Wen turned around.

With his back to the moonlight, his young face was hidden in shadow.

Barte Lei fell silent.

Indeed!

In Magic City, cultivation relied on mental power in the early stages, and elemental affinity and strength in the later stages.

Average affinity and strength meant that Lei Wen would never be able to match those true geniuses in terms of meditation and gathering magic power.

Perhaps after ten or twenty years.

Lei Wen could rely on his powerful mental strength to become a sixth- or seventh-tier mage.

But to break through to the eighth or ninth tier, or even reach the Saint Domain—

That would require vast reserves of magic power.

And average affinity and strength were an insurmountable chasm.

"I want to become a strong man, a truly strong man."

"Not some useless mage who can only throw fireballs from behind the lines and gets instantly killed when he encounters a true strong man."

Lei Wen clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his flesh.

"And besides..."

"My mental power is strong. That gives me enormous advantages in cultivating as a warrior too, doesn't it?"

"Sharper senses, more precise control, and even... when facing enemies in the future, mental power will also be a weapon."

Lei Wen paused, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Silence.

Barte Lei's eyes lit up.

He slammed his palm against the table, making the cup jump.

"Good!"

"Well said!"

The ninth-tier warrior burst into laughter, his voice booming like a bell.

"Good boy!"

"You truly are the son of Barte Lei!"

"You won't be blinded by the false glamour of mages. You know what you truly want!"

"You're right!"

"Mages may be lofty!"

"But on the battlefield, only a warrior's sword and shield are the most dependable companions!"

"Average affinity and strength are indeed a huge pit. Rather than wasting time on that hopeless meditation, you might as well train your body!"

Barte Lei stood and walked over to Lei Wen.

His fan-sized hand landed heavily on the boy's shoulder.

"But..."

Xue wanted to say something, but she could not bring herself to stop him.

"What do you mean, 'but'!"

"Our family doesn't lack a mage!"

"If Anniya has good talent in the future, it won't be too late for her to study magic!"

"Since Lei Wen wants to take the path of a warrior, then he'll walk it to the end!"

Barte Lei waved his hand grandly.

He stared into Lei Wen's eyes, his gaze blazing.

"But let me make this clear first."

"The path of a warrior is far harsher than that of a mage."

"In the freezing depths of winter and the scorching heat of summer, broken bones and torn flesh will be commonplace."

"If you start whining halfway through, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Lei Wen smiled.

Looking at the expectation in his father's eyes, a surge of pride rose in his heart.

"Don't worry, Father."

"Even if my bones are broken, I won't utter a single cry."

Having decided on his path.

Lei Wen's daily life underwent earth-shaking changes.

Early morning.

Before dawn had even broken.

Darkness shrouded the training ground.

"Eight hundred ninety-eight... eight hundred ninety-nine... one thousand!"

Heavy breathing echoed through the empty training ground.

A small figure was doing sit-ups on a stone platform.

Sweat soaked his short black hair and splashed onto the ground, forming a small puddle.

For a child barely six years old, such intense training was practically self-torture.

But Lei Wen did not stop.

He felt the pain in his abdominal muscles, as if they were being torn apart.

Pain meant he was alive. It meant he was becoming stronger.

The same was true for everything.

The birthmark on the back of his hand glowed faintly amid the intense movement.

A thread of warm current emerged from it, flowing through his entire body and relieving the fatigue in his muscles.

This was Lei Wen's foundation.

Others had no idea what this birthmark was.

But he knew that as long as he underwent intense physical training—

The birthmark would release a strange energy that accelerated his body's recovery and even strengthened his bones and muscles.

"Ha!"

Lei Wen flipped over and landed on the ground.

His legs trembled slightly, but he still stood firm.

On a huge boulder nearby.

Barte Lei sat cross-legged, holding a roasted lamb leg and eating until his mouth was greasy.

"Not bad. You didn't slack off."

"But this is only the beginning."

"Today, I'll teach you basic combat techniques."

"Remember, a warrior's strength does not come solely from the muscles. It also comes from the earth."

Barte Lei casually tossed the bone aside and smacked his lips.

Unlike ordinary commoners.

Ordinary commoners had no secret Spirit Qi manuals.

They could only temper their bodies through exercise.

For example, like this!

Once they obtained a Spirit Qi secret manual, they could quickly begin their cultivation.

And the Barte Lei family possessed several excellent Spirit Qi secret manuals.

Under such circumstances.

Barte Lei naturally had different requirements for Lei Wen.

"Watch!"

Barte Lei leaped down from the boulder.

There was clearly no Spirit Qi fluctuation.

Yet the ground sank slightly.

Two deep footprints were clearly imprinted on the bluestone slabs.

"Stand steady below, and your strength will be stable."

"Watch carefully! Follow me!"

Barte Lei assumed a stance.

The movement seemed simple, yet it carried an imposing force as heavy as a mountain.

Lei Wen took a deep breath and copied his father's posture. His legs spread apart, his knees bent slightly, and his center of gravity sank.

That seemingly simple motion was as difficult as climbing to heaven when actually performed.

Every muscle had to remain tense while also releasing force in an instant.

Before long.

Lei Wen's legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Don't move! Keep your waist straight!"

At some point, a willow branch had appeared in Barte Lei's hand. He mercilessly whipped Lei Wen's calf.

Smack!

A burning pain.

Lei Wen grunted, but he truly did not move. His gaze only grew firmer.

Time passed minute by minute.

The sun gradually rose, blazing sunlight baking the earth.

Sweat had long soaked through his clothes, running down his legs into his shoes. The sticky sensation was maddening.

His legs had already gone numb, as if they were filled with lead.

His consciousness began to blur.

Just as Lei Wen felt that he was about to collapse.

The birthmark on the back of his hand glowed again.

A cool current instantly surged up his legs, jolting his mind awake.

The same was true for everything.

That strange warm current surged once more, nourishing his trembling muscles.

Lei Wen stared in astonishment. He could actually hold on again.

He could even clearly feel it.

With every breath and every heartbeat, his body became tougher and more filled with strength.

This birthmark... was simply an outrageous cheat.

Under the shade of a tree.

Xue watched her son training bitterly beneath the blazing sun, her heart aching so much that tears nearly fell.

"This child, he really was carved from the same mold as his father..."

She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. Though her mouth complained, her eyes were full of pride.

Since her son had chosen the path of a warrior.

Then, as his mother, all she could do was take care of him.

"Anniya!"

"Go boil another pot of Magic City meat porridge. Add some black purple ginseng!"

She called to the female servant behind her.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Take out that bottle of healing ointment and warm it up. Rub it on the boy tonight to ease his soreness!"