Lian Qiu's Talent

Flowing Frost City.

The next morning.

The sun had barely risen.

A carriage bearing the Barte Lei Family crest slowly left Bart's Manor.

Inside the carriage.

Lian Qiu wore a pale little dress, with two small braids tied atop her head. As the carriage swayed, her little head bobbed along with it.

But...

The little girl showed no delight in her new clothes.

Her chubby little hands were tightly clasped together, her fingertips turning white.

"Brother..."

"What if..."

"What if I don't have any talent for magic?"

Lian Qiu's voice was thin as a mosquito's buzz.

Her large eyes, usually bright and watery, now held a trace of panic.

She had heard Father say that if she had no talent for magic, she would have to learn Spirit Qi.

Thinking of Father's hard, iron-like muscles, then looking down at her own skinny little arms...

The little girl shivered.

That was too frightening.

Lei Wen leaned against the carriage wall, casually flipping a gold coin in his hand.

Jin Yong danced between his fingers like a living butterfly.

Hearing his little sister's words, his fingers paused.

Then...

The gold coin flew high into the air before landing steadily in his palm.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Even if you don't have talent for magic, at worst Brother will train you."

"I'll turn you into a proper, even rounder little fatty."

"If anyone dares bully you in the future, I'll beat them up."

Lei Wen reached out and pinched her soft, fleshy cheek.

"Pfft."

Precious Aunt, seated across from them, could not help laughing.

As a mother, she naturally hoped her daughter could inherit her own legacy.

Warriors had it too hard.

Not only did they need to train their muscles, they also had to struggle on the edge of life and death.

How noble was a Magic City?

Standing in a magic tower and chanting spells, clean and refined every day.

Most importantly, Kane.

"Listen to your brother."

"I asked my family to find a Magic Academy. Surely Lian Qiu has talent."

Xue glared at Lei Wen.

This fellow.

She gently pinched Lian Qiu's little cheek.

"What if you don't have talent?"

"If you don't have talent, you can learn Spirit Qi with me!"

"Look at your brother!"

"He became a Fourth Rank Warrior before he was even ten!"

"Letting him train with Jade Rabbit every day makes him a genius-level existence too!"

Barte Lei sat to one side, his back ramrod straight.

He rested one hand on his knee and said carelessly.

"Train alongside you until she becomes a muscle lump?"

"How will she marry anyone in the future?"

Xue rolled her eyes at Barte Lei.

Barte Lei choked.

He rubbed his nose and stopped talking.

Lei Wen watched this scene, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

This was his first home.

Warm and lively.

Compared with that cold rented room in his previous life, this place was practically heaven.

Unfortunately...

Lei Wen cast his gaze out the window.

In this world, the strong reigned supreme.

If he wanted to continue living comfortably, he needed enough strength to protect it.

His old man was a Ninth Rank Warrior, considered an important figure even in Flowing Frost City.

But in the Jade Rabbit Plane...

A Ninth Rank Warrior was not even worth mentioning among the starting ranks.

Even a Saint Domain expert was merely a slightly larger ant before those God Rank powerhouses.

That was why strength was necessary.

The Divine Altar.

The plaza was already packed with people early in the morning.

The annual magic talent test was a major event that could determine one's fate for any family.

Once someone displayed talent for magic, even a commoner could rise in a single leap.

For nobles, it could bring even greater glory to their family.

"That's Bart's Mansion's carriage!"

"I heard his son became a warrior before he was ten and has already broken through to Second Rank!"

"What use is warrior talent? At this age, Magic Academy is the true nobility!"

"Hush! Keep your voice down. Lord Barte Lei is a Ninth Rank Warrior. He could crush you to death with one finger!"

The crowd consciously parted to form a path.

Barte Lei strode at the front, his imposing aura lowering the temperature around him by several degrees.

Xue led Lian Qiu along behind him.

Lei Wen strolled leisurely at the rear, his gaze sweeping through the crowd.

He naturally sensed the aura of everyone nearby.

Second Rank Warrior.

Luo Ye was the shadow Barte Lei had sent out half a year ago.

A Second Rank Warrior under ten years old could indeed be called a genius, but he was nowhere near as eye-catching.

To a certain extent.

Luo Ye was also Lei Wen's other protector!

Very soon.

The magic test began.

Some children revealed talent, and their entire families cheered excitedly.

Others lowered their heads and sighed, while their parents looked equally dejected.

"Next!"

"Lian Qiu Bart!"

An elderly man in gray robes held a name list and called out loudly.

"Go on."

"Don't be afraid. Father is watching."

Barte Lei patted his daughter's back.

"Mm."

Lian Qiu took a deep breath and climbed the stairs on her short little legs.

In the center of the test platform stood a transparent crystal ball as large as a watermelon.

That was the test instrument for magic elements and power.

"Place your hands on it, close your eyes, and don't think about anything."

The old man glanced at Lian Qiu, his expression calm.

Following his instructions.

Lian Qiu stood on tiptoe and pressed both little hands against the icy crystal ball.

One second.

Two seconds.

The crystal ball remained silent.

The surrounding crowd began whispering.

"Looks like there's nothing."

"What a pity. If the Barte Lei Family could produce a mage, their status could rise another level."

"Ha, I told you. How could there be such a good thing? The son is a genius, and the daughter is a genius too?"

Barte Lei's brows slowly furrowed.

Xue held her breath, staring fixedly at the crystal ball, her nails nearly digging into her flesh.

Lei Wen, however, looked toward those ill-intentioned onlookers with amusement.

Just then.

"Buzz!"

The crystal ball suddenly trembled.

A dazzling blue light burst from the previously transparent sphere.

The blue light was pure and deep, like a boundless ocean!

There even seemed to be the sound of flowing water.

"Whoosh~"

"This light... so strong!"

"At minimum, it's first-class! No, top-class!"

The crowd erupted.

Those who had just mocked them all froze in place.

The elderly tester's originally clouded eyes widened sharply.

"Water elemental affinity..."

"Top-class!"

He hurried toward the crystal ball, carefully examining the light patterns on its surface.

The old man's voice trembled slightly. When he looked toward Lian Qiu again, his expression immediately became gentler.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Hahaha! My daughter is truly worthy of being my child!"

At those three words of praise.

Barte Lei's fleshy face instantly bloomed like a chrysanthemum.

Xue was so excited that tears welled in her eyes. Clutching her chest, she let out a long breath.

Top-class!

That meant that as long as nothing went wrong, becoming a Sixth Rank Magic City was guaranteed.

There was even hope of reaching Eighth Rank or Ninth Rank!

"Wait!"

"There's also a Divine Power test!"

The old man quickly calmed himself.

He led Lian Qiu to a magic array for testing Divine Power.

Lian Qiu now had confidence.

She obediently stepped into the magic array and silently waited.

"Buzz~"

The magic array lit up.

A circular wave spread out, enveloping Lian Qiu.

The numbers on the crystal ball began jumping rapidly.

After more than ten breaths.

The smile on the old man's face grew increasingly brilliant.

"Divine Power... seventeen times that of an ordinary person!"

"Top-class!"