Fenlai City

The most famous powers in the Holy Union were the Radiant Church and Ernst Institute, which the church had funded and built.

Ernst Institute was the best magic academy on the Yulan Continent. Even the magic academies of the Yulan Empire fell somewhat short by comparison.

Those who could enter Ernst Institute were geniuses among geniuses.

The back mountain grounds of Ernst Institute.

"Linley sure is diligent in his training."

Doehring Cowart's soul floated not far away. Watching Linley train so tirelessly, he nodded in satisfaction.

Magic training required not only talent, but also perseverance. Linley had both in abundance.

Especially after learning that first place in the Grade Tournament came with a reward of three hundred gold coins, Linley had worked even harder. At that point, he had become a Level Two Magus a week earlier than in the original story.

As a result, no one but Doehring Cowart knew that Linley had already become a Level Two Magus.

Before long, Linley finished training and went to find Beibei, ready to return to the dormitory.

"Linley, with your current strength, no one in the first year's Grade Tournament will be able to beat you."

Doehring Cowart floated beside Linley and spoke confidently.

Linley was not only a Level Two Magus, but a dual-element Level Two Magus. With his mental control far surpassing that of others his age, he could not possibly lose even against other Level Two Magi.

Moreover, Linley had also reached the level of a Level Two Warrior. Taking that into account, even second-year students might not be his match.

"Grandpa Doehring, the Grade Tournament is still more than two months away. I want to learn more Level Two spells."

Linley spoke.

Among the new students, quite a few were geniuses with exceptional spiritual force and elemental affinity. If he could reach the level of a Level Two Magus, so could someone else.

To make absolutely sure of winning, he had to improve his strength as much as possible. After all, the prize was three hundred gold coins.

"You've already reached the level of a Level Two Magus. You just need to familiarize yourself with the incantations."

Doehring Cowart nodded, then continued, "Actually, a competition like this is useless to you. You'd be better off waiting until you're stronger, then going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gain experience."

Linley said nothing.

Because of the three hundred gold coins, he wanted to take part in the Grade Tournament. Naturally, he had looked into previous tournaments, and learned that they were constrained by various rules. The competitors could not fully display their true strength; it was nothing more than a showy competition.

It did nothing to build experience.

So the tournament really was useless, but there was a cash prize. For that alone, he would take part.

When he returned to the dormitory, Yale, George, and Reynolds were already there.

"Third Bro."

Yale saw Linley and grinned. "I heard you signed up for the Grade Tournament. With your strength, you'll definitely take first place! You're sure to attract a bunch of pretty girls, especially some of the beauties from Wester Academy. Heh heh heh."

Linley's talent ranked among the very best in his year. Only Dixie had the edge over him. But Dixie was so strong that he was already a third-year student. Even if he entered the Grade Tournament, he would be competing in the third-year division, so they would never cross paths. There was no need to worry about him.

Linley was a little speechless. Ignoring Yale's teasing, he asked, "Are you guys not planning to enter the Grade Tournament?"

Everyone at Ernst Institute was a genius, and most of them refused to admit that anyone else was better. Even Yale had quite good talent.

"Our Dormitory 1987 only needs you and Fourth Bro to enter."

George smiled.

Reynolds was also very talented and quite strong.

"Heh heh, Dormitory 1987 will take two of the top three spots!"

Reynolds was very confident, too.

"Haha, Dormitory 1987 will be famous throughout the entire institute!"

Yale laughed, already imagining how many pretty girls they would attract if two of their dormmates placed in the top three.

"Oh, right. I heard some upper-year students say that people from Wester Academy have arrived."

George changed the subject.

"They're here? What are they like? Any pretty students?"

Yale was the first to ask.

"Boss Yale, your priorities are way off."

George couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"Heh heh heh."

Reynolds laughed, too.

Yale had completely corrupted him. Ever since Yale had taken him to a few special places, he had discovered pleasures unlike any he had known before.

"All right, Second Bro. Find out whether there are any impressive first-year students from Wester Academy, for Third Bro and Fourth Bro."

Yale's expression turned serious.

He might be a bit of a womanizer, but he was good to his brothers. Since Linley and Reynolds planned to enter the tournament, it was best to learn about their potential rivals ahead of time and be prepared.

"Don't worry. I'll tell Third Bro and Fourth Bro as soon as I hear anything."

George nodded and made a mental note of it.

After a pause, George continued, "But I heard the students from Wester Academy are all very strong this time. They crossed the Magical Beast Mountain Range to get here, and it seems they even ran into a Level Nine Magical Beast..."

"Gasp!"

Reynolds couldn't help exclaiming in shock. "A Level Nine Magical Beast?"

Even Yale and Linley were astonished. "They ran into a Level Nine Magical Beast?"

A Level Nine Magical Beast was incredibly powerful.

Linley, especially, remembered the Black Dragon that had appeared in Wushan Town. It had been a Level Nine Magical Beast.

George nodded gravely. "That's not even the most frightening part. The most frightening thing is that they didn't suffer a single casualty. Even if their instructor was powerful, those students couldn't have been weak. At the very least, they must have been extremely composed."

Students who had seen a Level Nine Magical Beast were naturally different.

Linley clenched his fists in secret.

He wanted to go on an expedition, too, but Grandpa Doehring had said that he needed the strength of a Level Five Magus before he would have a chance of surviving one. Yet some first-year students from Wester Academy had already crossed the Magical Beast Mountain Range under an instructor's guidance. In that respect, he was falling behind.

Grandpa Doehring, would I have a chance if I went to the Magical Beast Mountain Range now?

"Linley, going alone to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range is extremely dangerous."

Doehring Cowart understood what Linley was thinking. His tone was grave. "Wester Academy must have brought along a powerful expert, so the chance of them encountering danger was very small. And from the sound of it, they may well have had a Level Nine expert with them. In those circumstances, it wasn't difficult for them to cross the Magical Beast Mountain Range safely. Even if they saw a Level Nine Magical Beast, it wouldn't count as training for them. It would only count as an experience."

As he spoke, Doehring Cowart sounded somewhat disdainful. "Training means facing a life-or-death crisis. With an instructor leading the way, the whole point of the experience is lost."

Although seeing a Level Nine Magical Beast would certainly affect the students from Wester Academy, it could hardly be called training.

"Facing a life-or-death crisis."

Linley gradually calmed down, and his gaze grew more resolute. "I understand, Grandpa Doehring. I'll work hard at my training and reach Level Five as soon as possible. Then I'll go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone!"

"Mm, that's the right attitude."

Doehring Cowart was extremely pleased. "That's what real training is. Otherwise, you might as well not go at all. Besides, they saw a Level Nine Magical Beast, but so did you. There's no difference."

Linley nodded firmly, and made up his mind. After this Grade Tournament, he would begin even more grueling training and reach Level Five as soon as possible.

He had seen a Level Nine Magical Beast, but not in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He had seen one that had been subdued by a Saint-level expert. The two experiences were definitely different.

"Still, that's not the biggest news right now."

George suddenly lowered his voice.

"Hm?"

Even Linley looked at George again.

The Grade Tournament was already the biggest annual event at Ernst Institute. Was it not the biggest news now? Was there some other major event that could eclipse it?

"Second Bro, stop keeping us in suspense. Hurry up and tell us what other gossip you've heard!"

Reynolds couldn't help speaking up.

George tamped down his own excitement and looked at everyone. Only then did he say mysteriously, "This is news about a Saint-level expert!"

"What?!"

"A Saint-level expert?!"

All three of them were stunned. Even Doehring Cowart floated out of the Coiling Dragon Ring to listen. This was a figure of his own level, and worth paying attention to.

Saint-level experts were the pinnacle of the Yulan Continent. They could even destroy a kingdom with ease. People like that were practically legendary.

And George knew something about one of them?

Linley stared at George without blinking. The two Saint-level experts who had appeared in Wushan Town came to mind again. The Black Dragon, a Level Nine Magical Beast, was the contracted beast of the mage among them.

That world-shattering power was something Linley yearned for deeply.

Seeing that his words had captured everyone's attention, George didn't drag it out. He went straight to the point. "I just got word that a while ago, a Saint-level expert appeared on the Yulan Continent. In the Dark Alliance's territory, he faced four opponents at once and defeated the four Saint-level experts of the Dark Church head-on!"

"Is that true?"

Reynolds couldn't help asking.

A single Saint-level expert was already powerful enough. How could one person fight four and defeat four Saint-level experts? How was that possible?

"One against four?"

Even Linley was so shocked he could barely believe it.

In his mind, Saint-level experts were invincible. Uncle Hillman had also said that they could destroy a huge mountain with ease. Like the Dragonblood Warriors among Linley's ancestors, they were powerful Saint-level experts.

Could someone really face four such experts at once? It was hard to imagine.

"The gap in strength between Saint-level experts can be enormous."

Doehring Cowart spoke up, brimming with confidence. "At my peak, I could have easily taken on four early-stage Saint-level experts at once."

Linley was even more astonished by Doehring Cowart's words. "Grandpa Doehring, you could do that, too?"

"Haha, of course."

Doehring Cowart stroked his beard, looking extremely proud. "I was a Saint-level Magus of the Pu'ang Empire. How could ordinary early-stage Saint-level experts possibly match me?"

Linley's heart began to race. Grandpa Doehring was that powerful?

"Still, this person's feat of taking on four opponents at once is impressive."

Doehring Cowart finally nodded and said.

Linley could only nod firmly. A Saint-level expert as powerful as Grandpa Doehring had been at his peak was certainly formidable.

"Second Bro, is this true? Does the Dark Alliance really have a powerful expert like that?"

Yale also found it hard to believe. His family did business in the Dark Alliance, after all, and he knew quite a bit about its powerful factions.

If an expert like that really existed, he would have known about it. But he hadn't heard anything yet. Maybe he could ask the next time someone from his family visited.

"No, the expert isn't from the Dark Alliance."

George shook his head. "Some say he was an expert who had been cultivating in the South Sea and just happened to pass through the Dark Alliance. No one knows why they started fighting."

"The South Sea?"

Reynolds smacked his lips.

That was an extremely distant place for them. Only an expert like that could travel all the way from the South Sea to the Dark Alliance, right?

"Now, people across the Yulan Continent are probably talking about this expert's exploits. The stories are especially widespread in the Holy Union."

George nodded. "A lot of people suspect that the Saint-level expert might not have come from the South Sea at all, but might be an expert from the Holy Union. Of course, no one knows where he's really from."

Listening to George's account, all three of them felt their blood stir.

After all, stories about Saint-level experts had always been legends. This was the first time they had lived through something like this. They hadn't seen it with their own eyes, but it had happened in their own time.

Ernst Institute.

Edita and the others had already moved into the dormitory Ernst Institute had prepared for them.

After obtaining the scepter, she had left the underground chamber. Not long afterward, she had found the others. This time, they had been lucky and crossed the Magical Beast Mountain Range without incident.

The rest of the journey had been even easier. They had reached Ernst Institute soon after.

As for finding the Level Nine expert who possessed the Ring of Feilan, that would take more time. An expert who owned a Level Eight Blood-Veined Great Ape wasn't especially difficult to track down.

Under the arrangements of Ernst Institute's instructors, the students from Wester Academy had moved into the accommodations specially prepared for them. Afterward, Edita and Sorel went to see Delante again.

"Dean Delante."

Edita gave a noble's greeting, while Sorel followed behind her.

"Haha, Edita! The last time I saw you, you were still a little girl. Now you're an instructor at Wester Academy."

Delante spoke with some emotion.

Edita was extremely talented, and Ernst Institute had naturally wanted her to come there. In the end, though, she had chosen Wester Academy.

Of course, the distance between the two places had also been a significant factor.

Although Ernst Institute was the best magic academy on the Yulan Continent, most of its students came from the Yulan Empire and O'Brien Empire, which were near the Holy Union.

Not many students came from the more distant Rhine Empire and Luo'ao Empire. Most studied within their own empires, or at most went to the magic academies of the Yulan Empire. After all, those academies were second only to Ernst Institute, and much closer.

By contrast, quite a few people from the Far East Prairie came to Ernst Institute.

The main reason was that the Far East Prairie had no magic academy of its own. Those who wanted to study magic had to go elsewhere. Once they left home, they naturally chose the best place they could.

Under those circumstances, Ernst Institute and the magic academies of the Yulan Empire were the first choices.

"It's my regret that I couldn't come to Ernst Institute."

Edita replied.

"With your talent, it wouldn't have mattered where you went."

Delante waved his hand, smiling as he changed the subject. "How is Potter doing?"

"Dean Potter was talking about you the other day. He guessed you'd become a Saint-level expert before he did."

Edita smiled. "Dean Potter also said he'd come visit you if he had time."

"That old fellow."

Delante laughed. "Anyway, enough about him. Your Wester Academy is here to visit us. What do you have in mind? If you have any requests, just say so."

As the number-one magic academy on the Yulan Continent, they had to show the bearing befitting their position.

"We're mainly here to learn. We'll follow whatever arrangements Ernst Institute makes."

Edita spoke with a smile.

Although they told outsiders they had come to exchange ideas with Ernst Institute, that wasn't her main concern. She wasn't especially invested in the exchange, and wouldn't mind losing, as long as she got the Ring of Feilan.

Delante nodded, then said, "The annual Grade Tournament at Ernst Institute will take place in another month. Why not let your students take part, too? It would be a good way for the students to learn from one another. What do you think?"

"Sounds good."

Edita nodded. "Let's do that."

To keep their intentions from arousing suspicion, they had brought one or two students from each year, all of them geniuses from Wester Academy, of course.

"Good. Since none of you have any objections, we'll use the Grade Tournament a month from now as an opportunity for exchange. I'll also prepare gold rewards for the top three students in each year."

Delante nodded in satisfaction. "Over the next month, have your students recover. They can also attend classes at Ernst Institute."

"Then thank you, Dean Delante."

Edita bowed slightly.

Being able to attend classes at Ernst Institute for a month would be a good opportunity for their students.

When it came to teaching magic, Ernst Institute was far superior to Wester Academy.

Fang Yun had now arrived in Fenlai City, the capital of Fenlai Kingdom and the "Holy Capital" of the Holy Union.

Ernst Institute was not far outside Fenlai City.

"This place and Black Lion City are practically worlds apart in style."

After entering the city, Doham couldn't help commenting.

Black Lion City was the "Holy Capital" of the Dark Alliance, with the same status as Fenlai City.

"The Radiant Church and the Dark Church have always stood opposed to each other. In every respect, they're complete opposites."

Fang Yun nodded casually and spoke.

Along the way, plenty of people couldn't help taking a closer look at the two Doham brothers following behind Fang Yun.

With bodies that powerful, they were clearly experts, most likely at least sixth-rank. Anyone with guards like them had to be a person of extremely high status.

So, once Fang Yun entered Fenlai City with the two Doham brothers, news of them reached many of the city's great clans.

After all, having two sixth-rank guards put someone among the ranks of the great clans. They might even belong to a clan with a ninth-rank expert.

A ninth-rank expert!

Even the king of Fenlai Kingdom was only a ninth-rank expert.

The "great clans" of Fenlai City naturally wanted to make connections with a clan like that. So far, however, none had been the first to approach.

"Young master."

At last, a well-dressed man stopped the three of them. He bowed to Fang Yun before continuing, "Young master, I'm a servant of the Lucas Clan. My clan leader—"

People from several other clans watched from a distance.

"What Lucas Clan?"

Doham stepped forward first, blocking the way of these people who had come to strike up a conversation with Fang Yun.

In the two Doham brothers' minds, not even a clan—let alone the king of Fenlai Kingdom—was worthy of making their lord come to them. Even if the Pope of Light showed up, whether their lord would meet him depended on his mood.

Besides, they had noticed people secretly watching them as soon as they entered the city.

They were both seventh-rank experts. Even without battle qi, their experience was enough to spot those people lurking nearby. If their lord hadn't been there, they would have taught those watchers a lesson.

"Wait."

Fang Yun suddenly spoke. Remembering something from the original story, he looked at the servant with interest. "You said you're from the Lucas Clan?"

The servant's face had gone pale under Doham's imposing presence. He had just been about to beg for mercy, but at Fang Yun's question he hurriedly nodded. "Yes, young master. I'm from the Lucas Clan."

"My lord."

Doham looked toward Fang Yun.

Fang Yun waved a hand and looked at the servant. "What's your clan leader's name?"

Seeing that Fang Yun was interested in the Lucas Clan, Doham stepped back. He and Dohar glared at the onlookers with their tiger-like eyes, and no one else dared approach.

Feeling the pressure, the servant answered carefully. "The current clan leader is Jeb Lucas. He's a marquis of Fenlai Kingdom."

Fang Yun nodded. He hadn't been mistaken: this was the minor clan that possessed the Baruch Clan's heirloom, the battle-axe Slaughter.

If he hadn't run into them, Fang Yun naturally wouldn't have given them much thought.

But since he had, he didn't mind giving Linley a small gift. After all, as a future ruler, Linley was worth winning over with a small favor.

Even if Linley never became a ruler, Fang Yun would lose nothing.

Still, Fang Yun wouldn't simply hand Slaughter to Linley. He could wait until Linley was strong enough and sell it to him, taking the Lucas Clan's place in the original story.

Linley would surely be "surprised" then.

Linley could use his status to put pressure on the Lucas Clan, but Fang Yun wondered what Linley could possibly offer to persuade him to "sell" Slaughter. The thought was rather amusing.

As for whether he could get his hands on Slaughter, Fang Yun didn't give it much thought. The minor clan wouldn't be able to cause him any trouble.

"Then what did Marquis Jeb send you here for?"

Fang Yun smiled as he asked, despite already knowing the answer.

Seeing Fang Yun's attitude, the servant secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He stole a glance at the two Doham brothers, and became even more certain that Fang Yun was a person of noble status.

The servant hurriedly said, "My clan leader has considerable influence throughout Fenlai City, and he enjoys making friends. When he heard that you and your guards had arrived, he sent me to invite you to a banquet."

As he spoke, the servant felt somewhat uneasy.

"Heh. Tell your clan leader I'll visit the Lucas Clan in three days."

Fang Yun replied casually.

"Yes, yes. I'll pass that along to my clan leader right away."

Hearing that Fang Yun had agreed, the servant beamed and hurriedly bowed.

After the servant left, Doham asked in confusion, "My lord, is there anything special about the Lucas Clan?"

Even Prequet, perched on Doham's sleeve, was curious. Lucas? Could he be some Saint-level expert? As far as the creature was concerned, only an invitation from a Saint-level expert would make their lord give it a second glance.

But it had never heard of any powerful figures in Fenlai Kingdom.

"Heh. You'll find out in time."

Fang Yun offered no explanation, then said, "Come on, let's go take a look at Proulx Gallery. I hear it's one of Fenlai City's famous spots."

In his previous life, Fang Yun had studied sculpture, so he knew a little about it—though only the basics.

After awakening his memories, he had spent all his time cultivating and hadn't had a chance to pick up sculpting again. Now that he had reached this stage, he felt like taking it up once more. It would be a good way to pass the time.

The group then headed for Proulx Gallery.

The most famous gallery on the Yulan Continent, Proulx Gallery contained the largest collection of stone sculptures—and the finest works as well.