Blackstone Town

Jonathan heard the creak of the door opening, but Abraham's conversation with the person outside was so soft that he couldn't make out a single word.

But before long, Abraham walked inside.

Knock, knock, knock~

"Come in."

Seeing Jonathan reading a book, Abraham smiled slightly. "I'm leaving for a while tomorrow. I'll be back within ten days at the latest. Stay here and don't go wandering off."

He paused, then added, "Don't forget your training, either."

Jonathan nodded obediently. "I understand, Father."

Afterward, Abraham closed the door and returned to his own room.

Jonathan had long since grown accustomed to Abraham's frequent departures; over the past few years, he would head out on missions every month or two.

When he was younger, Abraham would leave him in the care of a family in the nearby Blackstone Town.

Now that Jonathan could live on his own, that was no longer necessary; a simple instruction was enough.

Jonathan felt a sense of gratitude toward Abraham; after all, he was the one who had saved him.

Although he knew that Abraham and his companions had killed the original owner's family, he was merely a soul inhabiting a borrowed corpse, and lacking the original owner's memories like a typical transmigrator, he felt no inner turmoil.

When he first woke up, he had claimed to have amnesia, even forgetting his own name.

Abraham had been suspicious, but upon reflection, such a horrific scene was truly too traumatic for a three or four-year-old child, and having walked through the gates of death, amnesia was perfectly normal.

After staying for a while, Abraham became convinced that Jonathan had lost his memory, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

If he were to adopt a child who harbored hatred and murderous intent toward him, and then raise him, it would undoubtedly be like tying a steel wire around his own neck, with the constant risk of being bitten back.

Jonathan had no such intentions; once he confirmed he had arrived in the Coiling Dragon world, his only desire was to become stronger.

It was currently the year 9988 of the Yulan Calendar.

If he remembered correctly, he should be two years older than Linley.

Jonathan was naturally curious about the protagonist, but he wouldn't seek him out; he had his own path to walk.

The Yulan Continent was small, and once he became a top-tier expert, there would naturally come a day when they would meet.

"I should have the strength of a rank-3 warrior by now."

Jonathan judged this because his soul had been strengthened three times.

The Soul Dao Fruit would automatically reinforce his soul every time he made a breakthrough, so his spiritual energy far exceeded that of warriors at the same rank, and even mages couldn't compare.

Through introspection, he could see a cyan fruit in his mind, covered in mysterious runes.

The mist surrounding the fruit was thin; because of the injuries he sustained when he transmigrated, he had quickly exhausted this protective energy.

The recovery time for the soul energy of the Dao Fruit was ten years.

Therefore, until he was fourteen, the Dao Fruit would not possess the ability to protect his soul.

"I wonder if I have any magical talent."

"If I do, given the properties of the Soul Dao Fruit, my cultivation speed as a mage would likely be even faster than as a warrior."

"When Father returns next time, I'll have him find a way to test my magical talent."

After reading the Magical Beast Compendium for a while longer, Jonathan went to bed.

In the middle of the night, Abraham quietly entered and stood by the side, watching Jonathan for a while. Seeing him kick off his blanket, a kind smile couldn't help but appear on his face.

He then reached out to tuck the blanket back in and patted him on the head.

Afterward, he left the room and sprinted off into the night.

The night was deep, and without the moonlight, his figure was almost impossible to see.

The moment Abraham left the room, Jonathan opened his eyes.

After so many years of strict training, his vigilance remained sharp.

When Abraham had tucked him in earlier, he hadn't noticed because he felt safe here, but when Abraham patted his head, he had been startled awake.

However, realizing it was Abraham, he hadn't opened his eyes immediately.

Looking toward the door, Jonathan whispered, "Come back safely."

As soon as the sky began to brighten, Jonathan got up for his morning exercises.

After his morning routine and a simple meal of bread, he began his training.

Squats, horse stances, long-distance running, swimming, and leaping between trees in the forest—these were all exercises for physical conditioning and balance.

If Abraham were here, there would also be assassin training in the morning, where he would teach Jonathan how to use weapons like a Dagger or a short sword.

Every few days, Abraham would personally step in to spar with Jonathan.

Over this past year, Jonathan's strength had improved significantly, and Abraham was very pleased, believing that Jonathan would surely surpass him in the future.

Finishing all his training took him less than three hours; an average person would have likely rested by then.

But relying on his body's recovery ability, Jonathan increased the intensity in the afternoon, beginning extreme training that was even stricter than when Abraham was present.

Days passed by, and two days later, when the food ran out, Jonathan went to the town to purchase more.

He was the one who went to buy things every time, so he was quite familiar with some of the people in town.

At his pace, he arrived in just over ten minutes.

If he were heading to Black Flame City, even if he ran at full speed, it would take nearly half a day.

"Little Bard, here to buy food again?"

The plump auntie at the shop smiled and reached out her hand, wanting to pinch Jonathan's cheek, but he stepped back and dodged it.

"Still shy? You're getting more handsome as you grow up; you'll surely charm many noble ladies in the future."

"How about I betroth my daughter to you? My daughter isn't as frail as those noble ladies; she's strong and healthy, perfect for bearing children!"

Thinking of the girl who weighed twice as much as he did, Jonathan's mouth twitched slightly.

"Auntie Yuegeer, there's no need. My father will decide my marriage."

"Stop teasing Jonathan. Here is what you wanted, take it!"

Auntie Yuegeer's husband was a burly, red-haired middle-aged man who smiled as he handed a large bag of bread to Jonathan.

"Thank you, Uncle."

After saying that, Jonathan hurried away, with the couple's light laughter trailing behind him.

After buying some meat and vegetables in town, Jonathan set off to head back home.

Passing through the square, he saw a scarred middle-aged man seriously training a group of brats, none of whom were older than thirteen or fourteen.

The scarred man noticed him and immediately said with a smile, "Jonathan, here to buy things again? Come over here, how about helping me out?"

The scarred man was called Bode, and since Jonathan was quite familiar with him, he walked over without hesitation. "Uncle Bode, what is it?"

Facing the dozen or so people in front of him, Bode said sternly, "Today, I will let you all witness what a true genius is."

As soon as Jonathan heard this, he understood; he was being used to stimulate the enthusiasm of these brats.

"Give me your things first, I'll put them aside for you."

Jonathan nodded.

Suddenly, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy said, "Instructor Bode, are you sure he can do it? He looks like he's only ten or so, right?"

"How impressive could he possibly be?"

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