"Jonathan, what are you planning to do next? Join the kingdom, the Dark Church, or one of the Four Great Empires?"
Collette asked as she ate.
Charles looked up. "My father hopes you'll join the kingdom, but I know you must have plans of your own. Whatever you choose, I'll congratulate you as your brother. I hope a bright future lies ahead of you."
"Here's to your bright future!"
Ford and Charles raised their glasses. Seeing this, Jonathan and Charles did the same.
They clinked glasses and drained them.
"Thank you!"
"I'm planning to join the Dark Church, but I also made a small request. They're still considering it."
"Only a genius like you would dare make demands. If the Dark Church wanted me, I'd accept without hesitation."
Hearing Collette say this, Ford agreed. "My greatest wish in life is to join the Dark Church."
Jonathan didn't try to dissuade them. It was each person's own choice.
If he spoke ill of the Dark Church, he would invite suspicion, and it would also cause a rift between them.
He wanted to let their friendship from their youth remain as simple as it was.
A few days later, Wesport arrived.
He agreed to Jonathan's conditions and brought him a Space Ring with a capacity of just a few cubic meters.
He also brought books on Earth Element and Dark Element magic, along with several battle qi manuals for Jonathan to choose from.
"Jonathan, these are tokens of goodwill from the Dark Church. His Holiness the Pope has also agreed to let you train for a few years before officially joining the Church and serving it. Don't let us down after we've placed our trust in you!"
"Thank you, Lord Wesport!"
"All three battle qi manuals have a Dark Element affinity. Choose one."
Jonathan opened the box, looked them over, and chose a book called the Black Obsidian Dou Killing Canon. It contained several extremely powerful moves with tremendous destructive force, and anyone with Dark Element battle qi could learn them.
However, he had no intention of practicing the Black Obsidian Dou Killing Canon. The Assassination Dou Dian he already had was good enough to train with.
After all, once he reached the Saint Realm, his main focus would be comprehending the Laws and mastering techniques based on them.
There was no need to switch battle qi manuals for that.
As for the magic books, they were extremely detailed, covering most Earth Element and Dark Element spells from the seventh level up to forbidden spells.
"The Black Obsidian Dou Killing Canon. You have a good eye!"
"By the way, I plan to take up residence at the church in Black Phoenix City for the next few years. Come to me if you need anything."
He's planning to keep an eye on me?
Jonathan understood, but smiled slightly. "I'll remember that, Lord Wesport."
After Wesport and the others left, Jonathan eagerly began studying new Dark Element and Earth Element spells, memorizing how to cast them.
He also practiced the powerful moves in the Black Obsidian Dou Killing Canon.
With his talent and comprehension, it took him only half a month to memorize all the spells and master the killing moves in the Black Obsidian Dou Killing Canon.
Even so, Jonathan kept a low profile and trained quietly.
Time flowed like water. Before long, a year had passed.
March, 9999, Yulan Calendar.
One day, Linley returned from the Magical Beast Mountain Range and applied to graduate.
A dual-element mage who had just turned seventeen—just like Jonathan—caused a sensation throughout Ernst Academy, the entire Fenlai Kingdom, and even the Light Church.
At the Wald Hotel, the four roommates from Dormitory 1987 gathered.
"Third Bro, you're incredible! Last year we heard the Dark Alliance had produced a seventeen-year-old seventh-level dual-element mage. Now the Light Alliance has one too—and he reached that level even earlier."
"Exactly," Reynolds said. "He broke through at the end of the year when he was seventeen, but you did it at the beginning of the year. You were nearly a whole year faster. That's quite a gap."
"Linley, you've taken his place as the continent's second-greatest magic genius in history."
Not necessarily, Linley thought, remembering someone he'd briefly encountered in the Magical Beast Mountain Range two years earlier.
"By the way, what was that person's name again? Yale, you're from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce and hear all the news. Do you know?"
"Of course. I didn't mention it before because I didn't want to discourage Third Bro. I didn't expect him to do so well."
Linley looked at Yale, curious.
Yale said, "That person is a current marquis of the Bandas Kingdom, from the Bred Family. But he had a rough life. During a family feud, his uncle sent people to kill his entire family. He was left to fend for himself as a child and was adopted."
"He only learned his true background recently. To win him over, the king of Bandas didn't even give a reason—he simply had his uncle's whole family dealt with."
Reynolds grew impatient. "That's quite a dramatic story, but Yale, will you just tell us his name? You're killing me!"
"Haha, I was doing it on purpose. All right, I'll tell you. His name is Jonathan!"
"Jonathan?!"
Linley felt a sudden jolt when he heard the name. Could it be him?
In an instant, he remembered the genius he'd met in the Magical Beast Mountain Range more than a year ago.
Doehring suddenly appeared. "It must be him!"
"So he's from the Dark Alliance. Linley, he has plenty of secrets. Everyone thinks he only broke through at the end of the year, but from his spiritual force, I could tell he was already at the peak of the seventh level back then."
"He must have broken through a year or two earlier, when he was only fifteen or sixteen."
"Such a genius, and a dual practitioner of magic and martial arts. Linley, you can't slack off!"
"I understand. There's always someone better, and there's always a higher mountain. But my true opponent is myself. Only by surpassing my limits again and again can I stand at the pinnacle of strength."
Doehring was very pleased. He stroked his white beard, a gratified smile on his face.
However, Linley didn't mention the matter. Although Jonathan was from the Dark Alliance, Linley had a good impression of him.
At the sound of Jonathan's name, Bebe, who had been intently eating roast chicken nearby, suddenly began squeaking nonstop.
"Boss, Boss! Is Jonathan the same Jonathan we met?"
"Almost certainly."
"But he isn't..."
"Don't worry about it. We just need to focus on our own business."
"Boss is right. Your magic level is almost caught up with his, and after dragonform, you're even stronger than him as a warrior. Plus, you have that purple soft sword. If you ran into him now, he definitely wouldn't be your match."
"Not necessarily. At his rate of progress, he may already have reached the eighth level in magic, and he's probably made similar progress as a warrior."
"If we actually fought, the outcome would be uncertain."
"Heh heh, Boss, you're forgetting that a magical beast is part of its master's strength too. Since you two are evenly matched, I, Bebe, can tip the scales in your favor!"
Linley smiled and tapped Bebe on the head.
At that moment, Yale added, "By the way, Third Bro, you're now the second-greatest magic genius in history, and you were born in the Holy Union. You'd better be careful of the Dark Church's people."
"They're very petty. Once they hear the news, they might send someone to assassinate you."
Linley smiled slightly. "I know."
Just then, a hotel employee came in and said that a Cardinal from the Light Church wanted to see Linley.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Yale chuckled. "Third Bro, you're a real big shot now!"
The first round of recommendations is underway. Brothers, give me your support! It feels like I'm about to get knocked out in the first round again. Sob, sob~
Before you continue