Fellow Disciples Gather

Zhao Nan sensed his own battle-qi and found that he had reached the level of an Eighth-level Warrior. He nodded in satisfaction.

This time, Zhao Nan hadn't cultivated battle-qi the way other people did, through arduous practice.

He had recovered his battle-qi.

After all, Zhao Nan had originally been an Eighth-level Warrior. It was only because he had shared the Undying Warrior bloodline that his battle-qi had fallen dormant.

Now, after cultivating the Undying Secret Manual, he had once again activated his battle-qi. That was how he had reached the Eighth-level Warrior realm in just one hour.

After recovering his battle-qi, Zhao Nan didn't continue cultivating. Instead, he stood up, walked straight outside, and called over the Barker Five Brothers.

Once the five brothers had gathered around him, Zhao Nan began teaching them how to cultivate the Undying Secret Manual.

Having cultivated to the level of an Eighth-level Warrior himself, Zhao Nan was extremely familiar with the methods for practicing the Undying Secret Manual.

As a result, teaching the Barker Five Brothers came easily to him.

Zhao Nan didn't teach the Barker Five Brothers the entire cultivation method in the manual. He taught them only the method for becoming First-level Warriors.

After finishing his instruction, Zhao Nan said to the five, "All right, we have the manual now. Tomorrow, we'll set out for the Kingdom of Fenlai to meet your eldest senior brother."

"All right, teacher!"

The five brothers answered in unison.

Zhao Nan nodded, then walked out of the room and found Ace. He told him to pack his things, since they would be setting out for the Kingdom of Fenlai the next day.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, after notifying the person who had already picked out the house and was ready to buy it, the five brothers sold him their home. Then the seven of them bought a carriage and five horses and headed for the Kingdom of Fenlai.

The Eighteen Duchies of the Northern Territory and the Kingdom of Fenlai lay at opposite ends of the continent. Reaching the kingdom meant crossing the entire continent.

The journey would therefore take at least half a year, if not longer.

Along the way, Zhao Nan taught the Barker Five Brothers and Ace how to cultivate.

He focused mostly on teaching them how to train as Warriors, occasionally mixing in some magic lessons.

It wasn't because Zhao Nan favored one discipline over the other.

The problem was that magic cultivation wouldn't make Ace much stronger in combat just yet. He was only five years old, and the incantations for every spell were profound and difficult to pronounce.

So, for the time being, Zhao Nan didn't teach him magic. He taught Ace the Visualization Technique, a mental technique that would help him refine his magical power.

Of course, he still taught him the most basic incantations.

Nothing much happened on the journey. After all, their group included a Saint-level powerhouse and several intermediate-level Warriors.

Along the way, Zhao Nan also had Ace and the Barker Five Brothers seek out bandits and magical beasts to fight, building their combat experience.

He had Ace do most of the fighting.

After all, the Barker Five Brothers had lived in the war-torn Eighteen Duchies of the Northern Territory, so they already had plenty of combat experience.

Time passed slowly. Before they knew it, half a year had gone by, and they had reached the Kingdom of Fenlai.

By the time they entered the kingdom, it was already the end of the year 9989 on the Yulan Calendar.

Zhao Nan first took the six of them to an inn, where they rested properly and had a good meal.

After resting for three days, Zhao Nan and the others set out again, this time for Wushan Town.

After eight days of travel, Zhao Nan and the others finally reached Wushan Town.

As soon as Zhao Nan arrived, he saw Hillman leading a group of children from Wushan Town in their training.

Hillman naturally noticed Zhao Nan and his group as well.

Since Zhao Nan was inside the carriage, Hillman watched Barker and the others warily.

He couldn't help it. Barker and the others were much stronger than Hillman, and their presence put him under considerable pressure.

Just as Hillman was about to ask Barker and the others who they were, Zhao Nan opened the carriage door and revealed his face.

Hillman recognized Zhao Nan at once, and his wary expression softened. Smiling, he said, "Lord Zhao Nan, you're here!"

Zhao Nan smiled and nodded, then stepped down from the carriage. "Yes. Where's Linley? Why isn't he training with them?"

"Oh, Linley's already too strong to train with these kids, so I had him practice on his own," Hillman explained.

Hearing this, Zhao Nan smiled and acknowledged it. Then he introduced Ace and the Barker Five Brothers to Hillman. After that, he said a few words to Hillman and headed with his six fellow disciples toward the courtyard where Hogg lived.

Seeing the seven of them leave, Hillman gave the children some instructions, then hurried toward Hogg's residence to tell him that Zhao Nan had arrived.

Zhao Nan saw Hillman hurry off, but paid it no mind and continued walking at an unhurried pace.

When Zhao Nan reached Hogg's home, he saw Hogg waiting at the door with Hillman and the two Linley brothers.

As soon as Hogg saw Zhao Nan, he greeted him first. Zhao Nan returned the greeting politely.

After Hogg and Zhao Nan had exchanged greetings, Linley hurried over and bowed to Zhao Nan. "Teacher!"

Zhao Nan reached out and patted Linley's head, then turned to Ace and the Barker Five Brothers. "Come over and greet your eldest senior brother!"

"Eldest senior brother!" *6

Ace and the Barker Five Brothers all bowed to Linley and greeted him.

Linley was taken aback by the six of them calling him that. He quickly waved his hands at them and said, "All right, all right. It's good to meet you too."

After awkwardly greeting the six, Linley turned back to Zhao Nan.

With a cheerful smile, Zhao Nan began introducing Ace and the others to Hogg and the rest.

When Zhao Nan mentioned the Barker Five Brothers' levels, Hogg, Linley, and the others were all dumbfounded.

It couldn't be helped. After half a year of cultivation, even the weakest of the Barker Five Brothers had reached the level of a Sixth-level Warrior.

In the Holy Union, even a Seventh-level Warrior could be granted a noble title. So when Zhao Nan said that the Barker Five Brothers were his disciples, how could Hogg and the others not be astonished?

Zhao Nan didn't explain their astonishment any further. Instead, he carefully studied Linley.

He wasn't looking at Linley's strength. After all, he had a system panel, and all he needed to do was glance at it to see Linley's level. At that moment, Zhao Nan was checking whether Linley had already found the Coiling Dragon Ring, the most important thing on his path to rising to prominence.