Studying in the O'Brien Empire

The O'Brien Empire was the most powerful military nation on the Yulan Continent. Its territory was vast, and it governed seven major provinces. Even its smallest province was far larger than an ordinary kingdom!

The Empire's first emperor and founding ruler, "O'Brien," was a great deity who had surpassed Saint-level experts. Revered by countless people, he was honored as the "War God," the only god besides the Yulan Empire's "High Priest."

Although the battle with the High Priest by the Yulan River had taken place countless years ago, it was still talked about to this day. Every year, innumerable bards continued to sing the legends of the War God O'Brien!

Ever since Hogg learned two years ago that Bolan's Dragonblood Warrior bloodline had reached the threshold for transformation, he had been preparing to send Bolan to study in the O'Brien Empire. Although Linley's bloodline had not reached the critical point, he was later found to possess magical talent—exceptional aptitude in both wind and earth magic—giving him the qualifications to become an esteemed magus. Two years later, little Wharton's Dragonblood Warrior bloodline was also found to have reached the conditions for transformation. The Baruch Clan could truly be said to have risen overnight.

For the past two years, Bolan had focused on tempering his body and cultivating the Dragonblood Secret Manual. He was now a genuine Level 6 Warrior, and his battle qi had likewise reached Level 6. After transforming, he could even reach the level of a level 8 warrior.

However, Bolan had not touched Linley's destined opportunity, especially the precious Sovereign Artifact, the "Coiling Dragon Ring." Though somewhat damaged, it was enough to drive gods below the Chief Sovereigns mad! Ever since Linley emerged from the Ancestral Hall a year ago with a pitch-black ring hanging from his neck, Bolan had known that Linley's opportunity—and his legend—was about to begin!

By the time Wharton's Dragonblood Warrior bloodline had also reached the conditions for transformation, Hogg was delighted. Yet from his expression, it seemed he had made up his mind about something.

Finally, half a month after Wharton's awakening, Hogg resolved to send Bolan and Wharton to the O'Brien Empire to study. PS: Linley had already begun his life as a magic student at the Ernst Institute.

Because the O'Brien Empire was far too distant from Wushan Town, Hogg had been constantly preparing supplies for their journey to O'Brien Academy.

With old Steward Hiri and his younger brother Wharton beside him, Bolan watched his father's figure gradually recede from the carriage. A wave of pain rose in his heart. He knew that this departure would very likely be a final farewell. But Bolan had no way to stop a man who loved his wife from investigating what had happened all those years ago.

At that moment, Hogg was neither the patriarch of the Baruch Clan nor the father of several children. He was merely a pitiful man who had lost his beloved wife. Fortunately, all three of his children had done him proud. Two future Saint-level Dragonblood Warriors, and one future Arch Magus. Over the past two years, Hogg could practically wake up laughing in his sleep!

"Wushan Town, I will definitely return," Bolan said. Wharton glanced at his brother and said, "Me too." Then he rubbed his already red, tear-filled eyes.

The three of them thus set out on the road to the O'Brien Empire.

Wushan Town was extremely far from the O'Brien Empire. Even if the three traveled without rest, the journey would take a year. The road was also complicated and plagued by bandits. Their only option was to go to a city and join a merchant caravan bound for the O'Brien Empire. Fortunately, Fenlai Royal City had many such caravans.

After paying a thousand gold coins in "protection fees," they joined a merchant caravan headed for the O'Brien Empire. In Bolan's view, this caravan was fairly reliable. The captain of the guards should have been a level 8 warrior!

Do not think that level 8 warriors were common. Across the entire continent, there were at most two hundred Saint-level experts. Even the emperor of the mighty O'Brien Empire had only two Level 9 masters protecting him. This showed just how important level 8 warriors were!

The caravan gathered itself and headed north.

The originally small caravan steadily grew larger. Bolan listened to the mercenary guards chatting nearby about their experiences on the road, and he gained quite a bit of knowledge from them. Although the journey was not entirely peaceful, with "Lord Leyton," that aloof level 8 warrior, present, things were generally quite stable.

Bolan did not idle away his time on the road. Whenever he had the chance, he cultivated. Wharton, however, still had the temperament of a child. Each time, he would train for a while before running off to chat with the mercenaries and listen to their stories.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. The caravan's members changed batch after batch, constantly dispersing into cities throughout the continent, while new caravans continuously joined them. After traveling for a year, the two brothers finally arrived at the imperial capital of the O'Brien Empire, the capital city of Chiyan City.

Over the past year, Bolan's battle qi had reached the peak of Level 6. Once he broke through to Level 7, he would become a Level 9 Warrior after transforming. Though Wharton's progress that year had not been as great as Bolan's, he had still reached Level 3.

After paying the entrance fee, the three went straight to a small inn to await the opening of O'Brien Imperial Academy.