Seventh Rank Mage

Lin Tian and Laun descended slowly in a hot gust of air, riding the Fire Phoenix as it landed on the manor's open ground. Laun looked at Lin Tian, his gaze full of concern and expectation, and said earnestly, "Lin Tian, you've endured great hardships in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and you've truly worked hard. This journey's trials can forge a strong person, but you also need to know how to balance work and rest. Go back to the palace and rest for a few days, relax your tense nerves, and recuperate your body. There's no rush in cultivation."

Lin Tian nodded respectfully and said gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Teacher. I understand." With that, he turned and set off on the path back to the palace.

When Lin Tian stepped into the palace, a familiar aura washed over him. He headed straight for his father and mother's bedchamber, his heart full of longing for his family. The moment he saw his parents, surprise first flashed in their eyes, followed by deep concern. His mother hurried forward, gently took Lin Tian's hand, and let her gaze wander over him. When she saw the scars, some shallow and some deep, her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice trembled: "Tian'er, you've suffered so much on this journey... these injuries..."

His father also stepped forward and patted Lin Tian on the shoulder, his eyes filled with care: "Child, the Magic Beast Mountain Range is fraught with danger. Your safe return is the greatest fortune."

A warmth spread through Lin Tian's heart, and he smiled to reassure them: "Father, Mother, you don't need to worry. These scars are the marks of my growth; each one has made me stronger."

His mother looked at the slight fatigue in Lin Tian's eyes, her heart aching, and said, "Eat first, then rest."

Lin Tian nodded. After having a meal with his parents, he returned to his own bedchamber. A steaming hot bath had already been prepared. He slowly stepped into the pool, letting the warm water envelop his body. The tightly wound mental energy gradually relaxed, and the battles and dangers he had faced in the Magic Beast Mountain Range seemed to fade away with the water. He closed his eyes, immersed in this rare tranquility, and unknowingly drifted into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, sunlight streamed through the window onto his face. Lin Tian glanced outside and realized it was already noon the next day. He felt full of vitality, his mind clearer than ever before. After a brief meditation, sensing the steady flow of mana and battle qi within him, he got up and headed to the dining hall.

As he entered the dining hall, he found his father, mother, elder sister, and elder brother already seated. When his sister saw Lin Tian, her eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "Little brother, you're finally awake. We've been waiting for you for ages!"

Lin Tian looked at his sister and was pleasantly surprised to find her aura more condensed, already at the peak of the sixth-level warrior, while his brother had also reached the late sixth-level warrior stage. He praised, "Sister, brother, your strength has improved a lot!"

His sister playfully lifted her chin: "Of course, but compared to you, we're far behind. Little brother, tell us about the Magic Beast Mountain Range! We've been curious for so long."

His brother nodded in agreement: "Yeah, little brother, you must have had plenty of thrilling adventures in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Tell us all about it."

Lin Tian smiled, sat down, and began his story: "In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, there are dense forests and steep peaks everywhere, with all kinds of magical beasts hiding among them. I encountered a thick-skinned Iron-armored Rhinoceros. That thing was nearly three zhang tall and could withstand fifth-level magic. I was locked in a stalemate with it for three hours before I found an opening to strike the gap in its front leg joint and defeat it. There was also a pitch-black Shadow Leopard that could merge into shadows and move quickly, its claws coated with paralytic poison. It toyed with me for two days before I figured out its patterns and killed it."

His sister and brother listened with wide eyes. His sister couldn't help exclaiming, "Wow, that sounds so thrilling! Did you encounter any even stronger magical beasts?"

Lin Tian nodded: "Of course. I also fought a seventh-level Green Pattern Giant Serpent. That serpent had a massive body, as thick as a water bucket and several zhang long, with incredibly tough scales. Its attacks were fast and fierce, and it took a lot of effort for me to kill it."

As he spoke, Lin Tian took out his storage ring and displayed the spoils one by one: "Look, these are the magic cores I got from those magical beasts, and this Anonymous Magic Crystal Card I took from some bandits."

His sister and brother stared at the magic cores, which emitted a strange glow, their eyes full of envy. Lin Tian picked out some gifts and handed them to his parents, sister, and brother: "Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, these are for you. Sister, this sixth-level fire magic core suits you and can aid your cultivation. Brother, take this dagger—I took it from a bandit, and it's very sharp. Father, Mother, this seventh-level magic core is the highest level I have; it's for you."

His sister happily took the magic core: "Thanks, little brother! This gift is amazing!"

His brother also took the dagger with a smile: "Little brother, you're thoughtful. But if we go on training trips in the future, what should we watch out for?"

Lin Tian's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly: "First, you must have a clear understanding of your own strength. Don't rashly challenge opponents far beyond your ability. In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, danger is everywhere. Stay alert at all times and pay attention to your surroundings. When you encounter a magical beast, don't panic. First observe its weaknesses, then look for an opportunity to attack. Also, never be greedy for short-term gains. Some things that seem tempting might hide deadly traps."

His father added from the side: "That's right, your little brother is correct. Outside, safety always comes first. If you encounter a danger you can't handle, be sure to come back in time. Don't be stubborn."

Lin Tian rested for a while, fully enjoying the warmth of his family, and his body and mind were greatly soothed. Afterward, he returned to his usual cultivation routine, training on schedule every day while continuously researching and perfecting his path of combining magic and battle qi.

Every morning at dawn, he would get up and go to the training ground behind the palace. He would first do a set of basic warrior exercises to loosen his muscles and bones, circulating battle qi through his limbs and core, feeling it surge like a river within him. Then, he would take up a long spear and perform his self-created techniques, infusing each move with mana, making the spear tip sometimes blaze with scorching flames and sometimes erupt with powerful impact force. During practice, he constantly adjusted the ratio of mana to battle qi, striving for the perfect state.

In the afternoon, Lin Tian would find a quiet place for magic cultivation. He would meditate to sense the surrounding magical elements, trying to condense and compress them. To improve his control over magical elements, he would shape mana into various forms of fire, from simple fireballs to complex fire phoenixes, constantly pushing his limits.

At night, Lin Tian would enter a meditative state again, tempering his mental energy.

Thus, half a year passed in the blink of an eye. On a quiet night, while cultivating, Lin Tian sensed a fluctuation in his mental energy and successfully broke through to the peak of the sixth level.

But he wasn't satisfied with that. He immediately chose to go into seclusion for intense training.

During these days of seclusion, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation, cutting himself off from the outside world. He used fire magic to continue forging weapons, fully exerting his mental energy to perceive the changes in fire elements within them.

Finally, on the fifth day of seclusion, with the successful forging of a new weapon, Lin Tian's mental energy naturally reached the seventh level. Overjoyed, he suppressed the excitement and, riding this momentum, began to refine the world's elements. As the first drop of liquid mana slowly fell, Lin Tian successfully became a seventh-level mage. He could feel a closer connection with magical elements, and his mana usage became more effortless.

After completing the mana refinement, Lin Tian finally emerged from seclusion. He couldn't wait to see his parents and tell them the good news. When his father and mother heard it, their eyes were filled with relief and pride.

Then, Lin Tian hurried without stopping to Teacher Laun's manor. When Laun learned that Lin Tian had successfully broken through to the seventh-level mage, a gratified smile appeared on his face. He patted Lin Tian on the shoulder: "Lin Tian, you have not disappointed me. The seventh-level mage is just a new starting point. The road ahead is still long. Keep working hard and continuously improve your strength."

Lin Tian nodded firmly: "Teacher, rest assured. I will definitely keep cultivating diligently and reach the Saint Domain as soon as possible."