Hogg Injured

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, six months had passed.

During his first two months at the Ernst Institute, aside from studying the Holy Dragon Secret Canon and the Holy Dragon Meditation Method every day, Moke also had to attend several magic classes.

After all, Moke knew absolutely nothing about magic.

However, he possessed the top-tier comprehension bestowed by Coiling Dragon. He could grasp the knowledge taught by the institute's teachers in an extremely short time.

And it was not merely comprehension. He could draw inferences from one example to another and understand the logic behind casting magic from its very foundation.

Such astonishing talent allowed Moke to absorb and fully master everything the teachers taught in just two months.

From then on, Moke no longer attended classes.

Either he diligently cultivated the Holy Dragon Secret Canon and the Holy Dragon Meditation Method in his dormitory.

Or he went to the back mountain of the Ernst Institute to practice his combat techniques.

Just as Moke had previously guessed, after gaining top-tier comprehension, the combat technique of Weightless as a Feather could no longer hinder him.

In less than two weeks afterward, he had completely mastered it and could use it proficiently.

What was more, over the following four months, Moke successfully comprehended another level of Weightless as a Feather, which the ancestors of the Baruch Clan had called: Light as Heavy.

Moke had completely mastered both distinct combat techniques, Weightless as a Feather and Light as Heavy.

He then entered the third level and began comprehending "momentum."

Over the course of half a year, Moke's battle qi and spiritual force had also advanced considerably.

Unfortunately, he was still a Fifth-Level Mage and a Sixth-Level Warrior.

It would probably take another year for him to break through.

"Momentum is the momentum of heaven and earth. To borrow the momentum of heaven and earth, one must first merge one's body with heaven and earth."

"But how could one merge one's body with heaven and earth?"

On the back mountain of the Ernst Institute, Moke opened his eyes atop a smooth boulder, a faint trace of confusion flashing through them.

Over the past month or so, he had finally made a small breakthrough in the realm of "momentum."

Unfortunately, after one breakthrough, another problem had immediately followed.

"Forget it. At least I have an idea now. All I need to do next is put it into practice."

Moke stood and headed down the mountain, where he happened to meet Linley, who was also coming down.

Like many students who cultivated diligently, the two brothers often trained on the back mountain.

"Brother, going to eat?" Linley asked with a radiant smile, as though he had made some progress in his cultivation.

Did he reach Second-Level Mage?

Moke smiled and nodded. "How are things between you and Delia? I've seen you two playing together a lot lately."

He teased him with a grin. He and Linley were both about to turn ten.

"What do you mean, how are things?" Linley looked utterly baffled.

Beside him, Doering Cowart laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.

"Huh?"

"Fine!"

Moke shook his head helplessly. Linley still had absolutely no thoughts in that direction at this age.

Then again, he was not even ten yet.

What a sin, what a sin, Moke muttered inwardly.

"Linley!"

"Linley!"

"Moke!"

When they arrived at the dining hall, Reynolds, George, and Yale waved at them from afar.

Beside them was Dixie, the number one genius of the Ernst Institute.

Since Moke and Dixie were neighbors, while Delia and Linley were good friends,

the group had gradually become friends and often ate together.

"Coming!"

Linley and Moke walked over with smiles.

"This is wonderful, wonderful! Heaven truly blesses the Baruch Clan!"

At Baruch Mansion, Hogg held seven-year-old Wharton in his arms and let out a hearty laugh.

At his side, the butler Hiri and guard captain Hillman were both smiling broadly.

Just moments ago, the Dragonblood Needle had tested Wharton, and his Dragonblood Warrior Bloodline had met the standard. He could cultivate the Dragonblood Secret Canon and become a true Dragonblood Warrior!

Hogg was so excited he was nearly going mad. "My two sons have entered the Ernst Institute. They will surely become great mages in the future!"

"And now, my youngest son, Wharton, has become a Dragonblood Warrior!"

"My Baruch Clan is truly going to rise again!" His eyes shone brightly with incomparable excitement.

Cough, cough!

The laughing Hogg suddenly bent over and broke into a violent coughing fit.

He even coughed up a large mouthful of blood, startling Wharton.

"Father! Father!" Little Wharton cried anxiously in Hogg's arms.

Hillman and Hiri hurried forward as well.

"It's all right. Don't worry, Wharton. Father merely caught a cold. It's nothing." Hogg wiped away the blood and forced a smile.

A Sixth-Level Warrior had caught a cold and was coughing up blood?

Hogg was only taking advantage of Wharton's youth and ignorance.

Afterward, Hiri took Wharton away, while Hogg and Hillman remained behind.

"Lord Hogg, your injuries..." Only then did worry appear on Hillman's face. With Wharton present earlier, he had not dared say anything.

Hogg's body went limp, and he collapsed directly onto the steps of the Baruch Clan ancestral hall. "A Seventh-Level Warrior truly is far stronger than a Sixth-Level Warrior."

"He was already poisoned, yet his final desperate slash still broke my arm, cracked my breastbone, and even injured my internal organs."

Hillman nodded deeply in agreement. The difference between the sixth and seventh levels was indeed enormous.

A Sixth-Level Warrior was merely an Intermediate Warrior, while a Seventh-Level Warrior was already an Advanced Warrior.

They were classified this way because the battle qi within a Seventh-Level Warrior had already liquefied. The increase in combat power brought by liquefied battle qi far surpassed that of gaseous battle qi.

One Seventh-Level Warrior could nearly kill dozens of Sixth-Level Warriors.

"But these injuries were worth it!"

Hogg's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Hillman, I've discovered who abducted Lina."

"Hm?"

Hillman was instantly shocked.

Hogg said word by word, "The people who took Lina had Red Spider Clan markings on their arms. Behind them stood Duke Patterson of the Fenlai Kingdom."

"A duke?!"

Hillman was stunned.

He had never imagined that his good brother's wife had been abducted by a duke.

In the Fenlai Kingdom, only the king stood above dukes. There were only a few dukes in the entire kingdom, and Hillman had heard of Duke Patterson before.

He was the younger brother of Clayde, the Ninth-Level Warrior and king of the Fenlai Kingdom!

It could be said that Duke Patterson was now an immovable giant to the Baruch Clan.

Just a few Seventh-Level Warriors under his command would be enough to sweep through all of Wushan Town.

"Not only that, I also discovered during this investigation that after Duke Patterson took Lina, he gave her to another group."

Hogg's eyes were icy. "There is an even more powerful force behind Duke Patterson!"

This was undoubtedly another devastating revelation, leaving Hillman's head spinning.

They could not handle even one Duke Patterson, and there was an even more terrifying force behind him?

Hillman fell silent for a while, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "Lord Hogg, Young Master Moke and Young Master Linley have entered the Ernst Institute. With their talent, they have a great chance of becoming Advanced Mages in the future!"

"And Young Master Wharton has awakened the Dragonblood Warrior Bloodline. He is practically certain to become a Saint Realm expert in the future. A Saint Realm expert would be enough to kill Duke Patterson!"

A Saint Realm expert was enough to stand above the king of an entire kingdom.

Even the king of a powerful nation like the Fenlai Kingdom would have to treat such a person with respect.

"Yes, there is still hope!"

Hope shone in Hogg's eyes. "Though I am weak, my sons will surely be strong in the future. They will avenge their mother!"

"But before that, I need to do some things for my sons."

"What things?" Hillman hurriedly asked. He truly did not want Hogg to take any more risks.

"Find out who stands behind Duke Patterson!" Hogg said coldly.