Hogg's Relief, a Year and a Half

"I have super-high affinity for every magic element. I actually have super-high affinity for every magic element!"

Inside the small room, Moke was both excited and a little troubled.

"I have to cultivate battle qi, and now that I have affinity for every magic element, I also have to cultivate my spiritual force. I probably won't have time to refine the magic power of so many elements."

Moke finally realized that having affinity for every magic element could be painful, too!

Choosing just a few elements to focus on among so many felt like cutting off a piece of himself!

After thinking it over, Moke reluctantly decided, "I'll choose a few elements to start with. Once I become a Saint, I'll have an unlimited lifespan and plenty of time to refine magic power."

Among the seven natural elements—earth, water, fire, wind, light, darkness, and lightning—Moke thought it over and chose earth, the strongest element for defense; wind, the strongest for offense; lightning; and light, which could be used to cast healing magic.

"Water, fire, and darkness, I'll give you your turn once I become a Saint!"

Moke could only console himself with that thought. His heart ached.

After working it all out, he realized that even so, his schedule would be tight every day.

After all, he had to refine the magic elements of four different types.

On top of that, Hogg arranged all kinds of lessons in etiquette and history for him and Linley every day, and they also had to train daily under Hillman.

But Moke was already a Second-Level Warrior in his human form, so Hillman's training didn't do much for him anymore.

"I'll find a time to ask Father if I can stop training with Uncle Hillman."

Thinking this, Moke got dressed and climbed out of bed.

He hadn't dared to wear clothes while transforming just now. If they'd torn, he would have had no way to explain it.

Moke went outside and knocked twice on the door across the hall, to Linley's room.

"Big brother~"

Linley opened the door with a smile, already dressed.

Even so, he was still used to waiting for his older brother, Moke, to come wake him.

"Come on, morning training's about to start." Moke headed out with his younger brother, Linley.

The sky had only just begun to lighten, but the village was already stirring.

The adults were lighting fires and cooking, getting ready to begin another day's work.

The children, like Moke and Linley, ran toward the open ground on the eastern side of the village to prepare for morning training.

On the Yulan Continent, nearly everyone started training their bodies from childhood, hoping to become a great warrior and bring honor to their family.

Unfortunately, in small rural towns like theirs, very few people had the chance to cultivate battle qi and become powerful.

Most people could only join the army as adults and try to seize a sliver of opportunity amid the brutal fighting, or stay home to farm and let their lives pass them by.

"To become a great warrior, you have to go through grueling training!"

At the front of the clearing, Hillman spoke with a stern gaze, marking the start of the day's morning training.

The children in the clearing were divided into three groups.

One group was for children aged six to eight, and another for those aged nine to twelve.

The last group was made up of older boys.

Although Moke and Linley were only six and a half, they came from the Dragonblood Warrior Family and were naturally stronger than ordinary children.

So, after asking permission, they had joined the nine-to-twelve-year-old group a while ago.

The training was fairly simple: a stance similar to horse stance.

It trained the lower abdomen.

"Hm?"

As training drew to a close, Hillman looked in surprise at a figure in the middle group.

"Young Master Moke has improved again. His performance is pretty amazing!"

Watching Moke continue to hold his stance, Hillman couldn't help being impressed.

By then, everyone else in the middle group had already collapsed, unable to hold on!

Moke was only six and a half, yet he had lasted even longer than the older children!

"Come on, Big Brother! Outlast those older kids!"

"Come on, Young Master Moke! You've got to outlast those older kids!"

Beside Moke, Linley's face was flushed as he cheered him on.

Linley wasn't the only one. The other children in the middle group were cheering for him, too.

They were several years older than Moke, yet he was outlasting them. How embarrassing!

But if Moke managed to outlast the older children, then they wouldn't be the ones who had to feel embarrassed.

"That's probably enough."

Moke muttered to himself, then collapsed as if he couldn't hold on any longer.

"Ah, what a pity. He was so close to outlasting those older kids!"

Quite a few people shook their heads with a sigh.

Linley handed him a towel, his face full of excitement and admiration. "Big Brother, you were so close to outlasting those older kids!"

Linley had admired his big brother ever since he was little.

Although Moke was only a few seconds older than Linley, he had always seemed more mature, winning over his little admirer long ago.

The older boys in the eastern section all breathed a sigh of relief when Moke collapsed.

Good heavens, they were nearly adults.

If a six-and-a-half-year-old had outlasted them, it would have been humiliating.

Moke took the towel from Linley and said with a grin, "You did pretty well, too, Linley. You're stronger than a lot of the kids in the middle group."

"Hehe!"

Little Linley scratched his head, smiling shyly.

"What? Moke lasted longer than everyone in the middle group?"

After morning training, Hillman immediately told Hogg the news.

Hogg excitedly sprang up from his recliner.

Hogg had a theory. "It seems yesterday's test inspired little Moke. But for him to do so well at his age, his personality is only part of it. His Dragonblood Warrior Bloodline must be quite strong, too!"

"Even if it hasn't reached the standard, it should still be stronger than mine and Linley's!"

Without Moke needing to explain a thing, Hogg had already convinced himself.

"Hillman, starting tomorrow, let little Moke train with the older boys." Hogg gritted his teeth before speaking.

"Train with the older boys? Lord Hogg, little Moke isn't even seven."

Hillman hesitated.

"Only those who endure hardship can rise above others!" Hogg said, though his heart ached for Moke.

"Father, Father!"

Just then, the two men saw Moke rush in from outside.

"Moke, what brings you here? Have you finished eating?" Hogg asked with a smile.

Moke said, "Father, I want to train with the older boys. The middle group's training isn't helping me!"

"Hm?"

Hogg and Hillman's eyes lit up.

What a determined boy!

They exchanged a glance, and Hogg lifted Moke into his arms. "Moke, training with those older boys is going to be very hard."

"Can you keep going?"

"Yes!"

Moke's voice was childish, but his answer was firm.

"All right. Starting tomorrow, you can train with the older boys."

A smile appeared in Hogg's eyes. His eldest son, Hogg, and his second son, Linley, were both obedient and determined, saving him a lot of worry.

And so, at just six and a half, Moke began training with the oldest group of children.

Of course, in addition to his regular training, Moke also practiced the Holy Dragon Secret Canon and the Holy Dragon Meditation Method to strengthen his battle qi and spiritual force.

He also continued refining magic power every day without fail.

After fusing with the Holy Dragon Essence Blood, Moke's spiritual force had increased by a great deal.

So, after refining only a little magic power, he smoothly became a mage.

Spring came and went, and soon a year and a half had passed.