Dawn was just breaking, and the thin mist had yet to fully disperse when the dull sound of a blade cutting through the air rang out across the training grounds of Baruch Manor.
Hogg stood bare-chested, beads of sweat gleaming on his bronze skin in the morning light, his muscles tightly knotted like the tangled roots of an ancient tree. He held a Fine Iron Longsword weighing a hundred jin, swinging it through sheer physical strength without any Battle Qi surrounding it. Cleaves, chops, rising cuts, sweeps-his movements were plain, yet carried the weight of countless repetitions. By his generation, the Baruch Clan's Dragonblood lineage had already grown so thin that he could not gather Battle Qi. Yet through grueling training day after day, he had honed his body to the level of a sixth-level warrior, enough to overpower ordinary fifth-level warriors through brute strength alone.
"Big brother, put more weight into it! Drive from your waist and abdomen, and press your whole body's weight into the edge!" Hillman stood nearby with a wooden sword, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's as he precisely picked out Hogg's openings. He swung his wooden sword in demonstration. Without using Battle Qi either, his exquisite control of strength sent it whistling through the air. "Reaching the sixth level through your body alone was no easy feat, but brute strength isn't enough in a real fight. You must learn to harness momentum and make every bit of strength count."
Hearing this, Hogg drew a deep breath, abruptly lowered his waist, and twisted his body. The longsword swept out with the momentum of his entire body and slammed into the wooden post with a bang. Wood chips flew, and the post snapped cleanly in two. He drew back his sword and stood still, his chest heaving and sweat dripping from his chin. His arms trembled slightly from swinging the heavy sword for so long, but the resolve in his eyes remained unmistakable. "I understand, but without Battle Qi, I'll still struggle against truly powerful opponents." In particular, whenever he thought of the Radiant Church and Clayde, who had taken his wife away, an intense sense of helplessness welled up within him.
Hillman stepped forward and handed him a cloth. "A sixth-level body is already the limit for ordinary people. The fact that you've reached it shows your perseverance," he said gravely. "Next, I'll teach you 'Stacked Wave Force.' It uses no Battle Qi, relying entirely on stacking the explosive force generated by instantaneous muscular bursts. Once you've mastered it deeply enough, a single sword strike can deliver three layers of force, enough to contend with a seventh-level warrior."
A light kindled in Hogg's eyes. Tightening his grip on the longsword, he nodded. "Good! I'll master it!" He knew that only by growing stronger would he have a chance to discover his wife's whereabouts and protect his two sons.
As the two spoke, a crisp sound came from the other side of the training grounds as earth spikes burst through the ground. Linley sat cross-legged on a boulder, a faint earthen-yellow glow surrounding him. Light flashed in his palm, and several sharp earth spikes struck the center of the target with precision. As his spiritual power circulated, his spellcasting grew increasingly proficient.
Doehring Cowart's spectral figure floated before him. Stroking his beard, he smiled in satisfaction. "Very good. You've honed Earth Spike to perfection, and your spiritual power is sufficiently concentrated. You fully meet the standards for a magic academy's entrance test."
Linley opened his eyes, his gaze filled with anticipation. "Grandpa Doehring, can I really go to Fenlai Royal City to take a magic academy's test now?"
"Of course." Doehring Cowart nodded, his tone solemn. "Ernst Magic Academy in Fenlai Royal City is the foremost institution of magic in the entire kingdom. It holds an entrance test on the first day of every month. As long as you demonstrate an affinity for earth elements and successfully cast a first-level spell, you can become an official apprentice of the academy. Once you become an apprentice, you'll receive magic texts issued by the academy, access to meditation rooms, and systematic instruction from experienced mages. These are vital to your path in magic."
Hogg and Hillman happened to hear these words as they approached. The resolve on Hogg's face instantly gave way to worry. "Fenlai Royal City is a thousand li away, and there are magical beasts and bandits along the road. You're still so young. How could you travel there alone?"
"Don't worry, big brother. I'll escort Linley there," Hillman said at once. "I know that route well. My strength at the ninth-level peak is enough to handle the dangers along the way, and with Mr. Doehring protecting him from the shadows as well, nothing can go wrong."
Doehring Cowart added, "Mr. Hogg, Linley's talent far surpasses that of ordinary people. The sooner he enters Ernst Magic Academy, the sooner he can set foot on the path to becoming powerful. This is a necessary step in his growth, and the hope of the Baruch Clan."
Hogg looked at the longing in Linley's eyes, then at Hillman's resolute gaze, and the worry in his heart gradually faded. He stepped forward and solemnly patted Linley's shoulder. "In that case, go with Uncle Hillman. Remember, don't draw attention to yourself while you're away. Put safety first in everything. If you encounter danger, get behind Uncle Hillman immediately. Don't try to act tough."
"I understand, Father!" Linley nodded emphatically, his eyes full of excitement and determination. "I'll definitely pass the test and become an official apprentice of Ernst Magic Academy. In the future, I'll become stronger than anyone, protect you and my little brother, and... find Mother!"
The last words made Hogg shudder, and his eyes grew slightly hot. He nodded firmly. "Good! I'll be waiting for your good news."
Bebe darted out from somewhere and leaped onto Linley's shoulder. He rubbed his little head against Linley's cheek, letting out clear squeaks as though declaring that he wanted to go along. Linley smiled and ruffled his fur. "Don't worry. I'll take you."
Hillman's expression turned serious. "Linley, over the next half month, besides practicing magic, you must also learn the royal city's rules and close-quarters self-defense techniques from me. Fenlai Royal City is full of people of every sort, and Ernst Magic Academy has even more hidden talents and formidable experts. Only by knowing how to protect yourself can you go further."
The sun sank in the west, its golden afterglow bathing the manor. On the training grounds, Hogg was still practicing Stacked Wave Force, sweating profusely, each sword strike more explosive than the last; Linley sat cross-legged in concentration, an earthen-yellow glow circulating around him as he focused on tracing magic runes; Bebe crouched on his shoulder, his crimson eyes fixed unblinkingly on the runes, letting out a few clear cries from time to time.
Hillman stood nearby, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he watched the scene brimming with life. He knew that the journey to Fenlai Royal City was destined to be anything but peaceful, yet it was a necessary step in Linley's growth, and the beginning of the Baruch Clan's escape from the gloom.
A magic academy entrance test that would shape the future was fast approaching. Linley's legendary journey was about to truly begin in Fenlai Royal City.
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