"Andrew, now that you're training in both magic and martial arts, you're already quite strong. In a few days, the town is organizing a group to trade with the northern barbarians on the Far East Prairie. It's just a simple exchange of supplies, nothing dangerous. Come along with me and have a look. It'll be good experience for you."
Andrew said happily, "That's wonderful! I've wanted to see the outside world for ages, but I never had the chance."
Janice, however, was very worried. "Howard, Andrew is only eight. He's still too young. Isn't this a little..."
Howard interrupted her. "Janice, don't you understand? Andrew has outstanding talent, and his temperament is far beyond that of ordinary people. He has the potential to become a powerhouse, and the heart to become one! As his parents, we shouldn't hold him back! Anyone who wants to become strong must endure countless trials. I think he understands that very well himself!"
Andrew nodded solemnly. "Dad is right. The brave have no fear. If I want to become strong, I have to face all kinds of trials!"
Their words left Janice speechless, but they did nothing to dispel her worries.
Ling'er stuffed her mouth with food and asked with bulging cheeks, "Is big brother going to face trials? I want to go too!" At her young age, she still didn't understand what trials were. Her words, however, eased the atmosphere at home considerably.
Over the next few days, Andrew eagerly awaited their departure. Five days later, the group of more than eighty people was finally ready to leave.
"Howard, is this your son? What a lad! Only eight, and already so sturdy. I reckon he'll grow taller than you!" A tall, thin middle-aged man in the group called out as soon as he saw Howard and his son.
"Indeed, indeed," many others agreed.
Howard smiled proudly. "Of course my son has to grow taller than me."
Everyone joked and chatted for a while. It was clear that Howard enjoyed considerable standing among them.
The group slowly set off. At the edge of town, Janice held Ling'er and watched father and son depart. Tears covered Ling'er's little face. "Mom, where is big brother going? Doesn't he want me anymore?"
Janice could only comfort her. "Dad and big brother are just going away for a little while. They'll be back soon. Come on, let's wait for them at home. Didn't your brother say he'd bring Ling'er a present when he came back?"
Leaving home aside, Andrew followed Howard in the group, carefully observing his surroundings. At the very front, several warriors in iron armor rode horses, leading the way.
"Dad, who are those people? Doesn't Maple Forest Town have no nobles?" Andrew couldn't help asking. Here, only nobles owned horses and iron armor.
Howard shook his head. "They aren't from Maple Forest Town. They're from the Frey Clan in White River City. The Frey Clan holds a hereditary viscountcy and rules White River City."
White River City? Andrew had heard of it. Sixty or seventy li west of town ran a river a hundred meters wide, called the White River. A sizable city had been built beside it and named White River City.
"A hereditary viscount? Then why would he be interested in these things?" Andrew was even more puzzled. This group had been cobbled together by Maple Forest Town's residents, and all they carried were inexpensive goods. Why would a noble take an interest?
Howard smiled. "They're merely traveling with us. There's no other connection. I imagine any trading they do will be separate from ours. There's nothing strange about it. Our destination is the Keli Tribe on the edge of the Far East Prairie. Generally speaking, there shouldn't be any danger here, but more people always mean greater strength."
Howard patiently explained everything Andrew asked about.
The group moved slowly onward. By Andrew's estimate, they could cover two hundred li in a day. Although everyone carried plenty of goods, their pace was still brisk. All of them were warriors of at least the third level, with speed and stamina beyond those of ordinary people.
"Howard, your son really is something. He's managed to walk all this way. I reckon he must be at least a second-level warrior."
During a rest, the tall, thin man came over again.
Howard took a drink of water and smiled. "Of course. Just look at whose son he is. Matthews, you can't match me there, can you?"
Matthews's expression changed, and he snorted. "I'm no weaker than you. I really don't understand why Janice chose you back then."
Andrew suddenly understood. This man had actually been one of his mother's suitors. On reflection, it wasn't surprising. With a beauty like Janice, it would have been strange if no one had pursued her.
Howard smiled smugly. "That's a matter of personal charm, not strength. Matthews, I'm warning you, don't get any ideas about Janice. She's your sister-in-law now." Matthews looked somewhat dejected at that and squatted off to the side without a word.
They seem to be on pretty good terms, Andrew thought.
Howard walked over to Matthews and squatted down beside him. "After Janice and I married, you left Maple Forest Town and only came back recently. I don't know what happened to you out there, but in my heart, I feel a little..."
"Enough, Howard," Matthews interrupted. "There's no need to say any of that. We both know what happened back then."
While the two men talked, Andrew stood carefully to one side. He couldn't say he felt either favorably or unfavorably toward Matthews. But when he heard that Matthews had once pursued Janice, Andrew became interested and cautiously observed Matthews, only to be somewhat surprised by what he saw.
This man is no good! After a day, Andrew reached that conclusion.
Across his two lifetimes, Andrew had met plenty of people and gained some experience in judging them. During Howard and Matthews's earlier conversation, Howard had been full of sincerity and goodwill, while Matthews occasionally revealed a vicious streak. Howard hadn't noticed those sinister looks, but Andrew had seen them clearly. When they rested that night, Andrew discreetly asked about Matthews, and Howard hid nothing.
Like Howard, the man had been born in Maple Forest Town. The two had played and trained together since childhood, sharing a bond closer than that of blood brothers. Later, the beautiful Janice had settled in Maple Forest Town, and both men had fallen for her. In the end, Janice chose the honest, unassuming Howard. Feeling humiliated, Matthews left Maple Forest Town. He had only returned recently, accompanied by six warriors.
After hearing Howard's account, Andrew grew even more worried. The man might have returned with some other purpose. What concerned him most was that Matthews had brought six helpers. If he truly harbored malicious intentions, how could father and son deal with them?
After some thought, he still chose not to tell Howard his suspicions. Andrew could see that Howard's bond with Matthews ran deep. If he spoke up, Howard certainly wouldn't believe him and would instead reprimand him. For now, he had no other choice but to remain vigilant.
After night fell, Howard soon went to sleep, while Andrew sat nearby in meditation. Over the past three years, he had spent a great deal of time training every day, and his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. He had now reached the peak of the fourth level as a warrior, only a step away from a breakthrough. An eight-year-old fifth-level warrior-what a genius!
Aside from his warrior training, Andrew's progress in magic had also been astonishing. In just three years, he had already become a peak third-level Fire Element mage. More importantly, his spiritual power had already reached the standard of a fourth-level mage. Once he accumulated enough magical power, advancing to the fourth level would follow naturally. By his estimate, he would become a fourth-level mage in another four days.
After a night of cultivation, Andrew began practicing the Qi-Nurturing Stance that morning. Soon, the group set off again.
The Keli Tribe was about three hundred li from Maple Forest Town, so they would arrive in another half day. The journey had been entirely uneventful. They hadn't even seen a rabbit, leaving Andrew somewhat disappointed.
Howard noticed and said, "Boy, we haven't reached the Far East Prairie yet. Of course there's nothing here. Another fifty li ahead, and we'll reach it. Although we'll still be on its outskirts, things will be very different. There are plenty of magical beasts, and the danger increases considerably."
So that's why! Andrew's interest picked up, and he eagerly anticipated the journey ahead.
Two hours later, the group reached the edge of the Far East Prairie!
"The Far East Prairie certainly lives up to its name. What a spectacular sight!"
The Far East Prairie was vast, stretching for an unknown distance, its area far greater even than that of the Yulan Empire. Nor was it an uninterrupted expanse of flatland. Many wooded mountains rose amid the grasslands, though grassland still accounted for more than eighty percent of the whole.
"Everyone, be careful! We're entering the Far East Prairie!" Soon, shouts came from up ahead, and the atmosphere throughout the group grew tense. Howard took his greatsword in hand and equipped his left arm with a massive shield. Seeing this, Andrew also took down his broadsword and gripped it.
"Once we enter the prairie, all kinds of magical beasts will attack, especially from underground. Many aren't high-level, but they're highly venomous. You must be careful!" Howard cautioned.
Andrew felt a faint thrill of excitement. Here, he might experience the first battle of his life! He had been looking forward to this for a long time.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm a Warrior of the Fourth Rank and a third-level mage! A mage's perception far surpasses a warrior's. If there's any danger, I'm sure I'll sense it beforehand."
Andrew brimmed with confidence while also keeping an eye on Matthewshi and his companions. They, too, had drawn their weapons. The seven stood less than a hundred meters from father and son.
Things unfolded just as Howard had said. Magical beasts constantly harassed them along the way, slowing the group's progress.
Howard and Andrew walked one ahead of the other, carefully guarding against attacks. Suddenly, a red shape burst out of the ground to their right and shot toward Andrew. Before Andrew could act, Howard slapped it dead with his massive shield.
"This is a first-level magical beast, a Fire-Spitting Venomous Scorpion. It's one of the most common magical beasts on the prairie and can spit venomous fire from a meter away. Its venom isn't especially potent, but getting stung will still give you plenty of trouble. A massive shield is the best weapon against it."
After killing the Fire-Spitting Venomous Scorpion, Howard explained it to Andrew.
Andrew listened attentively. This was all extremely valuable experience. Who but his father would have the patience to explain it to him?
Soon, another Fire-Spitting Venomous Scorpion appeared. This time, Howard did nothing, clearly wanting to see how Andrew would perform.
Andrew wasn't intimidated. His blade flashed, and a meter away, the half-foot-long fiery-red scorpion fell to the ground in two pieces. The slash was both swift and steady, displaying his solid fundamentals. Howard's eyes lit up with appreciation, but he said nothing.
Low-level magical beasts like Fire-Spitting Venomous Scorpions were numerous but posed little threat. Before they had traveled five li, Andrew had hacked apart more than thirty. Unfortunately, their level was too low for them to form magic cores, and their bodies contained no usable magical materials.
"Careful! That's a second-level magical beast, an Earth-Devouring Serpent!"
The moment Andrew relaxed slightly, an earthy-yellow shape circled behind him. Then Howard's voice rang out, and he hurriedly dodged.
Howard raised his massive shield and smashed it down hard, leaving a large pit in the ground beside them. Inside, an earthy-yellow snake about a meter long writhed frantically as it burrowed underground. In the blink of an eye, half its body had disappeared into the soil.
Andrew was annoyed. He had actually been ambushed by a second-level magical beast. What a failure! He stepped forward twice and swung his broadsword, cutting the Earth-Devouring Serpent in two without resistance. It clearly wouldn't survive.
Howard said nothing. He shoveled with his massive shield, digging out the other half of the snake. Then, with a little force, he crushed its head with the shield, revealing a yellow crystal the size of a bean. Andrew quickly picked it up and examined it closely.
"So this is a magic core?" he asked. This was his first time seeing one.
Howard nodded. "Only the lowest grade. It isn't worth much, just a few gold coins."
Andrew wasn't surprised. How valuable could a second-level magical beast's core be? He was only looking at it for the novelty.
Still, the incident left a deep impression on him. From then on, he no longer dared to be careless.
Harried by magical beasts, the group advanced in fits and starts. That afternoon, they finally reached their destination-the Keli Tribe.
The Keli Tribe consisted of barbarians who lived on the outskirts of the Far East Prairie. It was small, numbering only a little over two hundred. Barbarians looked very similar to humans. Born with sturdy physiques and powerful bodies, they could become a Mid-Level Warrior with just a little training. However, their talents for battle qi and magic were inferior to those of humans.
The trade goods were simple: the group carried everyday necessities such as salt, cloth, and magical implements, while the barbarians brought out magic cores and some magical beast carcasses. Both sides got what they needed and readily completed their trades.
Bored watching from the sidelines, Andrew told Howard he was leaving and went to wander elsewhere. His main purpose on this trip was to broaden his horizons and temper himself along the way.
Though the barbarian tribe was small, its fighting strength was considerable. From Andrew's observations, the adult men here were at least fourth-level warriors, with plenty at the fifth and sixth levels. Even many of the children possessed strength at the third level or higher.
"Boy, are you one of those weak humans?" As Andrew wandered, three barbarian children blocked his path.
Andrew stopped and smiled. "That's right, I'm human. But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm weaker than you."
The three grew furious. One barbarian, whose face bore four blue-green wavy marks, stepped forward and poked Andrew's chest provocatively. "Humans are all weaklings. Do you dare compete with me?"
Andrew knew very well that the four blue-green marks meant this boy was a Warrior of the Fourth Rank. At the same level, barbarians were somewhat stronger than humans. Even so, Andrew wasn't afraid. He took down his saber and declared, "Fine, let's compete. But how do you want to do it?"
The barbarian boy paused. "How?"
Andrew explained, "There are many kinds of contests. Strength, martial skills, weapons-which do you choose?"
The barbarian boy laughed twice and thumped his chest, producing a series of dull booms.
"What strength do humans have? I'm a brave of the Keli Tribe. How could I bully you? A contest of martial skills wouldn't be much fun either. Let's compete with weapons."
Andrew looked at him and thought, He looks simple and foolish, but he's actually quite shrewd. If we competed in strength, even winning would give him nothing to be proud of. In martial skills, how could a single-minded barbarian beat a human? Only with weapons can he bring out his strength.
"Fine. Weapons it is."
Their exchange soon drew the attention of others. Before long, people from Maple Forest Town and the Keli Tribe gathered around, interested in the match. In this world where martial prowess was revered, contests were commonplace.
Howard stood among the crowd, watching Andrew expressionlessly. It was impossible not to worry. But the contest had already begun, and he couldn't tell his son to back down now. If he did, his son might be looked down on for the rest of his life.
Andrew took down his broadsword, while the barbarian boy picked up a black iron staff over two meters long. It looked quite heavy.
"Human, what's your name?" the barbarian boy asked before the fight.
"Andrew Lance. And yours?"
"Baru Keli. Be careful. I won't hold back," the boy Baru said loudly.
Andrew showed no fear. "The same goes for you."
Not far away, four knights in iron armor and three old men were also watching the contest.
"Grand Elder, this Baru must be the Keli Tribe's young chieftain," one knight said to the old man beside him with a smile. He stood over two meters tall, held a knight's lance about three meters long, and exuded an extremely powerful aura.
The old man beside him had silver hair and a forehead covered in wrinkles. He chuckled. "That's right. Captain Clayde, which of the two do you think will win?"
Captain Clayde was the captain of the Frey Clan's knights, a Warrior of the Seventh Rank seasoned by countless battles. He studied them and said, "In my view, that young boy probably has the better chance."
The Grand Elder smiled again. "I think Baru should win. Why don't we make a wager?"
A wager? Clayde grew interested too. "What would you like to wager, Grand Elder?"
The Grand Elder said, "The Frey Clan wants the One-Horned Cloud Leopard cub this time, and our Keli Tribe has no objection. After all, although a seventh-level magical beast is rare, raising it requires considerable resources, more than the Keli Tribe can afford. However, your offered price is a little too low. How about this? Let's wager on the outcome between these two boys. If the human boy wins, we'll accept the Frey Clan's offer. If Baru wins, you must raise the price by twenty percent. What do you say?"
Clayde smiled too. "Grand Elder, that's a little unfair. If we lose, the price goes down, and if we win, it stays as originally offered. Either way, you don't lose anything."
The Grand Elder thought for a moment. "Then how about this? If you win, we'll lower the original price by ten percent. What do you think?"
Clayde agreed immediately, without hesitation. "Good! Just as you say, Grand Elder!" The two clapped hands to seal their wager.
Beside Clayde, a slightly shorter knight asked quietly, "Captain, are you confident? The Keli Tribe's young chieftain is a Warrior of the Fourth Rank."
Clayde replied softly, "Don't underestimate that human boy. In my view, he's at least at the peak of the fourth level."
The knight continued, "Even so, he won't necessarily win. If we lose, it'll be difficult to explain to the clan head."
Clayde said, "If he were certain to win, would it still be gambling? Just watch from the sidelines. I'll answer to the clan head."
In the arena, Andrew and Baru were both ready.
Baru roared, swung his iron staff, and brought it crashing toward Andrew's head. The strike was fast and powerful, whipping up a fierce rush of wind.
Andrew calmly raised his saber to block the iron staff. The onlookers shook their heads and began commenting, "This boy has no chance of winning if he pits brute force against a barbarian!" Some of the Keli Tribe's barbarians were already preparing to cheer.
Howard also frowned inwardly. He dealt with barbarians often and knew their strength far exceeded that of humans. He, too, was dissatisfied with Andrew's response.
Only the Grand Elder and Captain Clayde understood what was happening. Both were seventh-level warriors, and they saw at a glance that although Andrew appeared to be meeting force with force, he was actually using skillful leverage.
And that was exactly the case!
Knowing the barbarians' advantage in strength, how could Andrew clash head-on? His slash looked straightforward, but it employed the principles of tai chi from his previous life: deflecting and guiding force, using four ounces to move a thousand pounds. He easily neutralized Baru's all-out strike.
When the saber touched the iron staff, Baru felt that he could no longer control its direction. Then the staff smashed into the ground, a full half meter away from Andrew. The result left him somewhat dazed.
Seeing this, Andrew flicked his saber upward, its gleam sweeping toward Baru's arm. Baru immediately snapped out of his daze and held his staff horizontally to block the blade. Undiscouraged, Andrew changed moves at once, slashing horizontally. Unable to dodge in time, Baru could only abandon his staff. Andrew strode forward and kicked it away.
"Brilliant!" Voices rang out all around. Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.