The month passed in a flash, and at last it was time for Divine Grace Academy to begin its term.
Some time earlier, Bandeni had delivered the battle-qi manual. It was called "Earth's Fissure," and it even contained a few scattered remarks about the Saint level. Clearly, it had been written by a Saint-level expert. Andrew paid without hesitation. A manual of this caliber was certainly worth that sum.
Howard was delighted to receive the manual. He, too, was ambitious and talented, but without a battle-qi manual, he had been stuck at the threshold of becoming a sixth-level warrior for over twenty years. He had nearly given up hope. Who could have imagined that he would obtain such a precious manual in his thirties!
What warrior would willingly miss a chance to grow stronger? On the very day he received the manual, Howard went into secluded training. This time, he would break through to become a high-level warrior!
Ling'er went to the academy as well. To foster her independence, Andrew did not see her off. Still, with Bandeni looking after her, and with her staying in the imperial capital, he was not worried about any danger.
Janice and Aida had little Milly with them and now had time to spare. Both were very interested in gardening. During this period, they had nearly doubled the size of the estate's back garden and planted many beautiful flowers and plants, filling the entire courtyard with fragrance.
Andrew urged Janice to cultivate from time to time, but she paid little heed. She knew she lacked talent and had no interest in cultivation, leaving Andrew quite helpless.
As for Andrew himself...
More than two months had passed since he left the Keli Tribe. Just over two months ago, Andrew had only just broken through and was an early-stage warrior of the seventh rank. In a mere two months, his battle-qi had more than doubled, bringing him to the middle stage of the seventh rank!
Even he was astonished by this speed.
Not only that, but over a month of travel had deepened his understanding of Explosive Steps. Now, he could compress the distance of Explosive Steps to eight meters. When he moved, he not only left afterimages behind, but his speed also resembled teleportation!
Simply put, when he previously used Explosive Steps to dash a hundred meters, he could leave only a single afterimage. Now, covering a hundred meters in the same amount of time, he could leave more than a dozen. That was progress!
"Once I fully comprehend Explosive Steps, I'll be able to produce over a hundred afterimages in an instant. Only then will I have truly mastered it!" Andrew was confident that Explosive Steps would certainly bring him surprises.
In the days that followed, Andrew's life settled into a peaceful routine. He sold the Dark Demonic Ape's magic core for over two hundred thousand gold coins, which he handed to Janice for household expenses. He himself began a life of shuttling between two places. After cultivating early each morning, he went to Divine Grace Academy's library, returning in the evening to continue refining his battle-qi.
Divine Grace Academy's library did not disappoint him. Its collection numbered in the millions and contained information on nearly every aspect of the Yulan Continent. The cultivation sections, however, were somewhat unsatisfactory. Whether magic or battle-qi, there was nothing beyond the high levels.
After half a year of independent study at Divine Grace Academy, Andrew developed a keen interest in magic arrays. A magic array used magical items to draw upon magical elements and form a stable barrier. Of course, that was only the elementary kind. The most profound magic arrays could even draw upon laws. In the original novel, the Fate Sovereign's ultimate technique had also used a magic array, which was what allowed it to succeed.
Many magical items could be used to construct magic arrays, including magical beasts' magic cores and blood, as well as alchemists' products. Generally speaking, the more precious these items were, the better the magic array's effects.
To put his knowledge into practice, Andrew specifically purchased a number of low-level magic cores. Experimenting as he studied greatly improved his results.
"Magic arrays generally fall into three categories: defensive, support, and offensive. Advanced magic arrays can usually combine all three characteristics. The Radiant Church's later Six-Pointed Star Array, for instance, could not only enhance attacks but also provide collective defense. It was quite remarkable."
As he studied, Andrew also recalled the events of the original novel, and the direction of his cultivation grew clearer.
However, the library had no advanced magic arrays, leaving Andrew with no way to learn about them. For now, he mainly practiced defensive and support magic arrays. Defensive magic arrays, needless to say, were mainly used for defense. Support magic arrays came in many varieties. Some could gather elements, while others could seal.
After half a year of study, Andrew had attained considerable proficiency in these two types of magic arrays. Later, he set up a seventh-level defensive array specifically for his home. Powered by six sixth-level magic cores, it could withstand attacks from a seventh-level expert for a short time.
In addition, he set up a fire-element array for Janice. He had gone to considerable effort to encourage her cultivation. This array alone used five seventh-level fire-element magic cores, and the concentration of fire elements at its center was a hundred times that of the outside world!
With that, he exhausted the gold coins he had obtained from the lord of Lefen City. Once wealthy, he was now penniless again.
Naturally, spending all those gold coins had brought many benefits.
Leaving aside the family's new home in the imperial capital, Howard alone had successfully broken through three months earlier, becoming a warrior of the seventh rank.
After his breakthrough, Howard began entertaining other ideas. In the past, knowing he had no hope of breaking through, he had been content to live in seclusion with Janice in Maple Forest Town. But after obtaining the battle-qi manual, his heart of a warrior seeking strength had awakened once more, and he yearned for and looked forward to the vast world outside.
In fact, what had spurred him on most was Andrew's strength. As a father, always relying on his son for protection filled Howard with incomparable shame!
Get stronger, get stronger!
"You want to go out and become a mercenary?" After consolidating his cultivation, Howard told Janice his plans. Alarmed, Janice brought Andrew over to discuss it.
Andrew was not surprised. He understood his father quite well.
Howard was actually a proud man. He had talent and perseverance, but his humble origins had kept him from obtaining a battle-qi manual, and only then had he faded into obscurity. Now...
"I think Father's idea is sound!" Andrew understood Howard's thoughts very well. He was a warrior, and naturally possessed a warrior's drive to advance.
"But..." Janice still hesitated. To her, strength was far less important than family.
Howard said nothing. He could not bear to argue with Janice, so he expressed his resolve through silence.
"Don't worry, Mother. Father will be fine."
Andrew was actually worried as well. Although Howard had broken through, he was still far from being able to guarantee his own safety. At this thought, another idea arose in his mind...
If I had Golden Tiger sign a Soul Contract with Father now, it would probably agree, wouldn't it?
During his half year of study, Andrew had also broken through in his magical cultivation. Although he had no seventh-level magic incantations, he had indeed become a Level Seven Mage and could set up a Soul Contract Magic Array.
Leaving Janice's room, Andrew went straight to Golden Tiger. Over the past half year, Golden Tiger had enjoyed itself the most, lazily basking in the sun every day and living a thoroughly leisurely life.
"Golden Tiger, my father is going out to work as a mercenary. I want you to protect him."
Andrew stroked Golden Tiger's large head and spoke into its ear. Golden Tiger shook its head somewhat reluctantly. It did not want this life to end.
Andrew was both annoyed and amused. Back then, he had thought Golden Tiger had the ambition to advance. Who would have known that, after so little time in the imperial capital, it would pick up the bad habit of loving leisure and shunning work?
"You rascal!" Andrew slapped him in irritation. "If you don't get out and fight, I think you'll practically regress!"
Golden Tiger considered for a moment, let out a low growl, and finally agreed.
Andrew pushed his luck. "For safety's sake, I think you should sign a Soul Contract."
"Roar!"
Golden Tiger rose to its feet. This time, it refused. They had agreed at the start that it would submit to Andrew, and Andrew would help it advance. Yet half a year had passed, and all Andrew had done was use it as a laborer! Leaving that aside, now he wanted it to sign a contract with Howard. Howard was merely a warrior of the seventh rank who had just broken through, while it was nearly at the ninth level!
Magical beasts had always signed contracts with the strong!
"Don't be angry!" Andrew also knew he was being unfair, so he could only soothe it gently. "He's my father, and he's very talented too. Now that he has a battle-qi manual written by a Saint-level expert, he'll at least become a ninth-level warrior in the future. He'll be worthy of you."
Golden Tiger growled softly, still unwilling to agree, though its attitude softened considerably, probably recalling how well Howard treated it. Speaking of which, Howard treated it best of everyone.
"Besides, this time you'll be signing an Equal Contract. From then on, you'll be equal partners." Andrew offered another enticement.
An Equal Contract? Golden Tiger was somewhat tempted. Normally, after an expert subdued a magical beast, they signed a slave contract, placing the beast's life and death in its master's hands. An Equal Contract was very different. The two parties were equal partners, with the same rights and obligations.
Seeing this, Andrew knew he was halfway there. He added more fuel to the fire.
"In another month, I'll become an Eighth-level Warrior. By then, even a level nine magical beast won't be my match. I promise I'll go to the Magical Beast Forest myself and obtain a ninth-level wind-element magic core for you to help you advance!"
Golden Tiger could resist no longer. Advancing to the ninth level and becoming a Windwing Tiger Emperor had always been its wish.
"Roar!"
With that mighty roar, it had agreed!