ã€ŠFantasy Family Simulatorã€‹


 Chapter 5: Recovery

    After all, this was just a simtion, so no matter how disastrous the oue, it had no real impact.

    After swallowing the mysterious liquid, Rhett sat down with his eyes closed. Inside his body, however, a drastic transformation was taking ce.

    This intense change was invisibly reshaping his body. Although his structure appeared unchanged, the very essence of his life was gradually being elevated.

    However, the process was anything but easy.

    From Rhett¡¯s tightly furrowed brows, it was clear that he was enduring excruciating pain, as if tens of thousands of iron-footed ants were crawling and biting all over him. It felt like being pricked by needles and burned by mes, with waves of agony crashing into his mind.

    He gritted his teeth and bore the pain, silently thinking to himself, "It really is a bloodline potion¡ªsomething that only a legendary Saint Alchemist could create."

    As the name suggests, a bloodline potion can alter a person¡¯s bloodline, potentially affecting their future talents, physique, and more.

    But ording to legend, crafting a bloodline potion was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Creating a high-quality bloodline potion was even more challenging.

    Moreover, the process of absorbing a bloodline potion was fraught with danger. Depending on the level of craftsmanship, the experience could vary greatly in terms of effect, pain, and, most importantly¡ªthe sess rate of absorption!At this moment, Rhett couldn''t gauge the quality of this bloodline potion, but he was already struggling with the absorption.

    The violent nature of the potion, the conflict with his bloodline, and a series of mysterious forces were relentlessly wreaking havoc on his body.

    Blood trickled from the corner of Rhett¡¯s mouth, and his face turned pale. At this rate, he wouldn''tst much longer before death imed him.

    Time passed slowly, and half an hour went by.

    Though Rhett''s eyes remained closed, his skin had turned a deep red, like moltenva.

    As Rhett continued to endure the pain, a thought suddenly shed through his mind.

    "It¡¯s working, but I¡¯ve reached my limit."

    But then, his eyes snapped open, and he roared, "No!"

    Immediately, a faint explosion seemed to resonate within his body, and with a bang, his body shattered into several pieces.

    Before he could even take in the sight of his gruesome demise, Rhett felt a moment of dizziness. The next thing he knew, he was once again surrounded by the warm light of the room.

    Rhetty back in his chair, slowly regaining hisposure.

    The firece behind him crackled, radiating warmth.

    Since this was his first time experiencing a [Real Simtion], even though his body had returned to normal, it still took Rhett some time to adjust.

    The experience had been so vivid, so lifelike, that it was almost indistinguishable from reality.

    After recovering, Rhett reflected on the fact that he had indeed returned to Deep Rock Fortress, and was in the exact position he had been in before starting the [Real Simtion].

    "It¡¯s a shame, though. I had already finished absorbing it," Rhett muttered to himself with a sigh.

    ¡¾Real Simtion has ended. Please select one attribute to retain.¡¿

    ¡¾1. Physique¡¿

    ¡¾2. Fighting Spirit¡¿

    ¡¾3. Mental Power¡¿

    Seeing this message, Rhett was momentarily stunned, followed by a surge of joy!

    So this was the secret of the [Real Simtion]!

    Not only could he fully immerse himself in the simtion, but he could also retain one attribute¡ªeither his physique, fighting spirit, or mental power¡ªafter the simtion ended.

    "In that case, I won¡¯t be polite!" Rhett eagerly chose the first option: ¡¾Physique¡¿.

    At the end of the simtion, he had fully absorbed the bloodline potion.

    However, the remnants of the potion continued to wreak havoc in his already battered body, ultimately proving to be the final straw that led to his demise.

    Recalling his state in those final moments, Rhett pondered.

    In thest few seconds before his death, he had sensed a powerful force deep within his bloodline, simr to the abilities of a sixth-tier magical beast¡ªthe Spirit Rock Lizard.

    This bloodline, besides significantly enhancing his affinity with earth elements, would gradually allow him to master a few innate spells as his power grew.@@novelbin@@

    Most importantly, his resistance to poisons would greatly increase¡ªone of the Spirit Rock Lizard''s most notable traits.

    Just what he needed to solve his immediate problem!

    At that moment, a surge of warmth coursed through his body. This time, there was no difort; instead, it felt incredibly soothing.

    In just a few seconds, Rhett sensed an overwhelming transformation within his body.

    It worked!

    A strange gleam shed in Rhett¡¯s eyes as he once again felt the wondrous power of his new bloodline.

    The most noticeable change was in his innate talent.

    With just a thought, Rhett could feel his affinity with earth elements had increased dramatically¡ªby at least threefold!

    Once, he had only a low-level talent, but now, he estimated he possessed a mid-level magician¡¯s aptitude!

    Of course, this enhancement didn¡¯t mean he had be a Spirit Rock Lizard¡ªthere were still differences between the two.

    For instance, magical beasts didn¡¯t need to cultivate deliberately; they would naturally reach their designated rank upon maturity.

    However, the bloodline potion, crafted by a Saint-tier expert, had still improved his talent to a considerable degree.

    Moreover, Rhett had inherited the Spirit Rock Lizard''s spells. When he sensed the earth elements around him, he instinctively detected a mysterious andplex trajectory.

    By following this trajectory with his mental power, he could cast a new spell.

    This intrigued him, but inside the castle wasn¡¯t the ideal ce to experiment. Even innate spells wouldn¡¯t be instantaneous or cost-free to cast.

    The most delightful change, however, was that the White-Headed Eagle Poison''s influence on him was gradually diminishing. As time passed, the poison seemed to be weakening.

    As a result, Rhett¡¯s overall spirit improved. While the Spirit Rock Lizard¡¯s bloodline didn¡¯t significantly enhance his physical body, the relief from the poison''s burden left him feeling rejuvenated, as if he had grown a few years younger.

    Looking in the mirror, Rhett noticed that much of the white in his hair had faded. A smile curled at his lips.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, however, he decided to trim off the remaining white strands on his forehead, to avoid revealing that he was nearly cured.

    Moreover, the prospect of returning to the cave in reality and retrieving the Grand Magus''s relics filled Rhett with a deep sense of satisfaction.

    After all, the bloodline potion could still be used again.

    It might no longer be useful to him, but that didn¡¯t mean it wouldn¡¯t benefit someone else.

    However, until he found a way to manage its side effects, he wouldn¡¯t risk letting one of his sons try it.

    With his body restored and his safe retirement from the front lines, it seemed that a bright future was once again within reach.

    As these thoughts crossed his mind, a woman''s image suddenly shed in Rhett¡¯s memory, causing him to pause.

    He raised his teacup and drained it in one gulp.

 Chapter 7: New Simulation

    Sitting beside Tucker, Riley was nearly deafened by his brother''s thunderousughter. Rolling his eyes, he scooted a little farther to the left.

    "I''d better keep my distance."

    Despite his brother''s boisterous reaction, Riley was genuinely pleased with the sudden good news from his father.

    Though the exnation of the "antidote left behind by grandfather" seemed a bit abrupt to him, Riley didn¡¯t let it show on his face.

    He understood that some things were better left unexamined.@@novelbin@@

    Whether or not there were clues or evidence, it was best to go along with the flow and make the story seem more usible.

    So, Riley knew what to do next.

    He spoke slowly, "Well, in my opinion, the antidote left by grandfather arrived at just the right time. If it had been kept in in sight and discovered too early, father might have used it elsewhere or traded it away. Finding it now seems more like grandfather''s protection."

    In the joyful atmosphere, no one questioned this reasoning.Sveta, the butler, nodded subtly from the side, even feeling that Riley''s analysis was very precise.

    Having been born into the Green family, Sveta had witnessed the birth and growth of these three young men.

    He had long noticed that Riley showed wisdom beyond his years and often saw issues with deeper insight.

    Taking another nce at the family head, Sveta nodded to himself. Yes, Riley had undoubtedly inherited the wisdom of his father.

    As for Thales, the surprise of his father''s recovery had overwhelmed him with joy, and a look of happiness spread across his face.

    "Oh yes, I don¡¯t need to find that man-eating fat woman now!"

    With that burden lifted from his mind, Thales'' usual anxiety eased, and a smile appeared on his face as he looked up, saying, "Congrattions, Father!"

    His congrattions were sincere, and then he called out down the hall, "Marlu, I need another cup of milk!"

    Looking at Thales, who was now beaming with happiness, in stark contrast to his earlier embarrassment and panic, Rhett chuckled and shook his head. Understanding his son''s nature, he chose not to expose Thales¡¯ true thoughts.

    Besides, revealing how he knew all of this would raise questions from others.

    The simtor was now Rhett''s deepest secret, one that couldn¡¯t be exposed lightly.

    In response to Thales'' call, a slightly stout middle-aged woman, wearing a white apron stained with a bit of oil, hurriedly came from the hallway.

    Her face was in and gentle, her eyes squinting into a smile as she carefully ced a new tray on the table. In a casual tone, she said, "This morning''s milk was much more plentiful than usual, and it''s especially fresh. I think I¡¯ll need to prepare a batch of cheese soon, so it doesn¡¯t go to waste!"

    Her everyday remark didn¡¯t attract much attention.

    However, Rhett¡¯s heart stirred as he recalled a small incident predicted for the 7th of next month, early in the new year.

    There was supposed to be a sudden drop in temperature apanied by strong winds.

    This cold snap was not only predicted to topple his cow barn but was also responsible for the deaths of most of his dairy cows.

    "Hmm, that¡¯s bad news," Rhett thought, his expression turning thoughtful.

    As the undisputed lord of Chuiying Town, Rhett held absolute authority.

    Though he was a minor lord, he hadplete control over the town and its assets.

    Everything in the town¡ªwhether themoners, the eastern lumberyard, or the northern pasture¡ªwas his personal property.

    The townspeople merely managed these resources on his behalf.

    If the loss of dairy cows was too severe, it would directly impact Rhett¡¯s interests.

    The pasture¡¯s herd had always maintained a size of just over a hundred cows, including some beef cattle.

    A significant loss would not only require money and time to rece but would also cause unnecessaryplications.

    After a brief moment of thought, Rhett made a decision.

    He nced at Sveta and, in a casual tone, asked, "Sveta, when was thest time the pasture was renovated?"

    Sveta bent slightly in thought before replying, "Thest renovation of the pasture was in the year 467 of the Jinlun Calendar, from June 3rd to June 10th. It''s been over five years now."

    "Hmm, five years already. I have an idea. Why don¡¯t we renovate the pasture again?" Rhett suggested, though it was more of amand than a question.

    "Of course, my lord. We have plenty of timber resources here. I¡¯ll speak to Kudin and have him organize a team to start the renovation right away," Sveta responded. Since the lord had an idea, there must be a reason behind it. He then added, "This winter''s weather has been unusual. Should we consider renovating other buildings as well?"

    It was a reasonable suggestion, but Sveta didn¡¯t know Rhett¡¯s secret, so his concern was unnecessary.

    Rhett waved his hand dismissively, rejecting the proposal. "No need. If anything else arises, I¡¯ll give further instructions."

    "Understood," Sveta nodded and retreated.

    Suddenly, an idea crossed Rhett¡¯s mind, and he opened the system, choosing the [Text Simtion].

    Now that his body was healed and some adjustments had been made to his territory, he wanted to see what changes might ur in the future.

    ¡¾Do you wish to activate the Text Simtion? Each year simted will consume 5 Fate Value.¡¿

    "Yes, simte one year."

    ¡¾Year 473 of the Jinlun Calendar, November 7th: Your grandson, Dick, is born.¡¿

    ¡¾November 10th: You consider the extreme cold this winter might pose challenges to your territory, so you order the renovation of the pasture.¡¿

    ¡¾November 11th: News of your recovery spreads through the territory. The townspeople of Chuiying Town celebrate, and that night, Lawrence, a reserve member of the guard, is inspired and breaks through to be a knight apprentice.¡¿

    ¡¾December 7th: On a frigid night, a strong wind sweeps through. Two severely injured first-tier knights stumble into your territory. Upon learning that you are a second-tier magician, they pledge their loyalty to you.¡¿

    ¡¾Year 474 of the Jinlun Calendar, January 3rd: A second-tier Iron-Horned Sheep and a second-tier me Dog engage in battle by Sun Lake on the western edge of your territory. Both are severely injured. You, having set up an ambush nearby, reap the benefits.¡¿

    ¡¾January 8th: A traveling merchant arrives in your territory. After a brief conversation, you send him on his way.¡¿

    ¡¾January 15th: Due to news of your recovery leaking out through the merchant caravan, Roy from Maplewood Town visits you and gifts you a bottle of Red Maple Potion. He also proposes a marriage alliance between your families, which you politely decline.¡¿

    ¡¾March 20th: Riley breaks through to ate-stage first-tier magician.¡¿

    ¡¾June 29th: Tucker breaks through to ate-stage first-tier knight.¡¿

    ¡¾July 12th: You are ambushed by an unknown knight but manage to severely injure him, forcing him to flee.¡¿

    ¡¾August 9th: A third-tier Thunder Armor Bear wanders into your territory, causing havoc. You valiantly fight back but are tragically killed.¡¿

    Friends, please give me some rmendation votes, favorites, and follows!

    (End of Chapter)

 Chapter 9: Furnace Meditation

    Returning to the castle, Rhett went directly to his room.

    Holding the Moonlight Potion, Rhett fell into deep thought.

    He considered that since the [Real Simtion] allowed him to bring back his mental power, perhaps he could use a "nested doll" method: consuming the Moonlight Potion during the simtion and then bringing back the benefits.

    Repeating this cycle a few times could greatly elerate his progress, couldn¡¯t it?

    It seemed like a no-brainer, but Rhett¡¯s only concern was the way to umte Fate Points.

    Whether it was by defeating enemies above his rank, advancing in strength, or producing offspring, none of these tasks were easily aplished.

    After a moment of indecision, Rhett frowned and shook his head. He still had other important matters to attend to, so it was best to conserve his Fate Points for now.

    He carefully stored the Moonlight Potion in a hiddenpartment in his room.

    Descending the stairs, Rhett searched for Riley but couldn''t find him inside Deep Rock Fortress. Closing his eyes, he sensed an unusual fluctuation of elemental energy in the castle''s garden and smiled¡ªso that¡¯s where he was.In the garden¡¯s clearing, Riley was enjoying his magic practice amid the falling snow.

    Standing tall with a wooden stick serving as his wand, Riley mimicked a real magician¡¯s movements, sending a Water Arrow straight ahead.

    At the first tier, water magic was limited to simple spells like Water Arrow, making it rtively weakpared to other elemental magic.

    But upon reaching the second tier, Riley would be able to learn Water Bind and Water Spear¡ªthe former offering excellent control, and thetter being a stronger version of Water Arrow.

    ¡°Ahem.¡±

    Rhett lightly cleared his throat.

    Hearing the familiar sound, Riley knew immediately who it was. He stopped his practice and turned around, surprised.

    ¡°Father? You¡¯re back. I was just thinking about discussing something with you.¡±

    As Riley approached, Rhett¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He was eager to hear what his son had to say.

    Once Riley was close, he looked around to make sure they were alone before speaking in a hushed tone, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve noticed something strange about Thales¡­¡±

    ...

    Rhett couldn¡¯t help but chuckle internally¡ªRiley, his most intelligent son, was indeed sharp and quick to pick up on Thales¡¯ unusual behavior.

    But Rhett still didn¡¯t n to reveal the whole truth, so he downyed it. ¡°Thales has always been shy and reserved. Maybe he¡¯s just been feeling a bit offtely. Let¡¯s keep an eye on him. He might return to normal in a few days.¡±@@novelbin@@

    Riley, sensing his father wasn¡¯t inclined to pursue the matter further, nodded thoughtfully and changed the subject. ¡°Father, was there something you needed?¡±

    ¡°When I was on a mission at the front lines, I came across a mid-tier meditation technique. You should give it a try,¡± Rhett said, pulling out the Furnace Meditation book without mentioning the Grand Magus¡¯s relic.

    He didn¡¯t want to risk drawing unwanted attention to the relic in the future, even if the chance was slim.

    Despite the slight inconsistency in his story¡ªhe had returned over a month ago and was only now presenting the meditation technique¡ªRhett trusted his son to understand.

    Riley, being a smart young man, knew when to ask questions and when to keep quiet.

    Riley¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief before lighting up with joy. He eagerly epted the book, carefully inspecting it. After confirming its authenticity, he looked at Rhett, brimming with excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve tested it. It¡¯s three times more efficient than a lower-tier meditation technique,¡± Rhett said with a smile, holding up three fingers.

    ¡°Father, with this meditation technique, I could reach thete stage of the first tier by spring!¡± Riley¡¯s eyes sparkled. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken him until mid-next year to break through, but now, with the increased efficiency, he was confident of an earlier breakthrough.

    ¡°Good. Keep at it. I hope you¡¯ll break through soon,¡± Rhett encouraged him, then excused himself and left.

    On his way back to the castle, Rhett activated the system and selected [Real Simtion].

    ¡¾Do you wish to activate Real Simtion? Each day simted will consume 1 Fate Value.¡¿

    Once again marveling at the high cost of the [Real Simtion], Rhett nheless chose ¡°Yes.¡±

    After the spatial ripples settled, Rhett knew the simtion had begun.

    He quickened his pace back to Deep Rock Fortress.

    This was a decision he had just made.

    Thales¡¯ room was on the third floor. When Rhett arrived at the door, he found Thales inside, reading a book.

    Thales enjoyed quiet moments, and reading had always been his peacefulpanion.

    ¡°Father, you¡­ you¡¯re here,¡± Thales said, blinking in surprise as he put down the book onmerce he had been studying.

    Rhett saw the book and sighed softly. Of his three sons, the eldest, Tucker, had talent for fighting spirit, and Riley had talent for magic.

    Only Thales had no aptitude for either.

    Although this was quite normal, as most people in the world were ordinary, it still weighed on Rhett.

    Rhett smiled and entered the room, getting straight to the point. ¡°Thales, do you want to train? Do you want to be a magician?¡±

    Seeing Thales freeze for a moment, Rhett repeated his question.

    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Thales responded without hesitation.

    Bing a magician had been Thales¡¯ dream for as long as he could remember.

    He had read countless books that described the wonders of alchemy, something he yearned to study.

    But only by bing a magician could one delve into the mysteries of alchemy, and with hisck of talent, this dream had always seemed out of reach.

    Yet now, hearing his father¡¯s words, Thales wondered if he was dreaming. He pinched his cheek in disbelief, looking adorably puzzled.

    Rhett chuckled and produced the bloodline potion. ¡°Drink this, and you¡¯ll gain the talent of a magician. But the process is painful, and you¡¯ll need to endure it.¡±

    Since this was just a simtion, Rhett didn¡¯t waste time with exnations and omitted the possibility of death.

    His main goal was to test whether Thales could withstand the side effects of the potion.

    Though Rhett doubted the odds were in his favor, he needed to know for sure.

    ¡°Drink this and gain magical talent? Is this¡­ a bloodline potion?¡± Thales eximed. He had heard of bloodline potions before and had even dreamed of consuming one.

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    With his father¡¯s confirmation, Thales stood up from his chair, trembling as he approached. Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°Thank you, Father. I¡¯m willing!¡±

    Thales took the potion without hesitation and gulped it down.

    Half an hourter.

    Bang.

    A spray of blood sttered across Rhett¡¯s face. He stood there, stunned. Despite knowing it was just a simtion, the scene before him was painfully real.

    His heart clenched as he watched, a pang of sorrow in his eyes. With a sigh, Rhett muttered, ¡°As expected, it didn¡¯t work. I¡¯ll have to find another way.¡±

 Chapter 11: Magical Beasts and Knights

    Receiving praise from the lord¡¯s son, Kudin¡¯s eyes lit up with pride. "I just made these out of boredom," he said modestly. Noticing Tucker¡¯s interest in the wooden carvings, he quickly offered, "Which one do you like, my lord? Consider it a gift from me."

    ¡°Haha, then I won¡¯t be polite,¡± Tucker grinned widely, grabbing a wooden carving of a soaring eagle. After examining it from various angles, he ced a copper coin on the table.

    "My lord, you shouldn¡¯t! It¡¯s a gift; there¡¯s no need to pay," Kudin protested, picking up the coin, but froze when Tucker shot him a stern look.

    Despite the festive atmosphere, Rhett himself didn¡¯t linger at the party for long. He left midway and headed towards the Green Pasture, taking note of the day''s weather.

    "Though the simtor mentioned an extreme cold front at night, the day has been unexpectedly mild. Even now, the chill isn¡¯t too severe. Who would have thought the temperature would suddenly plummet tonight, bringing with it freezing winds?" Rhett mused.

    Two hourster, Rhett keenly sensed a sharp drop in temperature. The change came abruptly and without warning.

    The temperature had dropped to freezing and was still steadily falling.

    "Is it starting?" Rhett, noticing the shift, quickly instructed Sveta, "Go to the central square and inform the townspeople that tonight the temperature will drop sharply. Tell them to close their windows, light extra fires, and prepare for the cold. Also, bring Tucker and Riley here."

    Thales, not fond of the festivities, had chosen not to attend the party tonight, a decision Rhett understood well. Besides, with tonight¡¯s search mission, it wasn¡¯t safe to bring his physically weaker son along."Understood, my lord. I¡¯ll see to it right away," Sveta replied, hiding his surprise as he hurried off to carry out Rhett¡¯s orders.

    Three hourster.

    At the town¡¯s entrance, Rhett, along with his sons Riley and Tucker, casually patrolled the outskirts.

    He had given them a reason: to guard against magical beasts that tended to be active during the night or in extreme cold.

    Such beasts were typically quite powerful. One such example was the Dark Frost Wolf, a notorious magical beast.

    As Riley had once informed him, five years ago, a small pack of Dark Frost Wolves had wandered from the Beast Mountain Range.

    Though their average strength was only at the second tier, they had wiped out three baronies within days.

    The Dark Frost Wolves were particrly dangerous due to their stealth and nocturnal habits, making them almost impossible to defend against. Their cold resistance, agility, and proficiency in ice magic made them a nightmare for many barons.

    Eventually, it took several viscounts working together to eradicate the pack.

    Given this history, no one questioned Rhett¡¯s motives. They simply saw his actions as a precaution.

    Tucker¡¯s robust physique seemed unaffected by the biting cold. However, as time passed, he couldn¡¯t help but express his confusion, ¡°The temperature keeps dropping, and it¡¯s getting colder. Tonight¡¯s weather is strange¡­¡±

    Riley and Rhett both had thin magical shields around their bodies, enough to ward off the cold without needing much defense.

    "That¡¯s why we need to be vignt," Rhett replied.

    Looking out over the open ins, Rhett added, "Let¡¯s patrol the perimeter of the town. We¡¯ll gradually widen the circle."

    Tucker eagerly swung his arms and shouted, "Got it, Father! I¡¯ll be at the front, blocking any danger for you." With that, he dashed ahead.

    ¡°No need for that. Stay close to me. If anything happens, I¡¯ll be the first to react,¡± Rhett said with a smile, shaking his head.

    Riley, without saying much, adjusted his position next to his father, though his eyes held a hint of suspicion.

    He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that tonight¡¯s actions were unusual, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly why.

    Outside Chuiying Town, the snowy thick, resembling a vast white nket.

    As Rhett led the group, the three of them began patrolling around the town, with the temperature continuing to drop.

    Their patrol took them farther and farther from the town, until they were about a kilometer away.

    "Father, there seems to be a trail of footprints over there," Riley pointed out.

    Following Riley¡¯s direction, Rhett saw the tracks¡ªa magical beast had left clear imprints in the snow.

    Upon closer inspection, Rhett¡¯s eyes widened slightly.

    "The footprints are uniform in size and follow a straight path, indicating it¡¯s just one beast. The tracks are oval-shaped, with seven thick toes. It¡¯s likely an Ice-Spiked Bear. This type of beast thrives in cold weather and tends to be active during such times," Rhett surmised after a brief observation.

    "Let¡¯s go check it out. Judging by the size of the tracks, the bear isn¡¯t fully grown, so it¡¯s probably a second-tier beast at most. It shouldn¡¯t pose too much of a threat," Rhett said, motioning for them to move forward.

    Excited at the prospect of a fight, Tucker¡¯s blood began to boil. ¡°Father, you were right to check this area. If we hadn¡¯t, something dangerous might have happened tonight.¡±

    ¡°Is it another beast that wandered over from the Beast Mountain Range?¡± Riley wondered aloud, his expression serious. "It seems like the frequency of magical beasts appearing has increased recently."

    He recalled the Wind Wolf his father had encountered, and now this Ice-Spiked Bear. Two beasts within a few days¡ªit was unusual. Normally, he and Tucker would onlye across a wandering beast once every few months.

    Riley made a mental note of this but didn¡¯t dwell on it. It could just be a coincidence.

    Following their father¡¯s lead, the group continued forward, soon making another discovery.

    The quiet of the night was broken by the sounds of a fierce battle up ahead.@@novelbin@@

    Amidst the chaos, the roars of a beast mixed with the shouts of humans.

    Rhett¡¯s face lit up with anticipation. Intervening in a fight like this, offering assistance, would be a great way to win over people¡¯s loyalty and build rapport.

    Having just returned from the front lines, Rhett¡¯s territory was in desperate need of manpower, particrly knights. They were a vital part of the territory¡¯s military strength, ying crucial roles in patrols, security, defense, and escorting caravans.

    In the past, with Rhett absent, it was understandable that outsiders hadn¡¯t been interested in Chuiying Town. His sons had been forced to handle everything themselves.

    But now that Rhett was back, things needed to change.

    Generally, nobles not only trained their family¡¯s elite but also recruited loyal and talented followers.

    These followers were a key part of a noble¡¯s power¡ªsomething Rhett urgently needed.

    For example, in the nearby baronies, each baron had several, if not a dozen or more, knights in their service¡ªnot just knight apprentices.

    Currently, the knight apprentices in Chuiying Town were all locals, trained and nurtured by the town itself, so they were loyal.

    ¡°If we can recruit these two first-tier knights, it will be a good start,¡± Rhett thought, a smile forming on his lips.

 Chapter 15: Aftermath of Subduing the Sprite

    "Hehe, it''s alright, we''re not in a hurry. It''s said that a sprite''s personality is linked to its type and is determined from birth. This Snow Sprite seems to be the gentle kind," Tadelmented, though his eyes remained glued to the mysterious sprite, unable to look away.

    He wasn''t the only one; Tucker, in particr, was staring so intently that his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets.

    Tucker extended his hand, seemingly with a different thought in mind, but Riley intercepted it with a p. Helplessly, he said, "Nina refuses to interact with others. At least wait until you get more familiar with her. Right now, she just wants to be alone for a bit."

    Tucker, still fixated on the sprite, asked, "Can youmunicate with her? Like a magical beast contract?"

    "It might be simr, but I''m not sure. I just suddenly gained the ability tomunicate with Nina," Riley responded as he gently stroked Nina''s back. Her body was cool, smooth, and stic to the touch.

    At this point, Rhett intervened, "Alright, it''s gettingte. Now that everything''s settled, it''s not appropriate to keep standing here. Let''s head back to the castle, and we can discuss Ninater."

    He added firmly, "One more thing¡ªwhat happened here tonight stays here. Not a word to anyone. Do you all understand?"

    Tadel and Kulz immediately became serious and agreed wholeheartedly. They had no intention of leaking any information.

    After all, sprites couldn¡¯t be stolen or transferred. Even if someone killed the master, the sprite would dissipate. There was no point in stirring up trouble unless they had a grudge or couldn¡¯t stand to see someone else seed.Quietly, the group returned to the manor. At the gate, Rhett noticed Lawrence, who had recently broken through to be a knight apprentice.

    Lawrence and another knight apprentice, Pritz, stood on either side of the gate, each holding a longsword in one hand and a shield in the other.

    Seeing their lord return, the two respectfully greeted him.

    "Wee back, Lord Rhett. Good evening."

    As they greeted him, they noticed the two unfamiliar figures, Tadel and Kulz.

    Although Lawrence had only recently be a knight apprentice, he quickly sensed the same kind of pressure he felt from the young masters radiating from the two strangers. He was secretly astonished¡ªcould these two be first-rank knights?

    "My territory currently has seven knight apprentices. In the future, I''ll likely need to trouble you both to take some time to guide them," Rhett mentioned to Tadel and Kulz, as if remembering something.

    Kulz smiled lightly, "It''s a small matter, Lord Rhett. It''s our duty to serve you."

    Tadel observed the two apprentices closely, his gaze lingering on Lawrence for a bit longer. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes as he remarked, "This young knight seems to have broken through not long ago. His battle aura is still unstable and spills over, indicating he hasn''t fully mastered it yet. However, judging by his age, he achieved this several years earlier than I did. He¡¯s bound for great things in the future."

    Hearing this, Lawrence was both surprised and ttered, while Pritz could only sigh in envy.

    "Oh? Lawrence?" Rhett nced at Lawrence in surprise, stepping forward to pat his shoulder in encouragement. "Excellent. You''ve heard it¡ªyou seem to have some talent. You should cherish it. In the days toe, work hard and learn from your new mentors."

    He added, "When the opportunity arises, I won''t hesitate to provide you with a few bottles of battle aura potions to help you go further. For you, advancing to a first-rank knight or even higher shouldn¡¯t be out of reach."

    This promise held great significance for Lawrence, and he responded excitedly, "Thank you, Lord Rhett! I will train diligently to be the sharpest sword in your hand."

    "Haha, no need for a sword¡ªbeing a sturdy shield is just as good," Rhett joked with a smile.

    Tadel and Kulz watched the exchange, their eyes filled with expectation. A harmonious rtionship between superiors and subordinates, without an overbearing attitude¡ªthis gave them a sense of hope for the future and alleviated any concerns they had.

    Inside the castle, Swita stood in the hallway, peering out the window. Seeing his lord and the others return, he stepped outside to greet them.

    Under the warm glow of themps along the stone pathway, Rhett smiled and said, "You see, we have two neers. From now on, the number of permanent residents in the castle will increase by two. I''ll leave the rest to you."

    Rhett then turned to Tadel and said, "This is my steward, Swita."

    "Mr. Swita, it''s a pleasure to meet you. You look quite well," Tadel greeted politely, showing proper respect. Although Swita was just an ordinary man, as the steward of the lord''s castle, his position amongmon folk was quite elevated.

    "Likewise, wee to you both, strong knights. Deeprock Castle wees you. Please, this way." Swita gestured down a side path, leading them away.

    In Deeprock Castle, the main fortress was where Rhett''s family and the servants who worked inside the castle lived.

    The servants who worked outside the castle, as well as the guards and others with extraordinary abilities, were usually housed in the outer fortress.

    Of course, there were passageways connecting the main and outer fortresses, but except for patrols, missions, or special circumstances, the guards were not allowed to roam freely in the main fortress.

    As the steward led the knights away, Rhett headed toward the main fortress.

    The night''s events had been rich and eventful.

    After everything was settled, Tucker yawned as soon as they entered the main hall. He dered that he would take a hot bath and then head to bed.

    Rhett, however, called Riley up to the fifth-floor hall.

    The fifth floor was Rhett''s private space, and thus had its own hall. Although not as spacious as the one on the first floor, it exuded a cozy atmosphere.

    "Father, have some water," Riley said considerately, offering a cup of water.

    Rhett smiled as he took the cup, watching as Riley unwrapped the bundle he had been carrying.

    As soon as the bundle was undone, the delicate Snow Sprite emerged, curiously surveying its surroundings. Itsrge, round eyes sparkled like ice crystals, though it had a slit-like mouth that seemed incapable of speech.@@novelbin@@

    Seeing Rhett, the Snow Sprite still appeared a bit shy. However, it was much more at ease than before, even hopping onto Riley''s head to stand tall and meet Rhett''s gaze.

    The sprite tilted its head as it observed Rhett. Detecting the magic elements around him, it stared at him for a bit longer.

    But sensing the earth element¡ªa type it didn¡¯t particrly like¡ªit soon turned its attention elsewhere, examining the surroundings with curiosity.

    "This is my father, Nina. There''s no need to be afraid," Riley conveyed the message to the Snow Sprite with a smile.

    The sprite seemed to understand somewhat, ncing at Rhett again. Rhett smiled warmly and waved, trying to convey friendliness, and the sprite slowly floated toward him.

    But then, it perfectly avoided him.

    Opening its tiny mouth, it conjured a stream of icy water that extinguished the fire in the hearth.

    <em>Hiss, hiss!</em>

    The sound of the fire being snuffed out left both Rhett and Riley stunned.

    Nina, oblivious to the mischief she had just caused, jumped onto Rhett¡¯s head with a nk, innocent look.

 Chapter 18: Planning for Magic Plants

    Rhett smiled slightly as he pointed in a direction, indicating the north side adjacent to the estate, which was also to his right.

    "I n to build the outer courtyard there. Go ahead and survey the terrain, think about how to best design it, and I''ll send someone to discuss the construction details with youter," Rhett said.

    Seeing that the area was t, Tardell thought for a moment and began to form an idea in his mind. He nodded, "Understood, my lord."

    <strong>Castle''s Back Garden</strong>

    The outer areas of the garden were filled with various types of nts and flowers. If it were spring, the vibrant colors would be on full disy. But now, under the harsh winds, countless branches swayed uncontrobly.

    After searching elsewhere and not finding the butler, Rhett eventually spotted Swit in the back garden, just as he expected.

    "Hey, Swit! Did you nt all these seeds?" Rhett asked, surprised.@@novelbin@@

    He had noticed that the magic nt cultivation field had expanded, corresponding to the over one hundred water-element magic nt seeds he had brought back.

    Swit, who had been admiring the flowers, quickly straightened up and turned around with a smile on his face. "Good morning, my lord. Of course, I didn''t nt them myself. I happened to see Master Riley out here early this morning, nting some magic nts himself before breakfast."Hearing this, Rhett was not surprised. He pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, instruct the servants that this area is now off-limits. No one is allowed to enter without my permission."

    Swit nodded, "Understood, my lord. I''ll make sure the fruit farmers and gardeners are informed to avoid this area."

    Although this would mean the family members would have to take care of nting and watering themselves, it was worth it for such precious mid-tier magic nts. Even other nobles often chose to personally tend to valuable magic nts, rather than letting servants near them.

    Moreover, tending to magic nts didn''t require much effort¡ªwatering them once would suffice for many days, even more than a month.

    Previously, the estate had only lower-tier magic nts, which were neither rare nor valuable. But now, with higher-tier magic nts being grown, and with the secret of the Snow Sprite''s ability to elerate their growth, more precautions were necessary, and it was best to avoid exposure in the short term.

    By preventing others from essing the area and staggering the nting cycles¡ªsuch as nting and harvesting in batches throughout the year¡ªRhett could ensure that the output was consistent each quarter. Even if the output became significant over time, outsiders would find it difficult to detect anything unusual.

    Standing beside the magic nt cultivation field, Rhett nced sideways at the butler and said, "There''s one more thing. I need you and Tardell to gather the lumberjacks from Kudin''s logging camp and the stonemasons from the territory to focus on building the outer courtyard.

    This task must be taken seriously, and during construction, mainly follow the opinions of Tardell and Curls. After all, they will be the ones managing the knights'' training ground in the future."

    "Understood, my lord. I''ll get to it right away," Swit replied with a cheerful nod, quickly leaving. He felt a sense of joy¡ªsince the lord''s return and recovery, the territory had been undergoing many positive changes.

    "Oh, and before you go, notify Riley toe here," Rhett added as Swit turned away.

    After Swit left, Rhett gazed at the slightly damp, freshly watered soil at his feet. Counting the magic nts nted during his absence and the new mid-tier water-element nts Riley had just nted this morning, there were a total of 557 nts.

    Of these 557 nts, 430 were previously nted lower-tier magic nts of various elements, which Rhett found to be of little value. These included water-element nts like Blue Liquid Grass, earth-element nts like Rock Bull Fruit, and fire-element nts like Three-Leaf Fire Flower. Their growth cycles typically ranged from six to eight months.

    In Rhett''s view, the decision to nt these lower-tier magic nts was likely driven by their shorter growth cycles, making them easier to rotate.

    Now, however, Rhett had brought in precious mid-tier magic nt seeds. In this world, magic potions that enhanced mental strength and battle aura contained more potent energy, and mid-tier magic nts were required as the main ingredients for lower-tier potions of these types.

    On the other hand, lower-tier magic nts were generally only used to create healing potions, antidotes, and other simr items, which were less valuablepared to mental strength or battle aura potions of the same tier.

    By extension, mid-tier potions required higher-tier magic nts as their main ingredients. Only at the highest tier did Rhett hear of alchemists with exceptional skill crafting high-tier potions from several high-tier magic nts.

    Rhett''s original n was to use mid-tier magic nts to slowly build up the family''s resources andy the foundation for their strength. Although his territory didn''t currently have an alchemist, that didn''t prevent him from trading with others.

    Some alchemists preferred bartering, exchanging a certain quantity of magic nts for potions, with a portion of the finished product returned ording to the agreed ratio. They were especially willing to trade for mental strength and battle aura potions, as not all alchemists had stable sources of magic nts.

    Rhett crouched down and closed his eyes, trying to sense any changes in the magic nt area. After a while, he opened his eyes, a strange look in them.

    "I can''t feel any changes," Rhett thought, puzzled. He knew that using high-level essence could elerate the growth of magic nts, but he was curious about how much the Snow Sprite''s influence had elerated these water-element nts.

    Shortly after, Riley arrived in a hurry, seeming to guess why his father had called him. A hint of joy shed in his eyes, but he cautiously scanned the surroundings before speaking up.

    "Father, you¡¯re an earth-element mage, right? How about surrounding this area with a wall to increase its security?" Riley suggested.

    Rhett nced at Riley, thought for a moment, and then nodded. He raised his hands, channeling earth-element energy to create walls around the field. The scene was quite dramatic.

    However, given his current power level, he couldn''t build walls around the entire field in one go, especially since the field wasn¡¯t yet fully nted. He had reserved space for future expansions.

    Once this area was filled with nts, he would have to find another location to open a new farm.

    After half an hour of work, Rhett finallypleted the task. The magic nt field was now surrounded by three-meter-high stone walls on all sides.

    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Rhett pped his hands and said, "From now on, only family members will have ess to this area. And as for you, a water-element mage, you''ll be in charge of watering the nts," he added, pointing at Riley with a smile.

 Chapter 19: The Power and Limitations of the Snow Sprite

    Riley shrugged, indicating he had no issues with the task. Rhett got straight to the point and urged, "I heard from the butler that you were here earlier this morning. I assume Nina has already used her abilities on these magic nts. What''s the situation?"

    Riley chuckled, "That''s right. Early this morning, I brought Nina over. After understanding my intentions, she simply circled around, releasing a misty white fog that settled on the water-element magic nts. From what she told me, these nts'' growth speed has already doubled."

    "What? Doubled!" Rhett turned his head, his voice full of astonishment. He took a moment topose himself before asking hesitantly, "Have you tested how many nts Nina can affect at once? And how long does the elerated growthst? Does it just take one application to keep it going?"@@novelbin@@

    Such a possibility seemed almost too good to be true, and Rhett found it hard to believe. However, Riley shook his head, breaking the illusion, and hesitated before saying, "Well, you should probably manage your expectations."

    Rhett blinked, now even more curious.

    "I only found out more details aftermunicating with Nina this morning. As a snow sprite, she can only exert her power during the winter to promote the growth of magic nts and beasts. When I asked why, she exined that during winter, a particr type of energy bes more prevalent in the world, allowing her to manipte it," Riley said, with a look of surprise still lingering on his face.

    "But once winter passes, Nina will go into hibernation, waiting for the next winter to awaken again. However, the magic nts that Nina has already influenced won''t revert to their original growth rate with the change of seasons."

    Upon hearing this, Rhett nodded in understanding. So, the snow sprite had these hidden secrets and could only function in winter. But why not call her a winter sprite?

    Rhett wondered but then looked at Nina, who resembled a tiny snowman, and thought, well, perhaps snow sprite suits her better."Given Nina''s characteristics, it seems we''ll need to umte as many seeds as possible every winter. However, with the seeds we already have, and after your uing exchange, we''ll have over 500 mid-tier water-element magic nt seeds. By the time the next winter arrives, we''ll be able to harvest seeds from the first round of growth, bringing our total to at least two or three thousand water-element seeds," Rhett said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

    This level of production could rival even the wealthiest baronial families that had been established for generations.

    "No problem, Father. I''m confident that tomorrow''s trip will be a fruitful one," Riley replied with a gentle smile. Having led the merchant caravan for many years, he was well-acquainted with the nearby territories and even the major guilds in Twilight City. The task of exchanging seeds seemed easy in his eyes.

    Hearing the words "fruitful trip" reminded Rhett of the simtion results, and his brow furrowed slightly, though he said nothing.

    <strong>Later that afternoon</strong>

    As Rhett wandered near the estate, he spotted ongoing construction for the outer courtyard. To be precise, construction hadn''t started yet, but a group of four carpenters was hauling carts full of timber toward the site.

    In the center of the courtyard, a pile of dark, thick logs had already been ced. Kudon stood respectfully beside Tardell, carefully listening to Tardell''s instructions on how to arrange wooden stakes and wooden dummies in the knights'' training ground.

    "Make sure the surface of the stakes is rough because I need these knight apprentices to toughen their skin. They''re not pampered young masters but brave knights who may find themselves in any environment, facing harsh battles," Tardell said seriously.

    After observing the apprentices earlier, Tardell had noticed that while they had some basic skills, they were still far from being battle-hardened knights. Theirbat techniques were rough, and their physical conditioning needed improvement, which Tardell was eager to address.

    Kudon listened attentively, making sure to remember every detail. During a pause in Tardell''s instructions, he interjected, "For rougher wood, how about that batch of yellow wood?"

    Tardell followed Kudon''s gaze and saw the brass-colored wood on the carts making their way along the stone road. He also noticed Rhett standing about twenty meters away and respectfully nodded in greeting before turning back to Kudon. "That wood is suitable for making dummies, but is there anything rougher?"

    Kudon pondered for a moment and said, "We do have thornwood, which would meet your requirements. However, working with thornwood would significantly slow down production, and we might not meet the quantity needed in a short time."

    Kudon went on to describe the characteristics of thornwood in detail, and Tardell''s face lit up with joy. "Thornwood sounds perfect! I''m not worried about speed, as long as the quality meets the standard," Tardell said, waving dismissively.

    Kudon scratched his head, thinking about theborious task of removing the thorns from thornwood, but he understood the importance of the lord''s request. "Alright, I understand. I''ll head back and take a team to cut some thornwood. It''s not something we keep in stock, so we''ll need to gather it first."

    "We usually ce thornwood around the house, coat it with syrup, and use it to catch mice," Kudon muttered as he bid Tardell farewell.

    As he turned around, he noticed Rhett approaching and greeted him with a slight startle, "Good afternoon, my lord."

    "Well done. I heard the conversation just now¡ªgo ahead and gather the thornwood. Be careful not to prick yourself," Rhett said with a light smile.

    Thest bit of concern made Kudon''s heart flutter. The lord had smiled at him and even cared about his well-being! In high spirits, Kudon hurried off toward the eastern side of the town with youthful enthusiasm, despite being in his thirties.

    "Howrge do you think the inner courtyard should be?" Rhett asked as he surveyed the area, which was still an empty plot.

    "Hmm, I think it¡¯s better to make itrger on the first try. If it''s too small, we''ll run into all sorts of problemster," Tardell replied after some consideration.

    Rhett smiled slightly, "Oh? Did you forget my profession? Why worry about space when we can adjust as needed? Still, you''re right¡ªthe first attempt should be generous."

    Tardell paused, then his eyes lit up with realization. "I almost forgot¡ªyou¡¯re an earth-element mage. With your abilities, building the courtyard walls will be a breeze!"

    Rhett nodded approvingly. "Exactly. I wanted to let you know that I''ll take care of the wall construction. However, for more refined work, my current abilities can''t handle it. But I can formrge stones, and the stonemasons can shape them to your specifications."

 Chapter 21: The Secret Hidden in the Antique

    Rhett''s thoughts were simple.

    If the relics of the noble from the ancient Dan Kingdom were truly discovered in the Small Bramble Forest, there was a high possibility that there were more ancient artifacts hidden there.

    "I understand, my lord," Swita responded with a bow.

    Rhett then recalled that Cootin handed over the antique just yesterday evening. Feeling curious, Rhett asked, "Rylee, how did Cootin discover the antique? Wasn''t he supposed to be busy with the construction of the outer fort these past two days?"

    "You¡¯re right, Father. The discovery of the antique is indeed rted to the construction of the outer fort. Cootin exined that he had received new orders to chop down a batch of bramble trees yesterday. Since they rarely needed to cut down this type of tree inrge quantities before, and because the Small Bramble Forest is such a chaotic environment, he decided to clear an uneven area of thend, which led to the discovery..." Rylee said as he took a bite of purple sweet potato mash and recounted the events in an orderly manner.

    So... it was rted to dealing with the bramble wood?

    Rhett remained calm on the surface, but his heart was stirred. In just two days, the trajectory of events had shifted once again!

    If it hadn¡¯t been for the arrival of Kules and Tadel on the night of the extreme cold, there wouldn''t have been any ns for constructing the outer fort.

    Without the construction ns, Cootin wouldn¡¯t have been required to chop down the usually unneeded bramble wood.And if no one cleared the bramble wood area, who knows when this antique zone would have been discovered?

    Suppressing his emotions, Rhett felt a heavy weight on his mind.

    He had already learned that without his intervention, the members of the caravan this time would only include Rylee, Tuck, and Kules, along with a few apprentice knights and retainers.

    This was the same lineup as in thest simtion. If he allowed them to depart as nned, another tragedy would surely unfold.

    ncing at Tuck, who was happily devouring an entire slice of oatmeal bread, Rhett thought about the newly discovered antique and the potential unknown changes it might bring. He decided to lead the caravan personally and see what difference that would make.

    Opening the system:

    [Do you wish to start Text Simtion? Each simted year will consume 5 Destiny Points.]@@novelbin@@

    "Yes, simte one year."

    [Kinlon Calendar Year 473, December 8th. While clearing bramble trees, the leader of the lumberyard, Cootin, unearthed a buried antique. You decided to order a thorough search of the surrounding area to see if other antiques were also buried.]

    [December 9th. You decided to personally lead the caravan to oversee this transaction. On the way to Darm Town, you encountered ate-stage, first-rank me Lion and easily killed it.]

    [December 11th. Upon arriving in Darm Town, Lord Gale warmly weed you and gifted you a lower-grade Battle Qi potion¡ª a Boiling Potion. As a courtesy, you gave him a portion of the me Lion¡¯s corpse. After the transaction, Clina seemed to take a liking to Rylee and gave him a gift. Rylee politely invited her to visit your territory, and she agreed, nning toe in February of next year. Afterward, as you prepared to leave, Gale mentioned a problem: two second-rank magical beasts had been harassing his territory recently, causing significant damage. He requested your assistance and offered two Moonlight Potions aspensation. You agreed.]

    [December 12th. Early in the morning, you and Gale arrived at a small hill where a pair of Firefeather Eagles had nested on a me Tree. Realizing your ill intentions, the Firefeather Eaglesunched an attack. After a fierce battle, you and Gale, with the help of Rylee and seven first-rank knights, managed to kill one eagle and severely wound the other, which fled in defeat. In the Firefeather Eagles¡¯ nest on the me Tree, you found two eggs, their offspring, much to your delight. You and Baron Gale decided to split the eggs between you.]

    [December 21st. You reached Twilight City and sessfullypleted the exchange for water-elemental magic nt seeds. At the Dalton Auction House, you nned to auction the antique vase. However, after the appraisal process, the president of the auction house approached you, expressing his fondness for collecting antiques. He offered to purchase it for three times the starting price¡ª 90 gold coins. After some hesitation, you agreed to his request.]

    [December 22nd. While concealing your presence, the caravan was ambushed by a group of bandits shortly after leaving the city. Thanks to your intervention, you killed them all, gaining some rewards.]

    [December 30th. The caravan returned home. Upon arriving at the castle, you were informed by Swita that three more antiques had been unearthed in the Small Bramble Forest. Not being a fan of collecting antiques, you nned to sell them all during the next caravan trip.]

    [Kinlon Calendar Year 474, January 3rd. A second-rank Ironhorn Sheep and a second-rank mehound engaged in a fierce battle near Sun Lake on the western side of your territory. Both were gravely injured. You had been lying in wait nearby and took advantage of the situation, iming victory as a bystander.]

    [January 8th. A traveling merchant visited your territory. After exchanging a few pleasantries, you sent him away.]

    [January 15th. Due to the caravan¡¯s previous leak of information about your recovery, Roy from Maple Forest Town came to visit you and gifted you a bottle of Red Maple Potion. He also suggested arranging a marriage between your families, which you declined.]

    [March 15th. Upon the return of the most recent caravan, Rylee urgently reported to you that the antique you sold privately to the president of Dalton Auction House turned out to be a relic of a noble from the ancient Dan Kingdom, Count Zach. Each piece contained hiddenbat techniques and mid-level breathing techniques, and the entire collection sold for over a thousand gold coins. You regretted it deeply, but it was toote.]

    [June 29th. Tuck advanced to thete stage of the first-rank knight.]

    [July 12th. You were ambushed by an unidentified knight. Both of you were severely injured, but the opponent managed to escape.]

    [August 9th. A third-rank Thunder Armor Bear wandered into your territory. Due to your prior preparations, you evacuated the residents in time, preventing any casualties. However, your territory suffered catastrophic damage.]

    [August 15th. An evil alchemist passed through your territory. As a third-rank mage, you had already led the key members of your territory to evade the area, narrowly avoiding disaster.]

    [September 1st. You received news that Earl ine had issued a kingdom-wide bounty for a third-rank mage who had ruthlessly killed three barons and a viscount within a mere half-month.]

    [October 3rd. Earl ine issued another announcement, revealing that a small-scale beast tide was brewing in the Darkstripe Eagle Branch of the magical beast mountain range. He advised you to prepare for battle against the impending beast tide.]

    [October 17th. A group of second-rank magical beasts led by a Darkfrost Wolf, along with a dozen first-rank magical beasts, attacked your territory. Thanks to your foresight, you were able to provide timely support, resolving the crisis. However, your territory suffered the loss of eleven civilians.]

    [October 20th. Under themand of Earl ine, a counteroffensive wasunched. You were dispatched to the front lines at the Darkstripe Eagle Branch. Unfortunately, on the way there, you encountered the evil alchemist again and perished in the confrontation.]

    "Whoo..."

    Rhett exhaled deeply after reading through the simtion.

    This time, the amount of information was overwhelming, simting all the way tote October of next year, nearlypleting a full year.

 Chapter 22: Analysis

    Based on the adjustments made from the previous simtion, this round of the [Text Simtion] has brought about numerous changes, with a series of rich experiences.

    Rhett remained calm, his mind rapidly analyzing the results after having undergone several simtions.

    First and foremost, the departure of the caravan needed to be postponed. Initially, he thought that the antique Cootin found was just an ordinary relic. Even if all the antiques were unearthed and sold, the proceeds would only amount to a few hundred gold coins. In normal circumstances, this would be a considerable windfall. However, whenpared to a mid-level breathing technique orbat skill, a few hundred gold coins paled inparison.

    Since mid-level breathing techniques could enhance the foundation of his family, this matter required serious attention. Postponing the caravan''s departure by a few days wasn''t a big deal. Moreover, Rhett nned to personally lead the next caravan outing, as the simtion results showed that things would proceed smoothly under his leadership.

    By doing so, he could avoid the tragic fate of Tuck bing crippled and prevent casualties among the caravan members. Additionally, he was intrigued by the spoils gained from helping Baron Gale deal with the Firefeather Eagles in Darm Town¡ªthe Firefeather Eagle eggs.

    These were the offspring of magical beasts, and if nurtured properly, they could be a powerful asset for the family.

    Taming a magical beast wasn¡¯t an easy task, even for nobles. It wasn¡¯t simply a matter of finding a beast, beating it up, and then signing a contract. High-ranking beasts might choose death over submission. Even if one encountered a cowardly beast, forcibly taming it would require a scroll crafted by a grandmaster-level alchemist, and such scrolls were exorbitantly priced, used by only a select few.

    In short, given the resources of Fledgling Eagle Town, obtaining such a scroll was impossible in the short term.

    Besides that, there was another method to tame a magical beast.This involved raising a beast from infancy, building a bond with it, and guiding it to voluntarily sign a bloodline contract when it recognized you as its true master.

    Yes, a magical beast could initiate a contract, saving humans a great deal of cost. But achieving this was not easy and came with many limitations.

    First, magical beast cubs were rare because magical creatures had low fertility rates and were highly protective of their young, making it hard to find cubs. Additionally, the selected beast couldn¡¯t have a temperament that was too wild or rebellious. Even if you raised it from infancy and developed a good rtionship, taming it might still be difficult.

    The best approach was to choose a magical beast with a rtively gentle nature and raise it from birth, ensuring its parents weren¡¯t around. That way, the young beast would consider you its closestpanion from the start.

    As the young beast grew, you could guide it to voluntarily sign a bloodline contract while it was still immature andcked full intelligence¡ªlike an infant. This method had a high sess rate.

    It was simr to raising a puppy. If you nurtured it from birth, it would be easier to build a close bond than if you took it in at several months old. Once bonded, it would follow its owner everywhere, fetching balls with a simple prompt.

    Taming a magical beast followed a simr logic. For Rhett, this presented an excellent opportunity.

    Although Firefeather Eagles weren¡¯t ideal in terms of temperament, all other conditions were met. And their temper wasn¡¯t so bad that they couldn¡¯t be tamed; it would just require more effort during the training process.

    If the bloodline contract seeded, Rhett would gain a flying magical beast!

    "A flying magical beast would be a tremendous asset once fully grown. And eagle-type magical beasts hatch from eggs... It¡¯ll be easy enough to ensure that the first thing it sees when it opens its eyes is me..." A glint of determination shed in Rhett¡¯s eyes¡ªthis was an opportunity too good to miss.

    Although the simtion¡¯s final oue still ended with his death, Rhett wasn¡¯t overly concerned about the third-rank mage, the Thunder Armor Bear, or the beast tide. The same logic applied¡ªthe Rhett in the simtion didn¡¯t have the same advantage of a golden finger, and the crises in the simtion might not ur in reality.

    Besides, Rhett also nned to begin preparing for his advancement to a third-rank mage in the near future. However, he needed to address two issues first.

    The first was his supply of Destiny Points. Given the impending beast tide next year, he needed to make the most of the rtively stable period before the chaos. His n was to go to the Darkstripe Eagle Branch of the magical beast mountain range and y some beasts. His general strategy involved heavily injuring second-rank beasts and letting his sons finish them off, thereby achieving the requirements for defeating higher-ranked enemies. After all, he had no confidence in taking on third-rank beasts directly, as it would be a suicidal endeavor.

    The second issue was the Moonlight Potions. His current stock of Moonlight Potions was insufficient. In the Real Simtion, he could refine two bottles in two hours, but after that, he was left with regr meditation, wasting the remaining hours of the Real Simtion. This inefficiency needed to be addressed by restocking, and Twilight City was an ideal ce to purchase more. He nned to keep an eye out during the next caravan outing.

    Aside from these matters, one change in the simtion puzzled him. In previous simtions, the mysterious knight who ambushed him always fled. However, this time, the oue was that they both ended up severely injured.

    Without any specific details, Rhett concluded that this change was likely due to his personal involvement in leading the caravan. He mentally noted this for future reference.

    At that moment, Rylee called out, "Father, I¡¯ve finished breakfast and am ready to depart now."

    Rhett snapped out of his thoughts, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. Thinking about the breathing technique andbat skills hidden in the antique vase, he calmly said, "Hold on. Can I take a look at that antique vase?"

    "Of course, it belongs to you," Rylee replied, heading outside. A short whileter, he returned, carefully carrying a half-meter-tall, brightly colored vase in his hands.

    Setting the vase on the ground, some dirt clinging to it fell to the floor. Despite this, Rylee handled it with care and casually remarked, "The vase is rectangr, which is quite rare."

    Most vases had more curvaceous shapes like bulbous or trumpet forms, making a rectangr vase an umon find.

    Rhett squinted slightly, realizing why this was the case. He had initially assumed it was a curved vase and wondered how the contents could be imprinted on the interior curves. But now, with a rectangr vase, it would be much simpler to achieve this using basic alchemical techniques.

    Approaching the vase, Rhett crouched down and snapped his fingers, causing a light to form inside the vase.

    This was a basic use of light elements, less effective than a first-rank illumination spell, but sufficient for small tasks.

    As the bright light illuminated the interior, Rhett focused intently, but after a thorough inspection, he found nothing unusual, causing a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

    Curious, Rylee leaned in andmented, "Father, I examined it yesterday and found nothing inside."

    Rhett remained silent for a moment before suggesting, "Try washing it out."

    Though puzzled, Rylee didn¡¯t question him and followed the instruction.

    Water began to condense in the air, forming a stream that flowed into the rectangr vase.

    Rylee peered inside as water swirled around and muttered, "There¡¯s still nothing..."@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 25: The Mirror

    The thorn trees in this area grew haphazardly, with uneven heights and crooked trunks, each covered in sharp thorns. These thorns varied in length from a few centimeters to more than ten centimeters, and anyone who carelessly stumbled into them would surely end up with a few painful punctures. Themon folk of Hawk Town usually avoided this dangerous ce. Even the experienced woodcutters of the East Eagle Lumberyard had to stay vignt when moving through the forest. Their exaggerated movements, though precise, were necessary to dodge the thorns¡ªthey had no desire to return home injured.

    Rhett watched as the woodcutters shifted positions, their movements strange and awkward. Some bent at the waist, others squatted low, and some leaned to the right, forming shapes reminiscent of arcs. Their postures changed rapidly to avoid the thorns, making Rhett think of scenes from movies where spies contorted their bodies to navigate throughser grids. It was amusingly simr.

    Shaking off these odd thoughts, Rhett scanned the area again, counting over thirty small pits already dug in the forest. His attention was soon drawn to a woodcutter who had been lying on the ground, crawling forward with one hand while avoiding two thorn trees that formed an "X" shape. Once clear of the obstacle, the woodcutter stood up, scanning the ground as if deciding where to dig next.

    Dressed in a dirt-streaked ck coat, the familiar figure was none other than Kootin. But what caught Rhett''s eye was the mirror in Kootin''s hand. Although the surface was dirty, caked with soil, Rhett could still recognize it as a mirror. Its back was brightly colored, and even theyer of dirt couldn''tpletely dull its vibrant hues.

    "Another antique?" Tuck, Rhett''s eldest son, noticed as well. Rolling up his sleeves, he felt an urge to join in the digging. Thest antique had already rewarded him with a mid-level breathing technique. Who knew what other surprises the next one might hold?

    Rhett caught Tuck''s eager nce and his rolled-up sleeves. As a father, he could easily guess his son''s thoughts. He firmly patted Tuck on the shoulder, signaling for him to stay put with a reassuring look. Then, Rhett called out loudly toward the thorn forest, "Everyone inside, listen up! Kootin, gather your men and leave the thorn forest immediately!"

    Though Rhett and his sons were only a few dozen meters from the forest, the woodcutters, who were ordinary folk, had been too focused on avoiding thorns and digging the ground to notice their approach. The dense shadows cast by the thorn trees only made it harder to keep track of anything outside the forest. It wasn''t until Rhett''s voice rang out that they snapped to attention, recognizing the familiar voice.

    Kootin, startled, stepped onto a dirt mound, gripping his shovel in one hand as he echoed Rhett''s order. His other hand waved vigorously as he shouted, "Alright, everyone, the lord has spoken! We need to leave the forest immediately. No dawdling¡ªlet''s regroup outside. And be careful of the thorns!"

    Though Kootin didn''t know why the lord had given such an order, he followed it without question. The woodcutters were quick to respond, emerging from different parts of the forest and gathering around Kootin. As their leader, Kootin made sure everyone was ounted for and unharmed before leading them to Rhett."Good morning, my lord. I nned to focus on digging this morning, and after two hours of work, I''ve uncovered another antique. It appears to be a mirror." Kootin reported, holding out the mirror with both hands. His face, smudged with dirt, showed both seriousness and excitement.

    Though Rhett already knew the oue, he epted the mirror with both hands, examining it closely. After a moment, he nodded and handed the mirror to Rylee, who stood to his left. Rhett smiled and patted Kootin on the shoulder, offering a few words of encouragement before turning to address the group.

    "Your current method of digging is too slow. I''ll use magic to help clear most of the obstacles," Rhett announced.

    Rylee nced at his father, then at the thorn forest, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. It was another chance to witness his father''s magic in action. The woodcutters of East Eagle Lumberyard were equally curious. They had heard that their lord was a mage, but they had never seen him cast a spell. Today, they would finally get to see it with their own eyes.

    Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Rhett focused his energy, drawing deeply on his mental strength. What he was about to do wasn''t exactly casting a spell in the traditional sense but rather manipting the earth element with his magical affinity¡ªa broader form of magic. True magic, as practiced by mages, was a highlyplex art involving precise elemental paths and tightlypressed energy, far more powerful than simple elemental maniption.

    In the outer area of the thorn forest, about 20 square meters ofnd began to tremble slightly. Clumps of soil lifted into the air and drifted to a nearby clearing, leaving behind an area that would have taken a woodcutter half a day to clear. The sight left the woodcutters in awe. Hawk Town was a remote ce, and most of the townsfolk wouldn''t dare venture far from home. The wild beasts alone were difficult to handle, not to mention magical creatures and other unknown dangers. They had never witnessed such a miraculous disy before.

    The only extraordinary power they had seen was the raw physical strength of knights, their ability to shatter objects with their bodies, and the glowing waves of fighting spirit released from their punches and kicks. Mages were a concept they had only heard of asionally from knights. Now, seeing it firsthand, they were filled with awe, gazing at their lord with newfound reverence.

    After about ten minutes, beads of sweat appeared on Rhett''s forehead. He had been moving soil continuously, and the mental strain was beginning to take its toll.

    "Ah..." Rhett exhaled deeply, rxing his body. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and looked ahead. The thorn forest was now vastly different. With so much soil moved, the thorn trees had lost their support and were now leaning or lying t in the loose earth.@@novelbin@@

    At that moment, Tuck pulled out a towel from somewhere and reached toward Rhett''s forehead. Midway, Rhett intercepted the towel with a roll of his eyes. "I''ll do it myself," he said, snatching the towel from Tuck''s hand.

    ...

 Chapter 28: Intense Battle

    Rhett pondered over Tuck¡¯s exnation. Without witnessing the actual effects, he might not have given this technique much thought. At first nce, it seemed like a movement skill that only allowed for quicker retreats along recently traveled paths. Most movement techniques, however, offered a more versatile boost in speed and agility, allowing for swift movements in any direction. Compared to those, this technique appeared limited.

    But recalling Tuck¡¯s near-instantaneous backward step, Rhett realized that the upper limits of this technique were extraordinary. With such speed, dodging attacks or avoiding fatal blows would be effortless. On the battlefield or in life-or-death duels, this would drastically enhance mobility and survival chances. Moreover, using the technique to move forward again could introduce unpredictable dynamics intobat. These factors alone justified its ssification as a mid-tier technique.

    Rhett couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°What could the second level of this technique hold?¡±

    Rylee chimed in, ¡°It sounds incredible. I hope you master it soon, big brother. But with your leg injury, maybe you should skip tomorrow¡¯s trade trip and rest here to focus on training.¡±

    Tuck, however, wasn¡¯t having it. He quickly stood up, leaning slightly to one side but still shaking his head in defiance. ¡°It¡¯s just a cramp. I¡¯ll be fine in no time. Training as a knight isn¡¯t like being a mage. I¡¯ve been through worse¡ªthis won¡¯t slow me down at all!¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Rylee began, only to be interrupted by Rhett. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss the technique moreter. I believe Tuck is a brave and resilient knight. A good night¡¯s sleep will take care of this. The trade trip will proceed as nned tomorrow!¡±

    With Rhett having the final say, Rylee shrugged, epting his decision.

    ¡°Tuck, how much of the technique have you memorized?¡± Rhett asked as he returned to his chair, his gaze fixed on the mirror.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got about seventy to eighty percent of the first level down. Give me a few more minutes, and I¡¯ll have it all,¡± Tuck confidently replied. Mastering a technique wasn¡¯t about memorizingrge chunks of text; it involved physical practice and understanding the flow of Battle Qi. Once grasped, it was easy to recall. The key was to embed the technique into muscle memory, a process that required ongoing, hands-on practice.Rhett nodded and said, ¡°The mirror will stay with me. When the sunsetes again, you can return to the fifth floor to continue learning the technique. We must keep the mirror¡¯s secrets hidden from others.¡± With that, Rhett took the mirror and left for his room, disappearing down a hallway.

    ¡°No problem, Father. We¡¯ll be waiting at the dinner table,¡± Rylee replied.

    ¡°Be there soon,¡± Rhett¡¯s voice echoed back.

    ...

    Late at night, the small town of Eagletowny silent under the moonlit sky. The clouds had dispersed, revealing the moon¡¯s bright face, casting a serene glow over thend. The townsfolk were fast asleep, replenishing their energy for the day ahead. Even at the southeastern stables, where the town¡¯s horses were housed, most of the animals had settled in for the night.

    But in one particr stall, an intense ¡°battle¡± was taking ce.

    It¡¯s often said that timing and order are crucial in love, and this holds true for horses as well. Normally, the leading gray horse¡ªa standout among the herd of draft horses, though unimpressive to ckie¡ªdidn¡¯t catch ckie¡¯s eye. Recently, however, perhaps due to the onset of mating season, ckie had started to see Gray in a different light. Despite still being unimpressed by the other draft horses, Gray had begun to seem more appealing, awakening a primal instinct within ckie.

    In the past, ckie had experienced simr urges, but being just over two years old and having spent most of its life in Eagletown, it had never encountered a mate that truly captured its heart. Tonight, things were different. Its handler had locked it in the stall with Gray, and after indulging in tonight¡¯s ¡°feast,¡± ckie¡¯s desire for procreation was stronger than ever.

    Gray, too, seemed restless after its meal. Soon, their primal instincts took over, setting off a fiery ¡°battle¡± in the stall.

    ...

    Outside the stall, George, bundled up in a thick coat, crouched in the hay, peering through a small gap into the stall. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight but quickly covered his mouth, not wanting to interrupt.

    The night echoed with a sudden, sharp whinny from within the stall¡ªa sound that carried far into the night.

    George¡¯s expression grew serious as he watched Gray copse onto the ground. Disappointed, he muttered, ¡°I gave you extra helpings of that special herb. You¡¯re a draft horse, for goodness¡¯ sake!¡±

    ckie seemed to share his frustration. With a strong hoof, it nudged Gray, as if to say, ¡°You¡¯re pathetic¡ªonly thinking of yourself!¡±

    ckie¡¯s kick was powerful,nding squarely on Gray¡¯s sturdiest part¡ªits back. Gray, exhausted, seemed to shrink away, meekly shifting to the corner of the stall, burying its head and refusing to move. ckie, still fuming, plopped down on top of Gray and closed its eyes, settling in for sleep in this odd position.

    Seeing no signs of a ¡°second round,¡± George shook his head and decided to head back inside. It was too cold outside, especially at night. Besides, he had been out here for two hours already. With things settled, there was no need to linger.

    As he walked back, George¡¯s mind was filled with one thought: ¡°Will it work? When will we see the results?¡±

    ...

    The following morning, Stewart hurried through Eagletown. He hadn¡¯t even had time for breakfast; no one had informed him until Rylee mentioned early in the morning that the trade trip was set to depart today. Holding a piece of roasted sweet potato and a slice of bread, he treated his errand as a morning run, heading straight for George¡¯s door.

    By the time he reached his destination, the bread was gone, and the sweet potato peel had been tossed into the grass along the stone path. Stewart knocked on the door.

    ¡°Hey, George! It¡¯s important,¡± Stewart called out as he stood in front of the 200-square-foot wooden house.@@novelbin@@

    Having stayed upte the previous night, George had allowed himself the rare luxury of sleeping in. Half-awake, he heard the steward knocking. Jolted awake, he quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the courtyard, where he found Stewart standing in the center.

    Dressed in his nightclothes, George made eye contact with Stewart, who raised his hands in a shrug. ¡°The door was unlocked, so I just came in¡­¡±

 Chapter 31: The Death of the Flame Lion and the Origins of Precision Magic

    "Sorry, I''m a bitte," Rhett said casually as he rode up to Tuck on his gray horse. Though his tone was light, his eyes were sharp as they carefully scanned Tuck from head to toe, not missing a single detail. After a thorough check, he let out a sigh of relief¡ªthere were no serious injuries.

    In truth, Rhett had arrived just as the fight between Tuck and the me Lion had started. The battle had been swift, and Rhett had witnessed the lion''s fire-breathing attack from a distance. He could have ended the fight with a single lethal strike then and there, but he sensed something in Tuck¡ªa faint trace of the technique he had practiced the previous day. That familiar feeling made Rhett decide to hold back and watch.

    The brink of death is often the best time for breakthroughs, though not every life-or-death situation offers such an opportunity. Seeing Tuck in this moment of potential, Rhett couldn¡¯t bear to intervene. As a seasoned warrior, with countless battles behind him, Rhett knew he could end the me Lion''s life at any moment with his precise magic.

    He had confidence in Tuck and the effectiveness of the technique he had learned. Even though there was a gap between mid- andte-stage first-tier fighters, Rhett knew that Tuck wouldn¡¯t fall so easily.

    Satisfied that Tuck was unharmed, Rhett turned his attention to the me Lion¡¯s corpse. The beast had been thrown several meters by the force of Tuck¡¯s final blow, only to be impaled by Rhett¡¯s earthen spike. Its lifeless body hung gruesomely from the spike, its face a bloody mess.

    "Hmm? It looks like I wasn¡¯t even needed¡ªthis me Lion might have died from your strike alone," Rhett mused, ncing at the bloodied lion before casting a curious eye back at Tuck, who was still catching his breath.

    It was clear that Tuck''s final blow had been effective. While it hadn''tpletely destroyed the lion''s head, it had caused significant damage, enough to leave the beast on the brink of death. Rhett realized that even if he hadn''t intervened, Tuck''s life would not have been in danger.

    "Don''t say that, Father. Maybe, but facing a desperate and enraged lion isn¡¯t easy. If the fight had continued, I¡¯d likely be seriously injured," Tuck admitted, patting his chest as he recalled the brief but intense battle. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of lingering fear.

    "Ugh," Tuck suddenly winced in pain, his hand moving to his left arm, pressing on it lightly. It was clear that the powerful impact from blocking the me Lion''s attack had injured his arm. While it wasn¡¯t broken, the difort in his joints made him hesitant to move it too much."Father, it seems my left arm is injured. I need a solidifying potion," Tuck requested, looking at his father for help.

    Rhett eyed Tuck''s arm, reached into his coat, and pulled out a potion. "Here, take this."

    "Thank you, Father! By the way, your finishing spell was amazing¡ªperfectly executed! You hit the heart dead-on, leaving no chance for survival!" Tuck grinned as he gratefully epted the potion.

    With the danger passed, Tuck felt his body rx.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, <em>Of course.</em> While the earthen spike spell was basic, when used correctly and with precision, it could be deadly. For most ground-based creatures, a well-aimed spike from below posed a serious threat.

    After countless battles, Rhett had honed his precision with this spell to the point where it felt second nature. On a battlefield, where every mistake could mean death, he had learned to execute his spells with near-perfect uracy.

    For most mages, without the same rigorous training and experience, hitting a fast-moving target¡¯s vital spot¡ªlike the heart¡ªwas incredibly difficult. Even a slight miss could result in a failed kill, leaving a wounded enemy capable of retaliating.

    The sound of hooves and wheels approached quickly, mixing with the rhythmic pounding of boots. Within minutes, the rest of the group caught up.

    "What happened, Father? Brother, why did you stop... Oh, my goodness! Did you just kill a me Lion?" Rylee eximed as he dismounted and hurried over to join them, his eyes wide with amazement at the sight of the beast¡¯s corpse.

    me Lions were formidable opponents, known for their speed, strength, and ferocity. With sharp ws, fangs, powerful limbs, and the ability to breathe fire, they were well-rounded predators. Their presence was a serious threat to both knights and mages alike.

    Realizing how dangerous the situation had been, Rylee looked at his father with admiration and relief. "Thank goodness you arrived in time, Father. If not, Tuck might have been in real trouble."

    Rylee''s words were urate, though Tuck¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t let him admit it without a fight. Just as Tuck was about to argue, Rylee noticed something strange.

    While examining the scene, Rylee¡¯s eyesnded on the me Lion''s face, now a bloody mess, clearly the result of blunt force trauma¡ªsomething not typically associated with a mage''s methods.

    Realizing there hadn¡¯t been another knight present, Rylee turned to Tuck, his surprise evident. "Did you do this?"@@novelbin@@

    "Yeah! Just noticed?" Tuck replied, his chin lifted in pride as he unscrewed the potion and took arge gulp.

    His injuries weren¡¯t too severe¡ªhalf the potion would be enough.

    Seeing Tuck¡¯s arm moving stiffly, Rylee nodded in understanding, piecing together what had happened. "Alright, that¡¯s... quite the miracle!"

    Tuck''s face fell slightly¡ªcouldn''t his brother just give him a straightforwardpliment?

    Rylee chuckled and pped his hands. "Alright, let¡¯s get some help here! Load the me Lion¡¯s body onto one of the wagons!"

    Magical beasts were valuable, especially their magic cores, which were the most precious parts of their bodies. These cores could be refined into alchemical materials or used in magical equipment. High-grade magic cores could even serve as the elemental core of a mage¡¯s staff.

    Knowing the potential for unexpected encounters, the caravan had left two wagons empty, just in case.

    "Father, should we search the area? There might be a me Lion cub or another magical beast nearby," Rylee suggested after walking around the area twice.

    Rhett considered the idea. Without his foresight, this would be a reasonable decision. Unable to find a reason to refuse, he nodded slightly.

    "Alright, but you¡¯ll stay here. I¡¯ll scout the area myself. I can sense more than you can and cover the ground faster," Rhett said after a moment of thought.

    ......

 Chapter 33: The Story of War Fortress

    ...

    At the knights'' training ground, a section had been specifically marked off. A tall man in his early thirties stood in the center, swinging a long sword at several Ironwood training dummies from all directions, producing a rhythmic thumping sound. asionally, he would let out a muffled grunt, venting his frustrations.

    This man was none other than Baron Garret! But clearly, at this moment, his mood was far from pleasant.

    "Damn Firefeather Eagle, don''t get too cocky. I''ll find a way to pluck your feathers and skin you alive sooner orter!"

    "Pluck the feathers!"

    "Skin it alive!"

    "You damn bird!" As he continued hacking away, he repeatedly spat out these curses, matching each word with a sword strike.

    His old butler, Peril, hurriedly entered the training ground and, upon seeing his lord, quickened his pace. As Peril approached, Garret took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

    Once he hadposed himself, he asked, "Peril, what is it?"Peril nced at the multiple sword marks on the training dummies, silently noting his lord¡¯s foul mood. He quickly reported, "My lord, Damys just passed along a message. It seems the lord of Hawkeye Town has brought his caravan into our territory."

    "Is this information reliable?"

    "It seems so. ording to Damys, the person leading the caravan looks to be around forty, clearly the central figure of the group. Moreover, both Tuck and Rylee have previously mentioned that their father would be returning soon. So, I believe the credibility is quite high."

    "The lord of Hawkeye Town... his name is Rhett Green, I believe? A magic user..." Garret muttered, breathing lightly while resting both hands on his sword, which was nted in the ground.

    "Yes, a mage who specializes in earth magic. Damys mentioned that the caravan from Hawkeye Town brought the corpse of a me Lion, which bore the marks of an Earth Spike spell. It¡¯s unlikely that such a wound could have been made by anyone other than the lord of Hawkeye Town," the old butler reasoned.@@novelbin@@

    In just a few seconds, Garret¡¯s breathing steadied, and his gaze flickered with thought. His mind immediately turned to the possibility that this neer might help him deal with the Firefeather Eagle problem.

    "My father always said that anyone who earned merit on the battlefield and even became a noble because of it is not to be underestimated!" Garret mused. He had no doubt about the strength of this soon-to-arrive Baron of Hawkeye Town.

    His father, Rocky, after retiring from the battlefield, had sparred with many of the surrounding noble knights, achieving impressive results. Even in his old age, suffering from hidden ailments, his father still won over ny percent of his matches against knights of the same level.

    "I wonder what kind of strength this lord of Hawkeye Town possesses," Garret thought, narrowing his eyes. He didn¡¯t set his expectations too high; if this lord could match his father¡¯s level, he would be more than satisfied.

    Making a quick decision, Garret sheathed his sword at his waist and quickly issued orders. "Peril, head to the knights'' training ground and instruct all the first-tier knights to stop their training and stand by, ready for battle!"

    After a moment''s thought, he added, "Prepare for a battle with the Firefeather Eagle. I¡¯ll go greet the lord of Hawkeye Town who has already arrived. Also, remind the cook, Mnie, to prepare avish feast, and make sure the servants clean the hall thoroughly. If I find any stains, their wages will be docked for a month! But if they do a good job, they¡¯ll receive a month¡¯s bonus!"

    Satisfied that he had covered all the details, Garret left for his mount.

    "Don¡¯t worry, my lord. I will personally see to it that everything is taken care of," the old butler replied, his mind sharp as ever. He had a good idea of what his lord was nning and felt a renewed sense of energy.

    Peril had been serving at War Fortress¡ªhis name for the manor¡ªsince the previous lord''s time. The name was a tribute to the iron-blooded years on the battlefield, and Peril had a strong sense of belonging and pride associated with the fortress.

    The recent harassment by the Firefeather Eagle had left the entire territory in a state of unease. Both the lord and the servants of War Fortress were often troubled, and Peril felt their distress keenly. However, he had a hunch that the arrival of the lord of Hawkeye Town, like the old master, who had also been a soldier at the Gorge Front, might bring about a solution to their current predicament.

    "The Firefeather Eagle, which has destroyed arge area of farnd and over a hundred magical nts¡ªyour days are numbered," Peril thought, smiling as he headed toward the knights'' training ground.

    With two personal guards in tow, Garret rode his green-hoofed horse into the bustling town. Despite Damm Town''s early development and its size being five times that of Hawkeye Town, he quickly located Rhett and his group.

    The knights, d in armor, stood in neat rows. The mage, with a distinguished aura, led the caravan at the front. The long line of wagons, loaded with an array of goods, caught the attention of the townsfolk. The sight of such a noble caravan was rare, even in Damm Town.

    While most of the townsfolk, dressed in thick cotton coats, watched from a distance, some eagerly approached with various goods, seeking to trade. However, the majority of the townspeople didn¡¯t have much wealth, merely offering wild honey, cheese, dried fish, and other simple items. They were simply curious; noble caravans rarely passed through Damm Town, let alone traded withmoners.

    The caravan from Hawkeye Town, however, not only engaged in trade with them but also brought fish and shrimp from theke, which were particrly popr. The reason for this was simple: the ins surrounding Damm Townckedkes, especiallyrge ones, and Hawkeye Town''s Sun Lake was the only one of its kind nearby.

    Tuck, Kurs, the apprentice knights Trull and Miguel, and the apanying squires all focused intently on maintaining order. Rhett took it all in, observing the scene.

    Traveling through the town and sellingmon goods wasn¡¯t about the profit. This practice, initiated by Rylee, had been ongoing for three or four years now. ording to Rylee, it was an effective and cost-efficient way to maintain their reputation.

    Hawkeye Town''s poption was small, and keeping a certain level of visibility could attract outsiders¡ªperhaps wanderers who couldn''t survive in their viges, victims of persecution, or others who had heard about Hawkeye Town from someone else. For those with nowhere else to turn, seeking refuge in a noble''s territory was far better than being homeless.

    Especially now that Hawkeye Town had reliable strength and controlled Sun Lake. In the past, when there was no lord in residence, the results were minimal, but Rylee believed that things would be different moving forward.

    His eyes gleamed as he noticed some people sneaking nces at his father, whispering among themselves. This was information he had deliberately spread: his father was a second-tier mage, a baron who had retired from the battlefield¡ªRhett Green.

    Additionally, Rylee had another goal in mind: hoping for a stroke of luck. Perhaps someone might unknowingly trade away something valuable?

    If not for this dual purpose, the quickest and most convenient way for the caravan would have been to head straight to the manor and trade with the lord. After all, the townsfolk were merely the lord¡¯s subjects and assets.

 Chapter 36: Barter

    Garret¡¯s eyes twinkled as he casually asked, "How¡¯s the situation at the front lines these days? Rhett, you¡¯ve just returned from the Canyon Frontline; you should know well, right?"

    He sighed, "I used to hear my father talk about the frontline often, but it¡¯s been years now, and no one talks about it anymore."

    Rhett nced at Garret and pondered for a moment before responding, "The Canyon Frontline is just a small battlefield. Over the past few years, not much has changed since your father¡¯s time. The biggest difference is that, recently, more and more Bloodmoon Werewolves from the royal bloodline have been sent to the front. But they¡¯re mostly low-tier werewolves, not much of a threat¡ªI even helped take one down myself."

    Thinking about the Bloodmoon Werewolves, Rhett couldn''t help but feel a hint of gratitude. If it hadn¡¯t been for a foolish werewolf that got lost and was surrounded and killed by his squad, it might have taken him several more years to earn his noble title.@@novelbin@@

    "Bloodmoon Werewolves? You¡¯ve killed one?" Garret¡¯s voice shot up in pitch, clearly intrigued. He recalled his father¡¯s stories about how the werewolves'' ws could tear through steel with ease,bining both speed and strength. For lone knights, they were like living nightmares. With their bloodthirsty nature, Bloodmoon Werewolves could devour flesh to rapidly recover their strength, bing an unstoppable force on the battlefield if not dealt with swiftly. Garret¡¯s father¡¯s squad had been nearly wiped out by one, and his father only survived due to his skills as a scout, narrowly escaping with his life. Even after all these years, the fear in his father¡¯s eyes when recounting the story was unforgettable.

    "My father¡¯s squad was almost wiped out, and you managed to assist in killing one? That¡¯s truly impressive!" Garret sincerely praised.

    "It was likely because your father¡¯s squad didn¡¯t have a mage," Rhett thought to himself. He believed Garret¡¯s ount, knowing full well how powerful Bloodmoon Werewolves were in closebat. As part of the royal bloodline among beastmen, they were indeed formidable. In a one-on-one fight, whether mage or knight, the odds were against them. But a battlefield isn¡¯t a ce for fair duels; it¡¯s a ce where anything goes for survival. Despite their strengths, Bloodmoon Werewolves had their weaknesses¡ªslow growth, limited numbers, and no significant ranged attacks, relying instead on throwing spears or stones. With a well-coordinated team of knights and mages, the odds could easily tip in favor of the humans, especially with poisoned weapons and strategic magic to weaken the werewolves.

    Garret¡¯s assessment of Rhett rose even higher upon learning of his aplishments on the battlefield. As they continued their tour of Damm Town, Garret¡¯s tone became noticeably more respectful.

    "Lord Rhett, I believe we could establish a long-term cooperative rtionship. What do you think?""Oh? In what areas specifically?"

    "For example, the seafood from Sun Lake¡ªit has a unique vor. Not just me, but even the servants in my castle rave about its freshness and taste!" Garret raised his thumb in approval. As a noble, food quality was one of the few indulgences he allowed himself, given his father¡¯s strict discipline. Three meals a day, plus snacks and supper, were all part of his pursuit of culinary delight.

    "I¡¯m d you enjoy the seafood from Sun Lake, Garret. As the lord of Hawkeye Town, I¡¯m happy to offer it to you at a fair price. Considering our shared history on the Canyon Frontline, how about one silver coin per pound?" Rhett offered a 10% discount on the usual price, which, while still expensive for ordinary food, was justified given Sun Lake¡¯s near monopoly on the market. In this world, supply and demand often dictated prices far more than intrinsic value.

    "The price is fair, but¡­"

    "But what?" Rhett asked, puzzled by what Garret might find unsatisfactory.

    "I think I have something you might find more valuable than gold," Garret replied confidently, gesturing to his waist.

    "A sword? You n to trade swords for seafood? Wait... do you mean to barter training swords made from Ironwood for seafood?" Rhett scrutinized the de at Garret''s side, noticing its color resembled the Ironwood trees from the Red Iron Mountain region.

    "Sharp eyes, Lord Rhett. Indeed, this is a training sword made from Ironwood. While it may not be as durable as weapons crafted through alchemy, it¡¯s far superior in toughness and durabilitypared to ordinary iron-forged weapons. Please, feel it for yourself," Garret said, handing the sword over with a gesture of invitation.

    The offer of bartering caught the attention of both Tuck and Rylee. Rhett epted the sword and felt its weight in his hand¡ªit was as heavy as an iron sword. Impressed, he looked at Garret, who nodded and confirmed, "Yes, it¡¯s about 30% heavier than ordinary Ironwood."

    "Exactly, which makes it feel even better in hand. Whether for training knights or fending off wild beasts, it¡¯s a highly cost-effective choice."

    "Father, may I try it?" Tuck asked eagerly, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

    "Go ahead."

    <em>Whoosh, whoosh.</em>

    Tuck picked up the sword and swung it a few times, generating a soft hum in the air. After a few more swings, he rested the sword in front of him and tapped the de lightly, nodding in approval. "It¡¯s definitely better than our current training swords."

    After Tuck finished, Rylee took his turn, carefully examining the de. He concluded, "Ironwood¡¯s durability far exceeds that of regr iron, saving time and effort. If we reced our training swords with these, we wouldn¡¯t have to worry about frequent wear and tear or unexpected bends."

    "So, Lord Rhett, are you satisfied with my proposal? I assure you, the deal is more than fair," Garret said with a smile, clearly eager for Rhett''s approval. With plenty of Ironwood in his territory, crafting training swords barely put a dent in his resources. His real aim was to strengthen ties with Hawkeye Town¡¯s promising lord.

    "Hawkeye Town¡¯s poption is limited, and our cksmiths are few. Using Ironwood swords would certainly save us a lot of trouble," Rhett thought to himself. Regr apprentice knights couldn¡¯t afford alchemical weapons¡ªonly first-level knights could enjoy such luxury.

    "Very well, it¡¯s a good deal," Rhett decided with a slight smile. Whether it was seafood or training swords, these were minor matters that didn¡¯t require much deliberation. After discussing the details, they agreed to a barter system¡ªone Ironwood sword in exchange for ten pounds of seafood.

    Barter deals like this between nobles weremonce.

 Chapter 40: The Smile in Memory

    Garret¡¯s movements had to be wless. Even the slightest mistake could lead to disaster, as the next strike might not hit his shield but rather target his chest, eyes, or even more vulnerable areas. His expression remained focused and serious as he methodically moved his shield, creating a blur of motion that seemed effortless but was the result of countless hours of practice.

    Each of the eagle¡¯s attacks was expertly parried, but Garret didn¡¯t smile. The precision of his movements brought back memories, some painful, some cherished. His wless technique was honed through years of rigorous training, and it all began with his father.

    After returning from the battlefield, Garret¡¯s father had been a quiet, withdrawn man. Not long after, he started subjecting Garret to harsh training, drilling every movement into perfection. At the time, Garret couldn¡¯t understand it. They had finally be nobles; shouldn¡¯t they be enjoying life?

    He often rebelled, sneaking off to avoid the grueling routines. But his father always found him, and each time, he was met with the sting of the whip. The sharp pain and the welts it left behind only deepened his resentment.

    It wasn¡¯t until yearster, during a drunken night, that his father revealed the truth: his time was running out. The years on the battlefield, the countless wounds and illnesses, had drained his vitality. His father¡¯s despondent expression, as he confessed this, felt like a dagger to Garret¡¯s heart.

    That night, his father shared stories of his time as a scout¡ªhow he had survived countless near-death experiences to deliver vital information back to the army. His father¡¯s training, Garret realized, was born out of a desperate desire to pass on all the survival skills he had learned, hoping to keep his son safe in the future.

    The next day, Garret was changed. The carefree attitude was gone, reced with a determination to endure the rigorous training. Every time hepleted a session, his father¡¯s smile was the greatest reward.

    Now, yearster, that smile was the most precious memory. The pain of the training had long faded into obscurity.

    As Garret parried yet another attack, a sudden opportunity presented itself. He intentionally left his back exposed for just a moment. The eagle seized the chance, shing his back with its talons, leaving six deep wounds.Garret grunted in pain, but a fierce glint appeared in his eyes. He quickly retaliated, swinging his sword infused with a faint white glow. The eagle dodged just in time, but the effort left it vulnerable. With a screech, it retreated into the sky, nursing a fresh wound on its chest.

    Garret, though breathing heavily, allowed himself a small smile. The risk had paid off; it was better to take some damage than to remain passive.

    Meanwhile, the female eagle was faring no better. Every few moments, a massive stone seemed to appear out of nowhere, forcing it to dodge and preventing any chance of a close-range attack. The relentless pressure from Rhett¡¯s <strong>Stonefall Spells</strong> was driving the eagle closer to the <strong>Red me Tree</strong> without it even realizing.

    Rhett¡¯s precise spellcasting allowed him to manipte the battlefield, gradually pushing the eagle into a more vulnerable position.

    Garret noticed this and frowned. He didn¡¯t like the idea of the mage being too far from the main group, but Rhett¡¯s proficiency seemed undeniable. The female eagle was struggling under his constant barrage, leaving little for Garret to worry about. He decided to focus on his own opponent.@@novelbin@@

    He quickly came up with a n. Spotting a rugged section of the hillside that suited his needs, Garret dashed toward it, leaving the safety of the group behind. The eagle, blinded by rage, followed him into the rocky terrain.

    Rhett, seeing Garret¡¯s movement, paused for a moment. He had been contemting how tond a decisive blow using his <strong>Stone Spikes</strong>, a spell that could strike from any angle. But the spell¡¯s use would raise too many questions. If people knew he had ess to such a spell, they might suspect he had taken a rare and dangerous bloodline potion¡ªa luxury that even royal family members found difficult to obtain.

    As Rhett struggled with this dilemma, Garret¡¯s sudden retreat into the hillside provided an unexpected opportunity. The distraction was enough to ease Rhett¡¯s decision, allowing him to focus on the female eagle.

    In the end, Garret''s choice created a blind spot in the battle, but Rhett knew how to turn it to their advantage.

 Chapter 42: Distribution

    On the rocky hillside, shes of white and red light intertwined, shattering several rocks. Garret, his body bearing multiple wounds, finally found an opening in the battle. With a swift movement, his sword, imbued with a brilliant white aura, pierced the chest of the male Fire Feather Eagle.

    The eagle let out a sharp cry, panicking as it quickly flew away from the area. Garret, though pleased, couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of regret¡ªhe had missed the heart!

    As the eagle fled, it turned and saw something even more heart-wrenching: another human was carrying the lifeless body of the female eagle toward it, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

    The male eagle cried out in anguish, spreading its wings wide. Blood dripped from its wounds as it flew toward the <strong>Red me Tree</strong>, clinging to the desperate hope of escaping with its eggs.

    But then, stones began to rain down from the sky.

    The eagle frantically dodged, its wings pping wildly as its muscles strained. The intense evasion only worsened the injury to its chest. Realizing that rescuing its offspring was impossible, the eagle cast onest sorrowful nce at the <strong>Red me Tree</strong>. Its gaze then shifted to the humans below, filled with a mixture of sadness and rage.

    Seeing the human mage preparing another spell, the eagle hastily beat its wings and soared skyward, fleeing in the opposite direction. In a matter of moments, it became a distant speck on the horizon, soon disappearing from view.

    Garret, panting heavily, emerged from behind a pile of stones, relieved. "Victory! Finally!" he eximed. Spotting Rhett approaching, holding the body of the female eagle, Garret¡¯s eyes lit up with admiration. "I thought injuring the male eagle was impressive enough, but you managed to kill the female eagle! What a surprise!"

    Rhett smiled modestly, saying little.@@novelbin@@"Yes! We did it!" Klina¡¯s joyful shout echoed from the mountaintop, followed by a group of knights. She had been worried when she saw Reilly safe on the opposite peak, but now, with the eagle defeated, she was both relieved and amazed.

    She cheered, and the others, caught up in her excitement, raised their swords and joined in the celebration.

    "Yes! The Fire Feather Eagle is dead!"

    "Long live the lord!"

    The apprentice knights, too, joined the celebration, their faces beaming with excitement as they followed the other knights down the hill, gathering behind their respective lords.

    Klina, standing beside Garret, couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Reilly, her expression a mix of emotions. Reilly, slightly embarrassed, offered her an apologetic look.

    He then reached behind him, pulling out a soft, thick cloth package with a noticeable bulge, catching everyone¡¯s attention.

    Rhett spoke up, "Go ahead, Reilly. Let Garret see our spoils."

    "Spoils?" Garret asked curiously, genuinely surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected there to be more than the eagle¡¯s body. Solving the Fire Feather Eagle problem was already a massive relief for him.

    "Yes, and I guarantee it¡¯s something you didn¡¯t expect," Rhett replied with a smile.

    Garret nced at Rhett, then back at the cloth-wrapped package, his curiosity deepening. Reilly didn¡¯t keep him waiting. He carefully unwrapped the right side of the cloth, revealing a <strong>magical beast egg</strong>¡ªits surface adorned with fiery red patterns, intermixed with crystalline white streaks.

    The egg, about the size of a football, gleamed with a faint red aura, exuding an extraordinary presence. A wave of astonishment swept through the group.

    Garret craned his neck, his expression one of disbelief. "Is this¡­ a Fire Feather Eagle¡¯s egg?"

    The egg¡¯s appearance matched the descriptions he had read perfectly. Given the circumstances, there was no doubt about its authenticity. But the sudden windfall left him momentarily stunned.

    With eager anticipation, Reilly unwrapped the left side of the cloth, revealing another identical egg.

    The sight of two magical beast eggs hit Garret like a wave of euphoria. Though he didn¡¯t expect to keep both, he was confident he would at least get one.

    As Garret marveled at the eggs, Rhett extended one toward him. The egg, still radiating a faint warmth in the winter air, took Garret¡¯s breath away. After a moment, he looked at Rhett with heartfelt gratitude and said, "I must say, Rhett, your arrival has indeed brought good fortune to Dam Town. Not only did you help us rid ourselves of the Fire Feather Eagles, but we also reaped such a bountiful reward. May the friendship between Dam Town and Eagle Townst forever!"

    Rhett smiled politely. "You¡¯re too kind, Garret. You yed a crucial role as well. The credit for this victory belongs to both of us."

    "Thank you!" Garret replied sincerely, carefully epting one of the eggs with both hands.

    After surveying the area, Rhett let out a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted. "It¡¯s time to head back. I need some rest. Today¡¯s battle nearly drained my mental strength."

    His words weren¡¯t just modesty. The battle with the female eagle had been intense. At first, Rhett had maintained a steady pace, but when he noticed Reilly moving to nk the eagle¡¯s nest, he realized that the opportunity for a decisive strike might be at hand. The earlier scenarios he had envisioned, where the eagles would either flee or he would be forced to reveal his <strong>Earth Spike</strong> spell, were far from ideal.

    Revealing the <strong>Earth Spike</strong> would have significant consequences, as its use could draw unwanted attention and spection, potentially leading to trouble. The use of such a rare spell would likely cause ripples, especially given the scarcity of <strong>bloodline potions</strong> among nobility.

    When Rhett saw Reilly maneuvering to nk, he understood that using the mountain¡¯s blind spot to conceal his spell would be the perfect solution. That¡¯s why he unleashed his full power, using <strong>Stonefall</strong> to gradually shift the battle towards the southern side of the mountain. This approach, however, had taken a considerable toll on his mental energy.

    Garret pped a hand to his forehead. "Of course! Rhett, yourbat prowess is incredible. After casting so many spells, it¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re exhausted. Leave the cleanup to my knights."

    Rhett nodded, not one to refuse, and found a clean rock to sit on. He then quietly began to meditate, restoring his mental energy.

    An hourter, the battlefield had been cleared, and Garret¡¯s knights regrouped. They had found little aside from a few scattered feathers in the nest. Rhett wasn¡¯t surprised by this oue.

    Having regained his strength through meditation, Rhett stood up just as Garret approached with a somewhat disappointed expression. "My men searched thoroughly, but they found nothing else of value. It seems the Fire Feather Eagle eggs are our greatest prize. And of course, the body of the female eagle, which rightfully belongs to you."

 Chapter 44: Simulated Opening

    Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly. "How do you know these details?"

    Information like this wasn''t a secret on the front lines, but not everyone in the rear had ess to such knowledge.

    The silver-armored knight quickly exined, "Please don''t misunderstand, sir. I''m the personal guard of the Third Lady, temporarily assigned here as the captain of the Adventurer''s Cave guard squad. The Third Lady learned of this news from the Earl, and I happened to be by her side when she heard it."

    With this rification, the silver-armored knight''s gaze toward Rhett changed subtly. The bloodline of the royal beasts among the orcs was exceptionally rare, and the death of one was a significant loss. Even assisting in such a feat was a remarkable achievement. After all, the founder of the Branwen family had umted merits by ying nine royal-blooded beasts a century ago, earning his title as an Earl and securing his own territory. This story was well-known throughout Branwen''s domain.

    "I see," Rhett murmured, understanding dawning in his eyes.

    "Sir, are you here today to open a treasure chest?"

    "That''s right."@@novelbin@@

    The silver-armored knight smiled knowingly, his expression reflecting that he had expected as much. He gestured towards the entrance. "Please, follow me."

    Inside the Adventurer''s Cave, the first floor was bustling with around thirty people. There were only a few knights attending to customers, but each of them was at least a first-level knight, as the prizes inside the treasure chests could be dangerous, requiring at least a first-level knight for handling.Cours, intrigued by the opulent surroundings, marveled at the crystal-paved floors, the shimmering chandeliers, and the carefully crafted artworks. He couldn''t help but be impressed by thevish decor.

    The silver-armored knight who had greeted Rhett radiated the aura of a second-level knight as he led the group upstairs.

    "Rhett, which chest do you wish to open?" the knight asked as they reached the third floor.

    "Let''s go to the third floor," Rhett replied, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. "I haven''t been to Twilight City in over a decade, so let''s make the most of it."

    The silver-armored knight''s eyes lit up at Rhett''s confident deration, and his pace quickened as he led them forward with enthusiasm.

    He brought Rhett to the third floor, which housed the Mythical Caves. "Each cave here contains thirty chests, and each chest costs 100 gold coins to open. Which one would you like to try?"

    The third-floor decor had a different vibe. Instead of the luxurious style of the lower floors, it had a more rustic and ancient feel, with grassy ins and real stone caves.

    "Magic Cave, Knight Cave, Chaos Cave..." Reilly read the names of the caves out loud, his curiosity piqued.

    As the names suggested, the first two caves were likely rted to magic and knights, while the Chaos Cave probably contained a variety of misceneous items.

    Reilly frowned slightly and nudged his father. "Should we check the other floors first?"

    In his mind, spending 100 gold coins on a single chest seemed impractical, especially given the current financial situation of Eagle Town. Even buying more <strong>Boiling Potions</strong> or <strong>Moonshine Potions</strong> would be more cost-effective than gambling on these chests¡ªor so he believed.

    However, what Reilly didn¡¯t know was that Rhett had already activated the <strong>Real Simtion</strong> in his mind.

    <strong>Do you want to start the Real Simtion? It will consume 1 Destiny Point per day.</strong>

    "Yes, simte one day."

    As the space around him rippled, Rhett''s lips curved into a smile. He took out 200 gold coins and handed them to the silver-armored knight before stepping into the Magic Cave.

    Reilly was left speechless, but he had no choice but to follow along.

    Inside the cave, Rhett surveyed the thirty chests arranged in three rows. Without hesitation, he pointed to two of them. "I''ll take chest numbers 6 and 8."

    The silver-armored knight swiftly unlocked the chests, asking, "Would you like to open them yourself, or shall I do it for you?"

    Rhett decided to do it himself. The knight stepped aside, watching as Rhett lifted the lid of chest number 6.

    Inside, a single mid-level magical nty in the center. Rhett¡¯s face darkened.

    He quickly moved on to chest number 8. This time, a scroll with a faint purple glowy inside. Rhett¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    "Thank you for participating..."

    Reilly and Tack exchanged nces, both feeling the sting of disappointment. Tack grumbled, "Father, your luck is terrible! I should¡¯ve opened them instead!"

    Reilly sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on his father''s back, filled with doubt.

    Rhett, on the other hand, furrowed his brows, his expression growing colder. He turned to the silver-armored knight. "This feels like a scam! Why were both chests empty? There must be something wrong here!"

    The knight''s smile froze. "Rhett, sir, you''ve only opened two chests out of thirty. How can you use us of cheating?"

    "It¡¯s simple¡ªopen the rest of the chests," Rhett demanded.

    The knight hesitated but eventually sighed. "It¡¯s possible, but our rules are clear. If you question the legitimacy of the chests and wish to inspect them, you must agree to purchase the right to open five more chests afterward if the inspection proves the chests are legitimate."

    Rhett smiled confidently. "Inspect them. I know the rules."

    The knight scrutinized Rhett but decided toply. He unlocked each chest in turn, revealing their contents.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes scanned the remaining 28 chests, quickly assessing their contents.

    The knight then pointed to chest number 22 and said, "The item in this chest alone is worth the price. Are you satisfied now?"

    Rhett nodded, understanding dawning on his face. "I see... That¡¯s where the big prize is."

    Smiling, Rhett said, "I must have overthought it. Please, reset the chests. We¡¯ll wait outside."

    Back in the third-floor lounge, Reilly couldn¡¯t contain his worry. "Father, we only have about 50 gold coins left. You know we¡¯re running low on funds after buying those potions..."

    Rhett remained calm, patting Reilly''s shoulder. "Don¡¯t worry. Give me four hours."

    "Four hours? Are you going to raise funds in Twilight City? Meet with old acquaintances?" Reilly wondered, puzzled as he watched his father take out a Moonshine Potion and begin meditating.

    Rhett had other ns. With four bottles of Moonshine Potion in hand, he intended to use this simtion to its fullest.

    After a few minutes, the knight from earlier returned, only to find Rhett deep in meditation. He stopped in his tracks, baffled.

    Reilly exined the situation, and though still confused, the knight patiently waited.

    As time passed, Rhett absorbed all four bottles of Moonshine Potion, feeling his spiritual power grow stronger.

    The knight finally spoke up, relieved to see Rhett finish his meditation. "Rhett, you¡¯re truly dedicated. Shall we continue with the chest openings?"

    But before the knight could finish speaking, Rhett felt a familiar ripple in his consciousness.

    <strong>Real Simtion has ended. Choose one attribute to retain.</strong>

    <strong>1. Physique</strong><strong>2. Dou Qi</strong><strong>3. Spiritual Power</strong>

    "Spiritual Power!"

    A warm current flowed through his mind as his spiritual power increased slightly. When Rhett opened his eyes again, he found himself standing at the entrance of the cave.

    Handing another 200 gold coins to the knight, Rhett pretended to ponder for a moment before pointing to two chests.

    "I¡¯ll take chest numbers 2 and 22."

    The knight raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about those? No changes?"

    "I¡¯m sure. Go ahead."

    "Remember, once the locks are opened, you can¡¯t change your mind. Just making sure you¡¯re aware," the knight reminded, though he knew the rules well.

    Rhett smirked. "Don¡¯t worry, I have a good memory."

    As the knight walked towards chest number 2, he couldn¡¯t help but think, "Opening such a valuable chest on the first try... This time, it¡¯s the shop that¡¯s losing out."

    Thanking the readers for their support and continuing on, Rhett remained focused, ready for whatever awaited him in the mysterious chests.

 Chapter 46: Coming to the Rescue

    Rhett took a long time to calm down after reading the results of this text simtion.

    Finally, he hadpleted a full-year simtion! However, the journey was fraught with challenges. Not only did Reilly die at the hands of the evil alchemist, but Rhett himself ended up maimed, losing an arm.

    He sighed inwardly, thankful that it was just a simtion. With thetest foresight into the future, he had enough time to prepare.@@novelbin@@

    "Evil organization? A mysterious person chasing the evil alchemist?" Rhett squinted slightly, realizing the situation was bing increasinglyplicated.

    He nced at the sky, which was dark with a bright full moon hanging high.

    "Judging by the time, that ranger couple should be arriving soon," Rhett thought. The simtion had mentioned that they would encounter the couple today.

    At this point in the night, the day was almost over, meaning the ranger couple would arrive any moment now.

    Rhett steeled himself, clearing his throat. "Everyone, stay alert. This is the time we need to be most vignt against sudden dangers."

    Reilly, emerging from his meditative state, looked up at the moonlight, a trace of confusion in his eyes.Tack, ever obedient, ced his hand on his sword hilt. Whatever his father said wasw; if Rhett told him to swing his sword at the air, he''d do it without hesitation.

    Evil organizations, disguised bandits, mysterious second-rank knights... Rhett''s mind raced as he pieced together the events from the simtion. Some things were still unclear, but he could start connecting the dots.

    He surmised that the second-rank knight who ambushed him in previous simtions was likely a low-level leader within the evil organization. The bandits were probably his subordinates. In earlier simtions, his caravan had attracted the bandits'' attention, and the knight might have been worried about secrets being exposed or simply wanted revenge, so he came after them.

    As Rhett pondered this, faint shes of Dou Qi light appeared in the darkness ahead.

    "Something''s happening up ahead. Everyone, stay on guard and prepare for battle!" Rhettmanded.

    Two lights, one blue and one red, rapidly approached the caravan. These must be the ranger couple. Behind them, eight more lights were in hot pursuit¡ªno doubt the bandits from the evil organization.

    However, judging by the bandits'' strength, they were likely just fringe members, low-ranking thugs...

    "Protect the lord!" Kurth shouted, moving to Rhett''s side. Although Kurth knew Rhett was stronger, he couldn''t shirk his duty.

    The blue and red lights drew closer, soon entering a hundred-meter range.

    Rhett gripped his staff, his expression cold.

    "Friends up ahead! The group chasing us is a band of bandits trying to kill us. Please help us, and we will reward you greatly!" A weak yet urgent voice called out from the front.

    Reilly, Tack, and Galleh all turned to Rhett, awaiting his orders.

    Rhett remained silent until the leather-armored man and woman approached. Then he waved his hand. "Restrain these two first and take them to the back."

    Both were severely injured and offered no resistance as Kurth led them to the rear of the caravan.

    The bandits arrived shortly after, their faces twisted with greed and cruelty as they spotted Rhett''s group.

    "Looks like we hit the jackpot tonight, boys...a whole flock of fat sheep..." One of the bandits sneered, eyeing the caravan with glee. Without a word, they spread out, preparing to surround the group.

    Galleh''s expression darkened. These men clearly had ill intentions. He gripped his sword, ready to charge. Reilly also began chanting, preparing to cast a Water Arrow spell.

    Rhett, hidden in the rear of the group, smirked coldly.

    With a thought, he unleashed Earth Spike.

    The bandits were no match for him¡ªjust six first-rank knights and two apprentices, mere fodder in his eyes.

    Three powerful Earth Spikes erupted from the ground, instantly killing three first-rank knights. Blood spurted from their bodies, painting the scene in red. The sight sent chills down everyone''s spines, friend and foe alike.

    The remaining five bandits, their faces pale with terror, realized they had kicked an iron te.

    The power and precision of those Earth Spikes... Their enemy was at least a second-rank mage.

    Regret filled their hearts. If only they''d stayed in bed that night instead ofing to rob near Twilight City...

    "Run!" Someone shouted, and the bandits scattered, fleeing in all directions.

    "Chase them!" Tack and Kurth shouted in unison, pursuing the fleeing enemies.

    Rhett''s smirk deepened. Run? In front of a second-rank mage? Impossible!

    Earth Spike. Earth Spike. Earth Spear.

    Three spellster, four more banditsy dead, two impaled by Earth Spikes and the other two pierced by Earth Spears.

    Rhett dusted off his clothes, as if he''d done nothing of consequence.

    Only one bandit remained...

    Tack pushed his speed to the limit, catching up within fifty meters. A fierce battle ensued.

    "me sh!" Tack roared, his sword engulfed in mes. In the darkness, the fiery de zed brilliantly. "Die!"

    Thest bandit, his courage long gone, clumsily raised his sword to block, too panicked to even use a technique. He was sent flying three meters by Tack''s blow, tumbling across the ground.

    As he tried to rise, he found a sword at his throat.

    "Please, don''t kill me!" The bandit trembled, raising his hands in surrender.

    "Then behave!" Tack growled, dragging the bandit back to the group.

    "Well done, Tack!" Rhett praised, yfully punching Tack''s chest, which was as solid as a rock.

    "Heh, heh!" Tack, proud of his father''s praise, scratched his head, suddenly shy.

    Thest remaining bandit, now bound tightly, knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.

    Reilly approached from the rear of the caravan and whispered something in Rhett''s ear. Rhett nodded thoughtfully, surprised. "I see. If you''re certain of their identities, then release them. And bring them some food and water."

    Although Rhett already knew their identities, he acted in a way that aligned with normal logic.

    Reilly nodded. "Understood, Father."

    Kurth stood beside the bandit, sword in hand, watching his every move. Even though the bandit was restrained, Kurth remained vignt. Restraint didn''t mean safety¡ªthere was always the chance the bandit could do something unexpected...

    "Speak. What''s your name? What''s your role?" Rhett asked coldly, standing before the bandit.

 Chapter 48: Homecoming

    "Wee to Falcon Town. From now on, we are a team." Rhett smiled and extended his hand. "This bottle of solid potion is specially prepared for you. It''s clear you''re both seriously injured. It''s best to recover as soon as possible, so you don''t end up withsting damage."

    "Thank you, my lord! We hope to contribute more to you and Falcon Town!" Frano''s eyes were filled with gratitude, and he epted the potion without hesitation. Both he and his wife indeed needed it.

    "My lord, I also have a secret about the evil organization that I wish to report."

    Rhett nodded. "You''ve done well. Please, go ahead."

    Frano licked his dry lips and began, "My lord, you may know the Kinn family¡¯s territory? It''s very close to the Brein family''snds."

    "Of course, but the Kinn family''snds are northeast of Brein¡¯s and diagonally opposite Falcon Town. It''s quite far away," Rhett said as he searched his memory. "Does this have something to do with the Kinn family?"

    "Not directly, but at the border between the Kinn and Brein family territories, there is a vige called Lacey. We stayed there for a night. However, that night, a group of people in ck robes attacked the vige and ughtered everyone."

    Frano''s voice trembled as he recounted the event. He paused to swallow and continued, "Not only that, but they also selected certain vigers'' corpses and took their hearts. We realized something was wrong and tried to escape. While we managed to get away, one of them was fast enough to dy us. Our images were likely captured during that encounter, which led to tonight¡¯s events."

    Rhett¡¯s breathing slowed, his expression growing heavy. "Another vige massacre? And they took the hearts...""Yes," Frano added. "I suspect it may be rted to evil alchemy because, if I recall correctly, the vigers whose hearts were taken were all apprentice knights..."

    "Evil alchemy!" Rhett¡¯s pupils contracted as he narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. A few minutes passed as he connected the dots from recent simtions, finally beginning to clear the fog of uncertainty.

    Evil alchemy was a broad term referring to alchemical practices that involved cruel methods, often using human subjects as materials for experiments. In the Kingdom of Gend, evil alchemy was strictly forbidden and severely punished. Anyone caught practicing it faced dire consequences.

    Given the ever-present threat of the orcs, the kingdom''s internal stability was paramount. The king had learned from the downfall of previous dynasties that internal conflicts must not be allowed to weaken the kingdom. While subtle power struggles among nobles might be tolerated, open vitions of the kingdom¡¯sws were met with harsh penalties, ranging from heavy fines to the loss of noble titles and imprisonment.

    When it came to evil alchemical organizations, the kingdom took even more drastic measures, rooting them outpletely whenever they were discovered.

    Rhett exhaled deeply, casting a long look at Frano. He spoke in a low voice, "Regarding tonight¡¯s events and everything you¡¯ve just told me... from this moment on, I hope you will act as if you know nothing."

    He nned to investigate further after advancing to a third-tier magician, to see if he could uncover more valuable information. If he could handle it on his own, it would be a great merit, paving the way for his promotion to viscount. Even if it proved too difficult to tackle alone, reporting it to higher authorities would still bring him considerable rewards.

    Meeting his lord''s gaze, the couple nodded in understanding and replied, "We understand, my lord!"

    Satisfied, Rhett smiled. "It''s gettingte. Rest well in the carriage. In a few days, we''ll arrive in Falcon Town."

    A glimmer of hope appeared in Frano and Lauren''s eyes. It had been many years since theyst felt the anticipation of reaching a ce they could call home...

    When Rhett returned to the front of the caravan, Tack approached him. "Father, what should we do with this bandit?"

    Rhett nced at Omor with cold indifference and waved his hand. "Kill him."@@novelbin@@

    Omor''s pupils contracted in fear. "No, please, my lord!"

    Kurth¡¯s expression hardened as he epted the order. He swiftly drove his sword through Omor¡¯s back, ensuring a clean kill. To be thorough, he struck the head several more times until Omor was undeniably dead.

    Rhett then summoned a few small fireballs, incinerating the bodies of the fallen bandits.

    Reilly approached, holding eight small bags. "Father, these are the spoils from the bandits. Please take a look."

    Rhett nodded. After inspecting the loot, they had collected over a hundred gold coins and several bottles of Red Maple Potion. He handed the spoils back to Reilly and said, "You¡¯ve met the two survivors¡ªthey are a pair of ranger spouses who have now joined Falcon Town''s family."

    "Kurth!"

    "Yes, my lord!"

    "I¡¯ve assigned them as archery instructors at the knight training ground, so you¡¯ll be interacting with them frequently in the future. For now, I''ll entrust you with caring for their injuries."

    Kurth was surprised that the lord had already recruited the rangers but soon smiled, realizing it was a good thing for the territory. "Understood, my lord. It must be your charismatic personality that won them over."

    Rhett smiled withoutment. He removed his light armor¡ªthere was no need for disguises now that the bandits had been dealt with. Mounting his gray horse, Rhett pondered the clues rted to the evil alchemy organization.

    "In the recent simtions, every time, a dark magician from the evil alchemy faction targeted my territory. It¡¯s likely that these bandits, along with that second-tier knight, are all part of the same group," Rhett thought as he stared into the night ahead. "A third-tier dark magician? I¡¯m not yet strong enough to confront him. But after returning to Falcon Town, I can focus on increasing my power..."

    As for the second-tier knight still at the abandoned mine, it would be pointless to pursue him now. He couldn''t root out the problem and would only alert them to his intentions. Once he became a third-tier magician, eliminating a second-tier knight would be a simple task. Even facing the third-tier dark magician, he would be confident of victory.

    Time passed quickly, and soon it was the end of the month.

    On December 30th, the caravan moved forward as usual, but everyone''s faces were brighter and more excited than they had been in recent days. Yesterday, they had passed through the Pinewood Forest. Today, the surrounding scenery was incredibly familiar¡ªthey were no longer in unfamiliar territory.

    Falcon Town was almost in sight!

    Even Rhett couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of fatigue. He yearned to return home and rest.

    "Though I haven¡¯t lived in Deep Rock Fortress for long, it already feels like home. Like a bird returning to its nest, where my family is¡ªthat''s where home is." Sitting atop his horse, Rhett swayed gently with its movements, a faint smile ying on his lips.

    A few dozen minutester, buildings began to appear on the distant horizon. Rhett''s calm gaze suddenly lit up.

    "Falcon Town? We¡¯re almost home!" Tack, seeing the town¡¯s silhouette in the distance, cheered excitedly.

    The caravan stirred as everyone strained their eyes to see ahead. Though their vision wasn¡¯t as sharp as Tack''s, they soon recognized familiarndmarks.

    Smiles spread across their faces, their eyes filled with warmth.

    Today¡¯s sunshine seemed a bit brighter, with a hint of warmth breaking through the winter chill.

    Rhett noticed something off about Reilly''s expression¡ªit seemed tinged with sadness. After a moment of thought, Rhett pped his forehead. "Oh right, after winter, the Snow Fairy will enter her slumber."

    "That little cutie, Nina... it makes sense that anyone would be reluctant to see her go into hibernation," Rhett mused.

 Chapter 49: Simulating the Beast Mountain Range

    Half an hourter, the caravan passed through the gates of Falcon Town, traveling down a straight road until it finally arrived at the manor''s entrance.

    Stewart, the steward, had woken up early, organized the manor''s tasks, and stationed himself at the gate to wait. In fact, he had been doing this every day for the past three days. Although he wasn¡¯t sure exactly when his lord would return with the caravan, he wanted to be the first to wee him back in person.

    After standing for an hour, Stewart felt his legs growing a bit weak. He gently massaged them and couldn''t help but sigh at how his body was aging. Winter was almost over, and a new year was on the horizon.

    "Hmm... but today¡¯s sunshine feels nice. My old bones haven¡¯t felt this warm in a while," Stewart mused, stretching and looking up at the bright sun in the sky.

    Clip-clop, clip-clop...

    The rhythmic sound of hooves caught Stewart''s attention, and he turned excitedly to see the caravan from Falcon Town approaching.

    He hurried forward with a warm smile. "Wee back, my lord! I''ve missed you dearly during your absence."

    "I''m happy to see you too," Rhett responded with a slight smile.

    Taking the reins from his lord¡¯s hand, Stewart seemed to be in good spirits. "It¡¯s almost noon, so I¡¯ll have Maru prepare a feast for you and the young masters.""No need for that, Stewart. Just prepare a simple meal as usual," Rhett interrupted. "But I do want to host a banquet tonight in the castle. Please ensure everything is arranged properly."

    He then added, "By the way, two rangers joined us on the way back. Please escort them to the secondary castle and prepare a spacious room for them. Make sure they have clean clothes and bedding¡ªI''m sure I don''t need to remind you of the details."

    "That¡¯s wonderful news! I knew your charm would be hard for anyone to resist, my lord. Falcon Town will surely continue to thrive under your leadership." Stewart beamed, a few drops of sweat glistening on his forehead. "I¡¯ll make sure to carry out your instructions to the letter!"

    Rhett noticed Stewart seemed warm and chuckled. "The weather is getting warmer; you shouldn¡¯t be wearing such heavy clothing anymore. That coat is better suited forst month''s cold."

    "Hmm, I felt it too. Since you mentioned it, I''ll change into something lighter right away," Stewart replied with a smile.

    After nearly ten days of recovery, Frano and Laurene''s health had improved significantly. The wounds on their bodies had scabbed over, and they now peeked out of the carriage to take in their new surroundings.

    "So, this is Falcon Town? It may not look bustling, but I feel an incredible vitality here," Laurene remarked, gazing in awe at Deep Rock Fortress.

    "You¡¯re right, and it¡¯s all thanks to the lord," Stewart said as he approached their carriage with a kind expression. "Pledging loyalty to the lord is undoubtedly the wisest decision of your lives."

    "It certainly seems that way," Frano replied with a smile, helping his wife down from the carriage.

    "Pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Stewart, the steward of Deep Rock Fortress," Stewart introduced himself, sizing up the couple. "The lord mentioned that you were injured, so I¡¯ll have the cook prepare some broth to help you recover."

    "That would be wonderful, thank you, Mr. Stewart!" Frano found himself growing fond of the friendly steward.

    Returning to Rhett''s side, Stewart pointed to the right side of the manor. "My lord, during your absence, the knight training ground waspleted. It¡¯s been in use for two days now."

    "Oh? That¡¯s faster than I expected," Rhett remarked, his gaze settling on the three-meter-high stone walls surrounding the training grounds, leaving only the main gate facing Graystone Avenue open.

    As Rhett looked over, a figure hurriedly emerged from the training ground¡¯s gate.

    Tadelle nced around before spotting Rhett. His eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically greeted, "Wee back, my lord! I¡¯m thrilled to see you return¡ªit gives me a sense of security!"

    He then turned to Kurth, giving him a hug. "Hey, old buddy! It¡¯s been over half a month¡ªit feels strange to be apart."

    "Miss me?" he teased, elbowing Kurth in the chest.

    Kurth shrugged, his face expressionless. "Still as narcissistic as ever. If you were a beautiful woman, I might think of you every night."

    "Ha ha ha!"

    Tadelleughed it off, unfazed by the joke. Bantering between brothers was all in good fun.

    He then scanned the caravan, noticing Frano and Laurene¡¯s unfamiliar faces. After a brief pause, he looked up at Rhett on his gray horse. "My lord, with no casualties among our men, the journey must have gone smoothly."

    "More or less," Rhett replied, then added, "The couple you just saw are rangers who¡¯ve joined our territory. They¡¯ll be in charge of archery training."

    "Archery instructors?" Tadelle raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That¡¯s perfect! Kurth and I are terrible with bows. We were just worrying about how to train the apprentices, but now we finally have a solution."

    Kurth grumbled, "Hey, Tadelle, don¡¯t lump me in with you. My archery skills are way better than yours."

    "Really? Who was it that couldn¡¯t hit a goldfinch from twenty meters away?"

    "Oh, you¡¯re asking for a fight, aren¡¯t you, Tadelle?" Kurth rolled up his sleeves. "Let me exin something before we start¡ªI just didn¡¯t practice enough. Otherwise, I¡¯d be an excellent archer by now! I just prefer closebat. Hand-to-hand fighting is what real men do!"

    "Tsk tsk, you¡¯re not wrong. I¡¯m itching for a fight too. This new training ground is spacious and well-lit¡ªif you¡¯ve got the guts,e on then..."

    Rhett found himself amused by Tadelle¡¯s teasing expression. On the other hand, this yful exchange made him realize that the two men had fully integrated into Falcon Town, treating it as their true home.

    ...

    Back at the manor, Rhett felt the air somehow fresher¡ªthough it was likely just his mood. He took a deep breath, dismounted, and entered the castle, picking up a bottle of juice from the dining table as he made his way to the fifth-floor hall.

    Sitting back on a long chair, Rhett gently swirled the goblet in his right hand, creating a small vortex in the dark purple blueberry juice. His gaze grew distant as he mulled over his ns.@@novelbin@@

    Since he had already decided to hunt in the Darkfeather Eagle Branch of the Beast Mountain Range, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be without danger, as even the branch areas harbored third-tier beasts. To prepare for any unforeseen events, he needed to simte the future again and make some adjustments to his ns.

    He activated the system.

    "Would you like to initiate a text simtion? Each year simted costs 5 Destiny Points."

    "Yes, simte for one year."

    <strong>Kinlun Calendar Year 473, December 30:</strong> The caravan returned. That day, all the medium-level water magic nts were nted, and the Snow Fairy used its power to elerate their growth. A bountiful harvest is expected. In the evening, the castle banquet fosters unity, and hope for a bright future in Falcon Town is high.

    <strong>Kinlun Calendar Year 474, January 2:</strong> Stewart reported that the ck horse, ckgrip, is pregnant.

    <strong>January 3:</strong> A second-tier Ironhorn Sheep and a second-tier me Hound shed by Sun Lake on the western side of your territory, both ending up seriously injured. You had been lying in wait nearby and ultimately imed the spoils.

    <strong>January 4:</strong> The Snow Fairy entered hibernation.

    <strong>January 8:</strong> A traveling merchant visited your territory. When you inquired about his hometown, he became wary and left with a hostile attitude.

    <strong>January 9:</strong> You, along with Reilly, Tack, and Tyles, set out for the Darkfeather Eagle Branch of the Beast Mountain Range.

    <strong>January 10:</strong> You encountered a first-tier me Lion and killed it with ease.

    <strong>January 11:</strong> You encountered two first-tier Wind Wolves and killed them effortlessly.

    <strong>January 13:</strong> You encountered a second-tier zing Rhino and, after a fierce battle, emerged unscathed.

    <strong>January 14:</strong> You reached the outskirts of the Darkfeather Eagle Branch and decided to hunt on the periphery, avoiding the deeper areas of the mountain range.

    <strong>January 15:</strong> The lord of Maple Forest Town visited after hearing news of your recovery, but you were away. He left a letter before departing.

    <strong>February 3:</strong> By this day, you had in thirty-seven first-tier beasts and eight second-tier beasts in the Darkfeather Eagle Branch''s periphery.

    <strong>February 4:</strong> A third-tier Frost Crystal Tiger arrived at Ice Crystal Lake on the outskirts of the Darkfeather Eagle Branch. You encountered it. After a grueling battle, your three sons were killed by the tiger. You managed to hold out for an hour before sumbing to the Frost Crystal Tiger''s attack and perishing by theke.

 Chapter 51: Peak of Second-Level Mage

    "Forget it, I''ll go myself. You can''t ride a horse, and by the time you get back, it''ll be toote," Stewart sighed, hands sped behind his back, as he turned to leave. He decided to postpone any reprimands until after the banquet when everything could be addressed in one go. For now, time was too precious to waste on trivial matters.

    "So, what should we do now?" Leo asked nervously, leaning in toward Be.

    "You go ahead and deliver the red wine. On second thought, I''ll do it. We can''t afford any more mistakes with the wine," Be said, clearly worried.

    "Stewart, what are you up to? Shouldn''t you be preparing for the banquet?" Rhett called out as he stepped out of Deep Rock Fortress and spotted Stewart leading a packhorse toward the manor''s gate.

    Seeing his master, Stewart breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over. "Master, one of my servants, Leo, spilled thest crate of apple juice in the cer a few days ago and forgot to report it. Now, Maru, the cook, needs the juice. She mentioned that she developed a new dish¡ªapple mashed potatoes¡ªbased on your suggestionst month. I was nning to go around the town, collecting apple juice from the townsfolk."

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "It''s just a dessert; no need to be so particr. Do we still have blueberry juice?"

    "Yes, Master," Stewart confirmed.

    "Try using blueberry juice instead. It might even taste better. Tell Maru to freeze the blueberry juice until it''s thick and then pour it over the hot mashed potatoes. The vor will be even better," Rhett suggested casually.

    "Master, your wisdom is unmatched. A few words from you surpass Maru''s decades of kitchen experience," Stewartplimented at the perfect moment.By now, the sun had set.

    Rhett changed into a dark blue tailcoat and stood in the deepest part of the castle¡¯s first-floor hall. Stewart approached him. "Master, everything is ready for the banquet. We are only waiting for yourmand to begin."

    "Let¡¯s start now."

    The decor of Deep Rock Fortress wasn''tvish, not even as extravagant as the Adventurer''s Cave in Twilight City. But tonight, the atmosphere in the hall was lively. Servants, knights, and trainers all gathered together, surrounding Rhett like stars around the moon.

    Standing at the head of a makeshift long table, Rhett raised his ss with a smile. "Everyone, this is the first banquet at Deep Rock Fortress since my return. First of all, I want to thank you all for yourpanionship and dedication. I toast to you!"

    "Master, you''re too kind," Stewart said softly, draining his ss of red wine.

    "Lord Rhett, you are our guiding light!" The knights followed suit, finishing their drinks in one go.

    Stewart refilled Rhett¡¯s ss, and Rhett raised it again. "This toast is for those who have recently joined us: Kurth, Tadelle, Frano, and Laurene. It was fate that brought us together! I hope you find peace and joy in our family here in Talon Town."

    "Thank you for your blessing, my lord. I''ve long dreamed of finding a stable and harmonious family like this one."

    "My third toast is for the future. May Talon spread its wings. I believe that with ourbined efforts, Talon Town will continue to soar, growing stronger and reaching new heights, unafraid of any storm!" Rhett finished his third ss of wine.

    His words filled everyone with a sense of pride and determination, inspiring them to finish their drinks with gusto.

    "This is our home, and we have every reason to make it better," Stewart added with a smile as he refilled his ss.

    "Stewart, don''t drink too much. You¡¯re my most trusted aide, and I need you sharp tonight," Rhett cautioned.

    "Don¡¯t worry, Master, I know my limits."

    Under Rhett¡¯s leadership, the banquet at Deep Rock Fortress was free of the usual strict noble etiquette. The night was filled with music,ughter, and carefree enjoyment.

    After the banquet, Rhett returned to his room and sat on his bed. He retrieved six bottles of Moonlight Elixir from his collection and focused. "Before heading to the Beast Mountain Range, I need to push my strength to the peak of a second-level mage."

    As for his uing journey to the Darkfeather Eagle Mountains, it was all in preparation for advancing to a third-level mage.

    He nced at his current system panel.

    <strong>[Family Head: Rhett Green]</strong>

    <strong>[Second Generation: Tack Green, Reilly Green, Telles Green]</strong>

    <strong>[Third Generation: Dick Green]</strong>

    <strong>[Text Simtion]</strong>

    <strong>[Real Simtion]</strong>

    <strong>[Destiny Points: 38]</strong>

    After a moment of thought, Rhett decided to reserve 10 points, enough for two more text simtions. The remaining points would be used to enhance his mental power.

    Without hesitation, he activated the system.

    <strong>[Activate Real Simtion? Each day consumes 1 Destiny Point.]</strong>

    "Yes, simte for one day."

    As the familiar ripple effect appeared, Rhett once again entered the simtion. He methodically consumed the Moonlight Elixir, circting his Furnace Meditation Technique to refine it.

    One bottle after another, he absorbed all the Moonlight Elixir.

    Suddenly, Rhett¡¯s eyes brightened with understanding. In the real simtion, the potion¡¯s resistance to his body was nearly nonexistent. After all, when the simtion ended, he would return to the moment before it began, bringing back only the changes in his mental power. The next simtion would start from the current time, effectively resetting any resistance.

    "This is good news. If I gather 24 bottles of Moonlight Elixir and absorb them with almost zero resistance, even advancing from level three to level four would be much faster," Rhett mused with a smile.

    In this world, talent mattered more than anything. Alchemy potions had resistance effects, which everyone knew, especially those used for cultivation. After dozens or hundreds of bottles, their effectiveness would diminish to nearly zero. For those with poor talent, even that wouldn¡¯t be enough to break through. But with talent, the sky was the limit.

    For the talented, continuous progress in cultivation was a given, never slowing down. And if those talented individuals also consumed potions, the results would be extraordinary.

    Rhett considered his talent average, but with the Real Simtion''s help, who knew how far he could go? Perhaps he wasn¡¯t too far off from those with exceptional talent.

    The next morning, Rhett opened his eyes, ending his meditation. He nced at his remaining Destiny Points, now down to 12. Letting out a breath, he reflected on the night¡¯s work. After 26 simtions and consuming over 150 bottles of Moonlight Elixir, he had finally pushed his mental power to the peak of a second-level mage.

    Strictly speaking, this peak was just another step within thete stages of the second level, but it meant that he had reached the very limit of what a second-level mage could achieve.@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 55: Training Ground Arrangements

    The next morning, Rhett stepped out of his room in high spirits. The night before, after conducting three rounds of [Real Simtion] and reducing his Fate Points to a stable value of 15, he had confirmed that the breakthroughs made during simtions could indeed be carried over into reality. This was likely due to the changes urring at the mental level.

    As he descended the stairs, deep in thought, Rhett realized that this meant as long as he had enough Fate Points, he could speed up the process of breaking through mental bottlenecks in reality. Although this would require a considerable amount of Fate Points, given that breaking through bottlenecks usually required tedious meditation to slowly chip away at them, this discovery was a significant advantage. Unlike the straightforward increase of mental power, which could be assisted by potions, there were no alchemical aids for breaking through bottlenecks. Rhett had already prepared himself for the possibility of a significant consumption of Fate Points in the future.

    Even though each day¡¯s Real Simtion only made a small impact on the bottleneck,pared to others who had to rely solely on their talent and the quality of their meditation techniques, Rhett saw this as a valuable shortcut, one that left him quite satisfied.

    ¡°Master, you seem to be in an excellent mood. Would you like a ss of blueberry juice?¡± Sveta, the butler, noticed Rhetting downstairs and quickly approached.

    ¡°No, I have other matters to attend to.¡±

    ¡°Wishing you sess, Master,¡± Sveta said as he watched Rhett leave the castle.

    As the door swung open, sunlight spilled in, illuminating Rhett¡¯s golden hair. He squinted against the light, thinking, <em>Spring is on its way.</em>

    ¡°Ha!¡±@@novelbin@@

    At the back of the knight training ground, a row of brand-new targets had been set up over the past few days. However, standing in the center of the field were still Tadel and Kuls. After several days ofmunication and adjustment, the instructors had finalized the training schedule. Tadel and Kuls were responsible for sword and shield training in the morning, while Frano and Lorin handled archery and ranger training in the afternoon. Once a trainee broke through to be a full-fledged knight, they could then choose to specialize in either closebat or the ranger path, and begin more focused, all-day training.Tadel maintained his strict approach, correcting the movements of the thirteen trainee knights.

    ¡°Hold still for another ten minutes!¡± Kuls barked, his voice cutting through the morning air.

    ¡°You, raise your arm a bit higher.¡±

    ¡°And you, don¡¯t stick your butt out!¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Briso, straighten your shoulders. Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t tell when you¡¯re cking off. If I catch you trying that again, I¡¯ll report your behavior to the lord!¡± Kuls sharply reprimanded a young trainee, giving his shoulder a hard p.

    ¡°I... I won¡¯t do it again,¡± Briso stammered, his eyes wide with fear as he immediately corrected his posture.

    Kuls continued his rounds, stopping next in front of a trainee named Miguel. ¡°Miguel, steady your arms. Control your breathing.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, good job, Laurence. Your posture is excellent, and your breathing is steady. Everyone else should aim to match Laurence!¡± Kuls said approvingly as he observed Laurence¡¯s form.

    Finally, Kuls reached Taylor. His expression softened as he addressed the young man. ¡°Taylor, it¡¯s your first day of training. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. If it gets to be too much, take a break.¡±

    Tadel joined in, walking over from the side. ¡°Remember, bncing rest and training is key to staying healthy.¡±

    ¡°Whew, I understand. I think I can keep going!¡± Taylor panted, holding a small wooden sword steady in front of him. The stone hanging from the sword¡¯s tip was noticeably smaller than those of the other trainees. Sweat dripped down his face and neck, making him itch with the urge to scratch, but he resisted.

    Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, cooling him down and drying the sweat on his neck. Taylor felt a burst of renewed energy.

    Then, a voice came from behind him. ¡°Taylor, you¡¯re doing great! Keep it up! When your body starts to falter, your will is your greatest weapon!¡±

    Taylor¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. His father was right behind him!

    ¡°Master, your words are so insightful!¡± Tadel chimed in.

    ¡°Every word is golden. I¡¯m sure young Taylor can keep going!¡± Tadel praised.

    While attending to Rhett, Kuls kept an eye on the other trainees. Suddenly, he barked out another correction, ¡°Monsk, stop shaking your legs! If your stance is unstable, work harder to strengthen your foundation!¡±

    Rhett nced over and saw a burly young man whose legs were trembling slightly. Under Kuls¡¯ sternmand, the tremors gradually lessened until he stood firm.

    Ten minutester, Taylor felt as though an eternity had passed. The moment he rxed his grip, the wooden sword and stone fell to the ground, and he stumbled back before regaining his bnce.

    Tucker, who had been practicing his own techniques on the other side of the field, came over, having reached a critical point in his training. Seeing Taylor soaked in sweat as if he had just taken a bath, Tucker grinned and gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Haha, yousted longer than I expected!¡±

    Taylor, despite his exhaustion, was spurred on by thement and raised his chin defiantly. ¡°Hmph, like I need you to tell me that!¡±

    Rhett smiled slightly, cing both hands on Taylor¡¯s shoulders. ¡°This was a good start today. Keep up the hard work. By the way, I asked Maru to prepare a roastmb. It should be ready by now...¡±

    Taylor¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really, Father?¡±

    Before the words had fully left his mouth, Taylor felt a gust of wind as Tucker took off running ahead of him.

    Taylor¡¯s expression shifted, and he quickly chased after his brother. ¡°Wait for me, big brother!¡±

    ...

    That afternoon, after another intense round of magic training that left his mental energypletely drained, Rhett decided not to meditate for a quick recovery. Instead, he headed to the deeper part of the training grounds.

    At the archery range, Lorin was holding a bow, exining the basics of archery to the trainees, while Frano observed each of the trainee knights, assessing their physical and mental states. It was the couple¡¯s first time conducting training since recovering from their injuries, and they were still getting used to it.

    Noticing Rhett at the entrance, Frano¡¯s eyes lit up, and he quickly approached.

    ¡°Good afternoon, my lord,¡± Frano greeted with a smile. ¡°Lorin is currently exining the basics of archery, but it seems we¡¯re running low on arrows.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that is a problem.¡± Rhett frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then decided to ask for Frano¡¯s opinion. ¡°You¡¯re familiar with archery¡ªdo you have any suggestions?¡±

    ¡°My lord, I do have a few ideas,¡± Frano replied, ncing back at the wooden swords in the trainees¡¯ hands before continuing. ¡°After speaking with Kuls and Tadel, I learned that the training swords you had purchased are made from a special material called rock ironwood. Perhaps we could...¡±

    ...

 Chapter 58: Advanced Movement Technique?

    Within minutes, thanks to their efficiency, more figures appeared in the fifth-floor hall. Four of them¡ªFrano, Lorin, Kules, and Tardel¡ªstood in awe, staring at the glowing red text on the ceiling. After learning about the origins, tier, and basic content of the movement technique from Rhett and Tucker, they were overwhelmed with astonishment. Wasting no time, they cherished the opportunity and focused intently on learning.

    Tucker stood by, offering advice, "Everyone, when practicing this technique for the first time, be careful not to exert too much force, or you''ll easily strain yourself. Also, pay close attention to the changes in your ankles while channeling your battle energy. During frequent route adjustments, any stiffness could be detrimental, and..."

    As Tucker shared his experience, the four listeners gradually gained some understanding. They nced at him gratefully, their respect for the usually carefree eldest son of Deep Rock Fortress significantly increased. They quickly began moving their steps, trying out the technique.

    An hour passed. The four of them, exhausted and breathing heavily, sat on the floor, massaging their legs to alleviate the soreness. Despite the grueling difficulty of practicing this intermediate-level technique, their eyes gleamed with excitement. They could sense the immense potential within the technique. Mastering just the first level would already provide a substantial boost to theirbat prowess. What would it be like if they could reach the second level?

    Frano muttered to himself, "This doesn''t seem like the effect of an intermediate technique. Just the first level surpasses my Swift Wind Walk. If the second level goes even further... could it be an advanced technique?"

    The atmosphere froze at his words. The other three instructors held their breath, their hearts pounding as the mention of an advanced technique left them stunned. Intermediate techniques were already considered luxurious in their eyes, and an advanced technique was something they had never even dared to dream of.

    Tucker didn¡¯t deny it. Instead, he furrowed his brows, deep in thought. After a moment, he exhaled and said, "The answer to that will have to be discovered by us. Until we fully master the first level, we won¡¯t know what the second level holds."

    Rhett smiled and added, "As I said before, as members of Eagle Town, I look forward to seeing you all grow stronger. And I¡¯m equally eager to see what kind of spectacr effects might emerge if this really does reach the level of an advanced movement technique. Don¡¯t disappoint me."

    "My lord, your generosity is as vast as the sky," Tardel praised sincerely, feeling immense pride in having chosen the right lord."We won¡¯t let you down, Lord Rhett," Kules responded solemnly.

    "If this technique is so powerful, it¡¯s a shame it doesn¡¯t have a name. My lord, why don¡¯t you give it one?" Lorin suggested with a smile.

    "Indeed, it wouldn¡¯t be proper to pass it on to the trainees without a name," Frano agreed.

    "A name, huh... that¡¯s not a bad idea." Rhett gazed up at the ceiling, where the red glow was fading. After a moment of thought, he said, "How about calling it Phantom Retrace?"

    "Very fitting. Moving backward at such speed would make one look like a phantom. I think with enough practice, achieving that should be possible," Lorin remarked with curiosity in her eyes.

    The others nodded thoughtfully, and no one raised any objections. Thus, the technique was officially named. Although this was their first day of practice, with Tucker¡¯s guidance, they had memorized the training method through hands-on experience and could now continue practicing on their own.

    Meanwhile, on the first floor of the castle, a few maids watched the three men and one woman, all visibly exhausted, leave the castle. Their curiosity red, and they were about to start gossiping.

    "Look at them! They just came down from the lord¡¯s room, and they all look so tired," Scarlett said excitedly.

    "Ahem." Swita emerged from the kitchen, holding a bottle of blueberry juice. He wasn¡¯t deaf, and he had heard their impolite remarks.

    "You lot should know better than to gossip about matters rted to the lord. As punishment, you¡¯ll skip dinner tonight to help you remember." Swita¡¯s voice was stern as he pped his hand down on the table.

    "Yes, Mr. Swita, we won¡¯t do it again," the maids said, their faces full of regret. They watched Swita ascend the stairs before pouting in frustration.

    "Scarlett, your dinner this month will be ck bread only!"

    "What?!" Scarlett¡¯s eyes filled with regret. ck bread was so hard that it could be used to prop up a table leg! Even dogs would find it tough to chew. But Swita¡¯s authority was second only to that of the lord and the young masters, so she had no choice but to ept her punishment tearfully. She resigned herself to a month without dinner...

    "Lord Rhett, here¡¯s your chilled blueberry juice," Swita said as he climbed the stairs. When he reached the top, he found the lord seated on a bench, staring out the window, lost in thought.

    "Thank you, Swita. Please pour me a ss," Rhett said casually as he continued to gaze out the window.

    As Swita poured the juice, Rhett asked in an offhand manner, "Swita, how old are you this year?"

    "Fifty-one, my lord," Swita replied, unsure of why the lord was asking.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett nodded thoughtfully. "Have you ever thought about getting married and having children? At your age, if you don¡¯t act soon, you might have regrets when you¡¯re older."

    "My only wish is to serve you, my lord. Even if I grow old, I will have lived a fulfilling life," Swita replied, shaking his head.

    "Your father, Yaff, lived a fulfilling life too, didn¡¯t he?" Rhett sipped the juice, savoring its sweet taste. "But Yaff still had you. You inherited his skills in managing the castle perfectly. However, it seems you haven¡¯t inherited his desire to leave behind a legacy."

    "Do you mean that you want me to have a son, someone to take over as your future assistant?" Swita asked, finally understanding Rhett¡¯s intent and beginning to consider it seriously.

    "Oh no, that¡¯s not it," Rhett quickly waved his hands. "What I¡¯m saying is that I believe your life could be moreplete. Devoting your entire life to Deep Rock Fortress is too harsh for you."

    Swita trembled with gratitude but then suddenly bowed deeply. "My lord, please don¡¯t say that. I am a part of Deep Rock Fortress, one of its closest members. Not dedicating my life here would be ungrateful to the kindness the Greem family has shown me since childhood."

    "Do you see this ce as your home? Then you should have a family of your own too..." Rhett sighed, knowing that changing Swita¡¯s mind would be difficult. "Alright, you are an exceptional steward. Let¡¯s leave this matter for now. Swita, in a few days, I will be taking Tucker, Rayleigh, and Taylor with me on a trip. We might be gone for about a month. During that time, I¡¯ll be relying on you to manage the territory."

    "Please rest assured, my lord. I will do my utmost," Swita promised.

    ...

 Chapter 59: The Death of the Traveling Merchant!

    After a brief conversation, Rhett returned to his room to rest. As Swita left, his mind was filled withplicated thoughts. He almost stumbled on his way down the stairs, but luckily, Be caught him just in time, preventing a fall.

    "Should I get married and have children? It seems like such a troublesome matter. Would it affect my service to the lord? Sigh," he muttered to himself. "But then again, who will serve the lord when I''m gone?" Swita shook his head and sighed, rubbing his temples gently. "If I do marry, it certainly can''t be someone like Scarlett, always gossiping about the lord behind his back..."

    ...

    Four days passed in a sh. The territory ran smoothly, and it was now the morning of January 8th. Rhett didn¡¯t expect that a traveling merchant would arrive at the territory so early in the day.

    "Oh! You must be the lord of Eagle Town? You certainly have a distinguished aura, unlike the other minor nobles I''ve met," the traveling merchant said. He was dressed in a brown, hooded cloak, perfect for traveling.

    Standing on the Graystone Avenue, Rhett¡¯s face remained calm, revealing no emotion. He responded softly, "Judging by your attire, you must be a traveling merchant?"

    "You have a keen eye, my lord. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angni Kaman, and as you guessed, I am indeed a traveling merchant," Angni replied, removing his hat and bowing slightly, revealing his short ck hair.

    "Rhett Greem. So, Mr. Angni, what brings you here so early? I assume it¡¯s not just for a casual chat," Rhett remarked. He assumed that Angni hade to trade, perhaps to purchase local specialties or sell goods from other ces. Given therge bundles he carried, it was clear he had plenty of items on hand.

    "To be honest, my lord, I arrived in your territory this morning and noticed your men seem to be digging in the east?" Angni probed."Oh, just clearing somend for the uing spring nting," Rhett replied casually, brushing off the question with a simple excuse.

    "I see." Angni smiled, continuing, "There¡¯s something I wanted to mention. On my way here, I happened to see your men digging up an item that appears to be an antique. As it happens, I have a penchant for collecting antiques, so I came to discuss purchasing it from you."@@novelbin@@

    Rhett¡¯s eyes narrowed. After only four days, had Kudin¡¯s men really made a discovery?

    Just as Rhett was pondering this, Kudin came running up, crossing the Graystone Avenue and reaching Rhett¡¯s side.

    "My lord, this is today¡¯s find!" Kudin eximed, excitedly presenting a dirt-covered silver te. He nced at the traveling merchant, whom he had met earlier that morning, before turning his attention back to Rhett.

    "Good job, Kudin. You can head inside and collect your reward from Swita," Rhett said, taking the antique te. It was about twenty centimeters in diameter, suitable for holding fruit or serving as a dining te. The silver-coated exterior produced a crisp sound when tapped lightly.

    Angni¡¯s expression remained unchanged, though he seemed somewhat interested. "Indeed, this is the antique I¡¯m interested in. I¡¯m willing to offer ten gold coins for it! You must know, my lord, it¡¯s just a te with no artistic value. Ten gold coins is more than fair."

    After a moment of thought, Rhett shook his head. "No, I think I¡¯ll hold onto this te. It has piqued my interest."

    Angni¡¯s face stiffened. He prided himself on reading people well and had assumed that this young baron, fresh from the battlefield, would care more about wealth than antiques.

    "I see... Perhaps we could negotiate? Fifteen gold coins?" Angni raised the offer by fifty percent.

    Rhett shook his head again. "I have some fresh fish from Sun Lake if you¡¯re interested. Feel free to take your pick."

    "Haha, you¡¯re quite the joker, my lord. Carrying fish on the road would only lead to a smelly demise," Angniughed, but seeing that Rhett¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his face fell once more.

    "Is there really no room for negotiation?" Angni asked, his tone now calm.

    Rhett stared at him directly, about to refuse again when a thought crossed his mind. After a moment of contemtion, Rhett suddenly smiled. "Fifteen gold coins seems a bit low, don¡¯t you think? If you don¡¯t raise the price, I might have to reconsider selling."

    A sh of realization crossed Angni¡¯s eyes, and he inwardly scoffed. So that¡¯s what this was all about¡ªjust haggling for a higher price. He almost fell for it, thinking the baron wasn¡¯t interested. Suppressing his irritation, Angni put on a thoughtful expression, as if he was reluctant to continue. "Well... if you¡¯re serious about selling, I could perhaps offer five more gold coins."

    "Never mind," Rhett replied tly.

    Angni¡¯s heart sank, but Rhett¡¯s next words gave him a glimmer of hope.

    "Instead of gold coins, perhaps a trade for something more useful would be a better option," Rhett suggested, ncing at therge bundles on Angni¡¯s back. "What do you think?"

    Angni, finally understanding, smiled and pped his forehead. "Ah, I see now. My apologies for forgetting that option. Please, feel free to choose. As long as the value is equivalent, I¡¯m open to trading."

    He then shrugged off his backpack, bending down to untie it.

    But at that moment, <strong>Earth Spike!</strong>

    Rhett¡¯s eyes turned cold as he cast a spell, sending a spike of earth shooting toward Angni.

    Though Angni had bent down, his instincts were sharp. Years of traveling had honed his vignce, and he wasn¡¯t so easily caught off guard.

    In an instant, sensing the elemental disturbance beneath him, Angni¡¯s expression changed drastically. He leaped back, channeling his mental energy to conjure a zing fireball in front of him.

    <strong>Falling Rock!</strong>

    Rhett remained calm, having already predicted Angni¡¯s retreat. It was as if he had foreseen the future, knowing exactly where Angni would go. The falling rock mmed down on Angni¡¯s path!

    Panic shed in Angni¡¯s eyes as the shadow of the boulder loomed over him. For the first time, a wave of fear washed over him. This earth mage, a second-level practitioner, was the most terrifying opponent he had ever encountered! His timing, precision, and spellcasting were unparalleled. Never in his life had Angni faced such an adversary!

    "Why are you attacking me? I haven¡¯t done anything to provoke you!" Angni shouted desperately. But with the boulder descending, he couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted. He hurled the fireball into the sky, trying to intercept the attack.

    Rhett¡¯s cold gaze sharpened, and with a mentalmand, a spike of earth emerged from the ground, piercing through Angni¡¯s chest, blood gushing from the wound.

    Angni¡¯s face twisted in agony, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His legs gave way, and he copsed to the ground.

    <strong>Earth Spike!</strong>

    Rhett didn¡¯t hesitate, casting another earth spike spell. The spike shot up from the ground mercilessly.

    "Ahhh!" Angni let out a final, blood-curdling scream as the spike tore through his body. The pain radiated through every nerve, overwhelming him. But the pain was fleeting. As the spike pierced his back and then his heart, Angni¡¯s life force drained away in an instant.

    The scream echoed briefly before silence fell, the deadly spikes having swiftly ended his life.

    ...

 Chapter 60: A Drastic Change

    Within Deep Rock Fortress, the servants quietly carried on with their duties, cleaning and transporting dishes. However, a sudden, agonizing scream brought all movement to a halt. Curiosity mixed with a bit of panic, and they began to cautiously step toward the doors, eager to see what had happened outside.

    But Swita, who had been on alert, stood firmly at the entrance, blocking their way. "What do you think you''re doing? Listen up, whatever happened outside is none of your concern. Or perhaps you''re still half asleep and just had a bad dream?" Swita''s voice was calm yet heavy.

    "Now, immediately, stop trying to pry into matters that don''t concern you. Have you all finished your work already?" Swita pointed toward one of the servants. "Hey, Scarlett, are you nning to serve that tray to your breakfast too? If not, then put it where it belongs, in the kitchen!"

    "And you, Sharl, haven''t you cleaned that te properly yet? How many times must I remind you to pay attention to detail?" Swita''s voice grew louder.

    "And you, watch your step! If you break the lord''s crystal ss, ten years of your wages wouldn''t cover it." Swita''smanding tone left no room for argument.

    The servants stiffened, and the brief disturbance quickly dissipated. The morning at Deep Rock Fortress returned to its usual order. Swita himself, feeling a bit of relief, walked to a window in the hallway.

    Through the light morning mist, he could see a figure lying motionless in a pool of blood near the estate''s entrance, right in front of the lord. He let out a long sigh of relief.

    "No matter what, as long as the lord is unharmed," Swita thought, a smile returning to his face. He pulled out a handkerchief from his waist and wiped his forehead, even though there was no sweat.

    Meanwhile, at the outer courtyard¡ªthe knight training grounds¡ªthe knights had also heard the scream and rushed toward the source. Tuck, who had been training there, feared his father might be in danger and sprinted after them, his face filled with anxiety, only trailing slightly behind Frano and Laureen.But when they all reached the scene and saw the traveling merchant lying in a pool of blood, the battle seemingly over, they all froze in shock, their mouths slightly agape.

    Kurth, who had been the slowest of the group, quickly assessed the situation. Realizing the fight was over and there was no longer any need for reinforcements, he turned around and sternly called out to the apprentice knights still running toward the gate. "Everyone, stop! No one is to leave the training grounds!"

    Tadel, catching on, added, "Everyone, back to your training positions. Nothing happened here!"

    The dozen or so apprentice knights immediately halted in their tracks. Seeing the expressions of their instructors, they could tell the crisis had passed, and one by one, they returned to their previous positions.

    Meanwhile, Reilly hurried down from the third floor of the fortress. When he reached the outside, he encountered no resistance from Swita.

    "Father, who is this man?" Reilly asked, standing slightly behind his father, his eyes filled with confusion.

    Rhett shook his head, not responding immediately. Instead, he gave instructions. "Take care of this man''s body and clean up the area thoroughly. I don''t want a trace left behind."

    Kurth and Tadel immediately stepped forward and saluted. "Leave it to us, my lord. We''re quite skilled at handling bodies."

    "Let me do it. I guarantee it will be spotless," Frano offered, stepping forward to volunteer.

    A strange look crossed Rhett''s face as he nced at his training instructors. It seemed they had done this sort of thing more than a few times in the past...

    Shaking his head, Rhett said, "It doesn''t matter who does it, you can all work together if you like. But the oue must be wless!"

    "Tuck! Reilly!"

    "Yes, Father!"

    "You two, search this man''s body thoroughly. Strip him down and bring all his belongings and anything suspicious to the fifth-floor hall," Rhett continued, methodically issuing orders.

    Asmands were given, several people quickly gathered around the body, busying themselves with the tasks at hand.

    Rhett, meanwhile, stood deep in thought, recalling the events that had just transpired.

    When Angni had asked, "Is there really no way to negotiate?" his expression had be calm, but Rhett had already be wary. In his first simtion, this man had shown his true colors by trying to kill him, and Rhett had kept his guard up ever since.

    Combined with earlier simtions where Angni had left with a sour face after hearing about Rhett''s homnd and his unusually eager interest in the silver te today, Rhett had sensed something was off. He had initiated a <strong>text-based simtion</strong>.

    In the simtion, it was revealed that the te contained a hidden piece of mithril, sparking the merchant''s greed and leading him to plot against Rhett. The simtion outlined his actions, confirming Rhett''s suspicions.

    Faced with the undeniable evidence, Rhett abandoned any thoughts of mercy. In such a world, leaving loose ends was a luxury he couldn''t afford.

    Out of caution, Rhett also ran a <strong>realistic simtion</strong>. Surprisingly, in the first three attempts, the traveling merchant managed to escape. It wasn''t until the final simtion that Rhett seeded in killing him. Thatst simtion was what he had just replicated in reality.

    "Father, we¡¯ve gathered everything," Tuck announced. He had fetched a few waterproof leather bags, wrapped the bloodstained bup sacks from the merchant¡¯s belongings, and now carried them all on his shoulders.

    "Take them to the fifth-floor hall. I¡¯ll join you shortly," Rhett replied, patting Tuck on the shoulder.

    By now, the area where Angni had fallen had been thoroughly cleaned, leaving no trace of the violent encounter.

    Satisfied, Rhett addressed the group. "If you''re curious about this man, I can only say that he harbored ill intentions toward our territory. I had no choice but to kill him."

    He then looked at everyone seriously. "Whether you believe me or not, I expect that after today, this event is forgotten."

    The area fell silent for a moment before Frano broke into a smile. "Lord Rhett, we are all members of Eagle Town. You¡¯ve ced your trust in us without reservation. How could we ever doubt you? If you choose not to exin, then we will simply follow your orders."

    "Of course, I¡¯ve never questioned our lord¡¯s judgment," Tadel added with a grin. He then pped his hands together. "By the way, I haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. That training really worked up an appetite. I¡¯m off to grab some jerky." He turned and headed toward the auxiliary fortress.

    "Hey, grab some for me too. I only had a few slices of bread this morning, and I¡¯m starving!" Kurth called after him.

    "Sure, I¡¯ll bring you a fresh bucket of cow dung! I guess you didn¡¯t hear me the first time. You didn¡¯t even bother to grab me a piece of bread, but now you want me to fetch you jerky? If you¡¯re hungry,e with me. I won¡¯t be your free errand boy..." Tadel was still holding a grudge over losing half a match to Kurth a few days ago.

    "Unbelievable, what a stingy guy!" Kurth muttered, but his legs were already following after Tadel.

    Rhett watched them with a smile, then slowly made his way back to the manor.

    ...@@novelbin@@

    Inside the fifth-floor hall of the fortress, Rhett stood alone, gazing out at the white clouds drifting across the sky. His mind, however, was processing the rest of the information from the simtion.

    "Another full year simted, not bad. And there¡¯s even a breakthrough¡ªmy sons survived without any losses." Rhett nodded in satisfaction.

    "However... it seems the timeline of clearing out the bandits was different this time, and the addition of the two rangers caused some minor changes. This time, I wasn¡¯t targeted by members of that evil alchemical organization," Rhett mused. This was the pivotal point in the simtion where events diverged drastically from before.

    Not only had Maplewood Town and Gold Digger Town been struck, but even Reylis had met her end... in bed?

    "Why in bed?!" Rhett thought, feeling a bit speechless. Dying in bed¡ªwas she perhaps betrayed by some pretty boy working for the evil organization?

    It seemed likely. After all, with Reylis¡¯ talent in battle energy, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for her to attract unwanted attention.

    But that wasn¡¯t the main issue. The key point Rhett was pondering was the final phase of the beast tide counterattack.

    In the previous simtion, the beast tide had been sessfully quelled. But this time, it seemed that the dark magic user who had killed Rhett in the past simtion had broken through to level four.

    Following his intuition and the clues he had gathered, Rhett suspected that this was connected to the evil organization¡¯s mastery of dark alchemy. Because of this, when Count Nilo was killed, the beast tide counterattack failed.

    ...

 Chapter 62: The Debate Between Alchemists and Blacksmiths

    In his youth, Angni enjoyed traveling far and wide. During one of his returns, he found that his family had been wiped out by enemies he had provoked during his journeys. The ones who destroyed Angni''s family were a group of pirates.

    Actually, Angni''s dream had always been to be a navigator. His youthful travels mostly involved sailing to distant inds or foreignnds, often conducting small trade deals. However, the letter did not mention how he had provoked the pirates. Rhett wasn¡¯t particrly curious about the details once he knew the oue.

    After that incident, Angni fled ind, guided by hints from a family will to locate his family''s hidden treasure. This served as his initial capital to start his life as a traveling merchant.

    "Some people just never change, do they?" Rhett mused with a wry smile. Angni¡¯s reckless actions had brought disaster upon his family, and now, for simr reasons, he had met his end.

    "By the way, where is the seashell mentioned in the letter?" Rhett suddenly recalled the family heirloom¡ªthe mysterious seashell that Angni¡¯s father had mentioned in the will. But why hadn¡¯t he noticed it earlier?

    Rhett rummaged through the various xen bags and carefully searched through the pile of items on the floor, but the seashell was nowhere to be found.

    "Strange, where could it have gone?" Rhett scratched his head, intrigued by the letter''s description of the seashell''s origins.@@novelbin@@

    It was said to be a gift from a merman from the depths of the sea!

    Rhett had heard such fairy tales as a child. ording to legend, a mysterious world existed deep beneath the sea, inhabited by merfolk and fishmen. Long ago, Angni''s ancestors had made a living as fishermen, and one day, an ancestor had rescued an injured fishman from the ocean.The fishman, iming to be a prince from the Fishman Kingdom, had presented a magical seashell as a token of gratitude. However, the letter did not mention what magical powers the shell held, leading Rhett to suspect that the tale was likely embellished.

    Moreover, there were no further mentions of the fishman in the story. Given that Rhett had never encountered or heard of such creatures, even in the annals of the Kingdom of Jinlun''s history, he had always considered the tale to be a fantastical fabrication.

    Thus, Rhett became even more skeptical of the seashell¡¯s true origin.

    "Ah, here it is!" Rhett''s eyes lit up as he finally spotted the colorful seashell tucked away at the far end of the firece, near the wall.

    He walked over and picked it up, a hint of surprise in his eyes. How had the shell ended up there? ncing back, he saw that the pile of xen bags was about ten meters away from where the shell was found.

    Had he identally kicked it over there while moving things around? That seemed to be the only usible exnation.

    It couldn¡¯t possibly have walked there on its own.

    As he examined the vibrant seashell more closely, Rhett noticed that it appeared almost brand new, without any signs of aging.

    Disappointed, he realized that it was likely just an ordinary shell. He could detect no elemental energy or aura of magicing from it. Shaking his head, Rhett ced the shell on a table in the room.

    Its colorful exterior would at least make for a decent decoration. In andlocked area like the southwestern border, seashells were a rare sight.

    With the misceneous tasks out of the way, Rhett nced at his mental panel. The pitiful [Fate Points: 7] disyed at the bottom of the screen reminded him of the 8 points he had expended dealing with the traveling merchant.

    With only 7 points left, Rhett realized he could only afford one [Text Simtion] and two [Real Simtions]. This brought a sense of urgency to his mind.

    He lifted his blueberry juice to his lips, noting, "Hmm? It''s already gotten warm..."

    Rhett turned his gaze back to the window. The bare trees lining the gray stone avenue were budding with new growth, and high in the sky, migrating birds chirped as they flew by.

    With a thought, Rhett chilled the crystal cup in his hand with a wisp of icy magic, cooling the drink once more.

    "Hmm, the weather¡¯s warming up¡ªtime to set off."

    That evening, Rhett called a brief family meeting in the hall on the fifth floor.

    The next morning, just as dawn began to break, the group embarked on their journey.

    "Father, look at my arm! Isn''t it bigger than it was a week ago?" Tyles boasted, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his pale, slender arm. He wore a light-colored coat and seemed eager to show off.

    But when Tuck leaned in with hisrge eyes wide open, Tyles flinched. "Tuck, what are you doing?"

    "I''m just checking," Tuck chuckled mischievously as he pinched Tyles'' bicep, nodding in mock seriousness. "Hmm, not bad! You''ve made noticeable progress in a week. My coaching wasn¡¯t in vain!"

    Sitting atop Grayrock, Rhett smiled faintly. "Tyles, if you had to choose, would you rather be a knight or a mage?"

    Without hesitation, Tyles replied, "Of course, a mage! Only mages have the privilege of pursuing the truths of alchemy. Knights are just cksmiths, spending their days at hot forges."

    "Hey, don''t belittle knights!" Tuck retorted, lightly tousling Tyles'' hair. "Don¡¯t forget, the most famous legendary weapons were forged by cksmiths. No matter how powerful a mage is, can he wield a hammer? Ha! He probably can¡¯t even lift one!"

    "Hmph! Alchemy is just more interesting than forging!" Tyles shrugged off Tuck¡¯s hand, unconcerned.

    Tuck let it slide. Compared to these trivial arguments, what really bothered him was that, due to ckrock¡¯s pregnancy, he had to ride a regr gray horse on this trip¡ªsomething he just couldn¡¯t get used to.

    Four dayster, after a long journey, they finally stood before towering peaks and a mountain range d in vibrant greenery.

    Rhett knew they had reached their destination¡ªthe Dark Patterned Eagle''s branch of the mountain range.

    Arge xen bag hung from Rhett''s waist, though it was mostly empty, save for a few solid objects clinking at the bottom.

    These were the magic crystals harvested from the beasts they had in along the way.

    In a series of encounters that mirrored his simtions, Rhett had effortlessly subdued and severely injured a me Lion, a zing Rhino, and two Wind Wolves. As usual, he had Tyles deliver the final blows.

    By now, Tyles had taken the lives of many magical beasts. When Rhett gave the order for him to finish off another beast, Tyles no longer hesitated. He had developed the mental fortitude needed to act without fear.

    "We¡¯ve finally arrived at the Dark Patterned Eagle''s branch!" Reilly eximed as he gazed up at the towering peaks.

    "Father, should we stay near the outskirts?" Reilly asked, looking over at his father. "I''ve heard that the deeper areas are often home to third-tier magical beasts, and there''s even a fourth-tier Dark Patterned Eagle that rules over this region!"

    "Yes, there likely is a fourth-tier Dark Patterned Eagle deeper within," Rhett replied, narrowing his eyes as if peering through the gaps in the mountain forests.

    He spected that this eagle might even be behind the uing beast tide.

    A fourth-tier magical beast was already considered a mid-tier creature, with intelligence far surpassing that of low-tier beasts. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for it to incite a wave of low-tier beasts.

    ...

 Chapter 64: The Wind-Patterned Tiger Cub

    "Not bad, another two Fate Points earned." Rhett¡¯s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

    With his current reserve of 16 Fate Points, he was getting closer to being able to break through the bottleneck and advance to a Tier 3 Mage. Once he reached that level, he would have the confidence to confront and even eradicate the Evil Alchemy Organization. After all, bing a viscount was at stake, and Rhett couldn¡¯t afford to take this lightly.

    But beyond the potential merit, Rhett detested the organization¡¯s ruthless methods. Their indiscriminate ughter of their own kind had earned them a ce on his personal death list.

    Returning from his thoughts, Rhett noticed Tyles, now covered in blood, running toward him.

    "Tyles, have you been diligently practicing archery with Frano and Lauren as I instructed?" Rhett asked, recalling that relying solely on close-range attacks with a spear wouldn¡¯t always be effective against stronger or more elusive magical beasts. A few days ago, he had started Tyles on archery training as a safer long-range option for future hunts.

    "Of course, but I only had one day of practice before you brought me here to hunt," Tyles shrugged, indicating it wasn¡¯t his fault.

    "Father, how did I do just now? Even without your help, that Wind-Patterned Tiger was no match for me!" Tuck walked over with a wide grin. As a human knight, he had sessfully subdued the tiger on his own this time, unlikest time when he was injured and would have been in a dire situation without his father¡¯s intervention.

    "Indeed, you did well," Rhett praised, but then added, "However, the tiger''s speed outmatches yours. If it had decided to flee, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to catch up."

    Tuck¡¯s smile faded as he scratched his head. "True¡­ This technique only works when I retrace my steps precisely. But in other situations, it''s almost useless. The tiger was too fast, and I couldn¡¯t keep up with it. Sigh..."Rhett shook his head. "Tuck, losers find excuses, but winners find solutions. If the tiger had escaped, you should reflect on whether your <em>Phantom Retrace</em> could have been more precise, or if your preparatory movements could have been more thorough. Also, why didn¡¯t your sword strike a fatal point? If you improve on these aspects, even a faster opponent wouldn¡¯t escape your grasp."

    Tuck stood silently, deep in thought as he absorbed his father¡¯s advice.@@novelbin@@

    Meanwhile, Reilly was busy handling the aftermath, preparing to salvage what he could from the tiger''s corpse. With limited space in their sack, he focused on valuable parts like ws, teeth, and the magic core.

    As Reilly examined the tiger''s body, he made a surprising discovery. "Father! This Wind-Patterned Tiger has a fresh wound on its abdomen. It looks like it just gave birth recently."

    "Indeed, it¡¯s a new mother," Rhett observed, noting the half-meter-long incision that hadn¡¯t yet healed. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder why the simtion hadn¡¯t mentioned any tiger cubs. It seemed reality had deviated from the predicted path.

    Tuck, unaware of Rhett¡¯s concerns, excitedly eximed, "A tiger cub? Does that mean I might get a magical beast pet?" He eagerly pointed in the direction the tiger hade from. "Father, let¡¯s follow this path quickly and see if we can find it!"

    Despite his lingering doubts, Rhett recognized the urgency of the situation. He abandoned the tiger''s corpse and led the group in pursuit of the tracks left by the Wind-Patterned Tiger.

    After an hour of searching, Rhett finally picked up on something. He stopped, listening intently, and then said, "That¡¯s the sound of Fire-Maned Dogs. Listen carefully."

    The others quickly caught up, hearing the same chaotic barking¡ªmultiple dogs of the same species, barking in unison.

    Reilly¡¯s eyes widened in rm. "This is bad! Fire-Maned Dogs are known for their sneaky, underhanded tactics and have a keen sense of smell. They must have picked up the scent of the tiger cubs."

    "Are the tiger cubs going to be eaten by those dogs?" Tyles eximed in fear.

    Rhett¡¯s expression hardened. "We need to hurry. There may still be time to save them."

    Tuck¡¯s eyes burned with anger. "If they¡¯ve harmed my tiger cub, those mutts will pay!"

    The group rushed toward the sounds, arriving just in time to witness a bloody scene. The small nest built by the Wind-Patterned Tiger, roughly six to seven meters wide, was already in shambles. Two bloodied lumps of flesh remained, reduced to little more than bone fragments.

    But amidst the carnage, Rhett spotted a small, wriggling cub that was still alive, rolling on the ground, seemingly unscathed.

    Rhett¡¯s heart skipped a beat, filled with joy at the unexpected turn of events. Despite the deviations from the simtion, they had arrived just in time.

    "Die!" Rhett¡¯s eyes shed coldly as he focused on the two Fire-Maned Dogs near the surviving cub. With a sharp burst of mental power, two earthen spikes shot up, impaling the dogs instantly, leaving no chance for them to escape.

    He remained thoughtful, grateful for their timely arrival. Had they been even a minuteter, thest tiger cub would have been lost as well.

    As for the other Fire-Maned Dogs, they had begun to scatter, sensing danger.

    <em>Rockfall!</em>

    <em>Rockfall!</em>

    Two massive boulders crashed down, blocking the widest paths through the forest.

    "You''re not getting away!" Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed as he methodically assessed the battlefield.

    Despite their erratic movements and impressive agility, the Fire-Maned Dogs had unwittingly fallen into Rhett¡¯s trap.

    With alternating strikes of <em>Earth Spike</em> and <em>Earth Lance</em>, each attack imed the life of a Fire-Maned Dog. Intermittent uses of <em>Rockfall</em> further sealed their fate.

    In less than a minute, all six Fire-Maned Dogsy dead, not a single one managing to escape.

 Chapter 67: Advancement!

    Tuck carefully listened to his father''smands from the sidelines, his steps slowing as the footsteps behind him grew louder. mes ignited on the sword in his hand.

    At that moment, a Water Arrow spell struck the Earthshaker Bear on the forehead, causing it to roar in pain.

    <em>Roar!</em>

    The Earthshaker Bear looked at the human figure thirty meters away, d in a blue cloak and seemingly standing still. However, the raised magic staff in the figure''s hand fueled its rage!

    It pounded its chest with a thumping sound, channeling its anger into boundless energy. Its heavy steps sank into the soil, leaving deep imprints as it charged forward.

    "Hmph!" Tuck noticed the Earthshaker Bear giving up on chasing him. His eyes shed coldly as he monitored the battle markings he had left behind. With a swift motion, he activated Phantom Rewind.

    The barely visible trails left behind glowed faintly red, and in the blink of an eye, Tuck seemed to leave an afterimage as he returned to the exact spot the Earthshaker Bear had just vacated.

    "me sh!"@@novelbin@@

    He lunged forward, thrusting his me-wreathed sword. The slow-reacting Earthshaker Bear only trembled when the sharp me pierced its back.Despitending a hit, Tuck showed no signs of joy on his face because he realized that his sword had be lodged inside the bear''s body.

    The Earthshaker Bear, now deeply irritated, tensed its muscles. Instinctively, as the pain hit, it activated its magic.

    The surrounding earth elements condensed, forming ayer of earthen armor around its body.

    This dual defense caused Tuck''s sword to be stuck halfway into the bear''s body.

    "Such thick skin!" Tuck cursed. With his attack thwarted, he knew better than to linger. Standing toe-to-toe with a beast like the Earthshaker Bear would only result in him being overwhelmed.

    A massive paw swung down, causing a sonic boom.

    But Tuck seemed to vanish from his spot, reappearing along his retreat path.

    He even provocatively gestured with his fingers, taunting the bear, "Come on, keep chasing me!"

    Following his father''s advice and the training over the past few days, Tuck had be increasingly proficient with Phantom Rewind, expertly executing it in battle.

    <em>Roar!</em>

    Seeing the human knight evade its grasp once again, the Earthshaker Bear nearly coughed up blood in frustration. Its nostrils red, releasing faint puffs of smoke.

    It had lived in the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge for years, always ready to engage any creature of simr strength in brutal hand-to-handbat. Never had it been toyed with like this by two humans using tactics to wear it down!

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    Another Water Arrow spell hit the bear squarely in the chest. Reilly winced slightly, almost feeling sorry for the bear''s exaggerated reaction.

    Once again, the Earthshaker Bear turned its attention to Reilly.

    Phantom Rewind! me sh!

    Every time the bear turned to chase Reilly, Tuck would strike from behind.

    "I''m back!" Tuck shouted as he shed at the back of the bear''s head.

    Watching from the tree, Rhett finally smiled. He muttered to himself, "Good. They''ve finally mastered the art of teamwork, using their numbers to their advantage and coordinating wlessly."

    After ten minutes of futile rage, the heavily wounded Earthshaker Bear finally copsed to the ground.

    Its earthen armor faded, and Tuck leaped forward. With the bear defenseless, the energy-infused sword made quick work of severing its limbs.

    Standing triumphantly on the bear''s back, Tuck signaled to someone in the shadows.

    Tyles emerged from the forest, wielding his spear. Over the past half-month, it had be his signature weapon.

    After a round of stabbing, the message <em>Family Member Defeats Enemy Above Their Level, Fate Points +2</em> appeared, and Rhett leaped down from the tree.

    "Well done. In just a week of training, your teamwork has improved significantly, and I''ve noticed it all," Rhett said as he approached Tuck and Reilly.

    Reilly marveled, "Father, the strategy you taught us¡ª''retreat when they advance, pursue when they retreat''¡ªis simply brilliant. Not only does it minimize casualties, but it also conserves our energy."

    Rhett gave him an approving nod. "Exactly. When you outnumber the enemy, you must maximize your advantage. In the wild, always stay vignt of your surroundings.

    "If you can defeat an enemy more easily, conserve your energy rather than going head-to-head. Every battle is not just about defeating the enemy but also ensuring that we minimize our losses and conserve our strength for any unexpected challenges. Remember, the enemy isn''t just the one you''re trying to defeat; it''s also those who might be trying to defeat you."

    These final words struck home, and both Tuck and Reilly nodded in agreement.

    After dealing with the Earthshaker Bear''s corpse, the group decided it would be a waste not to enjoy it. So, they agreed to have a barbecue that night.

    Fortunately, Reilly hade prepared with several bags of spices, making the meal particrly vorful.

    Late that night, while the others rested, Rhett sat cross-legged on the ground. Thanks to the recent extermination of a group of Blue Crystal Ants¡ªweak Tier 1 magical beasts¡ªhis Fate Points had swelled to 157.

    With a thought, he opened the system interface.

    <em>Would you like to begin a Real Simtion? Each day simted costs 1 Fate Point.</em>

    "Yes!"

    ...

    On the 141st simtion, Rhett''s breathing remained steady, but his brow furrowed as his meditation progressed. He felt as though his mental energy had pierced a critical threshold.

    With each breath, the gap in that barrier widened.

    Gradually, his mental energy seemed to spill over, expanding rapidly. The process was tumultuous, like waves crashing or winds howling.

    As time passed, the storm in his mind calmed, signaling the end of his transformation.

    Whenplete silence filled his mind, Rhett realized that his mental energy had expanded severalfold.

    He stood up, the wind tugging at his robes, and felt the immense mental energy brimming within him. He had never felt so powerful.

    "Too bad I didn''t bring any Moonlight Potions with me on this trip. Otherwise, I could have refined a few more," Rhett thought, but he wasn''t disappointed.

    The joy of advancing to a Tier 3 Mage filled his heart.

    "Return!"

    A ripple appeared before his eyes as Rhett returned to reality. The drop from Tier 3 Mage back to Tier 2 left him feeling ufortable.

    <em>Simtionplete. Please select one attribute to retain.</em>

    <em>1. Constitution</em>

    <em>2. Battle Qi</em>

    <em>3. Mental Energy</em>

    Without hesitation, Rhett chose the third option.

    ...

 Chapter 69: The Best Simulation

    "Just now, during the harvest, I think I heard an eagle''s cry?" Rhett recalled thest part of the simtion and thought to himself, "It must be the Dark-Winged Eagle. Only its speed could prevent me from reacting before I was taken out."

    A Tier 4 magical beast had already reached the mid-tier level, with a significant leap in strength. While Rhett could have exchanged blows with a Tier 3 magical beast as a Level 2 Mage, facing a Tier 4 magical beast as a Level 3 Mage would definitely result in a crushing defeat.

    "However... there¡¯s that patch ofnd with over three hundred dark-element nts deep within the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge. That¡¯s quite a fortune," Rhett mused, considering whether he should use the simtion to conduct a safety test to find a path that avoids the Dark-Winged Eagle.

    After some thought, Rhett dismissed the idea. Although three hundred dark-element nts sounded impressive, they weren¡¯t indispensable to Hawk Town. They could only be used to exchange for a certain amount of gold coins.

    However, with Snow Elves in the territory, developing water-element nts was the real key to prosperity. In Rhett¡¯s view, within a few years, the territory could produce arge quantity of water-element nts, bing the backbone of the economy.

    By then, whether for internal use or trade, Hawk Town wouldn¡¯tck resources or gold.

    With a long-term economic foundation in ce, Rhett didn¡¯tck gold coins in the short term either. The spoils from the traveling merchant and this hunt were more than enough to sustain the territory¡¯s operations for the time being.

    More importantly, Rhett nned to explore deeper into the mountains for a few more days to collect more Fate Points. This seemed a much better option than risking everything for three hundred dark-element nts.

    Furthermore, facing a mid-tier magical beast, Rhett couldn¡¯t be sure how many simtions it would take to find a safe path. Wasting arge number of Fate Points on this seemed too costly to Rhett."Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s simte again, but this time, without focusing on the dark-element nts," Rhett decided in his heart.

    <em>Would you like to start a text simtion? Each simtion costs 5 Fate Points per year.</em>

    "Yes, simte one year."@@novelbin@@

    <em>In the year 474 of the Kingdom of Gold, on February 8th, Kudin and his carpenters unearthed a chest of gold coins, a chest of magic crystals, a chest of magic nt seeds, and an ancient diary. That evening, you advanced to a Level 3 Mage, greatly enhancing your strength. Congrattions.</em>

    <em>On February 9th, you and your team arrived at Ice Crystal Lake, where you encountered a Cold Crystal Tiger swimming in theke. After a fierce battle, you narrowly defeated it. You then explored the area around theke and its depths, discovering one hundred mid-level water-element nts and six high-level water-element nts.</em>

    <em>On February 10th, you ventured deeper into the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge and encountered a Tier 3 Giant-Toothed Armored Beast and a Tier 3 Crystal Leopard. You managed to defeat them after a tough battle.</em>

    <em>On February 11th, you encountered a Tier 3 Windfeather Sparrow. After a fierce fight, you severely injured it, but it managed to escape.</em>

    <em>On February 15th, you discovered a field of mid-level dark-element nts. You chose to avoid this area and instead explored in the opposite direction. That night, you encountered a Tier 3 Frostbreath Lizard and severely injured it, but it escaped into a hidden burrow among the grass.</em>

    <em>On February 16th, you returned to the outskirts of the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge and hunted arge number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 magical beasts. By evening, you had in seven Tier 2 beasts and eleven Tier 1 beasts. Satisfied with your haul, you began your journey back to Hawk Town.</em>

    <em>On February 24th, Kalina visited your territory. Reilly warmly weed her, and their rtionship grew closer. They agreed that Reilly would visit Dam Town in the summer.</em>

    <em>On March 20th, you prepared to investigate the evil alchemy organization, with the first step being to prevent a massacre in Maple Town.</em>

    <em>On March 25th, upon arriving in Maple Town, you concealed your aura, not revealing your advancement to Level 3 Mage. The lord of Maple Town was quite hospitable, even hinting at the idea of marrying his youngest daughter to Reilly. You declined the offer, suggesting Tyles as a potential match instead. However, the lord quickly changed the topic and didn¡¯t bring up marriage again.</em>

    <em>On March 26th, while taking a nighttime stroll with the lord of Dam Town, you were ambushed by a Tier 3 evil alchemist. Unfortunately, the lord of Dam Town was killed in the attack. Fortunately, having anticipated such a move, youunched a counterattack the moment the alchemist appeared. After a fierce battle, you severely injured him. Following a harsh interrogation, you extracted valuable information about the organization.</em>

    <em>On April 3rd, you located a Tier 2 knight at an abandoned mine and easily subdued him. Afterparing the information obtained from both interrogations, you confirmed that the information from the evil alchemist was urate. You then decided to infiltrate the organization¡¯s headquarters at the Rea Viscount Family in the Kingdom of Ginn.</em>

    <em>On April 30th, you arrived at the Rea Family¡¯s territory¡ªClearwater Town. However, as soon as you entered the town, you were ambushed by three Tier 3 Mages and seven Tier 3 knights. Severely injured, you barely escaped with your life. While fleeing, you were relentlessly pursued, but a mysterious dwarf intervened, demonstrating immense power by driving off your pursuers with a single strike, giving you enough time to escape.</em>

    <em>On May 3rd, after recovering from your injuries, you returned to the outskirts of Clearwater Town. This time, you opted for guerri tactics.</em>

    <em>On May 4th, the mysterious dwarf arrived to assist you again. When you asked about his background, he refused to divulge any details, only stating that he belonged to the world¡¯s most evil organization and went by the codename "ckstar."</em>

    <em>On May 6th, you and ckstar encountered a Tier 3 Mage in blue robes while he was out. Together, you defeated him.</em>

    <em>On May 7th, you ambushed another Tier 3 Mage and two Tier 3 knights, killing two of them. Only one knight managed to escape with serious injuries.</em>

    <em>On May 8th, thest remaining Tier 3 Mage led five Tier 3 knights on patrol. You and ckstarunched a surprise attack, killing the Mage and gradually taking down the remaining knights, leaving one alive. Over the next few days, you observed ckstar using Tier 5 and Tier 6 dark-element spells, deducing that he had consumed a high-quality dark-element bloodline potion, granting him immense power despite being a Tier 3 Mage. That day, you eradicated the evil alchemy organization. ckstar left on his own, while you returned to Clearwater Town, subdued the remaining organization members, and secretly kept some of their alchemy books.</em>

    <em>On May 9th, Tuck advanced to ate-stage Level 1 knight.</em>

    <em>On May 22nd, you arrived in Twilight City, where you handed over the surviving members of the evil alchemy organization and reported the matter to Earl Nilo. You also purchased a sufficient supply of Moonlight Potion and a spellbook on earth magic¡ªQuicksand.</em>

    <em>On June 8th, after half a month of investigation, you verified the confessions of the captured members and visited the territories and viges that had been attacked in recent years. You also captured and interrogated the remaining scattered members. The crimes of the evil alchemy organization were fully exposed: over the past few years, they had experimented with alchemy on 142 Mages and knights, killing over ten thousand innocent civilians.</em>

    <em>On July 1st, the stable master George assisted Hager in giving birth to triplets, a joyous asion.</em>

    <em>On July 15th, the deputymander of the Canyon Defense Line, Anbiru, apanied by Earl Nilo, came to your territory to conduct the ceremony elevating your rank. From that day forward, you became a viscount of the Kingdom of Gold, and your territory expanded threefold.</em>

    <em>On August 2nd, word of your defeat of the evil alchemy organization spread. People whose hometowns had been destroyed by the organization came to seek refuge in Hawk Town.</em>

    <em>On August 5th, a Level 2 Mage arrived, iming to possess knowledge of alchemy. He exined that his family had been killed by the evil alchemy organization three years ago and that he was the sole survivor. Grateful for your revenge, he pledged his loyalty to you.</em>

    <em>On September 3rd, after using arge amount of Moonlight Potion, Reilly reached the peak of Level 1 Mage. The awakening of the Snow Elves pushed him to advance to Level 2 Mage!</em>

    <em>On October 4th, a Tier 3 Bloodhoof Boar attacked your territory. You arrived just in time to y it, though three civilians were lost.</em>

    <em>On December 20th, you used fire essence as usual to incubate the magical beast egg, causing a smallmotion. Eventually, a young Fire Feather Eagle hatched, and its first sight was your kind face.</em>

    <em>On December 27th, two homeless Level 1 knights came to seek refuge with you.</em>

    <em>In the year 475 of the Kingdom of Gold, on January 17th, Earl Nilo Brann issued a public notice stating that a minor beast tide was forming in the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge, instructing everyone to prepare for battle.</em>

    <em>On February 8th, the poption of your territory surpassed one thousand. Congrattions!</em>

    <em>Text simtionplete. Would you like to simte again?</em>

    "No."

    After reading through the simtion, Rhett took a few minutes to digest its contents.

    "Not bad. This is probably the best simtion since the very first one," Rhett thought. Not only was he safe, but his three sons were also unharmed.

    The eradication of the evil alchemy organization went smoother than expected, with no furtherplications.

    He had anticipated a long, drawn-out struggle against a well-established organization. However, the assistance of the mysterious dwarf, ckstar, had greatly simplified the process.

    "The most evil organization in the world?"

    Reflecting on the simtion, Rhett couldn¡¯t help but feel confused. The description sounded a bit melodramatic.

    Moreover, if they were part of such an evil organization, why would they target another evil alchemy organization?

    These questions puzzled him, but Rhett decided to set them aside for now.

    All in all, Rhett didn¡¯t underestimate this organization.

    ckstar, a fellow Tier 3 Mage, was capable of casting Tier 5 and Tier 6 dark-element spells. Rhett could hardly imagine the quality of the bloodline potion required to achieve such power.

    This alone was enough to make Rhett take ckstar and his organization seriously.

    However, Rhett had no intention of making contact with such a mysterious and powerful force until his own strength and influence had reached a certain level.

    "Bing a viscount so smoothly, and to think that it was Anbiru who officiated the ceremony?" Rhett found it somewhat surreal.

    After all, it was the same Anbiru who had officiated his elevation to baron.

    In a world where extraordinary powers existed, noble titles were strictly controlled by the royal family. Allowing great nobles to hold such power could easily lead to chaos.

    The military was directly under the king¡¯smand, and Anbiru, the deputymander of the Canyon Defense Line, was responsible for witnessing and conducting ennoblement ceremonies throughout the southwestern border.

    After his promotion to viscount, Rhett noticed that Hawk Town¡¯s reputation had significantly improved.

    His extermination of the evil alchemy organization had attracted many people to seek refuge.

    The addition of an alchemist Mage and an increase in poption greatly strengthened Hawk Town¡¯s foundation.

    All in all, Rhett was very satisfied with the changes brought about by this simtion.

    What¡¯s more, armed with this foresight, he could make even better decisions in reality...

    At dawn, Rhett led his team to Ice Crystal Lake.

    Gazing at the deep blueke, Rhett frowned as he noticed that the temperature around them had dropped significantlypared to earlier on their journey.

    The nts in the area also had cold-resistant characteristics, such as blue frost pines and white snow flowers.

    "Father, the temperature at Ice Crystal Lake seems off. Why is it so cold here?" Tyles asked, shivering slightly as he hugged himself.

    Tuck, unaffected by the cold, furrowed his brow when he saw Tyles shivering. Without hesitation, he took off his jacket and handed it over. "Wear this, Tyles. Don¡¯t let the cold get to you."

    "Thanks, big brother!" Tyles gratefully epted the jacket, wrapping it around himself despite its sweaty smell.

    "This situation likely means something unusual is present at the bottom of theke," Reilly exined, as he could clearly sense that the cold air was emanating from the Ice Crystal Lake. As a water-element Mage, he had a heightened awareness of such things.

    After a moment of thought, Reilly added, "I believe there¡¯s a high possibility of a special water-element mineral vein or arge number of water-element nts at theke¡¯s bottom, which would ount for the temperature drop."

    Rhett nodded in approval. He had been about to exin the situation when Reilly came to the correct conclusion on his own.

    Suddenly, Rhett¡¯s expression changed as he turned to look at theke!

    <em>Ssh, ssh</em>

    The water surface rippled.

    A magical beast emitting an aura of frost surfaced, letting out a massive roar!

    <em>Roar!</em>

    Startled by the roar, Whitefang began to howl frantically, its little paws clinging tightly to Reilly¡¯s cor. Reilly¡¯s face changed as he hurried to soothe Whitefang.

    <em>Howl, howl</em>

    With their hearts connected, Reilly could clearly sense Whitefang¡¯s fear!

    ...

 Chapter 70: The Soft Tiger Pelt

    Rhett squinted slightly, gripping his magic staff in one hand and gesturing with the other, "The three of you, fall back. I''ll handle this beast!"

    "Yes, Father. Please be careful!"

    A battle between two third-tier beings was exceptionally dangerous. Given their current strength, they knew it would be difficult to intervene.

    Ensuring they stayed safe and didn''t hinder their father was their primary concern.

    The three of them retreated a hundred meters to a safe distance, hiding behind thick trees and watching as their father disyed his power!

    <strong>Earth Spike!</strong>

    Faced with the imposing third-tier Frost Crystal Tiger slowly advancing, Rhett remained calm, his hands moving swiftly as he cast his spell.

    A two-meter-long spike descended from the sky.

    Now, the Earth Spike was twice asrge as when Rhett had been a second-tier mage! The condensed earth-yellow aura was even thicker, and the whistling sound as it pierced through the air could be heard even by the three onlookers a hundred meters away.The Frost Crystal Tiger below pushed off with its four limbs, creating waves like a tsunami. It momentarily hovered above the water''s surface before spitting out an ice spike from its mouth!

    The ice-blue and earth-yellow spikes collided with a loud crash, shattering into countless ice crystals and fragments of stone.

    Ice crystals filled the sky, creating a hazy scene. The broken stones scattered in all directions, sshing into theke.

    <em>Plop, plop, plop!</em> Theke''s surface was once again disturbed, sending up countless tiny droplets of water, creating a magnificent spectacle!

    Rhett cast a Rock Shield on himself!

    With a wave of his staff, he kept his eyes on the Frost Crystal Tiger as it came ashore, quicklyunching a Ground Thrust.

    The Frost Crystal Tiger was highly alert, but the cunning angle of the Ground Thrust still pierced its abdomen!

    In truth, Rhett had aimed for the tiger''s heart, but with a third-tier magic beast like the Frost Crystal Tiger, he wasn¡¯t confident innding a fatal blow.

    Feeling a surge of excitement, Rhett knew that as long as hended a hit, he had a whole series of follow-up attacks ready.

    "Great opportunity!"

    Rhett''s eyes gleamed as he concentrated, summoning a massive meteor from the sky.

    The Frost Crystal Tiger, filled with rage, roared as the pain triggered its primal instincts. It opened its mouth and shot out another ice spike.

    At the same time, its massive paws repeatedly struck the ground beneath it, creating afterimages as they shattered the earth spikes.

    <em>Boom, boom, boom!</em>

    The meteor shattered under the ice spike and crashed to the ground, shaking the earth. Despite the blood flowing from its abdomen, the Frost Crystal Tiger managed to escape the dire situation.

    The Frost Crystal Tiger now eyed the human in front of it with a newfound caution, no longer disying the initial disdain. After suffering a real blow and feeling the pain, its eyes were now filled with intense vignce.

    It was ustomed to being arrogant in the Dark Crest Eagle''s territory, rarely encountering anyone who could bring it down so quickly.

    <em>Roar...</em>

    The Frost Crystal Tiger growled lowly, crouching as it began to circle Rhett cautiously.

    "Hmm? This Frost Crystal Tiger doesn''t seem like the reckless type..." Rhett held his breath, his eyes darting as he devised a n.

    He took a step back, testing the tiger''s reaction.

    <em>Roar...?</em>

    Seeing this, the Frost Crystal Tiger instinctively thought this was like the usual fights it had with other beasts¡ªboth sides backing off after mutual destruction.

    In its mind, it wondered, "Huh? The opponent doesn''t want to fight anymore? Well, that''s fine. I''m not sure I could win anyway."

    Feeling a bit of relief, it was happy to avoid a deadly confrontation with such a troublesome opponent.

    However, Rhett had no intention of letting his opponent go. While feigning retreat, he carefully observed the Frost Crystal Tiger''s every move.

    Although magical beasts were smarter than ordinary animals, their intelligence paledpared to humans¡ªunless they were of a high tier or possessed special bloodlines that granted exceptional intellect.

    On the surface, Rhett maintained a cautious demeanor, but inwardly, he smirked when he noticed the Frost Crystal Tiger''s stance rx.

    "Ground Thrust!"

    Just as the Frost Crystal Tiger was preparing to leave, it sensed something amiss beneath its feet. In a sh of panic, it tried to dodge, but the well-aimed earth spike pierced directly into its heart.

    The force it had been gathering dissipated in an instant.

    Rhett shook his head, "Still too inexperienced to outsmart me."

    As a mage with over a decade of military experience and multiple honors as a soldier, Rhett understood that the oue of a battle was never determined by raw power alone.

    Psychological warfare, environmental awareness, and strategic thinking all yed crucial roles in determining the result of a fight.

    Exploiting the enemy''s weaknesses and maximizing one''s strengths¡ªthis time, Rhett had used the lower intelligence of a lesser-tier magical beast to deceive it into lowering its guard. In his view, this was simply a normal tactic in battle.

    In a life-and-death struggle, only the result mattered.

    Victory or defeat determined life or death¡ªthere was no room for unnecessary principles.

    <em>Howl!</em>

    By the time the Frost Crystal Tiger realized it had been tricked, it was toote. The sharp earth spike pierced its heart, causing blood to gush out and stain its icy blue fur.

    <em>Roar...</em>

    <em>Roar...</em>

    The fierce roars echoed through the mountains, shaking the ground and causing leaves to rustle and fall from the trees.

    Riley picked up a leaf that had justnded on his head and murmured, "Father is incredibly strong..."

    A few minutester, the dying Frost Crystal Tiger finally sumbed to Rhett''s relentless attacks. It was crushed by a massive boulder near theke, its blood seeping into the soil and dripping into the icy waters.@@novelbin@@

    "Taylor, hurry!" Rhett shouted urgently. Since the Frost Crystal Tiger was a third-tier magical beast, he was worried it might have onest burst of strength. He had left it with only a sliver of life, likely less than a minute away from death, so time was of the essence.

    "On it, Father!"

    Taylor hurriedly trampled through the snow and grass, quickly reaching the Frost Crystal Tiger''s side. He repeatedly stabbed it in its vulnerable spots until Rhett saw the confirmation in his magic disy and called out, "Alright, Taylor, stop. The beast ispletely dead."

    "Ah," Taylor sighed in relief, leaning on his spear. He thought to himself, "As expected of a third-tier magical beast. Even that part of it was hard to pierce."

    Riley and Tucker came over, circling the Frost Crystal Tiger with eyes full of excitement.

    "This is the first time I''ve been so close to a third-tier magical beast, and it''s still warm," Tucker said with a grin, rubbing the tiger''s fur. His eyes lit up. "This fur is so soft. I''m definitely making an undershirt out of it!"

    "I stabbed it, so I want to make a rug out of it!" Taylor said eagerly. "Just imagine sitting on this rug, reading a book, drinking something cold, and basking in the sunlight by the window. Oh, my goodness..."

    The mere thought of it filled Taylor with joy.

    ...

 Chapter 71: Revising the Plan

    "Achoo!" Tyles sniffed and suddenly shivered, saying, "I can''t take it anymore; it''s too cold by theke. I need to walk around."

    Watching Tyles'' retreating figure, Tuck scratched his head and then looked down at the ground, eyeing the four-meter-long Frost Crystal Tiger. He estimated that its hide would berge enough to make an undershirt for himself and maybe... still have enough left over for Tyles to use as a rug?

    Tuck chuckled, pulled out a small knife, and started skinning the tiger.

    "You all wait for me on the shore; I''ll be up soon!" Rhett said, thinking it was time to retrieve the water-element nts. After speaking, he turned and dove into Ice Crystal Lake.

    Half an hourter, Rhett''s figure surfaced, tossing a bundle of magical nts onto the shore before diving back into theke.

    Tuck and Reilly perked up, gathering around the roughly fifty nts. Reilly carefully examined them, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Ice Crystal Lilies, all of them! These are the main ingredient for Moonlight Potions!"@@novelbin@@

    He recalled that thest batch of nt seeds his father had given him contained the fewest Ice Crystal Lily seeds. Subsequent seed exchanges mostly yielded Snow Vine and Mist Lotus seeds. Everyone knew that Ice Crystal Lilies were the primary ingredient for mental strength potions, making them more valuable than other magical nts of the same level.

    For Reilly, the prospect of gathering arge number of Ice Crystal Lilies during this expedition was an unexpected bonus. It would be immensely helpful for acquiring Moonlight Potions in the future.

    As he gazed out at Ice Crystal Lake, Reilly thought to himself, "How many more magical nts could be at the bottom of thiske? It''s exciting to think about."After another ten minutes, Rhett surfaced again and began swimming back to shore without diving back in.

    Seeing his father returning to shore, Reilly estimated that the number of magical nts this time probably wouldn''t exceed one hundred.

    However, as Rhett approached, the expressions of the group began to change.

    "Ugh, why did it suddenly get so cold?"

    "Father, what are you hiding behind your back?" Reilly asked with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

    <em>Howl</em><em>Howl</em>

    Whitefang shivered from the cold, burrowing into Reilly''s arms while staring at Rhett''s approaching figure with fear in its eyes.

    Rhett nced at everyone, smiling mysteriously as he brought his right hand forward.

    In his hand was a flower resembling an ice sculpture, crystal clear and shining in the sunlight with a rainbow of colors.

    Tuck blinked his big eyes, staring at the ice-sculpted flower in Rhett''s hand. He felt like he''d heard of it before but couldn''t quite recall, scratching his head in frustration. He hurriedly asked, "Father, what kind of magical nt is this?"

    "It''s so beautiful, Father. Is this also a magical nt?" Tyles'' eyes sparkled like stars as he admired the flower.

    Rhett nodded silently.

    Only Reilly looked at the eight ice-sculpted nts with uncertainty, their round flowers being quite rare. After searching his memory, he finally uttered a name he found hard to believe: "Father, could this be the high-level water-element nt... Frost Sunflower?"

    "Oh? Not bad, you know the name of this magical nt," Rhett said with a warm smile, raising the Frost Sunflower higher to let its dazzling light shine in the sunlight.

    "To think it''s really Frost Sunflower..." Reilly murmured, still marveling at the sight. "I''ve only ever heard descriptions of it, but I''ve never seen it in person."

    Reilly pondered for a moment and then said, "What impressed me most is that it grows in the ocean, has a two-year growth cycle, but after that, it only takes a year to mature and produces a batch of ice crystal seeds each time. These seeds are a favorite food of water-element magical beasts and are also quite effective in alchemical potions."

    Reaching out to gently touch it, he found it icy and smooth. "Father, I remember that two years ago, at the Dotton Auction in Twilight City, a single Frost Sunflower seed sold for ten silver coins."

    "Ten silver coins?" Rhett was surprised. He knew high-level water-element nts were valuable, but if what Reilly said was true, then cultivating Frost Sunflowers on arge scale would be like having a hen thatid golden eggs.

    However, he quickly realized, "But it will take years to cultivate these eight high-level nts on arge scale."

    With that in mind, Rhett became even more determined to umte resources steadily and focus on long-term development, which aligned with his best interests.

    "If only the Frost Crystal Tiger had cubs... its ability to spit ice spears is so cool," Tuck said regretfully as he looked at the bloodied carcass of the tiger.

    Rhett gave Tuck a heavy pat on the shoulder without saying a word, knowing that the chances of Tuck obtaining a magical beast cub during this hunt in the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge were slim to none.

    At that moment, Rhett began to contemte whether it would be more worthwhile to hunt Tier 3 magical beasts in the deeper regions starting tomorrow or to continue hunting Tier 2 magical beasts on the outskirts.

    After a few minutes of thought, Rhett revised his n. Since the territory had sufficient resources for both short-term and long-term development, the materials and magic crystals from two Tier 3 magical beasts weren''t as important.

    What mattered more to him were Fate Points.

    "However, based on the simtion, the number of magical beasts in the deeper regions seems much scarcer than the Tier 1 and Tier 2 beasts on the outskirts," Rhett pondered. After all, in a week''s time, he had only managed to kill two Tier 3 magical beasts, which was far less efficient than hunting on the outskirts.

    Moreover, killing a Tier 3 magical beast only yielded 1 more Fate Point than a Tier 2 beast!

    Rhett couldn''t help but sigh. "Bing a Level 3 Mage, but without mastering Quicksand, makes an earth-element mage''s clumsiness quite apparent, even among peers of the same level."

    Unlike water-element mages, earth-element magescked restrictive spells, and unlike wind-element mages, theycked eleration spells. Even light and dark elements had some restrictive abilities.

    Reflecting on thest simtion, some Tier 3 magical beasts, though unable to defeat him, still managed to escape.

    In just one simted week, he had encountered four Tier 3 magical beasts, two of which had escaped from him.

    "At this rate, spending a week in the mountains and only earning 6 Fate Points for killing two Tier 3 magical beasts?" Rhett frowned, thinking that it was uneptable. The cost-effectiveness was too low; he couldn''t afford to spend a week for just 6 Fate Points.

    After weighing the pros and cons, Rhett ultimately decided to abandon the idea of hunting deeper in the mountains.

    The deeper regions still housed mid-tier Dark-Winged Eagles, and Rhett didn''t dare deviate from the simtion''s route. Any unexpected change could have dire consequences, provoking something beyond his ability to handle, and he''d regret it deeply.

    Even with the simtor, Rhett remained cautious. He couldn''t afford the risk of slight deviations from reality when facing opponents with significantly superior strength.

    He called Tyles over, ready to speak, but noticed that Tyles was angrily pointing at the Frost Crystal Tiger''s carcass and the pile of tiger hide at Tuck''s feet.

    "Ah! Tuck, look at what you''ve done to the tiger hide!"

    ...

 Chapter 75: The Outdoor Barbecue

    As he recalled the uing outdoor barbecue, Tyles'' eyes sparkled with excitement. He jumped out of bed and stood by the window, overlooking the manor grounds. In front of the castle, three long tables, dozens of chairs, benches, barbecue grills, stands, seasonings, and all sorts of ingredients were already set up, nearly ready for the evening festivities.

    Servants, male and female, chatted happily below, while knights and squires engaged in arm-wrestling matches on the tables, creating a lively atmosphere.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    A series of knocks on the door interrupted Tyles'' thoughts. Still groggy from sleep, he asked, "Who is it?"

    "Master Tyles, it''s me. The outdoor barbecue will begin in about half an hour. Please don''t forget to join us."

    Recognizing the butler''s voice, Tyles cleared his throat. "I understand, Mr. Sveta! I''ll be right down."

    However, instead of immediately heading downstairs, Tyles stretched and breathed in the fresh airing through the window. He recalled the long journey back earlier that day, how he had crawled into bed as soon as they arrived at Deep Rock Castle, and then slept until now. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he was indeed quite hungry.

    At that moment, Rhett was alsoing downstairs and happened to bump into Tyles in the hallway. He nced at his son and remarked, "It looks like you just woke up."@@novelbin@@

    "How did you know, Father?" Tyles asked, surprised."Well, if you had looked in the mirror, you wouldn''t be asking that question," Rhett replied, pointing to Tyles'' hair.

    Tyles was startled and quickly pulled out a small mirror from his pocket. Seeing that his hair was ttened on one side, he let out a frustrated groan.

    Just then, Reilly came down the stairs and noticed Tyles'' disheveled appearance. "My dear brother, your hair is a mess. Do you need me to wash it for you?"

    Tyles beamed with joy. "Reilly, that would be great! I could use your help."

    Under Rhett''s watchful eye, Reilly, a water magic user, demonstrated his hair-washing skills. A ball of water floated above Tyles'' head, quickly soaking his hair. The water moved across his head, cleaning it thoroughly. In less than a minute, the now murky water dissipated, leaving Tyles'' hair clean and only slightly damp but neatly styled.

    Rhett then summoned a gentle breeze to dry Tyles'' hairpletely.

    "Thank you, Father, and thank you, brother!" Tyles said with a satisfied smile, feeling much more awake after the small ordeal.

    When the three of them reached the ground floor, they found Tuck and Vanessa already seated near the grill. Tuck waved to them enthusiastically. "Father, we''re over here!"

    In Vanessa''s arms, young Dick blinked his big eyes, watching a servant light a pile of dry wood with a strange tool. The magical sight made him babble excitedly.

    "Oh, there''s my grandson!" Rhett said with a broad smile as he approached.

    He also noticed that Vanessa''s figure had returned to its shapely form within just three months after giving birth. It was no surprise, considering her foundation as a knight.

    "Father, Dick has missed you a lot," Vanessa said with a warm smile. Since having a child, she had mellowed significantly, partly due to the presence of the family''s patriarch, who kept things in order at Deep Rock Castle.

    "Oh, I believe that! I''ve missed Dick terribly too. Let me hold my grandson!" Rhett''s smile widened as he cradled Dick in his arms. He noted that Dick''s skin resembled Vanessa''s, but his eyes were just like Tuck''s.

    "He looks so much like Tuck did as a baby. I hope he doesn''t grow up to be as reckless," Rhett thought to himself, deciding that when Dick was older, he would have Reilly spend more time with him to bnce out Tuck''s influence.

    "Father, there''s something I need your help with," Vanessa suddenly said.

    "Oh?" Rhett raised an eyebrow, ncing at Vanessa and then at Tuck. Tuck, realizing he had forgotten to mention it, pped his thigh and quickly exined, "It''s about Vanessa''s younger sister, Ellie. She just turned twelve this year and wants to test whether she has the potential to be a knight."

    Vanessa looked slightly nervous and avoided making direct eye contact with Rhett.

    "Ellie is twelve now? Well, that''s no problem at all," Rhett said lightly. "If she has the potential to be a knight, it will benefit both her and the territory."

    "Tomorrow, she cane to the knight training ground. Tuck, you''ll personally teach her how to perform the breathing exercises," Rhett instructed.

    Testing someone''s talent wasn''t difficult. By giving them the breathing or meditation techniques to try, it was easy to determine if they had the potential. There were also more advanced alchemical tools for this purpose, but those were mainly used to prevent the leakage of techniques. When training family members, such methods weren''t necessary.

    Vanessa''s face lit up with a smile, and she bowed. "Thank you so much, Father. Ellie will be thrilled when she hears the news tomorrow!"

    Rhett waved her gratitude away. "We''re all family. There''s no need to be so formal. I hope Ellie performs well tomorrow."

    After handing Dick back to Vanessa, Rhett walked over to the grill, his mind turning to the matter of testing the talent of the territory''s poption. It was something he would prioritize after being promoted to viscount and when the poption had grown sufficiently.

    "The poption is too small right now, and there aren''t any young children of the right age," Rhett mused. He recalled Reilly mentioning thatst year, only one person with the potential forbat energy had been found. This year, it seemed there weren''t any eligible youths at all, meaning they would have to wait until next year for the next round of testing.

    Rhett remembered that once the evil alchemy organization was dealt with, Falcon Town would experience rapid poption growth, making it much easier to find and nurture talent.

    Just then, Sveta approached Rhett. "Master, everyone has arrived, and the food and drinks are ready. The outdoor barbecue can begin whenever you wish."

    "Then what are we waiting for?" Rhett shrugged. "Make sure everyone rxes, Sveta. An outdoor barbecue shouldn''t be a formal event. I want everyone to enjoy this dinner with a happy heart."

    ...

 Chapter 78: Searching for Fire Vein Ore

    "Ah! That''s right! Father is always so thoughtful," Tuck eximed as realization dawned on him. His eyes brightened, and he chuckled, deciding to ask his question at ater time.

    A few minutester, Rhett casually said, "I''m done eating," and then began heading outside the castle.

    Reilly quickly put down his fork and knife, gulped down the remaining half ss of milk, and hurriedly followed his father.

    "Father, what exactly is the ''unique gift'' you mentioned?" Reilly asked as they reached the knight training grounds, a vast empty space devoid of people, where Rhett finally stopped walking.

    Rhett stroked his chin and slowly replied, "Well, the reason I said it''s a ''unique gift'' is that only you have the ability to create it. Even I wouldn''t be able to do it."

    Reilly''s curiosity deepened, and he prepared himself to listen intently.

    "As a water mage, you should have the ability to create ice..."

    "Father, are you suggesting that I make a beautiful ice sculpture and give it to Kelina?" Reilly interrupted, guessing instinctively before his father could finish.

    Rhett smiled and shook his head. "Creating an ice sculpture isn''t creative enough. What I''m going to teach you to make is something I call ''snow cake,'' or you could call it ''ice cream.''""Snow cake? Ice cream?" These were unfamiliar terms to Reilly. His face lit up with curiosity as he continued listening.

    After a few minutes of exnation from his father, Reilly finally understood what snow cake was¡ªa type of frozen dessert. The idea clicked, and he was excited. Thebination of an ice sculpture and a dessert was indeed creative.

    With his water magic abilities, Reilly could easily shape the ice into a sculpture. He believed that if he nailed the appearance and vor, the novelty would definitely capture Kelina''s attention.

    Reilly mentally rehearsed the simple process, pondering for a few minutes before saying seriously, "Father, I''m ready to try this now. But first, I''ll need to visit the cer to gather some fruit preserves for practice."

    "Best of luck."

    After Reilly left, Rhett looked around the training grounds. He realized that he wouldn''t have time for magic training today, as he had other important matters to attend to.

    He recalled the diary he had readst night, which mentioned a specific location where a mineral vein was suspected to be hidden.

    With that in mind, Rhett quickly left the training grounds, headed to the stables, and took Gray out for a ride, galloping south at full speed.

    Before long, he was far from Deep Rock Castle, having traveled twenty kilometers. He slowed his pace, guiding his horse through a stretch of barrennd dotted with sparse grass and shrubs.

    "This should be the ce," Rhett murmured to himself.

    The previous night, after finishing the diary, he had learned that the Enger family''s escapees encountered internal conflict upon reaching Falcon Town. The conflict was between the head of the Enger family at the time, Mulun, and the captain of the family''s knight regiment, Parks.

    The conflict arose because Parks felt that his share of the resources was unfair. As one of only two level-four knights in the group, he believed he deserved nearly half of the family''s assets, rather than the meager amount allocated to him ording to their old system.

    Naturally, Mulun refused, offering only to double Parks'' previous benefits and promising to marry his daughter to him. ording to the diary, Parks pretended to ept this offer butter attempted to assassinate Mulun during the night while the others slept. Although he didn''t kill Mulun, he seriously injured him.

    Mulun, clearly stronger than Parks, retaliated despite the surprise attack, severely injuring Parks and forcing him to flee.

    Rhett remembered that the crucial turning point urred here. Mulun pursued Parks relentlessly and finally caught up with him in this general area. During the chase, Parks identally copsed a piece ofnd, falling into a sealed mine, which trapped him and limited his escape options. This allowed Mulun to jump in and finish him off.

    Rhett''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he recalled this.

    "If the diary is urate and there''s a mine beneath us, it couldn''t have just disappeared over time. In fact, its reserves might have even grown richer with age!" he thought.@@novelbin@@

    He recalled that after defeating Parks, Mulun spent half a day recovering in the mine, where he identified the mineral vein as Fire Vein Ore.

    Mulun became so excited that he revised the Enger family''s future ns. Instead of continuing their escape to the eastern coast, he decided to stay in a location that was both safe from border wars and close enough to monitor the orc invasion.

    If another kingdom intervened and the orc offensive was halted, this ce would serve as the foundation for the Enger family''s resurgence. Thus, they left part of their assets here as a contingency n.

    "Unfortunately, the assets were never retrieved. They must have met with some misfortune," Rhett mused.

    "If this ce contains Fire Vein Ore, I remember that refined Fire Vein Ore has excellent fire-attribute energy conductivity and is often used to craft weapons for knights. Even without refinement, raw ore with impurities can serve as an excellent fuel. Tossing a piece into a firece in winter could keep it burning for three days and nights."

    Rhett was determined to find the Fire Vein Ore. Securing this mineral deposit was his primary goal today. The location was only about twenty kilometers from Falcon Town, and he nned to include the Fire Vein Ore in his territory when he was promoted to Viscount, ensuring no surprises.

    ...

    Meanwhile, northeast of Falcon Town, Kelina gazed down the gradually brightening stone road that led to the cluster of wooden buildings in the distance, her mood lifting.

    "Miss, we''re approaching Falcon Town," Kusen said to Kelina from the center of the group.

    "I see it. Let''s keep moving," Kelina replied, ncing at the road signs on the side. She recalled how Reilly had promised to give her a gift this time.

    "I wonder what it will be?" Kelina smiled, her heart filling with curiosity.

    At the entrance to Falcon Town, Lawrence spotted the approaching group and asked, "Are you Miss Kelina from Dam Town?"

    "Yes, that''s us."

    "Master Reilly is waiting for you at Deep Rock Castle," Lawrence said with a smile, wondering what the rtionship was between the spirited female knight before him and Reilly.

    Kelina brushed her wind-blown hair aside and gazed into the distance, where Deep Rock Castle''s silhouette loomed.

    As she remembered Reilly''s charming profile in the sunset that day, her heart fluttered, and her cheeks warmed.

    After confirming her identity, Kelina and her group were allowed to pass.

    Her party wasposed of six first-level knights and twelve apprentice knights. They escorted Kelina through the town and finally arrived at Deep Rock Castle.

    "It''s been a while, Miss Kelina. You''re as beautiful as ever," Reilly said with a smile, his blue hat perched on his head as he walked along the stone path of the estate toward the entrance.

    Kelina beamed as she saw Reilly approaching, delighted, and opened her arms to greet him.

 Chapter 81: The Peak of a Tier-3 Mage

    Actually, he had sensed something was off in the afternoon.

    Why would a girl with such dreams only express her desire to be a retainer when she met him? Clearly, with her connection to Vanessa and Tack, she could have conveyed her wish in a more natural and subtle way, without needing to dere her resolve so strongly in front of him.

    It wasn''t until Vanessa''s brief words just now that Rhett''s doubts were dispelled.

    Perhaps it was Vanessa¡¯s interference as her elder sister that caused Ellie to feel pressured, stuck in a difficult dilemma?

    Rhett patiently exined, "Vanessa, I know you¡¯re worried about your sister and want her to have a stable life. But have you considered that taking away her right to choose might be even more tormenting for her?"

    Reilly, standing nearby, nodded thoughtfully.

    Vanessa, on the other hand, remained mostly silent. Even she felt that her father¡¯s words were reasonable and hard to argue against.

    A few minutes passed.

    After Rhett''s thoughtful words, Vanessa unconsciously clenched the tablecloth hanging before her, reflecting her inner turmoil. Finally, she sighed, a bitter smile forming at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Sigh, I was wrong. Perhaps Father is right. Ellie should be allowed to walk the path she truly desires. My interference only clouds her joy, preventing her from truly being happy. As her sister¡­ I¡¯ve failed miserably, pushing my own ideas onto her.¡±Tack wrapped an arm around Vanessa and gently patted her shoulder infort.

    ¡°To me, it seems like your care for your sister is a sign of love and responsibility. It¡¯s only because you care so much that your actions may have been a bit misguided,¡± Rhett said with a smile, offering some reassurance. ¡°I¡¯m sure that together, you two sisters will move forward.¡±

    Vanessa took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and stood up. ¡°Father, I¡¯ll drink to that.¡±

    ¡°Sir Rhett, I¡¯ll join her in a toast!¡± Kelina, who had been quietly listening, also lifted her ss, her eyes shining. ¡°Your words were wonderful. They remind me of what my grandfather used to say¡ª¡®Even if you¡¯re a girl, your spirit should be stronger than anyone else¡¯s. Strength knows no gender.¡¯¡±

    Rhett''s eyes shed with a hint of surprise. <em>Scout Rocky, huh? That¡¯s quite a remarkable thing to say...</em>

    He stood up with a smile. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s all toast together.¡±

    As everyone raised their sses, Rhett took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over each face¡ªTack, Reilly, Taylors, Vanessa, and Kelina.

    ¡°The Falcon¡¯s flight requires courage in the face of adversity and the unity of our spirits. I believe that with ourbined efforts, that day wille soon.¡±

    ¡°To our dreams!¡± Rhett smiled.

    ¡°To our dreams!¡± everyone echoed.

    Their faces glowed with smiles, their eyes filled with hope. The clinking of sses rang out, intertwining their hopes for the future.

    After the dinner ended, everyone gradually returned to their rooms.

    Rhett sat alone by the window, without turning on the lights. The stars and moon outside provided enough light for him to see everything in the room. He was thinking that thest simtion might not have produced the most optimal oue. Perhaps he could take it even further, guiding events toward a more perfect conclusion?

    Just as Rhett was refining his ns, he noticed the moon in the sky being obscured by a cloud. Before he knew it, the night had deepened.

    He also thought of Reilly, who at this moment was likely engaged in the noble task of expanding the family¡¯s lineage. Rhett¡¯s room was on the fourth floor, and as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he vaguely sensed some activity below.

    But he quickly pushed such thoughts aside! He had no inclination for eavesdropping or peeping, especially when it concerned his own son. That was a line he wouldn¡¯t cross.

    The next morning.

    The door to Reilly¡¯s room creaked open, but the figure that peeked out was not his¡ªit was a blue-haired girl in a nightgown. After checking that the coast was clear, she sneaked into the adjacent room.

    Yes, it was Kelina. Her room had been arranged on the fourth floor. The night before, the two had only intended to cuddle and chat in private. But neither of them had anticipated that once the forbidden fruit was tasted, it would be so irresistibly tempting. They had ended up spending the whole night together.

    As Reilly leaned against the headboard, savoring the lingering fragrance of the room, he felt a tinge of mncholy. Yet, when he recalled the previous night¡¯s wonders, a smile crept onto his face.

    He quickly got dressed and made his way down to the hall on the first floor.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°Good morning, Father.¡±

    Rhett nced at Reilly and nodded calmly. ¡°Sit down. We¡¯re just waiting for you and Kelina. How did you sleepst night?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ ah?¡± Reilly nearly fell off his chair, startled by the question.

    Suppressing a smile, Rhett raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°I meant, how was your restst night? Why such a big reaction?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ oh, I spent the night meditating. It was very... refreshing.¡± Reilly quickly took a sip of milk, relieved that his father hadn¡¯t noticed anything amiss. He realized he had been too sensitive.

    Not long after, Kelina came down the stairs, elegantly dressed and with a delicate touch of makeup that added a new level of grace. Reilly nced over and couldn¡¯t help but be filled with warmth.

    Kelina caught his gaze, blushing slightly, and quickly sat down beside Vanessa, across from Reilly.

    ¡°Sorry for beingte,¡± Kelina said with a hint of apology.

    ¡°Kelina, you seem even more gentle today,¡± Vanessa observed. As a woman, she was more attuned to the subtle changes in others, and she noticed something different about Kelinapared to the night before.

    Feigning surprise, Kelina replied, ¡°Really? Maybe it¡¯s just the makeup. I added a bit more blush today.¡±

    Suppressing a nervous flutter in her heart, she added, ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back to Dam Town today. It¡¯s my first time traveling far from home, and my father won¡¯t let me stay away too long. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t stay longer, but I hope next time we can spend more time together.¡±

    Swallowing a bite of mashed potatoes, Rhett nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, but Sir Galray¡¯s concerns are understandable. Coincidentally, I have some business to attend to as well, so I¡¯ll be able to escort you part of the way.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sir Rhett!¡±

    ¡°Father, you¡¯re going out? Where are you headed?¡± Reilly asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Dam Town and Twilight City,¡± Rhett replied, tearing into a piece of meat. ¡°The lord of Dam Town left me a letterst time. Now that I¡¯m back, it¡¯s only polite to respond.¡±

    ¡°What? Father, you¡¯re going to Twilight City?¡± Taylors, who had been quietly eating his breakfast, suddenly perked up, gripping his knife and fork excitedly. ¡°Could you check if the third volume of the sequel has been released? There were rumorsst year that it would be out in the first half of this year!¡±

    Rhett thought for a moment. ¡°The third volume? Isn¡¯t that the gift Mina is nning to give you? I don¡¯t want to ruin the surprise.¡±

    But outwardly, he replied casually, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll keep an eye out for it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, dear father!¡± Taylors beamed with anticipation.

    Rhett chuckled.

    After breakfast, Rhett departed from Falcon Town with Kelina''s entourage. He escorted her to the vicinity of Dam Town and then continued on his journey, traveling through grasnds, wastnds, and a stretch of soft ck sand.

    Ten dayster, Rhett finally arrived at Twilight City.

    Yes, his first stop wasn¡¯t the closer Dam Town, but the more bustling Twilight City!

    They had left on February 25th, so if they had gone directly to Dam Town, they would have arrived by the end of the month. However, Rhett chose to visit Twilight City first, as he had more pressing matters to attend to there.

    He patted the pouch at his waist, which made a slight clinking sound¡ªinside were twelve bottles of Moonlight Potion.

    ¡°This time, I must reach the peak of a Tier-3 Mage,¡± Rhett thought to himself. ¡°With just twelve more bottles, I¡¯ll have the full twenty-four Moonlight Potions I need. After that, I can perform another simtion and save a considerable amount of Destiny Points.¡±

    As he became more experienced with using Moonlight Potions and recalling his breakthrough from Tier 2 to Tier 3, Rhett realized the importance of conserving his Destiny Points. Thest breakthrough had cost him several hundred points.

    Opportunities like the Dark Pattern Eagle branch, where low-level magical beasts gathered inrge numbers for him to harvest, were rare. Cherishing such conditions was crucial.

    After identifying himself to the guards at Twilight City, Rhett was granted entry. He walked along a path paved with ancient stone bricks, making his way toward a specific area.

    After taking several turns, he finally arrived at a quieter street.

    ¡°Violet Flower Trading Company¡­¡± Rhett murmured as he looked up at therge sign, lost in thought.

    There were many ces in Twilight City that sold Moonlight Potions, and there were evenrger and more prestigious tradingpanies. But Rhett had a personal reason for choosing this one.

    He remembered that when he and Nicole had first started seeing each other, this small tradingpany had been where they shopped together. Back then, it was just a modest shop, fitting for their humble circumstances.

    He vividly recalled how Nicole had been captivated by an alchemic ring engraved with violet flowers. Though she didn¡¯t say anything, her eyes lingered on it for a long time. But at that time, Rhett was only a Tier-1 Mage, with most of his earnings going toward his training. He didn¡¯t even have enough savings to rece his broken staff, let alone buy a new alchemic item.

    His heart had been heavy with frustration and helplessness. In the end, Nicole had settled for a simple crystal ring, and he never forgot how she had yfully shown it off to him, despite not getting what she truly wanted.

    Later, when he had the means to buy it, the ring was no longer avable, as the alchemist had left the city. It became a regret he carried with him.

    This time, he had already looked into it and found that the Violet Flower Trading Company had grown considerably. They even sold Moonlight Potions now, so he decided to pay them a visit.

    ¡°Hello, sir. How may I assist you?¡± A middle-aged woman in a floral dress greeted him as he entered.

    ¡°Do you have Moonlight Potions avable?¡± Rhett asked.

    ¡°Certainly! We have a skilled alchemist who can provide a steady supply of Moonlight Potions. How many would you like?¡± Seeing that he was asking about such a valuable item, the woman¡¯s smile grew even brighter.

    ¡°How many do you have in stock?¡± Rhett inquired cautiously.

    The woman nced at therge sack Rhett was carrying, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. <em>This is definitely a big customer!</em>

    Clearing her throat, she replied, ¡°We currently have forty-one bottles in stock, more than enough to meet your needs.¡±

    ¡°Forty-one bottles? That¡¯s more than I expected,¡± Rhett thought, nodding. The Violet Flower Trading Company was indeed stronger than he had anticipated. After all, alchemic concoctions had a failure rate, and it wasmon knowledge that higher-level potions requiredrge quantities of rare nts.

    Even with a tradingpany¡¯s resources, it was difficult to maintain such arge stock.

    ¡°And the price? How much per bottle?¡± he asked.

    ¡°The market rate here in Twilight City is fifty gold coins per bottle,¡± the woman replied respectfully.

    Rhett nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take them all.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me? Could you say that again?¡± The woman was stunned.

    ¡°I said, pack them up. I¡¯m buying all of them!¡±

    Such a bold deration left the woman beaming with excitement. Customers like this didn¡¯te around often.

    ¡°Understood, sir! I¡¯ll get them packed up right away,¡± she said enthusiastically.

    ¡°Hold on, I may not have enough gold on me,¡± Rhett said, pointing to the bup sack. ¡°Besides gold, I have crystals, magic crystals, and gems with me. I¡¯ll need you to appraise and exchange them.¡±

    No tradingpany only sold goods¡ªthey also bought items such as crystals, magic crystals, and gems.

    The woman, surprised but still excited, nodded quickly and called for help to assist with the appraisal.

    After exchanging the crystals, gems, and magic crystals Rhett brought with him, he received 1,129 gold coins. Combined with the gold he already had, he had more than enough to purchase all the Moonlight Potions.

    ...

 Chapter 83: The Product of the Blood Elf

    Rhett''s heart stirred as he asked, "Oh? Lord Roy, is something troubling you? Feel free to share it with me."

    Roy ced his hands on the dining table, gently drumming his fingers on the tablecloth. After a moment of contemtion, he finally spoke, "Sigh, to be honest, the reason I visited youst time was to discuss my eldest daughter''s marriage."

    "Oh?"

    Though Rhett had anticipated this, he maintained a look of feigned surprise, following it up with a thoughtful expression.

    He slowly replied, "Please forgive me, Lord Roy, but having been away from my territory for over a decade, I''m unfamiliar with many matters. I¡¯ve only heard from Raleigh that your eldest daughter is named Glenna?"

    "That''s correct. Glenna has always had a special fondness for mages," Roy said, his eyes fixed on Rhett, observing his reaction. Seeing no immediate signs of rejection, he continued, "Ever since Raleigh visited Maplewood Town a few years ago, I''ve noticed that Glenna holds him in high regard.

    "So... I was hoping to arrange a marriage between them. What do you think, Lord Rhett?"

    Family alliances through marriage aremon among nobility. If Raleigh hadn''t already established a rtionship with Krinna, Rhett would have seriously considered this proposal. However, since Raleigh and Krinna had found true love and were soon to formalize their bond, Rhett naturally respected his son''s choice and had no intention of interfering.

    Thus, he followed the course of actionid out in his previous simtion, subtly hinting at Raleigh and Krinna''s rtionship to Roy.He then added, "However, I have another son¡ªTaylors¡ªwho is currently single. If you''re open to it, Lord Roy, perhaps we could arrange a match between him and your daughter?"

    "Raleigh is with Krinna from Darn Town?" Roy frowned slightly before sighing. "Glenna is already 23, only a year younger than Raleigh, but six years older than Taylors. I don''t think it¡¯s a suitable match."

    In truth, Roy believed that Taylors, an ordinary person without any special talents, would find it difficult to connect with Glenna, who was already a First-Level Knight. Moreover, Glenna''s talent, in his eyes, was exceptional, with her testing results indicating a medium-level Dou Qi aptitude. Her advancement to Third-Level Knight seemed almost certain.

    Therefore, he saw Glenna and Raleigh, a mage, as a morepatible and reasonable match.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow but chose not to pursue the topic of marriage further. With his knowledge of future events, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He quietly continued his meal.

    For Roy, even though he hadn''t achieved his goal of arranging a marriage, Rhett, a Second-Level Mage, was still a valuable connection.

    Rhett stayed in Maplewood Town for another day and a half, during which Roy made sure to make the most of the time, as nobles often lead leisurely lives, and this allowed him to further strengthen his rtionship with Rhett.

    Soon, the second night arrived. Before this, Roy had already taken Rhett on a tour of Maplewood Town and its surroundings, showing him all the sights and experiences the area had to offer.

    That night, Roy suggested they visit a lively tavern in town to enjoy some local vor. Rhett didn¡¯t object; going with the flow suited his intentions.

    As he thought to himself, "At this pace, the Tier-3 Dark Mage should reveal himself soon."

    Apanied by a few knights as guards, the two men set off into Maplewood Town.

    Though Rhett appeared calm on the surface, he was already on high alert internally. One hand rested casually on his wand at his waist, while his eyes constantly scanned for suspicious figures or potential blind spots in his surroundings.

    As they strolled toward the tavern, a Shadow Arrow shot silently from a nearby house, blending seamlessly into the night. Its target: Roy, who was walking to Rhett''s left!

    Roy didn¡¯t immediately sense the danger, but Rhett, who had been on guard, reacted almost instantly when he detected the abnormal fluctuations of dark energy.

    <strong>Falling Rock Spell!</strong>

    With a thought, Rhett summoned a massive rock, condensing arge amount of earth elements midair. The boulder formed in the air and descended directly onto the path of the Shadow Arrow, intercepting it perfectly.

    <strong>Boom!</strong>

    As the boulder struck, Roy, who was a split second behind in reacting, felt his heart leap in shock. Years of training kicked in, and he instinctively infused Dou Qi into his legs, swiftly dodging to the side.

    The massive explosion and the ensuing shockwave rippled through the area, and a fragment of the shattered rock struck Roy''s back with a resounding <strong>thud</strong>. His face turned ashen, and he coughed up blood, feeling as though several bones in his back had been broken.

    Lying on the ground, Roy nced back at the scene, quickly piecing together what had just happened.

    His eyes darted between Rhett and the direction of the Shadow Arrow''s origin. A mix of fear and admiration surged within him as he realized that Rhett had just saved his life.

    ¡°That seemed like a sneak attack by a Tier-3 Dark Mage... and Lord Rhett blocked it for me?¡± Roy wiped the blood from his mouth and, using his sword for support, struggled to his feet.

    Gazing at Rhett''s back, Roy couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of awe. In that critical moment, not only had Rhett reacted swiftly, but he had also sessfully protected him. This level of power clearly marked Rhett as a Tier-3 Mage!

    "Lord Rhett... is truly formidable!"

    A raspy voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Hmm? Blocked it? How did you discover I was hiding here?¡±

    A figure cloaked in ck slowly emerged from the shadows of the nearby building.

    Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the figure. Though the hood concealed most of the man¡¯s face, Rhett could still make out the deep wrinkles of an old man.

    ¡°Looks like he''s not young anymore...¡± Rhett mused. But regardless of his age, knowing who the man was, Rhett had no intention of wasting time with pleasantries. He seized the initiative, swiftly casting <strong>Earth Spike</strong> as the dark mage stepped into view.

    <strong>Swish!</strong>

    The ck-cloaked figure shot out a Shadow Arrow, dispersing the gathering earth elements before they could fully materialize.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± the ck-cloaked man snorted coldly.

    ¡°An Earth Mage, also at the peak of Tier-3. Howe I¡¯ve never heard of you before?¡± The ck-cloaked man eyed Rhett cautiously.

    He then cast another Shadow Arrow, this time followed by a <strong>Shadow de</strong>, a Tier-3 dark spell known for its moderate power but exceptional stealth.

    When cast in the darkness, the Shadow de mergedpletely with the night, making it almost impossible to detect.

    Rhett¡¯s expression grew serious. Despite his extensivebat experience, he knew it would be difficult to track the trajectory of a Shadow de in the dark.

    With a thought, a yellowish glow enveloped him. To counter the Shadow de, Rhett activated <strong>Rock Light Shield</strong>, a protective barrier of earth elements.

    Feeling a surge of security as the yellow shield surrounded him, Rhett focused intently and cast another <strong>Falling Rock</strong> spell.

    He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with fighting dark mages and had already devised a battle n in his mind.

    ¡°Hmm? Something¡¯s off... The angle of that falling rock is rather tricky,¡± the ck-cloaked man thought, his heart tightening with unease. Though he managed to dodge the boulder in time, the booming impact and the cloud of dust that followed weighed heavily on him.

    <strong>Earth Spike!</strong>

    <strong>Falling Rock!</strong>

    Rhett unleashed his full power, bombarding the ck-cloaked man with a relentless assault, leaving him in awe of Rhett¡¯s spellcasting prowess.

    <strong>Boom!</strong>

    <strong>Thud!</strong>

    Thebination of spikes from below and boulders from above created a deadly crossfire. Every time the ck-cloaked man dodged to the right, another falling rock would follow from the left. And when he tried to evade the falling rocks by moving forward, an earth spike would pierce towards his throat.

    The precision with which Rhett¡¯s attacks targeted vital points soon had the ck-cloaked man scrambling in panic, struggling to keep up.

    Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he realized he was facing a powerful foe. What began as a simple test of Rhett''s strength had quickly escted into a dangerous battle.

    Though they were both Tier-3 mages, the ck-cloaked man found his Shadow Arrows barely threatening in this fight. Meanwhile, he was constantly on edge, fearing for his life.

    Watching from the sidelines, Roy¡¯s eyes filled with admiration as he slowly began to understand the situation. It seemed that the assant was gradually being pushed into a corner.

    <strong>Earth Spike!</strong>

    Rhett maintained full control of the battlefield, demonstrating his exceptionalbat skills. Before long, he had maneuvered the ck-cloaked man into a "trap" of his own making.

    Over a dozen earth spikes jutted out from the ground around the dark mage, forming an impassable maze of obstacles. Boulders and spikes alike littered the area, leaving no clear path for the ck-cloaked man to escape.

    With less and less space to maneuver, the dark mage found himself constantly at risk of crashing into the surrounding stone formations.

    ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t let this continue,¡± the ck-cloaked man thought, swallowing nervously as his unease grew.

    Although Rhett hadn¡¯t managed tond a decisive blow yet, it was clear that if the fight dragged on, his situation would only worsen.

    Realizing that fighting Rhett head-on wasn¡¯t wise, he decided to retreat. ¡°Hmph, if I have to abandon Maplewood Town for now, I can always head to Gold Digger Town and take that fat woman¡¯s heart instead!¡± With this thought, the ck-cloaked man cast another Shadow Arrow at Rhett, then enveloped himself in a cloak of darkness, preparing to retreat.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes shed with cold determination, and he immediately gave chase.

    The dark mage had cast <strong>Dark Cloak</strong>, a powerful concealment spell. If he managed to escape Rhett¡¯s line of sight, it would be nearly impossible to track him down in the darkness.

    Seeing Rhett in pursuit, Roy shouted, ¡°Everyone, go support Lord Rhett! Gozar, you stay behind and summon all the knights from the castle!¡±

    As the knights around him sprang into action, rushing off in different directions, Roy clenched his fists, staring after Rhett as he disappeared into the distance.

    Ten minutester...

    Rhett, still trailing the ck-cloaked man, smirked coldly.

    ¡°Hmph, you can¡¯t escape.¡±

    Once outside Maplewood Town, Rhett no longer had to worry about revealing his <strong>Earth Spike</strong> spell in public.

    The dark mage, still shrouded in his <strong>Dark Cloak</strong>, nced back and noticed that Rhett was still relentlessly pursuing him. His expression turned grim as he realized that Rhett had no intention of letting him go.

    His escape route had been carefully nned in advance¡ªhe had scouted the area thoroughly, just in case.

    Ahead of himy a forest, where the darkness would provide the perfect cover for his dark magic.

    Different types of mages had their own strengths and weaknesses. Just as earth mages were more formidable innd-basedbat, dark mages excelled in stealth and ambush tactics, especially in the cover of night.

    As the ck-cloaked man considered how best to turn the tables on his pursuer once they reached the forest, he suddenly sensed a disturbance in the earth elements above him.

    Realizing the danger toote, he instinctively tried to dodge, but a yellowish blur streaked through the air.

    A sharp <strong>Earth Spike</strong> sliced across his neck, leaving a long gash. Seeing the attack, the ck-cloaked man¡¯s eyes widened in terror.@@novelbin@@

    ¡°<strong>Earth Spike!</strong> How could he know <strong>Earth Spike</strong>?!¡±

    It quickly dawned on him that a Tier-3 mage wielding <strong>Earth Spike</strong> had likely consumed a bloodline potion!

    ¡°Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn¡¯t havee here tonight.¡± Regret filled his heart as he realized he had severely underestimated the danger of attacking this baron¡¯s territory.

    Rhett, ruthless and silent, pressed his advantage. Another <strong>Earth Spike</strong> shot towards the dark mage¡¯s rear, aiming for a critical strike.

    Feeling a chill down his spine, the ck-cloaked man fired off a <strong>Shadow Arrow</strong>, but it collided with the <strong>Earth Spike</strong>, causing a loud explosion of elemental energy.

    Although he avoided a fatal injury, the impact sent him flying backward, crashing to the ground two meters away.

    ¡°Cough... We can make a deal. If you let me go, I can give you...¡± The ck-cloaked man tried to negotiate, but before he could finish, the earth trembled beneath him.

    Another <strong>Earth Spike</strong> erupted from the ground, slicing through his right leg.

    Rhett remained cold and relentless. He had no intention of showing mercy until his opponent waspletely incapacitated.

    Ten minutester...

    An <strong>Earth Spike</strong> pierced through the back of the exhausted dark mage, draining thest of his strength. His face twisted in disbelief as he copsed to his knees, unwilling to ept his fate.

    With one final move, Rhett readied another earth spike, poised to strike through the dark mage¡¯s head if he tried anything.

    Only then did Rhett approach the fallen man.

    He reached down and pulled back the dark mage¡¯s hood, revealing a deeply wrinkled, elderly face.

    ¡°Cough... Please, spare me... I can tell you a shocking secret!¡± The dark mage gasped out in desperation.

    Rhett¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°First, tell me your name.¡±

    ¡°Corder... My name is Corder, and I¡¯m part of a group that conducts evil alchemy experiments. They¡¯vemitted countless atrocities,¡± Corder confessed, gauging Rhett¡¯s reaction.

    He had expected the mention of the evil alchemy organization to elicit excitement from Rhett. After all, bringing such information to the kingdom would be a great merit.

    But to his surprise, Rhett¡¯s face remained calm.

    Without hesitation, Rhett replied, ¡°Tell me everything you know about quickly advancing to Tier-4 Mage.¡±

    For Rhett, information about the evil alchemy organization was no longer relevant. The most valuable knowledge now was how this man had managed to advance to Tier-4 Mage so quickly, as hinted in a previous simtion.

    Corder¡¯s pupils constricted, and his pale face grew even paler. ¡°So... you¡¯re after the Blood Source?¡±

    Rhett¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Blood Source? What Blood Source?¡± He had never encountered such a term before.

    Realizing he had stumbled upon something significant, Rhett decided to simte the conversation, just in case Corder died before revealing the full secret.

    ¡°Simte one day.¡±

    ¡°Tell me everything, and I¡¯ll spare your life,¡± Rhett offered calmly.

    Corder¡¯s eyes darted around as he sneered, ¡°If you want to know the core secret of the Blood Source, you¡¯ll have to release me first. Otherwise, you¡¯ll never find out.¡±

    Rhett sighed, shaking his head. He saw no need to continue the conversation¡ªthis was just a simtion, after all. Since Corder wasn¡¯t willing to cooperate, he could try other methods.

    With that, Rhett employed the various brutal interrogation techniques he had honed over his years on the battlefield, putting them all to use on Corder.

    ...

    When the simtion ended, Rhett watched as Corder ¡°came back to life¡± and sighed.

    He had overestimated the man¡¯s willpower¡ªafter just a few rounds of torture in the simtion, Corder had spilled everything.

    The real Corder, oblivious to the fact that Rhett now knew all his secrets, looked at him with a hint of smugness. ¡°If you release me, I¡¯ll tell you where the Blood Source is. Otherwise, you¡¯ll never find it.¡±

    In his mind, he believed that since Rhett knew about the Blood Source, he wouldn¡¯t dare kill him before obtaining it.

    But Rhett simply smirked and said, ¡°Is that so?¡± With a thought, he summoned another <strong>Earth Spike</strong>, swiftly ending Corder¡¯s life.

    The dark mage¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he fell to the ground, his life extinguished by a final blow.

    Rhett bent down, taking out a small knife to carefully retrieve two tiny pearls from Corder¡¯s stomach.

    As the moonlight bathed the scene, the pearls¡ªknown as Blood Sources¡ªglowed faintly with an eerie red light.

    Rhett examined the two pearls between his fingers, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    If not for the information he had extracted from Corder, he would never have guessed that these pearls were the product of a Blood Elf!

    ...

 Chapter 84: Taylors Becomes a Mage

    Indeed, ording to Korder¡¯s revtions, the pearls known as Blood Sources were closely tied to the Blood Elves¡ªan entity Rhett had never heard of before! In fact, not only Rhett, but even Korder and everyone in the organization were unaware of the Blood Elves'' whereabouts. Their Blood Source pearls all came from the organization¡¯s founder. However, as Rhett learned from Korder, their founder had passed away three years ago, only revealing the Blood Source secrets just before his death. He imed to havee from a muchrger and more terrifying evil force, far stronger than the organization he had established. The higher-ups in this force had control over Blood Elves, and the Blood Source pearls were products of these Blood Elves.

    Over twenty years ago, the founder had coveted the Blood Source pearls, and during a transport mission, he orchestrated a heist, stealing arge batch of these pearls and defecting from the organization. Fleeing for over a decade, crossing countless miles, he finally reached the southwestern border of the Kingdom of Gilron. To ensure his safety, he never revealed the exact name or details of his origins, even in his dying words.

    Rhett¡¯s gaze flickered as he held the two Blood Source pearls in his hand. He wasn¡¯t particrly interested in the founder¡¯s background, but he now knew how to use the Blood Source pearls. They required charging, a process that was gruesome and sinister. It didn¡¯t involve a long cycle orplex steps; it simply demanded brutal injection into the heart of a knight or the brain of a mage. The Blood Source would then automatically absorb the energy.

    When the energy reached a certain level, the user could refine and absorb it, enhancing their strength. When injected into a knight¡¯s heart, it was called a Blood Source Heart; when injected into a mage¡¯s brain, it was called a Blood Source Brain. Both were referred to as Blood Source pearls.

    Rhett had also just learned that these Blood Source pearls, products of the Blood Elves, could only enhance mental power or Dou Qi. When it came to breaking through bottlenecks, neither the Blood Source Heart nor the Blood Source Brain offered any assistance.

    Korder had relied on the Blood Source pearls to reach the peak of Tier-3 Mage, and his breakthrough to Tier-4 in the simtion was purely due to the passage of time.

    "I thought there was a real way to break through bottlenecks in the world, but it turns out to be nothing but wishful thinking. Then again... it''s understandable. If a mass-produced product of an elf could easily break through bottlenecks, that person would have been invincible and dominated the world long ago."

    Rhett shook his head, looking at the round pearl in his hand, but he wasn¡¯t discouraged. Although the Blood Source pearls could indeed enhance power, their violent enhancement method came with a fatal w¡ªlife force depletion!

    Rhett looked down at the deceased Korder¡¯s face, which appeared incredibly aged, yet the man was only about fifty years old. His withered appearance was purely due to the repeated use of Blood Source pearls, which had drained twenty to thirty years of his lifespan.In Rhett¡¯s possession were both a Blood Source Heart and a Blood Source Brain. The Blood Source Brain was only a little short of being fully charged...

    "Perhaps, in the earlier simtions, this man targeted Eagletown because both Raleigh and I are mages..." Rhett narrowed his eyes as he looked at Korder, a hint of coldness in his gaze. Holding the Blood Source Brain, he walked over...

    After some bloody actions, Rhett removed the glowing Blood Source Brain from Korder¡¯s skull. Under the moonlight, the blood-red glow of the Blood Source pearl became even more intense, as if it might overflow at any moment.

    At that moment, Rhett thought, "The Blood Source pearls are one-time consumables. Once used, they are useless. But for me, this is not a problem; it''s actually a great help. In future simted training, in addition to using Moonlight Potions, I can also use the Blood Source Brain to speed up my training efficiency. Even if the side effects are severe and deplete lifespan, what does it matter in a simtion?"

    Rhett chuckled as he pocketed the two Blood Source pearls. After onest nce at Korder, whose head had copsed inward into a horrifyingly twisted shape, Rhett squinted slightly, thinking, "Since every elf in the world is unique and possesses extraordinary abilities, the Blood Elves¡¯ power to mass-produce Blood Source pearls seems downright evil..."

    The night¡¯s events had deepened his understanding of elves. He had previously assumed that other elves, even if not as pure and innocent as the Snow Elves, would not pose much of a threat. But now, after witnessing the Blood Source pearls, which fed on flesh and brain matter, he saw the cruelty and brutality that he had never associated with elves before...

    Clearing his thoughts, Rhett quickly scavenged some loot from Korder''s body. Besides a Tier-3 dark-element wand lying nearby, Rhett also found a pouch containing gold coins and magic crystals after some searching. He estimated the value to be around 300 gold coins.

    Gathering a ball of fire, Rhett burned Korder¡¯s body to ashes.

    On his way back, Rhett encountered the bted reinforcements.

    "Lord Rhett, are you alright? How did it go?" Roy, who had already taken a solid potion and whose injuries had stabilized, approached slowly with the support of a knight.

    "The attacker has been dealt with, the danger is over. Everyone can rx now," Rhett shrugged, as if what had just happened was no big deal.

    "What? The Tier-3 dark mage who ambushed us is already dead?" Roy was astonished, his expression reflecting his shock. The surrounding knights also erupted in surprise. They looked at Rhett with newfound respect and awe.

    It wasn¡¯t long before some knights returned after checking the area and confirmed the discovery of a corpse to Roy.

    Roy was at a loss for words, staring at Rhett with aplex expression. He hadn¡¯t expected that within such a short time, before reinforcements could even arrive, the battle had already concluded. Though he had sensed Rhett¡¯s formidable power earlier, he hadn¡¯t imagined it was to this extent!

    On the way back, Roy remained silent, but his mind was racing with thoughts.

    When they returned to the castle, Roy took a deep breath, turned to Rhett, and said, "Lord Rhett, thank you for saving my life. If not for your timely intervention, I might already be a corpse."

    Rhett sat down, sipping the tea brought by the maid, and chuckled, "No need to be so polite, Lord Roy. There''s a saying... ''A rose given to others leaves a lingering fragrance on the hand,'' right? I think it¡¯s very fitting for today¡¯s events."

    Roy¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly moved by Rhett¡¯s words. "From now on, both I and Maplewood Town are your most trustworthy allies. May the friendship between Eagletown and Maplewood Townst forever!" Roy ced his hand on his chest and bowed slightly, though his injuries prevented a deeper gesture. He then stepped forward, grasping Rhett''s hands earnestly. "Lord Rhett, I¡¯ve thought it over carefully on the way back. With your admirable qualities, your descendants will undoubtedly be remarkable. I believe entrusting my daughter to Taylors would be a perfect match! My younger daughter, Mina, is 17 years old, gentle in nature, and I¡¯m sure she would be a great match for Taylors! What do you think, Lord Rhett?"

    "Oh?" Rhett feigned surprise, taking a sip of tea before replying thoughtfully, "Hmm, that¡¯s an interesting proposal. I personally approve, but I think they should spend some time getting to know each other first. If they eventuallye together, it would be a wonderful oue."

    Roy felt relieved at his words, smiling broadly. "Of course! Everything needs a proper process!"

    Under the bright lights of the hall, a few maids brought in snacks and desserts. Roy personally poured Rhett a ss of red wine, remarking, "By the way, I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve be a Tier-3 Mage, Lord Rhett! It¡¯s truly astonishing!"

    Rhett humbly shook his head. "It¡¯s just luck. After all, when I retired from the front lines, I was already at the peak of a Tier-2 Mage, and I happened to break through recently."

    Roy didn¡¯t dwell on it, his eyes briefly shing with envy as he sincerely praised, "At this rate, reaching Tier-3 in your forties, Lord Rhett, you are bound to be a Grand Mage in your lifetime!"

    "Thank you for your kind words," Rhett replied with a smile.

    The next day, with Roy needing time to recover, Rhett took the opportunity to bid farewell and left Maplewood Town.

    Time quickly passed, and soon it was April 3rd.

    In the depths of a mine shaft in an abandoned mining site, a middle-aged man in a trench coat stood beside the corpse of an armored knight. Fresh blood still pooled around the body, indicating that the knight had only recently died.

    Taking care of this man was just a trivial matter. However, Rhett hadn¡¯t gained much useful information from him.

    Combining Korder¡¯s intel with some new information extracted from this Tier-2 knight, Rhett gained a deeper understanding of the organization.

    The organization had no fixed name, all in the interest of staying low-key and hidden. The core members were naturally those in Clear Springs Town who practiced evil alchemy, while the other members were referred to as peripheral members. Their main task was singr: to collect "materials." These materials, of course, referred to knights'' hearts and mages'' brains, used to charge the Blood Source pearls.

    The Tier-2 knight Rhett killed was, of course, a peripheral member. He usually exchanged "materials" for contributions to the organization, which he then used to obtain the resources he needed. From his interrogation, Rhett still didn¡¯t learn whether the organization had any remaining Blood Source pearls. It''s understandable that a peripheral member wouldn''t know such secretive information. However, Rhett thought he could still try to gather more details through simtions.

    Moreover, it had been quite some time since thest simtion, and significant changes had urred in reality. Rhett was also about to head to Clear Springs Town to deal with the alchemical organization. Considering Taylors¡¯ potion needs, Rhett had formted a new n, deciding to attempt an exchange with ckstar during the simtion. To avoid any unexpected oues, he needed to simte it first to confirm his n!

    After a moment of contemtion, Rhett activated the system.

    <strong>"Would you like to start a text simtion? Each year of simtion consumes 5 Fate Points."</strong>

    "Yes, simte one year."

    <strong>[Gilron Calendar, Year 474, April 4th: Raleigh traveled to Dam Town and revisited the mysteries of life with Klina. Baron Gair noticed the unusually close rtionship between the two and asked Raleigh if he and Klina had taken things to the next level. Raleigh openly admitted it and proposed on the spot. After a brief shock, Baron Gair agreed to the marriage.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 7th: You mastered the Tier-3 spell, Quicksand, further enhancing yourbat capabilities.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 11th: Mina visited Eagletown, and Taylors went to greet her. While admiring the scenery at Suke, a sudden downpour began. Taylors used his thin coat to shield her from the rain, greatly increasing Mina¡¯s affection for him.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 26th: Mina visited Eagletown again and gave Taylors the third volume of <em>Knight Academy</em> as a gift. Overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude, Taylors embraced Mina.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 30th: Upon reaching the Rhea family¡¯s territory, Clear Springs Town, you didn''t act rashly but set up an ambush on the outskirts. That night, you met ckstar, and after a brief discussion, you decided to team up against the evil organization in Clear Springs Town.]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    <strong>[May 1st: You and ckstar encountered two Tier-3 mages on patrol. After jointly eliminating one of them, you decided to besiege the remaining forces. Themotion attracted the remaining Tier-3 mage and three Tier-3 knights as reinforcements. You held nothing back, severely injuring them. Afterward, you interrogated them under duress and learned the location of the remaining Blood Source pearls. That night, you stormed the castle in Clear Springs Town, subdued the remaining members of the organization, and secretly took some alchemical books. Finally, in the cer, you found seven Blood Source pearls. ckstar was very interested in them, and after negotiation, you divided the pearls equally.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 2nd: At dawn, before parting with ckstar, you asked if he had any more bloodline potions and offered to trade your Earth Lizard bloodline potion. Delighted, he offered to exchange it for a potion from a Tier-6 magical beast, the ck-Eyed Phantom Serpent, but said it would take a month for him to deliver it personally. You agreed on the spot.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 9th: Tucker advanced to thete stage of Tier-1 Knight.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 10th: Taylors visited Dam Town with the escort of Kurs and Tadel. The two shared a passionate kiss under a red maple tree in the countryside.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 16th: You arrived in Twilight City, where you handed over a live member of the evil alchemical organization to Count Nilo, reporting the organization''s activities. While in the city, you also inquired at the local merchants about the possibility of purchasing valuable marine creatures from the Eastern Blue Coast, only to learn that a severe tsunami had recently hit the area, and it had been out of contact for almost a month.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 25th: You and Raleigh brought a dowry and visited Dam Town. After a friendly exchange, Raleigh and Klina¡¯s marriage was formally settled.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 29th: The advanced water-element magic nt, Frost Sunflower, ripened and produced a batch of Ice Crystal Seeds.]</strong>

    <strong>[June 1st: After two weeks of investigation, the testimonies from the organization''s members,bined with on-site inspections of territories and viges that had been attacked over the years, and the capture and interrogation of scattered remaining members, revealed the full extent of the evil alchemical organization¡¯s crimes: over the past few years, they had killed a total of 142 mages and knights in their experiments, along with over ten thousand innocent civilians.]</strong>

    <strong>[June 6th: Raleigh and Klina¡¯s wedding took ce in Deeprock Castle, and the two were officially married. That day, Roy, who attended the wedding, also discussed the marriage between Taylors and Mina, which was eventually set for July.]</strong>

    <strong>[June 10th: ckstar arrived at your territory and traded bloodline potions with you. You gave the new bloodline potion to Taylors, who sessfully absorbed it, gaining dark-element mage talents.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 1st: Stablemaster George assisted in the birth of ckgrill¡¯s litter, delivering triplets¡ªa joyous asion.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 9th: The Deputy Commander of the Canyon Defense Line, Ambiru, apanied by Count Nilo, arrived at your territory to conduct a knighthood ceremony. You were promoted to the rank of Viscount in the Kingdom of Gilron, and your territory tripled in size.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 13th: Considering the uing poption growth in your territory, you decided to develop the Fire Vein Mine.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 15th: Taylors and Mina¡¯s wedding took ce in Deeprock Castle, and the two were officially married.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 27th: News of your elimination of the evil alchemical organization spread. Some people who had lost their homes to the organization and survived sought refuge in Eagletown.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 29th: Your diligent efforts bore fruit as Mina became pregnant.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 3rd: Viscount Bolton of Goldrush Town visited Eagletown to discuss a partnership regarding the Fire Vein Mine. Meanwhile, Raylith teased Taylors at the knight training ground, which prompted Mina to scold him. Angered, Raylith challenged Mina, but Tucker intervened just in time. After an intense battle, Tucker and Raylith ended in a draw. Viscount Bolton also proposed a duel with you, and you dly epted. In the ensuing fight, you ¡®identally¡¯ injured him, giving him a lesson.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 5th: A Tier-2 mage came to pledge allegiance, iming to have knowledge of alchemy. He revealed that his family, which had passed down alchemical knowledge, was ughtered by the evil alchemical organization three years ago, leaving him as the sole survivor. He hade to you in gratitude for avenging his family.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 6th: Your diligent efforts bore fruit once again, as Klina became pregnant with twins.]</strong>

    <strong>[September 3rd: Due to Raleigh¡¯s early and extensive use of Moonlight Potions, he reached the peak of Tier-1 Mage. The awakening of the Snow Elf propelled him to Tier-2 Mage.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 17th: A Tier-3 Bloodhoof Boar attacked your territory. You intervened in time, ying the beast without any casualties.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 25th: Taylors advanced to apprentice mage.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 20th: That day, as you were using fire essence to hatch a magical beast egg, it caused quite amotion. After a patient wait, a Firefeather Hawk hatchling emerged, and its first sight was your friendly face.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 25th: Two homeless Tier-1 knights came to seek your protection.]</strong>

    <strong>[Gilron Calendar, Year 475, February 21st: Count Nilo Brane issued a notice, revealing that scouts had detected a brewing minor beast tide in the Darkstripe Eagle branch of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Preparations were made to defend against the iing beast tide.]</strong>

    <strong>[March 2nd: A pack of Tier-2 Wind Wolves, led by an alpha, attacked your territory with seven Tier-1 Wind Wolves. Due to prior precautions, your forces handled the crisis on their own.]</strong>

    <strong>[March 23rd: Tadel, who had long been at the peak of Tier-1 Knight, found a breakthrough opportunity and advanced to Tier-2 Knight that day.]</strong>

    <strong>[March 26th: Under Count Nilo''smand, a counterattack wasunched, and you were sent to the front lines of the Darkstripe Eagle branch.]</strong>

 Chapter 85: Clearing Out Clear Springs Town

    Finally, Rhett had found a bloodline potion for Taylors!

    Rhett clenched his fists in excitement and kicked over the knight''s corpse. Standing with one leg on a stone bench inside the mine, he reflected on the simtion results. Alongside his joy, Rhett also felt a deep sense of shock. The mysterious ckstar not only had consumed a bloodline potion himself but also had another one for trade? Just how powerful was the force behind him? Or perhaps¡­ had ckstar stumbled upon an extraordinary opportunity and was just keeping a low profile?

    Rhett exhaled deeply, burying these doubts in his heart. Through recent simtions, Rhett¡¯s impressions of ckstar had be contradictory. In the simtion, ckstar imed he wanted to be the most powerful viin in the world. Yet, in reality, his behavior was quite agreeable, even teaming up with Rhett to eliminate the evil organization in Clear Springs Town.

    Rhett rubbed his chin and thought, "Maybe ckstar has some misunderstanding about what ''evil'' means?"

    "Well, whatever the case, as long as I can trade for the bloodline potion, it''s a good thing for me!"

    ...

    A monthter.

    Rhett smoothly arrived at Clear Springs Town without encountering any further obstacles. Following directions from locals and road signs, he easily found the location of Clear Springs Town and set up an ambush on its outskirts.

    Night fell.The moon was veiled by misty clouds, and Rhett was concealed by dense foliage. The outskirts of Clear Springs Town were open, with t ins stretching in three directions: east, south, and north. Only to the south, near where Rhett was hiding, there was a small forest. He hid at the edge of the forest, in a pitch-ck thicket, from which he could see the town¡¯s main gate through a narrow gap.

    After an entire day of waiting, Rhett felt a bit hungry. He pulled out a piece of dried meat from his pocket and chewed on it, conjuring a thin stream of water to wash it down.

    If Rhett were to evaluate this world¡¯s mages, he¡¯d say they weren''t quite impressive enough. If only they could summon food and water like the mages in his previous life¡¯s World of Warcraft, or even open portals¡­ that would be truly convenient.

    Having spent the entire day in ambush, boredom started to cloud his thoughts...

    "Hey, got anything to eat? Share some with me."

    A low voice suddenly reached Rhett''s ears, triggering a surge of rm in his mind. His eyes gleamed with caution as he instinctively conjured his Rocklight Shield and turned to face the source of the voice.

    But upon realizing it was ckstar, Rhett rxed slightly, though he didn''t immediately dispel the shield. He looked at the figure, wrapped in a ck cloak and nearly blending into the night, and pretended to be wary. "Who are you?"

    As he spoke, Rhett felt a bit of lingering fear. After all, ckstar had managed to get this close without him noticing. Upon reflection, Rhett deduced that this terrifying stealth ability must be rted to the bloodline potion ckstar had consumed. Rhett knew that bloodline potions not only improved one¡¯s cultivation talent but also provided other benefits. Just like how the Earth Lizard bloodline potion had greatly enhanced his own resistance to poisons.

    So, he guessed that ckstar¡¯s stealthy approach was likely due to a special ability granted by the bloodline potion. Otherwise, even the Dark Magic spell <em>Dark Cloak</em> wouldn''t be enough to achieve this.

    At that moment, ckstar spoke.

    "I am the most powerful viin in the world."

    "???"

    What?

    Rhett blinked in confusion, his forehead lined with bafflement. Hearing such a clich¨¦ line firsthand felt particrly odd. He stared directly at ckstar, who stood at barely five feet tall, just as in the simtion. But in the dark forest, with ckstar wearing a ck mask, Rhett couldn¡¯t make out his face.

    Rhett handed over a piece of dried meat and asked, "Um... so, the most powerful viin, what brings you here?"

    "Of course, to defeat the viins in Clear Springs Town and prove I¡¯m a stronger viin than them!" ckstar epted the meat and started chewing, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    ckstar''s voice was surprisingly youthful, but Rhett was stunned upon hearing it. "What? Prove you¡¯re the stronger viin by defeating other viins? Is that even a thing?" Rhett thought, internally baffled. He rubbed his forehead, feeling that something was off but couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what. After thinking it over a few more times, from a different perspective, it actually made a bit of sense...

    Finally, Rhett sighed and decided not to dwell on it. "Alright, powerful viin, my goal is simr to yours¡ªto eliminate this group of viins. Interested in teaming up?"

    "No!" ckstar shook his head.

    "Hmm? Didn¡¯t we agree to team up? Why is this different from the simtion?" Rhett wondered, furrowing his brow as he tried to figure out where the issuey.

    But soon, ckstar rubbed his stomach and said, "I¡¯m not full yet. Give me a few more pieces of that dried meat, and once I¡¯m strong enough, I¡¯ll team up with you."

    Rhett froze again, then chuckled and shook his head. He pulled out two more pieces of dried meat and handed them over.

    ckstar¡¯s impression so far was pretty consistent with the simtion¡ªjust a bit entric and with a unique way of thinking.

    "Thanks!"

    "You¡¯re wee. Need some water?"

    "Yes, but I can manage."

    "......"

    As midnight approached, the two of them discussed their battle n in the forest. Once they had settled on a strategy, they entered a meditative state to conserve their energy.

    Suddenly, Rhett opened his eyes and noticed two small ck figures emerging from Clear Springs Town, heading in their direction.

    "Someone¡¯sing. Get ready to move," Rhett said in a low voice, nudging ckstar with his elbow.

    ckstar also stood up, and while standing, he was almost the same height as Rhett, who was still seated. He gripped a wand nearly as tall as he was, and dark energy swirled around him. A <em>Dark Cloak</em> quickly enveloped him as he silently left the forest.

    Recalling how ckstar had approached him earlier without a sound, Rhett decided not to stop him. Instead, he gripped his earth-colored wand and peered through the gaps in the leaves, gauging the distance between himself and the two mages.

    When they were close enough, Rhett focused his mental energy and cast <em>Quicksand</em>.

    The mages, having just walked a hundred meters out of Clear Springs Town, suddenly sensed something amiss beneath their feet¡ªa swirling, sinking motion of earth elements.

    Their faces changed as they each drew their wands, preparing to cast spells. But caught off guard by <em>Quicksand</em>, both felt an overwhelming suction from below.

    However, neither of them was inexperienced. One quickly conjured a fireball and hurled it at the quicksand, causing the earth elements to destabilize and significantly reducing the suction. Seizing the opportunity, they escaped the quicksand¡¯s grasp.@@novelbin@@

    They nced at the forest where Rhett was, only to see him standing out in the open, almost as if taunting them.

    Their eyes gleamed with fury. How dare someone attack them here? Clearly, this person had a death wish! After exchanging nces and seeing no other ambushes around, they advanced toward the forest, their killing intent palpable.

    Rhett remained calm, his expression unchanging as he kept one eye on ckstar. If he hadn¡¯t been tracking ckstar¡¯s movements since the moment he left, he would have lost sight of him by now.

    ckstar raised his wand high, and a fierce wave of dark energy surged. In the next moment, a gray missile struck the red-robed mage¡¯s head, instantly melting it into a headless corpse that copsed to the ground.

    The sudden turn of events stunned the blue-robed mage, freezing him in ce. Realizing this was a premeditated ambush, his heart filled with dread. A green glow encircled his feet as he cast a wind spell, making his body lighter. With a swift motion, he darted back toward Clear Springs Town, shouting, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Call for reinforcements!"

    The knights at the town gate, seeing the red-robed mage¡¯s corpse, were terrified. Panic-stricken, they rushed back into the town. There was no way they would risk their lives confronting this foe. If a Tier-3 mage could be killed so easily, what chance did they stand?

    They knew it would be better to get reinforcements than to die in vain.

    ckstar, having discussed the n earlier, saw this and quickly pursued them as a ck shadow. A ripple of dark energy swept forward.

    The blue-robed mage, still running toward the town, was struck by the wave before reaching safety. Though unscathed, he suddenly felt dizzy and nearly stumbled.

    "It''s over! That''s a Tier-5 Dark Magic spell¡ª<em>Dark Wave</em>!" Recognizing the spell only deepened his terror. He realized that the one hiding in the shadows, repeatedly casting powerful Tier-5 and Tier-6 Dark Magic, must have consumed a bloodline potion of the highest quality.

    Such a person would be a top-tier threat, even among those of the same level!

    "Wait, don''t kill me!" The blue-robed mage couldn''t help but plead, hoping to save his life.

    But as soon as he spoke, his face turned pale as a sharp earth spike pierced through his heart, blood gushing out as it emerged from his back. With that, both the red-robed and blue-robed mages met their end.

    Rhett''s expression remained calm. Although he hadn''t chosen to surround and ambush the reinforcements, having someone alert the town had the same effect.

    Soon, Clear Springs Town¡¯s reinforcements arrived. The first thing they saw was the blue-robed mage''s corpse at the gate. Anger and shock filled their faces as they scanned the surroundings, quickly spotting a shadow standing near the red-robed mage''s body.

    Killing someone and not fleeing? Still waiting in in sight? It was as if a p to their faces!

    The faces of the five knights darkened as they unleashed their fighting spirit, their bodies glowing brightly in the night like five shooting stars rushing toward ckstar''s position.

    By then, the red-robed mage''s body had already been burned, leaving no trace of the corrosive missile''s attack.

    ckstar''s eyes flickered with cold light as he saw the five knights charging at him. With a swift move, he disappeared into the forest.

    Thest remaining mage hesitated slightly as he watched the enemy vanish into the forest, but seeing hisrades all rush in, he couldn''t back down. Besides, with only two opponents, what was there to fear? He quickly followed them into the forest.

    In the ensuing moments, the forest flickered with various colors of light and violent energy waves. But after a series of screams, everything soon fell silent.

    Ten minutester.

    The forest waspletely quiet. Rhett and ckstar emerged calmly, carrying bags of spoils. They were unscathed from head to toe.

    The two of them had effortlessly dealt with this group.

    ckstar¡¯s <em>Death Wave</em> was arge-scale attack. While it didn¡¯t directly cause damage, it channeled dark energy through special magical paths, temporarily disrupting the target''s movements and making them lose control of their bodies.

    In one-on-onebat, it wasn''t particrly threatening to those of the same level since the effects would wear off in a blink. But in ambushes andrge-scale battles, its effectiveness increased significantly.

    Against Tier-3 opponents, whenbined with Rhett''s <em>Quicksand</em> spell, theypletely caught the enemies off guard. Once their movements were restricted, the duo¡¯s <em>Earth Spikes</em> and <em>Corrosive Missiles</em> nearly guaranteed a kill with every hit.

    All these factors made the battle remarkably easy.

    Through the interrogation earlier, Rhett gained a clearer understanding of Clear Springs Town.

    Eight years ago, Clear Springs Town was still a normal noble territory. After the death of the previous viscount, his only son, Simon, who had mediocre talent and had only just reached the rank of a Tier-2 knight in middle age, joined the evil alchemy organization to hasten his advancement to Tier-3.

    Once he tasted the benefits, he couldn¡¯t stop. He even moved the organization''s headquarters into his castle. On the surface, the organization members were Simon''s subordinates, but behind the scenes, they engaged in brutal and cruel activities.

    Their experiments were conducted in secret, and with the castle heavily guarded, no one in Clear Springs Town suspected anything amiss.

    During the interrogation, ckstar had shown great interest in the blood source beads that Rhett revealed.

    Thus, they both made their way to the castle.

    In the manor at Clear Springs Town, the two of them easily subdued the only remaining Tier-3 knight. At that moment, seven members of the evil organization surrounded Rhett and ckstar, their faces filled with terror.

    They trembled as they looked at the two intruders. Tonight, several high-ranking members of the castle had gone out, and none had returned. Thest Tier-3 knight had just been severely injured and was now unconscious. They knew very well that the oue awaiting them tonight would likely be grim...

    But one of them, mustering his courage, stepped forward with a forced smile and said, "Sirs, we''ve long been dissatisfied with the upper echelons. From now on, we¡¯re willing to serve you wholeheartedly, crafting potions to your everymand!"

    Once one person spoke up, others quickly followed.

    "Yes, sirs, we¡¯re victims too."

    "We¡¯re willing to follow you!"

    "......"

    Rhett sneered coldly and fired several earth spikes, piercing the legs of a few of them, crippling their ability to move!

    "Shut up, all of you!"

    After their agonizing screams subsided, the remaining members immediately mped their mouths shut, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Rhett.

    ...

 Chapter 86: Alchemy Instruments

    If it were someone else in Rhett¡¯s position¡ªan esteemed lord¡ªupon hearing the pleas and offers of allegiance from this group, they might hesitate for a moment. But through his simtions, Rhett knew the extent of their crimes and the countless innocent lives they had taken. He never considered sparing these people.

    Although they were mages who had mastered evil alchemy, their strength was at most at the Tier-2 level. To him, advancing in rank was far more important than recruiting these vile alchemists.

    With a bright future ahead, Rhett understood the importance of protecting his reputation. He searched the castle and found ropes made from the sinew of Tier-2 magical beasts¡ªextremely durable. Using these ropes, he tied up the seven captives by their hands and feet, securing them in the castle¡¯s main hall.

    Afterward, the two of them¡ªRhett and ckstar¡ªproceeded with their pre-arranged n, splitting up. ckstar headed to the cer behind the manor to search for blood source beads, while Rhett went upstairs to the castle¡¯s upper rooms.

    Based on the earlier confessions, Rhett already knew where the alchemy books were hidden. He immediately made his way to the second-floor study.

    Bookshelves upied half the wall. Rhett quickly found what he was looking for¡ªsaving him a lot of time.

    Within minutes, Rhett had filled a small chest with books. Among them were only a few that contained alchemical knowledge. However, he also found logs of alchemical experiments and notes on experimental techniques, which he thought might be useful, so he took them as well.@@novelbin@@

    The rest of the books were rted to dark alchemy¡ªa vast majority of the books on the shelves. These, Rhett wouldn¡¯t dare touch! After all, he intended to use the merits of this mission to be promoted to Viscount. He still needed to deliver the captives to Twilight City for trial and punishment.

    So, he dared not keep any of the dark alchemy books. If,ter on, the upper echelons matched the confessions with the books and found that he had secretly kept any, it would implicate him as well.Rhett wasn¡¯t about to risk his future over something so foolish. Moreover, he had no interest in dark alchemy. Mass ughter to sustain oneself had already crossed his moral line. And with the simtion system at his disposal, he had no need for alchemy that came with significant side effects to boost his power.

    Building strong foundations slowly and steadily was his approach.

    Looking out the window, Rhett noticed ckstar still wandering around the manor''s back area, so he continued to search the castle¡¯s rooms, gathering useful loot along the way. The items he found were not overlyplex but still valuable to him.

    He collected a few lower-tierbat techniques, a lower-tier meditation method, and magic books for wind, fire, and dark elements ranging from levels 1 to 3. He also found over a thousand gold coins and several dark alchemical potions.

    Sorting through these items, Rhett thought, "Just like with the books, I have to hand over all the dark alchemical potions unless I want to forfeit the merit of this mission. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it!"

    "But thesebat techniques and magic books can enhance the family¡¯s resources. Someone will need them in the future, saving us the expense of buying themter." Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he looked at the red, ck, and green books stacked together.

    Finally, his gaze fell upon arge, open wooden crate in the corner of the room. It was filled with various devices and instruments¡ªmetal tools of different shapes, crystal containers made from magical crystals, and bottles and jars made from gemstones and crystals, all marked with measurements.

    These were undoubtedly the prized possessions of the evil alchemists¡ªtheir alchemy instruments.

    While he couldn¡¯t keep the books and potions, these alchemical instruments were neutral tools. Rhett could take them for himself!

    "Perfect timing! I had nned to start the family¡¯s alchemy practice this year. These instruments will save me a lot of trouble," Rhett mused. He also recalled that a Tier-2 alchemist would be joining the familyter this year. Coupled with the books he had obtained from this long-established alchemy organization, they wouldy a solid foundation for the family¡¯s alchemy business!

    When he returned to the castle¡¯s main hall, ckstar entered, holding a ck box. They avoided the prisoners and entered a quiet room.

    "I found seven blood source beads in the cer. Since you did most of the work, you take four, and I¡¯ll take three. How about that?" ckstar had already divided the beads, offering Rhett therger share with an outstretched hand.

    Rhett didn¡¯t immediately ept the beads. Instead, he hesitated and said, "If you¡¯re so interested in the blood source beads, you can take all of them. But I¡¯d like to keep all the alchemy instruments." His eyes fixed on ckstar.

    To Rhett, a fully charged blood source bead was enough for his simtion-based training. As for his family and territory members, he had no intention of giving them such harmful items.

    Besides, the blood source beads from the cer were in an empty state, requiring charging before use. They were of no use to him.

    Charging these beads would require a significant number of lives, something Rhett wasn¡¯t willing to pursue. And hunting down evil mages or knights individually would be too time-consuming.

    So, Rhett decided to abandon the beads in exchange for other loot, maximizing his benefits.

    Unexpectedly, ckstar waved his hand indifferently, excitedly saying, "Really? I don¡¯t care about anything else. If you¡¯re willing to give me the remaining blood source beads, I¡¯ll forgo the other spoils!"

    After all, while the beads might not be particrly useful to Rhett, they were highly valuable to others¡ªespecially to ckstar, who recognized their worth at a nce.

    With a mutual agreement, they quickly settled on how to split the loot.

    In a good mood, Rhett asked, "By the way, we¡¯re about to part ways. I still don¡¯t know your name."

    "I can only tell you... I¡¯m from an organization, and my code name is ckstar. That¡¯s all I can say," ckstar replied, looking up at Rhett, who towered over him. "You can call me ckstar from now on."

    "ckstar, huh? Not a bad name!" Rhett nodded and didn¡¯t press further about the organization. Instead, he curiously said, "Tonight, I saw you use <em>Corrosive Missile</em> and <em>Death Wave</em>. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯ve taken a bloodline potion?"

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten that ckstar possessed a bloodline potion that could benefit his son, Telles. Rhett was very interested in securing it.

    "That¡¯s right!" ckstar readily admitted. He then added, "I also noticed that you used <em>Earth Spike</em>, so you must have taken an earth-type bloodline potion to learn it."

    "Yes, I stumbled upon two bottles of Earth Lizard bloodline potions, which allowed me to master <em>Earth Spike</em>." Rhett took out one of the potions, gently shaking it in his hand as he continued, "Do you have any other bloodline potions? I¡¯d like to trade this one with you."

    "Trade potions? No problem!" ckstar was momentarily surprised but quickly agreed, even sounding a bit delighted. However, he hesitated and added, "The potion isn¡¯t with me at the moment. I¡¯ll need a month before we can make the trade."

    A smile spread across Rhett¡¯s face as he replied cheerfully, "That¡¯s not an issue. My territory is Eagle Town. You can find me there in a month!"

    ckstar¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded, "It¡¯s a deal!"

    Rhett then went to the castle¡¯s stables, where he found several carts and horses. He loaded the loot into the carts and herded the seven captives onto one of them.

    At the gates of the Clear Springs Manor, Rhett leaned casually against the cart¡¯s window frame, one foot crossed over the other, and smiled at ckstar, "So, where are you headed next?"

    "To find strong evildoers and defeat them!" ckstar¡¯s cool voice replied.

    "Well then... I wish you sess in bing the world¡¯s most powerful evildoer!" Rhett grinned.

    "I will!" ckstar turned and began to walk away, leaving Rhett with only his retreating figure. "I¡¯ll see you in a month!"

    Against the night wind, ckstar¡¯s figure grew smaller until it vanished entirely.

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Until next time!"

    Turning around, Rhett¡¯s gaze grew cold as he looked at the seven captives tied back-to-back in the cart.

    "Don¡¯t do anything foolish. You know what will happen if you disobey me!" Seeing that the prisoners remained obedient and considering their broken legs, Rhett wasn¡¯t worried about them escaping.

    He then looked at a nearby coachman, a man in his thirties who stood trembling.

    "Drive us to Twilight City. There will be a reward for you when we arrive," Rhett said calmly.

    As a lord, Rhett couldn¡¯t be expected to drive the cart himself, especially with arge haul of goods that required care. He called upon a few coachmen from Clear Springs Town to help.

    In addition, after some inquiries, Rhett gathered skilled individuals¡ªcksmiths, tailors, and other craftsmen¡ªfrom the town to take with him to Eagle Town. His territory was in desperate need of skilled workers and more people, so he seized the opportunity.

    Of course, Rhett didn¡¯t force anyone to leave. He exined that their former lord was a member of an evil alchemy organization and had already been killed by him. He even showed them the hidden rooms in the castle, where horrific experiments had been conducted.

    After witnessing the blood-stained remains and hearing the captives confess to their crimes, the townsfolk had no choice but to ept the truth. Although it was hard to believe, the evidence was undeniable.

    With Rhett disying his power as a Tier-3 mage, most of the skilled workers expressed their willingness to leave with him.

    A few, for various reasons, chose to stay, and Rhett didn¡¯t force them.

    As for the remaining civilians in Clear Springs, the distance to Eagle Town was too great. Slowing his journey to bring a thousand people back wasn¡¯t practical. Instead, Rhett spread the word that Eagle Town was willing to take in new residents, leaving it to fate to see how many would choose toe.

    All in all, Rhett had gained immensely from this trip to Clear Springs Town.

    Before he knew it, the night had passed, and the sky began to lighten.

    Looking back, Rhett saw the fifty-plus people in the group, their faces showing a mix of loss and longing, but with a hint of hope in their eyes.

    The wheels of the carts rolled, the horses¡¯ hooves ttered, and the procession gradually left Clear Springs Town, heading toward the dawn.

    ...

    Upon arriving in Twilight City, Rhett first arranged for the people he had brought from Clear Springs Town to stay in an inn. Then, he escorted the seven captives with broken legs through the central street of Twilight City, heading toward the southern gate.

    Twilight Castle was not within the city but two kilometers to the south.

    The streets were bustling with people, and the coachman didn¡¯t dare to drive too fast. As they passed by the Dalton Auction House, their pace slowed even further due to the increasing crowd.

    Rhett was surprised to see a line stretching over ten meters long outside the auction house. Standing up, he noticed the sign still announcing the release of the third volume of the bestselling series.

    Those who queued up soon emerged from the auction house, smiling as they carried thick books.

    "Incredible! It¡¯s been over ten days, and people are still so eager to buy. If authors from my past life saw this, they¡¯d be green with envy," Rhett marveled.

    Amid the crowd, Rhett didn¡¯t notice a woman who had just exited the auction house. She nced toward the carts and prisoners and then froze, her gaze locking onto one of the captives.

    Her expression shifted to disbelief, and her body trembled¡ªnot with joy, but with fury.

    She quickly ran to the side of the procession, staring intently at one prisoner¡¯s face. After confirming her suspicions, her fingers shook as she pointed at him, her voice filled with madness, "It¡¯s you! It really is you! The murderer who ughtered my entire family! I¡¯ll never forget that hateful face!"

    The fat man on the cart met her gaze, pausing in thought before shaking his head. "Which family¡¯s survivor are you? I¡¯ve killed so many; I don¡¯t remember."

    After weeks of captivity, these prisoners had resigned themselves to their fate. They knew they were doomed, so they no longer held back.

    Facing death, what did they care about words?

    His indifferent tone, uttering the cruelest words, was like a merciless hand tearing open old wounds.

    The short-haired orange-haired woman¡¯s chest heaved with rage, tears streaming down her face.

    ...

 Chapter 87: Taming the Female Knight

    At the northern border of the Brain territory, in Deep Vige, does that ring a bell?" The orange-haired woman gritted her teeth as she spoke, "Five years ago, you ambushed us when my mother was giving birth, causing my entire family to die at your hands!" Herst words were a furious roar, and spittle sprayed onto the fat man¡¯s face.

    Rhett took a deep breath. Hearing about the tragic death of a mother stirred his emotions, bringing to mind the image of Nicole. Sympathy welled up inside him as he gazed at the orange-haired woman, his eyes deep with thought. He didn¡¯t stop her right away but continued listening.

    The fat man remained indifferent, his expression unchanging as he casually replied, "Oh, yes, I remember now. I did ambush a pregnant female knight back then. Her husband resisted, and I killed him too. He fought desperately to protect a woman who escaped. That must have been you."

    Hearing the murderer who had destroyed her family speak so lightly of his crimes, the orange-haired woman¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, and her chest heaved violently, like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode. Ovee with emotion, she gripped the hilt of her sword as if she might strike at any moment.

    Seeing this, Rhett sighed; he couldn¡¯t remain silent any longer. These captives were indeed vile criminals who hadmitted countless atrocities, but they couldn¡¯t die now.

    "Ahem, hold on a moment," he said, intervening.

    The orange-haired woman turned her head, looking at the calm andposed man. His gaze seemed to have a magical quality, calming her emotions.

    "Thank you, my lord, for capturing these deserving criminals," she said after taking a deep breath to steady her voice. "Everything I said is true, as you must have heard. Therefore, I beg you to allow me to personally take revenge and y this man for my family!"

    By now, a growing crowd had gathered, forming a circle around them, watching with curiosity. The murmur of voices filled the air.Rhett frowned slightly, narrowing his eyes.

    "My lord, there are too many people here. Should we find a quieter ce?" The orange-haired woman, now somewhat calmer, noticed Rhett¡¯s difort.

    Rhett looked directly at her and sighed. "Why don¡¯t you join me on the cart? We can find a more private spot to talk."

    The orange-haired woman¡¯s expression brightened, and she climbed into the back of the cart. Rhett signaled the driver to continue, and the group quickly moved out of the crowd.

    Among the onlookers, some recognized the emblem of Eagle Town on Rhett¡¯s chest, while others noticed the strength of the captives¡ª all Tier-2 mages. Realizing this was no ordinary matter, they prepared to disperse and share the tale with their friends over meals.

    As they left the city, Rhett and the woman engaged in a few brief conversations, during which he learned her name¡ªShilin.

    Once they were out of Twilight City, Rhett had the convoy stop about a kilometer from the city. He jumped down from the cart and turned to face Shilin, who had followed him down.

    "As I¡¯ve exined, these people are my prisoners," Rhett began. "They are evil alchemists responsible for countless deaths and should face the kingdom''s justice."

    "But in the end, they will die regardless, so what difference does it make who kills them?" Shilin asked, her voice full of frustration.

    Seeing her deep-seated obsession, Rhett raised an eyebrow and replied, "No matter who kills them, the oue is the same, isn''t it?"

    Shilin was momentarily stunned.

    Taking advantage of her hesitation, Rhett continued, "You should know that these individuals are just a small part of a muchrger evil alchemy organization. Many more are out there,mitting simr atrocities. The ones I captured hold valuable information that could lead us to the others. They need to be handed over and properly interrogated to uncover the rest of thework and prevent more innocent lives from being lost. If you kill them now, in a moment of anger, the remaining members could escape and continue their crimes. Is that the result you want?"

    "I..." Shilin was left speechless, her mind in turmoil. She hadn''t thought about it that deeply in her rage and hatred. Now, she asked herself, "Do I really want to see others suffer the same tragedy I did?"

    Seeing her inner conflict, Rhett pressed on, "These people are doomed, so why not let justice take its course? Why insist on taking matters into your own hands?"

    After a lengthy silence and deep contemtion, Shilin sighed, finally letting go of her impulsive desire to act.

    Of course, the main reason she calmed down was her realization of the vast difference in power between herself and Rhett, a Tier-3 mage. Although he had been polite, he had made it clear that he would not allow her to execute the prisoners. No matter how much she wanted to, she knew she couldn''t overpower him. Additionally, his words had made her see reason.

    Gathering herself, Shilin bowed slightly. "Thank you, my lord, for capturing my enemies and ensuring they face justice. I will never forget this favor. If you ever need my help, I will dly serve, no matter the cost!"

    Her words were sincere, without exaggeration. No one could understand the agony of the past five years¡ªthe nightmares of that fateful night, the horrific scenes of her mother¡¯s death, and her father¡¯s desperatest stand. Revenge had been her sole purpose in life.

    This man had helped her achieve that goal, lifting a heavy burden off her shoulders and freeing her from her nightmare. The heart that had been drowning in hatred now found peace.

    In the past, she had been willing to trade her life, her body¡ªwhatever it took¡ªfor a chance at revenge. Now, she felt an indescribable gratitude.

    "Ahem..." Rhett cleared his throat awkwardly, leaning on his staff. "Since your revenge is nearlyplete, and you no longer need to wander, why not... join my territory?"

    "Shilin, my territory could use someone like you!"

    The invitation seemed sudden, but it was a calcted move based on a brief simtion Rhett had just run. From the results, he knew this was the right choice.

    Rhett had long noticed that Shilin, at around thirty years old, had already be a Tier-2 knight, which meant she had considerable talent. While she might not be a prodigy, she had achieved this without any backing or resources¡ªa remarkable feat. She was a small genius in her own right.

    Moreover, the simtion had shown that the recruitment process would go smoothly, with no negative consequences. So, Rhett wasn¡¯t about to miss the chance to add a talented female knight to his ranks.

    "Huh?" Shilin blinked, surprised by the request. She fell into a brief contemtion.

    At that moment, she thought about her future. With her revenge fulfilled, what was next? If he hadn''t invited her, what would she do with her life?

    Her eyes suddenly clouded with uncertainty¡ªshe had no answer.

    After some thought, Shilin realized that this lord had pulled her out of darkness, and she felt a sense of warmth toward him.

    She softly replied, "I¡¯m willing!"

    Hearing this, Rhett inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Adding such a capable knight to his ranks made him eager to see if she might be the strongest knight in his training grounds. Surely, her presence would motivate the other knights to train even harder!

    "But... why does ¡®I¡¯m willing¡¯ sound a bit off?" Rhett mused, rubbing his chin.

    "My lord, is your territory in Eagle Town?" Shilin suddenly asked.

    "Yes."

    "Does it have a Sun Lake nearby?"

    "Oh? How did you know?" Rhett was surprised.

    "Three years ago, I traveled to the Dark-patterned Eagle Range and passed by Sun Lake. I even took a bath there," Shilin said with a smile.

    "How coincidental! It seems you¡¯ve had quite the adventurous past, haha," Rhett chuckled.

    With her mind at ease and a newfound sense of belonging, Shilin seemed more open. Rhett noticed the change and felt gratified. He continued chatting with her, reinforcing her positive shift in attitude.

    As they conversed, Shilin gradually opened up, sharing her experiences and thoughts with Rhett. By the time they had traveled another kilometer, she was in much better spirits. Gazing at the majestic Twilight Castle, she remarked with a smile, "Building a castle on a hill in the ins must offer a unique view of the sunrise and sunset every day!"

    Rhett simply smiled, gazing ahead.

    Twilight Castle sat atop a small hill, over two hundred meters high. Since its construction, the steep cliffs had been smoothed out to create a spiral road winding up the hill. At each level of the road, two knights stood guard.

    As Rhett approached, the two guards at the base of the hill watched him closely. They couldn¡¯t leave their posts unless there was an imminent threat.

    "Greetings, I am Rhett Green, Lord of Eagle Town," Rhett introduced himself before continuing, "Please inform Count Nilo that I have important information to report!"

    Upon hearing this, and after seeing Rhett¡¯s emblem, the guards¡¯ eyes widened in surprise. "It¡¯s rted to the evil alchemy organization!"

    The two guards gasped, realizing the gravity of the situation. One of them adjusted his helmet and said seriously, "Understood, Sir Rhett, please wait here. I¡¯ll notify the count immediately!"

    Soon, a knight d in dark red armor descended the hill. He greeted Rhett warmly, "Sir Rhett, I¡¯ve heard much about your heroic deeds on the front lines. ying a Blood Moon Werewolf is no small feat!"@@novelbin@@

    "Ahem, I assisted," Rhett replied modestly, coughing lightly at the praise.

    "Allow me to introduce myself¡ªWilson Armand, Deputy Commander of the Count¡¯s knights," Wilson said before gesturing up the hill. "Sir Rhett, the Count is waiting for you. Please, follow me!"

    Rhett nodded and began the ascent.

    Behind him, Shilin was impressed. The man she now followed had in a Blood Moon Werewolf? Truly remarkable!

    No wonder he had managed to eradicate the evil alchemy organization...

    Before they knew it, the sun had almost set.

    Rhett had been at Twilight Castle for half an hour, exining the details of his encounter with the evil alchemy organization. From the first attack in Maple Town to the final cleanup in Clear Springs, he recounted everything.

    Count Nilo listened attentively, and while Rhett¡¯s ount was slightly modified to omit certain details, such as ckstar¡¯s involvement, the count didn¡¯t press the matter.

    After all, with the organization destroyed and Rhett bringing captives to im credit, the oue was clear.

    With everythingid out, Count Nilo drummed his fingers on the table and concluded, "Sir Rhett, I¡¯ve heard enough. You¡¯ve done exceptionally well! The rest is just a matter of interrogation and capturing the remaining members. Once this is all over, I¡¯ll ensure your deeds are recorded and reported to the capital. You¡¯ve earned great merit!"

    The count, reclining on a plush chair, patted his leg and smiled. "Impressive, Sir Rhett. You haven¡¯t been off the front lines for long, yet you¡¯ve already aplished something remarkable!"

    Rhett waved off thepliment. "It was just luck. These alchemists were getting bolder and more reckless. Madness often leads to downfall. If I hadn¡¯t taken action, someone else would have soon enough."

    "Hmm... quite true," Count Nilo agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "The southwest border has been peaceful for so long that some have growncent."

    Rhett remained silent, listening.

    After a moment, the count frowned and sighed, "I¡¯ll begin interrogating the captives tonight. The sooner, the better. The longer we wait, the more likely their scattered members will flee the southwest."

    "Which means... no banquet tonight," the count said, standing and looking directly at Rhett.

    Typically, noble visits were apanied by banquets, but exceptions had to be made. Tonight¡¯s interrogation was far more important than a feast.

 Chapter 90: A Father-Son Night Talk

    Rhett wanted Tylus to take the bloodline potion, no doubt about that. But more than just providing resources, he believed in cultivating inner qualities and forming good habits. Material wealth guarantees a baseline, but spiritual wealth raises the ceiling.

    Upon returning to the territory, Rhett learned from Ry''s report that Tylus had grownx in his absence, needing constant supervision andcking self-discipline. This, along with Tylus''s impatience and inability to persist, made Rhett realize that his years on the front lines had left him out of touch with his children''s development.

    Without proper guidance, even the finest jade cannot be crafted into a useful tool. Rhett felt it was his responsibility to correct this and decided to take this opportunity to instill important lessons in Tylus¡ªnot to punish him, but to encourage self-reflection.

    Hearing his father''s questioning, Tylus looked confused. After a moment, he rubbed his eyes and said, feeling wronged, "Why does Father say that? I can''t be a mage, and I can''t study alchemy either..."

    "What if... you could?" Rhett asked, staring into Tylus''s eyes. He knew how much his son was passionate about alchemy. But based on past behavior, Rhett worried that Tylus might lose interest quickly and abandon his studies once the initial excitement faded. That was a scenario Rhett wanted to avoid.

    "Habits greatly influence a person," Rhett thought to himself. That was why he had taken the time to lecture Tylus as soon as he entered the room. He wanted to see Tylus go further down the path of alchemy, to not give up so easily on anything he started.

    "If I could... I would definitely study hard and never give up!" Tylus clenched his fists, a determined look in his eyes. But then his expression fell again, and he muttered, "But what''s the point of saying this... I''ve imagined it countless times before."

    "Come here, Tylus," Rhett said gently, motioning for his son to sit beside him.

    "Yes, Father," Tylus replied, obediently sitting down. He nervously fidgeted with the corner of the bedsheet, unsure of what his father would say next. As he wondered, he suddenly felt a cold object being ced in his hand.Tylus looked down in surprise at the bottle filled with ck liquid and asked, puzzled, "Father, what is this?"

    "Did you forget what I said earlier? This is a bloodline potion that can make you a mage," Rhett exined, patting his son''s shoulder. "And it can help you study alchemy as well."

    Tylus was stunned into silence. It took him a long moment to process what his father had said before he whispered, "Father had thought of this for me all along..." Overwhelmed by a sense of fatherly love, the potion in his hand suddenly felt hot, yet he gripped it even tighter.

    In a rush of emotion, Tylus lunged forward, wrapping his arms around his father''s neck and resting his head on Rhett''s shoulder. "Thank you, Father. I love you," he said softly.

    Rhett smiled and ruffled his son''s fluffy hair. "We¡¯re family. No need to thank me."

    They stayed like that for over a minute, savoring the warmth of the moment.

    "But remember what you just said!" Rhett gently tapped the back of Tylus''s head. "I hope you said those words for yourself and not just to appease me."

    Tylus lifted his head, a serious expression on his face. "I understand, Father. I¡¯ll do my best to keep my promises, whether it¡¯s about alchemy... or anything else!"

    "I''m d to hear that," Rhett said, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "But I''ll be even happier if you follow through!"

    "I won¡¯t let you down, Father!" Tylus dered, his eyes full of determination.

    Rhett stood up and walked over to the wall. "Now, go ahead and take the potion. Ry and I will stay here to watch over you."

    "Alright," Tylus replied. He opened the bottle and drank the potion in two gulps. His body immediately tensed, and he closed his eyes, focusing intently.

    From the outside, it seemed like nothing was happening, but Tylus was undoubtedly enduring intense pain. Watching his son¡¯s furrowed brow and the asional drop of sweat on his face, Rhett held his breath. Although he knew the oue, he couldn''t help but feel a bit anxious.

    Ten minutester, the ordeal was over. Tylus had sessfully absorbed the ck-Eyed Phantom Snake¡¯s bloodline potion. Though drenched in sweat, his face beamed with joy as he opened his eyes and said, "Father, Ry, I did it!"

    "Congrattions, Tylus!" Ry congratted him from the side.

    "How do you feel?" Rhett asked.

    "Hmm, my mind feels... different, but I can''t quite describe it," Tylus said, scratching his head.

    Rhett thought to himself, "It¡¯s probably because he has the talent butcks the foundational knowledge of a mage."

    He handed Tylus a book he had prepared in advance. "This is a mid-level meditation method. With it, you can start meditating and cultivating your magical abilities."

    Rhett also took out a few bottles of potions and ced them on Tylus¡¯s soft bed. "These are Moonlight Elixirs. They¡¯ll help you speed up your cultivation. I hope you can soon break through to apprentice mage level¡ªonly then can you start studying alchemy!"

    At that moment, Ry chimed in, "But Father, we don¡¯t seem to have any books on alchemy..."

    Tylus gathered the potions and the meditation method, then looked up at his father. "Yeah, we don¡¯t have any alchemy inheritance. Even if I be an apprentice mage, I won¡¯t be able to learn anything."

    Rhett smiled mysteriously. "Do you know what I encountered during the two months I was away?"

    Knock, knock, knock.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    "Open up! Father, I know you¡¯re in there!" came a loud voice from outside.

    Ry and Tylus exchanged curious nces, eager to hear their father¡¯s story, only to be interrupted by the loud knocking and shouting.

    Tylus grumbled in annoyance, "What¡¯s Tucker doing, bothering us at this hour?"

    Rhett smiled wryly and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was the burly figure of Tucker. "Good evening, Tucker. It¡¯ste¡ªplease keep your voice down," Rhett said.

    Tucker grinned widely at the sight of his father. "Father, I¡¯ve missed you so much!"

    He spread his arms wide, ready to hug Rhett. But this time, Rhett was prepared. He stepped back and red at his son. "Stop right there, Tucker. You¡¯re too old for this. And remember, it¡¯ste¡ªkeep your voice down!"

    "Got it, Father," Tucker chuckled, having missed his chance for a hug.

    After closing the door, Tucker looked around the room and noticed Ry and Tylus. He scratched his head. "No wonder I couldn¡¯t find you in your room or Ry¡¯s. You¡¯re here with Tylus."

    "Father, you¡¯re ying favorites. You didn¡¯t even call me when you got back, only Tylus," Tuckerined.

    "Tucker, I¡¯m single, and so is Ry. But you and Vanessa are sharing a room. Father wouldn¡¯t want to intrude," Tylus interrupted.

    "That¡¯s nonsense. How could you and Ry be single?" Tucker retorted, a smug look on his face. "Hmph, I thought I didn¡¯t know, but Ry has been seeing Crina for a while now. And you, Tylus¡ªyou¡¯re not exactly innocent when ites to Mina, either."

    "Ahem," Ry, uncharacteristically flustered, corrected him. "Tucker, her name is Crina, not Crinina."

    Tucker scratched his head. "Oh? My bad, I must¡¯ve mixed it up..."

    Ry had nned to confess to his father privately, but clearly, that wasn¡¯t happening anymore. He took a deep breath and said, "Father,st month, I proposed to Crina, and Sir Gareth has given us his blessing."

    "Father, you weren¡¯t in the territory at the time, so I couldn¡¯t tell you earlier..."

    "It doesn¡¯t matter whether you told me or not, son," Rhett replied with a shrug. "Love and impulse often go hand in hand. Sometimes, impulsiveness makes love all the more wonderful. I hope you savor it."

    "Thank you for understanding, Father. I hope you¡¯lle with me to Dam Town to formalize our engagement with Crina," Ry said seriously.

    "I¡¯d be delighted!" Rhett smiled. "I hope you two bear me a grandson soon!"

    "Ahem," Ry, usuallyposed, was caught off guard by the topic, his eyes darting around nervously as he struggled for a response.

    "And you, Tylus," Rhett continued, turning to his youngest son with a smile. "Have you found someone special while I was away?"

    "Uh... yes," Tylus admitted, blushing slightly.

    "Good. When lovees your way, don¡¯t shy away from it. Be brave and go after what you want!" Rhett encouraged without pressing for details.

    "Understood, Father!" Tylus replied, a smile spreading across his face as he thought of Mina, remembering the passionate kiss they shared under the red maple tree. "It¡¯s only been two weeks since Ist saw her, and I already miss her. I¡¯ll visit her again soon."

    "Father, what happened while you were away? You didn¡¯t finish telling us earlier!" Ry reminded him.

    "Well, now that Tucker¡¯s here and everyone¡¯s gathered, I¡¯ll share some of what I experienced over the past two months," Rhett said thoughtfully.

    After a brief, slightly edited recounting, Rhett focused on the eradication of the evil alchemy organization. After all, his elevation to viscount wasn¡¯t far off, and his family would eventually learn of it.

    When the three brothers realized that their father had taken down such arge alchemy organization, their faces lit up with joy.

    "That¡¯s incredible, Father!" Tucker eximed, admiring his father¡¯s strength. Though the story was told in a modest manner, defeating so many formidable opponents was no small feat. His father truly was extraordinary!

    "This will surely earn you a significant amount of merit!" Ry¡¯s eyes gleamed as he murmured, "Father, you might even be promoted to viscount because of this!"

    The thought of their father bing a viscount filled Tucker and Tylus with excitement, their minds racing with possibilities.

    Momentster, Tylus, still beaming, said, "No wonder Father was away for so long¡ªhe was busy aplishing something monumental. And now, my alchemy training is secured. Thank you, Father!"

    "You¡¯re wee!" Rhett replied with a smile.

    "Ry, Tylus can¡¯t start learning alchemy yet, but you can. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?" Rhett suggested, turning to his eldest son. "You don¡¯t need to master it, just reach an apprentice level of understanding."

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten that advancing in auxiliary professions like alchemy could also earn him Fate Points. While alchemy was difficult to master, it was rtively easy to get started, making it a worthwhile pursuit.

    Ry was a bit surprised by the suggestion. He wasn¡¯t particrly interested in alchemy, but reaching an apprentice level didn¡¯t seem too difficult, so he agreed.

    As the night wore on, the family continued chatting happily until the early hours of the morning before finally parting ways.

    The next day, dark clouds gathered, and soon, a heavy downpour began. The rain startled Rhett from his meditation, the thunder and lightning echoing through the world. Standing by the window, he inhaled the scent of rain-soaked earth, mixed with the summer heat.

    He looked up at the sky. The raindrops fell like countless white threads connecting the heavens and the earth, swaying in the wind and forming sheets of rain¡ªan awe-inspiring sight.@@novelbin@@

    This was the first heavy rain of the year, and its ferocity had caught him off guard. Until now, there had only been light, drizzling showers.

    But the rain didn¡¯t interfere with his ns. Last night, Rhett had agreed with Ry that they would head to Dam Town tomorrow, on the 26th.

    After getting dressed, Rhett made his way downstairs for breakfast.

    On his way down, he remembered the fifty or so skilled workers he had brought to the territory and had temporarily housed in the stables.

    Luckily, as he reached the first-floor hall, he spotted Svetta. Rhett approached him and said, "Svetta,st night, I ced the new residents¡ªover fifty of them¡ªat the stables. I¡¯d like you to find a plot ofnd in town for them and have Coudine build them some wooden houses."

    "Of course, sir. We have plenty ofnd in the town," Svetta replied with a slight bow. "But with this downpour, Coudine and his crew won¡¯t be able to start construction until the rain clears."

    Rhett nodded and sat down to enjoy breakfast with his family.

    Gradually, the rain began to ease. Svetta donned a ck raincoat and headed out.

    "Be careful, Svetta!" Rhett called after him, wiping his mouth with a napkin as he stood up.

    "I will, sir!"

    Rhett had left a day as a buffer because he had other matters to attend to.

 Chapter 91: Planning the Territory

    Rhett held a ck umbre as he walked to the magic nt cultivation field in the back garden. The magic nts blessed by the Snow Elf had matured during his absence from the territory. Except for the Frost Pine and Snowvine, which are of the infinite growth type and can only be harvested once in a lifetime after several years, the other water-type magic nts had all been harvested and re-sown by Ry, who also opened a new field to nt the seeds. Over a thousand seeds were harvested from Water Moon Grass, Ice Crystal Lilies, and Mist Lotus. With the original 500 water-type mid-level magic nts, the cultivation field now boasted over 1,600 such nts.

    Rhett surveyed the surroundings, noting that the cultivation field, surrounded by stone walls on all sides, was nearly full. Before he left in March, there had been a clear patch of emptynd, but it had since been filled with the newly sown water-type nts. Rhett pondered, "For now, it''s not advisable to relocate the cultivation field outside the castle. I need to expand this area further."

    With the rain pouring down from the sky, Rhett mobilized his mental power, controlling the earth elements to form three new stone walls. These walls extended the original cultivation field, forming a shape resembling the character "ÈÕ," effectively doubling its size. As a third-level mage, this task was much easier for him now, and he still had plenty of mental energy left.

    His gaze shifted to the Frost Pines, which had been growing for six months but were already a year old, and the Snowvines, which had simrly matured. There were about eighty Frost Pines, all over two meters tall, with trunks about five centimeters in diameter. The branches, like yful children, lightly swayed under the rain''s impact. The bark had a whitish-blue hue that would deepen as the trees aged.

    The Snowvines coiled around the Frost Pines, using them as support. Although the vines were only as thick as a finger and covered in fine white hairs, they did not hinder the growth of the trees. On the contrary, over time, the close connection between the two would slightly enhance the Snowvines'' toughness and the Frost Pines'' hardness, making them a recognized perfect pair.

    Rhett then moved to the pool, observing the gently swaying Frost Sunflowers at the bottom. His eyes sparkled with anticipation. He leaned down, gently stirring the water, and thought, "They¡¯re almost ready. It looks like the Ice Crystal Seeds will fully mature soon."

    As the contours of the seeds became more distinct, Rhett could estimate their exact number. He submerged himself in the water and counted the Ice Crystal Seeds.

    "One, two, three... One thousand two hundred and six."

    After counting, Rhett emerged from the water. Thin fire elements gathered around him, forming a faint red mist that quickly evaporated the moisture from his clothes.Rhett mused, "Eight Frost Sunflowers produced over 1,200 seeds, averaging about 150 per nt. At the market price in Twilight City, each Ice Crystal Seed is worth about ten silver coins, meaning each sunflower can yield 15 gold coins annually¡ª5 more than the average price of high-level magic nts, which is 10 gold coins."

    He had counted carefully, and even if there was some error, it wouldn¡¯t be much.

    "Not bad. These should be cultivated on arger scale," Rhett murmured to himself, stroking his chin.

    After tending to the cultivation field, Rhett headed to the knights'' training ground. For the knights, no matter how bad the weather, training continued unabated.

    Thunder rumbled, rain poured, and the knights'' shouts echoed through the storm. Rhett, holding his umbre, hadn¡¯t yet reached the deepest part of the training ground but could already hear the sounds from behind the wall. He smiled and approached the door, where he saw Shirin, Kurs, and Tadal standing in the rain, d in armor.

    The knights were lined up neatly, engaging in their daily training, alternating between sword strikes and shield blocks. Tadal and Kurs stood side by side, listening intently to Shirin, who seemed to be instructing them.

    After a while, Rhett waded through the thinyer of water and walked over. The three noticed him and lined up to greet him, saying in unison, "Good morning, Lord Rhett!"

    "Good morning to you. The weather today is quite terrible," Rhett replied with a smile as he approached them. He then turned to Tadal and Kurs and said, "I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard by now that Shirin has joined us and is now part of Eagle Town."

    "I hope... you all get along well."

    "Of course! We were stunned when we heard the news this morning!" Tadal exaggerated his expression. "I was even wondering where you found such a talented knight, Lord Rhett, and a beautiful one at that!"

    "Indeed, she¡¯s ten years younger than us, and in terms of age, looks, and strength, she surpasses us in every way!" Kurs stroked his beard, a look of resignation on his face. "Fate has not been kind to us."

    "You tter me..." Shirin blushed slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed by the praise. "Your past training has also been excellent. These trainees haven¡¯t neglected their fundamentals at all."

    "Haha, what¡¯s past is past. But from now on, we all share the same goal¡ªbuilding Eagle Town!" Rhett patted Kurs and Tadal on the shoulders, lifting their spirits. As a lord, motivating his people was a fundamental skill.

    "These trainees will grow under your guidance and eventually shine. They will carry your mark," Rhett continued.

    Tadal, putting away his exaggerated manner, agreed seriously, "Yes, it¡¯s a real sense of aplishment."

    He thought of the respect the trainees had shown him recently, the earnest expressions on their faces when seeking his guidance, and a smile crept onto his lips. It was a feeling he had never experienced as a mercenary.@@novelbin@@

    "It''s our duty, and we must fulfill it," Shirin nodded. She then looked at the two and suggested, "I heard about your previous training regimen, and I think you could add more realbat practice. Facing the danger and excitement of realbat helps them better absorb what they''ve learned."

    "That makes sense," Tadal nodded.

    "It¡¯s best to have them train until they¡¯re exhausted before sparring," Rhett added. "This will push their limits and reduce the risk of injury."

    This was a lesson Rhett had learned from years on the battlefield. Despite the dangers and high mortality rate, the intense environment often led to breakthroughs inbat potential. While it wasn¡¯t realistic to replicate thatpletely, a simr training method could be used.

    "That¡¯s a great idea!" Kurs¡¯s eyes lit up, and the other two nodded thoughtfully.

    "You probably would have thought of it yourselves eventually," Rhett said modestly. He then pulled out a book and handed it to Shirin. "Shirin, this is a mid-level movement technique¡ª<em>Phantom Retrace</em>. I hope it will be of use to you."

    This was something he had asked Ry to copy down before he left, and after Tucker verified it, he was sure there were no mistakes.

    "What? Lord Rhett, this is too valuable. I can¡¯t ept it. I¡¯ve only just joined the territory and haven¡¯t made any contributions..." Shirin was taken aback, instinctively pushing the book away.

    "Take it, Shirin. We¡¯ve all learned <em>Phantom Retrace</em>," Tadal encouraged her.

    "Yes, ept it. If you don¡¯t believe me, watch this demonstration," Kurs said, stepping forward. In an instant, he seemed to blur, a red sh darting forward before returning to its original spot.

    Seeing the technique in action, Shirin covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with surprise. "So fast! I¡¯ve never seen a mid-level movement technique reach such speed!"

    She was deeply impressed, and as she looked at Rhett, he seemed even more mysterious to her.

    "Shirin, ept it. As a member of Eagle Town, the stronger you be, the stronger Eagle Town will be. And that... in itself is a contribution!" Rhett¡¯s deep voice resonated with Shirin.

    She trembled slightly, silently savoring his words. Her eyes gradually filled with admiration as she became increasingly convinced of her lord¡¯s vision. Thinking back to Kurs''s demonstration of the technique¡¯s speed, Shirin found herself even more tempted.

    In the end, she bowed deeply and solemnly said, "Thank you, Lord Rhett!"

    At this point, Rhett had only one more task at the training ground. He took a gift bag from his belt and held it in front of the three.

    "Inside are thirteen bottles of <em>Boiling Potion</em>. I never skimp on resources for my subordinates, so I¡¯ve decided to give you three, along with Fno and Lorlin, two bottles each."

    Rhett paused, then turned his gaze to the trainee knights. "The remaining three bottles will be distributed among the trainees. I want you to choose the top three based on potential and performance and reward them ordingly."

    Tadal and Kurs were visibly pleased. Two bottles of <em>Boiling Potion</em> were worth 100 gold coins¡ªan amount that would have taken them a long time to save up. Shirin, although slightly better off than the other two, still considered the potion a valuable resource.

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett!" The three epted the potions with gratitude.

    After some thought, Tadal suggested, "If we¡¯re evaluating based on potential and performance, Laurence should be first. With his talent, bing an apprentice knight at fourteen, he¡¯ll definitely reach first-level knight status before twenty. Willow could be second; his talent is just slightly behind Laurence¡¯s. But the third spot is harder to decide... I¡¯ll need to observe a bit more."

    "A fourteen-year-old apprentice knight? That¡¯s impressive!" Shirin thought, recalling that she had reached that level at a simr age.

    After finishing his business at the training ground, Rhett returned to the castle. As he entered, still holding his umbre, he heard Svetta scolding someone.

    "Sharl, I¡¯ve told you several times¡ªbe thorough and careful in your work. Last month, I praised your good performance, and now you¡¯ve made a mistake."

    A puddle of dark red liquid spread across the floor, and the seventeen-year-old servant boy being scolded by Svetta quietly cleaned up the broken ss.

    "Oh, you¡¯re back, sir," Svetta said, noticing Rhett and hurrying over.

    Catching the faint scent of wine in the air, Rhett nced at Sharl but said nothing. He left the specifics to those in charge. Svetta managed the castle¡¯s day-to-day affairs, and Rhett''s involvement wouldn¡¯t necessarily help.

    "Did you check with Coudine earlier?" Rhett asked as he sat at the dining table, leaning back in his chair.

    "Yes, sir. Coudine confirmed that they¡¯ll start construction as soon as the rain stops," Svetta replied, pouring a cup of hot tea for Rhett. "I also sent a few servants to the stables with some food."

    "I¡¯ve alsopiled a list of the new arrivals. Here it is for you to review," Svetta said, handing over a folded list from his pocket.

    "You¡¯ve done well, Svetta," Rhett praised as he quickly scanned the list. He hadn¡¯t remembered all the details about the new arrivals from Clearwater Town, but Svetta¡¯s thorough work spared him a lot of trouble.

    A quick nce at the list revealed that five of the skilled workers were cksmiths. Notably, two of them were also apprentice knights, which would significantly improve their forging efficiency. In addition to ordinary iron ore, they now had the capability to work with more advanced materials.

    Although Fire Rune Ore wasn¡¯t of particrly high quality and could be forged by ordinary cksmiths, the speed and quality of work couldn¡¯tpare to that of apprentice knights.

    Apart from the cksmiths, there were also nine tailors and four brewers among the new arrivals. Although valuable, they weren¡¯t as immediately useful to Rhett as the cksmiths were.

    After a moment of thought, Rhett said, "Svetta, I have some new assignments."

    "Yes, sir."

    "As for the brewers, assign two of them to the castle. We don¡¯t currently have our own brewers, so the wine and beer we consume are all purchased from elsewhere. With our own brewers, we can save on those costs. The other two can open a small tavern in town to add some variety to the townspeople¡¯s lives."

    "Understood, sir. I¡¯ll inform them right away."

 Chapter 92: The Maturation of the Ice Crystal Seeds

    "The tailors will all be assigned to the town. The sewing skills of the maids in the castle are already quite good, especially Debbie¡¯s craftsmanship. I''ve seen the clothes she has sewn and repaired, and they are very exquisite. We don''t need to add any extra staff," Rhett said with a smile. He recalled that the pelt of a third-level magic beast he had brought back from the Dark Vein Eagle''s branch had been processed and sewn into a nket by Debbie, and Taylors had praised it highly.

    "Haha, I will pass on yourpliment to the maids. I''m sure they will be very pleased to hear it!" Svetta smiled.

    With no pressing matters for the rest of the day, Rhett spent his time in magical training and meditation. The journey to bing an Archmage might still be far off, but he knew that if he didn¡¯t cherish every spare moment, he would never reach that goal.

    Three dayster, the Eagle Town convoy arrived in Darm Town.

    The midday sun was shining brightly. Upon hearing from the butler Perro that Baron Rhett had arrived, Sir Gale hurried from the war castle to the manor gate, where he had been waiting for some time.

    "Sir Gale, long time no see!" Rhett said warmly as he climbed out of the carriage and walked over.

    "Sir Rhett, you¡¯re finally here!" Gale gave him a big hug, ncing at Ry, who stood behind Rhett. "I suppose... ''you'' have some special business today!" He emphasized the word "you" with a knowing tone.

    Rhett chuckled, "Yes, just as you guessed, I¡¯m here about Ry and Kreena''s marriage. I rememberst time you mentioned that fate had brought us together. I now believe it¡ªthere seems to be an invisible thread of destiny pulling us closer."

    "Hmm, that¡¯s a fitting analogy," Gale mused. He hadn¡¯t expected that what once seemed like a polite remark would turn into reality."Sir Gale, it¡¯s good to see you," Ry, dressed in a blue suit, stepped forward and greeted him politely.

    "Ry, you¡¯re a good man, keeping your promise anding to propose! But I hope you remember what you told me¡ªyou¡¯ll always cherish Kreena," Gale said, patting Ry''s shoulder with a look of approval.

    Back in early April, when Ry had visited, the two had had an honest and heartfelt conversation. Ry''s sincere demeanor, heartfelt words, and solemn promises had deeply moved Gale, convincing him that Ry was a responsible man. He believed that his only daughter, Kreena, would find happiness with Ry.

    "Never will I forget," Ry vowed solemnly, cing his right hand over his heart.

    At that moment, knights under Rhett''s direction began bringing several chests forward from the back of the convoy.

    "Sir Gale, these are some betrothal gifts I¡¯ve brought. Please ept them," Rhett said, pointing to the chests on the ground. "They include 200 gold coins, a kilogram of gemstones and crystals, and two books of low-levelbat techniques."

    "Is there no seafood from Sun Lake?" Sir Gale raised an eyebrow, showing little interest in the betrothal gifts. To him, they were just a formality. Marriage was not a tool for amassing wealth; he was more concerned about whether the couple was truly in love and suited for each other.

    Moreover, in the Kingdom of Jinlun, there was no tradition of exorbitant betrothal gifts. After all, the purpose of such gifts and dowries was to ensure the couple''s future happiness, and most nobles didn¡¯t worry about basic necessities. When selecting a spouse, they focused more on talent, strength, and family background.

    "Of course, I didn¡¯t forget. I brought plenty of Sun Lake seafood this time!" Rhett pped his hands, and a retainer brought forward a crate with holes for venttion.

    "Wonderful!" Gale''s face lit up with a satisfied smile. "In that case, let¡¯s have a seafood feast for lunch!"

    "As you wish!" Rhett agreed with a smile.

    The two men continued chatting as they walked toward the war castle. They passed through the estate''s golden-red sea of flowers, which shone brightly under the summer sun''s rays.

    Ry followed quietly behind, suddenly noticing a figure standing by a third-floor window of the war castle, waving at him with a smile. His eyes lit up, and he almost called out "Kreena," but realizing it wasn¡¯t the right moment, he simply exchanged a loving nce and waved back gently.

    In the first-floor hall of the war castle, a graceful woman in a purple dress was preparing tea at the dining table. When the castle doors opened, a beam of light stretched across the room, illuminating the table. The woman turned around and greeted them warmly with a smile, "Sir Rhett, please, have a seat."

    Gale walked over to the woman in the purple dress, took her hand, and introduced her to Rhett, "This is my wife, Carol Yabor. Last time you visited Darm Town, she was away visiting a friend in Autumn Mountain Town."

    Looking at Carol''s deep blue hair, it was clear that Kreena had inherited her mother''s hair color.

    Rhett greeted her politely, "It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Carol."

    Ry also stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "I¡¯m honored to meet you, Lady Carol."

    "Oh, Ry, my future son-inw. Kreena is upstairs waiting for you," Carol said with a smile, clearly pleased with Ry. "Go ahead. Meeting her will be much more meaningful than chatting with us!"

    Upon hearing this, Ry restrained his excitement and obediently headed up the stairs.

    Rhett, meanwhile, sat down with Sir Gale and Lady Carol to discuss the details of the wedding.

    A few minutester, maids dressed in ck and white uniforms brought out tes of desserts. The sweet aroma filled the air, lifting Rhett''s spirits. But when he saw a piece of cheese that was white with a hint of red, mixed with maple syrup, he paused.

    He picked up the cheese and took a small bite from the tip. Indeed, it was mixed with red maple syrup!

    At that moment, Gale looked directly at Rhett and asked, "Sir Rhett,st month, Roy from Maple Town visited me and mentioned that you had broken through to be a third-level mage and had even saved his life?"

    cing the cheese on his te, Rhett, who had already anticipated this conversation, openly replied, "Yes, that¡¯s true. After assisting you with the Firefeather Eaglest time, it wasn¡¯t long before I made the breakthrough."

    Gale and Carol exchanged a nce. Though they had already heard the news, hearing it confirmed by Rhett himself still left them in awe.

    "Remarkable, Sir Rhett. I raise my cup to you!" Gale lifted a cup of hot tea in a toast.

    "Just good fortune. I believe Sir Gale will also step into the ranks of the third-level knights soon enough!" Rhett clinked his cup against Gale''s and drank.

    Half an hourter, the dining table was filled with a sumptuous meal. Ry and Kreena descended the stairs side by side.

    "Ry, Kreena, we discussed it earlier and decided to set your wedding date for the 6th of next month. Is that... agreeable?" Gale asked as he poured red wine.

    By this time, the couple had already moved past the initial shyness of being together and were fullymitted to each other. They exchanged a nce and smiled sweetly.

    "I¡¯m fine with it," Ry replied with a smile.

    "I have no objections," Kreena added.

    With both sides in agreement and the families satisfied, the wedding ns were quickly finalized.

    After a seafood feast for lunch, all the details of Ry and Kreena''s wedding were settled. Rhett didn¡¯t linger long in Darm Town and, in the afternoon, excused himself, citing the need to prepare for the wedding, and left with Ry.

    On the way back, as they passed through a lush green forest, Rhett looked up at the greenery above and recalled Gale mentioning earlier that his wife Carol had been visiting a friend in Autumn Mountain Town.

    "Autumn Mountain? Visiting a friend? Stayed for some time?" Rhett pondered, thinking it was probably just a coincidence. But then again, you never know.

    He didn¡¯t mind running a simtion next time to help his inws investigate, just to be sure. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t waste his destiny points solely on this matter. Rhett hadn¡¯t forgotten that the year was already halfway through, and early next year, another beast tide would erupt.

    To Rhett, this meant a significant amount of destiny points¡ªtoo valuable to leave unimed.

    He nned to go hunting in the Dark Vein Eagle¡¯s territory again in the second half of the year. And before the hunt, a simtion would be essential.

    But with many tasks still pending, running a simtion now would be wasteful. Therefore, he decided to wait until he was closer to the hunt to use the simtion to gain foresight.

    Perhaps then, he might help Gale check the color of his hat...

    On June 1st.

    Summer was waning, and the scorching heat was starting to fade. The cicadas'' cries in the back garden were less enthusiastic, and the air carried a hint of coolness.

    Rhett stood by the pool in the magic nt cultivation field, his hand behind his back, pondering aloud, "Ry, summer is almost over. Aren''t you going to make some ice cream for your father?"

    Ry, dressed in a blue windbreaker¡ªhe had grown fond of the color blue since getting together with Kreena¡ªbrushed his blond hair aside and said apologetically, "I¡¯m sorry, Father. I¡¯ve neglected you..."

    "I¡¯ll make it for you right now! But wait... I can¡¯t. There¡¯s no jam, and without it, you won¡¯t be able to taste the best vor." Ry frowned slightly, then added, "Father, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll go get some!"

    "No need for jam. The pure vor will do," Rhett replied, shaking his head.

    "Understood, Father!"

    While Ry concentrated on creating the ice cream, Rhett jumped into the pool to harvest the seeds from the frost sunflower.

    The frost sunflower bore a resemnce to a sunflower in appearance. But unlike a sunflower, there was no need to remove the flower head. By gently manipting the water element, Rhett could easily release the matured ice crystal seeds.

    He took out a mesh bag that could filter water and carefully ced all the seeds inside. Then, Rhett found a blue crystal-like object hidden deep within the flower''s core, faintly glowing.

    Rhett¡¯s face lit up with joy!

    He knew this was the frost sunflower¡¯s seed. Each frost sunflower only produced one new seed, which was normal for a high-level magic nt.

    Rather than feeling disappointed, Rhett carefully dug eight small holes in the bottom of the pool and nted the eight crystal-like seeds.

    The workload wasn¡¯t much, but the harvest was substantial!

    A few minutester, a wet Rhett surfaced and saw Ry standing on the shore, holding an ice cream.

    "Father, this is the ice cream I made especially for you. I¡¯ve named it ''Eaglet!''"

    While drying his clothes with fire magic, Rhett looked curiously at the small eagle covered in ice crystals that Ry was holding. Though it was only the size of his palm, the eagle¡¯s head was raised proudly, and its wings were spread wide, ready to soar.

    Rhett''s eyes lit up in admiration. "Impressive! This little eagle is so lifelike. I didn¡¯t know you had such a talent for art, Ry!"

    As he cradled the ice crystal eagle in his hand, Rhett marveled at the finely detailed feathers. Even the expression conveyed a fierce spirit.

    "You''re too kind, Father. I just practice it as a hobby," Ry replied modestly.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett¡¯s admiration didn¡¯t fade. Reflecting on the years he had spent away from the estate, he realized he hadn¡¯t fully understood his children. He had no idea Ry had such an impressive talent for sculpture, and it seemed his painting skills were also quite good.

    He resolved to pay more attention to his children in the future!

    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and with a gleam in his eye, he asked, "Ry, have you noticed any significant improvement in your mental strength while practicing sculpture?"

    "Huh? Why do you ask that, Father?" Ry was puzzled. "Is there some special connection between sculpture and mental strength?"

    "Uh, never mind. Just curious. Don¡¯t worry about it," Rhett thought to himself. It seems the techniques from <em>Coiling Dragon</em> don¡¯t apply here...

    Facing such a delicate creation, Rhett hesitated to eat it. But knowing it would melt if left uneaten, he finally enjoyed the ice cream, letting it merge with him.

 Chapter 93: The Second Phase of Magical Training

    The cool sensation of the ice cream made Rhett feel invigorated and refreshed. As he savored it, he recalled that ording to his previous simtions, the capture of the remaining members of the evil alchemy organization had already beenpleted, and the interrogation results should be avable by now. In another month, Lord Ambiru, the deputymander of the canyon defense line, would being to conduct his ennoblement ceremony.

    Thinking about this brought a wave of contentment to Rhett, and a smile crept onto his face. He then remembered that Ry¡¯s wedding was set for the 6th of this month. Since they had just returned to the territory today, there were only five days left to prepare for the event, so they needed to get to work quickly.

    After finishing the harvest and nting of the frost sunflower seeds, Rhett took Ry back to the main castle.

    Svetta was in the first-floor hallway, watering the potted nts by the windows. He was holding a red watering can and humming a cheerful tune. The lord''s return had put him in a good mood.

    "The sweltering summer is finallying to an end, and I won¡¯t need to take a bath every night because of all the sweat," Svetta mused. "The cool autumn is right around the corner. Soon, I¡¯ll be able to pick wild okra and berries. But this year, I won¡¯t let Sharl handle it. Last year, I trusted him too much, and he didn¡¯t even notice when one of the okra blossoms was smeared with dog dung!"

    "Hey, Svetta, I¡¯m d to find you here. I need your help with something important," Rhett said as he walked into the main castle, looking around until he spotted Svetta in his ck coat.

    Svetta snapped out of his thoughts, quickly put the watering can down against the wall, and hurried over to Rhett with a respectful expression. "Yes, my lord, please give your orders."

    "It¡¯s a joyous asion," Rhett said with a broad smile as he patted Ry on the shoulder. "While we were in Darm Town, Ry¡¯s marriage to Lady Kreena was finalized. The wedding is set for the 6th of this month. So, with only five days left, I want the manor and the castle to be decorated and prepared for the wedding."

    "That¡¯s wonderful news! Congrattions, Master Ry! I wish you a happy marriage!" Svetta offered his sincere congrattions."Thank you, Mr. Svetta!" Ry replied with gratitude.

    Svetta smiled and nodded before asking, "Do you have any specific ideas for the wedding decorations, my lord? We¡¯ll arrange everything ording to your wishes."

    "No need to ask me," Rhett said, shaking his head as he looked at his second son. "Ry should decide. It¡¯s his wedding, after all."

    Ry didn¡¯t hesitate. He thoughtfully stroked his chin, then said, "I¡¯d like the hallway on the first floor to be covered with flower petals. On the wedding day, I want the chandeliers to emit a blue glow. As for the rest of the decorations, I have no special requirements. The same general setup used for my brother''s wedding will do."

    "I see..." Rhett considered the idea for a moment. "Flowers are easy enough; we have plenty in the manor. To make the chandeliers emit a blue glow, we could use sapphirempshades..."

    Before Rhett could finish, Ry chimed in, "I¡¯ll take care of carving the sapphirempshades myself. It¡¯ll make the asion more meaningful."

    "That¡¯s a great idea! You have ess to the gems in the warehouse," Rhett agreed. After seeing Ry¡¯s impressive carving skills in the magic nt cultivation field, he felt confident that no one else was needed for the job.

    The three of them made their way to the first-floor hall.

    "I want the castle thoroughly cleaned every day over the next few days. If there are any damaged or worn-out chairs or tables, have Coudin make new ones immediately. I don¡¯t want any mishaps on the wedding day," Rhett instructed, ncing around at every corner.

    "Understood, my lord. I will ensure that everything is meticulously taken care of and that Master Ry¡¯s wedding goes off without a hitch."

    "Ry, where has Whitefur beentely? I haven¡¯t seen him since I returned," Rhett asked.

    "He likes to y in the thorny forest. Ever since I took him there three months ago, he¡¯s beenpletely enamored with the ce!" Ry replied with a hint of helplessness as he mentioned Whitefur.@@novelbin@@

    "Ah, that makes sense. The Windstripe Tiger is a wild and energetic magical beast. Before it breaks through to the next level, hunting ordinary wild animals will only help its growth. Let it be!" As Rhett spoke, he thought of his Firefeather Eagle, which he had been feeding fire essence for some time. Even while away from the territory, he had his son continue the feeding. ording to his calctions, it was due to hatch in about six months.

    After roughly nning the wedding decorations, Rhett and Ry shared a cup of tea in the castle.

    During this time, Ry requested to assess his training progress and begin the next phase of his magical training, which Rhett was happy to oblige.

    The father and son headed to the training grounds.

    "Ry, let¡¯s see how much you¡¯ve improved over the past few months. Show me your spellcasting skills!" Rhett said as he conjured two stones.

    Ry''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. Reflecting on the results of his rigorous training over the past few months, he felt quite confident!

    "I¡¯m ready, Father!"

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Rhett withdrew his fingers from between the two stones and pushed them together by half a centimeter.

    "The usual rule applies: your water arrow must pass between the two stones without leaving a single mark. If you can do it multiple times without any mistakes, I¡¯ll approve your advancement to the next phase of magical training!"

    "Deal!" Ry said eagerly. He focused his mental energy and quickly formed a water arrow, aiming it at a slightly downward angle in front of him.

    With a "whoosh," the water arrow shot through the center of the stones.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up. From the trajectory alone, he could tell that it was a wless shot¡ªno chance of failure!

    When he approached to inspect the stones, sure enough, there wasn¡¯t a single scratch on them.

    Giving Ry a thumbs-up, Rhett encouraged him, "Well done! Now, do it three more times. If you seed every time, you¡¯ll have met the standard!"

    Ry nodded seriously and focused on the two stones. He repeated the process,unching three more water arrows in quick session.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    All three arrows flew cleanly through the stones, and Rhett smiled. Just from watching the trajectory, he could tell they were perfect.

    Ry passed the test!

    Ry excitedly rushed over to inspect the stones himself and, seeing no marks, he eximed, "Father, I did it! I met your requirements!"

    "Haha, well done! Keep up the momentum!" Rhett praised. "Since you¡¯ve passed, we can move on to the second phase of training!"

    "Please go ahead, Father," Ry said, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

    Rhett began to exin, "Before we start, it¡¯s important to understand that with the water arrow spell, the casting point is fixed, but the target¡¯s position often changes. Hitting a stationary target is just the most basic requirement. In actualbat, most enemies will be moving, so the next phase of training will focus on improving your uracy against moving targets."

    "You could call it moving target practice," Rhett said, casually tossing a stone in his hand. "From now on, when you practice this, make sure someone helps you by tossing the stones."

    "I understand, Father," Ry said, raising an eyebrow with confidence. "But for me, hitting a moving target isn¡¯t a big deal. Before you came back, I practiced on my own... and I hit the target every time."

    "Oh? Really?" Rhett''s face took on a mischievous smile. "Last time, I told you that a true master always maintains the heart of an apprentice. It seems you haven¡¯t fully grasped that concept yet..."

    Hearing this, Ry¡¯s expression turned serious. He realized that this might be more challenging than he had initially thought.

    In response to Ry''s puzzled look, Rhett manipted the stone with his mental energy, creating a small hole in the center. The hole was only slightlyrger than the diameter of a water arrow.

    Seeing this, Ry¡¯s pupils contracted. He connected the dots from his father¡¯s words about moving target practice, and a sense of unease grew in his heart.

    "Could it be... that I have to shoot through that moving hole?!"

    "Come on, my son. I¡¯m going to toss this stone high into the air, and you¡¯ll need to adjust your position, spellcasting angle, and predict the stone¡¯s trajectory as it flips and moves. Your goal is to shoot the water arrow through the hole!"

    "Now, can you still hit the target every time?"

    Ry was dumbfounded. He gulped, wanting to say, "This is too hard! Forget hitting it every time¡ªI might not even hit it once!"

    But finally, he took a deep breath, recalling his father¡¯s words: "Nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it." Resolute, he said, "Let¡¯s do it, Father. I want to try!"

    "Good. Believe in yourself¡ªtaking that first step means you¡¯re already halfway to sess!" Rhett encouraged him before tossing the stone over ten meters into the air.

    Ry¡¯s expression became intense as he tracked the stone¡¯s trajectory with his head, eyes locking onto the hole. But just finding the hole wasn¡¯t enough¡ªhe needed to find the perfect path and predict the stone¡¯s spin and movement, then get into position and fire the water arrow through the ever-changing opening.

    Every step was a challenge! Stringing them together into a wless execution was even more difficult!

    Ry felt his head spin. After taking a few steps, just as he thought he had a shot, the stone had already hit the ground.

    The practical difficulty was far beyond anything Ry had anticipated.

    "Ugh..." Ry let out a long sigh, staring at the stone on the ground with a sense of defeat.

    Compared to this moving target practice, the fixed target training seemed like child¡¯s y.

    "Don¡¯t forget, you can use wind elements to increase your movement speed," Rhett reminded him.

    "Of course!" Ry¡¯s eyes lit up with realization. He adjusted his stance and gritted his teeth, saying, "Let¡¯s try again, Father!"

    By this time, Rhett had conjured over a dozen stones with holes in them. He picked one up and tossed it into the air.

    This time, with wind elements swirling around him, Ry¡¯s movements were quicker. But still, the stonended on the ground unscathed.

    In the constantly shifting trajectories, finding the perfect path and reacting in time to it had blocked his way.

    "Again!"

    Failure.

    "Again!"

    Failure.

    ¡­

    The entire afternoon, Ry spent in a cycle of failure and recovery,pletely worn down by the small stones.

    Rhett had piled up nearly two meters of practice stones by then.

    As he watched Ry sitting on the ground, meditating to recover his mental strength, Rhett felt a sense of pride. Failure wasn¡¯t something to fear; what was truly terrifying was shrinking back from challenges.

    "I¡¯ve prepared enough practice stones here for about three days. I¡¯ll keep adding more as needed," Rhett said.

    "Thank you, Father!" Ry opened his eyes, showing signs of exhaustion.

    Though meditation could restore his mental strength, maintaining such intense concentration for an entire afternoon had drained his energy.

    "Are you tired?" Rhett asked.

    Ry remained silent for a few seconds, then replied, "I am, but I¡¯ll keep going!"

    "Good. Failure is the mother of sess. Every time you fail, you¡¯re gaining experience for that final sess. Your job is to keep your determination intact and push through to the end!"

    "I will!" Ry¡¯s face showed resolve. Then, after a pause, he asked, "Father, can I ask you a question?"

    "Oh? What is it?" Rhett asked with interest as he sat down beside him.

    "When you were training in magic, aside from the improvements you made in battle, how did others help you practice?"

    Rhett thought for a moment, organizing his words before replying, "I¡¯m an earth-element mage, so it wasn¡¯t too difficult. I¡¯d have a knight hold a stick or a wooden board, mark a point on it, and have them move it around randomly. My job was to hit that point with a spell. It was a crude method.

    "Or in the fall, I¡¯d kick a tree and use an earth spike to pierce as many falling leaves as possible. In winter, I¡¯d aim at snowkes. In spring and summer, I¡¯d target insects...

    "In short, there are countless methods. What hinders a person¡¯s growth isn¡¯t usually external conditions, but their determination and perseverance." Rhett gazed at the clouds, lost in thought.

    "That makes sense," Ry nodded, feeling that his fatigue had lightened somewhat.

    Talking about the battlefield had stirred something in Ry¡¯s mind. Curiously, he asked, "Father, what happened to therades who helped you train back then?"

    Hearing this, Rhett fell silent for a moment before replying, "Actually, for the first few years, I did haverades helping me. But as they fell in battle one by one, I¡¯d make new friends, get close to them, and have them help me train... only for them to die as well. Eventually, I didn¡¯t want to repeat that process anymore, so I found other ways."

    "I¡¯m sorry... I shouldn¡¯t have brought up painful memories," Ry apologized. After a moment of reflection, he changed the subject. "Father, is there a third phase of magical training? If so, what does it involve?"

 Chapter 94: The Busy Day at Deep Rock Castle

    "Of course, there is. As I¡¯ve said before, the pursuit of spellcasting proficiency never ends. But as for the next phase, I can''t reveal it to you just yet," Rhett said as he stood up.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll work hard and strive to learn it as soon as possible," Ry replied, a bit disappointed.

    "Keep it up! I believe in you!"

    After a brief chat between father and son, Tuck, Tadel, and Kurs came in from outside the training grounds.

    Tadel and Kurs, who had been joking around moments before, quickly adopted a respectful demeanor upon seeing Rhett. "Good afternoon, my lord!" they greeted in unison.

    Tuck grinned broadly and said, "Father, now that we¡¯ve all mastered the first level of Phantom Retrace, I¡¯m nning to spar with these two!"

    "Sparring is always a good idea," Rhett said with a smile. "I hope you all make some progress!"

    "Not only will we spar with Young Master Tuck, but Tadel and I will also have our own match to settle things once and for all," Kurs added, giving Tadel a challenging look. "I suspect Tadel must enjoy losing. He lost to mest time, and today, he wants to experience it again!"

    "Tadel blushed slightly and shot back, ''Last time, I lost by half a point because I had a stomach ache. This time, you better be prepared to lose and pick up your teeth from the ground!''""Oh, please! Are you really using a stomach ache as an excuse?" Kurs exaggerated his reaction. "I suggest you go to the bathroom now, just in case you lose again and need another excuse!"

    "That won¡¯t happen!" Tadel responded, his face turning even redder.

    "It definitely could!"

    Watching the two bicker like old friends, Rhett chuckled silently and slipped out of the room.

    Tuck called after him, "Father, aren¡¯t you going to watch my amazing performance?"

    "If you win, you can tell me all about it at dinner. If you lose, I¡¯ll be too embarrassed to hear it!" Rhett''s voice echoed back, leaving Tuck muttering to himself, "Hmph, Father doesn¡¯t believe in me. How could I possibly lose?"

    Turning to Ry, who was still standing there, Tuck''s eyes lit up. He threw an arm around his brother¡¯s shoulders and said, "At least you understand me, Ry. Come on, let¡¯s go see me in action!"

    Ry hesitated for a moment but then nodded and followed along. He was also curious to see what a duel between knights using Phantom Retrace would look like.

    Since the deepest part of the training grounds was upied by Frano and Laurin teaching archery, the three of them chose an open spot in the middle area.

    Tuck, holding his sword and shield, shed them together with a sharp, metallic sound.

    "Which of you two wants to go first?"

    Tadel thought for a moment before responding, "Young Master Tuck, why don¡¯t Kurs and I settle our score first? Then, the winner can spar with you."

    "Sounds good," Tuck agreed, tapping his sword against his shield three times to urge them on. "Hurry up and get started!"

    Kurs grinned as he turned to his long-time partner. "Tadel, are you ready to lose to me again?"

    Tadel gripped his sword tightly and taunted, "Come on, Kurs, let¡¯s see you try!"

    The two exchanged some trash talk, but the next moment, their eyes sharpened, and they charged at each other!

    ng!

    Their swords shed, sending sparks flying as they collided like two meteors.

    Both of them gripped their swords with both hands, their auras of battle energy intertwining as they locked gazes through the glow.

    Though it wasn¡¯t a fight to the death, they knew each other too well and understood that losing would mean enduring taunts for days. So they both gave it their all!

    Tadel and Kurs¡¯s faces turned red, their arms bulging with veins from the strain.

    But after a tense standoff thatsted several seconds, neither could overpower the other.

    Finally, they both broke away, steadied themselves, and charged again.

    ng! ng! ng!

    The sound of their swords and shields colliding echoed through the air. During the fierce exchange, Tadel suddenly shed red and appeared behind Kurs.

    But Kurs only smirked, as if expecting this. He used Phantom Retrace himself, the red light flickering as he reappeared behind Tadel. "I knew you¡¯d try to get behind me! Give up!"

    As he spoke, he thrust his sword straight at Tadel¡¯s back.

    Of course, Kurs was ready to pull back if Tadel didn¡¯t react in time.

    But then Tadel¡¯s voice rang out. "You talk too much. Don¡¯t you know that makes you more likely to lose?"

    In the next moment, Kurs blinked in surprise as Tadel vanished from sight, leaving Kurs¡¯s sword to strike empty air!

    Sensing danger, Kurs turned around, but not before Tadel¡¯s shield mmed into him, sending a gust of wind rippling through the air.

    At thest moment, Kurs dodged backward, avoiding the blow.

    The two knights, using Phantom Retrace,unched several attacks and dodges in rapid session!

    Ry, watching from the side, could barely keep up with the action. The speed they disyed was rare even among first-level knights, making the duel all the more thrilling!

    "You sneaky bastard! All you do is ambush me!" Tadel spat.

    Kurs shot back, "Look who''s talking! You ambushed me first!"

    Without wasting any more words, he charged at Tadel again.

    ...

    Half an hourter.

    The duel was winding down. The two knights stood ten meters apart, panting heavily, each staring at the other with defiance in their eyes.

    "Come on, Tadel!" Kurs taunted, beckoning him forward.

    "Youe here! I¡¯ll be waiting!" Tadel retorted.

    Both of them were exhausted, and whoever attacked first would likely end up at a disadvantage. They knew it and waited for the other to make the first move.

    "If you need to go to the bathroom, Tadel, just surrender, and I¡¯ll let you go," Kurs teased with a smile.

    "If you¡¯re dreaming, Kurs, I¡¯ll p you awake," Tadel shot back, using his sword to prop himself up as he tried to conserve energy.

    Seeing the two of them too tired to fight, Tuck grumbled, "Hey, are you two going to finish this or not? You¡¯re both too worn out to fight me, and that wouldn¡¯t be any fun!"

    With a sigh, Tuck nced at the setting sun, his eyes twinkling with an idea. He quickly said, "You two keep fighting. Whoever wins can spar with me next time. I¡¯m done for today!" With that, he dashed out of the training grounds.

    Ry, puzzled, stroked his chin and followed after him, wondering what Tuck had in mind after seeing the sunset.

    "Father, where¡¯s that mirror? I¡¯m ready to learn the second level of Phantom Retrace!" Tuck burst into the fifth floor of Deep Rock Castle, his loud voice echoing through the halls.

    "Father?" he called out again when no one responded.

    "Stop shouting! Your father¡¯s not deaf!" Rhett emerged from a hallway, giving Tuck an exasperated look. "No matter how many times I tell you, you can¡¯t seem to lower your voice. I¡¯m really worried that my grandson, Dick, will go deaf from your yelling!"

    Tuck scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Hehe, Father, Ry didn¡¯t copy down the second level of Phantom Retrace before. But I¡¯ve already mastered the first level, and now, with the sun just right, it¡¯s the perfect time to learn the second level!"

    "Alright, just give me a moment."

    Though Rhett couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Tuck¡¯s enthusiasm, he was pleased with his eldest son¡¯s boundless energy and determination.

    He headed to his room and soon returned with the mirror, setting it ten meters away on the carpet near the window.

    In an instant, the familiar scene appeared again.

    Red light reflected off the ceiling, revealing a dense array of text and diagrams.

    Ry, sitting by the firece, quickly grabbed a pen and started copying it down.

    Tuck, on the other hand, stood motionless, focusing intently on the mirror.

    As the text and images imprinted themselves in his mind, Tuck¡¯s entire body tensed up. Studying the second level¡¯s content, he soon realized it was more challenging than the first.@@novelbin@@

    Unlikest time, when he could quickly start practicing, he now stood still for a long while.

    Sitting in his soft chair, Rhett watched as Tuck¡¯s thick eyebrows furrowed, his feet shifting as if he was about to move but then hesitating.

    This internal struggle continued for half an hour.

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room into shadows, beads of sweat formed on Tuck¡¯s broad forehead. His eyes seemed zed over, and he gasped, "This... is too hard... way too hard..."

    Ry, having just closed his notebook after copying the dense diagrams and text¡ªa task only he could handle due to his decent drawing skills¡ªwalked over to Tuck and patted his shoulder. "Come on, sit down and take a break."

    "Ugh." Tuck sat down with a heavy sigh.

    Once he¡¯d calmed down, Rhett asked, "Judging by your reaction, the second level seems much more difficult?"

    "Yeah!" Tuck replied, his eyes serious. "The difficulty has increased by several levels! The energy flow is far moreplex than in the first level, and the technique itself requires apletely different method. I¡¯ve only grasped a small part of it, and I¡¯m still miles away from fully mastering it."

    "And its effects?" Ry asked curiously.

    "The second level... seems to allow you to ce a technique mark anywhere you want," Tuck exined thoughtfully. "But there are many limitations, and since I haven¡¯t finished reading it all, I can¡¯t say for sure what they are."

    "One thing¡¯s clear, though¡ªonce you master the second level, it¡¯s way more powerful than the first!" Tuck added confidently, thumping his chest.

    "That sounds promising!" Rhett mused, tapping his fingers on the table. "If what you¡¯re saying is true and you can ce a technique mark anywhere, that wouldpletely eliminate the limitation of having to follow the same path. The implications for realbat are huge!"

    Ry nodded in agreement, recalling the frequent use of Phantom Retrace in Tadel and Kurs¡¯s sparring match that afternoon.

    He thought to himself, "If there really are no restrictions, this technique would be incredibly powerful."

    Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

    On the morning of June 6th.

    As dawn broke, Deep Rock Castle was a hive of activity.

    Stewart, the butler, was rushing around, making sure everything was in order.

    "Leo, Be, hurry up and spread these flower petals along the left corridor," Stewart instructed the young servants, handing them baskets filled with colorful petals. "Remember to spread them evenly. Start at the far end, where it connects to the other part of the castle, and work your way back. And don¡¯t step on the petals!"

    Leo and Be, who had just finished unloading two crates of wine, took the baskets from Stewart with a serious nod. "Got it, Mr. Stewart," they said as they hurried down the corridor.

    "Slow down, don¡¯t spill the petals!" Stewart called after them, his anxiety showing as he headed toward the kitchen. "Ms. Maru, I know today¡¯s tasks are overwhelming, so I assigned Bessa and Tinian to help you. But where are they?"

    "They went to ask Master Ry for some ice. I have a lot of ingredients here that need to be kept cold for a few hours," Maru replied, her back turned as she carefully took a stack of tes from a wall cab.

    Suddenly, Maru slipped, losing her bnce.

    As she braced herself for a crash, a pair of strong hands caught her from behind, steadying her.

    Maru managed to save the tes from falling, cing them down with a relieved sigh. "Oh, that was close!"

    "Thank you, Mr. Stewart!" Maru turned around with a grateful smile. "You haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, have you? I have some cheese here, why not have a bite?"

    "No need. Just be careful," Stewart replied, already mentally moving on to his next task. He nodded a quick goodbye and headed to the hall, where he oversaw the arrangement of decorations on the dining table, ensuring everything was perfect before giving a satisfied nod.

    As he stepped outside, a gust of autumn wind blew off his hat.

    Startled, Stewart quickly jumped and caught the hat in mid-air, frowning at the few dark clouds overhead. "Oh, why can¡¯t the weather be a bit more cooperative? Today¡¯s supposed to be a day of celebration..."

    He walked over to where Rachel, one of the garden maids, was trimming the flowers. "Rachel, the wind¡¯s picking up today. Keep an eye on any fallen leaves or trash that might blow in."

    Rachel, her bright eyes shining, turned and replied, "Got it, Mr. Stewart!"

    The sound of rolling wheels caught Stewart¡¯s attention.

    A horse-drawn cart rolled into the estate, and George pulled the reins to a stop.

    Immediately, six attendants began unloading crates of milk, moving swiftly and efficiently toward the castle.

    "Ellie, you really should rest. Let the others handle the milk deliveries," Stewart noticed one of the shorter attendants, easily recognizable even with her cropped hair.

    Ellie smiled as she carried a milk bucket. "Mr. Stewart, I volunteered for this. Today¡¯s an important day for Master Ry, and I just had to be involved!"

    "Oh, what a thoughtful child," Stewart said with a warm smile.

 Chapter 95: The Strange Behavior of the Rainbow Shell

    After making his rounds through the estate, Stewart returned to the castle just in time to see Tuck''s tall frame climbing adder. His strong arms were carefully lifting a brilliant blue crystalmpshade to affix it to the chandelier. Seeing that both the lord and young masters were upied, Stewart quickly headed toward the kitchen.

    A few minutester, the sapphirempshades were securely in ce, covering the entire chandelier in the main hall.

    "Thank you, Tuck!" Ry said with a smile, hands on his hips.

    "Don¡¯t mention it. But I must say, thesempshades look quite exquisite," Tuck replied, gazing up at the chandelier. Thempshades were etched with several delicate patterns resembling the figures of women.

    "They do look rather intricate. I''m curious to see the effect," Taylors added from the side. "Ry, can you show us now?"

    Ry smiled mysteriously and shook his head. "That¡¯s a surprise I¡¯ve prepared for Crina. You¡¯ll all have to wait untilter."

    At that moment, Stewart emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of snacks and dried meat. "Since we can¡¯t have a proper meal today, I figured everyone must be hungry. Here are some freshly made fruit cheese and jerky from Maru."

    "Oh, you¡¯re always so thoughtful, Mr. Stewart!" Rhett said as he picked up a piece of cheese. He had a particr fondness for sweets, perhaps because they always seemed to put him in a better mood.

    Tuck grabbed a handful of jerky, eagerly stuffing pieces into his mouth. Finding it wasn¡¯t enough, he reached for another handful."Tuck, don¡¯t stick your saliva-covered fingers back in there! You¡¯re getting the other jerky all wet!" Taylors said with a look of disgust, abandoning the meat and opting for the cheese instead.

    Each kingdom had its own customs, and in the Kingdom of Gillon, it was tradition that on the day of the wedding, aside from the wedding feast, neither family could eat a full meal.

    Rhett recalled reading about this custom in the biography of the kingdom''s first king, Mandes Gillon. During the fall of the ancient Dan Kingdom, Mandes had gathered an army in the chaos to resist the orcs. In one of thergest battles, the Battle of Purple Gold Ridge, Mandes was defeated and forced to flee into the deep mountains. While hiding, he developed feelings for his aide-de-camp, who wouldter be his queen.

    The biography exined that during this time, they had very little food left. To make their wedding meal morevish, they skipped breakfast and lunch. Surprisingly, despite being pursued by the orcs, they were never found and managed to survive against all odds.

    Mandes believed this to be a miracle, one he associated with their wedding. After founding the kingdom, this story spread widely, and many bards added their own embellishments, infusing it with a sense of mystery.

    This tradition evolved into a custom where, on the day of the wedding, no one could eat a full meal except at the feast. Additionally, weddings were meant to be intimate, with no guests beyond the two families. Over time, only the royal family strictly adhered to this tradition. For ordinary nobles, the rules had be more rxed¡ªeating small meals was allowed, and inviting guests outside the family was no longer forbidden. However, most weddings still followed the custom of only including the two families unless absolutely necessary.

    As Rhett reminisced, he realized that he hadn¡¯t invited Roy from Maplewood Town due to the tight schedule. "I guess Taylors and Mina¡¯s wedding will have to be postponed by a few days," he thought to himself. However, based on previous simtions, he knew that this dy wouldn¡¯t prevent the two from being together, so he wasn¡¯t too concerned.

    Just then, the head cook, Maru, emerged from the kitchen. "Master, if tonight¡¯s wedding feast requires seafood dishes, we should start catching some fish, shrimp, and crabs from Sr Lake now. I¡¯ll need time to remove the fishy smell."

    "Right! I almost forgot!" Tuck eximed, smacking his forehead. "I¡¯ll handle it; I¡¯ll be quicker!" He hurriedly headed toward the castle doors.

    "Hold on, Tuck. Your brain must still be half-asleep," Taylors called out, dissatisfied. "Are you nning to just head out like that? Even if you catch a lot, how many can you bring back with just two hands?"

    "I¡¯ming with you!" Taylors said, grabbing a few boxes from the kitchen as the two brothers hurried off.

    ...

    In the Kingdom of Gillon, wedding feasts were typically held in the evening.

    As night fell, the grand hall of Deep Rock Castle was bathed in a mesmerizing, oceanic glow. The sapphirempshades, polished by Ry to have hundreds of facets, sparkled wlessly. The lit chandelier made the entire hall resemble a world of blue crystal.

    The crystal faces, each subtly reflecting the image of a graceful woman, left the maids in awe. They stared wide-eyed, their voices hushed as they whispered excitedly about the spectacle.

    Creak...

    Therge doors of Deep Rock Castle slowly opened...

    Crina, looking radiant in her wedding attire, gracefully stepped into the hall. Her father, Gale, held her arm, surveying the hall with satisfaction at the dreamlike scene.

    Ry, dressed in a ck suit, stood under the brightest light, smiling warmly at Crina, who was walking toward him on the red carpet.

    His dream girl, Crina, was dressed in a white satin gown with colorful feathers hanging from the hem like fluttering birds. The neckline was adorned with delicate gold-threadedce, and her sleeves were trimmed with rich blue rose borders.

    Her beauty was so dazzling that everyone in the hall was captivated, unable to look away¡ªnot out of disrespect, but out of pure admiration.

    Ry was no exception.

    Every step Crina took held his gaze, as if she were a vortex drawing him in with an irresistible pull.

    It wasn¡¯t until she stood beside him, her enchanting fragrance filling his senses, that he finally snapped back to reality.

    Gale, his eyes filled with emotion, looked at Ry for a few seconds before nodding lightly and stepping down to join Rhett.

    "Look at them. They¡¯re finally together," Gale said, feeling both happy and a little reluctant.

    "They¡¯re a perfect match, don¡¯t you think?" Rhett replied with a smile.

    "My daughter, I wish you a lifetime of happiness," Crina¡¯s mother, Carol, said, her hands half-covering her tear-filled eyes.

    All eyes in the hall were on the couple standing in the center. Ry took Crina¡¯s hands, and they began their wedding vows.

    In the Kingdom of Gillon, the officiants at weddings were the bride and groom themselves. No third party was involved. The widely epted exnation for this was that marriage was a sacred and private matter between two people. As the first test of their union, the wedding should be something they face together without outside interference.

    Usually calm andposed, Ry was overwhelmed by the emotions brought on by the woman at his side. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice filled with tenderness:

    "On this special day, I am blessed to wee the most important guest of my life¡ªmy beautiful Crina.

    From the moment we met, fate has guided our hearts to grow closer.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    I am grateful for the time that brought us together, and I look forward to a future as beautiful as a painting, where we grow old together."

    Apuse erupted from the audience after the half-hour-long vow.

    Ry and Crina gazed at each other before bowing to the audience and stepping down from the stage.

    With that, the wedding feast officially began.

    In contrast to Earth, there was no round of toasts at this feast. After all, the only guests were family members, totaling fewer than ten people.

    Ry and Crina, as the stars of the day, had just taken their seats when Rhett raised his ss to toast them. "To Ry and Crina, may your marriage be filled with happiness."

    "Thank you, Father," they replied together, with Crina now addressing him as "Father" after joining the family.

    "Ry, I¡¯ll make a separate toast to you. I hope you¡¯ll always take good care of my daughter!" Carol''s tone held a trace of sorrow, which did not escape Gale¡¯s notice. He frowned in disapproval.

    Ry, flustered by the attention, leaned over to her. "It should be me toasting you, Mrs. Carol. Thank you for raising Crina with such love and care."

    "I¡¯m sure Ry will do his best, Carol. You don¡¯t have to worry!" Gale reassured her, backing Ry up.

    "If Crina ever feels wronged by Ry, I¡¯ll be the first to set him straight!" Rhett added firmly, as a father should.

    Carol nodded, smiling through her tears. "I believe in Ry. I wish you both happiness and hope you¡¯ll visit the castle often."

    "Mother, we certainly will!" Crina replied, moved by her mother¡¯s words.

    "I¡¯m confident that Ry and Crina will not only build a wonderful life together but also never forget their parents. Today is a day for joy, so let¡¯s all be happy!" Gale gently patted Carol¡¯s arm. "And next time, don¡¯t be away so much. You¡¯re always off visiting friends, and Crina misses you when shees home!" He added with a hint of dissatisfaction.

    "I know what¡¯s important!" Carol retorted, taking a sip of wine and giving Gale a yful re.

    Aside from Rhett, everyone elseughed at their exchange, finding it endearing.

    The atmosphere remained warm and joyous, carrying onte into the night.

    Once the wedding feast concluded, the guests from Darmtown, aside from the lord and his immediate family who stayed in the main castle, were housed in the auxiliary building.

    In the fifth-floor hall of the main castle.

    The night was quiet, broken only by the asional rustling of leaves in the autumn wind, which sounded clearer and lonelier than in summer.

    Rhett leaned back in his soft chair, reflecting on his son¡¯s marriage. His eyes grew thoughtful.

    Involuntarily, memories surfaced, bringing familiar faces to mind¡ªfaces that had once been full of life.

    Rhett¡¯s expression faltered as he stared into the flickering me of a candle on the dining table. "Nina, if only you could see this. How wonderful it would be...

    We promised to watch our sons grow up together, to see them marry and start families... But then you... you were taken from me first..."

    He sighed, a deep sadness washing over him.

    Despite the joy of the day, such happiness always seemed to dredge up painful memories.

    Suddenly, a sh caught his eye!

    Rhett''s pupils contracted as his years of battlefield instincts kicked in, making him sit up straight.

    The source of the light was close¡ªvery close. He quickly stood up, scanning the room for the origin of the sh.

    "It was this?" Rhett frowned, narrowing his eyes at the object lying on the table¡ªa rainbow-colored shell he had previously used as a decorative piece.

    He picked it up, feeling the ridges along its surface, his thoughts racing.

    "I¡¯m certain that wasn¡¯t my imagination," Rhett thought to himself. His senses were sharp enough that he knew he hadn¡¯t mistaken what he saw. But then, why had the shell shed?

    He channeled his energy into the shell, searching for any elemental trace, but found nothing.

    A strange feeling crept over him. He recalled the letter he had taken from the traveling merchant, which described the shell as a gift from the deep-sea fishmen.

    "Could it be true?" The thought crossed Rhett¡¯s mind.

    But he quickly dismissed the idea. A mere sh wasn¡¯t enough to prove that the shell came from the deep-sea fishmen. While it might indicate the shell wasn¡¯t ordinary, it wasn¡¯t conclusive evidence of its origins.

    "Still, this shell likely holds some secret. Leaving it out in the open doesn¡¯t seem wise anymore," Rhett mused. He remembered that the shell had reacted when he had been thinking about Nina, so he tucked it safely into his pocket.

    Stepping out onto the balcony, Rhett gazed up at the night sky, his thoughts drifting with the moon.

    Though the idea of the dead returning to life seemed impossible, the memory of Nina stirred something within him, making his breath quicken.

    "Nina... was that you just now?" Rhett whispered into the night.

    Clutching the shell, he sighed again.

    He decided that now was the time to run another simtion.

    Although he had no idea what secrets the shell held, he resolved to keep an eye out for any clues rted to it, as well as to the deep-sea fishmen. Perhaps the simtion might offer some hints.

    Additionally, he couldn¡¯t forget about his nned trade for aquatic magic beasts with Colton¡ªanother crucial element in the uing simtion. It would be wise to check for any unforeseen circumstances.@@novelbin@@

    There was also the n for the autumn hunt of the Darkwing Eagle, and the small matter of helping Gale figure out the color of his hat...

    Given how much had changed since thest simtion and how many new ns were in motion, Rhett decided that a new simtion was necessary to ensure everything went smoothly.

    This is a double-length chapter. Thank you for your support! Please check out the author¡¯s notes on the next page.

    Also, a big thank you to all my readers for your continued support! It¡¯s the end of the month, so if you have any spare monthly votes, I¡¯d greatly appreciate it if you could cast them for this book. They reset at the beginning of the new month, so don¡¯t let them go to waste!

 Chapter 96: A New Simulation

    Rhett immersed his thoughts in his mind and opened the system.

    "Would you like to start the text simtion? Each year of simtion costs 5 Fate Points."

    "Yes, simte one year."

    <strong>[Year 474 of the Kingdom of Gillon, June 6th: Ry and Crina''s wedding was officially held at Deep Rock Castle. From this day on, they became husband and wife¡ªcongrattions.]</strong>

    <strong>[June 12th: Taylors visited Maplewood Town with Shirin as his escort, further deepening their rtionship. That night, passions ignited, and the two explored the mysteries of life together.]</strong>

    <strong>[June 24th: Colton brought his trade caravan to your territory, delivering 40 three-eyed fire-patterned fish, 80 giant-toothed scallops, 60 blue-backed crayfish, and 50 frost-shell crabs. You traded all of your ice crystal seeds in exchange for these aquatic magic beasts you''ve been yearning for.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 1st: The stable hand, George, assisted in the birth of cky¡¯s triplets¡ªa joyous event worth celebrating.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 9th: The deputymander of the Canyon Defense Line, Sir Ambiru, apanied by Count Nilo, arrived at your territory to conduct the ceremony to elevate your title. From this day forth, you became a Viscount of the Kingdom of Gillon, and your territory expanded threefold.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 13th: Considering the anticipated poption growth in your territory, you decided to develop the fire-patterned mine. You led the territory''s cksmiths to survey the mine, estimating its reserves to be between 20,000 and 50,000 tons¡ªa small vein.]</strong><strong>[July 16th: The lord of Maplewood Town visited to discuss the marriage between Taylors and Mina.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 27th: Due to the spread of news about your elimination of the evil alchemy organization, some people who had been persecuted by the organization and whose hometowns were destroyed came to seek refuge in Eagle Town.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 29th: Your hard work paid off¡ªCrina became pregnant.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 3rd: Viscount Bolton of Goldrush Town visited Eagle Town to discuss a partnership concerning the fire-patterned mine. During their visit, Rellis flirted with Taylors at the knight training ground, earning Mina''s furious scolding. Angered, Rellis challenged Mina, but Tuck intervened just in time. After an intense duel, Tuck, having just glimpsed the secondyer of Phantom Recoil, narrowly won. Viscount Bolton noticed Tuck¡¯s extraordinary skills and proposed a trade, which you coldly rejected.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 5th: A second-level mage arrived, iming to have alchemy knowledge passed down through his family. He stated that three years ago, his family was ughtered by the evil alchemy organization, leaving him as the sole survivor. Having heard of your revenge, he expressed deep gratitude and pledged his loyalty.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 6th: More hard work bore fruit¡ªMina became pregnant with twins.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 8th: The wedding of Taylors and Mina was officially held at Deep Rock Castle. From this day on, they became husband and wife¡ªcongrattions.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 15th: You set out for the Darkwing Eagle Mountain Range with Tuck, Ry, and Taylors. On the way, you encountered a third-level bloodhoof boar. After a thrilling battle, you managed to kill it.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 16th: You encountered a pack of 19 first-level wind wolves led by a second-level wind wolf. You easily defeated them all.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 20th: You and your sons began hunting on the outskirts of the Darkwing Eagle Mountain Range.]</strong>

    <strong>[September 3rd: Ry, who had been heavily using Moonlight Elixir, reached the peak of a first-level mage. The awakening of the Snow Elf pushed him to the second level.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 29th: You noticed that the number of beasts on the outskirts of the Darkwing Eagle Mountain Range had significantly decreased, suggesting that you may have cleared most of them. To ensure sustainable hunting, you decided to stop. By this point, you had killed 11 third-level beasts, 115 second-level beasts, and 349 first-level beasts¡ªa bountiful harvest!]</strong>

    <strong>[November 25th: Taylors advanced to an apprentice mage.]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    <strong>[December 20th: As you continued to use fire essence to incubate your magic beast egg, it caused quite amotion. Your patience paid off¡ªthe fire feather eagle chick hatched and imprinted on you as the first thing it saw.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 21st: With the poption of your territory steadily increasing over the past six months, you decided to improve Eagle Town¡¯s poption registration system. You conducted a census, registering families and individuals, while also screening for spies or malicious individuals. Additionally, you tested allmoners over the age of 12 for talent.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 23rd: After two days of testing, six individuals with knight talents and one with a mage talent were identified and recruited into the guard reserves.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 24th: During the census, a man named Zoran was found to have falsified his background. After being exposed by a viger from the same vige, he was interrogated, revealing that he was a spy from Windmill Town, sent by Dusty.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 25th: Two homeless first-level knights sought refuge with you.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 28th: Tadder, who had been stuck at the peak of a first-level knight, found a breakthrough and advanced to the second level that day.]</strong>

    <strong>[Year 475 of the Kingdom of Gillon, February 16th: Under the guidance of a second-level alchemist, Ry became an apprentice alchemist.]</strong>

    <strong>[March 19th: Under the same guidance, Taylors also became an apprentice alchemist.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 15th: Ry''s wind-patterned tiger pet, Whitey, advanced to a sub-level magic beast.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 21st: News from the Canyon Defense Line mentioned a massive increase in demand for ores of all types, indicating a critical shortage. Realizing the profit potential, you made a long-term supply agreement with the military procurement officer.]</strong>

    <strong>[April 27th: A traveling bard arrived in your territory. You met them at a tavern in town and took the opportunity to inquire about deep-sea fishmen and rted treasures. The bard, surprised, admitted to knowing little but mentioned a friend living on the Eastern Blue Coast who had researched such legends. You expressed your interest and paid the bard 10 gold coins to pass along the invitation, promising an additional tenfold reward if sessful. The bard eagerly agreed and left the same day.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 9th: Your oldrade, Widdis, passed through your territory. He revealed that he had retired after losing an eye and was feeling downcast. Youforted him, and after much persuasion, Widdis decided to join your territory. From him, you learned that battles at the Canyon Defense Line had intensified, with orc reinforcements arriving regrly, including the royal bloodline of the Phantom Venom Serpent.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 16th: Ry and Crina returned from their visit to Darmtown. In your conversation with them, you subtly confirmed that Carol hadn¡¯t left home for nearly a year following their wedding.]</strong>

    <strong>[May 27th: A first-level sh sparrow wandered into your territory and began bullying the young fire feather eagle. You arrived just in time to save it. The grateful fire feather eagle chirped softly and acknowledged you as its master.]</strong>

    "End simtion? Continue?"

    "No."

    Rhett carefully reviewed each event before taking a deep breath. The sheer amount of information from this simtion was overwhelming. He returned to his room, sat on the edge of the bed, and began contemting the events from the simtion.

    First, the trade with Colton for the aquatic magic beasts had gone smoothly¡ªno need to worry about that anymore.

    Regarding Gale¡¯s wife, Carol, the fact that she hadn¡¯t left home in nearly a year ruled out any immediate concerns. While Rhett wasn¡¯t entirely convinced, he hoped it was just a coincidence.

    Apart from these two matters, there was also some progress regarding the rainbow shell. Rhett had always been familiar with the nature of traveling bards¡ªthey were elusive, constantly wandering the world. Due to their extensive travels, many people viewed bards as repositories of diverse knowledge.

    "Let¡¯s hope that friend from the Eastern Blue Coast can provide some clues," Rhett thought, though he wasn¡¯t too optimistic. Even the smallest lead was worth pursuing.

    These three matters were deliberate actions Rhett had taken before the simtion. However, other developments from the future and the new insights caught him off guard.

    The first surprise was the spy from Windmill Town¡ªZoran. If Rhett remembered correctly, when he had just returned from the front linesst year, a certain viscount¡¯s son had tried to take his Eagle Town territory while Rhett was weakened by the White-Tailed Eagle¡¯s poison.

    That viscount¡¯s son was none other than Dusty from Windmill Town!

    Though thews of the Kingdom of Gillon prohibited direct conflict between nobles, preventing outright territorial grabs, that didn¡¯t mean nobles couldn¡¯t find underhanded ways to seizend. The schemes some nobles devised to achieve their goals could be shockingly devious.

    When Dusty had visited Rhett, he certainly hadn¡¯te out and said, "Give me yournd." Not only would Rhett have refused, but such a move would have been illegal.

    Instead, Dusty had first proposed a marriage alliance, suggesting that his sister marry into Eagle Town.

    If that had been all, Rhett might not have suspected anything. But then Dusty had expressed his wish for his sister to inherit the title¡­

    Ha! Rhett immediately saw through the ssic scheme¡ªmarriage, followed by the convenient demise of the father-inw, paving the way for the wife to be the heir, who would then bear a son¡­ and eventually, the wife would also "pass away," allowing Dusty to take control.

    Such an obvious ploy was never going to work on Rhett!

    He had kept this grudge in his heart. But to think that even after he had be a third-level mage, Dusty still dared to make a move by nting a spy in his territory!

    Rhett¡¯s frown deepened. Windmill Town was now firmly on his list of future targets for retaliation. But now wasn¡¯t the right time.

    From the simtion, he had learned that the situation at the Canyon Defense Line might change dramatically next year. The mention of the front lines overpaying for ores of all kinds indicated just how dire the circumstances were.

    Moreover, his oldrade had revealed that battles along the Canyon Defense Line were intensifying, with more orc reinforcements arriving, including the royal bloodline of the Phantom Venom Serpent.

    As he stared out the dim window, Rhett exhaled deeply. With his experience on the front lines, it was easy for him to see that the war at the Canyon Defense Line was escting.

    But Rhett wasn¡¯t afraid. Fear stemmed from the unknown, but with a clear view of the future, he could devise the best strategies and make necessary adjustments.

    After half an hour of contemtion, a smile crept onto Rhett¡¯s lips as aplete n for the future formed in his mind.

    Calming his thoughts, Rhett began his meditation, working to break through the barrier to bing a fourth-level mage.

    As the moon set and the sun rose, a new day began.

    In the first-floor dining hall of Deep Rock Castle, the addition of a beautifuldy to the table was noticeable.

    Crina, meticulously dressed, was in high spirits on her first day as part of the household.

    When Rhett came downstairs, Crina greeted him politely, "Good morning, Father!"

    "Good morning, Crina," Rhett replied with a smile as he took his seat. He added, "If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not used to, don¡¯t hesitate to speak up and make suggestions. This is your home now."

    "Thank you, Father, but everything has been wonderful so far," Crina responded with a warm smile.

    Rhett nodded with a smile, taking a sip of milk before turning to Sveta, "By the way, how are those cksmiths settling in?"

    Sveta bowed slightly and replied, "My lord, the cksmiths were among the first to settle in Eagle Town. They¡¯ve been livingfortably in wooden houses, and they enjoy fresh milk every day."

    Rhett nodded thoughtfully, then said, seemingly offhandedly, "Since our number of cksmiths has increased, it¡¯s time to ensure we have an adequate supply of iron ore."

    He turned to Ry, "Ry, I have a task for you."

    "Please, Father, what is it?" Ry set down his knife and fork, ready to listen.

    "I want you to handle the next trade caravan and focus on purchasing various ores. No matter the type, as long as the price is reasonable, it falls within our scope."

    "Understood," Ry nodded, though he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Father, what¡¯s the budget for these purchases?"

    "Eighty percent of our territory¡¯s liquid funds," Rhett answered seriously. "And I¡¯m considering selling that seventh-level dark magic crystal in my possession¡ªuse the proceeds to acquire even more ore!"

 Chapter 98: Breeding Aquatic Magic Beasts

    ¡°Is that so...¡± Rhett nodded thoughtfully and then said, ¡°Besides giving you the materials for the frost pinewood and snow vine, there''s another matter¡ªselecting potential cksmith apprentices.¡±

    Under the surprised gaze of Frano and Laurel, Rhett repeated what he had discussed earlier with Tadder, Kulis, and Shirin.

    ¡°I see.¡± Frano¡¯s eyes lit up with understanding, and he pondered aloud, ¡°I understand, Lord Rhett. Weaponry and equipment are incredibly important to us. In the short term, it might seem like we don¡¯t have a high demand for cksmiths, but in the long term, the development of our cksmithing capabilities cannot be allowed to fall behind.¡±

    Frano¡¯s awareness matched Rhett¡¯s expectations perfectly. They both agreed that the long-term development of cksmithing should be prioritized from now on.

    Rhett, however, added a word of caution: ¡°Frano, when selecting candidates, make sure to focus on their personal willingness. External pressure can never match the motivation thates from within.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Lord Rhett. I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Frano agreed earnestly. He was well aware of how important passion was for sess. Doing something you love willingly and with enthusiasm yields results vastly different from doing something under duress.

    Frano couldn¡¯t imagine having achieved his current sess if he had loathed archery the way he did sword and shield. It was his love for archery and his dream of bing a ranger that had driven him to persevere and seed.

    That night, under a sparse sky of stars, Trull and Willow walked side by side through the cool night air, heading toward the central square of the town. Willow spotted a half-constructed wooden building in the southwest corner of the square. Driven by curiosity, he approached it for a closer look. Inside, it was empty except for a few wooden supports and scattered scraps of wood.

    On the wall, Willow noticed a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze. He reached out to smooth it and began reading.Trull, who had no such curiosity, sat down a few dozen meters away, closing his eyes to enjoy the cool night breeze. After a while, he called out, ¡°Willow, what does it say?¡±

    ¡°Heh, it''s good news! Our town is finally getting its own tavern!¡± Willow replied cheerfully, running over to Trull.

    ¡°You¡¯re not joking?¡± Trull asked, surprised but already half-believing.

    ¡°The notice is right there, written clearly. Go see for yourself if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± Willow retorted with a grin.

    ¡°Never mind... I trust you,¡± Trull said, ncing toward the northeast corner where the sign for the ¡°Iron Brothers cksmith Shop¡± hung. ¡°I¡¯ve heard our lord recently brought in some talent. I¡¯d bet this new tavern and the cksmith shop are rted to that.¡±

    Willow sat beside Trull, looking up at the stars. After a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°Trull, what do you think about what Frano said this afternoon?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m nning to sign up for the cksmith apprenticeship. You know, I¡¯m in my thirties and still haven¡¯t advanced to a full-fledged knight. Sigh... maybe changing careers is a good idea,¡± Trull sighed and continued, ¡°Before joining the guard at Deep Rock Fortress, I was an apprentice in my uncle¡¯s cksmith shop, just doing odd jobs. I have some basic skills, so picking it up again should be easier.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense...¡± Willow nodded, then looked at Trull. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of bing a cksmith apprentice too. How about we sign up together tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°You? Absolutely not!¡± Trull¡¯s expression changed, and he frowned. ¡°My knight talent is poor, so it¡¯s fine for me to switch to cksmithing. But you? Your talent ranks second among all the trainees! If you keep training, you¡¯ll have a better future. You shouldn¡¯t waste that by bing a cksmith!¡±

    ¡°I can still find time to train as a knight after bing a cksmith!¡± Willow argued, staring straight at Trull.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the same! You might not realize it, but bing a cksmith isn¡¯t easy. It requires precise control of heat, careful hammering, managing the bellows, and judging when the metal is ready¡ªall of it isplex and demanding. It will definitely affect your knight training!¡± Trull insisted.

    Willow shook his head. ¡°Trull, you know our territorycks high-level cksmiths. I know my own talent; I¡¯m not a genius. But if I can be a first- or second-level knight, or even higher, I¡¯ll be able to forge better equipment. That could really help our territory¡¯s cksmithing industry get off the ground.¡±

    Trull was moved by Willow¡¯s words, his frown easing as he considered it. ¡°If that¡¯s really what you want, it might not be such a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°By the way, when are you going to treat me to that drink you owe me?¡±

    Caught off guard by the sudden change in topic, Willow nced toward the tavern. ¡°I was nning to buy some beer from Uncle Mod and just have a drink here in the square. But that new tavern looks promising, and it¡¯ll be open soon. I¡¯ll treat you there. With the cksmith shop and tavern so close, we can stop by every day for a drink...¡±

    Willow trailed off, sensing the mood had shifted. Looking up, he saw Trull ring at him.

    ¡°Willow! Is that your real motivation?¡± Trull said, exasperated.

    ¡°Hah, just kidding, just kidding...¡± Willowughed awkwardly, scratching his head.

    Time passed quickly, and half a month went by.

    During this time, Rhett had no pressing matters and spent most of his days in meditation and magic training.

    On June 24th, Rhett was training as usual in the training grounds.

    The ground was littered with spikes, stones, and debris from his practice, but he remained focused on arge boulder ahead. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a stone spike, sending it flying with a whistling sound.

    With a loud crash, the spike hit the center of the boulder, shattering it into fragments that flew in all directions.

    Rhett approached the boulder and inspected it. The red mark he had ced in the center had been hit perfectly.

    ¡°Not bad, the uracy of my Earth Spike spell is getting better. I can pretty much hit whatever I aim at. As expected of a spell inherited through my bloodline!¡± Rhett muttered to himself.

    He then moved to the debris scattered across the ground and began practicing his Quicksand spell.

    Compared to Earth Spike and simr spells, Quicksand was rtively simple to cast, requiring only precise control over the area of effect.

    A yellow vortex formed on the ground, drawing in the debris and burying it underground.@@novelbin@@

    When the spell ended, the ground was restored to normal. A win-win situation.

    After several minutes, Rhett sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating to recover his spent energy.

    Just then, his butler Sveta hurried over in a gray outfit. ¡°My lord, the manager of the Dalton Trading Company from Twilight City¡ªColton¡ªhas arrived!¡±

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as he stood up. ¡°Where are they now?¡±

    ¡°Dimis told me they had just entered Eagle Town and are on their way to Deep Rock Fortress.¡±

    ¡°That means they¡¯ll be here soon!¡± Rhett said, quickly leaving the training grounds and heading to the stone road to wait.

    Soon, the sound of horse hooves and rolling wheels filled the air.

    In the distance, Rhett saw a caravan about twenty meters long slowly approaching along the stone road.

    At the front of the caravan, a slightly plump man rode a horse with a striking mix of red and blue fur, his body swaying gently with the horse¡¯s movements.

    Rhett was intrigued by the horse¡¯s unusual coloring; he had never seen such a creature before!

    Colton dismounted and walked over with a smile. ¡°Good to see you again, Sir Rhett!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s great to see you too, Mr. Colton. How was the journey?¡± Rhett asked, his eyes darting to the rear of the caravan where blue metal crates emitted a faint glow, giving them an air of sophistication.

    ¡°The trip was smooth. Not many people in the Kingdom of Kinlon dare to mess with Dalton Trading Company!¡± Colton replied confidently.

    Rhett smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Colton, how did the procurement of aquatic magic beasts go? I¡¯ve prepared the ice crystal seeds for you!¡±

    Colton raised an eyebrow and walked over to one of the blue crates, giving it a firm pat, which produced a ringing sound.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought you forty three-eyed fire-scaled fish, eighty giant-toothed ms, sixty blue-backed crayfish, and fifty frost-shelled crabs. Are you satisfied, Sir Rhett?¡±

    ¡°Very satisfied! Thank you, Mr. Colton. Here are the thousand ice crystal seeds,¡± Rhett said, lifting a ck bag from his waist. ¡°But before we trade, I¡¯d like to verify the number of aquatic magic beasts.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Sir Rhett, I would have suggested it even if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it!¡± Colton said with a pleased look, eyeing the bag of ice crystal seeds.

    Rhett led Colton and his caravan to the shores of Sun Lake.

    The metal crates containing the aquatic magic beasts had been specially crafted using alchemical techniques. They had venttion and water replenishment systems to ensure the creatures wouldn¡¯t drown or suffocate.

    After verifying the contents of each crate, the aquatic magic beasts were released into Sun Lake.

    As soon as they entered the water, the three-eyed fire-scaled fish, giant-toothed ms, blue-backed crayfish, and frost-shelled crabs became lively, radiating vitality.

    They were several timesrger than the original fish and shrimp in theke, yet they swam effortlessly, quickly adapting to their new environment and preying on the smaller fish.

    The giant-toothed ms, slow-moving by nature, stayed still, waiting for any unfortunate fish or shrimp to swim too close before snapping them up in an instant.

    The blue-backed crayfish and frost-shelled crabs, with their powerful pincers, easily caught and devoured smaller fish. Though theirbat abilities ranked low among magical creatures, they were more than capable of dominating theke¡¯s ordinary inhabitants.

    The fire-scaled fish, however, struggled a bit. Its fiery abilities wereughably ineffective underwater, leaving it to rely on itsrge mouth to slowly devour any slow-moving fish it could catch.

    ¡°Sir Rhett, these aquatic magic beasts require more nutrients than ordinary fish. If you regrly feed them magic beast meat or water-based magical nts, it can significantly speed up their reproduction,¡± Colton advised, watching the creatures thrive in theke.

    Rhett nodded. He was well aware of thismon knowledge. Whether it was magic beast meat or water-based magical nts, they were easily obtainable for him, so he wasn¡¯t concerned.

    ¡°Mr. Colton, do you have any updates on the situation along the Eastern Blue Coast?¡± Rhett asked, turning his attention to Colton.

    Colton narrowed his eyes slightly, hesitating for a moment before leaning in and whispering, ¡°I¡¯ve heard some new developments, but not much. Apparently, someone along the Eastern Blue Coast provoked a seventh-level magic beast from the deep sea, which is why things have gotten so out of hand.¡±

    Rhett gasped quietly. A seventh-level magic beast was still out of reach for him¡ªsuch a creature had already crossed the threshold into high-level magic beasts, wielding immense power.

    In the Kingdom of Kinlon, dukes held a minimum power level of seven!

    Rhett shook his head in amazement. That would certainly exin why the situation on the Eastern Blue Coast had escted so dramatically. A seventh-level magic beast causing a tsunami would be no small matter to deal with.

    ¡°Has the situation been resolved yet?¡± Rhett couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°Word is that it¡¯s almost under control, especially since the Grand Duke of Blue Diamond has gathered his forces to confront the beast,¡± Colton replied confidently. ¡°Even though the ocean is the beast¡¯s domain, I¡¯ve heard the Grand Duke has enlisted the help of two seventh-level grand mages and three seventh-level sky knights. They¡¯re determined to take down that magic beast!¡±

    ¡°Because the beast¡¯s bloodline is valuable?¡± Rhett mused.

    Otherwise, it would be enough to simply drive the beast away. ying it in the ocean woulde at a steep cost.

 Chapter 99: The Idea of Establishing a New Village

    Colton''s expression became thoughtful as he paused before saying, "Perhaps. In any case, it''s rare for powerful figures of the Kingdom of Kinlon to join forces to hunt down a magical beast above the seventh rank. The situation on the Eastern Blue Coast is indeed unusual..." He then shook his head. "However, these matters are far removed from us. Whether we know about them or not doesn''t make much difference."

    "True..." Rhett raised an eyebrow, deciding not to dwell on the topic. Instead, he asked, "Mr. Colton, now that our transaction isplete and it''s nearly noon, how about joining me for lunch at Deep Rock Fortress?"

    Colton politely declined, "No need! I appreciate the offer, but there are many matters at the tradingpany that require my attention. If you ever have further needs, don''t hesitate to contact me at the Dalton Trading Company!"

    "Alright, safe travels!"

    "Thank you, Sir Rhett. Until we meet again!" Colton tipped his ck-rimmed hat, covering his bald head, and waved before mounting his horse. In no time, the Dalton Trading Company''s convoy, under the protection of knights, disappeared into the distance.

    Rhett then returned to Eagle Town, heading once again to the central square. By now, more than half a month had passed, and Coudine hadpleted the construction tasks. The townsfolk from Clear Spring Town had all settled in, and the town''s tavern, aptly named the Nightingale Tavern, was alsopleted.

    However, the tavern wasn''t immediately operational. Brewing requires raw materials, and the brewing process takes time. Since they had missed the summer harvest season for grapes and agave, and the hops harvest was still a while off, the tavern''s brewer found himself short on supplies. As a result, Rhett had personally donated arge amount of brewing materialsst week to help the Nightingale Tavern open sooner, allowing the townspeople to enjoy the tavern experience.

    Rhett then visited the cksmith shop to check on things. He found that Tru, Willow, and Brisso were adapting well to their cksmithing training. In fact, Andre and Leonid praised them highly, which reassured Rhett.

    Initially, Rhett had been surprised to hear that Willow had volunteered for the cksmith apprenticeship. He had expected that only the less talented knight apprentices from the training grounds would switch to cksmithing, such as Tru and Brisso. But Willow was different¡ªhe had advanced to a knight apprentice only a year after Lawrence, which showed promise. Yet, he was willing to be a cksmith. Rhett was pleasantly surprised by this and felt gratified.He believed that development should be progressive, though often not without setbacks. Rapidly advancing the cksmithing industry in his territory could only be achieved by either extraordinary luck¡ªfinding a master cksmith¡ªor through steady, incremental progress. Each generation¡¯s efforts wouldy a better foundation for the next, ultimately leading to a brighter future.

    Time flew by, and soon it was July 1st.

    That afternoon, under the bright sun, Rhett, as usual, sprinkled a thinyer of fire essence over the egg of the Firefeather Eagle. In the sunlight, the crystalline eggshell seemed to flicker with faint mes, gradually absorbing the fiery granules.

    Rhett murmured, "Little one, hurry and hatch. There''s a colorful world waiting for you!"

    Flying under one''s own power was impossible for anyone but wind-type Grand Magisters. He fantasized that once the Firefeather Eagle hatched and grewrge enough, it might one day carry him through the skies...

    At that moment, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from outside, followed by a knock on the door.

    Knock, knock, knock...

    Standing outside the door, Sveta''s voice was tinged with excitement. "Master, George just sent word that Heger has given birth to triplets!"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow, pleased that he hadn''t forgotten about this matter. He ced the Firefeather Eagle egg by the window to bask in the sunlight.

    "One moment, Sveta!" he called out as he adjusted his cor and smoothed out the creases in his clothes before stepping outside.

    Seeing Sveta in a thick leather coat, Rhett remarked as they walked toward the hall, "Sveta, you seem to be in good spiritstely. It appears you''ve been resting well!"

    Sveta looked surprised. "Master, your observations are sharp. The recent cool weather has improved my sleep quality significantly. Every morning, I wake up feeling refreshed! For us ordinary folk, spring and autumn are the best seasonsfortable temperatures and good nights'' sleep!"

    As they made their way through the hallway, Rhett, walking ahead, said, "Sveta, it seems my prediction was correct. Heger really did give birth to triplets. You should''ve seen George''s expression when he told me the news¡ªhe waspletely stunned!"

    "No, ''prediction'' isn''t the right word," Rhett interrupted with a slight frown. "At the time, I merely made a deduction based on the facts. Sveta, in the future, avoid using the word ''prediction'' when discussing me with others. After all, even a Grand Magister can''t foresee the future. How could a mere magician like myself manage such a feat?"

    Sveta paused momentarily before responding in a low voice, "Understood, Master."

    "Good. Now fetch ten silver coins from the treasury and reward George. He deserves the most credit for Heger''s pregnancy. Also, give each of the other four grooms one silver coin to reward their hard work."

    "Of course, Master. I''m sure they''ll be grateful for your generosity."

    Upon leaving Deep Rock Fortress, Rhett initially nned to head to the training grounds for some magic practice. However, on the gray stone road ahead, he spotted a striking figure¡ªShirin¡ªwith short orange hair swaying gently in the breeze, walking toward him.

    Rhett recognized her instantly. She had a sword hanging from her waist, a small round shield in her left hand, and an air of confidence. But in her right hand, she held the carcass of a dark-fanged leopard, with blood dripping onto the gray stone road, adding a touch of grimness to the scene.

    "Good afternoon, Lord Rhett!" Shirin greeted him with a knight''s salute.

    "Shirin, what''s with the dark-fanged leopard?" Rhett asked, puzzled. Given that he had recently conducted a simtion, everything should be within his control, especially in the days following the simtion. Any significant changes would have been indicated. Yet now... something seemed off.

    Shirin exined, "Well, I heard you purchased a batch of aquatic magic beasts, and I''ve been meaning to see them, but I hadn''t had the time. This afternoon, I finally went to Sun Lake and found this first-level dark-fanged leopard prowling around, seemingly eyeing the aquatic magic beasts. So, I took it down."

    She lifted the carcass, shaking it slightly, and grinned. "Lord Rhett, how about some magical beast barbecue tonight? Dark-fanged leopard meat is quite tender¡ªdefinitely a treat!"

    "Haha, no problem!" Rhett chuckled, though seeing Shirin''s bright smile juxtaposed with the blood dripping from the carcass left him with an odd sense of contrast.

    After a moment''s thought, he asked, "Shirin, when you arrived, had the leopard already attacked the fish and shrimp in theke? Or was it just prowling around?"

    "It hadn''t attacked yet. In fact, it tried to run when it saw me. But I worried that leaving it alone might endanger the aquatic magic beastster, so I took it down immediately."

    Rhett nodded. "Hmm... You did well."

    "Just doing my duty!"

    "If you want to enjoy that barbecue tonight, you should take the carcass to Cook Maru now. Handling magical beast meat can be tricky and requires several hours of preparation. The marinated meat will taste much better."

    Shirin¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. "I''ll take care of it right away, Lord Rhett!"

    As Shirin walked away toward the estate, Rhett began to ponder, "Though I''m not sure what prompted Shirin to go to Sun Lake today, even if she hadn''t gone, that dark-fanged leopard wouldn''t have attacked the aquatic magic beasts. Otherwise, the simtion would have gged it."

    With Shirin''s figure disappearing from sight, Rhett turned his attention back to the gray stone road. This incident served as a reminder that, despite the rtive peace surrounding Eagle Town, the asional magical beast might still wander into the area.

    While such creatures posed no threat to him and were unlikely to endanger the townspeople, they could impact the territory''s industries. Previously, when he had been away, Eagle Town''s poption had been small, and the territory''s activities were concentrated within the town and the nearby farnds. Any magical beast attack would have been quickly noticed and dealt with.

    However, with the territory''s recent growth, industries were beginning to spread out to make better use of thend. This expansion left some areas less protected than they should be.@@novelbin@@

    Sun Lake, where the aquatic magic beasts were now housed, was just one example of this vulnerability. The next venture would be the Fire Pattern Mine, another new resource point. The mine was located twenty kilometers from Eagle Town, twice the distance between Sun Lake and the town.

    If no measures were taken, the risks would be evident.

    As he strolled down the gray stone road, Rhett''s brow furrowed in thought, considering his next steps.

    "First, with the poption expected to grow significantly and the benefits of a demographic boom, we can''t just cram everyone into Eagle Town. The town would be overcrowded¡ªjust people everywhere and not enough quality jobs to go around. Unless everyone turns to farming, which isn¡¯t practical. The town''s future industries will surely diversify, and we only need enough farnd to ensure ample food supply. Surplus grain will either rot or sell for minimal profit, which doesn''t fit into my ns. If we''re going to farm, it should be magical nts. Ordinary farming shouldn''t require arge, densely packed poption.

    "So... establishing a few more viges is necessary to disperse the poption and create specialized industry zones. Sun Lake and the area around the Fire Pattern Mine would be ideal locations, and then there''s..."

    Apetent lord must have aprehensive n and foresight for every endeavor. As Rhett paced the gray stone road, deep in thought, theyout of his territory and the distribution of its poption gradually became clearer in his mind.

    The sound of two sets of horse hooves interrupted his musings. He looked up to see two familiar figures approaching, and his face lit up with a smile as he greeted them warmly. "Riley, Kalina, you''re finally back."

    "Father, it''s so good to see you!" Riley dismounted out of respect, then moved to help Kalina down from her horse, gently holding her hand.

    "How was the honeymoon?" Rhett inquired.

    "It was wonderful! Father, the ces you rmended¡ªWater Valley Vige and Fruit Creek Forest¡ªmay just be small viges, but they hold such beautiful scenery," Kalina reminisced. "Water Valley Vige was like a dream, shrouded in mist during the day. And Fruit Creek Forest smelled so sweet with fruit that even the streams tasted of it. It was magical!"

    "Yes, who would''ve thought that there were such beautiful ces in the Brain Region? It was an unforgettable honeymoon," Riley added.

    Rhett smiled. "The world isn''tcking in beauty¡ªonly in eyes that can see it."

    These were ces Rhett had encountered during his years of wandering, ces that had left asting impression. Even small viges could hide unexpected beauty.

    Riley nodded thoughtfully, having grown ustomed to his father¡¯s wisdom. Somehow, his father always managed to sum things up with such insightful phrases.

    "Oh, by the way, Heger just gave birth to triplets today. Would you like to see them?" Rhett reminded, knowing Riley had always been eager for Heger''s offspring.

    "Wow! Is that true? I know you wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this, Father. I¡¯ll go see them right away," Riley said, eyes shining with excitement. Although he already had Whitegr, he still wanted horses for Kalina.

    With that, Riley and Kalina hurried off to the stables.

    They soon arrived at the stables, where Gene and Harry were chatting casually at the entrance. When they saw Riley approaching, they greeted him respectfully, "Good afternoon, Master Riley!"

    Riley nodded in acknowledgment before heading into the spacious stables and entering one of the stalls. There, he found Kudding leaning against the fence. As soon as George saw Riley, he eximed, "Master Riley, you''re just in time! Heger just gave birth to triplets today."

    Riley''s gaze fell on Heger, whoy weakly on the straw inside a separate stall. The mare was gently licking her three newborn foals, still stained with a bit of blood. Heger¡¯s eyes watched the growing crowd with a hint of vignce, a testament to her maternal instincts.

    Such great motherly love!

    A smile tugged at the corners of Riley''s mouth as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, retrieving three silver coins. "George, you did well. This is a reward from me."

    George''s face lit up with joy, though he hesitated slightly before saying, "Master Riley, the lord already rewarded me with ten silver coins earlier today..."

    This is a double-length chapter. Thanks for your patience, everyone!

 Chapter 100: Promotion to Viscount

    "Take it, it''s my personal reward," Riley said nonchntly.

    "Thank you, Master Riley!" George grinned widely as he swiftly pocketed the silver coins. In his mind, he was already imagining celebrating with friends at the Nightingale Tavern once it opened.

    He respectfully said, "With Heger''s bloodline, her offspring will be ready for riding in about half a year. Congrattions, Master Riley!"

    Riley noticed that the three foals had the same ck coat as Heger, with no apparent sign of inheriting her unique coloring.

    "I wonder how much of her strength they inherited," Riley thought to himself. He hoped they would have the same robust physique as Heger, but only time would tell.

    On his way back to the castle, Riley passed by the training grounds. He saw his father practicing magic, using Earth Spikes to strike boulders.

    Suddenly, Riley felt a strong urge to make up for the days he hadn''t trained. After dropping Kalina off at the castle, he returned alone to the training grounds.

    "Father, I want to train in magic!" Riley approached Rhett with enthusiasm.

    Rhett was slightly surprised by his son''s sudden desire but was pleased by his eagerness."Excellencees from diligence, notziness," Rhett thought. Hardworking individuals always earn respect.

    He led Riley to the southeast corner, where they had a pile of stones prepared specifically for practicing the Water Arrow spell. Rhett picked up one of the stones and said, "The usual drill¡ªhit the center of the moving target. Ready, Riley?"

    Riley took a deep breath, recalling the many times he''d been frustrated by the practice. His expression grew serious. "I''m ready, Father!"

    Rhett tossed the stone high into the air. A Water Arrow shot out from Riley''s hand, leaving a blue streak as it shattered the stone into pieces.

    "Close, but keep going!" Rhett encouraged as he threw another stone.

    Riley, calm and focused, quickly got into the rhythm. He kept his eyes on the constantly moving target, finding his groove.

    Another stone shattered under his magic, but Riley remained unfazed. After many failures, he was no longer affected by setbacks. Instead, he quickly identified his mistakes and worked to correct them.

    He felt himself entering a strange state of flow, where nothing else mattered, and his training seemed to be more efficient.

    Over an hour passed.

    A stone soared into the sky, and Riley, as usual, cast a Water Arrow.

    <em>Whoosh</em>

    The arrow shot like a meteor, perfectly on course until it faded away after expending its energy.

    Rhett, who had been about to bend down to pick up another stone, suddenly froze and straightened up, his eyes gleaming with pride.

    <em>Thud, thud</em>

    The stone fell to the ground with a heavy thump, rolling a few times but remaining intact.

    Riley stood still, staring at the rolling stone in disbelief until it finally stopped.

    "I... seeded?" he murmured.

    "Indeed, you did!" Rhett approached, smiling. "Riley, you''ve done it!"

    He picked up the stone and shook it gently. "Once you''ve done it once, you can do it countless more times. I look forward to the day when you can practice endlessly with just one stone. Keep the momentum going and solidify your sess!"

    "Yes!" Riley, filled with joy, nodded eagerly. "Let''s continue, Father!"

    As the next stone was tossed into the air, Riley focused entirely on the target. However, this time his Water Arrow wasn''t as sessful, shattering the stone again.

    But Riley wasn¡¯t discouraged¡ªhe knew that his first sess had been partly due to luck. His goal now was to turn that luck into skill through practice.

    The father and son spent the entire afternoon training. Later, a squire took over Rhett''s role in tossing the stones.

    As evening approached, the sunset painted the sky with gold and crimson hues, as if celebrating Riley¡¯s achievement.

    After finishing their training, the two leaned against the wall, quietly watching the sunset.

    In the distance, students who had just finished archery practice left the training grounds,ughing and chatting. As they passed by Rhett and Riley, they quickly fell silent out of respect, quietly continuing on their way.

    "Father, I n to organize the trade caravan in the next few days and begin purchasing ore as soon as possible," Riley suddenly remembered and mentioned.

    "Yes, but remember to avoid Windmill Town," Rhett advised.

    When the eldest son of Windmill Town hade to discuss the marriage alliance, it had been a private conversation between the two of them. Rhett hadn¡¯t shared the details with his sons, fearing it might cause someone to act impulsively given the family''s difficult circumstances at the time.

    "Windmill Town?" Riley recalled that Windmill Town had a small Windstone mine. Although he didn''t know why his father wanted him to avoid dealing with them, he still replied, "Understood, Father."

    "That leaves only the Doronto and Fabre families in the Brain Region with small mines," Riley mused. "I''ll set out in early August then."

    "That sounds good."

    A weekter, Deputy Commander Ambiru and Count Nilo''s entourage arrived in thete afternoon, passing by Sun Lake. The sight of the clear waters lifted Ambiru''s spirits.

    Having spent so long at the canyon defense line, where the rivers were often murky with blood, Ambiru found the sight of theke refreshing.

    "A fine Sun Lake and a fine Sir Rhett!" Ambiru said sincerely.

    As several red-scaled fish leaped from the water, Ambiru and Count Nilo¡¯s eyes lit up with interest.

    "Hmm? Aquatic magic beasts," Count Nilo remarked in surprise. "I hadn''t heard that Sir Rhett was raising them in his territory."

    Count Nilo knew that most aquatic magic beasts in the southwestern bordends came from the Eastern Blue Coast, where they were more affordable. But recent events there had caused a downturn in the magic beast trade in Twilight City.

    He studied theke¡¯s size, estimating that it could only hold a limited number of magic beasts, and his interest waned.

    Meanwhile, Shirin, who had been patrolling theke, was startled by the arrival of therge group. Upon seeing the gold and red gs of the canyon defense line, she realized their origin and stepped forward to inquire about their purpose.

    Count Nilo, having already noticed her, opened the carriage window and called out, "I remember you. You''re one of Sir Rhett''s knights, aren¡¯t you?"

    Recognizing Count Nilo, Shirin was surprised. "Count Nilo? Are you here to visit my lord?"

    "I have some good news for Sir Rhett," Count Nilo smiled, pointing east. "If I remember correctly, Eagle Town is in that direction?"

    "Yes, it''s about ten kilometers east of here," Shirin replied, curious about the good news but aware that it wasn''t her ce to ask. She simply pointed the way.

    "Thank you!" Count Nilo pulled his head back inside the carriage.

    The group soon arrived at the gray stone road leading to the estate. Twenty knights in shining silver armor lined up beside the carriages, forming a passage.

    Ambiru adjusted his dark yellow mustache, tidied his wavy dark yellow hair, and stepped out of the carriage. As the cool autumn breeze ruffled his crimson cloak, he adjusted the two-meter-long deep blue sword at his waist and made his way forward.

    At the entrance to Deep Rock Fortress, Sveta, who had been sweeping up the fallen leaves along the gray stone road, stood in shock.

    As a noble''s steward, Sveta recognized the battle g of the canyon defense line and knew that something significant was happening. The distinguished figure before him was clearly important, and Sveta dared not dy. He bowed slightly and said, "Honored guests from the canyon defense line, I am the steward of Deep Rock Fortress. Please wait a moment while I inform my lord."

    When Sveta brought the news to Rhett, he feigned surprise, hurriedly making his way to the entrance.

    Seeing Ambiru¡¯s familiar face, Rhett''s expression became a mix of surprise and excitement. "Lord Ambiru, it''s really you!" Rhett ced a hand over his heart. "I thought I''d never see you again after leaving the front lines!"

    "I''ll never forget how you led us into battle with such bravery, nor the time we submerged ourselves in the river, lying in ambush for the orcs..." Rhett continued, ttering the deputymander.

    "Ah, Sir Rhett, there''s no need for all that," Ambiru said, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. "Many soldiers have retired from the canyon defense line, but you left a strong impression. You aided the royal bloodline on the front lines and rooted out the evil alchemists at home. You''ve done well!"

    With that, Ambiru pulled out a scroll from his coat and said, "His Majesty the King was impressed by your deeds. In recognition of your achievements, you are hereby granted the title of Viscount. This is the royal decree."

    This time, Rhett was genuinely shocked¡ªthough still partly acting. Without his foresight, he wouldn''t have known the full extent of the alchemists'' crimes and wouldn''t have expected to be promoted to Viscount.

    Once the initial shock passed, a smile crept onto Rhett''s face.

    Seeing his reaction, Count Nilo chuckled and said, "Sir Rhett, you may not realize the full extent of that organization''s crimes."

    Clearing his throat, Nilo adopted a more serious tone. "After investigating, we discovered that over the past few years, that group has conducted evil alchemical experiments, killing 142 magicians and knights and over 10,000 innocent civilians. You¡¯ve done a great service!"

    Rhett''s smile faded as his expression darkened. "Those damned scum!"

    Ambiru''s face showed simr disgust. He despised those who caused internal strife while he fought on the front lines.

    "Let¡¯s proceed with the ennoblement ceremony and decide on your fief," Ambiru said. "The situation at the canyon defense line is tense, and I need to return quickly."@@novelbin@@

    "Of course!" Rhett''s concern showed as he asked, "Lord Ambiru, are the orcs reinforcing their troops again?"

    Ambiru''s brow furrowed. "It seems so. While their numbers haven¡¯t increased much, they''ve be more ferocious and relentless in their attacks, causing heavy casualties among my soldiers."

    Rhett¡¯s expression grew somber. "Those damned orcs!"

    "They certainly deserve it!" Count Nilo agreed.

    The ennoblement ceremonymenced. Since this wasn''t Rhett¡¯s first title, the oath of loyalty was shorter, and the ceremony concluded within minutes.

    In the Kingdom of Kinlunn, the ceremonies for baron and viscount titles were rtively simple, with only earldom ceremonies being slightly more borate. Marquis and duke titles required a ceremony at the royal pce, personally conducted by the king.

    "Sveta, fetch my horse, Heger. Lord Ambiru and I will select the new fief!" Rhett called to his steward.

    "Yes, my lord!" Sveta, who had just witnessed the entire ceremony, was brimming with excitement as he rushed to the stables.

    On his way, Sveta''s face flushed with joy. "My lord has done something incredible! He wiped out an evil alchemist organization and was promoted to Viscount!

    From now on, my lord is a Viscount, and I... am a Viscount¡¯s steward!"

 Chapter 101: The New Territory

    Rhett led the way, taking over from Sveta, preparing to select the newly granted territory. From the afternoon to the sunset, and then to the starry night, the two spent four hours on a field survey. Although the location of the fief had been carefully considered beforehand, Rhett still appeared very serious on the surface, as if carefully weighing the pros and cons. He led Vice-Commander Ambiru to inspect all directions around fledgling Eagle Town. Even on the barren ins, he pretended to be conflicted, hiding his eagerness for the plot ofnd near the Fire Pattern Mine. Ambiru, unaware of Rhett''s true intentions, thought that Rhett was troubled by theck of significant resources around Eagle Town and even offered somefort during their time together.

    Ambiru was well aware that the southwestern frontier was also a defense line for the kingdom, though the canyon defense was the frontmost line. If any unexpected situation urred, and the canyon defense was breached, all the nobles on the southwestern frontier would have to step up. As nobles of the Kingdom of Ginlon, they enjoyed far more rights and privileges thanmoners but were also obligated to defend the kingdom''snds as a basic duty.

    After the survey, Rhett finally chose the following area: extending forty kilometers west and south from the original territory of Eagle Town and expanding a certain area southwest, abandoning any expansion to the east and north. The original territory, centered on Eagle Town, resembled a circle. The new territory, however, could be likened to a broad, curved fan shape extending from the west to the south. This was a n Rhett had carefully considered. Geographically, the surrounding areas were mostly forests and ins, with no high-value resources apart from Sun Lake and the Fire Pattern Mine. Only the Thorn Forest, which spanned more than ten kilometers, had potential for development, such as establishing arge vige and possibly serving as a training ground for rangers and scouts in the future.

    The evening wind blew through the Thorn Forest, sweeping away the leaves on the branches. As a Level 5 Earth Knight, Ambiru''s formidable presence left the forest eerily silent, with no birds, beasts, or insects daring to make a sound, aside from the wind and the rustling of leaves. He held a map and a quill, meticulously marking the map with great concentration. A few minutester, Ambiru presented the map to Rhett, "Sir Rhett, the area of the new territory has been mapped out. Please confirm it."

    "Thank you for your hard work, Lord Ambiru," Rhett said, his eyes focusing on the map. Though it was a finely drawn map, other areas were covered, revealing only thend surrounding Eagle Town. Based on the lines and theke''s markings, Rhett could see Sun Lake to the west of Eagle Town. Knowing the fixed ten-kilometer distance between the two locations, Rhett quickly calcted that the area Ambiru marked on the map roughly matched the region Rhett had just chosen.

    Rhett was not surprised by Ambiru''s excellent mapping skills. As the Vice-Commander of the Canyon Defense, overseeing the big picture, map-making was a fundamental skill. "Lord Ambiru, this is indeed the area I selected, urate and without error!" Rhett nodded slowly. At the same time, he thought to himself, "Should I have Ryley create a precise map of the new territory someday? As the territory expands, a detailed map would make macro-level nning much easier..."

    "I''ll submit thisnd to the royal pce," Ambiru said, putting away the map. He reminded Rhett, "Sir Rhett, if you have any thoughts of making changes, now is the time. You know the rules¡ªafter today, you won''t be able to change your mind."

    "Lord Ambiru, let''s finalize it. There will be no regrets!" Rhett confirmed resolutely.

    ...Back on the gray stone avenue in front of the manor, Rhett extended a polite invitation, "It''s gettingte. Lord Ambiru and Count Nilo, would you both like to join me for dinner at Deep Rock Castle?"

    Ambiru shook his head, "Sir Rhett, the front line is tense. I won''t waste time on unrted matters. If... the day everes when the canyon defense wipes out all the orcs, maybe I''ll take some time to rx!"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. Judging by Ambiru''s words, it seemed unlikely he''d ever have much free time... The canyon defense served as a buffer zone. Whoever crossed that line to attack would only escte the consumption of manpower and resources. With continuous supplies, expecting the canyon defense to wipe out all the orcs? Unless the entire orc tribe was annihted or severely weakened...

    Count Nilo shrugged, "Sir Rhett, I spent too much time delivering messages to the royal city recently. I''ve been away from Twilight City for too long and need to return soon to handle affairs." Clearly, he too was unable to stay for dinner.

    Rhett felt a sense of relief at this. In the past, he was the most authoritative figure in his territory,manding everyone''s respect. But now, these two noble guests required careful attention. Compared to external banquets, Rhett preferred family dinners, where he could enjoy the atmosphere. However, outwardly he sighed and said, "It''s truly a shame that I can''t share dinner with you both."

    "Sir Rhett, don''t say that. We may meet again in the future," Ambiru replied with a mysterious smile. "Before I leave, I want to give you a gift."

    Count Nilo looked at Ambiru in surprise, curious as to why he was so invested in Rhett. Rhett was also taken aback as he watched Ambiru return to his carriage and retrieve a crimson bottle before walking back to him.

    "Beast Wine of the Blood Moon Werewolf!" Rhett blurted out the familiar name as he stared at the bottle in Ambiru''s hand, marked with a ck wolf head on the neck. His thoughts drifted back to the battlefield. Beast wine wasn''t a particrly valuable tonic; it was just regr wine mixed with orc blood. On the front lines, beast wine held special meaning, typically consumed after a battle with orcs to celebrate. Different orcs had distinct vors of beast wine¡ªthe Night Cat''s wine was cool, the Minotaur''s was thick, and the Blood Moon Werewolf''s wine was scorching hot when drunk!

    Rhett had consumed countless bottles of beast wine during his time on the canyon defense line, but since his retirement over a year ago, he hadn''t touched a drop. Ambiru''s gift of beast wine instantly brought back memories of the front line for Rhett¡ªthe thrill of surviving each battle, the joy of victory after narrowly escaping death. These feelings surged back to his heart.

    He exhaled deeply, took the beast wine from Ambiru, and solemnly said, "Lord Ambiru, I deeply appreciate this gift!"

    Holding the cool bottle in his hand, Rhett sighed with emotion, "I haven''t had any since that battle against the Blood Moon Werewolf over ten years ago."

    Ambiru smiled faintly, pleased with Rhett''s reaction to the wine, showing he hadn''t forgotten his time on the battlefield. With a heartyugh, Ambiru said, "Haha, for us, beast wine is the best gift!"

    Rhett raised the bottle high, feeling a surge of pride, "Indeed, the best gift!"

    ...

    Under the manor''s streetlights, the three men chatted briefly. Soon, Ambiru, without further dy, bid farewell to Rhett and left with his team. Count Nilo also took the opportunity to say goodbye, "Sir Rhett, I wish your territory prosperity. Until we meet again!"

    "Goodbye, Count Nilo!" Rhett waved to the count, who had already mounted his horse.

    As the two men finally left, Rhett remained standing in themplight. He lowered his head, looking at his shadow, and whispered to himself, "I''ve finally be a Viscount. But... a Viscount isn''t my end goal!"

    Rhett looked up and walked toward the manor. Sveta was waiting just behind the manor''s gate, dressed in a padded gray coat, looking respectful.

    "Master, you''re back. I''ll take your horse to the stables," Sveta said, taking the reins from Rhett''s hand.

    "Thank you, Sveta."

    "It''s no trouble, Master. Compared to you clearing out an evil alchemy organization, this is nothing!" Rhett smiled wryly at this.

    Sveta thought for a moment and then cautiously asked, "Master, should this news be kept secret?"@@novelbin@@

    Rhett shook his head, thinking that there was no need to hide it. He nned to use this news to attract more people to his territory. "No need at all. In fact, feel free to spread the news and let more people know about it!"

    Sveta bowed slightly, "Understood, Master!"

    Entering Deep Rock Castle, Rhett saw Tucker, Ryley, Thales, as well as Vanessa and Karina standing in a line, all congratting him in unison, "Congrattions, Father, on your promotion to Viscount!"

    Even though Rhett had sensed what was happening inside before entering, he was still overjoyed. He walked up and patted each one on the head, smiling, "You all have a heart."

    Ryley, still excited, walked to the table and poured wine that had been decanting for an hour into sses, saying, "I knew that after aplishing such a feat, Father would most likely be promoted to Viscount. And I was right!"

    Thales, his eyes shining with curiosity, asked, "Father, now that you''re a Viscount, did you gain newnds?"

    "Yes, the new fief is primarily to the west and south of Eagle Town, including the southwestern region."

    "Does that include the Thorn Forest?" Ryley asked, his interest piqued.

    "Not only does it include the Thorn Forest, but it also extends ten kilometers further west into our domain!"

    "Wow~" Hearing that the territory had expanded so much, Vanessa and Karina''s eyes sparkled, and even the maids nearby were excited. They had a deep sense of belonging to Deep Rock Castle, and their lord''s growing domain brought them inexplicable joy.

    Soon, Chef Maru entered, pushing a white metal cart from the kitchen, and ced steaming dishes on the table. Usually, Chef Maru would serve each dish personally, but today, under Sveta''s orders, the banquet was especiallyvish, so she had to use a cart to bring out the dishes all at once. Braised rabbit, pan-fried steak, fried chicken meatballs, crispymb legs, spicy crayfish, sweet orange mashed potatoes, cod fillets, braised sturgeon, nut pies, flower cakes... more than a dozen dishes adorned the table, creating a grand feast.

    Tucker took in the aroma, closed his eyes in delight, and seemed ready to drool¡ªhe was starving and could hardly wait!

    Rhett stood at the head of the table, raising a ss of red wine. Without a word, the others followed suit, lifting their sses and standing.

    "Today is a day worth celebrating. We... have taken an important step forward." Rhett began with a smile, his gaze sweeping across everyone''s faces, all reflecting his own joy. He cleared his throat and continued, "The promotion to Viscount is just the beginning. It means that the fledgling eagle has taken flight. In the future, there will be more rewards and challenges awaiting us! Let us work together, ovee difficulties, and create a bright future!"

    His words sparked cheers from the crowd, and they clinked sses¡ª<em>clink</em>¡ªand the banquet began. Everyone indulged in the delicious food. Some dishes were local specialties, while others were inspired by Rhett''s tastes from his past life, which he had guided Chef Maru in preparing. Though some dishes differed from conventional ones and didn''t appear particrly grand, Rhett valued taste over appearance. After all, being a lord, if he couldn''t even enjoy the freedom of good food, it would be too frustrating.

    Rhett picked up a chicken meatball, made from chicken breast, chopped into small pieces, steamed, mixed with various seasonings, then fried and sprinkled with a dry coating¡ªdelicious beyond words.

    "Oh, Tucker, slow down," Rhett scolded as he noticed Tucker taking three meatballs with one chopstick¡ªan impressive feat for a foodie that Rhett couldn''t hope to replicate!

    Tucker chuckled, licking his lips, "These chicken meatballs are so good! But... Father, when can we eat some aquatic magical beasts?"

    Thales rolled his eyes, "Big brother, at least wait for the aquatic magical beasts to breed a few more times and grow in numbers before we can eat them, right?"

    Vanessa, too, was exasperated, kicking Tucker under the table.

    Rhett smiled wryly and turned to Ryley, casually asking, "Ryley, how''s your alchemying along? Any progress?"

    "Well, I''m still memorizing alchemy techniques, magical nt properties, procedures, types of alchemy equipment, and their functions. I haven''t had time to practice, but I n to start hands-on practice this month."

    "Practice makes perfect. Keep at it," Rhett encouraged.

    Hearing the topic of alchemy, Thales'' eyes lit up, but as he hadn''t yet advanced to apprentice mage, he couldn''t join the conversation. He could only suppress his excitement and silently resolve to meditate as soon as the banquet ended.

    In the joyful and celebratory atmosphere, the banquet was thoroughly enjoyable.

    ...

    To make the development of the Fire Pattern Mine appear more natural, Rhett began a three-day inspection of the territory. On the first day, he did not go to the Fire Pattern Mine''s buried location, as that would have been too obvious. Instead, in the morning, he took Florano and Laurene to the Thorn Forest...

 Chapter 102: Chicken Stew with Mushrooms

    On the western side of Sun Lake, the Thorn Forest differed somewhat from the smaller Thorn Forest located east of the East Eagle Logging Camp. This forest was dominated by thorny trees, but it also contained a wide variety of wild trees, flowers, and grasses. The proportion of thorny trees to other nts was roughly fifty-fifty.

    The three of them wandered through the Thorn Forest for about an hour. Florano touched the hard bark of a tree, a slight smile on his face. "Lord Rhett, this forest is spacious, and the variety of nts isplex. The abundance of thorny trees makes it an excellent ce for rangers to conduct practical training."

    Laurene turned her gaze toward a twisted, menacing thorn and nodded in agreement. "This Thorn Forest is much moreplicated than most of the forests we''ve encountered in the past." She touched a thorn, feeling its rough and hard texture, her expression serious. "The pervasive thorns will greatly increase the difficulty for rangers to move nimbly through the forest. For novice trainees, this ce will be a real challenge. However, rangers who emerge from this thorny environment will be much stronger. Though the training process might be painful and bloody, the rewards will surely be sweet."

    "You''re right," Rhett nodded, his resolve to use this area as a ranger training ground growing stronger as he surveyed the surrounding dense forest.

    "Unfortunately, we have too few knight trainees under ourmand, so we can only select a few rangers. Such arge forest seems a bit wasted," Florano said regretfully, shaking his head.

    Rhett nced at Florano and patted him on the shoulder. "Our territory''s poption will surely grow."

    "Yes, Lord Rhett has been promoted to Viscount, which should attract more people to join us," Florano agreed. "As long as the poption increases, talented knights will no longer be scarce."

    Rhett smiled but remained silent, thinking to himself that not only would his new title attract people, but the impact of eradicating the evil alchemy organization would also draw grateful refugees to hisnds.

    Before heading back, Florano and Laurene helped Rhett gather many colorful mushrooms, assuring him that they were non-toxic and delicious. The mushrooms from the Thorn Forest were different from those on Blue Star, but they still looked like mushrooms and were easy to recognize.Back at the castle, Rhett went to the kitchen and handed the mushrooms to Chef Maru. She smiled warmly as she took the bag from him. "So many fresh mushrooms! Lord Rhett, would you like mushroom soup for lunch?"

    "That''s right. But I have a suggestion. I hope you can add some chicken to the mushroom soup and let it simmer slowly..." Rhett thought for a moment and instructed her.

    "Adding chicken? That''s an interesting idea." Chef Maru looked surprised and thoughtful, as if imagining what thebination of mushrooms and chicken would taste like. After a moment, she replied, "That sounds wonderful, Lord Rhett. I''ll give it my best shot!"

    "Thank you!"

    Rhett then went up to the fourth floor of the castle, to the alchemyb that was set up in the previously unused room between Ryley''s and Nina''s quarters. Ryley, dressed in a blue shirt with his hair tied up, was holding tweezers and extracting leaves from a murky beaker. To his left was a small golden furnace with a fire magic crystal embedded in a recess at the base. As Ryley manipted his mental power, activating the alchemical array, a me rose from the furnace. On top of the furnace sat a wide-bellied, narrow-necked metal container bubbling with a white liquid that looked like milk.

    Standing at the door, Rhett caught a faint scent and asked softly, "Ryley, what are you making? It smells like milk, but there''s something different about it..."

    "Ah, Father, you''ve arrived. Please, have a seat!" Ryley snapped back to attention and pulled a chair from the depths of the room, exining as he moved, "I''m just making some small items. Since it''s my first time, I''m simply extracting the juice from wind chime grass¡ªa low-grade wind-type magic nt¡ªand mixing it with milk."

    After saying this, Ryley walked to the workbench and poured the greenish, murky liquid from the beaker into the alchemical container. The milk inside immediately took on a greenish hue. Ryley then conjured a stream of water to clean the beaker.

    Rhett, intrigued, said, "Not bad. It smells good. Is this for Breg?"

    "Yes, Father!"

    Rhett nodded, encouraging him, "I hope to see you be an apprentice alchemist soon!"

    "Well, that might take some time," Ryley said with a wry smile.

    Seeing his father''s surprised look, he exined, "I thought bing an apprentice alchemist would be simple, but I was wrong. Memorizing the theory isn''t difficult, but the actual practice requires precise control of mental power and a lot of experience. When making a potion, whether it''s controlling the fire, extracting the essence, or timing the addition of liquids, there are countless details to manage. Missing any of them leads to failure."

    "Oh? Didn''t the alchemy books I brought back include other alchemists'' insights?" Rhett asked.

    "There are some insights, but just reading the text has limited effectiveness," Ryley replied, frowning slightly. "For example, when I was extracting the essence from the wind chime grass, the book mentioned that the heat should go from low to high and then back to low. But it didn''t specify the exact timing for each heat level. It also didn''t exin whether the temperature should increase slowly, quickly, or at a constant rate. These details were missing, which led to the final result being far from ideal. I only extracted about a third of the expected amount."

    Rhett fell into thought, realizing that alchemy was somewhat simr to the art of potion-making on Blue Star. Given the historical connections between the two, it made sense that they would share simrities. He could only offerfort, saying, "If the details aren''t mentioned in the books, you''ll have to keep experimenting and find more efficient methods through trial and error."

    "For now, that seems to be the only option..." Ryley sighed.

    Rhett thought to himself, "Once that Level 2 alchemist joins us and provides hands-on guidance, things should improve..."

    ...

    For the next two days, Rhett continued to inspect various parts of the territory. On July 13th, he arrived at the central square. Scanning the area, he noticed a few new changespared to half a month ago. The Nightingale Tavern had opened, but with the townspeople busy with farm work during the day, the tavern had few customers, despite the weing sign hanging at the entrance.

    Rhett then made his way to the Iron Brothers'' cksmith shop. As soon as he reached the entrance, a wave of heat hit him. Holding his breath, Rhett saw Trew gently tapping the edge of a de with a small hammer on the anvil. Willow was operating the bellows, while Briso stood beside Andre, watching as Andre rhythmically hammered a glowing piece of iron.

    Andre and Leonid were both deeply focused on their hammering, unable to stop. If they did, the red-hot iron would cool before it could be shaped, requiring reheating. Not wanting to disturb them, Rhett quietly observed from the side.

    Finally, after a cleaver was ced into water, emitting a sizzling sound, Andre wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel Briso handed him and hurried over. "Lord Rhett, I apologize for making you wait."

    "No problem," Rhett replied thoughtfully. "I''m here today because I discovered a vein in our territory. I need you and Leonid to join me in assessing the situation."

    "A vein, my lord?" Andre''s voice was filled with joy, catching the attention of the others. Leonid, in particr, froze mid-swing, then hurriedly quenched his unfinished piece of iron and rushed over, sweating all over. "My lord, did you really find a vein? What kind is it?"

    "A Fire Pattern Mine."

    "A Fire Pattern Mine!" Andre''s eyes lit up with excitement. "That''s excellent fuel. With it, we wouldn''t need to constantly rece the wood in the furnace, and the fire''s stability would improve!"

    "Please take us there, Lord Rhett!" Leonid could hardly wait. "I can''t wait for the day we can use Fire Pattern Ore as our fuel."

    Rhett chuckled and led the two men to a location about twenty kilometers south of fledgling Eagle Town. In a southern ravine, the three of them saw a deep pit. The surrounding earth had been moved there by Rhett using his earth magic.

    "Lord Rhett, is the Fire Pattern Mine down there? How deep is it?"

    "Forty meters," Rhett replied calmly.

    "What? Forty meters?" Andre and Leonid eximed in unison, their shock evident.

    "At forty meters, we''ll need to build a passage down and install tracks and mine carts..." Andre muttered, still thinking in terms of traditional mining methods.

    "No need for all that," Rhett shook his head.

    What happened next left Andre and Leonid in awe. Rhett, standing on the reddish-brown earth with his staff in hand, concentrated his mental power, and the ground began to tremble slightly. Then,rge amounts of soil started to rise and float to other locations.

    Rhett could currently control an area of about one hundred square meters at a time, making the scene before Andre and Leonid quite spectacr.

    "Earth mages are truly powerful!" Andre and Leonid exchanged nces, both marveling at the sight.

    They quickly retreated fifty meters, not wanting to interfere with Rhett''s spellcasting.

    Time passed, and after three hours, the ground to Rhett''s right had umted into a five-hundred-square-meter mound, with its highest point reaching over twenty meters.

    "Ah..." Rhett exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Even as a Level 3 mage, the task had been taxing. He had already meditated several times to restore his depleted mental power and now needed to rest again.

    But before meditating, he beckoned to the two men who had retreated a distance away and called out, "You cane over now. The Fire Pattern Mine is exposed."

    Andre and Leonid, who had been watching the entire time, felt a renewed surge of energy as they ran over. However, standing at the edge of the forty-meter-deep pit, they couldn''t help but widen their eyes in shock.

    "A mine this deep was turned into an open-pit mine by the lord... Incredible!" Andre said with genuine admiration.

    "There''s a slope on the eastern side. You can go down from there and assess the ore reserves," Rhett instructed, closing his eyes to rest.

    "No problem, Lord Rhett!" the two men responded in unison.

    Half an hourter, after Rhett had meditated and recovered, he began adjusting the vertical walls around the mine. After all, a forty-meter-deep pit would make it too difficult for future miners to transport the Fire Pattern Ore. He needed to transform the vertical walls into a gentler slope.

    Before long, Leonid and Andre returned, each carrying a roughly one-meter-diameter, irregrly shaped piece of ore. Their faces were filled with joy as they reported to Rhett, "Lord Rhett, after a brief inspection, we estimate that this is a small mine, with reserves of about 20,000 to 50,000 tons. It''s not very rich, but it will more than meet the needs of our town."

    "20,000 to 50,000 tons... That''s about 2,000 to 5,000 kilograms," Rhett calcted mentally. He knew they wouldn''t be able to use that much ore. By the beginning of next year, he could sell most of the mined ore to the front lines. Not only would it bring in a substantial profit, but it would also help supply the military¡ªa win-win situation!

    He reached out and touched the ore Andre was holding, feeling its warmth.

    ...@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 103: Karina is Pregnant

    "Master, may we take these two pieces of Fire Pattern Ore back to the cksmith shop?" Leonid asked expectantly. "We n to use it as a recement for wood as fuel for forging tools in the future. I believe that using Fire Pattern Ore to ensure a constant and stable fire will reduce the likelihood of forging mistakes."

    "Of course, no problem!" Rhett responded casually. "But be mindful¡ªthe mes generated by the Fire Pattern Ore burn hotter than ordinary fire, so you must carefully control how much ore you add to the furnace."

    "Understood!"

    "With good fuel, I expect you to produce results," Rhett said, his gaze sweeping across the two of them as he assigned them a task. "My trainees need some mid-grade longswords, and this shouldn''t be too difficult for you."

    Andre patted his chest confidently. "A small task, leave it to us!"

    ...

    In the following days, Rhett continued modifying the area around the Fire Pattern Mine until he had shaped the surroundings into a gentle slope about a hundred meters wide. The extended distance made the slope barely noticeable. Now, all that remained was for the poption of the territory to increase before they could begin mining the Fire Pattern Ore.

    On the morning of July 16th, Rhett finished his meditation and slowly descended the stairs, recalling from the previous simtion that today was the day to arrange Thales'' marriage. A smile yed on his lips as he thought about how, once Thales was settled, all three of his sons would have their futures secured, leaving him with one less concern.

    Feeling content, Rhett made his way to the first-floor hall for breakfast as usual. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Ryley supporting Karina, bringing her before him. Karina had her head slightly lowered, one hand gently resting on her stomach, her expression shy. Rhett''s heart skipped a beat."Father, we have good news to share!" Ryley said excitedly, trying to contain his emotions, but Rhett could still sense the joy radiating from him.

    "Oh? What news could make you so happy?" Rhett pretended to be surprised, though he had already guessed the reason¡ªKarina was pregnant!

    "Karina is pregnant!" Ryley''s words confirmed Rhett''s suspicions. He gently took Karina''s left hand, looking at her with deep affection.

    Rhett realized his guess had been correct. Although the simtion had indicated that this event would ur on July 29th, it was only thirteen days earlier than predicted. This slight deviation didn''t seem significant to Rhett. Perhaps some small detail in reality had made a difference, leading to a few more intimate moments between the couple, resulting in this early pregnancy.

    "What? Karina is pregnant?" Before Rhett could respond, a surprised voice echoed from upstairs. Vanessa hurried down the stairs, her purple dress swishing as she moved. She stopped in front of Karina, ncing at her stomach in amazement. "Oh, what wonderful news to hear in the morning! Congrattions to both of you on this beautiful blessing. It looks like... Dick will have a close ymate in the future."

    At this moment, Rhett''s mind shifted to the system panel, where two question marks confirmed that Karina was indeed carrying twins. A genuine smile spread across his face as he ced a hand on both Ryley and Karina''s shoulders. "Thank you both for bringing new life to the Green family. Our family grows stronger because of you."

    Soon after, Tucker and Thales joined them, and upon hearing the news of Karina''s pregnancy, they also offered their congrattions. Even the breakfast that morning was filled with an atmosphere of joy.

    Later that morning, Rhett was conducting his usual magic training at the training ground when Sveta hurried over with news. "Master, Lord Roy from Maplewood Town hase to visit you. The guards ryed the message that they have already reached the town gates and should be on their way to Deep Rock Castle."

    Rhett feigned surprise, muttering to himself, "Roy? What could bring him here at this time? Could it be rted to Thales?"

    "Master, should I prepare avish luncheon? If so, I''ll send someone to Sun Lake to catch some fresh seafood and have Chef Maru start preparations," Sveta suggested with a slight bow.

    "Yes, please do. Sir Roy is an important guest, and we must not be careless. Along with the seafood, have someone gather some mushrooms from Thorn Forest as well," Rhett instructed after a moment of thought.

    "Understood, Master."

    As the convoy from Maplewood Town came into view, the white banners bearing arge red maple leaf fluttered in the wind. The convoy soon arrived at the manor''s entrance and stopped. Rhett greeted them with a smile, saying, "It''s been a while, Sir Roy. The red maple syrup I tasted at your cest time still lingers in my memory."

    Roy dismounted and enthusiastically approached Rhett, giving him a warm hug. "Sir Rhett, it''s only been a few months, and I''ve already heard the news of your promotion to Viscount. It was quite a surprise! I heard it had something to do with your sessful elimination of an evil alchemy organization?"

    Rhett remained calm and did not deny it. "Indeed, Sir Roy. Let us discuss it more inside the castle."

    Roy nodded and then called out to the carriage behind him, "Mina, it''s time toe out."

    The carriage''s curtain lifted, and a petite young woman in a beige dress stepped out, positioning herself shyly behind Roy. She greeted softly, "Hello, Sir Rhett."

    This must be Thales'' partner¡ªMina. Rhett observed her closely. She had long ck hair and a delicate appearance, though she seemed a bit introverted. However, that suited Thales quite well. Smiling, he said, "Mina, you are a lovely youngdy."

    In the first-floor hall of Deep Rock Castle, Rhett briefly recounted the story of the evil alchemy organization''s eradication, though in a more simplified version. Roy listened in amazement, sipping tea as he remarked, "Remarkable. I suspected back in Maplewood Town that Sir Rhett''sbat abilities were extraordinary, and this certainly proves my hunch correct!"

    Mina, who had apanied Roy, was indeed as quiet as described in the simtion. She spoke very little throughout the conversation, though she seemed captivated by Rhett''s story. Her eyes sparkled as she involuntarily praised him, "What an incredible tale, Sir Rhett. You''re truly amazing. A retired soldier who saved my father, eradicated evildoers, and earned a promotion... You would be the protagonist in a novel!"

    Rhett found this amusing and chuckled. "Haha, how could I be a novel''s protagonist? The real protagonists are always highly talented. At my age, if I were a protagonist, I''d be at least a Grand Mage by now."

    "Don''t take it to heart, Sir Rhett," Royughed, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "My little daughter may not speak much, but she loves reading novels and hearing all kinds of exciting stories. In this regard, she and Thales should get along quite well..."

    With that, Roy turned his gaze expectantly to Rhett, as if waiting for his response.

    "Hmm... that''s true. I''ve also heard about the close rtionship between Thales and Mina. It seems they often exchange story plots," Rhett remarked, following the thread of the conversation.

    Hearing their fathers discuss the matter so openly, Mina blushed and lowered her head, nibbling on a piece of cake.

    "Mina!" A familiar voice suddenly called out, causing Mina to look up abruptly. She saw the figure she had been thinking about¡ªThales, who had hurried down the stairs. He approached the table and sat beside Rhett, directly across from Mina.

    His face beamed with joy. "Today really is a good day, Mina! You actually came!"

    Mina was equally thrilled to see Thales, but knowing the purpose of her father''s visit, she felt a bit shy and lowered her head again.

    Seeing this, Roy nced at his daughter''s bashful expression, then at Thales, and said with a smile, "Thales, it seems your rtionship with Mina is very deep. She''s been mentioning you to me every day for months."

    "I''m honored because Mina and I are truly in love," Thales replied sincerely and confidently. Although he was usually introverted, he was not timid. When the situation called for it, he would not hesitate to step forward.

    Rhett looked at Thales with pride. Since his youngest son had bravely expressed his feelings, as a father, he felt it was time to take action. He turned to Sir Roy and said, "I''ve long noticed how much Thales cares for Mina. Since we agreed to bring them together, and now that they''re so in sync, why not settle their marriage today?"

    "That sounds perfect!" Roy''s face lit up with a smile, and he quickly added, "Sir Rhett, in that case, why not also set a date for the wedding?"

    "Hmm... the sooner, the better. How about the 8th of next month?"

    "No problem," Roy agreed without hesitation.

    ...

    Time flew by, and soon it was the end of July. On the night of July 29th, the warm glow of the firece in Deep Rock Castle''s fifth-floor hall created a cozy atmosphere. Rhett and Ryley sat across from each other. Rhett, leaning back in a soft chair with a teacup in hand, listened quietly to Ryley''s report. Although Rhett was the lord, it was Ryley who usually handled the day-to-day affairs and finances of fledgling Eagle Town. When Rhett remained silent, Ryley had the highest authority.

    Holding a list in his hand, Ryley reported calmly, "Father, as of 9 p.m. tonight, we can confirm that 103 refugees have sought refuge in our territory. Seventy-one are men, and thirty-two are women. Thirty-nine of theme from the same vige¡ªRed Pine Vige, which was persecuted by the evil alchemy organization three years ago. These people were away farming in distant fields at the time and avoided the danger. Forty-one others are from Fima Vige, with a simr situation. The remaining twenty-three are either scattered refugees or people from viges that were also persecuted."

    He continued, "Among them are eight carpenters, one tailor, and two stonemasons, with the rest being ordinary refugees."

    As Ryley spoke, his gaze towards his father was filled with admiration. He had once tried various methods to increase the poption of the territory, but with little sess. Yet, his father''s actions had effortlessly attracted arge number of people. Although only a little over a hundred had arrived so far, after learning the reasons behind their migration, Ryley was confident that many more would follow. He had heard that the evil alchemy organization had harmed countless people and viges. It was likely that even now, people were on their way to seek refuge in fledgling Eagle Town. This first wave of arrivals was just the beginning, and more would soon follow.

    Rhett took the list from Ryley, nced at it, and slowly said, "Of course, we should wee these people into our territory."@@novelbin@@

    "And as the territory expands, it''s also time to establish a few more viges. The carpenters among this group can be assigned to the lumber mill and help with the construction of the new viges."

    Ryley thought for a moment before responding, "Indeed, there is a need to establish new viges. I suggest cing them around the Fire Pattern Mine and Sun Lake, focusing on fishing and mining industries."

    Hearing Ryley''s thoughts align with his own, Rhett felt gratified and nodded approvingly. "Not just those two areas¡ªthere''s also thend around Thorn Forest, which is ideal for forestry and training rangers."

    "Oh?" Ryley''s eyes lit up as he immediately added, "That makes sense. I''ve been to Thorn Forest several times with Breg over the past few months, and I''ve be more familiar with the area. The terrain and environment there are indeed perfect for ranger training!"

    "The only challenge now is managing these viges," Ryley said thoughtfully. "These three locations are rtively far from fledgling Eagle Town. I can manage fledgling Eagle Town, but traveling back and forth to these other locations daily wouldn''t be practical. Therefore, I believe we should appoint dedicated managers for each vige. For financial matters, we can establish a system with bookkeepers and tax collectors, and I''ll periodically review the ounts."

    "Florano can serve as the vige chief for Thorn Forest. His extensive experience in wilderness survival and understanding of the forest makes him the perfect candidate for that role," Rhett suggested, naming Florano as the first candidate.

    "That makes sense," Ryley agreed without hesitation.

    "As for the vige chief of the Fire Pattern Mine, we need to decide on someone soon. For now, we should find someone reliable and obedient. I''ll handle the nning and system design; they just need to implement it."

    Rhett already had a suitable candidate in mind¡ªhis oldrade, Wydis. Having survived many battles together, they knew and trusted each other deeply.

    ...

 Chapter 104: The Alchemist Arrives Early

    In addition to their past battlefield experiences, where they had entrusted their lives to each other, Rhett and Wydis shared an unshakable bond of trust. Wydis, being a Level 2 Knight, would naturally be a perfect candidate to serve as the chief of a vige. Unfortunately, as mentioned in the simtion, Wydis wouldn''t retire until the first half of next year, so Rhett would have to wait another six months before Wydis could assist him.

    "No problem, Father," Ryley agreed, taking the teacup from his father''s hand and refilling it with tea. Then, he posed another question: "Father, while it''s clear that more people will eventuallye to seek refuge with us, so far, we''ve only seen a little over a hundred neers. How should we allocate them? Should they be integrated into fledgling Eagle Town, or should they be sent to the newly established viges? And in what order should we establish these viges?"

    Rhett had already considered this and replied, "First, we will establish the Fire Mine Vige. Young and able-bodied men should be prioritized for this location. Once the poption there reaches 200, we can begin setting up Thorn Vige. As for Water Vige, there''s no rush. The aquatic magical beasts in theke aren''t abundant yet. We need to wait for them to reproduce and their poption to grow before we consider fishing. For ordinary people, fishing with magical beasts present would be too dangerous. Therefore, we''ll wait until we have more knights before constructing Water Vige."

    Ryley''s eyes lit up with understanding. "I see, Father. I''ll start making arrangements for this tomorrow."

    "Since we have a n, I''ll leave this matter in your hands," Rhett said. As the lord, he had no intention of micromanaging every detail, especially now that the territory was rapidly expanding. Therger the domain, the more he needed to focus on overseeing the big picture from the highest vantage point. Handling every specific task himself would be both inefficient and exhausting.

    In his view, a territory''s ruler should focus on nning and personnel management. Ensuring that the ns are implemented and the system has no loopholes was sufficient.

    The next morning, the strong autumn wind howled through the air. The trees, flowers, and grass danced wildly in response to nature''s call, while the leaves hummed a soft, rustling tune. On the gray stone avenue, Sveta was feeling frustrated. He plucked a golden leaf that had stuck to his face and tossed it into the roadside bushes. This was the seventh time he''d been "teased" by the swirling leaves on his way back along the avenue.

    "Oh, this cursed weather," Sveta muttered as he reached the manor''s gate, supporting himself against the outer wall. Just then, he spotted Rhett emerging from Deep Rock Castle after breakfast. He waved and called out, "Good morning, Master."

    Though the wind muffled his voice, Rhett''s keen senses picked up every word. However, upon seeing Sveta struggling against the wind, Rhett couldn''t help but smile. Sveta''s hair was blown back, revealing his high forehead, and the dark, thin scarf around his neck was nearly parallel to the ground. Deciding to help, Rhett concentrated his mental energy and adjusted the wind element around Sveta.Suddenly, Sveta felt the wind ease up, making his steps lighter. The annoying gusts seemed to move away from him. Looking around, he noticed that the nts in the manor''s garden were still being battered by the wind, and the howling noise persisted in his ears. He realized it must be his master''s doing and hurried over to Rhett, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Master, for your magical assistance!"

    "It was nothing," Rhett replied casually, smiling. "Sveta, it''s quite windy today. You should wear a hat to protect your hair. If you look in a mirror now, you''ll see it looks like a broomstick."

    Sveta chuckled along with Rhett''s yfulment, adjusting his hair with his hand. "I didn''t expect such terrible weather today, and unfortunately, my hat is still drying after being washed yesterday."

    "That scarf looks nice, though. It''s well-made. I haven''t seen you wear it before. Did Debbie make it for you?" Rhett asked.

    "No, Master. It was a gift from Maru a few days ago. She said the weather would be getting colder," Sveta replied with augh, ncing down at the scarf.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Chef Maru? I didn''t know she had such a skill besides cooking. Impressive... You should make the most of this opportunity."

    "Master, I got up early today and went to town. I heard that overnight and into the morning, another dozen refugees arrived," Sveta reported, seeming to avoid thetter part of Rhett''s remark.

    Rhett nodded, expecting this news. He was about to continue teasing Sveta about Maru when another voice interrupted them.

    "Father, another dozen refugees have arrived?" Ryley stepped out of the castle, his blue coat whipping in the wind. "What strong winds today," he remarked before calming the air around him with his control over the wind element.

    Seeing this, Rhett decided to drop the previous conversation and instead asked, "I''m heading to town. Would you like to join me?"

    "That was my n, too. I was already intending to go to town," Ryley replied, watching the golden leaves swirling in the wind and feeling a sense of joy.

    Upon arriving in fledgling Eagle Town, Rhett immediately noticed a change. There were many unfamiliar faces, some dressed in tattered clothes, suggesting they had fallen on hard times. Others were better dressed, apanied by their families and pulling carts loaded with belongings. Currently, the town had only one small inn, which could barely amodate thirty people. The overflow of new arrivals had set up temporary shelters around the central square.

    With the influx of people, the training ground''s instructors and trainees had paused their regr activities to help maintain order and enhance security in town. Despite the diverse crowd, Rhett had not heard of any conflicts or disturbances, which he attributed to the fact that most of the neers were drawn by his reputation for eliminating the evil alchemy organization and were genuinely grateful. This had likely reduced the chances of troublemakers sneaking in.

    However, even if some had managed to infiltrate, Rhett was unconcerned. He had the means to deal with them if necessary, though he preferred to avoid unnecessaryplications.

    As Rhett and Ryley approached the central square, the refugees seated in the makeshift shelters noticed their arrival. The middle-aged man walking in front of the group, exuding a noble demeanor, made them suspect his identity.

    "Good morning, Lord Rhett!" called out Shirin, Tader, Kurs, Florano, and Laurene, who were stationed at the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest corners of the square. Seeing Rhett''s arrival, they all approached to greet him.

    "Thank you for your hard work, guarding day and night," Rhett replied with a smile.

    Seeing this, the refugees, who had been sheltering from the wind, began emerging from their tents, moving towards Rhett.

    "Please stop there!" Tadermanded.

    The four training ground instructors stood resolutely in front of Rhett, blocking the crowd. The refugees halted five meters away, looking at Rhett with expressions of excitement. It seemed they had nned this beforehand, as they exchanged nces and then knelt down in unison, shouting:

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett, for avenging us!"

    "My homnd was destroyed by those people. Thank you, Lord Rhett, for capturing the culprits!"

    "Lord Rhett has saved us. We pledge to follow you and help build thisnd into a beautiful home!"

    "Lord Rhett, I wish to serve you for the rest of my life!"

    ...

    Though there were only a few dozen people, their passionate cries of gratitude formed a powerful chorus, drowning out the autumn chill.

    Rhett felt warmth in his heart as he addressed the crowd. "Everyone, justice will always prevail. As a noble of the Kingdom of Ginlon, it is my duty to punish evil alchemists. I understand that you havee to fledgling Eagle Town seeking refuge, and it is fortunate that we are currently weing new residents. I am pleased that you wish to join us. However, I must emphasize that there must be rules. Everyone whoes here must be prepared to follow fledgling Eagle Town''s regtions and work hard to contribute to our shared home. In return, those who abide by thew and work diligently will be protected and can live here in peace."

    As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in cheers:

    "Long live Lord Rhett!"

    "Long live Lord Rhett!"

    ...

    Rhett''s speech had sessfully won over the crowd, sparking even greater enthusiasm. With a satisfied smile, Rhett gestured for Ryley to approach. "Bring some food from the castle to distribute to these neers."

    Having witnessed the scene firsthand, Ryley, along with the four instructors, couldn''t help but look at Rhett with admiration. "Don''t worry, I''ve already arranged for a food cart to be brought here," Ryley assured him.@@novelbin@@

    "Excellent. I trust your judgment."

    Ryley stayed behind in the central square, overseeing the selection of able-bodied men for the Fire Mine Vige. Meanwhile, Rhett began his usual inspection of the town.

    An hourter, as the wind began to die down, Rhett prepared to visit the East Eagle Logging Camp to discuss the construction of the new viges with Coudine. However, just as he was about to leave, he sensed a mage approaching from a hundred meters away. Pausing in his tracks, Rhett''s eyes widened in surprise as he murmured to himself, "A Level 2 mage? Could it be the alchemist mentioned in the simtion? It couldn''t be anyone else at this time."

    With that thought, Rhett headed towards the town gate, pondering, "So, he arrived seven days early? This change is unexpected..."

    As Rhett walked, he wondered why the alchemist had arrived ahead of schedule. By all ounts, they had no prior connection.

    "What changes did I make that influenced his arrival?" Rhett mused as he approached the gate.

    Rounding a corner, Rhett saw Lawrence and Ackerman questioning a man in a patterned robe.

    "Lawrence, Ackerman, let him through," Rhett called out calmly, standing by a flowerbed with one hand behind his back.

    "Yes, Lord Rhett," the two replied in unison, then turned to the mage. "You may pass. Lord Rhett wishes to speak with you."

    Henk''s eyes brightened as he thanked them and quickly stepped through fledgling Eagle Town''s gates. He had noticed Rhett''smanding presence the moment he emerged from around the corner. Though he couldn''t gauge Rhett''s strength, the vast mental energy surrounding him acted like an imprable wall, confirming that Rhett was a Level 3 mage. In fledgling Eagle Town, there was only one person who could fit that description¡ªits lord.

    With a sense of excitement, Henk, carrying arge bag and pulling a small cart with a five-cubic-meter box, approached Rhett and said with joy, "I have finally met you, Lord Rhett!"

    "Wee, traveler from afar. I can sense that you''re different from the other refugees," Rhett remarked, feigning surprise as he studied the man.

    Henk touched the wand at his waist and introduced himself, "My name is Henk Boyle, and as you can see, I am a Level 2 mage."

    Up close, Rhett carefully observed the alchemist mentioned in the simtion. Henk appeared to be in his thirties. Reaching Level 2 as a mage while also devoting time to studying alchemy with considerable skill suggested he had a good deal of talent. However, a scar ran from the corner of his right eye to his temple, giving him a somewhat intimidating appearance. But for Rhett, who had witnessed death and bathed in the blood of the battlefield, this didn''t faze him in the slightest.

    After a moment of contemtion, Rhett directly asked, "So, Mage Henk, what brings you to fledgling Eagle Town?"

    Henk''s excitement grew as he replied, "Thank you, Lord Rhett, for avenging me!"

    "Avenge you? Were you also a victim of the evil alchemy organization?" Rhett asked, pretending to be puzzled.

    "Yes!" Henk nodded vigorously, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Three years ago, members of that organization attacked my family in the middle of the night. My grandparents and parents were all killed by them. Only my younger brother and I managed to escape. This scar on my eye is a reminder of that night."

    Rhett''s expression turned somber as he sympathized, "Those people deserved their fate."

    Henk nodded in agreement, "Deserved, indeed! Thanks to you, I was able to fulfill my three-year quest for revenge! I havee to fledgling Eagle Town with only one purpose¡ªto be your follower. Please, ept my request!"

    cing a hand over his heart, Henk sincerely dered, "Lord Rhett, I am also a Level 2 alchemist. Joining your territory will surely be of great help!"

    ...

 Chapter 105: Alchemical Plans

    Rhett''s eyes gleamed with interest as he listened to Henk''s sincere words. Desperate for capable individuals to join his ranks, Rhett couldn''t afford to be coy. He looked into Henk''s eyes and ced a hand on his shoulder. "Fledgling Eagle Town needs talented people like you, Henk. Wee to ourmunity!"

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett. I pledge to serve you faithfully," Henk responded with a respectful tone. "May the glory of Fledgling Eagle Town endure!"

    Rhett smiled. "It seems that the eagle has gained another splendid feather!"

    With Henk''s arrival, Rhett decided to postpone his visit to the logging camp to speak with Coudine. Instead, he nned to take Henk to Deep Rock Castle''s main keep. Typically, newly recruited knights would be amodated in the secondary keep, but given Henk''s special status as a Level 2 alchemist, it was more fitting for him to stay in the main keep where the alchemicalboratory was located. This would also make it easier for Henk to mentor Ryley and Thales in alchemy.

    As they made their way to Deep Rock Castle, Rhett conversed with Henk, learning more about him. He soon discovered why Henk had arrived earlier than expected. It turned out that after Count Nilo returned to Twilight City, he immediately posted a public notice about the destruction of the evil alchemy organization. Henk, who was then working as an alchemical pharmacist at "Annie''s Alchemy Hut," heard the news and quickly resigned from his position to head to Fledgling Eagle Town.

    Rhett pondered, "Could it be that in the previous simtion, Count Nilo didn''t spread the news as quickly upon his return to Twilight City? And in this reality, he announced it almost immediately?"

    Rhett couldn''t quite figure out the discrepancy, but since it didn''t seem to have any negative impact, he decided not to dwell on it.

    In the first-floor hall of the castle, Sveta was busy polishing Rhett''s crystal goblets with a clean white silk cloth, ensuring they were spotless. He noticed Rhett and Henk entering and hurried to greet them. "Wee back, Master. Would you like me to prepare some refreshments?"

    As he spoke, Sveta''s eyes fell on the man following Rhett. The scarred face didn''t fit the image of a noble, nor did he seem like a new servant. Sveta''s curiosity piqued; this was the first time Rhett had brought someone like this into the castle, so the man must hold some special status.Rhett waved his hand. "No need for refreshments. Let me introduce you to someone. This is Henk, a newly joined Level 2 mage and an experienced Level 2 alchemist."

    "Henk will be staying in the main keep from now on," Rhett continued, stepping aside to reveal Henk. "Sveta, please prepare a room for him on the fourth floor and ensure he has all the necessary provisions."

    Sveta was momentarily taken aback, but noticing the mage''s staff at Henk''s waist, he immediatelyposed himself. "Wee, mysterious alchemist. You''ve made a wise decision in joining us. I''m sure you won''t regret it!"

    Sveta held Rhett in such high regard that he believed anyone fortunate enough to serve under him was truly blessed.

    Rhett then led Henk to the fourth floor to show him the alchemyb. As they ascended the stairs, Rhett asked casually, "You mentioned earlier that you have a brother. Why didn''t you bring him along? We can provide him with afortable life here."

    "Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Rhett," Henk replied as he used wind magic to lighten the load of his baggage. "My brother, Felix, is five years younger than me. After we escaped from the evil alchemy organization, we swore to avenge our family. However, our paths diverged. Felix wanted to go to the capital, where he could ess greater resources and make influential connections. I chose to stay here, biding my time and investigating the people who betrayed our family. We agreed that our goals weren''t mutually exclusive¡ªhe would pursue opportunities in the capital, while I continued my work here."

    Rhett nodded, impressed by their determination. "You two make a strong team, and your brother is brave to venture to the capital alone. Has he returned in recent years?"

    "He came back two years ago. He''s now part of an alchemical organization in the capital and is doing fairly well. My brother and I have simr talents, both in magic and alchemy. If he returns, I''ll tell him that our revenge isplete and try to convince him to stay here," Henk said with a hint of nostalgia. He had only his brother left in this world and didn''t want them to be separated forever.

    "Does he know you''vee to Fledgling Eagle Town?"

    "No, but I informed a mutual friend before I left. If my brother returns, he can learn of my whereabouts through him."

    "Well, I hope you and your brother are reunited soon," Rhett said with a smile, secretly hoping that Henk''s brother, also an alchemist, would eventually join them.

    When they reached the alchemyb, Henk was surprised to find the equipment so well-stocked. He unpacked his own alchemical instruments, cing them on an empty table, and remarked, "I didn''t expect theb here to be so well-equipped, even better than what I brought with me. There''s enough here to support seven or eight people working simultaneously."

    Rhett hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. "To be truthful, these instruments were seized from the evil alchemy organization. However, these are just tools, and given the harm those people caused, think of it as them repaying their debt."

    Henk paused, ncing around the room before sighing. "You''re right, Lord Rhett. The crimes of individuals shouldn''t be med on the tools they used."

    Rhett was pleased with Henk''s pragmatic outlook. "I''m d you see it that way. Henk, I n to appoint you as the head of the alchemyb. You''ll be responsible for all alchemical work here, including potion-making and training new alchemists."

    "You can count on me, Lord Rhett," Henk responded with a bow.

    "What low-grade potions can you currently make? I need to know so I can gather the necessary ingredients," Rhett inquired.

    After a moment''s thought, Henk replied, "Lord Rhett, I can produce any type of low-grade potion. My sess rate for antidotes, healing potions, and poisons is around seventy percent. For Boiling Potions, it''s about fifty percent, and for Moonlight Potions, it''s around forty percent."@@novelbin@@

    He added, "In other words, I can make a profit from most low-grade potions, but Boiling Potions and Moonlight Potions are a bit riskier. Of course, if we grow our own magical nts, it would reduce costs."

    Rhett nodded thoughtfully. While he understood Henk''s point, he wanted to rify a few things. "Henk, you''re familiar with the forms for Moonlight Potions and Boiling Potions, correct? Can you list the magical nts required for each so I can arrange for their procurement?"

    Henk nodded. "Of course, but let me rify something. The forms aren''t as simple as requiring a fixed number of nts. Alchemical potions aren''t just made bybining a bunch of nts together. The key is extracting the essence, or condensate, from the nts. For example, if a nt yields one unit of condensate, a potion might only require half a unit. So, using the number of nts as a measure isn''t precise. The condensate is the true measure."

    Rhett nodded in understanding, recalling that Ryley had mentioned something simr earlier. Hearing it from Henk gave him further insight.

    Henk continued, "That being said, for convenience, I can estimate the number of nts needed for each form. With my skill, I can extract nearly one hundred percent of the condensate. For example, to make Moonlight Potions, I would need about twenty-one Ice Crystal Lilies as the main ingredient, along with seven Rockberry fruits, one Wind Chime Grass, and two Three-Leaf Sparklings, among others..."

    As Henk listed the ingredients, Rhett mentally tallied the supplies in his storage. Most of the required nts were in stock, including Ice Crystal Lilies, of which there were over two hundred¡ªenough for about ten Moonlight Potions.

    Satisfied with his calctions, Rhett said, "Henk, I''d like you to prioritize making Moonlight Potions and Boiling Potions. We have some of the necessary ingredients, though we''re missing a few minor ones. I''ll arrange for them to be purchased, and they should arrive within two weeks."

    "Understood, Lord Rhett. I''m ready to start as soon as the materials are avable. If you have any other requests, feel free to let me know," Henk replied, already setting up his equipment.

    "Thank you for your hard work."

    Seeing that Henk was fully engrossed in his preparations, Rhett decided to leave him to it.

    As Rhett stepped out of the corridor, ready to head downstairs, he was met by an excited Thales, who was practically bouncing up the stairs. "Father, I just heard from Sveta that a Level 2 alchemist has joined us!"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, that''s true. Do you want to meet him?"

    "Yes, Father, I''d like to talk to him!"

    Rhett considered it briefly. Since Thales only wanted to chat, there was no harm in letting him. "Very well, but remember that bing an apprentice mage is the foundation for alchemical studies."

    "I understand, Father!" Thales replied, his excitement tempered with determination.

    As Thales hurried past him, Rhett continued down the stairs and returned to fledgling Eagle Town.

    At the central square, Ryley was waiting, apanied by an older man with graying hair. Seeing Rhett approach, they both stepped forward.

    "Father, this is Jovan, my former steward. He retired two years ago due to a back injury, but he has experience managing the town''s agricultural affairs. I n to appoint him as the temporary vige chief of Fire Mine Vige," Ryley exined.

    "Lord Rhett, it''s an honor to meet you," Jovan said nervously, unable to meet Rhett''s gaze.

    Rhett sized up the middle-aged man before speaking. "If you''ve managed the town before, you should have the necessary experience. I hope you can maintain order in Fire Mine Vige. When I''m not around, follow Ryley''s instructions."

    Jovan''s face lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Lord Rhett. I will do my utmost to fulfill this responsibility."

    Rhett smiled and turned to Ryley. "Jovan''s sry will be ten silver coins per month."

    "Understood, Father."

    Jovan was visibly thrilled. Ten silver coins¡ªa sum five times what he earned as a steward¡ªwas beyond his expectations. More importantly, bing a vige chief was a great honor, making him the highest-ranking member of his family in history.

    After sending Jovan off to prepare for the move, Ryley turned to his father with a puzzled expression. "Father, I noticed an unfamiliar mage apanying you to the castle earlier. Who is he?"

    "Ah, I was just about to tell you. That man is a Level 2 mage and also a Level 2 alchemist. From now on, you can consult him with any alchemical questions you have."

    Ryley''s eyes lit up with excitement. "That''s wonderful! I''ve been struggling with some alchemical problems, and now I finally have someone who can help!"

    Two weekster, a light mist covered the ground as Rhett rode Greygor to Fire Mine Vige. During this time, Rhett had refrained from sending Ryley to conduct trade, so the discovery of the Fire Pattern Mine hadn''t spread. Naturally, this meant that Viscount Bolton and his daughter, Rylis, hadn''t made their anticipated visit.

    ...

 Chapter 106: The Counts Eldest Daughter

    Rhett couldn''t help but feel a bit regretful. After all, that rogue, Rylis, had been targeting his youngest son for quite some time now. Even after he had been promoted to Viscount, in thest simtion, she still had the audacity to flirt with Thales. That was unforgivable! If children are not properly disciplined, it is the fault of the father. Missing the chance to thoroughly reprimand Viscount Bolton was a bit of a disappointment for Rhett¡­ He would just have to find another opportunity in the future.

    As Rhett reined in his horse, he approached a roughly constructed yellow wooden fence. Dismounting, he tied Greygoat to a nearby post and walked into Fire Mine Vige, his boots crunching along a twenty-meter-wide dirt road. Houses lined the road, stretching out for hundreds of meters. At a nce, the vige was beginning to take shape.@@novelbin@@

    Although the initial n was to prioritize the relocation of strong maleborers to Fire Mine Vige, some had brought their families, including the elderly and children. As a result, during the day, while the men worked in the mines, the vige was left mostly quiet, inhabited only by children, women, and the elderly.

    A rooster crowed in the distance. A woman hurried out from a nearby alley, scooping up arge red rooster. Dressed in a loose gray linen gown, she bowed apologetically, her expression filled with panic. "I''m sorry, Lord Rhett, my chicken disturbed you!"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow and softly replied, "Free-range chickens taste better. It''s good for them to roam around, but make sure to keep them in the coop next time."

    "Yes, Lord Rhett!" the woman responded, patting her chest in relief before hurrying off with the rooster in her arms.

    Walking to the end of the main road in Fire Mine Vige, Rhett observed a group of carpenters bustling between piles of lumber and the ongoing construction of wooden houses. Coudine was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the vige chief, Jovan, seemingly deep in conversation.

    "Coudine, how''s the construction of the wooden houses progressing?" Rhett called out from behind.

    Coudine straightened up and approached Rhett, greeting him respectfully. "Good morning, esteemed Lord Rhett!"Noticing the dark circles under Coudine''s eyes, Rhett remarked, "It seems you''ve been working hard these past few days, Coudine. Take care of your health. When I return, I''ll have Sveta send you some nourishing food."

    Coudine''s eyes reflected his gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Rhett. But honestly, seeing the vige take shape through our efforts fills me with a sense of aplishment."

    "Indeed, Coudine has been working tirelessly. I can vouch for that. He''s been putting in long hours to ensure the construction of Fire Mine Vige," Jovan added. As a beneficiary of the vige''s development, he also wanted to express his appreciation.

    "I''m pleased with the contributions you''ve made to my territory," Rhett said with a smile. "But I also care about the well-being of those who work hard for the territory. Based on the recent slowdown in poption influx, Coudine, it looks like you''ll have some downtime soon. There''s no rush with Thorn Vige, so I''m giving you a week''s vacation to rest and recover."

    Coudine was taken aback by the generosity. "Thank you, my lord, for your kindness!"

    After a brief conversation, Rhett left Fire Mine Vige, leaving Coudine and Jovan standing in silence for a moment. Jovan then pulled two eggs from his pocket and handed them to Coudine. "I can''t thank you enough for your hard work these past two weeks. My family raises several chickens. Every time you visit, you''ll have as many eggs as you want!"

    Coudine hesitated for a moment, then epted the dirty eggs with a smile. "Thank you!"

    ¡­

    Returning to Deep Rock Castle, Rhett went straight to his room instead of making any other stops. Sitting at his desk, he reflected on the past two weeks. Most of the tasks he needed toplete were done. Thales and Mina''s wedding had taken ce at the beginning of the month, and only a few days after the ceremony, Mina was already expecting a child. Ryley''stest caravan had also returned, bringing not only a small batch of ores but also the auxiliary magical nts needed for Henk to craft Moonlight Potions.

    "Next on the agenda is the hunting n for the Darkfeather Eagle offshoot," Rhett muttered as he gazed out at the foggyndscape. He also needed to use a simtion to test Henk''s loyalty. The matters of the Snow Elf and Thales bing a mage through the bloodline potion had been kept secret from him. However, not revealing this information might hinder future alchemical progress. And even if he didn''t disclose it, a Level 2 mage living in Deep Rock Castle might eventually notice something unusual about the growth of the magical nts.

    It would be simpler to reveal the truth in a simtion and verify the oue. With that thought, Rhett focused his consciousness and activated the system.

    "Yes, simte one year."

    Bang! Bang! Rhett mmed his fists on the table in anger, his fury rising as the name Windmill Town appeared once again! He hated traitors the most! And for his enemy to be a traitor only deepened that hatred!

    Taking a deep breath, Rhett sipped some blueberry juice to calm himself before analyzing the situation. "ording to thest few lines of the simtion, it seems Gaspar has colluded with the orcs? In any case, betraying his own forces is a certainty!"

    But then Rhett''s eyes narrowed as he looked out at the bright moon. "If Gaspar did ally with the orcs, how did he coincidentally stumble upon three Bloodmoon Werewolves?"

    The more he thought about it, the more Rhett felt something was off. But from such a brief simtion, he couldn''t glean much more information.

    Anger aside, Rhett chose not to dwell on it excessively. After all, it was just a simted future. By the time that day came, who knew how much the course of events would have changed?

    Shaking off those thoughts, Rhett focused on another peculiar aspect of the simtion: Count Nilo''s eldest daughter, Karen, a charming widow, seemed to be interested in him. Not only did she visit him unannounced, but she even hinted at wanting a night of passion¡­

    Rhett shook his head. While he was well aware of the debauchery among nobles, he wasn''t that kind of person. He couldn''t ept such indulgences. It was a matter of respect for Nicole, histe wife. Even if their roles were reversed, he believed Nicole wouldn''t have been so unrestrained either.

    Moreover, Rhett never fully trusted Karen. Why did something that hadn''t happened in thest simtion suddenly ur now? And with the subtle changes in Count Nilo''s behavior, Rhett couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss, even if he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.

    As a result, Rhett resolved to keep his distance from Karen in the future.

    Finally, Rhett hadn''t expected that his recent purchase of ores might have drawn the attention of a group of bandits. These were no ordinary bandits, either¡ªthey were brazen and bold! What surprised him even more was the reappearance of ckstar.

    Rhett''s expression turned strange. "Could it be that wherever there are viins, ckstar is sure to be nearby?"

    ¡­

 Chapter 107: Departure

    Through this simtion, Rhett could basically confirm that ckstar was backed by an organization. Otherwise, it would be hard to exin how he had such urate knowledge of the movements of evildoers. It would be nearly impossible for an individual to achieve this on their own¡ªsuch efficiency in locating criminals surely required a well-established informationwork.

    As he pondered this, Rhett felt even more perplexed. "If this organization is solely focused on capturing evildoers, does that mean everyone in it is as entric as ckstar?"

    Shaking his head to dispel the odd thoughts, Rhett downed his blueberry juice in one gulp and stretched. Despite the peculiarities, this simtion had been quite fruitful. The foresight he gained confirmed that Henk was trustworthy, so he could now confidently share the secrets of the Snow Elf and the bloodline potion with him.

    With that in mind, Rhett leisurely descended the stairs and headed to the alchemyboratory. At that moment, Ryley was diligently taking notes with a blue ink pen, his expression one of humble attentiveness as he listened intently. Henk stood by the alchemy table, gesturing toward a bubbling alchemical cauldron as he patiently exined the process.

    "I just talked about the fire control details for extracting essence in the Moonlight Potion. Now, let''s move on to how tobine the properties of the essences to achieve alchemical sublimation. First, add 420 grams of ice water to the cauldron. Then, using mental energy, control 20.5 units of Ice Crystal Lily essence and pour it over the ice water. Before the water temperature rises, add 6.2 units of Rock Bull Fruit essence. Simmer on low heat, and when the temperature reaches 30 degrees, begin to gradually blend the two essences with mental energy..."

    Ryley listened with rapt attention, asionally nodding thoughtfully as he made notes. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his father at the door. He set down his pen and said, "Father!"

    Henk noticed Rhett''s arrival as well. He stopped his lecture, extinguished the me under the cauldron, and walked to the door. "Good morning, Lord Rhett."

    "Good morning, Henk," Rhett replied with a smile. "I''m sorry to interrupt your alchemy lesson."

    "It''s no problem, Lord Rhett. Ryley is a very bright student¡ªhis memory andprehension are excellent, and he learns quickly. We won''t lose much time," Henk said with a smile.Ryley, standing nearby, added humbly, "You''re too kind, Mr. Henk. Your exnations are very clear!"

    Henk''s smile remained as he asked, "Is there a task you need me to handle, Lord Rhett?"

    "No, not a task, but there are some things I need to tell you. As the head of the alchemyb, this information might help you make decisions in the future."

    "Please, go ahead, my lord," Henk replied, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

    Rhett walked into the room and began speaking slowly, "Henk, as the most skilled alchemist in the territory, you need to know about the existence of the Snow Elf. It''s here, in my territory, and it has recognized Ryley as its master."

    Ryley, who was standing nearby, was initially surprised that his father had revealed this secret, but he quickly understood the reasoning and calmly added, "Yes, Mr. Henk, the Snow Elf is with me."

    The gravity of this revtion hit Henk hard. He shuddered, his eyes darting between Rhett and Ryley in disbelief. Swallowing hard, he asked, his voice shaky, "A... Snow Elf? The one-of-a-kind spirit of legend with miraculous abilities?"

    Ryley silently nodded in confirmation.

    Henk stood frozen, taking several minutes to process the news. When he finally recovered, his face lit up with anticipation. "Master Ryley, may I see the Snow Elf? I''m incredibly curious about such a legendary creature! They say spirits can take many forms¡ªsome are liquid, some gaseous, others resemble beasts, and some even take humanoid shapes... Is the Snow Elf shaped like a snowke?"

    Realizing he might be overstepping, Henk quickly added, "But please rest assured, Lord Rhett, Master Ryley¡ªI swear to keep the Snow Elf''s existence aplete secret. I won''t tell a soul!"

    Meeting Henk''s hopeful gaze, Ryley shook his head. "I''m sorry, Mr. Henk, but the Snow Elf is special. It only appears in winter. The rest of the time, it stays in hibernation. You''ll have to wait until winter to see it."@@novelbin@@

    "I see..." Henk said, nodding in understanding. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Master Ryley, I''ve heard that all spirits have unique abilities. May I ask what the Snow Elf can do?"

    "Of course. The Snow Elf can double the growth rate of water-type magical nts and water-type magical beasts," Ryley exined, emphasizing the spirit''s most significant ability. He then added, "It can also control the weather, lower temperatures, and bring snowfall, but those abilities are only avable during winter."

    Hearing that the growth rate of water-type magical nts could double, Henk''s excitement reignited. Controlling the weather and lowering temperatures didn''t interest him as much, but the ability to enhance nt growth was a massive boon for any alchemist.

    "Incredible!" Henk marveled, murmuring to himself. "No wonder it''s a spirit. Its abilities defymon understanding. I''m so curious about the source of its powers..."

    Rhett raised an eyebrow¡ªhe was curious about that too. But with his current level of power, it would be difficult to explore such mysteries.

    "So, with the Snow Elf''s abilities, wouldn''t it make sense to focus on cultivating water-type magical nts and then trade those for other types of magical nts?" Henk suggested after some thought.

    "That''s exactly what we''re doing. Most of the nts in our cultivation fields are water-type," Ryley confirmed.

    Henk nodded, excitement evident in his expression. "I know some well-connected alchemists. If we run into difficulties with nt trading, I can reach out to them for help."

    With that, Henk sat down at a small table near the wall, taking a bite of pale yellow cheese as he processed the shocking information about the Snow Elf.

    Just then, Rhett spoke again. "Henk, there''s one more thing you need to know."

    Henk blinked in surprise, wondering what else there could be. Could there be a second spirit?

    "The second matter concerns Thales. Although the outside world sees him as an ordinary person, he''s actually taken a bloodline potion. He may soon break through to be an apprentice mage. He''s passionate about alchemy, and when the timees, he will likely start learning from you."

    The news of Thales taking a bloodline potion was significant for a Viscount''s territory, butpared to the revtion of the Snow Elf, it seemed almost mundane. Henk took a deep breath, feeling less overwhelmed this time.

    Yet deep down, he felt he had chosen the right path. Snow Elves, bloodline potions¡ªeither of these could cause a massive stir if word got out. But Lord Rhett had shared these secrets with him without hesitation, showing deep trust. Henk was profoundly moved by this trust.

    Standing up, Henk bowed slightly. "Lord Rhett, I understand. Thank you for trusting me. I promise that everything I''ve learned today will stay with me¡ªI won''t mention it to anyone."

    "I believe you," Rhett said with a smile, patting Henk''s shoulder. He then added, "Tomorrow, I''m nning to take Tark, Ryley, and Thales to hunt in the Darkfeather Eagle''s territory. We''ll be away from the territory for two to three months. During that time, some of the magical nts in the cultivation fields will mature. I''m counting on you to take care of them."

    "Don''t worry, my lord. I''ll look after the nts," Henk assured him.

    Ryley, surprised by the news of another hunting trip, didn''t object. This was a rare opportunity for realbat experience, a chance to test the skills he''d honed through practice.

    For Rhett, the timing of this hunting trip was deliberate. In previous simtions where they didn''t hunt, Thales had broken through to apprentice mage status during this period. If they dyed the hunt until after that, their pace of umting Fate Points would slow significantly. After all, Dick, their youngest, was still just a year old¡ªhardly someone who could take down magical beasts.

    That evening, Rhett gathered his three sons for a brief family meeting. The next day, they set out for the Darkfeather Eagle''s territory.

    In the vast ins, Rhett rode atop Greygoat, watching Ryley ahead of him on Whitegoat. A trace of envy crossed his mind. He wanted to ride a magical beast too¡ªnot just an ordinary horse.

    "When will I finally be able to ride an eagle into the sky..." he thought wistfully.

    "Whitegoat, slow down a bit!" Ryley noticed the increasing distance between himself and the group and patted Whitegoat''s head. "Don''t leave the team behind!"

    "Roar!" Whitegoat let out a low growl and obediently slowed down,ing alongside ckgoat.

    But ckgoat seemed intimidated by the magical beast, its pace faltering. Tark gently stroked its mane to calm it down.

    "Ryley, you''d better keep your distance. You''re scaring my ckgoat!" Tark grumbled.

    Over the past year, Whitegoat hadn''t yet evolved into a mid-tier magical beast, but it had grown significantlyrger¡ªover two meters long and full of grace. Ryley, riding atop Whitegoat, moved with the wind, faster than the ckgoat he had once envied.

    Seeing Whitegoat, Tark couldn''t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. His eyes darted around before he turned to Rhett and asked, "Father, can I get a magical beast cub when we reach the Darkfeather Eagle''s territory?"

    Thales, overhearing, quickly chimed in, "Father, I want one too!"

    Rhett rolled his eyes. "Do you think magical beast cubs are asmon as cabbage? You can''t just pick one up! Especially you, Thales. You haven''t even be an apprentice mage yet¡ªyou wouldn''t be able to tame one."

    "But, Father!" Thales protested. "My meditation has been stucktely. I can feel a breakthroughing. Once I be an apprentice mage, I''ll definitely be able to tame a cub!"

    "Mmmpf! Mmmpf!" Thales''s protests were cut off as Tark mped a hand over his mouth. Thales''s eyes widened in outrage as he struggled to free himself.

    Tark hurriedly said, "Father, remember¡ªfirste, first served! Last year, I already asked for a magical beast cub, and you promised me one. So if we find one, it should go to me!"

    Hiss! Tark suddenly felt a sharp pain in his hand and quickly withdrew it, ring at Thales. "Thales! Did you just bite me?"

    "Ugh!" Thales spat a few times, his face twisted in disgust. "Your hand is so hard, and now my teeth hurt! Why does it smell so bad too?"

    Tark froze for a moment, then burst intoughter. "Oh, I forgot to mention¡ªI cleaned up ckgoat''s manure earlier, and I guess I got some on my hand without washing it off!"

    Rhett turned his head and silently stared at Tark, at a loss for words.

    Upon hearing this, Thales''s expression became even more animated, and he shouted, "Tark, you''re the worst! How can you not wash your hands after cleaning manure? That''s so un-noble of you! You must have done this on purpose!"

    But with his youthful voice, Thales''s outburst sounded anything but intimidating.

    Tarkughed heartily, relishing his rare moment of teasing his younger brother without feeling guilty.

    "Do you need help washing your hands, Tark?" Ryley asked with a grin after watching the exchange.

    Tark sniffed his hand, recoiling in disgust. "Yes, please, Ryley!"

    As Rhett watched his sons banter, he couldn''t help but smile. But the moment passed quickly, and his expression grew serious. He raised a hand and said quietly, "Stay alert¡ªthere''s a magical beast approaching!"

    Instantly, Ryley, Tark, and Thales became focused. Ryley gripped his staff, Tark drew his sword, and Thales scanned their surroundings, searching for the source of danger.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    Heavy thudding sounds came from the southeast. Their eyes locked on a massive wild boar emerging from the small forest!

    As it appeared, it crashed through a thick tree trunk that would take an adult''s arms to encircle as if it were nothing. The boar spotted Rhett''s group and charged at them with terrifying momentum!

    "Father, that''s a Bloodhoof Boar! Judging by its size and aura, it must be at least Tier 3!" Ryley eximed, his pupils contracting.

    The moment Rhett sensed the disturbance, he dismounted and positioned himself in front of his sons, gripping his staff.

    As the Bloodhoof Boar charged with ferocious speed, Rhett focused his mental energy and cast a Quicksand Spell!

    In front of the group, the grassy field transformed into a patch of yellowish-brown quicksand, with shallow whirlpools that tugged at anything above them.

    Rhett narrowed his eyes, preparing to follow up with an attack spell as soon as the Bloodhoof Boar''s movement was hindered by the quicksand...

 Chapter 108: Well-Intentioned

    The charging Bloodhoof Boarcked agility and couldn''t stop its momentum in time. It plunged straight into the range of the Quicksand Spell, causing its movement to suddenly slow down.

    A perfect opportunity!

    Rhett¡¯s extraordinarybat instincts allowed him to seize the brief opening and cast an Earth Spike spell. The ground rippled with the power of earth elements, and a sharp earthen spike suddenly shot out.

    Ryley, Tark, and Thales all brightened up. They had seen their father in action before¡ªhis formidable spellcasting was overwhelmingly powerful, making him nearly invincible among his peers. Every time they encountered a magical beast, Rhett would usually dispatch it within a few rounds.

    This time, they expected the same oue, anticipating that the Bloodhoof Boar would be pierced by the earth spike in the next instant. Smiles spread across their faces.

    However, what happened next deviated from their expectations...

    The Tier 3 Bloodhoof Boar rolled its massive body to the side, dodging and shifting its position. As it rolled, its muscles tensed, and its skin suddenly hardened like stone. When the sharp spike struck its belly, it skidded off as if it had hit smooth rock!

    The boar rolled over once, stood up again, snorted, and mes erupted from its body. Like a zing truck, it charged straight toward Rhett once more!

    Rhett held his breath. This opponent had an exceptionally strong defense. He thought to himself, "If I can''t hit a vital spot, even the Earth Spike or Earth Cone spells may struggle to deal significant damage."To test his theory, Rhett cast another Earth Spike spell! Though he aimed for the boar¡¯s throat, the beast twisted at thest second, causing the spike to strike its chest instead!

    The Bloodhoof Boar let out a strange, painful squeal, kicking out with its front hooves and snapping the earthen spike. When Rhett took a closer look, he saw that the boar''s chest had a small hole the size of a finger, but no blood was flowing out¡ªit had barely pierced the skin.

    Standing nearby, Ryley cast a Water Arrow spell! The arrow sshed onto the boar''s tough hide, shattering into droplets. The boar didn¡¯t even flinch, its attention remaining fixed on Rhett, the biggest threat.

    Tark widened his eyes. This was the first time he had encountered a beast with such formidable defenses, even impervious to the Earth Spike!

    Thales, his eyes filled with worry, thought that if this reckless Bloodhoof Boar reached them, they would struggle to fend it off. What could they do?

    Ryley tried to remain calm, ncing at his father''sposed expression and reassuring himself, "It¡¯s okay! Father will definitely have a way to handle this!"

    Despite his efforts to think through the situation, he couldn¡¯t figure out how his father would deal with the charging boar in such a short time.

    "Children, don¡¯t panic. Step back¡ªI''ll handle this!" Rhett¡¯s calm voice was like a soothing stream, easing his sons'' anxiety. They quicklyplied, retreating to give their father space.

    A faint glow of yellow earth energy surrounded Rhett as he swiftly cast a Stone Shield around himself. As the Bloodhoof Boar charged toward him, he didn¡¯t move. Instead, he stood his ground, waiting for the impact.

    The boar, seeing Rhett¡¯s head so close, became frenzied with hunger. It opened its massive jaws wide, preparing to tear into him.

    "Father!" Tark yelled in rm. In his view, the enormous boar was about to collide with Rhett, seemingly poised to devour him whole. The three brothers clenched their fists, ready to rush forward in desperation.

    Suddenly, a shrill scream erupted from the Bloodhoof Boar, halting the brothers in their tracks. The agonized cry quickly turned into a muffled whimper, as if something was stuck in its throat. The unexpected turn of events left them frozen in confusion.

    With a heavy thud, the boar copsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Rhett¡¯s Stone Shield had nearly shattered, especially the section in front of him, which was now crisscrossed with cracks like a spider''s web.

    The three brothers hurried to Rhett¡¯s side. Tark, anxious, asked, "Father, are you alright?"

    Rhett shook his head with a smile.

    Ryley, still processing what had happened, noticed the cracks in his father¡¯s shield. It was clear that Rhett had taken a heavy blow, but the shield had held. Relieved, Ryley patted his chest and said, "Father, that was intense! Seeing the Bloodhoof Boar charging at you was so nerve-wracking!"

    Rhett replied lightly, "No need to worry¡ªit was a small matter. Just a Tier 3 Bloodhoof Boar, nothing too challenging."

    "Wow, Father, how did you do that? The boar was alive just a moment ago, and then it suddenly dropped dead!" Thales, his curiosity piqued now that the danger had passed, circled the fallen beast excitedly.

    At that moment, Ryley had a thought. He knelt down and pried open the boar¡¯s massive jaws to examine its cause of death. The creature was enormous, and even its throat and esophagus were as thick as a person''s thigh.

    He conjured a small light of elemental energy to illuminate the dark passage. When he saw what was inside, Ryley was startled!

    A long earthen spike had pierced through the boar''s esophagus and punctured its heart from within its soft tissues!

    Ryley shuddered slightly. Upon closer inspection, he confirmed that the boar had indeed been killed by a precise strike to the heart.

    It was clear that in the critical moment, his father had taken advantage of the boar''s open mouth to drive an earthen spike straight into its heart.

    The precision and reaction time required for such a feat were beyond impressive!

    Ryley was in awe of his father¡¯s skill. He also recalled how his father had emphasized precise spell training¡ªlike threading Water Arrows through fast-moving, rolling stones. That training was remarkably simr to the precision his father had just demonstrated in battle.

    Ryley¡¯s eyes gleamed with newfound understanding. In that moment, he realized just how much effort his father had put into his training. The seemingly tedious and monotonous exercises had a crucial purpose¡ªthey were invaluable in moments like this!

    The depth of his father''s care and guidance was profound, even if it wasn¡¯t always spoken aloud.

    As he stood up and turned to look at his father, he found Rhett gazing at him with a meaningful expression. Ryley straightened his posture, a serious thought crossing his mind: "Could it be that this whole situation was nned by Father?"@@novelbin@@

    "Ryley, I¡¯ll leave the task of handling the magical beast¡¯s remains to you," Rhett said with a smile.

    Ryley¡¯s expression grew more serious. Though he had no direct evidence, his instincts told him that his father had indeed orchestrated the situation. Rhett could have dealt with the boar in an easier, safer way, but he had chosen a riskier method¡ªperhaps to teach Ryley a deeper lesson about the importance of training.

    Tark scratched his head and offered, "How about I do it? This Bloodhoof Boar has thick skin and tough flesh¡ªit¡¯ll take Ryley forever to handle it."

    "No, I insist on doing it!" Ryley¡¯s tone was firm and resolute.

    "Uh... okay." Tark, puzzled by Ryley¡¯s sudden determination, relented.

    Five days passed in a blur.

    The four of them arrived once again at the Darkfeather Eagle''s territory. Last time, they had explored the eastern side, but Rhett had cleared out many of the magical beasts in that area. To maximize their efficiency, this time they chose the northern side.

    As they gazed at the lush forested hills, Rhett instructed, "The same rules asst time¡ªdon¡¯t wander off. Stay within a certain distance from me, and we¡¯ll start hunting from the outer edges."

    "Got it!" Tark replied enthusiastically, his eyes brimming with determination. "Father, if we encounter a Tier 1 magical beast, could you let me handle it? I¡¯ve just started mastering the secondyer of Phantom Rewind, and I want to test my strength!"

    "I¡¯d like to see how my spell training holds up in realbat too," Ryley added after some thought. "Father, how about Tark and I take turns¡ªone beast each?"

    "No problem!" Rhett agreed readily, then added a new condition. "Besides testing your individual abilities, you also need to work on your teamwork. After each of you handles a beast on your own, you¡¯ll need to team up for the next one. And remember, just likest time, you must aim to minimize injuries and conserve energy in your battles!"

    Tark and Ryley exchanged a nce and replied in unison, "Understood!"

    "Looks like our first opponent is already here," Rhett said, his gaze fixed on the forest.

    "Alright, Tark, you¡¯ll take on the first Tier 1 magical beast," Rhett announced.

    Tark drew his sword, raising it high as he eagerly dered, "Leave it to me!"

    Minutes passed, and the magical beast slowly emerged from the trees. Since Rhett was suppressing his own aura, the me Winged Serpent that slithered out of the woods had no sense of the danger it was walking into.

    Its cold eyes scanned the strange creatures standing a hundred meters away. Just as humans found magical beasts to be odd-looking, magical beasts found humans equally bizarre.

    Ryley was surprised to see that the beast was a me Winged Serpent. This type of magical beast had notable bloodline potential, capable of reaching mid-tier levels. Upon reaching adulthood, it would naturally possess the strength of a mid-tier beast.

    Of course, even within the same species, bloodlines varied. Some serpents could reach Tier 6, while others might only cap out at Tier 4.

    Rhett narrowed his eyes as he studied the me Winged Serpent. Magical beasts with mid-tier potential were rare in the Darkfeather Eagle''s territory. The serpent before them, barely the length of a human arm, was clearly in its juvenile stage. Yet it had already reached Tier 1, a testament to its formidable bloodline potential¡ªfar superior to most of the beasts in these parts.

    "However¡­ if there¡¯s a juvenile me Winged Serpent, there¡¯s a good chance its parents are nearby." The thought made Rhett tense. If that were true, it could spell danger for them.

    Cautious, Rhett decided to simte the situation in his mind.

    Momentster, Rhett¡¯s vision cleared, and he felt relieved. ording to the simtion, there was no need to worry. The juvenile¡¯s parents had long since perished, and the simtion mentioned that they would find the serpent¡¯s nest, where they would discover the remains of two Tier 4 me Winged Serpents.

    With that knowledge, Rhett confidently watched as Tark prepared for battle.

    "Ha!" Tark let out a fierce shout as he unleashed a burst of me at his sword¡¯s tip. Despite being a low-tierbat technique, me sh, when executed skillfully, still packed a punch. His aura expanded over a meter, seemingly blocking the me Winged Serpent¡¯s escape route.

    But the serpent hissed sharply, its dark wings unfurling as it sprang into the air, soaring three meters high.

    Tark¡¯s expression tightened, and he quickly retreated. He watched the serpent in the air, its wings propelling it into a short glide. As it did, it opened its mouth, spitting a barrage of fiery sparks like a machine gun.

    Tark raised his shield to block the onught.

    Boom, boom, boom!

    A series of small explosions erupted against the shield like a string of firecrackers. The impact wasn¡¯t strong, but Tark used the force to push himself back further.

    Hissing, the me Winged Serpent bared its sharp fangs and angled its body mid-air, circling around to strike Tark from behind.

    Frowning, Tark noticed the serpent''s sudden maneuver. His initial n to use Phantom Rewind¡¯s firstyer for a backstab had to be abandoned.

    "Watch out for its me ray!" Rhett called out, concerned.

    The warning sparked an idea in Tark¡¯s mind. As the serpent darted toward him, he suddenly leaped into the air, seemingly ready to sh with the beast head-on!

    His sword thrust forward in a straightforward strike aimed at the serpent¡¯s head. The me Winged Serpent, seeing the sharp deing at it, had a glint of cunning in its eyes. When the two were only three meters apart, twin beams of fire shot from the serpent¡¯s eyes, aimed directly at Tark.

    The serpent, flicking its tongue excitedly, believed that at such close range, the human had no chance to dodge!

    But then Tark smirked, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.

    The fiery beams missed, scorching two ckened holes in the ground. The me Winged Serpent, still mid-air, looked bewildered. Where had its opponent gone?

    From a distance, Ryley¡¯s eyes gleamed as he saw Tark reappear behind the serpent, moving like a gust of wind.

    In one swift motion, Tark¡¯s de severed the serpent¡¯s head.

    With a wet squelch, blood sprayed from both halves of the serpent¡¯s body. Tark, now back on solid ground, couldn¡¯t avoid the spray and ended up drenched in blood.

 Chapter 109: Nina Awakens

    The severed me Winged Serpent hadn¡¯t yet expended all of its life force. After falling to the ground, it convulsed as if in spasms, its tailshing out and leaving whip-like marks on the earth. The snake¡¯s fist-sized head gazed up at Tark¡¯s towering figure, which blocked out the sunlight. In the shadow of his form, a trace of venomous hatred flickered in the serpent¡¯s eyes as it mustered thest of its energy to spit out a few small sparks.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Tark sneered. With a sweep of his shield, he shattered the embers into fragments. Taking a couple of steps forward, he stomped down on the snake¡¯s head.

    <em>St!</em>

    Like squeezing a lemon, the snake¡¯s head was crushed. Tark then stomped on its body, embedding the front half into the ground, finally putting an end to its movements.

    <em>p, p, p.</em>

    Rhett pped his hands. ¡°That was a spectacr battle!¡± he praised as he strolled over, admiration gleaming in his eyes. ¡°Tark, in the final moments of the fight, did you use the second level of Phantom Rewind?¡±

    Tark, while using a small knife to remove the poisonous fangs from the now-soft serpent''s head, replied, ¡°Yes, Father. Just as I mentioned before, the second level of the technique is no longer limited to marking with my legs along my path. The second level allows for a moreplex and advanced energy route, letting me ce energy markers anywhere using my hands.¡±

    ¡°That sounds impressive. It looked that way too,¡± Ryley said as he approached, his gaze on the decapitated serpent. ¡°But surely, there¡¯s a limitation?¡±

    ¡°There is,¡± Tark confirmed. ¡°The second-level energy marker is much less stablepared to the first. While the effects might seem simr, the method of condensation ispletely different. The marksts only two or three seconds, much shorter than the several minutes the first level can sustain. Additionally, the range is limited¡ªI can only ce it about four meters away, far less than the first level¡¯s range. Although with practice, the duration and distance will improve, it will stillg behind the first level.¡±Rhett nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Even so, it doesn¡¯t diminish its brilliance. It¡¯s definitely on par with an advancedbat technique.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ryley agreed. ¡°At least mid-level movement techniques can¡¯t achieve that. It¡¯s almost unbelievable.¡±

    Tark bent down to pry out the serpent¡¯s fangs, then sheathed his knife and moved to its body, preparing to skin it. A few momentster, his excitement grew. ¡°Father, the snake¡¯s skin is of excellent quality, and it exudes a gentle warmth. If made into gloves, they¡¯d be incredibly warm. Winter is approaching¡ªI¡¯ll make a pair as a gift for you!¡±

    Rhett gently squeezed and tugged at the snake¡¯s skin, noting its sticity andfort. ¡°The snake skin is indeed superb, but I appreciate the thought more than the gift itself. Gloves are optional for me. Whether I wear them or not, I won¡¯t feel the cold. In fact, if I ever do feel cold, those gloves wouldn¡¯t help.¡±

    Tark scratched his head and murmured, ¡°Then who should I give them to? Vanessa already has several pairs of gloves and doesn¡¯t need another. Ryley is a mage and doesn¡¯t need them. Dick is still too young¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Since everyone is family, if you¡¯re overwhelmed by choices, maybe you should give them to the person who needs them most,¡± Rhett suggested gently.

    Thales took a bold step forward, his eyes darting nervously as he said, ¡°Ahem, winter ising, and everyone knows that ordinary people are the ones who feel the cold, so¡­¡±

    Thales hesitated to ask directly, drawing out his words while keeping his eyes glued to the snake skin.

    Tark nced at Thales and then back at the skin. After a moment, realization dawned on him, and he pped his thigh. ¡°Oh, I get it!¡±

    A smile spread across Thales¡¯ face¡ªhis brother had finally caught on!

    ¡°Vanessa¡¯s sister, Ellie, is an ordinary person. She has to train in winter and help with chores. The cold will surely make her hands red and sore! So, giving these snake-skin gloves to Ellie would be perfect!¡± Tark¡¯s eyes gleamed as he happily stuffed the freshly skinned hide into a bup sack.

    <em>Pfft!</em>

    Ryley couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. He struggled to suppress his amusement, ncing between Tark and Thales with an expression of pure enjoyment.

    ¡°No!¡± Thales pouted, dissatisfied. ¡°Tark, have you forgotten that you have a weak little brother who also needs gloves to survive the winter?¡±

    Tark scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know¡ªyou¡¯ve already taken a bloodline potion. Once you be an apprentice mage, these gloves won¡¯t do you any good this winter.¡±

    Thales blushed and stammered, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m still far from bing an apprentice mage!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Tark teased, feigning contemtion. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say on the way here that you were about to break through?¡±

    Caught in his lie, Thales¡¯ expression changed instantly, and he was taken aback by Tark¡¯s newfound cleverness.

    Even Ryley gave Tark a curious look, wondering how his usually slow-witted brother had suddenly be so sharp.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Thales turned to Ryley. ¡°Ryley, did you give Tark this idea? Otherwise, how would he have suddenly gotten so smart today?¡±

    Ryley quickly waved his hands. ¡°No, no, it has nothing to do with me. I¡¯m not a prophet¡ªhow could I have predicted today¡¯s events?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Thales muttered, though he still eyed Tark with suspicion.

    ¡°Thales, who are you calling pig-headed?¡± Tark grumbled.

    Thales rolled his eyes. ¡°Not worth arguing with you.¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself!¡± Tark shrugged it off, wiping the blood from his forehead with a cloth.

    Thales pouted and mumbled, ¡°Forget the snake skin. But the magical beast cub? That¡¯s mine!¡±

    ¡°Dream on!¡± Tark¡¯s voice retorted.

    In the blink of an eye, nearly two weeks passed.

    On September 3rd, snow began to fall, nketing the forest in white. Beneath the tall silver pines, Rhett¡¯s team had been hunting for nearly two weeks, gathering an abundance of resources. As always, they prepared to bury their spoils temporarily.

    Tark brushed away the thinyer of snow, and with Rhett¡¯s mental maniption, the earth rose, forming a shallow two-meter pit. Tark ced three tightly sealed bup sacks at the bottom, then leaped out. Rhett filled the pit and marked several nearby trees.

    With that done, Rhett looked around at the swirling snowkes before turning to Ryley. ¡°Can you sense Nina¡¯s condition now?¡±

    Ryley, his expression full of anticipation, looked up at the sky and touched the snow-covered branches of a silver pine. Feeling the chill, he thought to himself, ¡°Finally, the day hase!¡± He turned to his father and replied, ¡°Father, I can sense that Nina is on the verge of awakening¡ªshe could wake up at any moment.¡±

    Rhett nodded. ¡°In that case, you might as well enter a meditative state. Last time, when Nina bonded with you, you received a surge of mental energy. Perhaps it could happen again?¡±

    Ryley blinked, having considered that possibility himself but doubting the chances. Still, since his father suggested it, he saw no harm in trying. He sat down on the me Winged Serpent¡¯s warm skin and began to meditate.

    The warmth from the serpent¡¯s skin helped him resist the chill of the snow.

    The others stood quietly, curious to see what would happen if the snow sprite reappeared.

    After about ten minutes, Rhett, with his keen senses as a Tier 3 mage, noticed a subtle fluctuation in the elemental energy in the sky. It was simr to when Nina first appeared but much more concealed. The unique water-elemental energy flickered briefly before vanishing.

    Rhett¡¯s expression grew puzzled as he observed the snowkes falling more densely, and a sudden gust of cold wind blew through. Tark had prepared for it, but Thales shivered uncontrobly.

    Tark frowned, his fire-elemental energy radiating faintly as he wrapped an arm around Thales. Thales resisted at first but eventually rxed into the warmth.

    Only Ryley remained unaffected. Suddenly, sensing his connection with Nina, he opened his eyes in delight and looked up.

    The others followed his gaze and saw a tiny, snow-white figure amid the swirling snowkes, descending like a winter messenger. It quicklynded in Ryley¡¯s arms before bouncing to the ground.

    ¡°Nina!¡± Ryley eximed excitedly, reaching out to touch the adorable creature. Was it just his imagination, or had Nina grownrger sincest year?

    Before he could get a closer look, a surge of powerful mental energy apanied Nina¡¯s awakening, flooding his mind.

    Ryley¡¯s expression changed. ¡°I¡¯m about to break through!¡± he announced before slipping into a meditative state.

    Thales, who had been cradling Nina, froze, his eyes shing with envy. He, too, longed to break through and be a mage so he could delve into alchemy. He loosened his grip on Nina, allowing the startled sprite to escape, bouncing away to perch on Rhett¡¯s head.

    Though Nina recognized all three, she was most familiar with Rhett. Seeing the cool yet bouncy spritend on his head, Rhett chuckled and gently held her in his palm.

    Suddenly, Rhett¡¯s expression turned curious as he examined Nina¡¯s slightlyrger form. Stroking his chin, he mused, ¡°Has Nina grown? She seems a bit bigger thanst year.¡±

    <em>Fwoosh!</em>

    Upon hearing that she had gained weight, Nina spat out a flurry of snowkes onto Rhett¡¯s face before hopping back to Ryley¡¯s side, waiting patiently.

    Wiping away the snow, Rhett didn¡¯t hold it against Nina. He took another look at her and confirmed his suspicion. ¡°She has definitely grownrger and seems a bit more lively thanst year.¡±@@novelbin@@

    This slight change sparked Rhett¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Could it be that sprites can grow too? Or is it only certain sprites?¡±

    After pondering these questions for a moment, Rhett tucked them away in his mind. Legends about sprites were shrouded in mystery. He had never heard of anyone or any ce with detailed descriptions or records of sprites.

    ¡°Or perhaps each sprite grows differently?¡± Just as this thought crossed his mind, Ryley stirred.

    ¡°Whew!¡± Ryley exhaled softly, opening his eyes. Feeling the changes in his mind, a smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve finally be a Tier 2 mage!¡±

    Ryley conjured a Water Arrow spell, sending it flying toward a silver pine twenty meters away. The arrow, now more concentrated and twice asrge as before, struck with force.

    <em>Boom!</em>

    The silver pine toppled over, two squirrels chattering angrily as they fled with a pine cone, leaping to another tree.

    The new sensation of being a Tier 2 mage was refreshing, but Ryley had more important matters on his mind. He needed to check on his dearpanion¡ªNina!

    Nina had perched herself on White Stripe¡¯s head, and the tiger was curiously eyeing the strange creature. It lifted a paw, seemingly ready to swipe her off.

    ¡°Stop, White Stripe!¡± Ryleymanded.

    The tiger blinked and froze, watching as Ryley gently picked up the odd little creature from its head. It circled around Ryley, still curious about Nina, looking like an overgrown kitten.

    ¡°Grr?¡± White Stripe growled softly.

    Understanding its question, Ryley said, ¡°Her identity? You can think of her as your sister. Neither of you is allowed to bully the other!¡±

    <em>Grr!</em> White Stripe growled again in agreement.

    Nina, with her gem-like eyes, looked at both White Stripe and Ryley before yfully releasing a puff of frost.

 Chapter 110: Call Me Archmage

    Rhett¡¯s spirit was invigorated. Wasn¡¯t this exactly how Nina blessed water-type magic nts back then? But what was she doing using it on White Stripe? Could it be effective on other elements as well? Unfortunately, when the icy mistnded on White Stripe, the tiger simply shook its head, feeling only a slight chill, without any noticeable effect.

    A hint of disappointment shed in Rhett¡¯s eyes as he thought, <em>As expected, White Stripe is a wind-element beast, and the Snow Sprite¡¯s blessing doesn¡¯t work on it.</em>

    White Stripe, oblivious to what had just happened, shook off the snow on its fur and went back to chasing squirrels for fun.

    Ryley smiled and pointed at White Stripe¡¯s retreating figure, saying to Nina, ¡°White Stripe is a wind-element beast, so you can¡¯t help it. But I¡¯ll be sure to pass on your kindness¡ªit¡¯ll definitely be happy to hear that.¡±

    Nina seemed to understand and nodded, though the sight of therge snowball¡¯s smaller head bobbing up and down looked somewhatical.

    ¡°Ryley, did you notice? Nina seems to have grown a bit sincest year¡ªnot just in size, but in intelligence too,¡± Rhett remarked as he observed from the side.

    Ryley brushed some snowkes off his head and pondered, ¡°You¡¯re right, Father. I also noticed Nina¡¯s body seems a bit bigger¡ªmaybe by about a centimeter. It¡¯s subtle but clear to me. As for her intelligence, it¡¯s hard to say for sure. It might just be our imagination. But in a few more years, we¡¯ll know for sure.¡±

    ¡°True enough,¡± Rhett agreed, not dwelling too much on the topic.

    With everything settled, Rhett took in the snowyndscape around him, feeling an inexplicable sense of joy. He took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and said, ¡°With the mountains snowed in, most wild beasts are either hibernating or less active. Lower-tier magical beasts will surely be hunting more frequently. For us, this is a perfect hunting opportunity. Let¡¯s head out and hunt to our hearts¡¯ content!¡±¡°Let¡¯s go and hunt to our hearts¡¯ content!¡± Tark echoed enthusiastically, his blood pumping with excitement as the four of them braved the cold winds and set off deeper into the mountains.

    Forty-three dayster.

    On the southern slope of the Dark-Winged Eagle Range, a small cave nestled halfway up the mountain.@@novelbin@@

    In the cave¡¯s center, a small fire crackled, asionally emitting a sharp crackle. Rhett sat at the deepest part of the cave, his back against a milky-white rock wall. Despite over a month of hunting, he felt no fatigue.

    For over a month, they had hunted in the northern outskirts of the Dark-Winged Eagle Range. Only when the magical beasts became scarce did they move to the southern side. Although the simtion had provided a clear and sessful oue for this journey, Rhett remained cautious, never letting his guard down despite the promise of safety.

    As a result, facing first and second-tier magical beasts was a breeze, and even third-tier beasts were manageable with some effort. By this day, Rhett estimated he had in nearly four hundred magical beasts.

    He opened his system interface.

    Rhett nced at the screen before him. His three grandchildren were yet to be named, so they still appeared as question marks. However, the number under his "Fate Points" column filled him with a profound sense of satisfaction. He couldn¡¯t help but think, <em>Is it time to break through?</em>

    ¡°If I remember correctly,st time it took around two hundred Fate Points to break through from Tier 2 to Tier 3. Now, with over nine hundred points¡ªfour times as much¡ªI might just make it to Archmage!¡±

    The thought sent a thrill through him. <em>Archmage¡ªthat¡¯s Archmage!</em> Though only one rank higher, it marked the boundary between mid-tier and low-tier mages. Even the title changed, and with it came immense power.

    Rhett had once interacted with Archmage-level officers on the front lines and had inquired about the differences between an Archmage and a regr mage. What left the deepest impression on him was the transformation of mental energy after bing an Archmage¡ªit became denser, more substantial. The most obvious manifestation was that mental energy could directly manipte physical matter, no longer limited to affecting the world through magical elements.

    Of course, an Archmage¡¯s ability to manipte matter was still weak, with a force barely stronger than a child¡¯s punch, and it required great effort. Using it inbat was out of the question, but it did enhance their control over elements, elevating the potency of their spells.

    Just as an Earth Knight could project their energy onto arrows or thrown objects, an Archmage¡¯s spells could achieve simrly exquisite effects. For instance, Rhett recalled witnessing the spell <em>Sandwolf Howl</em> on the battlefield. It conjured three sand wolves that fought under the mage¡¯s control, posing a serious threat to their enemies.

    These sand wolves, immune to physical harm, could only be defeated byplete annihtion. Stabbing them with a sword wouldn¡¯t work¡ªthey¡¯d simply reform. Their attacks, however, could cause real damage, making their all-out assault something to be feared. Moreover, the wolves could self-destruct, turning themselves into mobile bombs.

    Casting such a spell required continuous mental energy consumption, and only an Archmage could maintain it.

    Late at night, with the surroundingspletely silent, Rhett took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and prepared to attempt a breakthrough. Whether he seeded or not, it was worth trying. If he seeded, it would be cause for celebration. If not, he would continue hunting and try again.

    With that resolve, he activated the system.

    ¡°Yes, simte for three days.¡±

    Rhett chose three days but intended to continue simting after each cycle. A few extra days could easily be exined, but if he used all nine hundred points at once, he¡¯d simte over two years. There was no reasonable exnation for spending that long meditating alone.

    As the simtion began, the space around him rippled, and Rhett closed his eyes, entering a meditative state.

    ...

    Only two minutes passed in the real world, but Rhett experienced over eight hundred days in the simtion!

    On day 847, Rhett¡¯s state of mind hadn¡¯t changed despite the prolonged meditation. He remainedposed, sitting cross-legged and sensing the increasingly intense fluctuations of his mental energy. His breathing was steady, his heart calm like a mirror.

    After three more days, Rhett¡¯s body trembled slightly as his mental energy surged in his mind. A voice seemed to echo from within: <em>It¡¯s finally here!</em>

    Like a dam breaking, the vast umtion of power and long meditation shattered the barriers holding him back. A storm of mental energy swept through his mind, expanding into a mysterious region deep within his consciousness. As it expanded, his mental energy collided andpressed, evolving to a higher level.

    The process was apanied by some pain, but it was far more bearable than when he had taken the bloodline potion. After half an hour, his mental energy had fully transformed.

    Where it had once been fog-like¡ªvague and insubstantial¡ªnow it felt dense and tangible, capable of following his will with precise control.

    Rhett opened his eyes, his gaze deep and profound. Exhaling softly, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve done it. I¡¯ve finally be an Archmage.¡±

    His words echoed like a pebble dropped into a pond, startling Tark from his light sleep and rousing Ryley and Thales from their meditation. Tark leaped to his feet and rushed to his father¡¯s side. Seeing Rhett fully awake, he eximed, ¡°Strange¡­ You weren¡¯t sleep-talking, but how could you have be an Archmage already? It¡¯s been less than a year since yourst breakthrough.¡±

    Because this was a simtion, Rhett merely rolled his eyes without exining. He stepped outside the cave and said, ¡°I¡¯ll exin everythingter. Wait here for me¡ªhalf an hour should do.¡±

    Ryley and Tark exchanged puzzled nces but patiently waited.

    Rhett didn¡¯t want to waste the simtion and nned to limate to his new Archmage-level power. First, he tried projecting his mental energy. Closing his eyes to focus, he extended his consciousness outward like an invisible tendril. It stretched slowly, reaching about ten meters before hitting its limit.

    Next, he tested its strength by forming a whip of mental energy and striking the ground, only to find it left no mark. Rhett now understood that while his mental energy could interact with matter, it was extremely limited, slow, and exhausting. It wasn¡¯t practical forbat but could be useful in specific situations¡ªlike scrubbing that tricky spot on his back during a bath.

    Rhett then cast various earth spells from levels one to three, testing how his newfound power enhanced them. He immediately noticed significant improvements in their durability, range, and casting speed.

    ¡°Father, did you really be an Archmage?¡± Tark asked, approaching cautiously. He figured his father had been getting used to his new powers and that it was safe to approach now. His amazement was evident.

    Rhett exhaled, realizing he had only two minutes left. Having fully mastered his Archmage abilities, he knew his next step was to acquire the <em>Sandwolf Howl</em> spellbook.

    As Tark¡¯s footsteps grew nearer, Rhett turned around. Smiling at his son¡¯s usual absentmindedness, he reached out and flicked Tark¡¯s forehead. The boy yelped, rubbing the spot. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid anymore, Father! Why do you still flick my forehead like you did when I was little?¡±

    Suddenly, the simtion ended.

    The scene of Tark¡¯s disgruntled face froze in Rhett¡¯s mind, and he momentarily marveled at how real it had all felt. When the spatial ripples faded, Rhett returned to the real world, still sitting by the fire with his back against the white rock wall.

    Though he had spent over two years in meditation, his mind was calm. However, thosest few moments in the simtion had left him feeling slightly disoriented.

    After a few seconds of steadying his thoughts, Rhett¡¯s system interface appeared before him.

    ¡°I choose mental energy!¡±

    With thatmand, Rhett felt a surge of mental energy flooding his mind. Within seconds, he regained his Archmage-level power and reveled in its strength.

    Now that he had broken through in reality, Rhett couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of pride. <em>From now on, call me Archmage!</em>

    To emphasize this momentous achievement, he projected a wave of energy outward.

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    Like a shockwave, the energy spread from Rhett as the epicenter, creating a breeze that swept across Ryley, Tark, and Thales, waking them all.

    ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s this?¡± Ryley¡¯s pupils shrank in disbelief. ¡°Mental energy projection? That¡¯s the power of an Archmage! Father actually became an Archmage?!¡±

    Tark and Thales gulped. Though it was hard to ept, the proof was right before their eyes. Their father had broken through!

    Their breaths grew heavy with awe.

    Standing up slowly, a smile yed on Rhett¡¯s lips. ¡°I forgot to tell you all¡ªever since I took that bloodline potion, my cultivation speed has beenpletely different from before. So, breaking through to Archmage isn¡¯t such a big deal.¡±

    Rhett¡¯s words had been carefully considered. Given the realistic simtions, his future progress would defy expectations. Rather than concocting increasingly borate excuses with each breakthrough, it was simpler to attribute it all to the mysterious bloodline potion he had taken. After all, he had purposely left its true quality ambiguous, leaving room for this exnation.

    ¡°But¡­ this is too fast!¡± Tark eximed, scratching his head in amazement.

    Rhett added, ¡°Of course, keep the secrets of my cultivation and the bloodline potion to yourselves.¡±

 Chapter 111: The Second Innate Spell

    "We understand, Father!" Thales said with a gleam in his eyes. "Could it be that the potion you took was of the Sacred Domain level? I once read a novel where the main character, a mage, was being hunted and fell off a cliff, only to find a Sacred Domain bloodline potion. After that, his cultivation speed skyrocketed, and he easily got revenge on those who had wronged him! It was really exciting!"

    The more Thales spoke, the brighter his eyes became, and his tone grew more animated, as if he were cing himself in the shoes of the novel''s protagonist.

    Rhett¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Could it be that even in this world, stories like that were starting to appear? He thought about it and realized it was quite possible. After all, exciting plot points existed in many novels.

    Even in his previous life, ssics like <em>Journey to the West</em> had moments that brought satisfaction to readers, like when Sun Wukong mastered the 72 transformations and wreaked havoc in heaven, gaining the power of his fiery eyes.

    Not to mention <em>Robinson Crusoe</em>, with its survival and farming aspects on a deserted ind, which had also captured his interest in the past¡­

    And as for the trope of finding treasure after falling off a cliff, wasn¡¯t that something that originated in <em>The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber</em>?

    So, it wasn¡¯t out of the question that this world also had some talented writers who had summarized what made stories exciting and capitalized on that.

    He shrugged, deciding not to continue this conversation. Instead, he ruffled Thales'' hair and smiled, saying, "Who knows?"

    After this brief chat, the three brothers gradually processed the fact that their father had be an Archmage. Soon after, they returned to their routines¡ªsleeping for some, meditating for others.Rhett, on the other hand, sat by the fire, staring at the flickering mes as if sensing a mysterious force drifting invisibly through the air.

    This wasn''t something tangible but rather a strange sensation that could only be perceived with the heightened mental powers of an Archmage, drawn by his bloodline.

    "Hmm? Could this be my second innate spell?" A sh of surprise crossed Rhett¡¯s eyes.

    Back when he was still a mage, Rhett had inherited the Earth Spike spell. Now that he had broken through to Archmage, it seemed that his bloodline''s deeper potential had been awakened, allowing him to sense a second innate spell.

    This time, the energy seemed to be circling his body.

    Rhett immediately had a guess: "Could it be Stone Armor?"

    He also thought, "Regardless of what the spell is, after this, there will be no more innate spells left for me to inherit."

    After all, the bloodline potion he had taken back then came from a sixth-tier Rock Lizard, so inheriting up to a sixth-tier earth spell meant there wouldn¡¯t be anything more.

    Moreover, from what Rhett remembered, the Rock Lizard only had two spells¡ªEarth Spike and Stone Armor.

    Stone Armor and Stone Light Shield, despite their simr names, had significant differences. The gap between a mage''s and an Archmage''s mental strength led to the Stone Light Shield being a simple protectiveyer that needed constant mental energy to maintain, with rtively simple magical patterns.

    But Stone Armor, as its name implied, was like a suit of armor that clung to the body. Once cast, it could remain in ce and offered a defenseparable to the Stone Light Shield.

    ¡°With Stone Armor, my defensive capabilities and overall safety will be greatly enhanced,¡± Rhett thought, feeling a surge of excitement. He also knew that Stone Armor could coexist with Stone Light Shield, providing dualyers of protection. With both spells active, anyone attempting a surprise attack would have a hard time seeding.

    Even in directbat, the margin for error would increase significantly.@@novelbin@@

    The next morning.

    After several days of clear skies, the snow on the mountain showed signs of melting. At the entrance of the cave, droplets of water dripped down, sshing onto the green rocks below.

    Outside the cave, about a dozen meters away, Rhett stood beneath an ancient tree, its branches bare and dry. He was focused, preparing to practice Stone Armor.

    Although he could use the simtion to master the spell without losing any real-time, he felt it wasn''t necessary right now, especially since he might need to use Stone Armor in the uing hunts.

    Even with his special bloodline enabling him to learn innate spells quickly, there was still a process involved. If he mastered the spell too swiftly in the simtion and then used it seamlessly in reality, it would seem strange and difficult to exin.

    At that moment, Rhett felt theplex patterns formed by earth elements emerging around his body, wrapping around him. All he had to do was follow the established pattern to cast the spell.

    Though the initial practice felt unfamiliar, it was much easier than deciphering the spell from scratch, bit by bit, from a spellbook.

    After two hours of repeated practice, Rhett had internalized the process, embedding it deeply in his mind. With a concentrated burst of mental energy, the earth elements began to swirl around him, as if his body had be a ma, attracting the elements tightly to his skin.

    In the blink of an eye, Rhett had ¡°changed skins.¡±

    That description wasn¡¯t far off, as he was now encased in a deep yellow armor. Every part of his body¡ªhis head, limbs, joints, even his groin¡ªwas fully protected.

    It might not look stylish, but it was certainly practical!

    Rhett nced down at his body and moved around a bit, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

    He could feel that the Stone Armor was incredibly sturdy¡ªwhen he knocked his arms together, a dull ¡°thunk¡± echoed. Yet, with a subtle adjustment of his mental energy, he could manipte the earth elements at his joints, allowing him to move freely without the usual restrictions of metal armor.

    This level of fine control was something only Archmage-level mental strength could achieve.

    Rhett couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°They say that Grandmasters can even wield the ¡®Armor of the Earth,¡¯ with such incredible defense that even a Sky Knight¡¯s strike can barely scratch it.¡±

    After briefly fantasizing, Rhett quickly returned to reality. The path ahead had to be taken step by step, and while he had just be an Archmage, there was still a long way to go before reaching Grandmaster level.

    Having mastered Stone Armor, Rhett began considering his next steps. With his breakthrough and newfound mastery of the sixth-tier earth spell, Stone Armor, even though his fourth-tier casting of it wasn¡¯t quite as strong as it would be at the sixth tier, he still had a significant advantage over others in his tier.

    ¡°So¡­ it would be a shame not to explore the depths of the mountains now, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Rhett thought.

    Taking care not to be reckless, Rhett decided to perform another simtion to check for any unforeseen dangers.

    ¡°With my current strength, I should be able to explore deeper for quite some time, right? I wonder what I¡¯ll encounter¡­¡±

    Curious, Rhett activated the system.

    ¡°Yes, simte for one year.¡±

 Chapter 112: An Old Friend, Makoff

    Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly as he carefully read the screen in front of him. After a moment, his eyes flickered with understanding, fully grasping the information. Although this simtion ended in death, just like thest one, he didn''t mind at all.

    After all, the purpose of the simtion was to serve reality. Even if he died in the simtion, as long as he gained useful information, that was enough.

    Sometimes, to ensure safety in reality, certain actions wouldn''t be taken. But in the simtion, he could act without hesitation to gather more valuable information.

    "Last time, it was the Venomous Snakefolk; this time, it''s the Night Catfolk! So now, I can be 100% certain that Gaspar has indeed allied with the Beastmen. The only question is, when did they form this alliance? Was it during this current journey to the front lines, or¡­ even earlier?" With this firm judgment, Rhett also found himself with new questions.

    However, there was no need to dwell on it for now. The year wasn''t even over yet, and there were still more than six months until next July.

    He made a mental note of the situation, knowing he could investigate further in the next simtion, trying different methods to uncover clues.

    Besides this, the simtion also provided Rhett with a small surprise. His old friend¡ªMakoff¡ªhad returned to Twilight City!

    Thest time he visited Twilight City, Rhett had searched for Makoff in the ces he used to frequent but found nothing.

    "And now, in this simtion, he sought me out. This means he must have heard that I was in Twilight City looking for him after my retirement!" A smile crept onto Rhett¡¯s lips.He knew he hadn''t misjudged Makoff. Given their friendship, how could Makoff ever forget him?

    In his younger years, Rhett had roamed for over a decade and met many people. However, only a handful left asting impression and forged strong bonds of friendship.

    Makoff was undoubtedly one of them!

    Rhett recalled how Makoff had always been a cheerful, warm-hearted person. He still remembered the first awkward predicament he faced when he started out on his adventures¡ªhis money was stolen by a quick-handed thief, who also happened to be a level higher than him.

    It was Makoff who helped him track down the thief, recover his money, and even teach the thief a lesson. That was how they became friends.

    Over the following decade, their rtionship deepened, and they kept in touch regrly.

    Before Rhett left to join the army, Makoff even threw him a farewell party.

    "Ten years ago, he was already a second-level mage. I wonder if he''s managed to break through to the third level by now." Rhett gazed up at the top of the tree, where a bird swayed gently, and sighed.

    The news of an old friend, one he had thought he''d lost contact with forever, lifted his spirits.

    "Wow, Father, that armor looks so sturdy!" Tack''s exmation came from behind him.

    Hearing the approaching footsteps, Rhett turned around with a smile. He reached out and flicked Tack on the forehead.

    "Ouch!" Tack yelped, rubbing his head and grumbling, "I''m not a kid anymore, Father. Why do you still treat me like I''m little?"

    The scene was strangely familiar.

    Rhett found it amusing and smiled even wider. "Tack, why don''t you try cutting me with your sword? Let''s test the armor''s defense."

    "Huh?" Tack hesitated, touching his head and looking unsure. "But¡­ I can''t just hit you, Father."

    "Come on! Stop being so hesitant," Rhett urged. "Besides¡­ do you think you can hurt me?"

    "Alright! Then I won''t hold back!" Tack''s eyes lit up, and he grinned as he drew his sword.

    Rhett blinked, a strange expression crossing his face. Why did it feel like Tack had been waiting for this?

    Rolling his eyes, Rhett extended his right arm. "Cut my arm. Just use your physical strength first and see what happens."

    "Got it!"

    Tack focused, raising his sword high before shing it down with a light shout.

    <em>Thud!</em>

    The sound of the sword striking the armor echoed dully. Tack, feeling a strong shock from the impact, quickly withdrew his sword.

    For Rhett, it felt like a mosquito bitepletely harmless.

    He shook his arm slightly and said, "Now use your battle energy. Try a battle energy strike."

    Tack couldn''t help but admire the armor''s strength. Seeing no trace of a scratch, he was impressed by its defense.

    Following Rhett''smand, Tack got serious. Battle energy surged in his right hand, and wisps of fire enveloped the sword''s de.

    "me sh!"

    With a shout, Tack brought the sword down on the armor.

    <em>Boom!</em>

    A burst of fire erupted on the armor, scattering sparks everywhere. Yet, the armor remained intact.

    "Haha, you''re amazing, Father!" Tack sheathed his sword, clicking his tongue in admiration. "I gave it my all, but I couldn''t even scratch your armor. It''s insane!"

    Rhett smiled faintly, feeling no sense of achievement. He thought to himself that if a fourth-level Archmage using a sixth-level defense spell could be harmed by a first-level knight, then that would be the real issue.

    With a thought, Rhett dispelled the armor surrounding him and said, "Once you be an Earth Knight, you¡¯ll be able to break through this armor soon enough."

    "Huh? Earth Knight? That''s too far off for me. Who knows how long it¡¯ll take," Tack replied, his face falling. Then, with a sudden idea, he grinned mischievously. "Father, how about getting me a potion to boost my battle energy talent?"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow, patting Tack on the shoulder as he pondered aloud, "Don''t rely on potions; focus on your future."

    "Focus on the future? Haha, I look forward to the future every day!" Tackughed, not thinking too deeply about it.

    After a simple breakfast of bread, jerky, and other easy-to-carry provisions, Rhett led the group southward.

    Along the way, they encountered a few magical beasts, mostly first and second-tier ones, with third-tier beasts bing increasingly rare.

    After traveling for a day, the next morning, while climbing a slope, Ryleigh pondered for a moment and then said to his father, "Father, on our way here, I noticed that the number of magical beasts seemed to decrease. Could it be that we''ve hunted too many in recent days?"

    Tales rubbed his arm, echoing the thought, "Huh? Now that you mention it¡­ Last month, I was so busy stabbing beasts that my arm got sore. But recently, I haven¡¯t felt that tired. Maybe it¡¯s because there are fewer beasts to hunt."

    Rhett paused, saying, "Magical beasts reproduce and grow more slowly than humans, so their development cycles are longer. Given our hunting speed, it¡¯s only natural that numbers are dwindling. We may need to reduce our exploration frequency in the future."

    As they chatted, Rhett noticed two curved, horn-like brown rocks on either side of the slope, east and west.

    "This must be Antelope Slope, right?" Rhett asked.

    "Yes, once we climb the small hill ahead and walk a few hundred meters, we''ll be in the deeper areas of the Darkfeather Eagle Range," Ryleigh replied.

    When the group reached the top of the hill, Rhett narrowed his eyes, recalling the simtion''s guidance. He quickly sensed a third-tier magical beast¡ªWindfeather Sparrow¡ªabout 200 meters away.

    The Windfeather Sparrow, covered in blue feathers and about half a meter long, was perched in a tree, its yellow talons gripping a branch. It rested its head on a tuft of soft green leaves, eyes closed in sleep.

    Despite being unaware of Rhett''s presence, the Windfeather Sparrow sensed the gradual approach of Tack, Ryleigh, and Tales.

    The unfamiliar aura woke the sparrow, and its sharp eyes scanned Antelope Slope.

    But before it could react, a sudden spike pierced through the tree, pinning it to the trunk!

    The ce it once rested had now be its grave.

    The three brothers were startled. They hadn¡¯t even noticed the sparrow hidden in the leaves, but the strong elemental energy had alerted them. They turned toward the source and saw the bird impaled on the tree, struggling weakly before letting out a mournful cry.

    "Tales, quickly!" Rhett urged, leading his sons forward.

    With Whitegrip''s help, Tales climbed the tree, though he wobbled slightly.

    Looking down at the four-meter drop, he hesitated.

    "Don¡¯t waste time! Finish it off quickly!" Rhett shouted urgently. "A fourth-tier magical beast is heading our way!"

    Tales'' heart raced. He gripped his spear tightly and thrust it into the Windfeather Sparrow''s throat, extinguishing itsst glimmer of life.

    Only when the screen appeared did Rhett breathe a sigh of relief. He gently enveloped Tales in a wind elemental aura.

    Surprised by the sudden lightness, Tales leaped down, feeling like a feather floating to the ground.@@novelbin@@

    Since bing an Archmage, Rhett''s control over earth elements had improved significantly. His ability to manipte other elements had also increased, though they still paledpared to earth magic. Nevertheless, they were stronger than before.

    Rhett had even heard that Grandmasters could not only control various elements but also cast basic spells from other schools of magic.

    When Talesnded, he was delighted by the experience and wanted to try it again. However, a clear cry from the sky brought everyone back to full alertness.

    Rhett¡¯s expression turned serious. He quickly cast a Spike spell, sending a sharp spike hurtling toward the fourth-tier Windfeather Sparrow in the sky.

    This Windfeather Sparrow was clearly older, with darker feathers and a body nearly a meter long. Its white eyes burned with fury.

    Seeing the third-tier sparrow''s lifeless body, it trembled in rage. With a powerful p of its wings, a fierce wind howled down from above!

    "Get behind me!" Rhett shouted.

    The three brothers rushed behind their father, who activated his Stone Light Shield to protect them.

    The wind howled, sending sand and leaves flying everywhere. Some small saplings were even uprooted and swept into the sky.

    Rhett was the primary target of the Windfeather Sparrow¡¯s attack, standing at the center of the storm. However, the powerful gusts failed to prate the protective shield.

    When the wind finally ceased, cracks appeared on the Stone Light Shield, but it held firm.

    With a cold look, Rhett summoned a boulder above the Windfeather Sparrow.

    The falling stone, over five meters wide, cast a shadow over the bird, making it seem as if the sky was falling.

    Sensing the danger, the Windfeather Sparrow generated small currents of green energy around its body, speeding up like aet. It narrowly avoided the boulder, leaving only a few feathers behind.

    Seeing this, Rhett devised a n. He grabbed the third-tier Windfeather Sparrow''s corpse and tore off one of its wings.

    "Chirp!!"

    The fourth-tier Windfeather Sparrow let out a piercing cry, its fury boiling over, consuming what little rationality remained.

    With an enraged screech, it dove like an arrow toward Rhett, shattering the air with a deafening boom.

    But just as it neared its target, a massive boulder suddenly blocked its path.

    Forced to swerve, the bird barely avoided the obstacle.

    Rhett remained calm, his mind racing with strategies. When he saw a faint blue glow to the right of the boulder, he knew his chance hade.

    A Spike spell quickly materialized, shooting past the boulder¡¯s edge and piercing the Windfeather Sparrow''s wing.

 Chapter 113: Leaving the Darkfeather Eagle Behind!

    Blood spilled across the sky, and several blood-red feathers floated down. With one wing crippled, the Windfeather Sparrow lost its bnce, wobbling unsteadily in the air, its form beginning to plummet.

    Rhett couldn''t let such an opportunity slip by. He immediately cast another earth spike, which shot through the air and pierced the Windfeather Sparrow''s chest, directly impaling its heart. What would have been a highly difficult maneuver for most was effortlessly executed by Rhett, who had honed his skills through countless battles.

    As the fatal blownded, the Windfeather Sparrow spat out a mouthful of blood from its sharp beak. It let out a sorrowful cry as it began to fall in a straight descent.

    "Is the battle... over?" Ryleigh muttered as he cautiously stepped forward.

    "Yes, it''s almost over," Rhett replied calmly, adding, "But a fourth-tier magical beast has far greater vitality than lower-tier beasts. It''s probably not entirely dead yet. Ryleigh, finish it off from a distance with your Water Arrow spell to avoid anyst-ditch counterattack."

    "Me? No problem!" Ryleigh agreed.

    Whitegrip carried Rhett and Ryleigh to the spot where the Windfeather Sparrow had just fallen, some hundred meters away. By the time they arrived, the Windfeather Sparrowy trembling in a pool of its own blood, its legs twitching uncontrobly as its life force dwindled, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment.

    Seeing its enemies approach, the bird made a desperate, final effort, struggling to lift its head and spewing out a Wind de.

    Rhett, experienced and prepared, quickly summoned his Earth Armor to shield Ryleigh, blocking the attack. The Wind de, with its powerful slicing force, struck the armor with a heavy impact, pushing Rhett back a step. Although the armor''s chest area was severely cut, it remained intact."Water Arrow!" Ryleigh, following his father''s instructions, wasted no time and shot a Water Arrow at the Windfeather Sparrow''s eye.

    With a sharp "pop," the Water Arrow burst through the bird''s eyeball, sttering blood and piercing deep into its skull, mixing with the white brain matter inside.

    A pitiful, enraged cry echoed through the air, only to be abruptly cut short. The red and white fluids slowly oozed onto the ground, soaking into the earth and staining the dry grass.

    The scene was gruesome, but for Rhett and his sons, it was just another day, eliciting no emotional response. Discussing morality without context is foolish. Truth exists within a specific framework, and so does morality.

    It wasn''t until Rhett saw the notification appear before him that a faint smile tugged at his lips. Tack approached and began harvesting materials from the Windfeather Sparrow''s body. He extracted a magic crystal the size of a fist and ced it into the bup sack he carried.

    Then, with a lingering sense of fear, he patted his chest and said, "The deeper we go into the Darkfeather Eagle Range, the more dangerous it bes. We just arrived, and we''ve already encountered a fourth-tier magical beast. I wonder how many more are out there like the Windfeather Sparrow. If we get surrounded, what will we do?"

    Ryleigh frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the corpse of the fourth-tier Darkfeather Eagle. "In the Darkfeather Eagle Range, it''s unlikely we''ll be surrounded by other magical beasts. But if we encounter a flock of Darkfeather Eagles, we''ll be in real danger."

    At this, Rhett smiled calmly and reassured them, "Don''t worry. As long as I''m here, I guarantee your safety!"

    His words had a magical effect, instantly easing the anxiety of his sons.

    Tales tilted his head back slightly, grinning as he said, "I believe in you, Father. Even if we encounter Darkfeather Eagles, you can take them all down. Who knows, maybe there''s even a Darkfeather Eagle hatchling somewhere in their nest!"

    Hmm?

    A glimmer of surprise shed in Rhett''s eyes. He hadn''t considered that, but Tales'' words sparked a realization. He thought to himself, "If the high-levelbat force of the Darkfeather Eagle flock numbers over twenty, then there must be at least a hundred of them across the entire range. This poption size is rtively highpared to other magical beasts. And with such arge base, it''s only natural that they would be breeding. If... we could find their nest, there might indeed be Darkfeather Eagle eggs!"

    Tack''s eyes lit up as well. "Yeah, that could really happen! If we find one, I could have my very own magical pet soon!"

    "Tack, it wouldn''t be you; it would be me! I should be the one getting a magical pet soon!" Tales countered, emphasizing "me" with extra force.

    "I don''t care. You said yourself that you''re still far from bing a Mage Apprentice. Even if you had a magical beast cub, you couldn''t tame it," Tackughed heartily. "So if we find one, it''s definitely mine!"

    He then ced arge hand on Tales'' head, ruffling his hair.

    "Oh no, Tack, don''t mess up my hairstyle," Talesined, frowning. "You always pick on me. Once I''m a mage, I''ll make sure to give you a good lesson."

    Tack stood with his hands on his hips, grinning shamelessly. "Teach me a lesson? Haha, you''d better work hard for that!"

    Rhett watched his two youngest sons bicker as usual, shaking his head with a smile. "Don''t be so quick to fight over the magical beast cub. We don''t even know if there is one yet. That was just spection; spection doesn''t equal reality."

    "Father is right. And the greater the likelihood of finding a magical beast cub, the more Darkfeather Eagles there will be. If there are several fourth-tier magical beasts among them, we''ll be in serious danger," Ryleigh calmly analyzed.

    Tack rubbed his head,ughing awkwardly. "Ryleigh''s got a point..."

    After collecting the materials, the group rested briefly before setting off again. Perhaps because they were near the Windfeather Sparrow''s territory, they didn''t encounter any other magical beasts for the rest of the day.

    The next morning, as dawn broke, the valley was filled with thick fog. Rhett sensed a disturbance in the dark elemental energies ahead, and with a thought, he manipted the wind elements to clear the fog for several dozen meters.

    As the mist parted, the group was met with a surprising sight.

    "Wow!" Tack eximed in amazement, sprinting ahead to a patch of dark-attribute mid-level magic nts. "Father, there''s a whole field of dark-attribute magic nts here, but I don''t recognize the species."

    Rhett and the others walked forward, taking a quick nce. "Indeed, these are mid-level magic nts, Deadheart Grass. They''re often used in poison-making. We can bring them back to Henk and see if he can put them to use."

    Ryleigh''s eyes lit up with excitement. "There must be around two or three hundred nts here, right? We can keep some for Henk and trade the rest for arge number of water-attribute magic nt seeds!"

    Rhett nodded in agreement with the n.@@novelbin@@

    "Father, should we start harvesting now?" Tack asked, eager to begin but still waiting for Rhett''s approval.

    Rhett nodded, then, with a thought, activated the system and selected, "Yes, simte one day!"

    As the surrounding space rippled, Rhett entered the simtion, feeling a sense of rxation. Here, he wasn''t afraid of death.

    This time, Rhett''s goal was clear: find a way to kill the Darkfeather Eagle and ensure it couldn''t escape. If he let the Darkfeather Eagle that was about to attack him escape, its flock would hunt them downter.

    This would mean the end of his ns to explore the deeper parts of the Darkfeather Eagle Range. Let alone the idea of trying to obtain a Darkfeather Eagle hatchling.

    Only by ensuring that this Darkfeather Eagle waspletely eliminated could Rhett stay longer in the area, collect Fate Points, and try to acquire a magical beast cub.

    Rhett began harvesting the Deadheart Grass. Under his orders, the four of them kept within five meters of each other. Rhett held his wand at the ready, prepared to react immediately to any threat.

    After about ten minutes, Rhett sensed a concealed presence rapidly approaching from behind.

    "Enemy attack! Get behind me!" Even though it was a simtion, Rhett instinctively shouted.

    He then activated his Earth Armor and swiftly cast Earth Spike toward the diving Darkfeather Eagle.

    Everything happened in an instant. The Darkfeather Eagle, with its dark wings, hadn''t expected its target to react so quickly. Its dark-gold eyes widened in surprise as it spat out a glob of ck acid.

    Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already learned enough about the Darkfeather Eagle in advance. These magical beasts, with their mid-level bloodline potential, were not particrly fast flyers and had average physical strength, but they excelled in magic.

    As a mid-level magical beast, it had the rare ability to cast three different spells: Shadow Arrow, Corrosive Acid, and Dark Veil.

    The air filled with a pungent smell, somewhat resembling sulfuric acid but several times more intense. The Earth Spike passed through the acid, which sizzled and evaporated most of the spike before the Darkfeather Eagle swiped it with a w, shattering it into pieces.

    However, the collision had also nearly neutralized the acid.

    Seeing this, the Darkfeather Eagle quickly ascended, its wings moving slower than usual as if preparing for another spell.

    Rhett wasted no time, casting a Falling Rock spell that summoned a massive boulder from the misty sky.

    The Darkfeather Eagle, sensing danger, dodged downward but was startled by another Earth Spike rising from below.

    Caught between two threats, the Darkfeather Eagle instinctively screeched and spat out another glob of corrosive acid.

    The spike was partially dissolved but still managed to pierce the Darkfeather Eagle''s chest.

    Rhett''s eyes lit up, ready to finish it off.

    But the Darkfeather Eagle, eyes filled with fear, nced at the human below and pped its wings to flee into the sky.

    "Hmph!" Rhett snorted internally, unwilling to let it escape.

    However, just as he prepared to cast another Earth Spike, a Dark Veil suddenly descended, shrouding the area in darkness and obscuring his vision.

    Rhett''s expression turned grim as the world around him became a blur, making it impossible to track his target.

    The darknesssted only a second, but when the light returned, the Darkfeather Eagle was already a distant speck on the horizon.

    Ryleigh approached and saw the frustration on his father''s face. He was about to offer someforting words, but Rhett shook his head, ending the simtion and returning to reality.

    He immediately initiated a new simtion.

    This time, Rhett reflected on his experience. "The Darkfeather Eagle isn''t particrly strong and isn''t my match, but its Dark Veil spell has a control effect. It disrupts my vision, making it difficult to stop its escape."

    "Father, should we start harvesting?" Tack asked, looking at Rhett.

    "Go ahead," Rhett replied absentmindedly.

    He pondered the experience of being hit by the Dark Veil. It seemed to descend suddenly, without any clear warning, making it hard to avoid. But he wasn''t ready to give up yet. He nned to try again, hoping to find a way to evade it.

    Ten minutester, the Darkfeather Eagle attacked. This time, Rhett took a risk, casting Earth Spike directly, relying on his previous simtion to predict the bird''s flight path without turning around.

    As the Darkfeather Eagle swooped down, confident that its prey hadn''t noticed it, it came within three meters of the ground. Suddenly, an earth-colored spike shot up from below, aiming for its chest.

    "Chirp!" The Darkfeather Eagle, startled, twisted its body slightly to avoid a fatal blow, but the spike still pierced its abdomen.

    Hot blood sttered, drenching Rhett.

    Remaining calm, Rhett mercilessly prepared to cast another Falling Rock spell, blocking the bird''s escape route.

    However, the world around him suddenly darkened again as the Dark Veil descended.

    Rhett''s heart sank. When his vision cleared, the Darkfeather Eagle was once again fleeing into the distance.

    "How can I avoid this Dark Veil?" Rhett clenched his fists in frustration.

    "Father, was that... a Darkfeather Eagle?" Ryleigh asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

    "Yes, but it escaped," Rhett sighed.

    Tack scratched his head and said bluntly, "What a shame. You were so close, Father. If you''d just hit it with another Earth Spike, you could''ve taken it down. But then you just stopped, like you were watching it get away."

    Ryleigh also sighed. "Father was hit by the Dark Veil. It''s a rare racial magic that few magical beasts possess. There''s no obvious trajectory, so it''s nearly impossible to dodge."

    Suddenly, a sh of insight struck Rhett like lightning. He pped his thigh and eximed, "I should have realized it sooner! Why worry about dodging it?"

 Chapter 114: Capturing the Night Cats

    "Father, what do you mean?" Ri''s eyes showed a hint of confusion.

    Rhett''s thoughts shifted, and he asked, "Ri, you were watching earlier. Do you remember the path and flight trajectory of that Dark Marked Eagle after it was hit by the Earth Spike?"

    "Yes, I remember it clearly."

    Hearing this confident reply, a confident smile returned to Rhett''s face. He said, "Quick, describe its flight path!"

    Ri nodded, though he didn''t fully understand why his father was asking about this now. Still, he followed instructions without hesitation.

    He manipted the water elements, forming a water ball that floated in midair, about three meters off the ground.

    "The Dark Marked Eagle was in this position before it fled!" Ri pointed, then controlled the water ball as it moved through the air, continuing, "After it was hit by your Earth Spike, it escaped along this path..."

    Rhett observed everything carefully, contemting for a moment before ending the current simtion.

    Then, he started a new one!This time, his goal was to verify Ri''s description. By confirming the escape route, he aimed to see if he could achieve a blind spot kill!

    His idea was simple¡ªwhy worry about avoiding the Dark Shroud that obstructed his vision? Initially, he had been fixated on how to evade it.

    But then, he realized that there was no need to avoid the Dark Shroud. He could use the simtion to figure out the escape route after being hit by the Dark Shroud.

    Then, he could pinpoint the strike location based on the eagle''s flight path.

    If he didn''t get it right on the first try, he would simte again, repeating until he nailed the perfect spot and sessfully took it down!

    On the third simtion, he further confirmed the Dark Marked Eagle''s flight path, but unfortunately, his Earth Spike was off by an inch.

    On the fourth simtion, after adjusting from thest experience, he finally achieved his goal!

    Back in reality, a smile curved Rhett''s lips. As expected, the method worked!

    In thest simtion, he had sessfully executed a blind spot kill.

    Now, all he had to do was replicate it perfectly in reality, just like he had done when he killed the traveling merchant before.

    Tucker asked again, "Father, should we start harvesting now?"

    This was the fifth time he had asked.

    But Rhett, maintaining the calm demeanor he had from thest simtion, replied, "Yes, start harvesting."

    He then bent down and slowly began picking the Netherheart Grass, his left hand resting lightly on the magic wand at his waist.

    Every detail mirrored the simtion exactly.

    When he sensed the Dark Marked Eagle approaching from behind, a cold smile tugged at his lips, but he didn''t turn around immediately.

    Instead, he waited for the eagle to swoop down and reach the position from the second simtion before casting an Earth Spike.

    The diving Dark Marked Eagle, feeling confident that its prey hadn''t noticed its presence, had no idea of the danger looming.

    At this moment, it was only three meters above the ground.

    Suddenly, a sharp earth-colored spike shot up from the ground, aiming straight for its chest!

    "Chirp!" The Dark Marked Eagle panicked, twisting its body at thest moment to avoid a fatal blow. The spike missed its heart but pierced a bloody hole through its abdomen, spilling hot blood all over Rhett.

    Up to this point, everything mirrored the second simtion.

    But this time, Rhett didn''t immediately cast Rockfall to block the eagle''s escape route.

    Instead, he held his breath, following the sessful path from thest simtion. As soon as the Dark Shroud descended, he cast an Earth Drill at a specific spot in the upper right!

    The heavily injured Dark Marked Eagle, thinking it had sessfully blinded its target with the Dark Shroud, focused solely on escaping.

    It didn''t notice the deadly Earth Drill appearing out of nowhere, piercing straight through its chest!

    A wave of excruciating pain surged through its mind, and the Dark Marked Eagle let out a sharp cry. But with its heart impaled, its strength quickly drained away.

    Though not as intelligent as a human, the eagle was puzzled:

    How could that human still attack after being hit by my magic?

    But no one was there to answer its question.

    As the darkness faded, Rhett saw the Dark Marked Eagle, its heart pierced by the drill, falling helplessly from the sky, ten meters above.

    Around him, Rhett maintained his Earth Armor and Earthlight Shield, knowing that showing such defense would deter the eagle from continuing its attack after using the Dark Shroud. Instead, it would choose to flee.

    Even though he had seeded in the simtion, Rhett only felt truly at ease once he executed it in reality.

    He waved toward the back and calmly said, "Talis!"

    Still in shock, Talis struggled toprehend how his father had managed to precisely strike the Dark Marked Eagle despite being engulfed in the Dark Shroud. But when he heard his name called, he snapped back to reality, knowing exactly what to do next. "Understood!"

    He grabbed his spear, moved behind his father, and began stabbing the dying eagle relentlessly.@@novelbin@@

    As it neared death, the Dark Marked Eagle shot out a final Shadow Arrow in defiance, but it was blocked by the Earth Armor.

    <strong>[Family member killed an enemy five levels above, Destiny Points +5]</strong>

    Seeing the Dark Marked Eagle''s mangled corpse, Talis finally stopped stabbing and rested his spear on the ground, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

    Ri, carrying a sack of Netherheart Grass, walked up to Rhett and gazed at him with admiration. "Father, even though you were hit by the Dark Shroud, you still managed to take down the Dark Marked Eagle. That''s incredible!"

    Then, his eyes twinkled with curiosity as he asked, "Does this mean that in the third stage of magic training, I''ll learn how to do this too?"

    Rhett gave a mysterious smile without a direct answer, saying instead, "First, build a solid foundation. Everything else will follow in time..."

    Though he had relied on simtions to ensure sess in reality, his words were not just a brush-off.

    In fact, without the simtion, Rhett could still have tried to predict the eagle''s path and strike back after being hit by the Dark Shroud.

    However, while he might have hit the target, there was no guarantee he could kill it.

    For Rhett, using the simtion for a more reliable oue was a no-brainer. But for others, having this skill, even without guarantees, would be far better than having nothing.

    Therefore, the third stage of magic training he nned for Ri did indeed involve something rted to this...

    At this point, Tucker eagerly approached, pulling out a skinning knife and beginning to process the Dark Marked Eagle''s body.

    Meanwhile, Rhett fell into deep thought: "Now that this four-star Dark Marked Eagle is dead, it''s like a key event in this expedition has changed. If I don''t simte again, finding the magical beast cubs next would be a shot in the dark..."

    After some contemtion, Rhett decided to simte once more, setting a specific goal for the next simtion.

    He aimed to locate the Dark Marked Eagle''s nest and, if possible, establish contact with the three mercenaries seeking materials from the eagle, as mentioned in the simtion. Working with them could be an option.

    With that in mind, he activated the system and chose <strong>[Text Simtion]</strong>.

    <strong>[Do you wish to start a text simtion? Each simtion for one year consumes 5 Destiny Points.]</strong>

    "Yes, simte for one year."

    <strong>[Year 474 of the Kingdom Calendar, October 19th, you found a mid-level dark-element magic nt and decided to harvest it all. During the harvest, you sensed movement behind you, and a four-star Dark Marked Eagle attacked. After a fierce battle, you killed it.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 20th,te at night, three mercenaries, following your campfire, arrived at your campsite. After a conversation, they revealed they came from the northern part of the kingdom, from the Wodan Continent, traveling all the way to the southwestern border in search of materials from Dark Marked Eagles. You mentioned that you were searching for Dark Marked Eagle cubs, and seeing your strength, they proposed an alliance¡ªworking together for mutual benefit. You agreed. Through introductions, you learned that their team consisted of a four-star Earth Knight, Devorger, and two three-star mages, Milton and Vicky.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 21st, you encountered a four-star Frost Rhino, which you all managed to kill together.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 23rd, you encountered a three-star Dark Marked Eagle, which you easily killed.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 28th, after several days of searching, you finally made a discovery. You saw a three-star Dark Marked Eagle carrying the body of a Ground Burrow Ape and followed it. Half an hourter, you saw it fly to the summit of a secluded mountain, where a dozen Dark Marked Eagles circled above. You guessed this was their nest.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 29th, after a day of discussion, you finalized a n. Devorger, with his exceptional physical abilities, would lure the enemy, while you and the others ambushed from behind.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 30th, Devorger found an opportunity, luring a lone four-star Dark Marked Eagle, which you took down with abination of magic and his arrows.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 2nd, another opportunity arose, and you lured a second four-star Dark Marked Eagle, killing it with magic and the Earth Knight''s arrows.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 5th, after killing the third four-star Dark Marked Eagle, you decided to storm the summit! Upon reaching the top, you were surrounded by the remaining Dark Marked Eagles. But after focusing your attacks on thest four-star eagle, the remaining hundred or so Dark Marked Eagles were no match for you and were quickly defeated. In the depths of the nest, after a thorough search, you found a Dark Marked Eagle egg, which you imed as agreed. The mercenaries did not betray you.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 6th, the three mercenaries prepared to leave. Before departing, they gave you a badge marked with a me Lion, saying that if you ever visit Icefall City, you can use it to contact them at the mercenary guild.]</strong>

    <strong>[Year 475 of the Kingdom Calendar, June 11th, news arrived from the front lines that the battle at the canyon defense had intensified, requiring significant reinforcements from the rear. A full-scale alert was issued across the southwestern border. ording to the kingdom''sws, all nobles must lead their forces to the front lines, including you!]</strong>

    <strong>[July 15th, you arrived at the familiar canyon defense with Tucker, Ri, Henk, and Shirin. Your exceptional strength caught the attention of Deputy Commander Ambiru, who appointed you as a temporary squad leader,manding over a hundred soldiers.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 18th, at night, Deputy Commander Ambiru assigned you a critical mission¡ªan ambush on the royal-blooded beasts behind enemy lines. After a difficult battle, you wiped out the small orc unit, which included 23 Blood Moon Werewolves and Phantom Serpents.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 26th, you heard that Viscount Gaspar of Windmill Town, while on a reconnaissance mission, managed to kill three Blood Moon Werewolves, earning great merit!]</strong>

    <strong>[July 27th, your long-time subordinate, Frano, who had been stuck at the peak of Level One Knight for a while, found an opportunity to break through and advanced to Level Two Knight.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 3rd, you contacted Deputy Commander Ambiru in advance, confidently iming that Viscount Gaspar had colluded with the orcs and would conduct a secret operation that night. That night, you observed suspicious activity and followed Viscount Gaspar. Halfway through, two five-star Night Cats dropped from the trees, but Deputy Commander Ambiru, who had been hidden nearby with his men, quickly appeared and captured the two Night Cats.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 4th, Deputy Commander Ambiru congratted you, stating that you had made a great contribution and would be richly rewarded after the war! He also mentioned that they had extracted some information from Viscount Gaspar and the Night Cats. It seemed there was friction between the Phantom Serpent and Blood Moon Werewolf tribes. This time, the 500 royal-blooded beasts sent to the canyon defense came from these two tribes, possibly due to a bet between important figures!]</strong>

    <strong>[August 5th, Klina gave birth to twins, a boy, and a girl, adding two new members to the family¡ªa joyous asion!]</strong>

    <strong>[August 7th, during a patrol, you encountered a small orc unit near the Bloody River, leading to a skirmish. In this battle, Henk was torn apart by a Blood Moon Werewolf in closebat, and Shirin was severely injured.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 15th,te at night, you received news that the front lines were under a massive orc attack. You led your hundred soldiers, following Deputy Commander Ambiru, in a nking maneuver from the east. After intense fighting, you killed over a dozen orcs, including a three-star Blood Moon Werewolf, but a four-star Blood Moon Werewolf wed through your abdomen, narrowly missing a fatal blow.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 19th, Laurin became pregnant.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 24th, Mina gave birth to a boy, adding another member to the family¡ªa joyous asion!]</strong>

    <strong>[August 27th,te at night, you followed the main force in an assault on the orc position.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 30th, the battle raged for three days and nights, with chaos everywhere. The merciless battlefield imed the lives of Ri and Shirin. Though scarred from the fight, your richbat experience allowed you to survive.]</strong>

    <strong>[September 5th, still grieving your loss, you learned that Deputy Commander Ambiru nned tounch a raid on an orc patrol. You volunteered to join. That night, the raid was sessful, and you killed two three-star Phantom Serpents.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 3rd, after nearly two months of war, over 20 royal-blooded orcs had fallen to your de, and your reputation began to grow within the orc camp at the canyon defense.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 17th, during a patrol, your unit was ambushed by orcs, including ten Blood Moon Werewolves who relentlessly pursued you. Realizing the danger, you led your men in a fighting retreat. Although reinforcements eventually arrived, you lost an arm and fell unconscious from your injuries.]</strong>

    <strong>[Text simtion ended. Would you like to simte again?]</strong>

 Chapter 115: The Filial Son

    "No!"

    Ending the simtion, Rhett turned back to the Deadheart Grass field and continued harvesting the magic nts. The fading light of the disy lingered in his mind, and he spent a moment organizing his thoughts.

    Perhaps it was because the Darkfeather Eagle Range hunting loop was almost closed. After this, until heading to the Canyon Defense Line next year, the trajectory had hardly changed. The only significant differences were in the hunts for the Darkfeather Eagle and the battles against the orcs at the Canyon Defense Line.

    Through the simtion, Rhett discovered that fully investigating the Darkfeather Eagle''s nest and cooperating with mercenaries were not only feasible but also led to decent results. However, what surprised him was that the three people he encountered were from Icewind City in the continent of Wodan.

    Wodan is located in the northern part of the Kingdom of Gillon, and Icewind City, situated in the far north, is thergest city in the region. It is close to the kingdom''srgest defense line against the orcs¡ªthe Coldflow Defense Line.

    Rhett had heard from Deputy Commander Anbiru that the battles at the Coldflow Defense Line were more frequent and on arger scalepared to the Canyon Defense Line. There, Earth Knights and Archmages were regrly active on the front lines, and even Sky Knights and Grand Magi asionally joined the fray.

    In contrast, the Canyon Defense Line was traditionally dominated by mages and knights, with Archmages and Earth Knights only asionally taking part. However, Rhett reflected, "But this time, with the orc reinforcements at the Canyon Defense Line and the participation of the southwestern nobility, the scale of the war at the Canyon Defense Line has suddenly increased. The number of mid-levelbatants involved will undoubtedly be substantial."

    As Rhett recalled the simted battles where fourth- and fifth-tier orcs frequently appeared, along with the influx of royal-blooded reinforcements, he pondered, "I never expected that even within the orc royal bloodlines, there would be friction between the Bloodmoon Werewolves and the Phantom Venom Serpent Tribe."

    The orc forces were vast, with sprawling territories andplex internal power struggles. It was no secret that their unity was not absolute. Even within human kingdoms, internal conflicts and disagreements were inevitable. However, when it came to fundamental interests, both sides maintained a clear focus, never confusing primary and secondary conflicts.Still, it was the first time Rhett had heard of a wager between royal bloodlines, with each side putting five hundred members on the battlefield as stakes. "Could the wager be about who kills more?" Rhett shook his head and dismissed the strange notion. After all, even if he knew the terms of the wager, there was nothing he could do about it. As a fourth-tier Archmage, he had limited influence over such high-level events.

    His only priority was to ensure that once on the battlefield, he could protect his sons and subordinates, preventing any tragic losses. The battlefield may be merciless, but people still have emotions. While he wouldn''t tolerate desertion, he would use real simtions to avoid tragedies whenever possible.

    With that thought in mind, Rhett refocused on the task at hand. There was still over half a year until he had to report to the Canyon Defense Line. For now, resolving the situation in the Darkfeather Eagle Range was the top priority. Although he had only found one magical beast egg in the Darkfeather Eagle''s nest¡ªa seemingly small number given the nearly hundred-strong flock¡ªthis was not unusual.

    First, the reproductive rate of magical beasts was inherently low. Second, stumbling upon a nest with an egg in the hatching stage wasrgely a matter of luck. Some of the Darkfeather Eagles in the flock might already have offspring a few months old. These young magical beasts, having spent time with their parents, would be nearly impossible to tame.

    Finding just one egg meant luck was neither exceptionally good nor bad¡ªjust average.

    After finishing the Deadheart Grass harvest, Ryleigh, who was riding on Whitegrip''s back, surveyed the area ahead, which fanned out into a broad stretch of wild paths. "Father, where should we go next?" he asked.

    "That forest over there looks denser. Why don''t we head that way?" Tales suggested with a grin, pointing southwest. "A denser forest should mean more magical beasts!"

    Rhett had been about to suggest heading directly west, which would have led them more quickly to the deeper parts of the range where the Darkfeather Eagles'' nest was located. But recalling that in the simtion, he hadn''t known this information and had likely followed Tales'' suggestion, which had led to an early encounter with the mercenaries, he decided to go with the flow. Nodding casually, he said, "Alright, let''s head southwest and see if we can hunt more magical beasts."

    ...

    The moon quietly ascended into the night sky. Rhett looked up at the star-filled heavens, shimmering like a dreamlike gxy. Despite having seen this sky for decades in this world, he never tired of it.

    Having lived through an era in his previous life where city skies were severely polluted and only a few stars were visible at night, he cherished this night view all the more.

    "Tales, it''s all your fault for picking this lousy path. We''ve been walking through this forest for nearly a day and haven''t seen a single magical beast," Tack grumbled, stuffing a piece of ck jerky into his mouth.

    "Oh, Tack, please close your big mouth. It''s probably your loud voice that scared all the magical beasts away!" Tales retorted, crossing his arms defensively.

    "Good heavens, what a ridiculous excuse! Since when are magical beasts afraid of noise?" Tack replied, feigning shock.

    Tales'' eyes sparkled, and he gave a small hop. "See? You just admitted that all you''ve been doing is making noise!"

    "I...," Tack stammered, wide-eyed and momentarily at a loss for words. He pursed his lips and huffed, reaching for his waterskin to gulp down water.

    Tales, pleased with himself, chuckled and, feeling a bit thirsty, turned to Ryleigh. "Ryleigh, I''m thirsty. Can you give me some water?" he asked, shaking the brown waterskin hanging from his waist.

    Ryleigh, lying back and gazing at the thinning forest canopy, noticed that they were nearing the forest''s edge. Without much thought, he conjured a stream of water, directing it into Tales'' waterskin.

    Half an hourter, they emerged from the forest into a wide clearing, surrounded by dead trees. Some were broken in half by the wind andy crooked on the ground, their insides hollowed out by creatures.

    "Hmm? These trees look perfect for firewood. Father, if we''re camping, this ce would be ideal!" Ryleigh suggested after surveying the area, his eyes lighting up. As a mage, Ryleigh''s body was stronger than that of an ordinary person due to elemental cleansing, but still far from the endurance of a knight. After a long day of travel, he was feeling tired, and a rest seemed like a good idea.

    "Hmm... We''ve traveled far enough today. Let''s rest here for the night," Rhett agreed, noting that the environment was indeed suitable for camping. With a wave of his hand, he manipted the earth elements, summoning four square stone stools. Enjoying the night breeze, he casually sat on one of the stools and gestured toward a row of dead trees. "Tack, chop some firewood. We''re having a barbecue tonight!"

    "Got it!" Tack''s eyes lit up at the mention of a barbecue. He quickly ced the carcass of a Darkfeather Eagle and a bag containing wild boar legs in the center of the stone stools before happily running off to gather firewood.

    After Tack left, Tales'' eyes gleamed mischievously as he took small steps to stand behind his father. He began massaging Rhett''s shoulders.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow in surprise, amused by the gesture. "Haha, Tales, what made you suddenly want to give your father a massage?"

    Tales chuckled, kneading his father''s shoulders. "Father... Could you conjure me a stone bed? I want to lie down for a bit! After walking all day, my legs and back are sore."

    Rhett rolled his eyes but couldn''t help smiling. "Alright, but give me ten more minutes of massage, and then you''ll get your stone bed."

    "Deal!" Tales responded loudly, putting more effort into his massage, determined to earn hisfortable rest.

    It wasn''t long before Tack returned, carrying an armful of firewood. Tossing it on the ground, he noticed Tales massaging their father andmented, "Huh? This is the first time I''ve seen Tales give someone a massage. When will it be my turn?"

    "Don''t even think about it," Tales scoffed, giving Tack a disdainful nce.

    After massaging for over ten minutes, Tales'' hands were starting to ache. He stopped and shook them out, mumbling, "Father, time''s up, right?"

    "Oh? I guess it is," Rhett replied, as if he had truly lost track of time. With a flick of his wrist, he used his mental energy to conjure four stone beds.

    Seeing four beds appear, Tales blinked in surprise. "Wait... I did the massage, but everyone gets a bed?"

    Ryleigh noticed Tales'' expression and chuckled. "Thank you, Father. Since Tales is done, I guess it''s my turn to massage your shoulders."

    "Hehe, and I''ll massage Father''s legs!" Tackughed, squatting down to form a human stool, gently thumping his father''s legs.

    Rhett felt deeply gratified, rxing into the attention with a contented sigh. "Ah... You boys are so filial..."

    Seeing this, Tales scratched his head andy down on one of the stone beds, feeling much more at peace with the situation.

    After the massages, Rhett kindled a small me in the pile of firewood. The dry wood quickly ignited, sending mes roaring upward. He then used his magic to assemble a simple stone grill. Tack ced the prepared meat on the grill, sprinkling some seasoning over it. As the meat began to sizzle, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma, his mouth watered, his eyes glowing with anticipation.

    The night was peaceful, with even the insects falling silent in the cold, leaving only the crackling of the fire and the asional whisper of the wind.

    Nearly half an hourter, the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air.

    Tack closed his eyes, savoring the scent, and said, "Just ten more minutes, and it''ll be ready!"

    Ryleigh and Tales licked their lips, eager to indulge in a well-earned meal after a day of travel.

    A few more minutes passed, and the meat was fully cooked, releasing a rich fragrance. The breast meat of the Darkfeather Eagle was particrly enticing.

    Tack swallowed hard but restrained himself, skewering arge piece of meat and offering it to Rhett. "Father, try the Darkfeather Eagle breast meat. It smells delicious!"

    Rhett shook his head with a smile. "I''m not hungry. You all eat first."

    Suddenly, his expression changed. He looked serious and whispered, "Someone''sing!"

    "Huh? Someone?" Ryleigh''s eyes narrowed, his hand instantly moving to his wand.

    Tack''s face also changed. He quickly assumed a defensive stance, drawing his sword and scanning the surroundings.

    A few secondster, three figures emerged from the darkness. The leader was a muscr man standing two meters tall, with a golden longsword at his waist. He sniffed the air and remarked in surprise, "What a delightful aroma..."

    As they approached, DeVorg''s eyes fixed on the ck feathers scattered on the ground and the Darkfeather Eagle meat on the grill. The smile on his face faded, reced by a more solemn expression as he looked at Rhett.

    Rhett studied the trio in turn. Judging by their physiques and equipment, it was easy to identify the leader as DeVorg. He wore a ck leather coat and gray trousers, with a small round shield and a broad sword at his waist. The two people behind him, a man and a woman in loose robes, were likely mages. Their paleplexions suggested they were used to living in colder northern regions.@@novelbin@@

    After a few seconds of silence, Rhett spoke first, cautiously asking, "Where do you threee from?"

    DeVorg responded with a friendly smile. "Hello, we''re from Wodan."

    "Wodan? The kingdom''s northernmost region, far from here. What brings you to this ce?" Rhett asked, feigning curiosity.

    It was clear that DeVorg was the leader. The two mages behind him remained silent, their eyes fixed on the materials from the four-tier Darkfeather Eagle, visibly impressed. After a moment of hesitation, DeVorg exined, "To be honest, we traveled a long way to the Darkfeather Eagle Range for a hunt. Although the Darkfeather Eagle''s bloodline isn''t particrly noble, its numbers in the Kingdom of Gillon are very few. We researched and found that the southwestern border has a range where they live.

    "The one in your possession seems to have been a four-tier magical beast. Would you be willing to part with it? We''re willing to offer a fair price."

    Rhett paused to consider before replying, "That''s not a problem. Our primary goal is to find Darkfeather Eagle eggs. If you want this one, I have no issue handing it over. However... could you tell me why you need Darkfeather Eagle materials so urgently?" he asked, probing for information.

 Chapter 116: The Half-Dragon People

    Vorderger frowned slightly but quickly rxed and said, "It''s no harm telling you. In fact, wee from Icewind City in Wodan. A certain alchemy master there is currently researching and testing a poison form. The local Mercenary Guild issued a task to collect materials, one of which is the bodies of Darkfeather Eagles."

    Rhett''s eyes shed with understanding as he thought to himself, "So it''s for a reward. But... traveling all the way from Icewind City to the Darkfeather Eagle Range, the reward must be quite substantial."

    At this moment, Vorderger nced at the Darkfeather Eagle feathers by the campfire and then at the wand on Rhett''s waist. After some deliberation, he continued, "I have an idea. Since your goal is the Darkfeather Eagle''s eggs and our goal is their bodies, our objectives are simr and don''t conflict at all. So, why not join forces? No matter how many eggs we find, they will all belong to you. But... we will take all the Darkfeather Eagle bodies."

    After saying this, Vorderger looked directly at Rhett, waiting for a response. He genuinely hoped to team up with Rhett. A fourth-tier mage would be a tremendous help, and the fact that Rhett had single-handedly killed a fourth-tier Darkfeather Eagle was a testament to his strength.

    Hearing this expected proposal, Rhett pretended to ponder for half a minute before saying, "As for the eggs, I only need one. Any extra eggs don''t hold much value for me. Also, Twilight City has been buying up Darkfeather Eagle materials recently, and I''m nning to exchange them for a decent amount of gold."

    Rhett''s words were carefully considered. If he hadn''t known the oue of the previous simtion, he would likely have epted Vorderger''s offer. After all, Vorderger only wanted the Darkfeather Eagle bodies, and no matter how many eggs there were, they would all belong to Rhett. From Rhett''s perspective, even if there was only one egg in the nest, he wouldn''t lose out. If there were multiple eggs, it would be a substantial profit.

    However, through the simtion, Rhett already knew that there was only one egg in the Darkfeather Eagle''s nest, meaning his profit was already fixed. Meanwhile, Vorderger would return with numerous Darkfeather Eagle bodies and im a hefty reward. Factors affecting the oue of transactions are numerous, and information is undoubtedly the most crucial. Exploiting information asymmetry to reap profits is amon tactic of capitalists.

    Since Rhett couldn''t capitalize on the Darkfeather Eagle bodies like Vorderger could, it was only fair to use his advantage of information asymmetry to secure more benefits for himself. Of course, he didn''t see himself as a greedy capitalist. He would maintain bnce and ensure mutual benefit and cooperation.

    Vorderger frowned again, silent for a moment, before taking a deep breath and saying earnestly, "To be honest, the daughter of that alchemy master in Icewind City was a military officer at the Coldflow Defense Line. She was brutally murdered by the Half-Dragon People. In his rage, the master issued the task with the goal of creating a devastating poison specifically targeting the Half-Dragon People. ording to him, if this poison is sessfully crafted, it could pose a severe threat to the Half-Dragon People, even those below the holy level! So, it''s not just for myself, but also to fight against the orcs. I must obtain these Darkfeather Eagle bodies. We can split the bodies, but I''d like to buy your share at market price.""Oh?"

    This time, Rhett was genuinely surprised. He had not expected to learn even more from Vorderger in reality. The story of a female soldier at the Coldflow Defense Line being murdered by the Half-Dragon People was not new to Rhett. In fact, he had heard of male soldiers being simrly vited by female Half-Dragons.

    If a survey were conducted among the soldiers of the Kingdom of Gillon asking which orc race they hated the most, the Half-Dragon People would undoubtedly top the list. The Half-Dragons were a royal bloodline among the orcs, known for their courage andbat prowess. In terms of strength, speed, and defense, they were exceptional. However, they were also known for their depravity, with an insatiable urge to dominate and vite other species.

    If captured by other orcs, soldiers might face death. But if captured by Half-Dragons, they would endure unspeakable horrors before dying.

    Rhett squinted slightly, feeling deep sympathy for the alchemist''s daughter and admiring the master''s determination to fight against the orcs. Without hesitation, Rhett said, "In that case, I''ll still only take one egg. If there are any extra eggs, we''ll split them equally. As for the Darkfeather Eagle bodies, I''ll take twenty percent, but I''ll sell my share to you at market price. How does that sound?"

    "That works!" Vorderger sighed in relief and nodded. No matter what, he needed to take as many Darkfeather Eagle bodies back as possible. He looked at the campfire ahead, feeling as if it held hope. He hadn''t mentioned that the female officer who was brutally murdered had been his savior. This mission wasn''t just about the reward¡ªit was about repaying a debt of gratitude.

    With the deal settled, Rhett smiled and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. Rhett Green, Viscount and Lord of Hatchling Town on the southwestern border."

    Vorderger smiled back. "Vorderger Daru, Captain of the me Lion Mercenary Group."

    "Milton Teyera, a member of the me Lion Mercenary Group."

    "Vicki Took, also a member of the me Lion Mercenary Group."

    With the formalitiesplete, Rhett gestured to the stone stools and beds he had conjured and said, "It''s gettingte. Why don''t we sit down and rest? Tomorrow, we''ll set out to track down the Darkfeather Eagles."

    "That sounds good!"

    ...

    A weekter, just as in the simtion, Rhett and Vorderger led their teams deeper into the Darkfeather Eagle Range. Despite extensive searching, they hadn''t found the eagle''s nest. However, through several battles, both men had gained a clearer understanding of each other''s abilities.

    In Rhett''s eyes, Vorderger wasn''t particrly outstanding in any one area, but his bnced skill set was rare. He was proficient in closebat, offense, and defense, skilled with a bow, and even had a lower-tier footworkbat technique.

    Meanwhile, Vorderger held Rhett in high regard. Over the past few days, the fourth-tier mage had easily dispatched any magical beasts they encountered using spells like Earth Spike and Ground Thrust, disying a high level of mastery. For Vorderger, this was a good thing¡ªhaving a strong ally increased their chances of sess.

    As night fell, the group rested on their stone stools. Rhett looked up at the starry sky, narrowing his eyes. "It''s October 28th. That third-tier Darkfeather Eagle that leads us should be appearing soon."

    "Darkfeather Eagles are often active at night. We''ve gone several days without seeing one, but I have a feeling tonight will be different," Vorderger said, standing up after swallowing some dried meat.

    "Boss, you say that every day, but it never happens..." Milton, sitting beside Vorderger, sighed with a wry smile.

    Vicki, brushing her wine-red hair, teased, "When we first arrived in the Darkfeather Eagle Range, Boss heard a bird cry and imed it was a sign that the birds were startled by a Darkfeather Eagle..."

    "Ah-hem!" Vorderger blushed, silently cursing his subordinates for not giving him any face.

    Suddenly!

    A sharp cry echoed from the distance!

    Vorderger''s expression changed instantly, and he eximed, "No doubt about it! That''s a Darkfeather Eagle''s call. Let''s follow it!"

    "Huh? Boss got it right this time?" Milton was surprised but quickly got up and followed Vorderger without hesitation.

    After days of working together, Rhett and Vorderger exchanged a nce at the sound of the cry and immediately started moving toward the source.

    Two minutester, the group spotted a ck bird clutching the corpse of a Rock Ape as it rose from the forest, flying toward a specific area.

    Rhett''s sharp gaze caught the movement, and he quickly said, "Don''t alert it yet. If it''s carrying a corpse and not eating it immediately, it''s likely taking it back to its nest! If we follow it, we might find something interesting."

    "You''re right!" Vorderger''s eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened. "Then let''s go! Quickly!"

    "We should leave the tracking to the two of us. The others are too weak and might get spotted," Rhett added.

    "Agreed. Milton, Vicki, you stay here and wait for our signal!"

    "Tack, Ryleigh, Tales¡ªyou do the same. Stay put and don''t wander off!"

    "Understood!"

    Vorderger''s feet erupted with light as he dashed after the Darkfeather Eagle in the sky. Rhett summoned a whirlwind of wind elements around himself to increase his speed, though he couldn''t match Vorderger, who was using a footwork technique.

    Half an hourter, Vorderger stopped and hid behind a three-meter-tall brown boulder. Rhett arrived momentster and leaned against the rock, saying, "That peak ahead should be their nest, right?"

    "Yes. Over ten Darkfeather Eagles are circling above. Only near a nest would we see such a sight!" Vorderger confirmed, his tone tinged with excitement.

    Rhett peeked out, observing the nearly thousand-meter-tall isted peak, where Darkfeather Eagles soared through the clouds, circling the summit. He then reminded Vorderger, "If that''s the nest, then there must be many magical beasts. Charging in recklessly won''t end well."

    Vorderger thought for a moment and nodded. He could use a bow, but his archery skills weren''t advanced. He could only shoot urately at single targets. Techniques like rapid or multi-shot weren''t in his repertoire. If they were swarmed by over a hundred Darkfeather Eagles, especially with several fourth-tier beasts among them, they wouldn''t stand a chance.

    However, Vorderger had plenty of experience in the wild and didn''t see this as a major obstacle. "We''ll scout the area first. Then, I''ll find an opportunity to lure a fourth-tier Darkfeather Eagle away. We can take it down together. Darkfeather Eagles aren''t particrly fast flyers, and their bodies aren''t especially tough. With your spellcasting and my archery, we should manage."

    Rhett stroked his chin. "That sounds like a n."

    ...

    That night, Rhett and Vorderger carefully scouted the area, avoiding the Darkfeather Eagles'' sight, and gathered information. Then, they returned to share their battle n.

    Although Tack, Ryleigh, and Tales were too weak to participate, Milton and Vicki, both third-tier mages¡ªone fire element, the other light element¡ªcould be helpful.

    The next morning, Vorderger set out early, and three hourster, Vicki was starting to worry. "Boss has been gone for so long. What if he''s in trouble?"@@novelbin@@

    Milton patted her shoulder. "He''ll be fine. Boss is experienced. He wouldn''t fall here."

    Rhett remained silent, but a few secondster, his eyes shed with surprise, and he smiled. "No need to worry. You''ll see Vorderger soon."

    Just as he finished speaking, a ssh of corrosive acid suddenly rained down,nding ten meters to Milton''s right. The acid sizzled, eating into the ground and releasing thick, white smoke.

    "Kaaw!"

    "Kaaw!"

    Two sharp cries pierced the sky.

    At the same time, Vorderger appeared from the depths of the forest, moving so quickly that he seemed to flicker in and out of sight. He leaped onto a branch, crouched, and then sprang into the air, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow in one fluid motion!

    Rhett''s eyes narrowed as he cast a falling stone spell at the Darkfeather Eagle''s back!

    As the shadow loomed, the Darkfeather Eagle sensed the earth element''s intense presence and realized something was wrong. Simultaneously, a silver arrow shot from the ground toward its chest!

    At thest moment, the Darkfeather Eagle managed to dodge the arrow and the falling stone, but before it could breathe a sigh of relief, a piercing spike shot through the air and struck its skull.

    In an instant, it became a headless corpse.

    Blood and brain matter sttered through the sky!

    The fourth-tier Darkfeather Eagle hadn''t even had time to cry out before it was dead!

    Vorderger smiled as hended lightly on the ground, agile as a monkey. With the strength of a ground knight, he kicked off the trunk of a tree, leaving a small crater, and leaped twenty meters into the air, catching the falling Darkfeather Eagle.

    "Haha! As expected of Lord Rhett. Such exquisite spellcasting is truly rare. Few could have taken down that eagle so swiftly!" Vorderger walked over, clearly in a good mood.

    "You''re too kind. Without your archery distracting it, I wouldn''t have been able to finish it off so quickly," Rhett replied modestly.

 Chapter 118: I Want to Become a Count

    While Rhett was deep in thought, Vorderger was busy counting the Darkfeather Eagle corpses. After a moment, he turned to Rhett and said, "Lord Rhett, I¡¯ve just finished counting. Over these past days, we¡¯ve hunted a total of 102 Darkfeather Eagles. Among them were four of the fourth tier, twenty-three of the third tier, thirty-five of the second tier, and forty of the first tier or lower. Based on market prices, they are worth about 1,100 gold coins. ording to our agreement, you¡¯re transferring two-tenths of the Darkfeather Eagle corpses to me, which means I owe you 220 gold coins. However, we didn¡¯t bring that much gold with us. It¡¯s stashed away in the mountains, and we¡¯ll need to retrieve it before handing it over to you."

    "That¡¯s fine," Rhett nodded, understanding the wisdom of hiding valuables in the wild. After all, they had done the same thing, even going so far as to have Ryleigh hide Nina early on to avoid any idental encounters with strangers.

    ...

    The next day, Vorderger and his group handed over the gold coins and bid farewell. Standing atop Antelope Slope near one of the curved rock formations, Vorderger spoke with a hint of sentimentality, "Lord Rhett, although we only stayed in the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range for a short month, this unforgettable journey will remain with me forever."

    "I feel the same way. I¡¯ll never forget the times we fought side by side with the ming Lion Mercenary Group in the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range," Rhett sighed.

    Vorderger smiled faintly, "Lord Rhett, before I leave, I have something for you." He removed a fiery red emblem from his chest and handed it to Rhett. "Today, as we part ways, I fear we may never meet again. This emblem has been with me for ten years. I hope you¡¯ll ept it as a symbol of our friendship." Vorderger¡¯s expression turned serious as he spoke.

    Rhett was moved. After a brief hesitation, he took the emblem from Vorderger¡¯s hand and inspected it. The front of the emblem was polished smooth from a fire-element magic crystal and engraved with a lion insignia. The back was made of what appeared to be pure gold, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. Though its material value wasn¡¯t high, its sentimental value far surpassed its worth.

    "I¡¯ll keep this emblem safe. In my memoirs, I¡¯ll write that today, a distant friend gave me an emblem that had apanied him for years, and I¡¯ll treasure it for life," Rhett said solemnly.

    "Haha, that¡¯s good to hear. If you ever find yourself in Icebound City, take this emblem to the local mercenary guild, and you¡¯ll be able to contact me quickly!""I¡¯ll remember that!"

    After a few more minutes of conversation, Vorderger, along with Milton and Vicki, began their journey back. Rhett watched their departing figures, his gaze deep and thoughtful. The cart being pulled by their horses,den with Darkfeather Eagle corpses, seemed to carry away the memories of their recent days together.

    Two hourster, in a clearing in the forest.

    Ryleigh sat leisurely on Baige¡¯s back, taking in the surrounding scenery. Tack and Tales, meanwhile, stared intently at a ck magical beast egg on the ground, their eyes gleaming with curiosity and thought.

    "Ahem."

    Rhett¡¯s light cough broke the silence. He picked up the Darkfeather Eagle¡¯s magical beast egg from the ground and nced at both Tack and Tales before saying, "It¡¯s unfortunate that there¡¯s only one magical beast egg, so I can¡¯t meet both of your needs at the same time..."

    But before he could finish, "Give it to Tack!" Tales suddenly interrupted, crossing his arms and turning his head away.

    Tack stood there, momentarily stunned. He had been mentally preparing for a struggle, expecting Tales toe up with some flimsy excuse to argue with him. But hearing those words, he scratched his head and looked at Tales in surprise. "Tales, you... you really want to give it to me?"

    Only in front of family did Tales truly let his guard down. Now, his thin-skinned nature showed as his ears turned red, and he replied impatiently, "Are you deaf? I just said it¡¯s yours. Why are you staring at me? I¡¯m not even a magic apprentice yet. Besides, this weak magical beast with such poor physical strength¡ªhow could it ever protect me? I don¡¯t care for it at all! Hmph, only someone as thick-skinned as you would suit a beast like that!"

    Rhett chuckled warmly, a look of pride shing in his eyes. Ryleigh also turned his head to nce between Tack and Tales, a smile ying on his lips. He gently petted Baige¡¯s head, making the creature close its eyes in contentment.

    Tack, usually so carefree, felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He suddenly thought, "Tales has really grown up!" But he maintained his wide grin, walking over to drape an arm over Tales'' shoulder. "Haha, thanks a lot! Since you don¡¯t want the Darkfeather Eagle because of its weak body, I¡¯ll protect you instead!"

    "Tch, who needs your protection? You¡¯ve got a long way to go!" Tales scoffed, brushing him off lightly. "Maybe when you can reach Father¡¯s level."

    "I will, I will." Tackughed, gently patting Tales on the shoulder.

    Rhett handed the magical beast egg to Tack with a smile, "Unity is strength. It¡¯s great to see you brothers understanding and supporting each other." He then turned to Tales and added, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep an eye out for a magical beast cub with a strong enough body for you."

    Tales'' eyes lit up, and he said, "I want one that can fly!"

    Rhett chuckled, "Haha, that¡¯ll depend on luck..."

    ...

    In the days that followed, Rhett and his three sons roamed the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range, hunting magical beasts and umting destiny points.

    Half a monthter, at dusk, Rhett used his mental power to manipte the earth elements, unearthing the buried soil. Tack quickly jumped into the pit, retrieving the dozen or so linen bags hidden underground. ncing at the three bags beside him, Tack couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. He eximed joyfully, "Hehe, Father, this hunt¡¯s haul is even better than thest one! And... the magical beasts in the outer areas of the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range must be almost wiped out by now, right?"

    Rhett walked around the ten or so bags, noting that two were filled with magic crystals, four with the magic nts they had gathered over the past three months, and about seven with the most valuable,pact materials from the magical beasts they had hunted¡ªsuch as bones, teeth, and ws. Five of the bags contained meat, which Ryleigh had frozen using water elements to keep fresh.

    Ryleigh patted one of the bags,menting regretfully, "In just three months, we¡¯ve hunted so many magical beasts. It¡¯ll probably take years for the outer areas to recover to their previous levels."

    But then, after a moment¡¯s thought, he added, "Although the number of magical beasts in the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range has decreased, the richer resources might attract magical beasts from other sub-ranges, allowing the area to recover faster than expected."

    "Yeah," Tales agreed, his imagination running wild. "Wouldn¡¯t it be great if our territory were near here? With Father¡¯s strength, we could turn the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range into our backyard."

    Huh?

    Rhett¡¯s eyes narrowed. Once again, Tales'' unintentional words had sparked an idea.

    "Turn the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range into our backyard?" Rhett mused, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibility. "It might actually be possible..."

    Of course, that possibilityy in the future. As a viscount, he couldn¡¯t move his territory right now. His only hope would be to imnd near the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range once he became a count.

    As the thought took root, it began to spread, gradually taking hold of his mind. Rhett continued to ponder, "Moving my territory beyond the southwestern border isn¡¯t realistic. The southwestern border still has vast tracts of undevelopednd, and the higher-ups will want new nobles to help develop it. They won¡¯t allow the border to be left undefended. But when I do be a count and get to choose my new fief, there¡¯s no question that the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range is the most resource-rich and valuable area in the southwest. The sub-range is vast, with varied terrain. Although a count¡¯s territory spans only a few hundred kilometers, which can¡¯t epass the entire sub-range, iming a portion of it or settling near it would greatly benefit my territory¡¯s future development."

    His eyes burned with excitement as he thought about the possibilities¡ªthe forests,kes, valleys, and mountains. The area seemed perfect for raising magical beasts, training rangers, growing magic nts, and more. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that thisnd was ideal for his future fief as a count. Ambition began to swell in his chest.

    As for whether he had the confidence to be a count? He was brimming with it. With his golden finger, his journey would not end at viscount. Tock confidence in his ability to rise to the rank of count would be the biggest joke.

    As Rhett envisioned the future, the path forward for him and his territory became increasingly clear. Although upying a sub-range of the magical beast mountains carried significant risks¡ªsince sub-ranges were often close or interconnected, powerful magical beasts from other areas could potentially wander in¡ªthe dangers that might trouble others didn¡¯t concern him. After all, he had the gift of foresight. As long as he could see future risks in his simtions, he could avoid them or prepare countermeasures in advance, such as summoning reinforcements before disaster struck.

    "A viscount who doesn¡¯t aspire to be a king isn¡¯t a true noble! My next goal is to be a count and take control of the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range!" Rhett¡¯s heart surged with passion as he set his sights on the future.

    Ryleigh, noticing the change in his father¡¯s expression, raised an eyebrow in curiosity but quickly returned to his thoughts. "So many spoils¡ªmore than I expected. Father, it might be best to create a simple stone-cart to carry them. Baige¡¯s strength should be more than enough to pull it."

    Rhett¡¯s fervor began to cool, and a smile returned to his face. "That¡¯s a simple task."

    He nced at his system interface, considering that if he could reach the peak of the fourth-tier Archmage before heading to the canyon front lines, it would greatly improve his chances of surviving on the battlefield and make it easier to protect his subordinates.

    "Medium-grade mental power potions are quite expensive, but thanks to this hunt, I should be able to afford about twenty vials. Plus, with the Blood Origin Pearl, I can save some destiny points..." Rhett thought to himself.

    An hourter, with Ryleigh¡¯s expert craftsmanship, a simple wooden-wheeled stone-cart was assembled. The wheels were secured with vines, tied in a knot for Baige to grip and pull the cart along. Tack loaded the ten-plus bags onto the cart one by one, and with that, they set off on their journey home.

    ...

    Ten dayster, the surrounding scenery became more familiar. Ryleigh¡¯s eyes lit up as he reconnected with Nina. A snowke in the sky suddenly expanded, transforming into a tiny snowman that drifted down into Ryleigh¡¯s arms.@@novelbin@@

    This year, after awakening from hibernation, Ryleigh discovered that Nina¡¯s abilities had evolved. Or rather, her innate talent had strengthened. She was no longer limited to summoning snowkes but could also disguise herself as one, floating in the air and hiding her presence. During their time in the Darkfeather Eagle sub-range, Nina had used this ability to remain hidden in the sky for two months.

    As they passed by Sun Lake, the surface was already frozen, but there were still dozens of basketball-sized ice holes near the shore. Since the aquatic magical beasts needed to feed on magic nts daily, Silin¡¯s duties included patrolling and scattering shredded magic nt leaves for them. These ice holes were created by the magical beasts themselves.

    <em>Ssh! Ssh!</em>

    Suddenly, two fish leaped out of one of the ice holes, soaring nearly two meters into the air before losing momentum and flopping heavily back onto the ice, thrashing about energetically.

    "Stop!" Rhett called out with interest, guiding Baige onto the ice. Tack, Ryleigh, and Tales followed, all smiling as they saw the Firestripe Fish lying on the ice.

    "Ryleigh, how many fire-element magic nts did we gather this time?" Rhett asked.

    Ryleigh thought for a moment before replying, "We have forty-three Three-leaf Fireflowers and five Scorchsnake Grasses. Father, are you nning to feed these Firestripe Fish?"

    Rhett smiled, "Exactly. We¡¯ll use the low-grade Three-leaf Fireflowers, but keep the Scorchsnake Grass for trading. And add some Blueleaf Grass for the water-element magical beasts in theke, which far outnumber the Firestripe Fish. Also, ask Nina to bestow a Growth Blessing on these aquatic magical beasts."

    "Understood!" Ryleigh responded promptly, retrieving various magic nts from a linen bag. The bright red ones were Three-leaf Fireflowers, and the light blue ones were Blueleaf Grass.

    With a light jump, Rhettnded steadily on the ice, giving a gentle kick to send the two Firestripe Fish back into the ice hole.

 Chapter 119: Homecoming

    Rhett elerated into a jog, and after running for a while, he suddenly crossed his legs in front of each other, allowing his body to slide freely across the ice. The cold wind brushed against his cheeks as he sped along, and he rediscovered the joy of ice skating from his previous life.

    "Haha, so Father also enjoys ice skating!" Tackughed as he joined in on the fun. Even Tales, feeling yful, couldn¡¯t resist participating.

    As they skated, Rhett took the opportunity to drop the leaves of Blueleaf Grass and Three-leaf Fireflower into various ice holes. Not long after feeding the water creatures, there was a series of gentle sshes, and through the transparent ice, blue and red shadows darted swiftly toward the ice holes.

    A few secondster, six blue-backed crayfish emerged from the water, sshing as they waved theirrge ws in the air. Their long, crystal-blue antennae fluttered in the wind. Though called "small" crayfish, they were nearly twenty centimeters long,parable in size to regr lobsters. However, in the world of magical beasts, they were still considered quite small.

    Soon after, several frost-shell crabs surfaced as well. Their ws were slightly ttened, and they eagerly grabbed the Blueleaf Grass leaves, stuffing them into their mouths with a look of pure enjoyment. Their tiny eyes squinted in contentment, making them look incredibly cute.

    For a while, theke was bustling with activity. Seizing the moment when the aquatic magical beasts emerged, Nina, under Ryleigh''s instructions, began dancing gracefully on the ice. As she passed by each ice hole, she scattered ice mist, bestowing blessings on the creatures. The magical beasts, busy eating, froze as the mist touched them. After a brief pause, they seemed to sense changes within their bodies and quickly swam back to the depths, clutching their leaves.

    The ice soon grew quiet again. About half an hourter, the four of them finished skating and sat by thekeside, quietly admiring the snow-coveredndscape.

    At that moment, Silin, who had been performing her duties, arrived after running all the way from Deeprock Fortress. The distance was barely a warm-up for her. She took a deep breath of the cold air and surveyed the scene, suddenly realizing that several figures were seated on the shore of Sun Lake, along with the familiar forms of Wind-patterned Tiger Baige, ck Horse Heige, and Lord Rhett¡¯s Grayhorse.

    A look of joy shed in Silin''s eyes, and she burst into a sprint, swiftly reaching thekeside. Excitedly, she called out, "Lord Rhett, wee back!"Rhett had already sensed the approach of the second-tier knight. He turned around to see Silin, dressed lightly in a pale pink outfit, even in the depths of winter, her short orange hair adding to her appeal. He walked over and gently patted her shoulder with a smile. "It''s great to see you, Silin."

    "You¡¯ve been gone for three months, and everyone has missed you greatly," Silin replied.

    "Haha, I¡¯ve missed Eagle Town and all of you as well," Rhett chuckled. Noticing the bag Silin was carrying, filled with Blueleaf Grass and Three-leaf Fireflower, he casually remarked, "We¡¯ve already fed the aquatic magical beasts, so you won¡¯t need to feed them againter."

    "Understood, my lord."

    After a brief chat, Rhett led the group back toward Deeprock Fortress. At the manor¡¯s entrance, Sveta stood on the graystone path, wearing a dark gray soft hat. The hat clung tightly to his head, and a thinyer of snow had umted on top. For the past three months, whenever he had free time, he woulde to the manor entrance, hoping to catch sight of Lord Rhett¡¯s return. In the cold wind, he paced slowly along the graystone path, clearing the snow whenever it piled up.

    "Achoo!" Sveta sneezed, wobbling slightly as he did. He patted his pockets, realizing he had nothing on hand, and thought to himself, <em>This isn¡¯t good.</em>

    "Mr. Sveta, I believe you might need this," a voice called from behind. Sveta felt someone ce a tissue on his shoulder.

    "Hoho, thank you, Lawrence," Sveta said as he took the tissue and blew his nose, turning around with a smile. Though only 14, Lawrence was already nearly as tall as Sveta, with a well-developed physique. Concerned, he said, "Mr. Sveta, I suggest you rest in the castle for a while where it¡¯s warmer. Staying out here too long will affect your health."

    Still smiling, Sveta shook his head. "No need."

    "Sigh," Lawrence sighed, knowing he couldn¡¯t change the butler¡¯s mind.

    Half an hourter, the soft snow muffled the sound of hooves, but Sveta heard a faint ttering noise. He turned in surprise to see Lord Rhett riding Grayhorse and heading his way, now less than fifty meters away. Overjoyed, he rushed forward to greet him.

    Baige, biting the vine in his mouth, hadn¡¯t even reached the manor gate when he recognized the familiar surroundings and immediately let go. He started prancing around excitedly, causing Ryleigh to tumble off his back. The cart, which had only two wheels, lost its bnce, and the linen bags inside tipped over, producing a crisp ttering sound as magic crystals and beast materials collided.

    Ryleigh kicked Baige¡¯s rear and smiled wryly, "Oh, you naughty little tiger, just a few more meters and you couldn¡¯t wait!"

    Baige, now fully ustomed to Ryleigh, let out a yful growl, leaping away and bouncing around in the snow.@@novelbin@@

    "What a haul! I knew that after three months away, Lord Rhett would return with great spoils!" Sveta said as he hurried over, leaving clear footprints in the snow. Smiling, he added, "Young Master Ryleigh, I¡¯ll go fetch a few knights from the training grounds to help carry the goods."

    "That would be great, thank you, Mr. Sveta."

    "Young Master Ryleigh, you¡¯re too kind," Sveta replied with a smile, then turned to Rhett and bowed slightly. "Lord Rhett, wee back. The snow covering Eagle Town will surely melt with your return."

    "Sveta, my most dependable assistant, it¡¯s so good to see you," Rhett said with a sigh, patting Sveta on the shoulder. He casually asked, "How has everything been during the three months I was away? Has anything happened?"

    "Everything has been well in Eagle Town during your absence, but there are a few matters to report. On October 11th and again on the 16th ofst month, Count Nilo¡¯s eldest daughter, Karen, visited Eagle Town to see you. But upon learning you were not here, she left," Sveta said thoughtfully. "Additionally, Fire Mine Vige has met its construction goals and can now amodate 200 people. The Thorn Vige project has yet to begin due to your absence, but I¡¯ve heard from Coudine that the lumber is ready, and construction should proceed quickly once we start."

    Rhett¡¯s expression grew slightly more serious as he asked, "Have the new residents settled in Eagle Town?"

    "Some are in Fire Mine Vige, and some are in Eagle Town. Coudine frequently travels between the two ces to build cabins."

    Rhett nodded. The construction of Thorn Vige wasn¡¯t urgent; winter weather wasn¡¯t ideal for such work, and it could wait until spring. "Oh, that reminds me!" Sveta suddenly eximed, speaking a little faster. "A few days ago, Coudine approached me with a request. His youngest son has just turned 12, and he wants to have him tested for knightly aptitude. If he doesn¡¯t pass, he hopes his son can work as a servant at Deeprock Fortress."

    Rhett recalled his previous promise and replied, "That¡¯s a simple matter. In a few days, I¡¯ll announce a territory-wide aptitude test. If Coudine¡¯s soncks talent, you can assign him a job at the manor."

    "Understood, my lord."

    After inquiring about the territory¡¯s poption, Rhett and Ryleigh returned to the manor. Despite the dust and fatigue of their journey, Rhett didn¡¯t hesitate to head straight for the alchemyb with Ryleigh.

    However, just as they entered the corridor, they heard a door m open. rina, dressed in a white floral dress, emerged from her room and caught sight of them. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh my!"

    She quickly approached them, first greeting Rhett politely. "Father, it¡¯s been a long time. Wee home."

    Then, turning to Ryleigh, rina¡¯s eyes softened with a hint of reproach. "Ryleigh, you¡¯ve been gone for three months. You¡¯re finally back."

    Ryleigh¡¯s gaze was filled with tenderness as he gently stroked his wife¡¯s hair. "rina, every day and night I was away, I missed you."

    rina¡¯s slight annoyance melted away, her cheeks flushing as she whispered, "I missed you too..."

    "Ahem," Rhett cleared his throat, watching the couple openly disy their affection despite his presence. He said, "Ryleigh, you¡¯ve been gone so long. You should spend time with rina. Go to your room first. I¡¯ll head to the alchemyb alone. But remember to join meter when we visit the magic nt field."

    "Yes, Father!"

    With that, Rhett walked past rina and headed deeper into the corridor.

    "Wait a moment, Father," rina suddenly called out. When Rhett turned back in curiosity, she said, "Lately, as the child in my womb has grown, I¡¯ve felt... that I might be carrying twins."

    Female knights had a greater awareness of their bodies than ordinary women, and it wasn¡¯t unusual for them to sense the gender and number of their babies early on.

    Ryleigh was naturally the most excited, his hands tightening around rina¡¯s soft hands. "Twins? Does that mean I¡¯ll have two little angels to wee?"

    rina blushed and nodded shyly. "A little brother and sister."

    "Oh, this is the best news I¡¯ve heard sinceing back," Rhett said, smiling joyfully.

    Ryleigh, who had lost his usualposure, beamed with happiness, gently touching rina¡¯s belly as they headed back to their room. Rhett chuckled and shook his head as he continued toward the alchemyb.

    Hank had already heard the familiar footsteps and voice in the corridor and paused his experiment. After tidying up his cor, he went to the door to greet Rhett.

    "Wee back, Lord Rhett," Hank said respectfully, his bald head gleaming.

    "Hello, Hank. How have you been these past few months? Any issues with settling in?"

    "It¡¯s been wonderful here¡ªno mundane distractions, just pure alchemical research," Hank replied with satisfaction. Then, remembering something, he lifted a small bag. "Lord Rhett, over the past three months, I¡¯ve been working with the magic nts at my disposal. I managed to produce eight bottles of Moonlight Potion, though I failed seven times. I also tried making Boiling Potions, but all five attempts failed. Additionally, I¡¯ve crafted about a dozen low-grade antidotes and poisons."

    "Very good, thank you for your hard work," Rhett said, lifting his own bag. "During my hunt, I gathered over 300 stalks of Ghostheart Grass. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯smonly used in poison-making. Could it be useful to you?"

    "Ghostheart Grass?" Hank¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, then he sighed with regret. "I¡¯m afraid not, Lord Rhett. While it¡¯s true that Ghostheart Grass is often used in poisons, its toxins are subtle, and extracting its essence requires very high mental strength. Unfortunately, it¡¯s beyond my abilities."

    But Hank quickly added, "I do have a friend who is passionate about poison-making. He would dly take all the Ghostheart Grass you have. If you¡¯re interested in trading it for mid-grade water-element magic nts, I could arrange that for you."

    Rhett nodded. "That sounds fine. Discuss the details with Ryleighter. By the way, I have good news¡ªNina the Snow Sprite has awakened. If you¡¯d like to see her abilities, you can join us on a trip to the magic nt field soon."

    "Really? That¡¯s fantastic! I¡¯ve been eager to witness the Snow Sprite¡¯s power," Hank eximed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

    Two hourster, after spending some time with rina, Ryleigh emerged from his room looking refreshed. Rhett and Hank left the alchemyb, and the three of them headed straight for the magic nt field.

    Under Hank¡¯s eager and expectant gaze, Ryleigh opened a small bag and released Nina. As soon as the bag was opened, the round little sprite shot out, clearly displeased with the bag¡¯s cramped conditions, and ruffled Ryleigh¡¯s hair in protest.

    "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll find you a better ce next time!" Ryleigh said with a wry smile, soothing the little sprite.

    Then,municating his request through their mental link, he conveyed his instructions to Nina. The round sprite nodded and began floating above the magic nts, sprinkling ice mist over each one.

 Chapter 120: Territory-wide Talent Evaluation

    The mist gently drifted down, subtly enhancing the growth of each water-based magic nt. Rhett inhaled the faint fragrance in the air as he watched the magic nt cultivation field thrive once again, feeling a quiet sense of fulfillment.

    His gaze followed Nina as she moved. Suddenly, seeing her sprinkle ice mist over each nt once more, he thought, "Since Nina has grown slightlyrger after waking up this year, could it mean that her abilities have also increased? Could her influence on water-based magic nts and magical beasts be stronger as well?"

    This thought caused Rhett to squint slightly as he circled around the crystal lily flowerbed, extending his mental power to carefully sense any changes. After a moment, he shook his head and thought, "Hmm, for now, I can¡¯t detect anything noticeable. Maybe Nina¡¯s growth is too subtle, and even if her abilities have increased, the change might be minimal. I¡¯ll observe these nts'' growth over time, and if this trend proves true, it would be significant!"

    Exhaling deeply, a glimmer of anticipation shed in Rhett''s eyes as he watched Nina, hoping that time would bring pleasant surprises.

    After blessing the water-based magic nts, Nina floated leisurely through the air. Suddenly, she noticed Hank standing still, staring at her. Surprised, she paused for a moment.

    Hank, having stood motionless for over ten minutes, had umted a lightyer of snow on his smooth, bald head, making it resemble a small snowball. Nina, curious, floated closer to Hank, tilting her head as ifparing the size of her head to his.

    After a brief moment, Hank blinked, realizing what Nina was doing, and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He had watched the snow sprite¡¯s actions closely, amazed by how she elerated the growth of water-based magic nts¡ªtruly an extraordinary sight.

    Feeling fulfilled by witnessing the wonders of the snow sprite, Hank mused, "This world is indeed full of mysteries! We truly are like fools, unable to grasp the full picture of the world."

    Rhett, reflecting on Hank¡¯s philosophical remark, nodded slowly. "The world is filled with mysteries, but human curiosity is even greater. As long as we keep a positive attitude, one day, we will turn the unknown into the known."Hank''s eyes brightened, and he nodded in agreement. "Believing in the pursuit of knowledge is indeed the right path, Lord Rhett."

    ...

    The winter night consumed the light, and the fierce wind howled like a demon. The snowfall grew heavier, reminiscent ofst year when Rhett had just returned. Once again, Eagle Town was covered in a thickyer of frost.

    Rhett had no intention of stopping the snow with Nina''s powers. The weather outside mirroredst year¡¯s, but unlike then, Rhett was no longer the sickly figure who had just returned. Inside Deeprock Fortress, the hall was warm and bright.@@novelbin@@

    The firece crackled with warmth, fueled by a small pile of Firestone, recing the usual wood and emitting a zing heat that enveloped the entire hall, making it toasty. The warmth surrounded everyone, and the firelight reflected on their faces, revealing smiles of joy and contentment.

    To celebrate Rhett''s return, avish banquet was held in the castle that night. Maru, the cook, pushed a cart out from the kitchen, smiling brightly at the butler before cing tes on the long dining table. She gently lifted the lids, smiling warmly as she said, "Lord Rhett, please enjoy. I¡¯ll prepare some dessert for afterward."

    "Thank you, Maru. You can make fewer desserts tonight¡ªthe dishes are already too sumptuous."

    "Certainly, my lord."

    Sveta, who had let the red wine breathe for an hour, poured it into Rhett''s crystal goblet, then stood quietly behind and to the right of him. Rhett gently swirled the ss, watching the dark red liquid swirl as he softly said, "Sveta, I have something to instruct you."

    "What is it, my lord? Please tell me." Sveta perked up, eager to hear what Rhett had to say after three months without tasks from him.

    "I mentioned it briefly this afternoon, but let me exin in detail. I n to implement a regr talent evaluation system in the town. With the poption so low in the past, it wasn¡¯t necessary, but now, I hear Eagle Town and Fire Mine Vige have abined poption of nearly a thousand, and this trend is continuing."

    At this point, Rhett turned to Ryleigh and added, "Ryleigh, starting tomorrow, conduct a poption census of the town. Ensure that everyone, every family unit, is registered urately. As the poption grows, neglecting this could lead to hidden dangers."

    Ryleigh, already attentive to his father¡¯s words, turned and responded, "Understood, Father. I¡¯ll assign trustworthy people to conduct the census, starting with the current poption and ensuring new arrivals are properly registered. Also, regarding the regr talent evaluation system, do you mean that everyone over 12 years old should be required to participate?"

    Rhett smiled slightly, pleased with his son¡¯s quick understanding. "Exactly. You¡¯ll handle the announcement of this system. It would be best to start the census tomorrow and then move on to the talent evaluations. The census will be tedious at first, so I¡¯ll have Sveta assist you."

    "Father, leave it to me!" Ryleigh agreed.

    "I will fully assist Young Master Ryleigh," Sveta added respectfully.

    Rhett nodded. "Remember, the census must be urate¡ªno falsification. If any ruffians or troublemakers try to sneak in, expel them immediately. My territory doesn¡¯t wee such people."

    Thinking of the spy from Windmill Town, Zoran, who had blended in with the refugees, Rhett emphasized the importance of authenticity without revealing too much.

    Ryleigh''s expression grew serious as he responded, "Understood, Father."

    Just then, Tales descended the stairs, dressed in a ck suit, with Mina in a white gown by his side, her arm linked with his. The two approached together.

    "Good evening, Father," Tales greeted cheerfully. He had spent the afternoon in his room after returning home.

    "Tales,e here. I have something for you," Rhett said, taking a sip of the red wine. He didn¡¯t particrly enjoy the taste but drank it symbolically for the asion.

    Mina joined rina and Vanessa, the three elegantly dressed women bing a beautiful sight in the hall.

    Tales approached Rhett, curiosity shining in his eyes as he bent down and asked, "Father, what are you giving me?"

    Rhett lifted a small bag from his waist and shook it in front of Tales. "Inside are six bottles of Moonlight Potion, made by Hank. You and Ryleigh can each have three bottles. I hope you¡¯ll be an apprentice mage soon."

    "Wow! Thank you, Father, and thank you, Hank!" Tales'' eyes gleamed with excitement. Thest batch of Moonlight Potion his father had given him was long gone, and although he was currently at a bottleneck and couldn¡¯t use the potion, he had a feeling that a breakthrough was near.

    "Alright, go ahead and sit down," Rhett said, patting Tales on the back. Tales obediently returned to his seat beside Ryleigh.

    With everyone present, the twelve eyes at the table nced toward Rhett, waiting for the head of the family to speak.

    Rhett took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "In this harsh weather, it¡¯s wonderful that we can all be together as a family. I don¡¯t have much to say tonight. It¡¯s the end of the year, and I hope our family will always stay united. To unity!"

    "To unity!" everyone echoed, raising their sses.

    "Yah...yah..." Dick, cradled in Vanessa¡¯s arms, babbled along with everyone, his fair skin glowing under the light. His innocence brought smiles to everyone¡¯s faces.

    The long-awaited family reunion dinner, after three months apart, was filled withughter and joy.

    ...

    Three dayster, Rhett did not conduct the poption census and talent evaluation simultaneously as in the simtion. Instead, he chose to firstplete the census before conducting the talent evaluation.

    Yesterday, Zoran had been captured and interrogated. As in the simtion, he turned out to be a minor pawn from Windmill Town, sent by Baron Gaspar''s eldest son, Dusty, with no other tasks. No additional information was obtained.

    Rhett decided not to take action against Windmill Town for now. Next year, when he headed to the canyon defense line, Baron Gaspar would meet his end. Acting against him now would onlyplicate matters with the kingdom''sws, so there was no need to rush.

    On this morning, in the fifth-floor hall of the castle, Rhett quietly listened to Ryleigh¡¯s report.

    "Father, the poption census isplete. While it¡¯s not exactly a thousand people as you mentioned, the number is very close. Including the original residents, Eagle Town and Fire Mine Vige now have 913 people¡ª470 men and 446 women, with a bnced gender ratio. There are 87 youths over the age of 12. However, there are also many young people between 12 and 20 who haven¡¯t had the opportunity to undergo a talent evaluation. Should we include them as well?" Ryleigh asked as he closed the thick notebook.

    After a moment of thought, Rhett nodded and said, "Yes, include everyone under 20. Given the current shortage of guards, it makes sense to lower the threshold temporarily."

    In this world, a person¡¯s body typically reached the threshold for training around the age of 12. However, this didn¡¯t mean one couldn¡¯t start training after 12. Whether bing a knight or a mage, as long as one had talent, training could begin at any age, though earlier was preferable. However, for a territory, it wasn¡¯t cost-effective to invest resources in training older individuals with poor talent.

    In more established territories with well-developed guard forces, the emphasis was on quality rather than quantity, so they only selected recruits from 12-year-olds. However, in special cases, such as exceptional talent, the rules could be bent.

    For now, Eagle Town clearlycked enough guards, and as the territory rapidly expanded, more people would be needed. Therefore, Rhett had no choice but to include those who had missed previous evaluations.

    "Understood, I¡¯ll inform them right away," Ryleigh said.

    At the knight training ground, although the heavy snow had stopped, the ground was still covered in thickyers of snow, making the temperature outside especially cold. Those who had been notified to undergo the talent evaluation shivered in the cold, their faces red but filled with excitement.

    Hilin and Ryleigh stood on either side of the training ground with serious expressions. Before them stood 281 young men and women, lined up in formation, their eyes filled with anticipation.

    Seeing that it was time, Ryleigh raised his voice and said, "You¡¯ve all been called here today for a reason you¡¯re well aware of. Talent evaluation will determine the future path of your lives. If you pass, you¡¯ll join the ranks of Lord Rhett''s guards as reservists. But even if you don¡¯t pass, don¡¯t be discouraged¡ªyou can still contribute to Eagle Town¡¯s development."

    As his words echoed, the faces of nearly 300 young men and women grew even more excited. The legendary extraordinary powers they had only heard about from their parents were now within their reach.

    They wanted to be knights!

    They wanted to be mages!

    Ryleigh, seeing the anticipation in their expressions, continued calmly, "Here¡¯s how it will work: Standing beside me is Hilin, the chief instructor of the knight training ground and the most powerful knight in our territory. She will guide you through the breathing techniques to test for knightly talent. Those who pass will stay, and those who don¡¯t wille to me. I will then guide you through meditation techniques. If you fail again, it means you¡¯re out of chances."

 Chapter 121: The Mage Yunika

    Ryleigh calmly exined the rules and then nced at Hilin, saying, "I''ll leave it to you."

    "It''s nothing," Hilin replied with a light smile. She then raised her voice and addressed the group, "To ensure everyone can see clearly, you will proceed from left to right, front to back, in groups of ten. Come to me one by one, and I will guide you through the initial part of the breathing technique and demonstrate the movements.

    You must take this seriously, memorize everything, and try to practice it. Do not be sloppy. If you can sessfully practice and feel the faint flow of ''Qi'' within you, it means you have the talent to be a knight. In that case, you will naturally qualify to join the guard and be an honorable knight!"

    The faces of the youths lit up with anticipation.

    "Do you understand?" Hilin suddenly asked sternly.

    "Yes!" The response was as loud as a roaring wave.

    "Then, let the knight talent evaluation begin!"

    Meanwhile, Rhett stood in the fifth-floor hall of Deeprock Fortress, gazing down at the training ground through the window, taking in everything happening below. In the deeper part of the area, Tadel and Kurs were leading a group of apprentice knights in training. In the central area, the knight talent evaluation had already begun.

    In his view, Hilin demonstrated a simple set of movements, only the initial part of the breathing technique. Although it wouldn''t enhance their strength, it could determine whether they could sense even the faintest trace of Qi.A few minutester, ten knights attempted to practice the movements and breathing technique in ce. Before long, some honest individuals, upon realizing they couldn''t sense the so-called ''Qi,'' stood still, their faces showing disappointment as they stepped aside. Others tried to fake it, continuing to practice despite not feeling anything. Unaware that without talent, pretending would get them nowhere, they were quickly spotted by Hilin, who scolded them angrily and punished them with horse stance exercises. The harsher consequence was that if they couldn''t maintain the stance until the evaluation ended, they would not be allowed to proceed with the spiritual talent evaluation.

    This small rule had Ryleigh''s approval¡ªthose with poor character were not fit to join the guard.

    Seeing the example set by those caught cheating, the remaining youths awaiting their evaluation refrained from trying anything sneaky. Some, unable to bear the pressure, even left the training ground entirely, forfeiting their chance at the mage talent evaluation. Those who remained in line had a hint of fear in their eyes, obediently following the rules, no longer daring to cut corners.

    ...

    The talent evaluation took two days toplete.

    On the afternoon of the second day, Rhett awoke from his meditation and approached the window. The clear sky bathed the magic beast egg in sunlight, enhancing the red glow on its surface. Fiery red patterns seemed to flow like small streams.

    He picked up a small transparent bottle from the windowsill and sprinkled some crystalline red powder onto the Fire Feather Eagle''s egg as usual. The vibrant life force within slowly absorbed the fire-element essence. As Rhett ced his hand on the eggshell, it was no longer just warm but slightly hot.

    "Little one, hurry ande out. This wonderful world is waiting for you!" Rhett smiled faintly, letting out a sigh.

    His gaze shifted back to the training ground. By this time, the number of people on the field had significantly decreased. Those who had failed both the knight and mage talent evaluations had been eliminated. Out of the original group of over 200, only 40 remained. Their initial excitement had faded, reced by sweaty palms and nervous expressions.

    Before arriving, many of them had heard stories from their families about ancestors who were knights or mages, leading them to believe they had a higher chance of possessing talent. However, out of over 200 people evaluated, only four had passed so far! Their previous high hopes had been shattered, leaving the remaining few in shock.

    "Hey, are you Yunika? I heard you mention earlier that your father was a mage? Maybe you''ll be discovered to have mage talent too," a boy wearing a straw hat asked curiously, standing beside a young girl in a linen shirt.

    Twelve-year-old Yunika clenched her fists at the mention of her father and replied in a sad tone, "I don''t know. My father once told me that he would personally guide me through the talent evaluation when I turned twelve, but he was killed... by those members of that evil alchemy organization..."

    The boy with the straw hat gritted his teeth and said, "Same here. My father promised to test my talent when I came of age! But those damned people killed him too! I''m grateful to the lord for avenging my father and mother. If I¡¯m discovered to have knight talent, I¡¯ll serve the lord diligently!"

    Yunika nodded seriously, "Me too!"

    Hearing this, many others nearby joined the conversation, sharing simr stories. Nearly half of them had lost a parent who was once a knight, in by the same evil alchemists!

    Inside the room, Rhett noticed the four people standing behind Hilin, clearly those who had passed the evaluation. His eyes shed with surprise as he mused, "Oh? Out of nearly 300 candidates, ording to the simtion, six will have knight talent, and one will possess mage talent. That''s quite a high percentage. Perhaps it¡¯s because most of them are descendants of knights or mages, which significantly increases the likelihood of talent!"

    A smile crossed his face as he muttered to himself, "Heh, it seems that eliminating that evil alchemy group came with hidden benefits... It¡¯s true, good deeds do pay off!"

    As time passed, the talent evaluation neared its conclusion. Rhett decided it was time to make an appearance, so he changed into a more formal ck coat, tidied himself up in the mirror, and headed for the training ground.

    "Next group!" Hilin''s calm voice called out.

    "It''s our turn, Yunika!" The boy with the straw hat nudged the girl beside him.

    "Yes."

    The group of ten stepped forward, taking several steps until they stood before Hilin, her short orange hair gleaming. At this point, they realized they couldn''t control their racing hearts, their excitement reaching its peak.

    "Don''t be nervous, just rx," Hilin reassured them. She didn¡¯t know how many times she had said that today, yet she repeated it once more.

    As Rhett reached the central area of the training ground, he happened to see the end of the group¡¯s practice.

    Some were joyful, others disappointed.

    Yunika''s eyes shed with disappointment, but she quickly regained herposure and approached Ryleigh. She didn¡¯t forget to congratte the boy with the straw hat, "Armando, congrattions! You¡¯re definitely going to be a knight!"

    Armando removed his hat and bowed, "Thank you, Yunika. I believe you have mage talent too."

    Yunika giggled and then silently walked over to Ryleigh.

    Ryleigh, thoughtful, said, "You¡¯re Yunika? Your father... was an apprentice mage?"

    After the poption census, Ryleigh was familiar with every person in the town, especially those with knights or mages in their family within three generations. He recalled that the young girl before him was one of the few descendants of a mage.

    "Yes, Young Master Ryleigh!" Yunika replied in a clear voice.

    "Good. Let¡¯s begin then. Please remember this incantation for the meditation method..." Ryleigh said with a smile.@@novelbin@@

    Yunika focused intently, ready to listen, when suddenly a figure entered her view, causing her to gasp in surprise.

    "Oh my goodness! It''s the lord!"

    Quickly, she eximed, "Good afternoon, my lord!"

    Rhett smiled faintly. He had overheard that the girl before him was the descendant of a mage. ncing at the empty space behind Ryleigh, he had a hunch and said, "Begin meditating. Good luck."

    "Thank you, my lord!"

    Sensing meditation and attempting to channel it took longer than training for knights. After half an hour, the knight talent evaluation hadpletely ended, yet Yunika remained seated on the ground.

    At this point, six people stood behind Hilin, their excitement evident as they chatted eagerly with each other. Meanwhile, the others who had failed were now trying to meditate under Ryleigh¡¯s guidance.

    Unfortunately, although many tried, they all wore furrowed brows, unable to enter a meditative state, let alone sense spiritual energy or elements. Some attempted to maintain a calm facade, but it didn¡¯tst long. Soon, they opened their eyes, shook their heads in disappointment, and left the training ground.

    Only Yunika, a twelve-year-old girl, remained remarkablyposed, holding her meditative state for half an hour.

    Seeing this, Rhett''s lips curled into a slight smile.

    "Yunika?" Ryleigh called out in surprise, sensing the faint movement of elements around her¡ªa sign of spiritual energy stirring.

    Immersed in meditation, Yunika felt the spiritual energy like a wisp of mist, a sensation so wonderful that she became entirely absorbed in it.

    Ryleigh had to call her name twice before Yunika gradually emerged from her meditative state. Blinking as she returned to the world, she briefly looked dazed before realizing what had happened!

    A surge of excitement welled up inside her as she stood and said, her cheeks flushed, "Young Master Ryleigh, I just entered meditation and sensed spiritual energy, like a thinyer of mist."

    As if he had already expected this oue, Ryleigh patted Yunika¡¯s head with a smile and said, "Congrattions. You¡¯ve be the first mage to join the guard in our territory. Eagle Town will grow alongside you!"

    In this context, "mage" was a broad term, referring to someone with talent and dedication in this path, rather than a specific rank.

    Ryleigh thought for a moment and asked, "You live with your mother, right?"

    "Yes," Yunika nodded obediently.

    "Good. Then when you get home, you can share this good news with her. As an apprentice mage in Deeprock Fortress, you¡¯ll receive a sry of one silver coin a month, with additional rewards for outstanding performance!" Ryleigh said, patting her brown hair.

    Ever since her father passed away, Yunika had lived a tough life with her mother. She already knew that joining the lord¡¯s guard meant food, lodging, and training resources. But hearing about the monthly sry of one silver coin made her eyes sparkle with excitement. "Wow, thank you, Young Master Ryleigh!"

    Ryleigh smiled and shook his head, "You should thank the lord, not me."

    "Yes, thank you, my lord!" Yunika said seriously.

    "Little one, you¡¯re very promising. I hope you¡¯ll be a full-fledged mage soon¡ªthere¡¯s a vast world waiting for you!" Rhett said as he approached, giving Yunika a pat on the head.

    "I¡¯ll do my best!" Yunika replied, both surprised and delighted, though a bit nervous.

    In the end, seven people stood before Rhett. Three were twelve years old, while the rest were slightly older but still under twenty.

    "Yunika Dav, Pierre Farrah, Ryan Carson, Leon Bartley, Artia Rayner, Nigel Allison, Hamadi Lur. The seven of you will have the opportunity to join the guard. Cherish it and work hard," Rhett said as he addressed them as their lord.

    "Yes, my lord!" the seven responded in unison.

    "You six, as bearers of knight talent, wille to the training ground daily and follow the instructions of Hilin and the other instructors," Rhett said seriously, addressing the six boys.

    "Yes!" the six replied, excitement evident as they looked around the training ground.

    "As for Yunika, you¡¯ll follow Ryleigh¡¯s arrangements. When I have time, I¡¯ll also guide your training," Rhett added softly.

    Hearing this, the others couldn¡¯t help but cast envious nces at Yunika, making her blush.

    Their envy wasn¡¯t misced¡ªbeing personally guided by the lord not only provided valuable experience but also allowed for closer interactions, potentially strengthening rtionships.

    After briefly exining the rules and expectations for joining the guard, Rhett left the training ground.

    Ryleigh, still present, then addressed the seven new recruits, "I¡¯m giving you three days to rest and spend time with your families. Once you join the guard, your time won¡¯t be as free."

    With that, he too left the training ground.

    After Hilin departed, the seven recruits eagerly chatted among themselves as they left.

    Back in the fifth-floor hall of Deeprock Fortress...

    "What? You¡¯re leaving again, my lord?" Sveeta asked in surprise, unable to hide the hint of reluctance in his eyes.

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Don¡¯t worry, this time I won¡¯t be gone for long¡ªno more than a month. During my absence, you¡¯ll handle all the castle¡¯s affairs. I trust you."

    "Understood, my lord. You carry heavier burdens, and I¡¯ll do my utmost to take care of the castle¡¯s minor matters," Sveeta replied.

 Chapter 122: The Robbery in the Simulation

    On that day, Rhett inspected various parts of his territory, checking on the conditions of Fire Mine Vige, East Eagle Logging Camp, and Green Pastures Ranch. Everything was in order, running smoothly.

    At the same time, he reminded Ryleigh to continue purchasing various ores inrge quantities. Although Ryleigh was puzzled, wondering why they needed more when they already had Fire Mark Ore, Rhett''s firm stance ensured that the task was carried out as instructed.

    The next day, Rhett left the territory with peace of mind. This time, he didn''t travel alone. He brought along Tuck, Tadel, Kurs, and two attendants. He needed to sell some goods to exchange for gold coins, so several carts filled with goods apanied them. As a lord, he couldn''t personally handle every little task, so he brought a team with him.

    It took six days to travel.

    On December 11th, Rhett arrived in Twilight City. ording to his n, he was supposed to visit the Dalton Chamber of Commerce first, purchase the Sand Wolf Magic Book, sell some goods for gold coins, and buy intermediate spiritual potions. However, as he stood at the edge of the bustling streets in the city, Rhett recalled that he had arrived in Twilight City a day earlier than in the previous simtion.

    So, to ensure he would meet McCoffe as nned, he decided to dy his schedule by a day. Today, he would focus on something else.

    "Father, where are we going next?" Tuck asked, looking at the diverse and lively crowd in the city.

    "To Blue Shirt Street, the Adventurer''s Cave!" Rhett''s lips curled into a smile. With so many expenses ahead, it was time to make a good profit.

    Ever since he found treasure in the Adventurer''s Cavest year, he had been eager to return for another round! Earlier this year, he had briefly visited the Adventurer''s Cave twice while passing through Twilight City, deliberately showing a losing streak, all to set the stage for this final visit of the year.Soon, they arrived at the Adventurer''s Cave. This time, Rhett didn''t see the silver-armored knight he metst year. Being the personal guard of the thirddy, it was normal for him to be reassigned. However, as he stepped into the luxurious hall of the Adventurer''s Cave, Rhett unexpectedly encountered someone else¡ªthe count''s third daughter, Joria.

    Joria had long, golden wavy hair and wore a pink gown. Her figure was entuated by a corset under her dress, while the hem was lined with pale gold, and a shimmering ne adorned her snow-white neck, glowing brightly under the lights. Unlike her older sister Karen, who was in her thirties, Joria was only twenty years old, brimming with youthful beauty.

    Many adventurers in the hall couldn''t help but nce in her direction, some even swallowing nervously, captivated by her appearance.

    Rhett maintained a calm expression, merely giving her a nce before shifting his attention to the nearest knight attendant, saying, "Take me to the Mythical Cave on the third floor."

    However, the mention of "Mythical Cave" rippled through the hall like a boulder dropped into a stillke, drawing the attention of several people. Upon seeing the falcon emblem on Rhett''s chest, their eyes widened in recognition. They realized he was the Lord of Eagle Town, the tier-three mage who had eradicated the evil alchemy organization six months ago!

    Their gazes held both reverence and curiosity. Some wanted to approach and strike up a conversation with this viscount, but they hesitated when they saw a graceful figure heading towards Rhett, furrowing their brows and abandoning the idea.

    "Greetings, Sir Rhett. It''s a pleasure to meet you." Joria walked up gracefully, her gaze fixed on Rhett''s face with a charming smile. "This year, I''ve heard my father mention your bravery andpetence as the Lord of Eagle Town many times. He described you as mature and steady, and today I see that his description was spot on."

    "Oh, such praise is an honor," Rhett replied with a slight smile, offering a polite remark without engaging further in conversation. He quickly moved to the point, asking, "Miss Joria, could you take me to the Mythical Cave?"

    Surprised by his straightforwardness andck of interest in small talk, Joria''s expression remained unchanged despite her initial shock. She extended her arm, "Of course, Sir Rhett. Please follow me."

    The staircase was made of various colorful gemstones, but ayer of sandsting made the surface non-slip, ensuring even ordinary people could walk safely. As they ascended, Rhett followed behind Joria, catching a faint scent of mint. When they reached the corner, her soft voice floated back to him:

    "I heard that on your first visit, you drew a tier-seven dark elemental magic crystal. I spent a fortune acquiring that crystal, thinking it would stay in the Magic Cave for a long time. I didn''t expect you to take it so quickly. Are you nning to visit the Magic Cave again?"

    "Yes," Rhett nodded, offering a usible excuse, "December is my lucky month. Last year, I had a good haul around this time, so I thought I''d try again this year."

    "Oh?" Joria chuckled, "A lucky month, you say? That sounds nice. Well then, good luck!"@@novelbin@@

    However, she secretly scoffed, "Once is lucky enough; what makes you think you''ll get lucky again? Don''t you realize I know you failed twice this year?"

    "Thanks, I could use some luck," Rhett replied, smiling. "Maybe your blessing will bring me a bit of extra fortune."

    Joria remained silent with a smile.

    Upon reaching the third floor, Rhett''s heart stirred as he activated the system. A ripple spread through the space, signaling that he had entered the simtion. Using the same excuse asst time, albeit with more effort, he managed to find out the contents of the Magic Cave''s treasure chests. In less than an hour, Rhett left the Adventurer''s Cave.

    In his mind, this simtion''s goal of uncovering the treasure chest''s contents was sufficient, and there was no need to waste more time in the cave. He nned to use the next twenty-plus hours efficiently!

    Leaving his attendants behind, Rhett quickened his pace and headed alone to the Dalton Chamber of Commerce.

    At that moment, the bald-headed Carlton was leisurely pacing the hall. Upon seeing a familiar figure enter, his eyes lit up, and he quickly approached.

    "Sir Rhett, long time no see! What can I do for you today?" Carlton asked eagerly.

    Rhett smiled faintly, "I''d like twenty-two bottles of Aurora Potion."

    "Haha, right away!" Carlton eximed with joy and immediately sent someone to fetch the goods.

    In a quiet room at the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Rhett gazed at Carlton, whoy unconscious on the ground, and his eyes held a hint of apology. He softly muttered, "I''m sorry, Carlton. When I return to reality, I''ll make it up to you with a big deal."

    Rhett shook his head with a sigh but was quick to act. He sat cross-legged on the floor, decisively opening a bottle of intermediate spiritual potion¡ªthe Aurora Potion. Inside the wide-bellied, narrow-necked bottle, seven colors swirled together like a flowing rainbow, beautiful as a dream!

    His eyes shed with intensity, and he downed the potion in one gulp. The potent energy surged through him, flooding his mind with power. Rhett hadn''t felt such a sensation in a long time.

    Each level of training potion had the greatest effect at its initial stage. For example, Moonlight Potion benefited a tier-one mage more than a tier-two mage and a tier-two mage more than a tier-three mage. The Aurora Potion was no different, designed to meet the mental strength needs of a mage at the Archmage level.

    Now, as a newly advanced tier-four Archmage, Rhett was experiencing a sensation he hadn''t felt in nearly two decades.

    His expression changed as he entered meditation, striving to absorb the energy. After an hour, he slowly opened his eyes and reached for the next bottle.

    After consuming all twenty-two bottles of Aurora Potion, Rhett didn''t leave. Instead, he took out the Blood Source Pearl from his pocket and swallowed it without hesitation. Whatever side effects it had didn¡¯t matter¡ªeverything would reset when he returned to reality.

    As the Blood Source Pearl slid down his throat and into his stomach, it shattered instantly, releasing a thick stream of blood. A sudden surge of overwhelming energy assaulted Rhett''s mind, his expression shifting instantly.

    If consuming the Aurora Potion was like a gentle stream flowing into a river, this process was rtively mild. In contrast, taking the Blood Source Pearl felt like being struck by a massive waterfall, crashing down violently from above, creating a deafening roar.

    Themotion and force were far more intense than the previous experience. This brutal energy left Rhett feeling overwhelmed. He also noticed a strange, bloody force seeping deep into his body, slowly eroding his life force. Although his mental power was growing rapidly, much faster than with the Aurora Potion, he felt as if his vitality was being drained.

    The expanding mental strength brought a euphoric rush, but it was mixed with the hollow emptiness of life force being eroded. Rhett found himself in a contradictory state of mind, but he had to persist. He could feel the Blood Source Pearl''s enhancement was immense!

    The amount was almost overflowing.

    Refining the Blood Source Pearl took even less time than the Aurora Potion. In just half an hour, it gradually subsided. Rhett slowly opened his eyes, his face flushed with an unhealthy redness. He exhaled deeply, trying to ignore the physical difort caused by the erosion of his life force. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he murmured:

    "A fully charged Blood Source Pearl boosts mental power equivalent to about ten bottles of Aurora Potion!"

    Despite its extraordinary effect, Rhett couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted as he nced at the Blood Source Pearl. "How many people must have been killed to fill this Blood Elf creation?"

    The rapid increase in mental strength came at the cost of shortening his lifespan¡ªsomething he had known beforehand. With a sigh, Rhett took out a mirror and examined his face. His gaze sharpened as he noticed the visible signs of aging, with faint wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes.

    At that moment, Carlton gradually regained consciousness, feeling a heavy fog in his mind. As he pieced together what had happened, a look of terror filled his eyes. "This Sir Rhett¡­ he¡¯s advanced to Archmage! He knocked me out without a word¡ªhe must have had ill intentions!"

    Carlton, still lying on the floor, instinctively scooted back, shouting, "Help! Somebody help!"

    Rhett shook his head with a chuckle, "Sorry about that." Watching Carlton¡¯s shocked expression, Rhett mentallymanded, "End simtion!"

    A ripple passed through the scene, and Rhett''s surroundings blurred as he returned to the third floor of the Adventurer''s Cave.

    Standing before the door of the Magic Cave, Rhett recalled the results of his simtion. His eyes showed a hint of regret. "The grand prize is still a tier-seven magic crystal? No surprises there. But¡­ it''s still a big windfall, and I need the money, so I won¡¯t pass it up."

    He tossed a small bag from his pocket, the coins inside clinking as itnded in Joria''s hand. She weighed it briefly and, without counting, pocketed it.

    Drawing a key from her sleeve, she unlocked the Magic Cave door, gesturing for him to enter. "Please, go ahead! You know the rules¡ª300 gold coins for three chests. Choose wisely."

    Rhett casually scanned the three rows of gleaming chests and, with aid-back tone, said, "Hmm, I¡¯ve made my choice. Number 1, number 11, and number 21."

    As his words fell, Joria felt her heart sink like a stone. "Damn," she cursed internally but maintained a smile. "Are you sure, Sir Rhett? Once you open them, there''s no going back."

    "Tsk, the same old routine?" Rhett thought to himself but outwardly remained indifferent. "Yes, I''m sure. Go ahead. I''m just ying for fun, so win or lose, it doesn''t matter."

    With that, Joria kept silent and turned to face the chests, her eyes shing with regret. Finally, Joria opened the three chests in sequence, cing the three prizes into a gift bag and handing it to Rhett.

    "Congrattions, Sir Rhett, on winning our grand prize again¡ªa tier-seven wind elemental magic crystal." Despite her inner turmoil, Joria maintained a professional demeanor.

    Rhett reached into the gift bag, pulling out a fist-sized crystal, its deep azure hue swirling with fierce wind energy. Without alchemical refinement, even an Archmage couldn¡¯t directly harness it. But for Rhett, it was worth 2,000 gold coins.

    "By the way, Sir Rhett, my eldest sister visited you recently. Did she discuss anything important with you?" Joria asked casually.

    "I''m afraid I missed her, as I was told by my steward that she came twice while I was away," Rhett replied. "Didn¡¯t she mention anything to you?"

    Joria smiled, "I''ve been busy with the shoptely, so I haven''t been home much."

    "I see¡­"

    Having collected his prize, Rhett prepared to leave. After a brief exchange with Joria, he descended the stairs. Joria''s smile gradually faded as she watched Rhett''s figure disappear around the corner, her expression shifting entirely.

 Chapter 123: The Neutered Dragonman

    Joria''s eyes shed with a trace of pain as she muttered under her breath, "Lucky month? Tch, just ame excuse¡­"

    Although she couldn''t entirely dismiss the possibility of extraordinary luck, being born into a count''s family and learning the ways of business from a young age, Joria had seen enough of the darker sides of life to feel that winning the grand prize two years in a row was far too suspicious.

    "Could it be that someone in my inner circle is a traitor?" The thought suddenly crossed her mind, causing her to tense up. Clenching her fists, she silently vowed, "It seems I need to start an investigation as soon as I return¡­ Is it Perez? Or Aval? Or maybe Monk¡­"

    Taking a deep breath, Joria began to formte a n to investigate the possible suspects.

    After leaving the Adventurer''s Cave, Rhett met up with Tuck and Kurs, who were waiting by the entrance.

    "Father, you''ve missed out on good prizes twice before. How did it go this time?" Tuck asked, not expecting much but still curious.

    Tadel and Kurs shared a simr curiosity, though they didn''t hold much hope. They figured Rhett was just having some fun. After all, winning the grand prize even once was a significant achievement. A second time? That seemed impossible.

    Facing their curious gazes, Rhett cleared his throat. "Ahem, just likest year, nothing too special. Let''s get out of here."

    Rhett knew that winning the grand prize two years in a row was indeed suspicious. But so what? Now that he had reached the level of a tier-four Archmage, his power rivaled that of Count Nilo. All he needed was a battlefield achievement to fully match or even surpass him. With such confidence, he no longer feared being targeted.Besides, even if someone suspected him, what could they do? He had followed all the rules and procedures. Rhett doubted that Joria or Count Nilo would take any action against him over something like this.

    Tuck, Tadel, and Kurs exchanged shocked nces, their expressions revealing disbelief.

    "Father, did you really win another seven¡ª" Tuck''s loud voice began to boom, but Rhett quickly turned and mped a hand over his mouth, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he said through gritted teeth, "Keep quiet!"

    "Mmmph¡­" Tuck mumbled through Rhett''s hand. Realizing that shouting about such a thing on the street wasn''t wise, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and followed his father in silence.

    The group soon arrived at the Dalton Chamber of Commerce.

    Carlton, the bald-headed manager, was leisurely pacing the hall when he spotted Rhett and his party entering. His eyes lit up as he quickly approached them.

    "Sir Rhett, long time no see! What can I help you with today?" Carlton greeted warmly.

    Seeing the familiar scene, Rhett couldn''t help but smile. This time, he wouldn''t be robbing the man. Instead, he used a different approach from the simtion.

    "Shall we talk in private?" Rhett suggested.

    "No problem at all," Carlton replied calmly, gesturing toward a quiet room on the second floor. "This way, please, Sir Rhett."

    They entered the same room where they had previously discussed the aquatic monster trade.

    "I remember you liked this teast time, so I had some more brought in from the Blue Mountain territory," Carlton said, pouring hot water into a purple teapot and then serving them both.

    "Sip. The same taste as before¡ªquite good," Rhett remarked after taking a sip and cing his cup back on the table.

    Carlton straightened up, sensing that Rhett was about to discuss business.

    Rhett then took out a tier-seven wind elemental magic crystal from his pocket, which immediately caught Carlton''s eye. He stared in shock and murmured, "This¡­ such concentrated wind energy could onlye from a high-level wind elemental beast. It must be a tier-seven magic crystal!"

    "Sharp eyes, Mr. Carlton!" Rhett praised.

    "Sir Rhett, are you nning to sell this crystal?" Carlton''s keen business instincts kicked in, sensing an opportunity.

    "That''s right," Rhett replied with a slight smile, cing the crystal on the table. "Besides selling this crystal, I also want to buy some Aurora Potions."

    Aurora Potions? Those were mental power potions meant for Archmages!

    Carlton paused for a moment before regaining hisposure. "Of course, Sir Rhett. How many bottles would you like?"

    After a brief moment of thought, Rhett said, "Twenty-three bottles should do. I also have some other goods to sell, which are outside the shop. That should cover the cost of the potions."

    "No problem at all! I''ll fetch the Aurora Potions right away and have someone check the goods," Carlton agreed enthusiastically, pping his chest in good spirits.

    Soon, Rhett had Tuck bring in the goods.

    When seven heavy sacks were ced before Carlton, his eyes widened in surprise. As he opened the bags and saw the contents, his pupils contracted further.

    "Tier-four wind elemental crystal, tier-four fire elemental crystal, tier-four earth elemental crystal¡­" Carlton muttered, amazed as he continued inspecting the other bags. Inside, he found hundreds of lower-tier magic crystals.

    Taking a deep breath, Carlton, as the head of the chamber ofmerce, had seenrger transactions than this. However, his surprise stemmed from the sheer number of magical beasts Rhett must have hunted.

    "Could it be from the Dark Marked Eagle''s branch range? But deep within that area, tier-four magical beasts are abundant. How could a tier-three mage handle that? Even a tier-four Archmage would need to tread carefully¡­"

    Carlton''s mind raced with thoughts, but he reminded himself of his role as a merchant, not a spy. What was the point of overthinking things?

    As a seasoned businessman, Carlton knew that maintaining customer rtionships was far more important than prying into their personal affairs. Digging too deep could easily offend clients. With that in mind, Carltonposed himself and efficiently calcted the value of the magic crystals and magical beast materials.

    Within half an hour, Carlton stood up and announced, "Sir Rhett, the total value has been calcted. The market price for tier-one crystals is 5 gold coins, tier-two crystals are 10 gold coins, tier-three crystals are 20 gold coins, and tier-four crystals are 100 gold coins each. You have brought 356 tier-one crystals, 107 tier-two crystals, 11 tier-three crystals, and 5 tier-four crystals. However, market purchase prices are usually discounted by 30%, bringing the total value to around 2,629 gold coins.

    As for the magical beast materials, they are worth slightly less than the crystals, but we''re willing to offer 1,000 gold coins for them. Adding in the tier-seven wind elemental crystal, the totales to 5,629 gold coins. How does that sound, Sir Rhett?"

    "I trust your honesty, Mr. Carlton," Rhett replied with a smile, pointing to the goods. "In that case, deduct the cost of the Aurora Potions and the Sand Wolf magic book from this amount."

    "The Sand Wolf magic book?" Carlton''s tone rose slightly in surprise. Rhett was asking for the Sand Wolf magic book as well! A sudden realization hit Carlton like a bolt of lightning. Coupled with recent events, he began to suspect something incredible, causing his breath to quicken slightly. But he quickly suppressed his emotions, smiling even more broadly as he said, "Please wait a moment. I''ll have it fetched right away!"

    After concluding the transaction, Rhett left the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, with Carlton wearing a broad smile on his face. His enthusiasm was now tinged with a hint of ttery.

    Though they hadn''t explicitly discussed it, Rhett was fully aware. "Carlton, being the head of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, isn''t slow on the uptake. He must have figured out that I''ve advanced to Archmage."

    He wasn''t concerned about the information leaking. After all, it was only six months until he would head to the canyon frontlines. He was aiming for the title of count, so there was no need to hide anymore.

    However, to be safe, Rhett decided to run a simtion to check for any changes in the future.

    With that thought, he activated the system.

    <strong>[Would you like to start a text-based simtion? Each simtion costs 5 Destiny Points per year.]</strong>

    "Yes."

    <strong>[Year 474 of the Kingdom Calendar, December 11th: You arrived in Twilight City and won the grand prize in the Adventurer''s Cave, raising Joria''s suspicions. Later, you purchased the "Sand Wolf''s Roar" magic book and twenty-three bottles of Aurora Potions. In the evening, Karen found you and invited you to her home, but you coldly refused. She persisted, but you remained firm, and she left in frustration.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 12th: An old friend, McCoffe, found you at your inn. After reminiscing over drinks, you invited him to join your territory, and he agreed.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 20th: As usual, you used fire essence to incubate a magical beast egg, causing quite a stir. After patiently waiting, a young Fire Feathered Eagle hatched and saw your kind face as the first thing it beheld.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 23rd: You heard that Joria discovered that one of her knights was a spy for the Kinnon family. Count Nilo was furious and nned to confront the Kinnons.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 25th: Two homeless tier-one knights came to pledge their loyalty to you.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 28th: After a long teau, Tadel found a breakthrough opportunity and advanced to tier-two knight that same day.]</strong>

    <strong>[Year 475 of the Kingdom Calendar, June 11th: News from the frontlines indicated that the war at the canyon frontlines had escted, and reinforcements were urgently needed. The entire southwestern border was ced on high alert. Byw, all nobles were required to lead their forces to the battlefield, and you were no exception.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 15th: You, along with Tuck, Ris, Henk, Shireen, and McCoffe, arrived at the familiar canyon frontlines. Your exceptional abilities were noticed by Deputy Commander Ambiru, who appointed you as a temporary squad leader in charge of over a hundred troops.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 18th: That night, Ambiru assigned you a critical mission¡ªan ambush on the enemy''s royal-blooded beasts. After a tough battle, you sessfully wiped out a small orc squad that included twenty-three Blood Moon Werewolves and Phantom Poison Snakemen.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 26th: You heard that Baron Gaspar of Windmill Town managed to eliminate three Blood Moon Werewolves during a reconnaissance mission and gained significant merit.]</strong>

    <strong>[July 27th: After a long teau, Frano found a breakthrough opportunity and advanced to tier-two knight that same day.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 3rd: You privately informed Deputy Commander Ambiru that you suspected Baron Gaspar of colluding with the orcs and that there would be a secret operation that night. Sure enough, you noticed suspicious activity and followed Baron Gaspar. Midway through, two tier-five Night Catmen ambushed him, but Ambiru, who had hidden forces nearby, quickly captured them.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 4th: Deputy Commander Ambiru praised you for your outstanding contribution, promising generous rewards once the war ended. He also mentioned that they had extracted some intel from Baron Gaspar and the Night Catmen. It seemed there was internal conflict between the Phantom Poison Snakemen and the Blood Moon Werewolves, leading to a contest between two powerful figures.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 5th: Clirina safely gave birth to a boy and a girl, adding two new members to the family¡ªa joyous asion!]</strong>

    <strong>[August 7th: While leading a patrol, you encountered a small orc force near the Blood River. Thanks to your foresight, you had a team lying in ambush. Through your ''strategy,'' you achieved a decisive victory, annihting three Blood Moon Werewolves and thirty orcs.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 15th: Late at night, you received intelligence that the frontline positions were being heavily attacked by arge orc force. Leading a hundred men, you followed Deputy Commander Ambiru in a nking maneuver from the east. After a fierce battle, you killed a dozen orcs and a tier-three Blood Moon Werewolf but suffered a deep w wound to the abdomen from a tier-four Blood Moon Werewolf, though it was not life-threatening.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 19th: Laurene became pregnant.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 24th: Mina safely gave birth to a boy, adding another new member to the family¡ªa joyous asion!]</strong>

    <strong>[August 27th: Late at night, you joined the main force inunching an assault on the orc positions.]</strong>

    <strong>[August 30th: After three days and nights of relentless fighting, the cruel battlefield imed Ris and McCoffe. Though your body bore many scars, your vast experience allowed you to survive.]</strong>

    <strong>[September 5th: Ovee with grief from losing your son, you heard that Deputy Commander Ambiru was nning a raid on the orc patrols. You volunteered to join. That night, the raid seeded, and you personally killed two tier-three Phantom Poison Snakemen.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 3rd: In nearly two months of war, you had killed over twenty royal-blooded orcs. Your reputation among the orcs at the canyon frontlines grew.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 17th: During a routine patrol, you were ambushed by an orc force, including ten Blood Moon Werewolves who relentlessly pursued you! Fortunately, you had prepared in advance, and with the help of nearby squads, you managed to annihte the orc force.]</strong>

    <strong>[October 26th: Younica advanced to Apprentice Mage.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 11th: The orc royal bloodlines seemed to retreat like the tide, significantly easing the pressure on the warfront. You sensed that the battle might being to an end.]</strong>

    <strong>[November 13th: Chief Commander Avalon announced a significant victory after repelling the royal-blooded orcs. That night, a grand celebration was held, and you were richly rewarded for your contributions. Avalon mentioned that your merits were more than sufficient for your promotion to Earl!]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    <strong>[November 17th: Rien advanced to Apprentice Knight.]</strong>

    <strong>[December 9th: Upon returning to your territory, you learned shocking news. A new type of poison developed by the Cold Stream Frontline rendered Dragonmen infertile. As a result,rge-scale battles erupted in the Cold Stream region starting in October, even forcing a Saint-level Dragonman to take action!]</strong>

 Chapter 124: A Long-Awaited Reunion

    Rhett dismissed the simtion screen, his thoughts quickly organizing the events he had just reviewed. This time, he felt moreposed. Compared to the previous simtion, the changes in the timeline weren''t significant, and everything ultimately went as expected, leading to his promotion to Earl.

    However, there were a few interesting deviations.

    "Joria¡¯s subordinate turned out to be a spy nted by the Kinnons?" Rhett recalled with interest. This hadn¡¯t happened in the previous simtion, but after his visit to the Adventurer¡¯s Cave, it appeared as a new development.

    "Could it be that she started suspecting me and, in the process of her internal investigation, identally uncovered a real spy?" The more he thought about it, the more usible it seemed. It was almost amusing¡ªhad he unintentionally helped Joria by indirectly revealing the traitor?

    He chuckled to himself, thinking, "Maybe I should do her more favors in the future¡­"

    Beyond this minor event, the simtion confirmed that Carlton, the head of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, had kept quiet about Rhett¡¯s advancement to Archmage.

    "Not bad," Rhett mused. "It seems Carlton is a reliable partner. I should strengthen our ties."

    His thoughts then shifted to the most significant information from the simtion¡ªthe intensification of the Coldstream Frontline conflict. It was all due to a poison that rendered Dragonmen infertile.

    Rhett clicked his tongue in astonishment. "Could this be the work of that alchemist master seeking revenge, as Vordell mentioned before? If that¡¯s the case, then it seems I¡¯ve unwittingly contributed to the fight against the orcs from miles away."The idea filled him with a sense of satisfaction. He recalled Vordell¡¯s warning about the poison¡¯s potential to threaten Dragonmen. At the time, he had imagined various oues, but he never expected that the poison would cause infertility.

    On further reflection, Rhett thought, "This might actually be the perfect revenge¡ªa way to fight the orcs while exacting personal vengeance. It may not cause immediate harm, but in the long run, it¡¯s the most terrifying threat. No wonder even a Saint-level Dragonman feltpelled to intervene. Preventing a race from reproducing is practically akin to extermination."

    Rhett wondered about the efficiency of producing such a poison, hoping it could be done quickly.

    That afternoon, Rhett had booked a stay at thergest inn in Twilight City, knowing full well that the Brayn family controlled much of the city''s business. He had nned ahead, expecting that Karen would learn of his arrival this way. However, his newfound strength as an Archmage left him feeling confident¡ªhe wasn¡¯t concerned about her persistence. Better to deal with it sooner thanter.

    As dusk approached, Rhett remembered that Tadel and Kurs had once expressed their desire to visit a high-end restaurant in Twilight City but were deterred by the steep prices. So that evening, Rhett treated his group to avish meal, spending over a hundred gold coins.

    By the time they left the restaurant, Tadel and Kurs were noticeably full but thoroughly satisfied.

    The sky had darkened, and the stars and moon adorned the night. Rhett, after some thought, found an excuse to send Tuck, Tadel, and Kurs away, allowing himself a leisurely stroll through Twilight City alone.

    The city had a different vibe at night. Even in the dead of winter, there were burly knights walking around shirtless, most of them holding bottles of liquor. Rhett observed his surroundings, surprised to find himself in Twilight City¡¯s tavern district.

    As he nced around, he noticed that the street was lined with taverns and inns. Men and women wandered in and out of the establishments, and Rhett could hear boisterousughter and the asional startled cry from women being harassed.

    The atmosphere of indulgence and desire was on full disy here, especially at night.

    Rhett knew of this ce but hadn¡¯t expected to find himself here by chance. Shaking his head, he was about to leave when he sensed a familiar presence approaching.

    Turning his head casually, he pretended to be surprised. "Miss Karen? I didn¡¯t expect to see you here."

    Karen was dressed in a ck strapless gown that reached down to her ankles but left her shoulders and upper chest bare. The deep neckline highlighted her cleavage, which glimmered faintly under the streetlights. Her lips were painted a bold red, and she walked gracefully toward Rhett, greeting him with a hug.

    A strong, almost overpowering scent of perfume surrounded them. Rhett held his breath, his brow furrowing slightly as he lightly patted her shoulder before stepping back.

    Karen exhaled softly and said, "I didn¡¯t expect to see you here either, Sir Rhett. I visited your estate twice recently. Aren¡¯t you curious about the reason?"

    "To sleep with me, obviously," Rhett thought but kept to himself. Instead, he politely asked, "What brings you here?"

    Karen nced at a nearby tavern, her chest slightly pushed out as she smiled suggestively. "Since we¡¯re here, why don¡¯t we go into the tavern for a drink, Sir Rhett?"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. The invitation was tantly clear. A young, unmarried man might have found it hard to resist. Coupled with her status as the count¡¯s eldest daughter, most men would eagerly ept.

    Rhett had heard rumors about Karen. She had a penchant for married men, especially handsome nobles. In his previous life, she might have beenbeled as a female version of Cao Cao.

    Looking into Karen¡¯s eyes, Rhett saw a deep, almost demonic desire that seemed intent on devouring him. However, he remained unfazed, his mind shing back to Nicole¡¯s innocent smile and clear eyes. Smiling lightly, he said, "I¡¯m sorry, Miss Karen, but I have other matters to attend to tonight. I won¡¯t be able to join you."

    Karen¡¯s charming smile froze, and a look of surprise flickered in her eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected to be rejected, especially not by a middle-aged noble who had been widowed for years.

    After a brief pause, Karen¡¯s gaze shifted, and she offered a new suggestion, "If you¡¯re not fond of taverns, why not visit my home? My father is away and won¡¯t return for a few days."

    Rhett shook his head, his expression indifferent. "That¡¯s not necessary, Miss Karen. It could easily lead to misunderstandings."

    At that moment, Karen¡¯s demeanor changed. Her brow furrowed, and she abruptly asked, "Sir Rhett, I heard you visited the Adventurer¡¯s Cave today?"

    "That¡¯s right."

    "And you met with Joria?" Karen stared at Rhett, her tone casual but her gaze piercing. "Did she happen to mention me?"

    Rhett was puzzled by the shift in conversation but decided to answer truthfully after a moment of thought. "She didn¡¯t. I just opened a few chests and left."

    Karen narrowed her eyes slightly, noting his brief hesitation before responding. She took a deep breath and said, "I see."

    With that, she turned and walked away, her departure watched by the many men who had been ogling her. A sharp re from her sent them scattering like startled birds.

    Rhett didn¡¯t try to stop her. As he headed in the opposite direction, he wondered, "Why didn¡¯t things go as they did in the simtion? Karen mentioned Joria and then left without further confrontation¡­"

    He suspected it had something to do with internal matters within the Brayn family and decided not to dwell on it.

    Later that night, Rhett sat alone in his room, surrounded by bottles of Aurora Potion. He opened his system panel, his excitement building.

    If it were just the destiny points, even with twenty-three bottles of Aurora Potion, he wouldn¡¯t be confident in reaching the peak of tier-four Archmage. But with the Blood Source Pearl, he felt certain that tonight, he would achieve that pinnacle.

    And so, he began without dy.

    As the surrounding space rippled, Rhett consumed bottle after bottle of Aurora Potion. When he had finished all twenty-three bottles, he retrieved the Blood Source Pearl, his gazeplex, before decisively swallowing it.

    Time passed.

    In his 172nd simtion, Rhett, now visibly older, exhaled slowly. Feeling his mental power reach its limit, he murmured, "I¡¯ve finally reached the peak of tier-four Archmage¡­"

    With a thought, he ended the simtion and chose the third option without hesitation.

    The next morning, Rhett was deep in meditation, chipping away at the bottleneck to tier-five Archmage. This process was far more challenging than any previous breakthroughs. As a mage¡¯s mental power transformed in quality, the bottleneck became much more difficult to break through.

    Rhett felt that if he relied on time alone, the breakthrough would be far off.

    Sighing inwardly, he suddenly sensed something unusual.@@novelbin@@

    <em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>

    A knock on the door was followed by a voice, "Sir, we¡¯ve prepared a sumptuous breakfast for you. Please open the door."

    Outside the door stood a man in a brown cloak, his hood pulled low. After knocking, he carefully listened for any movement inside the room.

    A momentter, a voice from within replied, "No need for breakfast. Just bring me a hot cup of milk."

    "Very well, please wait a moment." The cloaked man turned to go downstairs for the milk.

    However, just as he turned, the door suddenly swung open, and arge hand pped him on the shoulder. Laughter echoed down the hallway.

    "Haha, McCoffe, did you really think I wouldn¡¯t recognize your voice after all these years?" Rhett patted the man on the shoulder and pulled back the hood, revealing light brown hair.

    "Oh no, Rhett, you should¡¯ve yed along and let me bring in breakfast. I wanted to surprise you!" McCoffe turned, his tone disappointed. "You¡¯vepletely ruined the fun!"

    Rhett shrugged, smiling without a word.

    Then, both men fell silent.

    McCoffe stared at Rhett for a few seconds before letting out a long breath. "It¡¯s been a long time, Rhett. You¡¯ve matured since then. The fires of war have tempered you into solid steel."

    Rhett hesitated before replying, his gaze falling on the faint wrinkles on McCoffe¡¯s forehead. "You¡­ you¡¯ve grown older. But congrattions on bing a tier-three mage!"

    McCoffe chuckled, shaking his head. "Nothingpared to you. When west parted, our futures were uncertain. Now, you¡¯ve not only be a tier-three mage but also a viscount."

    "Haha, just luck!" Rhettughed, then asked, "Where have you been all these years? I searched for you when I returned from the frontlines, but it was as if you¡¯d disappeared without a trace."

    "Heh, I¡¯ve been to many ces. Let¡¯s talk about it over time¡­"

    And so, the two old friends spent the entire morning in the room, catching up on their lives. Though it wasn¡¯t enough time to cover all the years they had been apart, Rhett learned that after their parting, McCoffe had traveled widely and eventually settled in the icy city of Wodan for several years. He had worked as a mercenary and adventurer, gaining plenty of experience.

    By noon, Rhett nced out the window at the bright sun before turning back to McCoffe. Pouring them both more tea, he asked, "You spent several years in Ice City, McCoffe. Did you ever hear of the me Lion Mercenary Group?"

    "Huh?" McCoffe blinked in surprise. "There is a me Lion Mercenary Group in Ice City, but how do you know about them? Their fame and strength aren¡¯t significant enough to reach this far south¡­"

    Rhett smiled and briefly recounted his encounter with the group during his hunt in the Darkwing Eagle territory, omitting the details about his breakthrough to Archmage and the Bloodline Potion.

    McCoffe listened, blinking in amazement before sighing. "You¡¯ve changed so much over the years, Rhett. It¡¯s almost as if the goddess of luck has taken a liking to you."

    True friends are genuinely happy to see each other thrive. Despite Rhett¡¯s rapid progress, McCoffe didn¡¯t dwell on it or envy him. Their friendship was what he valued most.

 Chapter 125: Iâ€™ll Take You Flying!

    "Perhaps, maybe I really have been favored by fate?" Rhett sipped his tea with a hint of humor. "Sometimes, even I get that impression."

    McCoffe chuckled, shaking his head. After a pause, he said, "That me Lion Mercenary Group you mentioned¡ªI know their leader, Vordell, but I don¡¯t know much about them. We didn¡¯t have much interaction in the past. Especially six years ago, when the Coldstream Frontline erupted into a major conflict. Royal-blooded Shadow Tigers and Night Catmen infiltrated the rear, causing chaos around Ice City and resulting in many casualties. After that, the mercenary groups in Ice City underwent a major reshuffle. The me Lion Mercenary Group might have been affected; they¡¯ve kept a low profile in recent years."

    "I see..." Rhett nodded thoughtfully, understanding the situation. After pondering for a moment, he changed the topic. "So, McCoffe, what are your ns now? Will you keep wandering, or settle down here in the southwestern frontier?"

    "Me? I¡¯ve traveled enough and don¡¯t want to keep moving around." McCoffe smiled. "I was born in the southwestern frontier; this ce holds my roots. It¡¯s good to stay here. Otherwise¡­ why would I havee back?"

    Rhett smiled, feeling reassured. Seizing the opportunity, he said, "In that case, McCoffe, I¡¯d like to invite you to my territory. Of course, not as a servant¡ªwe¡¯ll still be friends, and I won¡¯t force you to do anything. If you¡¯re interested in alchemy, I have an alchemist who can guide you. If you want to enjoy the scenery, we have Sun Lake, savannahs, and forests. And if you¡¯d like to be a mentor, I¡¯ve recently discovered a young girl with magical talent in my territory."

    Rhett spoke sincerely, without exerting the pressure of his noble status. He then looked at McCoffe, awaiting his response.

    McCoffe stroked his chin, gazing into his teacup. After a moment, he scratched his head and said, "Hmm, that does sound like a good option¡­"

    The two exchanged a knowing smile.

    "But I¡¯ll pass on alchemy. I prefer a moreid-back life.""That¡¯s fine. You¡¯re free to explore as you wish."

    "But I also don¡¯t want to be too idle. It would get boring after a while," McCoffe said, smacking his lips. "Maybe teaching isn¡¯t a bad idea if you have just one student¡­"

    "Ha! Whatever you like!"

    A weekter, Rhett returned to Falcon Town with his group. That day, a strong wind blew across thend, bending the sparse trees and grass along the gray stone road.

    Svetta, having prepared in advance, stood wrapped in a thick fur coat, braving the cold wind as he awaited his master¡¯s return. Suddenly, he heard the sound of rolling carriage wheels and ttering hooves.

    Turning his head, Svetta saw Rhett riding on the back of Graystripe. With one hand holding the reins and the other waving, Rhett greeted him. Svetta smiled and rushed forward, enthusiastically saying, "Wee home, my lord! It¡¯s nearly noon¡ªwould you like something to eat? I can have Chef Maru prepare a hearty lunch."

    "No need." Rhett shook his head, then pointed behind him. "I¡¯d like to introduce you to my close friend, McCoffe. From now on, he¡¯ll be living in my territory. Listen carefully¡ªhe¡¯s staying here with us, not as a subordinate but as a friend. So, please arrange a room for him in the main castle. The fourth floor would be nice¡ªnext to Henck, so the two mages can exchange ideas."

    Svetta was slightly surprised, but when he looked behind Rhett, he warmly greeted the gray-cloaked McCoffe. "My lord¡¯s close friend is an honored guest in Falcon Town. I am Svetta, the lord¡¯s most loyal steward. Wee!"

    "Oh, thank you, Svetta." McCoffe dismounted, then turned to Rhett and said, "But¡­ the main castle isn¡¯t necessary. I think a room in the secondary castle would suit me just fine. I¡¯ll be teaching a student, so it¡¯ll be more convenient to live there."

    "As you wish." Rhett shrugged, then asked, "McCoffe, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I can have Chef Maru prepare something for you. Recently, we hunted in the Darkwing Eagle territory and brought back plenty of magical beast meat¡ªeverything from tender Great Horned Sheep to the tough yet chewy ming Rhino and Bloodhoof Boar breast meat¡­"

    Rhett listed off a variety of meats, his eyes watching McCoffe, who showed no change in expression. Instead, McCoffe shook his head and said, "I¡¯ve tried all those magical beasts before¡ªthey¡¯re tasty, but right now, I¡¯m craving something else. Do you remember that dish you made for me over ten years ago? It was boiled peanuts, but with a sour twist¡­"

    The people around them were puzzled. Boiled peanuts? How good could that be? Only Rhett seemed to understand, his thoughts drifting back a decade until realization dawned. "Ah, you must be talking about vinegar-soaked peanuts."

    "Vinegar-soaked peanuts?" Tuck¡¯s eyes lit up as he recalled something. "Father, it¡¯s been so long since you made those! You made them once when I was little, and they were delicious!"

    In this world, boiled and fried peanuts were already known, as both were simple to prepare¡ªjust soak the peanuts in saltwater or fry them. But vinegar-soaked peanuts were something Rhett had brought from his previous life, a dish that had yet to be invented here. Or perhaps someone had tried it by chance but hadn¡¯t poprized it.

    Vinegar-soaked peanuts were a mix of boiled and fried peanuts. After frying the peanuts until semi-crisp, they were soaked in vinegar, with or without their skins, but always shelled. Once the salty-sour vor seeped in, the result was a unique taste between boiled and fried peanuts.

    Rhett hadn¡¯t made the dish in years¡ªsince joining the frontlines, he¡¯d rarely had the chance to cook. After retiring, he¡¯d be ustomed to having meals prepared for him, nearly forgetting about this dish altogether.

    "Yes, that¡¯s it¡ªvinegar-soaked peanuts!" McCoffe¡¯s eyes lit up, and he jokingly added, "Rhett, if you can¡¯t make that for me, I might just leave¡­"

    Rhett chuckled, shaking his head. "You want vinegar-soaked peanuts? Easy! I could have Chef Maru prepare them, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯d master the recipe quickly. But to celebrate our reunion, I¡¯ll cook them myself."

    "That¡¯s great." McCoffe grinned. "For years, every time I¡¯ve eaten boiled peanuts, I¡¯ve thought about vinegar-soaked peanuts. Finally, I get to taste them again."

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "No problem. I¡¯ll make sure you get your fill."

    With that, Svetta led McCoffe to the secondary castle to arrange his room. Rhett, meanwhile, returned to the main castle and headed straight for the kitchen.

    "Maru, could you prepare some peanuts for me?" Rhett asked from the doorway.

    "Oh, heavens!" Chef Maru, who had been chopping vegetables, was startled by the sudden request. Clutching her chest, she eximed, "My lord, you¡¯re back! What a pleasant surprise. Do you want fried peanuts or boiled peanuts? Should the fried peanuts be sweet or salty?" As she spoke, Maru walked to the corner of the kitchen, opened a bup sack, and began shelling peanuts into a small basin.

    "Well¡­ neither," Rhett replied after a moment¡¯s thought. "I¡¯m making vinegar-soaked peanuts. You don¡¯t know how to prepare them, so I¡¯ll cook this time. You can watch and learn¡ªI hope to see this dish on our dining table more often."

    "What? My lord, you¡¯re going to cook yourself?" Maru¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Realizing what he¡¯d said, she quickly shook her head, protesting, "No, no, this isn¡¯t right. The kitchen is for us servants. You can just tell me the steps from outside, and I¡¯ll make them for you. Please trust in my cooking!"

    "Maru, I do trust your cooking," Rhett smiled helplessly, exining, "But this dish holds special significance for an old friend of mine who¡¯s visiting. So, I¡¯m going to make it personally. I must make it myself."

    With that, Rhett stepped into the kitchen. Maru opened her mouth to protest but couldn¡¯t find the words. She sighed in resignation and continued shelling the peanuts.

    A few minutester, Rhett began his culinary demonstration. Heating the oil, he tossed in the peanuts once the oil began to smoke lightly. His series of skilled movements impressed Chef Maru, who couldn¡¯t help but praise, "As expected of our lord¡ªyour cooking is quite good!"

    Rhett smiled. After all, in his previous life, he had learned to cook while still a teenager. Though he wasn¡¯t a master chef, his skills were more than decent. After frying the peanuts, he immediately soaked them in vinegar, adding some salt and other seasonings.

    Watching this process, Maru¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she wondered what the final taste and texture would be.

    As she pondered, Rhett spoke up. "Maru, now that the castle has more people than before, we need more food. Handling all the meals yourself must be getting difficult¡­"

    Maru paused, unwilling to admit it but knowing it was true. "My lord, you¡¯ve observed well. I can barely manage for now, but if the poption grows, I¡¯ll need more assistants."

    "Now¡¯s the perfect opportunity," Rhett said, stirring the vinegar mixture. "The town and Fire Mine Vige have plenty of people for you to choose from. Take the chance to start training new talent while you can still manage. If you need more hands, just let Svetta know."

    "Understood, my lord!" Maru agreed, her eyes lighting up at the mention of Svetta¡¯s name.

    When the vinegar-soaked peanuts¡ªdark with a hint of white¡ªwere ready, Maru examined them with interest. She picked up a peanut from the dish, sniffed it, and then tasted it.

    "What a surprising vor!" Maru¡¯s eyes sparkled as she marveled, "Thebination of vinegar and peanuts is unexpectedly delicious!"

    Rhett smiled and instructed, "Please take this dish to the secondary castle, to McCoffe¡¯s room. You don¡¯t know who McCoffe is yet, but¡­ you can ask Svetta to guide you."

    Maru beamed with delight. "Right away, my lord!"

    Leaving the kitchen, Rhett headed to the second floor of the castle, nning to retrieve his Firefeather Hawk egg from Tyrus. When leaving the territory, he had entrusted his son with the egg, asking him to care for and feed it with fire essence.

    As Rhett ascended the stairs, his spiritual senses detected the aura of an apprentice mage emanating from Tyrus¡¯ room. A smile crept onto his face¡ªTyrus had indeed broken through to apprentice mage, just as the simtion had indicated.@@novelbin@@

    Knock, knock, knock.

    The door opened, and Tyrus¡¯ voice called out from within. "Who is it?"

    "It¡¯s me."

    "Father? I¡¯ming!"

    Tyrus rushed to the door, excitement evident on his face. "Father, you¡¯re finally back! You probably don¡¯t know this, but I broke through to apprentice mage a week ago!"

    "Ha! Well done!" Rhett beamed, ruffling Tyrus¡¯ hair. "I sensed the change as I came up the stairs. Congrattions, Tyrus¡ªyou¡¯ve taken an important step forward. Now, you can pursue alchemy with confidence."

    Tyrus smiled happily. "I¡¯ve already started! Every day, I¡¯ve been going to the alchemyb to study with Henck!"

    "Good." Rhett nodded, then grew slightly serious. "I support your dream, but don¡¯t neglect your mental training while studying alchemy. Magic and alchemy are closely linked, and only strong mental power will allow you to reach the highest levels of alchemy."

    "I understand, Father. I¡¯ll make sure to meditate regrly!" Tyrus replied earnestly. He had already learned this principle from Henck.

    With that, Tyrus suddenly pped his forehead. "Oh, I almost forgot! Just a moment, Father!" He hurried to the windowsill and returned with the football-sized magical beast egg. Handing it to Rhett, he said, "In the past two weeks of feeding, I¡¯ve felt the life force inside the egg grow incredibly strong. It feels like it could hatch at any moment. Soon, you¡¯ll have a flying beast of your own!" His eyes gleamed with envy.

    Rhett took the Firefeather Hawk egg, sensing the vibrant fire energy within. His eyes lit up with joy.

    He patted Tyrus on the shoulder. "When the Firefeather Hawk grows up, I¡¯ll take you flying!"

 Chapter 126: The Hatching of Fireclaw

    The next day.

    After finishing breakfast, Rhett wandered around the estate.

    He happened to see Ellie and a boy of the same age walking together from outside the manor. The two were chatting andughing, full of energy, and drenched in sweat¡ªclearly just back from a physical training session.

    When they saw Rhett, their smiles quickly faded, and they greeted him respectfully.

    "Good morning, Lord Rhett!" Ellie and Mud bowed in unison.

    "Hehe, good morning to you both."

    Rhett smiled and nodded at them as he walked past. He knew the boy was Otto, Kudin''s youngest son.

    Back then, Otto didn¡¯t show any talent for training and wasn¡¯t physically strong enough to work as a servant in the castle.

    But to keep his promise, Rhett had Svetta arrange for Otto to be a retainer, just like Ellie¡ªundergoing daily physical training until adulthood and helping with odd jobs around the estate during his free time.Leaving the inner castle, Rhett walked to the entrance of the training ground.

    He wanted to see how McCoffe was doing as a mentor.

    That morning, a light mist hung in the air.

    A breeze blew through, stirring the mist and refreshing Rhett¡¯s spirit as the dampness hit him.

    Whoosh

    At that moment, a gentle wind swept across the middle of the training ground, dispersing the surrounding fog in ripples.

    The surroundings became clear.

    McCoffe was dressed in a loose white robe, holding a staff. In front of him stood Tyrus and Unica side by side.

    Now that Tyrus had be an apprentice mage, even though he aspired to be an alchemist, he still had to set aside time every day for magic training.

    Under Unica¡¯s admiring gaze, McCoffe chuckled and said,

    "Unica, I didn¡¯t use magic just now¡ªonly basic elemental maniption to create a breeze and disperse the mist. Once you¡¯ve grown, you¡¯ll be able to do this easily too. For now, let¡¯s test your elemental affinity, or in simpler terms, your talent."@@novelbin@@

    "Yay!" Unica¡¯s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, excited by the thought of bing as strong as her mentor. "What should I do to test my talent?" she asked eagerly.

    "Since you¡¯ve been meditating for over half a month, your mental strength has increased slightly. Try sensing the elements around you and find the one that¡¯s most concentrated. Let me know which one it is," McCoffe instructed, looking down at the girl who barely reached his waist.

    "Okay, let me try, Mentor McCoffe." Unica nodded seriously.

    She then closed her eyes, meditating and using her recently strengthened mental power to carefully sense her surroundings.

    Tyrus, feeling bored, also gave it a try. He sensed countless tiny ck dots floating around him, visible only through mental perception¡ªelements that existed somewhere between reality and illusion.

    The ck dots were dark elements, mixed with asional red, blue, green, and white ones¡ªelements he had little affinity for.

    A few minutester, Unica opened her eyes and hesitantly said, "Mentor McCoffe, I¡­ think I sensed some blue dots."

    "Oh? Blue dots? A water mage like Rayleigh?" Tyrus thought, surprised.

    "If you saw blue dots, that means you sensed water elements," McCoffe said, his eyes lighting up with joy.

    He wasn¡¯t happy because of her water affinity¡ªevery element had its strengths. What thrilled him was that after just half a month of meditation, she could already sense the elements, indicating that her talent wasn¡¯t low. At the very least, she wasn¡¯t stuck with a lower-tier talent.

    He asked, "How many dots did you see?"

    "Over a hundred!"

    "Over a hundred?" McCoffe¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    In this world, methods for evaluating magical talent had developed over a long history.

    Aside from alchemical tools that could directly measure talent, people had devised experience-based methods for estimating talent over the centuries.

    Generally, after meditating for half a month, those who couldn¡¯t sense any elements had lower-tier talent.

    Those who could sense around fifty dots typically had lower-middle-tier talent.

    If they sensed over a hundred dots, they were considered mid-tier talents.

    Breaking three hundred dots would indicate upper-middle-tier talent.

    And those who saw over a thousand dots had solid upper-tier talent.

    As for the legendary perfect talent, where the dots were too numerous to count, McCoffe had only heard of it in stories.

    Throughout history, those with perfect talent who didn¡¯t meet an untimely end inevitably reached the saint rank. In reality, he had never encountered one.

    "That¡¯s right," Unica confirmed, then asked with anticipation, "Mentor McCoffe, how is my talent?"

    "Haha, not bad at all!" McCoffeughed heartily, patting Unica¡¯s brown hair. "I¡¯d say you have mid-tier talent."

    Tyrus felt both happy and pressured¡ªhis own dark element talent was lower-middle-tier, and this little girl had just surpassed him.

    "But I can¡¯t give up! I¡¯m destined to be a great alchemist!" Tyrus cheered himself on mentally.

    "Can I start learning magic now?" Unica asked, beaming with joy after hearing she had mid-tier talent.

    "Not yet," McCoffe shook his head. "At least wait until you be an apprentice mage. But if you keep meditating, you¡¯ll probably be able to control water elements and create streams in a few months."

    "I¡¯ll work hard!"

    "Tyrus, you¡¯ve just be an apprentice mage, so you also need to master the basic dark magic. Practice diligently to build a foundation for learning moreplex spells as a full mage," McCoffe advised, turning to Tyrus with a smile.

    "I¡¯ve already started practicing. I think I¡¯ll master Shadow Wave in another half month!" Tyrus confidently replied after a brief thought.

    Rhett quietly watched from the doorway for a while, satisfied that everything was going well, then turned and left.

    At East Eagle Logging Camp, the sound of hammers, axes chopping wood, and workers shouting filled the misty air.

    Rhett approached a simple wooden hut and looked through the unshielded window to see Kudin sitting with his back to him. Kudin had one leg propped up on the bed as he applied crushed moon grass juice to his thigh.

    Rhett recognized the ntmon in the wild and often used bymoners to stop bleeding and speed up scabbing when injured.

    "Kudin, are you hurt?" Rhett asked, one hand behind his back.

    "Huh?" Kudin was startled, having not noticed anyone approaching. When he turned and saw Rhett, he quickly stood, bowing awkwardly and saying, "Good morning, Lord Rhett! I got a little hurt this morning, identally poked by a sharp piece of wood. But it¡¯s nothing serious¡ªI can still work."

    "Hmm, you should be more careful," Rhett frowned slightly. "I suggest you rest for a week. Don¡¯t worry¡ªit¡¯s a work injury, so your pay won¡¯t be docked."

    At the mention of paid leave, Kudin¡¯s expression brightened with excitement, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you, Lord Rhett!"

    Rhett nodded. "Once you¡¯ve rested, start preparing for Thorn Vige¡¯s construction. Winter is ending, and the warm spring is the best time to work."

    "No problem, Lord Rhett!" Kudin replied, adding, "We¡¯ve already started preparing¡ªmoving tools and pre-cut wood to the site. Once the weather warms up, we can begin immediately!"

    After giving Kudin a few more instructions, Rhett returned to the castle. He spent most of the rest of the day meditating.

    That night, he eagerly waited.

    The next day, December 20th.

    In the early hours of the morning.

    Crack, crack.

    A faint sound came from in front of him, like something splitting open.

    Rhett, who had been meditating in bed, suddenly opened his eyes!

    He hurried to the windowsill, where the moonlight revealed a lightning-shaped crack running across the Firefeather Hawk egg¡¯s shell.

    As excitement filled him,

    Crack, crack.

    Another crisp sound followed, and another crack appeared on the egg.

    This second crack was wider than the first, and through it, Rhett could vaguely see a plump little chick inside, struggling to peck at the shell with its tiny beak.

    When it grew tired of pecking, it began to ram the shell with its head and body.

    Chirp, chirp.

    The newborn chick¡¯s cries weren¡¯t the sharp, clear calls of a hawk but more like the weak chirps of a newly hatched chick.

    Though faint, Rhett could feel the chick¡¯s unyielding will and its thirst for life.

    In the darkness, a faint me seemed to flicker within, as if it were determined to break through all obstacles and barriers in its path.

    In a daze, Rhett found himself resonating with the chick¡¯s resolve, feeling emboldened and fearless in the face of everything.

    Perhaps it was a special bond they shared. With a gentle smile, Rhett stroked the egg¡¯s shell and silentlyughed.

    He stood there, asionally sprinkling fire essence onto the egg to nourish the hatching Firefeather Hawk.

    Two hourster, the horizon began to lighten.

    Rhett gazed at the first glimmer of dawn, then looked back at the Firefeather Hawk egg.

    By now, the shell had cracked like a spider¡¯s web, with countless tiny fissures. Through these cracks, Rhett could glimpse the chick¡¯s entire form.

    As Rhett watched,

    Suddenly, with a snap, a palm-sized piece of the shell broke away, and a small head pushed through.

    Chirp, chirp, chirp.

    A tiny head covered in dark red skin emerged. Despite its powerful life force, the newborn beast appeared fearful in the unfamiliar environment, instinctively raising its head and chirping.

    As it chirped, it looked at the "giant" before it. From this figure, the Firefeather Hawk felt a faint sense of familiarity, the result of Rhett¡¯s frequent interaction and feeding it fire essence.

    It locked eyes with Rhett, who was also gazing at the shell.

    Chirp, chirp.

    The chick cried out again, recognizing the person in front of it as the first living being it saw after breaking free from its dark world, with a faint sense of familiarity.

    Exhausted from hatching, the chick was now almostpletely drained. It leaned against the shell to stand, too weak to move, and opened its beak, driven by hunger.

    Seeing this, Rhett quickly poured some fire essence into his hand and brought it to the chick¡¯s beak.

    Smelling the familiar scent, the chick¡¯s eyes lit up, and it eagerly devoured the fire essence, pecking at it like a chick pecking at grains.

    For the newborn Firefeather Hawk, fire essence was like milk, nourishing it in its early days. As it grew, fire essence would lose its effect.

    As it fed, Rhett felt the tickling sensation in his palm, a smile tugging at his lips. Truly, this was a magical beast¡ªalready as lively as a weeks-old chick upon birth but far more intelligent, knowing to ask for food.

    "What should I name you?" Rhett wondered as he watched the chick eat.

    He pondered for a moment. After the chick finished its meal, it nestled back into the shell, closed its eyes, and fell asleep¡ªtreating the shell like a cozy nest.

    "Well, since Rayleigh¡¯s Windstripe Tiger is called Whitew, you¡¯ll be Firew," Rhett decided to keep the naming simple, ensuring all the family¡¯s magical beasts followed a consistent pattern.

    Then he suddenly thought, "Hmm? What about the Darkstripe Hawk hatchling? It''s pitch ck, but the name ckw is already taken¡­"

    After a moment¡¯s contemtion, Rhett shook his head and put the question aside, deciding to leave it to Tuck.

    With onest nce at the sleeping Firew, Rhett chuckled softly. "Grow up quickly, Firew. The vast blue sky awaits you. And remember to take me with you¡­"

    Three dayster.

    Rhett was practicing the Sand Wolf Roar on a clearing in Thorn Forest.

    Without the advantage of bloodline inheritance, his progress had slowed considerably, and he still had a ways to go before fully mastering the spell.

    However, he had already perfected Earth Spike and Rock Armor.

    So now, he focused all his efforts on Sand Wolf Roar.

    He slowly gathered his mental strength, causing a yellow light to form in front of him, vaguely taking the shape of a wolf.

    But before long, it shattered into scattered earth elements.

    Frowning, Rhett recalled his earlier mistakes, analyzing and correcting them before attempting the spell again.

 Chapter 127: Loan for Ore Purchase

    Thud, thud, thud.

    In the forest, the sound of hurried footsteps and intermittent roars echoed.

    Rhett paused his actions, sensing the source of the sound. A smile appeared on his face.

    It turned out that Whitew was carrying Rayleigh, rushing toward him.

    At that moment, a dry branch above Rhett¡¯s head, perhaps weakened by the harsh winter, couldn¡¯t hold out until spring. The small branch, as thick as a finger, developed a crack in the middle.

    Little Firew was standing on it, curiously looking around,pletely unaware of the branch¡¯s fragile state beneath its feet.

    A few secondster, with a roar, Whitew shattered a small thorny bush obstructing its path and leaped high,nding right in front of Rhett.

    The immense force caused it to skid to a halt, its limbs leaving long tracks in the ground.

    The sudden, fierce momentum startled Firew, making it tremble nervously on the branch.Suddenly,

    Crack!

    The brittle branch couldn¡¯t bear the weight and snapped at the crack.

    Losing its support, Firew panicked, chirping frantically as it plummeted. Mid-fall, it instinctively pped its wings, but having only been born three days ago, it stillcked feathers and hadn¡¯t yet mastered flying.

    Its frantic pping only slightly slowed its descent.

    Just as it was about to hit the ground, a gust of wind element gently caught it, slowly lowering it into Rhett¡¯s palm.

    Chirp?

    Chirp.

    Firew looked confused at first, then calmed down, standing on Rhett¡¯s hand and blinking as it stared at him.

    Rhett smiled and reached out to stroke it. Instead of resisting, Firew closed its eyes contentedly.

    When Rhett withdrew his hand, Firew nuzzled his wrist affectionately with its head.

    In just three days, Firew had grown significantly, now the size of Rhett¡¯s entire palm. Sparse red feathers covered its body, though patches of bare skin were still visible.

    "Father, while I was away, your Firefeather Hawk actually hatched! I thought it wouldn¡¯t hatch until next spring, and I even came up with a name for it," Rayleigh eximed as he dismounted Whitew and walked over to Rhett with bright eyes.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett gently patted Firew¡¯s little head and smiled.

    "What name did youe up with?"

    "Oinsieg," Rayleigh said, looking up. "It¡¯s the name of the god of spring in a folk tale. The story says that every spring, he sends a mighty eagle soaring across the sky, calling out in a unique cry to announce the arrival of spring. The eagle¡¯s call sounds something like ¡®Oin,¡¯ and in the story, it was born on a mountain named Sieg. During my trip, I thought of this story and thought the name would be perfect."

    "Hmm, a nice meaning." Rhett rubbed his chin, then regretfully shook his head. "If you hade back a few days earlier, I would have let you name it. But I¡¯ve already named it Firew."

    "Uh¡­ Firew, huh? Simple and catchy," Rayleigh said with a shrug.

    Roar! Roar!

    Whitew followed Rayleigh¡¯s steps, circling to stand directly in front of Rhett. Suddenly, it reared up on its hind legs, towering over them. Itsrge eyes stared curiously at the "little thing" in Rhett¡¯s hand.

    Chirp, chirp!

    Firew was startled and pped its wings in panic, but despite its efforts, it remained motionless.

    "Whitew, you¡¯re scaring your little brother!" Rayleigh scolded, smacking Whitew on the head.

    Roar, roar.

    Whitew seemed to understand, leaping to the side and circling Rhett on all fours.

    Rhett carefully ced Firew on his shoulder, then turned to Rayleigh with a smile. "So, tell me about this business trip."

    "Alright!" Rayleigh nodded. "ording to your n, I focused on acquiring more ore. Last time, I went to the Doron family. This time, I went to Red Valley Town, which is part of the Fabre family¡¯s territory. I managed to buy up all their stockpile¡ªnearly half a ton of ore¡ªfor 2,136 gold coins."

    "Oh? You¡¯ve already bought out the Fabre family¡¯s ore?" Rhett frowned slightly, then asked, "What about the Doron family?"

    "The Doron family still has ore left. Last time, I only bought 100 kilograms. ording to Boneyff, their warehouse still has over 600 kilograms of Lightcrystal ore. But Lightcrystal ore is naturally more expensive than Bluestone ore¡ªabout 50% more. With our territory¡¯s current finances, we can¡¯t afford to buy it all." Rayleigh replied smoothly.

    Rhett fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, "During my trip to Twilight City, I won another grand prize at the Adventurer¡¯s Cavern, including a seventh-tier wind magic crystal. After selling the spoils from the Darkstripe Hawk hunt and deducting the cost of the Aurora Potions and Sandwolf Howl spellbook, I still have more than 1,700 gold coins left! Take these coins and buy the rest of the Doron family¡¯s Lightcrystal ore!"

    "What? You won another seventh-tier magic crystal?" Rayleigh¡¯s eyes widened, his voice rising in shock. After taking a deep breath, he sighed with a bitter smile, "Well, this certainly boosts our territory¡¯s finances, but it¡¯s still not enough to buy all of the Doron family¡¯s stock. At the current price, we can only afford about 160 kilograms of Lightcrystal ore."

    "Only 160 kilograms?" Rhett muttered, shaking his head. "That¡¯s not enough. We need to buy all of the Doron family¡¯s Lightcrystal ore."

    "But we don¡¯t have enough gold," Rayleigh said, pressing his lips together.

    "Then take out a loan, or negotiate dyed payment¡ªsign a contract with a 10% interest rate for a six-month extension!" Rhett said firmly, narrowing his eyes.

    He recalled that there were only three months left before the war would escte on the front lines, leading to a massive demand for ore.

    To maximize profits, he needed to buy as much ore as possible from within the Breen territory before then.

    Rayleigh hesitated for a moment. Although he had full faith in his father¡¯s decisions, he couldn¡¯t help but ask in a low voice, "Are you sure¡­ Father?"

    "Yes, follow my instructions. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for any consequences!" Rhett¡¯s voice was decisive, his confidence unshaken.

    As the head of the family, he needed to be confident in every decision he made! If the decision-maker doubted himself, how could those under him carry out the ns with confidence?

    "Alright!" Rayleigh took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting determination. "I understand, Father. I¡¯ll depart for Cedar Town as soon as possible!"

    "Good. I¡¯ll ask McCoffe to apany you, and I¡¯ll send Shilin to escort you as well," Rhett added, deciding to increase security for Rayleigh.

    "McCoffe?" Rayleigh asked, puzzled. Then, after a moment, he remembered. "Oh, I recall you mentioning McCoffe before¡ªhe¡¯s your closest friend! Has he joined our territory?"

    "Not officially, but he¡¯ll be living with us from now on."

    "I see¡­" Rayleigh nodded thoughtfully, then added, "Father, your mention of the Adventurer¡¯s Cavern reminded me of something I heard during my trip."

    Rhett¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm. "What did you hear?"

    "Count Nilo¡¯s third daughter, Jolia, discovered a spy from the Kinn family among her subordinates," Rayleigh said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I even heard that Count Nilo, upon learning this, has gone to confront the Kinn family! It seems the spy must have acquired some sensitive information from Count Nilo¡¯s household."

    "Hmm, that¡¯s possible," Rhett replied with feigned surprise, following the conversation¡¯s lead. "This incident, along with Zoran¡¯s appearance, should serve as a warning to us¡ªwe must ensure the loyalty of our people and not allow any spies to infiltrate our ranks."

    "Don¡¯t worry, Father," Rayleigh replied with a smile. "Our castle isn¡¯t too crowded. The servants were carefully selected by Svetta and me from the town. We know everything about them, and most have never even left Eagle Town."

    "Hmm." Rhett nodded but still added, "Comcency leads to danger. We can¡¯t rely on past stability to assume the future will always be secure."

    Rayleigh pondered this for a moment before nodding seriously, "Understood."

    ...

    Two dayster.

    That day, Rhett decided not to go to the Thorn Forest to practice Sandwolf Howl. Instead, he stayed at the training ground, honing his skills in Earth Spike and Quicksand spells.

    In thest days of winter, the harsh cold had quieted, leaving only the biting wind, as if unwilling to depart.

    Svetta approached from outside the training ground, holding onto his hat as a pleased expression spread across his face.

    Behind him were two nervous young men.

    One had short brown hair, the other brown curls. They appeared to be around the same height and age.

    Rhett sensed their approach but pretended not to notice, releasing an Earth Spike spell. With a casual flick, the spell shot like a yellowet, striking arge boulder 100 meters away with a loud explosion.

    The two young men looked on in awe, their fear evident as they gazed at Rhett with newfound respect.

    "Master¡¯s magic is extraordinary!" Svetta eximed as he approached within ten meters of Rhett, waiting for his response.

    Rhett slowly turned around, seemingly indifferent, and asked, "Svetta, who are the two men following you?"

    "They im to be former adventurers whose vige was destroyed by evil alchemists, forcing them into a life of wandering. After hearing of your heroic deeds, they were filled with gratitude and admiration, and now wish to join you!" Svetta replied, clearly proud of his master¡¯s reputation.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "What are your names?"

    "Lord, my name is Shacas Meade," said the young man with short brown hair.

    "I am Jonatan Maes," added the young man with curly brown hair.

    "You wish to join my territory?"

    "Yes, I am willing to follow you and protect you from all who would defile your honor!" Shacas dered, cing a hand over his chest in respect.

    "I am willing to be your sword and cut down any obstacles in your path!" Jonatan added with determination.

    "Good!" Rhett smiled, easing Shacas and Jonatan¡¯s anxious hearts.

    Then, with a n already in mind, Rhett said, "I trust in your resolve and strength. You must have noticed that my town is in desperate need of patrol members, so I want you to join them and be a strong defense for the town."

    "Leave it to us!" Jonatan and Shacas replied in unison.

    "Serve the Eagle well, and the Eagle will be with you," Rhett said seriously, then turned to Svetta. "Please take them to the auxiliary castle and arrange for their amodations."

    "Understood!" Svetta bowed, then turned to the two men. "Gentlemen, please follow me."

    Shacas and Jonatan smiled and quickly followed him.

    As Rhett watched the three leave the training ground, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

    His territory was now entering a period of rapid development, and its defense forces were starting to fill out!

    While the trainees at the training ground had yet to mature, the addition of two experienced first-tier knights would help fill the gap in the patrol team.

    In the past, when the poption was smaller, the patrol team was less critical. But as the town grew in size and poption, security had be a top priority.

    Those who do not n for the entire situation cannot manage a single area well.

    The development of a territory is aprehensive and systematic matter, with each aspect directly or indirectly connected.

    Rhett¡¯s ultimate goal was to ensure the stable development of his territory, gradually increasing the poption to reap the benefits of a poption boom!

    As the poption base grows, so too will the number of talented individuals.

    This was a long-term n, one that wouldn¡¯t yield immediate results despite short-term investments.

    But if a power seeks to grow strong, the poption is always the foundation and the most crucial part!

    A faint smile yed on Rhett¡¯s lips.

    His thoughts wandered, and he remembered the bandits expected to arrive in five days.

    His smile gradually faded, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "They dare target me? Hmph, they¡¯vee at the right time.

    They¡¯ll just be more points for my Fate system¡­"

    Time flew by, and soon, five days had passed.

    In the southeastern part of Eagle Town, one kilometer away, a small forest stood.

    A short figure, moving at high speed, darted through the trees, heading from Eagle Town to the dense woods.

    "Wind Rat, what¡¯s the situation? How are the defenses in Eagle Town?" A tall man leaped down from a tree, startling a few night birds, and pped the short man on the shoulder.

 Chapter 128: The Roar of the Sand Wolf

    The tall man''s face was marred by four irregr scars that crisscrossed his entire face. As he smiled, the muscles around the scars twisted, making him look especially sinister.

    The short man, known as Wind Rat, grinned slyly, "He''s just a newly appointed noble. The defense of his territory is quite weak for us. I scouted around both outside and inside the streets, and I didn''t spot a single third-level presence. At the gate, there were only two apprentice knights standing guard. In the town itself, there are only two first-level knights."

    "What¡¯s the point of looking at the town? How much money could a bunch of peasants possibly have? What about the Deep Rock Fortress?" a blue-haired woman impatiently demanded, her hands on her hips.

    "Why are you in such a rush? Let me finish," Wind Rat replied, unfazed. "I checked out the fortress as well. Inside, there¡¯s a third-level mage, likely their lord. Apart from that, there are two second-level knights, one first-level knight, and a bunch of low-level apprentice knights."

    "Any female knights?" A bald, burly man licked his lips, his gaze turning lecherous as he spoke crudely, "Ordinary women are too weak. Female knights, with their strong physiques, are far more appealing."

    "Heh heh heh..." Wind Rat chuckled mischievously, elbowing the bald man. "I''ve already taken note for you. One of the second-level knights is a woman, and she''s quite the beauty."

    "Really?" The bald man''s eyes lit up, and his breathing grew heavy. "What are we waiting for, then? Let''s charge in as soon as night falls. We''ll kill the lord first, then we can take our time with the rest of thembs!"

    As he spoke, a powerful surge of red battle aura erupted from his body, exuding a fierce energy¡ªclearly, he was a third-level knight.

    "Enough, Baldy, calm your aura down! We don''t want to alert anyone and ruin the n," a skinny old man with narrowed eyes stepped forward, his voice cold. "Don''t forget, our main goal this time is wealth and resources! We need to grab the ore and quickly deliver it to Saiplin''s group. We can¡¯t waste time here!"He fixed a sharp re at the bald man, his gaze full of warning. "You can have your fun with the women, but tonight, you can only take them with you. Enjoy them on the road, not in the castle."

    "Hmph, I get it."

    At this, the blue-haired woman covered her mouth andughed. "Don''t worry, Skam. Even if Baldy has his way in the castle, he¡¯s so quick that it won''t slow us down."

    Thisment ignited the bald man¡¯s temper. He snarled, "You filthy wench, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re sleeping with Skam just because you¡¯ve got a big chest. Even if the boss backs you, you''d better watch your mouth!"

    Skam frowned, a hint of displeasure crossing his face, but he held back at this critical moment.

    The blue-haired woman, unfazed, also unleashed the aura of a third-level knight, sneering, "Who are you threatening, Baldy? You¡¯re nothing but a quickshot, always fast and eager, but never admitting it."

    This group of bandits was so used to their arrogant ways that they spoke without restraint, their wordsced with vulgarity.

    "You..." The bald man ground his teeth in frustration, feeling mocked by everyone around him.

    Just as he was about to retort, Skam finally lost his patience. His voice turned icy as he snapped, "I¡¯ll say this onest time¡ªshut up! Or face the consequences!"

    With that, silence fell over the group. The bald man and the blue-haired woman exchanged onest disdainful nce but reined in their auras and fell silent.

    An hourter, it was the dead of night. Skam crossed his arms behind his back, looked up at the moon, and whispered, "It''s time. Remember, quick and efficient!"

    At hismand, the bandits emerged from the forest one by one¡ªsome crawled out of tree hollows, others dropped from branches. In total, there were over twenty of them, each cracking their knuckles in anticipation. Their bloodlust was palpable as they thought of the carnage and plunder toe, their eyes glinting with excitement.

    In the darkness, the group moved swiftly, their shadows flitting through the night like the wind.

    At the same time, two apprentice knights stood guard at the gates of Eagle Town, unaware that a gang of vicious bandits was preparing to strike.

    Angra and Prytz, swords and shields in hand, stood tall, dutifully scanning the surroundings.

    From behind them, footsteps approached.

    Rhett and McCoffe strolled out of the Nightingale Tavern, each holding a bottle of wine. They walked leisurely under the night sky, seemingly rxed.

    "You two, go fetch Laurence and Olricks to take over. I¡¯ll stand guard here for a while," Rhett said, his tone carrying a hint of drunkenness.

    Angra and Prytz were startled but quickly turned and responded, "Understood!"

    Following their lord''s orders, the two knights immediately set off, marching back toward the Deep Rock Fortress.

    The night was silent.

    Once the two knights had gone, Rhett gazed at the town. The rows of wooden houses were shrouded in darkness, blending into the night. As he thought of the approaching bandits, a cold glint shed in his eyes.

    "Rhett, thanks for the drinks tonight. I¡¯ll dly apany Rayleigh tomorrow," McCoffe said, draping an arm over Rhett''s shoulder. Standing at the town gate, he gazed out at the vast ins and smiled contentedly.

    "Thank you," Rhett replied, the cold glint in his eyes fading as he turned to smile at McCoffe.

    "Haha, with our friendship, there''s no need for thanks. Just treat me to another drink when we get back," McCoffeughed, taking another swig from his bottle. As the fiery liquid burned its way down his throat, McCoffe''s eyes sparkled. He looked up at the night sky and mused, "This quiet little town on the ins feels like the brightest star in the night sky¡ªso far from the dazzling moon. It¡¯s peaceful, yet it offers a sense of security. Quite nice, don''t you think, Rhett?"

    Hearing McCoffe''s words, Rhett didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, sensing the presence of several powerful knights approaching from a few hundred meters away.

    "Hmm? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?" McCoffe mumbled.@@novelbin@@

    "Someone''sing."

    "Someone? Who?" McCoffe was startled, instantly sobering up. He scanned the area, his right hand raising his wand to summon a ball of light that illuminated the surrounding area.

    "No one¡¯s here," McCoffe said, puzzled as he turned back to Rhett.

    Rhett remained silent but conjured arger ball of light, illuminating an area two hundred meters ahead as if it were broad daylight.

    The bandits, sneering as they advanced, froze momentarily in the sudden brightness.

    "We''ve been spotted?" Skam muttered, shocked.

    He turned to the short man beside him, his brow furrowed. His first thought was that Wind Rat had betrayed them. After years of being a bandit, Skam had learned to be highly suspicious, having seen too many betrayals.

    "Two third-level mages?" Wind Rat muttered, scratching his head. "That¡¯s strange¡ªI only detected one earlier..."

    The old man¡¯s face changed dramatically. His suspicions dispelled, he cursed, "You fool! If they managed to hide from your detection and are waiting for us here, they must be a fourth-level mage! Damn it, we must have a traitor, or maybe Saiplin hired help to double-cross us!"

    But there was no time to figure out who had leaked their n or how the enemy had discovered their ambush. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the old man turned and fled without a word, not even warning hisrades¡ªhe needed them as distractions to increase his chances of escape.

    "Rhett, these people must be bandits or robbers, likely after your territory!" McCoffe¡¯s face darkened. With his years of experience, he quickly recognized the danger.

    Rhett remained calm. Before heading to the gate, he had conducted a real simtion half a day in advance, just to ensure he could wipe out this group without any survivors.

    But he still voiced his surprise, "An attack?"

    Then, acting quickly, he said, "McCoffe, leave these people to me. You go after the ones trying to escape!"

    "Got it!" McCoffe trusted Rhett''s abilities. They split up, with McCoffe, a wind mage, casting a Swift Wind spell on himself and charging after a burly figure on the outskirts of the group.

    The twenty-odd bandits hesitated under the intense light, slowing their advance. But seeing the old man flee, they quickly realized something was wrong and turned to run.

    Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. In the next instant, three sand wolves materialized, each over two meters tall and three meters long. Though expressionless, their bodies were shrouded in swirling yellow sand, and their sharp ws and teeth glinted ominously, exuding a powerful sense of danger.

    "Oh no, it''s Sand Wolf Roar¡ªa fourth-level spell! There¡¯s a fourth-level mage here!"

    "Run!"

    "Scatter! Don¡¯t group up!" Skam shouted. He hoped that by scattering, his men would distract the mage long enough for him to escape. He enveloped himself in dark battle energy, blending into the night and praying that the fourth-level mage wouldn''t notice him too soon.

    But his n was quickly foiled. Under Rhett''s control, one of the sand wolves moved like a yellow lightning bolt, leaping through the air andnding beside Skam in no time. The wolf''s massive w shed down with deadly precision.

    In that critical moment, Skam, a seasoned bandit leader, didn''t draw his sword but instead raised a shield to block the sand wolf''s attack. He knew that unless he unleashed a massive surge of battle energy, shing at the sand wolf would be futile¡ªthe creature would simply reform and continue its assault.

    The broad shield could at least provide some temporary protection.

    With a loud <em>bang</em>, the shield absorbed the force of the sand wolf''s strike, though Skam''s arm throbbed with pain. While the sand wolf was a formidable fourth-level spell, its close-range attacks weren''t as powerful as a fourth-level knight''s. If it had been a fourth-level earth knight, Skam would have immediately surrendered, without even considering resistance.

    Using the shield''s recoil, Skam tumbled backward and gained some distance from the wolf.

    Rhett smiled coldly. If he wanted to kill Skam, a single self-destruct from the sand wolf would be enough. But he had other ns¡ªhe wanted to capture these bandits alive to collect Fate points. ording to his strategy, the next spell he cast would cripple Skam.

    He even had the presence of mind to nce over at McCoffe.

    McCoffe was pursuing the scattered bandits,unching quick Wind des to cut through the battlefield.

    The bald bandit, growing frustrated by the wind magic disrupting his escape, noticed that the fourth-level mage wasn¡¯t paying attention to his side of the fight. With a growl, he shouted to the blue-haired woman ahead of him, "Run, you filthy wench!"

    Then, a savage grin spread across his face as red energy surged beneath his feet, propelling him forward like a rocket. Despite hisrge build, the bald man had mastered a lower-level footwork technique, making him exceptionally fast over short distances.

    He had sessfully ambushed several mages in the past, and this situation felt all too familiar. He could almost see McCoffe''s head exploding under his mace, brains sttering everywhere.

    McCoffe¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but he remained calm, preparing to cast Wind Wall to slow the bandit''s advance.

    Suddenly, a sh of earthy yellow light shot through the air. The bald man¡¯s head was instantly pierced by a flying spike, and his massive body was dragged back several meters before copsing to the ground, lifeless.

    McCoffe nodded gratefully to Rhett, then focused his attention on the blue-haired woman, resuming his chase.

    "Damn it, I knew it¡ªBaldy can¡¯t even dy them for a few seconds!" the blue-haired woman cursed under her breath. As she ran, she discreetly pulled out a small vial from her chest and uncorked it.

    ncing back with a venomous glint in her eye, she flung the contents behind her.

    A small pool of ck liquid sttered across the ground, nearly invisible in the darkness. But McCoffe didn¡¯t dare underestimate it, his mind instantly recalling the infamous "ck Crow¡¯s Bane" poison.

    ...

 Chapter 129: I Am Not Alone

    Whether a low-level knight or mage, facing "ck Crow¡¯s Bane" is deadly¡ªit¡¯s one of the most potent poisons among low-grade concoctions.

    McCoffe narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind racing as he carefully cast a third-level wind spell¡ª<strong>Wind Wall</strong>!

    A fierce wind howled through the night!

    A wall of wind appeared in front of him, its edges blurred but the center glowing with a greenish light. Though narrow, the powerful gusts quickly reversed the trajectory of the liquid the blue-haired woman had thrown, sending it flying back even faster than it hade!

    The blue-haired woman felt a sudden gust of wind, her expression changing drastically, but it was toote.

    A ssh of ck liquid hit her back, instantly turning her body ck and shriveling her flesh as if it were dried meat.

    This bottle of poison could have killed over a dozen third-level knights, and now, the entire contents had drenched her!

    "Ahhh!" The blue-haired woman let out a horrifying scream, her body convulsing briefly before copsing on the spot.

    McCoffe breathed a sigh of relief. He approached her to confirm that she was indeed dead, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Trying that trick on a wind mage? What can I say¡­ truly brainless despite her figure..."Seeing that McCoffe was safe and had handled the crisis well, Rhett focused his attention on the skinny old man.

    After casting <strong>Sand Wolf¡¯s Roar</strong>, Rhett gathered his mental energy and unleashed another spell¡ª<strong>Falling Rock</strong>!

    The area, which had just been illuminated, darkened again as a massive ten-meter-wide boulder descended, casting a shadow over Skam¡¯s surroundings.

    With a deafening crash, the earth trembled as the glowing boulder hit the ground. The boulder blocked Skam¡¯s path, along with two other bandits trying to escape.

    The three sand wolves followed closely, attacking relentlessly, showing no fear of injury as they tore and shed at their enemies.

    Soon, two agonizing screams echoed¡ªSkam''s tworades had their legs bitten off!

    Blood sprayed everywhere, even sttering onto the skinny old man, painting him red.

    Skam managed to dodge a wolf''s bite, but as the wolf leaped at him again, he raised his shield in defense. In his desperation, he failed to notice the subtle shifting of the earth beneath his right leg.

    Suddenly, a spike of earth shot up from the ground, piercing Skam''s right leg at the knee!

    "Ah¡­ ah¡­" The old man groaned, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He let out a couple of restrained cries, his face twisted in agony.

    Dropping to one knee, he panted heavily, barely able to control his pain.

    At that moment, all hope drained from him. He realized that escape was impossible, that he was at the mercy of this fourth-level mage.

    He swallowed a pill to stabilize his condition and found a slightly morefortable position to support himself on one leg.

    As he looked ahead, trying to identify his assant, he caught sight of Rhett in a ck coat, holding a wand. Though they had never met, the emblem of the Eagle on Rhett¡¯s chest told him all he needed to know.@@novelbin@@

    "E-Eagle Town''s lord?" Skam''s pupils contracted, his eyes widening in disbelief. His heart pounded loudly in his chest. "Wasn''t he supposed to have just broken through to the third levelst year or this year? How is he a fourth-level mage?"

    Swallowing hard, Skam''s mind raced, overwhelmed by the realization.

    Rhett¡¯s cold gaze fell on him, making Skam tense up. He feared that at any moment, another earth spike would emerge and finish him off.

    But soon, Rhett turned away, directing the sand wolves to pursue the other fleeing bandits.

    Relieved for the moment, Skam''s face darkened once more as he resigned himself to his inevitable fate.

    ...

    Ten minutester, the pursuit ended. Although two bandits had been killed outright, Rhett wasn''t concerned.

    Finally, under Rhett¡¯s orders, the remaining bandits were rounded up, forced into a huddled group, kneeling with their hands behind their heads. Those without legs could onlyply by sitting.

    These bandits had no idea why Rhett had gathered them there. Instead, they looked at him with hopeful eyes, feigning ignorance. "Mighty lord of Eagle Town, we were just passing through tonight. Why did you attack us?"

    "Just passing through?" Rhett cast a disdainful nce at them. "You know better than I do why you¡¯re here¡­"

    With that, he turned away from them, instructing McCoffe, "Quickly return and fetch Tyles. Hurry."

    "Consider it done!" McCoffe trusted Rhett¡¯s ability to handle the situation and sped back to the town, casting <strong>Swift Wind</strong> to enhance his speed.

    In a few minutes, McCoffe returned with Tyles.

    "Father, what¡¯s going on here?" Tyles asked, his mouth agape at the sight.

    But as he took in the sight of over twenty badly beaten knights, he started to piece things together.

    Rhett shook his head. "They¡¯re just ruthless bandits. Don¡¯t worry about it. I called you here to deal with them."

    "Me?" Tyles nced at his father, then at the bandits, whose faces had once again filled with despair. He understood what was expected of him. "Alright, I guess this is a good time to try out my new magic."

    Concentrating, Tyles summoned a small ball of dark energy and sent it flying toward a one-legged knight.

    However, when it struck the knight¡¯s chest, it did no damage!

    The one-legged knight blinked in surprise. The impact had felt weaker than the p he¡¯d received from a female knight a few days ago!

    Humiliated by what he perceived as a deliberate insult, he forced a smile and said, "Go ahead, hit me as much as you want, sir. Use me as target practice if you like, just spare my life¡­"

    "Yes, hit me too! I can take more punishment than he can!"

    "No, hit me instead! Please, just let me live!"

    "..."

    Desperate to survive, the bandits began pleading, offering themselves up as practice dummies.

    These ruthless bandits, who had trampled on the lives of others without hesitation, now found themselves begging for mercy, terrified of death.

    The scene quickly descended into chaos.

    But Rhett had already sentenced them in his mind. Ignoring their pleas, he turned to Tyles and said, "It seems you need to work on your aim. Don¡¯t just be satisfied with hitting the target¡ªyou need to aim for lethal strikes. Let me help you this time. When we get back, you¡¯ll need more practice."

    With that, Rhett cast <strong>Earth Spike</strong> spells, impaling the bandits and leaving them writhing on the ground. Their knightly resilience kept them alive just long enough for Tyles to finish them off.

    "Ah, no!"

    "Help, please!"

    "Spare me¡­"

    ...

    Twenty minutester, thest of the bandits had fallen.

    As each bandit died, Rhett received system notifications of their deaths.

    In truth, Rhett hadn¡¯t interrogated them because, during a previous simtion, he had already learned everything he needed to know about their background and intentions.

    Once the bandits were dealt with, McCoffe headed back alone, while Rhett stayed behind to tidy up, using his magic to cremate and bury the bodies.

    Half an hourter, Rhett sensed an unusual disturbance in the shadow element nearby. Raising an eyebrow, he called out, "You cane out now. There¡¯s no need to hide."

    "Oh? You noticed me? So you really have advanced to a mage," came a voice from the darkness.

    Tyles looked around in surprise, spotting a figure emerging from the shadows near the boulder.

    "It¡¯s you?" Rhett feigned surprise, then smiled. "As you can see, I¡¯ve taken care of these bandits. If I were still a third-level mage, that would¡¯ve been impossible."

    He examined the small, masked figure of ck Star, who was dressed exactly as before, his face covered by a ck mask, his entire body concealed.

    "Still hunting down viins?" Rhett asked, his tone casual.

    "Yes," ck Star replied coolly, then sighed. "I didn¡¯t expect you to be so talented, breaking through to the mage level in just a year¡­"

    "But you¡¯ve taken my targets this time. Next time, if you find any other viins, be sure to let me know." ck Star¡¯s voice was tinged with regret.

    "Of course," Rhett chuckled, then added, "But with your elusive movements, how would I find you?"

    "Take this." ck Star stepped forward, handing Rhett a small ck metal token. "If you hear of any other viins, go to the Spark Tavern in Carrow Vige and show them this token. When I see it, I¡¯ll contact you. But remember, don¡¯t call me for any small-time crooks."

    Rhett smiled to himself at ck Star¡¯s selectiveness. He nced at the token, a ck coin with a dull star in the center, more like a shallowly carved groove than a drawing¡ªeasy to miss if not inspected closely.

    After pocketing the token, Rhett replied, "No problem. If I hear of any major viins, I¡¯ll be sure to contact you."

    "Good," ck Star nodded, his gaze lingering on Rhett for a moment, still somewhat in awe. After a brief pause, he turned and said, "I have other matters to attend to. Until we meet again."

    With that, ck Star began to blend into the shadows, preparing to leave.

    But after only a few steps, he frowned and turned back. "Rhett, why are you following me?"

    Rhett, who had been trailing a few steps behind, shrugged. "You have your business, and I have mine."

    "Oh." ck Star was puzzled but assumed their paths were simply aligned. He continued on his way, not giving it much thought.

    Ten minutester, when Rhett was still behind him, ck Star finally realized something was amiss. Stopping in his tracks, he asked, "Are you also hunting down viins?"

    "Yes," Rhett replied matter-of-factly. "I just extracted some information from Skam. He was nning to trade with a bandit named Seiplin. I¡¯m just going to deal with them."

    ck Star fell silent for a moment before hesitantly saying, "You¡¯ve already dealt with one group of viins. Besides, Seiplin and his men aren¡¯t particrly strong¡ªnone of them are earth knights or mages. Would you mind letting me handle this one?"

    "Not at all!" Rhett agreed without hesitation.

    Taken aback by how easily Rhett conceded, ck Star smiled beneath his mask. "Thank you."

    "You¡¯re wee," Rhett replied. "But I have one condition. You can beat them up as much as you like, but leave the killing to me."

    Tyles looked up at the night sky, letting out a soft sigh.

    "Uh¡­ okay!" Though puzzled, ck Star saw no harm in the request and agreed. Unlike some in his organization, ck Star was more interested in defeating his targets than killing them.

    ...

    Half a dayter, the trio arrived at an abandoned farm about a kilometer outside a vige.

    The fields were overgrown with weeds, long neglected.

    Even the scarecrow had crows perched on its outstretched arms.

    Caw caw

    Caw caw

    Amid the cacophony of crows, the three of them approached the edge of the farm, standing beneath a withered old tree by a dpidated fence.

    Rhett squinted into the distance, spotting a row of buildings about 200 meters away, where many people were hiding.

    Besides more than twenty knights, there was even a third-level mage among them.

    With eight third-level knights and a third-level mage, this group packed quite a punch.

    Concerned, Rhett turned to ck Star. "Are you sure¡­ you can handle this alone?"

    "No."

    "Hmm?" Rhett blinked, caught off guard by ck Star¡¯s straightforward response.

    "I¡¯m not alone." After a brief pause, ck Star¡¯s cool voice continued, "Someone else is helping me this time. They¡¯re already inside. You can wait here."

 Chapter 130: Taming Firewing

    "Alright¡­ alright." Rhett blinked in surprise, not expecting that ckstar had apanion who had already infiltrated the enemy''s ranks. However, he added, "I¡¯ll be observing the situation here. If things get out of hand, I¡¯ll step in to assist."

    "Thank you, but I doubt that will be necessary," ckstar replied confidently.

    With those words, a dark aura surrounded ckstar as he cast a Dark Cloak spell, merging seamlessly into the shadows and disappearing from sight. Yet, Rhett could still sense ckstar through his mental perception, feeling the dark element envelop him as he gradually moved toward the building.

    Trusting ckstar''s confidence, Rhett and Tylers waited patiently nearby.

    "Father, who was that person just now?" Tylers asked once ckstar was out of sight. "That little guy seemed really mysterious¡­"

    "Hmm, Tylers, it¡¯s not polite to address someone like that," Rhett replied with a raised brow and a smile. "As for his identity, he is indeed mysterious. I don¡¯t know much about him either. All I can say is that the force behind him is not to be underestimated. Keep tonight¡¯s events to yourself."

    "I understand." Tylers nodded thoughtfully.

    A few minutes passed, and suddenly, shouts of anger erupted from the direction of the building. Soon after, the sound of fierce fighting and agonized screams filled the air.

    It wasn¡¯t long before someone emerged from the building, covered in blood and looking terrified. Rhett noticed that as soon as someone tried to escape, a tall woman with short golden hair and a masked face quickly followed.The tall woman wielded an unusual weapon¡ªa long whip instead of the moremon sword and shield. As she swung the whip, it sliced through the air with a sharp crack, glowing blue as it wrapped around the fleeing man¡¯s head. With a sharp tug, she decapitated him, his head rolling across the ground.

    "It seems that woman must be ckstar''spanion," Rhett thought, impressed by her skill but also concerned. "She wasn¡¯t supposed to kill anyone! What happened to keeping them alive?"

    Since the woman had broken their agreement, Rhett decided it was time to intervene. However, just as he took a step forward, ckstar emerged from the building, gesturing to the tall woman and saying a few words. After a brief exchange, the woman nodded and adjusted her approach, focusing her whip strikes on non-lethal areas.

    Seeing this, Rhett rxed and continued to observe. Still, he couldn''t help but be surprised by the tall woman''s abilities. For a third-level knight, her speed was remarkable, even without using any special footwork techniques. Her agility wasparable to that of an ordinary knight using lower-tier movement techniques.

    Rhett guessed that, like ckstar, this woman had likely taken a bloodline potion that enhanced her speed and agility, enabling her to perform at such a high level.

    Half an hourter, the battle seemed to be over, and all sounds from the front had ceased. ckstar leaped down from the roof and waved to Rhett.

    "Let¡¯s go," Rhett said, patting Tylers on the shoulder as they made their way toward the wooden house.

    ckstar wiped the blood from his hands as Rhett approached and said, "As promised, these viins have been defeated. You can handle the rest."

    "Thank you," Rhett replied with a smile.

    "Wait a moment!" The tall woman suddenly interrupted, cing one hand on her hip and speaking in a clear voice. "ckstar, didn''t you say this guy would finish them off? If he just takes them away, I¡¯m not okay with that. These scum need to die here and now! If all the viins in the world are dead, then we¡¯ll be the only viins left, and we¡¯ll be the strongest viins."

    "Defeating them is enough!" ckstar countered.

    "How can that be enough? If they aren''t killed, they coulde back stronger!"

    "Then we''ll defeat them again."

    "Too much trouble! Better to eliminate them for good," the tall woman retorted, shaking her head. She was about to continue arguing when Rhett interjected, "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure these people won¡¯t see the light of day again. They will rest here forever."

    Without waiting for a response, Rhett ced a firm hand on Tylers¡¯ shoulder and said, "Remember your task¡ªfinish off the remaining bandits. Don¡¯t leave any behind."

    As he spoke, Rhett nced at the injured foes scattered around and took a few moments to cast Earth Spikes, further injuring them to ensure they wouldn¡¯t survive. Then he looked at the tall woman. "Satisfied now?"

    "Hmm, this will do," the tall woman said, her tone softening as she crossed her arms, emphasizing her figure.

    Up close, Rhett noticed that while the woman had a great physique, her face was covered with a mask, making it impossible to see her true appearance. Judging by her voice, she seemed young, but Rhett knew that voice alone couldn¡¯t urately indicate a knight¡¯s age. Some female knights, even those in their seventies, or older, could still sound like young girls.

    Through the earlier conversation between ckstar and the tall woman, Rhett deduced that they were both part of the same organization. Their ultimate goal was the same¡ªto be the strongest viins. However, their methods differed. ckstar was content with merely defeating viins, leaving their fate to chance, while the tall woman took a more extreme approach, leaving no one alive.

    As Rhett''s thoughts drifted, a system notification appeared, lifting his spirits.

    Standing face to face, ckstar and the tall woman exchanged a few silent nces with Rhett.

    ckstar wasn¡¯t one to talk much, and having achieved his goal, he nced around the area before turning back to Rhett. "Sir Rhett, if there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll be leaving now. Until we meet again."

    "Farewell!" Rhett replied with a smile. "I hope you both be the strongest viins soon!"

    "We will!" the tall woman dered first.

    ckstar gave her a sidelong nce and then added calmly, "So will I."

    With those words, the tall woman leaped into the air,nding on a rooftop. In a few quick movements, she disappeared into the distance. Simultaneously, ckstar once again cast Dark Cloak, blending into the shadows as he followed in the same direction.

    "Father, are they gone?" Tylers asked, stepping out of the building after finishing off another bandit.

    "Yes, they¡¯ve left. Is something wrong?"

    Hearing the confirmation, Tylers stuck out his tongue. "Nothing, it¡¯s just¡­ they¡¯re so childish. The way they go on about being the strongest viins is so immature. They¡¯re more childish than the most immature characters in all the novels I¡¯ve read."

    "Hahaha," Rhett chuckled, shaking his head. "Don¡¯t worry about them. Finish off the rest of these bandits so we can head home!"

    "Got it!"

    A few minutester, after several more system notifications shed before his eyes, Rhett¡¯s fate points reached 290.

    Between Skam''s group and this one, therge number of second and third-level knights had granted Rhett a total of 121 fate points. Although this was a significant amount, it was still far from enough to break through to a fifth-level mage.

    Last time, breaking through from the third-level to mage-level had cost Rhett over 800 fate points. This time, he estimated it would take at least 1,000.

    He also recalled that ckstar and the tall woman had left without taking anything with them. While Rhett admired their financial confidence, he couldn¡¯t help but smile as he entered the building to im the spoils.

    Knowing that Skam had nned to trade with this group, Rhett assumed they must have brought a substantial amount of gold.

    Excitedly searching through each room, Rhett eventually found arge sack of gold coins in the central hall.

    However, upon closer inspection, Rhett was stunned.

    The sack only had a thinyer of genuine gold coins on top. Beneath them were counterfeit coins made of ordinary iron, coated with ayer of gold dust!

    "These bandits, always up to no good! Who could expect them to deal honestly?" Rhett kicked the sack in frustration before shaking his head with a sigh. "No wonder ckstar and the tall woman didn¡¯t bother with it. They probably realized it was worthless¡­"

    Rhett then searched the bandits'' bodies for anything of value.

    Their swords, shields, and other equipment couldn¡¯t go to waste. A quick inspection revealed that these items had all been refined, with good quality and decent mana conductivity¡ªat least the work of a professional cksmith. They would be useful for his knights.

    Additionally, each bandit carried some amount of wealth.

    In total, Rhett collected over 400 gold coins, along with various valuable pieces of equipment.

    Skam¡¯s group also had some equipment and coins, which had already been confiscated before their burial and were stored at the town gate.

    Overall, looting the bandits didn¡¯t yield much. Although they had likely amassed far more wealth from their past crimes, these resources had already been spent on training and equipment. Unlike dragons hoarding treasure, these bandits reinvested their loot to further their strength, which ultimately led them to Rhett¡ªa lord who stockpiled both grain and weapons. Their evil lives hade to an end.

    ...

    The next morning.

    The family gathered in the first-floor hall of Deep Rock Castle, enjoying a hearty breakfast.

    Tucker patted his stomach, a satisfied grin on his face.

    Tylers finished his milk, licking his lips and wanting another ss.

    Mina offered her half-full cup, but Tylers shook his head with a smile.

    Ryle wiped the grease from his mouth with a white napkin¡ªhe was about to embark on another trade trip and wouldn¡¯t have many opportunities to enjoy good food along the way. So, before setting off, he indulged in a bit more than usual, even eating an extra piece of juicy, pan-fried steak.

    He nced around the table, his gaze lingering on his wife, Clyna, who was wearing a blue dress. His eyes were filled with affection.

    Clyna noticed her husband¡¯s gaze and returned his smile, her expression gentle and warm.

    Her smile eased the sorrow in Ryle¡¯s heart fromst night when Nina had fallen into a deep sleep.

    After tossing the used napkin into the trash, Ryle stood and addressed his father. "Father, now that breakfast is over, it¡¯s time for me to lead the trade caravan on its way."

    "Ryle, my son, I wish you a safe journey," Rhett replied with a loving smile. After a moment, he added, "But before you go, there¡¯s something I need your help with. It might dy you a little."

    "What is it, Father?" Ryle asked as he adjusted his cor. "As long as I can leave today, it won¡¯t be toote."

    "It will only take a few dozen minutes¡ªnot too long," Rhett assured him with a slight smile.

    "No problem!" Ryle agreed, curious about what his father had in mind.

    Rhett led Ryle outside the main castle of Deep Rock. As they strolled through the estate, they encountered McCoff, who waved at them from afar. "Good morning, Rhett, Ryle. Ready to set off?"

    "Good morning," Rhett replied with a smile. As they approached, Rhett added, "There might be a slight dy¡ªjust a few dozen minutes. If you¡¯re interested, feel free to join us."

    McCoff raised an eyebrow with curiosity. "What are you nning?"

    Rhett responded with a mysterious smile. "You¡¯ll find out soon enough!"

    Turning to Ryle, he said, "I need to borrow White Tiger."

    "Of course," Ryle nodded and then whistled toward the manor¡¯s gate.

    Thump, thump, thump!

    At the gate, White Tiger, who had caught the attention of the two guards, perked up upon hearing Ryle¡¯s call. Its sleepy eyes lit up as it sprang into action, rushing into the estate.

    When it reached Ryle, it slowed down, yfully pouncing on his leg in a show of affection.

    "Haha, what a gentle Wind Tiger. It¡¯s almost like watching a big cat," McCoff chuckled.

    Rhett approached and patted White Tiger on the head before turning to Ryle. "I¡¯m nning to try and tame Firewing today. But the chances of sess with a direct approach might be slim, so I¡¯d like to borrow White Tiger to stage a little scene."

    "A scene?" Ryle¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. "What exactly do you have in mind, Father?"@@novelbin@@

    "Firewing is quite spirited, and it might be difficult to tame him quickly using conventional methods. So, here¡¯s the n¡­"

    As Rhett exined his strategy, McCoff listened and nodded in agreement, while Ryle¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, that sounds like a great idea!"

    ...

 Chapter 131: The Talented Willow

    Rhett patted White Tiger on the back, smoothing down its soft white fur as he whispered a few instructions. Using their contract bond, he clearly conveyed his intentions.

    "Roar?"

    "Roar¡­"

    White Tiger stood still for a few seconds, slowly processing what Ryle wanted it to do. It had to chase and intimidate the little red-feathered eagleter but was not allowed to use its ws. After Ryle repeated the instructions several times, White Tiger, not the brightest, finally understood its task.

    Soon, Rhett, McCoff, and Ryle arrived at the Eastern Eagle Lumberyard.

    "Good morning, my lord!" Kudin greeted them while pushing a cart with some carpenters, preparing to transport supplies to Thorn Vige. The sound of the cart wheels rolling was especially loud in the early morning.

    "Kudin, did you see my pet eagle fly toward the Little Thorn Forest earlier?" Rhett asked.

    "Yes, I saw it fly eastward," Kudin replied, pointing toward the Little Thorn Forest.

    In the past few days, Firewing had mastered the ability to fly. Since Rhett had taken it to the Little Thorn Forest once, it seemed to have developed a fondness for the ce, frequently going there to y. However, it still returned to Rhett¡¯s room every few hours, drawn by the familiar surroundings of its nest¡ªits eggshell and the fire essence that Rhett provided.The three of them continued eastward, walking about a kilometer. When they were roughly a hundred meters from the Little Thorn Forest, Rhett spotted a fiery red figure darting through the trees. It was Firewing! The narrow, thorn-filled forest, a challenge for most, was a perfect yground for the little eagle. The twisted, tight passages created by the thorns and spikes provided endless entertainment for Firewing as it weaved through them.

    The trio hid behind a dark thicket, and Ryle patted White Tiger on the rear, whispering, "Go on, Wind Tiger!"

    "Roar!"

    Receiving themand, White Tiger let out a low growl and dashed forward like a white arrow. Despite the sharp thorns in the Little Thorn Forest, White Tiger, now nearly a sub-tier magical beast, was physically strong and had sharp ws that easily tore through the thorny branches.

    "Roar!"

    With a thunderous roar that echoed through the sky, White Tiger swiped at the thorny obstacles, breaking them effortlessly. Known for its speed, White Tiger moved swiftly through the forest as long as the path could amodate its size.

    "Chirp, chirp!"

    "Chirp, chirp!"

    Firewing had been happily ying, asionally testing its beak against the thorns to see which was stronger. Suddenly, the appearance of therge white tiger startled it, causing it to p its wings frantically and flee in a panic! Firewing had only encountered White Tiger once before, back when it was just three days old, and the unintentional scare from the tiger had left asting impression. This time, with White Tiger charging toward it with jaws wide open, Firewing was even more terrified.

    Desperate, Firewing instinctively thought of its nest and the familiar,forting figure of Rhett. It immediately flew toward the direction it hade from.

    Watching from a distance, Rhett chuckled, knowing it was time for him to step in.

    In Firewing¡¯s perspective, a familiar figure suddenly appeared ahead. Overjoyed, it flew directly to Rhett¡¯s side without hesitation. It then saw this familiar figure conjure a small stone and hurl it at the menacing white tiger that had been chasing it.

    The stone flew rapidly, but just before it hit White Tiger, it slowed down almost imperceptibly, softening the impact. While it didn¡¯t hurt much, it was enough to make White Tiger yowl in mock pain.

    White Tiger hesitated for a moment, recalling Ryle''s earlier words: "If someone attacks you, just run¡­" Without further thought, it turned and bolted, disappearing swiftly like a puff of smoke.

    "Chirp, chirp!"

    "Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

    Perched on Rhett¡¯s shoulder, Firewing nestled its head against his cheek. Its now fuller feathers felt warm as they rubbed against his skin. Rhett could sense through Firewing¡¯s rapid chirping that it was still frightened¡ªits tone was entirely different from its usual yful chirps.

    He gently stroked its feathers, trying to calm the little creature. But as soon as his hand touched its right wing, Firewing lifted its head, staring intently at the side of Rhett''s face.

    Suddenly, a faint ripple of energy emanated from Firewing, and a circr, ethereal symbol began to faintly appear on its forehead. The intricate markings formed aplex, mysterious pattern.

    Seeing this, excitement flickered in Rhett''s eyes. Having anticipated this moment, he wasted no time. He extended a hand, touching the floating symbol and channeling his spiritual energy to tap into its power.

    Though Rhett had no prior experience with this process, he had heard it described in simple terms. As he personally went through it, he felt his spiritual energy connect with a mysterious force. This force was like a gentle stream, silently nourishing, yet elusive, like the reflection of a brilliant sun¡ªvisible and tangible, but impossible to grasp.

    As his spiritual energy interacted with the symbol, a special power flowed into Firewing''s body. When Rhett regained his senses, he realized that a bond had formed between him and Firewing deep within his mind. This connection allowed them to feel each other''s emotions and understand each other''s thoughts¡ªa truly fascinating experience!

    "Chirp, chirp!" Firewing looked at Rhett with a deep sense of affection, chirping softly as it pped its wings and began circling above Rhett¡¯s head. Its cries carried a sharper tone, and Rhett could feel its joy.

    Looking up at Firewing, Rhett noticed that it had grown significantlyrger in just a few days. It had gone from being palm-sized to about the length of his forearm. He estimated that in another six months, it would be over two meters long¡ªbig enough to ride.

    With that thought, Rhett smiled.

    Before attempting to tame Firewing, Rhett had used one fate point to simte the process in advance. He wanted to avoid failure, which could make Firewing even more wary of White Tiger, rendering a simr approach ineffective in the future. The simtion allowed him to test whether an early taming would be sessful.

    Fortunately, the simtion went smoothly, giving Rhett the confidence to replicate it in reality.

    With the taming processplete, the three of them returned to the manor gate. Ryle inspected the caravan, checking the carts, horses, and the cargo of gold and goods to ensure nothing was amiss.

    Then, with a light jump, he mounted White Tiger and rode over to Rhett. "Father, is there anything else you need? If not, we¡¯re ready to set off."

    "Go ahead, my son."

    "Then, goodbye, Father!" Ryle waved.

    "Until next time, Rhett," McCoff also bid farewell.

    "Safe travels," Rhett replied with a smile.

    "All right, let¡¯s move out!" Ryle shouted as White Tiger sped to the front of the caravan, leading the way down the gray stone road. Behind him, the attendants drove a dozen empty carts, ready to load up on ore.

    Rhett watched as the caravan slowly disappeared from view. Once they were out of sight, he sighed, stood in ce for a couple of minutes, then returned to the castle to gather a few things. Afterward, he left the manor again and began walking north along the gray stone road.

    He wandered alone until he reached the central square of Falcon Town.

    It had been four or five months since the town''s poption began to surge. As soon as Rhett stepped into the square, he noticed how much busier it waspared to before. When the poption boom first started, the central square had often been empty or sparsely popted during the day. Now, the town¡¯smoners had built a circle of benches around the square, roughly twenty in total.

    Most of the benches were upied¡ªsome people were chatting in pairs, some couples were yfully teasing each other, while others hogged entire benches to themselves for a nap.

    As Rhett entered the square, several people approached him to greet him respectfully.

    "Good morning, my lord."

    "Praise the lord!"@@novelbin@@

    Amidst the smiles and greetings, Rhett maintained a gentle smile, nodding asionally as he made his way to the Iron Brothers¡¯ cksmith Shop. It had been two months since hisst visit. Standing at the entrance, he felt the contrast between the chilly spring air at his back and the scorching heat from inside the forge. Although the shop was still filled with heat, a quick nce inside revealed that Willow was now the one hammering away at the anvil.

    Willow''s upper body was bare, his back slick with sweat as he focused intently on hammering a thin iron te. His strikes varied in direction and rhythm, adjusting his force based on the angle.

    Next to Willow, Leonid watched with a serious expression, giving instructions:

    "Be gentler with the hammer strikes on the back of the de, and make sure to slightly tilt the hammer. This is crucial, so focus on it!"

    "Your rhythm is a bit too fast; slow down a little."

    "Keep your breathing steady, and maintain this pace¡­ yes, that¡¯s it, keep going."

    As a cksmith master, Leonid was dedicated to guiding Willow, correcting his technique with a serious tone, though his eyes revealed a hint of satisfaction.

    "Ah? My lord, you¡¯re here! Please, have a seat!" Andre, who had been supervising Briso, one of the neers, as he worked the bellows near the entrance, noticed Rhett¡¯s arrival and hurried over to greet him.

    "Shh!" Rhett gestured for silence, pointing toward Willow.

    Andre nced inside, quickly nodding in understanding and falling silent.

    Half an hourter, as Andre and Rhett chatted outside, the sound of metal striking metal ceased, and Willow emerged from the forge, wiping sweat from his forehead as he followed Leonid.

    Both of them greeted Rhett. "Good morning, my lord!"

    "I¡¯ve brought some well-crafted equipment for you to study and learn from," Rhett said, gesturing to a small chest at Andre¡¯s feet. Inside were the swords, shields, machetes, and daggers they had confiscated the night before.

    "Thank you for your generosity, my lord. These are excellent pieces," Leonid said with shining eyes. "We¡¯re nowhere near being able to forge such items ourselves, but we can certainly learn from them."

    Rhett smiled and nodded before asking, "How have Willow, Trul, and Briso been performing over the past few months?"

    At this question, Leonid became very serious. "Willow has been outstanding! He has a natural talent for cksmithing. His control over the heat and the precision of his strikes have both amazed me!"

    Leonid didn¡¯t hold back in his praise.

    "You¡¯re too kind; it¡¯s all thanks to your excellent teaching," Willow replied modestly.

    "It¡¯s your talent and hard work that make the difference¡ªwe just guide you," Andre added with a smile, shaking his head. He then turned to Rhett and continued, "As for Trul, his basic skills are solid, and he¡¯s very dedicated to his work as a cksmith. He justcks a bit of intuition, but I¡¯m confident he¡¯ll have a breakthrough if he keeps at it. Briso, on the other hand, is quite interested in cksmithing and is willing to put in the effort. Unfortunately, he¡¯s not very talented and is still stuck working the bellows."

    "Trul and Briso are both hardworking. I believe they¡¯ll be excellent cksmiths in the future!" Willow said, speaking up for hispanions.

    Andre nced at Willow, feeling a bit sentimental. He understood Willow¡¯s feelings and thoughts¡ªat a young age, loyalty and camaraderie are often valued. But in the real world, effort alone doesn¡¯t always guarantee sess. While hard work is necessary, it doesn¡¯t always determine the oue. Sometimes, even after a lifetime of effort, people still struggle at the bottom.

    But Andre simply smiled and said nothing.

    After a moment of thought, Rhett said, "It¡¯s not a problem. Our cksmith numbers are still just starting to grow¡ªwe¡¯re far from reaching our full potential. Qualityes after quantity. As long as someone is willing to put in the effort, we¡¯ll make sure to train them properly."

    "Understood," Andre and Leonid replied.

    After a brief chat, Rhett left the cksmith shop. He then headed to Thorn Vige, where he conducted a quick inspection. The construction of the new vige was already underway, with Kudin leading the team toy the foundations. The site was bustling with activity. With plenty of wood andnd, thepletion of Thorn Vige was only a matter of time.

    On his way back, Rhett made a point to visit Sun Lake. With Shilin apanying Ryle¡¯s trade caravan, Tadal, who had recently advanced to a level-two knight, had taken over patrolling the area around Sun Lake.

    Tadal whistled a tune, clearly in high spirits! Even a weekter, he couldn¡¯t help but smile every time he remembered that he was now a level-two knight.

 Chapter 132: Advancing in Secondary Professions

    As Rhett approached, Tadel straightened his posture and greeted him, "Good afternoon, my lord!"

    "Since you broke through to the second-level knight, your spirit has improved significantly," Rhett remarked with a smile, patting Tadel on the shoulder.

    "Perhaps... it''s because I came to Falcon Town, thisnd of fortune."

    "Haha, this ce is indeed fortunate. But your breakthrough is mainly due to your own efforts!"

    After a brief chat with Tadel, Rhett walked with him around Sun Lake twice. Through his spiritual perception and observation, Rhett noticed that in the past few months, the aquatic magical beasts in theke had increased. He spotted a few Three-Eyed Fire-Fish fry, as well as about ten young Blue-Shelled Lobsters and Frost-Shell Crabs. Additionally, he sensed that a sub-tier aquatic magical beast had recently broken through in theke. When Carlton had first brought the aquatic creatures, none of them were of sub-tier level. Afterst winter¡¯s blessing from Nina, the effects were gradually bing apparent!

    This thought led Rhett to consider checking on the growth of the Snow Elf. After a few more words with Tadel, he hurried back to the estate and headed straight for the magic nt cultivation field.

    After entering and locking the stone door behind him, Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed with hope as he walked up and down the narrow paths between the fields, carefully observing the water-based magic nts that had been blessed by Ninast winter. Rhett held his breath, focusing all his senses. He could faintly detect that these water-based magic nts seemed to be growing faster than they hadst year.

    Excited by this discovery, Rhett plunged into the central pool to examine the Frost Sunflowers, which had the longest growth cycle and would more clearly show the results. Water sshed as he dove in, and soon he saw the Frost Sunflowers at the bottom of the pool gently swaying, their flower heads already beginning to nurture tiny buds¡ªthese were seeds, still in the process of formation.

    The eight Frost Sunflowers hadst produced Ice Crystal Seeds in June of the previous year. Under normal conditions, they would bear fruit again this June. However, after receiving Nina''s blessing at the end ofst year, they now needed only about two more months to produce Ice Crystal Seeds.Rhett touched the seed buds, assessing their size and hardness. After a few minutes, he had his answer.

    "Indeed, my guess was correct!" Rhett murmured with excitement in his eyes. "Every time Nina awakens from her slumber, her abilities improve slightly."

    He had just confirmed that the growth rate of the Frost Sunflowers was no longer just twice the usual rate; it had slightly increased. With his powerful Mage-level spiritual perception, Rhett could keenly observe the details. Byparing the growth rate over the past month, he estimated that the current growth speed had increased to about 2.1 times the normal rate.

    Emerging from the water, Rhett repeated his observations on the other water-based magic nts¡ªBlue Leaf Grass, Ice Crystal Lilies, Moon Water Grass, Mist Lotus, Snow Vine, and Frost Ancient Pine. He confirmed that the Frost Sunflowers were not an exception. All the water-based magic nts had their growth rates increased from two times to about 2.1 times.

    Although the increase was not substantial, and perhaps not precisely 2.1 times, the important thing was that Nina''s abilities were indeed improving over time. This meant that as long as the family continued to thrive, Nina''s powers would grow stronger and more extraordinary!

    Ten years, twenty years, fifty years... What would the future hold?

    As Rhett imagined the prosperous future of his family, his heart swelled with excitement. But soon, his mature mindset brought him back to reality. He reminded himself that the world was not home to just one elf. His thoughts immediately turned to the Blood Elf, which could endlessly produce Blood Source Orbs. Would its abilities also continue to grow? Moreover, other people out there surely possessed elves with unique abilities, which meant this advantage was not exclusive to him.

    After a long moment of contemtion, Rhett exhaled deeply, pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind. Knowing about these possibilities was enough¡ªit allowed him to stay alert. Overthinking wouldn''t help the present situation and offered no tangible benefits.

    With those thoughts set aside, Rhett resumed his patrol around the territory, ensuring everything was running smoothly.

    Time passed swiftly, and two monthster, March arrived. Spring was in full bloom, and the world was bursting with life. A gentle breeze rustled the trees, and the sound of insects filled thend. Flowers bloomed in the savannah, their sweet fragrance attracting butterflies and bees, while the sky was filled with the cheerful chirping of birds.

    As a flock of birds flew over Sun Lake, arge bird that had been crouching in the grass suddenly shot up like an arrow, soaring into the sky with a sharp eagle¡¯s cry.

    "Chirp!"

    The sound echoed for a long time, and when it finally faded, only one figure remained in the sky. The fiery red eagle circled overhead, clutching its freshly caught prey in its talons and beak.

    "Well done, Firewing!" A voice called from the ground.

    Firewing, resembling the ruler of the skies, gazed down with piercing eyes that no one dared to meet. Its sharp, light brown beak and fiery red feathers fluttered in the wind like mes. As it slowly descended, it let out a low, satisfied cry. But when itnded on arge rock in front of Rhett, it became gentle and obedient, lowering its head to enjoy his gentle strokes.

    Rhett carefully smoothed the feathers on Firewing¡¯s wings while examining it. In the past two months, the once small creature had fully matured into a majestic eagle. Its wingspan now exceeded two meters, though its body length was still only about one meter. After the initial rapid growth, Firewing''s development had noticeably slowed. However, Rhett estimated that in another three months, its size would increase significantly once more. At that point, despite not being known for its physical strength, Firewing¡¯s excellent magical beast physique would easily carry Rhett through the skies.

    At thekeside, Rhett noticed two or three more sub-tier magical beasts in theke, along with some newly hatched fish fry and shrimp eggs.

    "Chirp, chirp!"

    Firewing pped its wings, its sharp gaze fixed on the fish and shrimp swimming in theke, clearly eager for a meal. Sensing Firewing''s impatience, Rhett chuckled and gently patted its head, saying, "Not yet, Firewing. We need to let them reproduce and grow in number first."

    "Chirp¡­" Firewing lowered its head dejectedly and went to peck at the birds it had just caught.

    Lying on the grass and gazing at the shimmering surface of Sun Lake, Rhett felt at peace. Suddenly, a notification panel appeared before him, brighter than theke¡¯s reflection.

    He was all too familiar with this. It had been over two months since the system hadst sent a notification. Anticipating this moment, he couldn''t help but smile.

    Today was March 11th, the day Tyles officially became an apprentice alchemist.

    After spending another hour by thekeside, Rhett leisurely made his way back to Deep Rock Castle. The sunny weather bathed the estate in light, and the gardens were in full bloom, a sea of vibrant colors. Mina and Klyna sat together on a white swing surrounded by arge ring of red flowers. Four maids attended to them, ensuring theirfort despite the fact that Klyna and Mina were both knights¡ªKlyna a first-level knight and Mina an apprentice knight¡ªwith physiques far stronger than the average person. Even so, their pregnancies required careful attention.

    "Last night, I think I felt the baby turn over," Klyna said, lovingly stroking her swollen belly.

    "Wow, really? That makes sense¡ªat over seven months, the baby is definitely moving by now," Mina replied, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement.

    "Hey, have you and Ryle decided on names for the twins?" she asked.

    "Not yet," Klynaughed. "Ryle says he wants to wait until they¡¯re born to decide on the final names."

    Mina giggled. "Tyles is the same. He¡¯se up with a bunch of names¡ªAl, Sirgun, Mn, Beckham¡ªbut hasn¡¯t settled on any."

    "Mina, have you seen Tyles?"

    Rhett¡¯s voice came from behind the swing.

    "Good afternoon, my lord!" The maids bowed in greeting.

    Klyna and Mina turned around, and Mina, cing a finger on her lips, replied, "After lunch, Tyles said he suddenly had some inspiration and¡­ I think he went to the alchemyb."

    "Thank you, I understand." Rhett looked at his daughter-inw''s rounded belly, feeling a surge of joy. "Enjoy yourselves, and take care!"

    He then made his way to the fourth floor of Deep Rock Castle.

    "Hahaha! The effects of this Blood Draining Potion finally meet the standard! I did it! I¡¯m officially an apprentice alchemist now!"@@novelbin@@

    As Rhett walked down the corridor, nearing the alchemyb, he heard Tyles¡¯s excited shouts. He quickened his pace and reached theb¡¯s door. There, he found Tyles crouched on the floor, observing the condition of a wolf that had its limbs bound. His eyes were filled with a bright, excited light.

    The wolf had a shallow wound on its abdomen, with blood seeping out, mingling with a purplish-red substance that stood out from the blood. The wound wasn¡¯t deep, less than three centimeters, and only about a finger¡¯s length. Normally, such a wound would heal on its own quickly, posing no threat to the wolf¡¯s life.

    However, at that moment, the wolfy on the ground, barely clinging to life. Its eyes were tightly shut, and its body trembled asionally, as if its soul was slowly slipping away.

    "Tyles, congrattions on taking this important step toward your dream!" Rhett said with a smile from the doorway.

    "Father!" Tyles turned and, seeing Rhett, quickly stood up and rushed over, holding a potion bottle in his hand. "I finally seeded! Just now, I brewed a Blood Draining Potion. I tested it on a wolf we captured earlier, and within half a minute, it was poisoned to death!"

    Rhett looked down at the ck-furred wolf, then took the potion bottle from Tyles. Inside, the purplish-red liquid swirled with a sinister glow.

    The Blood Draining Potion, a sub-tier poison, quickly corrupted the blood when it touched a wound.

    Patting Tyles on the shoulder, Rhett said, "Excellent work¡ªyou¡¯ve proven yourself! I hope you¡¯ll continue to persevere and shine brightly on the path of alchemy."

    "I will!" Tyles replied, his voice full of determination.

    "By the way, what¡¯s Henck up to today? Why isn¡¯t he in theb?" Rhett asked curiously.

    "This morning, Henck said his meditation was going well, and he felt he wasn¡¯t far from reaching the peak of the second-level mage. So he decided to retreat for half a month."

    Rhett nodded, sensing Henck in a nearby room, unmoving, likely deep in meditation.

    With his mid-tier talent and solid knowledge of alchemy, Henck had been able to brew Moonlight Potions for himself. At just over thirty years old, reaching this stage was quite normal.

    "That¡¯s great!" Rhett said with a smile. "When he emerges and sees the progress you¡¯ve made, he¡¯ll be very pleased!"

    Before leaving, Rhett added thoughtfully, "Oh, and when Henck finishes his retreat, let him know that I¡¯d like him to focus primarily on brewing antidotes and healing potions. For antidotes, prioritize Starshine Potions; for healing potions, any kind will do. If any materials arecking, tell him to inform Ryle."

    "No problem, Father!" Still basking in his sess, Tyles readily agreed.

    As Rhett walked through the corridor, he thought about the fact that in just three months, he¡¯d be heading to the battlefield. Preparing for the worst, he knew it was time to make necessary preparations. Although the army would provide supplies and distribute resources to soldiers, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for everyone. The battlefield was unpredictable, and in times of crisis, when supplies couldn¡¯t keep up, shortages were inevitable. Therefore, to prevent being caught off guard, Rhett needed to ensure he was well-stocked¡ªat the very least, he needed to have enough healing and antidote potions to meet his needs.

    With the help of his future sight, Rhett knew that the Canyon Defense Line would soon face reinforcements of Phantom Serpents. While not as formidable in closebat as the Blood Moon Werewolves, these serpents could release a potent hallucinogenic poison. If their venom sshed on someone, or if they bit or scratched a target, the effects would vary depending on the victim¡¯s mental strength. The results could range from mild hallucinations to immediate unconsciousness or even death. While the poison posed less of a threat to mages, knights, who made up the majority of the battlefield, were especially vulnerable.

    Experiencing hallucinations in the middle of a battle was a recipe for disaster.

    Therefore, the threat posed by the Phantom Serpents was no less than that of the Blood Moon Werewolves, and in some cases, even more dangerous inrge-scale battles.

    Of all the antidotes, only the Starshine Potion was effective against hallucinogenic poison. Although it couldn¡¯tpletely neutralize the effects, it could clear the mind enough to give the user a better chance of survival.

    ...

 Chapter 133: A Meticulous Plan

    The threat posed by the Phantom Serpents is no less than that of the Blood Moon Werewolves, and inrge-scale battles, it may even surpass them! Among all antidotes, only the Starshine Potion is particrly effective against their venom.

    Although it can''tpletely neutralize the effects of the Phantom Serpents, it can help maintain enough rity to survive.

    "Besides that, before heading to the battlefield, I should take the opportunity to thoroughly exin to them the characteristics of the Blood Moon Werewolves and Phantom Serpents, as well as the strategies for dealing with them on the battlefield," Rhett thought as he exited the hallway, his mind deep in thought.

    If he could leverage the uing battles to quickly gather destiny points...

    Perhaps... his strength could climb once again?

    Slowly, a sense of ambition began to grow within him! Rhett''s eyes gleamed as new ns began to form in his mind.

    For instance, once he reached the Canyon Defense Line, he could discuss with Deputy Commander Ambiru about cing his youngest son, Tyles, in the rear, assigning him a position in the military supply department as an alchemy apprentice, providing free potion crafting services.

    Then, he could also request a role in the execution of captured orcs...

    Moreover, on the frontlines, after each battle''s victory, he could have Ryle and Tucker deal with the third or even fourth-tier orcs.@@novelbin@@As the time to head to the Canyon Defense Line approached, Rhett began to consider the feasibility of his ns, carefully refining the details.

    Before he knew it, he had climbed the stairs and returned to his room.

    Lying on his bed, Rhett stared at the white ceiling, his thoughts racing.

    To ensure that his earlier ideas were foolproof and could be fully realized, he felt it necessary to conduct another simtion.

    With that, he focused his mind and activated the system.

    ¡¾Would you like to start a text simtion? Each simted year consumes 5 destiny points.¡¿

    "Yes, simte for one year."

    ¡¾Year 475 of the Golden Wheel Calendar, March 11th: Under the guidance of a second-level alchemist, Tyles bes an apprentice alchemist. Considering the threat of the Phantom Serpents, you decide to have your subordinates producerge quantities of antidotes and healing potions.¡¿

    ¡¾April 12th: Ryle''s wind-patterned tiger, Whitepaw, breaks through to the sub-tier magical beast level.¡¿

    ¡¾April 21st: Newses from the Canyon Defense Line that they are urgently purchasing all types of ores at high prices due to a severe shortage. You seize the opportunity to sell your stockpiled ores, making a huge profit and settling the debt owed to the Dorendo family.¡¿

    ¡¾April 22nd: Youpile a battlefield survival manual and include experiences and tactics for dealing with Phantom Serpents and Blood Moon Werewolves. You distribute it to your subordinates and issue strict orders for them to memorize it thoroughly.¡¿

    ¡¾May 11th: Kurs, who had been stuck at the peak of first-level knight for a long time, finds an opportunity to break through and advances to second-level knight.¡¿

    ¡¾June 11th: News from the front lines indicates that the battle at the Canyon Defense Line has escted, requiring significant reinforcements from the rear. A full-scale rm is sounded across the southwestern border, and by royalw, all nobles must lead their forces to battle¡ªyou are no exception!¡¿

    ¡¾July 15th: You, along with your three sons, Henck, Shirin, Tadel, Kurs, and Makoff, arrive at the familiar Canyon Defense Line. Your outstanding abilities catch the attention of Deputy Commander Ambiru, who appoints you as a temporary squad leader,manding over a hundred men. You take the opportunity to request that Henck and Tyles, as alchemists, be allowed to stay in the rear to produce potions for free, in exchange for Tyles taking on the task of executing captured orcs. Ambiru agrees to your request.¡¿

    ¡¾July 18th: At night, Ambiru assigns you an urgent mission¡ªtounch a surprise attack on the enemy''s royal bloodline. After a difficult battle, you manage to annihte a small orc unit that includes 23 Blood Moon Werewolves and Phantom Serpents.¡¿

    ¡¾July 26th: You hear that Viscount Gaspar, the lord of Windmill Town, achieved great merit by intercepting and killing three Blood Moon Werewolves while on a reconnaissance mission.¡¿

    ¡¾July 27th: rno, who had been stuck at the peak of first-level knight for a long time, finds an opportunity to break through and advances to second-level knight.¡¿

    ¡¾August 3rd: You contact Deputy Commander Ambiru ahead of time, iming that Viscount Gaspar has colluded with the orcs and will carry out a secret operation tonight.¡¿

    ¡¾September 5th: You hear that Deputy Commander Ambiru is nning an attack on the orc patrol unit. You volunteer to join the mission. That night, the attack is sessful, and you y two third-tier Phantom Serpents.¡¿

    ¡¾October 3rd: After nearly two months of battle, you have killed over twenty orcs of royal blood, earning you some notoriety among the orcs at the Canyon Defense Line.¡¿

    ¡¾October 17th: During a patrol, you are ambushed by an orc unit, which includes ten Blood Moon Werewolves, who relentlessly pursue you. However, having anticipated the attack, you call for backup from nearby squad leaders and sessfully annihte the orc unit that ambushed you.¡¿

    ¡¾October 26th: Yunica breaks through to apprentice mage.¡¿

    ¡¾November 11th: The royal bloodline orcs at the Canyon Defense Line seem to retreat like the tide, and the battle pressure suddenly eases. You realize that this war may be nearing its end.¡¿

    ¡¾November 13th: Avalon, themander-in-chief of the Canyon Defense Line, announces that the royal bloodline orcs have been repelled and that a significant victory has been achieved. That night, a celebration banquet is held, and you receive a wealth of honors. From Avalon''s words, you learn that your merits are more than sufficient to elevate you to the rank of earl!¡¿

    ¡¾November 17th: Lyon breaks through to apprentice knight.¡¿

    ¡¾December 9th: Upon returning to your territory and conducting your usual inspections, you hear shocking news. At the Coldstream Defense Line, a special poison was developed that can cause male dragonfolk to lose their reproductive abilities. This led to a massive outbreak of conflict at the Coldstream Defense Line in October, even forcing a saint-level dragonfolk to intervene!¡¿

    ¡¾December 11th: Firewing breaks through to sub-tier magical beast!¡¿

    ¡¾December 15th: The wandering bard who visited your territory in April returns, bringing a friend from the Eastern Blue Coast. You express interest in the legends of the deep-sea mermen, and the friend confidently shares what he knows. Over half a day, you learn that the mermen kingdom once had a glorious past, even dominating the entire ocean, but for unknown reasons, their vast empire copsed. The friend also shares many other secrets. When you ask about the credibility of the information, he sheepishly admits that there is no evidence to support the legends. You then show him a rainbow-colored shell, but he ims not to recognize it and suggests it might just be an ordinary seashell from the beach. However, before leaving, he asks if he can exchange the shell for a hundred gold coins, a request you refuse.¡¿

    ¡¾December 19th: Piev breaks through to apprentice knight.¡¿

    ¡¾December 25th: Tucker''s Darkstrider Hawk breaks through to sub-tier magical beast.¡¿

    ¡¾Year 476 of the Golden Wheel Calendar, January 3rd: A distinguished guest arrives in your territory¡ªGrand Duke Blue Diamond, who conducts the ceremony to elevate your rank to earl. You suggest adjusting your territory to the area near the Darkstrider Hawk range, and he agrees. Given your outstanding merits and the undeveloped wilderness of the southwestern border, he also approves your request to divide your territory¡ªkeeping Falcon Town while establishing a new fief near the Darkstrider Hawk range. Before leaving, Grand Duke Blue Diamond offers you his granddaughter''s hand in marriage, but you politely decline.¡¿

    ¡¾January 8th: A talent assessment in your territory reveals someone with mid-level knight potential.¡¿

    ¡¾January 29th: News of your elevation to earl spreads throughout the southwestern border. Bozak visits to apologize, and under your gaze, Rylis nervously apologizes to Tyles.¡¿

    ¡¾February 3rd: You hear reports from the Coldstream Defense Line that in January, two saint-level beings shed, resulting in mutual injury. However, the number of dragonfolk at the Coldstream Defense Line has increased, now triple what it was before the extermination poison was introduced!¡¿

    ¡¾February 4th: Two first-level mages arrive at your territory, seeking to serve you.¡¿

    ¡¾February 12th: Deputy Commander Ambiru passes through your territory with a unit, informing you that he is being reassigned to the Coldstream Defense Line. He asks if you would like to join him and offers you a captain''s position in his unit. After careful consideration, you politely decline.¡¿

    ¡¾March 7th: While meditating in your room, you suddenly feel a sense of dread and abruptly open your eyes, only to see a sh of white light. You die.¡¿

    ¡¾Text simtion ended. Would you like to simte again?¡¿

    "No!"

    Rhett sat up abruptly.

    He immediately moved to the edge of the bed, feeling a deep sense of shock.

    "I actually died?"

    Rhett squinted, staring at the white light outside the window.

    Who did I provoke?

    He began to ponder, thinking, "Who wants to kill me?" As he considered this, he reviewed the events of the simtion, searching for clues.

    After a while, he identified two possible sources.

    The first was Grand Duke Blue Diamond, who extended an olive branch by offering his granddaughter''s hand in marriage¡ªa proposal Rhett had declined.

    The second was the friend of the wandering bard, who seemed suspicious. He imed not to recognize the rainbow-colored shell, yet before leaving, he requested to take it¡ªa clear contradiction.

    Other events, though noteworthy, seemed unrted to Rhett''s death.

    Taking a deep breath, Rhett retrieved the rainbow-colored shell from his pocket, studying its intricate patterns.

    Given the mysterious nature of his death and his suspicions, he decided that he couldn''t wait any longer¡ªhe needed to uncover the truth immediately.

    He resolved to conduct two more simtions, altering his decisions during the encounters with the bard''s friend and Grand Duke Blue Diamond.

    <strong>First Simtion:</strong>

    ¡¾Year 475 of the Golden Wheel Calendar, March 11th: Under the guidance of a second-level alchemist, Tyles bes an apprentice alchemist. Considering the threat of the Phantom Serpents, you decide to have your subordinates producerge quantities of antidotes and healing potions.¡¿

    ¡¾December 15th: The wandering bard who visited your territory in April returns with a friend from the Eastern Blue Coast. You express interest in the legends of the deep-sea mermen, and the friend confidently shares what he knows. After half a day of conversation, you learn that the mermen kingdom once had a glorious past, even dominating the entire ocean, but for unknown reasons, their vast empire copsed. The friend also shares many other secrets. When you ask about the credibility of the information, he sheepishly admits that there is no evidence to support the legends. You then surprise them by knocking both men unconscious and subject them to severe interrogation. Eventually, you confirm the bard''s innocence, but his friend confesses that a notorious pirate had ced arge bounty on such shells in the ck market on Seacow Ind¡ªanyone who provides information or the shell itself would be richly rewarded.¡¿

    <strong>March 10th:</strong> A second-level knight arrives in your territory, seeking to serve you.

    <strong>Simtion Ends</strong>

    "No!"

    A light at the end of the tunnel!

    The mystery is solved!

    Rhett stood up, walked to the window, and breathed in the fresh air, his eyes gleaming with realization.

    "So... the problem lies with the bard''s friend! No need to verify Grand Duke Blue Diamond now.

    It seems that in the previous simtion, the bard''s friend returned and informed the notorious pirate about the shell, leading to my assassination.

 Chapter 134: The Sub-tier Magical Beast Whitepaw

    "No!"

    A light at the end of the tunnel! The case is solved!

    Rhett stood by the window, inhaling the fresh air, a look of realization dawning in his eyes.

    "So, the problem lies with the friend of the bard! In that case, there¡¯s no need to investigate Grand Duke Blue Diamond further. It seems that in the previous simtion, the bard¡¯s friend returned and informed the pirate about the rainbow-colored shell, which ultimately led to my demise. Could it be that this pirate knows something important?"

    Rhett quickly pieced together the simple cause and effect. He was aware of theplex forces in the Eastern Blue Coastal region, rife with pirates and criminals. Onnd, the kingdom''s armies and nobles maintained order, but out at sea, unexpected dangers were far moremon. Anyone would need to be cautious.

    "If someone is referred to as a ''great pirate'' and can kill me before I even have a chance to react, they must be at least a level six or seven existence, right?" Rhett rubbed his forehead, feeling a slight headache. However, another thought crossed his mind¡ªwhy would a pirate be interested in this shell? Could it actually have significant origins?

    Holding the base of a goblet, Rhett took a small sip of blueberry juice, silently recalling the contents of the coastal relic book and the stories told by the bard''s friend during the simtion.

    "Glory from hundreds of thousands of years ago? A fragmented merman empire?" Rhett muttered to himself, then sighed. Despite the epic undertones, there was no way to verify the information.

    After thinking for a while, he decided to keep the rainbow-colored shell a secret until he had the strength to explore its mysteries more deeply. During this period, he would look for other ways to gather relevant information.Returning to his desk, he poured himself another ss of blueberry juice, slowly adding a few ice cubes. As the coolness spread through his hand, Rhett began to reflect on the other future visions from the recent simtion.

    Although the details wereplex, the overall oue was quite favorable. Not only was his request to establish a new territory near the Darkstrider Hawk range approved, but Falcon Town was also retained.

    Indeed, being in a remote location had its advantages, allowing for more flexibility in negotiating the conditions of his fiefdom.

    Additionally, his primary goal¡ªassigning Tyles to execute orc prisoners in the rear¡ªwas sessfully achieved. This meant he could amass destiny points quickly and potentially make another breakthrough on the battlefield.

    With his mind clear on the other events, Rhett finished his drink in one gulp.

    That afternoon, after enjoying a hearty lunch, Rhett ventured deep into the Thornwood Forest.

    Ensuring the area was secluded enough that no woodworkers from the nearby construction of Thornwood Vige could see him, he stood still, recalling all the spells he had mastered and began demonstrating them in a clearing.

    Earth Spike

    Earth Thrust

    Falling Rock

    Stone Shield

    Quicksand

    Stone Armor

    And¡­ Sandwolf Howl!

    The earlier spells were cast with ease. Except for Quicksand, Rhett had mastered the previous spells to an exceptional degree.

    Only with Sandwolf Howl, Rhett could barely manage to control the spell, relying on his mage-level mental strength. He could summon and control the spell but not much more.

    He knew he still had much room for improvement with Sandwolf Howl. For instance, the initial positions of the three summoned sandwolves could be fine-tuned.

    Initially, he could only summon them in a line. But with enough proficiency, he could adjust their positions more strategically¡ªsurrounding the enemy from multiple directions or even attacking from above.

    Additionally, controlling the sandwolves duringbat, perfecting their attacks¡ªlike ramming, wing, and biting¡ªrequired extensive practice to refine the details.

    It was simr to ying a MOBA game¡ªeveryone uses the same controls, but some yers reach the highest ranks while others remain at the bottom. Even if both yers use the same hero, the less skilled one will still be outyed.

    Before heading to the Canyon Defense Line, Rhett resolved to improve his mastery of Sandwolf Howl as much as possible. Every bit of strength gained could make a difference.

    Sandwolf Howl!

    Rhett''s mental strength quickly summoned the spell. The earth elements converged, forming a sandwolf glowing with a yellowish hue. It stood on the ground, emotionless, staring at a boulder in front of it.

    The boulder had been created earlier by Rhett using the Falling Rock spell, serving as a tool to help him practice Sandwolf Howl.

    His current goal was to summon the sandwolf from above, which would be more effective in battle by surprising enemies.

    To achieve this, he needed to summon the sandwolf on top of the boulder. As long as the boulder blocked the summoning, he couldn''t summon the wolf directly on top, making this a challenging practice method.

    This attempt failed as the sandwolf formed beside the boulder.

    Exhaling softly, Rhett recalled that his control over the earth elements had been too slow and unstable, preventing the wolf from forming in mid-air.

    "Let''s try again!"

    Sandwolf Howl!

    Once more, the air filled with dense earth elements¡­ but it failed again.

    Undeterred, Rhett focused his mental energy and continued practicing.

    ...

    One monthter, in Thornwood Forest.

    Rhett gazed at a sandwolf standing proudly atop a boulder, his eyes filled with joy.

    After a month of practice, he had finally made progress!

    He could now summon the sandwolf to fall from above, creating surprise attacks in battle that could sometimes turn the tide.

    Having achieved his first goal, Rhett stretched and heard low growlsing from the nearby bushes. Curious, he made his way toward the sound.

    Pushing through some branches and leaping over a thicket, Rhett found Ryle and Whitepaw.

    At that moment, Whitepaw was lying on the ground, asionally letting out low growls, with wisps of white smoke rising from its body. The wind elements around it were fluctuating noticeably, and its eyes were red with pain.

    After lying down for a while, Whitepaw rolled over on the ground.

    "Ryle, how''s it going?" Rhett asked with concern.

    This morning, Ryle had told him that Whitepaw was showing signs of fever and agitation. Aftermunicating with it, they realized it was on the verge of a breakthrough, so they came to this secluded part of the forest.

    "Well¡­ it''s going smoothly, I think. Whitepaw was fine not long ago, but then it suddenly entered this state. It seems like it''s undergoing its final transformation," Ryle replied, narrowing his eyes with tension.

    Breaking through to the sub-tier magical beast level was a critical milestone, marking a significant leap in life essence.

    The process would undoubtedly bring about drastic changes within its body, so feeling pain was entirely normal.

    However, Rhett, already knowing the oue, remained calm and waited quietly.

    Half an hourter, a thunderous roar echoed through the forest.

    The tiger''s roar shook the woods, startling birds into flight.

    At the edge of Thornwood Forest, the woodworkers paused in their work, momentarily stunned by the faint yet powerful sound, much more imposing than an ordinary tiger''s roar.

    Kudin, holding a saw and standing on a log, shouted, "Why are you all standing there gawking? Get back to work!"

    The woodworkers snapped back to reality and resumed their tasks¡ªdriving stakes, carrying supplies, and so on.

    Meanwhile, Whitepaw hadpleted its breakthrough. Now a sub-tier magical beast, its body had grown noticeablyrger. Its fur was smoother and glossier, its limbs more muscr, and its ws sharper and longer.

    After letting out a triumphant roar, Whitepaw promptlyy down, exhausted.

    It whimpered softly, gazing weakly at Ryle with a hungry look.

    "Are you hungry? Haha, I was prepared for this!" Ryle eximed, his eyes shining with energy as he untied a small pouch from his belt and poured out a pile of windbell grass leaves.

    Whitepaw, still weak moments ago, perked up at the sight of its favorite food. Like an eager puppy, it crawled over and began devouring the leaves, its tongue flicking out to gather them into its mouth.

    In just a few minutes, it had finished all the leaves, even licking up the crumbs.

    Then, affectionately, it nuzzled Ryle''s waist with its dirt-covered face¡ªhaving grown from barely reaching his thigh to now standing as tall as his waist.

    "Congrattions, Ryle," Rhett said with a genuine smile as he watched the scene unfold. "Bing a sub-tier magical beast will further enhance Whitepaw''s wind-elemental abilities. It will undoubtedly be your best mount¡ªno, your bestpanion."

    "You''re right," Ryle replied, stroking Whitepaw''s head as it let out low growls of contentment. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Father, the ores you had me acquire have been sitting in the warehouse for two months now. You haven''t given any to the cksmiths for forging tools. What''s your n?"@@novelbin@@

    Ryle couldn''t hold back his curiosity any longer and voiced his concerns. "We still owe the Dorendo family arge debt. I''m worried that if we hold onto the ores for too long, our finances might suffer."

    "Don''t worry. You''ll understand soon enough," Rhett said, initially thinking of exining but deciding it was better to show through action in ten days when the ores would be sold.

    "Alright¡­" Ryle nodded and fell silent.

    The next ten days passed peacefully, with Rhett continuing his practice of Sandwolf Howl and meditating to break through his bottleneck.

    Finally, on April 21st, a calm summer morning, the air filled with the sound of cicadas.

    After breakfast, Rhett made his way to the warehouse, which was only about a hundred meters from the castle.

    To amodate the ores, Rhett had earlier expanded the wooden warehouse into a stone structure, standing two stories high with ample storage space.

    Standing at the entrance, he let the sunlight pierce the darkness inside, revealing the piles of ores stacked on dozens of mining carts¡ªtranslucent light crystal ores, blue-veined stones, and the fire-patterned ores that Rhett had urged his men to mine.

    Today was cloudy.

    From the early morning, Sveta had carried an umbre, though it hadn¡¯t been needed yet. The umbre was a gift from the cook, Maru, and Sveta kept it close, ready for any sudden summer rain.

    He rushed into the manor, panting.

    "Where is the lord, Rachel?" he asked a maid who was trimming the garden.

    "I''m not sure, but Bess might know."

    Sveta walked north a dozen steps. "Bess, have you seen the lord?"

    "I don''t know, Sveta. I''ve been pruning the bushes," she replied.

    At that moment, Ryle emerged from the castle and spotted Sveta, who had his back turned, asking about his father¡¯s whereabouts.

    "Hey, Sveta, are you looking for my father?"

    "Oh, young master Ryle. I suppose telling you would be just as good," Sveta said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

    "No rush. What is it?" Ryle asked with a smile.

    "A military unit passed through our territory just now. It looked like they came from the Canyon Defense Line. They saw me and sent a message, saying that the front lines are in urgent need of ores, offering high prices based on the type. Their purchase point is set in Twilight City, and they''ll soon move to Firestone City in the Kingdom of Ginn. They suggested that if we¡¯re interested, we should sell there," Sveta quickly exined. Though just a steward, he knew the lord had amassed arge stock of ores, and this information could be crucial.

    "Are you sure this news is urate?" Ryle asked, his eyes wide.

    "Absolutely!"

    Ryle''s pupils contracted as if a bolt of lightning struck his mind. "Good, go find my father and report this to him immediately. I¡¯ll be right behind you!"

    With that, Ryle sprinted out of the manor, shouting, "Whitepaw!"

    A roar echoed in response.

    From the eastern ins along the Graystone Road, a white figure rushed toward him, stopping at his side.

    Ryle leaped onto Whitepaw''s back, pointed in a direction, and urged, "Whitepaw, head east, and hurry!"

    ...

 Chapter 135: The Ore Transaction

    After passing on the message to Ryle, Sveta took a quick tour around the manor. Finally, from Leo, who was carrying wine in the cer, he learned that the lord had gone to the garden.

    He hurriedly ran toward the back of the castle.

    At this moment, Rhett had already left the warehouse and was leisurely strolling through the flower garden, inhaling the fragrant scents. Seeing Sveta jogging towards him, he feigned curiosity and asked, "Sveta, you seem in a hurry. What happened?"

    "Master, huff, something important!" Sveta, being older, was slightly out of breath after just a few steps.

    "No rush, catch your breath and then speak slowly."

    After catching his breath, Sveta wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I just met a unit from the Canyon Defense Line. They were heading towards Twilight City but passed through our territory. Recognizing me as the steward, they asked me to ry a message to you¡ª the front lines are urgently purchasing ores."

    "Oh? How are the prices?" Rhett''s heart leaped with joy, but he maintained a calm demeanor as he asked casually.

    "Well, I can¡¯t remember the exact details, as the types were too varied. But the lowest ores are being bought at 1.4 times the usual price, and the highest at around 2.2 times..." Sveta scratched his head, struggling to recall.

    "What? 1.4 to 2.2 times the usual price? Are you sure you heard correctly?" Rhett''s face showed genuine surprise. Although he was aware of the premium purchases, the extent of the price increase still astonished him."Yes, master. Though the summer heat can be distracting, my mind remains sharp."

    "Where are they now?" Rhett stepped forward, ready to catch up with them.

    "No need to rush, master!" Sveta noticed Rhett''s intent and quickly stopped him. "When I returned to the manor, I first encountered Young Master Ryle and informed him of the news. He has already ridden off on Whitepaw to catch up with the Canyon Defense Line unit."

    Hearing this, Rhett stopped in his tracks, visibly rxing. He patted Sveta''s shoulder. "Well done, Sveta. You mentioned the heat¡ªwhy not return to the castle and ask Chef Maru to make a green bean ice drink?"

    "That sounds wonderful, but we¡¯ve run out of ice," Sveta replied with a hint of regret.

    "Don¡¯t worry. I saw Ryle this morning; he helped by conjuring a whole barrel of ice. We have plenty."

    "That¡¯s fantastic! I¡¯ll go find Chef Maru right away." Sveta smiled and asked, "Would you like a drink as well, master?"

    "Hmm, sure. I¡¯d like to add some pudding and blueberry syrup to mine," Rhett replied after a moment¡¯s thought.

    "Consider it done," Sveta said with a bow.

    ...

    Whitepaw carried Ryle across the sparse ins, galloping for more than half an hour. Finally, he spotted a distant shadow ahead.

    A smile spread across Ryle''s face as he urged, "Come on, buddy, a little faster! Let¡¯s catch up with that group ahead!"

    Roar!

    Whitepaw let out a low growl, and the greenish aura surrounding him intensified as he fixed his sharp gaze on the figures ahead, pushing his speed to the limit.

    Atst, when they were less than a kilometer away, the group in front came to a halt. Many of them turned around, clearly noticing that someone had been tailing them.

    The hundred-strong unit, d in ck armor, had two sturdy plumes affixed to their helmets¡ªone gold, the other red. Behind them were hundreds of pack horses pullingrge, gray metal carts, giving the group an imposing presence.

    Before Ryle could get any closer, a soldier from the rear detached from the group and swiftly blocked his path.

    "Halt! Who are you?" The soldier raised a hand, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

    "Hello, I¡¯m Ryle from Falcon Town¡ªRhett Green is my father," Ryle introduced himself, noting the soldier¡¯s demeanor easing before continuing, "I heard from my steward that you¡¯re looking to purchase ores?"

    Recognizing his identity, the soldier¡¯s tone softened. "Yes, that¡¯s correct. The front lines are in dire need of resources¡ªno matter how much you have, we can take it all."

    Ryle¡¯s expression brightened. "That¡¯s great news! To be honest, we have about 1.5 tons of ores stored in our territory..."

    "Is that true?" The soldier¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, cutting Ryle off mid-sentence.

    "You can send someone to our territory to verify it yourself," Ryle shrugged, feeling as if he were in a dream. For the past half week, he¡¯d often wondered why his father had stored so many ores¡ªwhat was the purpose? With over a ton of material, who could possibly use it all? What if it just sat there and went to waste?

    But today, he finally understood! No doubt his father had gathered intelligence from Commander Ambiru during theirst meeting, using that information to seize this opportunity. Truly, his father was remarkable!

    "Alright! Wait here while I report this to mymander."

    The soldier rode off on his warhorse, seemingly heading toward the front of the group.

    After about a minute, the unit resumed its march toward Twilight City. However, twenty soldiers remained behind, apanied by several dozen carts, and turned back in the opposite direction.

    They stopped in front of Ryle.

    A tall, burly man with a scar running diagonally across his face, d in ck armor with arge two-handed sword slung across his back, approached. The sword nearly dragged along the ground.

    "Hello, Ryle. I¡¯m Snowy, Second Captain under Commander Ambiru. I hear Falcon Town has arge stockpile of ores?"

    "That¡¯s right."

    Confirming the information, Snowy¡¯s eyes gleamed with delight. He didn¡¯t care about the source of the ores and said in a deep voice, "Excellent. Please lead the way. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be pleased with the prices."

    "I¡¯d be happy to. Follow me."

    ...

    In the first-floor hall of Deep Rock Fortress, Rhett sat in a chair, using a delicate iron spoon to scoop up a mixture of blueberry syrup, pudding, and green bean ice. The vors danced on his taste buds, a sweet and slightly sourbination that left him feeling refreshed.

    "Oh, this green bean ice is quite good," Rhettmented as he studied the fiery red patterns on the spoon. He remarked, "But this spoon seems to be made from Fire Pattern Ore. Doesn¡¯t seem fitting for ice treats. The ice melts as soon as it touches the spoon, ruining the texture!"

    Sveta, who had just walked out of the kitchen, also holding a cup of ice, was using an ordinary ss and a in gray iron spoon. Hearing Rhett¡¯s words, he quickened his pace and soon stepped into the hall. Pointing to a slim figure inside, he scolded, "Shal, you must have let the summer heat get to your head! That¡¯s the spoon prepared for the master and young master to use during winter for soup. Who told you to bring it out now?"

    Shal, who had just picked up a rag to wipe the corners of the wall, suddenly realized his mistake. He pped his forehead in regret. "Oh, Mr. Sveta, I forgot about that!"

    He then dejectedly approached Rhett. "I¡¯m sorry, master. Please forgive my foolishness. Give me another chance, and I¡¯ll make it right!"

    Rhett examined the spoon, admiring the craftsmanship. "It¡¯s a beautifully crafted soup spoon, very nice. Did you arrange for the cksmiths to make it?"

    "No, it was Young Master Ryle. He said that with these spoons, the little ones won¡¯t have to worry about the cold when they¡¯re born in the winter, whether they¡¯re drinking milk or soup." Sveta paused and praised, "Young Master Ryle is very thoughtful!"

    "Oh, that¡¯s very considerate!" Rhett chuckled and told Shal, "Please put it back in its ce and clean it thoroughly. And while you¡¯re at it, bring me a different spoon."

    "Make sure not to handle it with your dirty hands. Clean it properly and bring it on a tray," Sveta added quickly.

    Shal, moved by their forgiveness, said, "Thank you for your kindness, master. I¡¯ll take care of it right away!"

    Half an hourter, Rhett had finished his ice treat with a new spoon.@@novelbin@@

    "Master, would you like another cup?"

    "No, too much sweetness can get overwhelming," Rhett replied, cing the empty cup on the table. He then softly wondered, "Why hasn¡¯t Ryle returned yet?"

    "I¡¯ll go check," Sveta said, heading toward the castle¡¯s entrance.

    Not long after, he returned with Ryle. They went to the kitchen to inform Chef Maru to prepare for a possible lunch feast, while Ryle joyfully reported to Rhett, "Father, Commander Ambiru¡¯s second captain has arrived. He¡¯s in charge of procuring supplies, and they¡¯ve reached the manor!"

    "Second Captain¡­ Snowy?" Rhett¡¯s eyes shed with surprise as he quickly stood up. "Come, we must greet our guests!"

    He and Snowy were old acquaintances, both having served under Commander Ambiru.

    At the manor''s gate, Rhett met Snowy, and the two exchanged pleasantries. As they entered the manor, Rhett noticed the dozens of carts, more than enough to transport his ores.

    Walking across the lush greenwn at the forefront, Snowy remarked, "Rhett, it seems you¡¯ve done well for yourself after retiring. To achieve this in the southwest bordends is quite remarkable."

    "Heh, just a bit of luck," Rhett replied with a smile before his expression turned serious. "I heard that the front line battles have escted again?"

    Snowy¡¯s demeanor grew somber as he nodded. "Yes. The number of orcs has surged since two months ago. Our casualties and resource consumption have spiked. If this continues, we may have to raise the rm in the southwest bordends within a few months!" Snowy squinted.

    Though Rhett already knew this news, he remained silent, leading the way to the warehouse.

    Upon seeing the tall, spacious stone warehouse, Snowy and his soldiers expressed their amazement.

    When Rhett opened the storage room, the concentrated elemental energy from within caught Snowy¡¯s attention. He quickly stepped inside, eyes lighting up.

    "Hmm, Blue Stone Ore, Light Crystal Ore, and Fire Pattern Ore..." There weren¡¯t many types of ore, but the quantity left Snowy astonished.

    He ran his hand over a semi-translucent Light Crystal Ore, feeling its rough edges. After a moment, his voice echoed from the depths of the warehouse, "Rhett, how much of this ore do you intend to sell?"

    "I¡¯d like to know the price first."

    "Alright. Blue Stone Ore and Fire Pattern Ore are being purchased at 1.4 times the usual price, 5 gold and 7 silver per kilogram. Light Crystal Ore is more valuable, with an 80% premium, making the price 10 gold and 8 silver per kilogram." Snowy stepped out of the warehouse and asked, "Are you satisfied with these prices?"

    Though Rhett was already saying "Yes" in his mind, he maintained a contemtive silence for half a minute before solemnly agreeing, "I¡¯m willing to sell it all. I hope it will help with the war effort."

    He didn¡¯t haggle, as there was no need. This price would Rhett about 70% profit.

    Considering that he had only invested time and manpower, it was indeed a lucrative deal!

    "This sale could earn me over 4,000 gold coins..." Rhett calcted silently.

    With the transaction settled, the soldiers began loading the ores onto their carts.

    Since the ores were already in mining carts, the process was quick. Rhett observed that half of Snowy¡¯s knights were at least at the fourth rank, and some didn¡¯t even emit any detectable aura.

    Within half an hour, the warehouse was empty, thanks to the knights'' immense strength.

    Soon after, soldiers arrived with sacks of gold coins, cing them before Rhett.

    After counting the coins and confirming the amount, Rhett¡¯s mood improved considerably. He extended a polite invitation, "Captain Snowy, I¡¯ve had some snacks prepared and a fine lunch in the works. Why not join me at the castle for a meal?"

    "Unfortunately, I must decline. We¡¯re pressed for time and need to get to Twilight City, with Firestone City still ahead of us," Snowy said, dusting off his hands. "Perhaps when you return to the battlefield, we can drink together."

    "I look forward to that day, though¡­ I also don¡¯t," Rhett replied with a heavy heart.

    Snowy fell silent for a moment before forcing a lighter tone. "Yeah, who wishes for war to spread? I¡¯ve already lost several brothers."

    Sighing, he patted Rhett on the elbow, forcing a smile. "No time to linger; we need to be on our way."

    "I¡¯ll see you to the gate."

 Chapter 136: The Battlefield Survival Manual

    At the gate of the manor, Rhett watched as Snowy led his troops away. His expression was as calm as still water. Despite having earned a significant amount of gold coins and knowing that achieving merits on the battlefield could lead to a title promotion, both of which were highly advantageous to him, he found no joy in the moment. Perhaps memories had resurfaced, stirring his emotions. He recalled hisrades from the bloody battlefield and let out a gentle sigh. It was a battle they had no choice but to fight.

    Returning to the castle, Rhettposed himself and addressed Ryle, who was enjoying a green bean ice dessert, "The profit from this transaction is 4,729 gold coins."

    "Father, we still owe the Toronto family over 3,700 gold coins," Ryle said, taking another spoonful of the dessert.

    "I know. When calcting the profit earlier, I already deducted the debt. The repayment funds have been set aside in a separate bag," Rhett replied with a rxed expression.

    "That''s great," Ryle said with a hint of joy in his eyes. "To avoid any dys, I''ll set off for Cedar Town tomorrow to settle the debt."

    Hearing this, Rhett nodded and then made his way up to the fifth floor. Returning to his room, he opened a notebook on his desk, ncing at the densely written text. He quietly read a few lines:

    "The waist of the Bloodmoon Werewolf is its weak spot. When it enters a bloodthirsty frenzy, it often neglects defense, making its waist a prime target for attacks... Wild Boarmen are rtively slow; it''s best to pair wind mages and archers, using Wind Wall to speed up the arrows..."

    He was reviewing the contents he had written and correcting any mistakes. This notebook was the battlefield manual Rhett had beenpiling over the past few days, summarizing his experiences on the Canyon Defense Line. Recalling the previous simtion, where his meticulous preparations had helped his sons and subordinates survive the mes of war, Rhett decided to implement the same strategy in reality.

    Since Ryle was leaving tomorrow, Rhett wanted to ensure the manual waspleted. In the bright light near the window, he picked up an ink pen and began writing diligently. Sometimes he would frown in thought, and at other times, he would carefully choose his words. Even when dinner was served, Rhett had the dishes brought to his room, where he dined alone. As the sun set and the moon rose, he continued workingte into the night.Under the cover of darkness, after repeated revisions, Rhett finally confirmed that the manual wasplete. He had filled it with everything he knew about the Canyon Defense Line, and it was now thoroughly refined. Stretching his body, Rhett felt no physical difort, but finishing such an important task always triggered a habitual need to stretch. He then took a few steps, sat by the window, and gazed at the starry summer night. After a long moment of stargazing, Rhett took a deep breath and returned to his bed for meditation.

    ...

    The next day''s weather was much better, with no trace of the previous day''s gloom. The morning''s soft light filtered into the room, reflecting arge patch of light on the white wall through the mirror. Standing before the mirror, Rhett adjusted his attire before leaving the room to head downstairs for breakfast.

    As he descended, he encountered Ryle and Clina walking out of the fourth-floor hallway. They were chatting happily, with Ryle gently touching his wife''s pregnant belly.

    "Good morning, Ryle, Clina," Rhett greeted them with a smile from the higher steps.

    "Good morning, Father," Ryle responded with a wave.

    Rhett descended the stairs and stood beside Ryle, pulling out a small, finger-thick booklet from his pocket. Noticing Ryle''s curious expression, Rhett handed the booklet to him, saying, "This is a battlefield survival manual, particrly useful on the Canyon Defense Line. It covers various terrains, regional characteristics, and the strengths and weaknesses of the orcs."

    "This..." Both Ryle and Clina were momentarily taken aback, but Ryle still epted the unadorned booklet. Flipping through a few pages and skimming the contents, he asked, "Father, why did you suddenlypile all of this?"

    "Because yesterday, after talking with Snowy about the situation at the Canyon Defense Line, I realized that things there are not looking good. The orcs'' attacks have be much fiercer than before. If this continues, we could see a full-scale rm across the entire region. If that happens, the nobles of the southwest border, including us, will be called to arms. To prepare for this possibility, you must study and train adequately to adapt to the harsh conditions you may face on the battlefield," Rhett exined.

    The unexpected news left Ryle in silence for a long time. He took a deep breath, closed the booklet, nced at Clina, and then ced the booklet in his pocket. "I understand, Father. I''ll study its contents carefully while traveling with the caravan. When I return, I''ll share the booklet with the others."

    "Yes, it''s very useful. Make sure to memorize it," Rhett said, patting Ryle on the shoulder before heading down the stairs.

    During breakfast with the family, Rhett once again discussed the situation at the Canyon Defense Line and the potential crisis with everyone present. Upon hearing the news, aside from Rhett, his children, the servants standing nearby, and Sveta behind them all seemed to freeze in ce. Rhett continued, "So, if a major war does break out in the future, Tuck, Ryle, Taylors¡ªI n to take all three of you with me. A fledgling that hasn¡¯t been tempered by fire won¡¯t have strong enough wings. Additionally, I¡¯ll need to bring a few others, but I¡¯ll take a few days to carefully select who. I¡¯ll announce the listter," Rhett said seriously, pressing his hands on the table.

    At this moment, Vanessa, Clina, and Mina, the three women in the family, all disyed a mix of confusion and worry in their eyes. Clearly, the news had unsettled them¡ªnot for their own sake but out of concern for their loved ones.

    Vanessa clenched her dress with one hand while suddenly grasping Tuck''s rough hand with the other, saying, "Tuck, I want to go with you!"

    Clina bit her lip and gently stroked her belly, her loving gaze mixed with determination. "After the baby is born, Ryle, I want to go with you too."

    "No!" Ryle immediately objected. "The battlefield is no ce for you. It''s filled with bloodshed and death. We have children to raise, Clina. You should stay in the castle and be there for our child''s upbringing."

    "Vanessa, Dick also needs you," Tuck added, wrapping an arm around Vanessa. "I¡¯m just going to the battlefield to gain some experience with Father. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯lle back safely."

    Vanessa rolled her eyes, shaking off Tuck¡¯s arm. "With the way you¡¯re so carefree, you¡¯ll definitely be the first to charge in as cannon fodder. How can I not worry?" She yfully elbowed Tuck.

    "Uh, no way..." Tuck scratched his head, looking embarrassed and unsure of what to say.

    ...

    Seeing the growing tension, Rhett, as the head of the household, decided it was time to lift everyone''s spirits.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    He rapped his knuckles on the table, scanning the room with a smile. "Everyone, listen to me. We need to have faith, don¡¯t we? If that day doese and we can¡¯t avoid it, let¡¯s face it with a positive attitude. And as the head of this family, it''s my duty to keep everyone safe. I promise that no one will be harmed! We¡¯ll alle back safely, and we¡¯ll celebrate our victory with drinks brewed from the spoils of war!"

    "Yes, I believe in Father!" Tuck said loudly.

    "I believe too!" others echoed.

    ...

    After calming his daughters-inw, breakfast ended. Rhett went upstairs to have a word with Hank. He briefly exined the situation at the Canyon Defense Line, mentioning that if they had to go to war, he nned to take Hank to the front lines. However, Hank wouldn¡¯t be required to fight but to stay in the rear and focus on alchemy. After all, Rhett intended to use Hank and Taylors¡¯ alchemy skills as leverage to secure Taylors a position where he could execute orc prisoners and gain valuable experience points. Hank readily agreed without hesitation.

    Rhett then left the castle and headed to the training grounds. Unica and Taylors were meditating nearby, with Makov casually pacing around them. Noticing Rhett''s arrival, Makov approached him.

    "Good morning, Rhett. What brings you here?" Makov asked.

    "Yes, I have something to discuss with you," Rhett replied, carefully choosing his words. "From what I¡¯ve heard, the situation at the Canyon Defense Line may escte, and the nobles of the southwest border could be dragged into it, including us."

    Makov paused in thought before asking, "So, what¡¯s your n?"

    "Although I don¡¯t know the exact requirements for the number and strength of forces each noble must bring, I need to start preparing now. That means selecting and training people in advance."

    "So, that¡¯s why you came to me?" Makov blinked, thenined, "I haven¡¯t had a single day of peace sinceing here..."

    "I''m not forcing you," Rhett replied with a shake of his head. "I just felt that, given our rtionship, I should tell you this in advance. Whether you choose to go or not is entirely up to you."

    "Hmm..." Makov rubbed his forehead, sighing inwardly before grumbling, "I never said I wouldn¡¯t go... So, when do you n to start training?"

    Rhett knew Makov would agree, so he smiled genuinely and said, "Ryle is leaving for Cedar Town today to settle our debts. Once he returns, I¡¯ll organize the training."@@novelbin@@

    "Sigh," Makov shook his head. "This time, I might just lose everything. I¡¯ve barely had any time to rx here, and now I might be marching off to my death with you. But I heard there¡¯s orc wine at the front lines? If there¡¯s Bloodmoon Werewolf wine, don¡¯t go taking it all for yourself."

    "Haha, I¡¯ll leave it all to you!"

    "No need. Let me try it first. If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll take it. If it¡¯s not, you can have it," Makov said, smacking his lips.

    "..."

    "By the way, since Ryle is heading to Cedar Town again, do you want me to apany him?" Makov asked, as if suddenly remembering.

    "Oh, I didn¡¯t want to impose on you, but if you¡¯re willing, that would be great," Rhett said, rubbing his chin. "I¡¯m sure Ryle will appreciate it too."

    Makov rolled his eyes and waved dismissively. "My life must be cursed to be stuck with you. Didn¡¯t you say the Goddess of Fate favored me before I came here?" Makov grumbled before turning around, shaking his head, and heading over to give Unica some instructions.

    ...

    Five dayster.

    In the morning, Rhett visited the alchemyb to check on Hank¡¯s progress over the past month. He primarily focused on the Starlight Antidote. After half an hour, he left satisfied¡ªHank¡¯s skill was impressive. Besides training potions, his sess rate with other potions, including the Starlight Antidote, was around 70%! With that, Rhett felt more at ease and left the castle, heading toward the town.

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten today¡¯s date¡ªApril 27th.

    When the Nightingale Tavern first opened, it was sparsely popted during the day. But now, with the town''s growing poption, the 200-square-meter tavern was bustling when Rhett arrived. The space between tables was less than two meters, and most of the seats were taken. The waitresses, dressed in ck and white outfits that resembled maid uniforms but weren¡¯t quite the same, with long pants instead of skirts, moved between tables. Upon noticing Rhett''s arrival, they gasped in surprise and greeted him one by one.

    Amidst the chorus of greetings, Rhett made his way to the bar. The bartender of the Nightingale Tavern, who was also the owner, was a well-built middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache that gleamed as if polished. "Lord Rhett, wee," the bartender said with a hand over his chest, bowing slightly. "What would you like to drink? I¡¯ll prepare it right away."

    "I¡¯ll have a Neon Vortex," Rhett replied, then added, "And don¡¯t forget to add two ice cubes!"

    "Consider it done!" the bartender smiled. "The Neon Vortex is one of my specialties."

    Rhett sat at the bar, his toes resting against the footrail. Despite his noble status, no other patrons dared approach, leaving the area around him empty.

    He had tasted the Neon Vortex before. Itbined various freshly squeezed fruit juices and fruit chunks with multiple types of spirits. Before adding the fruit juice and chunks, the bartender would first mix in a secret family ingredient that kept the juice and fruit chunks suspended in the drink, preventing them from quickly dispersing. The final step was for the customer to gently swirl the drink, creating a vortex of rainbow colors. Each time, depending on the types and proportions of fruits used and the strength of the swirl, the colors and vors of the Neon Vortex would vary slightly, adding to its unique charm¡ªan experience thatbined both fun and quality.

    ...

 Chapter 137: Pre-Battle Training

    Regarding the secret ingredient needed for the Neon Vortex, Rhett had actually learned about it from the bartender. It was aloe vera. However, the aloe vera in this world was much more viscous than that on Earth. After drying, aloe powder became a natural thickening agent. Adding just a bit could significantly enhance the viscosity of the juice and fruit particles, making them easier tobine in the drink. As a result, a gentle shake would easily create a vibrant and colorful vortex.

    Watching the bartender''s fingers deftly twirl the shaker, creating a mesmerizing disy, Rhett noticed that some mature women at the bar seemed to be eyeing Rum, the bartender. He smiled and said, "Rum, it seems the Nightingale Tavern is getting too small. As more people move to the town, it might not be able to meet the demand. If you need, you can talk to Kudin about expanding the tavern''s space. Of course, he''s busy building Thorn Vige right now, but once that''s done, he''ll have more time."

    Rum, who was expertly mixing the Neon Vortex, nodded as he replied, "Lord Rhett, I was thinking the same. I''ve already set aside some funds and n to visit East Eagle Logging Camp in a couple of months to discuss expanding the tavern."

    A few minutester, as Rum''s movements slowed, he carefully ced two small ice cubes into the ss, signaling that the Neon Vortex was ready. With one hand behind his back and the other holding the ss with its polished facets, he presented it to Rhett with a slight bow and said, "Lord Rhett, your Neon Vortex. Please enjoy."

    "Thank you," Rhett replied.

    "You''re too kind, my lord," Rum said with a smile.

    Rhett admired the enchanting colors in the ss, his mood brightening as he gazed at it for more than half a minute.

    Suddenly, he sensed a faint fluctuation of battle aura behind him, which he easily detected. It was about the level of a first-rank knight, positioned roughly fifty meters from the tavern. Rhett guessed who it was, and a smile tugged at his lips as he began to gently swirl the drink.

    The liquids inside the ss¡ªred, blue, green, purple, clear, orange, and yellow¡ªbegan to rotate slowly, wrapped in a slightly viscous solution. The Neon Vortex gradually formed, with a narrow funnel at the bottom and an open whirlpool at the top, exuding a dreamlike color.Before drinking, Rhett held the ss under his nose, taking in the mixed scent of strong alcohol and fruit, which invigorated his senses.

    At that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind, "What a unique fruit wine, truly refreshing!"

    Already aware of the visitor, Rhett took a leisurely sip of the Neon Vortex before turning around to take a look at the neer. Dressed in a cloak and wearing a blue hood¡ªtypical attire for traveling adventurers and bards¡ªhe also wore a pair of well-worn ck leather shoes. On his back, he carried an orange backpack, and at his waist was a small satchel, while in one hand, he held a harp.

    This attire unmistakably identified him as the bard mentioned in the simtion.

    As Rhett studied him, the bard''s eyes were focused on the Neon Vortex, filled with surprise.

    "Excuse me, is there more of this drink? Could I have a ss as well?" the bard asked Rum as he stepped forward.

    "Of course, it''s five gold coins per ss. Would you like one?" Rum responded.

    "That expensive?" The bard was taken aback. He could afford it, but he hadn''t expected such a price for a simple drink in a small-town tavern. After a moment''s hesitation, he said, "Alright, it would be a shame to miss out on such a unique drink."

    Rum shed a smile, showing his white teeth. "Sir, please wait a moment."

    The bard nodded, cing his backpack on the chair to his left, resting his harp on top of it, and then sitting down.

    It wasn''t long before a voice from beside him asked, "Judging by your attire, you must be a bard?"

    The bard quickly responded, "As you can see, with this harp by my side, I am indeed a bard¡ªJavier."

    After introducing himself, he plucked a few strings on his harp, emitting a clear tone.

    Meanwhile, his mind raced. As soon as he entered the tavern, he sensed that this man was no ordinary person. He hadn''t even noticed anyone at the bar until he stepped inside, indicating that the person¡¯s strength far exceeded his own. With a respectful smile, Javier said, "Based on my observation, your noble demeanor and fine attire suggest that you must be a noble of this ce."

    He stood up and gently ced a hand on his chest.

    "Haha, your observation is quite urate. I am the lord of thisnd¡ªRhett Green," Rhett replied, raising his ss for another sip. The first taste brought the coolness of mint and the tang of orange.

    Javier''s eyes widened in shock, and he took a sharp breath. As a bard, his passionsy in ying music, telling stories, and collecting local legends wherever he traveled. Naturally, he kept up with news. He had heard of recent events in the southwestern frontier, including the lord of Hawk Town bing a third-rank mage, being promoted to viscount, and eliminating an evil alchemy headquarters¡ªstories that had been popr in recent months.

    His respect grew as he said with a smile, "I never expected to meet such a prominent figure upon arriving in Hawk Town. It is an honor. I have heard of your heroic deeds; everyone praises you. Please, allow me to y a tune in your honor."

    With a look of interest, Rhett ced his ss on the bar and pped his hands, saying, "I''m looking forward to your music. If your harp ying is as good as it sounds, I¡¯ll cover your drink."

    As he spoke, he pointed to the ss in Rum''s hand.

    Javier''s face lit up with joy, and he quickly focused on his harp. cing the instrument against his chest, the curved neck close to his neck, he held it steady with his right hand and began plucking the strings with his left.

    The harp had a wide range of tones, and Javier began with a low melody, using four fingers of his left hand. Gradually, the tempo increased, adding subtle fluctuations to the sound. The harp''s unique softness resonated throughout the tavern, and Javier, fully immersed in the music, closed his eyes, letting the melody flow through the room. As the performance progressed, the pitch rose higher and higher until Javier switched to his right hand, pulling the strings to produce the harp''s high notes. The sound waves burst forth like a gushing spring, driving the piece to a climax!

    A momentter, the tempo slowed, as if the spring''s water, having reached its peak, began to recede and fall.

    With a final, resonant note¡ª"Boing"¡ªJavier slowly opened his eyes and bowed slightly.

    "My performance is over. Thank you for listening."

    The tavern erupted in apuse. The townsfolk, unustomed to such refined music, were amazed by the performance, having only ever hummed simple folk songs.

    "That was a wonderful piece. The transitions between high and low notes were incredibly smooth, with no abruptness, and the overall sound was very tranquil. Even the high notes didn¡¯t feel intense or jarring," Rhett praised.

    Javier''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Lord Rhett, you have excellent taste! This piece is called <em>The Spring Beneath the Moonlight</em>. As you said, its tone is peaceful and gentle. I¡¯ve rarely encountered a listener who could appreciate it so precisely."

    "Haha," Rhett chuckled softly, turning to Rum. "Make sure to cover this man''s bill for me."

    "Understood!"

    Rhett took another sip of the Neon Vortex, tasting the blend of orange juice and green apple juice, with a slightly stronger alcohol vor this time.

    "You mentioned earlier that you travel the world. Have you heard any stories about deep-sea merfolk or other oceanic mysteries?" Rhett asked, changing the subject. "Living deep ind, I''ve always been fascinated by the vast blue ocean."

    Javier sat down again, thinking for a moment before slowly replying, "My knowledge of the sea is limited to a few folk tales, none of which mention merfolk. The closest thing might be a mermaid love story I once heard..."@@novelbin@@

    "Oh? Do tell," Rhett''s interest was piqued.

    "Legend has it that a young man from a remote mountain vige once found a small mermaid in an underground cave stream..." Javier began.

    As the story unfolded, Rhett''s initial curiosity faded into disappointment. By the end, he regretted even listening. He really should have trusted the simtion, which indicated that no useful information about deep-sea merfolk would be found here. However, upon hearing the title, he couldn¡¯t help but hope for some hidden clues or simrities to the mermaid tales from his previous life.

    To his dismay, the story turned out to be a tedious, long-winded tale about a vige farmer who brought the mermaid home and lived a peaceful, happy life in seclusion with her. It was a dull story with no twists, excitement, or intrigue, more like an old woman''s endless rambling.

    Rhett sighed inwardly but still asked, "No other leads?"

    "I''m sorry, Lord Rhett. My knowledge of the ocean is quite limited," Javier shrugged, then added, "However, I do have a friend who is quite knowledgeable about the sea. He lives by the coast and likes to paint on the beach during the day. Iter learned that, in addition to being a talented painter, he has an extensive understanding of various oceanic legends, as he once told me that his ancestors studied them."

    Rhett''s interest was piqued again, and he tapped the bar lightly with his fingers. "In that case, I¡¯d like to ask for your help. Please invite your friend to my territory. I¡¯d like to consult him on some matters. Here are ten gold coins as payment for delivering the message. Once the task isplete, both you and your friend will receive an additional one hundred gold coins each. What do you think?" Rhett took out ten gold coins and ced them on the bar.

    "I¡¯d be honored to assist you!" Javier, who had traveled far and wide, wasn¡¯t shy about epting such a good offer. Grabbing the coins, he stuffed them into his satchel and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your generosity. I will do my utmost to fulfill your request!"

    A momentter, Rum served Javier his Neon Vortex, along with someplimentary snacks. Unlike Rhett¡¯s drink, Javier''s Neon Vortex had yellow and redyers at the top. A gentle swirl created a vortex different from Rhett¡¯s.

    As the fruity drink flowed down his throat, Javier closed his eyes, savoring the vor. After finishing his drink, he set the ss down, slung his backpack over his shoulders, and bowed to Rhett with his harp in hand. "The Neon Vortex was delicious, and Hawk Town is beautiful. Esteemed Lord, I must take my leave now. I expect to return in six or seven months with my friend as promised. Please be patient until then."

    "Safe travels!" Rhett waved him off.

    Watching Javier''s departing figure, Rhett finished the rest of his drink in one gulp, smacking his lips before telling Rum, "One more Neon Vortex, please."

    "Right away, my lord!"

    Four dayster, Ryle and Makov returned to the territory. Upon hearing the news, Rhett dragged them straight to the training ground without giving them time to rest.

    Under the zing midday sun, the atmosphere in the training ground was tense and somber.

    Today, Rhett wore a slightly fitted robe¡ªsimple yet practical, reminiscent of his battlefield attire. Before him stood Tuck, Ryle, Taylors, Makov, Tadel, Kurs, and Sheelin, all lined up with serious expressions, listening intently to Rhett''s speech.

    Rhett addressed them, "This is the southwestern frontier, where the orcs have always sought to invade our homnd. In the near future, there''s a high likelihood that Hawk Town will face its greatest challenge yet. To prepare for the possible war, we must be proactive and make ready! You are the elite, and if I return to the battlefield, you will apany me as my trustedpanions."

    The air was still for a moment.

    Then Makov chuckled, "I''ve never fought an orc in my life, but it seems my wish will soone true."

    "Exactly, Kurs! Haven¡¯t you always wanted to see a Night Cat person up close? Maybe if we win, you can capture a few female orcs and make one your wife," Tadel joked, trying to lighten the mood despite the heavy atmosphere, though the strength of the orcs was undeniable.

    "Get lost! When did I ever say that?" Kurs retorted, his face darkening.

    "Didn¡¯t you say thatst time we were drinking? Or did you forget?"

    "..."

    As the mood lightened, Rhett chuckled. "That¡¯s more like it. When facing the orcs, we should mentally stand above them while taking their threat seriously. Don¡¯t be afraid¡ªstand strong! In theing months, I¡¯ll be leading you through training exercises in terrain simr to the Canyon Frontline. We¡¯ll prepare for the battles ahead!"

 Chapter 138: Late-Night Heart-to-Heart

    At the same time, Rhett decided there was no need to hide his strength from his subordinates any longer. With a single thought, <em>boom!</em>¡ªa powerful, invisible wave of force radiated outward. It wasn¡¯t an element-based attack but rather the full release of his mental power.

    Everyone present, including Sheelin, Tadel, and Kurs, felt this force, as if an invisible wall of air was pushing them back. Although the pressure wasn¡¯t overwhelming, their faces quickly shifted from calm to utter disbelief. They all felt a strong mental pressure emanating from Rhett, apanied by the tangible impact of the invisible wave.

    In their minds, a terrifying realization dawned¡ªRhett, their lord, had be a Grand Mage!

    ¡°This¡­ This is the materialization of mental power!¡± Sheelin muttered to herself, her eyes wide with joy as she jumped up and down with excitement, her orange hair bouncing with her movements. "Lord Rhett, you¡­ you''ve be a Grand Mage?"

    Tadel and Kurs exchanged nces, their mouths agape. This was news they couldn¡¯t digest quickly.

    At that moment, all eyes were on Rhett. His robes fluttered in the absence of wind, giving him an aura of supreme confidence. He smiled faintly and said with great vigor, "As you can see, I am now a Grand Mage. Even on the battlefield, my power will have a significant impact! Danger and opportunity go hand in hand. Although the frontline battles are fierce and the orcs are ferocious, this also means great opportunities await us! This time, at the Canyon Frontline, my goal is simple: y orcs and earn my promotion! All of you¡ªmy family, friends, and followers¡ªwill be participants, witnesses, and beneficiaries of this journey! I believe that our efforts will propel the Hawk higher, soaring through broader skies, and spreading glory to farther corners!"

    The atmosphere was momentarily silent, but Rhett¡¯s rousing speech ignited a me in everyone¡¯s hearts. The excitement spread quickly.

    Sheelin drew her sword and raised it high, her expression resolute as she dered, "I will follow Lord Rhett to the death!"

    Tadel and Kurs, their eyes shining with determination, took deep breaths and echoed, "y the orcs, follow Lord Rhett to the death!"Makov, rubbing his chin, muttered to himself, "Rhett really knows how to inspire people."

    "Good!" Rhett smiled, nodding with satisfaction. "Thank you all for standing by my side. I¡¯ve always been generous to those who fight for the Hawk. Those who strive for it shall share in its glory."

    After surveying everyone¡¯s faces, Rhett paused before continuing, "Now that everything is clear, we will officially begin our pre-battle training! The first thing to learn before stepping onto the battlefield is to follow orders without question and always be ready forbat! Listen to mymand: There is a group of boarmen patrolling to the south. Everyone, form a line and prepare to charge fifty kilometers south! Move out now!"

    As soon as Rhett¡¯sst word fell, the group, demonstrating excellent discipline, immediately formed a line and prepared to set off.

    "Stop!" Rhettmanded loudly.

    The group halted instantly.

    Shaking his head, Rhett said, "The ground in many areas of the Canyon Frontline is wet, so here¡¯s a basic rule: Mages should always stay at the back of the formation and use earth elements to erase any footprints left behind."

    "Again."

    "Now, there is a group of boarmen patrolling to the south. Form a line and charge fifty kilometers south! Move out now!"

    Makov and Ryle instinctively moved to the back of the formation, and the group once again formed a line and began running.

    After covering some distance, Rhett joined the rear of the group, following them southward. They crossed the Fire Vein Mine and continued for another thirty kilometers before finally reaching their destination.

    They found themselves in a barren wilderness, but right in front of them was a hundred-meter-long, ten-meter-wide river channel. Staring at the murky water, they were puzzled. How could there be a river here? It was supposed to be t ins!

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to connect the dots. Given Rhett¡¯s disy of Grand Mage-level power and the fact that he had brought them here specifically, this river channel had to be man-made.

    Rhett surveyed the surroundings with a vignt expression, as if he were on a real battlefield, before turning to the group and saying, "Boarmen aren¡¯t just pigs¡ªthey have cunning minds too. They could very well be lurking underwater, waiting to ambush us. So¡­ everyone, prepare to enter the water! We¡¯re starting underwaterbat training. Knights will pair up for sparring, while mages will practice their spells underwater!"

    "Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted in unison. Despite the murky water, they followed the order without hesitation.

    <em>Ssh... Ssh...</em>

    One by one, they jumped into the water, sending up sprays of water. Rhett stood on the bank, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. It hadn¡¯t been easy. Over the past few days, he had taken the time to dig this long trench, taking advantage of his earth-based Grand Mage abilities. And thanks to the summer rain two days ago, the trench had filled with water, giving him the opportunity to conduct this training. Otherwise, they would have had to wait for Ryle¡¯s return and use his water magic to fill the trench.

    The Bloodstained River was a frequent site of skirmishes at the Canyon Frontline. The river meandered through most of the canyon, with varying depths and widths, making it a prime location for ambushes and nking maneuvers by both orcs and humans. With patrols from both sides frequently crossing the riverbanks, the area was rife with conflict. Thus, proficiency in underwaterbat was an essential skill for anyone heading to the Canyon Frontline.

    Watching the figures moving in the water, Rhett jumped in as well, preparing to guide their training.

    <em>Blub... Blub...</em>

    Bubbles asionally surfaced as Rhett used water elements to speed up his swimming, moving beside Ryle.

    To ensure his voice was heard clearly, Rhett moved closer and said, "Remember, if you detect any change in the water''s quality, taste, or color, immediately use water elements to remove impurities and keep the water around the team safe. Otherwise, if you¡¯re poisoned underwater by orcs, you¡¯ll likely end up buried at the bottom."

    Ryle squinted and nodded in understanding.

    ......

    A week passed, during which Rhett led the selected group through rigorous training. To simte battlefield conditions, everyone, including Rhett, ate and slept in the wild. They rarely returned to the castle, let alone enjoyed itsforts.

    One evening, Rhett arranged for the group to conduct a simted ambush in Thorn Forest. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows on the ground. While hiding in the trees, Rhett sensed someone approaching through his mental power. He quietly turned to Tuck and said, "I need to step away for a moment. Don¡¯t make a move until I return!"

    Rhett then headed east alone.

    At the edge of Thorn Forest, Sweta stood with a cold and imposing middle-aged man. The man¡¯s posture was tall and straight, his aura remarkable, though one eye seemed to be blind, covered by a ck eyepatch, giving him the appearance of a one-eyed warrior.

    "Lord Rhett learned of the possible outbreak of war at the Canyon Frontline and began preparing for it. He¡¯s been leading training sessions every day. This morning, he specifically told me he¡¯d be conducting special training in Thorn Forest today, so he must be inside," Sweta exined as he carefully observed the man who imed to be Rhett¡¯srade.

    "Hmm¡­ That does fit his cautious nature," the man, Vidas, remarked with a rare smile. His voice was deep as he added, "In that case, I won¡¯t disturb him. I¡¯ll wait here."

    "Sir, why don¡¯t youe to the castle and rest for a while? I¡¯m afraid Lord Rhett will scold me for poor hospitality if you wait out here," Sweta offered.

    "No need," Vidas shook his head. "I¡¯m notfortable in the castle. This outdoor environment suits me just fine."

    Sweta was about to insist when Vidas casually nced to the side, his eyes lighting up as he called out, "Rhett!"

    A ck-robed figure emerged from the forest, quickening his pace upon hearing the call. Who else could it be but Rhett?

    Feigning surprise, Rhett widened his eyes and rushed forward. "My goodness, Vidas! I never expected to run into you here."

    But his expression soon darkened as he nced at Vidas¡¯ left eye. "What¡­ What happened to your eye?"

    "Don¡¯t ask," Vidas sighed, forcing a bitter smile. "I was in a skirmish with a squad of orcs led by Bloodmoon Werewolves. You know how fast those creatures are. One of them took out my eye, though I managed to dodge just in time to save my head. Otherwise, you¡¯d never see me again¡­ After that, I realized I was no longer fit for the battlefield and applied for retirement."

    Hearing the details, Rhett¡¯s eyes shed with cold anger. "Bloodmoon Werewolves again! Damn them¡­"

    "Yeah," Vidas sighed again, but his tone became more rxed as he looked up at the sky. "I didn¡¯t achieve the glory of promotion and return, butpared to the many brothers who died, I¡¯m still lucky. Maybe retiring from the battlefield isn¡¯t such a bad thing after all."

    "Is that so? Vidas, I¡¯m d you see it that way!" Rhett pped him on the shoulder, pulling him into a half-embrace. "Come on, let¡¯s head to my castle. We haven¡¯t seen each other in two years¡ªwe need to catch up properly."

    This time, Vidas didn¡¯t refuse, and the two headed toward Deep Rock Fortress together.

    "Heh heh," Sweta chuckled as he watched their retreating figures, following closely behind. As for the group in Thorn Forest, Rhett hadn¡¯t forgotten them. His n for the day was endurance training. On the battlefield, it wasn¡¯t umon to lie in wait for days on end, waiting to ambush the enemy.

    ......

    The sun dipped below the horizon, and night enveloped Hawk Town and Deep Rock Fortress. The sky was clear, with stars twinkling above, and a waxing moon rising in the west. Shadows cast by the garden walls and hedges created dark patches on the ground.

    Inside the fifth-floor hall of Deep Rock Fortress, however, it was brightly lit. Crystalmps illuminated every corner of the room, and a candle flickered on the dining table, adding a touch of warmth to the atmosphere.

    On the crimson carpet, at a rectangr dining table, Rhett and Vidas sat side by side. The table wasden with drinks of various colors, specially prepared by the castle¡¯s brewer. Though Rhett rarely drank, the brewer typically made beer for the castle¡¯s servants or the knights of the outpost. Today, however, Rhett had everything prepared¡ªhard liquor, wine, beer, and even fruit wine.

    The two men drank from matching goblets, Vidas with one arm draped over Rhett¡¯s shoulder. Despite the strong constitution of knights, which made it difficult to get drunk, today was different. Perhaps it was the weight of all he had been through, or the joy of reuniting with arade, but with the help of alcohol, Vidas finally let his emotions out. He huped, saying, "Hic, I failed my captain, Sam. He risked his life to save us, but¡­ If he hadn¡¯t stayed behind to cover our retreat, he could have easily escaped. Rhett¡­" During the day, Vidas had kept his emotions in check, but now, with one arm resting on Rhett¡¯s arm and the other propping his head up on the table, the floodgates opened.

    In contrast to the shadows on the table, Vidas¡¯ eyes were bloodshot, tears streaming down his face. His gaze was vacant yet filled with unresolved pain, lost in memories of that final battle.

    "Sigh," Rhett¡¯s deep eyes reflected the flickering candlelight as he gently patted Vidas on the back. As a man who had shared the same battlefield experiences, Rhett knew this was not the time for words. Being a good listener, letting Vidas vent his sorrows, was enough.

    After hearing Vidas pour out his heart, Vidas suddenly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Rhett. "My brother, you know what? I could still fight. Losing an eye didn¡¯t destroy my career as a soldier¡­ But every time I stepped back onto the battlefield, the blood-stained image of my captain haunted me, along with the memory of all therades we lost. I started trembling uncontrobly. That¡¯s when I realized¡­ the battlefield¡­ is no longer a ce for me!"@@novelbin@@

    With that, Vidas gulped down his drink.

    Rhett sighed and nodded.

    The two men continued their heart-to-heart, talking endlessly until the early hours of the morning. Perhaps after finally letting everything out, and with a friend by his side, Vidas seemed a little better, though his overall demeanor remained somber as he leaned back in his chair.

    Rhett refilled their sses and said, "If I do return to the battlefield, I¡¯ll make sure to help you¡ªhelp us¡ªy more Bloodmoon Werewolves! Don¡¯t forget how I earned my promotion back then."

 Chapter 139: Command Before Fatherhood

    "Hmm, you¡¯re right. If it¡¯s you, you might indeed pose a real threat to the Bloodmoon Werewolves," Vidas agreed with a nod, then added with a more serious tone, "But you know as well as I do how dangerous the battlefield can be. The situation now is far worse than when you retired. The numbers of Bloodmoon Werewolves and Venomous Serpentkin have surged, and the other orcs are more aggressive too. Our casualties are much higher than before."

    After saying this, Vidas grabbed Rhett¡¯s shoulder, his tone growing even more solemn. "If¡­ you really intend to go, you must be extremely cautious. I¡­ can apany you for one more battle!"

    Rhett smiled appreciatively, cing a hand on Vidas¡¯ and shaking his head. "There¡¯s no need for that. You¡¯re in a better state for settling down somewhere and recuperating. If you were to die because of me, I would never forgive myself. Stay here instead¡ªI need your help. The Fire Vein Vige needs an experienced leader. The work isn¡¯t too demanding, and it¡¯s a perfect fit for you."

    "Me?"

    "Yes, unless you don¡¯t want to stay here?"

    "Uh¡­ it¡¯s not that." Vidas hesitated briefly, then quickly shook his head. He then awkwardly said, "It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t want to trouble you."@@novelbin@@

    "Pfft!" Rhett yfully punched Vidas in the chest. "Do you know who I am? The lord of thisnd! What trouble could it be? And you¡¯re acting all polite with me now?"

    The punch to his chest sent a warm feeling through Vidas¡¯ heart. He was inexplicably moved and forced a smile. "Thanks, Rhett."

    "No need for thanks¡ªjust drink!" Rhett dismissed the sentiment with a wave.Vidas took a deep breath, and as he looked at the candlelight on the table, the shadows in his heart seemed to dissipate a little. He raised his ss, "Let¡¯s drink this one down¡ªtonight we¡¯re drinking until we drop!"

    "Ha! Who¡¯s afraid of that?"

    ......

    Both knights and mages have no concept of a hangover, so the next morning, the two men were up and about outside the castle. The previous night, after drinking to their heart''s content, they had even discussed the uing battle training.

    Vidas had offered to assist in the uing training, hoping to be of help. Rhett dly epted, knowing that Vidas had a better grasp of the current battlefield situation, given that Rhett had been away for two years, whereas Vidas had only been off the front lines for two months. Their morning discussion even led to a special n¡­

    As the stars faded and the sky filled with the colors of dawn, Tuck, Ryle, and the others had been stationed in the Thorn Forest, perched in trees and hiding in tree hollows for a full day and night. Though their bodies weren¡¯t too ufortable, their minds were growing restless. However, Rhett had given a strict order¡ªno one was to move without hismand.

    The training went well for Makov, Tadel, Kurs, Sheelin, and the others. They were seasoned veterans with rich outdoor survival experience, having faced countless dangers and unusual situations during their time away. Rhett¡¯s three sons, on the other hand, were slightly less adept but were at least willing to follow orders and learn.

    Makov, bored, rested his chin in his hand, peering through the leaves at the gradually brightening sky. He wondered when Rhett would finally end this ambush exercise.

    Suddenly, a shadowy figure slipped past the base of his tree¡ªan unfamiliar face.

    "Hmm? Who¡¯s this? I¡¯ve never seen him before," Makov mused, remaining still since the figure was only a second-level knight and wouldn¡¯t be able to detect his position.

    To his surprise, the shadowy figure stopped beside the very tree where Makov was perched.

    "Makov, Lord Rhett has ordered a secret mission for you. He¡¯s waiting by the river¡ªpleasee with me," the figure¡¯s light voice floated up.

    "What¡¯s Rhett up to?" Makov thought, narrowing his eyes. After a moment of consideration, he decided not to move.

    The shadowy figure waited for two minutes, then left alone.

    Makov rubbed his chin, his eyes glinting as he pondered Rhett¡¯s intentions.

    Shortly after, the shadowy figure arrived beneath Ryle¡¯s tree and repeated the same message, only substituting Ryle¡¯s name. Yet, several minutes passed in silence¡ªno one took the bait.

    The shadowy figure, who was actually Vidas, looked up at the dense foliage and smiled to himself, thinking, "Impressive. Rhett¡¯s subordinates are well-trained and disciplined."

    After surveying the area and following the route Rhett had described, Vidas headed towards Tuck¡¯s position.

    In a thick clump of bushes, Tucky prone, hisrge eyes fixed on the gap before him. Suddenly, a voice floated from directly ahead: "Tuck, your father sent me to tell you in secret that Vanessa hurt herself. You should go back and take care of her immediately. The situation is urgent, so sneak away quietly."

    <em>Rustle... Rustle...</em>

    The bushes parted.

    "What?!" Tuck jumped up, trembling. "How did Vanessa get hurt?"

    Seeing this, Vidas¡¯ expression suddenly turned cold. "Tuck, you¡¯ve failed."

    "Huh? Failed?" Tuck stood there, bewildered.

    Vidas looked at him with disappointment. "On the battlefield, following orders is paramount. It¡¯s clear you didn¡¯t follow them. Stay here and don¡¯t move."

    With that, Vidas hurried to the next location.

    "So it was a trick¡­ None of it was real¡­" Tuck sighed in relief, grateful that Vanessa was okay. But frustration soon overtook him as he scratched his head. "Ugh, I failed. I didn¡¯t follow Father¡¯s orders."

    Next, Vidas reached Talyas¡¯ hiding spot, the base of a wide tree hollow.

    He considered for a moment before saying, "Talyas, your father has changed ns. He wants you to assist Henke with potion-making instead of going through pre-battle training. There¡¯s no need to waste time here."

    "Really?" A voice came from within the tree hollow, and Talyas climbed out,ughing as he pulled out a piece of bread from his pocket. "I¡¯m starving¡ªwhy didn¡¯t he tell me earlier¡­"

    "You¡¯ve failed too. Stay where you are!" Vidas¡¯ cold voice echoed in Talyas¡¯ mind. Stunned, Talyas stood still, holding his bread. "I¡­ failed?"

    "You tricked me!" Realizing the truth, Talyas leaned back against the tree, frustration evident in his voice. "This must be Father¡¯s idea¡ªhow cunning! How could he make up such an excuse?"

    "Excuses have no ce on the battlefield," Vidas replied, shaking his head as his earlier satisfaction turned into disappointment.

    "Sigh, I hope thest three do as well as the first two," Vidas thought as he moved on.

    Fortunately, the remaining encounters lifted Vidas¡¯ spirits. Tadel, Kurs, and Sheelin all performed admirably, refusing to be swayed by his deceptive words and following Rhett¡¯s initial orders to remain still.

    ......

    An hourter, Rhett gathered everyone in the Thorn Forest. Vidas was also present.

    Tuck and Talyas stood alone, while the others formed a line. Through their exchanges, it became clear that this had been a surprise test and that some had failed to meet expectations.

    Rhett was far from pleased. In fact, he was downright angry. With a stern expression, he walked over to Tuck and Talyas, shouting, "This was just a test to see if you could strictly follow my orders. There¡¯s no room for mistakes on the battlefield, yet you two were so careless! How many times have I said that even in training, you must treat it as real? But you two¡­ why didn¡¯t you follow orders? Why were you so easily fooled?"

    With that, he punched Tuck hard in the chest and smacked Talyas on the head.

    <em>Thud, smack.</em>

    "I¡¯m sorry, Father," Tuck replied, his face flushed with embarrassment.

    "I¡¯m sorry too," Talyas mumbled, hanging his head.

    "Call me <em>sir!</em> How many times do I have to tell you? During training, you call me <em>sir!</em> On the battlefield, you can ignore your father¡¯s words, but you <em>must</em> obey yourmander¡¯s orders!" Rhett roared.

    Tuck and Talyas shrank back, nodding quickly without speaking.

    Taking a deep breath, Rhett¡¯s eyes hardened as he continued, "Don¡¯t think that just because someone is human, their words can be trusted. Humans can be traitors bought by the orcs. The enemy isn¡¯t always on the other side¡ªthey could be among us! They may have ess to our intelligence! So, no matter what anyone else says, no matter how true or confidential it sounds, they could be a spy. I¡¯ll say it again: on the battlefield, if the order doesn¡¯te from me, you cannot trust anyone. Understand?"

    "Yes, <em>sir!</em>" Tuck shouted with conviction.

    "Yes, <em>sir!</em>" Talyas¡¯ tone was equally serious.

    The air grew cold with tension. Tadel, Kurs, Sheelin, and Makov all looked thoughtful. Although they hadn¡¯t been fooled by Vidas, they had relied on instinct and experience rather than considering the deeper implications. Rhett¡¯s words brought rity to the situation, making them realize theplexities of the battlefield. Not only would they be fighting orcs, but they¡¯d also have to watch out for potential traitors among their ranks.

    Though Rhett was dealing with his own sons, he forced himself to set aside his role as a father and act as amander. A mistake was a mistake, and it had to be addressed without mercy. Strict discipline before battle was far better than dying on the battlefield.

    Staring at Tuck and Talyas, Rhett paused before ordering, "Both of you, run a hundredps around Sun Lake. When you¡¯re done, return to the team for regr training."

    <em>Hiss.</em>

    "Sir, Tuck might manage, but I¡¯m not sure Talyas will be able to," Ryle said with concern.

    "If he can¡¯t, Tuck will have to help him. This is also a lesson¡ªon the battlefield, when things go wrong, yourrades are your only support," Rhett replied calmly.

    "Understood!" Tuck puffed out his chest, showing no hesitation.

    "The rest of you will patrol Thorn Forest. Always be on the lookout for orcs that could appear at any moment!" Rhett gave his nextmand.

    "Yes, sir!" the others responded in unison.

    As they dispersed, Rhett and Vidas headed toward Fire Vein Vige.

    Thend around Fire Vein Vige was a deep red, growing more intense the further south they went. As they emerged from the Thorn Forest and looked at the setting sun, the sky grew darker, and night spread across thend like a nket.

    "This is Fire Vein Vige¡ªyour future post," Rhett said, ncing at Vidas. "Most of the vigers are miners, many of whom were once drifters. But the security here has always been good¡ªno major issues have ever arisen."

    "Hmm, I like the simple lifestyle here," Vidas said, observing the rows of wooden houses. He turned to Rhett and added, "In fact, I was a drifter before I joined the army."

    Rhett led Vidas into the vige.

    As dusk deepened and the stars began to shine, the miners finished their day¡¯s work and made their way back from the mines. Moving through the crowd, Rhett spotted a familiar figure¡ªa hunched old man with a cane.

    He called out, "Jovan,e here for a moment!"

    Jovan had already been making his way towards Rhett after spotting the lord from afar. The rocky terrain of the mining area made it difficult for Jovan to walk, and by the time he reached Rhett, he was panting heavily, leaning on his deep yellow wooden cane.

    Wiping the sweat from his brow, Jovan asked, "Wee, Lord Rhett. Have youe to inspect the mining operations? The past month¡¯s worth of ore is all stored in one ce¡ªI can show you."

    "No need, Jovan," Rhett replied with a shake of his head. "I¡¯m here to inform you of a change. The man beside me is my oldrade, a peak second-level knight¡ªVidas. I appreciate all you¡¯ve done, but from now on, Vidas will take over as the head of Fire Vein Vige. I believe he¡¯s a better fit for the role."

    "I see¡­" Jovan¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of sadness, but he quicklyposed himself, loudly dering, "I obey the lord¡¯smand. From this moment on, I relinquish my position as vige head. These old bones could use some rest, anyway."

    There was a trace of loneliness in hisst words.

    "You don¡¯t have to retire, you know," Vidas interjected unexpectedly. "I¡¯m new here, and I¡¯ll need time to get familiar with everything. Managing the whole vige alone might be too much for me. So, if you don¡¯t mind, you could assist me¡ªwe could run the vige together."

 Chapter 140: Full-Scale Alert

    Rhett¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise as he nced at Vidas and then turned to Jovan, saying, "I think it''s a great suggestion. What do you think, Jovan?"

    "Can I¡­ really?" The disappointment in Jovan¡¯s heart reignited as his eyes brightened with hope.

    "Of course. Your abilities have always been evident, and Fire Vein Vige has never had any major issues under your watch, right?" Rhett smiled warmly.

    "Then, thank you, Lord Rhett, and you, sir¡­ I mean, the future vige chief, for your trust," Jovan said, tears of gratitude welling in his eyes as he bowed deeply. "From now on, I will do my utmost to assist the new vige chief and ensure everything runs smoothly here."

    Jovan was perceptive. Faced with a second-level knight and a friend of the lord, he knew better than to cling to his position. To him, being an assistant, enjoying hister years, and securing some wealth for his descendants was an excellent choice.

    "I trust you," Rhett nodded, adding, "And your sry will remain the same as before."

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett!" Jovan was even more moved.

    Rhett then turned to Vidas. "So, will you return to the estate with me tonight, or will you stay in Fire Vein Vige?"

    "I''ll stay here," Vidas replied after a moment of thought. "We have training tomorrow, and I¡¯d rather not waste time. Tonight, I¡¯ll hand over the position to Jovan and familiarize myself with vige affairs. Plus, the varied terrain of the mine pits at Fire Vein Vige could serve as a small canyon for training. What do you think?""That makes sense," Rhett considered this and then agreed. "In that case, I¡¯ll bring the team to the mine pits tomorrow for the new training."

    "Sounds good. I¡¯ll n the training schedule tonight. See you tomorrow!" Vidas said.

    "See you tomorrow!"@@novelbin@@

    ......

    Training was monotonous and grueling. Under the guidance of Rhett and Vidas, two veterans with rich battlefield experience, the pre-war training continued for an entire month.

    One early morning, Rhett and Vidas stood side by side on a 50-meter-high hill in the wilderness. They faced the dawn as the first rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon, gradually revealing a cloudless sky. The cool early summer breeze blew gently, and the mist in the higher altitudes began to dissipate. Under the sunlight, the vast ins spread out in all directions.

    At the foot of the hill, the team members were resting¡ªsome meditating, others dozing lightly. Rhett and Vidas, following their tactical arrangement, were standing guard.

    "Vidas, you¡¯re no longer suited for the battlefield," Rhett remarked, his gaze fixed on the distant savanna where countless des of grass swayed like ripples on ake. He added, "You¡¯ve seen the potential in my men during this training¡ªthey¡¯ve grown rapidly and shown excellentbat aptitude. With my strength and leadership, everything will be manageable on the battlefield. But my territory still needs someone to hold the fort, and you, just back from the frontlines, are better off staying here to defend it."

    At the top of the hill, where wind and rain had worn down the red rocks over time, Vidas kicked a pile of stones down the northern slope. He took a deep breath and said, "If you don¡¯t return, I might be trapped in darkness for the rest of my life."

    "Do you not have enough faith in your brother?" Rhett smiled lightly and patted Vidas on the elbow.

    With that, Rhett descended the eastern slope, his voice ringing out in the clear morning air:

    "Let¡¯s head back, resupply, and then revisit the underwater training!"

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten today¡¯s date¡ªJune 11th. ording to the simtion, today was the day the alert would reach his territory, signaling that the entire southwest was on high alert. His team would soon be heading to reinforce the canyon defense line.

    As the morning sun shone down, Rhett¡¯s three sons, along with Makov, Tadel, Kurs, and Sheelin, awoke from their meditations or light slumber and gathered around Rhett.

    "Do you really think the war will spread?" Makov asked, his magic staff slung over his shoulder. "It¡¯s been over a month, and we haven¡¯t heard a thing."

    "Better safe than sorry," Rhett replied thoughtfully. "If things stay quiet for another two months, we can lower our guard. But for now, we can¡¯t rule out the possibility of calm before the storm."

    "That makes sense," Makov nodded, still clueless. "Let¡¯s keep things as they are for now."

    "Sir, may I take a bath?" Talyas asked, tugging at his sleeve with a hopeful look. "I stink, and flies and mosquitoes have been buzzing around me all night!"

    Today, Rhett¡¯s expression softened¡ªhis usual sternness reced by a fatherly warmth. He ruffled Talyas¡¯ messy hair and said, "Not yet. If you perform well in today¡¯s training, you can wash up in the river."

    Even though he knew the pre-war training was nearing its end, Rhett maintained a casual tone, hiding his awareness of the looming battle. But his voicecked the severity it had before.

    The group followed Rhett¡¯s lead, heading back toward Eagle¡¯s Crest Town.

    As they neared Fire Vein Vige, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears, growing louder by the second.

    Gradually, a ck dot appeared on the horizon, rapidly growingrger until it materialized before them.

    <em>Snort</em>

    <em>Snort</em>

    A knight in ck armor skillfully reined in his horse, kicking up a cloud of dust as the animal reared back.

    "We meet again, Rhett!" a familiar voice called out as the knight lifted his helmet, revealing a familiar face.

    "Snoway?" Rhett feigned surprise, though his mind was clear. He asked, "What brings you here? Shouldn¡¯t you be in Twilight City or Firestone City, buying ore?"

    "That was the n," Snoway replied, his expression serious. "But an unexpected development urred. I received a message from the front lines that themander has issued a full-scale alert. Now, every noble in the southwest, both in Bren and Keen, must enlist. This is a direct order from themander¡ªplease take it, Rhett."

    Snoway handed Rhett a thick letter, sealed in gold and red. Rhett nced at it, pretending to read, then his expression grew solemn. "Rest assured, I willply with the order."

    "I trust in your dedication, Rhett. Returning in glory will be the ultimate triumph. But I don¡¯t need to remind you of the consequences of defying this order¡ªevery noble knows what¡¯s at stake." Snoway nodded. "I have to go now¡ªthe next territory is Damm Town. See you on the battlefield!"

    With that, Snoway mounted his horse, waved, and rode off into the distance, kicking up more dust as he sped away.

    As the sound of hooves faded, the others gathered around Rhett, their faces heavy with concern.

    "It really was the calm before the storm¡­" Makov murmured.

    "Father, you truly are prophetic!" Ryle said with admiration.

    "We¡¯re going back to the canyon defense line¡­" Tadel muttered to himself.

    "Get lost! You¡¯re the one who wants a beast woman¡ªyou¡¯re not dragging me into it," Kurs replied with disdain.

    "Fine, but if we catch any Night Cat women, don¡¯te asking for them," Tadel shot back.

    "You think you can handle them all yourself?" Kurs red at him. "As a good brother, I¡¯ll dly take two off your hands."

    "Shameless!" Tadel scoffed at him.

    "We¡¯re really going back to the canyon defense line¡­" Rhett murmured, then took a deep breath and smiled at the group. "Look at that¡ªour hard training has paid off. Soon, we¡¯ll be tested by fire."

    "Father, when do we report in?" Tuck asked, hefting his greatsword.

    "By the end of August at thetest. Anyter and we¡¯ll be considered deserters, losing our noble titles," Rhett replied after ncing at the golden letter. "As for the number of troops required, our current group meets the criteria."

    "Let¡¯s go back. I officially dere our pre-war training over!" Rhett announced, then added, "Tonight, we¡¯ll enjoy a grand feast at the castle, and you can all have a long, hot bath."

    "Yay!" Talyas cheered, raising his hands in victory.

    When they returned to the estate, everyone rushed inside as quickly as possible¡ªthey were in no state to be seen by anyone.

    Even Rhett¡¯s clothes were filthy. Upon reaching the manor¡¯s entrance, he turned to Svetta and said, "Please inform Chef Maru to prepare a grand feast tonight, with all the finest dishes."

    "Of course, sir," Svetta replied with a bow, then asked, "Has the training ended? Captain Snoway was here earlier asking about your whereabouts."

    "Yes, it has. And tomorrow, we march to the canyon defense line," Rhett said, his gaze distant.

    "My goodness, you were right all along¡ªit really happened!" Svetta eximed, though his eyes betrayed his worry. "Please be careful on the battlefield, sir. You¡¯re the heart of Eagle¡¯s Crest¡­"

    "Ha," Rhett chuckled at his butler¡¯s concern, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don¡¯t worry, Svetta¡ªthe ones who should be cautious are the orcs, not me. And while I¡¯m gone, I trust you to manage the estate."

    "I will do my utmost to keep everything in order and await your victorious return!" Svetta promised with a bow.

    Back in the castle, the servants had already prepared a warm bath for Rhett.

    Steam filled the room as Rhett eagerly stripped off his clothes and sank into the tub. Over the past month, he had only been able to wash his hair with water magic¡ªtaking a proper bath was a luxury he hadn¡¯t been able to afford on the battlefield.

    Though he had endured much worse during his years at war, Rhett couldn¡¯t deny the pleasure of soaking in the tub after so long. As hey in the water, he used his mental power to grab the towel and scrub his back, letting his arms rest by his sides. The towel worked up a thickyer of grime, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sensation.

    After about twenty minutes, Rhett used wind magic to dry his hair and dressed in clean clothes. He left the bathroom and instructed the servants to change the bathwater before heading downstairs.

    The main hall on the first floor was brightly lit, though the sky outside had darkened. The air was heavy with silence.

    Rhett¡¯s three daughters-inw sat at the dining table, their faces clouded with worry. News of the impending battle had clearly weighed heavily on their minds.

    Sensing the tense atmosphere, Rhett raised an eyebrow as he descended thest few steps, his footsteps echoing through the hall. He walked over to the long dining table and spread his arms wide, saying, "What¡¯s going on? Everyone should be happy. Is it because of the uing battle?"

    No one spoke, confirming his suspicion.

    Rhett raised an eyebrow and answered his own question. "When we return, not only will Eagle¡¯s Crest be stronger, but we¡¯ll also be a count¡¯s territory. Isn¡¯t that good news?"

    "I truly hope so," Vanessa replied with a strained smile. Unlike Rhett, shecked the ability to foresee the future, and to her, the battlefield against orcs was fraught with deadly risks.

    "I want you all to return safely¡ªwhether or not you earn titles is irrelevant! I want you to remember that while you¡¯re out there risking your lives, you have loved ones waiting for you here," Kalina said, her eyes brimming with tears. Though it might seem selfish, she spoke from the heart.

    Ryle put an arm around Kalina and said, "Father¡¯s judgment has always been spot on¡ªwe¡¯ve rarely seen him wrong, have we?"

    "That¡¯s right. I trust you, Father!" Talyas added, pumping his fist.

    Rhett sat down, fully understanding his daughters-inw¡¯s concerns. In a way, their anxiety was a testament to the loving rtionships within the family.

    Their worry was only natural¡ªit was human nature to be concerned for loved ones.

    With a chuckle, Rhett offered a few more words offort, but in such a somber setting, his reassurances had little effect.

    He sighed inwardly.

    Perhaps the only thing that could truly ease their fears was the sight of their loved ones returning safely.

 Chapter 142: Carrying Out the Mission

    Rhett and his team arrived at Fortress No. 1, while Shirin went to Fortress No. 2¡ªodd-numbered fortresses were for male soldiers, and even-numbered ones for female soldiers.

    The dormitories in the auxiliary fortresses were four-person rooms, so the men split into two groups¡ªRhett, Tuck, Ryle, and McCoff shared one room, while Tadel and Kulus joined another dorm with avable space nearby.

    When not on the battlefield, the living and dining conditions were quite decent. However, once on the battlefield, everything was out of their control.

    In the afternoon, Rhett visited Fortress No. 11, hoping to see some of his formerrades. But upon arrival, he found their dormitory empty, likely due to the intense battles, with most of them still on the front lines, carrying out their duties.

    He wandered around the area, looking for any changes, but found everything was just as it had been two years ago. The scenery was the same, but many of the soldiers were unfamiliar faces.

    Returning to his dormitory with a heavy heart, Rhett began to meditate, preparing to break through his bottleneck.

    In his view, with 290 points of Destiny Value, and considering the battlefield gains toe, as well as Talyas¡¯ contributions from executing orcs, there was a high chance that he could break through to a fifth-level Archmage.

    Once he achieved that breakthrough, whether on the battlefield or back home, his power and influence would greatly increase, granting him a significant position of authority.

    Thus, he couldn¡¯t waste a single moment, and he fully immersed himself in meditation.As the moon rose in the western sky, Rhett suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward the door.

    A few secondster, there was a knock, followed by a voice from outside: "Lord Rhett, I heard from Lord Anbiru that you were staying here, so I came to visit."

    The voice was unfamiliar, and Rhett was certain he hadn¡¯t heard it before. Still, he opened the door and was greeted by a rather peculiar sight.

    The visitor was dressed in a noble''s attire, looking quite elegant, with a round hat perched on his head. It was clear he had just arrived from the rear.

    However, what immediately caught Rhett''s attention was the emblem on the man¡¯s chest¡ªfour white fan des forming a windmill, the unmistakable mark of Windmill Town. A cold glint shed in Rhett''s eyes.

    "Lord Rhett, we¡¯ve never met, but I¡¯ve long heard of your reputation. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Viscount Gaspar, the lord of Windmill Town." Gaspar, with his green curly hair, stood at the door and lightly bowed.

    "Hmm." Rhett recalled their past encounters, raised an eyebrow, and asked directly, "So, Viscount Gaspar, which unit have you been assigned to?"

    "I¡¯ve been appointed as the leader of the third squad under Commander Snowe," Gaspar quickly responded, seemingly noticing Rhett¡¯s cold attitude. With an apologetic expression, he continued, "Lord Rhett, I believe there might be some misunderstandings between us. I¡¯ve heard that my son may have offended you in the past, and that¡¯s due to my failure in raising him properly. For that, I sincerely apologize and am willing to offer adequatepensation."

    Before Rhett could respond, Gaspar reached into a brown leather pouch at his waist and took out three bottles of Moonlight Potion.

    "These three potions are a small token of my apology. Please ept them, Lord Rhett," Gaspar said with a slight bow, lowering his posture.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Rhett narrowed his eyes and took the three potions without hesitation, then said slowly, "Very well¡­ I believe that the previous incidents were indeed misunderstandings. After all, someone as wise as Viscount Gaspar wouldn¡¯t do something foolish, right?"

    "You are absolutely right, Lord Rhett!" Gaspar replied with a smile, seemingly unfazed by the sarcasm in Rhett''s words.

    Rhett nodded slightly, his expression calm, though he inwardly scoffed at Gaspar¡¯s hollow words. At this point, whether or not he believed the man was irrelevant. Gaspar would soon meet his fate on the battlefield, so there was no need to dwell on the matter.

    However, it would be a shame to let him off so easily now. Rhett thought it wise to seize this opportunity to gain more benefits. After all, once Gaspar was dead, there would be nothing left to take.

    With that in mind, he said meaningfully, "But¡­ three potions may not be enough to resolve our misunderstanding. Viscount Gaspar, are you familiar with someone named ¡®Zoran¡¯?"

    Gaspar¡¯s heart sank upon hearing the name. He hadn¡¯t expected Rhett to know about this as well. Facing Rhett¡¯s cold gaze, Gaspar sighed inwardly but outwardly feigned confusion. "Zoran? I¡¯ve never heard of him. Who might this person be?"

    "Hmph! He¡¯s a spy your Windmill Town nted in my territory, and he stole valuable items," Rhett said, his tone turning colder as he continued. "If you truly wish to clear up this misunderstanding, add five more bottles of Moonlight Potion, and we¡¯ll consider it settled."

    "Five¡­ five more bottles?" Gaspar¡¯s face twitched in pain.

    "That¡¯s right. Whether you agree or not, I won¡¯t force you," Rhett replied casually. "But everyone must pay for their mistakes¡ªno exceptions. Don¡¯t regret your decision if something unfortunate happenster¡­"

    Knowing Gaspar wouldn¡¯t live long, Rhett made no effort to mince words, even unleashing his mental pressure to intimidate the man.

    Suddenly, an invisible force surrounded Viscount Gaspar from all directions.

    Feeling the pressure around him and recalling the rumors of Rhett¡¯s terrifying power, Gaspar forced a smile. "Of course, an apology is only right."

    After rummaging through his leather pouch and searching his coat, Gaspar finally produced five more bottles of Moonlight Potion, reluctantly handing them over to Rhett.

    Only after receiving the potions did Rhett nod in satisfaction. ncing around and noticing that Gaspar was alone, he asked, "Your son, Dusty, didn¡¯te to enlist this time?"

    "Unfortunately, Dusty happened to be traveling and won¡¯t be back for a few months, so he missed this opportunity," Gaspar replied with a regretful shake of his head.

    "Hmm, that¡¯s a shame¡ªhe missed a great chance to earn some merits," Rhett said, though inwardly, he sighed: "So I can¡¯t wipe them all out¡­"

    After a brief exchange, Gaspar excused himself, citing his duties, and Rhett didn¡¯t stop him. He returned to his room and tossed the eight bottles of Moonlight Potion to Ryle.

    "Father, it¡¯s surprising that Viscount Gaspar came to apologize. I didn¡¯t expect that," Ryle said, opening his eyes.

    "Heh, neither did I, but there¡¯s no harm in epting benefits," Rhett replied with a shrug, seemingly indifferent.

    "So¡­ are you nning to let him off?" Ryle asked, his eyes following his father¡¯s movements.

    Rhett nced at Ryle from the bedside, but instead of answering, he smiled meaningfully.

    Seeing that smile, Ryle blinked, as if understanding something, then closed his eyes and resumed meditating.

    Two dayster, with soldiers returning from front-line missions and more nobles arriving from the southwestern border, Rhett¡¯s squad was finallyplete.

    The hundred men were divided into ten squads, each with ten members.

    In addition to the soldiers already stationed there, some old acquaintances from the rear also joined Rhett¡¯s ranks.

    Among them were inws¡ªGair from Dam Town and Roy from Maple Forest Town¡ªwho brought their forces with them, totaling twenty men, all assigned to Rhett¡¯smand.

    As the deputymander of the canyon defense line, Anbiru had twenty detachments under hismand, primarily focused on guerri, patrol, and assassination missions, as well as reconnaissance.

    The main army, which included units like heavy cavalry and heavily armored axemen, was under the directmand of the overallmander, who focused on the main battlefield.

    Anbiru¡¯s forces, on the other hand, specialized in nking maneuvers, harassment, and intelligence gathering. They functioned as elite troops with a specific purpose.

    As the autumn sun set like blood in the western sky, cold winds began to sweep across the canyon defense line.

    Rhett stood ready with his hundred soldiers in an open field, having received word that a mission would be assigned that night.

    Among the hundred men, aside from Rhett and McCoff, there were also two other third-level mages¡ªone specializing in fire magic and the other in light magic.

    Mages were scarce in the militarypared to knights, making them even more valuable.

    While it was nearly impossible to equip every detachment with a full range of mages, Rhett was content with the diversity his squad had¡ªearth, wind, fire, light, and Ryle¡¯s second-level water magic. This gave them a versatile set of tactics.

    Light magic, in particr, was invaluable on the battlefield, with its healing capabilities. Though it consumed a great deal of mental energy and couldn¡¯t be used frequently, its rapid effects were far superior to potions. In small-scale battles, a few well-timed healing spells could make all the difference.

    At that moment, Gair and Roy stood among the ranks, not far behind Rhett, both feeling a mix of emotions. They had met the day before and were still processing the fact that Rhett was now a fourth-level Archmage and their direct superior.

    They had thought reaching third-level as mages was an impressive achievement. But meeting Rhett again on the canyon defense line had been a shocking experience.

    However, after some reflection, they realized that having a powerful inw was far better than having a powerful enemy.

    Understanding their limitations, they knew that surpassing the rank of Earth Knight was almost impossible for them.

    So, they epted their fate¡ªeffort doesn¡¯t always lead to sess, but not trying certainly makes life easier.

    In their eyes, having a strong connection like Rhett was already a significant advantage.

    With this rtionship, even if Rhett couldn¡¯t openly favor them, as long as it was within the rules, he could subtly assign them to less dangerous missions. Why not?

    About two hourster, Rhett remained calm, keeping his soldiers in a state of readiness.

    The sun had long since set, and the moon had risen, stars twinkling overhead. The night sky draped over the canyon defense line, with Rhett¡¯s gaze tracing the faint outlines of two towering peaks¡ªGolden Peak and Crow Peak.

    These were the tallest and most massive mountains in the canyon, visible to both the orcs and the human forces from a distance.

    Just then, a figure in red armor approached across the white stone field, handing Rhett a small note and speaking in a low voice: "Your mission for tonight is written on this. You don¡¯t need to fight to the death¡ªpreserve your forces while eliminating as many orcs of royal blood as possible!"

    Before Rhett could read the note, he acknowledged the order with a salute. "Understood, sir!"

    "Good, speed is of the essence. Move out now!"

    "Yes, sir!"

    In war, efficiency was paramount, and there was no time for unnecessary words. After receiving the order, Rhett turned to his men andmanded, "Everyone, head northwest to Area 5. Full assault!"@@novelbin@@

    Heavy footsteps echoed in unison, like a drumbeat on the dark earth.

    The group marched toward the location Rhett had indicated¡ªArea 5, which was military code for a ce known as Whiteflower Meadow, near a small hill about 200 meters high.

    On the battlefield, codes, passwords, and secret phrases were numerous and ever-changing.

    This time, Whiteflower Meadow wasbeled Area 5. Next time, the designations might be entirely different.

    Or the numbers might shift by 1 or 2, or even be reced by names of magic nts, minerals, or beasts.

    To prevent traitors from leaking information, a different code might be used during the mission or at a critical moment.

    For example, after an hour of marching, Rhett led his men to the small hill 200 meters east of Whiteflower Meadow. He raised his right hand, clenched into a fist.

    The team immediately stopped in unison.

    "I now dere that the code has changed¡ªnumbers increase by 1, and we¡¯ll adopt the name of any flying magical beast."

    "Next location: Third-level Firefeather Eagle (formerly known as Area 2)."

    In the canyon defense line, all soldiers underwent specialized training to learn these code-switching rules.

    Rhett was well-versed in them.

    Some nobles from the rear, like Gair and Roy, had less experience and had been cramming to catch up over the past two days.

    Upon hearing the new orders, the soldiers quickly adjusted their path, heading west.

    As the evening deepened and mist began to envelop the meadow behind them, Rhett stood at the foot of the hill, watching the peak pierce the moon, casting shadows over the soldiers'' faces.

 Chapter 141: Arrival at the Frontline

    In the quiet atmosphere, Chef Maru slowly pushed a metal cart from the kitchen. The cart was filled with dishes, with trays stacked on the top, middle, and bottomyers. Even that wasn''t enough space, so the newly hired assistant, Agni, followed behind with another twoyered cart filled with more dishes.

    Wearing white gloves, Maru and Agni, whose plump hands seemed slightly clumsy, carefully ced each dish on the dining table. As they lifted the lids, wisps of steam rose, apanied by tantalizing aromas.

    "Master, young masters, anddies, please enjoy your meal! If you need anything else, don''t hesitate to ask," Chef Maru said with a warm smile.

    "Thank you for your hard work, Maru," Rhett replied with a smile and a nod.

    The banquet was indeedvish. With a quick nce, Rhett could see that Chef Maru had prepared every dish she was known for.

    Spicy rabbit heads, crispymb legs, chicken meatballs, pan-fried steak, steamed ck-shell crab, slow-cooked turtle, spicy shrimp, potato dumpling soup, chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised blue-scale fish...

    The vors ranged from light to savory, spicy, and sweet. The table was filled with a feast for both the eyes and the pte, stretching from one end of the table to the other.

    "Everyone, please enjoy this meal. Once we''re on the battlefield, we won''t have the luxury of such fine food," Rhett said as he poured himself a ss of red wine.

    Tuck, not one for many words, immediately became the action-oriented type. Upon hearing that they could start eating, he took a big bite of steak, letting the juices burst in his mouth, hisrge eyes squinting in rare satisfaction.Rhett also speared a chicken meatball with his fork and slowly chewed. Gradually, the others began to eat as well.

    However, today''s dinnercked the usual lively chatter, reced by a calm and quiet atmosphere. The clinking of knives and forks against tes asionally rang out clearly.

    After the meal, everyone quietly returned to their rooms, with far fewerughs and cheerful conversations than usual.

    The night before departure passed as if in a void, with endless thoughts silently blending into the quiet.

    The next morning, the brave sun rose in the sky, dispelling the darkness that had enveloped the earth. The mist that lingered at dawn seemed like the night¡¯s final struggle.

    The air was filled with the scent of sunshine as birds chirped and flitted about on the branches.

    To avoid stirring up more sorrow, Rhett and his group had packed up early. In the hazy mist by the shores of Sun Lake, they said their farewells to the group of people seeing them off.

    "Parting is always filled with emotion, and no amount of words can express the reluctance. Only a triumphant return can truly ease this sorrow..." Rhett thought to himself.

    A westward breeze blew through, lifting the hair from their foreheads as if urging them to take onest look.

    Moved, the group turned to nce back: Butler Svetta stood with his hands sped, Vanessa cradled Dick in her arms, and Kalina and Mina, both pregnant, stood by Sun Lake, gazing in their direction.

    The mist obscured their faces, but at that moment, the thoughts of both parties intertwined like dust particles in the thick white fog.@@novelbin@@

    A few minutester.

    "It''s time to go..." Rhett murmured as he waved his hand gently.

    When they turned around again, the group¡¯s expressions had hardened with resolve.

    They rode ordinary horses since the magical beasts¡ªFirepaw, Whitepaw, and Tuck¡¯s Dark-Eagle, Mog¡ªwere still too weak. The risk of them dying on the battlefield was too high, so Rhett and the others left them at home in Vidas¡¯ care.

    The group, with the blurry figures behind them, waved onest time and then galloped westward without looking back!

    Riding into the west wind, they traveled swiftly across the ins, tireless and nimble. Sun Lake soon receded into the distance as they crossed one ridge after another, witnessing the sunrise and sunset, the light illuminating their determined silhouettes.

    Along the way, perhaps because the canyon defense line had be more active in recent months, many magical beasts had been cleared out. Rhett''s group encountered only a few, including a first-tier Wind Wolf and two first-tier Wind-Patterned Tigers, which became fresh meat for their journey''s barbecue.

    After more than a month of arduous travel, they finally approached their destination.

    On the morning of July 15th, under a sky still dotted with stars, Rhett led his team as their pace slowed.

    Mount Iro was a small mountain near the canyon defense line, running north to south with two ridges of varying heights. The western slopes of these ridges were steep and treacherous, filled with narrow ravines and boulders, while the eastern slopes were rtively gentle.

    Rhett gazed into the distance and softly said, "We''re almost there. Once we cross Mount Iro, it¡¯s only three kilometers to the canyon defense line. This ce feels so familiar..."

    "Father, perhaps we should take a detour? The terrain ahead is too rugged for our horses to cross," Ryle suggested.

    "No need. Do you see the dip between the ridges ahead? There''s a winding but smooth path that was carved out long ago. We''ll go that way," Rhett replied, gently stroking Grey''s mane.

    "Got it," Ryle said, enlightened.

    "Hmm? Why haven''t we seen any other nobles along the way?" Tuck asked, scratching his head as if he¡¯d just remembered.

    Rhett chuckled and shook his head. "There¡¯s more than one path leading to the canyon defense line, and we''re not all traveling at the same time. It''s normal not to meet anyone else. Besides, we¡¯re arriving half a month early."

    "Let''s go. Let''s reach the canyon defense line before dawn," Rhett ordered, urging his horse toward Mount Iro.

    The group climbed the mountain, and whenever they encountered particrly steep cliffs, Rhett would create a makeshift path to help the horses pass.

    They crossed the cliffs and descended the smooth, dark slope on the other side.

    In the quiet moments before dawn, they saw the first rays of sunlight reveal a long fence that stretched endlessly on either side.

    These fences stood over ten meters tall, made from the sturdy trunks of ironwood trees, with their tips sharpened into cone-shaped spikes that resembled the teeth of a giant beast.

    Even in the rear areas, considered safe, there was a guard post every fifty meters.

    From one of these posts, a soldier on watch noticed Rhett''s group approaching and raised his hand in greeting. Rhett returned the gesture, and they soon arrived at a wide gate about ten meters across. On either side stood four knights in silver armor, each holding a sharp silver sword and a heavy ck shield.

    The guards looked at Rhett with a hint of recognition, though they seemed unsure.

    They fulfilled their duty by scrutinizing Rhett and hispanions with sharp eyes.

    "Please present your credentials," one of them said.

    "One moment," Rhett replied with a smile, retrieving a thick gold-red document from his coat and handing it to one of the guards. "You should recognize this."

    The knight nced at it and, upon confirming that it was themander¡¯s personal order with encrypted symbols, nodded solemnly. "So, it¡¯s Lord Rhett. Wee back to service. May you fight bravely and achieve great merit!"

    "Of course!" Rhett smiled as he led his team into the camp. The camp was vast, with various branches for military supplies, troops, and other departments.

    Familiar with theyout, Rhett led his team toward a path that would take them closest to Deputy Commander Anbiru.

    As the morning light crept over the camp, bringing color back to the world, Rhett and his team reached a massive ck fortress, three stories tall and about a hundred meters wide.

    The fortress was heavily guarded, with soldiers stationed openly and covertly around its perimeter. Rhett¡¯s chosen path alone had at least twenty guards.

    After passing numerous towers and watchposts, Rhett arrived at the entrance to the ck fortress, where the soldiers, seemingly expecting him, allowed them through without issue.

    Inside the central hall on the first floor, Rhett immediately noticed arge map of the canyon defense line hanging on the wall. In front of the map was a wide sand table that roughly recreated the terrain of the defense line.

    Deputy Commander Anbiru stood with his hands behind his back, watching Rhett approach. His eyes filled with surprise as he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Rhett, it¡¯s only been a year, and you¡¯ve already advanced to Archmage?"

    "Just luck," Rhett replied modestly.

    "Are these all your men?" Anbiru nodded, not pressing further despite his many questions. The stronger Rhett¡¯s subordinates were, the more they could help him.

    As a soldier andmander, Anbiru¡¯s primary duty was to fight orcs, not gossip.

    "Yes, sir. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could register them," Rhett said.

    In special cases like this, where nobles brought their own men, it was simr to having private soldiers. All the orcs they killed would be credited to the lord.

    Those who wanted to earn merits for themselves could enlist independently.

    Anbiru¡¯s registration process was efficient, and he quickly confirmed and recorded the identities of Rhett¡¯s team.

    "Given your strength as a fourth-level Archmage, the rank of squad leader doesn¡¯t suit you," Anbiru mused as he studied the sand table. "Yourbat experience is trustworthy, so I intend to appoint you as a temporary detachment leader under mymand. I¡¯ll assign about a hundred soldiers to you within the next two days. With the current intensity of the battle, most of the troops are on the front lines, so it¡¯ll take a bit of time to gather them."

    "Thank you for your trust, sir!" Rhett replied solemnly, epting the assignment without hesitation.

    "Good. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. I expect you to perform well and earn more des. I¡¯ll have someone take you to the secondary fortress dormitories¡ªbe ready to receive orders at any time."

    "No problem, sir. However, I have a special request," Rhett finally said.

    "Go on," Anbiru replied.

    "To be honest, I¡¯ve brought along two alchemists this time¡ªHank, a second-level alchemist, and my youngest son, Talyas, an apprentice alchemist. I believe they can be of more use in the alchemy workshop in the military supply department. Also, I¡¯d like to request an executioner position for Talyas. I think the more powerful the orc captives he executes, the better it¡¯ll hone his courage."

    "Oh? Is that so..." Anbiru considered it for a moment, staring at the sand table before nodding. "Alright, that¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ll arrange it. Our supply department could use some help with the current demand anyway."

    Rhett was overjoyed but kept his expression calm, thanking Anbiru. "Thank you, sir!"

    "Just a minor matter," Anbiru replied dismissively.

    After leaving the central war fortress, Rhett¡¯s group headed to their assigned quarters in the secondary fortress area.

    Hank and Talyas parted ways with the group after being assigned to the alchemy workshop. But before they left, Rhett reminded them that executing orcs was their top priority, and they couldn¡¯t miss any opportunity. He also asked Hank to supervise Talyas to ensure he didn¡¯t ck off.

    The canyon defense line was filled with fortresses.

    In fact, fortresses were originally military strongholds before they became thefortable residences of nobles.

    But the fortresses on the canyon defense line were still primarily military fortifications, storing troops and defending against orc invasions.

    As a veteran of the area, Rhett knew the defense line wasn¡¯t literally in a canyon, but the front line was vast, with over a hundred fortresses and supporting military facilities. The high ground gave them a defensive advantage, making it difficult for the orcs to attack.

    Given this strategic importance, most facilities like the alchemy workshop, prison, execution grounds, and dining halls were located within the fortresses.

    The dormitories were no exception and were collectively referred to as the secondary fortress.

    Rhett arrived at Fortress No. 1¡ªa dormitory-only fortress simply numbered.

    His previous quarters had been in Fortress No. 11, so this new assignment wasn¡¯t familiar to him, but Rhett wasn¡¯t picky.

    However, just as he settled into a room, a light screen appeared before him.

    Staring at the message, Rhett¡¯s lips curled into a smile.

    "It¡¯s already started... Excellent!"

    "Work hard, Talyas. If you do, your father will surely reap greater rewards," Rhett thought to himself.

    The amodations in the secondary fortress weren¡¯t too harsh. In this world, building fortresses didn¡¯t require much manpower or time, so the spaces were quite spacious.

    Only fortresses made with special materials processed by alchemists were time-consuming andbor-intensive to build, and those were usually reserved for the front lines, not for dormitories.

 Chapter 143: The Slaughter Feast

    Their pace slowed down as they traversed the vast canyon, with Helian Peak stretching from north to south, forming four or five small ridges and six or seven small gullies, its rocky terrain rugged and treacherous. While they could have taken a detour, crossing the steep peak ahead was the quickest route for Rhett¡¯s team to reach the nearest Bloodstained River. Taking the longer path would have added another half hour to their journey.

    For someone like Rhett, a veteran of over ten years who knew the routes well, climbing such terrain was amon urrence. His experience quickly led him to a path that, while appearing perilous, was actually suitable for their passage.

    Leading the way, Rhett gave a subtle hand gesture that indicated climbing. With wind elements swirling around his feet, he stepped on firm rocks, using earth elements to fill depressions or create footholds when the terrain became too difficult. In this manner, he resolved obstacles as they arose.

    Ten minutester, under the cover of night, the hundred-man team crossed Helian Peak and arrived at another wend. The ground was moist and sticky, leaving footprints as they passed. However, with several mages in the team, including four stationed at the rear, cleaning up the tracks left behind was an easy task.

    As the night deepened, cold winds began to blow. After three hours of marching, crossing the Bloodstained River and various terrains, Rhett¡¯s team finally arrived at the enemy¡¯s rear battlefield, as directed by Anbiru.

    This wasn¡¯t the orc stronghold; otherwise, with their current strength, approaching would have been tantamount to suicide. Instead, this area, located behind the front lines, was upied by smaller orc squads on missions. Rhett¡¯s objective, based on intelligence from scouts and other sources, was to eliminate a squad of orcs containing royal bloodlines.

    By now, they had approached Crow Peak, a pitch-ck, sinister mountain that loomed like a terrifying demon with outstretched ws. Its eerie appearance wasn¡¯t just due to its jagged rocks but also because of its dark stones, which, even in daylight, gave off a shadowy and indistinct aura. Knowing the terrain wasplex and the intelligence unclear, Rhett wisely chose to lead his team around the peak from a distance.

    Half an hourter, they came across a clearing in the forest, where a zing bonfire illuminated the night, casting its light on the surrounding menacing orc figures. The air was thick with the stench of blood.

    The orc group numbered over 300, including more than forty of royal blood. Under normal circumstances, such a force would have been too formidable for Rhett¡¯s team. However, ording to the information provided by Anbiru, these orcs had recently endured a brutal battle, leaving many wounded and theirbat effectiveness severely diminished.Standing at the edge of the forest, Rhett recalled the details from Anbiru¡¯s note about this orc squad:

    "In addition to twenty-three Bloodmoon Werewolves and Phantom Venomous Serpents, the remaining Nightcatmen, Wildboarmen, and Minotaurs are roughly equal in number."

    With a clear picture in mind, Rhett turned around and made a series of hand gestures. His hands formed an "O" shape, a horn shape, and then a wed hand¡ªsymbols for Wildboarmen, Minotaurs, and Nightcatmen, respectively. He then signaled the number one hundred, followed by gestures indicating Phantom Venomous Serpents and Bloodmoon Werewolves.

    Upon seeing Rhett''s signals, the soldiers behind him were visibly shaken, their hearts sinking.

    Three hundred orcs and over forty of royal blood? The numbers were overwhelming¡ªthis seemed like an impossible battle to win!

    However, when Rhett''s hands formed a downward-facing flower, symbolizing severe injury, the soldiers'' eyes lit up. Of course, Anbiru wouldn¡¯t send them to their deaths¡ªthis was a crippled enemy force ripe for the taking! Their spirits soared as newfound confidence surged through the ranks.

    Finally, Rhett spread his arms, wrists bent, and gently pushed forward¡ªa signal for a half-surrounding advance.

    Under the moonlight, the soldiers began spreading out to the left and right nks, forming a slightly concave arc as they moved to encircle the enemy in the forest.

    To ensure the sess of their uing actions, Rhett even conducted a quick simtion. As the ripples of his vision faded away, a cold smile curled on his lips.

    Rustle, rustle, rustle.

    The team advanced through the forest, the rustling of leaves and underbrush echoing in the night as they moved at full speed. Rhett knew that with a hundred men, stealth wasn¡¯t an option¡ªthey would inevitably alert the orcs. So, rather than attempting a silent approach, he opted for speed and efficiency.

    After all, the enemy was made up of wounded troops. Even if they tried to flee, how fast could they really go?

    As the distant glow of the bonfire came into view and the trees thinned out, Rhett sensed the orcs had detected their presence. There was a noticeable increase in panic andmotion among the enemy.

    ¡°Guludazkafibu¡­¡±

    A strange sound echoed from the area illuminated by the fire. Rhett recognized it as orcish, anguage he had be familiar with during his ten years on the battlefield. While not fluent, he could understand basic phrases, and this one was clear: "The human army ising¡ªBloodmoons and Phantoms, run first!"

    The orcs'' reaction was exactly as Rhett had anticipated, but he had already prepared for this scenario. He quickly issued orders: "Archers, target the Wildboarmen and Minotaurs. Knights, nk from both sides, and leave one team to protect the archers and mages from the front-line assault! I¡¯ll execute the decapitation strategy!"

    Rhett''smands were delivered rapidly as he charged forward with the vanguard. As they burst into the clearing, he saw a line of orcs missing limbs and bloodied, yet resolute in their charge toward them. The sound of hooves echoed through the forest as the Minotaurs and Wildboarmen pounded the ground, shattering the stillness of the night.

    Flowing Sand Technique!

    Earth Spike!

    Rhett initiated his counterattack, his mental power condensing a zone of flowing sand that engulfed the orcs ahead. They were trapped, their legs bound by the shifting ground, immobilized. The subsequent Earth Spikes tore through the helpless orcs, piercing them through with lethal precision.@@novelbin@@

    In an instant, over twenty orcs were in.

    The advantages of earth magic were on full disy in this battlefield.

    Screams of agony filled the air as the orcs fell. With no immediate opposition, Rhett pressed on, his body aglow with a green aura, speeding forward. But before he had gone twenty meters, a group of Nightcatmen appeared, agile and deadly, leaping at him from the shadows.

    Nightcatmen were fast, agile, and covered in pitch-ck fur that blended seamlessly with the night, making them nearly invisible¡ªnatural-born assassins. In small-scale nighttime battles, they were often the first targets for concentrated human attacks.

    Rhett¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he employed the most effective method against them¡ªcasting Sand Wolf Howl!

    The earth elements gathered frantically, and three massive sand wolves appeared in the sky, their bodies glowing a pale yellow as they descended from the trees, instantly pouncing on three third-level Nightcatmen.

    The sand wolves tore through the Nightcatmen with ease¡ªtheir stealthy speed was no match for their fragile bodies, which crumbled under the wolves'' ws.

    Blood and flesh scattered like rain, creating chaos among the remaining orcs.

    "Awwooo!"

    Suddenly, Rhett¡¯s ears caught a familiar sound, and his pupils contracted. He knew that sound all too well¡ªa Bloodmoon Werewolf in a bloodthirsty frenzy.

    To the untrained ear, it might have sounded like any ordinary howl, but Rhett had heard it enough times to recognize it instantly!

    In the past, facing a fully-powered Bloodmoon Werewolf, he might not have been confident of victory. But now, he was more than ready.

    A cold smile crossed Rhett''s lips as he controlled the three sand wolves, directing them to charge at the royal bloodline orcs retreating from the rear.

    "Gurulzaki¡­"

    More strange orcish words echoed through the night. Rhett couldn¡¯t fully grasp the grammar, but like recognizing a familiarnguage from his previous life, he could discern most of its meaning.

    The royal-blooded orcs had decided to abandon their retreat and fight to the death!

    That suited Rhett just fine.

    The twenty-some Bloodmoon Werewolves and Phantom Venomous Serpents had realized that with a fourth-level Archmage like Rhett pursuing them, their chances of escape were slim. Desperate, they turned to make a final stand.

    Among them, a fourth-level Bloodmoon Werewolf, now in a bloodthirsty frenzy, let out a mad howl, despite one of its eyes being gouged out and one of its powerful legs broken. Its red fur, drenched in blood, exuded an ominous aura.

    Though surrounded by a blood-red glow, its crazed state offered limitedbat effectiveness due to its injuries. The remaining orcs were in simrly dire conditions¡ªmissing limbs, blind, or otherwise crippled. They shed with Rhett¡¯s forces, their struggle a violent symphony of blood and fire in the night.

    In this situation, the oue of the battle heavily depended on the high-levelbatants¡ªRhett and the two royal-blooded enemies. The victory of these powerful forces would greatly determine the final result of this small-scale battle.

    While Rhett was engaged in a fight with the fourth-tier Bloodmoon Werewolf, he used three sand wolves to entangle his opponent, not in a hurry to kill it immediately. Instead, he cast a Rockfall spell to block the retreat of the fourth-tier Phantom Venomous Serpent, which was hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

    With a thunderous roar, the explosion scattered dust into the air.

    <strong>Hiss hiss hiss...</strong>

    The Phantom Venomous Serpent, startled by the Rockfall¡¯s impact, slithered out of the underbrush. Its head was adorned with a cobra-like hood, and its triangr green eyes gleamed with an eerie light in the darkness. Its body was covered not in fur but in scales of ck, gray, and yellow spots, and it moved by swaying its massive tail from side to side.

    It nced at the direction of the Bloodmoon Werewolf, a malicious glint shing in its eyes. But the scene that followed filled it with terror.

    The three sand wolves, forming a tripod-like formation, closed in on the Bloodmoon Werewolf that Rhett had strategically trapped in the center. Suddenly, with a loud boom, three simultaneous explosions erupted, unleashing the immense power of earth elements.

    The three sand wolves disintegrated in the st, but the Bloodmoon Werewolf, already hampered in its movements, was unable to escape the explosion''s range. It let out a defiant howl before being consumed by the st.

    Its red fur turned pitch ck, its life extinguished without hope of survival.

    The lone fourth-tier Phantom Venomous Serpent''s eyes widened in disbelief. Its n had been to use the Bloodmoon Werewolf as a distraction, allowing it to strike with its venom at the right moment. Despite its severe injuries, the serpent¡¯s venom was still potent, and if its n had seeded, they might have turned the tide.

    But with the Bloodmoon Werewolf¡¯s death, their n was shattered.

    Without hesitation, the Phantom Venomous Serpent turned and fled.

    Earth mages held a significant advantage overnd creatures on the battlefield, and with its experience, the serpent knew that Rhett, a peak fourth-tier Archmage, was not an opponent it could face head-on in its current state.

    A sh of killing intent crossed Rhett¡¯s eyes as he watched the enemy flee¡ªexactly as he expected. Unhurried, he first turned to cast a few Earth Spikes, clearing out most of the third-tier orcs, making it easier for his soldiers to deal with the remnants.

    Then, he pursued the fleeing Phantom Venomous Serpent.

    Before leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to shout to his troops:

    "Safety first, but try to leave them alive. As long as they¡¯re not dead, do as you please!"

    Although Rhett couldn¡¯t match the Phantom Venomous Serpent''s speed, hepensated by casting spells to hinder its movement, slowing it down.

    In the canyon, the rtive speed theory applied¡ªif the enemy slows down, I speed up. Yes, that logic works perfectly.

    Half an hour passed, and the chase covered ten kilometers, with Rhett and the serpent locked in a relentless pursuit.

    Rhett¡¯s heart remained calm as water because, under his deliberate guidance, the enemy¡¯s escape route was being subtly directed by him.

 Chapter 144: Its All the Same with the Lights Off

    Finally, under the moonlight, a menacing shadow was cast on the ground. A hundred meters ahead was a small ridge running north to south. The Phantom Venomous Serpent panted heavily, ncing at the treacherous peak in front of it. Despair shed in its eyes as it realized the situation had turned grim. The prolonged chase and the stabbing pain in its left chest only added to its hopelessness.

    Its expression flickered with uncertainty before it decided to speak, "Human, spare my life, and I¡¯ll tell you an important secret!"

    Crossing the dangerous peak ahead would inevitably slow its pace in its current condition. So, while running, it simultaneously pleaded for mercy, clutching its heart with its green left hand.

    "Oh? What secret? Go ahead, I''m listening," Rhett replied, his toneced with curiosity.

    However, just as the Phantom Venomous Serpent opened its mouth to speak, three sand wolves appeared above it, their massive ws swiping toward its head.

    "Cunning human!" the serpent hissed in fury, feeling the pressure from above. Its triangr eyes shed with hatred as it suddenly swelled its throat, preparing to spit out a hidden poisonous liquid.

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    The ck venom blended into the night sky, hurtling toward Rhett.

    "Hmph! If we¡¯re talking about cunning, your kind, the Phantom Venomous Serpents, are undoubtedly the masters," Rhett sneered in contempt.Even as he mocked the serpent, he didn¡¯t ease his assault. After casting the Sand Wolf Howl, he immediately followed up with a Ground Spike to neutralize the iing venom.

    Just to be safe, Rhett also summoned ayer of armor on his body¡ªa solid, rock-colored armor with a faint earthy glow emanating from it. This was the sixth-tier Earth spell¡ªRock Armor!

    With this imprable armor enveloping him, Rhett no longer feared the serpent''s venom. In battle, even the slightest mistake could be fatal; without absolute safety, one could still be vulnerable to the venom.

    A drill-like spike, glowing with an earthy hue, tore through the air with a sharp whistling sound, colliding with the venom. A sizzling sound followed as the venom was neutralized.

    "Nonsense! If you spare me, I¡¯ll give you all my scales!" The Phantom Venomous Serpent twisted its body, dodging two of the descending sand wolves. However, the difort in its chest caused it to fail to evade the third wolf.

    The sand wolf''s w struck its shoulder, and the earth element rapidly expanded before exploding.

    <em>Boom!</em>

    Violent earth energy filled the air, and through the dust, the serpent''s twisted figure could be seen.

    A sharp, high-pitched wail echoed through the forest.

    Rhett seized the opportunity tounch another attack, targeting the serpent¡¯s weak spot with Ground Spike and Earth Spear.

    Despite appearing unscathed, Rhett knew the Phantom Venomous Serpent was far from unharmed. He had noticed a subtle indentation in its chest, along with faint traces of crimson¡ªevidence of internal injuries.

    In an earlier simtion, Rhett had quickly caught up with the serpent, but during their fight, he had narrowly avoided being hit by its venom. The battle hadn''tsted long before the serpent had clutched its heart and died.

    Only after examining its corpse did Rhett discover that the serpent had sustained a heavy blow to its chest, severely damaging its internal organs. Its seemingly unblemished exterior had only been a facade.

    Now, the serpent, which had been feigning calm, was ovee with panic. Despair filled its eyes as the dust cleared.

    The Phantom Venomous Serpent, now kneeling on the ground, was bleeding from its mouth, and its scales were beginning to decay. It was in a pitiful state.

    Just as it prepared to beg for mercy, a ground spike pierced through its neck.

    "Hmm? Still alive? Not aiming for my vital points?" The serpent''s mind raced with these thoughts.

    But before it could react further, two more spikes pierced its green hands, and a massive boulder descended from above, knocking the helpless serpent unconscious.

    Rhett swiftly approached, confident that his Rock Armor would protect him from any residual venom. He quickly hoisted the barely alive fourth-tier Phantom Venomous Serpent onto his shoulder and began heading back to rejoin his troops.

    On the way back, Rhett asionally noticed notifications about his destiny points increasing. He didn¡¯t need to think twice to know that it was likely from Tuck and Riley finishing off the wounded orcs.

    With a faint smile on his lips, Rhett quickened his pace.

    When he returned to the forest clearing, the sounds of battle had mostly died down. Only three human corpsesy on the ground, while the faces of many more lifeless orcs were contorted in death.

    A few orcs were still struggling, caught between escape and futile resistance, knowing they would meet their end either way.

    Mackov was calmly dealing with thest group of orcs, coordinating with the archers behind him. As he concentrated, a green wind wall suddenly formed in front of him.

    <em>Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª</em>

    The strong wind extinguished the campfire, and even the torches flickered and flew in the opposite direction, casting the area into darkness.

    Twenty or so knights skilled in archery pulled back their bows and released their arrows. The sound of the bowstrings snapped simultaneously, sending arrows whizzing through the wind wall, their speed doubling as they pierced the bodies of the orcs who could barely move.

    These orcs, known for their resilience, began to sumb as the poison-tipped arrows embedded in their bodies took effect. Their wide, enraged eyes soon dulled as their bodies went limp and copsed to the ground.

    The arrows had beenced with poison¡ªnot just any poison, but a potent one specifically designed for this purpose. In a direct confrontation, orcs with thick hides, like boar-headed and bull-headed beasts, were tough to kill with arrows unless one could hit a critical spot like the eyes or mouth.

    The poison known as "ck Raven''s Bane" was the perfect solution for lower-tier knights. Once the arrow breached the orcs'' defenses, the poison quickly spread through their bodies, draining their life force.

    As the orcs'' life force rapidly faded, their angry, wide-open eyes gradually closed.

    Tuck, remembering his father''s orders, skillfully finished off the incapacitated orcs with a swift blow to the head.

    Only then did he take a moment to examine the dead boar-headed and bull-headed orcs, his eyes filled with awe.

    Earlier, he had fought these creatures and could now attest to their legendary strength. Even with his naturally powerful physique, he couldn¡¯t match the sheer brute force of these orcs, who relied solely on their bodies to unleash devastating attacks.

    Each sh left his hands numb, and their thick hides meant his sword strikes barely pierced their flesh.

    He had no choice but to rely on Phantom Rewind to avoid a direct confrontation.

    The boar-headed orcs had tough, red skin resembling that of raw sausages. Their pig-like heads bore two short but sturdy tusks on either side of their noses.

    The bull-headed orcs, on the other hand, had massive brass-colored horns, sharp and deadly in a charge. Their limbs, particrly their wrists and hooves, were deceptively slender, but their explosive power and straight-line speed were terrifying.

    The three dead soldiers had been unable to escape the bull-headed orcs'' charges in time.

    As Tuck inspected the corpses of the orcs, Kurs strolled over and muttered as he gazed at the dark, lifeless body of a Night Catman, "These Night Catmen are so ck, you''d never see anything with the lights off."

    "Ha! And you said you weren''t interested in Night Catmen," Tadder, covered in blood, couldn¡¯t resist teasing. He immediately perked up at Kurs''sment and exaggeratedly added, "What does it matter if they''re ck? nning to bring one to your room? Oh, heavens, your tastes are wild!"

    The battle had barely ended, and these two friends had already started bickering again, prompting Rhett, who had just arrived and observed for a few minutes, to smile helplessly.

    "Tadder, Kurs, if you want to bring a few female orcs back with you, make sure you perform well. Once the war is over, I might trade some merits for a few to take home," Rhett¡¯s calm and steady voice echoed from a nearby thicket.

    <em>Rustle, rustle</em>¡ªthe bushes parted, revealing Rhett''s figure to the others.

    "Are you serious?" Kurs hurried over, his steps quickening.

    "Yes, but let me warn you in advance: there¡¯s no future between humans and orcs, so you¡¯d better not entertain any... ''bring them to your room'' ideas," Rhett replied with a smirk and a shrug.

    The canyon defenses allowed soldiers to exchange military merits for orcs to take back home, but the requirements were strict. Only the weakest orcs could be traded¡ªthose with even slightly better talent or strength were off-limits, let alone any of royal blood.

    "Sir, you''ve got it all wrong! I just want one to wake me up in the morning," Tadder brazenly quipped.

    "Heavens! Leave it to you toe up with such ridiculous excuses!" Kurs retorted with a mocking tone.

    Riley, seeing his father return safely, felt a weight lift from his heart. He walked up to greet him with joy, "Commander, I''m so relieved you''re back safe!"

    "Indeed, your safe return is the best news!" Gaile, holding a longsword, also stepped forward to meet Rhett, his gaze full of admiration as he looked at the Phantom Venomous Serpent corpse Rhett had brought back.

    Once again, he was astonished by Rhett¡¯s power. His father had once told him that Phantom Venomous Serpents were as fearsome as Bloodmoon Werewolves, holding a considerable advantage in battles against those of equal strength.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett, meeting the admiring gazes of hisrades, nodded with a smile. He then called out, "Good work, everyone. Rest here for a while, and then we¡¯ll celebrate with beast wine!"

    There were no deafening cheers¡ªnoise discipline was essential on the battlefield.

    Rhett then nced around and noticed some orcs still clinging to life. He turned to Tuck and said, "Finish off the ones still breathing. Make it quick, and aim for their weak spots."

    "No problem!" Tuck confidently strode over to the severely injured, unconscious orcs.

    As Rhett saw the notifications about destiny points appear, his mood improved.

    A few minutester, when the notifications stopped, Rhett made a rough calction. Tonight¡¯s battle had earned him 36 destiny points.

    Adding the ten or so points he gained daily from Telles executing orcs, Rhett checked his system interface.

    "At this rate, it won¡¯t be long before I hit a thousand," he thought to himself.

    Back at the forest clearing, a new bonfire was lit, casting its glow on the faces of the soldiers.

    The scene grew quiet, with only the crackling of burning wood breaking the silence.

    Instead of rushing to celebrate, Rhett first approached the bodies of the three fallen soldiers. Their chests were mangled, and theyy slumped against a tree, clearly having been struck by the bull-headed orcs with no time to evade.

    "Let us mourn our brave fallen soldiers..." Rhett bowed his head slightly in respect.

    In truth, the casualties from this battle were remarkably low. Rhett had personally dealt with the two severely injured fourth-tier royal-blooded orcs and most of the wounded third-tier orcs. Although there were many orcs left, their weakened state meant the soldiers easily overcame them.

    The surviving soldiers gathered behind Rhett, bowing their heads in mourning.

    As they paid their respects, many of them began to realize that their newmander was exceptionally capable.

    Before this mission, most of them had been reassigned from other units and knew little about their new leader.

    But after this battle, they witnessed firsthand Rhett''s prowess as a fourth-tier Archmage, utilizing his abilities to their full potential on the battlefield. Hismand of the troops, his attention to the nuances ofbat, and his strategic timing were all executed wlessly.

    With his keen sense of the bigger picture, Rhett had ensured a smooth and sessful battle for his soldiers.

    From that moment on, they fully respected and trusted theirmander.

    Even Gaile and Roy werepletely convinced of Rhett''s capabilities. They could only marvel at how his experience as a retired warlord had seamlesslyplemented his new powers as a fourth-tier Archmage, allowing him to disy his full potential.

    Ten minutester.

    After the mourning period, Rhett walked over to the Bloodmoon Werewolf¡¯s body, stepping on its fearsome head. He called out loudly, "Brothers, let¡¯s drink beast wine!"

    He then beckoned Mackov over with a smile, "You¡¯ve always wanted to try this, haven¡¯t you? Now¡¯s your chance. Drink to your heart¡¯s content!"

    Mackov mumbled as he approached Rhett and asked, "How do we get the beast wine?"

    "The best part, of course, is the heart¡¯s blood," Rhett replied with a grin. He then pulled out a dagger, expertly slicing open the Bloodmoon Werewolf¡¯s chest. Within moments, he skillfully cut through the arteries and lifted out a heart the size of a basketball.

 Chapter 145: Patrol

    With a gentle slice, a trickle of crimson blood flowed into the prepared goblet. Under the firelight, the blood coated Rhett''s fingers, seeping into the crevices of his nails. This scene was all too familiar for Rhett and other seasoned veterans, amon urrence on the battlefield. Yet, to others, it still appeared somewhat gruesome.

    Mackov, though, had a strong mental fortitude. He quickly suppressed the slight difort he felt and epted the blood-stained goblet, bringing it to his nose for a tentative sniff.

    A faint, metallic scent filled his nostrils.

    Mackov furrowed his brow slightly, studied the contents a bit longer, and then downed it in one gulp!

    As the beast wine slid down his throat, his eyes shed with surprise. Though it had smelled metallic, the thick liquid felt like a fiery mass, boiling as it flowed down his throat and warming his entire upper body.

    "Hmm, what a strange taste... It''s like drinking liquid fire!" Mackov smacked his lips and smiled. "One cup is enough for me. I wouldn''t want any more. But to have tasted the beast wine of a Bloodmoon Werewolf, this trip to the battlefield has been worthwhile."

    Rhett chuckled and nced past Mackov to the rest of the troops. "Everyone, you know the rules. The beast wine is self-serve. Tonight, there¡¯s enough Bloodmoon Werewolf wine for all! But you must finish it within a minute!"

    "Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

    To them, drinking the beast wine of a Bloodmoon Werewolf was not only a mark of honor but also something to boast about in the future.¡­

    After downing the crimson beast wine, the joy of victory shone on every soldier''s face.

    Having cut off parts of the beasts'' ears to take back as proof, Rhett and his team soon began their journey home.

    As they made their way back, the eastern sky began to brighten, the stars fading as the gray dawn slowly illuminated thend.

    On their return, Rhett coincidentally encountered Count Nilo, who was leading a hundred-man team heading southeast. The count seemed surprised to see Rhett but, due to the task at hand, could only wave from afar and couldn¡¯t stop to talk.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett, also slightly surprised, waved back and continued leading his team forward.

    They passed through numerous checkpoints and military fortresses along the front lines, finally returning to the rear of the camp.

    The soldiers needed rest, so after dismissing his team, Rhett headed to the central war castle with a few others.

    Although he didn¡¯t find Commander Anbiru in the main hall, a slightly plump man, who introduced himself as an assistant, was standing by the window.

    Noticing Rhett, the man greeted him with a smile, "Captain Rhett, I¡¯m Foddy, Assistant and Registrar to Lord Anbiru. I assume you¡¯re looking for themander? Unfortunately, he¡¯s out on a mission. You can report the results of your mission to me, and I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re recorded and ryed to him."

    Foddy¡¯s eyes lit up as he nced at the trophies Rhett¡¯s team had brought back¡ªnumerous beast ears¡ªand his attitude became noticeably more polite.

    "Foddy, may I ask... what happened to Assistant Daru?" Rhett inquired.

    "He''s fallen," Foddy interrupted, his eyes briefly reflecting sadness.

    Rhett paused, then sighed. "I¡¯m sorry to hear that."

    "Ah, it¡¯s all in the past now. Let¡¯s focus on your mission report," Foddy said, shaking his head. "I heard you were facing over three hundred heavily injured orcs. Lord Anbiru mentioned that this shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for you."

    "That¡¯s correct," Rhett nodded and began his report. "Wepletely wiped out 327 orcs, including 23 Bloodmoon Werewolves and Phantom Venomous Serpents, 102 Minotaurs, 110 Boarmen, and 70 Night Catmen."

    "Excellent! I¡¯m sure Lord Anbiru will be very pleased to hear this when he returns!" Foddy said with a smile as he jotted down the details on a thick piece of parchment. "Please also describe the battle itself."

    "Of course..."

    After spending about ten minutes providing a detailed report, Rhett left the ck fortress.

    He still had a few hours of free time.

    Missions didn¡¯te every day. When not assigned to a mission, his duties mostly involved rotating patrols, with the rest of the time being rtively free.

    ording to his schedule, he wouldn¡¯t need to lead his team on a patrol in a section of the Blood River until after midnight, so he had plenty of time during the day.

    He thought of Telles, who was currently bncing his roles as an alchemist and executioner, and decided to visit him.

    The supply depot¡¯s castle naming was straightforward¡ªthe castles housing alchemy workshops were named after various magical nts. Rhett already knew that Telles had been assigned to Windbell Castle.

    Just as he was about to head there, a notification appeared before him.

    <strong>[Family member has in a Tier 3 enemy. Destiny Points +3.]</strong>

    He paused mid-step.

    Well, well, it seemed Telles had just executed a Tier 3 orc. Based on this message, Rhett deduced that Telles was currently at the execution grounds, not the alchemy workshop.

    So, he changed course, following a narrowing path that led him to a dark, iron-fenced execution ground.

    Through the bars, he could see both outdoor execution sites, where numerous bloodstained guillotines were set up, and indoor ones within the castle ahead. Inside the castle, there were not only execution sites but also prison cells and interrogation rooms.

    Rhett scanned the area and quickly spotted Telles in a corner of the outdoor execution ground with a few other soldiers.

    In front of a guillotine, a Night Catmany bound in massive chains, unable to move.

    Telles stood focused beside the Night Catman, a shadowy energy gradually forming in front of him, striking the orc¡¯s throat.

    This process repeated several times before the Night Catman was finally killed. As Rhett watched, another notification appeared:

    <strong>[Family member has in a Tier 3 enemy. Destiny Points +3.]</strong>

    With a pleased expression, Rhett showed his credentials to the guards and was allowed entry into the outdoor execution ground¡ªonly specialized personnel were permitted in the indoor areas unless granted special permission by themander.

    At that moment, around 50 to 60 executions were taking ce simultaneously¡ªthe frequency of battles naturally increased the number of orc prisoners.

    All around, the orcs¡¯ final words echoed, spoken in themon tongue:

    "Spare me, human, I¡¯ll work for you!"

    "Sooner orter, the orcs will trample yournds!"

    "Orcs will never be ves!"

    Their voices were rough, like the howling wind¡ªsome begged, some cursed, some raged.

    Orcs had their ownnguage, but over the long years, amonnguage had developed, allowing humans and orcs from various countries tomunicate. However, due to their unique anatomy, their version of themonnguage sounded much heavier and more bizarre than that spoken by humans.

    It was like the difference between standard speech and a regional dialect.

    Although, to the orcs, human speech probably sounded strange as well...

    <em>Snap!</em>

    About ten meters away, a Minotaur that had just been cursing was beheaded, its blood sttering onto the tall, imposing executioner. But he seemed unfazed, casually wiping the blood from his face and spitting.

    "I¡¯ve always hated you Minotaurs. I¡¯ll take you down one by one!" he muttered.

    He nced at Rhett as he passed by and offered a simple, friendly smile.

    Rhett returned the smile before continuing on his way.

    "Father, you¡¯re not on a mission?" Telles, looking slightly fatigued, said in surprise when he saw Rhett approaching.

    "I justpleted a mission. I¡¯m free for now but have to go on patrolter tonight," Rhett replied, smiling. "How does it feel to execute orcs?"

    "It¡¯s... not bad!" Telles¡¯s eyes lit up. "It was tough at first, but after doing it a few times, there¡¯s a certain satisfaction in watching these orcs, who are much stronger than me, helplessly howl before me!"

    He then scratched his head and, ncing at therge, armored knights around him, added sheepishly, "But I have to thank these officers. They¡¯ve given me so many opportunities to practice, even letting me take their targets."

    "Oh?" Rhett nced at the four ck-armored knights behind Telles. After a moment of thought, he pulled out four bottles of Boiling Potions and a pouch filled with gold coins, generously saying:

    "Thank you all for looking after my son. These are just small tokens of my appreciation. I hope you¡¯ll continue to help Telles build his courage."

    Originally, Rhett had intended to save these potions for Tuck, but he changed his mind. It was more worthwhile to offer these as a gesture of goodwill, ensuring that Telles would continue to be well looked after, helping him umte destiny points more quickly.

    This was a far better investment than four potions!

    As he spoke, Rhett subtly released his spiritual energy.

    An invisible force radiated outward.

    The four knights immediately stiffened. Three of them were second-tier knights, and one was a third-tier knight. Every fourth-tier individual they had encountered had been their superior.

    Originally, these knights were used to dealing with orcs, who were rougher than themselves, and had grown tired of it. So, when they finally encountered a fresh-faced young recruit, they found it refreshing and decided to show him some special care. They never expected that his father would turn out to be a powerful Tier 4 Magister!

    Now, as they looked at Rhett, their gazes were filled with respect. Initially hesitant to ept the gifts Rhett offered, they eventually took them under his firm insistence and warm persuasion.

    Returning to his quarters, Rhett wasted no time. He sat down and immediately activated the system.

    <strong>[Would you like to initiate a Real Simtion? Each simted day will consume 1 Destiny Point.]</strong>

    "Yes!"

    Rhett exhaled slowly and entered a state of meditation¡ªhis intention was to consume part of his over 300 Destiny Points to test how much it would take to break through his bottleneck.

    He ran the simtion over 300 times.

    When his Destiny Points dwindled to just 50, which he kept as a reserve, Rhett finally opened his eyes, concluding thest simtion.

    <strong>[Real Simtion Complete. Please select one attribute to retain.]</strong>

    <strong>[1. Constitution]</strong>

    <strong>[2. Battle Energy]</strong>

    <strong>[3. Mental Strength]</strong>

    "I choose Mental Strength!"

    With that decision, the screen vanished. Though only a minute had passed in reality, Rhett had mentally lived through over 300 days!

    The progress in chipping away at the bottleneck in his mind was noticeable.

    Taking a deep breath, Rhett''s eyes grew more contemtive. A few minutester, he calmed his mindpletely.

    Reflecting on the experience, Rhett had consumed 321 Destiny Points, equivalent to 321 days of uninterrupted meditation. Now, as he carefully assessed his mental state, he realized that the bottleneck blocking the expansion of his Mental Strength had indeed weakened, though only slightly.

    Based on the ratio of progress to effort, Rhett estimated that it would take another seven or eight rounds of such simtions topletely break through the obstacle.

    "In other words, I still need over 2,000 Destiny Points?" Rhett thought to himself, feeling the weight of this realization.

    In real terms, this would mean spending seven to eight years in constant meditation, doing nothing else.

    Given the constraints of real life, where uninterrupted meditation wasn¡¯t feasible, the actual time required would likely double.

    Rhett considered this estimate and found it to be fairly realistic.

    At the Magister level, those without superior talent or ample resources often spent 30 to 50 years progressing through a single small stage.

    However, Rhett had already gathered 24 potions, solving the issue of resource scarcity for enhancing his Mental Strength. Now, he just needed to focus on umting enough Destiny Points to break through the bottleneck.

    With this realization, Rhett¡¯s mind eased a little.

    "Yes, I¡¯ve already gained so many advantages¡ªthere¡¯s no need to be greedy. Unchecked desires will consume a person in the end..."

    He calmed himself and resumed his meditation.

    As night fell and the waxing moon ascended into the sky, Rhett led his team out again, heading toward the Blood River.

    Though the Blood River nearly circled the entire canyon, years of warfare had divided the military camp into specific sections, each guarding crucial points along the river.

    "Destination: Area 25!" Rhett ordered his team.

    Two columns of soldiers followed Rhett, marching toward the western moon.

    The terrain of the canyon wasplex, and the 25th area that Rhett was heading to was a small valley, resembling a stone trough wedged between two rolling hills. A pale red stream flowed through the boulders at the valley floor. To the right was a steep, hundred-meter-high cliff, and to the left, a dark slope rose ominously in the night.

    Any area of the Blood River designated and segmented by the military camp wasn¡¯t an ordinary, t, and open section¡ªthose areas were easier to patrol and defend.

    This particr section had a narrow but deep stream flowing through the small valley, nked by steep cliffs and abundant rocks, making it an ideal spot for concealing movements.

    As the sound of the stream grew louder, the soldiers'' footsteps became quieter.

    Finally, Rhett raised his hand and signaled for the team to halt. They obeyed immediately, stopping in their tracks.

 Chapter 146: August

    Upon arriving at the location, out of caution based on battlefield experience, Rhett did not immediately speak. Instead, he surveyed the surroundings, taking in the terrain and positioning. He pointed toward the southeastern and northwestern banks of the blood-colored stream. In the northeastern direction, about ten meters from the shore,y some boulders on a hillside, hidden in the shadows, with many wide crevices.

    He nodded toward the men behind him and assigned Gelei, Roy, and their team to that position. The two of them were delighted, as it was clear that this spot near the riverbank was quite safe, with plenty of hiding spots. They quickly led their men across the stream and began searching the boulders along the hillside.

    Next, Rhett deployed six squads, each consisting of ten men, to the top of the slopes on either side of the river. They hid within the resilient shrubs growing on the steep peaks, serving as lookout points.

    Three squads remained, two of which were archers. Rhett instructed them:

    "Squads 9 and 10, you will patrol the southeastern and northwestern ends of the valley. Stay within a 1.5-kilometer radius of the endpoints and always remain within sight of the lookout points."

    "Understood!"

    "Squad 1, follow me," Rhettmanded. Squad 1,posed of Rhett''s own men and two Tier 3 knights, was the most powerful group, akin to a sharp de ready to strike at the enemy''s heart.

    They advanced toward the northeast, traversing the valley and searching the ravines between the ridges but found nothing. Then they moved southwest, crossing the valley''s endpoint and continuing their search.

    The night was rtively peaceful. After several hours, the sky in the east began to lighten as dawn gradually reced the stars. As they followed the riverbank further west, they reached a small basin where the blood-colored river branched into a smaller stream about half a meter wide. This stream wound its way down from higher ground, carving a path through the rocks and nourishing the flowers and grasses along its banks. Further along, it even gave rise to arge patch of shrubs, with lush grasnds on either side.Rhett''s gaze followed the stream''s flow to arge area of shrubs about a hundred meters away. Narrowing his eyes, he raised his right hand and made a signal¡ªa light grasping motion.

    The ten men behind him were suddenly alert¡ªwere there nightstalkers ahead?

    Rhett then lowered his right hand and raised his left, showing a gesture of six.

    The tension eased. Only six nightstalkers wouldn''t pose much of a threat.

    Rustling sounds emerged as Rhett''s group came to a halt, alerting the nightstalkers hidden in the shrubs to their presence.

    Before Rhett could approach, two nightstalkers suddenly leaped from the depths of the bushes. Agile and swift, they bounded through the air, lightly touching the tops of the shrubs as they charged toward Rhett''s group.

    These two nightstalkers, with pitch-ck eyes that seemed like voids, were covered in dense ck fur. Their waists and limbs were slender, resembling human adults, but their hands and feet each bore five sharp ws with twisted, deadly curves.

    "Meow!"

    A sharp cry pierced the air, revealing two rows of yellowed fangs. If one looked closely, bits of flesh were still stuck between their teeth.

    The nightstalkers were incredibly fast, like specters of the night, their movements unpredictable. But as theynded, they suddenly froze in ce, as if caught in a stasis spell.

    Beneath their feet, a pool of yellow quicksand had quietly formed, its powerful suction pulling the nightstalkers deeper.

    Rhett dashed forward, shouting, "Tucker, these two nightstalkers are yours to handle. The other four are fleeing. Celine, Talos, Kars, you three,e with me."

    "Understood!"

    The four of them charged into the shrubs. Rhett, using his mental senses, had already determined that the two Tier 3 nightstalkers that had just attacked were decoys. The other four nightstalkers, covered by the distraction, were sneaking away.

    As Rhett passed the two trapped nightstalkers, their shrill cries echoed in his ears, filled with frantic rage.

    His expression turned cold as he unleashed two precise earth spikes, piercing their throats and silencing them instantly.

    A few secondster, the green shrubs faded from their view as they left them behind. The distant hills were bathed in golden-red light as dawn broke.

    A red sun rose steadily over the dark earth''s shoulder. To the southwest, the entire worldy still before them, gray and featureless.

    Yet Rhett spotted the four nightstalkers fleeing toward the rising sun. To increase their speed, they had reverted to all fours, crawling like animals.

    As the night''s shadows melted away and the earth awakened with color, the jet-ck forms of the nightstalkers became starkly visible against the brightening sky.

    "Commander, no need for you to act. We can handle these nightstalkers!" Kars, d in light armor, said confidently from behind Rhett.

    "Very well. I trust in your abilities. Take them down cleanly and bring any survivors to me," Rhett responded calmly.

    "Understood!"

    Kars and Talos both unleashed their brilliant white light, their holy energy swirling around them. With white dove-like silhouettes appearing at their feet, they shot forward like meteors toward the southwest.

    The four nightstalkers, hearing the sonic booms behind them, nced at each other in terror. In unison, they twisted their bodies and lunged backward, attempting a desperate counterattack.

    Kars showed no fear; in fact, he grinned. Wielding a short sword, he moved like a phantom, shing an arc of sword energy that severed one nightstalker¡¯s right arm in a single stroke.

    With a swift kick, he sent the nightstalker flying through the air. The creature tumbled for over ten meters before crashing to the ground, its chest caved in with a clearly visible shoe print. Too weak to escape, the nightstalkery twitching on the ground, blood trickling from its mouth.

    Meanwhile, Talos, wielding a massive sword, took a more brutal approach. A shimmering unicorn appeared as he struck, expertly timing his attack to shatter the left and right arms of two nightstalkers simultaneously¡ªan overwhelming disy of force!

    Watching from behind, Rhett recognized the technique¡ªa holy skill called Unicorn¡¯s Wrath. He remembered Gelei using this technique during their battle against the Fire Feathered Eagle, though it seemed Talos was more skilled in its execution.

    The chase ended with Rhett''s side victorious, as expected.

    Kars and Talos returned, each dragging two nightstalkers behind them, their expressions triumphant.

    "Mission aplished, Commander! All four nightstalkers are alive!" Kars reported proudly.

    "Well done. Excellent work!" Rhett praised them without hesitation.

    Rhett smiled as he examined the four young nightstalkers. Three were Tier 1, and one was Tier 2. Their strength was too low to provide Destiny Points if killed, so he decided to take them back for interrogation. Even if they revealed nothing, they could still be handed over to Tyles.

    This was maximizing the benefits!

    "Let''s head back. Staying too far from the team can always lead to unexpected dangers," Rhett said, gesturing toward the four nightstalkers.

    Capturing the nightstalkers was merely a small incident during that night''s patrol. After a brief interrogation, Rhett found no valuable information.

    The rest of the night passed without incident.

    In the following days, routine patrols continued without any significant events, just as Rhett had anticipated. asionally, they encountered lone orcs, who were easily captured.

    For Rhett, these peaceful days were pleasant. Watching his Destiny Points umte daily felt like watching a stock or fund rise steadily.

    This calm periodsted for half a month.

    Then, on August 3rd.

    Rhett sat meditating in his room. Over the past two weeks, between the orcs Tyles had executed and his own battlefield victories, he had umted over 300 Destiny Points.

    He used them all in one go.

    Like waves crashing relentlessly against a dam, even the sturdiest rocks would eventually erode after countless strikes.

    After finishing more than 300 simtions, Rhett opened his eyes, savoring the sensation. The bottleneck that had been blocking him had worn down slightly, and he smiled with satisfaction.

    He then walked to the window, standing silently as the sky grew darker. The sun turned hazy, eventually resembling a white pearl hanging in the pale sky before vanishing to the west.

    Dusk arrived early, followed by a starless night, darker than usual.

    It felt like the night within the night, as if an extrayer of ck had draped over the earth.

    Rhett looked out the window at the withering willows, their shadows cast on the gray walls. A gust of wind made the branches sway like ghostly tendrils.

    "It''s about time..." Rhett muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Tucker, Rylei, Macoff. You three go on ahead and rejoin the squad. I''ll stop by the Central War Castle and catch up with you shortly."

    Once the three had left the barracks, Rhett recalled the news he had heard a few days ago about Viscount Gaspar ying three Bloodmoon Werewolves, confirming that reality had followed its expected course¡ªGaspar had indeed colluded with the orcs, and tonight, there would be a n against him!

    Rhett lightly tapped the window with his right hand, took onest look at the moon, and then left the room, heading toward the Central War Castle to report the situation to Commander Ambiru.

    He arrived in front of the troops, nning to conduct a routine inspection and check on the soldiers.@@novelbin@@

    But within two minutes, Ambiru, d in red armor and with a solemn expression, appeared in the night and walked straight to Rhett''s side.

    "Tonight, there''s a joint operation that will require you to coborate with Snowey''s unit," Ambiru said as he handed Rhett a rolled-up scroll. "The details of the mission are all recorded here."

    "Understood!" Rhett responded, though a trace of hesitation flickered across his face. "Commander Ambiru, I have something to report!"

    As he spoke, Rhett nced around and discreetly handed a crumpled piece of paper to Ambiru.

    Ambiru''s eyes shed with surprise.

    Nheless, he turned away, quickly unrolled the paper, and scanned the wrinkled text. His pupils suddenly contracted.

    When he turned back around, his voice had grown cold. "Rhett, is this information urate?"

    "It''s absolutely true. I''m willing to stake my military career on it!" Rhett''s gaze became serious.

    "There''s no need for that." Ambiru shook his head, clearly trusting Rhett. He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and shielded his mouth with his hand to prevent anyone from reading his lips. He whispered a few words.

    Once he finished speaking, Ambiru turned and left without looking back.

    At this point, a hint of joy appeared in Rhett''s eyes. He knew that a significant achievement was within reach!

    What Ambiru had just told him was that they would follow the troopster to verify the intelligence!

    "Everyone, remain on standby. Tonight, we will be conducting a joint mission with the Second Squad!" Rhett announced, standing still.

    Ten minutester.

    The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the distance, growing louder as they approached.

    In Rhett''s line of sight, Snowey led his troops around a castle, swiftly advancing toward them.

    When Rhett first saw Snowey''s unit, his heart sank. The troops behind Snowey appeared to be severely wounded, with many of their armor bearing scratches and damage. Some soldiers'' wounds seemed to have only recently scabbed over.

    The most troubling fact was that Snowey''s unit had only about fifty soldiers remaining, half of their original hundred-man strength!

    Snowey, d in ck armor, finally reached them. He saluted and said, "Second Squad Captain, Snowey!"

    "Temporary Squad Captain, Rhett," Rhett replied.

    Snowey nced at Rhett, who was unscathed, and at the nearly fullplement of soldiers behind him. His eyes showed a flicker of surprise, and he smiled. "It seems I was right before¡ªone day, you and I would fight side by side!"

    Rhett smiled back.

    "Did you just go through a tough battle?" Rhett deliberately looked at the troops behind Snowey and said, "Your unit doesn''t look in great shape."

    "Sigh..." Snowey sighed deeply, his expression gloomy. "Just yesterday, we were conducting a surprise attack in Zone 7, but we fell into an orc ambush. The orcs¡¯ numbers were double what our intelligence indicated, and we were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses."

    At that moment.

    In the third row behind Snowey, hidden among the soldiers, Gaspar couldn''t help but feel a surge of joy.

    ...

 Chapter 147: Unexpected Information!

    "Originally, I thought Snowey wouldn¡¯t be assigned a mission tonight, and that the ambush on that side might bepromised. But who would have thought that the situation would take such a turn, and they¡¯d end up on a joint mission with Rhett''s team? Truly, the heavens are on my side!"

    A cold glint shed in Gaspar''s eyes.

    "Rhett Green, for the humiliation you put me through before, tonight I¡¯ll make you pay back a hundredfold!" Gaspar seethed with hatred, recalling how he had been oppressed by Rhett not long ago. His anger was barely contained, and he even started fantasizing about how he would torture Rhett once he captured him tonight.

    However, listening to Rhett and Snowey''s conversation, his guilty conscience began to stir. A sense of unease crept over him, fearing that the two might somehow grow suspicious of him as they talked.

    "Whoo~" He exhaled deeply, reassuring himself, "How could they possibly discover me? He¡¯s not omniscient!"

    Soon after, the two finished their conversation and, without any further dy, led the troops tounch a full-scale attack toward the northeast.

    The troops passed through several checkpoints, descended a two-kilometer slope from the defensive line, and arrived at the ins.

    Shrouded in the darkness of night, they gradually reached the banks of the Bloody River. They ran along the riverbank in four columns, crossing barren brownnd, wading through shallow streams, and traversing reed marshes...

    Finally, when the night was at its deepest, the group arrived at a ck forest.The journey had taken the hundred-plus men four hours.

    Now, under the pitch-ck night, the ck forest seemed darker than ever.

    Dead branches swayed in the cold air, producing soft, mournful rustling sounds.

    Rhett scanned the surroundings with a calm expression, thinking that Gaspar had indeed chosen a suitable ce for his plot.

    The forest was eerily silent, with only the pitch-ck crows breaking the stillness.

    Rhett and Snowey were at the front of the group, whispering to each other. Snowey said, "I¡¯m familiar with the terrain ahead. Once we pass through this ck forest, there¡¯s a thousand-meter-wide ridge like a ck line. Beyond that ridge is a in, but after the ten-thousand-man battle there a year ago, it has be a wastnd. It might not be as you remember."

    "No problem, you can lead the way then," Rhett nodded.

    "I suggest we rest here for a bit. Some of my men are injured and need to catch their breath after such a long run," Snowey said as he nced back at his troops.

    "Alright."

    Following the orders of the two leaders, the hundred and fifty or so soldiers behind them took a brief rest.

    Some took the opportunity to eat dry rations, others drank from their water pouches, and some even found a bush to relieve themselves.

    Rhett, on the other hand, wandered aimlessly in the clearing. Though he appeared rxed, his mental energy was fully focused, keeping a close watch on Gaspar¡¯s every move.

    A few minutester, he noticed Gaspar loosening his belt, seemingly preparing to relieve himself.

    However, Gaspar suddenly walked toward a patch of ck bushes and disappeared through them. This action didn¡¯t draw anyone¡¯s attention.

    Even as his figure vanished into the bushes, no one seemed to notice.@@novelbin@@

    "I¡¯m going to relieve myself, I¡¯ll be back soon," Rhett frowned and said to Snowey before heading in the direction Gaspar had just disappeared.

    Concealing his presence, Rhett quietly followed about fifty meters behind Gaspar, crawling on the ground. He observed the other man carefully sneaking forward, hunching over and ncing back now and then.

    A cold smile yed on Rhett¡¯s lips as his eyes darted around, wondering when Ambiru would show up.

    Just a few secondster, Rhett sensed a strange shift in the air.

    No sooner had this feeling arisen than he heard a series of thudding sounds above¡ª"thud! thud! thud! thud!"

    Apanying the thudding was the eerie "meow, meow" wails of paining from above.

    Rhett looked up, noticing two shes of cold light, followed by arcs of powerful battle energy.

    Immediately, two cat ws, dripping with blood, fell about five meters to Rhett¡¯s left and right.

    Then, two nightstalkers, propelled by powerful inertia, crashed to the ground. They screamed in agony, writhing and convulsing on the forest floor.

    Rhett could faintly see that the nightstalkers¡¯ wrists had been severed, and there were stab wounds in their chests, with mes of fire-attributed battle energy burning in the night¡ªtestament to the terrifying power of a peak-level Earth Knight like Ambiru.

    The reactions of the nightstalkers made it clear: the fire-attributed battle energy continued to burn their bodies, spreading across their charred skin, causing them to scream in agony without end.

    At that moment, Ambiru finally descended from the tree, his eyes cold as he looked at the nightstalkers on the ground.

    Then he nced at Rhett, a smile forming on his lips. "Rhett, you¡¯ve done well! Gaspar indeed turned out to be a traitor. It seems Snowey¡¯s failed mission the other day is connected to him."

    "By the way, Gaspar is still ahead..." Rhett suddenly remembered, looking in the direction Gaspar had fled.

    "Don¡¯t worry, my men are already blocking his way," Ambiru reassured him.

    Just as he finished speaking, Rhett heard a scream¡ª"Ah!"

    And then a faint but distinct voice, "What are you doing? I¡¯m one of Snowey¡¯s men, here on orders for this mission..."

    "Ah!"

    Another scream, followed by silence.

    Rustling sounds approached as two burly men and a stout woman emerged from the darkness, dragging the unconscious Gaspar like a dead dog, leaving a long trail in the leaf-strewn dirt.

    The noise attracted the attention of the resting troops behind them. Footsteps approached in a rush, with Earth Knight Snowey arriving first. He was surprised to see Ambiru and the two men and one woman. "Ambiru, sir, you¡­ you came here too?"

    Then he saw Gaspar on the ground, along with the two nightstalkers, and his pupils contracted. A sense of dread crept into his heart, and his expression turned cold.

    Rhett quickly issued an order, "Everyone, return to your positions and wait for mymand. Do not leave without permission!"

    Seeing the Deputy Commander Ambiru here, the soldiers, despite their curiosity and shock, could only obey the order and retreat.

    "Commander Ambiru, Gaspar was colluding with the orcs?" Snowey clenched his fists.

    "Yes," Ambiru said gravely, patting Snowey on the shoulder. "But don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let yourrades¡¯ blood be spilled in vain. I¡¯ll take him back for a thorough interrogation and try to extract valuable information."

    "Sir, after the interrogation is over, I want to deal with him personally." Snowey¡¯s eyes turned blood-red as he red at Gaspar, his murderous intent palpable.

    "I promise you," Ambiru said. "But for now, you should return. I¡¯ve scouted ahead, and the number of orcs is higher than expected. There are even a few fifth-tier orcs, far beyond what your forces can handle!"

    Hiss¡­

    Rhett drew a sharp breath. Fifth-tier orcs ahead!

    Fortunately, he had contacted Deputy Commander Ambiru in advance. If they had continued over ck Ridge and fallen into Gaspar¡¯s trap, they would have lost their lives.

    Snowey, hearing this, looked despondent. Last time, they had fallen into an ambush and barely escaped with their lives. This time, they were lucky to have survived and caught the traitor!

    Rhett nodded. "Understood, Commander!"

    He then walked over to Snowey, patted him on the shoulder, and sighed. "Let¡¯s head back. Today, we exposed Gaspar and thwarted the ambush. Yourrades didn¡¯t die in vain."

    "Yes, Snowey, you should thank Rhett. He was the one who provided me with the intelligence," Ambiru added.

    Snowey froze, then turned to Rhett with disbelief in his eyes. "How did youe by such ssified information?"

    Everyone''s gaze turned to Rhett, curious for an exnation.

    Rhett hesitated briefly, then gave the prepared answer. "I¡¯m not entirely sure. Earlier today, while getting food in the mess hall, I felt something strange in my pocket. When I checked, I found this information written on what seemed to be an ordinary but specially made alchemical paper. Within a minute of my touch, it self-destructed."

    Ambiru and his men were taken aback, exchanging puzzled nces. Rhett¡¯s exnation sounded far-fetched.

    But after a moment of silence, they had no reason to doubt him and reluctantly epted the exnation.

    After all, no amount of spection could lead them to the truth of Rhett¡¯s inexplicable golden finger.

    Ambiru fell into contemtion, his mind racing with possibilities that diverged far from the truth. He nned to investigate further upon returning.

    "Thank you, Rhett!" Snowey said sincerely, bowing deeply.

    Rhett quickly helped him up, humbly saying, "No need to be so formal. I was just the messenger. I believe that if you had received such intelligence, you would have reported it immediately too."

    A glimmer of gratitude shed in Snowey¡¯s eyes. He pounded his chest with a fist and said solemnly, "No matter what, I owe you one. Once the war eases, we must sit down and have a drink together!"

    "A small matter!"

    "You all head back first. We didn¡¯t deal with that small group of orcs by the ridge earlier to avoid rming them. It¡¯s time to settle that!" Ambiru''s eyes shed with cold light.

    Rhett thought for a moment and added, "By the way, Commander Ambiru, there¡¯s something else I think you should know. I recalled that half a month ago, I heard that Gaspar seemed intent on keeping his son off the battlefield. That struck me as suspicious. It might be worth looking into during the interrogation."

    "Oh?" Ambiru¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned serious. "I¡¯ll keep that in mind. You all should head back now."

    "Norbert, Balentine, Crowley, Alek, Jennifer, follow me and prepare to move out!" Ambiru called out into the air.

    Instantly, two dark figures darted out from unknown corners. Ambiru took the lead, charging toward the distant ridge that looked like a ck line in the night. Behind him, five powerful figures, each at least at the fifth level, followed like wisps of smoke.

    Rhett silently watched for a moment before saying, "Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading back!"

    ...

    The return journey was uneventful.

    Back at Castle No. 1, Rhett, his two sons, and McCoff chatted for a while before settling down. Some began meditating, while others went to sleep.

    The day passed peacefully from moonset to moonrise, with time spent in quiet meditation.

    Late the next night, Rhett had already gathered his troops in the square, ready to set off for a patrol in a designated area.

    But then, Ambiru appeared from around a street corner a hundred meters away, one hand behind his back and a heavy expression on his face. He waved to Rhett from afar.

    Rhett¡¯s heart sank with a sense of foreboding, and he hurried over.

    "Commander Ambiru, is something wrong?" Rhett asked.

    "Yes, the results of Gaspar¡¯s interrogation are in." Ambiru''s face was dark.

    "Uh¡­ isn¡¯t that good news? You don¡¯t seem pleased," Rhett said, noticing Ambiru¡¯s heavy mood.

    Ambiru remained silent for a moment before saying, "While we did extract some useful information, such as orc squad activities and uing missions, we also learned that the royal bloodline reinforcements are from two royal tribes. Apparently, their high-ranking members made a wager over some mysterious item. It¡¯s perplexing." He shook his head.

    Rhett listened quietly as Ambiru paused and then continued, "If that were all, it would indeed be good news. But during the interrogation, when we pressed Gaspar about his son¡¯s whereabouts, it took three hours before he admitted that his son had been kidnapped by the orcs."

    This revtion shocked Rhett.

    He hadn¡¯t anticipated this twist¡ªsmall changes in their actions had evidently altered the course of events.

    He quickly asked, "But his son didn¡¯te to the front lines, right? How did the orcs manage to kidnap him?"

    "That¡¯s exactly what worries me," Ambiru replied, clenching his right fist, concern etched on his brow. "Logically, the orcs couldn¡¯t have broken through the defensive line to reach the rear. So, I suspect there might be traitors within our ranks in the rear! Of course, it¡¯s also possible that a powerful orc bypassed our defenses, but that seems highly unlikely. Sending a powerful warrior, risking death, just to turn Gaspar into a spy? That doesn¡¯t sound like something the orcs would do."

    "Hmm, could it be that kidnapping Gaspar¡¯s son was just incidental? Maybe the orcs had another objective?" Rhett pondered aloud, scratching his head.

    "We can¡¯t rule that out. The fewer clues we have, the more possibilities arise! The only thing we know for sure is that Gaspar¡¯s son was kidnapped in the rear and then appeared among the orcs on the front lines!" Ambiru mused, stroking his chin. "There are too many risks, and we can¡¯t be sure if there are other spies among us. You must be extra cautious in theing days!"

    ...

 Chapter 148: Clina Has Given Birth

    Rhett took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I understand!"

    After parting ways with Ambiru, Rhett led his team away to begin their patrol mission.

    Tonight, the moon was bright, and the stars were sparse, with clouds covering the sky. The team moved in orderly fashion, passing through multiple checkpoints, descending a slope, and running steadily. They gradually crossed a bloodstainednd where flocks of ck crows pecked at scraps of meat on the ground.

    As they continued forward, the surroundings gradually brightened, apanied by the sound of rushing water. The group traversed a small forest about a kilometer wide and found themselves at the bottom of a valley. Ahead, a small stream cascaded from a height of 20 meters, sshing onto uneven rocks and scattering countless crystal-clear droplets.

    The stream, flowing down from the mountain, disappeared into dense clusters of watercress and aquatic nts. As Rhett moved closer, he could hear the tinkling sound of water, flowing through the green tunnel of vegetation, meandering down the gentle slope and flowing into the distance.

    Rhett led the team along the stream. Suddenly, his vision brightened, and a notification box popped up.

    He immediately paused.

    "She¡¯s given birth, Clina has given birth!" Rhett felt a surge of joy in his heart. Reflecting on the date, it was indeed August 5th, but he hadn¡¯t expected the delivery to begin just after midnight.

    Half an hourter, another identical notification box appeared before his eyes."As expected, the twins were born one after the other!" Rhett exhaled deeply in relief. He thought for a moment, then turned to Reile and gestured for him toe over. Thetter quickened his pace and approached.

    "Commander, is there something you need?"

    "Reile, if your twins were born, what names would you give them?"

    Reile was taken aback, then replied, "I was nning to decide that after the war ended, once I returned home."

    "But have you considered that Clina has been pregnant for nearly a year now, and she¡¯ll give birth very soon?" Rhett countered, "Would you want your children to go nameless for the next few months?"

    "Uh..." Reile paused, a hint of longing appearing in his eyes as he sighed. "You''re right. Even though they have nicknames, the ceremonial act of naming them after birth shouldn¡¯t be overlooked. Actually, I¡¯ve already thought of names for them¡ªKares and Kazena."

    "My grandson Kares, and my granddaughter Kazena..." Rhett muttered the names to himself, as he opened up the system panel, staring at the empty void with a thoughtful expression.

    "Ah, the family panel is finally filling up. No more staring at a long list of question marks under the third generation," Rhett felt a wave of contentment wash over him, feeling that the family''s expansion had taken a significant step forward.

    "I wonder when the war will end. I want to go back and see my children," Reile¡¯s eyes flickered with emotion as he subconsciously nced at the moon.

    Hearing this, Rhett remained silent for a moment before offering words offort, "Soon, soon..."

    They continued on their journey, sometimes marching swiftly, sometimes running. Their cloaks and armor seemed to blend with the shadows of thend. They reached a long sloping terrain dotted with sparse vegetation, where the ground began to rise, merging into a continuous low mountain ridge. At the base of the ridge, a stream, heavy with the scent of blood, flowed steadily.

    Rhett had heard that two days ago, a skirmish had broken out here, where the Fifth Squad shed with a group of over a hundred orcs. The oue was not in their favor, as manyrades had fallen before they could retreat from the battlefield.

    Although the simtion hadn¡¯t indicated anything particrly significant in this area, Rhett still carefullymanded the team to patrol the surroundings, searching for any signs of hidden orcs.

    "Team 8, Team 9, head to the eastern side of the ridge. Team 6, Team 7, go to the western side. Team 4, Team 5, cover the central ridge. Team 2, Team 3, search the suspicious areas at the base of the ridge."

    Rhett issued clear orders, then led Team 1 up the ridge, patrolling in a zigzag pattern from the base to the top.

    Soon after, they discovered a tunnel in the middle of the ridge on the western side, marked by a trail of blood. The passageway led into a cave. Rhett conjured a sphere of light element at the entrance, illuminating the inside of the cave.

    The cave was eerily silent, devoid of any movement. Inside, they found it to be spacious and empty.

    However, McCoff sniffed the air and stepped forward, saying, "Do you smell that? There¡¯s a faint scent of blood in the air."

    "Yes, I smell it too. But this passage is straight, and it¡¯s clear that no orcs could be hiding here," Rhett said softly, rubbing his chin.

    "Then let¡¯s go through it. Maybe we¡¯ll discover something new if we keep going," McCoff suggested.

    "Wait, before we proceed, we need to seal this passage," Rhett said, ncing around. "This cave was definitely dug by orcs. We can¡¯t leave it open for them."

    Rhett then focused his mental energy, drawing on the surrounding earth element. Yellow light spread out as rocks began to umte from the bottom up. Due to his mastery as a Magister, he manipted the elements with great precision. Instead of forming individual rocks, he seamlessly paved the floor, ensuring that even if the cave wasn¡¯t filled in all at once, the subsequent rocks would fit perfectly.

    The others waited patiently.

    Two minutester, as the cave space graduallypressed, a sharp "meow" echoed from the ceiling.

    At the same time, a ghostly figure streaked through the air, aiming at one of the humans on the ground.@@novelbin@@

    "Hilene, watch out!" Rhett shouted as he noticed the figure, quickly enveloping himself in rock armor. Wind elements swirled around his feet as he took three steps to reach the orange-haired Hilene.

    Despite maintaining her vignce, Hilene was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the figure overhead. Her fearful gaze locked onto Rhett as he arrived by her side, raising his staff. A sudden earth spike shot out from the nted cave wall.

    "Meow!"

    The shadow deftly dodged the sudden spike and threw a handful of gravel at Rhett and his group.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

    A sharp whistling sound filled the air as Rhett quickly intensified the light element, brightening the cave. The gravel struck his rock armor, leaving only shallow dents with no injury. His subordinates, using their shields and therge rocks as cover, remained unharmed.

    In those brief seconds, the group clearly saw that the figure lurking at the top of the cave was a night cat. Given its speed, its strength was at least at the fourth level!

    Among the group, only Rhett could track its movements, as the night cat flitted like a shadow through the cave.

    Rhett ensured his subordinates were safe before coldly raising his gaze, following the night cat''s movements closely.

    "You all get out of here. I''ll handle this!" Rhett had several strategies in mind to deal with the night cat, but he needed his subordinates to leave first.

    "Commander..." Tack¡¯s deep voice carried a hint of reluctance and concern.

    "Follow orders, leave, now!" Rhettmanded sharply.

    "Meow!"

    A sound came from Rhett¡¯s left, but the night cat attacked from the right in the next instant.

    "Hmph, trying to y tricks on me?" Rhett smirked coldly.

    Once he sensed that his subordinates had left the cave, Rhett licked his lips and whispered silently, "The show begins..."

    <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>

    <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>

    A deep rumbling echoed through the cave as both entrances were blocked by massive boulders. While the night cat could break through, the size and hardness of the rocks would dy it by at least a few seconds.

    As the night cat approached, Rhett conjured a <strong>Stone Spike Spell</strong>!

    A two-meter-long spike shot out from a gap between four rocks, directly in the night cat¡¯s path.

    Its sharp ws, glowing with cold light, were just inches from Rhett. For the swift night cat, that distance would be crossed in a blink of an eye. But that short distance felt like a chasm. If it continued forward, the earth-infused spike would soon pierce its skull. The night cat had no choice but to dodge.

    In that brief moment, Rhett retreated rapidly.

    He noticed the cave¡¯s open space gave the night cat a significant advantage. Narrowing his eyes, he cast another <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>!

    Boom!

    A massive rock crashed to the ground, but the night cat easily dodged it with a sideways leap.

    "As expected, speed is the night cat''s greatest strength," Rhett thought to himself, but he didn¡¯t slow down his actions.

    <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>

    <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>

    <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>

    ...

    In the ensuing battle, Rhett relentlessly cast <strong>Rockfall Spells</strong>. The continuous booming echoed through the cave, even causing the outer surface of the mountain to tremble. Loose rocks tumbled down the slopes.

    "What''s themander doing in there, making such amotion?" Tack paced anxiously outside the cave, wishing he could break through the boulders blocking his path to rush in and help his father.

    "It sounds like the <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>... Could themander be trying to shrink the night cat¡¯s maneuvering space?" Cas¡¯s eyes gleamed with insight, as his experience fighting night cats led him to guess Rhett¡¯s strategy.

    "But this also limits themander¡¯s own movement," Reile took a deep breath. "I think themander wants to prevent the night cat from escaping and finish it quickly!"

    "But how can a mage fight a night cat, a natural assassin, in such a confined space? It¡¯s too risky!" Taro¡¯s expression showed his concern.

    "Ahem." Cas nudged hispanion with his elbow, lowering his voice as he said, "Taro, did you notice earlier... themander used... <strong>Rock Armor</strong>?"

    "Uh?" Taro froze, blinking in realization before pping his forehead. "Oh, you¡¯re right! I didn¡¯t notice that detail earlier with everyone blocking my view, and I was too focused on the situation!"

    "Now that I think about it, that earth-colored armor tightly wrapped around him¡ªwhat else could it be but the earth-element six-level spell, <strong>Rock Armor</strong>?" Taro eximed excitedly. "With <strong>Rock Armor</strong>, it¡¯ll be much easier to deal with the night cat!"

    The group¡¯s spirits lifted noticeably.

    Taro and Cas exchanged nces, both hiding their shock.

    "Themander must have taken a bloodline potion," they thought simultaneously.

    Revealing <strong>Rock Armor</strong> had been Rhett¡¯s deliberate choice. Given the progression of the war, such a critical defensive spell couldn¡¯t be kept secret for long. Furthermore, his rapid power growth over the past two years was already unusual. Even with ample resources, it was hard to exin.

    Therefore, Rhett decided that once on the battlefield, revealing the fact that he had taken a bloodline potion could gradually be made public.

    This would not only exin his rapid growth but also prepare the way for future breakthroughs. Even if his pace slowedter due to limited destiny points, there would be no need to exin. No one would question a mage''s slower progress if they didn¡¯t meditate or focus on training.

    But if his speed remained impressive, attributing it to the bloodline potion would make it more eptable. Others might be jealous, but they would have to ept it.

    As the others outside the cave expressed their concerns or surprise, Rhett remained entirely focused on the battle within. As the falling rocks piled up, shrinking the cave''s space, Rhett seemed to enjoy the challenge even more.

    "Human, your efforts are meaningless. They say humans are cunning, but your mind is as heavy and clumsy as these rocks. You¡¯ll never hit me!" A strange voice echoed through the air as the four-level night cat spoke in themon tongue.

 Chapter 149: A New Simulation

    "I advise you to surrender!" Rhett said in a cold voice. "If you behave, you might still find yourself a position as aborer. Otherwise, it''s the guillotine for you!"

    "Ignorant fool!"

    "Hmph." Rhett didn''t bother wasting words. Seeing the Night Cat once again darting forward with agile steps, he calmly cast another <strong>Rockfall Spell</strong>.

    A massive rock fell from the sky, radiating a yellowish glow, blocking the Night Cat''s retreat.

    Yes, blocking the retreat, not the path of its attack.

    Even the Night Cat itself was momentarily stunned by this, a thought shing through its mind: "Did this human get so scared that he cast the spell wrong?"

    But as this thought crossed its mind, excitement surged within it¡ªtorturing a human captive and listening to their pitiful cries of pain was even more satisfying!@@novelbin@@

    Rhett''s lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze growing even more chilling.

    He gently extended his staff, pointing it forward as if pronouncing a death sentence."Shing!"

    As the Night Catughed wildly and weaved through the gaps between the boulders, charging toward Rhett, a yellow earthen spike suddenly shot out from the surface of a nearby boulder!

    The Night Cat''s fur bristled as it instinctively twisted its body, barely dodging the earthen spike at thest moment.

    But Rhett had alreadyid his trap. The spikes erupting from the ground were his lethal fangs, and he wasn''t about to let his prey escape so easily this time.

    He had anticipated the Night Cat''s dodging direction and immediately cast another <strong>Earth Spike</strong>, blocking its path!

    Now, the area was filled with boulders, with no open space left.

    To escape, the Night Cat had no choice but to navigate through the narrow gaps between the rocks.

    In other words, spikes could erupt from any angle, striking at the Night Cat at any moment!

    Even the cave entrance was now sealed off by the massive rocks...

    The Night Cat, realizing this toote, finally understood just how cunning and ruthless this human was. To ensure it couldn''t escape, Rhett had meticulously nned every detail!

    Reflecting on how it had mocked him earlier, the Night Cat felt a surge of anger. It looked at Rhett, who now regarded it as nothing more than a clown.

    "Meow~"

    It let out a sharp cry, leaping off a newly emerged earthen spike, determined to take Rhett down.

    But surrounded by boulders, it could only pass through star-shaped gaps.

    "Shing!"

    "Shing!"

    "Shing!"

    Spikes frequently shot out from the boulders, forcing the Night Cat into a desperate defensive stance. It couldn¡¯t break through.

    Rhett sighed inwardly¡ªit wasn''t easy. Among all the orcs, aside from the royal bloodline, the Night Cat was the most troublesome opponent for an earth-element mage like himself.

    Its agile speed made it much more difficult to hit with spellspared to minotaurs and boarmen, which could respond and dodge more easily.

    If any element had an advantage against Night Cats, it was wind. Wind-element spells had faster trajectories, and since Night Cats were rtively fragile, they posed a greater threat.

    Of course, that didn''t mean other elements were helpless against Night Cats. Experience, strategy, and spellcasting proficiency were still key factors in battle.

    As it was now.

    In the environment Rhett had carefully crafted, the Night Cat constantly dodged spikes from every direction, its movements bing increasingly frantic, resembling a ck cat with its tail on fire.

    Rhett watched the chaotic "dance" before him like an audience member enjoying a performance.

    But after a few minutes, he found the show less entertaining than expected.

    So, he hit the "end" button!

    At that moment, the Night Cat, focused on dodging, failed to realize that spikes could not only emerge from the ground¡ªthey could also descend from above!

    From a boulder directly overhead, a yellow earthen spike suddenly shot down, aiming for the center of the Night Cat''s body. It might not deliver a fatal blow, but it could certainly inflict serious damage!

    The Night Cat''s ck fur bristled like a porcupine''s quills as it let out a low growl. In a desperate move, it seemed to tap into some hidden potential, shifting its body half a meter to the left, narrowly avoiding the spike.

    This near-death experience even brought a sense of breakthrough, as if the barrier preventing it from advancing to the fifth rank had loosened!

    But in the next instant, the Night Cat failed to notice another subtle ripple beneath it. A second <strong>Earth Spike</strong> burst from the ground, piercing the heart of the Night Cat, now paralyzed and exhausted!

    "Splurt, splurt, splurt!"

    Blood sprayed out like a fountain!

    The spike pinned the Night Cat to the boulder above.

    One moment it was in heaven, the next it was in hell.

    The very boulders it had once dismissed as slow and cumbersome now became its tombstone, marking its death.

    "Humans, spare me! I can reveal an important secret!" the Night Cat croaked, its voice hoarse. As it spoke, it coughed up a mouthful of blood.

    It didn¡¯t want to die now, not after finally glimpsing the doorway to the fifth rank, with new heights just within reach...

    It refused to die like this!

    But Rhett merely shook his head in disdain. Another "important secret"? This tactic had been overused on the battlefield¡ªcountless prisoners had tried to buy time by offering supposed secrets in desperate situations.

    He wasn''t a rookie. Why would he fall for that?

    Ignoring the Night Cat, Rhett moved through another crevice in the cave, intending to notify Tack and im the destiny points from this creature.

    Seeing Rhett¡¯s firm stance andplete disregard, the Night Cat panicked. Coughing up blood, it cried out:

    "In ten days, the orcs willunch an attack on your forces!

    I know some details. I was ordered to scout the surrounding terrain in preparation for the assault.

    I also know that in ten days, a Night Cat unit will pass through this area!

    I know their numbers and strength. If you spare me, I¡¯ll tell you everything!"

    "Hmm?" Rhett paused mid-step.

    He narrowed his eyes, contemting the information. The first part aligned with the future vision he had seen through the simtion.

    But the part about the Night Cat unit passing through here was new and unexpected.

    "If I can verify the information and set up an ambush in advance, it could lead to a significant victory..." Rhett''s thoughts raced.

    But then he remembered that this particr fourth-rank Night Cat hadn¡¯t appeared in thest simtion. And considering that nearly six months had passed since the previous simtion, the trajectory of reality had shifted significantly.

    Battles were like chess¡ªeach move changed countless others.

    To be cautious, Rhett decided to conduct another simtion, both to verify the information and to glimpse thetest future.

    With a thought, he opened the system.

    [Would you like to start a text simtion? Each year of simtion costs 5 destiny points.]

    "Yes, simte one year!"

    [Year 475 of the Golden Wheel Calendar, August 5th: While leading a patrol, you encounter a fourth-rank Night Cat and defeat it. You learn that a Night Cat unit will pass through the 24th sector in ten days.]

    [August 6th: You return to the camp with the captured Night Cat and ry the information to Commander Ambiru.]

    [August 7th: During a patrol at the Bloody River, you encounter an orc unit, resulting in a small skirmish. Thanks to prior preparations, you send a team to ambush them. Through your ''strategy,'' you achieve a decisive victory, eliminating four Blood Moon Werewolves and thirty orcs.]

    [August 15th: Late at night, you receive information that the frontline is being attacked by arge orc force. You lead a hundred men with Commander Ambiru to ambush the Night Cat unit, only to encounter a sixth-rank Blood Moon Werewolf among over a thousand Night Cats. Ambiru is severely hindered by a surprise attack, and the battle ends in a stalemate. Taro perishes on the battlefield.]

    [August 19th: Laurine is pregnant.]

    [August 24th: Mina sessfully gives birth to a baby boy, bringing joy to the family!]

    [August 27th: Late at night, you follow the main forces in an attack on the orc positions.]

    [August 30th: The war rages on for three days and nights, with fire and bloodshed. Thanks to the stockpile of antidotes you prepared, you and your men survive with multiple wounds.]

    [September 5th: You hear that Commander Ambiru ns to attack the orc patrol units, and you volunteer to join. During the operation, Ambiru¡¯s old injury res up, forcing him to withdraw early.]

    [October 17th: During a patrol, you are ambushed by orc forces. Due to prior precautions, you call in nearby captains to ambush the orcs, ultimately wiping them out. Unfortunately, no royal-blooded orcs are encountered.]

    [October 23rd: While patrolling, youe across a heavily injured scout fleeing from three third-rank Poison Serpents. You lead your team to aid them, killing all the orcs.]

    [October 26th: Unica breaks through to Apprentice Mage.]

    [November 11th: The orcsunch another major offensive. Driven by revenge, you follow Commander Ambiru into battle, executing a rear-nking strategy. The fightingsts a day and night. Thanks to the antidotes, you and your men survive with multiple wounds.]

    [November 17th: Lien breaks through to Apprentice Knight.]

    [November 23rd: The royal-blooded orcs at the canyon front seem to recede like a tide, and the pressure of the war eases suddenly. You realize the battle may be reaching its conclusion.]

    [November 26th: Commander Avalen announces that the royal-blooded orcs have been repelled, and the war has achieved a significant victory. That night, a celebration banquet is held. You learn from Avalen that your merits may be just enough to earn you the title of Earl.]

    [December 11th: Firew breaks through to mid-level magic beast!]

    [December 18th: Upon returning to your territory and checking in as usual, you receive shocking news: a special poison developed at the Coldstream Front can render Draconians infertile. As a result, arge-scale war erupted there in October, even forcing a Saint-ranked Draconian to join the battle!]

    [December 15th: A bard who visited your territory in April returns with friends from the eastern coastal region. You jokingly express interest in bing a pirate king and inquire about the overseas forces in the East Blue Sea. After learning some details, you pay them 200 gold coins and send them on their way.]

    [December 19th: Pief breaks through to Apprentice Knight.]

    [December 25th: Tack¡¯s Shadow Falcon breaks through to mid-level magic beast.]

    [Year 476 of the Golden Wheel Calendar, January 3rd: An important guest arrives at your territory¡ªthe Grand Duke of Blue Diamond, who performs your ennoblement ceremony. You be an Earl of the Golden Wheel Kingdom. Your proposal to adjust your territory to the area near the Shadow Falcon¡¯s branch is approved. Considering your outstanding contributions and the deste southwest border with its undevelopednds, your request to divide your territory is also granted¡ªyou retain your original Hawk¡¯s Nest town while setting up newnds near the Shadow Falcon¡¯s branch. Before leaving, the Grand Duke offers to arrange a marriage between you and one of his granddaughters, which you politely decline.]

    [January 8th: A person in your territory is discovered to have a moderate talent for Battle Qi.]

    [January 29th: The news of your ennoblement spreads throughout the southwest border. Bozak visits to apologize, and under your gaze, Reilus trembles as he apologizes to Teles.]

    [February 3rd: You hear of a battle at the Coldstream Front. In January, two Saint-ranked fighters shed, ending in a draw. But the number of Draconians at the Coldstream Front has tripled since the special poison was discovered!]

    [February 4th: Two first-rank magese to seek your protection.]

    [February 12th: Commander Ambiru visits your territory with his troops, informing you that he will be reassigned to the Coldstream Front and offering you the position of chief captain under hismand. After careful consideration, you politely decline.]

    [March 2nd: A second-rank knightes to seek your protection.]

    [March 8th: Laurence breaks through to first-rank knight. His exceptional talent surprises you once again, and you all agree that he possesses a high-level Battle Qi talent.]

    [March 10th: You finalize your n to relocate your territory and begin moving people to the Shadow Falcon branch.]

    [March 11th: You encounter a second-rank Wind Wolf and easily y it.]

    [March 17th: You encounter two first-rank Bloodhoof Boars and easily y them.]

    [March 25th: You and your people arrive at the outskirts of the Shadow Falcon branch.]

    [March 28th: After three days of surveying, you decide to establish your new territory on a in three kilometers from Ice Crystal Lake.]

    [April 2nd: A second-rank Frost Tiger descends from the mountains and attacks the loggers building cabins. It is killed by McCoff.]

    [April 19th: A first-rank Earthshaker Bear harasses the relocated citizens but is in by Shirin.]

    [April 26th: Vanessa is pregnant.]

    [May 3rd: Tack breaks through to second-rank knight.]

    [May 20th: Earl Nilo visits and proposes a marriage alliance with Joria, who is twenty years younger than you, which you politely decline. He then suggests Callen, which you also decline.]

    [June 11th: The construction of your new territory nearspletion, and most of your people have relocated from Hawk¡¯s Nest.]

    [June 20th: no finds you in a hurry, reporting that while training his ranger team in the mountains, he discovered an Earthshaker Bear¡¯s den. After clearing it, they identally found the remains of two fifth-rank Earth Knights and a treasure. You are astonished and rush to the cave, where, besides finding potions and equipment, you discover a letter dated December 30th, Year 729 of the Remorian Calendar, detailing the pursuit of a traitor from the Tower of Rings who stole a bloodline potion. The letter urges the finder to return it to the Tower of Rings for a substantial reward.]

    [July 25th: Late at night, an unexpected visitor arrives at your territory¡ªWodelger, apanied by an alchemy master. You warmly invite them to your castle, but they express a desire to explore the Shadow Falcon¡¯s old nest in the mountains. You dly apany them.]

    [July 26th: At dawn, you reach the Shadow Falcon¡¯s former nest¡ªa solitary peak¡ªwhere you discover six or seven Shadow Falcons still circling the mountain. This discovery excites the alchemy master, who shares his n with you.]

    [He intends to establish a Shadow Falcon breeding facility here. After discussing the key point¡ªTack¡¯s Shadow Falcon¡ªyou agree to his request. In exchange, you ask that he mentor your alchemists, which he epts.]

    [July 27th: While chatting with Wodelger, you invite him to join your territory. He hesitates before ultimately declining but assures you that he will stay in the mountains long-term to protect the Shadow Falcon¡¯s nest and promises to support you whenever needed.]

    [August 3rd: The alchemy master spends a week at your castle, teaching Henk, Reile, and Teles, who gain valuable knowledge. That night, the alchemy master departs.]

    [August 4th: Teles breaks through to first-rank mage.]

    [August 5th: Teles sessfully brews a basic poison and bes a full-fledged alchemist!]

 Chapter 150: A Reasonable Explanation

    [Text simtionplete. Would you like to continue simting?]

    ¡°No!¡±

    After reading through the simtion, Rhett raised an eyebrow. As expected, the changes in this simtion were quite significant.

    He had mentally prepared himself beforehand¡ªgiven the nearly half-year gap, various changes in details were likely to bring about unpredictable shifts in the trajectory.

    And indeed, they did.

    Whether in the near future or at the end of the simtion, whether involving past trajectory changes or new visions of the future, everything took Rhett by surprise.

    While he confirmed that the information provided by the Night Cat was true, he hadn''t anticipated that a sixth-rank Blood Moon Werewolf would be hidden within the Night Cat unit. Even after returning to report the information to Ambiru and setting up an ambush in advance, it hadn¡¯t yielded the desired results.

    Ambiru and the Blood Moon Werewolf ended up in a mutual defeat, which even altered the subsequent course of the war.

    Rhett fell into deep thought. ¡°The orcsunched two major offensives? Although the final result is roughly the same, enough for me to be promoted to earl, my merits aren¡¯t as plentiful as before. That¡¯s not ideal. It seems I¡¯ll have to report the situation more gravely when I return and request more powerful reinforcements¡­¡±He then turned his attention to the Night Cat, still impaled on the earth spike, its ck fur stained with blood as it slowly slid down, emitting constant moans of agony.

    "Human... how about... letting me go... and I''ll tell you the rest of the information... cough, cough..." the Night Cat said in a faltering voice, growing weaker by the moment.

    Rhett noticed that its life force was fading rapidly, and if he didn¡¯t take any rescue measures, it would soon perish!

    Feeling a bit anxious, he quickly cleared the boulders blocking the cave entrance.

    "Tack,e here quickly!" Rhett shouted toward the outside of the cave.

    "Coming, sir!" Tack, who had been standing guard nearby, sprinted over immediately. He scanned Rhett from head to toe, his expression shifting from worry to relief when he saw no injuries.

    "Hurry, go finish off that Night Cat. I''ve already subdued it," Rhett urged.

    "Understood!" Tack¡¯s loud voice echoed as he rushed into the cave like a bolt of lightning.

    Within two minutes, Rhett saw a notification appear before him, indicating a gain of 3 destiny points.

    He breathed a sigh of relief, watching Tack emerge from the cave, carrying the Night Cat''s corpse. "Well done!"

    "Heh, I just finished it off. It was you, Father, who did all the hard work. You took down a Night Cat of the same rank with ease," Tack said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

    McCoff finally rxed, but a trace of doubt remained in his eyes as he stepped forward. "Why was there a fourth-rank Night Cat hiding here? Did you manage to extract any information from it?"

    "I already interrogated it," Rhett replied. "I learned that ten days from now, the orcs willunch a major offensive. Additionally, a Night Cat unit will pass through this area. That unit is also hiding several sixth-rank royal-blooded orcs."

    This revtion sent shockwaves through those around him.

    ¡°What? A major orc offensive?¡± Taro and Kass eximed in unison.

    Reile¡¯s eyes flickered with uncertainty. ¡°Is this information reliable?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unclear, but we should report it as soon as we return. If the orcs dounch an offensive in ten days, then the part about the Night Cats passing through is likely true as well,¡± Rhett exined logically.

    ¡°Looks like the final battle is approaching¡­¡± McCoff took a deep breath and sighed slowly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish our patrol first, then head back to camp,¡± Rhett ordered, leading the way down the mountain.

    The members of his team wore solemn expressions as they followed in silence, each lost in their thoughts.

    Rhett led the patrol for half a day without any incidents.

    On the way back, he carefully reviewed the events of the simtion.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that after relocating the new territory, I would connect with the relic of a fifth-rank mage I discovered when I first activated my golden finger. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that fifth-rank mage must have been the traitor from the Circle of Rings mentioned in the letter, right?¡±

    Rhett narrowed his eyes as he searched his memory. He only vaguely recalled that the Circle of Rings was an alchemy organization from the Kingdom of Reem, known for its reputation and with a Saint-rank mage who also served as an alchemist. They certainly had the ability to produce bloodline potions.

    ¡°No wonder there was a bloodline potion in that cave. If it was brought out by a traitor from the Circle of Rings, it all makes sense.¡± Rhett stroked his chin in contemtion.

    ¡°This also gives me a good reminder. If I get the chance, I could try to visit the Circle of Rings and see if I can obtain higher-quality bloodline potions. The one I took before definitely wasn¡¯t the best; there¡¯s still a lot of room for improvement¡­

    Yes, going there under the pretext of delivering the letter would be perfect¡­¡±

    ¡°And this simtion¡¯s biggest good news is establishing contact with an alchemy master. Since he came with Wodelger and showed such interest in the Shadow Falcons, it¡¯s highly likely that this alchemy master is from Ice City¡ªthe one who developed the extinction poison against the Draconians.@@novelbin@@

    His daughter was killed by the Draconians, a hatred as deep as the sea!

    So, if I manage the Shadow Falcon¡¯s old nest well and slowly increase their numbers, his favorability toward me should rise rapidly,¡± Rhett thought, a faint smile curling his lips.

    ¡°Tack,¡± he called to his eldest son.

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Take good care of your Shadow Falcon when we get back.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Tack blinked hisrge eyes, nodding twice, not quite understanding why his father had brought it up so suddenly.

    The sun gradually sank from the sky, thin clouds drifting from the northern horizon, carried away by a gentle breeze. As the sun set, shadows grew long, stretching from the east as night began to fall.

    When darkness fully enveloped thend, Rhett finally led his team back to the camp.

    After dismissing his team, Rhett made his way alone to the central war fortress.

    As he walked down a red-brick road, still two turns away from the ck fortress, a burly middle-aged man approached from the opposite direction.

    "Viscount Rhett, I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here," Earl Nilo greeted with a surprised smile.

    "Earl Nilo? Indeed, what a coincidence." Rhett shrugged and asked, "Did you just finish a mission?"

    "Not exactly. I¡¯m here to request leave for my second son¡ªBonnie. He was injured yesterday, severely. Both his arms were broken by the orcs, and his spine is also fractured. It¡¯ll take a long time for him to recover."

    "That¡¯s terrible news! I¡¯ll pray for Bonnie, hoping he recovers soon," Rhett said, his expression darkening slightly.

    ¡°Sigh.¡± Earl Nilo sighed and fell silent for a moment before fixing his gaze on Rhett. In a low voice, he asked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard¡­ you¡¯ve be a fourth-rank mage. Did you¡­ ever take¡­¡±

    ¡°I did take a bloodline potion in the past,¡± Rhett said, anticipating the question. Before Earl Nilo could finish, he exined, ¡°After I retired, I discovered a relic from a traitor of the Circle of Rings in a cave near my territory. There happened to be a bloodline potion that waspatible with me, so I took it.

    So¡­ now many people know that my strength has improved rapidly over the past two years.¡±

    He spoke the truth¡ªrevealing his strength and admitting to using a bloodline potion posed no problems now.

    Moreover, the origin of the potion was clear,ing from a traitor of the Circle of Rings a hundred years ago.

    ¡°The Circle of Rings? That alchemy organization from the Kingdom of Reem? That¡¯s quite far from here,¡± Earl Nilo recalled, frowning slightly. Then, with a sigh, he remarked, ¡°If that potion could elevate you to a fourth-rank mage in just two years, it must have been of high quality. You¡¯re truly fortunate.¡±

    ¡°Heh, I think so too.¡± Rhett chuckled and shrugged.

    Earl Nilo mused for a moment, then smiled, "Since you¡¯ve gained such power, I hope you can use this opportunity to fight bravely and achieve great merit!"

    ¡°Thanks for the encouragement.¡±

    After a few more brief exchanges, the two parted ways.

    Rhett continued to the ck fortress as nned, showed his identification, and was granted entry.

    Creak¡ª

    The heavy ck metal door creaked open from within, revealing the round, slightly chubby face of Fuddy, who greeted Rhett with a warm smile. ¡°Captain Rhett,e in. Commander Ambiru is waiting for you inside!¡±

    The fortress loomed like a massive beast under the night sky, its interior dimly lit, with shadows lurking in every corner of the first-floor hall.

    Only the farthest area, near a sand table, was illuminated by a round crystalmp. Powered by an alchemical array, themp''s light reflected off Ambiru''s furrowed brow.

    Seeing Rhett approach, Ambiru set aside a thick stack of documents, stood up, and smiled. ¡°Rhett, what brings you here at this hour? Have you found any leads on the person who gave you that paper?¡±

    ¡°No, the person who gave me the paper hasn¡¯t contacted me since,¡± Rhett replied, shaking his head. ¡°But I have obtained other important information.¡±

    Ambiru¡¯s expression immediately turned serious. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°During today¡¯s patrol, in a cave on a small mountain in Area 24, I discovered a hidden fourth-rank Night Cat¡ªa powerful one at that.

    After defeating it, I extracted some information: Ten days from now, the orcs willunch a major offensive. At the same time, a Night Cat unit will pass through Area 24. Based on their route, it seems they intend to either harass our nks or target our guerri teams. Moreover, this unit is said to include several sixth-rank royal-blooded orcs.¡±

    Ambiru¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he hurriedly turned around. cing both hands on the edge of the sand table, he focused his gaze on the northeast corner, pointing at a small mountain. He then looked at Rhett. ¡°Is it here?¡±

    Rhett moved closer, scanning the sand table, confirming the route and general terrain before nodding. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the spot.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring the prisoner here?¡± Ambiru¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°You know how it is with Night Cats¡ªthey¡¯re incredibly agile. I had to injure it severely to subdue it, and there was no time for treatment.¡±

    ¡°Sigh¡­ what a shame.¡± Ambiru frowned deeply, pondering for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯m worried this Night Cat might be bait sent by the orcs to feed us false information, luring our strongholds into a trap.

    But at the same time, we can¡¯t ignore this intelligence. If it¡¯s true, it¡¯s of great importance.

    So, I¡¯ll report this to themander and prepare our forces.

    If the orcs dounch a major offensive in ten days, we¡¯ll send troops to ambush the Night Cat unit.¡±

    ¡°What if we don¡¯t have enough time?¡± Rhett asked, ying devil¡¯s advocate.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send scouts ahead to report on the situation,¡± Ambiru said, his eyes fixed on the sand table as he suddenly exhaled a long breath. Looking at Rhett with deep satisfaction, he added, ¡°Since you arrived here, you¡¯ve brought me nothing but pleasant surprises.

    At this rate, you¡¯re not just aiming for an earldom¡ªyou might even reach marquis status!¡±

    ¡°Commander Ambiru, you¡¯re ttering me!¡± Rhett quickly waved his hand humbly. ¡°I¡¯m only a fourth-rank mage. I¡¯m still far from bing a sixth-rank mage.¡±

    ¡°But with your rapid progress, you must have taken a bloodline potion, right? Without it, even with Moonlight Elixirs, you couldn¡¯t have advanced so quickly,¡± Ambiru said, squinting at him.

    Rhett froze for a moment, then replied with admiration, ¡°Commander Ambiru, your sharp eyes miss nothing. This little secret of mine couldn¡¯t escape your notice.¡±

    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s why I say, it¡¯s not your talent that limits your rise in rank¡ªit¡¯s your merits! Stay on the front lines of the canyon for a few more years, perform well, and I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll be the first marquis on the southwest border!¡±

    Hearing this, Rhett feigned interest, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.

    But after a few seconds of contemtion, he firmly declined, ¡°Commander Ambiru, my family is behind the lines, and I¡¯ve been away from them for too long. They need me back with them.

    But rest assured, if the front lines need me, I will respond! That¡¯s my promise.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Ambiru praised, though his eyes showed a hint of regret. Still, he nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I trust you. For now, return and rest. Prepare for the ambush in ten days.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Commander!¡±

    The next evening.

    As Rhett left Sub-Fortress No. 1, he spotted Snoway in the distance. Recalling the simtion, he had an idea and called out, ¡°Snoway!¡± while waving his hand.

    The Earth Knight''s sharp hearing immediately picked up the call from a hundred meters away. Snoway turned and sprinted toward Rhett.

    ¡°Rhett, good to see you. I was just heading to the mess hall for a proper meal. After days of missions and living on dried meat and bread, care to join me for some better food?¡± Snoway invited.

    ¡°No, I have to lead a patrol soon. But I could use your help with something.¡±

    ¡°What is it? Just say the word.¡± Snoway replied, his expression serious.

 Chapter 151: Fierce Battle

    "It¡¯s nothing major," Rhett said. "It¡¯s just that the area we¡¯re about to patrol has seen several ambushes by royal-blooded orcs recently, causing heavy casualties.

    So this time, I¡¯d like to ask for your help in a joint operation."

    "Leave it to me!" Snoway thumped his chest with the confidence of a hardened warrior, his voice firm and powerful. "I¡¯ve heard about that ce too¡ªteams three and nine lost a lot of men there a few days ago.

    You came to the right person. Together, we¡¯ll make sure to wipe out those orcs!"

    Not long after, Snoway organized his troops, and they set off with Rhett¡¯s team.

    They advanced southwest, heading toward the pre-designated Area 31 along the Bloodied River.

    Three hours passed.

    A hill stood starkly against the dark night, surrounded by low, small hills about a few dozen meters high. Around two in the morning, they arrived at the hill¡ªa series of green slopes rose and turned into bare ridges, forming a line extending northward. The soil underfoot was moist, and the grass sparse. Ahead, a strip of the Bloodied Rivery between them and the dark, winding reeds andntern grass.

    Both the northern and southern slopes, as well as the ins to the east and west, were trampled and torn up by numerous orc footprints, leaving the grass in disarray."The footprints around the reeds andntern grass are much sparser. But everywhere else, the tracks are so dense, it¡¯s clear the orcs have set a trap there," Snoway observed, scanning the area and sneering as if he¡¯d uncovered a clue.

    "Wait." Rhett extended his left arm to stop Snoway, who was eager to charge forward.

    At the same time, he sighed inwardly. This Snoway was brave, no doubt, but not cautious enough¡ªno wonder he¡¯d fallen into an ambushst time.

    "Rhett, the orcs are definitely lying in wait up ahead. We can¡¯t miss this chance¡ªwe need to charge in and cut them down!" Snoway¡¯s eyes burned with battle lust.

    "Don¡¯t be reckless. I suspect this might be a trap set by the orcs," Rhett said, narrowing his eyes. "The Bloodied River is right in the middle. If they¡¯veid an ambush deeper in the reeds, we could easily find ourselves at a disadvantage."

    "Hmm, you¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t consider that," Snoway said, pausing and growing more serious.

    "What¡¯s your n?" Snoway was prepared to follow Rhett¡¯s lead for this operation.

    "Let¡¯s start by poisoning the water. If they¡¯ve set up a trap in the reeds, they won¡¯t be far from the water," Rhett suggested. He then made a gesture resembling the number eight with one hand, while cing his index finger in the center of the other hand.

    Seeing this signal, the nearby archers quickly gathered and drew their bows.

    "Don¡¯t rush. Archers, fall back to the base of the hill. Snoway, take a hundred men and find a ce to hide as well," Rhett ordered after a moment¡¯s thought.

    He also specifically selected a few third-rank knights and mages, instructing them to follow Snoway and find cover at the foot of the hill.

    As for himself, Rhett only kept forty knights with him, most of them first-rank, with a few second-rank among them.

    "Be careful, Rhett!" Snoway was decisive in his actions. Upon hearing Rhett¡¯s orders, he immediatelyplied, showing no hesitation.

    With a wave of his hand, he signaled his soldiers to follow, leading them back the way they came to find cover.

    Once the area was mostly cleared, Rhett led his troops along the back of the hill¡ªa bare ridge¡ªadvancing in a straight line.

    A cold wind swept by, sending ripples across the bloody stream.

    In the distance, the reeds andntern grass swayed gently, as if weing Rhett¡¯s group.

    In the stillness of the night, the surface of the water suddenly sshed as ferocious orc figures emerged from the depths.

    There were thick-skinned Minotaurs and Wild Boarmen, nimble Night Cats, and a few Blood Moon Werewolves with distinctive features and blood-red fur.

    "Woo~"

    "Howl~"

    "Moo~"

    Strange, inhuman roars echoed through the night, long and guttural, shattering the tranquility.

    Rhett quickly assessed the situation. There were over thirty orcs, matching the numbers predicted by the simtion. Among them were four Blood Moon Werewolves.

    Though his hundred-plus soldiers outnumbered the orcs, Rhett could tell at a nce that these were formidable foes¡ªa highly skilled unit.

    Among the orcs were two fourth-rank warriors: a Blood Moon Werewolf and a Wild Boarman.@@novelbin@@

    There were ten third-rank orcs and over twenty second-rank orcs¡ªno first-rank orcs at all.

    If they engaged head-on, even with his numerical advantage, Rhett knew the casualties would be rmingly high.

    "Follow mymand¡ªtactical retreat!" Rhett ordered, his expression grim as he raised his right arm decisively.

    "Ulululululu¡­" An eerie roar echoed¡ªthis time from the fourth-rank Wild Boarman.

    Rhett recognized the oguage, understanding it as an order not to let the human soldiers escape.

    Before the words had even finished, a fierce wind howled as the Blood Moon Werewolf, leading the Night Cats, charged forward.

    At the forefront was the fourth-rank Blood Moon Werewolf, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust as it rushed straight toward Rhett.

    Rhett¡¯s gaze turned icy as he quickly cast an Earth Armor spell, surrounding himself in a protectiveyer of yellowish light.

    The Blood Moon Werewolf hesitated for a moment upon seeing this.

    It wasn¡¯t ignorant of human magic¡ªEarth Armor was a proper sixth-rank spell. But seeing it cast by a fourth-rank human mage seemed out of ce.

    Being a royal-blooded orc, it knew more than the average orc and quickly deduced that Rhett must have taken a bloodline potion, making him a powerful adversary.

    With this realization, the Blood Moon Werewolf¡¯s killing intent intensified¡ªthis mage had to die!

    But just then, a sudden Earth Spike shot up from the ground beneath its feet!

    Startled, the Blood Moon Werewolf reacted quickly, its superior reflexes allowing it to leap effortlessly into the air.

    Simultaneously, three sand wolves materialized in the sky, glowing with a yellowish light. They formed a triangr formation, closing in on the fourth-rank Blood Moon Werewolf with raised ws.

    "Humph!" The Blood Moon Werewolf sneered, swinging a massive red w that left a bloody arc in its wake.

    Rhett was prepared, focusing intently. Just as the Blood Moon Werewolf was about to strike the sand wolves, he detonated them.

    He couldn¡¯t help but admire the Blood Moon Werewolf¡¯s speed and strength¡ªit had almost shattered the sand wolves before he could react.

    "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

    Three explosions echoed in the air, yellow light bursting like fireworks.

    "Human, did you really think such a trivial trick could threaten me? Hahaha, too naive!" the Blood Moon Werewolfughed maniacally, though its body showed signs of injury from the explosion.

    But Rhett felt no satisfaction¡ªhe knew these were merely superficial wounds.

    His actions had only bought him time to retreat.

    By now, he had reached the hilltop and was ready to cross over!

    Just then¡ª

    "Aaah!" A piercing scream rang out.

    One of the slower soldiers had been caught by the Blood Moon Werewolf, who grabbed him like a hawk snatching a chick. With a single bite to the neck, its fangs pierced deep, draining the soldier¡¯s blood.

    In moments, the soldier¡¯s body shriveled like dried meat, while the Blood Moon Werewolf¡¯s wounds rapidly healed, nearly restoring it to full strength.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes grew cold as he clenched his fists, deeply pained by the loss of his soldier.

    But on the battlefield, death was inevitable. He couldn¡¯t afford to act impulsively, risking everything to save one man¡ªthe bigger picture had to take precedence.

    Silently, he vowed to kill this Blood Moon Werewolf, then turned and disappeared over the hill.

    "You can¡¯t escape¡­" the Blood Moon Werewolf licked its lips, the thrill of devouring blood fueling its rage. All reason had nearly fled, leaving only a desire to kill.

    Right now, it only wanted to feast on that tantalizing ''blood bag.''

    "A bloodline-enhanced mage¡­ I¡¯ve never tasted one before."

    From the top of the hill, Rhett scanned the area below but couldn¡¯t spot where Snoway¡¯s men were hidden. He had to rely on his spiritual sense to detect the faint human presences in their concealed positions.

    "Everyone, follow my lead. Prepare to counterattack with the main force!" he ordered quietly.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    The sound of orc footsteps grew louder, the weight of their bodies making the ground tremble.

    Hiding behind arge rock, Snoway listened to the increasingly close and heavy footsteps. Peering through the grass, he saw the Blood Moon Werewolf reach the hilltop first, silhouetted against the full, yellow moon as it let out a long howl.

    "Awooo¡­"

    The howl was the signal for the orc charge!

    More than thirty orcs surged forward, crossing the hill in pursuit of Rhett¡¯s retreating troops.

    Now.

    Rhett decided the time was right.

    Rhett extended both hands, quickly signaling a series of hand gestures.

    Then hemanded the troops beside him, "Turn around and start the counterattack!"

    At hismand, the soldiers hidden in the dark began to move ording to Snoway''s n. They advanced from the east, west, southeast, and southwest directions, surrounding the oing orcs.

    Gradually, they formed a fan-shaped encirclement, which slowly tightened.

    Holding their swords and shields, their expressions resolute, the soldiers shouted loudly, their battle cries overwhelming the orcs'' morale.

    "Ossagu, what should we do? The humans have set an ambush!" the fourth-rank Wild Boarman growled in a deep, resonant voice.

    "What else can we do? Hmph, they only have two fourth-rank warriors, and the rest of their hundred-plus men are just cannon fodder. The final victory will surely be ours!" the leading Blood Moon Werewolf, Ossagu, replied coldly.

    "Snoway, you handle the Wild Boarman. I''ll take on this fourth-rank Blood Moon Werewolf!" Rhett said, his expression deadly serious.

    "Be careful!" Snoway''s eyes showed a hint of worry, but at this point, there was no turning back¡ªthey had to fight to the end. Fortunately, he had already set up the ambush, and by his calctions, the archers should be circling back soon!

    <strong>Sand Wolf Roar!</strong>

    Three sand wolves, glowing with a yellowish light, materialized from the high ground. They immediately charged toward two third-rank Night Cats, who were targeting Rhett''s weaker soldiers.

    <strong>Thud! Thud! Thud!</strong>

    With three heavy shes, the sand wolves crushed the Night Cats'' heads, sttering red and white brain matter.

    The battlefield is the ultimate test of a person.

    In this intense environment, every battle heightens the senses and pushes one''s potential. Rhett''s mastery of the <strong>Sand Wolf Roar</strong> spell had been steadily improving with each skirmish!

    "Courting death!" Ossagu saw through Rhett''s intention to clear the weaker enemies first. Furious, he leaped from the hilltop, soaring tens of meters through the air.

    To Rhett, still at the foot of the hill, it felt as if the Blood Moon Werewolf was descending from the heavens.

    A fierce wind howled as the blood-red figure in the sky drew closer. Despite his Earth Armor, Rhett didn''t dare be careless and quickly retreated.

    At the same time, a cold glint shed in his eyes as he scanned the battlefield with a wide view.

    Meanwhile, Snoway led the majority of the soldiers in a concentrated attack against the massive, thick-skinned Wild Boarman.

    Swords and shields shed in shes of light, but attacks below the fourth rank barely left more than shallow scratches on the Wild Boarman''s tough hide.

    However, clever soldiers knew not to waste their efforts on non-lethal strikes. They targeted weak spots like the Wild Boarman''s backside and groin, making it vulnerable to abined assault.

    Seizing the opportunity, Rhett cast <strong>Falling Rock</strong>.

    A massive boulder, over ten meters wide and glowing with yellow light, fell from the sky, crashing down on three Minotaurs charging toward Taro and Kas.

    The Minotaurs felt the heavy pressure, panicking as they tried to change direction, but Taro and Kas, seeing this, steeled themselves and hurled their shields at the Minotaurs.

    <strong>Thud, thud.</strong>

    The shields struck the Minotaurs'' chests with a heavy thud.

    Faced with the massive boulder above, the Minotaurs, already struggling to dodge, were further disrupted by the shields. Despair surged within them.

    "Courting death!" a rough voice bellowed.

    <strong>Boom!</strong>

    Suddenly, there was a loud crash as a blood-red figure shot up from the ground, kicking the massive boulder aside.

    The three third-rank Minotaurs looked up and gratefully eximed, "Thank you, Lord Ossagu!"

    "Hmph, he can''t save them!" Rhett sneered coldly. The Blood Moon Werewolf''s actions had been within his calctions all along.

 Chapter 154: Kiss of the Black Python

    "Damn it, we''ve fallen into a human ambush!" growled the Blood Moon Werewolf on the right. "Saru, let''s team up and take down one of these human warriors first!"

    The Blood Moon Werewolf beside him, called Saru, responded with action rather than words. He let out a long howl, and in an instant, his entire body radiated with a blood-red glow. His muscles, especially on his arms and legs, swelled, and his speed increased dramatically. Like a ravenous wolf, he charged toward Ambiru!

    "Scorching Wave sh!" Ambiru uttered softly as he swung his sword, unleashing a wave ofbat energy that erupted into a sea of mes, causing the air temperature to soar dramatically.

    But Saru showed no fear. He crossed his arms to form a shield and charged through the scorching mes, shing down with a heavy w.

    <strong>Thud!</strong>

    Ambiru''s expression remained cold as he raised his shield to block, but the difference in innate physical strength made him grunt in pain as a massive force struck him, causing him to take half a step back.

    <strong>Whirlwind Thrust!</strong> The Earth Knight with wind-attributebat energy moved like a phantom, his speed unmatched by anyone else in the group. His swift and elusive movements rivaled even the Blood Moon Werewolf.

    With a thin sword in hand, the knight created a spiraling air current at the tip of his de, and he lunged like a straight line of wind, aiming for Saru''s throat!

    Saru''s expression turned cautious as he sensed the fierce wind at his back.If this were a one-on-one fight, he wouldn''t fear even a Wind Earth Knight. But being surrounded made things much more troublesome, especially with an opponent who matched his speed.

    So, he chose not to take the attack head-on. Bending his knees slightly, Saru leaped high into the air, soaring above the entangled human and beastman armies below.

    Then, he dove down.

    "We can''t let him break through! Stop him at all costs!" Ambiru shouted urgently, his voice filled with concern.

    At that moment, as Saru descended from mid-air, just ten meters from the ground, two sixth-rank Earth Knights suddenly emerged from the dense crowd below. Their swords gleamed brightly, radiating immense power as they attacked Saru from both sides.

    Caught off guard by his own overconfidence, Saru barely managed to block the sword on his left with his w, but the sword on the right struck his waist directly.

    A wave of excruciating pain surged through his nerves.

    "Argh...!" Saru''s face twisted in agony, his eyes wide as he felt a terrifying toxin spreading through his body, causing his entire form to tremble. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, noticing it had turned ck.

    His gaze shifted to the sword that had pierced him, spotting a deep ck substance on its tip¡ªMid-level poison, the Kiss of the ck Python.

    The Kiss of the ck Python was one of the most notorious mid-level poisons, as deadly to mid-rank Royal Beastmen as the ck Raven''s gue was to lower-ranked ones.

    However, the Kiss of the ck Python was incredibly potent, requiring rare ingredients and a difficult refining process, making it far lessmon than the ck Raven''s gue.

    The form for the Kiss of the ck Python was a closely guarded secret within the royal family of the Kingdom of Jinlun, with only a select few having ess to it. Unlike the ck Raven''s gue, which, while also secret, was produced by alchemy workshops across the kingdom''s frontlines.

    Thus, the Kiss of the ck Python was reserved solely for Royal Beastmen on the Canyon Frontline.

    Ordinary mid-level beastmen like Minotaurs and Boarmen were not considered worth wasting the Kiss of the ck Python on!

    At this moment, the Kiss of the ck Python revealed its terrifying power. Saru''s once shiny red fur turned ashen and brittle, and his gaze filled with hatred as he stared at the human who had poisoned him.

    "Humans... treacherous!" he spat through bloodstained teeth, his voice weak and broken.

    He tried to retaliate with a swing of his right w!

    But his body wavered, unable to maintain its position in mid-air. As soon as he swung his w, it was severed by a sword strike from the right!

    <strong>sh!</strong> A mix of ck and red blood sttered everywhere.

    A blood-red w, a meter long, flew through the air andnded on the battlefield, striking a human soldier on the head.

    The soldier staggered, dazed by the impact. A nearby Nightcatman noticed and, with a gleeful expression, prepared to sh the soldier''s throat.

    But when the Nightcatman saw the blood-red w that had fallen, it froze in shock!

    Why does this look like Lord Saru''s arm?!

    "Meow!" It let out a terrified scream.

    <strong>Thud</strong>

    A hundred meters away, another blood-red figure fell heavily to the ground.

    The Nightcatman stiffened, its body trembling with fear. "Lord Saru... is dead?"

    The human soldier, regaining his senses, saw the Blood Moon Werewolf in by hismanders, and his morale surged!

    The humans'' spirits soared as the Nightcatmen''s wavered!

    "Ha!" The soldier roared, channelingbat energy into his longsword as he cleaved the Nightcatman before him in two.

    This scene yed out repeatedly across the battlefield.

    With Saru''s death and his fall from the sky, countless sixth-rank Earth Knights appeared among the human forces, further demoralizing the Nightcatmen.

    On the human side, their momentum was unstoppable, their battle cries echoing like thunder,pletely overwhelming the Nightcatmen! The Nightcatmen''s forces began to copse, their death cries filling the air.

    Had the battle involved only a few sixth-rank Earth Knights, the Nightcatmen''s thousands wouldn''t have been so easily intimidated! Butbined with the sheer number of human soldiers, the Nightcatmen felt a crushing weight on their spirits!

    <strong>Earth Spike!</strong><strong>Earth Pir Strike!</strong><strong>Quicksand Spell!</strong> Seeing the Blood Moon Werewolf behind him fall, Rhett felt a surge of excitement and elerated his spellcasting.

    Earth-colored spikes and pirs shot toward the Nightcatmen, while the whirlpools formed by the Quicksand Spell continuously slowed their movements, neutralizing their greatest advantage¡ªspeed!

    "Meow!"

    Three Nightcatmen, engaged with other human soldiers, began to meow more frequently.

    Suddenly.

    As if they had coordinated, the three simultaneously leaped toward Rhett''s position.

    Agile Nightcatmen were always priority targets on the battlefield.

    And earth mages, who could control the terrain, were equally despised by the beastmen!

    Cold glints shed through the night!

    <strong>Thud! Thud! Thud!</strong>

    Three dull thuds resounded as knights, who had been keeping a close watch on Rhett, quickly stepped in to protect him, even while fighting the Nightcatmen.

    Three heavy shields shed against the Nightcatmen''s ws.

    The three Nightcatmen were sent flying, their dark eyes burning with hatred, growling lowly.

    As Rhett prepared to gather his mental energy again to cast another Earth Pir or Earth Spike, a fifth-rank Nightcatman in the distance nced at Ambiru, its eyes filled with resentment, and let out a long, sharp cry:

    "Meowoo"

    This was the beastmannguage for "Retreat!"

    <strong>Rumble</strong>

    Suddenly, the Nightcatmen forces across the battlefield, including those directly in front of Rhett, began to retreat like a tide.

    At that moment. A piercing scream echoed through the battlefield! Rhett quickly turned toward the source of the sound, just in time to see another massive Blood Moon Werewolf fall as three human warriors pierced its throat, back, and right ribcage simultaneously!

    Of course, the two human warriors also bore w marks on their bodies, butpared to the Blood Moon Werewolf''s fate, their injuries were minor.

    Watching the retreating Nightcatmen, Ambiru seemed entirely in control, and he immediately shouted, "Pursue the Nightcatmen forces!"

    Rhett''s expression tightened as he saw the knights'' ranks surging forward, chasing the "ck tide." He quickly scanned for Tuck''s figure at the front.

    Soon, he spotted the burly Tuck at the rear of the knight formation, running at a slower pace.

    Every time he encountered a heavily injured but still breathing Nightcatman, he would finish it off with a single blow.

    Seeing this, Rhett breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Tuck hadn''t forgotten his earlier instructions.

    Ry, also a mage, wasn''t far from Rhett, about thirty meters to the right. As Rhett nced over, their eyes met.

    Rhett first turned his gaze to the severely injured Nightcatmen lying on the ground, then gave Ry a look that said, "You know what to do."

    "Got it!" Ry nodded slightly in understanding. He began casting Water Spear spells, finishing off the half-dead Nightcatmen and helping Rhett umte Destiny Points.

    With such a resounding victory, no one noticed these minor details.

    This allowed Tuck and Ry to focus on finishing off the wounded Nightcatmen at the rear.

    <strong>[Family member killed an enemy one rank higher, +1 Destiny Point]</strong>

    <strong>[Family member killed an enemy two ranks higher, +2 Destiny Points]</strong>

    <strong>[Family member killed an enemy three ranks higher, +3 Destiny Points]</strong>

    Soon, the continuous notifications of Destiny Points began to sh before Rhett''s eyes, much faster than when Telis executed beastman captives! An hourter.

    The pursuit ended, and Rhett nced at his Destiny Points, which now totaled 159, feeling deeply satisfied.

    He had originally had just over fifty points in reserve, and tonight''s battle had earned him around one hundred additional Destiny Points!

    If battles like this happened every day, Rhett believed he could gather enough points to break through in less than a month.

    Unfortunately, if such battles urred daily, the war between beastmen and humans would have already reached its conclusion¡ªone side would have been annihted.

    It wouldn''t be Rhett fighting on the Canyon Frontline...

    Before dawn, in the quiet hours, the troops returned to their ambush site with their beastman prisoners, marking the end of the mission.

    Below, the soldiers drank Beast Wine in celebration, their joy evident on every face.

    On the hill above, several powerful Earth Knights stood, conversing.

    "Ambiru, you''ve truly done a great service this time.

    If this many Nightcatmen had reached the front lines, they could have caused significant trouble." The wind-attribute sixth-rank knight said. "By eliminating this threat, we''ve undoubtedly dealt a severe blow to the beastmen''s ns!"

    "Somjet, I couldn''t have done it without your support. If those sixth-rank Blood Moon Werewolves had broken through, they would have caused a disaster!" Ambiru remarked with a deep sense of relief. "But for the beastmen to send even sixth-rank Blood Moon Werewolves here shows just how desperate they are.

    I doubt there are many sixth-rank Royal Blood Beastmen left on this front."

    "Of course, the Royal Beastmen''s birth rates are far lower than ours, and their advancement is much slower. They onlypete with us because of their long lifespans," Somjetughed heartily. "So, the more Royal Bloodlines they lose, the more it hurts them!"

    "Indeed!" Ambiru nodded with a smile.@@novelbin@@

    "By the way, Ambiru, where did you get this information? Now that the battle''s over, can you tell us?" A burly man with a thick beard, wielding a broad blue greatsword, jumped up from halfway down the hill, curious.

    "Tami, the intel came from one of my mages. Both the news of the beastmen''s assault and the details about the Nightcatmen came from him..." Ambiru replied with pride.

    "Oh?" The other sixth-rank knights gathered around, intrigued.

    "Was it Amadeo? Or Gloria? Or maybe..."

    "Ha, none of them." Ambiru shook his head with a smile. "It was a newly promoted mage named Rhett, who was fortunate enough to take a Bloodline Potion."

    "That''s a name I''m not familiar with," Somjet frowned.

    "Rhett?" Tami, the burly man, looked thoughtful, then suddenly realized, "I remember now. I''ve heard of him. He seems to have been ennobled a few years ago?"

    "Yes, that''s him."

    "Lucky guy," Somjet sighed with envy.

    Tami turned to Somjet, saying, "Envious of his Bloodline Potion? That kind of luck is indeed enviable."

    "Oh no, it''s not that. My talent isn''t bad either.

    But unfortunately, when I was first tested for talent, I foolishly signed a military contract.

    Sure, I got top-tier breathing techniques,bat skills, and plenty of resources.

    But I''ll never be able to leave the battlefield and be a noble," Somjetmented. "It''s like being a gust of wind, bound to a single ce, with no freedom."

 Chapter 155: Coiling Dragon

    "Hmm? So that''s what you''re thinking," Ambiru raised an eyebrow and said, "Somjet, don''t forget that the military also provides opportunities for advancement. As long as you have the strength and merit, you won''tck for honor and status!

    Besides, do you think you''d have achieved what you have today without the military''s resources? Could you have survived that crisis back then and lived to see this day?"

    Somjet pursed his lips but remained silent at Ambiru''s words.

    "Hahaha, Ambiru, Somjet is just expressing what''s on his mind. No need to take it to heart.

    After all... who would want to spend their entire life on the battlefield?" A clean-shaven man in white armor walked over with a smile.

    "Oh? Don''t forget, I joined the military of my own free will. If I wanted, I could leave anytime.

    But I''ve vowed to spend my life on the battlefield, unless... the dayes when all beastmen are dead!" Ambiru''s expression darkened as he looked at the approaching man and spoke coldly.

    "Tsk, tsk, no wonder you''re the Deputy Commander. Such conviction is truly admirable!" The man in white armor gave a thumbs-up, "But I think, even if we all die, it''s unlikely that the beastmen will be wiped out so easily..."

    "Lango, if you don''t try, how will you ever know?" Ambiru''s gaze turned icy.The man called Lango, seeing Ambiru''s cold stare, dared not continue the conversation on this topic. He shrugged and fell silent.

    A momentter, Ambiru sighed, turning to look at the troops below. He shouted, "Regroup!"

    "Well then, farewell, Ambiru!" Tami said in a low voice, "The Commander said the mission here is over. We''re needed elsewhere."

    "Yes, go ahead." Ambiru nodded indifferently.

    Five streams ofbat energy shed as the knights swiftly left, leaving Ambiru standing alone on the hill.

    He scanned the battlefield littered with corpses, remaining silent for a while until his gaze fell on Rhett, a few hundred meters away, and his eyes regained some brightness.

    Ambiru leaped forward and walked up to Rhett, cing a hand on his shoulder. Startled, Rhett quickly turned around and respectfully said, "Commander Ambiru!"

    "Yes, Rhett, we owe this victory to you." Ambiru smiled warmly, patting Rhett''s shoulder a few more times. "Your intelligence was crucial and arrived just in time. You''ve earned another great merit!"

    Rhett humbly replied, "Just doing my duty."

    "Heh, I''ve calcted it roughly. With your contributions and your strength, you''ve already fulfilled the conditions for promotion to Earl." Ambiru looked directly at Rhett. "If you wish, your desire can be fulfilled when this war is over."

    "Thank you, Commander!" Rhett''s voice was loud and clear.

    "Haha, it''s what you deserve," Ambiru chuckled. He then nced at the departing knights and said softly, "Rhett, I have a question for you."

    "Please ask, Commander."

    "What made youe to the Canyon Frontline to fight against the beastmen?"

    Rhett paused for a moment before replying, "To fight for those who cannot fight, and for those who once fought for me."

    The battlefield fell silent in an instant.

    This sentence seemed to carry a mysterious power, making the surrounding soldiers turn their heads to stare at Rhett in a daze.

    Even Ambiru was stunned. He stared into the distance, the words echoing in his mind.

    Finally, he took a deep breath and murmured to himself, "To fight for those who cannot fight, and for those who once fought for me..."

    After several minutes, Ambiru refocused on Rhett. "So, it''s not about gaining glory and rank?"

    "Those are merely what I deserve," Rhett calmly replied, though in his mind, he reflected on his initial reason for joining the battlefield¡ªto avenge the parents of this body.

    "Good, very good! I''ll remember what you just said, and I hope... you''ll remember it too." Ambiru gave Rhett a meaningful look before striding past him to reorganize the troops.

    The soldiers who had overheard Rhett''s words also nced at him, their expressions thoughtful.

    Under Ambiru''smand, the thousands of troops marched toward the frontlines again, preparing for a nking maneuver.

    However, due to the Nightcatmen''s defeat, the beastmen on the frontline didn''t hold out for long. What began as a fierce attack by the beastmen ended with a tactical retreat.

    Rhett only participated briefly in the front-line battle before returning to the camp to continue his meditation and training.

    Nine dayster, on August 24th.

    Rhett was still meditating in his quarters.

    Over the past few days, with the Destiny Points harvested by Telis,bined with those gained from the ambush against the Nightcatmen and various skirmishes, Rhett had umted over three hundred Destiny Points.

    After using them all for simted training, Rhett could clearly feel that the bottleneck had been more than halfway worn down!

    Feeling the subtle changes in his mind, Rhett muttered, "Only by bing a fifth-rank mage can I confidently control the Darkstripes'' branch. Otherwise, being a mere fourth rank still poses too much risk for my territory..."

    As Rhett was lost in thought, suddenly:

    <strong>[Family poption +1, Destiny Points +10]</strong>

    A notification appeared before him, and Rhett froze for a moment before realizing what had happened. His eyes filled with joy as he thought, "Ah, Mina has given birth as well. Excellent!"

    This change didn''t escape Ry''s notice, who curiously asked, "Commander, did you receive some good news?"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow, then quickly came up with an excuse. Stretching, he casually replied, "Nothing much, just feeling like I''m about to break through soon, so I''m in a good mood!"

    Ry, in the process of uncorking a bottle of Moonshine Elixir, froze. His eyes widened in surprise as he murmured, "Father... I mean, Commander, you''re about to break through again?"

    His voice was filled with excitement, so much so that he momentarily forgot to address Rhett as "Commander" on the Canyon Frontline!

    Rhett didn''t mind the minor slip and smiled, nodding. "Yes, just keep it to yourselves for now."

    Tuck scratched his head and gave a thumbs-up. "That''s amazing!" Then, in high spirits, he grabbed a handful of ck jerky from a pouch by his bed and began to chew.

    "Rhett, with your cultivation speed, did you take a Saint-grade Bloodline Potion back then?" Macoff, leaning on the bed''s iron post, craned his neck in amazement. "I''ve only heard of geniuses achieving such cultivation speeds in legends!"

    "Who knows?" Rhett shrugged, leaving the quality of the Bloodline Potion to others'' imaginations. It was best to keep them guessing to exin his rapid progress.

    But then he asked with interest, "Macoff, what geniuses have you heard of?"

    "Hmm, I heard that the Round Tower in the Kingdom of Reim has one.

    And there''s supposedly a prince in the Kingdom of Jinlun with incredible talent. When I was in Ice City, I heard that a young prince had already reached the peak of the Earth Knight level and was sent to train on the Coldstream Front.

    There are also other geniuses from other kingdoms and even overseas, all said to have the potential for sainthood.

    But who knows how urate the rumors are?" Macoff shook his head, knowing that most rumors were just that¡ªrumors.

    "Saint-level... that''s too far off," Rhett muttered to himself. Then he stood up and said, "I''m heading out for a while. You all can move around as you like, but don''t forget the patrol duties tonight."

    "Don''t worry, we''ll be here."

    The coolness of August was beginning to set in, and the camp''s paths were sprinkled with scattered leaves, adding a touch of gold to the heavy roads.

    As Rhett walked, the streets were noticeably quieter.

    Passing the training grounds, he could still hear the knights'' thunderous shouts.

    Others might not know, but Rhett understood that this was preparation for the all-out assault at the end of the month!

    His destination this time was the execution grounds. He wanted to check on how Telis was doing and had another goal in mind¡ªto increase Telis''s harvest quota!

    The dark fences surrounded the execution grounds, and through the wide gaps, Rhett could see that the number of beastmen awaiting execution had increased significantly since hisst visit.

    The recent beastmen assault had led to many prisoners.

    Now, the ce was filled with towering, ferocious beastmen in shackles, covering every corner of the execution grounds.

    At every guillotine stood a living beastman, some howling, some cursing, and others begging for mercy.

    Behind the guillotines, long lines of beastmen awaited their turn, blood sttered across the ground, mingling with severed heads.

    <strong>[Family poption +1, Destiny Points +10]</strong>

    Another notification shed before Rhett''s eyes.

    But he was bing ustomed to it. The influx of beastman prisoners over the past half-month, along with the notifications on his way here, made the frequency of these prompts moremon than ever.

    After showing his identification, Rhett entered the open-air execution grounds and headed to the corner he had visited before.

    There, he saw his youngest son, calmly casting a Minor Dark Wave spell at a beastman.

    <strong>Boom</strong>

    A ck energy orb struck a barely alive Nightcatman, hitting it right in the eye and sttering blood everywhere.

    The scene was brutal, but Rhett could tell that Telis, who might have once been affected, now treated it like a mundane task. Watching the beastman die, he showed no emotion¡ªperhaps even a hint of boredom.

    "Haha, Telis, it seems you''ve toughened up!" Rhettughed heartily. "You''ve matured a lot since you arrived here.

    And your spellcasting has improved too. Well done."

    "Huh? Fa... Commander!" Telis''s eyes lit up with joy as he ran over. "Why did it take you so long to visit? I was so worried when I heard about the beastmen''s assault. I was afraid something might have happened to you, Tuck, and Ry.

    I''m so d you''re all okay!"

    "Nothing could happen to us." Rhett smiled, looking Telis over. "But you seem to have grown a lot.

    Have the beastman prisoners increased since the assault?"

    "Yes." Telis frowned. "Since the beastmen''s attack, there have been so many to execute every day that I hardly have time to visit the alchemy workshop."

    Then he looked up at Rhett with hopeful eyes. "Commander, can I give up my position as executioner and focus on alchemy? I feel like I''ve had enough of this training."

    "Hmm, it''s not the right time yet," Rhett replied. "In fact, I hope you can intensify your efforts and work around the clock."

    "Ah?" Telis dragged out the sound, clearly reluctant. "Commander, that''s not training¡ªit''s exploitation!"

    Rhett sighed inwardly. "I know it''s tough, Telis. But these are special circumstances, and it has to be done.

    As a reward, after the war ends, I''ll personally reach out to the author of <em>Knight''s Academy</em> to get a sequel for you!"@@novelbin@@

    Telis''s eyes brightened but then dimmed again. "I''ve lost interest in <em>Knight''s Academy</em> now. After experiencing the wonders of alchemy, that old-fashioned story feels dull."

    "Hmm, then... I''ll find you a fantasy novel ten times better than <em>Knight''s Academy</em>. How about that?" Rhett pondered for a moment before adding in a tempting tone, "And I bet Mina will love it too!"

    "Really? You''re serious?" Telis, who trusted his fatherpletely, hesitated before eagerly asking, "Can you at least tell me who the author is?"

    "Hehe, not yet." Rhett smiled mysteriously. "But I can tell you it''s not from the Kingdom of Jinlun, and it caused a much bigger sensation than <em>Knight''s Academy</em>!"

    "Alright, Commander, you have my word!" Telis''s tone grew more determined.

    "Haha." Rhett chuckled. "Of course, I do."

    ncing at the nearby guillotines, Rhett saw the same third-rank knights from before, diligently executing beastmen. Behind them stretched long lines of beastmen awaiting their turn.

    "It seems for Telis, there are more than enough beastmen to execute, just not enough time..." Rhett mused.

    After a brief chat with Telis, Rhett left the execution grounds.

    As he departed, he thought, "Looks like I''ll have to be a giarist again. But to fit this world''s context, something like <em>Lord of the Mysteries</em> or <em>Release That Witch</em> wouldn''t suit the tone.

    Only ssic fantasy would do...

    <em>Mercenary World</em>? <em>Bloodthirsty Beast</em>?

    Or maybe... <em>Coiling Dragon</em>?"

 Chapter 156: Levitation Spell

    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

    On August 27th.

    Due to receiving orders from Ambiru the previous day, tonight, Rhett and his forces wouldunch a counterattack against the beastmen! Thus, he had gathered his troops early and waited quietly in the assembly area.

    The soldiers stood ready, with the setting sun casting a golden hue over the cool autumn sky. The clouds, increasingly dim in the fading light, appeared old and worn. As the sun dipped below the western mountains and twilight set in, the soldiers'' eyes in the assembly area grew even more resolute and determined!

    The size of the gathered forces was almost identical to when they had ambushed the Nightcatmen''s troops half a month ago.

    Under the moonlight, Ambiru approached with a cold expression and said, "The order was given a day in advance.

    Now, the temporary battalion and the 10th to 25th squads, follow me.

    The rest of the troops, carry out the orders I previously issued!"

    "Yes!" A resounding chorus echoed from the mass of soldiers.Quickly, several fifth-rank Earth Knights and fifth-rank Mages were assigned to the 1st to 10th squads, and they were the first to leave the assembly area.

    Then Ambiru continued, "The rest of you, move out!"

    At hismand, all the soldiers immediately sprang into action, their footsteps drumming like thunder as they marched through the checkpoints, heading north.

    Ahead, Rhett saw the shadowy, ocean-like mass of the main battle force, led by the Commander¡ªits scale farrger than Ambiru''s troops.

    Rhett touched the bulging pouch at his waist and, along with the other Mages at the rear of the formation, mentally prepared himself. Once they reached the front lines, the Poison Serpentmen among the royal bloodlines would rece the Blood Moon Werewolves as the main force.

    Inrge-scale, chaotic battles, the Poison Serpentmen''s venom could wreak havoc, causing significant problems for the human forces.

    The Blood Moon Werewolves, on the other hand, were better suited for solobat, small skirmishes, or assassination missions. Inrge battles, they were too easily targeted and overwhelmed. Unlike the Poison Serpentmen, whose venom could still spread and infect nearby enemies even after death.

    Fortunately, Rhett had prepared enough Starlight Potions in advance. Otherwise, even if he could survive, his troops would suffer greatly.

    As the counterattack force crossed the battlefield''s midline, the atmosphere grew chillingly cold.

    By the time the night deepened to its fullest, tiny stars glittered in the sky above. The autumn wind howled mournfully as the troops climbed a slope and arrived at a smallke. They reached theke''s northernmost point, where a narrow path led into the valley''s outer edge.

    At this point, the main army was still marching in great numbers, but Ambiru halted his forces at theke''s edge.

    He stood at the entrance to the narrow path, beside the northern shore of theke. In the middle of theke, a strange fish with three tails sshed out of the water before diving back in. Ripples spread outward, their edges darkening in the dim light, casting shadows as they expanded. After a few moments, the bubbling sounds ceased, and the main force had moved on, leaving everything quiet.

    Ambiru remained silent for a moment before speaking, "The beastmen are highly mobile. In this attack, the forces of Minotaurs, Nightcatmen, and Blood Moon Werewolves are likely to seek opportunities to nk orunch a surprise attack from the rear.

    Therefore, we must set up ambushes on the nks and rear. I''ve already positioned scouts to gather intelligence.@@novelbin@@

    If the beastmen attempt a nking maneuver, this location will be crucial to the right nk. I''ll have Amadeo, Mitch, Federi, and Putz, along with the 10th to 20th squads, stay here in ambush.

    The rest of you, follow me!"

    With new orders issued, Ambiru quickened his pace, and the others hurriedly followed.

    They passed through the Ringing Gold Peak, traveled several more kilometers, and arrived at a narrow strip of drynd between two cliffs. The area was only about ten meters wide, littered with rocks and boulders.

    Surrounding the cliffs were ck shrubs and golden dead trees.

    "Earth Mages, carve out spaces within the mountains and cover your tracks.

    Darren, Hellman, and Geoffrey, each lead five squads and hide inside the mountains.

    Wind Mages and archers, move to the back of the hill a kilometer away and prepare for an ambush," Ambiru ordered, pointing toward a small hill in the distance.

    "The temporary battalion and the 1st to 5th squads, patrol within a ten-kilometer radius around the two small hills and draw the beastmen''s attention.

    Everyone else, continue with me..."

    Ambiru''s eyes narrowed as he calmly issued orders, and the various units quickly mobilized.

    As Rhett concentrated his mental power to hollow out the mountain, he also essed the system interface to initiate a <strong>Real Simtion</strong>.

    This served as a precaution and helped him get a sense of the beastmen''s nking forces, making it easier to assist Tuck and Ry in harvesting more beastmen and umting Destiny Points.

    When the simtion ended, a ripple slowly faded, and Rhett''s eyes glinted with understanding. He patiently waited.

    About an hour passed.

    Rhett noticed a distant glimmer of small fire serpents in the sky, a sign of the sixth-rank Fire Spell¡ª<strong>Dance of Fire Serpents</strong>! Even from here, he could faintly see the firelight in the night.

    He sighed inwardly, "The battle on the front lines has begun..."

    Half an hourter.

    Rhett had long finished carving out the mountain''s interior and was now hiding deep within the bloody riverbed with Ambiru''s forces. Several Water Mages were stationed underwater, ready to counter any potential poison spread.

    After several more minutes, Rhett, wrapped in water nts, suddenly heard the rumbling footstepsing from the west.

    Then, a sharp whistle sounded¡ªAmbiru''s prearranged signal with the decoy patrol!

    Rhett looked toward Ambiru''s position, where the murky water distorted his vision. Through the faint glow ofbat energy, he saw the signal¡ª<strong>Attack!</strong>

    <strong>Ssh, ssh, ssh</strong>

    The surface of the bloody river bubbled as arge number of soldiers emerged.

    At that moment, the beastmen were pursuing the patrol that had been acting as bait.

    Charging at the forefront were over two hundred Minotaurs, followed closely by more than a hundred Nightcatmen.

    Further behind, Rhett could see about four hundred Boarmen, slower than the others and trailing at the rear.

    The Minotaurs led the way, their iron hooves thundering on the ground.

    Among the Minotaurs, their horns change color as they grow stronger¡ªbronze at lower levels, turning golden at mid-levels. High-level Minotaurs'' horns even be emerald green, incredibly tough and terrifying!

    But high-level Minotaurs rarely appeared on the Canyon Frontline. Among this wave of Minotaurs, about a dozen had golden horns, charging toward the soldiers luring them into the bloody riverbed!

    <strong>"Moo~"</strong> A deep, resonant bellow!

    <strong>"Meow~"</strong> A sharp, ear-piercing screech!

    <strong>Ssh, ssh, ssh</strong>

    Ambiru led the charge out of the water, his expression cold.

    Without hesitation, he unleashed a brilliant ze of fire and swung his sword, severely wounding several mid-level Minotaurs at the front.

    <strong>"Ll!"</strong>

    The Minotaurs let out muffled cries as the scorching mes ckened their front, sending them flying backward, colliding with theirrades who couldn''t stop in time.

    Fortunately, the Minotaurs behind them were weaker, with only low-level strength, unable to pierce the thick hide of the mid-level Minotaurs.

    <strong>Whizz, whizz, whizz</strong>

    At that moment, archers and Wind Mages arrived from several kilometers away, surrounding the beastmen from behind andunching a ranged attack.

    Even the soldiers hidden in the rocks emerged one by one.

    <strong>Thud, thud, thud</strong>

    Boulders tumbled down the mountains, and knights leaped from the heights!

    Mid-level Wind Mages also cast <strong>Levitation</strong>, floating in the air and slowly moving¡ªamong the various types of mages, only Wind Mages could use their powerful control over wind elements to fly before reaching the Saint level. At the Mage level, they could already take to the skies with the fourth-rank spell¡ª<strong>Levitation</strong>.

    At the Grand Mage level, they could even cast <strong>Flight</strong>, allowing them to fly freely in the sky before reaching the Saint level!

    Macoff nced at the floating Mage with envy but quickly joined in, casting <strong>Wind Wall</strong>!

    Several thick blue-green wind walls howled, and the arrows passing through them gained a second burst of speed, mercilessly striking the rtively fragile Nightcatmen!

    "Ambiru, I''ll fight you to the death!"

    A fifth-rank Nightcatman fearlessly leaped from the beastmen''s ranks, seemingly ready for a final showdown with Ambiru.

    However, at that moment, a Minotaur, carried by its momentum, also jumped into the air, heading toward the same direction as the Nightcatman.

    As it approached, it exposed its broad back, acting as a tform.

    The Nightcatman''s eyes shed with cunning as it used the Minotaur''s back as a springboard, changing direction in mid-air to charge at the floating fourth-rank Wind Mage!

    "Damn it!"

    Rhett''s face darkened as he cast <strong>Falling Rocks</strong> to crush the Nightcatman!

    He nced at Ambiru, who remained calm, drawing his longbow and nocking an arrow without a word.

    <strong>Snap!</strong>

    Ambiru released the bowstring, and the arrow shot like a streak of light, trailing a long red glow as it pierced through the Nightcatman''s head, which had been trying to ambush the Wind Mage.

    <strong>Boom!</strong>

    The body exploded in mid-air, turning into a shower of blood as it plummeted to the ground.

    With Ambiru holding the line and having verified the oue through the simtion, Rhett knew the battle was already decided.

    But his primary goal was to umte Destiny Points!

    So, as he fought fiercely, Rhett subtly moved closer to Tuck and Ry.

    Before long, he reached their central position, using his Earth Magic to target second and third-rank beastmen, severely wounding them to make it easier for Tuck and Ry to finish them off.

    Despite Tuck''srge build, he was agile thanks to his Phantom Rewind technique!

    <strong>"Oww!"</strong>

    He heard a Boarman''s cry and swiftly marked it with a hiddenbat energy seal before darting forward like a phantom, plunging his sword into its heart!

    Even Ry, benefiting from rigorous magic training, was performing well, using <strong>Water Spear</strong> to finish off severely wounded beastmen.

    Meanwhile, Rhett''s vision filled with continuous notifications of increased Destiny Points.

    The battle raged for over half an hour.

    Although the beastmen were rtively simple-minded, their relentless ferocity was terrifying.

    Despite having Ambiru, a sixth-rank peak warrior, leading them, the beastmen''s desperate struggle still unleashed tremendousbat power.

    In the end, the beastmen suffered heavy losses, with only a few lucky ones escaping. The majority perished in the ambush.

    But many human soldiers were also injured or maimed.

    Ambiru frowned and sternly ordered, "Bigu, Leda, Offetomi, quickly treat the wounded!"

    As soon as themand was given, Light Mages rushed from the rear of the battlefield, gathering soft light to heal the injured.

    During this brief respite, Rhett approached Tuck and patted his shoulder, giving Ry a knowing look. Both understood immediately. They seized the opportunity to finish off the beastmen who were still clinging to life but would soon perish without treatment.

    This action didn''t draw any suspicion.

    After all, many soldiers on the Canyon Frontline harbored deep hatred for the beastmen. Some even desecrated the corpses of dead beastmen after the battle to vent their anger.

    Rhett also nced at Taddell, Kulse, and Heline. Although they had some minor injuries, they were generally fine, so he felt relieved.

    "Next, we''re heading to the front lines for the final assault. Everyone, prepare yourselves!" Ambiru calmly announced after the soldiers had a brief rest.

    "Understood!" The soldiers responded with high spirits, showing no fear.

    Seasoned soldiers knew that only by confronting war without fear could they hope to avoid it.

    Rhett checked his system interface, noting that his Destiny Points had reached <strong>276</strong>, and every few minutes, another notification would appear.

    He then looked toward the front lines, where "magical fireworks" sparkled in the sky, and wondered, "I wonder if this battle will be enough for me to break through..."

 Chapter 157: You Must Be the Protagonist, Right?

    As the first rays of daylight pierced through the sky, crossing the Canyon Frontline and dispelling the darkness, the day gradually brightened.

    Rhett arrived at the front lines alongside Ambiru.

    The beastmen''s forward positions were a series of towering, sharp-edged camps. Lacking any artistic features, these crude constructions were purely functional, chaotic in appearance. Unlike humans, beastmen didn''t care much about architecture¡ªafter all, their bodies were their best weapons and shields.

    The one notable aspect of their camps was their massive scale, amodating therge, unrefined beastmen who lived within.

    Though beastmen couldn''t delve into alchemy like humans, royal beastmen had a natural advantage. In their eyes, unlocking the potential of their bloodline was more valuable than anything else! Even ordinary beastmen, with enough food and rigorous training, could steadily improve their strength.

    Beyond the beastmen''s forward positions stretched an endless in.

    The beastmen had chosen this terrain specifically to maximize their greatest advantage in war¡ªdirect frontal confrontation.

    At that moment, the battle on the front lines was chaotic, but a closer look revealed a certain order amidst the disorder.

    In the vanguard, densely packed human soldiers d in metal armor wielded longswords, heavy shields, or massive axes, engaging in fiercebat with the Minotaurs, Boarmen, and a few Blood Moon Werewolves.In terms of individualbat strength, the beastmen''s innate physical prowess and healing abilities naturally far surpassed those of humans. This advantage only began to diminish at the Saint level when the mysteries of profound power came into y.

    But at least before reaching the Saint level, except for a few human prodigies, it was an undeniable fact that beastmen generally outmatched humans in individualbat.

    To counter the beastmen, humans relied on their numerical superiority and the flexible coordination of knights, archers, and mages.

    For example, right now, several mages were stationed behind the human army, protected by knights as they continuously cast spells to disrupt or directly attack the beastmen.

    In the sky, Wind Mage Masters hovered, their cold eyes fixed on the beastmen below as they maintained <strong>Wind Wall</strong> spells while casting wind des at the enemy.

    These merciless wind des, streaking with cyan light, resembled blue beams of energy. Any beastman who momentarily lost focus and failed to notice could have their head severed by a wind de.

    Over a thousand archers stood at the rear of the army, positioned on tforms constructed by Earth Mages.

    Bows drawn, theyunched arrows that, aided by the wind walls, rained down on the beastmen like meteors.

    When facing wind des, beastmen could only rely on their reflexes to dodge. But when confronted with arrows, the Boarmen and Minotaurs took a more straightforward approach. They raised massive, ten-square-meter shields bristling with spikes¡ªa standard issue for these rtively slow beastmen on the front lines. These spiked shields could not only deflect arrows but also be used as weapons!

    As for the Nightcatman units, they appeared rarely in this battle. Half a month ago, the Nightcatmen had suffered heavy casualties, significantly reducing their numbers on the Canyon Frontline, and reinforcements hadn''t yet arrived.

    Additionally, the remaining Nightcatmen were mostly assigned to nking maneuvers or side attacks.

    The Nightcatmen currently on the front lines were elite warriors, at least mid-level, seeking opportunities to ambush human mages and strike the rear lines.

    As an Earth Mage Master, Rhett''s battlefield tasks included not only dealing with beastmen but also maintaining the archers'' tforms. From time to time, Minotaurs or Boarmen would charge through the lines, damaging the tforms.

    However, Earth Knights were stationed near the tforms, ready to deal with any wounded beastmen that made it through.

    Just like now.

    Three Minotaurs with golden horns, exuding the overwhelming aura of fifth-rank powerhouses, were charging forward. One of them even had a severed human arm hanging from its horns.

    Fury burned in their eyes as they red at the archers on the tforms and nearby mages. White steam puffed from their nostrils as they let out a thunderous roar and prepared to charge.

    The Earth Knights who had been lying in wait behind the earthen tforms immediately sprang into action, wielding giant axes or longswords as they rushed toward the three Minotaurs.

    "Foolish beasts! Today, we''ll bury all of you here!" A knight d in ck robes, his longsword glowing with a dark aura, struck like a venomous snake in the night.

    "The beastmen will prevail!" The Minotaur with the golden horns growled, its teeth grinding in anger. It had just witnessed its brother fall to a human archer''s arrow.

    Its hatred burned deep¡ªwhy couldn''t the beastmen wield magic? Why couldn''t they master alchemy and craft potent poisons like the humans?

    Despite their superior physical strength, they were constantly hindered by the humans!

    Ten human Earth Knights, all of the fifth rank, surrounded the three charging Minotaurs, intent on bringing them down.

    The three Minotaurs fought with reckless abandon, exchanging blows in a vicious, all-out assault. Their bloodshot eyes reflected their fury as they swung their spiked shields with deadly force.

    Rhett stood about a hundred meters away from the charging Minotaurs.

    Minutester.

    He noticed that the Minotaur with the severed arm on its horns had been sent flying by a human knight. It was then kicked to the ground by two other Earth Knights, its legs twitching as it struggled to rise.

    With a thought, Rhett cast <strong>Earth Spikes</strong> at the creature''s exposed back!

    <strong>Thud!</strong> The sharp earth spike pierced the Minotaur''s heart, staining it with crimson blood.

    Before his eyes, a familiar notification appeared, indicating the Destiny Points he had earned for ying an enemy above his rank:

    <strong>[Family member ys an enemy one rank higher, Destiny Points +1]</strong>

    "Not bad!" Rhett''s tense mind rxed slightly.

    But then, a chill swept over him from behind, causing his heart to race!

    Countless battles had honed his instincts, warning him that this was no ordinary threat!

    Without hesitation, Rhett opened the system interface and activated <strong>Real Simtion</strong>¡ªa safeguard against the unknown danger looming behind him.

    <strong>Activate Real Simtion? Each day simted consumes 1 Destiny Point.</strong>

    "Yes!"

    A ripple passed through his vision, and as the simtion began, Rhett felt a wave of relief wash over him.

    Suddenly.

    A gust of wind swept past him, and Rhett''s eyes widened in shock as the sound of shing metal rang out!

    <strong>ng!</strong>

    He turned quickly to see a familiar Earth Knight, his body shrouded in cyan Wind Battle Energy, blocking a pitch-ck Nightcatman''s deadly w with a blue-tinted rapier!

    The Nightcatman was less than three meters from Rhett, its overwhelming presence causing Rhett to shiver.

    <strong>"Meow!"</strong> The Nightcatman snarled, clearly displeased that its assassination attempt had failed.

    "Rhett, Amadeo, there''s a sixth-rank Nightcatman here. You two should get farther away. If you stay too close, I can''t guarantee your safety!" Somjet''s voice was calm, but his eyes remained locked on the sixth-rank Nightcatman before him, never letting his guard down.

    Hearing the voice and recognizing the figure, Rhett remembered that this was the same sixth-rank powerhouse Ambiru had brought in during their ambush on the Nightcatmen half a month ago.

    As Rhett and the other mages retreated, he nced at the sixth-rank Nightcatman, feeling a slight unease¡ªwas a single sixth-rank Nightcatman really this bold tounch a solo attack on the rear lines?

    Instinctively, he sensed something was off.

    Just as this thought crossed his mind, another dark shadow suddenly appeared behind him, lunging at Amadeo on Rhett''s left!

    Amadeo, a Light Mage beside Rhett, furrowed his brow deeply and quickly cast <strong>sh</strong>!

    A blinding light erupted.

    But for a sixth-rank Nightcatman, dodging such a spell was child''s y. It kicked off the tform wall with its hind legs, easily evading the attack.

    Then, itshed out with its ws, aiming straight for Amadeo''s chest.

    <strong>sh, sh, sh!</strong>

    Against an opponent a full rank higher, known for its speed, Amadeo had no time to cast another spell before his vision blurred, and three deep gashes appeared across his chest.

    Blood sprayed everywhere, some even sttering onto Rhett''s left sleeve.

    "Ah!" Amadeo screamed in agony, the gruesome wounds on his chest exposing his organs.

    <strong>"Holy Light Healing!"</strong> Amadeo gasped, his face pale as he desperately cast a healing spell on himself.

    However, the Nightcatman had no intention of letting him go and immediately pressed the attack!

    Amadeo trembled with fear, his eyes wide with terror.

    Rhett, too, found it hard to believe. The simtion had indicated that he would survive this battle unscathed.

    But now, with Amadeo on the brink of death, it was only a matter of time before he was next!

    In war, the oue is what matters, not individual battles. Casualties are inevitable¡ªperhaps even at the same time the enemy was killing their soldiers, Rhett''s allies were ughtering beastmen.

    At least on Rhett''s side, there was only one sixth-rank Earth Knight. The Commander and Vice Commander were nowhere to be seen, likely engaged in other critical tasksAt the very least, on Rhett''s side, there was only one sixth-rank Earth Knight, and even themander and vicemander were nowhere to be seen, likely upied with other critical tasks.

    But even knowing this, when death looms over you personally, it¡¯s hard not to feel some resentment!

    Somjet noticed the situation with Rhett and Amadeo, his face grim. He forced back the first Nightcatman that had appeared with a swift sword strike and then transformed into a whirlwind, spiraling toward the Nightcatman near Rhett!

    But halfway there, another sixth-rank Nightcatman came speeding from several kilometers away.

    For a sixth-rank Nightcatman, a few kilometers was no distance at all. Like a ck ghost, it raced toward Somjet''s location!

    Even the other two Nightcatmen changed targets at this moment. The one about to finish off Amadeo abandoned the kill, pivoted deftly to the left, and shed its ws toward Somjet''s head.

    At this point.

    The Nightcatmen''s intentions were clear. Their target wasn¡¯t the mages or other lower-ranked soldiers¡ªthey had only one goal: to eliminate the sixth-rank Earth Knight!

    A small number of archers on the tform shifted their focus to this battle, releasing a volley of arrows.

    But most of the archers had to stick to their pre-assigned task¡ªattacking the front line. If the main army fell, they would bear the me.

    However, the dozens of arrows meant little to the three Nightcatmen.

    On the contrary, Somjet, now surrounded, felt the immense pressure. His thin sword shed with starlike points of light as he summoned a fierce whirlwind, kicking up clouds of dust. But even with mid-levelbat skills, two of the Nightcatmen fended off his attacks with rtive ease, while the third went for his heart.

    <strong>Whoosh</strong>

    Somjet stabbed forward, sending a gust of wind swirling around him as he retreated.

    In just a few minutes ofbat, he had umted six or seven shallow w marks across his body.

    ¡°Damn it! Why are they targeting me specifically?¡± Somjet cursed internally.

    He wanted to leave, he wanted to survive, but his orders were clear¡ªprotect the archers and mages in this area.

    If he fled and became a deserter, his fate would be far worse than the current situation! ¡°Whirlwind sh!¡± Somjet gritted his teeth as wind-element Battle Energy swirled violently around him, howling in fury. A few secondster, a series of roaring winds erupted.

    Once more, he raised his sword and charged at the three Nightcatmen, all while screaming internally:

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die! I want to live to see the day I¡¯m truly free!

    To travel the world like the wind! You damn Nightcatmen, just die already!!¡±

    Usuallyposed, Somjet now looked ferocious, his face twisted with emotion. His thin sword carved out a ten-meter-long spinning de, glowing with cyan light.

    The Nightcatmen, far from being intimidated, were thrilled to see their human opponent refuse to flee. They pounced on him with renewed vigor, engaging in a deadly struggle once more.

    ¡°Gale Thrust!¡±

    ¡°Whirlwind sh!¡±

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    Despite his desperate efforts, Somjet couldn¡¯t keep up with three opponents at once. His injuries grew more severe, his body covered in bleeding wounds.

    Blood soaked the ground beneath him!

    Even the surrounding dust had taken on a faint red hue.

    Compared to therger battlefield, thebat here was intense but localized, with only the nearby archers and the distant Rhett and Amadeo worrying about Somjet¡¯s fate.

    Another burst of cyan light red as Somjet twisted and turned like the wind, narrowly dodging fatal blows. His disheveled hair hung over his eyes, giving him the appearance of a crazed warrior.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!!¡± Somjet roared, but despite his best efforts, he felt his strength waning.

    <strong>Thunk.</strong> One of the Nightcatmen¡¯s ws pierced his abdomen, causing his body to shudder violently as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

    Immediately after, another Nightcatman leaped into the air, aiming to deliver the killing blow to Somjet¡¯s head.

    But suddenly.@@novelbin@@

    A subtle ripple spread from the ground.

    A fierce gust of wind followed, and Somjet¡¯s entire body began to tremble. A terrifying aura surged from within him, rising rapidly.

    His eyes burned with an overwhelming will to survive, and the thin sword in his hand shone with an intense cyan light, as if it might crystallize at any moment!

    ¡°Well, well, is he breaking through in the middle of a fight?¡± Rhett muttered, watching Somjet¡¯s growing power, which seemed to transform him entirely. ¡°With a breakthrough like this, you must be the protagonist, right?¡±

 Chapter 158: Wind Element Mysticism

    ¡°No wonder this crisis was resolved smoothly.

    No, in the simtion, perhaps this couldn¡¯t even be considered a crisis.

    It was destined to be ovee,¡± Rhett thought to himself.

    "Hahaha!" Somjet felt the earth-shattering changes within his body, the surging Battle Energy flowing freely at his will, and he burst intoughter.

    This breakthroughmotion was far more attention-grabbing than the previous fight.

    After all, a promotion from Earth Knight to Sky Knight had a significant impact on the battlefield situation in the Gorge Defense Line! Such a powerful surge in energy filled the human forces with cheer and renewed vigor.

    On the other hand, the beastmen, witnessing the zing pir of Battle Energy, felt an oppressive weight on their hearts, like a mountain had suddenlynded on their backs.

    The three Nightcatmen, who had just been battling Somjet, were now being blown away by the violent gust of wind. Even the residual shockwaves of the Battle Energy were enough to suffocate them!

    Now, looking at Somjet, the Sky Knight bathed in a cyan glow, their eyes were filled with terror.Why? Why did this human break through to Sky Knight at this moment?!

    They knew all too well the gap between mid-level and high-level¡ªthere was no way they could match him!

    Their minds were no longer focused on fighting; instead, a single thought took over¡ªrun!

    Immediately, the three Nightcatmen turned and fled in three different directions.

    But for Somjet, who had sessfully ascended to Sky Knight, his entire mental state had transformed.

    Not only was he ted by the change in his strength and status, but he also knew that he was now one step closer to his freedom!

    Once he became a ninth-rank knight, he would have the freedom to choose whether to remain on the battlefield or leave!

    The road ahead might be long, but for now, he had taken a significant step forward! Looking at the three fleeing Nightcatmen, a cruel smile appeared on his lips. Faced with the enemies who had nearly snatched away his life and dreams, he had no intention of showing mercy.

    Somjet licked his lips, his gaze cold and merciless, and muttered to himself, "Run? How about I send you all to the underworld instead..."

    In the next instant, his figure vanished from where he stood.

    Rhett, who had been closely observing, almost thought his eyes were deceiving him.

    "Meow!" "Meow!" "Meow!"

    Then, three simultaneous, shrill screams echoed through the air, long and piercing.

    Somjet''s speed was simply too fast. As a Sky Knight of the Wind Element, his movements were nearly impossible to track, and it took him only a few seconds to effortlessly eliminate all three Nightcatmen!

    Rhett, who had been watching, couldn¡¯t help but marvel at such power.

    He exchanged a nce with Amadeo, both of their eyes filled with relief, and they prepared to step forward to express their gratitude.

    But just then, a booming voice echoed from afar, "Somjet, report to the beastmen¡¯s main camp immediately!"

    Upon hearing this, Rhett paused mid-step.

    He recognized the voice immediately¡ªit was none other than themander of the Gorge Defense Line, Avalon''s voice.

    Rhett¡¯s thoughts whirled, ¡°It seems Avalon noticed Somjet¡¯s breakthrough. Summoning him to the main camp must mean there¡¯s already a n in ce to strike the beastmen¡¯s rear positions!¡±

    "Divine Light Healing!" Amadeo, who was examining the tattered robe on his chest, as well as the wound that had almost healed from his previous healing spell, quickly cast another healing spell.

    His chest wound immediately closed, leaving no visible scar! Then, seeing that Somjet had left, Amadeo turned his attention back to the ongoing battle, rushing to other areas where he could find heavily woundedrades and casting healing spells.

    Or, he unleashed ¡°Holy Light de¡± to attack the beastmen from a distance!

    Rhett also nced at the area where Somjet had just fought the three Nightcatmen, shook his head, and swiftly returned to the fray.

    At this point.

    As the battle grew more intense, the Phantom Venomous Snakemen, who had initially remained hidden, now entered the battlefield, spraying venom wildly, targeting the clusters of human soldiers positioned further back.

    Though their numbers were only around two to three hundred, if their venom sshed onto a soldier''s face, eyes, or through a crack in their armor, it would quickly cause hallucinations.

    A few Earth Knights could react swiftly, but most of those poisoned ended up as bloody corpses, crushed by the heavy blows of the nearby Minotaurs or Boarmen.

    "Hurry! Wind Mages, cast Wind Wall!" someone shouted toward the rear.

    Rhett nced at Macauf and several other Wind Mages, who advanced under the cover of soldiers. Once they reached casting distance, they began casting Wind Wall.

    When cast normally, Wind Wall could speed up the flight of arrows and other projectiles.

    When cast in reverse, depending on the speed and weight of the projectile, it could slow or evenpletely block iing attacks.

    <strong>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.</strong>

    A fierce wind swept across the front lines. The beastmen, with their strong bodies, weren¡¯t much affected.

    But the venom sprayed by the Phantom Venomous Snakemen couldn¡¯t prate the Wind Wall and reach the human soldiers.

    Although the Snakemen tried to adjust their positions to avoid the Wind Wall¡¯s coverage, the human Wind Mages constantly monitored their movements, shifting the Wind Walls to block the venom as much as possible.

    Somjet, having heard themander¡¯s summons, was about to head over, but the appearance of the Phantom Venomous Snakemen made him change his mind!

    He recalled a previous battle where he had narrowly escaped after facing these creatures. His gaze turned icy as he muttered, "No beastman elites in the rear? The gods must be favoring me! Phantom Venomous Snakemen, I¡¯ll make you pay today!"

    Feeling the powerful energy surging through his body, with his viscous, crystalline-like Battle Energy, Somjet realized thatpared to Earth Knights, the sheer amount of Battle Energy a Sky Knight possessed was terrifyingly vast.

    He leaped high into the air, his body disappearing like a wisp of smoke.

    In the next moment, Somjet appeared at the rear of the beastmen¡¯s army, hovering in the air thanks to his Wind Element Battle Energy.

    <strong>"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"</strong>

    He didn¡¯t even need to use hisbat techniques¡ªsimple strikes were enough to pose a significant threat to the Phantom Venomous Snakemen below.

    After all, the beastmen¡¯s strategists had never anticipated that a human would break through to Sky Knight in the middle of a battle¡ªa first in the history of the Gorge Defense Line!

    Somjet swung his sword, sending out cyan sword energy, shaped like wind des. Upon closer inspection, the light was not particrly bright but rather subdued, resembling a crystalline form.

    But the beastmen were not pushovers. Dozens of Bloodmoon Werewolves quickly gathered, along with Phantom Venomous Snakemen and a few Nightcatmen, all leaping into the air to surround Somjet.

    <strong>ng, ng, ng!</strong>

    A series of sharp metallic ngs rang out in the sky as Somjet¡¯s thin sword shed with the beastmen¡¯s ws.

    Though Somjet was now a Sky Knight, he dared not be careless against the overwhelming numbers of physically powerful beastmen.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can keep up with me!¡± Somjet sneered coldly, dodging the attacks of four Nightcatmen and piercing a Bloodmoon Werewolf¡¯s heart with a single thrust.

    Thankfully, as a Wind Element Sky Knight, his ability to hover in the air greatly enhanced his mobility.

    Although it consumed a lot of energy and couldn¡¯t match the effortless control of wind elements that a Wind Archmage could achieve, it still allowed him to remain airborne, simr to the effect of a Wind Mage¡¯s Floating Spell.

    For a closebat knight, this was a significant boost in maneuverability!@@novelbin@@

    A Sky Knight like him, thrust into the fray, became a disruptive force, causing chaos behind enemy lines.

    As a result, the beastmen''s rear lines began to fall into disarray.

    Human forces, invigorated by this,unched even fiercer attacks, gradually gaining the upper hand!

    Suddenly.

    "Beastmen will triumph! Dare to harm my beastmen kin? Die!" A thunderous roar echoed from the direction of the beastmen''s camp!

    The terrifying sound waves were so powerful that even those far behind in the human army felt a sharp pain in their eardrums!

    Even Rhett felt a dizzying sensation in his head. When he regained his senses, his pupils contracted sharply as an image of a certain beastman race formed in his mind.

    Royal Bloodline¡ªWarbear!

    Though all royal bloodlines were formidable, the Warbear race had begun to overshadow the others.

    This was because, among all the chieftains of the beastmen, only one was universally acknowledged as the true Beast King: The Warbear powerhouse¡ªFelix H. Fredo! Every royal bloodline of the beastmen had unique talents, and the Warbears were no exception. Their immensely strong bodies were just the foundation. Most importantly, they possessed a sonic ability, a talent for producing shockwaves with their thunderous roars! To weaker beings, these shockwaves could cause instant dizziness, even unconsciousness. If the gap in strength was significant enough, a single roar could kill.

    Even powerful opponents of the same rank were easily disoriented by it.

    At this moment, the intense roar made Rhett feel a bit disoriented, his expression growing heavier.

    But in the next instant, another terrifying aura surged forth, a fierce gust of wind howled past, and a ten-meter-long wind de-shaped sword energy shed diagonally from the rear of the beastman army.

    "Umodi, get past me first!" Avalon''s voice echoed from the sky.

    At that moment, the beastmanmander of the Gorge Defense Line, the high-level Warbear beastman¡ªUmodi¡ªhad already rushed out of the beastman camp, surrounded by several powerful auras.

    Bloodmoon Werewolves, Phantom Venomous Snakemen, Nightcatmen, Minotaurs, and Boarmen, all of them six-rank powerhouses, encircled Umodi, their eyes fixed menacingly on Avalon.

    Likewise, Avalon was surrounded by several Earth Knights, including Tami, Anbiru, Somjet, and the other strong fighters who had assisted in ambushing the Nightcatmen with Anbiru earlier, now standing in opposition to the beastman elites.

    Both groups seemed to have emerged from the depths of the beastman camp, each bearing wounds, clearly having already fought a fierce battle.

    Rhett understood why Commander Avalon had led a team to intercept Umodi¡ªafter all, the bloodline talent of the high-level Warbear had too significant an impact on the battlefield. Its roar directly influenced the army, providing a battlefield advantage unmatched by any other royal bloodline! Andpared to the Warbear, human high-level powerhouses had a lesser impact on the battlefield, making direct interception a wiser choice.

    But now, it seemed the enemy was ready to go all out.

    Facing the newly ascended Sky Knight, Somjet, the beastmen appeared particrly wary, while Avalon''s mood improved significantly. Laughing heartily, he said, "Somjet, you''re impressive! You live up to your reputation as a genius, hahaha!"

    Somjet simply smiled faintly and replied softly, "Let''s finish this war quickly, I''m tired¡ªlet''s annihte them!"

    "You... have youprehended Mysticism?" Avalon suddenly asked out of the blue.

    Hearing this, Somjet''s expression darkened, and he quickly replied, "No!"

    "Ah, that''s unfortunate!" Avalon sighed.

    Upon hearing this, the beastmen rxed. Fortunately, their opponent hadn''tprehended Mysticism; otherwise, their chances of victory in this battle would be much slimmer!

    Umodi exchanged a nce with the Bloodmoon Werewolf to his left, and without any hesitation, theyunched a fierce attack on Somjet, as if determined to take down this newly ascended Sky Knight!

    "Roar!"

    Umodi''s roar shook the surrounding space, the violent waves of energy causing those around Anbiru to momentarily lose focus.

    Even Somjet, seemingly inexperienced, was briefly stunned by the direct impact of the roar!

    "Haha, you novice Sky Knight, you''re too green!" Umodi charged toward Somjet,ughing wildly and arrogantly shouting, "Die! Learn some lessons in the underworld!"

    Avalon''s eyes shed with disbelief¡ªhe hadn''t expected Somjet to fall prey so easily. Furious, he thrust his sword to intercept Umodi''s attack. The tip of his sword glowed with a cyan light, extending into a massive ten-meter-long energy de, filled with intense Battle Energy.

    But Umodi had nned for this. He extended his broad left arm, covered in deep blue metal bristling with spikes, emanating a chilling aura¡ªhe was ready to sacrifice his arm, even be crippled, to take down this newly ascended human knight!

    A cruel smile spread across his face.

    However, the unexpected happened.

    Somjet''s figure in front of Umodi suddenly became blurry, and in the next moment, a sharp pain pierced Umodi''s chest, snapping his mind into rity.

    A look of agony crossed Umodi''s face as he nced down at his left chest, where a thumb-thick hole was gushing blood!

    "This... impossible!" Umodi''s pupils contracted sharply, his mouth agape in horror as he eximed, "You... you just used Wind Element Mysticism!"

    His voice trembled with disbelief.

    Even the other six-rank beastmen around him instantly became much more cautious as they looked at Somjet.

    "Didn''t he just say... he hadn''tprehended Mysticism?" the Boarman grumbled in his deep voice.

    "Idiot, hopeless fool.

    Haven''t you learned how deceitful humans can be? That was surely a deliberate lie!" The Phantom Venomous Snakeman hissed angrily, casting a resentful nce at Somjet.

 Chapter 159: The End of the Great War

    The eyes of these beastman powerhouses were filled with shock as they looked at Somjet.

    Generally speaking, theprehension of mysticws is a hallmark of Saint-level powerhouses, granting them earth-shattering power. However, this doesn''t mean that only Saints are capable of understanding them.

    In fact, some geniuses can glimpse the rudiments of mysticism even before reaching the Saint level, leading to a qualitative leap in their strength! At this moment, Somjet had caught a glimpse of such mysticism when he broke through to be a Sky Knight.

    He now stood with his eyes closed, silently savoring the "Wind Mysticism¡ªExtreme Speed" he had just unleashed. On the human side, the reactions were theplete opposite of the beastmen¡ªexpressions of joy and envy were evident on their faces!

    Avalon heavily patted Somjet on the back,ughing loudly, "Haha, goodd! Youprehended mysticism and even managed to keep it hidden from me! But well done, well done indeed, haha!"

    Somjet opened his eyes and smiled proudly, "Otherwise, how could I be called a genius?"

    "Hmm? What was that strike just now?" Rhett''s eyes were filled with doubt.

    From his position at the rear of the human army, Rhett could only make out vague figures in the distance, engaged in battle amidst the shing bursts of Battle Energy.

    What he had seen was this: after Umodi''s powerful roar, Somjet seemed to have frozen, standing motionless. But suddenly, as Umodi charged toward Somjet, closing the gap to just about ten meters, Somjet remained unmoving.Then, unexpectedly, Umodi''s advance was halted, and he was forcibly pushed back.

    Rhett couldn''t immediately figure out the reason and could only sigh inwardly, "It seems Somjet''s talent is even greater than the rumors suggest..."

    While others of his age had already be Sky Knights, Rhett reflected on his own journey¡ªif it weren''t for his extraordinary experiences, he might not have even reached the level of a Magister in this lifetime.

    After pondering for a moment, Rhett shook his head with a smile, pushing aside these thoughts to focus on the matter at hand.

    "No wonder this final assault ended smoothly, and in two months, the royal bloodlines of the beastmen will be pushed back."

    Though the oue had been confirmed through the simtion, Rhett''s battlefield experience and rational analysis initially led him to believe that with the beastmen''s formidable physique and regeneration abilities, the battle would be much more evenly matched. Moreover, the presence of the Warbearmander on the beastman side should have caused significant disruption on the front lines.

    Now, however, Rhett understood. Somjet''s breakthrough to Sky Knight, coupled with his mastery of wind mysticism, hadpletely neutralized the influence of the Warbearmander, even surpassing it!

    With this realization, Rhett finally felt at ease, knowing there were no more uncertainties in this war.

    Recalling the scene of Somjet''s breakthrough to Sky Knight, Rhett couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy.

    "Sigh, for now, I''ll focus on gathering more destiny points. But one day, through my relentless efforts, I will surely secure my ce as a Grand Magister!" Rhett took onest nce at the distant, blurry figures of humans and beastmen locked inbat before shifting his focus back to his duties, casting a series of earth spells on the battlefield.

    Earth Spike

    Earth Stab

    Rockfall

    Sand Wolf Howl

    Amidst the chaos of battle, he couldn''t constantly keep track of Tuck, R, and the others'' positions. But at least he could asionally check on his subordinates. Despite being poisoned by the Phantom Venomous Snakemen, they weren''t in grave danger. Thanks to their prior training in battlefield survival tactics and the antidote from the Starlight Potion, none of them faced a life-threatening situation.

    The war raged on for three days and three nights, with fire and blood engulfing the battlefield.

    During this time, Rhett ended the real-time simtion but found no significant changes that needed to be made; reality had yed out nearly identically.

    Only those who had personally experienced the battle could understand how grueling it truly was.

    Rhett pushed himself to forget the final oue and threw himself fully into the war.

    Now, after three days and nights of relentlessbat, Rhett felt not only mentally exhausted but also noticed that both human and beastman soldiers hadrgely depleted their stamina. Their movements had slowed considerably, driven only by sheer willpower.

    Avalon, leading Somjet and the other six-rank powerhouses, returned to the rear of the army at the beginning of the third day, heavily wounded.

    The Warbear tribe''s strength was undeniable; Umodi had managed to hold his own against two opponents, resulting in a mutually destructive stalemate.

    While it might seem that neither side had gained an advantage, Rhett knew better¡ªthe Warbearmander''s severe injuries, preventing him from using his bloodline powers, made the oue favorable for their side.

    As evening approached and the sun set once more, the golden glow had already faded into the western shadows. The waxing moon shone faintly in the hazy sky, and the sounds of battle had dwindledpared to the early stages of the war. Many warriors'' throats had grown hoarse; their mouths gaped open, throats moving, but no sound emerged. On the pitch-ck ground, the beastmen and humans tangled and writhed like the slow-moving branches of a withered forest.

    At this moment, Avalon emerged from the temporary stone structure constructed by Earth magicians, holding a horn in his hand. The surface of the horn gleamed with a golden hue as he took a deep breath and officially blew it:

    "Woooo¡ª"

    "Woooo¡ª"

    The long, deep sound of the horn echoed across the battlefield for several kilometers.

    Upon hearing this distinct sound, Rhett, who had just been preparing to cast another spell, suddenly snapped back to full consciousness.

    He paused mid-cast, stood still for a couple of seconds, and then a look of relief flickered in his eyes.

    He whispered softly, "It''s finally over..."

    Rhett knew all too well that the horn''s call on the Gorge Defense Line carried only one message¡ªretreat!

    Because, unless the beastmen could be utterly annihted, continuing to press forward would eventually lead to exhaustion. Prolongedbat on enemy territory, with a supply line less efficient than the enemy''s, would inevitably result in a loss of advantage.

    Moreover, with the beastmen''s powerful regenerative abilities, the longer the battle dragged on, the more likely they would regain the upper hand.

    And worse, reinforcements could arrive from the beastmen''s rear, turning the tide against them.

    An experiencedmander wouldn''t risk prolonged engagement near the enemy''s stronghold.

    Victory could be achieved gradually, with fewer casualties, by leveraging the newfound strength of a Sky Knight to wear down the beastmen over time.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    Following the horn''s call, the heavy footsteps of retreat echoed like a drumbeat. The front-line human knights quickly responded, coordinating their withdrawal.

    Rockfall

    Quicksand

    Wind Wall

    Fireball

    sh

    The rear-guard magicians and archers, working desperately to cover the retreat of the main force, unleashed a barrage of offensive spells to hinder the pursuing beastmen!@@novelbin@@

    Without orders to pursue, the beastmen could only watch in frustration as the human army retreated.

    But soon after...

    "Roar!"

    A weakened roar echoed from the beastmen''s camp.

    The beastmen, who had been on the verge of giving chase, halted in their tracks, ring resentfully at the retreating humans.

    The stamina of beastmen was longsting, more so than humans, who relied on Battle Energy. On the battlefield, beastmen could maintain their endurance for far longer.

    And if not fatally wounded, they could fully recover after resting and eating, ready to return to battle.

    This was the beastmen''s greatest challenge.

    Within the beastman camp, chaos erupted.

    "Umodi, why aren''t we pursuing them?" growled a Bloodmoon Werewolf with a single blinded eye. The memory of how the new Sky Knight had blinded him made his ws clench in fury.

    "Yeah, why not chase them?

    Human physiques are no match for ours. The longer this drags on, the better our chances of victory!

    And while that new Sky Knight is injured, we should press the advantage and eliminate him for good!

    Otherwise, once he recovers, he''ll be an even bigger problem!" The Phantom Venomous Snakeman hissed, its green eyes gleaming like emeralds.

    "Cough, cough!" Umodi coughed heavily, wiping blood from his mouth as he grumbled, "We can''t pursue them any further.

    Humans are too cunning. I even suspect that their retreat was a deliberate ruse, and their injuries might be a disguise, a trap to lure us in.

    If we chase them down, we could easily be wiped out!"

    "That makes sense." The Phantom Venomous Snakeman narrowed its eyes. "Humans love their tricks and schemes. Fine, we''ll let them go this time.

    Umodi, how''s your injury? How long will it take to recover?"

    "Ugh, it''s serious. Facing two Wind-element Sky Knights at once was too much," Umodi said, clutching the sword wound on his chest, his face pale. "Bill, go back and deliver the message. The bet between you and the Phantom Venomous Snakemen can be called off.

    And while you''re at it, request reinforcements for me. Dealing with two Sky Knights is too much pressure!"

    "Hmm? Umodi, are you sure you want to ask for reinforcements?" The Phantom Venomous Snakeman sounded surprised. "Doing so could lower your standing in the tribe.

    And... doesn''t that mean you''ll lose your chance at the Bear Spirit''s Blessing?"

    Hearing the words "Bear Spirit''s Blessing," Umodi froze, his giant fists clenched in frustration. After a few seconds, he forced a bitter smile and said, "With my talent and abilities, I never had much hope of getting it. Only the top geniuses in our tribe have a chance.

    But if the situation on the Gorge Defense Line worsens, the pressure on me will only increase...

    So, I¡¯d better not cling to unrealistic hopes."

    The Phantom Venomous Snakeman stared at Umodi for a moment before sighing regretfully. "Makes sense. It''s just a shame after all the years of effort you''ve put in..."

    Umodi remained silent, his eyes clouded with despair.

    "Then I''ll head out now. I can''t stand being on this battlefield any longer!" Bill said, smoothing his red fur with his ws.

    "I don''t care, as long as your chief agrees!" Umodi said sternly.

    "Hmph!" Bill snorted before turning to leave the camp.

    In the early hours of the morning, the clouds in the sky parted, and moonlight bathed thend below.

    This human assault couldn''t be called a victory, but it was far from a defeat.

    In the past, the Gorge Defense Line rarely dared to attack the beastmen''s main camp, always adhering to a defensive strategy.

    But this time, a bold offensive had unexpectedly yielded good results.

    Coupled with the beastmen''s failed attack, it seemed that from now on, the humans could both attack and defend with confidence.

    Among the tens of thousands of troops, many realized this, and their steps became lighter. Following Avalon''s nned route, they marched along the blood-soaked river for over ten kilometers, passed Raven Peak, and then circled north, trampling down the evergreen grass on the hills.

    But no matter how trampled they were, the grass would always spring back when winter passed and spring returned.

    After more than half an hour, Rhett saw the long rows of ck fortresses in the distance and felt a surge of joy. The tension that had gripped his heart for days finally eased!

    He let out a long breath, his expression rxed as he thought to himself, "Now I can focus on breaking through to the fifth-level Magister..."

    Passing throughyer afteryer of checkpoints, Rhett and his team returned to the camp.

    At the entrance of Sub-Fort No. 1, Tuck, R, Celine, Tader, Kurs, and Maf surrounded Rhett. Their faces were filled with exhaustion, lingering fear... and the relief and joy of surviving the war!

    Not everyone had Rhett''s ability to foresee the future. So, facing this battle, many of them had harbored fears of death, suppressing those emotions until the end when they could finally release them.

    Rhett, too, felt a mix of emotions and spoke with a feigned sense of relief, "It wasn''t easy, but we all made it through this war alive.

    Having endured the fires of battle, I''m sure everyone has gained something extraordinary.

    Based on past experience, the two armies will likely take some time to recover now, and apart from routine patrols, we shouldn''t see another major conflict anytime soon."

    Hearing this, everyone visibly rxed.

    "Commander, how much longer do you think this war willst?" Tader asked.

    R and Taylor perked up, eager to hear the answer¡ªthey missed their home and their newborn baby.

    "Hmm, maybe a month?" Rhett replied uncertainly, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, take advantage of this rare moment of rxation after the battle. Go get some rest."

    Celine, toying with a strand of orange hair by her right ear, smiled with a hint of joy and said lightly, "I feel like this battle has helped me a lot. In a few years, I might even break through the threshold of a third-level knight."

    Rhett raised his eyebrows in surprise and smiled. "That''s great news. I hope you reach that milestone soon!"

    After dismissing the group, Rhett returned to the barracks with Tuck, R, and Maf.

 Chapter 160: The Sand Spirit

    Despite his rich battlefield experience, after such a great war, Rhett needed some time to rx and calm his mind.

    He held a cup of blueberry juice, standing by the open window, enjoying the coolte autumn breeze that flowed through the room.

    From time to time, geese flew across the sky, apanied by chirping birds that added a bit of vitality to the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

    After standing quietly for about half an hour, Rhett finished his blueberry juice in a few gulps before slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed.

    He closed his eyes and opened the system interface.<ul><li>

    <strong>Family Head:</strong> Rhett Green</li><li>

    <strong>Second-Generation Members:</strong> Tuck Green, R Green, Taylors Green</li><li>

    <strong>Third-Generation Members:</strong> Dick Green, Cares Green, Kazena Green, ?</li><li>

    <strong>Text Simtion</strong></li><li><strong>Real Simtion</strong></li><li>

    <strong>Destiny Points:</strong> 719</li></ul>

    Rhett had asked Taylors what name he would give his child, but Taylors insisted on waiting until he saw the child''s face before deciding. As a result, Rhett could only ept that there was still a question mark next to the third-generation member.@@novelbin@@

    However, seeing the results, the three days of war,bined with the number of beastmen Taylors had killed, had finally brought Rhett''s destiny points close to the thousand-mark!

    Rhett felt a surge of excitement but remained calm as he thought, "Even so, these destiny points might still not be enough to break through to a fifth-level Magister. It will probably take another month or so."

    And so, while eagerly anticipating, the rtively peaceful month of September quickly passed.

    On October 1st, Rhett remained seated cross-legged on the bed and opened the system.

    "Activate Real Simtion. One day costs 1 destiny point."

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    As the familiar ripples appeared before his eyes, Rhett knew he had entered the simtion and wasted no time. He immediately began practicing the Furnace Meditation Method, chipping away at the bottleneck bit by bit.

    As time passed, Rhett simted one thousand three hundred and fifty-six times.

    Finally, during thest simtion, Rhett''s expression remained calm, his eyes tightly shut, but his mind was filled with a strange wave that spread rapidly, growing wild like a storm. His surging spiritual power crashed against the invisible barrier like a giant wave.

    It was as if something snapped¡ªlike a thin membrane being pierced. Rhett''s spiritual power broke through the final obstacle and began to expand rapidly!

    Boom!

    In his mind, it felt like an earthquake had struck, with violent spiritual power rushing out, leaving Rhett dizzy and unable to control the energy spilling out of his mind!

    At this moment, Tuck, who was drinking water, was caught off guard as his cup was knocked over by an invisible wave of energy, spilling icy liquid over his face and into his nose.

    ¡°Pfft! Ouch!¡± Tuck eximed, shaking his head and wiping his wet face. He nced over at Rhett in bewilderment.

    Maf, more sensitive to the fluctuations of spiritual power than others, suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Rhett, who appeared to be in some pain. "Did you break through?" he asked in shock.

    He quickly approached Rhett and patted his back with concern. "Are you okay? How do you feel?"

    Rhett shook his head. Though he had felt a brief dizziness right after the breakthrough, he quickly adapted to his newfound spiritual power. Opening his eyes, he let out a soft breath and smiled. "I''m fine. I just had a breakthrough."

    Upon hearing this, the three others in the room showed expressions of joy. Tuck and R were about to rush forward to congratte him.

    But Rhett''s consciousness dove into his mind as he ended the simtion.

    Before his eyes, the expressions of the three instantly froze.

    The surrounding ripples gradually faded away, and a new interface appeared before Rhett.<ul><li>

    <strong>Real Simtion Complete. Please choose one attribute to retain:</strong><ul><li>

    <strong>1. Physique</strong></li><li>

    <strong>2. Battle Energy</strong></li><li>

    <strong>3. Spiritual Power</strong></li></ul>

    "Choose Spiritual Power!"

    As soon as he made his choice, a vast surge of spiritual power poured into his mind, gently and soothingly, like a spring rain nurturing the earth.

    This time, the process was entirely painless.

    Rhett felt the immense power expanding several times over, filling him with a profound sense of satisfaction!

    After a moment, he sighed with relief, "Finally, a fifth-level Magister. I wonder what changes this will bring to the future."

    His curiosity piqued. At the Magister stage, each new level of power brought significant influence.

    With even slight deviations in his actions, the trajectory of the future would inevitably change.

    Rhett decided to conduct another simtion to see how the future had altered with his breakthrough.

    He opened the system once more.

    "Activate Text Simtion. One year costs 5 destiny points."

    ¡°Yes, simte one year!¡±<ul><li>

    <strong>Kinlund Calendar, 475th year, October 1st: You broke through to the fifth-level Magister. Congrattions!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 3rd: Over the course of two months of war, you have killed over thirty royal bloodline beastmen, and your name is gradually gaining recognition in the beastman camps on the Gorge Defense Line.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 17th: During a patrol, you are ambushed by a beastman unit, including ten Bloodmoon Werewolves, who relentlessly pursue you! However, you unleash your fifth-level Magister strength at the critical moment, annihting them all, shocking everyone around you!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 20th: News of your advancement to fifth-level Magister spreads through the camp, causing a minor stir. You are hailed as a genius.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 23rd: During a patrol, you encounter a severely wounded scout fleeing from three third-level Phantom Venomous Snakemen. You lead your team to support them. However, two sixth-level Minotaurs ambush you,unching a ferocious attack. Unable to withstand their strength, you are disemboweled by their golden horns. With death imminent, you ask how they discovered your whereabouts. Theyugh and reveal that humans, though cunning, are also selfish and prone to betrayal. With that, you die with lingering doubts.</strong></li></ul>

    The simtion ended there.

    Rhett felt a weight settle in his heart as he finished reading the final entry.

    This simtion had been surprisingly short,sting less than a month!

    Yet, the information it provided left him shocked.

    The fact that word of his breakthrough had spread quickly and that many now considered him a genius was within Rhett''s expectations.

    What he hadn''t anticipated was that an insider within the camp had leaked the information to the beastmen, leading to an assassination attempt!

    The Minotaur''s final words were particrly telling.

    From the way it spoke, Rhett inferred that there was indeed a traitor within the Gorge Defense Line''s camp.

    And Rhett believed the credibility of this information was quite high¡ªafter all, what reason would they have to lie to a dying man?

    After a moment of contemtion, Rhett opened his eyes and gently rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. "No matter what, I need to find a way to change this oue. When ites to traitors, it''s better to be safe than sorry. The longer they remain hidden, the more information they can leak, leading to greater disasters."

    With this realization, Rhett decided it would be best to report the situation to themander. However, he knew it would be unwise to act rashly, so he decided to make some adjustments in the simtion first to see the potential oues.

    With that thought in mind, he opened the system once more.

    "Activate Text Simtion. One year costs 5 destiny points."

    ¡°Yes, simte one year.¡±<ul><li>

    <strong>Kinlund Calendar, 475th year, October 1st: You broke through to the fifth-level Magister. Congrattions!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 3rd: Over the course of two months of war, you have killed over thirty royal bloodline beastmen, and your name is gradually gaining recognition in the beastman camps on the Gorge Defense Line.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 17th: During a patrol, you are ambushed by a beastman unit, including ten Bloodmoon Werewolves, who relentlessly pursue you! However, you unleash your fifth-level Magister strength at the critical moment, annihting them all, shocking everyone around you!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 20th: News of your advancement to fifth-level Magister spreads through the camp, causing a minor stir. You are hailed as a genius.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 21st: You report to Vice Commander Ambiru, iming that the mysterious person who previously provided intel on the Nightcat forces has sent an urgent message, warning that there is a traitor within the ranks. The traitor has already leaked information about your talents to the beastmen, and they are nning an assassination attempt with two sixth-level Minotaurs. Ambiru is shocked by your report and promises to assign protection for you. If the assassination attempt confirms the presence of a traitor, he will take action to investigate.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 23rd: During a patrol, you encounter a wounded scout fleeing from three third-level Phantom Venomous Snakemen. You lead your team to support them. When the two ambushing sixth-level Minotaurs appear, Somjet, cloaked in blue light, arrives and swiftly subdues them, capturing them for interrogation.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 25th: Ambiru finds you, informing you that the traitor has been identified. Like Gaspar, the traitor is from the rear lines, a knight follower from the Darmy family within the Kingdom of Kin. The interrogation reveals that the traitor was lured by promises of vast training resources from a mysterious masked figure. Beyond that, no other leads were uncovered. The matter has been reported for further investigation.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>October 26th: Unica breaks through to Apprentice Magician.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>November 1st: The pressure on the Gorge Defense Line suddenly eases as the royal bloodline beastmen retreat like a receding tide. Although you do not know why they retreated early, you sense that the war is nearing its end.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>November 3rd: Gorge Defense Line''s Commander Avalon announces that the royal bloodline beastmen have been repelled, marking a significant victory. That evening, a celebration is held, and you are awarded substantial honors. From Avalon, you learn that your merits are more than enough to earn you the title of Earl!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>November 4th: In the early morning hours, before parting, while selecting beastmenborers, Avalon privately meets with you. He expresses his high hopes for your future and encourages you to continue fighting on the front lines, offering you a position. You politely decline.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>November 17th: Rhian breaks through to Apprentice Knight.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 9th: Upon returning to your territory, you learn that the Coldstream Defense Line has developed a special poison that can render Draconians infertile. As a result, arge-scale conflict erupted in October, even forcing a Saint-level Draconian to take action!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 10th: You arrange for Unica to study basic alchemy under Hank''s guidance.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 11th: Fireger breaks through to be a Second-Level Magical Beast!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 15th: The bard who visited your territory in April returns, this time bringing friends from the eastern coast of the Blue Sea. Seizing the opportunity, you mention that a certainmander on the Gorge Defense Line is very interested in a particr type of colorful shell, hoping to obtain one as a favor. The bard''s friend seems puzzled and soon takes his leave.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 19th: Pierre breaks through to Apprentice Knight.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>December 25th: Tuck''s Darkstripes Eagle breaks through to be a Second-Level Magical Beast.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>Kinlund Calendar, 476th year, January 3rd: A distinguished guest arrives in your territory¡ªGrand Duke Blue Diamond, who performs your ennoblement ceremony, officially making you an Earl of the Kingdom of Kinlund. Your proposal to relocate your territory near the Darkstripes Eagle''s range is approved. Additionally, considering your remarkable achievements, fifth-level Magister strength, and the undeveloped wilderness of the southwestern border, your request to divide your territory is granted¡ªyou retain control of Hatchling Town while also establishing a new domain near the Darkstripes Eagle''s range.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>Grand Duke Blue Diamond stays in your territory for three days and treats you with great respect. You take the opportunity to inquire about the intricacies of the Arcane Laws, and he kindly provides exnations. Before departing, he offers a marriage alliance with his granddaughter, which you politely decline, suggesting that perhaps your grandchildren could consider such a union. The Grand Duke smiles but says nothing further before leaving.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>January 8th: A person with moderate knight talent is detected in your territory.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>January 29th: News of your breakthrough to fifth-level Magister and your elevation to Earl spreads throughout the southwestern border. Bozak visits to apologize, and under your watchful eye, Relis nervously apologizes to Taylors.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>February 3rd: You receive news from the Coldstream Defense Line that two Saint-level beings shed in January, resulting in mutual injuries. However, the number of Draconians in the Coldstream Defense Line has tripled since the release of the extinction poison!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>February 4th: A second-level magician and two first-level magicians arrive to seek refuge with you. You assign them to the alchemy department.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>February 12th: Vice Commander Ambiru passes through your territory with a unit of soldiers. He informs you that he will be reassigned to the Coldstream Defense Line and offers you a position as a battalionmander under hismand. After careful consideration, you decline.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>February 20th: You finalize ns to relocate your territory, taking arge group of people to the Darkstripes Eagle range.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>February 23rd: You encounter a third-level Dark Frost Wolf and easily y it.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 2nd: A second-level knight seeks refuge with you.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 8th: Laurence breaks through to first-level knight, exceeding your expectations with his remarkable training speed. You and your followers agree that he possesses high-grade battle energy talent.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 10th: Your group arrives at the outskirts of the Darkstripes Eagle range.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 13th: After three days of field investigation, you decide to establish your new territory on a in three kilometers from Ice Crystal Lake.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 14th: You discover and clear out the cave of a Burrow Bear, uncovering the remains of a fifth-level Earth Knight and his treasure. You collect the letter and potion from the Ring Tower and meticulously erase all traces of the cave.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 17th: You visit the former nest of the Darkstripes Eagle on Lone Peak and witness a battle between a third-level White-headed Eagle and a third-level Darkstripes Eagle. Remembering an unpleasant experience, you intervene and kill the White-headed Eagle. You then n to cultivate various dark magic nts near Lone Peak to feed the Darkstripes Eagles and conduct regr inspections.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 19th: A third-level Wind-patterned Tiger descends the mountain, attacking woodcutters. Maf kills it.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>March 27th: A second-level Frost Tiger descends the mountain and attacks woodworkers building cabins. Maf kills it.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>April 13th: Vanessa bes pregnant.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>May 1st: Tuck breaks through to second-level knight.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>May 15th: Thanks to the hard work of the beastmenborers, the construction of your new territory nearspletion, and most of the citizens have relocated from Hatchling Town.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>May 20th: Earl Nylo visits and proposes marrying his 20-year-old daughter, Julia, to you, which you politely decline. He then suggests his other daughter, Karen, but you also decline.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>July 25th: Late at night, you receive an unexpected visitor in your territory¡ªWodeger, who brings an alchemy master with him. You warmly invite them to your castle, but they express a desire to visit the old nest of the Darkstripes Eagle in the mountains, and you apany them.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>July 26th: At dawn, you arrive at Lone Peak, the Darkstripes Eagle''s former nest, and discover a dozen Darkstripes Eagles circling the mountain. The alchemy master is overjoyed by the discovery and notices signs of human care nearby. After you exin, he is greatly impressed. You share your n to establish a Darkstripes Eagle breeding ground, with Tuck''s eagle as the leader, to ensure a steady supply of Darkstripes Eagles for the alchemy masters in Coldstream City, who are working on a poison for the Draconians. The alchemy master praises you for your idea and gifts you an alchemy manual.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>July 27th: While conversing with Wodeger, you invite him to join your territory. After a moment of hesitation, he agrees.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 4th: Taylors breaks through to first-level magician.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 10th: Taylors, inspired by the alchemy manual, sessfully brews a low-level poison and bes an official alchemist!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 15th: R, inspired by the alchemy manual, sessfully brews a low-level poison and bes an official alchemist!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 17th: With the help of the alchemy manual, Unica bes an apprentice alchemist.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 19th: Wodeger''srades, Milton and Vicky, arrive in your territory. After your and Wodeger''s persuasion and a demonstration of your strength, they decide to join your territory.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 23rd: While working in the cksmith shop, Willow has a sudden burst of inspiration and sessfully forges an apprentice-level longsword, bing an apprentice cksmith.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>August 29th: Wades breaks through his long-standing bottleneck and sessfully advances to third-level knight!</strong></li><li>

    <strong>September 7th: A small group of magical beasts, led by a fourth-level Frost Tiger, roams into the Darkstripes Eagle range. You notice them but choose not to intervene.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>September 13th: You hear from a visiting traveler that a Sand Spirit appeared in the Death Swamp of the Rehm Kingdom three months ago and was obtained by a lucky Earth Knight. You are filled with envy upon hearing this news.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>September 21st: After much contemtion, you decide to travel to the Rehm Kingdom to gather more information about the Ring Tower. You depart that night.</strong></li><li>

    <strong>September 27th: While traveling through the White Rat Branch of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, youe across a recently deceased, pregnant fourth-level Ice Rat.</strong></li></ul>

    "End the simtion."

    The screen gradually faded away.

    The content of this simtion was so extensive that Rhett took his time digesting all the details before finally opening his eyes.

    "Ah!"

    He exhaled deeply, lost in thought. "As expected, breaking through to the fifth-level Magister, advancing to Earl, and implementing some of my nned adjustments have indeed brought significant changes!"

    The most immediate issue was the traitor who had leaked information to the beastmen, leading them to target him for assassination. Fortunately, reporting the matter to Ambiru sessfully averted the crisis.

    "Yet, the one oue I dreaded still happened..." Rhett clenched his fists, a cold gleam in his eyes as he muttered, "A traitor... Another traitor! Why must there always be traitors among humans?"

    In any organization, the greatest threat oftenes from within, be it corruption or betrayal, which can drive a group to copse...

    Suppressing his anger, Rhett resolved, "Since this person has already infiltrated the southwestern border, they may have left traces behind. I''ll need to be vignt in gathering any relevant information..."

    Putting that matter aside for now, Rhett reviewed the other significant changes.

    To his surprise, Wodeger had agreed to join his territory in this simtion, along with two other members of the ming Lion Mercenary Group! This result pleased Rhett greatly¡ªa fourth-level Earth Knight, a third-level Magician, and a third-level Knight were all valuable additions to his territory, significantly bolstering his military strength!

    Although their decision might have been influenced by his breakthrough to the fifth-level Magister, showcasing his personal potential and the prospects of his territory, Rhett didn''t mind.

    After all, who wouldn''t want to serve under a capable lord? With the simtion as a safety, he wasn''t worried about betrayal.

    "But the most unexpected development in this simtion was the news of the Sand Spirit!" Rhett''s heart raced with excitement as he thought about it.

    Though he had never heard of the Sand Spirit before, now that the simtion had revealed its existence, he was determined to seize this opportunity and make it his own!</li></ul>

 Chapter 161: Earthquake Spell

    "Moreover, the idea I had of taking care of the Darkstripes Eagle branch in advance to gain favor with the Alchemy Master in Ice City yielded an unexpected reward!"

    Rhett¡¯s lips curled into a smile. "An Alchemy Master¡¯s insights into potion-making? Tsk, tsk, that¡¯s a valuable resource, one that can definitely enhance the foundation of a family."

    After spending a few minutes reflecting on the content of the simtion, Rhett opened his eyes and stood up from the bed. He didn¡¯t immediately reveal the news of his breakthrough to the fifth-level Magister, but instead, he walked out of the room directly.

    "Commander, is there a mission?" Rhiley asked, waking from his meditation as he noticed Rhett¡¯s movement.

    The Snow Spirit had already awakened this year, but to avoid exposure while on missions, they found a suitable opportunity to let the Snow Spirit dissolve into snowkes and drift in the sky.

    This year¡¯s awakening of the Snow Spirit had also sessfully advanced Rhiley to the mid-stage of a second-level Magician.

    At this rate, Rhiley might be able to break through the bottleneck of the third-level Magician in a few more years.

    "Not for now, but stay here and don¡¯t move around until I return. We have a patrol mission tonight!" Rhett¡¯s voice floated back as he opened the door and left the dormitory.

    A thick fog had risen today.As Rhett stepped out, he noticed several Wind Magisters using levitation magic, floating in the sky, manipting wind elements to blow away the dense white fog gradually.

    Although the noonday sun hung overhead, it wasn¡¯t scorching at all; instead, it added a touch of warmth to the early winter weather.

    Rhett made his way to the central war fortress. After gaining permission, he smoothly entered the first-floor hall.

    At that moment, not only was Ambiru present, but even Commander Avalon was there.

    The two of them sat on opposite sides of a sand table, discussing the situation on the battlefield at the Gorge Defense Line in low voices.

    As soon as Rhett entered, both of them stood up, staring at Rhett in surprise, sizing him up from head to toe.

    After a moment, Avalon fixed his gaze on Rhett and spoke, "Rhett, have you¡­ broken through to the fifth-level Magister?"

    "Yes." Rhett admitted openly; he knew it would be impossible to hide such a breakthrough from the eyes of a Sky Knight.

    Although Ambiru had known that Rhett had taken bloodline potions, witnessing it firsthand still left him full of amazement. "Rhett, you¡¯re undoubtedly the most dazzling Magician talent the Gorge Defense Line has seen in recent years!"

    "Just luck," Rhett replied humbly.

    "Haha, no need to be modest," Avalon approached and gave Rhett a firm pat on the shoulder. "I wish every soldier on the Gorge Defense Line could grow stronger! If that were the case, we¡¯d have defeated those beastmen long ago, haha!"

    He ced one hand on his waist and didn¡¯t dwell on Rhett¡¯s breakthrough. Instead, with a broad perspective, he quickly moved on from the topic and asked, "You didn¡¯te here just to report this, did you? Or do you have new intel?"

    Upon hearing this, Ambiru¡¯s expression grew more serious. Considering Rhett¡¯s track record of providing urate information, there was a good chance he had something significant to share.

    However, Rhett was about to disappoint them this time.

    "I don¡¯t have any new information," he shook his head. "Commander, since you already know I¡¯ve just broken through, I now need a fifth-level Earth magic spell¡ª¡®Earthquake Spell.¡¯ I¡¯m here to exchange my merits for it."

    The twomanders nodded in understanding, realizing Rhett¡¯s request made sense.

    Ambiru was about to handle the formalities when Avalon stopped him with a nce. He then turned back to Rhett with a smile and said, "Rhett, I¡¯ve heard about your past. A veteran who¡¯s contributed to the battlefield for over a decade, experienced and capable. Even after sounding the rm, you returned to the battlefield without hesitation. And since your return, you¡¯ve made remarkable achievements. Therefore, I intend to personally gift you the fifth-level Earth magic book you need."

    Rhett was visibly surprised, feeling both honored and shocked. "Commander Avalon, this is too valuable. I can¡¯t ept it. Besides, I have enough merits to exchange for it myself."

    Avalon chuckled and shook his head. "It¡¯s just a spellbook, not some rare treasure. But if talents like you grow stronger, the impact on the beastmen will be profound. You saw how Somjet¡¯s breakthrough to Sky Knight changed the course of the battle, disrupting the beastmen¡¯s ns. I¡¯m not giving you this gift for a favor; if you feel grateful, just kill more beastmen in the future."

    Rhett fell silent for a moment, thinking, "Is this some kind of talent support strategy? Well, it makes sense."

    He watched as Avalon ascended the stairs, returning shortly after with a book bound in earth-colored leather, which he handed to Rhett.

    After a brief hesitation, Rhett decided to ept it. Avalon was right¡ªeverything was for the fight against the beastmen. Helping those with potential was essential for victory.

    Rhett held the spellbook tightly in his hands.

    Avalon nodded with satisfaction. "I hope to see you break through to Grand Magister one day!"

    "I will!" Rhett responded confidently, thinking, "Not just Grand Magister¡ªmy goal is to reach the Saint Realm¡­"

    At that moment, Ambiru interjected, "Rhett, since you¡¯ve broken through to the fifth-level Magister, the position of squad leader might not be suitable for you. I think¡­"

    "Don¡¯t rush, Commander Ambiru," Rhett interrupted. "In my opinion, the beastmen haven¡¯t yet learned of my breakthrough. Over the past few months, I¡¯ve killed quite a few royal bloodline beastmen. Based on past experiences, the beastmen often target talented humans or those with significant merits. I suspect that once they find out, they¡¯ll send someone after me. So why not use this to our advantage? I can conceal my strength for now and continue leading my squad, using the opportunity to kill more royal beastmen."

    "Hmm¡­ That n could work," Ambiru agreed after a brief pause. "But it could be refined further."

    Rhett, eager for input, asked, "Commander, please borate."

    "I¡¯ll assign a fifth-level Earth Magician to your squad, hidden among your men. The first time, you won¡¯t reveal your strength; the person I send will handle the situation. The second time, I¡¯ll request a few sixth-level experts to lie in wait, luring the beastmen into action and further depleting their forces. And for the third time, we¡¯ll have Somjet step in, testing the beastmen¡¯s next move, then adjust ordingly."

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up at the suggestion. Indeed, as a seasoned vicemander, Ambiru¡¯s strategy was more refined. He agreed immediately, "Let¡¯s proceed with your n, Commander!"

    After finalizing the details, Rhett left the central war fortress with the fifth-level Earth magic book securely tucked away.

    Returning to the dormitory, Rhett decided to keep the matter private for now. To quickly master the newly acquired spell, "Earthquake Spell," Rhett chose to elerate the process through simtion.

    With a thought, he activated the system.

    "Activate real simtion? Each day simted consumes 1 Destiny Point."

    "Yes."

    As the ripples in his vision expanded and dissipated, Rhett knew he had entered the simtion. He confidently took out the spellbook and headed to the training grounds, much to the astonishment of Tuck, Rhiley, and Maf.

    The practice was grueling.

    It took 60 Destiny Points and countless hours of continuous training before Rhett finally mastered the fifth-level "Earthquake Spell."

    Having reached the fifth-level Magister, Rhett no longer needed to conserve Destiny Points as he did when he was at the peak of the fourth level.

    He knew that advancing to the sixth-level Magister would require a massive amount of Destiny Points, something that wouldn¡¯t be possible anytime soon.

    Rhett nned to use the sustainable hunting opportunities in the Darkstripes Eagle range to steadily umte Destiny Points and gradually increase his power.

    That¡¯s why he insisted on breaking through to the fifth-level Magister during the Gorge Defense Line battle¡ªto better control the Darkstripes Eagle range!

    It wasn¡¯t just for his territory¡¯s development; it was also about having a stable ce to harvest Destiny Points regrly.

    Now, with only a few hours left in the simtion, Rhett decided to test the Earthquake Spell in the training grounds.

    He began to channel his mental energy, drawing on the earth elements below with a unique frequency, osciting between fast and slow, following a precise trajectory.

    Suddenly, the ground in front of him seemed to warp slightly, and the earth began to tremble violently.

    Rumble, rumble.

    Rumble, rumble.

    A fierce tremor shook the ground!

    This was no ordinary earthquake.

    While a regr earthquake might pose a threat to ordinary people, trained knights could easily avoid its dangers.

    But this was different.

    Rhett¡¯s Earthquake Spell not only shook the ground but also caused the entire area¡¯s earth elements to resonate in aplex pattern, creating gravitational and repulsive forces that twisted the very space around them.

    Rhett had heard of such powerful spells in the past, referred to as a demonstration of the Earth Arcane Law known as "Gravity Space."

    Although the Earthquake Spell was far from achieving the full effects of "Gravity Space," there were simrities in its principles.

    During his visit to the central war fortress, Rhett had learned from Avalon that Somjet had not only broken through to Sky Knight but had also grasped the rudiments of the Wind Arcane Law¡ªSpeed.

    With this in mind, Rhett closed his eyes and tried to sense the mysterious "Gravity Space" as he cast the Earthquake Spell.

    But after more than ten minutes, there was no sign of insight.

    Instead, the intense vibrations made the surrounding trainees uneasy, and they began to regard Rhett as a monstrous figure.

    From a distance, Ambiru¡¯s voice boomed, "Rhett, we already have a n! Why are you revealing your power now?"

    The sound grew closer as Ambiru, aze with anger, rushed over, ring at Rhett.

    "Oops, my bad, Commander Ambiru. Let me just rewind time¡­" Rhett muttered with a smirk.

    Before Ambiru could react, Rhett ended the simtion.

    When the ripples faded, Rhett found himself back in the dormitory, still sitting on the bed.

    Maintaining his posture, he sank back into meditation.

    Half a monthter.@@novelbin@@

    In the evening.

    On the assembly square, Rhett stood at the head of a hundred-man squad, waiting for the fifth-level Earth Magician that Ambiru had assigned.

    Before long, an old man in a cloak appeared from the left side of the road, his face concealed by a mask. Rhett couldn¡¯t make out his features, only noticing his graying hair.

    "Third-level Magician, Karrie, reporting as instructed by the Vice Commander to join the squad."

    The old man saluted Rhett with military precision, speaking with utmost respect, as a subordinate would to a superior.

    "Join the ranks," Rhett replied with feigned indifference.

    Once Karrie had joined the team, Rhett gave themand, "All units, head to Sector 43!"

    Thud, thud, thud.

    The hundred-strong squad marched away with heavy steps.

    As the sun set, they arrived at a barren, t hill at the northernmost end of a mountain range.

    Shortly after.

    Dusk fell like a curtain, and a darker shadow deepened the twilight in the northwest¡ªthat was where a vast, deep valleyy.

    Rhett raised his hands, signaling a change of direction toward Sector 45.

    The team then shifted their course to the northwest.

    After about half an hour, they reached the bottom of the valley, standing on the west bank of a pond covering several hundred square meters. To the right of the pond, in a quiet corner of a forest, stood a lone gray, withered tree. To the left, the east bank sloped upward, extending to the top of the valley¡ªthe quickest and ttest route out.

    Other areas required more time to climb.

    The barren, brown ground along the shore appeared scorched and lifeless, as if a fire had ravaged it, leaving no trace of greenery.

    Rhett surveyed the surroundings, his gaze finally locking onto the water''s surface, where he sensed ten Blood Moon Werewolves and over forty Minotaurs, Boarmen, and Nightcats lurking below.

    He coughed twice and tapped his foot on the ground.

    This seemingly ordinary action was a prearranged signal.

    Karrie, in the squad, reacted subtly, stepping forward and pulling out his staff.

 Chapter 162: The Impersonator

    "Rockfall Spell!" Karrie shouted.

    Boom!

    A massive boulder, tens of meters wide, suddenly descended from the sky, carrying a terrifying force as it crashed directly into the pond!

    Ssh, ssh, ssh!

    The enormous boulder struck the water with a deafening noise, sending countless droplets flying everywhere, turning the quiet depths of the valley into a downpour.

    Ssh, ssh, ssh!

    Boom, boom, boom!

    First, the sound of the sshing water echoed as it rained down from above, followed by the loud crash of the boulder sinking to the bottom, unleashing a powerful shockwave that shattered the silence of the night.

    Then, a chorus of beastly screams and roars erupted."Ahh!"

    "Howl!"

    "Meow!"

    Ferocious shadows in red, ck, and yellow began emerging from the water, desperately fleeing toward the left bank, which led to a passage up to the top of the valley.

    Rhett stood still, watching the scene unfold. He casually cast several Earth Spikes at the faster-moving targets.

    Swish! Swish! Swish!

    Yellowish-brown shes lit up the night, each one piercing through the flesh of the fleeing beasts. Their faces twisted in agony, eyes bulging, as they were pinned to the ground, powerless to resist.

    No one noticed that these spells were cast by Rhett; they all assumed they came from the powerful figure who had suddenly appeared.

    Karrie nced at Rhett, then continued to wave his wand, coldly muttering, "Earthquake Spell!"

    Rhett focused intently, observing someone else perform the spell. He saw the space subtly distort, followed by a tremor in the ground. The twenty or so beastmen attempting to escape began to wobble uncontrobly, swaying in all directions before copsing to the ground.

    Rhett quickly followed up with more Earth Spikes and Earth Stingers, taking advantage of their disorientation.

    Swish! Swish! Swish!

    The previously subdued yellowish glow now shone brightly in the night, like flowers blooming from the ground. But these yellow flowers burst forth with crimson blood!

    On the surface, it appeared that Karrie had handled the situation alone. In reality, it was a joint effort between Rhett and Karrie. Facing a beastmen squad without a fifth-level leader, the two of them easily wiped out the entire group, leaving no survivors.

    To keep his strength hidden for the time being, Rhett feigned shock and then joyfully said to Karrie, "Thank you, Commander Karrie!"

    Karrie paused, finding the situation amusing. He yed along, maintaining a calm demeanor as he replied with a smile, "No trouble at all, just following Commander Ambiru''s wise orders."

    Hearing this, the soldiers behind Rhett suddenly realized what had happened.

    "Oh, so that''s how it is!"

    "I bet Commander Ambiru knew the beastmen were lying in ambush here, so he sent reinforcements."

    "Haha, that sure made this mission a lot easier."

    Rhett then casually nced at Tuck, who understood the signal. With renewed energy, Tuck dashed forward and began finishing off the severely injured and unconscious beastmen.

    ¡¾Family member defeated an enemy of higher rank, Destiny Points +1¡¿

    ¡¾Family member defeated an enemy two ranks higher, Destiny Points +2¡¿

    As the notifications appeared before him, Rhett smiled.

    However, he couldn''t help but think of Ambiru''s previous n and silentlymented. While the idea of luring the enemy deeper and exploiting their weaknesses was appealing, it ultimately relied on chance.

    A single decision by the beastmen could cause a shift in their response, rendering the n ineffective.

    Rhett had already verified through his simtions that Ambiru''s n had not seeded.

    After Karrie took down the beastmen, their attacks became more cautious and sporadic for some unknown reason, causing the subsequent ambush ns to fall through.

    Fortunately, other than some changes on the Gorge Defense Line, the overall impact on future events was minimal, so Rhett decided to go along with it.

    Once the battlefield was cleared, Rhett reorganized the team and led them back to the camp.

    The winter night on the gorge battlefield was shrouded in mist. The fog enveloped the forest, streams, valleys, and slopes, making the strange rocks and jagged stones appear like demonic ws reaching out from the haze.

    The team steadily advanced through this eeriendscape, finally passing through the sentry posts and returning to camp just before dawn, during the coldest part of the night.

    After dismissing the team, Rhett didn''t head straight back to the dormitory or the central war fortress to report. Instead, he used the excuse of needing to replenish food supplies and went to the mess hall alone.

    In the bright and spacious mess hall, Rhett squeezed through the crowded lines, picking up some jerky, bread, and other food at the window.

    He loaded the food into a bag, slung it over his right shoulder, and turned to leave.

    Suddenly, near the yellow mill, he "identally" found a note in his pocket, read it briefly, and then, appearing shocked, ran outside.

    However, the note turned to ash as he ran, burning despite his attempts to douse it with water.

    Rhett sprinted all the way to the central war fortress, where he found Ambiru and Foddy in the first-floor hall. Foddy was quietly seated at a desk, writing with a pen, while Ambiru was deep in thought over the sand table.

    "Commander Ambiru, I have urgent information to report!" Rhett''s voice was tense and serious.

    "Oh?" Ambiru looked up at Rhett, noticing the small pile of ashes in his hand. His pupils contracted as his expression grew heavy.

    "What''s that in your hand?" Ambiru asked, though he had a guess.

    "Special alchemical paper, reduced to ash upon burning," Rhett replied gravely.

    Hearing this, even Foddy nced over at Rhett with surprise before returning to his writing.

    "Was it from the same person who gave you thest note?" Ambiru frowned, asking, "What did it say?"

    "I don¡¯t know who gave it to me," Rhett shook his head. "But when I noticed something unusual, the note was already in my pocket. It said that there are traitors both in the camp and back in the rear. Besides the one who bribed Gaspar, there''s also a knight''s follower from the Dami family in Gingin who has been bribed and turned into a traitor!"

    Ambiru took the small clump of ash from Rhett¡¯s hand, scrutinizing it for a moment before sighing¡ªthere was nothing left to discern.

    He clenched his fist, narrowing his eyes as he muttered, "Gingin, the Dami family¡­"

    Although the information didn¡¯t pinpoint a specific person, narrowing it down to such a small group made it much easier to find the traitor.

    To be thorough, Ambiru asked one more question, "Rhett, is this information reliable?"

    Seeing Rhett shrug with a helpless expression, Ambiru chuckled and shook his head. "Heh, if only you knew."

    "Never mind, I¡¯ll go find the people from the Dami family and get to the bottom of this."

    "Commander, if that¡¯s all, may I be dismissed?" Rhett asked.

    "Yes, and report any new developments immediately!" Ambiru replied with a solemn tone.

    "Understood!" Rhett nodded before turning to leave.

    As Rhett''s figure disappeared, Ambiru nced back at the ashes in his hand, his expression calm. After a brief silence, he slowly spoke, "Have you found any trace of the mysterious person?"

    From the dark corner of the hall, a figure cloaked in shadow elements emerged, materializing before Ambiru as if from nowhere. In a hoarse voice, he replied, "No suspicious targets were found, but it¡¯s confirmed that Rhett received the note in the mess hall, and it burned on his way here¡­"

    Ambiru frowned. "No traces left behind?"

    The shadowy figure remained silent.

    "Sigh," Ambiru sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "I see. You may go."

    Meanwhile, Rhett was still on his way back. He wasn¡¯t sure if anyone was tailing or watching him. His performance earlier was purely out of caution.

    After all, he knew that as the reports continued, his stories needed to remain consistent and thorough. There couldn¡¯t be any slip-ups¡ªhe was well aware of that.

    ¡¾Family member defeated an enemy two ranks higher, Destiny Points +2¡¿

    Another notification shed before Rhett¡¯s eyes, but his mood wasn¡¯t as bright as before.

    Over the past month, as the frontlines gradually stabilized, the number of beastmen prisoners had begun to decline.

    The Destiny Points provided by Tyles from killing beastmen had also dwindled.

    In fact, the daily tally had dropped to less than ten points, fluctuating in the single digits.

    "If the royal beastmen retreat en masse and the battlefront quiets down, the rate of Destiny Point umtion will drop even further," Rhett thought, narrowing his eyes as he sighed inwardly.

    "I need to seize thisst opportunity to gather as much as I can!"

    A weekter.

    On October 23rd, Rhett received orders to patrol Sector 25 again.

    Sector 25 was a small valley, like a stone trough wedged between two rolling hills, with a pale red stream running through therge boulders at the bottom. To the right was a sheer cliff over a hundred meters high, and to the left was a rising, shadowy slope that looked eerie in the nighttime darkness.

    Rhett nced at the familiar scenery, confirming that he had arrived at his destination.

    This area, with its deep water and numerous rocks, cliffs, and crevices, was an ideal ce for hiding.

    Standing by the shore, Rhett gestured with his hand.

    Seeing the signal, the team immediately halted.

    Rhett surveyed the surroundings, then pointed toward the blood-red stream''s banks in the southeast and northwest directions, whererge boulders cast shadows on the hillside.

    He nodded at several of his men, sending Garay, Roy, and their teams to search the area.

    Everything was unfolding exactly as it had during the previous patrol.

    Garay and Roy, though dealing with their inws, were still in awe of the power difference between them and Rhett.

    They hurriedly led their teams across the stream to the boulders on the hillside, conducting a routine search.@@novelbin@@

    Rhett then dispatched six squads, each with ten men, to the hilltops on either side of the stream, where they hid among the hardy shrubs that clung to the cliffs, acting as lookout points.

    The moonlight pierced the peaks, and Rhett gazed up at the sky, momentarily lost in thought.

    He remembered his first patrol after returning to the Gorge Defense Line¡ªit had been right here.

    Now, with the war nearing its end, he found himself back at the same ce.

    With a sigh, Rhett led his team southwest, traversing the valley between two ridges.

    After a fruitless search, they continued southwest, crossing the valley''s endpoint and moving on.

    Rhett followed the stream westward for a short distance until they reached a hollow, where the blood-red stream split into a narrow branch, about half a meter wide. This branch formed a small creek that wound its way down from a higher elevation, cutting a path through the rocks and nourishing the nts on either side.

    Beyond this pointy the thicket where four Nightcats had once hidden.

    However, the thicket was now leafless, reduced to dry, twisted branches that cast distorted shadows in the moonlight.

    Rhett¡¯s gaze followed the stream''s flow along the withered grass on either side.

    "Commander, could there still be Nightcats hiding there?" Taro asked with a grin, holding his greatsword.

    "Heh," Rhett chuckled, offering no reply as he continued forward.

    He led the team westward along the creek, sweeping his eyes over the surroundings.

    Suddenly.

    A sh of light approached rapidly from behind!

    "Commander, urgent news!" Garay, glowing with light-based energy, sped toward Rhett like a bolt of lightning, shouting, "We''ve spotted a scout and three Phantasmal Serpentmen to the northeast!"

    Rhett feigned surprise, spotting Garay''s glowing form from afar. Without waiting for him to arrive, Rhett shouted, "Everyone, head northeast for support!"

    "Yes, sir!"

    With Rhett leading the charge, the team quickly moved toward the valley, crossing the stream just in time to see the three Phantasmal Serpentmen shing with the human forces!

    The human soldiers had formed a circle, wildly swinging their swords at the Serpentmen. The Serpentmen fought back fiercely, using their hands and tails as weapons to hold their ground.

    But hidden in the darkness, venomous attacks were fired at the human soldiers, catching them off guard. Several soldiers fell, paralyzed by the poison.

    Makov''s expression darkened as he raised his staff and cast a Wind Wall Spell.

    A powerful gust of wind roared forward, forming a vast green wall that shielded the soldiers from the venom.

    With Rhett''s reinforcements, the soldiers'' morale surged, and they began to nk the Serpentmen, cutting off their escape routes.

    The three Serpentmen, sensing the approaching powerful auras, began to look increasingly grim.

    Their eyes darted toward the heavily wounded scout, now hiding at the back of the human formation, gritting their teeth in frustration.

 Chapter 163: Life and Freedom

    "Commander, I discovered a squad of Phantasmal Serpentmen, no fewer than twenty of them. After I was exposed, they began chasing me!" The short scout, bloodstained in multiple ces and with a face mask covering his face, urgently reported to Rhett as he hurried over.

    "You''ve done well." Rhett looked seriously at the heavily injured scout and patted his shoulder. "Leave the rest to me. Stay here and rest."

    This injured scout was a third-level Wind Knight. Although he couldn''t gauge Rhett''s strength, he still offered a warning, "Thank you, but please be careful! These three Phantasmal Serpentmen fight with extreme ferocity!"

    "Heh, don''t worry." Rhett smiled faintly, but his gaze toward the three Phantasmal Serpentmen had already turned icy cold.

    <em>Rockfall Spell!</em>

    Without a word, Rhett silently gathered his magic and unleashed it upon the area where the three Phantasmal Serpentmen were located.

    Boom!

    A massive boulder, over ten meters in diameter, descended from the sky, shrouded in a yellowish-brown light, resembling a sun crashing down in the night.@@novelbin@@

    The three Phantasmal Serpentmen realized the danger toote, and one of them eximed, "Damn it! They have a fourth-level Magister!""You two run and deliver the message! I''ll hold them off as long as I can!" The Serpentman who spoke bared his fangs, his expression grim.

    Even though he knew that the chances of stopping this force were slim, he had no choice but to make the attempt.

    The boulder descended with overwhelming force, and the violent gusts of wind it generated made the three of them unsteady.

    Without hesitation, two of the Phantasmal Serpentmen turned and fled in opposite directions, while the one who volunteered to stay behind charged straight at Rhett.

    "Damn human! Come at me if you dare!" the Serpentman cursed, trying to draw Rhett''s attention.

    "None of you will escape. You''ll all die here!" Rhett''s expression remained cold as he cast three consecutive Earth Spikes.

    The boulder had barelynded when three spikes of yellowish-brown light burst from the ground in the northeast, southeast, and directly west.

    <em>Schlick! Schlick! Schlick!</em>

    The sound of flesh being pierced echoed, and the three Phantasmal Serpentmen froze, their bodies trembling in disbelief as they looked down at their chestspletely impaled by the spikes, their hearts exposed and blood gushing from their wounds.

    Their triangr, emerald eyes red furiously at Rhett, but as their blood drained and their hearts were damaged, they quickly fell unconscious.

    Rhett remained expressionless as he nced at Ryley, signaling him with a nod.

    Ryley understood and, with a gleam in his eyes, began casting Water Spears to finish off the Serpentmen.

    <em>Swish! Swish!</em>

    Blue streaks of light pierced the air, striking the Phantasmal Serpentmen''s eyes with precision, causing them to burst.

    ¡¾Family member defeated an enemy two ranks higher, Destiny Points +2¡¿

    As three notifications appeared, Rhett felt satisfied and turned to the scout. "You mentioned earlier that the squad of twenty Phantasmal Serpentmen is hiding in which area?"

    "In a burrow within Sector 57," the scout replied gravely.

    Rhett closed his eyes, slowly recalling the terrain of Sector 57, and nodded.

    He then raised his right hand, fingers extended, and called out, "Everyone, assemble quickly!"

    <em>Thud, thud, thud</em>

    The sound of hurried footsteps filled the air, gradually quieting as the soldiers quickly formed three columns in front of Rhett.

    "Sector 57, move out!" Rhettmanded with a stern voice.

    He turned and led the charge northwest, the pounding footsteps of the soldiers following closely behind him like a drumbeat.

    After casting a healing spell on the wounded scout, the Light Mage in Rhett''s team helped him recover enough to join the squad as they headed to the Serpentmen''s hideout.

    Four hourster.

    Under the cover of night, the team ran through a valley filled with scattered rocks, leaping nimbly from one boulder to another until they reached the summit of a white hill.

    Snow had begun to fall.

    The snowfall had started in the early morning, a light but steady flurry drifting down from the sky.

    Ryley, at the back of the team, nced up at the sky and sensed Nina hidden among the clouds, eager to descend. He smiled and mentally reassured her.

    Standing atop the hill, Rhett felt a sudden gust of wind lift his hair and billow his cloak.

    It was the cold wind before dawn.

    The scout pointed west and said, "A day ago, twenty Phantasmal Serpentmen were hiding in the mud and surrounding burrows over there."

    Rhett followed the scout''s finger and saw, about a kilometer away, a dark, sunken patch of water.

    He waved his hand and led the team toward it.

    By now, the snow-covered hills glowed white in the dawn light, and the sun began to rise in the east, casting a fiery glow over the snowyndscape. The gray earth below gradually revealed its colors as the shadows faded.

    When Rhett reached the swamp, he noticed the strange footprints around it¡ªdefinitely left by the Phantasmal Serpentmen.

    However, the prints were covered by ayer of snow, some as deep as the width of a palm.

    Rhett squinted slightly and said, "It seems the Phantasmal Serpentmen left during the night."

    The scout, assessing the ground, came to the same conclusion. A hint of disappointment shed in his eyes as he sighed, "Phantasmal Serpentmen are cunning. When they realized theirrades weren''t returning, they must have moved on early."

    "Yes, cunning indeed..." Rhett muttered, his eyes shing with a mysterious light as he gazed at the distant peaks, about three hundred meters away. The snow-covered mountains stood tall, their blue and purple hues sparkling like gems, their peaks glowing crimson in the morning sun.

    After half an hour of fruitless searching, the team regrouped.

    "Report, Commander! No enemies found to the east."

    "Report, Commander! No enemies found to the southeast."

    "Report, Commander! No enemies found to the north."

    As the soldiers reported their findings, they gathered around Rhett.

    Rhett nodded silently.

    "Commander, it seems... we can head back. Sorry for wasting your time," the scout said, shrugging.

    "Hmm, I suppose we can." Rhett''s words were slow and deliberate, as if he were waiting for something.

    The scout''s reasoning made sense: once the Phantasmal Serpentmen realized theirrades weren''t returning, they wouldn''t stay in one ce.

    Rhett knew this too.

    That''s why, beforeing, he had conducted a simtion.

    Now, he was in no hurry to leave because he already knew that the cunning Serpentmen had gone to seek reinforcements and would soon return tounch a surprise attack.

    And he also knew that a Sky Knight was hidden nearby!

    "Everyone, gather around," Rhett ordered.

    The soldiers who had been searching the area quickly ran back, like ants returning to their nest in the snow.

    Suddenly.

    A blue figure darted from Rhett''s team, speeding toward the snowy mountains like the wind.

    Already aware that the hidden figure was Somjet, Rhett timed it perfectly and called out, "Commander Somjet, leave one alive! I need to interrogate themter!"

    The blue light vanished in an instant, as quick as a gust of wind.

    If Rhett hadn''t spoken, the others might have thought they were seeing things.

    "Rhett, did you just say... that was Commander Somjet?" Karrie asked, frowning as he looked around in confusion.

    "Yes, Commander Ambiru mentioned that a powerful figure would be lurking near me," Rhett replied. "Considering the speed and wind energy just now, it could only be Commander Somjet. No one else on the Gorge Defense Line could do that!"

    Karrie nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense..."

    Rhett gazed out toward the snowy mountains and saw Somjet, glowing with wind energy, sh by and disappear into the white snow.

    Secondster, the distant sounds of battle reached them!

    Even from hundreds of meters away, the soldiers could hear faint curses and screams!

    It was something like:

    "You humans are shameless, sending a Sky Knight into a skirmish!"

    "Ahh!"

    "Somjet, the Beast King will avenge us!"

    Before long, the sounds died down.

    Somjet returned, floating in the air with two Phantasmal Serpentmen in tow. He casually said, "Rhett, I''vee under Commander Avalon''s orders. I brought back the two strongest Serpentmen, and I took care of the rest."

    A bit disappointed at the missed opportunity for more Destiny Points, Rhett nced at the two unconscious Serpentmen and smiled. "Thank you, Commander Somjet! I never expected Commander Avalon to send you."

    Somjet remained rxed. "Avalon mentioned that the Beastmen''s activity has calmed downtely, but he''s worried they might do something desperate in the end."

    He then looked at the Serpentman in his left hand and scoffed, "Sending a sixth-level royal Beastman to die... the Phantasmal Serpentmen must be really desperate!"

    <em>Thud, thud</em>

    Somjet tossed the two Serpentmen onto the ground and nonchntly said, "I''ve already scouted the area¡ªno other ambushes nearby."

    "Thank you!" Rhett replied with a smile.

    "The two captives are yours to deal with," Somjet said. He remembered hearing about Rhett''s breakthrough from Avalon and felt a twinge of envy.

    He admired Rhett''s talent and the freedom he enjoyed.

    After a moment of silence, Somjet grew serious and said, "You''re quite impressive. Cherish your life and freedom. Maybe we''ll meet again someday."

    With that, he soared into the sky without looking back, disappearing into the distance.

    Rhett watched the ck dot fade from view, feeling a strange emotion. He sensed that Somjet was different from the other officers, though he couldn''t quite put his finger on it...

    Shaking his head, Rhett turned his attention back to the two Phantasmal Serpentmen, his gaze turning cold.

    In the end, he conducted a routine interrogation of the captives before having Tuck finish them off.

    As the snow continued to fall, Rhett led his team back to camp.

    Not long after, he was summoned to the Central War Fortress.

    Entering the dark chamber, Rhett spotted a figure and quietly asked, "Commander, what do you need?"

    "We found the member of the Dami family you mentioned..." Ambiru looked up from the map, his expressionplicated as he spoke to Rhett. "Just as your information suggested, it turns out there was a traitor in the rear, leaking information to the Beastmen."

    Hearing this, Rhett thought to himself, "It took a week to get results? But I guess it''s understandable. After all, this time, I wasn''t ambushed by Minotaurs, and I only provided intel without solid evidence. So, of course, the interrogation wouldn''t have been too harsh."

    After a moment of silence, he sighed and asked, "Did this traitor leak any other information?"

    "Yes," Ambiru replied after a pause, adding, "But I can''t share the details with you. I hope you understand."

    "I do," Rhett nodded, then said, "When I return to the rear, I''ll keep an eye out for any leads, even if... it seems like a long shot."

    "Don''t do that!" Ambiru''s tone suddenly turned stern. "At least not openly! After analyzing the situation with Avalon, we believe that this ''traitor'' might actually be a transformed Saint-level Beastman, not a human at all!"

    Rhett''s eyes widened. "Are you saying a Saint-level Beastman has infiltrated the rear and established a rebellious faction?"

    "It''s just a possibility!" Ambiru frowned, clearly exhausted. "Saint-level beings, whether Beastmen or magical creatures, can take human form once they reach that level. So, given the limited information we have, we can''t rule out that possibility."

    "We''ve already reported this to the royal family. Now it''s up to them to decide how to proceed..."

    Rhett nodded. With things as they were, there wasn''t much more he could do¡ªhe''d have to tread carefully and rely on simtions to gather clues.

    After all, if a Saint-level figure was involved, crushing him would be as easy as swatting a fly.

    After a brief discussion about the ongoing war, Rhett left the Central War Fortress.

    A weekter.

    On November 1st.

    Rhett sat in his room, staring out at the falling snow with a sigh.

    "In the past month, the number of Destiny Points I''ve gained has dwindled. Even Taylors'' contributions have dropped to about five points a day."

    With the war stabilizing, Rhett had only encountered one squad of Beastmen during his patrols in the past week.

    Ryley finished his meditation and asked, "Commander, it feels like the Beastmen''s activity has slowed down a lottely. Does that mean... the war is almost over?"

 Chapter 164: Simulating the Theft of the Black Crows Sorrow Formula

    "That¡¯s a possibility!" McCoff, who had just finished his meditation, stroked the beard on his chin and said gravely, "But it could also be that they¡¯re preparing for the next storm."

    "Could that really be the case..." Ryley turned to look out the window, his thoughts drifting to his wife, Crina, and his son, who existed but whom he had never met.

    "Well, the chances that it¡¯s ending soon are probably higher," Rhett muttered without saying much more.

    He then left the Number 1 Sub-Fort and headed to the alchemy workshop¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen Hank in over two months, and as the lord, it was time to pay him a visit.

    The winter snow nketed the camp, covering the streets in white. Rhett trudged through the falling snow, striding toward the alchemy workshop.

    Along the way, he greeted many familiar faces, smiling in return. After two months back at the Gorge Defense Line, he found that he knew more and more people in the camp.

    Before long, he arrived at the alchemy workshop area.

    After showing his identification, Rhett was allowed to pass through and reach Blueleaf Castle.

    However, he was stopped at the gate and could not enter.The rules of the alchemy workshop were stricter than those of the execution grounds. After all, the workshop housed secrets like the form for ck Crow''s Sorrow, so only alchemists were allowed inside.

    Rhett had sent someone to notify Hank, and he stood outside waiting, admiring the castle''s blue crystalline surface. He thought to himself, "But... someone like Hank, a temporary alchemist, shouldn¡¯t have ess to top-secret knowledge like the ck Crow''s Sorrow form. Otherwise, bringing it back to the territory would greatly enhance the family and thend''s foundation..."

    With this thought, Rhett sighed twice.

    Suddenly, a sh of insight struck him.

    "Wait! I have the <strong>Real Simtion</strong> ability, so why should I be limited by how to obtain the ck Crow''s Sorrow form in reality? I can just simte and find a way to record the form!" Rhett''s eyes sparkled as he gazed up at the heights of Blueleaf Castle, lost in thought.

    To be safe, Rhett immediately activated the system.

    <strong>[Do you want to activate Real Simtion? Each day simted costs 1 Destiny Point.]</strong>@@novelbin@@

    "Yes!"

    The ripples in his vision had just dissipated when, after a few seconds, Hank walked out of the castle gate. When he saw Rhett, his face lit up with joy and excitement. "Lord Rhett, long time no see!"

    "Hmm, Hank, it''s great to see you again!" Rhett took two steps forward to greet him, looking Hank up and down. "How have you been adapting to the alchemy workshop these past few months?"

    "Not bad. There are a few alchemists here who are more skilled than I am, and talking to them has really helped me gain a lot of experience," Hank replied with a smile.

    Rhett nodded, pondering for a moment. He nced at the castle gate and the rows of stern-faced knights on either side before pulling Hank by the arm. "Come with me."

    Hank looked a bit surprised but followed Rhett to an empty spot. "Lord Rhett, what¡¯s going on?"

    "Yes." Rhett¡¯s expression grew serious. "Have you heard anything about the ck Crow''s Sorrow form?"

    Hank''s pupils shrank, and his expression changed. He nced around cautiously before whispering, "Lord Rhett, why are you asking about that? I''m only a temporary alchemist; of course, I don''t have ess to top-secret information like ck Crow''s Sorrow!"

    "Do you know where the ck Crow''s Sorrow is being made?" Rhett pressed.

    "I don''t," Hank shook his head.

    Upon hearing this, Rhett frowned deeply but then suddenly brightened, as if recalling something. "But do you know where those high-level alchemists are making their potions?"

    "High-level alchemists?" Hank frowned in thought and then slowly said, "I do know of two: one is Moss, and the other is Yumi. One of them manages our entire alchemy team at Blueleaf Castle, and I''ve sought advice from her several times, learning a lot each time."

    "Moss... Yumi..." Rhett repeated the names, squinting slightly. "Do they show up often?"

    "They rarelye to Blueleaf Castle¡ªabout once a week on average," Hank said, his voice trembling. The more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong. A horrifying thought crossed his mind, and he tentatively asked, "Lord Rhett, you¡¯re not nning to go after the ck Crow''s Sorrow, are you?"

    Rhett looked at Hank, pausing for a moment before saying, "Yes! If we can secure that potion, it would greatly enhance our territory."

    Hank fell silent, staring at Rhett as if he were mad.

    "This ce is highly guarded. How could the two of us possibly get our hands on something like that?" Hank¡¯s eyes widened as he tried to dissuade him.

    Rhett replied in a low voice, "Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen! You just need to do what I tell you!"

    Rhett¡¯s intense gaze locked onto Hank, whose incredulous expression made Rhett sigh inwardly.

    He understood how Hank felt. If he were in Hank¡¯s position, he would definitely think he was crazy too! Faced with such an impossible task, Rhett¡¯s eyes darted as he came up with a persuasive idea. "Hank, I¡¯ll let you in on a secret. I possess an artifact that can reverse time, but my memory remains intact. So, as soon as we get the form, I¡¯ll memorize it and activate the artifact, returning to the past to avoid any danger!"

    Hank blinked, staring at Rhett even more strangely.

    "Still don¡¯t believe me!" Rhett shook his head with a sigh.

    "How about this: tell me a secret that no one else could possibly know¡ªsomething only you know!" Rhett thought of a n. "When I activate the artifact and go back in time, I¡¯ll use that secret to prove myself to you!"

    Surely this method would work, right? After all, revealing secrets in the simtion had no consequences in reality.

    In the end, anything that happened in the simtion would disappear into nothingness once it ended!

    "When I was six, I...," Hank started to share an embarrassing childhood story, but then he stopped. A strange thought crossed his mind¡ªwhat if Lord Rhett was telling the truth?

    "Forget it, I¡¯d rather not share something that could make me aughingstock," Hank thought. Instead, he said, "Ahem. When my younger brother was five, he lost his sense of taste for a while and once mistook goat droppings for candy."

    "Uh..." Rhett gave Hank a strange look but said no more. He ended the simtion.

    As the ripples faded, Rhett found himself once again standing a few meters away from the gate of Blueleaf Castle.

    Reflecting on the conversation he had just had, Rhett exhaled softly, sorting out his n.

    He immediately began a second simtion.

    <strong>[Do you want to activate Real Simtion? Each day simted costs 1 Destiny Point.]</strong>

    "Yes!"

    Once again, Hank emerged from Blueleaf Castle. Upon seeing Rhett, he was filled with the same joy and excitement. "Lord Rhett, long time no see!"

    Watching the scene y out exactly as before, Rhett smiled slightly and took two steps forward. "Hmm, Hank, it¡¯s great to see you again! Come with me; I have something to discuss."

    This time, Rhett efficiently led Hank to the open area and, with a serious expression, said, "Hank, just listen carefully. I¡¯m going to tell you something important: I have the ability to reverse time. Right now, I n to record the ck Crow''s Sorrow form. I need you to help me find out where it¡¯s kept. Share with me all the information and clues you have!"

    Hank blinked, still looking at Rhett as if he were mad.

    Seeing Hank¡¯s reaction, Rhett sighed. He had expected that no one would believe such an outrageous story. Shaking his head, he said, "Alright, I¡¯ve actually told you all of this once before. In a previous timeline, you didn¡¯t believe me either."

    Hank¡¯s expression turned peculiar as he frowned, deciding to hear Lord Rhett out.

    "So, I asked you for a secret as a code. If I can reveal it, you should believe me, right?"

    "A secret? What kind of secret?" Hank¡¯s interest was piqued, curious about what kind of joke Rhett woulde up with.

    "Your younger brother, when he was five, lost his sense of taste for a while and once mistook goat droppings for candy."

    The words Rhett casually spoke were like a thunderbolt in Hank¡¯s ears, sending shockwaves through his mind.

    "What? The lord is telling the truth? He... actually has the ability to reverse time!"

    Hank¡¯s pupils contracted, and he gasped, staring at Rhett with a mixture of fear and reverence.

    The ability to reverse time¡ªthis was something not even a Saint-level powerhouse could achieve!

    He took a deep breath and looked at Rhett with newfound awe, swallowing nervously. "Lord Rhett, does this ability have any limits?"

    "Yes, only a day¡¯s worth. So we must act quickly," Rhett said urgently. "Don¡¯t worry about any danger¡ªif things get too risky, I¡¯ll reverse time before anything happens! You just need to help me get the ck Crow''s Sorrow form!"

    "Alright!" Hank¡¯s previously hesitant gaze turned resolute as he agreed.

    The two quickly exchanged ideas and formted a n.

    Hank then went back into Blueleaf Castle on his own.

    As he walked up the stairs to the second floor, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of mixed emotions. "No matter if what Lord Rhett said is true or not, if he¡¯s not afraid of the danger, then why should I be?"

    Sighing, Hank continued on to the second floor.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    He ascended the stairs, walked down the dim blue corridor, and kept going until he reached the deepest part, where a metal door stood. Taking a deep breath, he knocked twice.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    "Come in."

    "Oh, it¡¯s you, Hank. What brings you here?" An elderly man in a ck robe smiled at him. In front of him were numerous alchemy instruments, with green liquid boiling in the alchemy pot, filling the air with a pungent smell.

    "Mr. Thomas, my lord hase by to inform me that the war will soon be over. In gratitude for your guidance during this time, he wants to present you with a parting gift."

    "Oh? I don¡¯t ept gifts..."

    "But it¡¯s a handwritten note from an alchemy master."

    "Well, I can¡¯t refuse such a sincere gesture," the ck-robed elder''s expression turned serious. He then hastily stood up and headed outside. "Hank, take me to meet your lord. He must be a great and generous man, and I must get to know him!"

    Hank, following the elder out of Blueleaf Castle, could only watch as Thomas hurried off. His lips twitched, but he quickly caught up.

    The ck-robed elder was the resident steward of Blueleaf Castle and the deputy head of the alchemy team. Although the head was rarely seen, the elder was responsible for all matters rted to alchemy.

    Being stationed at the rear of the camp, far from the battlefield, the elder didn¡¯t concern himself with the fighting. His main task was to oversee the production of potions.

    Given the rtive safety and security of the camp, the elder never suspected any kind of conspiracy.

    And indeed, without Rhett¡¯s simtion ability, there was no way he would have had the courage to attempt something so risky in such a heavily guarded location.

    When the elder left Blueleaf Castle and stepped outside, he saw Rhett not far away, holding up a small booklet.

    The elder¡¯s eyes lit up, and he hurried over with great anticipation¡ªafter all, this was the notebook of an alchemy master!

    If he could study it carefully, it would save him years, if not decades, of detours in his alchemical studies.

    In the elder¡¯s mind, whether Rhett was sincere in his gift or whether he had other motives¡ªsuch as seeking favors or profit¡ªdidn¡¯t matter.

    He was willing toply, as long as he could get his hands on that notebook.

    With a grin, he approached Rhett. "Mr. Rhett, I¡¯ve heard about your generous gift. Do you really have a notebook from an alchemy master?"

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Indeed, it¡¯s right here. Mr. Thomas, feel free to take a look."

    As he handed over the booklet, he noticed the elder''s eager expression and the way he had let down his guard.

    Wasting no time, Rhett cast <strong>Seismic m</strong>!

    Rumble, rumble, rumble!

    The ground trembled violently, and the distorted space caused the elder to stumble, losing his bnce and falling to the ground.

    "W-what are you doing?" Thomas cried out in fear, instinctively shouting.

    <strong>Wind de</strong>

    Whoosh!

    Hank seized the opportunity, sending two wind des that instantly severed the elder''s legs!

    "Ah!" The elder let out a blood-curdling scream.

    Rhett¡¯s gaze grew cold as he stepped forward. "Where is the form for ck Crow''s Sorrow, and where is it being made?"

 Chapter 165: The Brilliant Plan

    "Enough talk! Tell me now, or I''ll kill you this instant!"

    The ground surged with earth elemental energy, pressing close to the ck-robed elder''s ear. His eyes filled with terror as the intense pain clouded his mind, making him grit his teeth and shout, "No, don''t kill me!"

    "Quickly, where is the ck Crow''s Sorrow form?" Rhett demanded coldly, his gaze shifting to the knights at the entrance of Blueleaf Castle, who were already rushing toward them. The air was thick with tension, and the sound of rms echoed in the sky.

    A high-pitched wail resounded through the air, making Rhett feel a twinge of anxiety.

    <em>Woo-woo-woo</em>

    The sharp sound reverberated through the sky, adding to the urgency of the situation.

    Rhett intensified his focus on gathering earth elemental energy for another <em>Earth Spike</em> spell, his eyes sharp. "I''ll ask you onest time¡ªtalk, or die!"

    "Rhett! What are you doing?!" A furious, incredulous voice roared out as Avn''s figure shot toward them like a blue streak of light. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he stared at the familiar figure in front of him.

    "Water¡­ the underground chamber of Watermoon Castle!" the ck-robed elder blurted out in desperation. He could feel the earth energy reaching a dangerous peak, and with reinforcements, including a Sky Knight¡ªAvn¡ªclosing in, he realized that even if he revealed the information, it wouldn''t matter. There would be no time for Rhett to escape.In his desperation to stay alive, he quickly revealed the location of ck Crow''s Sorrow.

    "My lord, what should we do now?" Hank was genuinely panicked, swallowing hard as he looked at the soldiers surrounding them from all directions. His gaze then focused on Rhett.

    "Hmph, don''t panic," Rhett chuckled softly. He had already learned that the form for ck Crow''s Sorrow was hidden in the underground chamber of Watermoon Castle. This simtion had aplished its goal, and there was no need to resist further.

    In the next simtion, he could start from a new point with a different n...

    He took onest look at Avn, whose speed was like a shooting star, and hurriedly said, "I''m sorry, Lord Avn, but everything you see is just an illusion¡ªa false world."

    "Hmm? What?" Avn''s furious eyes shed with confusion.

    "End simtion!"

    <em>Buzz</em>

    Ripples spread through the air, and the tense atmosphere of imminent conflict dissipated instantly.

    Rhett found himself standing once again before Blueleaf Castle, the surroundings quiet and peaceful.

    He exhaled softly, reminding himself that everything that had just happened was an illusion¡ªno need for guilt or regret.

    "My lord, long time no see!" Hank emerged from Blueleaf Castle once again, his face filled with joy and excitement at the sight of Rhett.

    Rhett smiled faintly. Although this scene had yed out three times now, he still took two steps forward to greet Hank, making sure not to draw the attention of the guards at the castle. "Hmm, Hank, it''s great to see you again!"

    Without dy, he pulled Hank aside and repeated the steps from the previous simtion.

    At this moment, Hank''s expression was a mix of shock andplexity. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Rhett and asked, "My lord, what¡¯s the n? I¡¯ll do whatever you say!"

    "Good! Now, I need you to find a way into Watermoon Castle, locate the entrance to the underground chamber, and figure out how to ess it. Once you do,e back and tell me..."

    As Rhett exined the n in detail, Hank''s expression became thoughtful. He nodded and said, "Hmm, I understand. But if there¡¯s truly a passage to the underground chamber inside Watermoon Castle, there will likely be strong guards. I may not be able to get the information to you in time."

    Rhett pondered this for a moment before saying, "Try your best. If it doesn''t work, I¡¯ll stake out the entrance of Watermoon Castle and wait for Moss or Yumi toe out, then force the information out of them."

    "Alright, that''s the best we can do," Hank agreed reluctantly.

    An hourter, Rhett stood outside Watermoon Castle, listening intently. He suddenly heard a faint cry of pain.

    His expression turned grim¡ªit was Hank''s voice!

    Rhett knew the n had failed, but with some time left in the simtion, he decided to gather as much information as possible.

    Even though Watermoon Castle forbade entry to outsiders, he couldn''t afford to be cautious now!

    He cast <em>Seismic m</em>.

    <em>Rumble, rumble</em>

    The ground and surrounding space trembled violently. Rhett took advantage of the disoriented knights, who were struggling to keep their bnce, and charged inside.

    He followed up with <em>Rockfall</em>, blocking the castle''s entrance with boulders to buy himself some time.

    Rhett carefully surveyed the interior of Watermoon Castle. The space was extremely narrow, filled with intersecting corridors and dark, stone walls.

    Thisyout was typical of an alchemy workshop¡ªmostly individual rooms with littlemunal space.

    He focused on the direction from which Hank''s voice hade. If Hank had encountered trouble, it must have been because he had uncovered something important.

    Momentster, Rhett locked onto the correct path and hurried toward it.

    "Hmph, you''re just a temporary alchemist. Why are you searching for the entrance to the underground chamber?" A knight d in ck armor stood in a narrow passage, his cold gaze fixed on a bloodied Hank, whoy on the ground.

    This was a secluded part of the castle, where the walls were old and crumbling, a ce rarely visited by alchemists.

    Hank, looking miserable, with a bloody hole in his chest, coughed weakly. "I-I was just trying to find Lady Yumi... I had some questions for her!"

    "Hmph, you''re just a second-tier mage. How could you possibly sense Yumi''s presence?" The ck-armored knight squinted suspiciously. "Or perhaps... you have aplices? Tell me now, and I''ll make your death easier."

    <em>Cough, cough</em> Hank spat out blood, his voice growing weaker. "I have no aplices. I just know Lady Yumi loves milk-vored sunflower seeds. I found some seed shells on the way here and followed them..."

    The ck-armored knight fell silent, not because he believed Hank''s poor excuse, but because he was considering his next move.

    Suddenly, the ground trembled violently.

    <em>Rumble, rumble</em>

    The entire passage shook, with debris falling from the ceiling and dust filling the cracks in the walls.

    The ck-armored knight''s expression changed dramatically. "So, you do have aplices!"

    He summoned his dark battle energy, brandishing a long sword, and charged toward the disturbance.

    The source of themotion was none other than Rhett, who had just arrived. Emerging from around the corner, Rhett''s eyes shed with grief as he saw Hank''s severe injuries.

    Without a word, he cast <em>Rock Armor</em>, covering himself in sturdy, earth-colored armor. Then, gathering his spiritual energy, he summoned the surrounding earth elements and unleashed <em>Earth Spike</em>.

    <em>Whoosh!</em>

    A sharp spike of earth shot through the air, aiming directly at the ck-armored knight.

    <em>Sandwolf Howl!</em>

    Rhett followed up with another spell.

    Amidst the dust and chaos of the passage, three sand wolves formed from yellow sand leaped from the air, pouncing toward the ck-armored knight.

    At this moment, both the ck-armored knight and Hank were stunned.

    "My lord has be a fifth-tier magus?" Hank gasped, then remembered Rhett''s mysterious ability to reverse time. No longer surprised, he pointed weakly to the left wall. "The entrance to the underground chamber... it''s right there!"

    "What good does it do to know? You''ll never take anything with you!" The ck-armored knight roared, shing one of the sand wolves apart with his sword.@@novelbin@@

    But the other two sand wolves detonated as they approached!

    <em>Boom! Boom!</em>

    The explosive force sent Hank crashing against the wall, where he coughed up blood and lost consciousness.

    Suddenly...

    <em>Dance of Fire Serpents!</em>

    Before the dust from the sand wolves'' explosion had even settled, two fire serpents, intertwined and zing, shot down the passage. The air grew hot as a wave of searing heat rushed forward!

    <em>Earth Spike!</em>

    Rhett''s expression tightened. Instead of retreating, he advanced, sending another sharp spike of earth hurtling through the air.

    His thoughts raced.

    Earlier, only Hank and the ck-armored knight had been present. Now, this fifth-tier fire spell¡ª<em>Dance of Fire Serpents</em>¡ªcould only mean one thing: someone from the underground chamber had arrived!

    With this realization, Rhett''s heart pounded as he used wind elements to clear the smoke and dust ahead.

    A stunning, middle-aged woman appeared before him, d in a white robe with a crescent moon symbol on her chest. Her hair cascaded naturally around her, giving her azy, casual air.

    Her eyes glinted with surprise as she looked at Rhett. "It''s you?"

    Rhett had no time for pleasantries. His gaze shifted past Yumi to the dark corridor behind her.

    He cast <em>Sandwolf Howl</em> once more.

    Rhett cast a cold nce at Yumi and the ck-armored knight, controlling the sand wolves to keep them at bay while he, d in his rock armor, endured a heavy sword strike from the ck-armored knight and sprinted down the tunnel.

    The passage wasn''t long, with only about twenty meters of stairs leading down, lit by dim candlelight on either side.

    For a fifth-tier Earth Knight, twenty meters was a distance covered in the blink of an eye.

    The ck-armored knight roared in fury, cutting down a sand wolf with his sword before turning to pursue Rhett and shing at him twice.

    Rhett grunted as the blows struck. Seeing the door less than three meters away, his eyes filled with determination. Another sword strike shattered his already cracked rock armor, which disintegrated into fragments of yellow light, dispersing back into the earth.

    But in the end...

    Despite his injuries, Rhett pushed open the slightly ajar door, revealing the truth inside!

    Suddenly, a sharp spike shot toward him from the front.

    Rhett''s pupils contracted; the spike was unavoidable, and in his current state, he couldn''t continue. He chose to end the simtion immediately.

    <strong>[The real simtion has ended. Please choose one attribute to retain.]</strong>

    <strong>[1. Physique]</strong>

    <strong>[2. Battle Qi]</strong>

    <strong>[3. Spiritual Power]</strong>

    Presented with this choice, Rhett selected the third option.

    As soon as he returned to reality, he couldn''t wait to begin another simtion.

    Standing in front of the gates of Blueleaf Castle, Rhett paused in thought, "This time, I already know the path to the underground chamber, but getting in clearly won''t be easy."

    "My lord, long time no see!" Hank greeted him, his face full of joy and excitement as he walked out of Blueleaf Castle once more.

    Rhett smiled faintly and took two steps forward to greet him. "Hmm, Hank, it''s great to see you again!"

    After experiencing the same scenario multiple times, Rhett felt as if he was ying a save-and-load game, a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washing over him.

    "But... this time, I''ll win!" he vowed silently.

    Wasting no time, Rhett quickly pulled Hank aside to repeat the previous steps.

    Hank''s expression was still a mix of shock andplexity. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Rhett and asked, "My lord, what¡¯s the n?

    You mentioned there¡¯s a fifth-tier Earth Knight and a fifth-tier Mage inside, along with other mysterious figures. How do you n to get in?"

    Rhett stood silent, deep in thought. "Indeed, how should I get in?

    All I need is to get inside and see the form. What happens after that¡ªwhether I live or die¡ªdoesn¡¯t matter..."

    Suddenly.

    A sh of inspiration hit him.

    Rhett''s lips curled into a smile, a confident glint in his eyes.

    He looked directly at Hank and said confidently, "Hank, you won¡¯t need to do anything this time.

    I¡¯ll handle it all myself!"

    At the Central War Fortress, in the first-floor hall.

    After leaving Hank, Rhett rushed to the fortress. As soon as he arrived, he held a handful of ashes and, with a panicked expression, said,

    "Commander Ambiru, I¡¯ve received new intel!"

    Ambiru, who had been facing away from Rhett, marking areas on a map, immediately turned around at the urgency in Rhett¡¯s voice and asked sharply,

    "What? That mysterious person contacted you again? Tell me everything, now!"

    "Yes," Rhett nodded. "I went to visit my subordinates at the alchemy workshop when I found a note in my pocket without realizing when it got there.

    I immediately opened it and found it said:

    ¡®There¡¯s a traitor in Watermoon Castle, trying to steal the form for ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow and destroy thetest batch of materials.

    Yumi and several alchemists have already been bribed as spies.

    The form itself has a special code¡ªuse Dawn Powder to reveal it.¡¯"

    <em>Boom.</em>

    This news struck Ambiru like a bolt of lightning.

    He couldn¡¯t believe that even the alchemy workshop had been infiltrated so deeply.

    Ambiru was silent for a long time before taking a deep breath and rubbing his forehead. "Even Yumi was bribed? She¡¯s a student of the royal alchemy master..."

    Rhett also remained silent for a moment before sighing, "I don¡¯t know for sure, but that¡¯s what the note said.

    I can¡¯t believe a fifth-tier Mage could be bought off either. If that¡¯s true, then the enemy¡¯s power is terrifying!

    The extent of their infiltration is beyond belief!"

 Chapter 166: Masterful Acting

    Ambiru''s expression darkened as he listened, and he turned to ask, "The special code you mentioned earlier... what exactly does it mean?"

    "Hmm, it''s aplex symbol described on the note, made up of many strange and unfamiliar symbols that are difficult to put into words. If I see it again, I can definitely recognize it!" Rhett replied confidently.

    "Can¡¯t you draw it?" Ambiru asked.

    "I can only reproduce a small part of it," Rhett responded.

    Ambiru walked over to a nearby desk, picked up a sheet of paper and a quill, and handed them to Rhett. "Try to recreate it as best as you can from memory."

    "No problem!" Rhett nodded, taking the paper and quill. He pretended to think deeply and then began sketching a mix of random symbols, including ancient script, odd shapes, and even a six-pointed star.

    As Rhett continued drawing the strange and unfamiliar symbols, Ambiru couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally, "It seems like the alchemy workshop has truly beenpromised."

    As the deputymander of the gorge, Ambiru wasn''t aware of the exact location where the form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em> was hidden, but he did know about the general security measures. Not only was the form hidden in an extremely secret ce, but one of the safeguards was the creation of numerous fake forms to confuse any potential thieves. In his mind, if the real form had been marked with a symbol, it must have been done by traitors to ensure they could steal it more easily.

    "But... if the traitor had the ability to mark the form, why didn¡¯t they just take it directly?" Ambiru wondered, but the mysterious note¡¯s credibility led him to consider deeper possibilities. "Could it be that they¡¯re lying low for now, nning something bigger? Or maybe they¡¯ve already copied it and had some reason to dy?"Even with his vast experience, Ambiru couldn¡¯t fathom that everything unfolding was a lie. Instead, his thoughts spiraled into a frenzy, trying to discern the traitors¡¯ true intentions.

    A momentter, Rhett finished his drawing and handed the "halfplete" symbol to Ambiru, uncertainly saying, "Commander, I¡¯m not sure how urate it is, but I did my best."

    By all logic, Rhett shouldn''t have known about the fake forms, let alone used them as part of his deception. In reality, this was his second time consulting Ambiru. During a previous simtion, he had falsely imed that Yumi was carrying the form and requested that she be apprehended. However, that n had failed when she saw through his lie, making Rhett realize the ws in his approach. This time, his fabricated story was more refined, with fewer obvious gaps.

    Ambiru examined the paper for a moment before fixing his gaze on Rhett. "You need to understand the gravity of what you''re saying today. If we go to Watermoon Castle and find no marks on the form, the consequences will be severe¡ªfor both of us!"

    "Commander, I¡¯m fully aware of that! But think of it this way¡ªif we catch the culprits, it¡¯ll be a major victory and a huge step toward finding the true mastermind behind all this!" Rhett responded firmly, his tone persuasive. "Remember, every piece of intelligence from those notes has been urate so far..."

    Ambiru¡¯s eyes flickered. He couldn¡¯t deny that Rhett¡¯s words made sense. Although some details in the note didn¡¯t hold up to scrutiny, it was impossible topletely dismiss the possibility. Furthermore, with the sess of previous intel, Ambiru couldn¡¯t ignore this shocking new information.

    He was tempted...

    "Let¡¯s hope so. I¡¯ll report this to Commander Avn. I don¡¯t have the authority to inspect the form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em> on my own," Ambiru said after a moment of silence, taking a deep breath.

    Half an hourter.

    Avn arrived at the entrance of Watermoon Castle with a squad of soldiers, his demeanor radiating lethal intent.

    "Rhett, are you sure that someone slipped you that note?" Avn asked as he stood at the castle¡¯s entrance, casting a final nce at Rhett.

    Surrounded by four sixth-tier Earth Knights on all sides, Rhett was both protected and monitored. Clearly, Avn wasn¡¯t fully convinced by the contents of the note, but he also couldn¡¯t ignore the need to investigate.

    "Absolutely!" Rhett replied confidently, unfazed by the scrutiny. "Let me see the symbols on the form, and I can confirm their authenticity to help identify the traitors!"

    Avn squinted slightly, then showed his identification badge to the guards. The knights at the gate didn¡¯t dare to stop him and immediately allowed them to pass.

    Rhett followed closely behind, passing unimpeded through a series of corridors until they reached the end of a deep, dark passage.

    "Commander Avn!" a surprised voice called out. The ck-armored knight, Kris, hurried over, his expression respectful. "Commander, what brings you here?"

    "This doesn¡¯t concern you, Kris. Stay outside and don¡¯t move," Avn ordered.

    "Understood!" Though confused, Kris obeyed, standing guard at the entrance.

    After Avn opened the door, the group moved deeper inside, and he called back casually, "Kris, close the door."

    Under the watchful eyes of four sixth-tier Earth Knights, Rhett finally reached the innermost chamber of the underground vault.

    "What brings you here today, Commander Avn?" azy voice asked as Yumi, d in white robes, emerged from one of the rooms. "You rarely visit, and today you¡¯ve brought so many people. Did something happen?"

    "Seize her," Avn ordered, his tone light, as he gestured toward Yumi. "Don¡¯t let her resist, but be careful not to harm her."

    At hismand, the Earth Knights immediately surrounded the voluptuous woman.

    "Avn, have you lost your mind?!" Yumi cried out in disbelief as she struggled against them. She instinctively reached for her wand to fight back but froze when she heard Avn¡¯s words. Allowing her hands to be bound behind her back, her ample chest heaved with anger, threatening to burst free.

    "I¡¯m sorry, Yumi, but I have no choice," Avn said calmly.

    "Fine! But you¡¯d better give me a good exnationter! When I report this to my master, he¡¯ll hear about the unjust treatment I¡¯ve received!" Yumi, usually mild-mannered, roared in fury, unable to contain her anger at being wrongly used.

    Avn inwardly sighed, ncing at Rhett. With the weight of the previous urate intel provided by Rhett, as amander, Avn couldn¡¯t simply dismiss this matter because of a minor discrepancy.

    "You, go get Grumi," Avn instructed one of the alchemists.

    "Understood!" The blue-robed alchemist quickly ran to a chamber around the corner.

    By now, the entire underground vault had been thrown into turmoil. Every alchemist had been forced to stop their work, even though it meant ruining their concoctions. Though the disruption was costly, the gravity of the situation was clear to everyone.

    After her initial shock and anger, Yumi began to calm down, realizing she might have been wrongly used. Her attention shifted to the middle-aged mage standing under heavy guard by the Earth Knights. His treatment differed significantly from that of the others, which made her suspicious. She remained silent, watching the situation unfold.

    About half an hourter.

    Grumi finally appeared, his hair scorched ck, clearly in a foul mood.

    As he observed the scene before him, his expression grew more serious. "Commander Avn, what¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s serious enough to warrant such amotion?"

    "Bring me a vial of Dawn Powder," Avn requested.

    "I have one here," Grumi replied, pulling out a small vial of pure white powder from his pocket. "But why do you need it?"

    He tossed the vial to Avn, his tone annoyed.

    While Grumi had no issue with Avn bringing people here¡ªthat was within his authority¡ªseeing Yumi, a student of a royal alchemy master, bound like a criminal filled him with outrage. He feared this incident could damage his standing in the Kingdom of Ginlun, where he had hoped to learn more from the royal alchemy master.

    "I need to inspect the form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em>," Avn stated.

    Everyone froze at his words.

    Even the enraged Grumi was stunned into silence, rubbing his ears as if he had misheard. "Avn, did you say you need the form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em>?"

    "Yes," Avn confirmed solemnly. "We have reliable intel indicating a traitor among you, and the real form has been marked with a special symbol. To be safe, I need your cooperation."

    A collective gasp filled the room.

    "Impossible, that¡¯s impossible!" Grumi eximed, his expression exaggerated as he waved his hands. "This vault is so secure; no outsider could have entered. The people inside don¡¯t stay outside for long, and the real form is mixed with many fake ones. Finding the genuine one requires exceptional skill. I regrly check everything, and I swear there¡¯s been no breach."

    "This is an order¡ªcooperate," Avn said, his tone growing heavier. "If you refuse, it¡¯ll only make you look guilty. I¡¯ll fetch it myself if I have to."

    "You..." Grumi''s chest heaved with anger as he nced at Yumi and then back at Avn. "Fine, I¡¯llply, but let me ask¡ªwhat does Yumi have to do with this?"

    "I¡¯ve exined that there¡¯s a traitor among you," Avn said. "Right now, it¡¯s just suspicion, and we need to confirm it. But we need your cooperation."

    "Yumi can¡¯t possibly be a traitor!" Grumi protested, but seeing the calm determination in Avn''s eyes, he had to relent. "Alright, I¡¯ll fetch it, and I¡¯ll prove Yumi¡¯s innocence."

    Grumi, though appearing angry, was actually thinking quickly. He decided to use this opportunity to earn favor with Yumi.

    "Don¡¯t worry, Yumi. You¡¯ve been wrongly used, but I¡¯ll clear your name!" Grumi assured her, his gaze firm. "Once we examine the form, the truth wille out, and you¡¯ll be vindicated!"

    Yumi¡¯s expression was grim, and she remained silent. She had nned to stay calm and observe, but she never expected to be used of treason.

    Grumi left the room.

    A few minutester.

    "The form is here, but only you can look at it, Avn," Grumi called out from the corridor.

    "I need to bring this man with me¡ªhe provided the intel," Avn exined.

    Instantly, Rhett felt the weight of multiple gazes fall upon him.

    There was shock, suspicion, and even mockery.

    Yumi¡¯s eyes were filled with anger as she looked at Rhett. "It¡¯s you? Why would you nder me? What makes you think I¡¯m a traitor?"

    In a situation like this, an ordinary person might have crumbled under the pressure, revealing their guilt. But having lived two lives and seen countless trials, Rhett knew that this was just a simtion. He didn¡¯t falter¡ªin fact, he even smirked contemptuously.

    "nder? Yumi, you know exactly what you¡¯ve done. I advise you to confess now, or you¡¯ll regret it when the truthes out!"

    With those final words, Rhett didn¡¯t waste any more time and quickly followed Avn.

    "The form is here, but you only have three seconds to look at it," Avn said, handing Rhett a sheet of yellowed parchment.

    Rhett nodded, taking it and ncing at the text. It was filled withplex descriptions, ingredient ratios for various magical nts, and specific extraction and mixing procedures. Even some of the alchemical equipment needed to be custom-made.

    His heart raced with excitement as he quickly memorized the first section of the text.

    A few secondster.

    Avn frowned. "Rhett, what are you doing? Apply the Dawn Powder already."

    "I was just trying to see if I could identify the marks with my eyes. I¡¯ll use the powder now," Rhett replied with an awkward smile, his eyes never leaving the parchment.

    Grumi¡¯s eyes narrowed with suspicion, sensing something wasn¡¯t right.

    But then he thought, "Whatever their n is, with Sky Knights and other powerful figures here, there¡¯s no way they can escape. What am I worried about?"

    With that thought, Grumi rxed a bit, though his gaze still carried a hint of ridicule as he looked at Rhett.

    Rhett deliberately moved slowly, carefully opening the vial of Dawn Powder while sneaking in a few more nces at the form.

    "7.3 units of Wraithvine extract, 2.9 units of Darkcrystal whiskers, preheat for 103 seconds on low heat, then increase the temperature evenly over 7 seconds..."@@novelbin@@

    "Rhett, why haven¡¯t you applied the powder yet?" Avn¡¯s voice grew cold.

    "Just a moment¡ªI think I can see the marks with my eyes," Rhett replied earnestly.

    Avn¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his tone became more forceful. "Apply the Dawn Powder right now."

 Chapter 167: The Sterilized Orcs

    Rhett''s heart tightened as he took a deep breath and said, "Commander Avn, please give me a moment. There''s something I must tell you."

    He outwardly adopted a mysterious expression, all while sneaking a few more nces at the form.

    However, Avn''s eyes turned cold, and with lightning speed, he snatched the parchment and Dawn Powder from Rhett¡¯s hands, immediately applying the powder.

    Rhett had no time to react; the items were gone from his grasp. Internally, he cursed, realizing his mistake. He then met Avn''s cold and disappointed gaze and heard the words, "Rhett, why did you deceive me?"

    Rhett remained silent, which only fueled Avn''s anger. He ced a firm hand on Rhett''s shoulder, the weight of his grip making it hard for Rhett to breathe.

    "Sigh, it¡¯s time to end this simtion," Rhett thought to himself as he silently chose to terminate the simtion.

    A ripple spread before his eyes.

    The scene around him changed instantly.

    Rhett blinked, feeling disoriented, but quickly found himself back at the gates of Blueleaf Castle. Everything he had just experienced felt both real and fleeting, like a dream.After calming his mind, Rhett reflected on what had just transpired. The recent experiences confirmed to him that this method was indeed viable! As long as he continued simting...

    He could definitely get his hands on the form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em>!

    However, this time, he didn¡¯t rush back into a simtion. Instead, he stood there, staring at the gates of Blueleaf Castle.

    "Lord, long time no see!" Henk, emerging from Blueleaf Castle, greeted Rhett with a smile of delight and excitement.

    Rhett smiled faintly, stepping forward to greet him. "Henk, it¡¯s great to see you again! I came to visit you today, but just now, I received an urgent task. Unfortunately, I¡¯ll have toe back in a couple of days."

    "Haha, Lord, you go ahead and handle your duties. I¡¯m enjoying my time here, refining potions and learning from many other alchemists. It¡¯s been quite rewarding!" Henk replied with a smile, showing he didn¡¯t mind at all.

    After exchanging a few brief words, Rhett quickly returned to Sub-Fort No. 1.

    He sat at a desk, pulled out some paper and a quill, and began to record the information he had just acquired.

    In just a few moments, Rhett had filled four and a half lines of text on the page¡ªbut there was still much more to add.

    So, he immediately started another simtion.

    "Do you want to start a real simtion? Each day of simtion will consume 1 Destiny Point."

    "Yes!"

    As the ripples spread, a smile appeared on Rhett''s face. He stood up calmly and walked out of the room.

    With his prior sess, Rhett embarked on an endless loop of simtions.

    Each time, he would pick up where he left off, recording new information.

    After a dozen <em>real simtions</em>...

    Rhett sat at his desk, hands resting on the sheets of paper filled with countless words and diagrams. Although his memory was good, he sought perfection, ensuring not a single character was wrong. After fully copying the form, he even used a simtion to verify the entire form.

    At this moment, he confirmed that what he held in his hands was indeed theplete and wless form for <em>ck Crow¡¯s Sorrow</em>.

    Rhett exhaled slowly, a smile spreading across his face as his eyes scanned the form in his hands.

    Just then, McCoff quietly approached, his face full of curiosity. "Rhett, what are you writing? You¡¯re being so secretive..."

    "Haha, it¡¯s a secret for now!" Rhett quickly folded the paper and tucked it into his chest.

    "Humph, keeping secrets from me? I¡¯m not even interested!" McCoff grumbled, shaking his head as he returned to his bed.

    Two dayster.

    News of the retreat of the orc royal bloodline spread to everyone.

    Avn officially announced: the war had reached a significant victory! But even though the battle at the gorge had calmed, it didn¡¯t mean peace between humans and orcs. Vignce was still necessary.

    During the day, patrols and missions continued as usual.

    At night, not everyone could abandon the front lines to attend the celebration banquet.

    Only a portion of the officers and soldiers attended the banquet hosted by Avn¡ªand Rhett was naturally among them.

    Military celebration banquetscked the pretense of nobility.

    There were no unnecessary speeches or long-winded formalities. The event focused on one thing¡ªacknowledging the contributions of the soldiers, which took the most time.

    At this moment...

    Avn stood on a makeshift tform, conjured by an earth mage.

    In the center of the gathering square, his mature yet clear and resonant voice echoed across every corner of the square: "Earl Nilo, for ying two third-tier Blood Moon Werewolves, three third-tier Venomous Serpentfolk...

    Baron Gale, for ying two second-tier Blood Moon Werewolves and assisting in the ying of three third-tier Venomous Serpentfolk...

    Viscount Toronto, for ying one second-tier Venomous Serpentfolk..."

    As Avn continued to announce the achievements, some soldiers rejoiced while others despaired.

    Those who were joyful were naturally the nobles who had earned enough merit to advance from baron to viscount.

    Those who despaired were the nobles who had failed to achieve much, or worse, had lost soldiers or even close family members.

    This included Gale, who had grown up under the tutge of his father, Rocky, learning many survival skills on the battlefield and training diligently. By following Rhett¡¯s team, he reaped considerable benefits and participated in the ying of several royal orcs. Though his contributions weren¡¯t significant, Rhett ensured he received enough merit to advance to viscount.

    Unfortunately, his strength still held him back, preventing further advancement.

    As for Rhett¡¯s other inw, Roy, his situation was far worse. He hadn¡¯t made any special contributions during the war andcked the courage to fight heroically. Even if Rhett wanted to share some credit with him, it was impossible.

    In cases where multiple soldiers anonymously reported false ims of merit, if the reports were verified, both Rhett and Roy would face severe consequences.

    Ten minutester...

    Avn¡¯s booming voice continued.

    Finally, Rhett¡¯s name was mentioned.

    Avn paused briefly before announcing, "Finally, I need to introduce someone special to all of you¡ªour rising star on the gorge¡¯s front line¡ªRhett.

    Returning to the battlefield as a fifth-tier Archmage, Rhett slew dozens of fourth-tier royal orcs and dozens of third-tier royal orcs..."

    The crowd erupted in murmurs and whispers.

    As Rhett''s strength and extraordinary achievements were revealed, the entire square was abuzz with conversation. People looked around, trying to spot Rhett.

    "Rhett? I think I¡¯ve heard that name before¡ªhe was a seasoned squad leader. And now he¡¯s a fifth-tier Archmage?"

    "You¡¯re out of the loop. I heard that Rhett became a noble by chance after taking a Bloodline Potion, which gave him his current talents!"

    "A Bloodline Potion? That¡¯s enviable!"

    "But still... he earned his aplishments. You have to admire that."

    Standing in a corner of the square, Rhett remained calm.

    In truth, Avn¡¯s disclosure of Rhett¡¯s achievements was modest.

    The major pieces of intel Rhett had provided earlier were significant contributions.

    But ording to Avn, these achievements couldn¡¯t be publicly revealed yet because they were still searching for the "mysterious person." Only his orc-ying feats were made public.

    "Congrattions, Rhett! In just two years, you¡¯ve aplished so much. That¡¯s legendary even by Southwest Border standards!" Earl Nilo squeezed through the crowd and made his way to Rhett. His eyes were filled with amazement and admiration as he looked at Rhett.

    "Thank you, just lucky," Rhett replied modestly, shaking his head.

    "Rhett, you¡¯ve been hiding your strength! When did you be a fifth-tier Archmage?" McCoff asked, his eyes full of surprise as he looked Rhett up and down.

    "I told youst time that I was close to a breakthrough. I just managed it not long ago," Rhett shrugged.

    "Father, you¡¯ll soon be the strongest in the Southwest Border!" Tuck said with augh, his hands on his hips.

    Rhett scowled and yfully smacked Tuck on the back of the head. "Far from it! The gorge is the true gathering ce for strong individuals in the Southwest Border!"

    Tuck scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.

    Earl Nilo smiled broadly, but inwardly he sighed. Despite Rhett¡¯s humility, he knew that the power dynamics in the Southwest Border were about to shift dramatically...

    The celebration banquet didn¡¯tst long¡ªhalf an hour at most.

    And as soon as it ended, most of those present had to return to the front lines to continue their duties.

    Only those stationed in the rear could finally rx a little.

    Under normal circumstances, the nobles wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity to socialize and would host a grand party.

    Unfortunately, this was a military camp¡ªsolemn and disciplined¡ªwith no chance for such festivities.

    As night fell...

    Rhett made his way alone to the central war fortress. ording to regtions, he could leave once the celebration banquet was over.

    In fact, most of the nobles had already left the gorge as soon as they received the news that the alert had been lifted.

    "Rhett, you¡¯re still here?" Anbiru turned away from the map he had been studying and smiled at Rhett. "Have you changed your mind and decided to stay?"

    Rhett let out a small chuckle. "Commander Anbiru, I¡¯m here to exchange some of my merits for two orcs, and I wanted to report that to you."

    "Exchanging for orcs?" Anbiru¡¯s tone rose slightly, and he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "With your current merits, you¡¯re more than qualified to be promoted to earl. Exchanging for two orcs won¡¯t be a problem."

    "However, since the gorge¡¯s front line was established, very few people have chosen to exchange for orcs."

    "Oh? Who was thest noble to exchange for orcs?"

    "That would be Ragnar, the first earl of the Southwest Border. He exchanged for a Nightcat orc years ago, but I heard it died within a few years."

    "I see." Rhett smiled. "Thank you, Commander Anbiru."

    Anbiru nodded. "There¡¯s one rule you need to know. Once you take these orcs, they¡¯re yours to do with as you please on your territory¡ªno one will question that."

    "But remember, orcs cannot be resold or transferred. They are not allowed to circte within or outside the kingdom."

    "I understand the rules. Don¡¯t worry, Commander Anbiru," Rhett replied with a smile.

    "Fody, take Rhett to the ve camp and let him choose personally," Anbiru instructed with a shake of his head.

    Fody, who had been quietly working at a desk in the corner, stood up and led the way to the door, smiling. "Please follow me!"

    The ve camp was located deep within the military camp.

    The orcs confined there had all been subdued, and though not particrly strong, they performed hardbor.

    They were tasked with tasks like hammering iron, chopping wood, and transporting supplies.

    Without authorization, entry into the camp was impossible. Even though Rhett had been stationed at the gorge front line for over a decade, he had only ever seen the massive, pitch-ck gates from a distance.

    This was his first time inside.

    Rhett followed Fody to the gates of the ve camp. After reporting their identities to the knights guarding the gate, the doors were opened from within.

    With a mix of groaning and creaking, the heavy, ancient doors slowly parted.

    A towering figure appeared before Rhett.

    "Commander Avn?" Rhett saluted.@@novelbin@@

    "Rhett, we meet again. What brings you here?" Avn asked with surprise. Then, realizing the answer, he asked, "You¡¯re here to take a few orcs back, aren¡¯t you?"

    "That¡¯s correct," Rhett nodded.

    Avn stepped forward, cing a reassuring hand on Rhett¡¯s shoulder. "Rhett, I want to personally ask you to stay at the gorge front line."

    "With your talent and abilities, you¡¯ll achieve great things here! In the future, I can¡¯t guarantee a duchy, but when you reach the sixth tier, I will personally write to the king and rmend you for the title of marquis!"

    Even Fody, who was standing nearby, looked at Rhett with surprise, his gaze bing more serious. The knights standing still at the gate couldn¡¯t help but nce sideways, curious about the man theirmander praised so highly.

    Feeling the weight of their gazes and the sincerity in Avn¡¯s eyes, Rhett took a deep breath and repeated the same words he had said to Anbiru earlier: "Commander, my family is waiting for me back home. I¡¯ve been away from them for too long, and they need me by their side."

    "I cannot ept your request."

    "But I promise you this¡ªif the front lines call, I will return without hesitation!"

    A trace of disappointment flickered in Avn¡¯s eyes, but he was also moved. He gave Rhett a firm pat on the shoulder before leaving.

    Finally, Rhett entered the ve camp.

    Behind the ck iron gates, despite the presence of hundreds of towering orcs moving back and forth, Rhett could sense the overwhelming despair in their eyes.

    It was as if they had sold all their vitality just to survive! Even with Rhett¡¯s arrival, the orcs barely nced at him, continuing to haul heavy ores on their shoulders like lifeless shells.

    "These are all low-tier orcs. You can choose any of them," Fody said, pointing at the orcs as if they were meremodities.

    Rhett didn¡¯t feel much pity or sympathy for them¡ªit was simply the fate of the defeated. Human prisoners captured by the orcs wouldn¡¯t fare any better, and if they ended up in the hands of draconians, their fate would be even worse!

    "By the way, what if one of these orcs bes pregnant in my territory?" Rhett suddenly asked, considering the potential issues.

    Fody gave Rhett a strange look. "Pregnant? That won¡¯t happen..."

    "These orcs were sterilized after they were subdued. They¡¯ve lost the ability to reproduce."

    "Unless someone is willing to give them rare potions or they somehow advance to the saint level, they won¡¯t regain their reproductive abilities for the rest of their lives."

 Chapter 168: The Weary Bird Returns Home

    After speaking, Fody shook his head with a sigh, saying, "The kingdom will never allow the orcs, our mortal enemies, to be rampant in the rear. So, Rhett, be mindful of this when you return. Do not trade those two orcs away; it would be a vition of the kingdom¡¯sws."

    "I understand... Thank you, Assistant Fody. I¡¯ll keep that in mind!" Rhett nodded in realization. After learning that the orcs had been sterilized, his gaze toward them now carried a hint of sympathy...

    After spending about ten minutes wandering around the ve camp, Rhett finally decided on a second-tier Minotaur and a second-tier Boarman.

    Both were strong and robust, excellent forbor, and they appeared rtively young and vigorous, without the lethargy that gued many other orcs. Most importantly, Rhett sensed a faint desire for life in their eyes, unlike the lifeless and numb expressions of the other orcs.

    "It¡¯ll be them, Fody. Please register them," Rhett said after a moment of contemtion, pointing to the two orcs a few meters away.

    Fody followed Rhett''s gaze and nodded slightly. "Understood. You can take them with you now, but remember what I said¡ªdo not vite the kingdom¡¯sws."

    "I understand!"

    After a brief two-minute wait, Fodypleted the registration, and the two orcs were informed of their new master.

    "Lord, we shall serve you from now on!" the Boarman grunted in a deep, muffled voice."We were forced into battle, not wanting to die. We just want to live, eat our fill each day, and be content!" the Minotaur said in a low, rumbling voice, rubbing itsrge bronze horns.

    "No problem," Rhett replied with a smile, amused. "As long as you behave, those requests will be easy to fulfill."

    After making some brief preparations, Rhett gathered his men and left the military camp.

    Standing before the ck fence of sharp spikes that marked the rear of the gorge¡¯s front line, Rhett took a final nce at the camp, apanied by Tuck, Ry, Taylors, Henk, Tadel, Cools, Shirin, and McCoff, as well as the two orcs trailing at the rear of the group.

    "Ah, after half a year of fighting, I feel a bit reluctant to leave!" Tuck said wistfully, looking up at the towering spikes with a mix of emotions in his eyes.

    "Oh, then why don¡¯t you stay here, Tuck?" Taylors mocked, pping Tuck''srge arm. "Just don¡¯t end up as orc dung¡ªit¡¯s bound to smell awful!"

    "Oh, Taylors! After two months, you¡¯re still as annoying as ever!" Tuck grumbled, his face darkening as he pushed Taylors'' hand away.

    Tadel and Cools, the inseparable duo, walked at the back of the group, just in front of the orcs. They couldn¡¯t help but nce back repeatedly, sighing as they observed the clumsy Minotaur and Boarman.

    "Why do you two keep sighing?" Rhett raised an eyebrow, looking at Tadel and Cools. "Is it because I didn¡¯t bring back any Nightcrawlers?"

    "No, Lord!" Tadel quickly shook his head.

    Cools added, "It¡¯s just that Tadel realized the Nightcrawlers aren¡¯t as beautiful as he imagined, so he¡¯s a bit disappointed."

    "Tadel, you have a point!" Tadel responded.

    "Oh? Tadel, you¡¯re unusually self-aware today. It seems that the battlefield has made you more mature!" Cools said, feigning a fatherly tone, as if proud of his son.

    "No, I meant that if you rece ¡®Tadel¡¯ with ¡®Cools,¡¯ then your statement would bepletely urate!" Tadel rolled his eyes.

    Cools smirked at hispanion. "Oh, Tadel, you dare speak to me like that? You must be itching for a fight. Bing a second-tier knight has given you the confidence of a Sky Knight, hasn¡¯t it?"

    "Indeed, the gap between us is as vast as that between a Sky Knight and amoner," Tadel taunted. "Just wait until we¡¯re back on the territory¡ªI¡¯ll teach you a lesson!"

    "Tsk, tsk, who¡¯ll be teaching whom is yet to be seen. Just don¡¯t use a stomachache as an excuse when you start losing again!"

    Listening to Tadel and Cools bickering as they left the gorge front line, Rhett couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    A little over a monthter...

    Winter mornings often bring thick fog, much like the fog they encountered when leaving.

    As the sun rose, its light filtered through the gray haze, casting a faint glow on Rhett and his party, adding a strange gleam to their eyes.

    The air was damp with moisture.

    "Is that... Sun Lake?" Ry¡¯s voice suddenly broke the silence, filled with a mix of doubt, joy, and anticipation.

    "Yes, that¡¯s Sun Lake!" Taylors confirmed, both to Ry and himself.

    Taylors tossed his ck, twisted wand high into the air. It flipped and spun beforending neatly back in his hand. With arms outstretched, he shouted, "We¡¯re back!"

    His voice echoed through the sky, piercing the thick fog and startling the aquatic magical beasts, causing them to leap out of the water with a ssh.

    "I¡¯m back too!" Tuck, excited by Taylors'' enthusiasm, joined in with a shout of his own.

    "Wee back!" A faint voice responded through the fog.

    As the mist gradually cleared, a figure emerged, bing clearer with each step. Wearing a ck eyepatch, Vides appeared before them!

    "Haha, Vides, it¡¯s great to see you!" Rhett dismounted and walked quickly forward, embracing his oldrade with a big hug. "It¡¯s a relief to see you all safe!" Vides scanned Rhett from head to toe, then nced at the group, confirming that their numbers were the same as when they had left. Only then did a genuine smile spread across his face.

    He sighed, "You¡¯ve all returned as seasoned warriors, with new, stronger feathers!"

    "You¡¯re right, Vides! That¡¯s exactly how it is." Rhett raised an eyebrow and smiled.

    "What brings you to Sun Lake so early?" Rhett asked, finally voicing his earlier curiosity.

    "I heard that your Sun Lake has aquatic magical beasts, and I was worried that the defenses might not be enough while you were away at war, so I¡¯ve been checking in regrly," Vides said, turning his gaze to Sun Lake. "By the way, in just two months, several of the aquatic magical beasts have advanced to the next tier¡ªquite an impressive speed."

    "And I also saw that they¡¯veid eggs. It won¡¯t be long before they hatch again!"

    "Hmm, I see..." Rhett nodded thoughtfully, noting that he must get Nina to bless the aquatic magical beasts and water nts as soon as possible. Otherwise, once winter passes, they¡¯ll have to wait another year.

    Vides then turned his attention to the orcs behind Rhett. His eyes narrowed as his mind raced with possibilities.

    "These... orcs look quite strong," Vides said after a moment of silence. "I imagine they cost a fair amount of merit?"

    "They did," Rhett nodded. "But I haven¡¯t told you yet¡ªduring my return to the battlefield, I earned enough merit to be promoted to earl. So, wouldn¡¯t a couple of orcs on an earl¡¯s estate only serve to enhance the territory¡¯s strength and prestige?" He finished with a broad smile.

    "You¡¯ve been promoted to earl?" Vides¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The astonishment quickly passed, and he sighed, shrugging. "I should¡¯ve expected it¡ªgiven your abilities, it wasn¡¯t difficult. Well, congrattions, Earl Rhett!" Vides emphasized the title.

    "Thank you, my friend," Rhett replied with a humorous grin.@@novelbin@@

    "Hahaha!" Videsughed, shaking his head. "Alright, you¡¯d better head back. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Sun Lake for you. Your steward has been quite worried about youtely. Every time I¡¯ve seen him, he¡¯s looked more and more haggard."

    Rhett¡¯s expression grew serious. "Is that so? I¡¯d better check on him right away. Thank you for your help here!"

    "No trouble at all."

    Led by Rhett, the group soon arrived at the gates of the estate.

    Steward Sveta stood in the middle of the gray stone road before the gate, wearing a thick ck fur coat andst year¡¯s gray soft leather hat. He paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with worry.

    "The lord left in June¡ªit¡¯s been half a year since he¡¯s been gone. Sigh, how I long to see the familiar sight of the lord and hear the sound of hoofbeats approaching!" He looked up at the sky, the fog clearing as countless beams of sunlight fell on his face, highlighting the wrinkles on his forehead.

    It was as if the light reflected the longing in his heart.

    Clip-clop.

    Clip-clop.

    Clip-clop...

    Sveta froze in disbelief!

    It felt like a dream, but the sound he had longed to hear in his sleep was now real.

    Unable to believe it, Sveta quickly turned around. There, under the clear sky, stood the familiar figure of a middle-aged man, with the rest of the equally familiar group behind him. Tears welled in Sveta¡¯s eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with his sleeve.

    Overwhelmed with joy, Sveta rushed forward and bowed deeply. "Dear Lord, seeing you return in the midst of this harsh winter brings such happiness! You¡¯ve been gone for half a year now. All of Eagletown has been trembling like a frightened little bird."

    Rhett pulled the reins of his gray horse, halting a few meters from the northern wall of the training ground. He looked at Sveta¡¯s excited, joyful expression and the slight redness at the corners of his eyes. His own eyes filled withplex emotions. Dismounting quickly, Rhett ced a reassuring hand on Sveta¡¯s shoulder, adjusting his hat.

    "Sveta, you¡¯re not mistaken¡ªwe¡¯re back. We return with the scars of battle, the glory of triumph, and hopes for the future. This time, the eaglet will soar even higher."

    Sveta¡¯s emotions gradually calmed. He exhaled and smiled warmly.

    "The happiest thing is seeing you return with your heirs, bringing back the spoils of victory. I¡¯ve kept the estate running smoothly in your absence, and that¡¯s all I need."

    After ncing around at everyone, Sveta bowed again. "Lord, after your long and dusty journey, would you like me to prepare a hot bath for you? And perhaps have Cook Maru prepare a sumptuous meal?"

    "No need. I¡¯m quite clean, and after being away from Eagletown for half a year, I¡¯m eager to hear what¡¯s been happening during my absence," Rhett said after a moment of thought. "Sveta, my most trusted assistant, I need your report."

    "Lord, I¡¯m more than happy to oblige!"

    Back at the estate, everyone needed a good rest¡ªnot just for their bodies but to soothe their weary souls.

    The others retreated to their rooms.

    Only Rhett made his way to the fifth-floor hall of the castle. He opened the central window and let the cool breeze wash over him.

    He took a moment to survey the hall''syout, nodding slightly as any lingering sense of unfamiliarity from his six-month absence faded away.

    Settling into a high wooden chair by the window, Rhett asked, "Sveta, now that we¡¯re alone, tell me¡ªhow has the territory fared during the six months I was away?"

    Sveta stood respectfully at the edge of the red carpet, organizing his thoughts before reporting:

    "Lord, your territory has been running smoothly overall. Thest batch of knight trainees included a young man named Rien, who has broken through to be an apprentice knight."

    "And Unica, that young girl, has sessfully advanced to an apprentice mage."

    "no also broke through to the second-tier knight level a few months ago, and his wife, Laurene, is pregnant."

    "Of course, the most joyous news is that both Lady Kalina and Lady Mina have given birth safely."

    Sveta paused, observing Rhett¡¯s expression. Seeing no change, and sensing he wasn¡¯t ready to interrupt, Sveta continued:

    "The fire-stripe mine is being extracted at the steady pace you requested. Over the past six months, we¡¯ve mined about half a ton of ore, most of which is stored in the estate¡¯s warehouse. A small portion has been distributed to the Brothers Iron Workshop."

    "Bramble Vige waspleted two months ago, but without your orders, no settlers have moved in yet."

    "The Nightingale Tavern in town has been doing increasingly well, expanding its space threefold just a month ago."

    Rhett smiled. "The Nightingale Tavern, huh? It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve tasted the Neon Swirl. I¡¯ll have to stop by again soon."

    "Haha, that would be an honor for the Nightingale Tavern!" Sveta chuckled.

    "And outside the territory, such as on the Southwest Border or elsewhere, has anything significant happened?" Rhett asked, casually curious.

    "Well, there was one major event," Sveta nodded after a moment of thought. "I heard that in October, arge-scale battle broke out on the Coldstream front, with even saint-level draconians joining the fray!"

    Feigning surprise, Rhett ced his cup on the table, his interest piqued. "What was the cause of this battle?"

 Chapter 169: A Young Hearts Flutter

    "It seems that the Coldstream Front developed a special poison that could even render Draconians infertile!" Sveta scratched his head and continued, "This even prompted a Saint-level Draconian to intervene, leading to a fierce battle between Saints on the Coldstream Front. In the end, it seems like both sides suffered heavy losses."

    "Hmm." Rhett raised an eyebrow, murmuring, "A poison effective even against royal bloodlines... The inventor must be an extraordinarily talented alchemist!"

    "My thoughts align with yours, my lord," Sveta agreed.

    Suddenly.

    <em>Chirp</em>

    <em>Chirp</em>

    ~

    A sharp cry came from outside the window. Hearing it, Rhett''s eyes lit up with joy. He turned his head to see a streak of fire in the distant sky, leaving a long tail of mes as it sped toward his position.

    The fiery feathers, like dazzling crystals, quickly drew closer from afar, and the me figure soon arrived at the window of the hall.No longer the small creature it once was, Firecrest had grown significantly, with a wingspan of nearly three meters. As it approached the window, it carefully folded its wings and squeezed inside.

    Then, with a powerful push of its golden talons against the windowsill, it leaped toward Rhett.

    <em>Chirp!</em><em>Chirp!</em> ...

    It continued to chirp excitedly.

    Firecrest nuzzled Rhett''s cheek with its head, wrapping itsrge wings around most of Rhett¡¯s body. Its eyes closed contentedly.

    "Haha, little one, you''ve grown so much in just half a year!" Rhett gently stroked the back of Firecrest''s neck, smiling with satisfaction.

    <em>Chirp!</em> Firecrest tilted its head in response.

    Sveta watched the heartwarming scene, smiling sincerely before quietly stepping away.

    <em>Chirp~</em> Firecrest took a few steps back and raised its head, gazing at Rhett with its bright eyes.

    Rhett could sense the deep affection it conveyed. He patted Firecrest¡¯s head and said with a smile, "Little one, how about taking me for a flight in the sky?"

    Firecrest tilted its head, understanding Rhett¡¯s intention, and its eyes sparkled. It turned around, crouched slightly, and exposed its back to Rhett.

    <em>Chirp~</em>

    This chirp clearly meant, "No problem, hop on!"

    Rhett''s eyes shone with excitement as he rubbed his hands together. He had been eagerly waiting for this moment! With a leap, hended on Firecrest¡¯s back, pointing toward the clear sky. "Let¡¯s go, Firecrest!"

    With that, Firecrest took off, running across the floor before leaping out of the window!

    To prevent any mishaps, Rhett had already gathered a significant amount of wind elements around him, ensuring that even if he fell, he wouldn¡¯t be hurt. At his current level as a fifth-tier Mage, while he couldn¡¯t cast wind magic, controlling wind elements to slow a fall was easy enough.

    As Firecrest shot out of the window, the rush of air blew through Rhett¡¯s golden hair and rustled his clothes. He grinned, spreading his arms wide to embrace the wind.

    Flying in the sky¡ªit''s a dream for so many!

    Now, after being transported to this world and reaching middle age, Rhett was finally living that dream.

    He noticed that Firecrest¡¯s speed while carrying him wasn¡¯t particrly fast, akin to a human running at full speed. But he hadn¡¯t forgotten that in just two days, Firecrest would break through to the next tier of magical beasts. By then, its physical attributes would improve across the board, and it could fully rece a horse for travel¡ªquick and agile!

    Firecrest carried Rhett through the sky, rising and falling, twisting and turning, constantly enjoying the embrace of the wind.

    Just as Rhett was reveling in the sensation¡ª

    "Haha, Father, I''ming too!" A loud, boisterous voice called out from below.

    Rhett looked down in surprise, his eyes soon filled with understanding.

    It turned out that Tuck¡¯s mount, Moorg, had also grown over the past six months and was now on the verge of bing a second-tier magical beast. Its size and shape were simr to Firecrest, and it could also carry a rider through the air!

    <em>Giggle</em><em>Giggle</em>

    A small figure was nestled in Tuck¡¯s arms, tightly held by a strong arm to prevent falling. The child waved its short, chubby limbs, staring straight at Rhett with no hint of fear of the heights.

    "Oh, it¡¯s Dick, my adorable grandson!" Rhett¡¯s eyes brightened as he noticed the golden-haired child, who now had a fineyer of soft, golden hair, and he smiled.

    "Father, my Moorg can fly now too! Shall we race?" Tuck grinned widely.@@novelbin@@

    "Give me Dick. I want to hold him."

    "Father, I meant we should see who can fly faster!"

    "Tuck, hand over Dick!" Rhett¡¯s tone became more serious.

    "Alright..." Tuck shrugged, suddenly feeling as if he no longer existed in his father¡¯s eyes, easily overshadowed by his own son. Reluctantly, he carefully passed Dick over.

    "Grandpa, Grandpa!"

    At that moment, Dick¡¯s big, watery eyes were fixed on Rhett, his mouth curled into a happy smile as he waved his little hands and feet in excitement.

    Rhett gently poked Dick''s round cheek with his finger. It was cool to the touch, soft, and springy.

    "Come on, Dick, let Grandpa take you for a thrilling flight in the sky!" Rhett eximed. Sensing Rhett¡¯s enthusiasm, Firecrest let out a sharp cry and shot straight up into the clouds!

    Behind them, Tuck was left calling out in frustration, "Father, slow down! Wait for me!"

    As the sun set and dusk settled in, Rhett, who had spent the afternoon soaring through the sky with his grandson, returned to Deep Rock Fortress.

    He made his way to Ry¡¯s room and knocked on the door.

    <em>Knock knock knock</em>

    "Father, just a moment!" Ry called from inside, sensing his father¡¯s approach even before the knock.

    The door soon opened from within, revealing Ry in a loose robe, smiling. "Father, I knew you¡¯de by. Are you here to see Kares and Kazena?"

    "Father, wee!" Kalina smiled from inside, waving her hand. She was dressed in a loose pink gown, cradling Kares in one arm and Kazena in the other, her gaze full of love and tenderness as she looked down at them.

    "That¡¯s right. Seeing my newborn grandson and granddaughter right after returning from the battlefield is truly delightful!" Rhett replied with a smile. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the two infants swaddled in their nkets.

    After spending a short time in the room, watching the sleeping Kares and Kazena, Rhett soon left with Ry.

    Together, they headed to the magical nt cultivation fields. Earlier in the afternoon, Henk had already harvested the mature magical nts.

    Now, the two of them were here to bless the water-type magical nts once again.

    "Nina,e out!" Ry called as he opened the bag on his back. A round-headed, chubby snowman peeked out, its eyes darting around curiously before it leaped into the air, flying around joyfully.

    After a few minutes of yful flying, the snowman finally settled down and, following Ry¡¯s instructions, began to bless the fields of water-type magical nts¡ªBlue Leaf Grass, Ice Crystal Lilies, Water Moon Grass, Mist Lotus, Snow Vines, Frost Pine, and Frost Sunflowers¡ªby scattering a fine mist of ice.

    Watching the water-type nts, their leaves trembling in the breeze as if dancing with excitement, Rhett couldn¡¯t help but feel hopeful. "With the Snow Sprite¡¯s continued evolution, I wonder if this year¡¯s growth of water-type magical nts will be even faster?"

    He turned to Ry and said, "There are still many aquatic magical beasts near Sun Lake that need blessings. I¡¯ll leave that to you! Afterward, there¡¯s a grand banquet waiting¡ªjoin us when you¡¯re done."

    "Don¡¯t worry, leave it to me!"

    As night fell, Deep Rock Fortress cast a long, shadowy silhouette across thend, like a protective giant standing guard.

    In the brightly lit first-floor hall, the faces of everyone present were illuminated with joyful smiles.

    Tonight, all the castle servants, Rhett¡¯s family, friends, and followers gathered for a grand banquet.

    Kalina, Mina, and Vanessa, who had been filled with sorrow and worry six months ago as the group prepared to leave for war, were now full of smiles and radiated vitality. Each of them cradled their infants as they chatted andughed.

    The castle servants, gathered around the edges of the hall, wore excited expressions. The return of their lord had restored their sense of security.

    Rhett was thest to take his seat.

    He descended the stairs slowly, spreading his arms slightly, a gentle smile on his face. His well-groomed mustache gleamed in the light.

    "Wee, everyone of Deep Rock Fortress. Let the banquet begin!" Rhett announced with a smile.

    "Yes, my lord!" Sveta, ever attentive, immediately poured Rhett a ss of red wine.

    As everyone settled in, eagerly awaiting Rhett¡¯s words, he raised his crystal ss:

    "First, let us celebrate our triumphant return. The eaglet that has flown through the mes will now lead us to even greater heights!"

    "It¡¯s all thanks to your wise leadership, my lord!" the crowd responded in unison.

    After downing his ss of wine, Sveta, standing nearby with the wine bottle, promptly refilled it.

    Rhett raised his ss again. "Second, I want to thank each of you for yourpanionship. Whether you fought on the front lines against the orcs or stayed behind in the territory, silently praying and contributing, you all deserve respect!"

    Moved, everyone followed Rhett¡¯s lead, raising their sses in a toast and drinking deeply.

    "And finally, something of great importance¡ªsomething that will have an extraordinary impact on both me personally and everyone in the territory."

    At these words, the room fell silent, and everyone perked up, paying close attention.

    Those who had been to the Gorge Frontline seemed to understand what wasing.

    "This is... During my return to the battlefield, I was fortunate enough to advance to the rank of a fifth-tier Mage. Additionally, I have achieved remarkable feats and will soon be granted the title of Earl!"

    The news sent shockwaves through the room.

    Gasps of disbelief echoed, followed by a brief moment of stunned silence, and then a wave of excitement and celebration!

    Some servants, caught off guard, identally spilled their wine, the red liquid dripping off the table, but no one paid it any mind.

    "Oh my, our lord is bing an Earl!" a maid eximed, jumping in ce with excitement.

    "This is history in the making for the Southwest Frontier¡ªa genius Mage who advanced two ranks in just two years, rising from Baron to Earl!" Frano muttered in disbelief, his eyes wide.

    He couldn¡¯t be more grateful for his decision to follow the lord and choose Eagletown as his final home.

    He recalled the words that the butler, Sveta, had said to him when he first arrived: "Serving the lord will be the best decision of your life."

    "Indeed." Frano smiled, gently patting his wife Laurene''s pregnant belly.

    Even Sveta was momentarily stunned, frozen in ce as he forgot to refill the lord¡¯s ss. When he snapped out of it, he looked at Rhett with a newfound sense of reverence. In his mind, he thought, "The Green family will soar under the lord''s leadership! Could it be that I will go down in history as the greatest butler to have served the Green family?"

    With that thought, Sveta¡¯s face broke into a satisfied smile as he quickly refilled Rhett''s wine.

    "Our lord is incredible!"

    In a corner of the room, Unica and Lawrence sat together, their eyes practically sparkling as they watched Rhett, the brightest star in the room. They cheered and pped like fans supporting their idol.

    Unbeknownst to them, they had moved closer to each other in their excitement.

    Except for one observer¡ªsitting further back was Armando, the straw-hat-wearing youth.

    While he felt pride and joy at hearing the news of the lord¡¯s advancement to Earl and fifth-tier Mage, he also felt a pang in his heart as he watched Unica and Lawrence grow closer. There was a strange, indescribable feeling gnawing at him.

    He wanted to join the conversation, but something deep inside held him back.

    Especially in Lawrence¡¯s presence, Armando felt like a shadow, avoiding the spotlight at all costs.

    "Sigh, when will I be an apprentice knight?" Armando thought as he sat by the window, pulling his straw hat down tighter to shield himself from the cold. He sighed again, "If I can break through soon, I won¡¯t feel the cold anymore... Yes, not feeling the cold¡­"

    "Armando, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you sitting all the way back here by yourself?" Ellie bounced over, tilting her head with curiosity.

    "Oh, Ellie!" Armando scratched his head with a smile. "It¡¯s nothing. I was just reflecting on today¡¯s training and where I fell short."

    "I''m so envious! I hope you break through to apprentice knight soon!" Ellie cheered, making a fist and elbowing him yfully. "Come on, let¡¯s go sit closer¡ªtoday¡¯s a big day!"

    "I..." Before Armando could respond, Ellie had already grabbed his arm and pulled him forward, seating them closer to Vanessa.

    Being near such esteemed individuals, with Vanessa¡¯s elegant figure draped in a luxurious purple gown just in front of him, made Armando sit up straight and tense with nerves.

    He couldn¡¯t help but nce over, but when he looked back, he saw that Unica still wasn¡¯t paying any attention to him.

    Feeling a bit down, Armando turned back around with a quiet sigh.

    As Rhett finished speaking, his gaze swept across the banquet hall, taking in everyone¡¯s expressions, his smile never fading.

 Chapter 170: The Profound Earth Element

    Rhett sat down, ready to fully enjoy the banquet.

    "Yiya!"

    He heard the unconscious babbling of a baby, and his heart stirred. Turning to Taylors, he asked, "Taylors, have you decided on a name for my grandson?"

    "Of course, Father. After much consideration this afternoon, I finalized the name before the banquet." Taylors set down his wine ss and looked at the baby in his arms. "His name... will be Abel Green."

    "Hmm, it''s a lovely name. I hope Abel grows up strong and healthy!" Rhett nodded gently, ying with Abel for a while before he mentally pulled up the system panel.

    He nced at it:<ul><li>

    <strong>Head of Family</strong>: Rhett Green</li><li>

    <strong>Second Generation Members</strong>: Tuck Green, Ry Green, Taylors Green</li><li>

    <strong>Third Generation Members</strong>: Dick Green, Kares Green, Kazena Green, Abel Green</li><li><strong>Text Simtion</strong></li><li>

    <strong>Real Simtion</strong></li><li>

    <strong>Fate Points</strong>: 147</li></ul>

    Seeing the increasing number of members listed, Rhett felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Multiple joyous asions had umted, creating a warm and lively atmosphere at the banquet. Laughter filled the night.

    After the banquet, Rhett spent some time chatting andughing with a few of his followers before finally retiring to his room in the castle.

    By then, the cold wind had gradually calmed.

    <em>Click.</em>

    Thest gust of wind just happened to close the window.

    Rhetty on his bed, staring at the dark ceiling, reminiscing about hisfortable little home, and briefly allowed his mind to rx.

    Half an hourter, his eyes refocused as he began contemting a pressing matter.

    "Now that I¡¯ve returned to my territory, and everything is stable, all I need to do is wait for the official granting of the new territory and the development of the Dark Marked Eagle branch. Those tasks won¡¯t be too difficult. But during thest simtion, I learned that in June this year, a Sand Spirit will appear in the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and will be obtained by a lucky Earth Knight. If I don¡¯t find a way to get it, I¡¯ll regret it..."

    After a brief period of thought, Rhett outlined his development n for the year. All that remained was to verify it in a simtion.

    With a slightly anxious heart, Rhett activated the system.

    <strong>[Do you want to start a text simtion? Each year simted consumes 5 Fate Points.]</strong>

    "Yes, simte one year."<ul><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 475, December 10</strong>: You handed over the form for ck Raven¡¯s Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to sessfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk¡¯s guidance for a set time each day.</li><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 476, January 3</strong>: An important guest arrived in your territory¡ªthe Grand Duke Blue Diamond, who conducted the ennoblement ceremony, granting you the title of Earl in the Kingdom of Kinlun. Your request to have your territory moved to the vicinity of the Dark Marked Eagle branch was approved. Due to your remarkable achievements, your status as a fifth-tier Mage, and the undevelopednds in the Southwest Frontier, your request for territory expansion was granted¡ªyou will retain Eagletown while also establishing a new territory near the Dark Marked Eagle branch. The Grand Duke stayed in your territory for three days and treated you with great respect. You seized the opportunity to ask him about the profoundws, and he generously exined them to you. Before leaving, he extended an olive branch, proposing a match between his granddaughter and you. You politely declined.</li><li>

    <strong>January 4</strong>: You finalized your ns to move the territory and began leading arge group to the Dark Marked Eagle branch.</li><li>

    <strong>January 7</strong>: You encountered a third-tier Dark Marked Eagle fleeing in panic from a third-tier White-headed Eagle. Upon seeing the White-headed Eagle, unpleasant memories resurfaced, and you rushed in, ughtering the White-headed Eagle and driving the Dark Marked Eagle back to its original path.</li><li>

    <strong>January 18</strong>: You arrived at the outskirts of the Dark Marked Eagle branch.</li><li>

    <strong>January 19</strong>: You located the cave of the Violent Earth Bear and, after clearing it, unearthed the remains of a fifth-tier Earth Knight and his treasures. You collected the Ring Tower''s letters and potions and erased all traces from the cave.</li><li>

    <strong>January 21</strong>: After three days of on-site investigation, you decided to establish your new territory on a in three kilometers from Ice Crystal Lake.</li><li>

    <strong>January 22</strong>: You visited the Dark Marked Eagle¡¯s old nest at Lone Peak and nned to nt various dark element nts nearby to feed the Dark Marked Eagles, returning periodically to monitor them.</li><li>

    <strong>January 23</strong>: You left your territory and set out for the Reim Kingdom to find the Sand Spirit. Before leaving, you informed your followers about your ns to cultivate a Dark Marked Eagle group, instructing Henk to nt dark element nts near Lone Peak.</li><li>

    <strong>January 27</strong>: A second-tier Purple-crowned Python descended the mountain and attacked lumberjacks building wooden houses. It was in by Makoff, who was guarding the area.</li><li>

    <strong>January 28</strong>: While flying on Firecrest, you encountered a fifth-tier Purple Gold Wind Eagle in the skies over the White Mouse Mountain Range. After a brief skirmish, both sides realized the other was formidable. The Purple Gold Wind Eagle turned and fled, and you did not pursue, continuing your journey to the Reim Kingdom.</li><li>

    <strong>January 29</strong>: News of your promotion to fifth-tier Mage and your elevation to Earl spread across the entire Southwest Frontier.</li><li>

    <strong>February 3</strong>: Deputy Commander Ambiru passed through your territory with a battalion, coincidentally encountering a pack of low-tier Firemane Hounds descending the mountain. After killing them and hearing that you were absent, he left with regret.</li><li>

    <strong>February 5</strong>: While flying on Firecrest, you encountered a fourth-tier Waterlight Green Bird in the skies over the White Mouse Mountain Range and easily defeated it.</li><li>

    <strong>February 15</strong>: Bozak came to apologize. Although you were not in the territory, Ryllis tearfully apologized to Taylors.</li><li>

    <strong>February 18</strong>: A person in your territory was found to have moderate knight talent.</li><li>

    <strong>February 21</strong>: A second-tier Mage and two first-tier Mages came to seek your patronage.</li><li>

    <strong>March 1</strong>: You safely arrived near the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and temporarily stayed in a nearby vige. That night, you learned from the vigers that the weather around the Death Swamp had be unusually dry, with frequent sandstorms that gued nearby viges. You cleverly asked the vigers if there was a pattern to the sandstorms. They informed you that every half month or so, sandstorms would randomly ur within the swamp or in nearby areas.</li><li>

    <strong>March 2</strong>: The information you gathered piqued your interest, leading you to believe that the sandstorms might be a sign of the Sand Spirit¡¯s presence. Early in the morning, you began patrolling the Death Swamp''s perimeter, flying back and forth at high altitudes, searching for any trace of the Sand Spirit.</li><li>

    <strong>March 8</strong>: Lawrence broke through to the first-tier knight level, surpassing expectations. His rapid progress was recognized as a top-tier fighting talent.</li><li>

    <strong>March 11</strong>: With the hard work of the orcborers, the new territory''s construction was nearingpletion, and most of the inhabitants of Eagletown had gradually relocated to the vicinity of the Dark Marked Eagle branch.</li><li>

    <strong>March 15</strong>: Half a month had passed, and you found nothing in the Death Swamp.</li><li>

    <strong>March 19</strong>: You sensed a unique earth element aura and were overjoyed. You immediately flew over on Firecrest, only to find an elderly man in a green robe standing at the center of a sandstorm, holding a staff aloft with a devout expression. However, when the sandstorm ended, nothing happened. The old man, briefly stunned, noticed your presence and, in a fit of rage, unleashed the power of a Grand Mage, attacking you without warning. In a desperate move, you revealed your status as an Earl of the Kingdom of Kinlun and imed to be on a special mission. The old man, seething with anger, restrained himself and offered you a deal: leave and never set foot in the Death Swamp again, and he would spare your life. You agreed on the spot.</li><li>

    <strong>March 20</strong>: You stayed in a nearby vige and did not leave.</li><li>

    <strong>April 3</strong>: When another sandstorm erupted deep within the Death Swamp, you rushed to investigate. Along the way, the green-robed elder caught up with you and killed you with a single Earth Spike spell.</li></ul>

    Rhett narrowed his eyes after reading through the simtion.

    This time, the simtion had not gone well. Arriving in an unfamiliar kingdom, he found that someone else was also targeting the Sand Spirit¡ªand that someone was a Grand Mage of the earth element.

    "And a Grand Mage at that?" Rhett muttered, frowning. "This is quite troubling..."

    But then a wave of doubt rose in his mind.

    "How did that Earth Knight, despite the interference of a Grand Mage, ultimately gain the favor of the Sand Spirit?" Rhett pondered, squinting his eyes.@@novelbin@@

    He had a strong sense that there was a hidden secret behind this.

    After all, he knew that each elemental spirit had unique characteristics. Whether it was their abilities or how they chose their masters, there were differences!

    So, the way Snow Spirit chose Ry as its master could only serve as a reference¡ªit might not be directly applicable!

    Rhett narrowed his eyes, deciding to run another simtion, this time to observe how the Earth Knight managed to bond with the Sand Spirit.

    Once again, he activated the system.

    <strong>[Do you want to start a text simtion? Each year simted consumes 5 Fate Points.]</strong>

    "Yes, simte one year."<ul><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 475, December 10</strong>: You handed over the form for ck Raven¡¯s Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to sessfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk¡¯s guidance for a set time each day.</li><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 476, March 1</strong>: You safely arrived near the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and temporarily stayed in a nearby vige.</li><li>

    <strong>March 2</strong>: This time, you didn¡¯t rush to observe the sandstorms but instead focused on monitoring the area for signs of Earth Knights.</li><li>

    <strong>March 26</strong>: You found a fourth-tier Earth Knight at the outskirts of the Death Swamp and began trailing him.</li><li>

    <strong>March 28</strong>: The target you were following left the Death Swamp.</li><li>

    <strong>April 3</strong>: When another sandstorm erupted deep within the Death Swamp, you resisted the temptation to investigate.</li><li>

    <strong>April 13</strong>: Vanessa became pregnant.</li><li>

    <strong>April 14</strong>: You noticed another sandstorm forming and, out of curiosity, cautiously approached the area. However, when the sandstorm subsided, the Sand Spirit did not appear.</li><li>

    <strong>April 29</strong>: While drinking in the Tartar Vige tavern, you overheard a group of adventurers discussing their uing expedition to the Death Swamp. Among them were a second-tier Earth Knight and a second-tier Earth Mage, sparking your interest.</li><li>

    <strong>May 1</strong>: Tuck broke through to second-tier knight.</li><li>

    <strong>May 20</strong>: Count Nilo visited your territory. Upon learning you were absent, he left a letter and departed with regret.</li><li>

    <strong>June 23</strong>: You quietly followed the adventurer group for nearly two months, during which three members perished, leaving only three survivors. Both the second-tier Earth Knight and Earth Mage remained.</li><li>

    <strong>June 27</strong>: On this day, the adventurer group encountered a third-tier ck-armored Giant Lizard. The second-tier Earth Mage and second-tier Fire Knight died one after the other, devoured by the beast. Just as the Earth Knight was on the brink of death, a sandstorm suddenly swept in, scaring off the ck-armored Giant Lizard. You watched in excitement as the sand settled, revealing a shifting, indistinct figure emerging from the dunes. The Sand Spirit enveloped the Earth Mage¡¯s corpse before entering the unconscious Earth Knight¡¯s body.</li><li>

    <strong>June 28</strong>: With the Sand Spirit having chosen a master, you left the Death Swamp and prepared to visit Ring Tower, intending to deliver the letter and gather information on bloodline potions.</li><li>

    <strong>July 6</strong>: You arrived at Ring Tower and handed over the letter regarding the pursuit of the traitor to a steward. The letter was forwarded to the higher-ups, attracting the attention of an Alchemy Master who invited you for a private discussion. You entered Ring Tower and shared everything you knew with the Alchemy Master, who introduced himself as Niru. However, since you had already consumed a bloodline potion, he did not offer any tangible rewards. Nevertheless, you managed to learn that Ring Tower had stockpiles of high-level and even Saint-level bloodline potions, though they were not for sale.</li><li>

    <strong>July 7</strong>: You explored Ring Tower and deduced that the high-level bloodline potions were likely stored in the space artifacts of Ring Tower¡¯s elite members. This realization left you disappointed.</li><li>

    <strong>July 8</strong>: You left the Reim Kingdom.</li><li>

    <strong>July 19</strong>: On your return journey, you encountered a fierce battle between a sixth-tier White-scaled Frost Serpent and a sixth-tier Lightw Red-eyed Wolf over the Boro River. Both were high-level bloodline potential beasts, unleashing devastating waves of power. You fled in panic, but Firecrest was unfortunately killed.</li><li>

    <strong>July 25</strong>: Late at night, your territory received an unexpected visitor¡ªVordelger, apanied by an Alchemy Master.</li><li>

    <strong>July 26</strong>: Early in the morning, Ry escorted the Alchemy Master to the Dark Marked Eagle¡¯s old nest at Lone Peak, where they discovered dozens of Dark Marked Eagles circling the mountain. The Alchemy Master was ecstatic and noticed traces of human care nearby. After Ry exined, the Alchemy Master was greatly impressed. Ry revealed your n to establish a Dark Marked Eagle breeding ground at Lone Peak, focusing on cultivating the Dark Marked Eagle Tuck had tamed into the lead eagle, thus controlling the nest. This would allow a steady supply of Dark Marked Eagles for the Alchemy Master in Frost City to use in developing a potion against the Draconians. The Alchemy Master was so pleased that he gifted you an Alchemy Handbook.</li><li>

    <strong>August 4</strong>: Taylors broke through to first-tier Mage.</li><li>

    <strong>August 10</strong>: Taylors gained insight from the Alchemy Handbook and sessfully crafted a low-tier poison, bing a certified Alchemist!</li><li>

    <strong>August 15</strong>: Ry also gained insight from the Alchemy Handbook, sessfully crafting a low-tier poison and bing a certified Alchemist!</li><li>

    <strong>August 17</strong>: With the help of the Alchemy Handbook, Unika became an Alchemy Apprentice.</li><li>

    <strong>August 23</strong>: Willow, while working in the cksmith shop, experienced a stroke of genius and sessfully forged an Apprentice Sword, bing a certified Apprentice cksmith.</li><li>

    <strong>August 29</strong>: Vides broke through a long-standing bottleneck and advanced to third-tier knight!</li><li>

    <strong>September 7</strong>: A small beast horde, led by a fourth-tier Frost Tiger, moved into the Dark Marked Eagle branch. You noticed but did not intervene.</li><li>

    <strong>September 19</strong>: You and Taylors left the territory again, heading to the White Mouse Mountain Range.</li><li>

    <strong>September 26</strong>: While traversing the White Mouse Mountain Range, you encountered a severely injured fourth-tier Ice Mouse. You saved it, but it died from its wounds after giving birth. You entrusted the Ice Mouse cub to Taylors.</li><li>

    <strong>October 1</strong>: Armando broke through to Apprentice Knight.</li><li>

    <strong>October 3</strong>: Snow Spirit Nina awakened, pushing Ry to the peak of second-tier Mage.</li><li>

    <strong>October 7</strong>: A high-tier orc leader arrived at the Gorge Frontline, reversing the tide of battle in favor of the orcs.</li><li>

    <strong>October 8</strong>: Leon broke through to Apprentice Knight.</li><li>

    <strong>October 15</strong>: Willow advanced to first-tier knight.</li><li>

    <strong>November 7</strong>: A fifth-tier Shadow Tiger and its pack invaded the Dark Marked Eagle branch. You gathered all avable forces in your territory and fought a fierce battle, ultimately killing the Shadow Tiger while allowing the remaining beasts to escape.</li><li>

    <strong>December 3</strong>: While practicing magic in a small valley within the Dark Marked Eagle branch, you encountered a tall woman from ck Star who you had met once before. After saving her, she revealed that she was being pursued by an evil alchemy organization, likely members of the Blood Spirit headquarters. She fell unconscious from her injuries after sharing this information.</li></ul>

    <strong>[Text simtion ended. Would you like to continue?]</strong>

    "No."

    Rhett reflected on thetest simtion, his eyes gradually clearing.

    Although the trajectory had shifted this time, he wasn''t worried.

    After all, his primary goal was to find a way to bond with the Sand Spirit, and the simtion confirmed the method was feasible.

    Even though this simtion missed the opportunity to win over Vordelger, that wasn¡¯t a major concern. Rhett¡¯s focus was entirely on the Sand Spirit.

    He stroked his chin thoughtfully, pondering, "So, the Sand Spirit requires the corpse of an Earth Mage to bond, before entering the body of the chosen knight?"

    "Hmm, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to obtain the corpse of an Earth Mage, especially if I choose from some irredeemable criminals. The only question is, does the Sand Spirit exclusively bond with knights? Could a Mage also meet the criteria? And does unconsciousness y a crucial role in the bonding process?"

    Rhett crossed his arms behind his head, frowning slightly.

    After a moment, he decided to run another simtion to verify whether this method would work.

    He activated the system once more.

    <strong>[Do you want to start a text simtion? Each year simted consumes 5 Fate Points.]</strong>

    "Yes, simte one year!"<ul><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 475, December 10</strong>: You handed over the form for ck Raven¡¯s Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to sessfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk¡¯s guidance for a set time each day.</li><li>

    <strong>Calendar Year 476, February 26</strong>: You safely arrived in the border city of White Pumpkin in the Reim Kingdom, where you killed a gang member and took his body with you.</li><li>

    <strong>March 2</strong>: You arrived near the Death Swamp and set up camp in a deste area.</li><li>

    <strong>April 13</strong>: Vanessa became pregnant.</li><li>

    <strong>April 14</strong>: You arrived early at the site of the sandstorm and, finding no one else present, approached on your own. You ced the Earth Mage¡¯s corpse on the ground andy down beside it. The drifting sand gradually settled, revealing a vague figure that swallowed the Earth Mage¡¯s corpse before hesitantly entering your body. You sessfully bonded with the Sand Spirit. Congrattions!</li><li>

    <strong>April 15</strong>: After bonding with the Sand Spirit, you gained a mysterious understanding of the earth element. While sensing the earth element, you detected a faint, unusual presence, but it remained elusive, as if something was missing.</li><li>

    <strong>April 17</strong>: As you prepared to leave the Death Swamp, the Earth Grand Mage confronted you again. Enraged, he attacked, and you were severely injured. In your final moments, your mind became eerily clear, and your mental power entered a strange state. A mysterious essence of the earth element, channeled through the Sand Spirit, manifested before you. You briefly transformed into sand! With this power, you narrowly avoided the Grand Mage¡¯s deadly strike, but you couldn¡¯t evade the second Earth Spike, which pierced your skull. You died.</li></ul>

    "Ah!"

    Rhett exhaled deeply and sat up from his bed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He paced back and forth in the room, muttering, "This time, the simtion seeded! Not only did I bond with the Sand Spirit, but I also gained a profound understanding of the earth element?"

    The thought filled him with exhration.

    Rhett paced the room, his mind racing. "Which earth element essence allows for transformation into sand? I can¡¯t wait to find out."

    "In a few days, the Grand Duke will arrive, and I¡¯ll seize the opportunity to ask him!"

    Having confirmed that his n to bond with the Sand Spirit was solid, Rhett turned his thoughts to the other events in the simtion.

    He settled back into his chair, gazing out the window at the moon.

    "But it seems there¡¯s nothing particrly noteworthy in this simtion. Most of the trajectory remained unchanged."

    "Except for encountering that ck Star member, the tall woman, who mentioned being pursued by an evil organization connected to the Blood Spirit headquarters. It seems like this warrants further investigation."

    However, this event was still a year away, and Rhett had ample time to prepare. There was no need to worry prematurely.

    In high spirits, Rhett retrieved a half-bottle of blueberry juice from the upper left corner of his desk, along with a crystal goblet beside it.

    He conjured two round ice cubes and poured the purple-blue liquid into the ss.

    Raising the ss to the moon, he elegantly took a sip.

    The following morning, Rhett awoke from his meditation.

    With sunlight streaming through the window, he retrieved a Blood Source Pearl from his pocket and pulled out twenty-four bottles of Aurora Potion from under his bed.

    Activating the system, he issued amand.

    <strong>[Do you want to start a real simtion? Each day simted consumes 1 Fate Point.]</strong>

    "Yes!"

    Ripples spread through the air as Rhett¡¯s focus sharpened. He swiftly uncorked the Aurora Potions and drank them, channeling the meditation technique to absorb their effects.

    As each potion was refined, Rhett only felt a faint enhancement in his mental power¡ªbarely noticeable after just one dose.

    But after refining all twenty-four bottles, he felt the cumtive effect¡ªsubtle yet significant.

    Finally, Rhett took out the Blood Source Pearl.

    The real test had arrived!

    Holding the crimson pearl in his palm, it radiated a sinister glow.

    Rhett swallowed it whole, and it instantly dissolved into a torrent of powerful but chaotic energy, crashing through his mind like a raging waterfall.

    At the same time, a sinister, blood-colored energy didn¡¯t surge upward but instead dispersed throughout his blood vessels and organs.

    Though faint, it felt like needles pricking his body.

    Rhett¡¯s body trembled as he endured the difort.

    With his enhanced mental power, he could faintly sense a unique energy slowly draining his life force¡ªa subtle yet potent force.

    Half an hourter, as the turmoil within him subsided, Rhett exhaled deeply, standing before the mirror to see his slightly aged reflection. He shook his head.

    <strong>[Real simtion ended. Choose one attribute to retain.]</strong>

    <strong>[1. Constitution]</strong>

    <strong>[2. Dou Qi]</strong>

    <strong>[3. Mental Power]</strong>

    "I choose mental power!"

    As the simtion ended, Rhett looked into the mirror again and saw his youthful appearance restored.

    Smiling faintly, he ran the simtion fifty more times before leaving his room.

    He headed to the alchemyb on the fourth floor, where Henk was sitting at a corner desk, writing. Rhett¡¯s approach was anything but subtle, prompting Henk to look up and set down his pen.

    "Hmm, good morning, Lord Rhett!" Henk greeted with a smile.

    Standing in the doorway, Rhett nced left and right down the hallway before entering and locking the door behind him.

    "Huh? Lord Rhett, what are you up to?" Henk asked, puzzled by Rhett¡¯s mysterious behavior.

    "It¡¯s something important," Rhett replied. After a moment of contemtion, he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Henk.

    "Oh?" Henk¡¯s eyes lit up as he took the paper and carefully unfolded it three times until it was fully spread out.

    At first, Henk nced at it casually, but soon he let out a soft "hmm?" His interest piqued as he saw the densely packed text and intricate illustrations. The mysterious andplex content seemed to draw him in like a whirlpool.

    Henk¡¯s expression grew increasingly serious, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His breathing slowed.

    Then, gripping the paper tightly, he held his breath.

    His face showed confusion and deep thought.

    Finally, he inhaled sharply, carefully folded the paper, and looked at Rhett. "Lord Rhett, this alchemical form... I can barelyprehend it, but I can tell it¡¯s for an incredibly potent poison!"

    "The alchemical methods and unique processes described here are astonishingly innovative. I¡¯m deeply impressed! But I must ask, where did you get this form?"

    Rhett smiled, amused by the irony. "Hmm, didn¡¯t you help me get this in the simtion?"

    But of course, that was information from the simtion, so Rhett didn¡¯t say it aloud.

    Meeting Rhett¡¯s gaze, Henk pondered for a moment before speaking again. "This form, though it¡¯s a low-grade potion, its potency andplexity are unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen! I¡¯d guess that only something like ck Raven¡¯s Grief could have such an effect¡ªor perhaps another potion I¡¯m not aware of."

    Rhett¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as he finally replied, "What you¡¯re holding is indeed the form for ck Raven¡¯s Grief."

    <em>Gasp!</em>

    Henk inhaled sharply, his eyes widening. He quickly unfolded the paper again, examining it closely.

    After a moment, he nodded in realization. "Oh, I see! No wonder I couldn¡¯t think of another potion with such a deadly effect¡ªit¡¯s ck Raven¡¯s Grief!"

    "Now that I think about it, thebination of properties and ingredients does match ck Raven¡¯s Grief¡¯s characteristics..."

    His realization seemed a bit bted, but Rhett understood. After all, ck Raven¡¯s Grief wasn¡¯t just any potion. "Indeed, and I¡¯m entrusting it to you, hoping you¡¯ll master it as soon as possible. Once our rangers start using ck Raven¡¯s Grief, theirbat effectiveness will surely soar!"

 Chapter 171: Firecrests Breakthrough

    Henk held the paper as if he were carrying a mountain, feeling immense pressure.

    He took a deep breath and said with a strained voice, "Lord Rhett, I... I''ll do my best! But I can''t guarantee sess yet. This isn''t an ordinary alchemical potion; it requires extremely advanced alchemical skills. Only those alchemists who can consistently achieve an 80-90% sess rate with their potions can ensure steady production. As for me, even if I seed, the failure rate will likely be rmingly high."

    Rhett smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "It''s alright. Regardless of the oue, just being able to produce it would be a huge sess! ck Raven''s Grief is such a closely guarded secret that it''s rarely avable, even on the ck market. If you can create it, it will not only strengthen our territory''s overall power but also be a profitable venture if sold on the ck market!"

    Moreover, Rhett believed that by mid-year, when the alchemy master visited and guided Henk, creating ck Raven''s Grief would no longer be a problem!

    Henk slowly nodded, his eyes growing fervent as he gazed at the form for ck Raven''s Grief. Although he knew it would be difficult, he also saw it as a rare opportunity for growth!

    "Lord Rhett, I will keep this form strictly confidential. I will also ensure that all alchemy experiments are conducted under tight security!" Henk hesitated before adding, "But..."

    "But what? Speak freely!" Rhett encouraged.

    "This alchemyb, while spacious and sufficient for many people to work in,cks privacy." Henk looked around and suggested, "So I propose setting up a separate room as a secure space for me to work on ck Raven''s Grief."

    Rhett nodded in agreement, "I understand. However, it''s no longer practical to set up a new alchemyb here. In a short while, I n to relocate the territory to the area near the Dark Marked Eagle Branch. Once we''re there, we''ll adjust various setups and create arge alchemy research base that will meet all your needs!""Relocating the territory and building arge alchemy research base? That sounds fantastic!" Henk''s eyes lit up. "But we''ll also need to procure some materials that our territory currentlycks to create ck Raven''s Grief."

    "Prepare a list and give it to Ry. Also, I n to have Unika, that young girl, learn the basics of alchemy with you. What do you think?" Rhett asked.

    "That apprentice mage? I''ve met her once, and she seems quite sensible. If she''s interested in alchemy, I don''t mind teaching her the basics," Henk replied thoughtfully.

    With that, Rhett left the alchemyb.

    Winter''s cold winds swept through Hawk Town, shaking the bare branches of the trees along the gray stone road, creating eerie sounds that mingled with the enthusiastic shouts of the knights training, forming a strange symphony.

    As Rhett walked through the gates, he saw Ry instructing Unika in closebat¡ªteaching her magic. Unika listened intently, her small face focused.

    After a while, Ry stopped teaching and waited patiently.

    Unika pondered for a moment before closing her eyes and began channeling her apprentice-level magic, trying to control the surrounding water elements topress and form a water ball.

    However, the blue shimmer in the air quickly dissipated into a mist of water.

    Unika looked down in frustration, "I failed, Mr. Ry!"

    Ry smiled encouragingly, "Don''t worry. It''s normal for first attempts to fail. The problem you encountered ismon among beginners¡ªyour control over mental energy is still too rough. For us mages, mental energy can be likened to a unique organ that needs to be trained. Meditation strengthens its power but doesn''t necessarily improve control. So, Unika, you need to focus on stabilizing your mental energy. Practicing magic more often is the most effective way to achieve that. Water Ball is a basic spell, and mastering it isn''t difficult!"

    "Thank you, Mr. Ry!" Unika''s face, red from the cold, brightened as she realized her mistake. "I will practice hard!"

    "Good morning, Ry, Unika!" Rhett strolled over with a smile.

    "Good morning, Father!" Ry turned to greet him.

    "Good morning, Lord Rhett!" Unika waved her small hand cheerfully.

    "Unika, I''m nning to assign you to the alchemyb. Spending two to three hours a day learning the basics of alchemical potions should be enough," Rhett said with a smile as he approached. "If you work hard and be an alchemist, your status will improve!"

    Rhett''s words were more of an order than a suggestion, but Unika didn''t mind. In fact, she looked forward to it, her eyes filled with excitement as she said, "Alchemy sounds so interesting..."

    "It may not always be interesting, but it is definitely fascinating," Ry added, reflecting on his own feelings about alchemy. Although it wasn''t his passion, he couldn''t deny its profound intricacies.

    "I''m willing, Lord Rhett!" Unika''s clear voice echoed her enthusiasm.

    "Haha, you''ll be d you made this choice one day. We''ll start tomorrow," Rhett said with a smile, already thinking about the alchemy master who would visit the territory in six months.

    The reason he wanted all the mages under hismand to dabble in alchemy was also rted to that alchemy master¡ªthere would be benefits to gain in the future.

    After all, even though there was only one alchemy handbook, theoretically, an unlimited number of people could learn from it.

    And the more people who studied it, the greater the collective benefit.

    Perhaps this was the charm of knowledge.

    "What are you willing to do, Unika?" Makov stretchedzily as he walked over from outside the training ground, his steps rxed and leisurely.

    Since returning from the Gorge Frontline, Makov had taken a rare break from his usual meditation to enjoy a good night''s sleep. Today, he felt like he had returned to his carefree life, and he couldn''t have been in a better mood!

    "Mr. Makov, Lord Rhett is letting me study alchemy!" Unika eximed.

    Rhett turned to his old friend and said with a smile, "Yes, and if you''re interested in learning alchemy too, I can have Henk teach you."

    "No, thanks! I''m not interested!" Makov quickly waved his hands in protest. "I''m used to taking it easy, and alchemists are always under high pressure¡ªobsessed with their craft. That''s not for me! After half a year of tension at the Gorge Frontline, I''m ready to rx!"

    Rhett shrugged, as if expecting Makov''s response. "Alright, as you wish..."

    After leaving the training ground, Rhett headed toward the East Hawk Lumberyard.

    There, he found Coudine chatting and drinking tea with his workers, all looking rxed andfortable.@@novelbin@@

    Upon hearing Rhett''s approaching footsteps and the sound of wood blocks being kicked, Coudine and the other workers instinctively turned to see who it was.

    Instantly, their bodies stiffened, and their rxed expressions turned tense.

    Coudine, looking excited, respectful, and a bit nervous, quickly stood up and approached Rhett, followed by his workers.

    Coudine was the first to bow deeply, saying, "Honorable Lord Rhett, we haven''t seen you for half a year, and my fellow workers and I have missed you greatly!"

    "Yes, we''re delighted to see you return, Lord Rhett!"

    "We''re sure the battle at the front went smoothly¡ªno doubt you crushed those orc scum!"

    "Of course, with Lord Rhett leading, victory was certain!"

    The workers had heard rumors of their lord''s return to the battlefield against the orcs, but details about the Gorge Frontline were scarce. Now, they eagerly awaited confirmation, offering their praise and admiration.

    Rhett smiled warmly as he nced around, noting that the number of workers at the East Hawk Lumberyard had nearly tripled since hest checked, growing from fewer than twenty to over fifty.

    "It seems you''re all quite rxed," Rhett remarked casually.

    Coudine''s face tightened, and he replied nervously, "Lord Rhett, the influx of new residents into the territory has slowed significantly over the past two months. The construction of wooden houses in Hawk Town, Firemine Vige, and Bramble Vige is nearlyplete, with enough vacant homes to amodate future residents..."

    "Haha, don''t worry," Rhett reassured him with a smile. "I''m pleased to see hardworking and responsible workers like you enjoying some well-deserved rest afterpleting difficult tasks. It''s much better than doing a poor job. My people need to have lives outside of work."

    Coudine and the other workers were deeply moved by Rhett''s words.

    Their gazes grew solemn as they bowed deeply, touched by their lord''s concern for them, simpleborers. Rhett''s words felt like a warm current in the cold winter, warming their hearts.

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett!"

    "Thank you, Lord Rhett!"

    Rhett nodded and patted Coudine on the shoulder. "Perhaps in a month, things won''t be as rxed as they are now. There are new, challenging tasks ahead, so I came by to give you all a heads-up."

    "Rest assured, no matter how tough the tasks, we''ll do our utmost for you, Lord Rhett!" Coudine replied firmly, pounding his chest in a pledge ofmitment.

    After saying goodbye to the East Hawk Lumberyard, Rhett continued eastward.

    Further easty the Little Bramble Forest, where Rhett could sense Firecrest ying nearby.

    Firecrest had grown up and could no longer be confined to its nest as it had been in its hatchling days. It was toorge to fit inside, anyway.

    During its downtime, it enjoyed lounging on the red carpet in the fifth-floor hall or under Rhett''s bed, and other times it would go out to y.

    Chirp~ Chirp~

    About fifty meters from the western edge of the Little Bramble Forest, Rhett saw Firecrest darting through the ck thorns and branches like a red sh. The air around it crackled with fiery energy, and Rhett could feel the heat from a distance, as if a small furnace was moving through the forest.

    Rhett''s smile slowly faded, reced by a look of concern.

    Something seemed off about Firecrest today...

    He frowned, realizing that the simtion indicated the breakthrough should happen tomorrow. But today, Rhett could sense that Firecrest''s fire element was bing unstable¡ªamon sign of an imminent breakthrough!

    "By all ounts, this shouldn''t be happening until tomorrow," Rhett murmured, rubbing his chin. "Could it be... I praised it too muchst night? Did that excitement speed up the process by a day?"

    Regardless of the cause, Rhett saw the day''s deviation as understandable.

    Firecrest, sensing Rhett''s approach, quickly shot out of the bramble forest, spitting a scorching fireball that sttered sparks as it hit the nearby ground, exploding with a loud bang and scattering a cloud of dust.

    The fireball was Firecrest''s way of venting the chaotic fire energy inside it. Its eyes, filled with pain, locked onto Rhett.

    Seeing this, Rhett''s expression shifted, and he clenched his fists. "Hang in there, Firecrest! Feel the power within your bloodline and control it!"

    Chirp!

    Firecrest let out a weak cry, copsing to the ground as its wings beat heavily against the earth.

    Worried, Rhett activated a simtion to check if Firecrest''s early breakthrough would lead to any problems.

    When the simtion ended and the ripples faded, Rhett breathed a sigh of relief.

    Fortunately, there were no major issues. Despite the intense and grueling process, Firecrest sessfullypleted its breakthrough.

    And Rhett didn''t waste the rest of the simted time¡ªhe refined a few more bottles of Aurora Potion and another Blood Source Pearl.

    Although it was only a drop in the ocean for reaching the peak of the fifth-level Archmage stage, every little bit helped.

    After fifty-plus simtions, Rhett noticed only slight improvements in his mental power. The daunting amount of Fate Points required to reach the peak weighed on his mind. And breaking through to the sixth level seemed even further away.

    He could only take it one step at a time.

    Setting those thoughts aside, Rhett turned his attention back to Firecrest, feeling reassured.

    Firecrest''s breakthrough had been abrupt,sting half an hour.

    The fire energy surged around it, growing increasingly violent. At its peak, the nearby dry grass even caught fire.

    Then the intensity subsided, dropping sharply like a roller coaster.

    Rhett watched as Firecrest''s body visibly expanded, its skin tearing and healing repeatedly. Fresh blood coated its fiery feathers, giving it an eerie, beautiful appearance.

    Finally, as the fire energy settled, Rhett could sense that Firecrest''s condition had stabilized. But having just crossed the threshold into a second-tier magical beast, it was still weak.

    Rhett pulled out some Three-leaf Spark petals from his pocket and scattered them gently in the air, letting them float down.

 Chapter 173: The Dragon Manuscript

    After thinking for a moment, Gade continued, "Active in the waters around the Eastern Blue Coast... there should only be these four. Perhaps there are other pirates in the deeper parts of the ocean. However, going further east beyond ten thousand miles leads to the vast Storm Seas. Anyone below the Saint level would be taking an immense risk, with a slim chance of survival."

    The Storm Seas were a region gued by constant strong winds, torrential rains, and frequent lightning storms. The harsh natural conditions, coupled with the terrifying magical beasts that roamed the ocean depths, posed a significant threat to anyone below the Saint level. As a result, few dared to venture into those waters.

    Rhett nodded slightly.

    Suddenly, he asked out of the blue, "What do you know about Sea Cow Ind? Have you heard of it?" He looked directly at Gade.

    "Sea Cow Ind?" Gade was taken aback for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he quickly regained hisposure. "I didn¡¯t expect Count Rhett to know about Sea Cow Ind. Not everyone along the Eastern Blue Coast is even aware of that ce."

    Rhett raised an eyebrow. "I heard about it from someone else."

    Gade paused briefly, his expression unchanged, and said, "Sea Cow Ind is about three hundred kilometers off the coast of the Eastern Blue. It''s home to a chaotic marketce, an underground ck market, ve trading, and all sorts of people¡ªa real mix of characters."

    "And... what about information brokers?"

    "Of course, they¡¯re there too," Gade hesitated and then asked, "But... why do you ask?"Upon hearing this, Rhett gazed calmly at him, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking:

    "When you return, I want you to post a message for me."

    Gade didn¡¯t refuse outright. Instead, he looked curious and asked, "What information are you seeking? Perhaps I can help you directly."

    "You couldn''t possibly know."

    Rhett shook his head. "I want to gather information on where to find bloodline potions, be it on the Eastern Blue Coast or overseas."

    In an instant, both Haviel and Gade were shocked, their pupils contracting sharply as they exchanged nces.

    "Hiss." Gade drew in a sharp breath. "Count Rhett, with all due respect, I can''t ept this request. You''re right¡ªI have no idea where to find bloodline potions. But I also wouldn''t dare step foot on Sea Cow Ind and post such a request. That would attract far too much unwanted attention. No amount of money could convince me to do that!"

    "Is that so?" Rhett smiled. "What about two hundred gold coins and a bottle of Boiling Potion as your payment for simply posting the request? How does that sound?"

    At these words, Gade''s expression changed instantly. Even Haviel twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth, thinking to himself how wealthy this lord must be...

    At that moment, Gade felt a surge of excitement. The gold and the Boiling Potion were incredibly tempting for a second-level knight like him! Under Haviel''s envious and almost crazed gaze, Gade¡¯s face twisted in conflict. After a long moment of struggle, he finally took a deep breath and said, "Very well. Since you have such high expectations and trust in me, I will ept the task."

    "Good. That''s what I wanted to hear," Rhett thought to himself, then activated his system.

    "Would you like to start a text simtion? Each year of simtion costs 5 Fate Points."

    "Yes, simte one year."

    <strong>[Kinlon Calendar 476, December 15th]: The bard who visited your territory in April returned with a friend from the Eastern Blue Coast. You learned from them about the legends of Deep Sea Fishmen and the situation overseas. In the end, you entrusted them to post a request on Sea Cow Ind to gather information on Saint-level bloodline potions.</strong>

    <strong>[Kinlon Calendar 477, April 5th]: Back on the Eastern Blue Coast, Gade, lured by the generous reward, ventured to Sea Cow Ind and posted the request.</strong>

    <strong>[April 6th]: On his way back, he was targeted by the Fishbone Pirates and brutally killed.</strong>

    <strong>[December 3rd]: While practicing magic in a small valley within the Dark Marked Eagle Range, you encountered the tall woman you had crossed paths with before¡ªone of ckstar''spanions. She was gravely injured and in terrible condition. After saving her, she revealed that she had been pursued by an evil alchemy organization, which she suspected was linked to the headquarters of those possessing the Blood Spirit. After saying this, she fell into aa due to her severe injuries.</strong>

    <strong>[December 6th]: The tall woman awoke after three days and recounted her ordeal: ever since she and ckstar had advanced to the fourth level, the enemies they faced had grown stronger. Recently, they tracked a group of evil alchemists to the Whitescar Ridge, only to fall into an ambush. Both were seriously injured and forced to flee separately, losing contact in the process. With ckstar''s current whereabouts unknown, the tall woman, sensing your power as a Fifth-Level Archmage, requested your help. You agreed.</strong>

    <strong>[December 7th]: On the way to provide assistance, you took the opportunity to ask about her and ckstar''s origins. However, the tall woman, with a troubled expression, imed she couldn''t reveal anything. You then applied pressure, even threatening to abandon the mission if she didn''t tell you. Disappointed, the tall woman left on her own.</strong>

    "End simtion."

    As the screen faded, disappointment shed in Rhett''s eyes.

    In this simtion, Gade epted the task but ended up dead?

    Of course, Rhett wasn''t foolish enough to waste money on Gade, a man whose questionable morals had already indirectly caused trouble in a previous simtion. He had simplye up with a new use for his abilities¡ªtesting whether he could get information for free.

    So, when Gade agreed to post the request on Sea Cow Ind, Rhett decided to use the simtion to see if the task would yield any useful information¡ªwhether or not Gade would sessfully uncover anything about bloodline potions.

    Though his goal hadn''t been achieved, Rhett had now seen the future and decided to change his approach.

    After taking a sip of blueberry juice, he smacked his lips and said: "I¡¯ve changed my mind. Considering how dangerous it is overseas, I''ve decided to cancel this request for your safety."

    "This..." Gade¡¯s previously excited expression froze. Swallowing hard, he forced a smile. "Count Rhett, I''m not afraid of danger..."

    But I don¡¯t want to waste my money! Rhett thought silently.

    Whether or not Gade had sessfully obtained any information on Saint-level bloodline potions in the simtion, Rhett no longer needed to involve him.

    After all, if the information was avable, whymission someone else? And if it wasn''t, why waste time and resources?

    ...His real goal was simply to use his Fate Points to get the information for free!@@novelbin@@

    "I must be responsible for your life," Rhett said, feigning concern while actually eager to cut ties with Gade. He pulled out a small gray linen pouch he had prepared in advance and tossed it on the table.

    "This is the payment I promised you both. Thank you for your efforts, and I hope we meet again."

    Haviel and Gade exchanged nces.

    They both had the same thought¡ªtoday''s conversation had ended rather abruptly.

    However, seeing the generous payment before them, their dissatisfaction quickly vanished.

    This lord was as good as his word, and that was enough. If he had decided to withhold payment, there was little they could have done.

    Haviel, filled with unexpected joy, pocketed his share of the reward and bowed. "Until we meet again, Count Rhett."

    "Yes, until we meet again!" Gade, still upset over the canceledmission, felt like he had been yed but didn''t dare show it.

    After sending the two off, Rhett hurried upstairs to the fifth floor, walked through the corridor, and returned to his room.

    He pulled out the nk notebook from the desk, positioned against the wall, and began writing down everything he had just heard.

    In just a few minutes, he had filled two pages.

    Next, Rhett put the notebook back in ce and pulled out another, slightlyrger, nk notebook, flipping it open to the first page.

    He recalled a promise he had made to Taylors after leaving the Gorge Frontline¡ªto give him a fantastic novel once they returned.

    After several days of pondering, he finally decided on the story he would transcribe¡ª<em>Coiling Dragon</em>.

    Its grand and wondrous world might not stand out in theter stages of online literature in his past life, but in a world without the inte and devoid of anypetition, it would be a masterpiece that could crush everything else!

    And so, he began to write:

    Wushan Town, a humble vige in the Fei Kingdom, west of the Yn Continent''s first mountain range, the Beast Mountains...

    Five days passed.

    During these days, Rhett devoted most of his time to copying <em>Coiling Dragon</em>. Whenever he had free time, he stayed in his room, writing.

    Rhett finally raised his head from his desk and stretched.

    After another night of intense writing, he had finally filled this notebook.

    He flipped through it from the beginning to the end, satisfied with the densely packed text covering the pages. By rough estimate, it contained around five hundred thousand words.

    "This should keep Taylors upied for a while!" Rhett thought to himself.

    Closing the thick manuscript, Rhett stretched again and gazed out at the distant winter sun, its rays streaming through the window and illuminating the book''s cover.

    He carefully picked up the manuscript and left his room, heading downstairs to the alchemyb.

    At that moment, Hank wasn''t working on the ck Raven¡¯s Sorrow form because both Taylors and Unica were in the room.

    Taylors was at the cauldron, carefully adjusting a pot of boiling, bubbling liquid, deeply focused.

    Unica, meanwhile, sat in a corner, engrossed in reading an old, ck book, her brow furrowed as if struggling to understand the contents.

    <em>Knock, knock</em>

    To avoid disturbing the others, Rhett gently knocked on the door and softly called out, "Continue what you''re doing, Taylors. Come out for a moment."

    Taylors nced at the cauldron, reluctant to leave, but wiped the sweat from his brow and hurried out,ining,

    "Father, what is it? I''m in the middle of making a potion! You might not understand, but you¡¯ve interrupted the growth of a great alchemist!"

    "Remember the promise I made to you at the Gorge Frontline camp?" Rhett ignored the grumbling and smiled mysteriously.

    "Oh! I remember!" Taylors'' eyes lit up after a few seconds of thought, locking onto the thick book in Rhett''s hand. "You promised to give me a fantasy novel even better than <em>Knight Academy</em>! Is that what this is?"

    "That''s right," Rhett said with a smile, handing it over. "Open it and see!"

    Taylors took the book from Rhett, nced at the cover, and wore a strange expression as he thought, "Isn''t this just one of our regr notebooks?"

    Still, he flipped to the first page, and upon seeing the familiar handwriting¡ªdespite its neatness and legibility¡ªdisappointment filled his eyes.

    "Come on, Father! It''s clearly your handwriting! You tricked me into thinking this was an amazing fantasy novel!" Taylors muttered under his breath, sulking.

    In his mind, his father was indeed a great man, but the title "brilliant novelist" had never crossed his mind!

    Rhett said nothing and continued watching.

    After flipping through the first few pages, Taylors'' expression gradually changed.

    Then, suddenly, he let out a soft gasp.

    "Huh?" Taylors felt a strange sensation. The opening had drawn him in, and he eagerly turned to the next page.

    "The morning sun rose, and all things seemed full of life. At this moment, it was the best time to absorb the essence of heaven and earth and enhance our potential..."

    He continued reading, captivated by the vivid description of the small, remote town and the engaging introduction to a new, yet familiar, cultivation system. The story was sopelling that he couldn¡¯t wait to read more!

    Unbeknownst to him, ten minutes had passed.

    "Hank, I''ve memorized the Water-element nts you asked for," Unica exhaled, closing her book. She mentally reviewed what she had memorized while facing the wall, then turned and called out to the bald man behind her.

    "Heh, not bad. This is your first day, so your task was light," Hank said with a chuckle. "Tomorrow, you''ll need to memorize the Earth and Wind-element nts as well."

    Upon hearing this, Unica''s face initially showed fear, but she quickly overcame it. With a determined expression, she nodded earnestly. "Understood, Master Hank!"

    With a slight skip in her step, she bounced out of the alchemyb.

    Meanwhile, Taylors, still engrossed in the book, looked up at Rhett with newfound respect, admiration, and even reverence¡ªas if he were gazing at a deity. Holding the manuscript as if it were a treasure, he asked in disbelief,

    "Father... did you really write this masterpiece?"

    "Oh? Didn''t you just say it was my handwriting?" Rhett teased with a smile.

    "Oh, I know! What I meant was..." Taylors stammered, struggling to find the right words. After several attempts, he finally managed, "Father, I never imagined you were such a brilliant fantasy novelist! This book is absolutely amazing¡ªso captivating! It''s the most refreshing and addictive story I''ve ever read or even heard of! And you were right¡ª<em>Knight Academy</em> is garbagepared to this!"

 Chapter 174: Morges Breakthrough

    The readers of this world have never experienced the immersive nature of web novels. The fantastical imagination, intriguing setups, and endless thrilling moments can be overwhelming for most people, like a dimensional blow. Considering that <em>Coiling Dragon</em> dominated the rankings for many years during the Bronze Age of web novels, Rhett wasn¡¯t surprised by such reactions.

    He nodded slightly, adopting a profound expression as he gently stroked Taylors'' soft blonde hair and said:

    "Taylors, there''s no need to be so surprised. What I¡¯ve given you is just a small portion of the beginning. There¡¯s much more exciting content toe."

    "Wow, now I¡¯m even more excited!" Taylors'' eyes sparkled with anticipation. "By the way, Father, what is this novel called?"

    "<em>Coiling Dragon</em>!"

    "<em>Coiling Dragon</em>? Why is it called that?"@@novelbin@@

    "You¡¯ll find out as you read on," Rhett replied with a raised eyebrow, almost letting slip the original title.

    "Thank you, Father!" Taylors said, satisfied. Then, with a sly grin, he asked, "Do you have any ns to publish this book? I believe that with the quality of this story, it could take the entire nation by storm once it¡¯s released!"

    "Hmm, I¡¯ll consider it," Rhett replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully."How about I ask the Dalton Auction House in Twilight City to help you with that?" Taylors suggested excitedly.

    "No need. I¡¯m well acquainted with President Carlton. If I decide to publish it, I¡¯ll contact him myself," Rhett said, shaking his head.

    He then pointed at Taylors and added, "But remember, don¡¯t lose sight of your true goal. Pursuing greatness in alchemy is what truly matters. Writing novels is just a pastime."

    Taylors'' expression turned serious. "Understood, Father!"

    He then muttered, "I¡¯m going to take the book back to my room. This joy must be shared with Mina! I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll go crazy when she reads <em>Coiling Dragon</em>!"

    Rhett''s expression turned a bit odd. Mina was such a quiet woman, and hearing her described like this by Taylors somewhat shattered his image of her. But then he thought, maybe some people only truly let loose in front of those closest to them¡­

    As Taylors left, a small figure emerged timidly from the alchemyb¡ªUnica. Clearly a bit fearful in the presence of the lord, she obediently reported:

    "Lord Rhett, I¡¯ve finished mastering today¡¯s alchemy knowledge. Now I¡¯m heading to the training ground to practice my new magic!"

    "Go ahead, Unica! Believe in yourself. You can definitely be a great water mage!"

    "Can I really?" Unica¡¯s cheeks flushed red. She had heard from Macoff that great mages were powerful beings above level seven, and she had never even dreamed of bing such a person.

    Rhett replied with a half-joking, half-serious tone, "How will you know if you don¡¯t try? Anything is possible."

    "Mm!"

    Unica nodded and jogged off down the corridor.

    Rhett watched her leave with a smile, his mind suddenly shing back to an amusing moment from the castle banquet a few days ago. He thought to himself, "It seems the youngsters in the training ground are all at the age of budding feelings¡­ This is good. Strong unions are more likely to produce talented offspring¡­"

    Rhett returned to the fifth floor.

    After sitting in the hall for a short while, he noticed Firecrest soaring towards him from the distant sky, its bright red feathers shimmering in the sunlight.

    "Chirp!"

    Firecrest perched outside the window, chirping softly at Rhett.

    Understanding its message, Rhett''s eyes lit up in surprise, and he leaped straight out of the window,nding on Firecrest¡¯s back.

    "Chirp!" Firecrest called again, pping its wings and turning westward towards the Rock Fortress.

    At the shore of Sun Lake.

    Many of the water-dwelling magical beasts had surfaced, sshing water everywhere, and their numbers seemed to have slightly increasedpared tost winter.

    From his high vantage point, Rhett nced at arge boulder¡ªthe same spot where he had once hidden with his three sons while ambushing the Firewolf and Great Horned Sheep. Now, Tucker was pacing anxiously around the stone, looking extremely worried.

    Next to the boulder, Morge, the dark-feathered eagle, was trembling slightly, its wings and ws twitching erratically. It emitted low, pained cries, asionally letting out whimpers of agony. Its eyes were tightly shut as it repeatedly banged its head against the boulder.

    "Bang, bang, bang, bang¡­"

    The repeated impacts sent small fragments of rock scattering around.

    "Tucker, is Morge about to break through?" Firecrest swooped down, slowing just before reaching the ground to allow Rhett to dismount smoothly.

    Rhett stepped onto the grass and quickly approached Tucker, cing a hand on his shoulder and feigning surprise as he stared at the curled-up Morge.

    "Yes, Father. This morning, when I took Morge out for a flight, it seemed agitated. We hadn¡¯t been around Sun Lake for long before it entered this state, as if it¡¯s about to break through!" Tucker replied anxiously.

    "Chirp!"

    "Chirp!"

    Suddenly, Morge pped its wings, creating a gust of wind as it let out several loud cries. Then, its feathers began to fall off, and soon it was left as a bare-skinned bird!

    "What''s happening?" Tucker eximed, wide-eyed in disbelief at what he was witnessing.

    "Don¡¯t worry. Some magical beasts shed their feathers during a breakthrough. Once it¡¯s over, the feathers will quickly regrow." Although Rhett was also surprised, he reassured Tucker, "Let¡¯s remain quiet. It looks like the critical moment has arrived. We shouldn¡¯t disturb it."

    Tucker immediately fell silent and even took a step back, afraid of interfering with Morge''s breakthrough.

    Rhett kept his gaze fixed on Morge while his thoughts wandered to the uing visit of the alchemy master from Icecastle in half a year. Creating a breeding ground for the dark-feathered eagles in the Dark Marked Eagle Range would be impossible without a lead eagle. Fortunately, Tucker''s tamed Morge had be the only hope.

    Without a master-servant contract, breeding magical beasts, especially those other than lower-tier aquatic creatures, was almost impossible. Rhett¡¯s mind expanded on this idea: "It seems this method could be applied not only to dark-feathered eagles but also to Firecrests and Ice Mice. Although their value may not match that of the dark-feathered eagles, which are essential to the alchemy master''s needs, it¡¯s still worth trying."

    Rhett had heard of magical beast breeding before. In other regions of the Kinlon Kingdom, some ancient noble territories managed to raise certain species by taming their leaders. However, this method had significant limitations¡ªthe chosen species couldn¡¯t have too high a bloodline potential, with mid-tier being the maximum. Additionally, the species couldn¡¯t be too intelligent, as even with a leader, they might not obey. More rebellious creatures could even incite uprisings, undoing all efforts.

    "Firecrests, with their low-tier bloodline potential, shouldn¡¯t pose much of a problem for breeding. But Ice Mice... rodent-type magical beasts are generally cunning, and with Ice Mice having mid-tier bloodline potential, sessful breeding may be a challenge," Rhett mused.

    "Chirp!"

    Morge, after half an hour of rolling and struggling on the ground, suddenly let out a loud, piercing cry, its voice now much stronger than before, as if filled with newfound power.

    Rhett refocused his thoughts and looked down at Morge. Its body, now emitting ck mist, had fresh wounds from the continuous tearing and expanding of its skin during the breakthrough. However, the mist helped the wounds heal rapidly.

    After a few more minutes, the pained expression on Morge''s face disappeared, and its woundspletely healed. Even its feathers had regrown, turning from a light ck to a glossy, deep ck.

    In just three minutes, Morge weakly stood up on the grass, its talons gripping the ground as it proudly lifted its head, its gaze sharp as a de.

    Tucker was overjoyed¡ªMorge was not only safe but had sessfully be a mid-tier magical beast! He eagerly examined Morge, noticing that its wingspan now exceeded three meters¡ªplenty of space forfortable riding!

    "Chirp!" Morge called out to Tucker.

    "What? You¡¯re hungry?" Tucker asked, scratching the back of his head.

    "Tucker, do you have any dark-element nts on you?" Rhett asked.

    "Oops! I didn¡¯t bring any." Tucker pped his forehead in frustration.

    Morge, still weak from the breakthrough, urgently needed food to replenish its energy.

    "I¡¯ll go back right away... Huh? Father, you have dark-element nts with you!" Tucker''s eyes lit up as he saw Rhett pull out a small linen bag from his pocket and shake out several dozen ck leaves.

    "You¡­" Rhett pointed at Tucker, shaking his head. "Sometimes I really wonder if you¡¯re truly my son. Howe you didn¡¯t inherit even a bit of my foresight?"

    "Heh, of course, I¡¯m your real son!" Tuckerughed in response to his father¡¯s teasing.

    He then bent down, picked up the leaves, and fed them to Morge, who nuzzled his hand affectionately before taking the leaves.

    "Tucker, it¡¯s time to start intensifying Morge''s training," Rhett said as he watched Morge eat.

    Tucker scratched his head in confusion. "Intensify training? Father, could you be more specific?"

    "Strengthen its physique, toughen its willpower, and enhance its spellcasting abilities," Rhett replied without hesitation.

    To be the leader of the eagles, Morge needed not only strength but also well-rounded abilities. Now that it had be a mid-tier magical beast, it was time to start serious training!

    Unlike humans, magical beasts could advance by maturing based on their bloodline potential. However, intensebat could elerate their growth. Laziness and hard work led to different rates of progress, and battles between life and death could push their limits to the fullest. This principle applied to both humans and magical beasts.

    Rhett had already devised a n that would help both Morge and Firecrest grow stronger together.

    Seeing Tucker''s puzzled expression, Rhett rified, "Since Firecrest and Morge are both mid-tier, eagle-type magical beasts, they¡¯re perfect sparring partners. So, the best method from now on is to have them fight each other."

    "But what if something goes wrong, like you mentioned earlier?" Tucker asked, concerned. He had realized that with only one magical pet, he might not have another chance to tame one in the future.

    Rhett smiled confidently. "Don¡¯t worry! With me around, nothing will happen! First, when I¡¯m not present, focus on solo spell training. Then, when I¡¯m supervising, let them fight each other. I¡¯ll make sure Firecrest and Morge stay safe!"

    "Yeah, with your strength, Father¡ªbeing a level-five magus¡ªyou can definitely handle it!" Tucker''s eyes brightened, and he gave a thumbs-up.

    Once Morge had regained some of its strength, Tucker took it for a flight around Sun Lake.

    Rhett sat alone for a while, enjoying the peace.

    Soon, Celine circled theke again, and upon seeing Rhett sitting alone, she approached him. "Lord Rhett, this morning I observed a mid-tier Frostshell Crab that had just given birth to over a dozen crablings. Look, there they are!" Celine eximed as her eyes caught sight of a half-meter-long blue-backed Frostshell Crab near theke, apanied by its tiny, light-blue offspring.

    Startled by Celine''s loud voice, the crab waved its ws defensively, creating ripples as it led its young towards the center of theke.

    Rhett nced over and saw the scene unfold. He scanned the increasingly popted waters, now teeming with more magical creatures, and smiled with satisfaction.

    In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.

    Rhett focused most of his energy on magical training. With his cheat ability, training magic provided the best value when not using simtions. Since Rhett had designated the Briarwood as a training ground for Frano and the rangers, he worried that continuing his magic practice there might disturb them. So, he relocated his training area ten kilometers southwest of Sun Lake, to a patch of brownnd.

 Chapter 175: Arrival of the Duke of Blue Diamond

    Rumble...

    Suddenly, a tremor reverberated across the vast, emptynd.

    Rhett cast a powerful Earthquake Spell.

    Following that, three sand wolves, forming a triangr formation, descended from midair and, under Rhett''s control, began to battle each other fiercely.

    The surrounding ground was trampled, gradually stirring up a mix of yellow-brown dust.

    An hourter...

    Rhett exhaled deeply, pausing his training. He condensed a stone block using his mental power and sat cross-legged on it, beginning to meditate to restore his mental energy.

    As the Furnace Meditation Technique circted, Rhett''s mental power in his mind quickly increased.

    After a while, sensing that his mental energy was full, he ceased the meditation.Suddenly, Rhett felt a movement within and stood up, extending his arms, allowing his mind to clear.

    He tried to sense the earth elements around him.

    But after a long while...

    He opened his eyes, revealing a look of doubt. "There¡¯s nothing?"

    His mind recalled a scene from a simtion a few days ago, where it was mentioned that after subduing the Sand Spirit, one would gain a special understanding of earth elements.

    "What kind of special insight is required toprehend even a hint of profundity..." Rhett pondered silently, his curiosity about the profundity had long been stirring within him.

    He once again attempted to release his mental power, trying hard to sense the wandering earth elements around him, in an effort to find the elusive traces of thews.

    In the end...

    Rhett sighed helplessly.

    "s, it¡¯s still impossible. I¡¯m only a Level 5 Magister, not some unparalleled genius.

    To think that I couldprehend something that typically only Saint-level figures can grasp on my own was indeed wishful thinking."

    He then fell into deep thought. "However, if I can use the Sand Spirit as a medium toprehend the profundity, it shows that spirits are indeed a special condensation of the world''sws.

    Even if they aren¡¯t, they must have an extremely special connection with the world!"

    A gleam of light shed in Rhett''s eyes as he looked up at the sky.

    He gained a deeper understanding of spirits and this world.

    "So, can the Snow Spirit bring Rhett some insight into the profundity?" Rhett mused, touching his chin.

    He feared it wasn¡¯t certain, as he believed not all spirits could bring about an understanding of the profundity.

    Element-rted spirits were surely a necessary condition, but not necessarily a sufficient one.

    Take, for instance, the Blood Spirit and the Bear Spirit that Rhett knew about¡ªthey had nothing to do with earth, fire, wind, water, light, or darkness, and certainly couldn''t bring about any understanding of profundity.

    "So, are there different ranks among spirits?

    Or is it that my current knowledge is too limited, only seeing a small part of the mysteries of spirits?"

    As Rhett was lost in thought...

    An unusual ripple came from behind him.

    He immediately became alert, quickly turning around, ready to cast a Rock Armor Spell to envelop himself.

    However, upon seeing the visitor''s face, Rhett was stunned, and even the half-formed Rock Armor Spell dissipated like a receding tide.

    Rhett took a deep breath, his expression showing a touch of reverence as he spoke:

    "Your Grace, Duke of Blue Diamond, Lord Augustus, wee!"

    "Rock Armor Spell? Just as I heard, Rhett, you¡¯ve consumed a Bloodline Potion." The figure, whom Rhett addressed as the Duke of Blue Diamond, was riding a fifth-tier Crystal Wing Bird, hovering close to the ground, and eximed in surprise.

    Rhett had never seen the Duke of Blue Diamond before, only hearing about him from others by his full name¡ªAugustus Blue Diamond.

    With sapphire-blue eyes, fair skin, and a tall figure, the person before him matched the description perfectly.

    Combining this with what he knew from the simtion and the deep, unfathomable aura of this person, Rhett immediately guessed his identity!

    "Chirp." The Crystal Wing Bird of the Duke of Blue Diamond let out a strange, soft cry, sounding very tender.

    Rhett had never heard such a bird call before, and he carefully examined the Crystal Wing Bird, which possessed high-tier bloodline potential: its entire body was covered in feather patterns resembling leaf veins, like delicate crystal conduits, with a neck as long as a swan¡¯s, but a bill resembling that of a duck, and eyes shining like tworge light bulbs.

    Though its colors were bright, the overallbination looked rather incongruous.

    As a fifth-tier magical beast, its wingspan was only three meters long, making its size not particrlyrge.

    Looking at the Crystal Wing Bird grooming its feathers, though its appearance was somewhat ugly, a trace of envy shed in Rhett''s eyes.

    After all, it was one of the few light-attribute magical beasts that mastered healing magic. Whether for a knight or a mage, having it was like carrying a mobile blood pack.

    The Duke of Blue Diamond smiled slightly and said, "I believe you can easily guess the purpose of my visit."

    Rhett pondered for a moment and said, "Is it regarding my promotion to Earl?"

    "Exactly. Since it¡¯s just the two of us here, I won¡¯t beat around the bush.

    Your promotion to Earl has been approved by the royal family.

    Of course, the premise is that your fief must be chosen within the southwestern frontier.

    In other words, you cannot move to another region of the kingdom.

    But I think that doesn¡¯t affect you in the slightest, does it?" Augustus looked straight at Rhett, his eyes as deep as the ocean.

    "Indeed." Rhett nodded. He had long since set his development n, and now, even if he were allowed to relocate elsewhere, he might not be willing to.

    "Haha, that¡¯s good. I¡¯m here this time to conduct the ennoblement ceremony for you, following protocol." The Duke of Blue Diamond nced around the deste ins and added:

    "But I think ceremonies are just superficial formalities.

    Since there¡¯s no one else around, there¡¯s no need to concern ourselves with the process."@@novelbin@@

    Rhett''s mouth twitched, thinking to himself that the Duke indeed spoke with authority!

    Though, he also found it quite reasonable...

    Then, fearing a misunderstanding, the Duke of Blue Diamond added, "And from what I know, many barons, viscounts, and earls don¡¯t care about the ennoblement process, so you needn¡¯t feel burdened..."

    Ahem, Rhett cleared his throat twice, maintaining hisposure as he said, "Then let¡¯s do as you suggest, Lord Augustus."

    "Alright." Augustus nodded in satisfaction.

    It wasn¡¯t that he looked down on the royal family, but after nearly a century as a duke, who knew how many earldom promotion ceremonies he had handled!

    In the eastern coastal region of the kingdom, even viscount promotions required his delegation.

    The repetitive process and oaths had long made him nauseous.

    Gradually, he invented this "convenient" method...

    "An Earl''s fief has much more freedom, with a vast area that¡¯s not strictly delineated." The Duke of Blue Diamond looked around with some regret and said:

    "It¡¯s just a pity that thend around here is sparsely popted and barren. No matter howrge the area, the ie won¡¯t be significant."

    "Ahem, that¡¯s true." Rhett chuckled bitterly, then paused before saying, "So, to be honest, Lord Augustus, I have some additional requests regarding my new fief."

    "Oh?" The Duke of Blue Diamond looked at Rhett with mild surprise and asked, "Could it be that you¡¯ve changed your mind and want to move to another region?"

    As he spoke, he began to calcte in his mind. If Rhett was determined to relocate, he might be able to help. Given Rhett''s rapid progress in the past two years, he could be considered a small genius¡ªif he could be tied to the family¡¯s chariot, it would undoubtedly be beneficial.

    As the Duke of Blue Diamond was pondering this, Rhett spoke up:

    "Not at all. I¡¯m not interested in other ces. For now, staying in this southwestern frontier is fine.

    I just want to divide my fief and choose a new area near the Anwen Eagle Subrange."

    Upon hearing Rhett¡¯s request, a sh of surprise crossed the Duke of Blue Diamond¡¯s eyes, and he murmured:

    "Dividing your fief? Although... it¡¯s a rather demanding request, for you, in this southwestern frontier, it¡¯s not difficult, given the current allocation ofnds.

    If it were in another region, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy."

    Hearing this, Rhett''s face lit up with joy. "Then I¡¯ll be relying on you, Lord Augustus! Can we depart now to delineate the fief near the Anwen Eagle Subrange?"

    The Duke of Blue Diamond shook his head and said, "There¡¯s no need."

    As he spoke, Augustus produced a map out of thin air.

    This scene greatly surprised Rhett, who blurted out, "A spatial item?"

    Then, his gaze shifted, quicklynding on the unremarkable bronze ring on Augustus¡¯s middle finger.

    He thought to himself: That must be a spatial ring, something that has always been legendary and extremely precious.

    He had only seen it a few times at the canyon defense line.

    Seeing Rhett¡¯s reaction, Augustus wasn¡¯t surprised and smiled, "Indeed, this is a spatial item with a volume of about one cubic meter inside.

    Though small, it was a treasure bestowed upon me by the King when I was promoted to Duke, in recognition of my outstanding achievements!

    These things aren¡¯t exactly top secret; given your current status, it¡¯s fine to tell you."

    "Thank you for exining!" Rhett, full of admiration, stared at the spatial ring for a long time.

    After all, it involved space-rted treasures!

    A mobile warehouse that could freely store items held immense strategic value.

    As for receiving such a reward after bing a duke, while Rhett was amazed and envious, he also fully understood.

    After all, at the Duke level, high-end forces of the kingdom sometimes handled confidential matters or carried secret items¡ªkeeping them on their person at all times would pose risks.

    Having an extra spatial ring could undoubtedly avoid many unnecessary troubles.

    "No need to thank me. In the future, if you have the chance to be promoted to Duke, you will also receive such treatment." Augustus said with a smile.

    "Alright, being promoted to Duke guarantees a spatial ring." Rhett mentally noted this!

    "This is the kingdom¡¯s map, a topographic map of the southwestern frontier. You just need to mark the area you want directly." Augustus said casually, "An Earl''s fief boundaries aren¡¯t as strict as those of a Viscount or Baron.

    After all, the kingdom doesn¡¯t allow two Earl¡¯s territories to border closely. There must be at least a few hundred kilometers of buffer zone.

    So as long as you don¡¯t exceed a hundred kilometers from the marked range, it can be flexible."

    Rhett nodded, clearly familiar with this rule.

    He took the map from Augustus and found that the precision of this map surpassed even the one brought by Deputy Commander Ambiru.

    At a nce, Rhett spotted the Cold Crystal Lake area, with the edges of theke urately depicted.

    "Phew, such a precise map, this is really convenient!" Rhett couldn¡¯t help but exim.

    After some thought, he marked out the Cold Crystal Lake and the surrounding area for several kilometers.

    Next, he extended the boundaries to both the north and south sides of theke, creating a strip-like area that almost made the Anwen Eagle Subrange resemble a garden, with his fief acting as a rtively thick fence.

    Augustus also nodded in approval, saying, "This map is indeed of high quality. Most people wouldn¡¯t be able to make something this urate.

    This is thanks to the royal family''s Grand Magister Karina, who measured the entire kingdom and, being a master painter, provided such a high-quality map."

    As Rhett was carefully marking out his fief, despite already having a clear idea of the area, his movements were still slow out of caution.

    Upon hearing Augustus inadvertently mention Karina¡¯s role, Rhett mentally noted it¡ªhe might need this information in the future.

    At this moment, he deeply felt that he was no longer who he used to be.

    The dual enhancement of strength and status had elevated the people and matters he could now ess to a higher level.

    After about ten minutes, Rhett finally lifted his pen, feeling relieved as he handed the map back to Augustus.

    "The Anwen Eagle Subrange?" Augustus muttered, having not peeked at where Rhett had marked earlier. Now, seeing the mountain range symbol surrounded by a new fief, he asked:

    "Are you sure you want to set your fief in the Anwen Eagle Subrange?" Augustus touched his chin, his eyes full of surprise.

    Rhett smiled humbly. "Indeed, I¡¯ve been nning this for a while.

    Thank you, Lord Augustus."

    "Well... alright." Augustus smacked his lips. "Though the kingdom doesn¡¯t forbid establishing fiefs around monster-infested mountains, I must give you a friendly reminder.

    The subranges of monster mountains are more or less connected. Perhaps... one day, powerful monsters might wander into your territory.

    Without sufficient defense, the consequences could be dire.

    In the past... many nobles had this idea, but most met tragic ends."

    "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Augustus!" Rhett''s voice was firm as he said, "But I believe I have the strength to handle any risks and challenges!"

    Seeing this, Augustus shrugged and said no more.

    "Since the matter of the fief is settled, I have one more thing to remind you of."

    "Please go ahead, Lord Augustus."

    "In the past, there were only Earl Nilo and Earl Mida in the southwestern frontier. Now, with your promotion, a third Earl has emerged, and you¡¯re a Level 5 Magister.

    So, the security of this region is now partly your responsibility. If there¡¯s a major disturbance here in the future, you¡¯ll all be held ountable."

    Rhett had long been mentally prepared for this¡ªif one wishes to wear the crown, they must bear its weight.

    In other words, the greater the power one wields, the greater the responsibilities they must shoulder.

    To enjoy the benefits, one must pay the price.

 Chapter 176: Earth Profundity - Scatter and Condense

    Since from now on, I bear the illustrious title of the Southwestern Frontier, it¡¯s only natural that I contribute to the safety and security of this region.

    With that in mind, Rhett patted his chest and made a promise:

    ¡°Eradicating evil is a must. Rest assured, Lord Augustus, as long as I, Earl Rhett, remain in the Southwestern Frontier, peace will be maintained here!¡±

    Rhett¡¯s demeanor was calm, having fully embraced his identity as an Earl.

    ¡°Haha, with that determination, I¡¯m relieved.¡± Augustusughed, showing a look of satisfaction. He then took out a map from his chest and handed it over:

    ¡°This is a small gift from me¡ªa detailed map of the Southwestern Frontier, identical to the one you saw earlier. As an Earl, this map may assist you in your future endeavors.¡±

    A gleam of light shed in Rhett''s eyes as he epted it without hesitation, saying, ¡°Thank you, Lord Augustus!¡±

    Augustus waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal.

    After that, the two engaged in brief conversation.Augustus shared some important points that Rhett should keep in mind as an Earl, and Rhett listened carefully,mitting them to memory.

    The matter of his promotion to Earl concluded efficiently and swiftly.

    Then, Rhett extended an invitation at the right moment: ¡°Duke of Blue Diamond, since this is likely your first time in Eagletown, why not visit my Deep Rock Fortress?¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡± Augustus agreed readily, also wanting to find an opportunity to chat more with Rhett and perhaps strengthen their rtionship.

    Rhett whistled.

    A few secondster, Firew, who had been ying nearby, responded and sped towards him, diving down from a hundred meters in the sky.

    However, this time, its movements were much more restrained. As it approached the ground, it didn¡¯t dare to cause too much turbulence.

    Firew nced fearfully at the Duke of Blue Diamond and the nearby Crystal Wing Bird, then quickly shifted its gaze and lowered its back.

    Augustus noticed Firew¡¯s wings, a sh of surprise crossing his face, but he soon lost interest.

    The two flew to Deep Rock Fortress, one after the other, andnded simultaneously.

    On the stone path leading to the manor, Sveta stood respectfully on the stone bs, listening as Rhett said, ¡°Today, our territory wees the most distinguished guest in its history¡ªthe Duke of Blue Diamond! I want tonight¡¯s banquet to be asvish as possible!

    Go, pass my order: Have Tadel or Kurs go to Sun Lake and catch some aquatic magical beasts. Tonight, we¡¯ll have a seafood feast!¡±

    ¡°This is the first time the lord is butchering aquatic magical beasts,¡± Sveta thought to himself, bing even more serious as he slightly bowed, saying, ¡°Understood, my lord. I¡¯ll make the arrangements immediately!¡±

    After Sveta left, Rhett extended his left arm, inviting Augustus inside: ¡°Please,e in.¡±

    The two of them made their way to Deep Rock Fortress, where maids in ck and white uniforms promptly served desserts, pastries, and drinks.

    Augustus nced at the offerings, noting they weren¡¯t particrly high-end. He casually picked a piece and sampled it, then smiled and praised, ¡°Not bad!¡±

    Rhett personally filled Augustus¡¯s ss, then filled his own.

    Returning to his seat, Rhett set the bottle on the table, swirling the crystal goblet in his hand, watching the purplish-red liquid swirl inside. He then asked the question on his mind:

    ¡°Lord Augustus, if I may, I have a question I¡¯d like you to rify.¡±

    Augustus smiled warmly, ¡°Feel free to ask.¡±

    ¡°This takes me back to a few months ago when I was at the canyon defense line, participating in a major offensive against the orcs. I witnessed an officer named Somjet break through in the midst of battle, subsequently unleashing immense power and injuring the orcmander.

    Later, I learned from Officer Avn that Somjet hadprehended a wind element ¡®speed¡¯ profundity.

    In the past, I had little understanding of profundities due to my weak strength, so I wanted to seek your advice.¡±

    Rhett believed that Augustus, as a peak Level 8 Sky Knight who had long been famous and held the position of Duke, would surely know more than he did.

    As expected, when Augustus heard Somjet¡¯s name, he showed an intrigued expression. After learning that Somjet had broken through to be a Sky Knight, he sighed and remarked:

    ¡°Tsk, tsk, Somjet¡­ I heard about him over a decade ago, someone with excellent wind element talent.

    I never expected that in the blink of an eye, he¡¯d already broken through to be a Sky Knight.

    And evenprehended the legendary profundity¡­¡±

    After his musings, Augustus raised his deep blue crystal goblet, took a sip of wine, and said to Rhett, ¡°Now that you¡¯re a Level 5 Magister and interested in profundities, it¡¯s understandable.¡±

    Rhett sat across from him, prepared to listen intently.

    Augustus cleared his throat and began, ¡°Ahem, you can simply understand profundities as thews of the elements.¡±

    ¡°Thews of the elements¡­¡± Rhett subconsciously repeated.

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Augustus thought for a moment, then picked up his ss, gently swirling it. ¡°Let me give you an analogy. It¡¯s like the liquid in this ss. Although most people wouldn¡¯t notice anything unusual, in reality, this simple water contains various profundities.

    The most straightforward one is liquefaction. Extending further, there¡¯s vaporization and freezing¡ªthese all involve profundities.

    I once heard from a Water-element Saint that there are indeed other profundities within the water element, like ¡®flow¡¯ and ¡®extreme cold.¡¯

    As for myself, I¡¯veprehended a trace of the ¡®extreme cold¡¯ profundity.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I see.¡± Extreme cold? Can it freeze people into popsicles¡­? Rhett thought with admiration and then asked the most pressing question on his mind:

    ¡°So, if oneprehends a profundity, does that mean they¡¯ll be able to advance to the Saint-level?¡±

    After all, he was about toprehend an earth element profundity. If it lowered the threshold to reach the Saint-level, that would be ideal.

    ¡°Heh, of course not.¡± Augustus chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°In fact, there¡¯s no direct cause-and-effect rtionship betweenprehending profundities and advancing to the Saint-level.

    It¡¯s just that after bing a Saint, I¡¯ve heard one gains a deeper understanding of elementalws, which makes it easier toprehend profundities, thereby greatly enhancingbat power.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Rhett¡¯s eyes revealed a look of realization, though he felt a slight sense of disappointment that profundities didn¡¯t directly aid in advancing to the Saint-level.

    However, the significant boost inbat power was still a good thing! ¡°So, Lord Augustus, do you know what other earth element profundities exist?¡± Rhett asked.

    Previously, he had only heard from Avn about the gravity space profundity in the earth element. The other earth element profundities were unknown to him.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking about earth element profundities¡­¡± Augustus touched his chin, pondering. ¡°In our kingdom¡¯s history, and even now, no earth element Saint-level experts have emerged, so I don¡¯t know much.

    Aside from the gravity space profundity, which can manipte gravity and repulsion within a certain range, I know of two others: ¡®Scatter¡¯ and ¡®Condense.¡¯ The former allows the body to turn into sand, which is highly effective for defense. Thetter condenses extremely hard objects, integrating both offense and defense.¡±

    After a pause and some contemtion, Augustus added, ¡°That¡¯s about all I can tell you about profundities. After all, I¡¯m not a Saint, so I can¡¯t fully exin the essence of profundities.

    In short, aside from Saints, who can steadilyprehend profundities, it¡¯s all about talent and luck for those below the Saint level.

    If you manage toprehend a profundity, it just means you have good talent and a slightly higher chance of advancing to the Saint-level, but it¡¯s not guaranteed.

    In fact, most Saint-level experts neverprehended a profundity before reaching the Saint-level.¡±

    So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Rhett nodded in understanding and thanked Augustus, ¡°Thank you, Lord Augustus!¡±

    Although the exnation wasn¡¯t exhaustive, it provided Rhett with significant insight.

    Moreover, he finally figured out that the ability to turn into sand belonged to the ¡®Scatter¡¯ profundity.

    Scatter? Although it¡¯s just one word, it contains infinite mysteries to Rhett.

    Among the various elements, only earth seems to possess the unique property of dispersing into fine dust and solidifying into rock. It shifts between stability and dispersion, remaining elusive.

    This¡­ could very well be a manifestation of thews of the universe. Although he had heard about the ice profundity of the water element earlier, which also turns into a solid, it fundamentally differed from the way earth elements operate.

    He was also curious about what the ice profundity could do. For now, it seemed he would have to wait until he encountered someone else or until Rayleigh had some good fortune and, with Nina¡¯s help, managed toprehend it in the future.

    Over the next three days...

    As indicated by the simtion, Rhett invited Augustus to stay in his territory, and Augustus dly epted.

    During this time, Rhett could sense the goodwill Augustus was extending through their interactions and conversations.

    After all, as a Duke, Augustus usually didn¡¯t bother with most Earls.

    But with Rhett, not only did he patiently exin profundities, but he also stayed for three days.

    To be honest, Rhett felt a bit embarrassed to reject the Duke¡¯s proposal for a marriage alliance.

    Perhaps¡­ he should agree? Just as this thought crossed Rhett¡¯s mind, he quickly dismissed it.

    Joking aside, Nicole was still a knot in his heart, one that Rhett had not yet untied and found difficult to let go of.

    So, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to ept the idea of spending his life with another woman.

    This was an extremely important matter! He couldn¡¯t just settle for less¡­

    By the shores of Sun Lake, Augustus, who had just been rejected after proposing a marriage alliance, stared silently at the fire-patterned fish swimming in the water and let out a long sigh:

    ¡°Sigh, Earl Rhett, are you sure you won¡¯t reconsider?

    My granddaughter has excellent talent. Although not as remarkable as yours, she would easily advance to the rank of Earth Knight.¡±

    Rhett observed Augustus¡¯s back, smiling bitterly. He had to refuse, but considering Augustus¡¯s status, he couldn¡¯t be too blunt about it.

    ¡°Firstly, Lord Augustus, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m dissatisfied with your granddaughter.

    But I¡¯m not ready to wee a new partner into my life.

    Being responsible for myself also means being responsible for your granddaughter. You wouldn¡¯t want to see her in an unhappy marriage, would you? I believe her happiness is important too.¡±

    Aplex expression shed in Augustus¡¯s eyes as he turned to look at Rhett, sizing him up as if truly seeing him for the first time. He chuckled and said:

    ¡°Heh, how interesting¡­@@novelbin@@

    Among nobles¡­ there are few people like you.¡±

    Then, he whistled.

    The Crystal Wing Bird skimmed across theke¡¯s surface, leaving a straight ripple that spread outward from the water.

    Augustus climbed onto the Crystal Wing Bird¡¯s back, gently stroking its neck, and in an instant, they transformed into a beam of light that shot up into the sky.

    Only a faint, drifting voice remained:

    ¡°Until we meet again.¡±

    Momentster, Rhett stood with one hand behind his back, watching the light on the horizon turn into a distant ck dot before finally disappearing.

    He sighed and shook his head.

    It wasn¡¯t until that powerful figure, who had exerted immense pressure on him, had left that Shirin, her orange hair fluttering in the wind, cautiously approached. Staring at the lord¡¯s handsome profile, she curiously asked, ¡°Was that the Duke of Blue Diamond just now? I heard that in the Kingdom of Giln, he¡¯s practically invincible among those of the same rank.

    Even from far away, I could feel how terrifying he was.¡±

    ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t feel anything.¡± Rhett touched his nose, thinking that perhaps Augustus had deliberately restrained his aura in front of him.

    He nced at Shirin, choosing his words carefully, and said:

    ¡°Invincible at the same rank is hard to say, but he¡¯s definitely at the pinnacle of his level.¡±

    After all, Augustus was a genius who hadprehended a water element profundity¡ªExtreme Cold.

    Bing a Duke wasn¡¯t something any Sky Knight could qualify for¡­

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Shirin obediently stuck out her tongue.

    After admiring the scenery by theke for a while, Rhett mounted Firew and left the shores of Sun Lake.

    He flew in circles above his territory.

    This was also a way to assert his authority as a lord.

    To ordinary people, simply seeing someone riding a magical beast and flying in the sky was an awe-inspiring sight.

    As Rhett looked down, seeing the countless buildings and the dense crowds of his subjects, a unique feeling rose in his heart.

    After circling for a few dozen minutes, Rhett was about to head back when he suddenly spotted Rayleigh and his caravan on the road, just a few hundred meters from the town gates.

    And they were returning fully loaded. Rhett noticed the ores, magical nts, and other goods in the rear carriages.

    These were all items he had instructed to be collected in preparation for building a new alchemyboratory and crafting alchemy instruments, as well as for Hank to brew the ck Raven¡¯s Grief potion.

    Judging by the timing, their return was just right. Rhett thought to himself, ¡°I¡¯ll finalize the ns today and begin the relocation tomorrow¡­¡±

    Once the territory was relocated, construction would proceed smoothly, with most of the resources being self-sufficient.

    The only challenge would be finding experienced architects to build the new castle.

    However, Rhett was already prepared for that.

    At that moment...

    He looked further back and spotted a dozen or so unfamiliar figures, all tall and muscr, including both ordinary people and low-level knights.

    These were the experienced estate and castle construction teams that Rhett had instructed Rayleigh to find in Twilight City.

    Seeing these unfamiliar faces and the professional tools they carried, Rhett realized they were exactly who he had been looking for.

    A smile curled at the corner of Rhett¡¯s lips as he gently patted Firew¡¯s head, and the creature immediately folded its wings and dove down.

    ¡°Chirp!¡±

    A familiar call echoed from the sky.

    Rayleigh looked up, then signaled the caravan to stop.

 Chapter 177: Family Tradition

    Firewnded, stirring up a cloud of dust. Rhett nimbly leaped off Firew''s back and walked toward the caravan.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯ve purchased all the goods you requested. They¡¯re in the carriages behind,¡± Rayleigh said with admiration, seated on Whitew¡¯s back. ¡°I also found a team to construct the castle. Following your instructions, I visited Carlton, the president of the Doton Trading Company. He swiftly introduced me to a group of experienced architects. Many of the castles in the Southwestern Frontier were built by them!¡±

    ¡°Hmm, well done!¡± Rhett stroked his mustache and nodded. ¡°Since everything is ready, tomorrow we can relocate to our new territory.¡±

    As his words fell, the expressions of the attendants behind him were filled with shock.

    They hadn¡¯t heard about the relocation of the territory and had assumed that Rhett¡¯s promotion to Earl would only involve an expansion of the existing borders.

    However, upon further thought, they realized that it didn¡¯t matter where they moved; their lives wouldn¡¯t change much. In fact, as the idea settled in, they began to feel a subtle anticipation for the new territory!

    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Rayleigh¡¯s eyes showed a sh of surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too rushed? What about the Duke of Blue Diamond¡­¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s already been here, and I am now a legitimate Earl!¡± Rhett interrupted Rayleigh with a faint smile. ¡°Relocating the territory should happen sooner rather thanter. Besides, I¡¯ve already marked the location, right next to the Anwen Eagle Subrange.¡±

    ¡°The Anwen Eagle Subrange?¡± Rayleigh¡¯s surprise deepened, and he opened his mouth to say more.However, Rhett noticed his hesitation and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Let¡¯s head back first. Put the goods in the warehouse, thene with me to the castle.¡±

    ¡°Alright, no problem!¡± Rayleigh exhaled, nodding in agreement.

    He then turned to the still-stunned attendants and waved his hand. ¡°Hurry back to the manor! You¡¯ve all heard that we¡¯re relocating the territory. Once we return, store the goods in the warehouse, then go pack your belongings!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Rayleigh!¡±

    Upon returning to the manor, Rhett immediately gathered the relevant personnel. He called Sveta, Tucker, and Tylers to the fifth-floor hall.

    Rhett sat in a chair near the firece, where a roaring fire dispelled the lingering chill of early spring.

    ¡°Father, why have you called us here?¡± Tucker asked, sitting in a chair while his gaze wandered to Firew and Mog, who were ying near the entrance.

    ¡°Quiet!¡± Rhettmanded sharply.

    Instantly, Sveta, Tucker, and Tylers fell silent.

    ¡°Firew, stop causing a ruckus, or I¡¯ll throw you out,¡± Rhett warned before turning to Tucker. ¡°And keep Mog in line. We¡¯re about to discuss important matters, and I don¡¯t want them causing trouble.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Tucker stood up, grabbed Mog with both arms, and, despite the bird¡¯s loud protests, tossed it out the window.

    Firew, having heard Rhett¡¯s order, obediently ran to the window and followed Mog outside.

    The hall became much quieter.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    The sound of footsteps came from the staircase, and Rayleigh appeared on the fifth floor,ing into view of the others.

    ¡°It seems everyone¡¯s been waiting for me. My apologies for the dy.¡± Rayleigh smiled slightly and took the seat Tucker had saved for him.

    Rhett nodded, watching Rayleigh sit down before lightly coughing twice. ¡°Ahem, now that everyone is here, let¡¯s get down to business.¡±

    The group turned serious, focusing their attention on Rhett, their eyes reflecting the mes of the firece behind him.

    Rhett¡¯s powerful voice echoed through the hall:

    ¡°The Duke of Blue Diamond visited a couple of days ago, as you all know.

    In addition to my promotion to Earl, the new territory has also been designated.¡±

    ¡°Father, where exactly is the new territory?¡± Tucker asked, his curiosity piqued, hisrge eyes shining brightly.

    Tylers was equally curious, straining to listen.

    ¡°It¡¯s near the Anwen Eagle Subrange,¡± Rayleigh answered, filling in the details.

    ¡°Eh? You just returned from a trade trip. How do you know?¡± Tucker turned to Rayleigh, scratching his head.

    ¡°Ahem, I ran into Father on the way back, and he told me.¡±

    Hearing this, Tucker pouted and looked at Rhett with a hint ofint. ¡°Father, I asked you about the new territory a few days ago, but you didn¡¯t tell me.

    Yet you told Rayleigh as soon as he got back. Am I not your real son?¡±

    ¡°Maybe you were picked up from a wolf¡¯s den,¡± Tylers teased, crossing his arms and smirking.

    Tucker turned his head, ring at Tylers.

    ¡°Hehe, it wasn¡¯t the right time before. If you ask me today, I¡¯ll tell you for sure.¡± Rhett chuckled.

    The others didn¡¯t take it seriously, except for Tucker, who, satisfied, nodded his head. Of course, he was his father¡¯s true son¡ªhow could he be treated any less than Rayleigh?

    ¡°So, Father, where exactly in the Anwen Eagle Subrange is our territory?¡± Rayleigh asked.

    Rhett took out a map from his chest¡ªa gift from Augustus¡ªshowing the power distribution and terrain of the entire Southwestern Frontier.

    He spread it out on the table, drawing the attention of the four gathered around.

    ¡°Cold Crystal Lake? Our territory is near Cold Crystal Lake?¡± Tylers eximed, his gaze fixed on the marked area on the map. Confused, he asked, ¡°But why is our territory so long and narrow, almost surrounding the eastern part of the Anwen Eagle Subrange?¡±

    ¡°Can you guess the reason?¡± Rhett asked with a faint smile, looking around at their faces.

    Rayleigh stared at a point on the map, deep in thought, and said, ¡°Father, you must intend to use the Anwen Eagle Subrange as our long-term hunting ground.

    Moreover, you likely have other ns to develop the Anwen Eagle Subrange, which is why you expanded our territory as much as possible to increase its contact with the range.¡±

    A trace of appreciation shed in Rhett¡¯s eyes as he nodded. ¡°Exactly! Our current location has limited potential¡ªjust tnd and more tnd.

    But once we move to the Anwen Eagle Subrange, we¡¯ll have a variety of terrains to choose from.

    And we¡¯ll have magical beasts in the mountains to train our subordinates!¡±

    Sveta and Rhett¡¯s three sons all nodded in agreement.

    After a moment of contemtion, Rhett added:

    ¡°By the way, today I¡¯ll also share an idea I¡¯ve had for a long time.

    From now on, I want to establish a family tradition!¡±

    A family tradition? Tucker, Rayleigh, and Tylers all looked curious, patiently waiting for him to continue.

    ¡°To foster long-term cohesion within the family, subtly influence the habit of unity, and encourage mutual support among members, whenever a family group goes out, the weakest member will be responsible for delivering the final blow to any magical beast hunted.¡±

    Rhett¡¯s gaze swept across their faces as he calmly added, ¡°Think of it as a family rule set by the head of the household.¡±

    At this moment...

    Sveta¡¯s smile remained unchanged as he stood by, quietly waiting.

    Tucker, Rayleigh, and Tylers exchanged nces. Upon hearing Rhett¡¯s directive, they felt a mix of confusion and curiosity.

    Wasn¡¯t this a bit unnecessary?

    But after a bit of thought, they realized that, although the reasoning seemed tenuous, it did make some sense. And since it wasn¡¯t a difficult or harmful rule, they nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Understood, Father. When Kales and Kazena grow up, I¡¯ll make sure to remind them,¡± Rayleigh said.

    ¡°Same here. In a few years, I¡¯ll tell Dick,¡± Tucker added.@@novelbin@@

    Tylers shrugged, curling his lips. ¡°Although I¡¯ll tell Abel, I¡¯ll probably be the weakest one for the next few years.¡±

    Hearing this, everyone present couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    Rhett patted Tylers on the head and said:

    ¡°That¡¯s all for today. But the move to the Anwen Eagle Subrange will require careful nning.

    Rayleigh, go inform Hank and Unica about the relocation.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Rayleigh replied seriously.

    Rhett turned to Tucker and pointed at him. ¡°You, go inform Tadel, Kurs, Shirin, Frano, Laurine, and the members of the training ground.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Tucker responded confidently.

    ¡°And what about me, Father? What should I do?¡± Tylers asked, pointing to himself, feeling a strange excitement about the uing move.

    ¡°You¡­ help Hank organize the alchemyb equipment and pack up the magical nts in the cultivation fields.¡±

    Relieved by the light workload, Tylers nodded enthusiastically.

    ¡°Sveta, your tasks are more varied. You¡¯ll need to visit East Eagle Logging Camp and Green Grass Pasture to inform them about the relocation.

    You¡¯ll also need to notify the townsfolk, going door to door, and post a notice in the central square.¡±

    ¡°No problem, my lord. What about Fire Mine Vige? Should I go there as well?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle that. I¡¯ll discuss it with Vides.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    Rhett stood up from his chair, nced at everyone, and said:

    ¡°Then we¡¯re dismissed. Carry out the tasks I¡¯ve just assigned.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Father/My Lord.¡±

    Rhett called for Firew and quickly headed to Fire Mine Vige.

    At the edge of the fire mine, on the high ground near a deep pit, Rhett finally found Vides.

    ¡°Rhett, what brings you here today?¡± Vides asked, watching Rhett jump off Firew. Hands on his hips, he smiled and added, ¡°And those two orcs of yours, when will you assign them to the mine?

    With their stamina, it would be a waste not to make them work hard.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I knew you were thinking about my two orcs!¡± Rhettughed and shook his head before replying helplessly:

    ¡°But¡­ it won¡¯t be possible in the short term.

    As you know, I¡¯ve been promoted to Earl and will receive a new fief.

    I¡¯ve chosen a location near the Anwen Eagle Subrange, and we¡¯ll be moving soon. The two orcs will also be involved in the construction of the new territory.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Relocating the territory?¡± Vides looked surprised, then his expression turned to concern. ¡°But choosing a location near the Anwen Eagle Subrange¡­ isn¡¯t that too dangerous?

    Although you¡¯re a Level 5 Magister and the Anwen Eagle Subrange poses no threat to you, what if a high-level magical beast roams into your territory one day? What will you do then?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already decided and can¡¯t be changed,¡± Rhett shrugged, stating the facts before patting Vides on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Trust me, nothing will happen!¡±

    Vides stared at Rhett for a moment, and seeing the unwavering confidence in his eyes, he felt reassured.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Vides opened his mouth to speak, then decided against it, shaking his head with a sigh.

    ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re the lord, so you make the decisions,¡± Vides said with resignation. ¡°But mark my words¡ªstay safe. I don¡¯t want you dying before I do.¡±

    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s hope neither of us dies!¡± Rhett said, patting Vides on the shoulder. He was confident! ¡°By the way, I wanted to ask if you n toe with me to the Anwen Eagle Subrange or stay here?¡± Rhett looked at Vides and, after thinking for a moment, added to avoid any misunderstanding, ¡°Personally, I¡¯d prefer you toe to the Anwen Eagle Subrange. After all, we¡¯ve developed a good rapport over the years, and I¡¯d feel more at ease.¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Vides began to speak but then fell silent. After a pause, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here.

    This mine is too important, and you don¡¯t have many people who are better suited to guard it than I am.¡±

    ¡°How can you say that? I have Tadel, Kurs, Shirin¡­¡± Rhett shrugged. ¡°I have plenty of capable subordinates.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not as capable as I am!¡± Vides replied without expression.

    You really don¡¯t hold back, do you¡­ Rhett thought, amused, but he replied, ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re the best! But don¡¯t miss me too much after I leave. I¡¯ll find time to visit.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so full of yourself¡­¡± Vides muttered, his mouth twitching.

    Afterward, Rhett made a round of inspections throughout the territory.

    He took a good look at Bramble Vige and Eagletown before returning to Deep Rock Fortress.

    The next day, before the world was fully lit...

    Rhett awoke from his meditation and, while walking through the hall and down the stairs, heard the ttering sounds of busy activity.

    The servants were extraordinarily busy.

    Male and female servants alike were moving various items, some light and some heavy¡ªflower pots, water buckets, thickly stacked tablecloths, and delicate square tables...

    They bustled up and down the stairs and through the hall, creating a lively scene that was quite unlike the usual quietness of early morning.

    On this special day, even the butler Sveta was frazzled. He had risen early, before dawn, to make a round of inspections in town to check on the residents¡¯ preparations for the move.

    After confirming that everything was in order, he returned to Deep Rock Fortress to oversee the servants¡¯ moving tasks.

    Wearing his ck suit, he stood deep in the hall near a cluttered shelf, pointing forward, ¡°Shal, be careful with that! That flower pot has been in Deep Rock Fortress for ten years, longer than you¡¯ve been here!¡±

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Sveta!¡± Shal carefully and slowly carried three stacked flower pots toward the outside.

 Chapter 178: Dont Wait, Act Early

    Maru woke up early, apanied by a few kitchen assistants, to organize the kitchen utensils and prepare breakfast.

    Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice and peeked outside. Upon seeing Sveta, her eyes lit up, and she swayed her slightly plump hips as she walked over.

    ¡°Hey, Sveta, look what I made for you¡ªa bacon sandwich!¡± Maru cheerfully offered the warm sandwich.

    ¡°Thank you, Maru. It looks delicious, but I¡¯ll have to eat itter. As you can see, I¡¯m quite busy right now.¡± Sveta, with sweat beading on his forehead, was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Maru, but then he expressed his gratitude.

    ¡°I¡¯m worried you might faint from hunger. You¡¯d better eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Maru smiled warmly and, without waiting for a reply, tucked the sandwich into his chest pocket before returning to the kitchen.

    ¡°Wow, a bacon sandwich¡ªa special breakfast!¡± a teasing voice sounded from the side. Scarlett, dressed in a ck cloth coat, covered her mouth as she giggled. She had a good rtionship with Sveta, so a little teasing was harmless.

    Sveta turned his head, pointing a finger at her and jokingly scolded, ¡°Scarlett, it seems your workload is too light! Do you need me to assign you more tasks?¡±

    ¡°No, no need for that,¡± Scarlett quickly replied, her face showing a sudden look of fear. She waved her slender hands as she ran toward the door, saying, ¡°I just moved down all the clothes I sewed the other day in one go, and I also promised Rachel that I¡¯d help her with the manor¡¯s flowers and nts. I¡¯m heading there now.¡±

    Sveta was satisfied with Scarlett¡¯s attitude, and as he watched her retreating figure, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and shake his head.¡°Sveta, you should eat the sandwich while it¡¯s hot,¡± Rhett¡¯s voice came from behind him as he descended the stairs.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Sveta turned around abruptly, instinctively touching the sandwich in his pocket, realizing that the lord had witnessed the entire scene.

    He smiled awkwardly. ¡°You¡¯re right, my lord.¡±

    As Rhett passed by him, his smile unchanged, he added in a softer voice, ¡°Love, too, should not wait.¡±

    Uh¡­ Sveta was left stunned, aplex emotion flickering in his eyes as he nced at the lord¡¯s back, then turned his gaze toward the kitchen.

    ¡°Sigh.¡±

    As the western world remained still, the sun rose, erasing the gray hues, and light filtered through the green trees like rain. Spring disyed its full vigor today.

    Rhett walked out of Deep Rock Fortress, inhaling the earthy scent in the air. Seeing the thriving flowers and nts around him, he muttered to himself:

    ¡°Spring brings renewal, a fresh start once again¡­¡±

    The bustle at Deep Rock Fortress continued for over an hour.

    Once things had settled down, Rhett returned to the first-floor hall, ncing around. Everything that could be disassembled had been taken down and loaded onto the manor¡¯s wagons, including the chandelier, the long dining table, the thick, plush red carpet, and various old decorations. The ce now looked empty.

    Hank, Rayleigh, and Tylers each carried arge ck box as they descended the stairs.

    ¡°My lord, everything from the alchemyb has been packed up,¡± Hank said from the stairway corner.

    ¡°Be, Shal, Leo, Esam, go help carry these outside,¡± Sveta quickly instructed several male servants as he hurried over.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The servants, though out of breath, rushed to assist.

    Rhett gathered everyone at the manor¡¯s entrance, directing the carriages onto the gray stone road.

    Then, mounting Firew, he headed alone to Eagletown.

    In front of the Ironside Smithy...

    Andrei and Leonid had been waiting for some time, with Willow, Truro, and Brisso standing behind their masters, carryingrge bundles, looking well-prepared.

    When they saw Rhett approaching, they all looked up at the sky with reverence.

    ¡°Good morning, everyone,¡± Rhett¡¯s voice carried from above as Firew circled twice over the smithy beforending. Rhett leaped off and greeted them with a smile:

    ¡°It seems what I asked you to forge is ready.¡±

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare dy the lord¡¯s ns. We¡¯ve been working non-stop this past week and have finally forged the metal container to your specifications!¡± Andrei replied.

    ¡°As you requested, it¡¯s forty meters long, thirty meters wide, and five meters high, with not a millimeter off,¡± Leonid added with a grin.

    Rhett turned to inspect the silver-white, rectangr metal container, noting that it was indeed quite spacious.

    A week ago, he had visited the smithy to order this piece, specifically for transporting aquatic magical beasts during the relocation.

    Aquatic magical beasts were more resilient than ordinary fish and shrimp, requiring less delicate handling during transportation.

    Unless speed, long-distance travel, or unpredictable risks during transport were a concern, a specially made alchemical container wasn¡¯t necessary.

    But from Eagletown to the Anwen Eagle Subrange, the journey was smooth, and there was no need for haste, so a regr container would suffice.

    With Rhett overseeing the journey, the mid-tier and low-tier aquatic magical beasts wouldn¡¯t dare to cause any trouble.

    ¡°With over a hundred aquatic magical beasts, this container¡¯s capacity should be more than enough!¡± Rhett nodded approvingly.

    ¡°Lord, would you like us to deliver it for you?¡± Andrei had already guessed that the lord intended to use the container to transport the aquatic magical beasts from Sun Lake.

    ¡°No need, Firew can handle it!¡± Rhett smiled, patting Firew¡¯s shoulder to convey his instructions.

    ¡°Chirp!¡± ¡°Chirp!¡±

    Firew let out a loud cry and, without hesitation, allowed Rhett to mount before rising four meters into the air, grabbing the metal container¡ªresembling a small swimming pool¡ªwith its ws.

    Rhett focused his mental power, causing the surrounding wind elements to rapidly gather beneath the container, forming a green light that eased Firew¡¯s burden.

    With the container now lightened, Firew effortlessly lifted it into the sky, casting arge shadow over the ground as it followed Rhett¡¯s direction westward! Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª The wind howled past as they sped through the air.

    Upon reaching the shores of Sun Lake, the metal container was gently set down by the water¡¯s edge, where Shirin, Tadel, and Kurs were already waiting.

    Seeing Rhett¡¯s arrival, they greeted him respectfully, ¡°Good morning, my lord!¡±

    Rhett didn¡¯t waste any time and approached theke:

    ¡°Good morning. Let¡¯s get started¡ªcatch all the aquatic magical beasts and put them in this container!¡±

    The three of them nced at the silver-white metal container before promptly jumping into the water, sending up sshes.

    Rhett stood by the shore, watching them work while also lending a hand. To speed up the process, he used his power to gather small stones in the water, driving the aquatic magical beasts toward Tadel, Kurs, and Shirin.

    For the three Level 2 knights, catching these magical beasts was a simple task.

    Before long, the metal container by the shore was filled with over a hundred, nearly two hundred, Three-Eyed Firefin Fish, Giant-Toothed ms, Blueback Crayfish, and Frostshell Crabs.

    Under Rhett¡¯s watchful eye, they remained calm in the water, not daring to act out, only bubbling quietly.

    Tadel pped his hands and jumped out of the water, asking, ¡°My lord, when do we set off? I can¡¯t wait to see our new territory!¡±

    ¡°Soon. They¡¯re probably already on their way,¡± Rhett replied, looking eastward. He had set the relocation nst night, so by now, the manor¡¯s people and some of the town¡¯s civilians would have already begun the journey.

    Half an hourter¡­

    Rhett stood on the grassy shore of Sun Lake, watching as a distant ck line appeared on the horizon, slowly moving toward his location.

    A few minutester, he could make out the figures¡ªMacoff, Hank, Frano, Laurine, and others, followed by Tucker, Rayleigh, Tylers, Sveta, and many male and female servants.

    And¡­ more than three hundred of his subjects.

    For this move to the Anwen Eagle Subrange, Rhett had only brought a small portion of his subjects, leaving over a thousand in Eagletown, Fire Mine Vige, and Bramble Vige.

    After all, the number of horses in the territory was limited, and the transportation capacity was insufficient to carry more than a thousand people at once, so they would have to move in batches.

    The three hundred or so subjects traveled in groups of ten, riding inrge wagons.

    Over sixty gray-skinned horses pulled the wagons, most of them carrying the subjects, while a few were assigned to the manor¡¯s servants and the woodcutters from the logging camp.

    There were also two orcs in the woodcutters¡¯ team.

    Although the minotaur and orc were well-behaved, their massive size, strange skin color, and ferocious appearance still scared the woodcutters and those around them.

    The architects¡¯ convoy was next to the woodcutters¡¯ convoy. Being experienced and well-traveled, they had heard about orcs from various nobles and couldn¡¯t hide their amazement and curiosity as they looked back and forth at the two orcs.

    The orcs did not ride in the wagons but ran alongside them on foot.

    The heavy thud of their footsteps echoed at the rear of the convoy, like the beating of war drums.

    All the wagons were shrouded in a faint green light, and a closer listen would reveal the sound of wind swirling around the convoy.

    Macoff, his mind focused, continuously manipted the wind elements to speed up the convoy¡¯s progress.

    The power of a Level 3 Wind Magister was fully disyed.

    As the convoy drew closer, it paused for a brief moment, allowing Rhett to take in the impressive sight. His mood lifted.

    He made a routine inspection, lingering longer near the two orcs, who trembled with fear.

    He chuckled softly:

    ¡°Not bad! Let¡¯s continue onward!¡±

    The convoy resumed its westward journey.

    Rhett then approached Rayleigh and pointed to the metal container. ¡°The task of changing the water along the way is yours.¡±@@novelbin@@

    ¡°No problem, Father!¡± Rayleigh nced at the silver-white container and nodded.

    ¡°Sveta, it¡¯s going to be a bumpy ride, so take the opportunity to rest on the wagon. Don¡¯t overexert yourself,¡± Rhett said, noticing Sveta poring over a booklet with a serious expression.

    Sveta raised his hand, closing the Eagletown poption register, and replied gratefully, ¡°Thank you for your concern, my lord!¡±

    This time, Rhett didn¡¯t feel too sentimental about the move¡ªit wasn¡¯t like he was abandoning Eagletown. On the contrary, with the potential of the new territory, it was a cause for celebration. And with Firew at his side, traveling between the two ces would be much easier.

    Moreover, with the simtor as a backup, he wasn¡¯t worried about any unforeseeable crises urring in Eagletown during his absence.

    At this moment, only the manor¡¯s servants and the subjects asionally looked back with longing at the ce they had lived in for over a decade.

    The younger men and teens weren¡¯t too affected. Their excitement and curiosity about the new, unfamiliarnd far outweighed any nostalgic feelings.

    It was the older women and elderly men who, when looking back, had tears welling up in their eyes.

    The convoy moved westward, the scene changing around them, while the white clouds drifted slowly across the sky. Sveta gazed at his lord¡¯s back, thinking to himself:

    ¡°The lord truly is extraordinary. He is a chosen one, destined to lead the Green family to soar and reach the pinnacle of the world. I hope¡­ I can be there to see that day¡­¡±

    Just like a fledgling eagle spreading its wings, iming arger territory in the sky.

    Rhett led therge convoy westward toward the Anwen Eagle Subrange...

    The sun crowned him, the clouds adorned him, and the earth was his vast stage.

    He traveled through the night, bathed in starlight.

    Finally, after half a month on the road...

    As daylight began to fade, the sun sank in the west, and shadows stretched long across the ground.

    As night fell and the stars shone brightly in the silent world, the only sounds were the rolling of wagon wheels, the whinnies of horses, the shuffle of footsteps, and the soft whisper of the wind.

    The faint green light drew closer to the dense forest.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes sparkled with a mysterious light as he raised his right hand, signaling the convoy to stop.

    ¡°Up ahead is the Anwen Eagle Subrange, and three kilometers further is Cold Crystal Lake,¡± Rhett announced loudly. ¡°Our new territory will be established here.¡±

    Those who were already aware of the location showed little surprise. However, the subjects and servants, weary from half a month of travel, perked up as their eyes lit up, taking in the surrounding scenery.

    Unfortunately, with their limited night vision, they could only make out the dark silhouette of the distant mountains in the ckened environment.

    Half a month of travel, and we¡¯ve finally arrived at our destination! ¡°Father, how do you n to settle the subjects?¡± Rayleigh asked as he approached Rhett.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start by conjuring some simple houses for everyone. Building the castle won¡¯t be a quick task, but with the endless supply of stone I can provide, it¡¯ll save us a lot of effort.¡±

    As soon as Rhett finished speaking, he began gathering earth elements, forming solid stone walls on a patch of emptynd ahead.

    Yellow light flickered continuously, apanied by rumbling sounds as dust and smoke scattered.

    Thick walls gradually formed, assembling into solid, rectangr houses.

    These housescked intricate interior designs, but they were sturdy and offered good shelter, making them suitable for short-term use.

    The subjects watched in awe as their lord performed his magical feat, their mouths agape.

    In just an hour, Rhett had created dozens of simple stone houses in rectangr shapes.

    However, he was unable to create doors or windows with precision, so they would need to be addedter.

    ¡°This will have to do for now. Once the castle and wooden houses arepleted, it won¡¯t take more than a few months for this ce to thrive!¡± Rhett thought to himself.

    Then, Rhett turned to Sveta and issued an order:

    ¡°The fiftyrgest stone houses on the western side will be for the subjects. Tomorrow, all able-bodied men will assist the carpenters in cutting down trees!¡±

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re supervised!¡±

 Chapter 179: Establishing Dark Eagle City

    "Rayleigh," Rhett called out, waving to his second son.

    As Rayleigh approached, Rhett said, "Take a few people and release the aquatic magical beasts into Cold Crystal Lake."

    "No problem," Rayleigh nodded in agreement.

    Then, Rhett assigned housing to his attendants and servants, and he himself ventured alone into the forest.

    Under the dim moonlight, Rhett''s feet were surrounded by faint blue wind elements, making him as light as a snake as he moved swiftly through the dark woods.

    He muttered to himself, "Burrowing Bears¡¯ dens? Usually located on rocky hillsides with exposed rock, I should be able to find one by following this habit."

    Soon after, he stood on the branch of a tall tree, spotting a steep area in the distance. Although it was far, he immediately headed in that direction.

    A cool night breeze swept by, causing Rhett''s hair to flutter gently.

    The blue light beneath his feet gradually faded, and his vision locked onto arge, dark cave about a hundred meters away. The cave stood over four meters high and three meters wide, shaped like a half-oval.A faint stench, carried by the wind, reached Rhett''s nose, causing him to frown. The distinct odor suggested it had been a long time since anyone¡ªor anything¡ªhad washed there.

    Yes, this should be the ce.

    Moving forward, Rhett sensed the presence of a slumbering Level 1 Burrowing Bear within, snoring deeply.

    Without hesitation, Rhett boldly walked into the cave.

    His unrestrained movements quickly alerted the Burrowing Bear.

    A furious roar echoed from within the cave, soon turning into a terrified, panicked bellow!

    Roar, roar, roar!

    Whimper, whimper, whimper!

    Thud, thud, thud!

    Apanied by the roars were heavy footsteps, like drumbeats, as a yellow figure clumsily burst from the cave. The bear had tworge lumps on its head, a bleeding wound on its arm where muscle had been pierced, and fear filled its eyes.

    It hurriedly fled deeper into the Anwen Eagle Subrange.

    Inside the cave, Rhett was left alone, shaking his head with a smile. After some thought, he decided to let the Burrowing Bear go.

    Since he had alreadymitted to sustainable hunting, killing low-level creatures like this within the Anwen Eagle Subrange held no value for Rhett.

    Perhaps by letting it escape, it might eventually mate with another Burrowing Bear and produce offspring.

    Pushing aside irrelevant thoughts, Rhett turned and began searching the cave. Using his exceptional elemental sensing abilities, he detected a faint fire element fluctuation deep within the stone walls of the cave¡ªclearly an anomaly within the rock.

    Rhett conjured a pointed stone spike andmanded, "Go!"

    A stream of yellow light shot from the air, piercing the rock wall with a series of loud cracks.

    He was careful not to use too much force, wary of damaging whatever was hidden inside or destroying the structure entirely.

    As chunks of stone fell away, a deep recess appeared in the wall.

    "Hmm?" Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest.

    With his sharp eyes, he spotted a dark red metal box embedded in the yellowish stone.

    Under the illumination of light elements, Rhett saw a faint reflection from the box¡¯s surface, confirming it was made of metal.

    He increased the force of the spike, the sounds of impact growing louder as stone fragments scattered like water droplets.

    Before long, the recess became deeper and wider.

    Finally, Rhett reached in and smoothly extracted the metal box.

    As he held it, he felt a trace of warmth.

    "This is... Fire Vein Ore?" Rhett was slightly surprised, recognizing the familiar sensation as soon as he touched the box.

    The heat was significantly higher than that of raw ore, indicating it had undergone refining to achieve this quality.

    Unrefined Fire Vein Ore was only suitable as fuel; only after refining could it be used to craft items.

    The box wasn''t locked, so Rhett easily opened it.

    With a creak, the lid lifted, revealing two bottles of red and blue potions inside.

    Peeking through the gap between the vials, he noticed a yellowed envelope pressed underneath.@@novelbin@@

    A smile tugged at Rhett''s lips as he identified the potions¡ªthe Fire Bath Potion and the Starlight Potion.

    The former was an excellent healing potion, while thetter was an effective antidote, both ssified as mid-level potions.

    "Not bad," Rhett said with a pleased expression, storing the potions and carefully retrieving the letter.

    He skimmed it briefly, noting the five lines matched the simtion¡¯s description regarding the pursuit of a traitor and the delivery to the Ring Tower.

    Losing interest, he sealed the letter back in the envelope and tucked it into his pocket.

    Afterward, Rhett left the cave, stood at the entrance for a moment, then changed direction, heading deeper into the forest instead of returning to the outskirts.

    Now familiar with the route, Rhett reached the heart of the Anwen Eagle Subrange in just three hours.

    In the distant, dark night sky, a solitary peak pierced the heavens.

    Chirp! Chirp!

    Eerie cries asionally echoed through the air.

    Rhett looked up and saw a few ck Anwen Eagles flying to and fro under the moonlight, though their numbers were far fewer than before.

    Last time, he had concluded the battle in a single day, wiping out all the Anwen Eagles on the lone peak, but there were always stragglers in other parts of the mountain range.

    Sure enough, he now counted over ten Anwen Eagles circling the mountain.

    Fortunately, Rhett had arrived early, taking out a Level 3 White-headed Eagle along the way.

    If he had waited another ten days or so, the Anwen Eagle poption would have dwindled further.

    "White-headed Eagles, magical beasts with high-tier bloodline potential. Once they mature, they can easily reach high levels!" Rhett muttered softly. Even an Anwen Eagle of the same tier might not be able to defeat one.

    The White-headed Eagle he had encountered on this trip was different from the one that had ambushed him during his retreat from the canyon defense line. This one had long since reached the peak of Level 3.

    "But¡­ why do these White-headed Eagles always appear between the canyon defense line and Eagletown?" A trace of doubt shed in Rhett''s eyes.

    Low-level White-headed Eagles, given their high-tier bloodline potential, should still be in their juvenile stage. While their presence in the Southwestern Frontier wasn¡¯t impossible, it should be very rare¡­

    Shaking his head, Rhett pushed the thoughts aside for now and continued observing the area around the lone peak. He noticed one of the Level 3 Anwen Eagles, the one he had rescued from the White-headed Eagle a few days ago, seemed to recognize him. It chirped as it circled above him, but it remained cautious, not daring toe any closer.

    Rhett chuckled softly and pulled out a handful of ck leaves, tossing them into the air.

    Chirp!

    The Level 3 Anwen Eagle¡¯s eyes gleamed as it dove down at lightning speed, snatching the leaves from the air.

    Pleased, it flew off into the distance, heading toward the lone peak!

    As he watched the Anwen Eagle disappear into the distance, Rhett sighed quietly as he gazed at the distant peak. These Anwen Eagles likely had no idea that the cause of their n''s near extinction stood right here.

    Unaware of the buried truth, they were grateful for the small favors and viewed him as a benefactor¡ªsuch irony.

    However, Rhett didn¡¯t feel guilty. It was merely a matter of conflicting interests, with each side fighting for its own survival.

    Thew of the jungle¡ªsurvival of the fittest¡ªwas a universal truth.

    In his previous world, it was known as "nuclear peace." Here, the concept was just as relevant.

    Rhett believed that no matter where one found themselves, taking care of oneself and those around them was already a significant achievement.

    If there was strength left, one could try to influence a wider area¡­

    Bringing his drifting thoughts back to the present, Rhett turned and left the area.

    By the time he returned to camp, the sky in the east was beginning to lighten, with the first hints of dawn peeking through the mountains. The stars dimmed and slowly receded.

    The subjects were all asleep in therge stone houses Rhett had built earlier, while the training ground members patrolled in several teams under the leadership of Tadel, Kurs, and Shirin.

    "Father, you''re back." Rayleigh, who had been meditating, sensed his father''s return and rose to greet him.

    "Yes," Rhett nodded. "I just went to the mountains to take a look and found that the Anwen Eagle''s nest has gathered over a dozen more Anwen Eagles."

    "Oh? Are you nning to eliminate them all?"

    Eliminate them? Then what would I keep them for¡­ Rhett shook his head. "No, not only will we not harm them, but we will also raise them carefully."

    Raise them? Rayleigh thought for a moment, then asked, "Are you nning to use Tucker''s Anwen Eagle to control the entire flock?"

    Rhett smiled at his perceptive son. "Exactly. It would be a shame not to seize such an opportunity.

    Moreover, I¡¯ve heard that in Ice City, there¡¯s an alchemy master who makes a species-ending poison for dragonkin, and he might use materials from Anwen Eagles for it.

    So this approach will not only build a connection with that master but also contribute to the fight against the orcs."

    "I see..." Rayleigh¡¯s eyes showed a look of understanding. "That¡¯s your n, Father."

    Rayleigh then looked around, his gaze settling on a marked-off area ofnd. "Father, the architects have already selected the best terrain for the new manor, as well as for the construction of the castle, the outer fortress, and the inner and outer walls."

    Rhett followed his son''s gaze and indeed saw over fifty people gathered around a white-marked perimeter, engaged in quiet discussion. The lead architect, a Level 1 Knight, pointed here and there, giving instructions.

    Rhett approached them with a smile. "You¡¯ve all worked hard."

    "Earl Rhett, you''re too kind. We¡¯re just doing our jobs.

    So far, we¡¯ve followed your instructions and recreated the overall outline of Deep Rock Fortress in our ns," the lead architect replied.

    "Thanks to the design ns left behind from the original construction of Deep Rock Fortress, Master Rayleigh was able to replicate a few copies for us."

    "Excellent. I have a few additional requests."

    "Please, go ahead."

    "Keep theyout and overall height the same, but double the internal space and floor area," Rhett suggested, considering that the family would likely grow in the future, and it was best to n ahead.

    "No problem, Earl Rhett!" The lead architect smiled. "By the way, I wanted to ask, what will the new castle be called?"

    "Hmm, the new castle¡­ Let¡¯s call it Dark Rock Fortress..." Rhett said softly, ncing around at the dim morning light.

    With all the ns set, Rhett didn¡¯t leave immediately.

    Instead, he supervised the start of the new territory¡¯s construction for a day, ensuring everything was progressing smoothly and orderly.

    Since the simtion indicated that all was going well, Rhett felt confident that nothing unexpected would happen during his absence.

    Before leaving, he mulled over one more idea¡ªthe necessity of building a city.

    Only by building a city could he attract tradepanies and encourage more poption influx, which would greatly benefit the development of the territory.

    As an Earl, he had the qualification to establish a city.

    If he didn¡¯t finalize the n before leaving, he would be gone for several months, missing the opportunity.

    So, he also outlined theyout for the new city.

    Rhett decided to name this city¡­ Dark Eagle City.

    Finally, he conjured arge quantity of high-strength stone blocks as building materials.

    After giving a few more instructions to his subordinates, he felt at ease and left the Anwen Eagle Subrange.

    By evening...

    Rhett flew through the night sky on Firew, truly experiencing what it meant to travel under the stars.

    Closing his eyes, he felt the early spring breeze, now carrying a hint of warmth.

    The wind gently brushed against his face.

    In a moment of reverie, memories of spring from years past shed in his mind¡ªNicole¡¯s yful smile, the secret kisses.

    The stirring of his heart from those moments still lingered.

    His eyelids trembled slightly as he whispered silently, "Is it you¡­ Nicole¡­?"

    The Kingdom of Rem had a history spanning a thousand years, even longer than that of the Kingdom of Giln.

    Located to the northwest of the Kingdom of Giln, it was separated by vast ins and the Beastman Mountain Range.

    Although the two kingdoms didn¡¯t share a border, the distance between them was rtively shortpared to other kingdoms.

    However, since Rhett was departing from the Southwestern Frontier, the journey would take considerable time.

    Along the way, Rhett, drawing on his experience and knowledge of the Kingdom of Giln and its surrounding regions, carefully chose the safest route.

    He avoided the edges of the Thunder Bear branch of the Beastman Mountain Range, sticking to the airspace of the Kingdom of Giln and unimed territories.

    "Chirp!"

    Firew pped its wings as it flew high in the sky, suddenly raising its head and letting out a low cry.

    Hungry already... Rhett chuckled, patting Firew on the head. He pulled out a handful of three-leaf fireflower leaves from his pocket and fed them to hispanion: "Eat up, you''ll need your strength for the journey!"

    Looking ahead, despite flying high, Rhett began to feel a bit bored after so much time in the air.

    His only source of amusement was petting Firew''s warm, fluffy fur¡ªhe had lost count of how many times he had done it on this trip.

    The feathers on Firew''s head were almost rubbed bald¡­

    Over a month had passed since their departure, and Rhett noticed thendscape below had shifted from deste ins to asional viges, even noble territories.

    He knew he had reached the southern border of the Kingdom of Rem¡­

 Chapter 180: Rattlesnake Tavern

    On February 23rd, the sky was heavy with rain clouds that were slowly dispersing, leaving the air more humid than usual.

    Rhett, riding on Firew, descended into a border city. The faint scent of wet earth lingered in the air.

    Due to the dim light of dusk, he could make out a row of about twenty grimacing pumpkinnterns hanging by the city gate.

    It seemed this ce was White Pumpkin City. But what was with the eerie atmosphere? Could it be a special holiday today, or was this just how it always was?

    Rhett approached the gate and tossed a gold coin to the knight standing guard.

    The knight nced at Rhett, sensing the faint pressure around him and noticing the flying magic beast by his side. His expression turned serious as he extended his right hand in a respectful gesture that he usually wouldn''t show tomoners.

    "Honored guest, wee to White Pumpkin City!"

    Rhett¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He maintained a silent and mysterious demeanor, leading Firew slowly into the city.

    He had already gathered information beforehand¡ªWhite Pumpkin City was the main city of a certain earl, much like Twilight City, which was established by Earl Nilo. The earl held absolute control over the city, providing protection while also taxing any outsiders who set up shops or conducted trade there.Walking along the main street, paved with white stones and red bricks, Rhett passed various shops¡ªrestaurants, inns, taverns...

    In the alleys, scantily d women waved suggestively, seeking transactional love. Their seductive eyes seemed to want to devour any man passing by.

    Near these alleys were often small, unmarked buildings or discreet inns.

    Rhett hadn¡¯t walked a kilometer before spotting several such establishments.

    Hmm, White Pumpkin City¡­ is quite weing...

    He stopped looking around and focused on the red-brick road beneath his feet, contemting his next move. Even though he was a Level 5 Magister, he was in a foreignnd, unfamiliar with the area, and far from possessing world-dominating power. He couldn¡¯t afford to act recklessly.

    Moreover, this was an earl''s territory, and he had to tread carefully, at least on the surface.

    He stroked his chin.

    Hmm¡­ I should gather some information first.

    Unconsciously, Rhett found himself at a crossroads where the crowd had thinned significantly, and both sides of the street were shrouded in darkness. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the best ce to gather information.

    So, he retraced his steps, recalling thergest and busiest tavern he had seen on the way here.

    "It seems¡­ it was the Rattlesnake Tavern? Let¡¯s go check it out..." Rhett muttered to himself.

    Those who owned magic beasts, especially flying ones, were seldom ordinary people. Rhett¡¯s presence with Firew naturally attracted many curious gazes.

    He stopped in front of the Rattlesnake Tavern.

    At the entrance stood four scarred knights, wearing nothing but sleeveless vests that revealed their bulging muscles. They held swords or clubs, their faces menacing and intimidating.

    Despite their fierce appearance, Rhett easily sensed that they were only Level 2 knights¡ªenough to intimidate ordinary people, but to him, they were nothing more than ants.

    As Rhett prepared to enter, the two knights nearest to him stared at Firew with barely concealed greed.

    However, when Rhett''s cold gaze swept over them, coupled with a slight exertion of his spiritual power pressing down on their heads¡­

    The four knights at the door froze as if struck by a paralysis spell, their pupils contracting sharply!

    They held their breath, their muscles trembling, too terrified to even exhale.

    In the presence of a Magister, they couldn¡¯t flee fast enough¡ªwho would dare provoke such a person?

    They even feared that if Rhett found them annoying, he might kill them on a whim. And if that happened, no one would avenge them...

    Rhett entered the tavern smoothly, the bright yellow light washing over his face. The mixed smell of various alcoholic beverages assaulted his nose, and the noisy chatter filled the air.

    Rhett¡¯s expression remained calm, unfazed by the scene around him. He scanned the room, found an empty corner, and walked over to take a seat.

    His entrance caused the noise in the tavern to drop noticeably.

    After all, not many people entered here apanied by a magic beast.

    Various curious nces were directed at Rhett, though the mix of greed and wariness was rtively low.

    Since Rhett concealed his aura, those watching couldn¡¯t gauge his strength. His unfamiliar face also made it difficult for them to determine his identity.

    In short, the seasoned patrons of White Pumpkin City made one conclusion¡ªhe was a stranger.

    Rhett leaned back in his seat, intending to quietly listen for any useful information.

    Suddenly, the scent of rose perfume wafted over him.

    A scantily d woman with heavy makeup and a seductive smile swayed her hips as she approached Rhett.

    Instead of sitting down, she leaned forward, revealing a deep cleavage.

    Then, in a sultry voice, she whispered into Rhett¡¯s ear:

    "This gentleman, you must be new to our Rattlesnake Tavern. I¡¯ve never seen your face here before¡­"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow and scrutinized the red-haired woman before him¡ªshe appeared quite young.

    However, her being a Level 3 knight meant her strength helped maintain her figure and appearance, making her true age hard to discern.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Rhett asked bluntly, "Are you¡­ the owner of this ce?"

    "Oh no, I¡¯m the owner, not the owner¡¯s wife!" The red-haired woman chuckled, emphasizing her point with a yful smile.

    "Heh," Rhett chuckled as well.

    "Do you need any services, mysterious¡­ Magister?" The red-haired woman¡¯s smile turned more seductive as she reached out, intending to ce her hand on his shoulder.

    But under Rhett''s cold gaze, she hesitated and withdrew her hand...

    At that moment, a waiter dressed in a ck and white suit approached, carrying a tray. He ced a ss of deep blue liquor with a faint fragrance in front of Rhett.

    "Sir, please enjoy." The waiter bowed and then left.

    "Hey, look, that hussy Lilith is trying to charm another man," a mocking, high-pitched voice suddenly called out from across the room.

    Rhett nced over to see an older man with a bushy beard, wearing a jacket with his half-gray hair slicked back. His face was full of arrogance, a demeanor matched by the gang members surrounding him.

    Why did Rhett confidentlybel them as gang members?

    Because the group of young men around the older man, about twenty of them, all had lecherous and sinister looks in their eyes as they ogled the red-haired woman.

    In one corner, several of them were openly harassing and teasing young women.

    But more importantly, Rhett could sense that the older man, who seemed to be the leader of these thugs, was a Level 3 earth-element Magister?

    It matched perfectly with his simtion!

    "Ah, so that''s how it is¡­ Normally, I woulde here to gather information¡­ and it turns out that this tavern just so happens to have that earth-element Magister leading the gang?" Rhett rubbed his chin, a smile slowly forming on his face.

    Lilith nced at the old man, a sh of disdain crossing her eyes.

    But when she looked back at Rhett, who had suddenly started smiling, she paused for a moment before saying:

    "Magister, you don¡¯t need to pay attention to them. That¡¯s the leader of one of the two major gangs in White Pumpkin City, the Mod gang. He¡¯s a Level 3 earth-element Magister, butpared to you, he¡¯s far inferior." As she spoke, Lilith carefully observed the expression of this mysterious and powerful man.

    As a Level 3 knight, she couldn¡¯t sense his aura at all.

    In fact, she hadn¡¯t even noticed him until he walked into the tavern. It wasn¡¯t until she scanned the room with her eyes that she saw him.

    Such a situation could only mean one thing¡ªthis man was undoubtedly a Magister.

    "If that¡¯s the case, maybe¡­ he could help me," Lilith thought, sighing inwardly as she recalled the pressure from the earl.

    Rhett pondered Lilith''s words, then asked, "A gang? Does that mean the nobles here don¡¯t care about the city''s security?"

    In other ces, Rhett wasn¡¯t sure, but in the Kingdom of Giln, most noble territories wouldn¡¯t tolerate gangs or criminals interfering with their domains, disrupting normal operations and development.

    "Oh?" Lilith¡¯s eyes shed with surprise at his question. "You¡­ must havee from far away, right?"

    "Seems like this touches on something that¡¯smon knowledge around here," Rhett nodded slightly but didn¡¯t respond further.

    "No wonder¡­" Lilith murmured, then exined.

    After listening to her exnation, Rhett suddenly understood.

    It turned out that White Pumpkin City was indeed under the control of Earl Fenan, but the earl was rather indifferent to managing his territory.

    In the Kingdom of Rem, nobles frequently went to war against the orcs. As a result, new nobles were often created, but the casualty rate was also very high. A noble might die on the battlefield at any time.

    Because of this, some nobles became indulgent, paying little attention to the long-term development of theirnds, focusing instead on recruiting powerful enforcers. Many of these gang members were actually knights under Earl Fenan. When they weren¡¯t on the battlefield, they lived lives of luxury and excess.

    Rhett thought this behavior was quite simr to the pirates of his previous world¡ªevery time they returned from a voyage, they would indulge themselves, knowing that they might not survive their next journey. So, while they were still alive, they sought to enjoy life to the fullest.

    "Hey, woman, why don¡¯t you just ept Lord Fenan¡¯s invitation?" Rhett¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by a discordant voice.

    Rhett''s expression darkened as he nced coldly at the gang leader, thinking, "Since this guy is connected to the local earl, I need to act quickly.

    The longer I wait, the more likely something unexpected will happen."

    He turned to Lilith and asked, "Did Earl Fenan invite you to join him?"@@novelbin@@

    Lilith shook her head, her red hair swaying. "He invited me¡­ to be his woman."

    "Hey, what are you two whispering about?

    That woman has already been chosen by Earl Fenan." The white-haired old man¡¯s eyes gleamed as he lowered his voice and said:

    "I¡¯ve got plenty of other women here for you to enjoy, but I suggest you stay away from this one..."

    "You talk too much."

    Rhett, now visibly irritated, took a sip of his drink, the cool taste washing over his pte. When he looked back at the Mod gang leader, he regarded him as though he were already dead.

    The white-haired old man faltered, unable to gauge Rhett¡¯s strength. A sh of fear crossed his eyes.

    But then he remembered that this was Earl Fenan¡¯s territory, and he couldn¡¯t believe someone would dare cause trouble here.

    Still, for his own safety, he held back his anger and asked cautiously, "May I ask, where are you from?"

    "Me?" Rhett stood up, a look of disdain on his face. "The coastal waters near East Lan. Sea Cow Ind. The captain of my ship is a great pirate."

    He lied without a hint of shame.

    After all, he remembered clearly that in one simtion, that pirate on Sea Cow Ind had killed him¡­

    So why not sling some dirt now as payback?

    East Lan coast? That sounds familiar¡­

    The white-haired old man frowned in thought. But before he could piece it together, a spike of earth magic shot from behind, piercing his skull and exiting through his forehead, leaving a bloody hole from which blood slowly trickled.

    "Ugh¡­ ah¡­" He let out a groan, his body convulsing before falling lifelessly to the floor.

    The sudden turn of events left the Rattlesnake Tavern in dead silence.

    Ah! Then came the screams of panic, rising and falling in waves.

    Rhett had unleashed his terrifying power, easily killing a Level 3 Magister.

    The tavern patrons quickly realized that this was no ordinary person¡ªhe was a powerful Magister, at least.

    Fearing for their lives, they instinctively assumed the worst and, believing Rhett to be a dangerous man, began screaming and scrambling to escape the tavern.

    Within seconds, the tavern was emptied, leaving only overturned chairs, spilled drinks of various colors staining the floor, and the eerie silence.

    "This¡­" Lilith gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    She had never expected this mysterious man to kill the Mod gang leader without hesitation.

    "You¡­ should leave quickly. Once Earl Fenan arrives, there will be trouble," Lilith advised, trying to hide her fear. "Even though you may not fear the earl, this is the Kingdom of Rem, not the ocean. It¡¯s not your territory!"

    She really thinks I¡¯m from East Lan¡¯s coast¡­ Rhett nced at her, considering his options, but said nothing.

    East Lan and the Kingdom of Rem were far apart¡ªone in the southeast corner of the Kingdom of Giln, the other in the northwest. They were almost on opposite ends of the map.

    Given the distance, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to verify the identity he had made up.

    Blood from the corpse slowly spread across the tavern¡¯s wooden floor¡­

    Now that the man was dead, Rhett didn¡¯t waste any more time. He grabbed the body by the cor and used water magic to freeze the wound, stopping the bleeding.

    Outside, the street was in chaos, but Rhett, having killed a notorious gang leader, felt no guilt whatsoever.

    He mounted Firew with the corpse in tow, gave it two pats, and said, "Let¡¯s go, Firew!"

 Chapter 181: The Appearance of the Sand Spirit

    The experience in White Pumpkin City was merely a minor episode.

    Before leaving, Rhett had considered whether to recruit the female knight into his ranks. However, he prudently decided that his uing mission to subdue the Sand Spirit was too crucial for any unexpected incidents. Revealing too much about himself could bring unnecessary risks. With his extensive life experience, he treated it as just a fleeting encounter, merely passing through.

    At most, after his business was done, he could discreetly return to White Pumpkin City and see if she was interested in joining his territory.

    After spending another week traveling, Rhett finally arrived at his destination.

    The Dead Swamp, located in the central-eastern region of the Rem Kingdom, was surrounded by a barren, yellowed wastnd. The witherednd encircled a twisted forest covering a hundred square kilometers. From above, the ground appeared pitch-ck.

    The swampy at the center of the forest. Upon arrival, Rhett had already gathered information from nearby viges. The Dead Swamp was said to have a powerful devouring force, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to escape once they ventured in. They would be slowly consumed by the swamp until they perished.

    Even low-level knights would find their leg movements hindered if they identally stepped into the swamp. Moreover, the presence of corrosive beasts within the swamp made it a forbidden zone for ordinary people.

    However, for knights and mages who possessed extraordinary power, it remained a viable ce for trials.

    Estimating the date, Rhett realized it was February 29th, three days earlier than in his simtion.He surveyed the ckenedndscape below, which resembled a giant abyssal mouth waiting to devour anything in its path.

    Yet, Rhett felt no fear, muttering to himself, "A sandstorm appears approximately every half month..."

    In his simtion, there had been one in mid-March. So, it might happen in the next couple of days, coinciding with his arrival.

    No, it¡¯s the phenomenon of the Sand Spirit! Rhett''s eyes shed with determination as he issued amand: "Firew, circle the Dead Swamp from the outside in, flying in spirals!"

    <em>Chirp!</em> Firew spread its wings wide and began to fly in a 360-degree spiral around the perimeter.

    As Rhett sat on its back, he mused, "I wonder if that troublesome Archmage will appear again when this sandstorm urs."@@novelbin@@

    Frowning, Rhett felt a bit uneasy.

    Out of caution, he decided to perform a real-time simtion first¡­

    With a thought, he activated the system.

    [Would you like to initiate a real-time simtion? Each day simted costs 1 Destiny Point.]

    ¡°Yes, simte one day!¡±

    <em>Buzz</em>

    When the ripples around him subsided, Rhett sighed in relief.

    He stretchedzily and muttered, "I still don¡¯t know the identity of that obnoxious Archmage. He¡¯s so rude and overbearing¡ªit''s really too much!"

    Firew continued flying high above the Dead Swamp, both man and beast scanning below for any suspicious activity.

    Half a day passed.

    Despite his full concentration, Rhett found nothing.

    Night had fallen by now, and the darkness deepened. The thick mist and swamp made a perfect pair, with ayer of poisonous purple fog hanging over the Dead Swamp, creating an eerie atmosphere. Any ordinary person who entered wouldn¡¯tst long before sumbing to the poison.

    In stark contrast, the sky was clear, with stars twinkling and a full moon rising into the sky.

    Rhett, weary from his search, had circled over the swamp countless times.

    Just as Rhett was beginning to feel drowsy, he noticed something unusual on the horizon.

    His spirits immediately lifted.

    Looking ahead, he saw an old man with green hair and a green robe, holding a straight white staff with a dazzling gemstone set into its top.

    The old man was riding a flying beast, carefully observing Rhett.

    Rhett tensed. The aura of this green-robed elder, coupled with his sharp and harsh expression, matched the image of the Archmage who had oppressed him in his simtion!

    Rhett clenched his teeth in frustration¡­

    As expected, the elder spoke next.

    "Oh? A Level 5 Magister? And you have a flying magic beast¡­ What brings you here?" The green-robed Archmage, riding a Tier 4 Storm Hawk, hovered in the air, narrowing his eyes with a hostile expression.

    Rhett sighed inwardly but kept hisposure. Fortunately, he knew this was just a simtion and had prepared ordingly.

    Following his prearranged n, he responded: "May I ask which faction this Archmage hails from?"

    "Hmm? You don¡¯t seem to understand the situation. I¡¯m the one questioning you¡ªwhy are you asking me questions?" The green-robed elder''s eyes gleamed dangerously, and a faint wave of earth-elemental energy rippled through the air.

    Rhett feigned a hint of panic, allowing a trace of fear to show while forcing himself to stay calm. He then said: "I am a student of Master Nilu, the Alchemy Master of the Circle Tower. I¡¯m here on a mission in the Dead Swamp."

    "The Circle Tower?" The green-robed elder¡¯s voice rose by two octaves, and he quickly withdrew his aura, his expression calming. However, a flicker of suspicion remained in his eyes: "You¡­ are a student of Master Nilu?"

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Of course. My mentor mentioned that signs of the Sand Spirit might be found here and sent me to try my luck."

    As he spoke, a faint yellow glow shed around Rhett¡¯s body, and a solidyer of rock armor formed over him.

    "Rock Armor!" The green-robed elder was visibly startled, his eyes shing as his thoughts raced. "Level 6 earth magic¡­ If it weren¡¯t for a special bloodline potion, it would be impossible to master this at Level 5.

    It seems quite likely that he really is Master Nilu¡¯s student."

    Otherwise, how could such a valuable bloodline potion end up in the hands of an ordinary Magister?

    The green-robed elder¡¯s breathing gradually steadied as he grew more convinced.

    However, he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure!

    With his long life and vast experience, the elder remained cautious until he saw conclusive evidence.

    Nevertheless, his tone became more polite, and he smiled. "Ah, I see! A student of Master Nilu, no wonder you¡¯re so talented!"

    Rhett¡¯s lips twitched slightly, thinking to himself how quickly the man had changed his tune.

    But he had done his research¡ªMaster Nilu, an Archmage and Alchemy Master, held significant influence in the Rem Kingdom, enough to make anyone wary.

    He then asked, "And what brings you here? May I ask your name?"

    "Heh, I¡¯m the Vice President of the Yager Merchant Guild. I happened to be passing through and heard about some recent anomalies here, so I decided to investigate," the green-robed elder replied with a smile.

    "What? Haven¡¯t you heard of the Yager Merchant Guild as a member of the Circle Tower?" The elder¡¯s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

    "Of course¡­" Rhett¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm expression, ready to fabricate an excuse.

    But just then, a "whooshing" sound filled the air, like a demon¡¯s low moan.

    The purple mist above the swamp began to swirl with yellow sand, forming a vortex that slowly coalesced before drifting in another direction.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up, and he prepared to move.

    "A Sand Spirit?!" The green-robed elder reacted quickly, his thoughts racing. Remembering what Rhett had just said, he darted forward, beating Rhett to the punch!

    Rhett watched from a distance. "It¡¯s a pity¡­ Even if I were truly Master Nilu¡¯s student, the elder wouldn¡¯t simply hand over the Sand Spirit.

    Not to mention, I¡¯m just aplete imposter."

    Rhett shook his head and sighed, deciding to observe from a distance. He feared that if he tried to intervene, the elder might kill him on the spot, wasting this simtion.

    Since this was just a simtion, it made more sense to watch and learn.

    As he observed, Rhett mentally calcted the elder¡¯s approach direction, the time they spent talking, and other details.

    He nned to use this information in the next simtion to devise a way to send the elder away!

    The green-robed elder rushed into the heart of the sandstorm without causing any disturbances.

    He then performed a series of strange actions¡ªjumping, raising his arms, and lying down at times.

    Rhett watched closely, deep in thought.

    Could it be that certain actions help attract the Spirit?

    But soon, the scene before him pulled him out of his musings. As the sandstorm gradually dissipated, the elder stood there, dumbfounded.

    In frustration, the elder flew over to Rhett and demanded, "Didn¡¯t you say there might be a Sand Spirit? Why didn¡¯t it appear just now?!"

    Rhett shrugged and asked, "Tell me your name, and I¡¯ll tell you why."

    "Hmm? Are you not really a student of the Circle Tower?" The elder froze for a moment, his gaze turning dangerous again. "How could someone from the Circle Tower not know the name of the Vice President of the Yager Merchant Guild?"

    In other words, the Magister before him had just dared to deceive him!

    Unforgivable.

    "Heh, Moguli Fute. I¡¯ve told you my name. Now tell me everything you know!" The elder smirked sinisterly.

    Rhett chuckled and casually cursed in response.

    Hearing the unknown curse, the elder''s face turned red with anger, and a sharp spike of earth magic instantly formed, hurtling toward Rhett¡¯s chest.

    However, the next moment, the surrounding space froze.

    Then, a ripple spread out.

    The simtion had ended.

    The options from the real-time simtion appeared before Rhett, and he quietly chose to enhance his spiritual power, though there were no visible changes.

    The scene shifted back to midday, and the sunlight on Rhett¡¯s face made everything feel surreal.

    "The Sand Spirit is mine! It¡¯s mine!" Rhett¡¯s face flushed with excitement as he recalled the sandstorm scene.

    But he quickly calmed himself. The important tasky ahead, and he mentally reviewed his n for the night.

    After a moment, he and Firew flew into the Dead Swamp.

    As dusk fell and the sun set, Rhett watched the moon rise in the western sky and silently hovered above the swamp.

    He surveyed the area again, pinpointing the exact location from his simtion.

    After a while, he nodded slowly, recognizing the familiar surroundings. This was the ce.

    He turned his gaze to a towering ancient tree on his right. The sandstorm had formed around that tree in the simtion.

    Then, he looked ahead¡ªtoward the direction Moguli Fute hade from.

    Estimating the time, Rhett mounted Firew and rushed forward.

    In a dimly lit tavern, no more than a hundred square meters in size, a green-robed elder sat at the bar. After feeling disgusted by the rundown ce, he suddenly became intrigued.

    "Oh? You say that sandstorms have been urring regrly around heretely?"

    The bartender, nervously polishing a ss, nodded with a hint of fear in his eyes as he looked at the terrifying mage before him.

    "That¡¯s right. I heard it from the patrons here and some vigers."

    "And when was thest sandstorm?" The elder¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as his voice grew more eager.

    The bartender thought for a moment and said, "It seems¡­ it was about half a month ago. I heard a viger was injured at the time, so there was a lot of talk about it."

    "Half a month ago?" The elder¡¯s voice rose in surprise, and his eyes darted around before he pulled out a gold coin and ced it on the bar. "Keep the change!"

    As the words left his mouth, the elder had already vanished from the tavern.

    The bartender stared at the gold coin in delight, pocketing it with a big grin.

    The green-robed elder, of course, was Moguli Fute.

    After hearing about the sandstorm, his vast experience prompted him to investigate further! Leaving the tavern, he headed straight for the Dead Swamp.

    Soon, the small vige was far behind him.

    He patted the Storm Hawk beneath him, urging it on. "Faster, Barty!"

    <em>Chirp~</em> The Storm Hawk, with its dark gray feathers, thick neck, and broad wings, shot through the night sky like an arrow, creating gusts of wind in its wake.

    But before long, Moguli noticed a red dot ahead, growing closer as ifing straight toward him. Curious, he murmured: "Hmm? Barty, stop."

    <em>Chirp?</em> The Storm Hawk came to an abrupt halt, letting out a confused cry.

    Soon, Rhett and Firew drew near.

    Rhett chuckled. "Good evening, Mr. Moguli."

    "You know me?" Moguli squinted, studying the Level 5 Magister before him.

    "Of course. The Vice President of the Yager Merchant Guild is well-known throughout the Rem Kingdom."

    Moguli, pleased, softened his expression and asked calmly, "Heh, and who might you be? What do you want with me?"

    "Loft Kerman," Rhett made up a fake name and continued: "Mr. Vice President, I¡¯m a student of Master Nilu, here to track down a traitor from the Circle Tower."

    "Oh? A traitor from the Circle Tower?" Moguli seemed genuinely surprised before smiling and adding: "Do you have any information on this traitor? If they¡¯ve been in the area, I might be able to help."

    "Well¡­" Rhett hesitated, his eyes flickering as he remained silent for a long moment.

 Chapter 183: The Profound Mystery of Dissolution

    Unfortunately, this time, nothing new was discovered either.

    The strange sound appeared only for a fleeting moment, then quickly subsided into silence.

    Soon after, the air around him began to shimmer with yellowish shadows, gradually forming into a mass of yellow sand that spread outwards, mixing with the purple mist.

    Having done this once before, Rhett quickly tossed the corpse of the earth-element Magister onto the ground andy down beside it.

    A few secondster, the sandstorm, which was initially heading in another direction, hesitated as it encountered the corpse beside Rhett and the earth elements he had gathered around himself.

    It lingered for a few moments before slowly approaching him.

    As the Sand Spirit once again entered his body, a strange sensation washed over Rhett, but he ignored it this time.

    He closed his eyes and focused on sensing the subtle changes in his surroundings.

    He observed the tiny yellow particles of earth element dancing lively, as if they had gained life, and noticed a faint stream of sand asionally appearing and disappearing.Rhett suddenly opened his eyes, filled with disbelief: "This time, it''s different?!"

    His understanding of the earth element''s profound mysteries seemed... stronger thanst time?! The interval between the two encounters with the Sand Spirit was short, and the insights into the profound mystery were so clear that Rhett could detect even the slightest improvement.

    Carefully experiencing it, Rhett realized, with a mix of surprise and joy, that this sensation felt akin to affinity¡ªbut only toward the "Dissolution" aspect of the earth element''s profound mysteries.

    As an earth-element Magister, Rhett was very sensitive to this. Perhaps due to the influence of the Sand Spirit, he could feel nothing of the other earth element profound mysteries¡ªonly Dissolution.

    He rxed his mind again, carefully attuning himself to the intricatews of the world around him.

    It was indeed different.

    Rhett could confirm that his understanding of the Dissolution profound mystery had indeed deepened since the first time he subdued the Sand Spirit.

    "If that''s the case, then it can be concluded that subduing the Sand Spirit is not just about forming a contract."

    "The spirit indeed enhances what I might call ''Profound Affinity''¡­" Rhett mused to himself, naming this change "Profound Affinity."

    A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he realized that his understanding of spirits had deepened yet again through this experience.

    "If that''s the case, then I should keep going and squeeze every drop of benefit out of it!"

    Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and Rhett turned around to find the space behind him empty, making him sigh with relief:

    "Phew, as I suspected, Moguli must have lied to me."

    "He didn''t actually witness me subduing the Sand Spirit in the previous simtion¡ªhe must have tried to deceive me with his words."

    Rhett''s eyes gleamed with contemtion. "However, he seems to know more about spirits than I initially thought. Combined with his status as a Grand Magister, he could easily discover something."

    "I should finish extracting all the benefits from the Sand Spirit and leave as soon as possible."

    He pondered for a few minutes, and just as before, that eerie voice echoed from behind him: "Loft, what are you doing here? Weren''t you supposed to be searching for the traitor?"

    Rhett paused for a moment, turning to face him with an odd expression.

    Great, the same routine again? I specifically changed direction this time¡ªnorth instead of south¡ªand you still use the same line!

    He shook his head with a sigh. "Let''s get this over with. Yes, I subdued the Sand Spirit."

    "Hmm? What did you say? You..." Moguli was taken aback by the sudden admission, stunned as he processed the words. "You subdued the Sand Spirit?"

    In an instant, Moguli''s rage boiled over, and with a furious flick of his wand, he unleashed an Earth Spike, determined to make this deceiver pay with his life.

    A yellowish aura pulsed through the air, and a terrifying surge of earth-element energy spread out.

    Sensing the abnormal earth-element fluctuations, Rhett activated his profound mystery, effortlessly guiding the Dissolution ability he now felt was second nature.

    In an instant, the sand within his mind began to flow.

    In the blink of an eye, Rhett''s head turned into soft, flowing sand.

    The earthen spike pierced through his head once more.

    But Rhett remained unharmed.

    Despite his victory, Rhett felt no relief¡ªthere was no joy in surviving an attack from a Grand Magister.

    This time, there was no life-or-death struggle.

    Rhett couldn''t trigger the same intense mental state that had allowed him to track the enemy''s magical trajectory during that crucial moment.

    He relied entirely on his foreknowledge, knowing from experience that Moguli would aim for his head, allowing him to prepare in advance and transform his head into sand.

    But to Moguli, this scene was beyond belief.

    "Impossible! You just subdued the Sand Spirit¡ªhow could you have grasped the profound mystery so quickly?!" Moguli''s eyes widened in disbelief, while jealousy surged like a tidal wave in his heart.

    The Sand Spirit¡ªsuch a precious spirit! If it hadn''t been for this man''s deception, I would have subdued the Sand Spirit, and it would be me gaining insight into the profound mystery!!

    The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Moguli''s red eyes locked onto Rhett, and he gritted his teeth: "You! Die!"

    <em>Swoosh</em>

    Rhett focused his entire being, hoping to fend off the attack of a Grand Magister on his own.

    However¡­

    He was too optimistic. The outburst of potential in a life-or-death situation doesn''t happen just because you want it to. It requires long-term umtion and genuine peril.

    At this moment, Rhett couldn''t return to that heightened state, and a sharp pain pierced him as a spike prated his back.

    <em>Gush</em> Blood spurted like a fountain.

    <em>Buzz</em>

    The world blurred as ripples spread before Rhett''s eyes, bringing him back to the twilight hour, just before nightfall.

    "Phew, that was probably the first time a simtion ended due to my actual death¡­" Rhett shook his head with a wry smile.

    In previous simtions, even when danger was imminent, he had always chosen to end them himself. Only this time, death had brought the simtion to a close.

    Then, the familiar screen appeared before him.

    [Real simtion ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Constitution]

    [2. Battle Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "Of course, I''ll choose Spiritual Power!"

    Rhett quickly made his selection, and a gentle, subtle feeling of enrichment flowed through his mind, different from the usual influx of spiritual energy.

    When he opened his eyes, the world once again seemed slightly different.

    "In this state, I should be able toprehend the Dissolution profound mystery even faster."

    A newfound rity filled Rhett''s thoughts.

    Even without the Sand Spirit''s presence, when he closed his eyes, the world wasn''t engulfed in darkness. Instead, tiny particles of yellow earth floated and danced, asionally forming trails of flowing sand.

    Rhett felt a surge of joy: "It¡¯s true¡ªeach time I subdue the Sand Spirit, my affinity for the profound mystery increases!"

    Eager to continue, Rhett opened the system interface once more.

    [Would you like to initiate a real simtion? Each day simted will cost 1 Fate Point.]

    "Yes, simte one day."

    As he entered the simtion once again, Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation, wondering what changes woulde after repeated simtions.

    Again and again, he entered the simtions¡­

    Until the thirty-seventh simtion.

    Rhett once more subdued the Sand Spirit and sensed the significant changes in his surroundings, a faint smile ying on his lips.

    In his perception, his spiritual power spread out, and the world around him was no longer what it had been at the start. Instead of just earth-colored particles dancing, it was as if streams of yellow sand were constantly flying around him, lingering in the air.

    They moved like graceful maidens, beckoning him closer.

    All he had to do was focus, and he could see the profound essence hidden within¡ªDissolution.

    Unlike the first time he subdued the Sand Spirit, when only a fleeting trace of flowing sand would appear, the environment now was far more conducive to hisprehension.

    Rhett marveled at his progress. "So this is what it feels like to be a genius? No wonder some people can ''see'' the tracks of profound mysteries even before reaching the Saint realm¡­"

    "Now, I can do it too!"

    Immersed in this state, the Dissolution profound mystery seemed almost within reach.

    Suddenly, a moment of enlightenment struck him.

    Rhett''s eyes zed over momentarily as the endless stream of profound mysteries surged through his mind, deepening his understanding of Dissolution.

    Unconsciously, he activated this newfound power.

    He watched as the upper half of his body softened, countless yellow particles emerging as his entire upper torso transformed into sand.

    Snapping back to awareness, Rhett immediately dispelled the sand transformation.

    Then, an idea took root in his mind: "If the Dissolution profound mystery doesn¡¯t interfere with my bodily functions, then there''s no need to transform my entire upper body all at once¡­"

    He could simply dissolve key internal parts, the vital areas.

    This would give him an additionalyer of defense against attacks from stronger enemies, greatly increasing his chances of survival.

    Acting on the thought, Rhett activated the profound mystery. Externally, nothing appeared different, but internally, his vital organs had all transformed into flowing sand.@@novelbin@@

    This sand wasn¡¯t actual sand¡ªit only resembled it on the surface. If Rhett exhausted his spiritual power or ceased using the profound mystery, everything would return to normal.

    So, the Dissolution profound mystery¡¯s transformation wouldn¡¯t affect the original functions of his body.

    Otherwise, if his head turned to real sand, it would be equivalent to suicide.

    A smile of satisfaction spread across Rhett¡¯s face. This state was highly concealed, and the energy consumption was rtively low, significantly boosting his survival chances.

    He twisted his body, this time facing east.

    A few minutester¡­

    That all-too-familiar voice echoed behind him again:

    "Loft, what are you doing here? Weren''t you supposed to be searching for the traitor?"

    Rhett sighed as he turned around, seeing the vice president of the Yager Merchant Guild standing behind him, staring intently with a scrutinizing gaze.

    With a look of resignation, Rhett said: "Yes, I''m tracking the traitor. I just got here and noticed some signs of passage, so I was investigating."

    "Heh, is that so? I¡¯ve been watching you for a while. That Sand Spirit¡ªdid it recognize you as its master?" Moguli squinted, his toneced with danger.

    Rhett¡¯s lips twitched. "So it seems, no matter which direction I face, you¡¯re going to say the same thing¡­"

    "Hmm?" Moguli was puzzled by the cryptic response.

    "Let¡¯s get this over with. Yes, I subdued the Sand Spirit." Rhett decided to summon the Sand Spirit¡ªSagr¡ªand let it out.

    A hazy yellow figure emerged from Rhett¡¯s body, standingzily to one side,pletely motionless, exuding a lethargy that seemed insurmountable.

    The sight of this real Sand Spirit immediately ignited Moguli¡¯s fury. He angrily waved his wand, casting a Sand Flow spell right at Rhett.

    Caught off guard, Rhett was hit.

    Then, feeling the crushing pressure overhead, he grimaced internally: "Damn, I¡¯ve really pissed him off this time¡ªhe¡¯s going to squash me with Falling Rock¡­"

    His grasp of the Dissolution profound mystery wasn¡¯t yet perfect¡ªhe couldn¡¯t fully dissolve his entire body. Facing such an attack, Rhett could only sigh.

    "Well, better end the simtion."

    Ripples spread through the air as the space around Rhett shimmered, and he returned to reality once more.

    [Real simtion ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Constitution]

    [2. Battle Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "Option three, as always¡­"

    As the screen faded, Rhett stared nkly at the dark forest below him, caught in thought. With just over fifty Fate Points remaining, he wondered if he would have enough topletely drain all the benefits from the Sand Spirit.

    He decided to continue the simtions.

    ¡­

    Finally, after the thirty-ninth simtion.

    [Real simtion ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Constitution]

    [2. Battle Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "Option three."

    Rhett made his choice and stood under the starlit sky, staring nkly at the ck forest below.

    After subduing the Sand Spirit again, there had been no further changes.

    "Huh? Did I finally squeeze it dry?"

    He expanded his spiritual power, carefully sensing the world around him.

    Now, the earth element wasn¡¯t just flowing sand¡ªit had be more like drifting dust.

    Like a thin mist of flowing sand, it swirled constantly around Rhett, never dissipating.

    Well, it seems I¡¯ve reached the limit¡ªthere¡¯s no need to continue any further¡­

    Closing his eyes, Rhett sat down right where he was, immersed in the flowing Dissolution profound mystery. In this environment, he felt like he had returned to the embrace of Mother Earth.

    It was warm, forgiving, andfortable¡­

    Half an hour passed.

    In a sh of insight, Rhett¡¯s face remained calm, but his body gradually changed color.

    His entire body turned sandy yellow as he sat atop Firegrid. The creature sensed something was off and turned its long neck to check, only to be stunned by what it saw!

    For the first time, its eyes widened like saucers, and it let out a panicked cry:

    <em>Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~</em>

    "No need to worry, Firegrid." Rhett, now sandy yellow like a golden statue, smiled and extended his right arm. The flowing sand receded like a tide, returning to normal as he gently stroked Firegrid¡¯s neck.

    Then, his entire body returned to its usual state.

    <em>Chirp?</em> You¡¯re back to normal?

    Firegrid stopped chirping, staring nkly at Rhett, filled with confusion.

    "Haha!" Sensing Firegrid¡¯s emotions, Rhettughed heartily, overjoyed at how far he hade in understanding the Dissolution profound mystery.

    "You¡¯ll understand it eventually, but for now, it¡¯s hard to exin." Rhett said softly.

    <em>Chirp!</em> Firegrid happily turned away, content as long as Rhett was fine.

    Gazing up at the stars, Rhett¡¯s smile faded as new doubts filled his mind: "The Dissolution profound mystery is even moreplex and profound than I imagined. I thought full-body sand transformation would be the ultimate goal."

    "But it seems there¡¯s still a long way to go in my understanding of the Dissolution profound mystery¡­"

    This was a revtion he had while mastering the full-body sand transformation in such a favorable elemental environment.

    Despite reaching this point, Rhett felt a distinct bottleneck in hisprehension of the Dissolution profound mystery, as if he had only reached the surface.

    Yet, he could sense that there were still aspects of the world''sws that eluded him.

    Covering his body in sand was merely scratching the surface of the Dissolution profound mystery¡ªthere was a vast world beyond waiting to be explored.

    This realization left him frustrated, but he had no choice but to ept it. With a sigh, he told himself: "Take it slow. The fact that I¡¯ve made such progress in understanding the Dissolution profound mystery already puts me far ahead of others¡­"

    Then, Rhett scanned his surroundings, pinpointing his direction before setting out with Firegrid to find where Moguli would pass through.

    As in the previous simtions, the process was the same.

    Once again, Rhett sessfully subdued the Sand Spirit near the ancient tree.

    With the Sand Spirit now residing within him, Rhett, ever-familiar with the process, wasted no time clearing the area.

    Summoning Firegrid, he took off into the distance.

    Reem Kingdom, Saito Province.

    Rhett had arrived in the skies above Saito Province, looking down on the countless buildings below, with the majestic castle in the distance making him feel a sense of awe.

    The capital of the Reem Kingdomy in the center of Saito Province¡ªEmerald City.

    The grand castle in his view, like the city walls, was the color of verdant green leaves.

    Rhett¡¯s gaze shifted to the Circle Tower, nestled deep within a lush forest on the outskirts of the capital.

    During his journey, Rhett had learned from the locals that the Circle Tower held a semi-official, semi-autonomous status.

    It enjoyed considerable freedom in alchemical research.

    However, its trade and sales were strictly controlled by the Reem Kingdom¡¯s royal family.

    At the very least, the royal family forbade the Circle Tower from providing alchemical potions to any hostile forces, and the Towerplied fully.

    After over a week of travel, Rhett had finally reached the outskirts of the Circle Tower, at the edge of Star Moon Forest.

    Star Moon Forest was a restricted area, essible only to Circle Tower members or those with special permission.

    At that moment, Rhett stood at the forest¡¯s edge, where a small market had sprung up.

    In the wide-open space, dozens of elegant two- and three-story buildings stood in neat rows, each one a marvel of craftsmanship.

    The roads were filled with merchants seeking profit, as well as extraordinary individuals buying and selling materials.

    Naturally, this market had grown in response to the Circle Tower¡¯s presence, attracting traders from all around. If the capital wasn¡¯t so close, the market might have even been fortified by walls.

    Though itcked walls, a dense fence of spikes enclosed it, leaving only an eight-meter-wide gate.

    Above the gate, a prominent sign read¡ªCircle Market.

    Rhett instructed Firegrid tond as he observed the scene, his eyes gleaming with realization:

    "It seems the Circle Tower isn¡¯t foolish¡ªthey didn¡¯t want to hand over all the profits, so they¡¯ve locked this ce down themselves."

    "But what exactly is sold here?" Curious, Rhett ventured inside.

    In the deepest part of the market stood a green-walled, white-roofed single-story hall.

    After asking for directions, Rhett headed straight there¡ªthis was the Circle Tower¡¯s sole administrative office within the market.

    "Yubi, today is your first day on duty.

    Although nothing much usually happens here in the market, you can take the opportunity to train or think about alchemical forms.

    But if something important happens, you must act quickly¡ªdon¡¯t let it slip through your fingers!"

    A crisp female voice echoed from inside as Rhett stepped through the door, catching sight of a middle-aged woman in a red robe giving instructions to a young man in his twenties.

    "Hmm?" The woman sensed movement behind her and turned, her chest proudly lifted as she scrutinized Rhett, asking:

    "What business do you have here?"

    Rhett briefly surveyed the room before meeting her gaze with a calm expression. "I¡¯m here to deliver a letter¡ªone that¡¯s likely very important to your organization."

    The woman walked toward Rhett with an elegant stride, clearly well-educated, her red lips parting as she spoke:

    "Oh? Is it a letter from a major organization? If it concerns matters of cooperation, you can leave your request, and I will forward it to the higher-ups for consideration."

    But Rhett wasn¡¯t here to discuss cooperation. Shaking his head, he calmly said:

    "I have a letter regarding Saul''s defection. It¡¯s a letter left by the pursuer of that time."

    The moment the words left his mouth, the young man and the red-robed woman¡¯s eyes widened in shock. They stood silent for two seconds.

    Taking a deep breath, the woman crossed her arms, her expression turning serious as she said: "The matter of Saul''s defection is well-known throughout the Reem Kingdom. Unless you can provide evidence, your words alone carry no weight."

    "On December 30th, Year 729 of the Reem Calendar, two Fifth-Level Knights pursued the Circle Tower traitor¡ªSaul¡ªin the Dark Eagle Mountains, where they were ambushed and barely escaped, though they had little time left¡­." Rhett began recounting the contents of the letter.

    As he noticed the shift in her expression, he continued:

    "In my territory, I discovered the belongings of Saul and those two Fifth-Level Knights. The details I just mentioned were all recorded in their letter."

    "Oh, and by the way, the letter ends with a note requesting that it be returned to the Circle Tower¡ªpromising a generous reward for whoever delivers it!" He emphasized the important part.

    By the time he finished, the red-robed woman¡¯s brow was damp with sweat. The specifics he mentioned left her 90% convinced of his sincerity.

    Only the final piece of evidence¡ªthe letter¡ªremained¡­

    Understanding the gravity of the situation, she knew it wasn¡¯t something she could handle alone. Matters rted to bloodline potions needed to be reported immediately.

    Her expression turned grave as she fixed her gaze on Rhett, asking:

    "May I know your identity? You mentioned your territory is in the Dark Eagle Mountains? Could it be that¡­ you¡¯re a noble of the Kingdom of Kinnon?"

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Indeed, I am. A noble from the southwestern border of the Kinnon Kingdom."

    "The head of the Green family¡ªI am Rhett Green."

    "The Kingdom of Kinnon¡¯s nobility¡­" The woman considered this with newfound respect. Not just for his status as a Fifth-Level Magister, but also for his noble standing in a neighboring country¡ªtogether, it was enough to take him seriously.

    "That being the case, I hope you¡¯re telling the truth. May I see the letter?"

    "Certainly." Rhett pulled the yellowed letter from his pocket, and the red-robed woman took it, heading to the back.

    Where is she going? As Rhett watched curiously, the woman handed the letter to the young man¡ªwho looked no older than twenty, yet was already a Third-Level Magister.

    The young man held the edge of the envelope to his nose, taking a deep sniff, then closed his eyes and carefully examined it. After a thorough inspection, he told the red-robed woman:

    "Julie, this paper is made from special materials using an obscure alchemical technique. Special methods can reveal hidden information.

    But¡­ I don¡¯t have that ability."

    Julie smiled at him approvingly. "Good work!"

    Taking back the envelope, she turned to Rhett and said:

    "In that case, Lord Rhett, please apany me to the Circle Tower."

    After a moment of hesitation, Rhett nodded.

    Under the curious gazes of market-goers, Rhett walked alongside Julie, with Firegrid obediently sticking close by his side.

    Following a narrow three-meter-wide path through Star Moon Forest, Rhett soon arrived at the base of the Circle Tower.

    Even though this was a restricted area, knights and magisters patrolled the surroundings in carefully nned routes, leaving no corners unchecked. Even the skies were monitored.

    Rhett looked up to see several flying beasts carrying people back and forth, clearly part of the patrol system.

    He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the Circle Tower¡¯s deep reserves of strength, wondering when his own territory might reach such a level.

    Soon, Julie led Rhett into the first floor of the tower.

    Given her status and permissions, she could only escort him this far. Any deeper required official approval.

    She turned to Rhett and said, "Please wait here for a moment¡ªI¡¯ll go upstairs."

    After about ten minutes¡­

    <em>Thump, thump, thump</em>

    Hurried footsteps echoed from around the corner, the sound of someone quickly descending wooden stairs.

    Julie, both anxious and excited, waved to Rhett: "Lord Rhett, pleasee with me. Master Nilu wishes to see you."

    At the mention of "Master Nilu," everyone in the hall¡ªthe guards, the meditating alchemists¡ªall snapped to attention.

    The name "Master Nilu" carried immense weight!

    In the Circle Tower, only those at the Saint realm outranked him.

    They stared at Rhett, their gazes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and envy. To receive an audience with Master Nilu meant he must possess extraordinary qualities.

    If only they had such an opportunity, the guidance of Master Nilu would surely advance their alchemical prowess significantly.

 Chapter 184: Hypastor

    Rhett followed Julie up to the sixth floor, carefully observing as they ascended. He noticed that the Circle Tower had only seven floors in total.

    Based on the fluctuating auras he sensed, starting from the fourth floor, many of the auras became undetectable to him. Rhett inferred that the higher the floor, the more powerful and prestigious the inhabitants must be.

    Julie suddenly stopped and began walking along a circr corridor.

    Rhett followed behind, his expression thoughtful.

    "Hmm? The sixth floor must be where the alchemy masters reside... the top floor should be for those in the Saint realm, right?" Rhett mused to himself.

    As they reached a deep ck door along the circr hallway, Julie turned and said:

    "Lord Rhett, Master Nilu is inside, and the letter has already been handed to him."

    "Thank you, Miss Julie."

    <em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>Out of courtesy, Rhett gently knocked on the door.

    "Come in."

    Rhett pushed the door open and entered the room, finding it surprisingly spacious.

    However, a rippling crystal wall ten meters ahead blocked Rhett¡¯s view.

    As a result, he could only see about fifty square meters of the room.

    An old man with blue hair sat on an emerald-colored seat, three parallel wrinkles on his forehead, his skin pale. One hand rested on a staff, the other on his knee, as he gazed calmly at Rhett.

    "Hello, Lord Rhett of the Kinnon Kingdom. Please, have a seat."

    "Thank you." Rhett held his breath, not daring to be careless, and sat on a long bench near the door.

    After a brief silence.

    "Master Nilu, you must have read the contents of the letter by now." Rhett got straight to the point.

    Master Nilu picked up the letter from the table and nced at it, nodding lightly.

    At that moment, Rhett noticed that the letter in the old man¡¯s hand was no longer the ancient yellow it had been. The center portion, where the text had once been, had turned a pale blue, appearing slightly damp as if soaked in some kind of solution.

    Nilu looked at the letter and slowly said:

    "Indeed, this is a letter left by the pursuers sent by the Circle Tower. Only a few within the Circle Tower would know the form used here."

    "If it were anyone else, they would never have uncovered the hidden information on this paper."

    "I still remember that those sent to capture him all carried this potion."

    Rhett¡¯s interest was piqued. "Master Nilu, what other information is hidden on the letter?"

    "Hehe, that¡¯s something I can¡¯t tell you." Nilu smiled faintly as he turned to Rhett and asked:

    "I heard that you also found some of Saul¡¯s belongings. What exactly did he leave behind?"

    Though phrased as a question, there was a hint of authority in his tone.

    Rhett had no intention of hiding anything. After all, several people already knew about him consuming the bloodline potion, so there was no need for concealment.

    After a brief pause, he replied: "Saul left behind a bloodline potion of the Rock Lizard, two bottles of Moonlight Potion, one bottle of ck Raven¡¯s Bane, and a meditation manual¡ª¡®The Furnace.¡¯ That¡¯s about it."

    "Is that all?" Master Nilu squinted, his voice rising.

    "Isn¡¯t that enough?" Rhett was surprised, but outwardly, he feigned confusion.

    "Aside from the bloodline potion, none of these seem particrly extraordinary. I swear, I haven¡¯t withheld any information!"

    Though a mid-level meditation manual wasn¡¯t somethingmon folk could obtain, it was hardly a rare treasure for the Circle Tower.

    As for the ck Raven¡¯s Bane, Rhett guessed it had been acquired through other means. After all, Saul had been an important member of the Circle Tower, with ample connections, so obtaining a bottle wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary.

    Nilu stared intently at Rhett for a few moments before murmuring, "You¡­ are an Earth-element Magister?"

    "Yes."

    "The bloodline potion¡­ I assume you consumed it?"@@novelbin@@

    "That¡¯s correct." Rhett nodded.

    Master Nilu shook his head and sighed.

    It was as expected¡ªno one could resist the temptation of a bloodline potion.

    The moment he heard about the discovery, he had no hope that anyone would willingly hand over such a potion.

    After a moment of contemtion, Nilu said:

    "Since you provided such valuable information, consider that bloodline potion as a reward from the Circle Tower."

    Upon hearing this, Rhett purposefully showed a hint of disappointment and, as if dissatisfied, said: "Is the reward mentioned in the letter really just a dangerous bloodline potion?"

    "One bloodline potion isn¡¯t enough for you?" Master Nilu frowned, thinking this man¡¯s appetite was toorge. Those who weren¡¯t alchemists had no idea how much effort and difficulty went into creating a bloodline potion.

    Suddenly, Nilu paused, his eyes narrowing as a memory surfaced.

    "Lord Rhett, did you say the bloodline potion you consumed was that of the Rock Lizard?"

    He remembered something important.

    Back when Saul had defected, he hadn¡¯t just stolen one bloodline potion.

    This information was never made public, and even Nilu¡¯s own mentor had only mentioned it to him in secret, which was why it hadn¡¯te to mind immediately.

    Moreover, Nilu knew that the Rock Lizard bloodline potion was technically a failed product.

    His mentor had personally told him.

    For Earth-element Magi, the best oue was physical disability; those less fortunate would meet certain death.

    So how did this man survive?

    Could he be lying?

    Did he consume a different potion?

    "If you did consume the Rock Lizard bloodline potion, you should have gained some innate spells, correct?" Nilu¡¯s thoughts raced, and he quickly asked, "Can you demonstrate them for me?"

    "Uh¡­ sure." Rhett was taken aback but quickly recovered. He focused his spiritual power and cast the Rock Armor spell.

    In the room, Earth elements rapidly converged, forming a solidyer of armor over Rhett¡¯s body.

    "Rock Armor?!" Nilu eximed in disbelief. As a master alchemist of the Circle Tower and one of the few privy to the details of Saul¡¯s theft, he knew that three bloodline potions had been stolen¡ªa Saint-level potion, a high-level potion, and a failed mid-level potion.

    Although the failed potion hade close to meeting the required standards, in alchemy, close wasn¡¯t good enough. Compromise wasn¡¯t an option.

    He also knew that the Saint and high-level bloodline potions were of different elements. Only the mid-level potion was Earth-element, the Rock Lizard¡¯s bloodline.

    "Did he actually seed?" Nilu was stunned.

    What could exin this?

    Nilu scratched his head, unable toprehend the situation. His mentor had recently gone into seclusion to work on a particrly challenging potion, and it would be several months before he emerged. There was no way to disturb him now.

    Rhett stood there, pondering.

    Judging by Master Nilu¡¯s reaction, it seemed that sessfully refining the Rock Lizard bloodline potion was a remarkable achievement?

    So, Rhett asked: "Master Nilu, is there something wrong with the potion?" He even put on a worried expression for effect.

    "Ahem, I¡¯m not entirely sure. I just heard that the Rock Lizard bloodline potion produced at the time was of poor quality." Nilu awkwardly cleared his throat before saying, "So, the fact that you sessfully refined it doese as a surprise."

    Rhett yed along, nodding in agreement: "The refining process was incredibly dangerous. By the end, my body was bleeding, nearly on the verge of exploding."

    "Luckily, I managed to pull through at thest moment. But even now, thinking back, it was a near-death experience."

    Nilu nced at Rhett with aplex expression: "In that case, if you have any other requests that aren¡¯t unreasonable, I¡¯m willing to fulfill them personally."

    Given that the potion was a failed product, Nilu felt uneasy about using it as a reward.

    But the fact that Rhett had seeded in refining it?

    As an alchemy master, Nilu understood bloodline potions to a certain extent, but his knowledge paledpared to his mentor¡¯s. If he wanted answers, he¡¯d have to wait until his mentor emerged from seclusion to discuss the matter in detail.

    Rhett stroked his chin and didn¡¯t hesitate. Since benefits were on the table, he intended to seize them.

    For him, there was only one thing he truly wanted.

    "So¡­ do you have any failed bloodline potions?" Rhett asked cautiously.

    "Why would you want failed potions?" Master Nilu was taken aback. Could this man really believe that just because he seeded once, he could refine another failed potion sessfully?

    Ridiculous!

    Moreover, the Rock Lizard bloodline potion had been close to sess. With other failed potions, the oue might be entirely different.

    Rhett waved his hand, "Don¡¯t get me wrong. I wouldn¡¯t consume it myself¡ªI n to use it as a poison against others."

    Seeing how openly Rhett spoke of his schemes, Master Nilu¡¯s face turned cold. He waved dismissively in annoyance.

    "I don¡¯t have such things. I¡¯ll give you ten bottles of Aurora Potion aspensation¡ªtake it or leave it!"

    Rhett blinked, sighing inwardly.

    Suddenly, a ripple spread through his vision.

    [Real simtion ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Constitution]

    [2. Battle Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "Three."

    Before making his requests earlier, Rhett had used the real simtion to ensure he could maximize his gains.

    As the screen vanished, he sighed. "It seems it¡¯s indeed impossible to obtain a bloodline potion from the Circle Tower, even a failed one."

    Perhaps if he were powerful enough, this wouldn¡¯t be an issue.

    But that would be a paradox. If he had such overwhelming strength, why would he need a bloodline potion?

    It¡¯s like having a $50 voucher for a Rolls-Royce¡ªif you can afford the car, who cares about $50?

    "Hmm? What¡¯s your request, Lord Rhett?" Master Nilu repeated, seeing that Rhett hadn¡¯t spoken.

    Rhett snapped back to reality, deciding to change his request. "Could I have your personal alchemy notes?"

    "That¡­ isn¡¯t possible. My notes contain the Circle Tower¡¯s alchemical heritage, which isn¡¯t within my personal authority to share." Master Nilu shook his head.

    After several attempts to negotiate.

    In the end, Rhett left with the recipe for the Aurora Potion.

    Of course, in his mind, he also memorized:

    The form for Silver Frost Potion, a mid-level battle qi potion, Starlight Potion, a mid-level antidote, Phoenix me Potion, a mid-level healing potion, Manro¡¯s Blood, a mid-level poison, and other recipes.

    Using the real simtion, Rhett had sessfully gathered all of Master Nilu¡¯s alchemical knowledge that wasn¡¯t part of the Circle Tower¡¯s secrets, significantly enhancing his territory¡¯s alchemical foundation.

    After leaving the Circle Tower, Rhett wandered through the market but found nothing that particrly interested him.

    Then, he mounted Firegrid and set off on his return journey.

    "This trip was truly fruitful."

    After Rhett¡¯s departure, Master Nilu waved his hand, dismissing the curtain that had divided the room.

    The once-misty, semi-transparent wall vanished, revealing several cauldrons filled with bubbling liquids.

    Nilu shook his head and tucked the letter into his robe, ready to return to his alchemical work.

    However, the door to his room suddenly opened again.

    "Lord Rhett, do you still have¡ª" Master Nilu frowned, thinking Rhett had returned, but when he turned around and saw who had entered, his expression changed drastically:

    "Master Hypastor, you¡¯re here!"

    At the door stood the head of the Circle Tower, Hypastor. His emerald eyes, ck glossy curls, and square face exuded a faint pressure. Dressed in a multicolored coat, he looked every bit as noble as he was.

    He spoke coldly: "I heard there¡¯s news about that traitor, Saul?"

    Master Nilu respectfully handed the letter to the tower master and replied: "Indeed, a minor noble from the Kinnon Kingdom found some of Saul¡¯s belongings and the final words of the two knights we sent after him."

    "Only a Rock Lizard bloodline potion was recovered?" Hypastor¡¯s expression remained unchanged, showing little interest in the century-old defection.

    "That appears to be the case. And strangely, that unqualified potion was sessfully refined by Rhett. Truly curious." Master Nilu shook his head, murmuring, then looked at the tower master with a glint of curiosity in his eyes and asked: "Great Master Hypastor, I¡¯m deeply intrigued¡ªhow could a mere minor noble and Fifth-Level Magister sessfully absorb that bloodline potion?"

    "Perhaps¡­ it¡¯s rted to his soul strength." Hypastor said indifferently before adding, "But that¡¯s not important right now. I¡¯ve reviewed the letter¡¯s contents¡ªif Saul only left behind the Rock Lizard potion and some of his belongings are still missing, along with his body, there¡¯s a strong possibility he faked his death."

    "The high-level zing Tiger bloodline potion and the Saint-level Windwing Unicorn bloodline potion¡­ If someone refined those over the past century, they wouldn¡¯t remain obscure figures."

    "Therefore, keep an eye on any emerging Fire or Wind-element magi in the Kinnon Kingdom."

    Master Nilu pondered for a moment before replying, "Understood. I¡¯ll send people to investigate."

    "Hmm. And be cautious¡ªit¡¯s the Kinnon Kingdom. Don¡¯t do anything reckless."

    "Rest assured, I¡¯ll handle it diplomatically."

    After leaving the Circle Tower, Rhett took another stroll around the market but found nothing of interest.

    So, he mounted Firegrid and began his journey back.

    "This trip has been incredibly rewarding."

 Chapter 185: The Simulated Saint-Level Bloodline Potion

    At this moment, Rhett was not sitting on Firegrid¡¯s back but lying down on it, as if on a warm, soft red nketfortable and cozy.

    He gazed up at the blue sky and white clouds, the wind gently stirring the clouds, bringing a sense of peace to his mind.

    Closing his eyes, he reflected, "This trip was fruitful¡ªnot only did I capture the Sand Spirit, but I also gathered most of the mid-level alchemy forms, including the most versatile ones. Truly a rewarding journey."

    A gentle breeze brushed through his pant legs and around his neck, sending a cool shiver down his spine.

    Rhett pondered his next move. He still needed to visit White Pumpkin City and find the owner of the Rattlesnake Tavern. But before that, another simtion was in order.

    After all, it had been over three months since thest simtion.

    Although the time span wasn¡¯t long, the trajectory of events had shifted significantly, making a fresh look into the future necessary.

    Additionally, Rhett had specific ns to revise based on the previous simtion, which required validation in the next one.

    With a thought, he activated the system.[Would you like to start a text-based simtion? Each year of simtion costs 5 Fate Points.]

    "Yes, simte for one year." Rhett nced at the system panel, noting that only 7 Fate Points remained, yet he had no choice but to use them.

    [In the year 476 of the Kinnon calendar, March 9th, you leave the Circle Tower and begin your journey home.]

    [March 18th, you arrive once more at White Pumpkin City, only to find the Rattlesnake Tavern has closed.]

    [April 13th, Vanessa bes pregnant.]

    [April 22nd, you reach the southwestern border. This time, instead of returning directly to your territory, you visit the Spark Tavern in Carrow Vige and present the token given to you by ckstar¡ªa coin¡ªrequesting a meeting with him.]

    [May 1st, Tuck advances to a Level 2 Knight.]

    [May 20th, Count Nilo visits you, proposing a match with Jolia, who is twenty years younger than you, which you politely decline. He then suggests a match with Karen, which you also decline. After hearing about your establishment of Dark Eagle City, he requests to rent a shop in your town, to which you agree.]

    [July 19th, with the founding of Dark Eagle City, more and more people flood into your territory, rapidly increasing the poption. However, some troublemakers disturb the peace, but with your decisive and forceful measures, no one dares to cause trouble again. Your territory enters a stable development phase.]

    [July 25th,te at night, an unexpected visitor arrives in your territory¡ªWoldelger¡ªbringing an alchemy master with him. You warmly invite them to your castle, but they express a desire to visit the old nest of the Dark-patterned Eagle in the mountains, to which you agree to apany them.]

    [July 26th, at dawn, you arrive at the formerir of the Dark-patterned Eagle¡ªa lone peak¡ªand discover a dozen or so Dark-patterned Eagles circling the mountain. This discovery excites the alchemy master, who also finds signs of human care nearby. After your exnation, he is highly impressed with you. You propose setting up a Dark-patterned Eagle breeding ground here, with Tuck training the captured Dark-patterned Eagle to be the lead eagle, thereby controlling the entire nest. Your n is to continuously provide Dark-patterned Eagles for alchemy masters in Ice Castle to develop a poison against dragonkin. The alchemy master is so impressed that he gifts you a Saint-level Earth-element bloodline potion, stating that while it is a failed product, it could be used for alchemical research or sold to others.]

    [July 27th, during a conversation with Woldelger, you invite him to join your territory. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he agrees.]

    [August 4th, Taylors advances to a Level 1 Magician.]

    [August 9th, Woldelger¡¯spanions, Milton and Vicky, arrive in your territory. After some persuasion from you and Woldelger, and being impressed by your strength, they decide to join your territory.]

    [August 17th, while immersed in understanding the Earth-element¡¯s mysteries, you suddenly gain new insights into the ¡®Scatter¡¯ mystery, much to your delight. After testing, you can now initially control the transformation and switching of Earth-element spells between solid and sand states.]

    [August 23rd, Willow, while working in the cksmith shop, suddenly has a breakthrough and sessfully forges an apprentice sword, bing an apprentice cksmith.]

    [August 27th, ckstar arrives in your territory with a tall woman, inquiring about your reason for contacting him. You inform him that through your connections, you learned that a suspected evil alchemy organization, possibly rted to the one in Springwater Town, has taken root in the White Rat mountain range. This news greatly interests ckstar and the tall woman. After a discussion, the three of you decide to work together to eliminate the threat.]

    [August 28th, you and Taylors leave your territory, joining ckstar and the tall woman in heading to the White Rat mountain range.]

    [August 29th, Vides breaks through a long-standing bottleneck and sessfully advances to a Level 3 Knight!]

    [September 5th, you arrive at the White Rat mountain range and begin searching for traces of the evil alchemists.]

    [September 19th, after two weeks of searching, you finally locate the alchemists in an underground cave at the northernmost part of the White Rat mountain range, near the Thunder Bear mountains. With a cold expression, you strike first. Fortunately, the highest-ranked enemy is only a Level 4 Magister, and none can match you. You easily eliminate them.]

    [September 20th, after a night of interrogation, you discover a small batch of Blood Source Beads and gain deeper intelligence about the organization. The alchemists hidden in the White Rat mountain range are low-level members who have recently fled from the Graylu Kingdom. They reveal that their organization has branches in several kingdoms, secretly collecting blood for the Blood Source Beads. After finishing the interrogation, you take most of the Blood Source Beads and leave a small portion for ckstar and the tall woman before parting ways.]

    [September 26th, while traveling through the White Rat mountain range, you encounter a severely injured Tier 4 Ice Mouse. You save it, but it dies from its injuries after giving birth. You give the newborn Ice Mouse to Taylors.]

    [October 1st, Armando advances to apprentice knight.]

    [October 3rd, Snow Spirit Nina awakens, pushing Ry to the peak of Level 2 Magician.]

    [October 8th, Lyon advances to apprentice knight.]

    [October 15th, Willow advances to Level 1 Knight.]

    [November 7th, a Tier 5 Shadow Tiger, leading its pack, roams into the Dark-patterned Eagle mountain range. Thanks to your foresight, you intercept them in the depths of the mountain range and single-handedly battle the tiger pack. Using the ¡®Scatter¡¯ mystery, you easily y the Tier 5 Shadow Tiger, sparing the rest of the beasts.]

    [December 15th, Taylors sessfully brews a lower-grade poison, bing an official alchemist!]

    [December 23rd, Ry sessfully brews a lower-grade poison, bing an official alchemist!]

    [December 24th, Unika bes an apprentice alchemist.]

    [December 29th, Shirin advances to Level 3 Knight.]

    [In the year 477 of the Kinnon calendar, January 17th, Lawrence breaks through his bottleneck, advancing to Level 2 Knight and earning recognition as an undeniable genius!]

    [January 21st, nno¡¯s wife, Laurine, advances to Level 2 Knight.]

    [February 7th, Nigel, a trainee at the training ground, advances to apprentice knight.]

    [February 13th, Hank¡¯s younger brother, Felix, visits. The two are overjoyed to reunite. Felix expresses his gratitude to you and, after some persuasion, joins your territory.]

    [Text-based simtion ends. Would you like to continue simting?]

    "No."

    After reviewing the simtion, Rhett¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, deep in thought.

    Overall, few unexpected events urred. Most developments were positive, and even the minor troubles were easily managed.

    But one significant change stood out¡ªthe alchemy master from Ice Castle rewarding Rhett with a failed Saint-level bloodline potion in this simtion.

    "This... is a rather perplexing change."

    Rhett¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion.

    Had he not witnessed this simtion, he might not have felt strongly about receiving an alchemical manual, a failed bloodline potion, or even nothing at all. After all, he didn¡¯t know the alchemy master¡¯s behavior, and any gift would be eptable without prior expectations.

    But since thest simtion, Rhett hadn¡¯t had any contact with Ice Castle, yet the reward had drastically changed from an alchemical manual to a bloodline potion. This was a monumental shift.

    "What could have caused this?"

    Rhett shook his head, lost in thought.

    After pondering for a while, something clicked in his mind, and his eyes narrowed sharply.

    "Wait, something¡¯s off!"

    Rhett sat up abruptly, his pupils constricting as memories rushed through his mind, and he suddenly caught a detail.

    "I may not have had direct contact with that alchemy master, but indirectly¡­ it¡¯s hard to say!"

    "As a master alchemist in northern Ice Castle, not tied to the royal family, and located not far from the Kingdom of Reim, how could he not have some connection to the Circle Tower?"

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up as he continued to analyze.

    "This time, I spent more time at the Circle Tower than in thest simtion. The different timeline meant I encountered different people in the market''s administrative office, and I inadvertently learned that the letter contained hidden information."

    Rhett¡¯s thoughts flowed, piecing together his deductions.

    "So Master Nilu¡¯s attitude toward me changed. Coupled with the fact that the Rock Lizard bloodline potion I consumed was apparently of poor quality¡­ Could Master Nilu have felt guilty afterward and wanted topensate me? But not wanting to make it too obvious, he had someone else deliver thepensation?"

    As these thoughts settled, Rhetty back down on Firegrid¡¯s back, silent. After a moment, his brow furrowed again.

    "No, if it waspensation, it wouldn¡¯t be such a significant gesture. After all, I already received an alchemy recipe."

    "And even if it werepensation, if it was sent through the alchemy master of Ice Castle, there should have been some form of message¡ªsome attempt to extend goodwill, making it clear it came from the Circle Tower. Such an organization wouldn¡¯t overlook such a detail¡­"

    After racking his brain for a while.

    Rhett shook his head, unable to find a definitive answer. He concluded that this unusual change must be linked to his recent interactions with the Circle Tower.

    "It must be this trajectory that influenced the alchemy master¡¯s gift from Ice Castle." Rhett thought silently.

    The wind blew, the sun set, and the moon rose. Stars filled the night sky, and the spirits of the night danced above.

    Rhett could feel the darkness envelop him as the light dimmed.

    He blinked, staring at the dark night sky and the twinkling stars.

    Suddenly, he sat up, eyes wide with realization.

    He had spent the entire day reviewing his memories¡ªnot just from the recent past, but from all his experiences¡ªreliving every detail.@@novelbin@@

    And then he realized something wasn¡¯t right.

    ckstar!

    "If¡­ the Rock Lizard bloodline potion had issues, why would ckstar agree to trade for it?"

    Rhett squinted his eyes.

    From their previous interactions, Rhett had concluded that ckstar was backed by a powerful organization that wouldn¡¯t make deals that weren¡¯t beneficial to them.

    "Unless¡­ they were genuinely interested in the Rock Lizard potion!"

    At that thought, Rhett¡¯s eyes widened, and his breath quickened as if he had uncovered an important secret.

    "Then, who would be interested in a Rock Lizard potion, especially one of poor quality?"

    The Circle Tower!

    "Yes, only the Circle Tower would be interested due to the theft by that traitor. And this organization, which is authorized to make bloodline potions, fits my previous theory about ckstar¡¯s powerful backing¡ªthey wouldn¡¯tck bloodline potions!"

    Rhett¡¯s mind whirled as he connected the dots.

    Suddenly, his expression darkened.

    "If my guess is correct, then someone of high status within the Circle Tower must have realized that I not only consumed and refined a Rock Lizard bloodline potion but also have another one in my possession!"

    This was a rather unsettling thought.

    "But if pressed, I could im that I found another Rock Lizard bloodline potion in some remote corner of the world." Rhett muttered, "After all, the world is vast, and even the most unlikely events can happen."

    "So, for now, they are curious, suspicious, and uncertain."

    "Was the Saint-level bloodline potion sent by the alchemist from Ice Castle a test from someone who discovered the truth?"

    Rhett rubbed his forehead, impressed by his deductive reasoning. With just a few thoughts, he had connected numerous details.

    And yet¡­ it seemed logical, albeitcking solid proof.

    He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the stars above, muttering to himself, "Well, whether it¡¯s a test or just a coincidence, a Saint-level bloodline potion sent to me¡ªI¡¯ll dly ept it¡­"

    Regardless of whether the Saint-level potion was a trap or a stroke of luck.

    One thing was clear¡ªRhett wasn¡¯t about to turn down a gift!

 Chapter 186: Return to the Territory

    After a month of travel, Rhett finally arrived in the northern part of the southwestern border.

    Carrow Vige, a deste and remote little vige.

    Looking down from above, there were no more than fifty houses, a mix of wooden and thatched huts, with a poption barely exceeding a hundred.

    The Spark Tavern was located at the entrance of the town. Upon entering, the first thing Rhett did was survey his surroundings.

    It was dim, silent, and damp, with dust umted on the floor, making it seem like no one had been here for a long time. Without any sunlight, Rhett felt like he had entered a cer.

    If it weren''t for the faint smell of alcohol in the air, Rhett might have thought he hade to the wrong ce.

    "Snore... snore..."

    A snoring sound came from the bar. A middle-aged man, propped up on one arm, was dozing off.

    <em>Tap, tap</em><em>Tap, tap</em>

    The sound of Rhett''s brown leather boots echoed rhythmically on the floor.

    The unhidden noise caused the middle-aged man''s ears to twitch. He instantly woke up and cautiously eyed the unfamiliar visitor.

    "Sir, would you like a drink?"

    Rhett smiled faintly, though he was secretly surprised. This unremarkable bartender was actually a Level 3 Knight? This confirmed once again that the organization behind ckstar was indeed formidable.

    "Do you have any ckstar wine?" Rhett casually nced around the tavern but saw nothing unusual, so he turned his attention back to the bartender.

    "What do you mean, sir?" The bartender''s expression remained unchanged, but unease crept into his heart. His hand, hidden beneath the table, had already grasped the hilt of a sword.

    "No need to be nervous... I''m here to deliver a message." Rhett nced at him calmly and spoke slowly.

    He exposed the bartender''s cautious thoughts and then took out a coin, flicking it with his thumb, sending it spinning rapidly through the air.

    The bartender''s pupils shrank. Despite the coin spinning quickly, his sharp eyes recognized the token.

    He rxed, releasing his grip on the sword hilt. Then he heard Rhett continue:

    "Please contact ckstar for me and tell him toe to my territory as soon as possible."

    "Tell him that the viin he owes has been found."

    "Understood! Where is your territory, sir?" The bartender''s gaze grew serious. He couldn''t sense the stranger''s aura, meaning this man was undoubtedly powerful!

    "Dark Eagle City."

    "Dark Eagle City? Where is that?" The bartender was puzzled. The unfamiliar city name was something he had never heard of before. It probably wasn''t in the southwestern border, or even in the Kingdom of Kinnon.

    "Oh, it''s a new city I just established, near the Dark-patterned Eagle mountain range," Rhett added with a raised eyebrow.

    "Near the Dark-patterned Eagle mountain range... a newly built city..." The bartender shivered and blurted out, "You are Count Rhett?!"

    "Quick reflexes." Rhett chuckled, retrieved the coin, and turned to leave, leaving behind only a partingment:

    "Don''t forget my request..."

    "Understood..."

    Behind the bar, the bartender watched Rhett''s figure slowly fade away, breathing a sigh of relief. However, the heavy expression in his eyes lingered for a long time.

    A weekter, on April 29th.

    In Dark Eagle City, Sveta sat on a small stone stool, gazing up at the blue sky, watching the birds flying back and forth, chirping constantly.

    The sunlight made him squint slightly.

    This time, he couldn¡¯t wait for his lord on Graystone Avenue, nor could he rely on the sound of hooves to identify his lord¡¯s return. After watering the flowers, he casually found a ce to rest.

    He wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed.

    Maybe it was the bright sunshine today, but Sveta stretched, yawned, and began to feel a bit drowsy.

    "The weather is really nice today..." Sveta said with a squinted smile.

    Just as he was reflecting, something bright red appeared in his field of vision.

    In the distance, a red figure shot out from the mountain peaks¡ªit looked very familiar.

    "That''s Master¡¯s magical pet, Firegrid!" A voice echoed in Sveta''s mind.

    Then, excited, he jumped up, identally knocking over the watering can he had just used.

    <em>ng</em>

    The watering can fell, soaking his pants.

    But in his excitement, he didn¡¯t even think to pick it up. Sveta raised both hands, waving them symmetrically.

    "Chirp!"

    A sharp cry echoed from above. The architects working on the castle, the servants nting flowers around the estate, the carpenters building wooden houses, and even the two orcsboring with heavy grunts all looked up in unison to see Rhett returning.

    <em>Whoosh, whoosh</em>

    A gust of wind howled, kicking up a cloud of dust, which Rhett quickly settled with the help of wind elements.

    "Everyone, carry on with your work. No need to pay attention to me," Rhett said with a smile, waving at the workers whose eyes were all focused on him. He didn''t like making a grand entrance.

    Sveta, standing just a few meters away, jogged over, his face beaming with joy. "Wee home, Master! Dark Eagle City feels more alive with your presence!"

    "Haha." Rhettughed heartily, not just at Sveta¡¯s words but because it was good to be back among familiar faces.

    "Sveta, do you have any blueberry juice?" Rhett hadn¡¯t had it in a while.

    "Of course, Master! Shortly after you left, I had a cer built on the estate. Master Ry personally gathered arge amount of ice to keep it cool, so we have various chilled juices."

    Rhett nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. In addition to blueberry juice, bring me some apple juice as well."

    "At your service!" Sveta bowed and headed off.

    While Sveta was gone, Rhett took the opportunity to inspect the castle being built by the architects. The exterior outline was already taking shape, and through the windows, he could see that while the necessary load-bearing walls were in ce, many areas inside were still empty.

    "At this rate, within a month, the internal structure should bepleted, and then we can cover the outeryer with ck sandstone. That will give it the solemn and grand appearance of Dark Rock Castle," Rhett calcted, stroking his chin. Since it was called Dark Rock Castle, the exterior needed to reflect that somber and dignified vibe.

    Before long, Sveta returned with two bottles of juice. "Master, here¡¯s your blueberry juice and apple juice."

    "Thank you."

    Rhett took the juices in hand and headed toward Cold Crystal Lake.

    Looking out, Cold Crystal Lake had a color different from Sun Lake. Sun Lake''s water appeared golden due to the golden seaweed at its bottom, giving it a magnificent, luxurious look. Cold Crystal Lake, on the other hand, was deep blue and tranquil, offering a serene and calming view.

    At that moment, Rhett sat by the shore of Cold Crystal Lake. The location at the bottom of the small valley brought a slight chill, though it wasn¡¯t as cold as it had been when Frost Sunflowers were still at the bottom of theke.

    <em>Gulp, gulp</em>

    Rhett drank the blueberry juice in one go. Firegrid watched him drink with eager eyes, pping its wings and opening its beak. "Chirp, chirp!" (I want some too!)

    Rhett turned his head, chuckling. He uncorked the bottle of apple juice and poured it into Firegrid¡¯s wide-open beak.

    <em>Gulp, gulp</em>

    The red-feathered throat bobbed up and down rapidly as Firegrid drained the bottle.

    "Chirp?"

    Firegrid smacked its beak twice, seemingly unimpressed with the taste, and wandered off to preen its feathers, losing interest.

    <em>Ssh, ssh</em>

    Suddenly.

    Ripples spread across the surface of Cold Crystal Lake, followed by the sound of sshing water. A figure emerged, flicking away wet strands of hair. Her dazed eyes spotted the figure by the shore, and she lit up, eximing:

    "Huh? Father, you¡¯re back!"

    Ry swam to the shore in a butterfly stroke, climbing out with a bright smile. "You must have just returned, right? You¡¯ve been gone for over three months; it must have been something important."

    "Yes, very important..." Rhett nodded after a brief pause but didn¡¯t borate on what he had been doing.

    He looked at the dripping wet Ry and asked, "Were you training magic underwater just now?"

    As soon as he approached Cold Crystal Lake, he had sensed the abnormal flow of water elements below¡ªa clear sign of magic being cast.

    "Ah... yes." Ry¡¯s expression brightened at her father¡¯s mention of her training, a hint of pride in her eyes. She continued:@@novelbin@@

    "You remember the second phase of magic training you taught me¡ªattacking falling stones in mid-air? I¡¯ve been practicing it continuously since you left."

    "But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t make any progress. The speed was too slow, and the difficulty too high."

    "Then, two months ago, while tending to the aquatic magical beasts here, I noticed the abundance of bubbles in the water. An idea struck me, and I found a transitional training method!"

    Rhett¡¯s interest was piqued. "Tell me more."

    Ry smiled and exined:

    "I thought I could lower the difficulty first. In water, stones fall more slowly than in mid-air, making precise strikes much easier. But the essence of the training remains the same!"

    "So, I n to master hitting stones in water with perfect uracy before moving on to mid-air training."

    Not a bad idea at all¡ªI hadn¡¯t thought of that before¡­ Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up with admiration. He patted Ry¡¯s shoulder, pleased.

    "Good job, boy. You¡¯ve improved this magic training method¡ªwell done!"

    Ry smiled with some pride. "It¡¯s all thanks to your guidance, Father!"

    "Haha." Rhett chuckled, shaking his head. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he asked:

    "By the way, where¡¯s Whitegrid? Isn¡¯t it usually with you?"

    "Oh, Whitegrid? Ever since we returned to the Dark-patterned Eagle mountain range, that little guy has been acting wild, running off into the forest every day and rarelying out." Ry shrugged, helpless. "Maybe it feels like this is where it truly belongs."

    Then, changing the subject, Ry added, "But to correct its behavior, I¡¯ve arranged for it to assist Frano and Laurine with ranger training in the forest. I hear it¡¯s going well."

    "Is that so..." Rhett raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly.

    "And where¡¯s Tuck? I didn¡¯t see him just now, nor within a few kilometers." Rhett asked with a feigned puzzled expression.

    "He? About half a month ago, he mentioned feeling on the verge of breaking through to a Level 2 Knight, so he¡¯s been out training hard in the mountains." Ry thought for a moment before adding, "Oh, and by the way, Tuck¡¯s wife, Vanessa, is pregnant."

    "Really?" Rhett feigned surprise and muttered, "That kid Tuck is really doing his part!"

    Then, turning to Ry, he gave a sly smile, patting his shoulder with encouragement:

    "Since the eldest has set a good example, you and Taylors need to keep up the effort."

    "The growth of the Green family depends on you two!"

    "..."

    Ry''s mouth twitched. He didn''t respond to the topic and instead looked toward the frost pine trees some distance away, asking:

    "Father, is it really safe to leave the water-type magical nts exposed like this?"

    Before leaving, Rhett had handed over the task of cing the water-type magical nts to Ry and Henk, with instructions to nt them around Cold Crystal Lake rather than in the estate''s gardens. Even the alchemyb was to be ced here, though that wouldn¡¯t be built until after the castle waspleted.

    Rhett had anticipated this question. He calmly replied:

    "It¡¯s fine. Even if someone notices the anomaly here, we have the strength to handle the risk."

    "Over time, as we umte more magical nts, they¡¯ll eventually be too numerous to hide. We need to be prepared for that day."

    "Besides, this area is currently designated as a restricted zone, so exposure is unlikely."

    Ry pondered this, then heard Rhett say:

    "Next time you trade, try to acquire some earth-type magical nt seeds¡ªabout as many as the water-type ones."

    "Why earth-type magical nts?" Ry asked, puzzled.

    Rhett''s lips curved into a faint smile. He was about to summon the Sand Spirit but first scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense to ensure no one was nearby.

    Then, he focused his mind, summoning the Sand Spirit from within him. It reluctantly emerged from Rhett¡¯s body.

    A yellowish phantom, somewhat resembling a small bear but also a cloud, floatedzily around Rhett!

    For a moment, Ry froze.

    His pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the dusty, semi-transparent figure, disbelief etched across his face. He pointed at the Sand Spirit, stammering:

    "Father, is that...?"

    He had a hunch but couldn¡¯t help asking.

    Rhett smiled and retracted the Sand Spirit, looking at Ry with a meaningful gaze:

    "You¡¯ve probably guessed it¡ªyes, it¡¯s a Spirit!"

    "A Spirit!" Ry''s heart skipped a beat. His face flushed, and he paced in small steps, muttering to himself, "A Spirit, a real Spirit!"

    Swallowing, his face still red, Ry congratted Rhett, "Congrattions, Father! You managed to subdue a Spirit on this trip? What are its abilities?"

    "Yes, it¡¯s a Sand Spirit. It has a simr ability to the Snow Spirit¡ªelerating the growth of earth-type magical nts and beasts."

    "Additionally, it can turn soil, rocks, and other materials into sand." Rhett added, "I asked you to acquire earth-type magical nt seeds to maximize the Sand Spirit¡¯s abilities."

    "Understood!" Ry nodded eagerly, his excitement barely contained.

    Rhett decided to keep the Spirit''s ability to help himprehend the Profound concealed.

    If his mastery of the ¡°Scattering Profound¡± ever came to light, he¡¯d attribute it to his innate talent. Otherwise, the idea of gaining such extensive benefits from the Spirit would defymon sense.

 Chapter 187: Dark Eagle City Layout

    Rhett then inquired:

    "Ry, give me a detailed report on the current number of magical nts in our territory."

    As the lord, he couldn¡¯t keep track of every detail daily, and it had been a while since hest checked the magical nt count.

    "No problem." Ry nodded, taking a deep breath to calm his excitement before continuing:

    "Father, currently, in our magical nt cultivation fields, aside from water-element nts, the other elements haven''t seen much change in numbers since they haven''t been blessed. We only have a few hundred nts, none of which are high-grade, so their overall value isn''t very high.

    As for water-element nts, I¡¯ll give a detailed report. First, there are 32 Frost Sunflowers, harvested just recently. The Frost Pine Trees, nted two and a half years ago, are now over five years old.

    Other water-element nts include over 2,000 Blueleaf Grass, more than 500 Ice Crystal Lilies, over 600 Water Moon Grass, more than 700 Mist Lotuses, and over 100 Snow Vine roots."

    Ry paused, then confirmed, "That''s roughly the situation."

    "Not bad." Rhett nodded approvingly. After a moment of thought, he added, "From now on, we''ll focus on a dual cultivation strategy¡ªwater and earth-element nts.""Understood. This will diversify our magical nt types, making it easier to trade for other elements. In the past, we only had water-element nts, and even with slight concessions, sometimes we couldn''t trade for the other elements we needed. But going forward, this should improve significantly!" Ry said, his face lighting up with excitement.

    Seeing Ry¡¯s joy, Rhett added, "Don¡¯t neglect dark-element nts either. Besides nting them near the solitary peak, we need to regrly purchase enough leaves to feed the flock of Dark-patterned Eagles there."

    "No problem. While you were away, I already nted the few hundred dark-element nts we had there."

    Rhett nced at the magical nt cultivation area a hundred meters away, where various magical nts created a colorful disy, thoughcking in dark hues.

    "Good work!"

    The construction of the castle progressed faster than expected.

    This was partly because Rhett believed that as a lord, he needed a residence befitting his status¡ªliving in a small house felt too undignified.

    So, upon returning, he used his earth magic to assist the architects, speeding up the construction and refinement of rooms, staircases, and corridors.

    Thanks to the help of a powerful mage, the entire Dark Rock Castle waspleted within a week. The secondary buildings, being lessplex, had already been finished during the main castle¡¯s construction.

    There was no borate moving-in ceremony.

    At sunset, with the sky bathed in a golden-red hue, Rhett stood on the estate¡¯swn, his face glowing in the light, and announced, "Our new home isplete!"

    "Yay!"

    "Wow!"

    The maids and servants, ovee with excitement, hugged each other, their eyes shining as they gazed at the majestic Dark Rock Castle!

    "What a grand castle¡ªit has its own unique charmpared to Deep Rock Castle!" Ry marveled at the dark, imposing structure, topped with a colorful eagle carving.

    "I can¡¯t wait to move in!" Taylors said, his eyes sparkling.

    "Haha, me too," Tuck replied, ruffling Taylors'' hair with one hand.

    Taylors pushed Tuck''s hand away, rolling his eyes. Despite his annoyance, he knew now wasn''t the time for bickering.

    After spending half an hour inside the castle, Sveta approached Rhett and said:@@novelbin@@

    "Master, I¡¯ve checked theyout inside¡ªit¡¯s almost identical to the previous design."

    He nced at the team of architects heading to the Cold Crystal Lake area to prepare the alchemyb, as instructed by Rhett, and couldn¡¯t help but remark:

    "They¡¯re truly remarkable architects, Master. Have you considered keeping them here?"

    Rhett raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "There¡¯s no need for that. We don¡¯t need to invest heavily in training architects."

    "Understood, Master." Sveta seemed thoughtful as he turned to organize the servants and assign rooms in the castle.

    Rhett looked at the setting sun, his hands behind his back, and murmured, "As an earth mage, when I reach the level of a Grand Magus or even a Saint, my control over earth elements will be so refined that I¡¯ll be the world¡¯s greatest architect myself¡­"

    "Why bother training others?"

    Indeed, once an earth mage reaches a certain level of mastery, their control over earth elements bes so precise that they dominate the field of architecture.

    Rhett nced at the newlypleted Dark Rock Castle. The dark structure, with hints of yellowish particles, reflected tiny golden lights in the sunlight. The 30-meter-tall spire pierced the sky, topped with a three-meter wingspan eagle, wings spread and head held high.

    As he walked into the castle, Rhett noticed that theyout on the first floor mirrored that of Deep Rock Castle, but with more space.

    A crystal-blue chandelier above his head cast a shimmering light, illuminating Rhett¡¯s face. Smiling, he made his way to his room on the fifth floor.

    The basic furniture had already been arranged by the servants.

    However, the more personal touches would need Rhett¡¯s attention.

    He opened a crate wrapped in linen, taking out various bottles, jars, and important items.

    These included a portrait of Nicole, fire essence, Three-leaf Spark leaves, books, notebooks, and more.

    After carefully cing everything in order throughout the hall and his room, Rhetty down on his bed, closing his eyes to rx for a while.

    The next morning.

    While meditating in his room, Rhett suddenly opened his eyes and rushed out.

    He hurried to the third floor, sensing a dense and intense burst of fire aura emanating from one of the rooms.

    Even through the azure iron door, Rhett could feel the rising temperature.

    Suddenly.

    A muffled explosion echoed from within.

    Rhett¡¯s expression shifted as he tried the door, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.

    Soon, Vanessa, dressed in pink pajamas, opened the door from inside, her face showing signs of anxiety. "Father, Tuck woke up this morning and suddenly said he was about to break through. He didn¡¯t have time to leave before it all started."

    "Don¡¯t worry. Everything will be fine!" Rhett reassured her calmly as he quickly entered the room.

    He saw Tuck struggling, contorted in a challenging posture on the floor, with fire-red breath puffing from his nostrils. His skin glowed slightly red as if he were being burned by mes.

    <em>Thud, thud</em>

    <em>Tack, tack</em>

    Suddenly, Tuck started moving within the room, throwing punches and stomping across the floor, causing the ground to shake violently.

    I shouldn¡¯t have let him move into the new house¡­ He would¡¯ve been better off staying in the mountains¡­ Rhett¡¯s mouth twitched as he looked at the freshly finished floor, now covered in dents from Tuck¡¯s movements.

    Tuck could vaguely sense his father¡¯s presence, but in this critical moment of his breakthrough, he couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted.

    "Hah!"

    After an unknown amount of time, Tuck¡¯s raging aura finally subsided. He let out a powerful shout, the force of his aura resonating with the air and causing a nearby bookshelf to copse.

    Fortunately, Tuck wasn¡¯t much of a reader, so the shelves were nearly empty¡­

    Momentster, Tuck stood, barely clothed, only to be scolded:

    "When you¡¯re done, put some clothes on! You¡¯re a grown man!"

    Rhett frowned, shaking his head at Tuck, whose clothes had been burned away by his fiery aura, revealing his bronze skin. Then, Rhett turned and left the room.

    As Rhett walked out, Tuck chuckled sheepishly. "Thanks for the concern, Father!"

    Without pausing, Rhett exited the room, where a screen appeared before him:

    ¡¾Family member¡¯s strength increased by one level. Fate Points +5¡¿

    Only then did Rhett smile faintly. "Finally, some Fate Points¡­ I had less than five points left, not even enough for a single simtion. It was really unsettling."

    "Now I have 8 points¡ªenough to handle unexpected situations."

    As Rhett pondered this, he left Tuck''s room and headed to the fourth floor, arriving at Ry¡¯s room.

    He wanted to discuss the details of Dark Eagle City¡¯s construction. Before leaving, he had only outlined the city¡¯s generalyout and zoning n. The detailed nning couldn¡¯t bepleted in a short time, so he needed to consult with Ry further.

    After spending a few moments ying with Karese and Kazena, Ry led his father to the study. He went to a corner drawer, pulled out a folded blueprint, and spread it out on the desk.

    "In the three months you were away, and in the past few days, I¡¯ve been refining the details of the Dark Eagle City n. Please take a look."

    Rhett¡¯s eyes lit up. Ry had kept this well hidden¡ªhe hadn¡¯t mentioned it during the first few days after his return. It seemed he wanted to surprise his father.

    The desk held a cityyout blueprint, about two meters long and one meter wide.

    At the top was a small eagle, representing the symbol of Dark Eagle City.

    The central part of the map showed four main roads, connecting east, west, north, south, and diagonal directions in an asterisk pattern. At the intersection of these roads was a za.

    To ensure the city¡¯spatibility and stability, it was divided into four main districts.

    Residential District, Supernatural District, Commercial District, and Leisure District.

    The Residential District, as the name suggests, was where ordinary people lived. Although they couldn¡¯t cultivate, they could still engage in variousmercial activities, or at the very least, perform service andbor jobs¡ªan essential part of any city¡¯s operation.

    The Supernatural District was designed for knights and mages, with shops and activities catering mainly to the supernatural.

    As for the Commercial and Leisure Districts, they differed from the first two. Property in these areas could be purchased by both ordinary people and the supernatural.

    However, thend itself remained Rhett¡¯s property; what was sold were the rights to buildings and usage, ensuring that Rhett retained ultimate control as the city¡¯s lord.

    These four main zones were the framework Rhett had previously established, ensuring harmony among Dark Eagle City¡¯s inhabitants.

    But Rhett hadn¡¯t had time to n out the streets, so Ry had not only mapped out the main roads but also detailed the cement of buildings, streetyouts, and city infrastructure, all meticulously organized.

    Seeing the well-orderedyout and the clear division of roads, Rhett felt a deep sense of satisfaction and praised:

    "Ry, your talent in design is truly remarkable¡ªyou¡¯re the greatest in the history of the Green family!"

    "Haha, Father, you tter me!" Ry chuckled modestly. "The city may be nned, but the initial poption might not be veryrge."

    "After all, it took Earl Nilo over 20 years to build Twilight City into what it is today. We¡¯re establishing the third Earl''s capital in the Southwest Frontier, which means we¡¯re drawing from a fixed pool of people. So¡­"

    "Yes, I understand." Rhett nodded. "You can¡¯t rush things. We need to proceed gradually. Weck experience in city management, so it¡¯s just as well that we start small. Managing a city the size of Twilight City right from the beginning might overwhelm us. This scale suits us just fine for now."

    Ry seemed relieved. "Also, the nearby viges haven¡¯t been settled yet. Our poption has all been moved here, so we need to determine the locations for the viges and farnds soon, or the people will be anxious."

    "Let me take a closer look." Rhett stroked his chin as Ry pulled out another map of the Southwest Frontier. Rhett found his territory and studied it closely.

    Rhett muttered, "With a limited poption, we shouldn¡¯t spread them too thin, or it will lower the birth rate."

    After a while, he pointed to a spot on the map. "Let¡¯s set up a vige to the north of Dark Eagle City¡ªcall it Deep Rock Vige."

    "Deep Rock Vige?" Ry repeated, then nodded.

    He took out a pen and began making notes at his desk.

    As the summer heat intensified, the flowers in the garden bloomed in full splendor, and the cicadas buzzed incessantly.

    After leaving Dark Rock Castle, Rhett stood alone on a stone path, admiring the flowers on either side and inhaling their fragrance.

    Then, he walked out of the estate and headed to the outer bailey, which served as the training ground.

    The training ground was now several timesrger than before.

    Rhett walked to the farthest end and finally saw Tadel and Kurse training the recruits.

    Rhett concealed his aura, observing Lawrence from the doorway. Though only three months had passed, Lawrence, in his growth spurt, had visibly grown taller¡ªhis transformation was evident.

    "Advancing by one level per year¡­ Lawrence¡¯s talent is remarkable." Rhett thought to himself.

    He called Tadel over, and thetter was surprised to see Rhett at the entrance. Tadel immediately straightened and ran over, saluting. "Good morning, my lord. Is there anything you need?"

    Rhett pondered for a moment. "No major issues, but I want to revise a rule."

    "Please go ahead, my lord."

    "From now on, the most outstanding trainee at the training ground will have their resources doubled each month." Rhett said slowly.

 Chapter 188: Refining the Saint-Grade Bloodline Potion

    It was a bit like a carrot-and-stick situation; the best trainee at the training ground was undoubtedly Lawrence! So Rhett¡¯s intention was clear¡ªhe nned to increase support for Lawrence.

    Tadel realized this, and after ncing at the young man sweating and training hard with a determined expression, he nodded and said, "Understood, Lord Rhett."

    After Rhett left, Tadel approached the group. Kurs sneaked over and asked, "Hey, Tadel, what did the lord just say?"

    Tadel whispered in Kurs'' ear, "From now on, the most outstanding trainee among these recruits will have their resources doubled."

    "Huh?" Kurs widened his eyes in realization and understood why his good friend had suddenly looked at Lawrence. He too turned to the young man practicing swordy, recalling his rapid progress over the past two years. It became clear to him what the lord intended.

    "This is a clear decision to heavily invest in Lawrence¡¯s growth..." Kurs muttered.

    He then watched Lawrence for a few more minutes before saying, "Lawrence, increase your training weight by another 50 kilograms!"

    Lawrence''s eyelid twitched at themand, but there was no fear in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes, sir!"

    Time passed, and summer turned to autumn.In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed.

    The heat had dissipated, and the air in Dark Eagle City had a hint of coolness.

    Since Rhett became an earl and a fifth-level magus, his presence in the territory was like a mountain, providing unparalleled stability.

    No ouws or cunning viins dared to cause trouble in the territory. Even if they tried, Rhett would quickly suppress them with ruthless methods, leaving no room for chaos.

    During these two months, nothing major happened. Most of Rhett''s focus was onprehending the mysteries of magic, while he also supervised the construction and operation of Dark Eagle City and Deep Rock Vige.

    Currently, Dark Eagle City was primarily focused onpleting the residential areas formoners, while themercial district was under construction. The previous Nightingale Tavern, Iron Brothers cksmith Shop, and various skilled craftsmen, tailors, and other artisans had all relocated to themercial district of Dark Eagle City.

    On July 25th, Rhett strolled by Cold Crystal Lake, breathing in the crisp autumn air. The flowers and nts along the road had unknowingly turned golden. As he enjoyed the autumn scenery, he arrived at thekeside.

    From a distance, he could see a tall wall surrounding a hundred meters of the area around Cold Crystal Lake. This was a wall he had addedter to block any prying eyes.

    Once inside, his eyes took in the lush, colorful magical nts growing freely, unaffected by the seasons.

    The magical nt cultivation field was now filled with earth and water-element nts.

    The primary colors were blue and yellow, with shades ranging from deep blue, light blue, and azure to deep yellow, pale yellow, and sandy yellow.

    After observing for a while, Rhett nodded and summoned the Sand Spirit.

    A few days ago, Ry had purchased a new batch of earth-element nt seeds, which had just been nted¡ª30 medium-level Sandberry nts and 600 Ironrock Trees.

    The Ironrock Trees were particrly valuable, as their wood was not inferior to wrought iron and even surpassed it in some ways. Unlike iron ore, which required smelting and forging, Ironrock Tree wood could be used directly as building material. It would y an indispensable role in the territory''s construction.

    A yellowish shadow gradually formed, taking on a plump shape. Following Rhett''s instructions, itzily wandered around the magical nt cultivation area, showing none of the Snow Spirit''s energetic enthusiasm.

    As the Sand Spirit passed by each cluster of earth-element nts, a wisp of yellow sand dispersed, transforming into tiny particles that merged into the nts. These earth-element nts gently swayed, seemingly in joy.

    With the taskpleted, Rhett absorbed the Sand Spirit back into his body. He carefully sensed that when the Sand Spirit disappeared, it felt as if it had returned to a state of nothingness,pletely undetectable. It seemed to be parasitically residing in some corner of his body, only perceivable through their special connection.

    Frowning in thought, Rhett couldn''t figure it out, so he left the magical nt cultivation field and headed to the nearby alchemyb.

    Theb now had three floors.

    Rhett had designed it with some amusement, modeling it after the structure of the Circr Tower.

    Although the floors didn''t correspond directly, the overall structure was quite simr, both in exterior colors and internalyout¡ªabout 70 to 80 percent identical.

    From the first to the third floor, a spiral staircase connected them. Rhett stepped on the wooden floor and headed directly to the top floor.

    Before he could knock, the gray door opened from the inside.

    "Lord Rhett, I heard your footsteps as you came upstairs." Henke greeted him with a smile, wearing a loose robe.

    Rhett shrugged. "Good morning, Henke. How is the progress on the ck Raven¡¯s Curse?"

    "Good morning." At the mention of the project, Henke''s face fell. He shook his head and sighed, slumping into a chair. "I''m stuck at a critical step¡ªgetting the properties to mix in just the right proportion and then elevating them to their optimal state. I just can¡¯t manage it."

    "Perhaps my alchemy skills aren''t up to the task," Henke said dejectedly.

    Rhett was silent for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "You¡¯ve worked hard. Take a good rest tonight, and don''t go wandering off."

    "Wandering off?" Henke replied, "I¡¯ve been cooped up in this room for a month working on ck Raven¡¯s Curse."

    Rhett nced around theb, noting the cluttered furniture, alchemy instruments, and the colorful, unknown liquids on the floor¡ªit indeed looked like a room that hadn¡¯t been left in a while.

    He then recalled that the alchemist from Ice City would be visiting that evening. If he invited the guest to observe the process, this messy room wouldn¡¯t leave a good impression.

    So he suggested to Henke, "I rmend you tidy up the room. Who knows, maybe a clean environment will spark some new inspiration?"

    "Huh?" Henke looked surprised. "You know, great alchemists never bother with that."

    "Yes, and when you be great, you can ignore it too," Rhett replied with a stern look. "But for now, clean up the room!"

    "Alright, Lord Rhett!" Seeing Rhett¡¯s firm tone, Henke reluctantly got up and started tidying the room.

    After personally watching Henke clean and organize theb until everything was in its proper ce, Rhett left, satisfied.

    Henke, now sitting in front of his cauldron, stared at the murky liquid, bewildered by his lord¡¯s insistence on cleanliness.@@novelbin@@

    Having dealt with that, Rhett decided to check on Taylors on the first floor.

    Since the alchemyb waspleted, Taylors had requested to move out of the castle and live in theb with Mina, which Rhett had no objections to.

    When he arrived, he found that his concerns were unnecessary. With Mina¡¯s help, Taylors¡¯b was much tidier overall.

    As Rhett finished his inspection and prepared to leave, Taylors suddenly called out to him.

    "Father!"

    "Hmm?" Rhett turned, noticing Taylors looking a bit hesitant. "It seems like you have something to say?"

    "Well, Father, the Panlong story you gave me¡ªI¡¯ve finished reading it with Mina," Taylors said, scratching his head in embarrassment but with excitement in his eyes. "As I thought, the protagonist, Linley, is still far from reaching the Saint realm, so there must be a sequel. Father, could you share the next part with me?"

    I haven¡¯t even started writing it yet¡­ Rhett raised an eyebrow, exhaled, and ruffled Taylors¡¯ golden hair with a smile. "It¡¯s a small matter. Be patient for a few days."

    Taylors¡¯ eyes lit up. "Thank you, Father!"

    As the sun set and the moon rose, the cool autumn wind rustled through the early-falling leaves.

    By this time, the workers and castle servants had all retired for the night, leaving only the armored patrol guards circling the key areas.

    Dark Eagle City weed two unexpected guests¡ªa burly middle-aged man and an elderly man with a staff.

    "Whoa! They¡¯ve started building a city here? Just a few years ago, this ce was still an empty in," the middle-aged man marveled.

    This was none other than Wodelge. After his exmation, he curiously surveyed the surroundings before turning to the elder beside him. "Should we head straight to the mountains? I know where the Dark-patterned Eagle''s old nest is."

    The elder wore a blue mage¡¯s robe, with a strange design of an arrow piercing through the heart of a dragon-headed beast on the back. He frowned slightly. "We should first learn more about this territory. It seems a new earl has risen here, nning to control the Dark-patterned Eagle range. Quite ambitious!"

    Wodelge also squinted his eyes, deep in thought, and nodded.

    Suddenly.

    "Who goes there?" A sharp voice rang out in the night.

    <em>Tad, tad, tad</em>

    A rapid series of footsteps approached. Tadel, with a fierce look in his eyes, quickly arrived with a patrol unit, having noticed themotion.

    His gaze was stern as he scrutinized the two men, preparing to question them.

    But Wodelge fixed his eyes on the insignia on Tadel''s chest¡ªa fledgling eagle¡ªand said in surprise, "A follower of Viscount Rhett?"

    Before he could say more, the alchemist from Ice City calmly assessed the situation, observing the attire of the people around him, and slowly said, "Correction¡ªit should be Earl Rhett now¡­"

    "Earl Rhett?!" Wodelge''s voice rose in surprise. He stared at the construction of Dark Eagle City and suddenly understood.

    "So this is the city Earl Rhett is building!"

    "No wonder! The connection between Fledgling Eagle Town and Dark Eagle City should have tipped me off!"

    Seeing the rough-looking man speak with such joy and realization, Tadel¡¯s vignce eased. From what he could gather, these two seemed to be acquaintances of the lord.

    He said, "That¡¯s correct. This is Earl Rhett¡¯s territory. May I ask who you are?"

    "I am Wodelge, leader of the me Lion Mercenary Group, and a friend of your lord." Wodelge introduced himself with a serious expression, then added respectfully, "And this beside me is a grand magus from Ice City, as well as an alchemy master!"

    <em>Hiss</em>

    Instantly, Tadel and the knights behind him gasped, their eyes wide in shock and growing awe as they looked at the elderly man in blue robes.

    A grand magus and an alchemy master?

    That was a person even their lord would not dare offend!

    They had only heard of such a figure in legends, and now, to see one in person?

    Tadel swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm.

    There was no helping it¡ªthis high-ranking figure made him nervous.

    "Well then¡­ please follow me. Dark Rock Castle is to the east. I¡¯ll inform the lord immediately!"

    "Thank you, Captain." Wodelgeughed heartily.

    "You¡¯re wee."

    As he led them along the main road that cut through the territory, Tadel couldn¡¯t help but marvel.

    He had only heard of Wodelge from the lord, during a casual conversation half a month ago, and had kept it in mind.

    But he had never heard of a grand magus from Ice City. Still, on the way back, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªcould their lord really know such a person?

    Unbelievable...

    As Tadel led the guests along the main road, an idle figure strolled through the center of town.

    This figure was none other than Rhett, who, knowing from his future vision what sort of visitors would arrive tonight, had prepared by taking a casual walk outside.

    Seeing Tadel approaching with a group of knights, Rhett paused and said, "Tadel, what¡¯s going on¡­? Hmm? Wodelge!"

    Feigning pleasant surprise, Rhett shifted his attention from Tadel to the rugged man at the rear of the group.

    The man carried arge bundle in his left hand, a quiver and bow on his back, a sword in his right, and wore a gray leather outfit. Upon seeing Rhett, he broke into a wide grin.

    "Hahaha, Rhett! It¡¯s been a year and a half since west met!"

    Heughed loudly, walked up to Rhett, and gave him a hearty hug. Then he said with a mix of joy and admiration:

    "I can¡¯t believe it! In just a year and a half, you¡¯ve broken through to the fifth level as a magus and be an earl of the Southwest Frontier. Congrattions!"

    "Just a stroke of luck," Rhett replied with a smile. "You¡¯re not doing too badly yourself. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not far from your next breakthrough."

    "Haha, I¡¯m still a long way off!" Wodelge waved his hand dismissively, well aware of his own situation.

    He nced around and casually asked, "What are you doing out here alone at this hour?"

    "Just enjoying the autumn breeze," Rhett replied with a slight smile. "But running into you was a pleasant surprise."

    With that, Rhett dismissed Tadel and his men to continue their patrols.

    Then, he turned his attention to the distinguished-looking man in the blue robe. His expression shifted to one of seriousness and curiosity as he asked Wodelge, "And this is¡­?"

    Wodelge straightened up and took a step back, introducing the man formally:

    "Earl Rhett, allow me to introduce the alchemy master from Ice City I mentioned before¡ªEssad Rnd."

    Rhett¡¯s pupils contracted as he feigned astonishment.

    His expression became more respectful as he greeted the man, "It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Master Essad. I¡¯ve heard about your deeds in the fight against the Dragonkin and hold you in the highest regard!"

    Essad¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest, and he nodded with a smile. "Not many nobles are like you. Indeed, it¡¯s often the newly risen ones who harbor the greatest hatred for the beastmen. Those from long-established lines, too ustomed tofort, may lose their edge."

    Rhett chuckled lightly and extended an invitation. "The night is deep, Master Essad, Wodelge¡ªwhy don¡¯t you both join me at my castle?"

    Wodelge hesitated, ncing at Essad.

    "Perhaps another time. My purpose here concerns the Dark-patterned Eagles," Essad replied after a moment of thought. "Thest time Wodelge brought me arge number of Dark-patterned Eagle corpses, it was a great help in my research on toxins against the Dragonkin!"

    "So this time, I¡¯vee personally to check on the Dark-patterned Eagles in this range."

    Hearing this, Rhett pretended to understand and readily offered to guide them to the heart of the Dark-patterned Eagle range.

    The moon hung high, and the gentle wind rustled through the forest and mountains, blending with the sounds of insects and the crisp crunch of fallen leaves to create the melody of an autumn night.

    Rhett led the way to the lone peak, with Wodelge and Essad close behind. At the foot of the mountain, they stopped and looked up at the dozen or so Dark-patterned Eagles circling overhead, their faces lighting up with delight.

    "Just as I thought, there are still Dark-patterned Eagles here¡ªhahaha!" Essad, who had remainedposed until now, suddenly burst intoughter, his voice echoing through the night.

    His gaze remained fixed on the lone peak as he muttered to himself, "I knew it! Dark-patterned Eagles are creatures of habit. They wouldn¡¯t easily leave a ce they¡¯ve lived for hundreds of years!"

    Do magical beasts really get attached to ces? I¡¯ve never heard of that¡­ Rhett scratched the back of his head and asked deliberately, "Master Essad, is your goal to breed these Dark-patterned Eagles?"

    "Exactly!" Essad turned and looked at Rhett with piercing eyes, his expression full of enthusiasm. "The dark-element nts around the base of the mountain were clearly nted deliberately¡ªan arrangement made by you, I presume? Did you expect me toe?"

    Rhett quickly shook his head, exining, "Not at all. Whether you came or not, I had already decided to breed these Dark-patterned Eagles."

    Essad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Tell me your n."

    Rhett pondered for a moment before exining slowly:

    "My idea is simr to yours¡ªto gradually breed these Dark-patterned Eagles, expand their numbers, and eventually provide materials for your research, contributing to the fight against the Dragonkin at the Coldstream Line."

    "My eldest son, Tuck, has tamed a Dark-patterned Eagle. If we can somehow make it the leader of the flock, it would give us a natural advantage in controlling this breeding ground."

    "Excellent!" Essad¡¯s expression shifted several times as he listened to Rhett¡¯s exnation. He went from being intrigued to delighted, and finally, to feeling gratified.

    He couldn¡¯t help but pat Rhett on the shoulder and say, "I¡¯m pleased to hear you think this way!"

    "But your n may not go as smoothly as you hope."

    Rhett perked up. Any guidance from an alchemy master would be invaluable, and he was all ears.

    "I¡¯d love to hear more!"

    Essad nced around, surveying the lone peak and the magical nts, then said:

    "The breeding cycle of magical beasts is rtively long, much slower than that of ordinary animals. If you rely on natural reproduction, given the small number of eagles, you won¡¯t see results in the short term.

    That¡¯s why, beforeing here, I prepared a special powder that stimtes breeding in Dark-patterned Eagles. Just sprinkle it on the dark-element nts, and as long as the eagles eat them, their reproduction rate will increase significantly."

    <em>Hiss</em>

    Rhett took a sharp breath. A potion that could entice magical beasts to willingly consume it and increase their reproduction rate?

    That sounded incredible!

    "As expected of an alchemy master¡ªcreating something like this!" Rhett marveled inwardly. But to confirm a suspicion, he asked:

    "Master Essad, is this powder expensive to produce? If it¡¯s rtively affordable, I have alchemists in my territory who could perhaps make it as well!"

    "You? I don¡¯t think so." Essad shot Rhett a curious look and shook his head, then added confidently:

    "Without the skills of an alchemy master, you wouldn¡¯t even get close. Besides, not every alchemy master can do what I do!"

    Of course, you¡¯re the best¡­ Rhett thought, suppressing a smile.

    "And the cost of making this powder is exorbitant. A single dose costs more than several Dark-patterned Eagles on the market.

    I don¡¯t mean to belittle you, but your current financial situation wouldn¡¯t be able to support this."

    Rhett suddenly understood. Right¡ªthis man was willing to spend money to fight the Dragonkin, even if it meant making a loss. Breeding Dark-patterned Eagles wasn¡¯t about profit for him¡ªit was about revenge...

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten that the man before him was a devoted father. His tone softened with respect as he said, "Master Essad, rest assured¡ªI won¡¯t let you down!"

    Essad¡¯s expression grew serious as he met Rhett¡¯s gaze. After a moment, he smiled faintly. "I believe in you."

    "Since you¡¯re helping me, I should offer you something in return."

    Here ites¡ªthe Saint-Grade Bloodline Potion failure ising¡­ Rhett¡¯s heart raced, but he kept his expression serious.

    At the same time, he activated his system.

    [Do you want to start a Realistic Simtion? Each day of simtion consumes 1 Destiny Point.]

    "Yes, simte for one day."

    <em>Buzz</em>

    A ripple passed through his vision, and Rhett felt a wave of calm wash over him.

    He met Essad¡¯s smiling eyes and said, "Thank you, Master Essad!"

    Essad paused in surprise, then chuckled. "You¡¯re not shy, are you? I haven¡¯t even told you what I¡¯m giving you."

    Rhett remained silent, eager for Essad to hand over the gift so he could begin the refining process.

    This was a simtion, so he didn¡¯t need to worry about making a good impression or how his words and actions might affect future rtions.

    Soon enough, Essad produced a vial containing a radiant yellow liquid. It seemed almost alive, like a bottle full of starlight.

    It was as if countless fireflies were swirling inside the liquid, mesmerizing both Rhett and Wodelge.

    Rhett was taken aback by its beauty. "What is this potion?"

    "Heh, this is a Saint-Grade Bloodline Potion," Essad said with a faint smile before quickly adding, "But unfortunately, it¡¯s a failure."

    Beside him, Wodelge¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, then slowly closed in regret. He realized that it made sense¡ªno one would casually give away a Saint-Grade Bloodline Potion...

    Rhett¡¯s expression was one of shock, followed by joy.

    Essad noticed and asked thoughtfully, "You seem pleased? But it¡¯s just a failure¡­"

    "Even a failure is a precious gift, especially since ites from you. Of course, I¡¯m happy!" Rhett replied earnestly, offering polite words. Then he added:

    "More importantly, my alchemists have long dreamed of studying bloodline potions. As their lord, I can finally fulfill their wish."

    "Hmm, that makes sense. Even a failed bloodline potion is a treasure to some alchemists!" Essad nodded in agreement.

    "In that case, it¡¯s yours now." Essad handed over the potion.

    Rhett¡¯s heart raced as he eagerly epted it. Without waiting for further conversation, he immediately uncorked the vial and drank it down.

    "Rhett, you!" Essad was stunned. He had clearly warned Rhett that this was a failed potion, and the consequences of consuming it were something a fifth-level magus should understand.

    "Why would he risk his life?" Essad wondered.

    But Rhett quickly sat down in a meditative posture, and Essad could only remain silent, preparing to collect his remainster...

    Wodelge, standing nearby, was also left speechless, staring in shock as his friend drank the potion and sat cross-legged, his mind in turmoil.

    What¡­ is he doing? Isn¡¯t this a suicidal move?

    Both men were perplexed, unable toprehend Rhett¡¯s sudden decision.

    Only Rhett himself, now seated, could feel the violent surge of power coursing through him like a volcano that had been dormant for millennia. The overwhelming force of the bloodline was tearing through his body, brutally altering every fiber of his being.

    The radiant yellow liquid rampaged through him, and Rhett let out pained groans, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.

    "Ugh!" Rhett spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression twisted in agony. The failed bloodline potion was far more violent than he had expected, reminding him of the time he had refined the Earthrock Lizard bloodline potion, only this time, the intensity was even greater.

    The bloodline energy surged relentlessly, and Rhett endured the excruciating pain, all while sensing subtle yet profound changes within his body.

    It was like a phoenix undergoing rebirth¡ªif he could survive this, the rewards would be immense.

    But he knew he was doomed.

    Half an hour passed, and the bloodline energy showed no signs of abating.

    Rhett¡¯s face contorted in pain as his body began to fail him. His blood vessels burst one by one, and his mind was on the verge of copse.

    Despite feeling the immense power building within him, the bloodline energy continued to alter his body, driving him to the brink of destruction.

    Rhett¡¯s skin was soaked in blood, and he was close to death from the relentless onught of the bloodline energy.

    "Master Essad, is there anything we can do to save Rhett?" Wodelge asked desperately, unable to watch his friend suffer. He turned to Essad for help.

    Thetter simply shook his head. "There¡¯s nothing we can do. The power of a Saint-Grade bloodline potion is beyond me."

    "Sigh." Essad let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with sorrow as he gazed at the Dark-patterned Eagles above.

    Half an hourter.

    Rhett suddenly opened his eyes wide and roared, "No!"

    <em>Boom</em>

    Blood sttered, and flesh exploded.

    The space rippled.

    [Realistic Simtion has ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Physique]

    [2. Dou Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "Of course, physique¡­ no, physique this time!"

    Rhett sighed in relief, nearly making the mistake of instinctively choosing the third option, as he had done many times before. Fortunately, he caught himself in time.

    A torrent of power surged into his body, and Rhett felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.

    The changes in his body were incredible!

    He could feel a fundamental transformation deep within, an invisible force reshaping his very being, gentle yet powerful, a far cry from the earlier violence!

    A few secondster, the transformation wasplete. Rhett felt a subtle but profound difference in his body, a significant enhancement to his life force, though there was still a sense of ipleteness.

    So, he resumed the simtion, consuming the bloodline potion again.

    Master Essad and Wodelge were once again shocked, saddened, and regretful¡­

    Only Rhett endured the pain alone.

    After three rounds of realistic simtions.

    [Realistic Simtion has ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

    [1. Physique]

    [2. Dou Qi]

    [3. Spiritual Power]

    "I choose physique!"

    <em>Boom</em> A surge of power filled him once more, filling in the gaps from the previous transformations.

    Rhett¡¯s eyes gleamed with newfound rity, his body feeling ethereal, as if he were floating.

    He sensed that his body had now reached the limit of what the Saint-Grade bloodline potion could provide. Continuing to take the failed potion would have no further effect.

    To be sure, Rhett ran another simtion.

    As he suspected, he exploded without any further improvement, confirming that there would be no more gains from the potion.

    Rhett was more than satisfied!

    The bloodline potion could enhance one¡¯s talent, and now Rhett estimated that he had achieved a high level of talent. His cultivation speed would undoubtedly increase significantly, and the destiny points required for simtion would be greatly reduced.

    This shift would lead to a brighter future for Rhett!

    Moreover, he had an innate sense of the Saint-Grade bloodline¡¯s magical abilities, which he would need time to fully master.

    The changes brought by the simtion were so subtle that as long as Rhett could control his excitement, nothing would appear amiss on the surface.

    Indeed, Master Essad noticed nothing unusual and assumed Rhett was simply not interested in the potion. He asked in surprise, "Earl Rhett? Are you not satisfied with this Saint-Grade bloodline potion? Even as a failure, it¡¯s worth a fortune!"

    Wodelge also chimed in, "That¡¯s right, Rhett. Even if you can¡¯t use it, you could trade it to an alchemist for something else."

    "Trade it? For what? Nothing could be more valuable than an alchemy master¡¯s insights!" Rhett thought, then turned his gaze away from the potion in Essad¡¯s hand.

    With a hesitant expression, Rhett finally said, "Actually¡­ my alchemists have always had a dream of advancing in their craft, of pursuing greatness. I believe that if they could receive guidance from an alchemy master, it would be of immense benefit to them."

    He changed his approach from the previous simtions, shifting from a desire for the potion to a desire for alchemical knowledge.

    After all, alchemical knowledge was incredibly valuable to both individuals and organizations, and no one would casually share it with outsiders.

    This was a rare opportunity, and Rhett intended to seize it!

    "Oh?" Master Essad raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. After a moment of thought, he understood and hesitated.

    Half a minuteter, Essad looked calm as he pulled out a small notebook from his robe and said:

    "Are you sure you want to give up this potion in exchange for my alchemical notes?"

    "Yes!"

    Essad nodded. "This notebook contains my journey as a low-level alchemist, along with arge number of notes and some reflections from when I first became a mid-level alchemist. It should be enough for now."

    Rhett was overjoyed.

 Chapter 189: The Magic and Talent of the Saint-Grade Bloodline Potion

    Rhett took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and said, "Ice City is a chaotic ce, and with your strength, you''re at best average there. No matter how cautious you are, you can''t predict unforeseen disasters. Besides, it seems like you''re tired of that ce. If you''re considering a change in lifestyle and environment, I think... you should consider staying here."

    After Rhett finished speaking, he lightly tapped his fingers on the table, producing a soft, rhythmic sound.

    Wodelge''s pupils contracted slightly, his fingers stiffening around the teacup''s handle. Realizing that Rhett wasn''t joking, he fell silent.

    As Wodelge pondered, Rhett added, "By the way, it''s a coincidence¡ªI have a close friend who also spent quite some time in Ice City. He''s now in my territory. You might know him."

    Wodelge showed interest. "Oh? Who is it?"

    "Macoff, a third-level wind mage."

    "A third-level wind mage?" Wodelge thought for a moment, then nodded in realization. "Yes, I have some impression of him. I believe he worked as a temporary mercenary for a few tasks in another group. We''ve crossed paths before."

    Mages were rarer than knights, so Wodelge''s memory was rtively clear.

    After a brief conversation, it was no surprise that Wodelge also joined Rhett''s territory. However, like Macoff, he maintained a friendship with Rhett rather than bing a subordinate. Rhett himself wasn''t keen on changing a friend into a subordinate.

    With this decision settled, Wodelge felt more rxed and said, "From now on, I''ll take care of guarding and maintaining the Lone Peak. Rest assured, I won''t let anyone cause any trouble!"

    Rhett smiled faintly. "No problem!"

    At that moment, Wodelge looked directly at Rhett and said, "Since I''m now part of your territory, there''s something I should confess."

    Rhett raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What is it?"

    "Actually, when I brought the Dark-patterned Eagle corpses back, it wasn''t just for Master Essad''s reward." Wodelge''s eyes revealed a sh of sorrow as he spoke.

    Rhett became serious, realizing there was more to the story.

    Wodelge continued, "The real reason dates back many years. A small orc squad broke through the Coldstream Line and wreaked havoc around Ice City. At that time, I was out on a mercenary mission and ran into several mid-level orcs, finding myself in a desperate situation. Just then, a heroic female knight appeared and saved me. She bore the insignia of the Coldstream Line and was incredibly beautiful."

    "You liked her?" Rhett raised an eyebrow. Liking someone wasn''t shameful; love should be expressed boldly.

    "Uh... maybe a little." Wodelge looked embarrassed, but the sadness quickly overtook him. "But she was a peak Earth Knight, a shining goddess on the battlefield... How could she ever be interested in me?"

    "And then?" Rhett rubbed his chin. "Did you confess and get rejected? Or did youe here because you couldn''t let her go?"

    At this moment, Rhett felt a bit like he was discussing a teenage crush with a close friend from his previous life.

    "Neither." Wodelge''s expression grewplex as he nced at Rhett and said sadly, "She sacrificed herself."

    "She died at the Coldstream Line?" Rhett asked, trying to piece it together. "Not... at the hands of the Dragonkin, I hope?"

    Wodelge didn''t respond, as if the painful memories had resurfaced. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

    In the silence, Rhett understood everything and couldn''t help but sigh.

    Just when Rhett thought the story was over, Wodelge revealed a startling detail: "That female knight¡ªIter learned¡ªwas Master Essad''s daughter! So, when I heard that Master Essad was determined to fight the Dragonkin to the end, I did everything I could to offer my help..."

    "So, that Dark-patterned Eagle group is truly important to me. I can''t let anything happen to it!"

    Rhett stared at Wodelge, seeing the mix of sorrow, determination, and hope on his face.

    Taking a deep breath, Rhett stood up, walked around the table, and ced a firm hand on Wodelge''s shoulder. "Don''t worry. An eye for an eye, blood for blood! We will make the Dragonkin, and even the orcs, pay the price one day!"

    "Really, Rhett?" Wodelge''s lips trembled, as if seeking rescue from drowning.

    "By the name of the Fledgling Eagle, I swear it!" Rhett''s voice was resolute as he extended his fist.

    Wodelge, moved, with slightly reddened eyes, reached out and bumped fists with him.

    After a few more words, Wodelge mentioned he was tired and needed to calm his emotions. Rhett had other matters to attend to as well.

    "Sveeta!" he called out.

    The sleepless Sveeta forced himself to stay awake and respectfully responded, "Yes, my lord. What are your orders?"

    "My goodness, you look terrible." Rhett sighed as he noticed the dark circles under his butler''s eyes. He then said, "Arrange a room in the secondary castle for our new member, and then get some rest."

    "Yes, my lord."

    After the two left, Rhett finished his tea and stood up. Instead of returning to his room as usual, he left the castle, walked out of the estate, and headed north.

    His destination was the Alchemy Lab, also known as the Alchemy Tower.

    Both the first and third floors had rooms with lights on.

    Rhett nced at the lights and went straight to the third floor, directly to Henke''s room.

    "Lord Rhett, sote¡ªwhat brings you here?" Henke asked, his bald head gleaming under the light.

    "Look what I''ve brought you," Rhett said, sitting beside Henke and handing him a nk-covered notebook.

    "A potion form?" Henke took it without thinking, then dismissed the idea. The lord had just given him several alchemy forms not long ago, and since he hadn''t left the territory recently, it was unlikely he had another form to share.

    So, what could it be? Filled with curiosity, Henke opened the first page.

    "On precisely controlling the temperature during the refining of low-grade potions..."

    Who would be so bold as to start with low-grade potions? This category epassed many types with countless details. How many alchemists could im mastery over them all? Henke felt a bit skeptical, but out of respect for Rhett, he kept reading.

    As he continued, he became more engrossed, until finally, he was stunned...

    His knees nearly buckled, but with Rhett present, he resisted the urge to kneel...

    Rhett smiled quietly, watching without interrupting.

    After several minutes, Henke finally looked up in shock, eximing, "My goodness, whoeverpiled this book must at least be an alchemy master¡ªif not a saint-level alchemist! The insights are astounding, covering almost all the nuances of low-grade potion refining, with unique perspectives that left me in awe and greatly enlightened!"

    Rhett remained silent, and this only deepened Henke''s awe. How did the lord obtain such a manual? It was beyond belief!

    Henke looked through the notebook again, marveling at its contents. "With this, not only I but all the mages in our territory who are dedicated to alchemy will surely achieve great sess!"

    Rhett rubbed his chin, his smile unchanged, and said, "Since that''s the case, we must keep the contents of this notebook confidential. There''s no need to say more, is there?"

    Henke froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "Rest assured, I will keep it strictly confidential! I''ll make several handwritten copies, seal them securely, and even break the contents down into separate records."

    "Good. Also, mix in some fake notebooks with the real ones to further enhance security."

    "No problem, Lord Rhett!"

    After providing a few more details on confidentiality, Rhett asked, "So... do you think you can find a breakthrough for ck Raven''s Curse now?"

    "This time, I think I can!" Henke''s face lit up with excitement. "The solutions to my problems with ck Raven''s Curse¡ªor at least ideas and inspiration¡ªare all in this alchemy notebook. Give me a little more time, and I''ll ensure its sessfulpletion!"

    "Excellent. I look forward to that day." Rhett smiled, patted Henke on the shoulder, and left the room.

    As he descended the stairs, he saw Taylors, dressed in his pajamas, waiting with a mischievous grin on the second-floornding.

    "Hehe, Father, what about the sequel to Panlong that you promised me?"

    "Hmm, I haven''t gotten to it yet. But tomorrow, go see Henke¡ªyou''ll have another surprise!" Rhett chuckled.

    "Alright..." Taylors looked disappointed at first, but his eyes brightened again at the mention of a surprise, ncing toward the third floor.

    "By the way, how''s your training going? Remember, meditation is just as important as alchemy and novels," Rhett said, taking on a fatherly tone.

    "Don''t worry, Father. I have a feeling I''ll break through to a second-level mage within a month!" Taylors said confidently.

    I know, actually, it''ll probably only take a week... Rhett smiled, patted Taylors on the shoulder, and continued on his way.

    Nearly a month passed in the blink of an eye.

    The territory''s construction progressed steadily, and aside from Taylors'' breakthrough and the addition of two of Wodelge''s mercenaries, nothing significant urred.

    On August 17th, Rhett found himself alone in a forest clearing within the Dark-patterned Eagle range, meditating on the mysteries of the Sand Barrier.

    After months of contemtion, aided by his newfound talents, he finally made a breakthrough.

    At that moment, Rhett noticed a sudden eleration in the flow of earth-element particles around him, which enveloped his surroundings like a thin mist.

    This constant interpretation of the mysteries of Dissipation...

    After months of umtion, the understanding came naturally.

    Today, at this moment, Rhett gained new insights into the mysteries of Dissipation.

    "So that''s how it is..." Rhett''s eyes gleamed with understanding, and a profound sensation welled up within him.

    This mysterious power wasn''t something that could be conveyed through words. It was a matter of perception¡ªyou either understood it, or you didn''t.

    Filled with excitement, Rhett decided to experiment. He quietly conjured a spell: Earth Spike!

    Shing!

    A spike of earth, glowing with a pale yellow light, burst from the ground, sharp and menacing.

    Then, Rhett focused his mental energy and cast Earth Spear.

    Whoosh!

    A pointed yellow spear appeared in mid-air, hurtling toward the earth spike with a brilliant streak of light.

    The spear, resembling a yellow meteor, was on a collision course with the spike, but Rhett willed it to change!

    Swish!

    In an instant, the flying spear remained unchanged in shape but turned into a pale, sand-like yellow.

    In the next moment, like a stream flowing through a rock, the sandy spear passed right through the spike''s tip without any resistance.

    Then, as Rhett released the Dissipation Mystery, the spear returned to its original deep yellow hue and continued its forward thrust.

    Crack! Crack! Crack!

    The spear smashed into a series of trees, breaking them at the waist.

    The spear''s momentum didn''t stop until it pierced through more than a dozen trees.

    Reflecting on the experiment, Rhett thought, "This new application of the Dissipation Mystery doesn''t directly increase the destructive power of magic, but it makes my attacks more flexible and unpredictable."

    For example, in a direct confrontation, if an opponent hastily defends against an approaching earth spear with a sword, the sandy spear would slip through the weapon and strike them, making it easier tond a hit. In a sneak attack, it could be even more effective.

    "Let''s try Rockfall next!"

    Rhett''s eyes glinted as he cast another spell. Above the earth spike, a massive shadow appeared, a boulder dozens of meters wide falling with immense pressure.

    The air hummed with tension.

    "Dissipate!" Rhett invoked the Dissipation Mystery just as the boulder was about to hit the spike. Instantly, the deep yellow rock turned sandy and enveloped the spike without resistance.

    "Solidify!" Rhett whispered, though he didn''t actually know the Solidification Mystery. He merely canceled the Dissipation Mystery.

    In a split second, the boulder solidified again, embedding the earth spike within it!

    Now, only the lower half of the spike was exposed, the upper halfpletely engulfed by the rock!

    Rhett''s eyes brightened with satisfaction. This technique had great potential inbat.

    With his rich battle experience, Rhett could already envision numerous scenarios where this trick would be invaluable. In cases where an opponent tried to block or shatter the attack, they would be in for a nasty surprise!

    If a knight tried to sh through the boulder with a sword, even using Dou Qi and advanced techniques, the rock¡ªunder the influence of the Dissipation Mystery¡ªwould be impervious to any damage, absorbing the attack instead.

    Then, when Rhett canceled the Dissipation Mystery, the boulder would revert to its original state, trapping the sword and leaving the enemy in a panic.

    If someone tried to block it with their body, the consequences would be even more terrifying...

    Rhett smiled lightly. After this experiment, he now had a clearer understanding of the Dissipation Mystery.

    It wasn''t omnipotent, but in certain situations, it could be surprisingly effective!

    Next, Rhett gathered his mental energy and cast a high-level earth spell.

    The earth element in the air trembled, condensing rapidly. The sky darkened as a dazzling yellow light flickered overhead!

    Sharp, arm-thick spikes formed, and as soon as they appeared, they fell like a torrential downpour!

    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

    Countless spears of yellow light rained down, stabbing into the ground with great force.

    Boom, boom, boom!

    The powerful impacts kicked up dust, and when the dust settled, the ground was riddled with holes!

    This was Earth Rainfall¡ªa level 8 earth spell!

    After casting it, Rhett calmly watched the grand disy from the sidelines, like a spectator at a show.

    The speed and intensity of the spear barrage left Rhett with a satisfied smile.

    The spell he had just cast was, of course, inherited from the Saint-Grade bloodline potion. At level 8, it was far more powerful than Earth Armor.

    "Earth Rainfall is like an advanced version of Earth Spear, with excellent wide-area damage that can overwhelm even opponents of the same level!" Rhett thought with satisfaction.

    In addition to magic, Rhett had discovered that after absorbing the potion, the anti-toxin trait granted by the Earthrock Lizard bloodline potion had faded with the changes in his bloodline.

    But after a month of observation, he had identified the new talent granted by the Saint-Grade bloodline potion: rapid healing.

    As the name suggests, this talent elerated the healing of wounds, but it was different from a knight''s natural recovery through physical strength.

    Rhett''s rapid healing ability, inherited from the bloodline potion, allowed him to absorb earth elements to quickly heal injuries. This ability would continue to improve as his mental strength grew.

    This effect was astonishing. In all the magical beasts Rhett had encountered, he had never seen such a talent. It was something he had discovered through a month of experimentation and named himself.

    Returning to the estate, Rhett saw gardeners trimming the colorful flowerbeds and maids sweeping the fallen leaves from the greenwns.

    Autumn was deepening, and the air had grown cooler.

    He also spotted Kleina and Mina, walking together through the flower and tree-lined paths of the estate, chatting andughing.

    Further away, he saw Shar, Rio, and Be moving barrels of wine from the cer.

    There were also many male servants pushing carts of fresh vegetables from the fields to the storage cers, as it was the harvest season in August.

    The scene was harmonious, bringing a smile to Rhett''s face.

    "Father!"

    Suddenly, a loud voice came from the sky.

    "I finally found you, Father!" Tuck descended slowly, riding on Mog, catching the attention of many estate servants.

    Magical beasts were always a source of fear for ordinary people.

    "Tuck, how many times have I told you not to shout? Mind your status!" Rhett sighed, shaking his head.

    "Hehe, I''ll remember next time." Tuck scratched his head, then said, "Father, when can we have another spar between Firew and Mog? Last month, you supervised a big fight between them, and I noticed significant changes in Mog! If we continue with such life-and-death training, it will undoubtedly speed up their growth!"

    Rhett smiled in surprise. "Why not now?"

    Tuck''s eyes lit up. "I''ve found a suitable spot in the mountains. Shall I take you there?"

    "Sure."

    The Dark-patterned Eagle range had been meticulously divided into several areas since Rhett took control.

    The western Lone Peak housed the Dark-patterned Eagle''s old nest.

    The northwestern and southwestern forests, with many small mountains, were less dense than other regions.

    The northeastern and southeastern parts of the range were covered in dense forests, where even daylight was dimmer than in other areas.

    The central region was known as the Central Spring, as a spring constantly flowed from the ground, producing a clear, melodic sound as it trickled over the rocky slopes. It was also known as the "Spring Melody."

    When Rhett had free time, he sometimes enjoyed the natural atmosphere around the spring.

    Thus, the Dark-patterned Eagle range was divided into the northeastern and southeastern forests, the southwestern and northwestern forests, and the Central Spring.

    Tuck led Rhett to the northwestern forest, about a hundred kilometers west of Cold Crystal Lake.

    There, two small mountains, each nearly a hundred meters high, stood about ten meters apart, resembling two seats in an arena.

    "Father, this is the ce. One mountain for Firew, one for Mog, with a fighting area of a thousand meters. What do you think?" Tuck pointed ahead.

    "No problem. Let''s begin." Rhett nodded slightly, recalling the recent months of training for Firew and Mog. The two magical beasts sometimes yed together, but their predatory nature made them prone to fighting. As magical beasts, this trait was even stronger, so they had frequently sparred over the past few months, growing stronger throughbat.

    At Rhett and Tuck''smand, the two birds shot off their respective mountains like arrows.

    Screech!

    Screech!

    Two long, sharp cries rang out.

    One was crisp and bright, like a zing me.

    The other was eerie and sharp, like the dark of night.

    Whoosh

    Whoosh

    The two mid-level magical beasts cut through the air, colliding with each other, their sharp ws shing with sparks.

    ng, ng, ng

    In just a few seconds, their ws and beaks shed at lightning speed, producing a series of sharp, crisp sounds.

    Suddenly, Firew retreated, creating some distance, and opened its beak to conjure a fist-sized fireball!

    A wave of scorching heat rushed toward Mog.

    "Fireball!" Tuck eximed, turning to his father. "Father, when did Firew learn Fireball?"

    Last time, the two magical beasts had only relied on physicalbat, without using magic.

    Rhett smiled faintly. "Just recently, thanks to my training."

    "Training? Father, how did you train Firew''s magic? Can you teach me? I''d like Mog to master magic as soon as possible too!" Tuck asked eagerly.

    "Hehe, I just experimented. It worked, but I can''t teach you¡ªyou wouldn''t be able to learn it."

    "Why not?" Tuck scratched his head, puzzled.

    Rhett gave him a sidelong nce and exined, "I subjected Firew to a series of harsh trials¡ªsubmerging it in water, attacking it with ice, confining it in a cold cer..."@@novelbin@@

    Though Tuck was somewhat oblivious, as a knight, he quickly understood. He realized, "So, Father, you used extreme conditions to push Firew to its limits, forcing it to unlock its potential and master Fireball early!"

    "Exactly. Whether human or magical beast, when pushed to the brink, they unleash unimaginable potential." Rhett smiled faintly.

    ng!

    Bang!

    Thud!

    The battle between Firew and Mog grew fiercer. Their ws shed as they tangled and fought between the two mountains, neither willing to back down.

    The mountains bore the brunt of the fight, with their sharp peaks shattering and rolling down as boulders.

    Red and ck feathers drifted down, like a shower of vivid rain.

    Mog made a mistake and was hit by Fireball on its chest, letting out a painful screech.

    Tuck''s heart tightened with worry, but he knew that for magical beasts to grow, they had to endure hardship.

    The intense battlested an hour.

    The cries of the birds grew tired and weak.

    By now, Firew and Mog had separated, each perched on its mountain, their eyes still fierce and unyielding.

    "Good thing I recently trained Firew in Fireball. Without it, it would''ve been hard to gain the upper hand against Mog, with its mid-level bloodline potential." Rhett rubbed his chin, mumbling to himself.

    After observing for a while and seeing that Firew was in much better shape than Mog, Rhett was quite satisfied.

    After all, his main goal was to train Mog and elerate its growth.

    As for Firew, Rhett wasn''t particrly concerned. As long as it could carry him in flight, that was enough.

    Firew''s low-level bloodline potential meant its future growth was limited. Without taking a bloodline potion, it would likely only reach the third level as a magical beast, with little chance of breaking through its bloodline shackles.

    Ten years of hard training might not bring as much improvement as a single bloodline enhancement.

    So Rhett focused on training Firew to match Mog or even suppress it!

    "Father, let''s head back and have Vicky heal our pets!" Tuck said, cradling Mog in his arms, his heart aching at the sight of its blood-stained ck feathers.

    After the fierce battle, both birds were exhausted. Firewy panting at Rhett''s feet, while Mog rested weakly in Tuck''s arms, injured but alive.

    At this moment, Vicky was on patrol around Dark Eagle City.

    She and Milton had also joined Rhett''s territory.

    But unlike Wodelge, once Vicky and Milton learned that Wodelge had given up his position as leader of the me Lion Mercenary Group and retired from the mercenary world, they too lost the desire for adventure.

    They officially joined Rhett''s territory, rather than staying as friends. This way, they received a generous sry and stable resources every month¡ªwhy not?

    "Ah... What a leisurely time, not having to risk our lives for missions. This feels great!" Vicky chuckled, her bright red lips curving into a smile. Her mage''s robe entuated her curvaceous figure.

    "Vicky!"

    "Hmm? Lord Rhett?" She turned in surprise at the familiar voice.

    "My magical beast is injured. I need your healing magic." Rhett approached, carrying Firew.

    Vicky nced at the bloodied Firefeather Eagle and Dark-patterned Eagle and smiled. "Leave it to me."

    She channeled her mental energy, and the light elements in the air quickly gathered into a radiant beam that flowed into Firew''s body like a miniature waterfall.

    As it was bathed in the light, Firew''s eyes brightened, its wounds healing rapidly, and its feathers regained their vibrant color.

    It suddenly took off from Rhett''s side, joyfully circling in the sky, chirping happily.

    "Vicky, please heal my Mog too!" Tuck pleaded, full of hope.

    "One moment!"

    Healing magic was unique, and after casting it, Vicky clearly felt drained. After a few seconds of rest, she took a deep breath and cast another healing spell on Mog.

    "There, they''re both healthy now!" Vicky said, slightly fatigued, as if she''d worked all night.

    Seeing this, Rhett smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Vicky. Dark Eagle City is lucky to have you."

    "Oh, don''t say that, Lord Rhett. It''s I who feel more rxed than ever since joining!" Vickyughed sweetly, pleasantly surprised.

    After a brief conversation, Rhett and Tuck returned to Dark Rock Castle.

    Ten peaceful days passed.

    Rhett temporarily paused his contemtion of the mysteries and shifted his focus back to magic training.

    Both his intuition and the simtions indicated that his understanding of the Dissipation Mystery had reached a new level. Going further would require delving into more profound realms, with corresponding challenges that might be insurmountable in the short term. Continuing to meditate on it wouldn''t be worth the time.

    That day, Rhett was practicing Sand Wolf Howl on a grassy field, controlling three sand wolves as they fought each other.

    At the same time, he thought about what he had heard: that the Earth element also had a Solidification Mystery. If he could master it andbine it with Sand Wolf Howl, he might achieve something remarkable:

    The bodies of the sand wolves could be incredibly solid, with both defense and attack greatly enhanced. But if pierced or shed, they could quickly return to their sand-like state...

    His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he looked forward to the day he could grasp the Solidification Mystery.

    After several minutes.

    Rhett stopped practicing Sand Wolf Howl, and the three sand wolves stood motionless.

    He gazed at the empty field ahead and suddenly said:

    "ckstar, if you keep watching, I might have to charge you for the show."

    Talking to thin air seemed strange.

    But the next moment, a voice of amusement came from the shadows ahead:

    "Haha, Rhett, I knew I couldn''t fool you. I thought bing a magus would put me on equal footing with you, but who knew you''d be a fifth-level magus so quickly, you monster!"

    As the voice faded, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

    Short in stature with bright eyes, the figure had a face covered with a scarf¡ªmatching the aura Rhett had sensed. It was ckstar.

    ckstar''s tone was full of joy, having heard that Rhett intended to return him to his gang of criminals. Anyone Rhett valued couldn''t be a weakling.

    Tap, tap, tap

    Shortly after ckstar appeared, a tall woman quickly ran over from the distance, like a ck steed unleashed!

    Her speed was astonishing, and Rhett couldn''t believe his eyes¡ªhow could a fourth-level knight move so fast?

    "The speed of a fifth-level knight couldn''t be much faster, right?" Rhett mused. Of course, this didn''t include wind-element knights or those with advanced movement techniques.

    "Congrattions, Earl Rhett. You''re now the most powerful noble on the Southwest Frontier." The tall woman adjusted her hair and wielded a long whip, her voice tinged withziness.

    "Just luck." Rhett smiled faintly.

    He watched as the tall woman joined ckstar, and casually asked:

    "The speed of your advancement has surprised me. You must have taken Saint-Grade bloodline potions, right?"

    His words were met with silence.

    ckstarughed it off without answering and instead asked, "Rhett, where are the criminals you mentioned, and how strong are they?"

    Clearly changing the subject, Rhett didn''t press the issue and replied, "They''re in the White Rat Range. Their strength is unknown, but a friend told me they possess a blood-red orb. After some research, I found it to be a Blood Origin Orb."

    "Blood Origin Orb?" ckstar''s eyes widened in shock, his voice urgent. "Could they be part of that organization?"

    "Hmm? What organization?" Rhett asked.

    "The one that controls Blood Origin Orbs and possibly harbors Blood Spirits. After some investigation, I can tell you this organization is incredibly dangerous, though it''s too far away to reach us." ckstar hesitated, then shared this seemingly insignificant detail.

    "Is this what your organization uncovered?" Rhett was surprised but tried to sound nonchnt.

    "Yes..." ckstar responded after a brief silence.

    The tall woman interrupted, "Enough talk. We should act now. Earl Rhett, where are these criminals in the White Rat Range?"

    "Yes, let''s move quickly." ckstar agreed, eager to avoid discussing his organization further.

    "No problem. My friend found their tracks in the northern part of the White Rat Range, near the border with the Thunder Bear Range. If we search the north first, we''ll cover more ground faster." Rhett said, then looked at the tall woman and asked:

    "By the way, what''s your name... or code name, beautifuldy?"

    "Goldsand." The tall woman brushed her golden hair aside.

    "ckstar... Goldsand..." Rhett silently repeated their names, thinking they made a good pair.

    After a brief discussion, Rhett had them wait while he whistled for Firew and headed to the Alchemy Lab.

    In aboratory on the first floor of the Alchemy Tower.

    On the spotless floor, Taylors stood intently before a cauldron, holding red and blue vials of magical nt extracts, ready to mix them.

    Rhett entered and said directly, "Come with me, Taylors!"

    "Huh? Father, I haven''t finished my potion yet." Taylors replied reluctantly.

    "When we return, I''ll give you the next part of Panlong."

    "Really?"

    "Haha, let''s go now. The novel can wait¡ªI can''t wait to enjoy the scenery outside!" Taylors'' eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke with mock seriousness.

    With everyone gathered, the four of them and one beast set off for the White Rat Range.

    The White Rat Range was north of the Dark-patterned Eagle Range, and the Thunder Bear Rangey further north.

    A weekter.

    Firew, after a long journey, had reached its limit carrying four people.

    As its cry echoed through the golden valley, theynded, arriving at the White Rat Range.

    "Having a flying beast sure is convenient. I''ll have to get one someday," ckstar said, standing by a stream in the valley and watching Firew wash itself in the water.

    "Oh? That shouldn''t be too hard for you." Rhett said casually, ncing at him.

    "Well, I''m not short on coins, but flying beasts are hard to catch, and finding young ones is even harder." ckstar shrugged, resigned.

    Goldsand nodded in agreement. Magical pets were rare, and finding a newly born one was nearly impossible.

    ckstar crossed the stream and scanned the White Rat Range. The area resembled a long, dark, and quiet ravine, over a hundred meters deep. Gnarled trees clung to the cliffs, growingyer uponyer up the slopes, forming dense forests.

    He turned to Rhett and asked, "So, where do we go from here? Do you have any leads?"

    Rhett looked around, pretending to think, while actually crafting a usible excuse. After a moment, he said:

    "Since these criminals are evil alchemists, they''ll likely hide in a secluded spot. We can rule out open areas.

    So they have two options: hidden spaces within the mountains or underground caves. Those environments are ideal for concealment."

    Goldsand pondered this. "Hmm... That makes sense. I think they''re more likely in the mountain spaces. We flew from the southern part of the White Rat Range to get here, and the mountains are endless, making it hard to find anyone hiding in them."

    The White Rat Range was even vaster than the Dark-patterned Eagle Range, and Rhett had noticed the abundance of mountains on the way.

    ckstar, however, disagreed. "No, I think they''ve set up their base underground. Underground spaces are far more extensive than those in the mountains."

    Goldsand frowned and shook her head. "But setting up underground would be inconvenient. Evil alchemists frequently move corpses and dispose of waste materials. If their base is too deep underground, going back and forth would be difficult. If it''s too shallow, they''d risk exposure."

    Hearing this, ckstar frowned too. "How about we split up? You search the mountain spaces, and I''ll search the underground caves."

    "No need for that."

    Rhett''s sudden interjection drew their attention.

    His expression unchanged, Rhett continued, "We''ll walk near the surface and conduct a thorough search.

    With me here, whether it''s a hidden space in the mountains or an underground cave, I''ll detect any anomalies!"

    Only then did they remember that they had a fifth-level earth mage with them, far more attuned to earth elements than either of them.

 Chapter 190: The Underground Cave

    It was all because they were so used to working together, both in teams and individually, that they hadn¡¯t yet adapted to Rhett¡¯s presence.

    Quickly realizing this, ckstar shrugged and said, "I''ll leave it to you, Rhett."

    Rhett smiled slightly. "It¡¯s a small matter."

    After a brief discussion, the four of them, along with the magical beast, began following the stream northward, carefully exploring every side path they encountered, adhering to a thorough search method.

    A day and night passed.

    Along the way, Rhett asionally chatted with ckstar and Goldsand. With their previous interactions, Rhett felt that his rtionship with ckstar was bing more familiar, and their conversations grew broader.

    It was now the second day in the White Rat Range.

    As night fell, the stars twinkled in the sky, and they found a passage between two mountains. The path led into a valley to the northwest, but the way was blocked by a high ridge. Its dark edges stood out against the sky, jagged like the teeth of a blunt saw.

    Seeing this, ckstar was intrigued. The day¡¯s casual conversations had rxed him, so he remarked, "What strange rocks! I¡¯ve never seen peaks shaped like this before. How fascinating."Even Goldsand, gazing at the serrated peaks ahead, showed a glint of interest in her eyes. Beautiful and novelndscapes always caught people¡¯s attention, brightening their moods, and she was no exception.

    However, Rhett nced at the scene, noting their expressions.

    He pondered briefly but maintained a calm face as he said, "Oh? Doesn¡¯t the Kingdom of Kinlen have plenty of mountainous terrain? It¡¯s only here on the Southwest Frontier that the ins are rtively vast.

    I¡¯ve heard that the Kingdom of Reem is mostly ins and forests, with few mountains. ckstar, could it be that you came from Reem?"

    At this, ckstar¡¯s body stiffened. His expression was hidden by his scarf, but Rhett sensed a slight tension.

    After a moment, ckstar replied, "Of course! Wherever there are evildoers, you¡¯ll find me. A few years ago, I was indeed active in the Kingdom of Reem.

    But in recent years, I¡¯ve been staying on the Southwest Frontier." His voice returned to its usual cool tone.

    Goldsand nced at Rhett subtly, then quickened her pace, moving forward. "If we go a few more kilometers, we¡¯ll reach the Thunder Bear Range. If we still don¡¯t find any traces of that group, it means, Earl Rhett, that your information might be wrong.

    And we have other matters to attend to¡ªwe can¡¯t waste too much time."

    "It won¡¯t be wrong!"

    Rhett¡¯s voice was full of confidence, drawing a sideways nce from ckstar and Goldsand.

    He raised his head, looking at the mountains ahead, and said softly, "They¡¯re just ahead!"

    "Just ahead?" Goldsand¡¯s eyes lit up, and she looked forward. The mountains stretched endlessly before them, and her face showed a look of realization. She asked, "In an internal mountain space?" ?§Ñ?¨®??¨¨??

    "No, beneath the mountain itself. They seem to have constructed an underground cave¡ªthere¡¯s an unusual copse there." Rhett shared what he had sensed.

    Goldsand¡¯s expression fell, disappointed by the news.

    "Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s get moving!" ckstar, now fully alert, forgot the earlier conversation and hurried forward.

    Rhett, however, didn¡¯t rush. He stayed close to Taylors, his third son, ensuring he didn¡¯t fall behind or encounter danger.

    The mountains were near, and they reached them within minutes.

    With Rhett, a fifth-level magus, present, even if they didn¡¯t find a clear cave entrance, Rhett could sense the underground void and forcefully manipte the earth element to create a passage.

    In just a few dozen minutes, he crafted a sloping tunnel, several hundred meters long.

    Although Rhett could have taken the time to find the evil alchemists¡¯ entrance, he didn¡¯t trust their path.

    Facing such evil and ruthless alchemists, caution was necessary.

    He was wary of traps or poison gas devices. Even as a fifth-level magus, he couldn¡¯t guarantee safety if he were poisoned.

    Digging his own tunnel was the safest option! As Rhett continued manipting his mental energy,rge amounts of dirt floated and piled up at the foot of the mountain, forming mounds of dark brown soil.@@novelbin@@

    However, about two-thirds of the way through, Rhett suddenly frowned and said urgently, "Not good. They¡¯ve sensed the disturbance¡ªsome of them are starting to flee."

    More than half of them were escaping through deeper tunnels, heading in the opposite direction.

    Goldsand asked urgently, "Where are they fleeing? I¡¯ll go intercept them."

    Rhett silently sensed and replied, "Circle around to the back of this jagged mountain and ambush them there. You should be able to catch some of them. I¡¯ll stay here to deal with those remaining in the cave."

    "Understood!" ckstar responded, his figure gradually blurring, blending into the shadows until he disappeared.

    Rhett resumed his "digging" process!

    Finally, after another ten minutes or so.

    The soil suddenly loosened, signaling the end of the tunnel. A dark red hue filled his vision, and a strong scent of blood wafted through the passage.

    Rhett frowned. With his experience on the battlefield, he immediately deduced that such a thick stench of blood likely meant the death of hundreds.

    "Evil alchemists... damned monsters..."

    In the next moment, the dark red light was reced by a deep blue glow. Bursting with vigor, a fourth-level earth knight charged out of the cave, like a phantom, aiming for Rhett.

    A sh of killing intent crossed Rhett¡¯s eyes. Unfazed, he summoned his mental energy and conjured a ground spike aimed at the fourth-level earth knight.

    The knight¡¯s eyes gleamed with ferocity as he wielded a blood-red sword, rushing straight at Rhett.

    Hmm? Rhett¡¯s eyes shed with suspicion, and his movements slowed slightly.

    Despite the knight¡¯s strong life force, his eyes were filled with madness and emptiness, as if he had lost all self-awareness.

    Rhett deliberately retreated, luring the knight away from the tunnel, giving him more space to fight on level ground.

    Sure enough, the knight charged at Rhett with no hesitation, as if he didn¡¯t recognize the threat of facing a fifth-level magus.

    Moreover, his attacks were direct and predictable,cking the finesse of a seasoned knight.

    Since that¡¯s the case...

    A cold light shed in Rhett¡¯s eyes. With a swift motion, a ground spike shot up from the earth, piercing the knight from behind.

    "Argh!" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the night sky.

    Even ckstar and Goldsand, who were rushing ahead, couldn¡¯t help but nce back. But with the mountains blocking their view, they couldn¡¯t see what Rhett had done to cause such agonizing screams.

    The sharp spike had impaled the knight from behind, paralyzing him on the spot. His eyes, once wild and chaotic, briefly cleared, reflecting intense pain.

    Rhett chuckled. "So you¡¯re not just a mindless puppet after all¡ªyou can feel pain."

    "K-kill me!" a broken, desperate voice stammered from the knight¡¯s throat.

    "Hmm?" Rhett sensed something amiss. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Tell me first¡ªhow many experiments have you conducted here?"

    "No... not me... they controlled me... they¡¯re conducting inhumane experiments... I¡¯m just a sacrifice!" The knight¡¯s eyes widened in agony as he trembled, forcing the words out.

    Rhett was stunned, momentarily speechless. Controlled? How could someone be controlled? He had never heard of such a thing!

    Seeing Rhett hesitate, the knight¡¯s voice turned pleading, "P-please... kill... kill me... they¡¯re... down below..."

    Before he could finish, the knight¡¯s body suddenly emitted a blood-red glow. He let out another scream, his body convulsing as the brief rity in his eyes vanished.

    Madness and emptiness returned, recing the momentary lucidity.

    Rhett¡¯s pupils contracted sharply as he realized the knight¡¯s life force was rapidly draining. But at the same time, a surge of power erupted from within him, indicating a final desperate burst of strength. Rhett wasn¡¯t about to give him that chance!

    Sandflow!

    The ground beneath the knight turned into a swirling vortex of sand, trapping him and rendering him immobile.

    Rhett¡¯s expression calmed as he signaled to Taylors.

    Taylors, still in shock from the bizarre encounter, snapped out of it at his father¡¯smand. He began gathering shadow energy,unching wave after wave at the knight¡¯s throat.

    ¡¾Family member defeated an opponent four levels above, Destiny Points +4¡¿

    Soon, a notification appeared before Rhett. With his help, the knight had been gravely injured, leaving him barely alive. Taylors only needed four shadow waves to finish him off.

    Rhett then decided to wait patiently, to see if any more "puppet-like" knights would emerge.

    Unfortunately, after several minutes, there was no further movement. It seemed those inside had realized they couldn¡¯t match the intruders. After all, a fourth-level knight had fallen in under a minute, making it clear that their opponents were formidable.

    Rhett decided not to wait any longer¡ªhe would charge in directly!

    Sandwolf Howl!

    In an instant, three sand wolves appeared at the tunnel entrance, their faces twisted into snarls. Forming a line, they charged down the tunnel