"My sister has been on the brink of breaking through to the peak of second-level magician for nearly a year now. She’s close to overcoming the bottleneck, hehe!"

"Indeed, practitioners are very sensitive to their own progress. It’s impressive. If Anna advances to third-level magician at nineteen, her talent is exceptional. The academy's minimum standard for potential third-level magicians is thirty years old. The chance of breaking through to fourth-level magician before sixty is thus quite high."

"I was inspired by you. I’ve dedicated a year to physical training, and it has indeed been very meaningful." Anna, who was not very talkative, seemed indifferent to Dick, perhaps due to her nature. Angel, too, was even more reserved than Anna. Most magicians tend to have a calm demeanor.

It’s no wonder Anna appears more robust compared to Annie, although, relative to the towering and muscular Dick, she seemed merely an ordinary magician. A bit more robustness in women is sometimes beneficial.

"Indeed, magicians often suffer from their frail bodies. Sometimes, it’s quite disadvantageous in battle," Dick commented. A better physique would at least improve mobility. Magicians don’t just stand still during combat, do they?

"Unfortunately, we don’t have access to aura training techniques, only basic physical conditioning."

"Annie, mastering aura also requires innate talent; not everyone can be proficient in both magic and combat."

"How would we know without trying?" Annie’s defiant attitude was rather endearing. "The academy doesn’t provide aura techniques, and noble techniques are not shared publicly. For commoners like us, it’s a real struggle."

"Annie, no need to chide me. My aura technique was passed down by my mother, and without the ancestral bloodline, you wouldn’t be able to learn it, hehe!" Dick understood Annie’s intentions well.

"Dick, my sister’s temperament is just like that. Please don’t take it personally." Anna quickly clarified, as prying into someone’s aura techniques is a sensitive matter among practitioners.

"It’s fine. We are all here to train. I’m just fortunate. My father was also a warrior, but as a baron’s knight, his techniques couldn’t be passed on either."

"Ah! It seems I also need to work on my physique. It’s quite a tough endeavor."

"Annie, what’s the big deal about hardship? Look at you—thin as a bean sprout, looking malnourished."

"Cut it out! This is called being slender, with beautiful lines and bones."

"Beautiful? Annie, that’s a pathological kind of beauty."

"Haha!" Seeing Dick banter with her sister, Anna smiled. Most magicians were usually calm and didn’t have a 'chatty' mouth like Dick’s.

Building a strong physique to break through cultivation bottlenecks isn’t suited for every magician. Perhaps for Anna, it was just a fortunate coincidence. After all, Angel’s dramatic heartbreak had also led to her breakthrough to second-level magician.

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"Annie!" A young man dressed in fine attire approached, clearly a noble.

"Ellen! I’m quite content with being a practice partner for the Zhao family. I don’t wish to change locations. Perhaps you should find another magician for practice," Annie replied with a hint of concern.

"Annie, it’s not about the practice. How about we team up for an expedition to the Beast Mountains? Your combined magical techniques with your sister are incredibly powerful. We’ll share the spoils equally with the three of you. What do you think?"

Oh? The sisters’ magical techniques have this advantage?

Special magical attacks have extraordinary power. For example, Dick’s fire and water magic sword is quite unique in its potency. Even as a second-level magician, Dick has developed the second-level fire and water magic sword. The principles of spells at the third level are similar, and this is not beyond 'clever' Dick’s grasp.

After all, there’s the advantage of the jade pendant’s space.

"Never mind, my sister is about to enter seclusion to break through to third-level magician." Annie declined, providing a sufficient reason.

"Is that so? Congratulations, Anna!"

"Not so easily. It’s just an attempt," Anna replied calmly, her nature seeming to reflect her demeanor.

"This is…" Ellen seated himself at the table, looking at Dick.

"Dick! He’s recently advanced to second-level magician!"

"So, you’re Dick, the prodigy with both magic and combat skills…" Ellen appeared overly enthusiastic, but Dick, who had lived through two lifetimes, could sense the trace of disdain in Ellen’s eyes.

"Junior Dick, your special fire and water magic sword is extremely powerful. Join our hunting team. Although you’re newly advanced with low accumulation, we will ensure you receive your share of the spoils."

"Perhaps not. The Beast Mountains are too perilous; I fear for my life. Annie just mentioned introducing me to the Zhao family for practice, which is safer and better paid. I’ve already agreed." Dick wasn’t inclined to venture into the Beast Mountains with someone who looked down on him. He had no desire to be cannon fodder.

"Very well, then. It seems you’re not interested in joining us." Ellen had no intention of inviting Dick to practice in his own family. To him, a commoner like Dick seemed only fit to be cannon fodder.

"Annie! Tonight, there’s a magician trade fair. It will have many resources you need for your training…"

After another refusal from Annie, Ellen finally departed.

"Dick, when did I agree to take you to the Zhao family as a practice partner?"

"Your sister is about to enter seclusion to break through to third-level magician. With one less practice partner, I’m just filling in the gap. Otherwise, you’d have trouble explaining to your employer, wouldn’t you? I’m doing this for you, haha!" Dick said with a smile.

"You’re such a rogue!"

"Annie, take Dick along. I wouldn’t feel comfortable if you went alone," Anna said.

"Really? Sister, you think I’ll be reassured by going with him?" Annie looked astonished.

"Dick is a classmate; he won’t harm you."

"Yes, yes, look at my honest face. I’m just an upright person."

"Cut it out!" Annie looked disdainful. Despite Dick’s smooth talk, she didn’t know why she didn’t dislike him. If she truly disliked him, she wouldn’t engage in so much conversation. "For my sister’s sake, I’ll take you along. The Zhao family is a viscount’s house, and there are many rules. Don’t cause any trouble…"

"Alright, alright! As long as you’re the senior, I’ll follow your lead."

"You’ll follow my lead? Really? You were just arguing with me a moment ago."

When asking for favors, Dick’s approach was always very modest. He inquired about the salary and benefits.

It seemed quite favorable. Practice partners only needed to visit twice a week. Each visit earned Dick three thousand gold coins. What a shock! The fee for a second-level magician was so high.

Dick, accustomed to poverty, found this amount considerable. Perhaps for a second-level magician, three thousand gold coins wasn’t much, but for wealthy noble families, it might just be a trifling sum.

"Be obedient. Once my sister advances to third-level magician, we’ll take you to the Beast Mountains for hunting, and you won’t be at a disadvantage," Annie said in a commanding tone.

"Really? With just the three of us, can we manage?"