Dick's reputation at the Magic Academy remained considerable, especially due to his dual cultivation of both magic and martial arts. His unique combat skills attracted many wealthy noble apprentices from the academy, eager to spar with him.
However, sparring with the Zhao family had spoiled Dick, earning him six thousand gold coins per session. He was no longer short of money and rarely accepted sparring requests at the academy.
As for other nobles in the capital seeking his sparring services, Dick refused for his own safety. Annie had warned him about the treacherous ways of nobles, who might seize the chance to seriously injure him. Magic potions weren’t omnipotent, after all. For now, Dick felt it wasn't worth the risk.
As the third year was drawing to a close, Li Cong finally arrived at the cavern district, wrestling with the elusive bottleneck in his cultivation. Before the end of the term, he managed to meet the standard of a second-level mage.
For first-level mages, venturing into the Beast Mountain Range for training wasn’t always effective or suitable for everyone.
"Dick, do you know where Alina went?"
"You know?" Alina was Dick’s first friend. If not for her care, he might not have even been admitted to the Magic Academy.
"According to inside sources, when Alina broke through to the second-level mage, she unexpectedly awakened the Cloud Swallow bloodline. The Count contacted the Snowstorm Sanctuary, and Knight Sir Malinin took a liking to Alina’s potential, personally escorting her to the sanctuary for training. She’s on the path to greatness now!”
What a turn of events! Training under a holy knight promised a boundless future, and Dick was genuinely happy for Alina.
"Is the Cloud Swallow bloodline really that impressive?" Harvey, though from a wealthy merchant family, wasn’t well-versed in the top-tier bloodlines of the continent.
"They say the continent boasts seven powerful bloodlines, and the Cloud Swallow is one of them. Each of these rare bloodlines carries the potential to become a saint. The Cloud Swallow bloodline is particularly suited for cultivating battle aura, so Alina might switch to focusing on that in the future."
"That’s not bad at all. Dual cultivation of magic and martial arts is always a good thing," Dick said. He didn’t see it as a loss, believing that practicing both magic and martial arts was scientifically sound, with each discipline complementing the other.
“Li Cong, are you saying that the Snowstorm Sanctuary doesn’t just house saints but also apprentices?" Harvey asked curiously.
"The Snowstorm Sanctuary is more of a symbolic name. It’s unlikely that all saints gather in one place. Each saint has their own sanctuary, overseeing their respective territories."
That made sense. True masters had their own way of doing things, and it wouldn’t be practical for them to all stay in the same place. At least, they’d disturb each other’s cultivation. Saints, after all, are still human, and it’s not unusual for them to take in exceptionally talented disciples.
"Dick, you seem genuinely happy for Alina."
"Seriously, Li Cong, what kind of question is that? Alina was my first friend."
"So, you really don’t have feelings for her?"
"Li Cong, that’s why I say you nobles are twisted. At our age, with our immature minds, thinking about love? We’re cultivators, and cultivation is what matters most. Li Cong, and you too, Harvey—you're only second-level mages. This isn’t the time to relax. In the future, we could become intermediate mages, advanced mages, or even saint magisters.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Damn, Dick, you really are ambitious,” Harvey said, looking at him in surprise.
“What’s wrong? Saint magisters and knights were all trained just like us. If they can do it, why can’t we? I refuse to believe that every saint in the Snowstorm Sanctuary has one of the seven bloodlines. For all we know, they might not be more talented than us."
Dick wasn’t one to be daunted. Having traveled through time to this era of magic and battle aura, he was determined to strive for a thousand-year lifespan.
“Dick’s got a point there. I know of one saint magister whose magic talent was pretty average, and a saint knight who was born a commoner, only mastering advanced warrior techniques later in life.” Li Cong, being a noble, had access to higher-level information.
Nobles didn’t necessarily know everything about saints, but each great family might be privy to some secrets. At the very least, Li Cong’s viscount family wasn’t your run-of-the-mill noble house.
"Let’s set a small goal first—become intermediate mages.”
"Yeah, if Dick reaches intermediate mage status and I’m still a low-level mage, we won’t even be able to hang out anymore," Harvey quipped, though he wasn’t oblivious to the reality.
Cultivators could only truly befriend those of a similar level. If you weren’t in the same league, you wouldn’t be able to keep up with their circle. For instance, an advanced warrior wouldn’t even bother dueling a mid-level one.
“Damn it, Dick! Hanging out with you is seriously stressing me out,” Li Cong sighed.
“I’ve just reached the second-level mage stage a little ahead of you guys. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe one of you will break through to third-level mage first.”
“That’s true! Who knows, maybe I’ll be the one to reach fourth-level mage first!” Harvey laughed.
"Work hard in your youth, or you'll regret it in old age. As long as we put in the effort, there will be no regrets. Cheers!"
"Well said! Cheers!"
Two years later, Dick broke through to third-level warrior status at the age of fifteen. Half a month later, Annie, too, advanced to third-level mage.
Though both now third-level mages, the magic unleashed when Anna and Annie combined their powers was pure water magic, and it seemed to carry a powerful, overwhelming pressure, greatly enhancing their combat strength.
“Dick, Dick, we’re back!” Though the sisters had ascended to third-level mages and had their own better caves in the third-level cave region, they still habitually visited Dick’s dwelling.
“Wow! Two third-level magical beasts!” Dick exclaimed, delighted as he opened the spatial pouch.
“Of course! With us working together, we’re almost as strong as a fourth-level mage. Dick, hurry up, cook!”
“Alright, alright! Just relax and leave it to me.” Dick couldn’t let their effort go to waste. He spent a good deal of time carefully preparing the meat from the third-level magical beasts, grilling it to perfection.
“Not bad, Dick, your skills have improved,” Annie praised, as the inherent aroma of the magical beast meat, combined with the cumin-like spice Dick had found, filled the air, leaving her thoroughly impressed.
“How’s that? Thoughtful, right? If you have any more delicacies, feel free to bring them. As head chef, I guarantee top-tier culinary quality—no disappointment for the lovely ladies.”
“You rogue, always taking advantage of me.”
“How? Annie, you worked hard hunting, so let me massage your muscles. I guarantee you’ll feel relaxed, body and soul.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice! Earlier, when you were massaging my sister, your hands wandered under her clothes.”
Anna, usually quiet, blushed furiously at Annie’s teasing. Dick had started with mere playful gestures, but over time, he’d grown bolder, now being openly flirtatious. Anna’s timid nature made it hard for her to refuse Dick outright, as she didn’t want to hurt his pride.
At least, that’s what she told herself. Yet, Dick’s masculine aura stirred something within her. As young adults in their twenties, curiosity and desire for the opposite sex were only natural, and Anna was no exception.
At first, they had kept their relationship discreet, but now, Annie had caught them in the act.
Seeing Dick make moves on her sister in front of her made Anna feel more at ease, though she noticed he wasn’t as forward with Annie as he had been with her.
Dick, meanwhile, was quite content, surrounded by two beautiful sisters, each as enchanting as a model. It was the perfect antidote to his intense cultivation routine, offering him much-needed relaxation.
With his two boisterous brothers, Li Cong and Harvey, and the close company of Anna and Annie, Dick’s life at the Magic Academy, though filled with rigorous training, was undeniably full of joy.