"Monqing, this is the new disciple. Register him and arrange a residence and cultivation methods for him."

"Understood!"

"Dick, from now on, Monqing will be your daily cultivation mentor. A Sixth-level Warrior is more than enough to guide you."

"Greetings, Master!" Monqing hurriedly bowed in respect. A Sixth-level Warrior was, of course, far superior to himself. Anyone qualified to guide bloodline disciples must be an elder of the family, deeply rooted and untouchable.

Judging by Monqing’s age, he had likely lost the chance to break through to an Advanced Warrior. Serving as a mentor allowed him to continue contributing to the family.

"Eighteen years old, with a high-tier but mid-grade bloodline? Not bad!" Monqing seemed genuinely enthusiastic about Dick, evidently a man with a deep sense of family loyalty.

"Oh, and Dick is also a mage. Whatever magical techniques he needs, just provide them," Hoguang instructed, releasing a bird into the sky and departing. As an Eighth-level Warrior and a leader, he had no time for trivial matters. It was likely that Monqing’s mentorship was just a formality.

Monqing, however, took his role seriously, carefully explaining things to Dick. Dick had only just advanced to a Fourth-level Warrior and hadn’t even received further cultivation techniques. Having the guidance of a seasoned elder was something Dick was eager to embrace—after all, they were rich with experience.

It was quite fortunate. Back at the Royal Academy of Magic, Dick had no expert to guide him in his warrior cultivation. He had always been fumbling on his own, leading to inevitable shortcomings. Having a mentor of the same bloodline to guide him was a rare and valuable opportunity.

Monqing patiently instructed, and Dick listened attentively, occasionally asking questions.

At the very least, Dick now had a deeper understanding of the two battle techniques, "Fiery Cloud Step" and "Flame Blade." It seemed his mother’s grasp of these techniques had also been somewhat lacking.

Monqing went on to explain the intricacies of Fourth-level techniques. Indeed, the true power of an Advanced Warrior's techniques only became apparent at the Intermediate stage. According to Monqing, for an Intermediate Bloodline Warrior, defeating a mage of the same level was a mere trifle.

Very well, if you say so! The easier, the better.

If that were the case, then a High-level Bloodline Warrior from Seven Star Fortress would hold a considerable advantage over mages of the same rank. The Yao family’s Ninth-level Bloodline Warrior was likely a formidable force in battle.

Monqing once again reminded Dick that he must not let his magical training overshadow his warrior cultivation.

Dick solemnly vowed to comply. The path of a mage was arduous, and warrior cultivation was much quicker in comparison.

"Do Intermediate Warriors need to carry out tasks every year?"

"Yes, but you've just advanced to the Fourth level, and your foundation is still unstable. Your techniques haven’t been properly cultivated yet, so we’ll skip the first year. Focus on your training. When the time comes for missions, make sure not to disgrace the Yao family..."

Fair enough, if that’s how it is, Dick thought. After all, a cultivator must eventually fight. He was no fragile flower sheltered from the world.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Monqing handed Dick several bloodline stones, which were used to power the magical formations within his residence.

These were only the resources for the first year; after that, there would be no more handouts. He’d have to earn his keep through missions.

Monqing also provided Dick with cultivation techniques and personally led him to his residence on the second floor. The place was vast—just the main hall spanned several hundred square meters, with multiple training chambers inside. Monqing then showed Dick how to utilize the magic formations for his training.

There was no need to worry about food. Pressing the bell in his quarters would summon a servant to attend to him. The level of comfort was exceptional.

After Monqing left, the servant brought a meal—meat from a Fourth-level magical beast, a rare luxury even in the capital. Damn, this is extravagant! It was said that some magical herbs had been added to the dish, making it even more potent than the magical banquets at the academy.

Not bad. With such excellent conditions, failing to train diligently would be a real waste of the Yao family’s resources.

It was likely a sea beast. As Dick devoured the massive portion, the taste was incredible.

Immersed in his jade pendant’s space, Dick felt a surge of fiery energy in his mind, and even his dantian seemed ablaze. Damn it! He had overindulged in the Fourth-level beast meal.

In a sudden burst of frustration, Dick unexpectedly shattered the bottleneck of a Third-level mage.

With a foolish grin, Dick marveled at the unpredictability of life—he was now a Third-level mage! Fortunately, the ever-lazy Monqing had given him an entire set of dual-element water and fire magic techniques, from First to Ninth level, all at once.

Dick secluded himself for a month. He had no choice. Both his Dou Qi and magic had just broken through, and he needed to stabilize his cultivation and learn new techniques. Busy, busy!

Magic from the First to Third levels didn’t vary much, mostly consisting of magical energy manipulation—shields, swords, fireballs, and the like. The key was mastery. The reason Third-level magic was so powerful was due to the strength of a Third-level mage’s mental and magical reserves.

Luckily, with the jade pendant’s space to support him, Dick alternated between training Dou Qi and magic, ensuring he remained energized. The energy contained in the residence was ideal for Dou Qi cultivation, and though not abundant, it was still a rare resource in a world where Dou Qi cultivation materials were scarce.

It became clear why the family had established these cultivation residences in the mountains. This place was an energy-rich treasure trove for Dou Qi training.

Dick hadn’t yet activated the magic formation for training (designed specifically for warriors’ Dou Qi cultivation, an impressive rarity unheard of even in the Yan capital). His main focus for now was on stabilizing his cultivation and learning new techniques—no need to waste precious bloodline stones.

Without a solid grasp of a Third-level mage’s and a Fourth-level warrior’s combat abilities, he couldn’t claim to be a true cultivator.

Dick concentrated primarily on his warrior techniques. As an Intermediate Warrior, he could now release his Dou Qi. Though it extended only four inches, it was still a remarkable achievement, well-suited to complement his water-based magic.

As a Third-level warrior, his "Flame Blade" technique could barely integrate ten percent of his water-element magic. Now, as a Fourth-level warrior, after a month of hard training, he could merge twenty percent of his water magic.

Was there a significant difference? His strength had increased more than tenfold. Unbelievable, right? This was the result of his bloodline activation. The combat power of a bloodline warrior truly revealed itself at the Intermediate stage, forming an invisible force, or "momentum," as Monqing called it. Momentum, he explained, was a type of intent—one of the most common manifestations of power.

Even ordinary warriors, when reaching advanced stages, might never grasp their own intent. For warriors, intent was a form of transcendence. Simply put, momentum exerted a pressure on opponents, diminishing their combat ability by up to thirty percent.

The phrase "overpowering with momentum" fit perfectly here.

There were many forms of intent—speed, slowness, weight, oppression, heat, cold, gravity... all imposing a mysterious suppression on an opponent.

A month and a half later, Dick requested a sparring trial. Cultivation in isolation wasn’t enough; battle was the best way to refine combat skills.

The response came swiftly. Led by a servant, Dick entered the battle arena, where multiple platforms were in use, with several fights already underway.

Dick's opponent wasn’t a bloodline warrior, but he didn’t care where they came from.

Wielding his battle blade, Dick launched into a frenzied assault.