"You have grasped the essence of the water element, and your mentor didn’t say much about it. It can be understood that your cultivation in magic facilitated your comprehension of this essence. While it has softened some mentors' biases against you, some still view it favorably. However, there are others, though they say nothing, who have already grown displeased with you."

Understood! It’s a reflection of my current cultivation path.

Fortunately, the mentors with extreme prejudice against me are few in number, and even the Third Elder allowed me to practice magic.

In general, mages possess stronger mental strength than warriors, and this mental fortitude is evidently beneficial for comprehending essences. This makes sense.

Regardless of the reason, I have grasped the force of the water element's tides, and it has significantly boosted my combat power.

"Guo Huai, are there factions or divisions within the Yaoguang family? I mean no offense, I just want to cultivate peacefully and avoid stepping on anyone's toes. If I can avoid conflict, I will. I have no interest in causing trouble, nor do I wish to be discriminated against," Dick said sincerely.

In other words, if you dislike me, I’ll simply steer clear.

"You're very perceptive." Guo Huai nodded. "The fact that the Third Elder assigned Mentor Meng Qing to guide you shows that Mentor Meng Qing harbors no bias against someone like you who primarily cultivates through bloodline power. Supervisor Mentor Cao Yun shares the same temperament as Meng Qing; they both belong to the 'Bloodline Dominant' faction. The representatives of the 'Pureblood Extremists' are Mentors Liu Yu and Guan Bei.

The white-haired young man you encountered at the mountain summit, Fisher, has just advanced to a Level Six warrior. His combat prowess is formidable, having defeated a Level Six mentor at his peak, earning him the favor of the Second Elder, Tian Feng. Fisher is a devout follower of the Pureblood Extremists and one of the leading figures of the younger generation in our Yaoguang family. He has repeatedly achieved great feats during family missions..."

Got it. I'll make sure to steer clear of Fisher from now on. Fortunately, there are still mentors who appreciate me, so the environment isn't too hostile. It’s not bad—I've only just arrived, and it's not shameful to keep a low profile for now.

Mentors Meng Qing and Cao Yun support me because I’ve not lost sight of my primary path—my bloodline battle energy. As for everything else, it's just auxiliary.

Guo Huai seems willing to approach and guide me, likely aligning himself with my faction.

In any group, there will inevitably be divisions, factions, and conflict—nothing unusual. The Bloodline Dominant faction and the Pureblood Extremists… I clearly belong to the former.

Dick warmly invited Guo Huai to a feast of his own roasted cumin barbecue, further solidifying their friendship. As the saying goes, no one stands alone—a hero always needs allies.

The cultivation level here at Seven Star Fort is indeed far higher than in the Yan Kingdom. Here, it’s not just about advancing to a Level Four mage before sixty—if you haven’t reached Level Seven by then, you’re considered to have no future. The same principle applies to warriors: if you haven't advanced to a Level Seven warrior before sixty, your potential is all but exhausted.

Impressive, right? The threshold for potential here has been raised significantly.

As for the notion that warriors lack cultivation resources, that’s in the Yan Kingdom. Here at Seven Star Fort, there are specialized energy stones, energy formations, and rare battle energy elixirs for warrior cultivation.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Through his conversations with Guo Huai, Dick gained considerable insight.

Previously, he had kept his background hidden from the Anna sisters, fearing that his mother's origins would cause Seven Star Fort to reject him. But now that he’s found his footing, as a friend or a potential suitor, Dick should write to the sisters.

The seaside town outside Seven Star Fort doesn't allow outsiders to reside, but it does permit visits from relatives and friends. With Seven Star Fort so far from the Yan Kingdom’s capital, it wouldn’t be easy for the Anna sisters to visit. After all, as commoners, they don’t even possess flying spirit beasts.

Nevertheless, Dick sent letters to Harvey, Li Cong, and the Anna sisters, assuring them of his well-being.

Dick has been granted a year without having to participate in any combat missions. During this time, his priority is to strengthen his own power through cultivation—this is the path to survival. The stronger his abilities, the greater his chances of staying alive during future missions.

Having recently advanced to a Level Four warrior, Dick's bloodline force is still weak, and in pure bloodline combat, he has spent months dueling other warriors of the same level, losing every single match.

No one knows why Dick suddenly comprehended the force of the tides, but it’s no secret that he hasn’t used it in the sparring arena. Only Dick himself knows—it’s not that he’s holding back. It's just that only high-intensity battles can truly awaken the power of his bloodline. These sparring matches are not life-or-death battles. Enhancing his strength is his top priority.

After months of family sparring sessions, Dick had been lightly injured over a dozen times and severely wounded seven or eight times. He was brutally beaten, but with his inadequate cultivation, what else could he expect? Fortunately, the Yaoguang family's healing potions were remarkably effective, far superior to those sold outside. His cousin’s broken ribs healed within seven or eight days.

In the blink of an eye, Dick had spent half a year with the Yaoguang family and finally won his first victory in the sparring arena. Or rather, he was no longer the weakest among the intermediate-level bloodline warriors.

To his surprise, Harvey, Li Cong, and the Anna sisters arrived together, riding a flying spirit beast to visit Dick. At the seaside town, Dick treated his friends to a grand feast of Level Four magical beast cuisine.

What pleased Dick even more was that Li Cong had advanced to a Level Three mage.

"Uncle Taita went to the prairie battlefield?"

"Yes, on behalf of our family’s knight honor. I tried to persuade him to wait, but Uncle Taita said two of his hunting companions were also due for the battlefield, so it was better to go together. Since he would have to fight eventually, it made sense to join them now."

Li Cong’s words reassured Dick that Uncle Taita’s decision was indeed wise. Whether one is a rogue cultivator or serves a noble family, it’s inevitable for them to fight for the nation on the battlefield.

The Li family, as viscounts, must also send their knights to the front lines in shifts. No one is exempt.

Since it’s a necessary duty, going with familiar comrades increases the chances of survival. They say the front lines at the prairie border aren’t especially dangerous.

"Life and death are in the hands of fate. For cultivators, death is always a companion. Who among us can claim absolute safety?" Dick wasn’t one to be overly anxious. He knew that he, too, would eventually face battles and missions. "I just hope Uncle Taita has good fortune."

Dick’s words calmed Li Cong.

"Dick, I heard your second brother, Adolf, has also arrived at Seven Star Fort," Harvey remarked.

"Huh?" Dick was taken aback. He had been so focused on his training that he hadn’t heard any news.

"Your second brother also carries the bloodline of the Yaoguang family."

Ah, that’s right—he’s also my mother’s son.

"Dick, your relationship with your second brother really is a mess," Harvey commented.

"What can I say? He serves the Sharp family, and their second young master has been trying to kill me for ages. Heh!" Dick no longer harbored any feelings toward his second brother.

"Your brother, Adolf, killed that second young master, Thomas Sharp, and fled to Seven Star Fort."

Well, now that’s a twist! The last time Dick had seen Adolf in the capital, he had seemed utterly loyal to his young master. How had things changed so drastically?

"Adolf’s actions caused quite a stir in the capital. Dick, I wonder how someone of Adolf’s background and abilities managed to flee all the way to Seven Star Fort," Li Cong said, noticing Dick’s lack of interest and referring to his brother by name.

Indeed, Adolf was just a minor knight from a remote area. Would he even have heard of Seven Star Fort, let alone know how to find it and successfully join?

Someone must be backing him!