While other Tier 4 mages found their roles, it wouldn't do for the Jenny sisters to remain idle. Such a situation would be frowned upon. The capital's Mage Tower offered the best environment for magical cultivation, and though it was said that the protection of the Mage Tower was vital to the kingdom’s security, in truth, the mid-level mages stationed there enjoyed the most leisurely and well-compensated positions, with plenty of time for personal training. After some reassignment, the Jenny sisters were appointed to work in the tower.

The kingdom’s sole Tier 7 mage personally welcomed them to the Mage Tower. Being in charge of such affairs, it was natural for him to show some concern for the newcomers. He even offered the sisters guidance on their future magical cultivation.

Ecstatic, the sisters toured the estate granted to them by the royal family and brought their parents to live with them, transforming from commoners into nobility overnight.

“Uncle Teta, what do you think of this estate? This whole row of houses and the courtyard are yours,” Jenny said.

Teta had returned a year after his military campaign on the grasslands. Whether he had actually fought or earned any merits was a mystery, but no one cared. Though he didn’t qualify for any royal rewards, at least he could now live peacefully. However, as a seasoned warrior, Teta found it hard to stay idle. He frequently gathered his warrior friends and ventured into the Monster Beast Mountains to hunt, finding motivation in such a life.

Now that the Jenny sisters had been ennobled and given their own estate, they certainly wouldn’t forget to look after Teta, whom Dick cared deeply for.

“It’s quite nice,” Teta replied, without pretense. The estate had plenty of houses, and the courtyard was practically his own—far more convenient than renting in the capital. “How’s Dick?”

“He’s doing great! He’s now a Tier 4 mage and a Tier 5 warrior, and the Yaoguang family holds him in high regard. He’s living quite comfortably. If you’re willing, Uncle Teta, you could move to Seaside Town in Seven Star Castle. It’s a good place.”

If Teta had wanted to go, he could have long ago. But he knew that he wasn’t Dick’s real uncle—there was a thin layer of separation by blood. Unlike the Anna sisters, who had the legitimate future of bearing children for the Yaoguang family, and thus had a rightful place in Seaside Town, Teta’s entrance would be far more complicated.

Seven Star Castle’s Seaside Town wasn’t open to just anyone. If Teta wanted to move there, it would be quite a hassle for Dick to arrange.

Moreover, Teta wasn’t the type to rely on others. The Monster Beast Mountains near the capital were where his heart belonged, along with the familiar camaraderie of rogue warriors.

“Has that Liu Tiesheng still not been caught?” Teta asked.

As the vampiric and “Dark Blade” organizations became more exposed, various factions harbored deep hatred for those who cultivated by draining warriors’ blood. They showed no mercy to individuals or families colluding with such organizations.

A few years ago, Liu Tiesheng had been exposed. It turned out that in his pursuit of power, he had secretly allied himself with the “Dark Blade.” His outward magic training was a facade; in reality, his warrior skills had grown considerably as well.

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This vile method of cultivation—keeping vampires to drain warriors' blood and then feeding on the vampires' blood—was utterly revolting. No faction could tolerate such cruel practices.

Liu Tiesheng’s connection to the Dark Blade had deeply implicated his family. Though not wiped out, the Liu family suffered great losses. The family’s earldom was stripped, leaving them with little more than a barony and a small portion of their land.

Even the Smith family, which harbored members involved with vampires, hadn’t faced total annihilation.

The Dark Blade, a shadowy organization that had survived for decades, had been severely weakened but not eradicated. Liu Tiesheng had vanished with them for years.

“Uncle Teta, I understand your concerns. But we’re not wandering aimlessly. Besides, our estate is right here in the capital. Liu Tiesheng would have a hard time getting to us.”

“I’m glad you understand. The Mage Tower is well-protected, after all, with a Tier 7 mage overseeing it,” Teta said, his concern evident. He certainly didn’t want anything to happen to the sisters. If they were captured by Liu Tiesheng, what would Dick do? “This estate is spacious, with plenty of rooms. I’ll have some of our hunting party friends move in.”

“Uncle, we’re Tier 4 mages now. Do you really think we’re that weak?” Jenny teased. Of course, she understood what Teta was implying. Aside from their cultivation in the Mage Tower, they would spend plenty of time at the estate, and having a few mid-level warriors around would only add to their security.

“You two, weak? Hardly! It’ll just be livelier with more people around,” Teta chuckled. Though he was getting on in years and had no immediate family, Dick was as close as a son to him. This estate would be a comforting home for the rest of his days.

Two Tier 4 mages, with a few Tier 4 or 5 warriors, residing in a small estate—that was a force to be reckoned with, even in the capital.

As for Jenny’s family, they were few in number—just her parents and a younger brother. Teta, with his spare time, began overseeing the estate’s crops, settling into the role of a half-retired steward.

Gradually, Teta’s life grew more peaceful, and his trips to the Monster Beast Mountains became less frequent. Age had caught up with him, and it was time for him to enjoy a quieter life.

Dick was pleased when he heard the news. In some ways, Teta had been a greater help to him than even his own father. With Teta settled, Dick could rest easy.

Perhaps due to Dick’s excellent performance during his investigation of the vampires or because he had advanced to a Tier 5 warrior, his mentor, Meng Qing, approved his request to temporarily borrow a flying spirit beast from Yaoguang Mountain. The higher-ups granted permission, as Dick’s intention was to use it within the mountain’s confines. It didn’t violate any rules.

And what did Dick want with the flying spirit beast? It was all for the water element.

He had mastered the "Nine Tides" of water intent for some time, but after advancing to Tier 4 as a mage, his progress had stalled. No longer content with mere introspection, Dick decided to ride the spirit beast to the summit of the mountain, where he flew over the peak and headed to a nearby coastline.

Since he had grasped the momentum of the waves, it made sense to confront them head-on, allowing the surging waves to shape his understanding.

Facing the crashing waves, Dick wielded his blade, time and again being swept back and even knocked down by the force. But he never grew discouraged. If one day wasn’t enough, he’d try for two, if one month fell short, then two months. He believed that in time, through immersion in the waves, clarity would come.

Through this relentless self-discipline, continually buffeted by the sea, Dick felt the weight of the waves—the momentum that is pressure, a force of nature that sweeps and endures.

At last, he sensed a subtle resonance deep within. The Tier 4 spell “Deluge Across the Clouds” erupted from him, a wide-range attack that summoned an immense concentration of water elements, crashing down like a vast stormy cloud, drenching the world below.

Retreating into a recess in the cliffs, Dick hid while his half-horned crane, ever-vigilant, stood guard at the entrance. This loyal creature, often borrowed by Dick, had grown quite familiar with him, knowing precisely what to do. Should any enemies approach, if a fight couldn’t be won, the crane was ready to grab Dick and flee.