Hillman came walking over from a corner by the academy entrance, smiling as he approached. "Ernst Academy really is strict. They wouldn't even let me in—just sent a guard inside to find you. I didn't expect you'd be coming from outside."
"Yeru, you guys go back to the dorm first. I'll be along later," Lin Lei said, turning his head.
Yeru, George, and Rein all gave Hillman a friendly nod before heading into Ernst Academy.
"Uncle Hillman, what brings you here? Weren't you supposed to come pick me up only after the school year ended?" Lin Lei asked, puzzled.
"Come, let's talk over here." Hillman pulled Lin Lei to the side, his face barely able to contain his joy. "Lin Lei, I've got some wonderful news for you—truly wonderful."
Lin Lei's eyes lit up.
"What is it?" he urged.
Hillman said with a smile, "Lin Lei, you know when little Wotton's birthday is, right?"
"I do. January third. What does that have to do with anything?" Lin Lei asked, confused.
Hillman laughed. "It's already December now, so little Wotton is nearly six years old. Last night, your father tested Wotton's Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline concentration at the clan hall. And when the test came back—ha ha…" At that, Hillman started laughing again.
Lin Lei felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken.
Testing bloodline concentration?
Could it be the result was…
Lin Lei pressed, "Did little Wotton's Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline concentration reach the threshold?"
Hillman nodded with a broad grin. "That's right. Your father was overjoyed yesterday. He was so excited he kept drinking with me until the middle of the night. He said the thing he's proudest of in his life is having two sons—one a great mage, and the other a Dragon Blood Warrior. Ha ha…"
"That's great."
Lin Lei felt a rush of excitement.
The Dragon Blood Warrior family had a legacy stretching back over five thousand years. Before Wotton's bloodline concentration was confirmed to meet the threshold, that entire weight of responsibility had rested squarely on Lin Lei's shoulders. The greater the past glory of the Dragon Blood Warriors, the heavier the burden he bore.
But now…
His younger brother's bloodline concentration was sufficient. With just a few decades of hard training, Wotton could become a Dragon Blood Warrior who would shake the world.
"I came today specifically to tell you this wonderful news. Your father also told me that right now, the strongest people in Wushan Town are just me and him—both only sixth-level warriors. Our level of experience and skill simply isn't enough to train your younger brother. And your family's records can only amount to theory on paper." Hillman's expression turned serious. "So your father has decided to send your brother to the 'Obren Academy' in the O'Brien Empire. In the most powerful military empire, at the highest-ranked warrior academy, your brother will receive the best training possible."
Lin Lei agreed.
If a person only had raw strength but lacked sufficient skill and experience, they would be nothing more than a gorilla with brute force.
"Wait." Lin Lei furrowed his brow, looking at Hillman. "Uncle Hillman, Obren Academy's tuition must be extremely high, right? They don't charge students from the O'Brien Empire, but they charge outsiders an absolute fortune." Lin Lei remembered all too well how much Rein had to pay in tuition at Ernst Academy.