Free Web NovelChapter 40: Chapter 40: The Path of Advancement
Chapter 40: The Path of Advancement
The carriage rolled through the towering gates of House Darkmoor.
As its wheels came to a gentle halt before the manor, Andras and Evelyne stepped onto the stone courtyard. The cool evening breeze carried the familiar scent of aged stone, polished steel, and the dense forests surrounding the duchy.
For a while, they walked together in comfortable silence.
Eventually, Andras spoke.
"I’m going to freshen up first."
He glanced at his bloodstained clothes.
"I’ll join you for dinner once I’ve changed."
Evelyne smiled and nodded.
"Very well."
"I’ll do the same."
"I’ll see you at dinner."
Andras inclined his head before turning toward the eastern wing of the manor.
Today’s hunt had been far more rewarding than he had anticipated.
Not because of the magical beasts...
But because of everything he had gained from them.
His footsteps echoed softly through the quiet corridors until he arrived outside his room.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, he walked directly toward the bathing chamber.
Warm water washed over him, carrying away the blood, dust, and sweat accumulated throughout the day’s hunt.
The lingering scent of the forest gradually disappeared, replaced by the fragrance of herbal oils prepared by the servants.
By the time he stepped back into his room, dressed only in a towel, Lyra was already waiting beside the bed.
A neatly folded set of fresh clothes rested in her hands.
Word of the Duchess’s return had evidently spread throughout the estate.
Without waiting for instructions, she had prepared everything in advance.
She bowed gracefully.
"Young Master."
Andras acknowledged her with a slight nod.
Without unnecessary conversation, Lyra helped him change into a fresh set of formal clothes.
Her movements were smooth, quiet, and practiced—a routine she had repeated countless times.
Several minutes later, Andras made his way toward the dining hall.
Evelyne had already arrived.
Dinner passed peacefully.
They spoke briefly about the day’s hunt, discussed the moving picture play Andras intended to create, and exchanged a few casual remarks about the estate.
To Andras’s mild surprise...
He had spent nearly an entire day with another person without feeling even the slightest irritation.
It was... an unfamiliar experience.
After dinner, he returned to his room and soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.
---
Morning arrived beneath a clear sky.
Golden sunlight filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm glow.
Having finished bathing and changing into fresh clothes, Andras stood quietly beside the window, gazing toward the distant training grounds.
For a few moments, he simply watched the soldiers beginning their daily drills.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
What should I do today?
The answer came almost immediately.
Cultivate.
His strength had increased.
His talents had evolved.
His combat abilities had improved considerably.
Yet one thing remained unchanged.
His cultivation realm.
He was still a Low Third Circle Mage.
In this world, talent alone was never enough.
Without sufficient cultivation to support it...
Even the greatest genius would eventually fall.
Andras sat cross-legged upon the floor.
Before beginning his meditation, he organized his thoughts.
In this world, there were two primary paths of cultivation.
The path of the Mage.
And the path of the Warrior.
Those born with a Mana Core naturally walked the path of magic.
Those born with a Battle Heart became warriors.
Although both cultivated mana...
The way they wielded it was fundamentally different.
Mages devoted themselves to mastering mana itself.
They pursued overwhelming magical power, refined mana control, and devastating long-range spells.
Warriors chose another path.
They tempered their flesh, strengthened their bodies, and transformed themselves into living weapons capable of crushing enemies through overwhelming physical might.
One relied upon magic.
The other relied upon the body.
Different roads...
Yet both ultimately sought the same destination.
Power.
The difference became even more apparent in the way they advanced.
Every mage cultivated by forming Mana Rings around their Mana Core.
One ring.
Then two.
Then three.
Until, one day, reaching the legendary Ninth Circle.
Warriors cultivated differently.
Instead of Mana Rings, they condensed Battle Stars around their Heart.
Each Battle Star represented another step toward absolute physical supremacy.
One star.
Two stars.
Three stars.
Until the Ninth Star.
Different methods.
The same summit.
Andras slowly closed his eyes.
At present...
He possessed two complete Mana Rings.
The third had only recently formed.
That was why he remained a Low Third Circle Mage.
To advance further, he needed to gradually saturate and strengthen that newly formed ring.
Both the original Andras’s memories and the knowledge he had retained from Rise of the Sword Hero described the process clearly.
Every mage advanced through four fundamental phases.
The first was Mana Accumulation.
Mana gathered naturally through meditation, battle, magical resources, and areas rich in ambient mana before flowing into the existing rings.
The second was Mana Compression.
The accumulated mana was refined repeatedly, becoming denser, purer, and vastly more powerful.
This stage demanded extraordinary patience.
A careless mistake could undo months of progress.
The third phase was Ring Construction.
Once sufficient mana had been compressed, the mage carefully condensed it around the Mana Core.
After countless cycles, the swirling mana gradually solidified into an entirely new Mana Ring.
Failure carried serious consequences.
In the best case, the breakthrough simply failed.
In the worst...
Previously formed rings could fracture, crippling a mage’s cultivation.
The final phase was Ring Stabilization.
A newly formed Mana Ring was fragile.
Only after it had been completely saturated and stabilized could it fully support the mage’s next breakthrough.
Each Circle was divided into three stages.
Low.
Middle.
Peak.
A newly formed Mana Ring represented the Low Stage.
A partially saturated ring represented the Middle Stage.
A fully saturated ring represented the Peak Stage.
Only after completing one ring could a mage begin constructing the next.
Andras slowly opened his inner senses.
His consciousness descended into the space surrounding his Mana Core.
Within the endless darkness floated a crystal-blue core, radiating a serene azure glow.
Two flawless Mana Rings revolved around it with perfect stability.
Beyond them...
A third ring slowly circled the core.
Its structure had already taken shape, yet much of it remained faint and incomplete.
Like a newborn star awaiting its first true brilliance.
It needed to be nourished.
Strengthened.
Perfected.
Only then could he move one step closer to the Fourth Circle.
Without hesitation, Andras settled into a meditation posture.
He exhaled slowly.
Closed his eyes.
And began to meditate
