Brian had been staying at the Marquis' residence for three days when his parents asked him to accompany his younger brother for the entrance test at Sky Blue Academy—one of the three great academies on the Tan Continent. The other two were Yellow Shield Academy and Cloud Academy.
The Tan Continent was home to twelve kingdoms, four empires, three academies, and three sects.
These three academies each possessed power on par with a second-tier empire, guarded by a Half-Saint.
At first, Brian had no interest in going. But when he thought about recruiting talented individuals from a prestigious place like Sky Blue Academy, his enthusiasm returned.
"Come here, little brother. I'll teach you a powerful cultivation technique," Brian said warmly.
In the memories of his predecessor, Adre Scoot was spoiled yet always yielded to his older brother. Adre was gentle, affectionate, yet could be stubborn at times.
"Yes, Brother," Adre replied, stepping closer.
Brian activated his upgraded Divine Eyes, now at the intermediate level.
Name: Adre ScootLevel: Level 7 (Basic Stage 7)Potential: Outstanding (Genius)Race: HumanAffection: 97 (Family Love)Loyalty: 90 (Willing to Die)Condition: Healthy
Brian instantly confirmed his suspicion—Adre truly was a rare genius. In his inherited memories, Adre had always suppressed his own growth for Brian's sake. If he hadn't done so, the title of "genius" in the family might have belonged to Adre instead.
Brian now felt it was his responsibility to guide Adre down the path he deserved.
He then taught Adre the basics of the Blue Lotus Body technique.
"Remember, this must be kept secret, understand?" Brian said, ruffling his younger brother's hair.
"Okay, Brother. But… this technique feels really strong," Adre replied in awe.
"It is strong. That's exactly why it must remain a secret," Brian said with a smile.
"Oh, when are we leaving for the Rain Empire?" Brian asked.
"In two days, we'll visit Grandfather and Grandmother," Adre replied.
Brian already knew why the royal family of Alge had always treated the Marquis' household as outsiders. The truth was, the Scoot family was incredibly powerful in the Rain Empire, which was a second-tier empire.
The Rain Empire's governance was unlike other empires—there were no noble titles. Only ancient families held power, and even the weakest among them wielded strength equal to a first-tier kingdom.
The Scoot family in the Rain Empire had power equivalent to a first-tier kingdom, with the family head at the ninth stage of Grandmaster—on par with the Royal Protector of the Alge Kingdom. That was precisely why the Alge royals feared and ostracized the Marquis' household.
Ironically, the Marquis' family had once saved Alge Kingdom from an invasion by the Norn Kingdom while Brian's parents were establishing a trade market. The former King of Alge had been grateful, granting Brian's father the title of Marquis. But after that king's death, his son—now the current ruler—treated them as a threat, fearing their influence.
Brian found this behavior repulsive. If the Scoot family truly wanted the Alge throne, the kingdom would never survive.
After finishing Adre's lesson, Brian headed to the library to deepen his knowledge of the Tan Continent.
The next morning, after practicing his martial arts, Brian began brewing tea. The refreshing aroma filled the air, calming his thoughts.
"Oh, my dear, what's that smell? It's so soothing," a voice called from behind. It was his mother.
Both his parents were busy—his father handled city affairs, while his mother managed the Listh Chamber of Commerce, the second-largest in the Rain Empire. It belonged to the Chester family—his mother's side—and she had opened a branch here.
"This, Mother, is tea. Please, have some," Brian said, pouring her a cup of Roselly tea.
"Thank you, my son," Tessa said warmly before taking a sip.
Her eyes lit up instantly. "My goodness, this is incredible. For a cultivator, this would be perfect for calming the mind before a breakthrough."
"You're right, Mother. It's very effective for that," Brian agreed.
"Where did you buy this, dear? It must be expensive," she asked. Given its benefits, it would be worth at least 500 gold coins—cultivators would pay dearly for something that could stabilize their cultivation.
"This is something I made myself, Mother. It's made from Roselly flowers—and there's also a version made from Melty flowers, but I didn't bring that one," Brian explained.
"Really, Brian? If that's true, then this is wonderful. Do you know how valuable this could be if sold?" Tessa asked.
"But Mother, wealth often brings disaster. Let your son get stronger first," Brian replied. He remembered the comics and novels he had read in his past life—before one was strong, it was best to be cautious about flaunting anything in public.
"Hah, you're right, my son," Tessa said with a smile.
After chatting with his mother for a while, Brian went back to his usual routine—reading books in the library.
The next day, Brian and his younger brother stood in front of their house, ready to depart for the Rain Empire.
"You two be careful, and Brian—make sure you protect your little brother," their father, Caspian, reminded him.
"Don't worry, Father," Brian said.
"Be careful, and you—Adre—study hard, alright?" Tessa said, her eyes glistening with emotion.
"Yes, Mother," Adre replied.
"Father, if you want to see what I've been working on in the Sue Forest, you can. In my room, there's a teleportation array. Just step into it and think about the Sue Forest—you'll arrive there instantly," Brian said.
"You have a teleportation array in your room?" Caspian and Tessa were both stunned, unable to figure out how their son had managed to set one up.
"Yes, and you can go to the Sue Forest without anyone knowing," Brian replied with a faint smile.
"Oh, we're both very curious about what you've been doing out there. You were gone for a whole month," Tessa said, giving Brian a pointed look.
"You'll see for yourself, Mother—and you'll be surprised once you arrive. If you don't understand something I've done there, you can ask Lylia or Key," Brian said.
"Alright, I'll go have a look. For now, you should get going, or you won't reach Eltra City by nightfall—and you'll end up sleeping in the forest," Caspian said.
"Alright, we'll be off then, Mother, Father," Brian said, climbing into the carriage.
Once Brian and Adre were out of sight, Caspian turned to Tessa. "Shall we go to his room and check out that teleportation array he mentioned?"
"Darling, is this the array Brian was talking about?" Tessa asked once they arrived.
"Yes, this is it. So—shall we go see for ourselves?" Caspian was clearly curious. Their son had taken a hundred soldiers along with their families to the forest, and though he had never asked about it—trusting Brian's judgment—now that he had permission to look, his curiosity was stronger than ever.
"Alright, let's go," Tessa agreed. She knew Caspian had been holding back his curiosity for a long time, and now was his chance to finally see what their son had been working on.