"Oh, Father, I love you! You're too good to me," Tuck grinned widely, unable to contain his excitement. After all, he's their real son too, haha!
Rhett shook his head, smiling as he urged, "Hurry up and take the potion. With no one around, it's best to absorb it quickly. I'll keep watch nearby."
"Mm!" Tuck nodded eagerly.
Holding the Saint-level bloodline potion, its intense heat made his hands tremble. He took a deep breath, twisted off the cap, and immediately felt a surge of pure energy emanate from the bottle.
Without hesitation, Tuck tilted his head back and drank the potion in one go!
Gulp, gulp.
Rhett, standing nearby, could even hear the sound of Tuck swallowing.
As the last drop of the potion was consumed, Tuck felt an explosion of heat within him, as if a barrel of gunpowder had ignited or a volcano had erupted, causing an immense sensation throughout his body.
Tuck's expression changed drastically as he sat down cross-legged, circulating his battle energy to quickly absorb the overwhelming surge of energy.
The heat felt like boiling oil, searing every cell, causing a needle-like pain throughout his body. But it wasn't just pain—there were invisible benefits too, like the strengthening of his very life essence. This gave him the motivation to endure, even though the effects on his battle energy weren't immediately noticeable without the use of breathing techniques. However, he could clearly feel his physical body's rapid improvement, reaching the level of a third-level knight in no time.
He endured the pain, his face contorting with the struggle, knowing that only by pushing through to the end would he reap great rewards.
Meanwhile, Rhett watched calmly. Before seeking out Tuck, he had already conducted a real simulation to ensure that nothing would go wrong when Tuck took the Saint-level bloodline potion today.
As expected, an hour later, Tuck's expression had nearly returned to normal, and the fiery redness of his skin had begun to fade, gradually returning to its usual tone.
Soon, as the energy within Tuck's body settled, Rhett smiled warmly and asked, "All done?"
Tuck opened his eyes, which briefly flickered with a hint of fire before it vanished. He nodded and hesitated before saying, "It's done, but Father, the potion you gave me seems... quite extraordinary. What quality is this bloodline potion?"
This was his first time refining and absorbing a bloodline potion, and while he knew little about alchemical potions, the effects he had just experienced made it clear that the potion was exceptionally potent. The changes in his talent weren't immediately evident in his training, but he could feel that his physical capabilities had already surpassed his previous self, at least reaching the level of a third-level knight.
Although his battle energy hadn't caught up yet, he estimated that his overall strength now far exceeded others of the same level.
"Hmm, I'm not entirely sure myself, but the quality should be... decent," Rhett replied vaguely, giving an ambiguous answer. This was, after all, a gift from the Circle of the Tower as a reward for his role in the elevation to marquis, a matter that hadn't been publicly disclosed. Additionally, Rhett hadn't forgotten that the Blood God still harbored a grudge over this, and Tuck's loose lips might inadvertently invite trouble if he explained too much.
"Just keep the fact that you took a bloodline potion to yourself. No one else needs to know, especially since you can't explain it properly anyway," Rhett added.
"Understood, Father," Tuck replied, scratching the back of his head. Although he didn't get the clear answer he wanted, he wasn't one to dwell on it. However, he did grumble under his breath, "I'm not that clueless…"
Rhett pretended not to hear the latter part and instructed, "Now that your talent has improved, you should focus on training harder."
"Of course! I can already feel that the third-level knight is within my reach!" Tuck's eyes shone with excitement, eager to train and test out his enhanced abilities.
Seeing Tuck's eagerness, Rhett coughed lightly and quickly added, "By the way, I have some other matters to attend to. I'll be leaving again soon, and I hope to hear that you've made a breakthrough by the time I return."
"Huh? Father, you're leaving again so soon?" Tuck asked, disappointed. He then hesitated before suggesting, "Couldn't you take me along? I haven't been on a trip in ages, and perhaps some outdoor training would benefit my progress."
"No problem."
"Alright, I'll just go back…" Tuck started to sigh, having little hope that his request would be granted. But then he realized what his father had said, his eyes widening in surprise. "What? You agreed, Father?!"
"Indeed. Seeing how eager you are, I suppose I can oblige," Rhett replied with a steady expression. "I hope this journey will further enhance your skills."
"Wow, this is such an unexpected answer! I'm thrilled!" Tuck's face lit up with joy, his excitement rivaling the moment he received the bloodline potion.
"Father, wait here! I'll go pack some supplies!" Tuck exclaimed.
"Mm, make it quick, and bring Dick along when you come back. I'll be waiting at the Alchemy Tower," Rhett instructed.
"Father, you're bringing Dick too?" Tuck asked in surprise, then chuckled. "That little guy is lucky; he'll be over the moon when he hears the news."
Rhett smiled faintly and signaled to Firecrest, who quickly descended, allowing Rhett to mount.
"See you soon, Tuck. And don't forget to bring Dick," Rhett called out as Firecrest took off into the sky.
"Got it, Father," Tuck shouted back.
Soon, Rhett arrived at the Alchemy Tower. As he approached, he noticed an interesting scene—Taylors and Mina were each carrying a package, while George was holding the reins of a carriage, waiting nearby. It looked almost like they were moving out, though there weren't nearly enough items for that.
"Father, you're back?!" Taylors was the first to spot Firecrest and his father in the sky, waving and calling out.
"Taylors, it's been a while," Rhett's voice floated down, and Mina and George looked up as Firecrest descended.
As he approached the trio, Rhett asked, "What's with all this? Are you planning a trip, Taylors? If so, there's no need—I might have something to help you."
"Father, Taylors has decided to spend the weekends at Darkrock Castle. These are the things he needs to move," Mina explained.
"Oh? What prompted this decision? Won't it affect your alchemy research?" Rhett asked curiously.
"It shouldn't, because I want to spend more time with family. Plus, it's not just me—Mina needs more leisure time too. She shouldn't be confined to the tower because of me," Taylors said.
Rhett fell silent for a moment, then looked at Taylors with a hint of surprise. "Taylors, my child, I'm pleasantly surprised by your realization. It's heartening."
"Father, have you just returned? We should throw a grand banquet tonight to celebrate your promotion to marquis!" Taylors suggested excitedly, still eager to learn what major event had led to his father's elevation.
"Unfortunately, the banquet will have to wait because I have plans to travel. Would you like to join me?" Rhett asked casually.
"What? You just got back, and you're leaving again?" Taylors asked in shock. "Is there something important you need to handle?"
"Not really, but you could see it as… a way to celebrate my promotion," Rhett said nonchalantly.
"So, the celebration involves travel?"
"Exactly."
"Alright, I like traveling. Father, will the whole family be going?"
Rhett shook his head and replied with the explanation he had prepared: "I'm afraid not. The place we're going is a bit dangerous, so I plan to take only you and Tuck. I considered bringing Ryleigh, but the affairs of Dark Hawk City need him, so it'll just be the two of you."
"I see. I was hoping we could all go together, but could I bring Mina along? What do you think, Father?" Taylors asked, glancing at Mina before looking hopefully at Rhett.
His younger son's request was reasonable, and Rhett felt a moment of difficulty. It wasn't that he couldn't refuse outright, but he didn't want to use his fatherly authority to force his children to comply with an unreasonable command. After a brief pause, an idea struck him, and he regretfully said:
"If it were possible, I'd love to bring everyone. But Karina is pregnant, and this trip carries some risks. Unexpected things can happen out there, and I can't guarantee everyone's safety. The more people I bring, the greater the chance of encountering danger. So I hope Vanessa and Mina can stay home to keep Karina company and prevent her from feeling lonely during her pregnancy."
"Father is right, Taylors. You should go without worry. Vanessa, Karina, and I haven't seen each other in a while, and we have plenty to talk about. Plus, I have many stories from books to share with them. Don't worry about me!" Mina said, placing a reassuring hand on Taylors' shoulder and winking at him.
Taylors sighed in resignation. "Alright, I'll let it go this time. But I hope we can have a family trip together in the future!"
"That's a very reasonable request, and I promise you that it's something a father should do and will do, sooner or later," Rhett said, placing a hand on Taylors' shoulder with a solemn tone.
"I believe you, Father!" Taylors nodded firmly, then added, "Where's Tuck? Is he at the castle? Should I go and fetch him?"
"No need. He'll be here soon," Rhett said, just as he turned his head and added, "Or rather, he's already here!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud voice echoed from a distance: "Father, I'm here!"
Moments later, Tuck came charging in like a bull, his powerful body moving at an astonishing speed. In no time, he reached them.
On his shoulder, Dick was laughing excitedly, seemingly unfazed by the breakneck speed and instead enjoying it immensely.
Rhett raised an eyebrow, noticing that Tuck's speed had increased significantly since the last time he saw him, all thanks to his enhanced physical strength and not just his battle techniques. The bloodline potion had indeed given him a substantial boost!
Then he glanced at the gleeful Dick and felt a bit uneasy. It seemed that Dick was starting to take after Tuck's traits, and Rhett knew he'd have to find a way to curb that later…
"Tuck? You're really fast!" Taylors exclaimed, looking Tuck up and down. "Why do I feel like… something's different about you? Like you've gotten… stronger!"
"Uh, I had a bit of a breakthrough recently and reached the peak of a second-level knight, so it's normal to be stronger," Tuck said, laughing carelessly. But he knew deep down that the breakthrough was due to the bloodline potion's short-term boost, effectively making the most of his previous training.
"Oh, you've reached the peak of a second-level knight?" Taylors said, surprised and pleased. "Congratulations! I guess the boiling potions I gave you worked. Isn't it great to have a brother like me?"
Last year, Taylors had learned to make boiling potions, and these were intended for the knights at the training grounds. But since Mandy and other intermediate alchemists had arrived, the supply of lower-grade potions had greatly increased, leaving Taylors with extra potions that he had ended up giving to Tuck, which had indeed helped with his training.
Tuck blinked, realizing the misunderstanding, and forced a smile. "Yes, thank you, Taylors!"
"Ahem, Taylors, why don't you take Mina back to Darkrock Castle? Tuck and I will wait here," Rhett interjected.
"Alright, we've kept George waiting long enough. Let's get going," Taylors said, glancing at the coachman, George.
"Thank you, Young Master Taylors, but it's no trouble—I can wait longer," George said, feeling flattered.
"No, we're all set. Let's move out," Taylors said firmly, waving a hand as he climbed into the carriage.
"Goodbye, Lord Rhett, Master Tuck, and Little Master Dick," George said, bowing to Rhett and Tuck before getting on the horse.
And the five-year-old Dick cheerfully waved goodbye: "Goodbye, Uncle Taylors!"
"Hehe, see you later, Little Dick!" Taylors waved back.
"I'm five years old now; don't call me Little Dick!" Dick pouted, shaking his head in protest. Then he jumped off Tuck's shoulder and started doing flips on the grass. Despite his young age, his physique was already impressive, and he had no trouble performing acrobatics.
Rhett watched from the side, amused by the boy's boundless energy, which reminded him of a younger Tuck. A smile crept across his face without him realizing it.
As he watched the carriage wheels roll away, Rhett pondered: This time, we're heading to the Dark Mountains, which will be a lengthy journey. It's been quite a while since my last simulation, and the last one doesn't count since it was specifically set up to study the shell, so its future projections aren't reliable.
This time, I plan not only to gather more Destiny Points but also to use the shell to devour a wave of magical beasts. To test the plan, Rhett activated the system.
[Would you like to start a text simulation? Each year simulated consumes 5 Destiny Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year."
[In the year 478 of the Kingdom of Kinn, on August 15th, you took Tuck, Taylors, and Dick, along with enough Raven's Lament potions, and left the territory, heading for the Dark Mountains.]
[On October 7th, Karina gave birth to a healthy baby. Congratulations.]
[On November 24th, after more than three months of travel, you arrived at the Dark Mountains in the Gray Ruins Kingdom.]
[On November 26th, you encountered a second-level Dark-Eyed Viper and easily killed it.]
[On November 29th, you encountered a second-level Windfoot Sparrow, a third-level Ice Crystal Tiger, and a first-level Earthquake Bear, all of which you easily killed. On that day, Tuck, with his excellent talent, broke through to become a third-level knight.]
[On December 17th, you intercepted Sina on her way to the Gloomy Water Lake and drove her and her companion away.]
[You watched as a shadow slipped into Taylors, and his aura surged, breaking through the bottleneck and advancing to a second-level dark mage!]
[In the year 479 of the Kingdom of Kinn, on January 17th, Vicki and Macaulay's child was born.]
[On February 29th, Blackstar quietly visited your territory. Upon hearing that you weren't there, he left a letter.]
[On March 1st, Lawrence broke through to become a third-level knight. As of that day, you had slain 1 seventh-level magical beast, 3 sixth-level magical beasts, 13 fifth-level magical beasts, 42 fourth-level magical beasts, 103 third-level magical beasts, 205 second-level magical beasts, 412 first-level magical beasts, and 749 sub-level magical beasts.]
[On March 2nd, you attempted to use the shell to devour the magical beast corpses. After a day of experimentation, you discovered that the shell's limit was low-level magical beasts, with the highest being a third-level magical beast. However, due to excessive attempts, you suffered severe backlash from the shell and died in the Dark Mountains.]
[Text simulation complete. Would you like to continue simulating?]
"No."
"Alright, experimenting with the shell's devouring limits has its price—I nearly forgot about that," Rhett muttered, feeling a bit exasperated. Still, confirming the shell's devouring limits was valuable information. But this simulation couldn't end there—I need to continue.
He activated the system again.
[Would you like to start a text simulation? Each year simulated consumes 5 Destiny Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year."
[In the year 478 of the Kingdom of Kinn, on August 15th, you took Tuck, Taylors, and Dick, along with enough Raven's Lament potions, and left the territory, heading for the Dark Mountains.]
[On March 2nd, you ended your hunt in the Dark Mountains and left the Gray Ruins Kingdom with Taylors, Tuck, and Dick.]
[On April 19th, Lawrence broke through to become a third-level knight.]
[On May 18th, through diligent training, you advanced your mastery of Resonance to a profound level, expanding its coverage and improving its control. Not only could you fully envelop the Rocklight Shield, but you could also apply it to Earth Armor.]
[On July 15th, Felix broke through to become a third-level mage.]
[On July 25th, you received a letter from Prince Hogus, mentioning strange phenomena in the Cragstone Volcano region, suggesting the possible appearance of a spirit.]
[On July 27th, after handling territorial affairs, you hurried to Cragstone Volcano to investigate the spirit.]
[On August 12th, Karina arrived in Dark Hawk City, intending to take Aura away, but Aura refused to leave, revealing her relationship with Lawrence. You personally acted as a matchmaker for Lawrence, ultimately gaining Karina's tacit approval of their relationship.]
[Text simulation complete. Would you like to continue simulating?]
"Yes, restart the simulation for one year."
Rhett made his choice. He had just learned about the spirit, so he needed to uncover the full story.
[In the year 478 of the Kingdom of Kinn, on August 15th, you took Tuck, Taylors, and Dick, along with enough Raven's Lament potions, and left the territory, heading for the Dark Mountains.]
[On March 2nd, you ended your hunt in the Dark Mountains and left the Gray Ruins Kingdom, heading for Cragstone Volcano.]
[On May 11th, you arrived at Cragstone Volcano, a neutral territory for both humans and beastmen, overseen by a Saint-level magical beast.]
[On May 18th, through diligent training, you advanced your mastery of Resonance to a profound level, expanding its coverage and improving its control. Not only could you fully envelop the Rocklight Shield, but you could also apply it to Earth Armor.]
[On June 13th, while searching around Cragstone Volcano, you suddenly felt a massive tremor from within the volcano. Shortly after, two massive wings covered the sky, plunging the world into darkness. The surrounding temperature rapidly increased, the sky turned crimson, and soon, devastating fireballs began raining down. You witnessed a colossal Dragonhawk and a long Giant Serpent engaging in a fierce battle in the sky, causing the nearby volcanoes to erupt simultaneously, creating a sea of flames. You were caught in the aftermath of the Saint-level battle and had to use all your resources to escape with serious injuries.]
[On July 15th, Felix broke through to become a third-level mage.]
[On July 25th, you received a letter from Prince Hogus, mentioning strange phenomena in the Cragstone Volcano region, suggesting the possible appearance of a spirit. However, you did not investigate further.]
[On August 12th, Karina arrived in Dark Hawk City, intending to take Aura away, but Aura refused to leave, revealing her relationship with Lawrence. You personally acted as a matchmaker for Lawrence, ultimately gaining Karina's tacit approval of their relationship.]
[Text simulation complete. Would you like to continue simulating?]
"No."
As the light from the system faded, Rhett felt a sense of frustration. The so-called spirit sighting was actually the aftermath of a Saint-level battle between magical beasts—a dangerous and disappointing discovery.
If I hadn't mastered Resonance to a profound level, the fallout from that battle might have killed me.
But at least I know now that there's no need to investigate further in reality… Rhett thought, shaking his head. He also noticed something peculiar about the simulations—compared to the past, it seemed that with his growing power and stabilizing territory, fewer major events were happening.
If not for this false lead about a spirit, it seems the year would have been relatively uneventful. Not even the Blood God's harassment or a summons to the Coldstream Front occurred, which I expected might happen.
Rhett pondered deeply: Could it be… I've entered a period of peaceful development?