Chapter 9-Returning Home

Each day, Ernst with his companion, the 7th rank magical beast Velocidragon Nadia, continued his daily training regime. He immersed himself with the world of sword training. Every so often, Ernst would have new insights on how to use his sword.

Along their way, they would fight a magical beast of higher rank. With Nadia's deterrence, Ernst never encountered assassination again. After fighting, he instructed Nadia to review her battle in her mind to know if there are flows and weaknesses and correct them accordingly.

Nadia's way of fighting is very direct and needed to be polish. So, Ernst taught her how to use her tail or claws like weapons, based on the principle of wielding weapons. Starting from the basic stage, 'Strength and battle Qi' and the second stage wielding something heave as though it were light or wielding something light as something heavy. He also told her the principle of 'Impose'.

After discussing the principles on how to do each stage of wielding weapons, Ernst show her some sword moves as an example. Never had he expected that Nadia was fast a learner and grasps the principle easily.

At night, Ernst were seated cross-legged above a rock meditating, below him was a sleeping Velocidragon. Suddenly, his battle Qi began to boil, causing his blood vessels and his heart to once again begin to change and transform.

In addition to, within Ernst dantian, the battle Qi had finally begun to change as well. He had finally made a breakthrough and step into 8th rank warrior. He was very excited and happy.

The following days, Ernst with Nadia fight side by side against a group of magical beast. Ernst will take the leader, while Nadia will take the minions. He did not kill the leader, but Nadia is very brutal, she spares no one.

Due to his guidance, Nadia also had a breakthrough from 7th rank to 8th ranks which made her more ferocious. She would hunt every day and Ernst collects many 7th ranks and 8th rank magicite cores.

Ernst and Nadia went to the location of the Foggy Valley, but did not enter. He just wanted to verify its location base on the original canon. Ernst plans to pick up tons of 'Blueheart Grass' and enter the tunnel within the small cave where the elemental essence is one hundred times than the outside world, when he return next year.

Ernst has been staying on the Mountain Range of Magical Beast for more than three months. Every day he would spar with Nadia, fight other magical beast, meditate at night and sometimes plays music with his flute. The training he did this time is enough, and he needs to return to the institute.

He patted Nadia on her big head. "Nadia, I'm going now. Just stay here and train. I'll visit you again next year. Always remember, if you can't beat your opponent, just run. It's not shameful to escape as long as you're alive. Life is more important."

"Roaaaar!"

Nadia roared and nodded. She seemed lonely, agreed with him. Ernst said goodbye then left.

On the return journey, the magical beasts which Ernst met were few and weaker. By the time he stepped in the outer region, Ernst only saw a low level magical beast. Despite this, he still stays vigilant.

Outside the Mountain Range of Magical Beast, Ernst finally let long sighed. He composed himself and his murderous aura. He took off his mask, warrior clothes and sword and keep them in his interspatial ring.

"I'm finally back!"

Ernst went directly to the institute to report his return. He met with his buddies of dorm 1985. They went to the restaurant to celebrate his return. While they were eating, Ernst shares his experience on the Mountain Range of Magical Beast.

Hearing the dangers inside the mountain range, his dorm mates shuddered and felt afraid. They are very young now, but soon they will go there for training. Ernst even suggests that if they go there, they must form a group.

After chatting and eating, they went back to their dormitory. Ernst sleeps for a long time.

Simultaneously, while Ernst was still in the institute. The study room of the Dawson mansion was very solemn. Two people were reporting to his parents. "What are you saying is true?" Ask James. Although he believes the two people, James just want to make sure because it's incredible.

"Yes Milord. We've seen what happened with our own eyes. From the time, he fought against the pack of Frostwolves, assassins, and higher level magical beast, we have witness all of them. There is even a time that the young master noticed us and runaway. We also saw young master fights and tame a 7th rank Velocidragon. We have watched the young master until he left the Mountain Range of Magical beast." Douglas explains.

"Milord, the young master hides really well. When he left the mansion to join the Ernst Institute, he only shows his strength as 3rd rank warrior and 3rd rank magus. But right now, he is already an 8th rank warrior and 6th rank magus" Roger added.

After hearing the report, James and Sarah looks at each other and laughed. They can't believe their son is very talented.

"Alright. Thanks to both of you for watching my son. You work hard." James takes out two magicrystal card and gave it to the two people.

"This is for your hard work, take this."

"Thank you Milord." Douglas and Roger bowed gratefully.

After the two people left, the husband and wife talk about the report. Sarah was delighted. "Husband, our son is remarkable."

"Of course, he is our son, after all." James bragged.

After sufficient rest, Ernst takes a shower and eats a hearty meal with his buddies. He plans to go home and tells his parent about his experience in the Mountain Range of Magical Beast. He knows that his parents send someone to watch over and protect him in secret.

In the morning, Ernst went home.

In the mansion entrance, he was greeted by the family Steward Greg and his personal main Andrea.

"Young master. Welcome back." Greg and Andrea bowed to him.

Ernst just smiled and nodded at them. With a flip of his hand, Ernst took out all the magicite cores and placed them on the table. "Uncle Greg, please sell this magicite cores. After you sold it, take out one hundred thousand gold coins and distribute it to everyone. I'm going to see my parent first."

Steward Greg and Andrea widened their eyes, seeing such a huge number of magicite cores. The amount of this magicite cores is more than one million gold coins. They bowed their head and thank him.

Upon seeing his parents, Ernst runs to them and hug them. Although he has a mature mind, he is still a child. With teary eyes, he hugged them even tighter.

He told them about his experiences in the Mountain Range of Magical Beast. He also told them the reason for hiding his strength. His parents understood his reason and agreed and are very proud of him.

Ernst takes his parents in the back garden. He walks away from his parents. "Father, mother, please take a look." Ernst cast magic spells.

Wind-style magic spell 'Wind blade'.

Fire-style magic spell 'Fireball'.

Water-style magic spell 'Water bullet'.

Lightning-style magic spell 'Lightning descent'.

Light-style magic spell 'Healing'.

Darkness-style magic spell 'Shadows step'.

"Father, mother. While I am at the Ernst Institute, I tried to absorb other elemental essence aside from earth element to know if I can train in other elements. During my meditation, it seems all the elemental essence is gathering around me, as if telling me to absorb them. I don't know what happened, they seem close to me. I have tried to cast other elemental spell to see if it works. It indeed works. That's why last year, I ask about you to give me the entire magical spell for all elements. I can use seven elements to cast magic. This is my greatest secret. I hope you can keep them." Ernst tells a white lie to his parents. He did not want to tell about the system.

James and Sarah remain standing, they want to talk but can't. They are astonished and shocked. If Ernst secret was revealed, he will be hunted down. They understood him for hiding his strength. So, this is the greatest reason. They hug their son.

"Don't worry about it. We will keep your secrets."

Ernst was happy that they don't ask more.

At night, the family of four are chatting and eating happily. They celebrate Ernst safety return from training outside.

In the morning, Ernst went to the back garden, where he used to meditate and practiced his stone sculpting skills. The sculptures he had made in the past were neatly placed in the museum. It's been a long time since he made a sculpture in this place.

Ernst holds his straight chisel and faces the big boulder on his front. He was staring at the lines of the boulder. As he continued looking, the number of lines and patterns seems to drift from the boulder and re-materialized in his mind. This line seems to form into four images.

Suddenly, the four images transformed themselves into his family and himself. In his mind, the boulder transformed itself into various sculptures. It transformed into his parents hugging their two children.

Holding the chisel, Ernst began to move. The straight chisel transformed into a blur, immediately the excess stones and rubble's began to fly off from the boulder.

His soul had become one with each element. This absolute oneness with nature causes Ernst spiritual energy to rise at a terrifying speed.

Currently, Ernst one with nature has reached at the level of forgetting oneself

His parents were worried that he did not come for dinner. When they saw him in a special state, his parents assigned guards so no one will disturb him. James and Sarah were watching on the side.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed, with Ernst absorb in sculpting the entire time.

After finishing, Ernst stared at the life sculpture in front of him. He put all his effort making this sculpture.

These sculpture is one whole with four images of two children and two adult. On the front, his little sister Anna is smiling happily while Ernst sits on the back hugging her sister. On their left and right side, his parents are hugging the two of them. It seems his parents are protecting the two of them. The two children are showing a carefree smile, while their parents show a concern and happy smiles as well.

All the people watching the sculpture were amazed, especially his parents. The sculpture fully depicts their family. Upon looking at the sculpture, they would feel love, harmony, and tranquility.

Ernst hugs his parent and presents them the sculpture ' The Family of Four'. This will become their family treasure.

Meanwhile, Ernst feels his spiritual energy has turned into a liquid. Signifying, that he already step on 7th rank magus. He said goodbye to his parents, saying that he gain insights and will cultivate for a bit.

When he finished cultivating, he feels very energetic. He meets his family in the living room.

The sculpture 'The Family of Four' was placed in the living room, where everyone can appreciate it. Her sister Anna is pleased looking at her lifelike image in the sculpture.

Ernst shares his warrior training to his parents and tells them the principles of wielding weapons. He even encourages his mother Sarah to start her warrior training.

Every day, Ernst will teach his parents on wielding weapons and shows them every move based on his explanation. His parents have a good talent and will take a short time to master them. While his parents were busy, he accompanied his little sister Anna to play around the city.

Time flies, Ernst said goodbye to his family and returned to the institute.