However, the effective range of this warning system was quite limited.
With Matthew's current Spirit, he could only sense things within about fifteen meters.
Still, this range was more than enough for his current daily practice and basic vigilance.
He understood that the effectiveness of the 【Detection Spell】 was not static. As his Spirit continued to grow and his mastery of the spell deepened, his perception range would naturally expand in the future.
As Matthew was pondering this limited warning distance, a familiar figure quickly approached from the dirt path not far away.
It was Aidan. He was still wearing his practical short robe, the shortsword at his waist swaying slightly with his strides.
“Brother Matthew!” Aidan called out from a distance, waving his hand with his usual smile.
Matthew turned to meet Aidan's gaze and nodded slightly. “How is your progress?”
“I can already feel the life energy!” Aidan's voice carried a hint of irrepressible excitement, his eyes shining.
Hearing this, Matthew nodded. His expression remained calm, but a trace of surprise flashed deep in his eyes. For Aidan to sense the existence of life energy in just a few short months meant his comprehension was indeed impressive.
Of course, Aidan could not compare to Matthew, but for an ordinary person, this was already remarkable.
But on second thought, Aidan was almost twenty years old and had a solid foundation in 【Basic Swordsmanship】. Combined with the constant nourishment from the magical beast meat Matthew had been providing, his physical body and blood qi had accumulated sufficiently. Reaching the threshold of life energy now was not entirely unexpected.
When ordinary people practiced combat techniques, they mostly focused on tempering their bodies and honing their moves. Whether they could "sense" life energy was often an invisible hurdle.
Some might practice for a year or two and remain completely oblivious, only improving in physical strength and technique.
Others, however, might suddenly grasp it during a full-force strike, in a life-or-death moment, or through sheer accumulation over time.
This was not something that could be achieved through hard work alone; it also required a natural sensitivity to energy fluctuations and a sudden spark of inspiration during moments of absolute focus.
Aidan clearly belonged to the latter.
To touch the threshold through sheer perseverance and a bit of innate talent, especially without systematic guidance and with limited resources, proved that he indeed possessed some talent on the path of a Class holder.
With this in mind, Matthew nodded, his expression steady and his tone calm.
“Since you can feel it, it means you're on the right track. During your next training sessions, quiet your mind and feel its flow. Especially when you strike, dodge, or exert force—the energy isn't just sitting there for show; it needs to move with you.”
He paused, then added, “Keep eating the magical beast meat regularly. Don't skimp on it. It doesn't just replenish your blood qi; it helps condition your body to be more receptive to life energy.”
Looking at the eager anticipation in Aidan's eyes, Matthew did not make any grand promises. He simply said, “Practice hard, feel it more, and leave the rest to time.”
“Yes, Brother Matthew!” Aidan nodded vigorously, the excitement on his face gradually settling into firm determination.
Seeing that Aidan had grasped the key points, Matthew said no more and turned to walk back toward the village.
“Morning practice is over, so I'll head back first. Carry on with your patrol.”
Aidan bowed and, without another word, turned to head back the way he came.
Matthew activated his combat technique and looked up. He noticed a dozen or so young patrol members standing near the ridge of the field not far away, looking toward the training ground.
They were clearly the patrol members Aidan was leading.
Matthew couldn't help but smile at the sight. Aidan was indeed... very tactful.
He didn't call out to those members. Withdrawing his gaze, he turned and walked steadily toward the village.
The morning mist had gradually dispersed, and sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the dewy grass on both sides of the dirt road.
The silhouette of the village grew clearer ahead. Wisps of kitchen smoke rose lazily, and the air carried a mixture of firewood and breakfast aromas.
Matthew walked at an unhurried pace, but his mind was already tallying his next steps:
First, he needed to repair the damaged staff as soon as possible.
Since learning the 【Fireball spell】, Matthew had clearly noticed that the power of his fireball compared to the one cast by the kobold priest was almost like the difference between "Mastered Rank" and "Novice level."
Therefore, if he could repair the staff, it would not only improve his casting stability and power but also significantly boost his overall combat strength.
Second, he needed to look for clues regarding a higher-quality staff, though this would be extremely difficult in this resource-poor border region.
However, as his Spirit grew stronger, Matthew could feel his meditation efficiency decreasing at an incredibly minute rate.
It wasn't obvious in the energy-dense cave, but he had noticed this trend in his daily environment over the past few days.
He worried that if this continued, his magic cultivation would hit a slow bottleneck or even stagnate, just like his swordsmanship and archery.
Third, there was the crystal core Porter had promised to Instructor Calm, as well as the Blue bow promised to him.
Although Matthew already possessed strength comparable to a Silver Rank, having an openly acknowledged Silver Rank Class holder was crucial for keeping the villagers' hearts at ease.
At the same time, the Blue-quality bow Porter promised was also of great significance to Matthew.
He knew that during his battle with the goat demon Rivera, if he hadn't had ranged capabilities, he would never have slain Rivera so smoothly.
Matthew finished his calculations. These were all the immediate plans he could think of.
He composed himself, put his thoughts aside, and quickened his pace toward the village.
...
Meanwhile, a cloud of light dust rose at the end of the dirt road outside Stone Mill Village.
A mounted troop of about a dozen people was slowly riding toward the village entrance.
In the middle of the procession, a carriage carried a flag bearing a striking lion crest that gleamed with a dull golden luster in the morning light, exuding an undeniable majesty.
Three riders rode abreast at the front of the column.
On the left was a blonde-haired youth with a straight posture, wearing light armor and a longsword at his waist. His face showed some fatigue from the long journey.
When facing the middle-aged man beside him, he was quite respectful. However, when his gaze swept over the others, that respect vanished instantly, replaced by unabashed arrogance and aloofness.
In the middle was a steady, experienced middle-aged man dressed in refined but not overly lavish clothes, quietly observing the approaching village ahead.
To the right of the middle-aged man was a sturdy young man, who was introducing the village with a flattering smile. “That is Stone Mill Village ahead, Lord Taylor.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Porter,” Taylor replied with a calm expression.
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