In the evening, Hughes brought Audrey back from the trip.
"Brother, I didn't have a good time today."
As soon as she returned home, Audrey tore off the veil covering her face and complained to Hughes with a depressed expression.
"When can we leave the house properly?"
"Also, also, why are those people on the streets so insistent on protesting against you? You didn't do anything wrong..."
Hughes had heard the same complaints countless times today.
However, he didn't explain anything to Audrey.
With Audrey's age and experience, she couldn't understand the struggles between the upper-class nobles.
Instead of letting his sister worry for him, he might as well hide it from her for a while.
"They're just being used by others. But don't worry, they'll stop after the exam."
Hughes rubbed his sister's head and said gently,
"You have to believe in your brother. Your brother doesn't need the emperor's special recruitment. I have the ability to enter the Hiro Royal Academy myself."
Audrey nodded firmly and replied crisply.
"Yes, yes, I do believe in you brother indeed. You are the genius with the most magical talent in the entire imperial capital!"
After saying this, the joy on Audrey's face suddenly disappeared, and confusion surfaced on her face.
"Unfortunately, the commoners in the city don't understand."
"Brother, why didn't you prove yourself to those people today?"
Hughes stroked his sister's nose lovingly and smiled without saying a word.
After sending Audrey back to her room, Hughes went to Norton's courtyard alone.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Hughes saw Norton, who had been waiting there for a long time.
"Little brat, you still remember to come back!"
"I'm your father. How dare you make me wait for you. You even made me wait for you for this long."
Hughes looked at the elemental gathering array carved on the ground, then looked at Norton, who was standing beside the array.
He couldn't help but to feel a sense of warmth in his heart.
Although Norton did not spare him with his words, in reality, his father was quite cute.
"I've finished setting up the magic formation for you, but before you go in, you must meet my standards."
Norton walked up to Hughes with a straight face and threatened him coldly
"If your strength is not enough to satisfy me, I'd rather destroy the magic formation than allow you to advance to tier 3 now."
"Please enlighten me, father..."Hughes said with a faint smile.
"You can advance to the third rank, but your magic power must reach 200 points. Otherwise, don't even think about it today."
Norton took out a magic testing device from his pocket and handed it to Hughes. At the same time, he thought to himself.
Humph, you like to show off don't you? Let me see your magic power break through 200 points.
I've lived for so long, but I've never seen a Tier 2 mage with more than 200 magic power.
Even though you're gifted and have innate max level spiritual power, your magic power can't reach 200.
"Father, I don't think we need to test it anymore. Believe me, I really have the ability, I..."
Before Hughes could finish, Norton interrupted him
"Don't Dawdle, do the test quickly. If your mana doesn't reach 200, you won't be able to undergo the third-tier elemental baptism."
After striking with the rod, Norton immediately handed Hughes another sweet date.
"I'm doing this for your own good. I don't want to waste your innate talent of max-level spiritual power."
After saying that, he pointed at himself and continued
"My talent isn't as good as yours, but when I advanced to the third-tier back then, I had a total of 153 mana points."
"Do you know how much suffering I went through in order to accumulate this mana?"
"But, as the old saying goes, only through suffering can one rise above others."
"Do you think that if I hadn't persisted all those years ago, would I have become a Tier 8 arch-mage now?"
"Now is the time for you to lay a foundation. I hope that you won't waste your talent. Endure and wait until your mana reaches 200 before you choose to advance. Then, your future will be limitless!"
Norton patted Hughes on the shoulder and said gently,
"I believe my words have deeply shocked your soul. Go back and reflect on yourself. Cultivation isn't... It can't be! How is it possible!"
Looking at the red number on the magic testing instrument, Norton's eyes suddenly widened.
"248, are you a monster?"
Norton's worldview collapsed.
In the past, if someone had told him that his mana had reached 248 points when that person was a Tier 2, Norton would only think that the other party was bragging and secretly despise that person for being shameless.
However, today, after he explained the truth of life to his son, his son used three red numbers to ruthlessly shatter his worldview.
"You have so much mana, why didn't you tell me earlier? You made me..."
Norton stopped talking. He remembered before when he asked Hughes to test his mana, Hughes had looked at him awkwardly and said that he had the ability.
But at that time, Norton was still immersed in the joy of explaining the wisdom of life, and did not discern the meaning behind Hughes' expression.
The more Norton thought about it, the more awkward he felt. At this moment, he wished that he could leave this place as soon as possible and find a place where no one was around to calm down.
Hughes could also see his father's awkwardness. He probed,
"Father, why don't I advance tomorrow and you go back to rest first?"
Who knew that not only did Norton not accept his good intentions, he also lifted his foot and kicked Hughes in the stomach.
"What tomorrow? Today!"
Norton was very strong, but he didn't use any magic power in that kick, so he didn't hurt Hughes.
Hughes also knew that Norton was in a bad mood. He didn't say anything, and he didn't pretend to be hurt.
He quietly walked into the elemental gathering circle with his back facing Norton. He sat down cross-legged and prepared to welcome the third-tier elemental baptism.
Looking at his son's back facing him, Norton's face alternated between red and white.
'My son is doing well. As his father, I should be happy. I'm not angry, I'm not angry.
'It's all my own doing. If I didn't mention that request, how would I have ended up in such a situation? Even if I had to mention it, I should have raised the standard a little higher!
'Little brat, don't you know how to leave some face for your father?
He's my own son, he's my own son...
After a long while, Norton's excited emotions finally calmed down.
He expressionlessly activated the magic array and began to help Hughes advance.
Half an hour later, Hughes walked out of the magic array.
He looked up and saw that Norton, who was supposed to be by his side, had disappeared.
Hughes shook his head with a bitter smile and walked to his small courtyard.
"I've finally advanced to Tier 3. It's now time to evolve the water dragon technique."