Tianfeng Prefecture

Rewards can be divided into two types. The first is granted to the powerhouse themselves; for ranks like Baron or Viscount, one only needs to reach the level of a Level 7 Warrior or Level 8 Warrior to receive a reward. As nobles, they also receive their own fiefs, though these fiefs are never very large. For a Baron, a fief capable of holding over a hundred thousand people is already quite good, while most Viscount fiefs can hold several hundred thousand. In reality, however, various factors often result in the actual population being far lower than the capacity.

As for higher ranks, the rewards for the individual are supplemented by rewards for the family. After all, a Level 8 Warrior can easily live for three hundred years. Unless they are rising prodigies who will quickly advance from Level 8 to Level 9 and then to the Saint Realm, many experts establish their own families.

The rank of Marquis is a reward bestowed upon the family itself.

In the eyes of Karl, this reward system is essentially a meritocracy. Level 7 and Level 8 Warriors can obtain their own fiefs, which serve as the foundation for their families. However, if a Level 7 or Level 8 expert dies in an accident or reaches the end of their lifespan, and there is no one in the family capable of replacing them, the territory is reclaimed by the kingdom. Nobles who rely on a single powerhouse within their family are then quickly cast down from the Heavenly Palace into the dust.

As for those who truly develop their families, if their descendants also produce formidable experts alongside the founder, they satisfy the conditions for a family-level reward.

It is like Karl's own strength; when he was a Level 9 Warrior, he was qualified to serve as a Duke of the kingdom. He didn't even need to stay in Spark Town; he could have easily found a commandery or even a provincial capital to hold a major position. For instance, when his strength was at the peak of Level 9, he could have chosen to be the City Lord of any major city in the kingdom, bringing his family along to become the bedrock of that city's City Lord's Mansion.

However, this family status is hollow; the moment he were to meet with an accident, the family would instantly revert to its original state.

The second type of reward, the one bestowed upon the family, signifies that the family has made outstanding contributions to the kingdom. This is a feat that generally requires at least a Level 9 expert to accomplish. Once this reward is obtained, even if the Level 9 powerhouse dies, while the family cannot inherit the full extent of their merit, they can at least maintain the treatment afforded to a Level 8 Warrior.

This not only means that at least one person in the family can serve as a Marquis regardless of their personal strength, but it also implies that there will always be someone in the family holding a sufficiently important position in a major commandery-level city. The family not only receives a high official salary but also possesses sufficient independent economic sources. Even without a Level 8 expert at the helm, the family's noble title is enough to make ordinary Level 7 experts think twice before interfering.

Karl could have stood by and watched the fall of the Anlan Kingdom. After all, as a Saint Realm powerhouse, he was enough to look down upon all Level 9 experts. Even if his inaction caused dissatisfaction among the Resistance Army, he only needed to reveal a sliver of his aura for any Level 9 expert who approached to understand that he possessed strength not to be trifled with.

However, for the sake of his own schemes, Karl allowed two of his descendants to join the Resistance Army with some of the territory's experts. Beyond letting them gain experience, he was also making preparations for his subsequent plans.

After the spoils were divided, the territory that once belonged to the Anlan Kingdom was rapidly dismantled. The Anlan Kingdom, which was not small to begin with, had seen its territory shrink bit by bit over many years of hardship, eventually reaching the kingdom's minimum scale: three provinces.

Today, although these three provinces are technically the spoils of the Fenlai Kingdom, on the surface, these territories belong to the Resistance Army. The promises made by the Bolin Family were, in reality, a form of exchange.

They traded territories that could have been partitioned for secret techniques of the Saint Realm, or for resources that were considered vital even in the eyes of Level 9 experts. Most of these traded territories were received by confidants sent by the Bolin Family, with only a small portion of the original personnel retaining their spoils.

City Lord's Mansion.

At this moment, the entire mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, though this occasion was even more grand than when Lin Taros broke through to become a Level 8 Warrior. This time, however, the selection of guests was very low-key; aside from some personnel who participated in the war, only their close relatives were invited to the gathering.

The City Lord's Mansion was very lively at this time. Nobles tasted fine food and whispered to one another, as if this gathering were more of a private occasion for them to build connections.

Behind the City Lord's Mansion lay the residence of the Taros Family. Unlike the liveliness in the front, the atmosphere within the Taros Family was somewhat tense.

Karl sat in the seat of honor. Beside him were his own blood relatives, the only two other Level 9 Warriors of the Taros Family: Lin Taros and Colin Taros.

Behind them were several experts who were Level 8 Warriors. There were quite a few of them, and beyond the members of the Taros Family, most were nobles from Spark Town who truly held a voice in the city.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, as if the room were an abyss, Karl smiled and spoke: "I invited you all here today because the Taros Family has received a reward, and we no longer need to be confined to a single city. I intend to establish a new city."

Upon hearing Karl's words, the expressions of most people present shifted.

Received a reward? Now that the Anlan Kingdom has fallen, who could possibly bestow a reward?

Many exchanged glances, all understanding that this pillar of the Taros Family had likely been secretly involved in the struggles of the Resistance Army.

It was no wonder they were surprised; after all, Karl had not sent a large number of personnel to participate in the war, mostly just mobilizing a few Level 8 experts.

Moreover, those Level 8 experts who could be mobilized by Karl were mostly those he had cultivated himself. After all, the very reason other Level 8 experts migrated to Spark Town was to avoid the strife of war.

Among those with surprised faces, many were quick to react, and soon a hint of bitterness flashed in their eyes. This meant that while they might seem to be sitting here discussing the city's major affairs, they were actually already being phased out of the center of power in this city.

In their eyes, the Taros Family had three Level 9 powerhouses. With such strength, as long as they cultivated a sufficient army and occupied more than half of a province, it would be entirely enough to establish a principality belonging to the Taros Family.

Who wouldn't want the credit for supporting a new regime? Having missed this opportunity, many people present began to calculate in their hearts.

Next time, they must not be so easily left behind.

With three Level 9 Warriors, and without harming their core interests, this small meeting concluded quickly, and the results were soon decided.