Luo'an

At the heart of Tianfeng Prefecture, the Taros Family's residence stood as a towering manor, as if it were a newly built palace. A man in a pale purple robe stood before it, accompanied by a burly man and a richly dressed noblewoman.

"Heh, I never thought my son would reach that legendary Saint Realm." Lin's eyes held both delight and pride.

He was delighted because his son was still relatively young—only a little over sixty. After reaching the Saint Realm, he could marry and have children, and his descendants would have a chance of reaching Level 9. They would become the main branch of the family, which was key to its future prosperity.

He was proud because the family's second Saint Realm expert was his son.

"This old father of mine really has been holding the family back." Lin Taros felt the Battle Qi within him. He had reached the late stage of Level 9 several years ago, but he was still half a step away from the peak. And he had been stuck at that half-step for more than a decade.

"What are you so smug about?" The noblewoman beside him rolled her eyes at Lin. They had been married for decades; she knew exactly what was going through her husband's mind.

"I'm just happy," Lin said with a grin.

"I wonder where Father has gone," the noblewoman beside him sighed quietly.

When their son entered the Saint Realm, the Taros Family had hosted a month-long feast. People came not only from Tianfeng Prefecture but also from several other kingdoms and principalities.

They had met plenty of grand dukes from principalities and kings from kingdoms over the past few days.

Over the decades, Tianfeng Prefecture had not expanded its territory, but its strength had undergone a dramatic transformation. The family now had more than twenty Level 9 experts—enough to sweep through any principality or kingdom. Only the Saint Realm experts above them kept them in check. Otherwise, given Lin's temperament, he might well have tried to establish a kingdom.

After all, there were no clearly defined requirements for establishing a principality, kingdom, or empire on the Yulan Continent. At the very least, however, one needed a corresponding amount of land.

A principality could not seize that much territory without a Level 9 expert to hold the line. And the emperors who expanded their realms to the size of a principality were never weak.

Lanterns hung everywhere, and celebration filled the air.

That was Tianfeng Prefecture now.

Luo'an Talos had shown unparalleled talent from an early age. With high Fire Element affinity and twenty-four times the usual Mental Power, he had joined Ernst Magic Academy. During his studies, however, he discovered that his talent for Battle Qi was even greater than his talent for magic. He was widely regarded as the person most likely to reach the Saint Realm within a century.

And Luo'an had lived up to everyone's expectations.

Sky Wind Kingdom.

In the royal capital, Carl summoned several key leaders. After speaking with them, she learned that twenty-four years had passed.

The immersion in cultivation had been so profound that it was difficult to pull away. Over those twenty-four years, the kingdom had grown increasingly powerful. It had gone from having only a handful of Level 9 experts to more than ten, including two at the peak of Level 9.

Because of their strength, even Luo had no suitable way to assign the two men. He could only grant them the title of royal retainers and put each in command of an army of a hundred thousand. Even that was barely enough. If the kingdom had not been founded by a Saint Realm expert, the two peak Level 9 experts would likely have left long ago.

"Why don't you two introduce yourselves?"

"Your Majesty, I'm from the Yulan Empire. A little over a hundred years ago, I offended a disciple of the High Priest. The High Priest wouldn't give a nobody like me a second thought, but there are always people eager to serve him. I had no choice but to bring my family to the Chaotic Territory." The purple-haired, middle-aged Kasa Hanova spoke first.

Carl merely nodded. Before the court assembly, Luo had already submitted a detailed report about him.

For ordinary people, a hundred years ago was several generations in the past. But anyone who had reached Level 7 or Level 8 had heard at least something about the experts of the region.

As for the other man, Carl knew who he was even without an introduction. He came from the Luo'ao Empire and had once risen to the position of empire's great general. He had been a staunch supporter of the crown prince of the Luo'ao Empire. Clearly, his presence in the Chaotic Territory meant that the prince had failed to take the throne.

A diehard supporter of a defeated contender would either be gradually driven out of the empire's power center, his influence slowly stripped away before he was finally dealt a fatal blow,

or else he would be purged outright. Even those who had merely voiced support for the contender often met a bad end.

"Now that you've joined the Sky Wind Kingdom, do your jobs well," Carl said calmly.

The two peak Level 9 experts had come to her for one reason: to advance further. In an empire-level power, the heart of power was filled with Saint Realm experts. With their guidance, the two men might be able to cross that threshold.

Kasa, however, had offended a disciple of the High Priest. Though the offense had been against the disciple's family and descendants, it was still an offense. The Saint Realm experts of the Yulan Empire were mostly connected to the High Priest. In particular, many promising figures bore the title of his disciple.

With colleagues pushing them aside and superiors suppressing them, it would be hard to change their situation unless they could break through to the Saint Realm. Rather than remain in the Yulan Empire, it was better to leave and seek another path.

Kasa Hanova.

William.

Carl watched the two men and quietly opened her status panel.

"Added successfully"

"Added successfully"

Carl was a little surprised. Both men had genuinely pledged themselves to her.

Otherwise, even with her system, Carl could not force them onto the register of residents in her territory.

But since they could be added, that meant they were trustworthy and could provide her with points. Carl was not about to be stingy with them.

"From today onward, Kasa and William, you will be commanders of the Royal Guard. I'll also teach you about the Momentum of Heaven and Earth. Do your best to enter the Saint Realm as soon as possible."

There was a saying about spending generously to attract worthy men. Over the past twenty-four years, only twenty-one Level 9 experts had joined the Sky Wind Kingdom. Sixteen were at the early stage of Level 9, and three were at the middle stage. Of those twenty-one, only four had truly pledged themselves to her. Carl had always granted high positions to those who did.

More than twenty years ago, the first two Level 9 Warriors to join Carl had now reached the late stage of Level 9. They were also the commanders of her two great armies. The peak Level 9 experts became commanders of the Royal Guard, which had been formed from the City Guard. As for those at the early or middle stages of Level 9 who had not truly pledged themselves, Carl had fobbed them off with the rank of general. Those who had genuinely pledged themselves were made deputy commanders, even if they had not reached the late stage of Level 9.

This was how the military core of the Sky Wind Kingdom had taken shape.