Earth Knight Liszt

It felt as though a raging storm had erupted within his body, surging power pulsing through every limb and bone. The Primary Battle Qi that had once been balanced and gentle had flooded completely into his cells.

It seemed to undergo a transformation within those cells. When the new Battle Qi returned from the cells to his meridians, it had changed completely.

The newly born Battle Qi had become Intermediate Battle Qi, possessing a unique attribute. Liszt stood quietly in the small garden without moving. His heart felt like flowers bursting into bloom. He forcefully suppressed his excitement as he experienced the newborn Intermediate Battle Qi—the mission was real, and it had brought about the evolution of his Battle Qi.

He had truly become an Earth Knight!

For Battle Qi cultivation, this was a brand-new beginning. Only Earth Knights possessed truly extraordinary power.

"Is my Battle Qi attribute fire? It clashes somewhat with the water attribute of Thousand Layer Waves. Looks like I need to find another Intermediate Battle Qi Manual... I originally thought I would awaken water-attributed Battle Qi like the Count's family." Liszt wasn't particularly satisfied with the fire attribute.

Water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, ice, light, and darkness.

There was also metal, represented by dragons, and wood, represented by elves. All were properties of magical power.

There was no distinction between superior and inferior properties; they were merely different attributes of power. However, ever since before the Tulip Family had obtained the Count's fief, they had studied water-attributed Battle Qi. Their inherited Thousand Layer Waves was also a top-tier water-attributed Battle Qi manual, containing extensive cultivation insights and experience.

Later generations could achieve twice the result with half the effort when cultivating it.

But Liszt was currently unsuited to cultivating Thousand Layer Waves. Forcing it would only yield half the result with twice the effort.

Fire-attributed Battle Qi was naturally better suited for fire-attributed manuals.

"Teacher Marcus has a wind attribute and cultivates the Wind-Breaking Strike manual, which doesn't suit my attribute either. Let me think... back at Knight Academy, I came across a copy of Flame Wave... In a few days, I'll have Teacher Marcus make a trip back to Coral City to fetch it for me."

During this initial period after advancing, his Intermediate Battle Qi needed to be nurtured and stabilized, so there was no rush to cultivate a manual.

In truth, Liszt wasn't in any urgent need to improve his strength. Nobles did have to go to war, certainly, but Coral Island was far from the mainland and saw little conflict. As the Count's third son, no noble on Coral Island would be foolish enough to seek trouble with him, so he could develop peacefully.

Besides, no matter how powerful one became through cultivation, after a hundred years, one would still be nothing more than a pile of dust.

How wonderful it was to be a steady, peaceful lord and enjoy the service of his attendants. He could leave all that fighting and killing to his subordinates.

"Of course, advancing to Earth Knight is still an exciting matter. It means I'll hardly ever get sick, and my resistance to severe cold and scorching heat has greatly improved! In this world, what could be happier than good health and a long life?"

He let out a long breath of stale air.

Liszt's excitement gradually settled, and he turned toward the castle.

His personal valet jogged over, looking for something to attend to. "My lord, you've just finished your knight training. Shall I prepare another bath for you?"

"Would that be troublesome?"

"Of course not. Serving you is our honor."

"All right, prepare another bath."

Dinner.

Marcus and Gortai arrived as promised.

"Liszt, your complexion is becoming healthier by the day. It looks like you've fully recovered. That calls for a drink." Gortai raised his wineglass and inhaled deeply several times. He loved wine as much as life itself.

It was a common failing among nobles.

But Marcus's eyes flickered. "Baron, you... broke through?"

"About an hour ago, I had a sudden realization, and my Battle Qi cultivation made new progress." Liszt spoke reservedly. After all, breaking through to Earth Knight only after his sixteenth coming-of-age ceremony wasn't something worth boasting about.

"Congratulations, my lord!" Marcus said solemnly, his tone subtly changed. He had originally added "Baron," but now addressed him directly as "my lord." It was a positive change.

Gortai immediately cried out, "Wow, this is truly tremendous news! No wonder the magpies were circling around town and chirping when I went out today. Liszt, you truly are the Count's son, inheriting the fine bloodline of the Tulip Family. You will surely wield power!"

"Compared to my older brother and sister, my talent isn't outstanding. I can only make up for it through more diligent cultivation."

"The fact that you can think that way proves you're outstanding as well. Great figures in history didn't always show exceptional talent in their youth. Rising to catch up and constantly improving—that is a knight's creed. I see that quality in you."

"Thank you for the praise, Teacher Gortai."

"So tonight, we must celebrate properly and have a few more drinks." Gortai chuckled, then turned to Butler Carter. "Mr. Carter, to celebrate Liszt's advancement to Earth Knight, shouldn't you bring out some fine wine from the castle cellar and celebrate this glorious moment?"

Old Carter beamed. "That is precisely what I was thinking, Mr. Gortai."

Yet he didn't move. Whether to drink wine was a decision that had to be made by the castle's master.

Liszt didn't spoil the mood and nodded. "Mr. Carter, please bring out a bottle of New Moon Wine. Also, prepare a serving of pudding for every gentleman and lady."

"As you wish, my lord." Carter turned and left, heading downstairs to the wine cellar.

As he passed the kitchen entrance, he added, "Mrs. Abby, the master is granting everyone an extra serving of pudding with dinner."

Abby Spoon was a plump woman. Hearing this, she called out, "Cream pudding? Oh, heavens, the master is far too generous. There's really no need for this. The maids can eat anything, and we don't have much cream left in storage."

Erin, the kitchen maid, was mopping the floor. She looked up hopefully. "Mr. Carter, do the kitchen maids get an extra serving of pudding too?"

"Of course. Today is a joyous occasion—the master has advanced to Earth Knight!"

"Oh, heavens, the master is so wonderful!" Abby praised loudly. Then she turned and shouted again, "Erin, what are you standing around foolishly for? Hurry and finish mopping the floor, then go to the storeroom and bring over the cream. The master is celebrating today, and he's letting you eat pudding that you only get during festivals. Get yourself together and work properly!"

"Understood, Mrs. Abby. Praise the master."

New Moon Wine.

A specialty of Coral Island, made from grapes harvested during the first new moon of every autumn.

Tulip Castle had a Grape Little Elf. Among the grapes it cultivated was a variety specifically used for winemaking. It didn't taste very good when eaten, but the wine it produced was sweet and crisp, a premium wine famous throughout the Sapphire Grand Duchy. Every year, the royal court came to purchase a batch.

When Liszt left Tulip Castle, he had brought a case with him.

"A bottle of New Moon Wine aged in the cellar for many years is like an old story drifting gracefully from a deep tunnel of time. Without fanfare, it tells you what true beauty is, what a lasting flavor is." Gortai swirled his crystal goblet, watching the scarlet liquid rise and fall along its walls as he spoke with a poet's sentimentality.

Liszt took a small sip.

To be honest, he didn't think wine tasted particularly good. He didn't like any alcohol, only fermented rice wine. This body, inherited from its former owner, had some ability to appreciate alcohol and could adapt well to drinks of all kinds.

So he followed local custom and drank a little now and then.

There was no high-proof distilled liquor anyway, so it was difficult to get drunk.

"By the way, Teacher Gortai, is something wrong with the peanuts in Peanut Hamlet?" He suddenly remembered his new mission. His Battle Qi had already evolved, and he was eager for the new reward.

"Mm, that's true. Perhaps this year's climate hasn't been very good. Peanut Hamlet will probably lose its entire harvest. I sent people to take a look. Large areas of the peanut fields have withered and yellowed. In a few days, they'll likely die... Poor serfs. Winter hasn't even arrived, and they'll already have to go hungry." Though his words expressed pity, there wasn't the slightest trace of sympathy on Gortai's face.

Liszt set down his wineglass.

"Tomorrow, come with me to Peanut Hamlet for an on-site inspection. We'll study a way to resolve Peanut Hamlet's crisis," Liszt said in an unquestionable tone.