After returning from the Spirit Hall Branch, Lan Tian did not rush to the City Lord's Mansion.
He first stored the newly received subsidy in his Storage Ring, pinned the Three-Ring Soul Elder badge inside his collar, then returned to the rear courtyard to water the Nine Heart Begonia. He nourished it with Endless Life for a while, and only after confirming that everything was normal did he sit down and carefully organize the materials he needed to discuss with the city lord.
Elder Zhao was right. The first step in applying for a noble title was registering with Spirit Hall, and he had already completed that.
The second step was the crucial one: it required review and sponsorship from the City Lord's Mansion. Once that went smoothly, everything afterward would merely be procedure.
He took out a sheet of paper and roughly listed his current identity information, Soul Master rank, the date of his appointment as chief physician, and his records of providing treatment for the city guard and the City Lord's Mansion over the years.
Although the final approval in Heaven Dou City would mainly depend on the City Lord's Mansion's seal and letter of sponsorship, presenting Alfred with complete materials would also demonstrate his sincerity.
The next morning, after seeing several patients, he changed into a neat dark robe, gathered the materials he had organized, and headed to the City Lord's Mansion.
The gatekeeper recognized him. The moment he saw Lan Tian, he did not even need to announce him, instead smiling as he led him inside. "Physician Lan, you're here? The city lord is in his study. You can go right in."
When Lan Tian crossed the front courtyard and entered the study, Alfred was reading an official document by the window. Hearing the footsteps, he looked up and smiled, gesturing for him to sit. "Physician Lan, it has been quite some time since you last came by. I heard you went to Sunset Forest again recently? That place isn't very peaceful. You didn't run into any trouble, did you?"
"It was fine. I ran into a few minor setbacks, but they were all resolved." Lan Tian sat down and got straight to the point. "City Lord, I've come today to ask for your help with something. I've already broken through to the Three-Ring Soul Elder rank and plan to apply to the Tiandou Empire for a baronial title. I need the City Lord's Mansion to provide sponsorship and conduct a review, so I hope you can help me."
Alfred raised his brow slightly, set down the document in his hand, and looked at Lan Tian seriously, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
After a moment, he nodded, his tone filled with sincere admiration. "Three-Ring Soul Elder? I remember that when you first came to Nuoding City, you were still a One-Ring Soul Master. In only around eight years, you've already come this far."
He pondered for a moment before continuing, "I know the process for applying for a baronial title. The City Lord's Mansion's letter of sponsorship and seal are required. You were personally appointed by me as chief physician. Over the years, you have never refused a call to treat the city guard or the City Lord's Mansion. I know your character and abilities well. There won't be any problem with the sponsorship letter. I'll have the clerk draft an official one for you later, and all I need to do is sign and seal it."
"Thank you, City Lord." Lan Tian cupped his hands.
"But there is something else I need to make clear."
Alfred lifted his teacup and took a sip, his tone turning more solemn.
"Once your application is submitted to Heaven Dou City, their review period will not be short. At best, it will take three or four months; at worst, half a year or even longer. During that time, people may come to Nuoding City to investigate and verify your circumstances. You needn't worry about that. I'll arrange for people to receive them."
After a pause, he continued, "Also, once the title is approved, in addition to the Soul Master subsidy from Spirit Hall, the Empire will provide you with a baron's salary and benefits. Under the current standards, a baron receives an additional salary of one hundred Gold Soul Coins per month, as well as an annual share of fief rental income. The exact amount will depend on the region where the Empire assigns your fief. There is quite a difference between good land and bad land. I'll do my best to secure you a better fief. After all, you've been rooted in Nuoding City for so many years. Why let the benefits go to outsiders?"
Lan Tian's heart brightened slightly.
The Spirit Hall subsidy was already one hundred Gold Soul Coins. Even without considering the other benefits, the baron's monthly salary alone meant he would have an income of two hundred Gold Soul Coins every month without lifting a finger.
That came to two thousand four hundred Gold Soul Coins a year.
Whether in this era or a hundred years in the future, that was a considerable income—enough to live an extremely affluent life and thoroughly enter the ranks of the powerful and noble.
If the baron's salary and fief share were added on top of that, he scarcely dared imagine it.
He solemnly cupped his hands toward Alfred. "I will remember this kindness, City Lord. If the City Lord's Mansion or the city guard ever has need of me in the future, I will never refuse."
Alfred smiled and waved his hand. "There is no need for such courtesies between us. You've done so much for Nuoding City. Helping you secure the status you deserve is simply my duty."
He stood and walked to the bookshelf, took a blank sponsorship letter form from a drawer, and placed it on the desk. "Did you bring your materials? I'll have the clerk fill it out now, so we can send it out within the next couple of days."
Lan Tian handed the materials he had brought to Alfred.
Alfred accepted them and quickly flipped through them. Quite satisfied with how detailed they were, he casually passed them to the clerk waiting outside to make a copy.
Then he looked at Lan Tian again, as if suddenly recalling something. A touch of interest appeared on his face. "Physician Lan, the standard configuration for a Three-Ring Soul Elder should be two yellow rings and one purple ring, though many people cannot achieve that. You're quite fortunate. By the way, what age is your third ring? The depth of a purple ring's color is related to the foundation of one's Soul Power. If someone from Heaven Dou City asks about it during the title review later, I need to be prepared as well."
"My third ring is a thousand-year plant Soul Ring." Lan Tian repeated the same explanation he had given Elder Zhao.
Alfred nodded after listening and did not press for further details.
He came from an ordinary background and had limited knowledge of identifying Soul Ring ages. Whatever Lan Tian said, he believed.
About half an hour later, the clerk delivered the completed sponsorship letter. Alfred picked it up and examined it carefully. After confirming there were no issues, he took a brush from the brush holder, dipped it in vermilion ink, and signed his name at the end of the letter. Then he took out the city lord's seal and stamped it.
Once the ink had dried, he folded the letter and placed it in an envelope, sealed the flap with wax, and handed it to Lan Tian.
"All right. Later, mail this along with your Spirit Hall registration certificate to the Imperial Government Affairs Hall in Heaven Dou City. You can also make the trip yourself if you wish. I suggest sending it through the official courier station. It will be reliable and fast, and the cost will be covered by my office."
"Your arrangements are most thorough, City Lord. Thank you." Lan Tian accepted the envelope with both hands and carefully placed it in his Storage Ring.
When he left the City Lord's Mansion, the sunlight outside was just right. Pedestrians and vendors went about their business on the streets, and all of Nuoding City was bathed in warm light.
Standing on the steps before the City Lord's Mansion, he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. The weight in his heart concerning his status had finally settled.
The materials for his title application were complete, and he had obtained the city lord's sponsorship. All that remained was to mail them out and wait for news.
In as little as three or four months, or as long as half a year, he would go from a common Soul Master without any noble status to a baron officially recognized by the Tiandou Empire.
He slowly made his way back to the clinic along the main street. When he passed the stall selling baked flatbreads at the corner, he stopped and bought two steaming meat-filled flatbreads, eating as he walked.
The road ahead was only growing broader. His strength was increasing, his status was rising, and his resources were accumulating. Though he could not yet venture into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, with a noble title and more sources of income, his preparations would only speed up.
When he reached the clinic entrance, he stuffed the last bite of flatbread into his mouth, brushed the crumbs from his hands, and pushed the door open.
The afternoon sunlight shone down over the courtyard. The leaves of the Nine Heart Begonia gleamed with a soft luster, their pink-and-white hues resembling a thin coating of beeswax.
In a few more months, he would be a baron.
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