The drunk narrowed his eyes and glanced at him.
"Kid, you certainly know how to stir up trouble. Still, your strength has been improving fast. How long has it been? You've already reached the late stage of the eighth rank."
The drunk had always been very kind to Andrew. Andrew did not know why. Perhaps this powerful senior had taken a liking to certain qualities of his and was deliberately helping him along. That was what Andrew thought.
Seeing the two chat as though no one else were there, Baird and the other two were furious. They did not dare show it, however, because the drunk who had just arrived was far stronger than they were!
"Were you the one who just said that even if Dempsey came, he couldn't stop you?" His breath reeking of alcohol, the drunk scolded Baird without the slightest courtesy.
Baird's expression stiffened. "Are you Dempsey, then?" he asked.
The drunk shook his head. "Of course not. That old fellow is already dead."
"Dead?" His words caused a stir.
"How did he die?" Meyer asked. Judging by his expression, he seemed to have some connection to Dempsey.
The drunk glanced at him. "He died more than ten years ago. I heard Dempsey took two disciples in all. One was called the War God, a man named Gojir. Gojir was quite strong and renowned throughout the continent. His other disciple was little known, though-a wind mage. I take it that's you?"
Meyer's eyes dimmed, but he tacitly acknowledged it. Baird and the others were startled. None of them had imagined that the Yulan Empire's illustrious Saint-level Magus was a fellow disciple of the War God Gojir!
"Senior, may I ask how my teacher died?" Meyer was overwhelmed with grief. He had received no news of Dempsey for decades, until today... Given his status, he ordinarily had no need to address the drunk as senior, but Meyer deliberately humbled himself to obtain definite information.
"Ah, even if I don't say it, you can guess. That catastrophe on the continent more than ten years ago... Dempsey had been stuck at peak Saint-level for over five thousand years, unable to take that final step... With no other choice, he took a desperate risk and fought others over a divine spark... Unfortunately, his opponent was an expert who had descended from another plane!"
The drunk knew the matter very well, yet his recollections were always vague. Meyer and the others, however, understood everything he said. They had all witnessed that world-shattering battle.
"Enough of that. This kid is under my protection. All of you, get lost!" The drunk emerged from his memories, took a drink, and spoke without the slightest courtesy.
Bart flew into a rage. "You're stronger than me, but there are three of us. What gives you the right to say that?"
The drunk gave him a contemptuous glance without moving. Yet Bart suddenly collapsed, clutching his head and screaming. After a few cries, he lost consciousness.
"Soul attack!" Augustine said, stressing each word.
Baird hurriedly backed away, his face filled with terror. Of everyone present apart from the drunk, he had studied the soul most deeply, and thus understood the horror of soul attacks better than the others. The soul was exceptionally fragile to begin with. Yet it was also the core of life. One could say that the soul was the weakness of all living beings. Once it was injured, their lives would suffer a severe blow!
Moreover, Baird knew perfectly well that an expert capable of using soul attacks was absolutely beyond his ability to contend with! Bart was a ready example. He was at the Saint realm mid-stage, yet he could not withstand even a glance from the man!
"I'm leaving!" Augustine did not react as strongly as Baird. He merely uttered those words, turned, and vanished into the darkness. Andrew admired someone who came and went so freely, even if he was an enemy. Baird, by contrast, was insufferably arrogant when he held the advantage and utterly terrified when he did not. Though powerful, he did not command much respect from Andrew.
Perhaps Baird also realized that he had lost his composure. He took his leave without another word. Andrew, however, could see his unwillingness to accept this.
This man definitely won't let me off! The thought rose in Andrew's mind.
Meyer's face was filled with grief, as though he was still recalling the past. Only after a long while did he come to his senses. By then, however, he had no thoughts of anything else.
"Thank you for telling me, senior. Please visit Divine Grace Academy when you have time." Meyer picked up the unconscious Bart and flew away.
With the crisis over, Andrew let out a breath of relief. He was about to thank the drunk, only to discover that he, too, had left.
"Senior..." Andrew called loudly.
"Kid, work hard on your training. Come see me again when you reach Saint-level..." The drunk's voice reached his ears, but he had no idea where the man had gone.
"Saint-level? All right. Soon..." Andrew clenched his fists and spoke under his breath.
Over the next few days, no more Saint-level experts came. Andrew guarded Golden Tiger in peace, waiting for him to finish advancing.
"Roar!"
A tiger's roar came from the rear courtyard. Fierce winds swept through the entire courtyard, and the wind elements were in extreme turmoil. Standing on the roof and watching the magic formation, Andrew knew that Golden Tiger was about to succeed.
Sure enough, two hours later, the fierce winds subsided, and the wind elements settled as well. An enormous golden tiger emerged from the magic formation. It was Golden Tiger, his advancement complete.
Only now did Golden Tiger truly live up to his name. Golden fur covered his entire body, and his enormous wings displayed a distinctive splendor. The "Wang" marking on his forehead was clearer and more conspicuous as well.
Andrew gave him a pat and scolded him with a smile. "This advancement of yours nearly got me killed. Well, I've fulfilled my promise to you."
Golden Tiger shook his head, not understanding what Andrew meant. He had been asleep during his advancement. He understood the latter half, however, and gave a dissatisfied roar, clearly still not content.
"Come with me. Our guests outside have been waiting for quite a while."
Ignoring Golden Tiger's meaning, Andrew brought him along and opened the gate.
Creak!
The sound of the gate opening alerted the soldiers outside.
"General, the gate is open!"
A soldier spoke to General Aluqi, who stood ahead of him.
Aluqi waved a hand. "Go inform Lord Adonis immediately!"
After the messenger left, Aluqi added, "Everyone, fall back. Whatever you do, don't anger the master of this place!"
Seeing him act as though facing a formidable enemy, his men moved very quickly. Soon, not a single soldier remained in front of Lance Manor.
Aluqi stood quietly before the gate, his palm sweating around his iron halberd. He had been guarding the outside of Lance Manor these past days, sensing the magical fluctuations within and watching Saint-level experts arrive through the air. He was both curious about and afraid of its master.
The gate slowly opened, and Andrew walked out with Golden Tiger. He spotted Aluqi at once and understood who he was.
"I'm the master here. What business do you have?" Andrew asked calmly.
Aluqi unconsciously looked past Andrew and focused on Golden Tiger. Golden Tiger was simply too eye-catching.
"A level nine magical beast, a Windwing Tiger Emperor!" Aluqi recognized Golden Tiger and muttered to himself.
Andrew gave a cold snort, snapping Aluqi out of his daze. After that brief lapse, Aluqi immediately recovered.
"I am Aluqi, general of the Yulan Empire's imperial capital guard. Having sensed magical fluctuations from your residence, I came specifically to investigate the cause."
Andrew was not surprised. With such a disturbance in the imperial capital, it would have been strange if the imperial family had not reacted. Soon, he realized that this might be an opportunity...
Although the senior scared Baird away, he definitely won't let me off if he gets the chance. The senior can't protect me at every moment. I must find a way to protect myself. If I can gain the favor of the Yulan Empire's imperial family, I believe even Baird will have some reservations. After all, the Yulan Empire's imperial family has the High Priest's backing. What does Baird amount to before a deity-level expert!
After what had happened that night, Andrew's desire to reach Saint-level had grown even stronger. At the same time, he was deeply concerned about his own safety and that of his family.
With the Yulan Empire's resources, they must have investigated me thoroughly. Judging by this General Aluqi's behavior, they're also interested in recruiting me.
Andrew pondered briefly, many thoughts passing through his mind.
Half a quarter of an hour later, a young man dressed in black arrived with a longsword on his back. Aluqi bowed upon seeing him. "Greetings, Lord Adonis."
Adonis nodded and said to Andrew indifferently, "His Majesty the Emperor requests your presence!"
Andrew nodded in acknowledgment as well. Adonis's somewhat arrogant attitude displeased him. That, however, was not the main point. The main point was that the Yulan Empire had the strength to be arrogant. Even setting aside the High Priest behind it, the imperial family had at least three Saint-level experts in the open.
"Lead the way."
Adonis turned and walked ahead, with Andrew and Golden Tiger following. After passing through dozens of streets, they arrived at the center of the imperial capital, where the imperial family resided.
Towering palace walls, enormous palace gates, powerful guards, lavish decorations... These were Andrew's first impressions of the imperial palace.
It truly is the foremost empire. Leaving everything else aside, even these guards are almost all high-level warriors. And that's not even counting the Yulan Empire's ever-mysterious mage corps. Not even the future Holy Union could compare to this strength, could it?
As he walked, Andrew felt his own weakness ever more keenly.
If I could reach Saint-level, I could kill Baird with a single sword strike using my fusion battle-qi. Why would I need to rack my brains seeking protection? Then, even the mighty Yulan Empire would probably have to treat me cautiously, rather than summon and dismiss me as it does now.
"Saint-level, oh, Saint-level..."