"We're here!" After walking a dozen or so li, Adonis stopped. "Wait here, and don't wander off. I'll go announce you."
Andrew knew the imperial palace surely had many rules. Since he was seeking protection, there was no need to anger the imperial family, so he waited as instructed.
Before long, Adonis returned.
"Come with me. Mind your manners when you meet His Majesty."
Following Adonis, Andrew and Golden Tiger entered the enormous palace hall. Two rows of civil and military officials stood inside, and at the head of the hall sat a middle-aged man. His clothes were not lavish, but his imposing presence was unmatched. Even Andrew felt the tremendous pressure.
"Your Majesty, Andrew is here." Adonis bowed to the emperor above.
Behind him, Andrew followed his example. In this world, imperial authority was indeed exalted, but strength mattered even more. Thus, those with sufficient strength did not need to kneel.
Here, Andrew possessed that strength.
The emperor took no offense. He took a booklet from an attendant beside him, opened it, and read aloud, "Andrew Lance, born in Maple Forest Town, twelve years old, an Eighth-level Warrior with strength comparable to the ninth level. Magical beast companion: a ninth-level Golden-Crowned Wind-Thunder Peng. In addition, outstanding magical talent, exceptional affinity for lightning and fire elements, and spiritual power comparable to the Saint-level..."
Buzz!
The officials in the hall broke into discussion. They looked Andrew up and down, both astonished and envious. Even Adonis's expression changed. This was his first time learning of Andrew's talent. Spiritual power comparable to the Saint-level, in particular, was simply inconceivable!
The emperor continued, "A year ago, his entire family moved to the imperial capital, after which... Father, Howard Lance, a Warrior of the Seventh Rank, magical beast companion: Windwing Tiger Emperor... Mother... Younger sister..."
Andrew stood there without any change in his expression, listening as the emperor read out everything about him, feeling neither joy nor sorrow.
After finishing, the emperor closed the booklet and handed it to the attendant. He looked approvingly at the composed Andrew and smiled. "To be honest, I was startled when I first saw this information. Your talent... truly astonished me. I imagine I'm not the only one who finds it hard to believe?"
"You are right, Your Majesty. The Yulan Continent probably hasn't seen anyone with such talent in thousands of years, has it?" a plump noble below chimed in.
The emperor nodded. "Duke Daina is right. In terms of talent alone, Andrew could rank first in tens of thousands of years!"
"First in tens of thousands of years? That talent is just too..."
"Indeed. Doesn't that mean he has a chance to break through to the Saint-level?"
His Majesty's judgment sparked another round of discussion, and the way everyone looked at Andrew changed considerably. What puzzled Andrew most was the very strange look in Duke Daina's eyes.
Andrew spoke at the appropriate moment. "You flatter me, Your Majesty."
The emperor rose and walked down.
"I admire you greatly. Talent is one aspect, but talent alone does not necessarily make someone a powerhouse. By comparison, I admire your character more. Maturity, composure, decisiveness, responsibility-these are what I value most."
Andrew could not help feeling favorably toward this emperor. From beginning to end, he had shown none of that overbearing arrogance, and his tone was mild, like that of a kindly elder.
"You are a rare genius of the Yulan Empire. I hope you will serve the empire. In return, the empire will provide you with protection and grant you a noble title."
The emperor really understands things. I can't refuse the terms he's offered. Andrew sighed inwardly. The wisdom and methods of someone who could become emperor of the continent's foremost empire were certainly beyond an ordinary person's imagination. With just a few simple sentences, he had correctly guessed everything on Andrew's mind.
"I would be glad to serve the empire!" Andrew said with a bow.
The emperor laughed twice, very satisfied with this outcome.
"Good. I am pleased that you have made this decision. I hereby name you an earl of the Yulan Empire. Once you become a Saint-level powerhouse, you will immediately become a duke of the empire. For the time being, however, you will have no territory."
Andrew nodded in acceptance. The Yulan Empire was a great empire, unlike the Fenlai Kingdom later on, which offered Linley the title of marquis right away to recruit him. Andrew's talent surpassed even Linley's, but the emperor would not make him a marquis in one stroke.
"Your Majesty, I ask for no fief. I only ask that the empire protect my Lance family for ten years!" Andrew calmly stated his request.
The emperor was somewhat surprised. He knew about the matter between Baird and Andrew, which was why he had offered the empire's protection. But from what Andrew was saying, he only needed ten years of protection. Did that not mean he was confident he could defeat Baird ten years from now?
Reach the Saint-level in ten years? The emperor found it somewhat hard to believe. Still, he concealed his thoughts deeply and showed nothing unusual. The officials below did not understand what the two meant and could only make a rough guess.
"I promise you," the emperor said solemnly, the implication being that he would send someone to warn Baird not to trouble Andrew for ten years.
In the end, both sides got satisfactory results, and everyone was happy.
After Andrew became an earl, the Lance residence bustled for a while. Many nobles sent people to offer congratulations, which Andrew found unbearably tiresome. In the end, Howard and Janice entertained them, while Andrew went to Divine Grace Academy.
"Thank you for your help a few days ago, Headmaster Meyer!" Andrew said sincerely to Meyer.
They had not met for a few days, and Meyer seemed to have aged considerably. Perhaps his grief had been too great.
"I didn't do anything." Meyer shook his head, dispirited.
Andrew also knew that Meyer was probably still immersed in grief over his teacher's death. However, he had a reason he had to visit.
"Headmaster Meyer, Baird said that day that my soul strength was comparable to the Saint-level. What does that mean?"
Meyer said, "Soul strength is spiritual power. Your spiritual power is extraordinarily strong, equivalent to that of a mage who has just entered the Saint-level."
Andrew was puzzled. "Then why haven't I reached the Saint-level yet?"
Meyer shook his head. "Having Saint-level spiritual power doesn't mean your cultivation has also reached the Saint-level. For example, when testing magical talent, we test spiritual power. Some students have spiritual power a hundred times that of an ordinary person, already equivalent to a third-level mage's. But that doesn't mean they possess a third-level mage's strength. It only means that, given time to accumulate power, they can soon become third-level mages."
"Your situation is somewhat different, though. The Saint-level is unlike the other levels. To reach it, spiritual power is one aspect, but you must also touch upon the laws. Strong spiritual power can help you touch upon the laws faster, but this also requires opportunity."
Andrew finally understood. "Thank you for clearing up my confusion, Headmaster Meyer."
After saying goodbye to Meyer, Andrew pondered. Although his Battle-qi cultivation was progressing quickly, breaking through in the short term did not seem very likely. He might as well use this time to cultivate magic. With his spiritual power, as long as he accumulated enough, he could soon become a Level 9 Great Mage.
With that in mind, Andrew visited an auction house. He only had sixth-level magic incantations, with none at the higher levels. Divine Grace Academy certainly had them, but they were only available to core personnel. The simplest way for him to obtain them was to buy them.
As for money, he had that too. There were still four ninth-level Magic Crystal Cores in his interspatial ring. Those alone were worth at least ten million gold coins.
Ten million gold coins was an enormous sum even on the Yulan Continent, enough to buy lightning- and fire-element magic incantations below the forbidden-spell level.
Andrew did not begrudge spending the money. To him, as long as he could improve his strength, what did it matter if he became penniless?
After obtaining the magic incantations he wanted, Andrew returned to his residence to cultivate quietly. This time, he remained there for four full years.
Four years later, Andrew's strength had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.
"A Peak Ninth-level Warrior, a Level 9 Great Mage Master, and a ninth-level magical beast companion!"
In the rear courtyard, Andrew finished meditating while facing the morning sun. An azure light flashed over him, leaving him clean and refreshed from head to toe, as though he had bathed. Putting on a long azure robe, Andrew lightly jumped down. A streak of golden light flashed through the sky, and Golden Peng appeared on his right shoulder.
Nearly seventeen now, he looked much more mature than his peers. This referred not to his height or appearance, but to his bearing. That was hardly surprising; counting his two lives together, he was already forty.
"Andrew, why are you out so early today?" Janice was still tending her garden, with Aida and Milly helping beside her. All three were a little puzzled to see Andrew. Usually, he would not leave the rear courtyard before noon, but today was an exception.
Andrew said cheerfully, "I've finished cultivating for today. By the way, has Ling'er come back?"
Janice trimmed one of her favorite flowers and said meaningfully, "I don't think you're asking about Ling'er. You want to ask about Han Yue, don't you?"
"Definitely. Last time, Big Sister Ling'er even said that Big Brother Andrew only cared about Big Sister Han Yue and ignored her." Milly lifted her smiling face and tattled, standing up for Ling'er.
Utterly embarrassed, Andrew left behind a hurried "I have something to do..." and ran off.
After leaving the earl's residence, Andrew felt somewhat lost, unsure where to go. Over these four years, he had devoted himself to magic and had barely spent any time with Han Yue. She surely had complaints about that. But Andrew had been afraid she would worry, so he had not explained.