Howard

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Maple Forest Town

Howard grew up in Maple Forest Town alongside Matthews. The two played and trained together from childhood and became as close as brothers. Both later courted Janice, who chose Howard; Matthews left town after their marriage 3.

Despite his talent and perseverance, Howard's commoner background denied him access to a battle-qi manual. He attained sixth-level physical strength but could not enter the high-level warrior ranks. He had also spent time making his way in White River City, where Clayde remembered his reputation 1 5 21.

When Andrew turned five, Howard began teaching him the Qi-Nurturing Stance beside a stream. He was astonished when Andrew immediately entered the deep cultivation state that had taken him twenty years to achieve 1.

Prairie Journey and Matthews's Betrayal

Howard took eight-year-old Andrew on a trading expedition to the Keli Tribe, arguing that his son's potential should be developed through experience rather than sheltered at home. During the journey, he taught Andrew how to recognize and fight prairie magical beasts 3.

When Clayde attempted to recruit Andrew into the Frey Clan, Howard objected even as the accompanying knights leveled their spears at him. Clayde's warning that Andrew might otherwise remain trapped at the sixth rank made him hesitate, but Andrew ultimately refused the offer 4 5.

Howard initially remained unaware of Matthews's intentions against the family. When Andrew attacked Matthews at their home, Howard trusted his son's warning and joined the fight. Unarmed and affected by alcohol, he struggled against Taige until Janice intervened with magic. After Matthews admitted his resentment over Janice, Howard nevertheless spared him because of their long friendship 6 7.

At Andrew's urging, the family fled to the Keli Tribe that night. The tribe welcomed them and provided a stone house, which the family renovated into a courtyard home 7 8.

Journey to the Imperial Capital

After Andrew became a high-level warrior, the family left the Keli Tribe to seek better opportunities and an academy for Ling'er. They revisited Maple Forest Town, where Howard unsuccessfully asked Matthews to abandon his grudge. Andrew killed Matthews after he again threatened the family 19 20.

In White River City, Howard rejected Viscount Frey's offer of a residence and status because it required joining the Frey Clan. Although cautious around nobles, he would not consign Andrew to hereditary service. During the confrontation that followed, he shielded Janice and Ling'er while Andrew fought 22 23.

The journey exposed Howard's limitations: he could not keep pace with Andrew, Bandeni, and Polite and had to ride Golden Tiger. Embarrassed, he used their rest stops to cultivate, determined to become a high-level warrior himself. The group eventually reached the imperial capital after surviving the lord of Lefen City's sacrificial plot 27 28 30 32.

Mercenary Career and Rescue

In the capital, Andrew discovered Howard's earth affinity and arranged for Bandeni to obtain Earth's Fissure. Howard immediately entered secluded training and broke through to the seventh rank. With his ambitions renewed, he decided to become a mercenary rather than continue depending on Andrew's protection 33 34.

After forming an Equal Contract with Golden Tiger, Howard joined a reputable twelve-member squad. Its first mission was to capture an Earth Dragon Beast in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Following the capture, another mercenary group ambushed them, forcing the survivors to flee 35 43.

Howard's letter alerted Andrew to the danger. Andrew found him in a valley where both mercenary groups had temporarily united against a Wind Dragon. When the pursuers turned on Howard's group again, Andrew intervened and killed most of them. Golden Tiger and the squad's captain, Daniel, had helped the survivors endure more than ten days of pursuit 45 46 47.

Howard returned home safely with Andrew. The experience changed him, but did not diminish his desire for strength; afterward, he frequently cultivated through the night 47.

Two months after their return, Golden Tiger fell into a deep sleep. Howard happily informed Andrew that his companion was about to advance 47.

Imperial Protection and the Lance Duchy

Andrew secured a promise from the Yulan Empire's emperor to protect the Lance family for ten years when he was granted the title of earl 50.

Howard accompanied Andrew and Han Yue to Kaobis City for Andrew's duel with Baird, riding Golden Tiger beside their carriage. Although deeply worried, he kept his concerns to himself rather than burden Andrew before the unavoidable battle. He privately resolved to protect his son even at the cost of his own life if Andrew could not win 56.

When Andrew chose the Chaotic Territory as his fief, Howard relocated with the family from the imperial capital. Andrew unified the territory's thirty-six cities and established the foundations of the Lance Duchy, where the family settled into a new home. By this period, Howard's battle-qi had reached the peak of the seventh level 59 60.

After eventually becoming an eighth-level warrior, Howard spent several days training in the Dark Forest and returned in tattered clothes. Andrew warned him not to go there again, explaining that Beirut, rather than the High Priest, was the continent's true strongest being and must not be provoked 68.

Howard later celebrated the birth of Andrew and Han Yue's son. Remaining more composed than the other excited family members, he congratulated Andrew and told him that becoming a father marked a new stage of maturity 71.

Saint-Level and Deityhood

As Andrew prepared for an eventual journey to the Infernal Realm, he asked Beirut to help his parents reach Saint-level so that their lifespans would no longer be a concern. Beirut supplied two special Divine Sparks, and Andrew gave the Earth Element Divine Spark to Howard and the Fire Element Divine Spark to Janice, instructing them to refine them 81.

At the same family gathering, Andrew revealed his Water Element Divine Clone and explained that he had become a deity. Howard, who had heard many accounts of the High Priest during his travels, asked how Andrew compared with her. He accepted Andrew's assurance that his combat strength far exceeded hers, but found it difficult to reconcile his son's achievement with his memories of teaching Andrew to cultivate 81.

During the following thirty years, Howard and Janice reached Saint-level. Before Andrew's departure for the Infernal Realm, Howard also completed his advancement to deityhood through Divine Spark refinement. Andrew attributed the time required to Howard's comparatively limited aptitude and arranged to leave his Water Element Divine Clone behind to protect the family 82 83.

Life in the Infernal Realm

More than three hundred years after Andrew's original body left the Yulan Continent, Howard and Janice had long since become deities. With his Water Element Divine Clone now strong enough to protect them, Andrew arranged for his family to join him in the Infernal Realm 107.

Howard was among the family members Andrew gathered at Mirrormoon Cliff after reuniting with Han Yue and merging with his Water Element Divine Clone. They boarded Andrew's Golden Dragon-shaped Metallic Lifeform and departed for Emperor Wing City. Andrew intended to challenge a prefecture lord to secure a protected home for the family 110.

The family stayed in Emperor Wing City for six months before continuing their journey. They later reached Bloodflame City, where the Emperor Wing Fiend purchased a castle for them 112 123.

After Andrew took charge of Bloodflame Prefecture, the Lance Clan settled into life in Bloodflame City. Howard and Janice spent this peaceful period refining Highgod Divine Sparks 136.

Appearance

• Build: Burly, with large hands strong enough to restrain the young Andrew effortlessly 1 2.
• Combat equipment: Carries a greatsword and wears a massive shield on his left arm during the prairie expedition 3.
• After Dark Forest training: Returns with his clothes in tatters, as though he has been through a major battle 68.

Personality

Howard is honest, unassuming, and deeply loyal. His affection for Matthews initially blinds him to the man's malice, despite Janice's earlier warnings. Even after learning of the betrayal, he cannot bring himself to kill his childhood friend 3 6 7.

He encourages Andrew's independence and believes that becoming strong requires enduring trials. At the same time, his concern remains practical and paternal: he explains battlefield dangers patiently, tries to take the harder night-watch shift, and feels guilty that Andrew must shoulder the family's protection 3 24.

Howard is cautious toward nobles without being willing to surrender his son's freedom. Beneath his modest circumstances, he is also proud and ambitious. Receiving a suitable manual rekindles his determination to explore the world and grow strong enough to protect his family himself 22 34.

His protective instincts persist even when Andrew surpasses him overwhelmingly. Before the duel with Baird, Howard suppresses his own anxiety to avoid increasing Andrew's burden and is prepared to sacrifice his life for his son 56.

As a grandfather, he combines affection with a belief in the responsibilities of parenthood. At Herbert's birth, he tells Andrew that, despite his precocious maturity, becoming a father has made him truly mature 71.

Abilities & Skills

Qi-Nurturing Stance

Howard has brought the basic body-conditioning stance to its pinnacle through more than twenty years of uninterrupted practice 1.

• Teaches posture, calm concentration, and natural breathing 1.
• Recognizes advanced mastery immediately when Andrew enters a deep meditative state 1.
• The stance strengthens the body but cannot generate battle-qi; its physical ceiling is sixth-level warrior strength 1.

Earth-Element Cultivation

Howard's natural affinity is earth, not the lightning attribute of his first battle-qi manual 33.

• Uses Earth's Fissure to overcome his cultivation bottleneck 34.
• Reaches the seventh rank after adopting the suitable manual 34.
• Continues intensive cultivation after surviving his first mercenary mission, often training through the night 47.
• Advances to peak seventh-level battle-qi and subsequently becomes an eighth-level warrior 60 68.
• Andrew considers ninth-level strength attainable for him, but regards independent advancement to Saint-level as unlikely 68.

Divine Spark Refinement

Howard's advancement beyond ordinary warrior ranks is aided by Divine Sparks rather than documented independent comprehension of the Laws 81 82 83.

• Receives a special Earth Element Divine Spark obtained from Beirut through Andrew 81.
• Reaches Saint-level and then deityhood over approximately thirty years 82 83.
• Later refines a Highgod Divine Spark in Bloodflame City; no specific divine combat technique or completed Highgod breakthrough is documented in that account 136.

Heavy-Sword and Shield Combat

Howard follows a heavy-sword martial path similar to Polite's 35.

• Uses his massive shield to kill venomous scorpions, strike burrowing serpents, and excavate a magic core 3.
• Possesses enough combat experience to react quickly when Andrew calls for help against Matthews's group 7.
• Remains vulnerable when unarmed: Taige suppresses him during their fight at the family home 7.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Greatsword / heavy sword — His preferred weapon type 3 35.
• Massive shield — Worn on his left arm during prairie travel; used for defense and close-range strikes 3.
• Lightning-element battle-qi manual — Enables him to begin cultivating battle-qi, but is unsuited to his earth affinity 6 33.
• Earth's Fissure — Earth-element manual obtained through Bandeni and paid for by Andrew. Written by a Saint-level expert and containing remarks on the Saint level 34.
• Special Earth Element Divine Spark — Supplied by Beirut and given to Howard by Andrew. Its refinement enables his eventual advancement to deityhood 81 82 83.
• Highgod Divine Spark — Being refined during the Lance Clan's residence in Bloodflame City 136.

Relationships

• Janice — Wife. She supports him with magic against Taige and worries about his decision to become a mercenary. They later reach Saint-level with the help of special Divine Sparks and refine Highgod Divine Sparks together in Bloodflame City 7 34 81 82 136.
• Andrew Lance — Son and first martial pupil. Andrew later obtains his cultivation manual, arranges his partnership with Golden Tiger, and rescues him. He also obtains the Divine Spark that enables Howard's deityhood and arranges protection and a home for the family in the Infernal Realm 1 33 34 46 81 83 107 110.
• Ling'er — Daughter. Howard physically shields her and Janice during the Frey Clan confrontation and from the wind while riding Golden Tiger 23 24.
• Han Yue — Daughter-in-law and Herbert's mother. She accompanies the family to Andrew's duel with Baird and later lives with them in the Infernal Realm 56 71 110 136.
• Herbert — Grandson. Howard celebrates his birth and encourages Andrew to embrace fatherhood. Howard and Andrew's influence helps foster Herbert's preference for warrior cultivation despite his magical aptitude 71 77.
• Golden Tiger — Contracted magical beast companion. Howard had dreamed of a tiger-type companion since childhood and treats Golden Tiger particularly well. Their bond is an Equal Contract, arranged by Andrew. Golden Tiger protects him during the mercenary ambush and later carries him to Andrew's duel with Baird 19 34 35 43 56.
• Matthews — Childhood friend turned enemy. Their rivalry over Janice develops into Matthews's vendetta against the Lance family 3 7 20.
• Daniel — Mercenary captain and friend. His strength, together with Golden Tiger's help, keeps Howard's group alive during the pursuit 46 47.
• Bernie, Rhein, and Lester — Mercenary teammates. After learning that Andrew is Howard's son, they congratulate him on being the “father of a legend” 46.
• Beirut — Indirect benefactor who supplies the special Divine Spark used for Howard's advancement. After Howard trains in the Dark Forest, Andrew warns him against provoking Beirut or returning there 68 81.

Notable Quotes

“He has the potential to become a powerhouse, and the heart to become one! As his parents, we shouldn't hold him back!” 3

“I am his father, Howard Lance. I do not agree to Andrew joining the Frey Clan.” 5

“Andrew, you've been sensible since you were little. Compared with others, you matured very early. But only today have you truly become mature. Go on, go see your child!” 71

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