"Oh, is that so? So are you guys in 1st or 2nd grade?" Brian asked.
"About a month and a half ago, yes. But now I'm in Class 3—Master rank 1," Angel replied proudly.
Leo and Adre thought her pride was understandable—she looked barely seventeen.
"And you? You're a Master too, right? What rank?" Angel asked.
Brian chuckled. "Me? I'm Master rank 3."
Adre and Leo exchanged puzzled looks. They knew Brian's cultivation was much higher than the Master level, so hearing him say that felt strange.
"Hmph, just wait. In six months, I'll catch up to you," Angel huffed.
"Haha, I'll be cheering for you," Brian said, finding her stubbornness oddly cute.
After escorting Brian, Leo, and Adre to their rooms, Bella and Angel left to meet Alexia again.
The next day, someone knocked on Brian's door. When he opened it, he found Alexia standing there.
"What is it, miss?" Brian greeted her with a smile.
"My grandfather wants to see you. He's waiting in the back garden," Alexia said coldly, showing no warmth whatsoever.
"Ahaha… alright," Brian replied awkwardly, sensing she might even be disgusted by his smile.
He closed the door and followed her. Giovan was already there.
"Haha, young man, come sit," Giovan said.
Brian nodded and took a seat in front of him.
"So? What's your decision?" Giovan asked.
"It's not that I'm refusing, Elder… but I can't stay here at the academy," Brian said.
If I live at the academy, how can I manage my own territory? he thought.
Accepting? Accepting what?! Alexia wondered.
"You don't have to worry about that," Giovan said. "But you should be worrying about how you'll gather support to expand your territory."
Territory? Is this young man… a ruler? Alexia thought again, startled by her grandfather's words.
"What do you mean, old man?" Brian asked, now dropping his polite tone. He was shocked that the academy head knew about his plans to found a kingdom.
"Hahaha, young man, you underestimate the hidden powers of the Tan Continent. The four empires, three academies, and three sects know everything that happens here. Their information networks reach every corner of the land."
Giovan continued, "When the great powers sensed unusual activity in Sue Forest, their experts investigated. They found a strange array—confusing to most—but anyone above the Grandmaster level could pass through it freely."
Seeing Brian frown in silence, Giovan guessed he was worrying about his followers.
"Relax. The major powers have decided not to interfere. They see you as an… interesting spectacle. They'll let you be, just to see what kind of domain you'll build.
"On Tan Continent, only territories ranked as kingdoms are allowed to wage war. If an empire, academy, or top-tier sect starts a war without reason, the other great powers will destroy them."
Brian stayed silent, deep in thought about his next move.
"Hahaha, so? Want to become this old man's disciple?" Giovan asked.
Alexia, who had been listening all along, was stunned. Now she understood why her grandfather had brought Brian into his private residence.
"From what you're saying, the great powers won't interfere… so why should I become your disciple?" Brian asked.
"You fool," Giovan said. "The great powers won't interfere—but kingdoms and forces on their level will. To them, you're tender meat. Do you think you can handle their attacks?"
"So if I become your disciple, they'll stop attacking me?" Brian asked.
"No, no," Giovan said, shaking his head. "If I support you, they'll let you grow… until your domain reaches the level of a major city. That's when you're considered mature—equal to a tier-1 kingdom. And then? I'll let them attack you."
"What? You'll let them attack? If I'm your disciple and I die, won't you avenge me?!" Brian asked in disbelief.
"Hmph. Powerhouses like me are forbidden from interfering in lower-level cultivation battles. That's an order from the hidden rulers of Tan Continent. Once, someone at my level avenged his disciple… and his head was cut off. Since then, none of us have dared break that rule."
"So… you never fight?" Brian asked.
"Listen, boy. I'm only forbidden from attacking those much weaker than me. If my opponent is also a half-saint… then it's fair game."
...
In the Sue Forest
At a round table sat two women and three men—the Sevenbeast leaders.
"I feel like there are too many eyes watching this city," Lylia said.
"So you feel it too? I've sensed it as well. I even checked the surrounding area, but found nothing," Key replied.
"Maybe we should report this to Lord Marquis," Frank suggested.
"I agree with Frank. And besides, we still have Grandpa, whose strength is already at peak Grandmaster," Dyami added.
"Alright. I'll report it to Lord Marquis," Key said.
At Sky Blue Academy
"So what you're saying, old man, is that once someone reaches Half-Saint, they're forbidden from attacking anyone below their level?" Brian asked.
"Yes," Giovan nodded. "But there are exceptions. If your bloodline is at risk of extinction, or if our meditation grounds are disturbed, we can attack—wipe them out if we have to. But in cases of initiating combat or seeking revenge, we can't act personally. We can, however, order our subordinates to kill on our behalf."
"I see… so imagine a powerful faction suddenly takes an interest in you. If they send Grandmasters, you might survive, since your family already has many Grandmaster experts. But if they send someone at the King or Emperor level… you'll be dead before you even know it. Hahaha!"
"If you become my disciple, you won't be targeted for at least four years," Giovan continued. "By then, I'm confident your territory will be on par with a Tier-2 kingdom. With my resources and your talent, reaching peak King stage in four to five years will be easy."
Old man… if I really focus on leveling, I could hit Emperor stage in just one year. Still, his advice makes sense. I do need time to grow. Maybe I should accept… Brian thought.
"So, young man—what's your answer?" Giovan asked again with a smirk.
"Alright, old man, I'll accept. But as you already know, I have my own territory, so I can't stay in the academy full-time," Brian said.
"Grandpa, are you serious?!" Alexia exclaimed.
"Hahaha! Of course! After all, he's going to be your husband too! Ahahaha!" Giovan burst out laughing.
"H-husband?!" Brian and Alexia shouted in unison.
"Yes," Giovan said matter-of-factly. "Alexia, you're already nineteen. You need to marry soon. Once you step into higher cultivation realms, it'll be harder to have children."
Alexia fell silent, lost in thought. Brian, on the other hand, immediately protested—terrified that marrying Alexia might mean he could only have one wife. If Giovan opposed him marrying more women, it would ruin his dream harem.
"Old man, it's not that I'm rejecting her. But I already have a fiancée," Brian said.
"Ah, you mean Amber? Don't worry! Powerful warriors always have harems. Of course you can too! I just want you to have a child with Xia," Giovan replied.
"Oh, and just so you know—back in my day, I had ten women," Giovan added in a low voice.
"Yeah, and then your current wife beat you half to death and now you're too scared to take another," Brian whispered back.
"Hahaha! True," Giovan admitted.
"So don't worry. As long as your strength surpasses Xia's, you'll be fine. And as your master, I fully support your harem ambitions," Giovan whispered.