The Defeated Dragon Chapter 8

8 – The Earth Knight Liszt

A boiling power, as if a tempestuous storm, swept through his entire body. The once meek and mild low-ranked qi had gushed into his cells in its entirety.

Apparently, a metamorphosis was occurring inside his cells as the new qi returning from the cells to the meridians was thoroughly transformed.

This new qi was already mid-ranked qi with a unique attribute. Liszt was motionless as he quietly stood inside the small garden. His spirit was alike a flower in fool bloom, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with excitement. He made great efforts to reign in his emotions, so that he could have a feel of the new mid-ranked qi. He had already received the advancement in qi, the mission was real.

He had become a genuine Earth Knight!

When it came to qi cultivation, this was a new starting point. Earth Knights were the symbol for genuine extraordinary power.

“My qi attribute is that of fire? It is in conflict with the water-attributed [Thousand Ripples] secret manual. Now it seems like I have to prepare a new mid-ranked qi secret manual… I had been under the impression that alike everyone else in the count’s family, I would also awaken the water-attributed qi.” Liszt was not quite satisfied with the fire attribute.

Water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, ice, light, and darkness.

As well as metal represented by dragons, and wood represented by sprites. These where the mystical natures of magic power.

Nature was nothing more than the attribute of power. However, Tulip Family had been delving in water-attributed qi since before they had received their fiefdom. The [Thousand Ripples] secret manual was the first-rate water-attributed secret manual pa.s.sed down in the family.

The younger generation practicing cultivation according to this secret manual had double the result for half the effort.

But now Liszt was not suited to practicing cultivation according to the [Thousand Ripples] secret manual; therefore, to persist in practice cultivation according to it would only have half the result for twice the effort.

Fire-attributed qi was of course more suited for practicing fire-attributed secret manuals.

“Teacher Marcus is of the wind attribute and is practicing the [Cleaving Against the Wind] secret manual. It also does not matches with my attribute. Now that I think about it, when my predecessor was in the Knight College, he had come across the [Fire Surge] secret manual… In a few days, I will arrange for Teacher Marcus to go to Coral Castle and pick it up for me.”

The newly promoted mid-ranked qi had to be stabilized; therefore, the issue with the cultivation secret manual was not pressing.

In fact, Liszt was in no rush to upgrade his strength. It was true that aristocrats had to go to the battle field, but Coral Island was far away from the continent and was not involved in many power struggle. As the count’s third son, the aristocrats of Coral Island did not look for trouble with him; therefore, he could grow in peace.

Besides, no matter how strong his cultivation base was, he would still be just a pile of dirt one hundred years later.

For a lord, the steady and secure thing to do was to enjoy the servants’ many services, and let their subordinates do the fighting and killing.

“Of course, promoting to an Earth Knight is still an exciting affair. This basically means that I will have a hard time falling sick, and that my resistance to cold and heat had also greatly increased! Is there anything better than being healthy and longeval?”

He released a long breath of turbid air.

Liszt had already calmed down. He turned around, and headed back towards the castle.

The gentleman’s valet trotted over, looking for an excuse to wait upon Liszt: “My Lord, you have just finished your knight cultivation lesson’s practice, do you want for bath water to be prepared once more?”

“If it is not too much trouble.”

“Of course not, it is our honor to serve you.”

“Okay, then prepare the bath water.”

……

Dinner.

Marcus and Gort had arrived as expected.

“Liszt, you look healthier; it seems like you have fully recovered. This calls for a drink.” Gort raised his cup and then downed it. He was fond of the bottle.

This was a common affliction among the aristocracy.

Marcus’ eyes flickered: “Sir Baron, you … broke through?”

“I had a feeling one hour ago and had a progress in qi cultivation.” Liszt said modestly. After all, breaking trough to an Earth Knight after the coming of age ceremony at sixteen years of age was not something to be proud of.

“Congratulations, Sir! ” Marcus said solemnly. There was a change in his tone; previously he had to address him as ‘baron’, now he had also added ‘sir’. It was a good change.

Gort made a fuss: “Whoa, this is truly gargantuan news. No wonder the magpies around the small town were chirping when we went out earlier today. Liszt, you re worthy of being the sir count’s son. As someone who had inherited Tulip Family’s fine bloodline, you are bound to grasp power!”

“My apt.i.tude is not as outstanding as that of my brother and sister. Only by being more diligent in practicing cultivation can I make up for it.”

“With this kind of mentality, you can prove that you are equally outstanding. Historically, bigwigs not always performed well in their youth. To give their all to progress is the knights’ creed; I can see this quality in you.”

“Thank you for the praise, Teacher Gort.”

“Tonight, we have to celebrate properly and have a few drinks.” Gort gave a chuckle and turned to the butler Carter, saying, “Mr. Carter, in order to commemorate Liszt’s advancement to an Earth Knight, how about bringing out a bottle of good wine from the wine cellar to celebrate this moment of glory.”

Old Carter grinned: “I feel the same, Teacher Gort.”

But he did not act. The castle’s master had to approve it first before they could drink the wine.

Liszt was not a party p.o.o.per. He nodded his head, saying: “Mr. Carter, I will have to trouble you to get a bottle of La Crescent. By the way, give the Messrs. and Mesdames a cup of pudding each.”

“As you wish, My Lord.” Carter turned around and left, going downstairs to the wine cellar.

When pa.s.sing by the kitchen’s doorway, he said: “Mrs. Abby, the lord granted everyone a cup of pudding for dinner.”

Abby Ladle was a corpulent woman. When she heard that, she said loudly: “Cream pudding? Heavens, the lord is too generous, too excessive. The maids can eat anything. Besides, there is not much cream in stock.”

The kitchen maid Irene was mopping the floor. She looked up in expectation, saying: “Mr. Carter, can the kitchen maid also get a cup of pudding?”

“Of course. Today is a joyous occasion, the lord had advanced to an Earth Knight!”

“Heavens, the lord is so great!” Abby praised loudly, before turning around, and shouting, “Irene, stop standing there foolishly. Quickly finish mopping the floor, then go to the storeroom and retrieve the cream. Today, the lord is in an exultant mood and is giving you pudding which you can only eat on holidays, so cheer up and do your work!”

“I know, Mrs. Abby. Praise the lord.”

……

La Crescent.

A Coral Island’s specialty made from grapes harvested on the first new moon of the fall.

Tulip Castle had a grapes lesser sprite. Among the grapes it grew, there was a special variety used to make wine. The taste was nearly the same, but the wine made out of these grapes was sweet and refres.h.i.+ng. The wine was of the highest quality. It was famous in Sapphire Grand Duchy, with the court purchasing a batch every year.

When Liszt left Tulip Castle, he had brought a trunk of it.

“La Crescent stored for a long time in a cellar is alike an old story from the depth of the vortex of time. Without expressing itself, it conveys you the meaning of true beauty and lasting taste.” While rocking the crystal goblet, Gort watched the scarlet liquid rise and fall along the crystal wall, and expressed his feelings alike a poet.

Liszt took a sip.

Truth be told, he did not find the wine tasty, nor did he like wine in general. At most, he only liked to eat sweet fermented rice. However, the body he succeeded from his predecessor had a certain wine tasting ability, which could accommodate various tastes of wines.

Therefore, with a ‘when in Rome, do as the romans do’ mentality, he casually drank some wine.

Anyhow, the alcohol content was not high; as such, it was not easy to get drunk.

“By the way, Teacher Gort, are there any issues with the peanut settlement’s peanuts?” He suddenly recalled his new mission. His qi had already advanced; therefore, he very much longed for the reward of the new mission.

“Oh, it is indeed the case. This year’s climate is not very good, which might negatively impact the peanut settlement’s harvest. I had sent someone to check up on it. A large part of the peanut fields is yellow; those plants should be dead in a few days… The pitiful serfs will be starving even before the arrival of winter.” Although the words conveyed empathy, but the expression on Gort’s face lacked the slightest bit of sympathy.

After putting down his gla.s.s.

Liszt said indubitably: “Tomorrow, follow me to the peanut settlement to do an on-site investigation, and find a way to solve the peanut settlement’s crisis.”