Upon returning to his quarters, Kael knocked on Amelia's door but received no response.
"Strange, where could Amelia be?" He shrugged and headed to his own room. When he opened the door, however, he was greeted by a graceful figure bustling about—and a table laden with an array of delicious dishes.
So Amelia was here.
Watching her busy herself, Kael felt a surge of warmth in his chest. Amelia had known he'd gone to the Eternal Tower and had woken early to prepare breakfast for him.
"Amelia." He called out softly, smiling.
"You're back." She returned the smile, serene and lovely.
"It smells amazing. Looks like I'm in for a treat today." Kael chuckled, taking a seat at the table. "I made quite a few discoveries in the Eternal Tower—some of which might interest you."
"Me?" Amelia tilted her head curiously before sitting beside him.
Kael picked up a sandwich and took a bite, savoring the flavors. A sip of hot milk followed, reminding him that this world did have its culinary delights—if you knew where to look.
"Yes. I found a book in the tower about cultivating Frost Aura. I think it'd suit you perfectly."With that, Kael began reciting the contents from memory.
Amelia's eyes widened slightly at first, but as Kael continued, her expression grew serious. She recognized the techniques he described—they were tailored to her Frost Aura. Immediately, she channeled her energy, causing the room's temperature to plummet as rime spread across the surfaces.
Kael kept reciting, watching as Amelia absorbed the knowledge. The book's insights were clearly pivotal for her. Her Frost Aura had reached a bottleneck, and breaking through it would mean another leap in power.
Guided by Kael's words, Amelia adjusted her breathing and circulation. A moment later, she felt her body lighten, her aura surging as she ascended to the next level.
Peak Seventh Rank!
With Kael's help, Amelia had broken through. Of course, her Peak Seventh Rank still paled slightly compared to Kael's. Warriors only grasped the mysteries of domains at the Eighth Rank, so Amelia still had a way to go.
But given her innate talent—which ranked among the finest even within the Sacred Council's prodigies—it was only a matter of time.
"By the way, Amelia, there's something else I'd like to discuss." Kael smiled and recounted his encounter with the Grand Archon after leaving the Eternal Tower.
Amelia's eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. "So the Sacred Council granted you a territory? You're a lord now?" To her, it seemed remarkably generous of the Sacred Council to bestow land upon Kael.
"Yes. We'll have a home of our own!" Kael grinned, slipping an arm around Amelia's waist.
"Home? Our own?" Catching the implication in his gaze, Amelia's cheeks flushed faintly—yet an unfamiliar warmth bloomed in her chest.
Home. What a lovely word. A glimmer of anticipation shimmered in her eyes.
Kael took another bite of his sandwich before continuing. "There's just one small matter left—tomorrow's challenge tournament. Once I defeat the Sacred Council's other Seventh-Rank talents, everything will be settled." He wasn't the least bit concerned.
His mind, however, had already drifted to planning his territory—only to be met with an impending headache. Constructing a domain, erecting a magic tower, training guards... all of it demanded vast sums of gold. Even with the funds Victor had provided, Kael's liquid assets barely scraped a million coins.
A million gold would make anyone a tycoon across the continent—yet Kael knew better. Between his arcane expenditures and the costs of building a territory, this fortune wouldn't last long.
Though his mines generated steady income, their output remained limited. His revenue streams were still far from sufficient.
"Damn it. Do I have to start peddling potions?" Kael shook his head, dismissing the impractical thought. Brewing for profit would devour too much time—and it was no long-term solutionanyway.
"Enough. Focus on the present." With that, he closed his eyes and sank into meditation.
Amelia, too, immersed herself in cultivation. Truth be told, witnessing Kael's relentless progress had lit a fire under her. She refused to let him outpace her too dramatically.
Time flowed steadily as both Kael and Amelia plunged into feverish training. The rhythm suited them perfectly. Kael, in particular, needed to assimilate the Eternal Tower's knowledge—but with unrestricted access now his privilege, he could afford to absorb it gradually, without haste.
Early the next morning, a brisk knock sounded at Kael's door.
Zorath the Silent stood outside, his face alight with excitement.
"Zorath the Silent, boss?" Kael blinked in surprise as the man barged in, practically vibrating with energy.
"Kael! Not awake yet? Youngsters these days need to learn moderation, tsk tsk—" Zorath the Silent's shameless remark drew a faint blush from Amelia, who was meditating in the corner. She pointedly ignored him.
Kael sighed, rubbing his temples. "Boss, why do you look like you just struck gold?"
"Kid, you've hit the jackpot! The Grand Archon's generosity stunned even me! Starting today, you're a Five-Star Executor of the Shadow Hall, a Count, and lord of the three-thousand-mile Laifei Plains!" It turned out Zorath the Silent had come to deliver Berg's official decree.
He produced a Sacred Council insignia—a token engraved with a dragon and trident, marking Kael's rank.
Moreover, the Sacred Council held the authority to confer nobility. Their influence was so vast that even the coronations of kings and emperors required their sanction.
"Your appointment and title have been proclaimed across the continent. A lord at your age, with a hereditary earldom—your future's brighter than the sun!" Zorath the Silent grinned. Kael's rise had brought him considerable benefits as well.
"The Grand Archon must've told you—next up is the challenge tournament. Time to show those other brats and stubborn old fossils what you're made of!"
Kael smirked. He wasn't worried. For his territory, victory was non-negotiable.
And for him? It wouldn't even be remotely difficult.
"Right now?"
"Of course! Let's go—it's about to start!" Zorath the Silent urged.
Kael and Amelia followed, summoning Ethan along the way. Upon hearing the news, Ethan was stunned speechless. Overnight, Kael's status had transformed entirely. All Ethan could do was offer a wry smile—thank the stars he'd never made an enemy of this guy.
The group arrived at the plaza Zorath had mentioned.
It was packed.
Young talents of the Sacred Council swarmed the grounds, forming an impenetrable sea of spectators.
At the center, six spectral projections hovered—transmitted via Mirror Crystals. These were the six Councilors of the Sacred Council!
Even they were watching.
Though mere projections, their presence alone underscored the match's significance. These were titans of power, the Sacred Council's true core—yet here they were, observing what should have been a minor skirmish. It spoke volumes about the shockwaves Kael had sent through the organization.
Kael rubbed his nose. Well, no backing out now.
His gaze swept across the crowd. The younger generation's eyes burned with naked envy—and something fiercer: combative hunger.
To them, Kael was an unknown upstart, a stranger who'd appeared out of nowhere.
But they all knew one thing: defeating him would be their ticket to fame.
Victory here would thrust them into the Sacred Council's upper echelons—perhaps even into a Councilor's favor.
Unwittingly, Kael had become their stepping stone to glory.