Chapter 312: Chapter 309: The King’s Grand Gift

Two mornings later, Ronin arrived in Golden Feather City with Tom and David.

The Oduin Kingdom was founded in the year 738 of the Imperial Calendar, over two hundred and thirty years ago.

Over the years, the Royal Capital, Golden Feather City, had undergone countless renovations and expansions to reach its current scale.

Ronin had seen Pasture City and Wushan City, and he had even caught a glimpse of Horn Bay yesterday, but they all paled in comparison to Golden Feather City.

The city walls here were tall and sturdy, with multiple layers running from the inside out, protecting the peace of the city and the Royal Capital.

The city gates stood open, welcoming caravans and travelers from all directions. Shops lined both sides of the street, their shelves overflowing with a dazzling array of goods: jewelry, spices, medicinal herbs, and more.

“How magnificent!”

“It’s so bustling!”

Tom and David glanced left and right, their expressions showing they were already lost in the city’s splendor.

“When will our Wubei Territory have a city like this?”

Hearing this, a glint flashed in Ronin’s eyes.

Golden Feather City was indeed prosperous. Judging by the bustling crowds on the streets, at least several hundred thousand people lived here.

If you included the population from the manors and small towns outside the city, the total would likely approach a million.

’To build such a city in the Wubei Territory, population is the main problem. After all, how can you have such large-scale construction without people?’

However, Ronin was very confident about the future.

He believed he could build a city even more prosperous and cleaner than Golden Feather City.

The three of them strolled along, taking in the sights, and soon arrived at Golden Feather Avenue.

The Golden Feather Palace sprawled at the end of the avenue. The closer they got, the more they could feel its immense, solemn, and majestic presence.

“Halt!”

As they neared the main gate of the Golden Feather Palace, a line of Guards blocked Ronin’s path. They wore uniform Silver-White Armor and were equipped with Longswords, looking imposing and extraordinary.

As Guards of the Royal Palace, they were sufficiently well-mannered and polite. Although they had called for the trio to halt, they bowed while inquiring about their identities.

“This is the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Wushan, Count Roning Wushan of Wubei Territory. He is here to seek an audience with His Majesty the King and to attend Her Highness Princess Blanche’s birthday banquet.”

Tom introduced him politely, while David presented a medallion prepared in advance, which recorded his identity and Noble Title.

“Welcome, Count of Wubei Territory!”

One of the Guards made an inviting gesture. “I will take you to the reception area. Please, follow me.”

The Golden Feather Palace was massive, and the security on its periphery wasn’t particularly strict.

Led by the Guard, Ronin met the official in charge of reception, a woman.

“Lord Count, His Majesty has instructed that if you were to arrive, you may see him first.”

The receptionist’s voice was gentle. “Would you prefer to rest for a while, or go see His Majesty the King first?”

Since Bruno himself had given such instructions, Ronin saw no need to rest first.

“Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way.”

Under the receptionist’s guidance, Ronin made his way through the vast Golden Feather Palace.

The deeper they went, the stricter the security became, and the more Knights they saw.

After walking for a long time, they arrived outside a magnificent palace.

After his arrival was announced and reported, Ronin entered the palace alone.

Inside the grand hall, a red carpet stretched inward for nearly a hundred meters. At the end of the carpet was the council chamber, where the throne sat upon a high dais.

Besides His Majesty the King, there were six Guard Knights outside the council chamber. Inside, standing to the right of the throne, was a familiar figure—Broer Geller.

This was the Vice Leader of the Griffin Knight Order. He was the one who had led the procession when Blanche arrived at Wushan Castle.

While he was observing them, Bruno, seated above, was also observing Ronin.

’He’s tall and handsome, with a hint of Lurans’s style from back in the day.’

Bruno silently praised him. Whether in terms of his height and proportions or his bearing, he was indeed a good match for the Princess.

“Ronin pays his respects to Your Majesty!”

As he drew near, Ronin knelt on one knee as was proper etiquette, offering his respects to the King—who was also his future father-in-law.

“Rise, Ronin.”

Bruno raised a hand. “I’ve heard about you leading the Noble Alliance Army to victory. Seeing you today, you truly possess remarkable composure and presence.”

Some scions of nobility would be nervous when meeting the King alone for the first time, but he saw not a trace of panic in Ronin.

“Your Majesty flatters me.”

Ronin replied courteously, retrieving a handwritten letter from his grandfather, Lurans, and presenting it. “This is a letter from my grandfather for you.”

“How is Lurans’s health?”

Bruno had someone take the letter and began reading it as he asked. The smile on his face grew wider, though it was unclear what the letter said.

“The same as always. He’s currently recuperating.”

Ronin and the King exchanged some pleasantries, mentioning neither Blanche nor the matter of the marriage alliance.

“I heard you encountered pirates at sea and single-handedly killed a Golden Knight?”

Broel interjected, his tone tinged with curiosity. “What is your current strength? Silver, or Gold?”

Ronin wasn’t surprised that news of this matter had reached the Royal Palace.

After all, the members of the White Whale Pirate Gang had been handed over to the relevant officials in Horn Bay for judgment.

Faced with this question, Ronin couldn’t portray himself as too weak, nor could he appear too strong.

He could only say that he had just become a Silver Knight. He explained that he managed to win partly because his opponent had an off day, and partly because he had mastered a particularly powerful Combat Skill.

“Hahaha, Broel, since you’re so curious, why don’t you test the power of Ronin’s Combat Skill?”

Bruno put the letter away and said, fanning the flames. In truth, he also wanted to witness what level Ronin was at.

“As you wish, Your Majesty!”

Broel moved to one side. “Come, attack me with your full strength!”

Ronin knew this was a test from His Majesty the King. This situation was like meeting the bride’s parents during a matchmaking session; he needed to show some of what he had.

“Then forgive my impertinence.”

Ronin drew the Flame Stream Sword from his waist. He channeled his Fighting Qi, illuminating the runes on the blade. In an instant, a massive Flame Sword Shadow appeared, causing the temperature in the entire hall to spike.

Bruno’s eyes lit up. His own talent for Cultivation wasn’t great; even now, he had only just entered the Silver Level. However, he had a discerning eye and could sense that Ronin’s Combat Skill was different.

At the same time, he also noticed the Longsword in Ronin’s hand. It was clearly an enchanted Extraordinary Weapon of very high quality.

’I never thought Lurans would have something like this in his collection.’

He had almost no doubt that both the Combat Skill and the Flame Stream Sword were from Lurans’s collection.

“Here I come!”

Ronin called out a warning. He knew that although Blast Flame Slash was powerful, Broel was a long-renowned Meteor Knight. Taking this attack would be no problem for him.

“Come on, Ronin!”

As the Flame Stream Sword slashed down, the massive Flame Sword Shadow lunged toward Broel. A wave of heat, accompanied by the WHOOSH of air, swept through the great hall.

Broel focused slightly, and his Wind Attribute Fighting Qi formed an impenetrable barrier in front of him.

Blast Flame Slash slammed into the Wind Barrier, creating a violent impact and fluctuations, but it was ultimately blocked with ease.

At the same time, to prevent the shockwave from damaging the hall, Broel enveloped the residual force with his Fighting Qi and directed it toward the hall’s entrance.

’A Meteor Knight’s control over Fighting Qi is really on another level,’ Ronin thought to himself.

Just then, Broel began to applaud.

“Ronin’s Combat Skill compresses Fighting Qi and has an explosive Trait upon contact, which further amplifies its power. Even for someone at my level, using the Sixth-level Combat Skill Wind Barrier to block it was a bit difficult. An ordinary Golden Knight truly wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

This was clearly a humble statement. He had blocked the attack with ease, showing no signs of strain.

Ronin smiled and said, “Although Blast Flame Slash is powerful, it also consumes a great deal of a Knight’s Fighting Qi. Using it two or three times in a single battle is the limit.”

“Blast Flame Slash…”

Bruno murmured the name. “Ronin, I have a particular hobby of collecting Combat Skills, Magic Books, and Secret Skills. I even have a copy of the Secret Skill your grandfather invented, the *Fire Dance Thunder Strike Slash*.”

“Fire Dance Thunder Strike Slash?” Ronin had never heard of it. ’And what is a Secret Skill?’

Broel explained, “That is a Secret Skill Lurans created after he advanced to the Meteor Level. It fuses the two Attributes of Fire and Thunder, and its power is far greater than that of an ordinary Combat Skill! I suspect that if your grandfather hadn’t fallen ill and had continued his Cultivation normally, even if he weren’t a Silver Moon Knight by now, a Silver Moon Knight would still have to be cautious when facing that move.”

Bruno added, “Secret Skills are generally things that only Meteor Knights have the ability to research. They all possess immense power or special Traits. For your Silver-Level Blast Flame Slash to have a Trait, however, is a rare sight.”

Ronin’s heart skipped a beat.

The King had just said he enjoyed collecting all sorts of Combat Skills, Magic Books, and Secret Skills, and now he was lavishing praise on Blast Flame Slash.

Although he hadn’t said it outright, how could Ronin not understand the meaning behind his words?

“If Your Majesty likes it, I can create a book of *Blast Flame Slash* and present it to you.”

A look of satisfaction flashed in Bruno’s eyes.

He truly did enjoy collecting all kinds of secret manuals. Furthermore, he himself possessed the Fire Attribute, making the Blast Flame Slash Combat Skill suitable for his own Cultivation.

But to ask for it outright upon their first meeting was inappropriate, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Fortunately, this boy Ronin was perceptive enough to read between the lines.

“Haha, I am very pleased with your sentiment!”

Bruno laughed. “How about this? We can’t have people saying I’m taking advantage of a Little Count. Tomorrow, I’ll have Blanche take you to my Library. You can choose any two books you like.”

As soon as he said this, even the Meteor Knight Broel, standing beside him, couldn’t help but feel envious.

He had followed His Majesty for so long, but he had only been given the chance to enter and choose one Seventh-level Combat Skill after becoming a Meteor Knight.

He never expected that Ronin, who was only at the Silver Level, would get the chance to choose two books—and two at that.

Ronin was overjoyed.

Lurans’s collection of Combat Skills and Magic Books was limited. Beyond the Seventh-level, there was only one Combat Skill suitable for Ronin’s Cultivation, *Fire Snake Frenzy*. As for Wind Attribute Combat Skills and Magic, there wasn’t a single one.

He had just been worrying about where to acquire such rare and precious things, and now His Majesty the King had presented him with two great gifts right off the bat.

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