Chapter 489 Phoenix Feathers

Three boxes, three gifts. Liszt, buzzing with excitement, opened the first box.

This box was a gift to celebrate from Meopo and Angela. The box appeared large, but upon opening, it was filled with sawdust, and in the center of the sawdust was a smaller box. Opening this small box revealed the gift inside.

"It's a sapphire pendant," said Levis, who was standing nearby. His knowledge was extensive, and he immediately recognized the gift. "It must be sapphire magical equipment that boosts strength via a magical array!"

The sapphires produced by sapphire dragons possess the mystical power of strength enhancement, greatly boosting the user's strength. Additionally, gemstones universally enhance the effects of magic spells, with different gemstones activating different effects based on the magical array.

As a gift for Liszt, it was designed to boost strength, not magic.

"Being the duke's son-in-law really has its perks. Having a sapphire dragon at home, the gifts are all sapphire magical equipment." Liszt was very satisfied with this gift. The value of gemstone equipment is very high, at least worth one or two thousand gold coins.

Just like the Red Blood Sword his grandfather, Marquis Merlin, had given him.

As he spoke.

He quickly slung the sapphire pendant around his neck, channeling his mana into it, quickly establishing an aura connection. He felt a surge of immense strength from the sapphire pendant, as if he could kill a magical beast with a single punch.

He wasn't about to take it off.

He then opened the second box, a gift to celebrate from Mexiro and his wife. Inside, he found a meticulously crafted cloak.

With its red exterior, black lining, and golden trim, it exuded luxury.

This was no ordinary cloak but magical equipment. According to the accompanying letter, it was made from the fur of low-level magical creatures known as fur beasts. Just this one cloak used the fur of ten fur beasts, and not even an Earth Knight could tear it.

It was valuable, though not exorbitantly so, worth about four to five hundred gold coins.

Liszt was pleased, considering it was just a congratulatory gift from relatives, and a gift worth four to five hundred gold coins was already quite generous.

Finally, there was the gift from his grandfather, Marquis Merlin. Like the gift from Meopo and Angela, it was also a box within a box. Upon opening the small box, inside lay a single, solitary feather.

He hadn't yet identified the feather.

Levis exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, Liszt, grandfather really outdid himself! This is a phoenix feather! The feather of the legendary creature, the phoenix!"

"A phoenix feather?" Liszt was also startled.

He had heard of the phoenix, a legendary creature born from flames, with dragon blood, known as a sub-dragon.

Yet, the phoenix remains merely a legend, with no concrete evidence to prove its existence in this world. Some knight novels depict the phoenix, but more often they depict phoenix feathers.

No one has ever laid eyes on a phoenix, not even in knight novels has it made a direct appearance. But its feathers are frequently mentioned in knight novels, often described as the essence of fire.

For a fire-attribute knight, a phoenix feather is a game-changer, greatly aiding in cultivation.

It can significantly increase the cultivation speed of fire-attribute mana!

For knights of other attributes, the phoenix feather is quite useless, but for a fire-attribute knight, it's a priceless treasure.

No one has ever described the price of a phoenix feather, but it must be calculated in dragon coins.

Just this one phoenix feather could probably sell for several dragon coins, which is tens of thousands of gold coins, more valuable than a spirit bug soldier.

Almost comparable to a dragon bone soldier forged from dragon bones.

"Is it really a phoenix feather?" Liszt held the feather in his hand, feeling the surging fire-attribute magic power, and couldn't help but swallow hard. "Grandfather's gift is too precious, I shouldn't accept such a valuable gift... but I can't bear to send it back!"

"Of course, you should keep it, it's a phoenix feather! You're a fire-attribute knight, you can't miss this! And it's from grandfather, why wouldn't you accept it!" Levis exclaimed, nearly beside himself, as the gift was indeed too valuable.

"It's a gift from my grandfather, so I have to accept it!" Liszt said solemnly.

At the same time, his mind was exceptionally clear. His grandfather's generous gift wasn't just a congratulation but also a way of entrusting him with a responsibility, hoping he could support the Longtaro family more. During the New Year's celebration at Longtaro Castle, Marquis Merlin had expressed such a sentiment, since the Longtaro family had too few members.

Whether or not there was such a gift.

Being part of the Longtaro family, he would definitely help the Longtaro family whenever possible.

Now, with Marquis Merlin's valuable gift and the kindness he'd always shown, Liszt couldn't escape this responsibility, both emotionally and logically.

"Wow!"

He turned his gaze to the Phoenix Feather in his hand, still feeling a bit amazed. The Phoenix Feather, the feather of the sub-dragon Phoenix, had truly appeared before him.

Before this.

Sub-dragons were still just legends, with no one able to prove their existence.

Now, it seemed there was no need for further proof. The Phoenix Feather's powerful fire magic proved it was nearly as strong as dragon bones.

But.

When Liszt carefully examined the Phoenix Feather, he suddenly realized the feather didn't seem real. Instead, it looked like a fire-red gem shaped like a feather. It felt hard, almost like wire, and didn't bend easily.

"Is this even a feather?" he couldn't help but ask aloud, "Levis, do you think this is really a Phoenix feather?"

"Let me take a look."

Levis carefully took the Phoenix Feather and observed it intently: "I'm not sure, it doesn't look like a real feather... but none of us have ever seen a Phoenix, nor do we know what a sub-dragon looks like. Perhaps this is what the Phoenix Feather should look like. As long as it works for you, it's the real thing!"

That made sense.

Whether it fell from a Phoenix or was a gemstone formed by nature, as long as its effect remained the same as in the legends, then it was the real Phoenix Feather. The surging fire-attribute magic power was enough to prove it was the real Phoenix Feather.

He tucked it into his shirt.

It felt like carrying a warm stove in his chest.

...

A moment later.

In the living room on the second floor, the whole Tulip family gathered around, examining the Phoenix Feather on the table. The Earl even used a magnifying glass, bending his head to carefully observe the texture of the Phoenix Feather. The magnifying glass was a small invention Liszt had created alongside the telescope.

"I can't determine whether it is truly a biological remnant. At least compared to dragon bones, it shows more signs of being magicized, likely a product of magic condensation, like the gems produced by dragons."

The Earl looked up and shared his analysis.

Seeing this, Liszt nodded: "So, do sub-dragons even exist?"