Chapter 198 For the Bronze Lamp

"It's natural to feel a bit restrained the first time you enter this grand hall," Queen Aona smiled and said, "Besides, people from the south have always been more reserved. Your Majesty’s words seem a bit prejudiced."

Xuecangbai was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "You always stick up for those two girls. Fine, I can't argue with you. We'll see what Abuda thinks when he arrives."

As they were speaking, a voice from outside the hall announced, "Court Lecturer Abuda Jiebie and Duke of Frostwinter Donghuang Yigu, along with their ministers, request an audience."

The young people in the hall immediately fell silent, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked toward the entrance. Even Xuecangbai, seated above, straightened his posture. "Please enter!"

"By the Emperor's command, Court Lecturer Abuda Jiebie and Duke of Frostwinter Donghuang Yigu... enter the grand hall for an audience!"

With that summons, the doors of the hall swung open, and seven figures strode in confidently.

Leading them was none other than Xuecai’s master, Court Lecturer Abuda Jiebie.

Abuda is his name, while Jiebie is a title bestowed by the king, which in Ice Spirit means 'master archer.'

He is the leader of the Five Tigers of Ice Spirit, standing around two meters tall, broad-shouldered and robust, with a square face and sharp, eagle-like eyes that left a lasting impression, as if he could effortlessly spot a single hair from a hundred meters away.

On his back, he carried a wide white bow, his renowned soul weapon, the Frostbow. His quiver at his waist was filled with bone-tipped barbed arrows. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood like an immovable iron tower.

As the court lecturer and hailed as the First Hero of Ice Spirit Kingdom, Abuda Jiebie was the absolute idol of the young men beside him. Even Aota, who was usually proud, looked at Abuda Jiebie with eyes full of admiration and envy; he had been his idol since childhood.

"Master, Master!" Xuecai couldn't contain her excitement and waved at him repeatedly.

Abuda Jiebie, however, ignored her, walking straight up and kneeling down. The seven of them spoke in unison: "We pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

"Ha ha ha!" Snow Cypress swept away his usual stern demeanor when dealing with his ministers, standing up from his throne and laughing heartily. "Though you gentlemen are far away, your hearts are always with Ice Spirit. Upon receiving my secret message, you immediately made the long journey back. This is a great fortune for Ice Spirit and a blessing for me, Snow Cypress. Please rise, no need for such formalities! Servants, provide seats for these gentlemen!"

Being granted seats before the throne was an extremely high honor in any principality, a privilege reserved for heroes.

Whether in Ice Spirit or any other principality of the League of Blades, being a hero was not only a title but also a responsibility, representing a life entirely different from before.

Once one became a hero, they would generally leave their original city, either to answer the call of the Holy Sanctuary for missions or to travel spontaneously. After all, while there was only one insect god like Wang Feng who could grow through cultivation alone, all other soul seeds required training to improve. Heroes, in pursuit of greater strength, rarely stayed in one place.

Ice Spirit Kingdom had two or three dozen heroes, but the most famous were the seven before him.

The Five Tigers of Ice Spirit led by Abuda Jiebie, and the Twin Heroes of Winter led by Dong Huang Yigu.

To become a hero known throughout the League of Blades, though still subjects of Ice Spirit, they held positions in both the Holy Sanctuary and the League of Blades. Therefore, even when they returned to Ice Spirit, they received more respect from the king than ordinary subjects.

Usually, everyone is wandering far and wide, so when we received the king’s secret summons, the seven of us rushed back urgently.

After the formal greetings, Xue Cangbai chatted casually, asking about everyone’s experiences and engaging in warm conversations with each one, creating a relaxed atmosphere in the grand hall.

While Xue Cangbai was chatting, Xuecai excitedly whispered to Old Wang, introducing the identities of those heroes. There’s no need to mention Abuda Zhebie; among the two great heroes of the Winter Clan, Donghuang Yigu is Dongbuluo’s uncle, a very powerful soul beast master, towering even among the Winter Clan, matching Badeluo in height.

The other hero is called Mumuxi, wrapped in layers upon layers of white bandages, even on his head, making him look like a mummy, with only his dark eyes visible. He is said to be a battle shaman, a unique profession in Ice Spirit, excelling in both martial arts and ice witchcraft.

In comparison, the Ice Spirit Five Tigers have a numerical advantage. The Ice Spirit Clan is not just the core royal family, the Snow family, but is composed of over a dozen major clans. The Ice Spirit Five Tigers all come from these prestigious families. For instance, Abuda Zhebie is from the Wei family, the same clan as Wei Yan, who once caused trouble for Wang Feng at the Rune Academy. No wonder that boy could thrive in the Ice Spirit Holy Sanctuary; with such an influential uncle, even the royal children would give him some leeway.

Xue Cangbai, having spoken kindly to all the heroes, then said, “Recently, Ice Spirit experienced the strange phenomenon of a white day during the night. The elders seem to believe that something significant is about to happen, so they urgently summoned everyone back. However, they did not specify what exactly will happen, and I am not entirely clear myself. The elders are currently in seclusion, so you might have to stay in Ice Spirit for a while until they emerge, at which point everything will be explained.”

Everyone respectfully acknowledged the order.

Xue Cangbai then smiled and said, “It just so happens that the Ice Festival is coming up soon. I remember only Donghuang attended last year, right?”

Donghuang Yigu laughed, “Last year’s weather was warmer, and the glaciers thawed earlier, so many people from neighboring countries came to observe the ceremony. It was quite grand. I remember little Xuecai performed the Ice Dance, which left the third prince of Dragon Moon Kingdom in awe, deeply admiring her. Speaking of which, I heard that the third prince recently met with an accident while training in the Demon Beast Mountains and has gone missing. It happened not long ago, a pity for such a talented young man with a divine soul.”

Old Wang’s ears perked up. The third prince of Dragon Moon Kingdom? Goodness, could it be Xiao Bang, whom I took in as a disciple when I was showing off last time? What a disappointment, actually fancying a little girl...

Prince Xiao Bang of the Longyue Principality was once a renowned genius, reputed to have even greater talent than Aota. Clearly, everyone present had a strong impression of the third prince, and they now listened with a sense of nostalgia.

"Royal offspring may seem to be blessed with privileges and enjoy luxury, but in reality, the responsibilities and pressures they bear far exceed those of ordinary people," Xue Cangbo smiled, finally steering the conversation back to the main topic. "Zhiyu is a daughter, but the burden she carries is no less than that of the third prince. Now that she is about to come of age, the weight of the royal duties will fall on her shoulders. She needs your support and guidance, uncles and aunts."

Everyone laughed, and Abuda Jiebie said with a smile, "We have watched Zhiyu grow up. In matters of state, we will naturally provide our full assistance. However, Your Majesty, as the saying goes, one must first establish a family before pursuing a career. Without a stable home, the heart remains unsettled. Though Zhiyu is wise, having a capable consort by her side would certainly make the transition into state affairs smoother and more efficient."

"Abuda is right. The ruler of a nation should first establish a family before pursuing a career," Donghuang Yigu added with a laugh. "Your Majesty, Aota and Zhiyu have been childhood sweethearts..."

Aota was both surprised and delighted, thinking things were about to turn in his favor, but Xue Cangbo abruptly interrupted Donghuang Yigu.

"Donghuang, matters of the heart are the most unpredictable," he said with a smile. "I was just about to introduce someone to you all."

"Wang Feng!" Xue Cangbo beckoned to Wang Feng, who had been standing quietly at the edge of the room, finally bringing him into the spotlight.

Apart from a few young people, all the heroes present looked slightly taken aback. Everyone knew that Aota had a crush on Xue Zhiyu, and the whole country had long assumed they were a couple. But hearing the tone of Lord Xue Cangbo, could it be that someone else had stepped in? Wang Feng? No one had ever heard of him.

All eyes immediately turned to Wang Feng's position. Xuecai gave Old Wang, who was starting to yawn, a push on the back and whispered fiercely, "He's calling you!"

Despite still putting on an act, Old Wang was quite professional and quickly snapped to attention, walking forward. Xue Cangbo then introduced him with a smile: "Wang Feng is an exchange student from the Rose Holy Sanctuary in Aurora City. He and Zhiyu are both disciples of the Holy Sanctuary. Although they have only known each other for a short time, they have grown very close. I plan to arrange their engagement during next month's Ice and Snow Festival."

Xue Cangbo deliberately didn't mention the matter of the clan elders' arranged marriage.

Abuda Jiebie and the others were instantly stunned. They had all rushed to the palace immediately upon arriving in Ice Spirit City, so they hadn't heard about this news that had already spread throughout Ice Spirit.

At this moment, Wang Feng seemed far less suitable as a match for the princess compared to Aota.

And what kind of engagement was this?

The emperor's tone was slightly teasing, which was problematic!

After all, Dong Huang Yigu was a member of the Winter Chill Clan. The Winter Chill Clan and the Ice Spirit Clan had been intermarrying for two hundred years, a tradition that also served as a psychological guarantee of their status. How could it be changed with just a word, especially by choosing someone like him?

He smiled faintly and said tactfully, "Zhiyu has always had high standards. If Wang Feng can catch her eye, he must be very outstanding. As a disciple of the Holy Sanctuary, I wonder if he has participated in the Hero Tournament and what his ranking is?"

Now, he was essentially engaged to both Oscar and Xue Zhiyu. Old Wang was about to put on a performance, his reputation being exceptionally prominent. However, he heard Xue Cangbo smilingly say, "Wang Feng is a Runecrafter. It's said that he has already mastered the Third Order Rune, and even our Ice Spirit Holy Sanctuary's Runecrafting teachers admire him greatly."

There was another moment of silence. Abuda Jiebie, who had become a court lecturer not only because of his divine archery but also his expertise in Runecrafting, had crafted several well-known soul weapons in Ice Spirit Kingdom.

But precisely because he understood, he was even more shocked and blurted out, "How is this possible? How old is he?"

Xue Cangbai rarely saw Abuda Jiebie so shocked and asked with interest, "Eighteen years old, Abuda? You've traveled the continent for many years. Have you never seen such a talented individual?"

"Your Majesty, I have never heard of it!" Abuda Jiebie composed himself and said seriously, "The Third Order Rune is the mainstream of human runes today. In our League of Blades, there are geniuses who master the Third Order by around thirty, like Karida in Aurora City. As for those who can master it in their twenties, I've only heard unverified rumors about the Nine Gods. But eighteen years old... Your Majesty, I truly have never heard of it. This could very well be a record for the history books."

His words were filled with unreserved praise, causing Dong Huang Yigu to frown slightly. Abuda Jiebie was not only a childhood friend of the king but also his right-hand man. His words carried significant weight with Xue Cangbai, even surpassing that of the clan elders.

Xuecai beamed with pride, while Aota hung his head in dejection. Abuda Jiebie was his most revered idol, even more so than his own father. He never imagined that even he would...

"Young as he is, Wang Feng has indeed achieved something remarkable, but..." Abuda Jiebie paused briefly and smiled, "But based on this alone, I feel that the marriage to the princess is too hasty."

Aota's head snapped up, his eyes gleaming with surprise and joy.

"Oh?" Xue Cangbai smiled and stroked his beard lightly, "You are the teacher of these young ones. When it comes to judging people, no one around me can match you. Speak your mind."

"Your Majesty, we cannot deny Wang Feng's excellence," Jiebie said calmly and confidently, "But to become a prince consort, one must share the burden of state affairs with the princess. After all, a prince has his responsibilities. To be worthy of this country, Wang Feng may have exceptional talent in runes, but studying runes and managing state affairs are two entirely different things. Can he truly fulfill the role of prince consort?"

"For our Ice Spirit Kingdom, a prince who cannot assist the queen in her duties is failing in his responsibilities. For Wang Feng himself, being distracted by state affairs might prevent him from fully dedicating himself to rune studies, potentially wasting his talent and leading to mediocrity. This would be a loss for the entire rune community of the League of Blades. Therefore, both for the public good and personal benefit, it is not a wise decision. Please, Your Majesty, think carefully!"

"Master, Master!" Xuecai pouted, "You don't know him. Wang Feng is actually very smart. He has plenty of clever ideas and will definitely be able to help my sister."

"Ridiculous," Xuecangbai rebuked. "How can state affairs be handled with the whims of children?"

"Exactly!" Aota's face was full of joy. "Auntie... Xuecai, don't speak. Listen to Master first!"

What a turn of events! He knew His Majesty would never abandon him. Long live the wise and glorious king!

Wangfei Aona smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Wang Feng has mastered the Third Order Rune at such a young age, which proves he is exceptionally intelligent and far beyond the ordinary. Even if he doesn't understand state affairs now, if he is willing to learn, he will surely make rapid progress and quickly get up to speed."

"Each field is like a separate mountain; learning state affairs is no easy task," Abudazhebie said with a slight smile, speaking confidently. "Moreover, the current disputes between the Nine Gods and the Blade are ongoing. The ideal match for the princess should be someone who can assist her in the broader picture. If Wang Feng is only skilled in runes, he will at best become another Dean Hawkland, perhaps renowned in a small personal domain but unable to truly support the princess. This would be of little benefit to our Ice Spirit as a whole. Please, Your Majesty, give this careful thought."

"But Dean Hawkland didn't master the Third Order Rune at eighteen either," Xuecai interjected, growing anxious. Why was her master always siding with them against her and her sister? What was so great about that wild monkey? "Wang Feng might become even more powerful than Dean Hawkland in the future, leading our Blade rune community. Wouldn't that make him influential enough? Even the Holy Sanctuary and the Alliance Parliament couldn't ignore such a person."

Abudazhebie smiled and glanced at Xuecai before turning to Xuecangbai. "Your Majesty, for those with rune talents, it is relatively easy to enter the field. Many true geniuses can quickly master the First to Third Order Runes if they focus on speed. However, they often take their time to build a solid foundation because the real challenge lies in the depths of runes, which are endless and terrifying, even for the most elite rune masters on the continent. Although Wang Feng claims to have mastered the Third Order Rune, 'mastery' and 'thorough understanding' are two different things. Dean Hawkland is a historically gifted individual, and his achievements today are due to countless leaders guiding him. Using him as a benchmark for Wang Feng is already showing considerable respect. To surpass Dean Hawkland, well, that's no easy feat."

To be honest, mastering the Third Order Rune at eighteen is indeed impressive, but it's just faster than other geniuses. Moreover, this 'speed' hasn't been verified, and it may not be a solid foundation. If he only understands or can use a few simple Third Order Runes, then it's even less significant.

In Zhebie's view, Wang Feng probably just understands the Third Order Rune. This level of understanding isn't unique; if one focuses solely on speed...

Aota listened with great excitement, almost wanting to jump up and hug his master to express his admiration and affection. Donghuangyigu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Zhebie is a rune master, and his views on runes are very fair."

The other heroes chimed in one after another: "This child is indeed quite outstanding, but the princess's marriage concerns the fate of the nation. Young love and fleeting impulses are understandable, but they cannot be allowed to dictate everything. Your Majesty, please think carefully."

"Indeed, in comparison, Aota is both scholarly and martial, and he bears the mission of uniting two tribes. He is truly the right match for the princess."

"Exactly so!"

Everyone spoke their minds, and their opinions were surprisingly unanimous.

Jina and Tassia exchanged worried glances as they looked at Xue Zhiyu, but they saw that her expression remained calm. To be honest, ever since she decided to leave, Jina felt that the princess had become even more composed, making her hard to read, as if she was silently bearing all her burdens on her own.

Xuecai, standing nearby, was getting anxious and couldn't help but give Old Wang a hard pinch.

"Cough..."

It wasn't because of the pinch; Old Wang found it rather amusing. Despite the discussion being about him, he was being completely ignored. Being a wallflower was his most comfortable state, but the problem was... for the bronze lamp...

Damn it, for the sake of pride, he couldn't let these people have their way.

"Actually, I think what Senior Zhebie said is entirely correct. The key to runes lies not in speed, but in a solid foundation. If we're talking about contributing to the Ice Spirit Kingdom, reaching the Third Order isn't enough, and even the Fifth Order wouldn't make much difference. After all, there are people in the Holy Sanctuary who can achieve that, and it's not practical."

The decline of runes lies precisely in their slow conversion to value, and the Holy Sanctuary can fully provide them. Given Ice Spirit’s wealth and status, this is not an issue.

Abuda Zhebie nodded slightly, “It’s rare that you understand this principle.”

“But Senior, Zhiyu and I are truly in love. Love is not a transaction; how can it be measured like this?”