Chapter 257: Sky Knight’s Training Notes

The two sons were good-for-nothings.

Viscount Roland, who had the appearance of a middle-aged man, was no genius either. As a follower of Marquis Merlin and having married the daughter of Marquis Merlin, he should have enjoyed no shortage of resources. However, after so many years, he was still only an Elite Earth Knight.

There was no hope for him to be promoted to a Count.

Just as non-Dragon Knights cannot be ennobled as Dukes, non-Sky Knights cannot be ennobled as Counts. However, there is a three-generation inheritance right, meaning that if the descendants of a Count do not become Sky Knights, they can still inherit the title of Count. But if they fail to cultivate a Sky Knight within three generations, it is regrettable, but the title must be demoted.

Originally, there was also a rule that non-Earth Knights could not be ennobled as Barons.

According to the rules, Liszt, upon reaching adulthood, would not be able to obtain the title of Baron because he had not advanced to Earth Knight. However, since Earth Knights had become commonplace, with sufficient nutrition, few people failed to advance to Earth Knight. This rule was not written into the ennoblement system of the Duchy of Sapphire, and the nobles did not care about this rule.

No one dared to say a word when the Count ennobled Liszt.

"Where is your father, Liszt?" Viscount Roland suddenly asked.

This question was very poorly phrased. Lee William had remarried, and Marquis Merlin was no longer his father-in-law. How could he come to celebrate?

Liszt just smiled and replied, "Father stayed on Coral Island; there are many matters in the fiefdom that need his attention, so he couldn't make it."

Viscount Roland was about to ask more.

Aunt Melinda directly interrupted, saying, "Your two cousins often speak of you. When you were young, you used to play together frequently. Now that you've all grown up, you see each other less often."

"Liszt, how tall you've grown! You're even taller than Levis, and you look very strong. You're already an Earth Knight? Not bad!" Cousin Russell said enviously, tapping Liszt's chest.

His build resembled Aunt Melinda's, a bit short and stocky, and his personality seemed to be the kind that was simple and straightforward. His accent was not standard, with some dialectal flavor.

Liszt liked dealing with people who had a simple and straightforward personality.

Before he could respond, Russell continued, "Come, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Gigi Broccoli. Her uncle is Count Schalke. And this is our daughter, Luoxi, who is just two years old."

Gigi Broccoli?

Uncle is Schalke Broccoli?

After smiling and greeting the gentle noblewoman, Liszt warmly picked up the little cotton ball-like Luoxi: "Hi, Luoxi, say... Uncle Liszt, happy New Year."

Luoxi clearly had no such intention, pouting and bursting into tears immediately.

Startled, Liszt quickly handed Luoxi back to the servant who had been holding her.

Lvera laughed, "You need to understand one thing: being handsome doesn't impress children."

...

All of Marquis Merlin's descendants had arrived.

During the luncheon, the elderly owner of Longtaro Castle drank a few extra cups quite cheerfully. Whether it was due to the high spirits from drinking or because he had planned it, starting with Meopo, he called his grandchildren into the study one by one.

Liszt, the youngest, naturally went in last.

"Grandfather."

"Sit."

The clear pronunciation and the hazy yet sharp eyes proved that Marquis Merlin was not drunk. The old butler brought in two cups of coffee and closed the study door.

"You've given me a great surprise, Liszt," Marquis Merlin said, startling Liszt. "The last time you came, you were just an ordinary Earth Knight, but now you are an Elite Earth Knight. Such rapid progress is rare."

Without denying it, Liszt curiously asked, "How did you figure it out, Grandfather?"

"When I was young, I defeated a Duke with just a knight's sword. Seeing through your aura level is nothing strange," Marquis Merlin said, his voice low but always full of authority, even boasting about defeating a Duke casually.

"I find it strange too. After moving to the countryside, I didn't eat any better than at Tulip Castle, but I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I almost broke through to Earth Knight as soon as I arrived in Flower Town. Recently, I felt I was touching the limits of my aura, so I started taking magic potions."

Of course, he couldn't reveal the smoke task, so Liszt had to make up a story.

It wasn't entirely a lie. From Earth Knight to Elite Earth Knight, he had indeed progressed naturally, and when he realized it, even he was surprised.

What should have taken three to five years was shortened to three to five months.

"Perhaps living at Tulip Castle made you feel oppressed. Those mages always talk about the theory of the interconversion of spirit and matter. A person's mental strength can indeed affect their body. Melissa passed away too early, and your father didn't take on the responsibility of caring for you, which really dampened your talent."

As he spoke, Marquis Merlin praised himself again, "Lee William has strong talent, and the bloodline of Longtaro Castle is even more noble. You and your siblings inherited the best qualities from both parents. You inherited the most, and you should naturally be the most talented! In you, I see the shadow of my younger self."

Liszt maintained a smile.

After boasting for a while, Marquis Merlin asked, "Can the wealth of Flower Town support your use of enough magic potions?"

"Currently, Flower Town grows three types of magic potions, though the yields are not high. But I haven't reached the point where I need to use a large amount of magic potions, so it's barely enough."

"You have a small fairy that produces magic potions. Cultivating it will greatly help you. You also have a mid-level magical beast, that Rampaging Earth Dog, which can be cultivated intensively. It will become a good companion for you."

"I agree."

"To advance to Elite Earth Knight in such a short time, being cautious is not wrong, but you don't need to be too modest. Strength determines everything. Don't forget that you have the support of the Tulip family and the Longtaro family behind you. You should let everyone see your bright future... The reason I married Melissa to your father was because he was once fearless."

Back then, as a Viscount and an Elite Earth Knight, Lee William could marry the daughter of a Marquis only if he had some courage.

Liszt was moved.

His performance was indeed somewhat "low-key," lacking the youthful enthusiasm or passion. But this thought flashed through his mind briefly. He was low-key not because of a lack of strength, but because of too many secrets. He preferred to develop step by step and disliked taking risks.

"Grandfather, I have a clear vision of my future, and I know what I need to do."

Marquis Merlin looked at Liszt with some surprise and nodded, "Very well, it's rare for a young person to have such a mindset. I am even more optimistic about your future."

He picked up a thin booklet from the table and threw it to Liszt, "I believe your future achievements will surpass your father's. This is some of my insights from years of aura cultivation. You can take it as a reference."

Rolling on the ground, begging for some votes~