Chapter 290: Ennoblement

While chatting, Luoning asked Lulansi if there were any higher-level magic books in the castle, but received a negative answer.

With no other choice, he could only go to the Magic Chamber of Commerce to try his luck, and after gritting his teeth and spending six hundred gold coins, he purchased the "Sighing Wall" magic book.

This is a defensive magic that, after casting, can summon a massive, semi-transparent wind wall to block area-of-effect attacks.

Over the next two days, he studied magic while taking Ailin around to let this child, who had lived in the deep mountains for over a decade, get a good look at the outside world.

While playing with Ailin on Wushan Lake, he successfully mastered this magic.

Looking at the massive, semi-transparent wind wall before him that was ten meters long and five meters high, he could feel its strength; he feared that even Ruidar's Explosive Flame Slash could be blocked by it.

"It's just a pity that Level 6 magic is hard to expand in range like the previous Level 5 magic; otherwise, relying on this wind wall could render the enemy's ordinary arrows completely useless."

Besides the high consumption, the construction of the spell patterns for Level 6 magic is also very complex, and magicians at the Magus Level do not yet have the ability to strengthen its range and effects.

……

September 7th, the day set for Wushan Castle to hold the victory banquet.

At the banquet that evening, the nobles of Wushan Territory, both great and small, gathered together to celebrate the great victory of this war.

"Hi Luoning, I heard about your deeds in Jushi Territory, I admire you immensely!"

Yousef Rivi walked over holding a wine glass, praising him while also showing a look of regret: "It's just a pity that my mission this time was to escort grain and fodder for the Southeast Territory, so I missed the opportunity to witness your brilliance!"

Although this sentence had a bit of polite formality, most of it was the truth.

He had originally intended to participate in the war in the Southwest Territory, but his father, Viscount Sanduoluo, worried that Luoning's command would be insufficient and bring risks to the soldiers, so he took him to the Southeast Territory to be a grain transport officer and rack up some merit.

As it turned out, Luoning's performance exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Yousef, I have also heard of your battle record."

Luoning wore a standard noble smile and clinked glasses with him.

"I heard that you successfully helped the team avoid several ambushes by relying on the Detection Wind magic; I didn't expect you to already be an Advanced Mage!"

"Compared to you, what are these small matters of mine?"

Yousef was humble in his words, but there was still a look of pride in his eyes.

Someone like him, who could reach the mid-stage of an Advanced Mage at twenty-eight, was already very worthy of recognition.

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Luoning turned to ask: "Yousef, when I was buying materials at the Magic Chamber of Commerce, I learned that Level 6 magic books are rarely sold. If you become a Magus in the future, where would you go to obtain Level 6 magic books?"

Yousef scratched his head; although he was a bit arrogant, he knew that becoming a Magus was not easy.

"Magi are rare, and the Magic Chamber of Commerce basically has no market for selling Level 6 magic books, so naturally, they won't stock them. However, Level 6 is still okay; there is still some circulation on the market. If it's a Level 7 magic book, it is either in the hands of great nobles like the Kingdom or Dukes, or in the hands of magic families. For example, the noble Magus Silva, he must have many magic books in his possession."

Silva is a top powerhouse on the continent and an object of admiration for all magicians; when mentioning him, Yousef's eyes were full of worship.

Luoning nodded slightly; in that case, there was a bit of luck involved in him being able to buy "Sighing Wall".

"If you want to obtain Level 6 or even higher-level magic books, you either work for them or purchase them from the owners through personal connections. Of course, if you have money, you can also buy Spell Scrolls and deduce the spell patterns from the patterns on the scrolls."

Yousef spoke eloquently, "But this is very difficult; it requires the magician to have sufficient accumulation and a daring heart."

Luoning's eyes lit up; the method of deducing spell patterns from Spell Scrolls was something he had overlooked.

He had just thought about whether to try it, but then immediately thought of the high cost of Level 6 Spell Scrolls, and his enthusiasm vanished at once.

"What are you two chatting about here?"

Yousef's father, the Viscount of Lingchuan City and Regiment Commander of the Fourth Knight Order of Wushan Castle, walked over and drank some wine with Luoning with a smile.

"Luoning, congratulations on becoming the third Count of Wushan Territory soon!"

Hmm?

Luoning was a bit surprised; Lulansi had not explicitly stated this, so how did the other party know?

Sanduoluo seemed to see Luoning's confusion, laughed, and explained: "Don't look at me, I also heard it from the big-mouthed Mawen."

"So that's how it is."

Luoning couldn't help but smile; it seemed Lulansi had told Mawen in advance, presumably to use the latter to leak this matter and see everyone's attitude.

Clearly, no one objected, not even the Haide Family.

Yousef, standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh; an eighteen-year-old Count, it was hard to imagine.

Although there was certainly the advantage brought by Luoning's status in the Wushan Family, it could not be denied that he had indeed saved Wushan Castle and the many families of Wushan Territory from a disaster this time.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

In the lively banquet hall, the loud voice of the banquet host rang out. Everyone looked over and saw Marquis Lulansi walking into the hall leaning on a cane.

Everyone erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause, welcoming the arrival of the Marquis.

They knew that the exciting moment of this banquet was about to arrive.

Lulansi stood on the high platform with a smile; today he had dressed up deliberately, looking much more solemn and spirited.

He raised his hand, and everyone quieted down.

"I am very sorry to disturb everyone's pleasant banquet, but I think we have more important things to do."

"This time, the Bolante Bandit Group has been completely annihilated, and the Black Gold Brotherhood has also been driven to Black Pine Mountain; Wushan Territory has achieved a great victory!"

His words were concise and clear, without long-winded foreshadowing or sentimentality.

"In these two battles, every heroic knight has made outstanding contributions! While I applaud them here, I will also promote several of the most heroic nobles and knights!"

At this moment, the guests below all let out loud cheers.

For ordinary people, from commoner to knight, and from knight to noble, this is the step they cross.

Lulansi looked around and shouted: "Tolu, Feilipu, Suoerstan, Meilongnika!"

The four knights walked forward with long strides and knelt on one knee.

Luoning knew the first three, but this was the first time he had seen Meilongnika today.

This burly man's expression was relatively calm, not as excited as the first three.

Lulansi drew the long sword from Jialier's hand and placed it on Tolu's shoulder: "Baron of Wolf Tooth Territory."

Wolf Tooth Territory, a small town west of Wushan Castle, named for its landscape which somewhat resembles a wolf's tooth.

Tolu was originally the manager of the small town, and now he has become its owner.

Subsequently, Lulansi raised his longsword and placed it in turn upon the shoulders of Feilipu, Suo'ersitain, and Meilongnika.

The territories of these three people were, respectively: Kaxier Town, Sari Town, and Wushan Town.

Finally, Lulansi withdrew his longsword and said solemnly: "On this sacred day, I, as the Lord of Wushan Territory, representing the honor of the King and the nobility, bestow upon you the title and status of Baron. May you use your courage and loyalty to safeguard the stability of Wushan Territory!"

"I, Tolu, hereby solemnly swear that I shall live up to this honor, and with my longsword and strength, I will defend the peace of Wushan Territory and fight for the glory of Wushan Castle!"

The other three also spoke similar words, and suddenly the atmosphere in the great hall became frenzied; everyone cheered for them.

Some Knights were even so moved that they shed tears; perhaps in these few people, they saw a goal to strive for.

Luoning was enveloped by this atmosphere of cheering; being ennobled was perhaps the same joy as being selected as the second or third place scholar in the palace examination.

It was just that today's scene was somewhat more formal; when he became a Baron and a Viscount, Lulansi had not placed a longsword upon his shoulders.

After finishing his lines, Lulansi had the Knights hand the treasure boxes containing the Baronial medals and the letters of enfeoffment to the four newly ennobled Barons.

He then picked up another box from the side, "Mawen, in view of your support, courage, and strength, I entrust Liusha Town to your management, hoping that you will bring new life to this land that has suffered so much."

"I am grateful for your affirmation; I will strive for the prosperity of Liusha Town!"

Mawen Tieti was already a Viscount; although he had merit in the war against the Bolante Bandit Group, it was not enough to promote him from Viscount to Count.

At this moment, a Knight holding a golden medal walked into the hall and stood at Lulansi's side;

Another Knight walked in holding a treasure box containing a letter of enfeoffment and stood on the other side.

The atmosphere in the hall reached its true climax.

Lulansi's gaze crossed the crowd and landed on Luoning, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Ronin Wushan, my follower, the Viscount of Wubei Territory, my grandson!"

Hearing this call, Luoning felt inexplicably excited.

He took a deep breath, walked forward with his head held high, and following the example of the few before him, knelt on one knee before Lulansi.

The heavy longsword was placed upon his shoulders.

"Your calmness saved Wushan Territory from a disaster, your wisdom spared hundreds of warriors from slaughter, and your bravery made the enemies of Wushan Castle pay a heavy price!"

Lulansi's solemn voice carried hope, causing the breathing of those in the hall to hitch, especially those of Luoning's age or younger, whose eyes were full of longing and envy.

Buleidun's eyes were full of admiration; the Wushan Family had grown strong.

Ailin, who had been brought to the banquet by Luoning, was also deeply impacted by this scene; she felt that such a scene was too solemn, and her admiration for Luoning was deeper than at any time in the past.

Lulansi's voice continued.

"Today, in the name of the master of Wushan Territory and the Thunder Marquis of the Kingdom, I bestow upon you the title of Earl of Wubei Territory, and add Jushi Territory and Chishan Town to your fief. May you use your wisdom and strength to bring prosperity and peace to this land, and defend the glory of the family!"

Luoning said in a deep voice: "I, Ronin Wushan, hereby solemnly swear that I shall, as the Earl of Wubei Territory, use my wisdom and strength to guard the peace of the territory and defend the glory of the family!" (End of chapter)