Chapter 344

Before attending the court, Li Fei had carefully calculated the merits he had achieved:

Holding Chong City and saving tens of thousands of common people from slaughter; this merit was beyond doubt.

Afterward, he received the dragon Qi of the Son of Heaven and fought against over a hundred Imperial Guard cavalrymen, thwarting the plan of True Person Qingxu.

At that time, True Person Qingxu's grand formation had only Jin Shan Prefecture left to be fully incorporated, and in Jin Shan Prefecture, only Badong City and Chong City remained as key nodes that had not been breached.

If only one more were breached, True Person Qingxu's grand formation would be further completed, the dragon Qi of the Son of Heaven obtained by Xiang Yunshu would be further weakened, and Xiang Yunshu would not be able to hold on.

Not only would this State Preceptor's life be in danger, but Jin Shan Prefecture would also be completely lost, and True Person Qingxu would successfully establish a Dao Nation!

If viewed from this perspective, the merit Li Fei achieved was indeed immortal!

But in reality, Xiang Yunshu did not bet everything on Li Fei at that time; the imperial court's true backup was the Buddhist sect.

At that time, not long after Li Fei defeated those hundred-plus Imperial Guard cavalrymen, the life-bound magic treasure of that Buddha from Pudu Temple arrived in Mingsheng and directly smashed True Person Qingxu's magic formation!

If viewed from this perspective, even if Li Fei had not successfully mastered the dragon Qi of the Son of Heaven and had not held Chong City.

The enemy's blood sacrifice also required time.

Before Chong City was completely blood-sacrificed, the Buddhist sect's support would have arrived.

So there was an important variable in between:

How long could Xiang Yunshu hold on?

There was a high possibility that even if Li Fei had failed, Xiang Yunshu could have held on until the Buddhist sect arrived.

But there was also a certain possibility that when Chong City began to be blood-sacrificed, the two True Persons would have begun to be affected, and in the end, Xiang Yunshu would not have been able to hold on until the Buddhist sect came to support.

This variable directly determined the magnitude of Li Fei's merit!

And even Xiang Yunshu himself could not actually say for sure how long he could hold on.

This depended not only on his personal performance but also on True Person Qingxu's performance.

It depended on the intensity of Ta Yu's resistance and the stability of the dragon Qi of the Son of Heaven provided by Lanling City.

Under these circumstances, to say that Li Fei played a decisive role in this incident, turning the tide, and that it could not have been done without him.

Still lacked persuasiveness.

But to say that even without him, the final result of victory would not have changed.

That was not necessarily true either.

So the magnitude of Li Fei's final merit and what kind of reward he could receive depended on how State Preceptor Xiang Yunshu reported to the Emperor.

It depended even more on how the Emperor wanted to reward Li Fei.

And now, the result was out:

The Emperor recognized Li Fei's immortal merit!

Directly conferring the title of Marquis, even if it was a lifetime Marquis that could not be inherited, was already a heavy reward that exceeded everyone's imagination!

A Marquis under twenty years old; let alone the history of the Great Lan Dynasty, looking at the thousands of years of human history, there had been no such precedent in any dynasty.

So Li Fei had once again set a record as the first in history!

The ministers in the hall only then reacted one after another from their shock.

Regarding the merit Li Fei achieved, the vast majority was already known during the previous publicity.

What was truly astonishing were two points:

First, Li Fei fought against over a hundred Imperial Guard cavalrymen?!

How could a Dao Foundation martial artist fight against an Imperial Guard army of over a hundred people?

This battle record completely subverted the worldview of many powerhouses in the hall!

But many people also noticed the four words "acting under the mandate of heaven" mentioned in the imperial edict.

These people had a certain understanding of luck, and that night they had personally "seen" that purple-gold giant dragon fly toward the southwest.

So these four words "acting under the mandate of heaven" made them associate many things, and their eyes looking at Li Fei became even more astonished:

This person really is a child of miracles...

The second point that was astonishing was "blocking True Person Qingyu and damaging his flying sword."

The reason why "Under Heaven" directly listed Li Fei in the overall Fengyun ranking and ranked him in the high position of third was mainly because of the battle record of "forcing back True Person Qingyu."

At that time, no specific battle situation was released; even "Under Heaven" could only confirm that Li Fei and True Person Qingyu had fought, but could not confirm more details.

Even so, being able to survive under the sword of a Daluo Sect True Person with astonishing killing power was already a very remarkable battle record, enough to rank third in the overall Fengyun ranking.

But just now, the imperial edict said "caused the flying sword to be damaged."

Surviving under the sword and damaging the opponent's life-bound flying sword were two completely different levels of difficulty!

Li Fei could damage True Person Qingyu's flying sword; what kind of terrifying combat power must that be?

Could Zhu Fenghua, ranked first in the overall Fengyun ranking, do it?

For a time, the eyes of everyone looking at Li Fei were very complicated.

Too dazzling, too unbelievable!

Lu Wenxing in the back was trembling almost all over with excitement!

He knew he had bet correctly.

Having floated in the officialdom for many years, Lu Wenxing understood a principle better than many people:

For the vast majority of people who are not so talented, choice is more important than effort!

Lu Wenxing was currently a combatant of the 5th tier of the Dao Foundation stage, having incorporated four types of implants.

The time he spent on "returning to one" was very long; the first implant he incorporated had already entered the "aging period," and he could not wait for him to incorporate the fifth implant.

This was also the problem most commonly encountered by the vast majority of Dao Foundation martial artists.

Lu Wenxing knew that his talent for martial arts ended here, so he put all his thoughts into his official career.

Choosing Li Fei was the most important decision he had made in his official career.

Now it was proven that this was also the most correct decision!

A Marquis under twenty years old; this was truly a beautiful dream that no posture could create.

Below the imperial dais, Ye Zean continued to read the imperial edict:

"Awarded one million in gold.

Bestowed a mansion.

May enter the Imperial Library Pavilion to choose one secret manual.

Permitted to carry a sword to court!"

Thus, the rewards for Li Fei were concluded.

Hearing these rewards, each more enviable than the last, many people's eyes went straight.

One million in gold was fine; the "Green-Faced Ghost King's" business in Datong Prefecture and Xing City currently had an annual net income of over one million.

Li Fei was no longer short of money, at least not short of "small money."

The bestowed mansion must be in the inner city, and the location would not be bad, and the area would not be small.

The value of such a mansion itself would not be less than one million, and what was more valuable was that it was an imperial-bestowed mansion, which could not be bought with money!

As for entering the Imperial Library Pavilion to choose secret manuals, Lu Wenxing and others had previously received such rewards, but the levels they could enter were different.

The Imperial Library Pavilion had a total of twelve floors; most people could only choose secret manuals below the seventh floor, while Li Fei could choose any!

The last point, "permitted to carry a sword to court," truly allowed the ministers to see the Emperor's favoritism toward Li Fei!

A nineteen-year-old Marquis; it was impossible to be conferred a higher title, so "carrying a sword to court" belonged to a special imperial favor.

Looking at the entire court, there were fewer than ten people with this honor!

In front, the First Imperial Prince looked back at Li Fei with gloomy eyes.

He also practiced martial arts, was also a martial artist, and was also a favored Imperial Prince.

But he was not qualified to carry a sword to court.

If Li Fei was just a lowly ant in his eyes before, now this ant had turned into a flood dragon capable of baring its fangs and brandishing its claws at him!

"Your subject, thanks Your Majesty for the great favor—"

Li Fei's loud voice resounded in the hall.

He had appeared very calm since he entered the hall, and it was only when the conferring of the Marquis began that he finally showed some emotion.

"Hahaha."

The Emperor laughed heartily, but said:

"Don't be in a hurry to thank me yet."

"Hmm?"

These words made everyone stunned.

Could it be that there was more?!

The Emperor spoke and asked Ye Zean to continue.

This time it was the reward for State Preceptor Xiang Yunshu:

"State Preceptor Xiang Yunshu, the great pillar of the nation..."

As everyone expected, the State Preceptor's status was already set; he was already the Pavilion Master of the Zhengfa Pavilion, in charge of the world's Zhengfa Academy, and commanded over a hundred thousand sorcerers; in terms of official position, he really could not be promoted further.

As for cultivation resources or other rewards, Xiang Yunshu was really not short of them.

Or rather, the things he wanted, the imperial court could not provide for the time being.

So the reward for Xiang Yunshu could only be in terms of honor:

"Conferring Xiang Yunshu as Duke of An, with hereditary succession!"

Ye Zean said at the end.

Another reward that exceeded everyone's expectations!

The rewards given by the Emperor this time were truly generous!

The titles of nobility for non-imperial relatives in the Great Lan Dynasty were: Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

According to ancestral rules, the Great Lan Dynasty had no kings of different surnames, and it was impossible to confer such titles.

So Duke was already the highest honor a subject could reach!

Hereditary succession meant that this highest honor could be passed down from generation to generation; this was true glory shared with the nation!

Every appearance of a hereditary title meant the birth of a noble family.

Before the current Emperor ascended the throne, the Great Lan Dynasty had only one hereditary Duke.

In the forty-seven years since his ascension, two Dukes had been conferred.

One was the "God of War," Wen Ren Zheng.

In that battle outside Lanling City nineteen years ago, Wen Ren Zheng led the Tianlan Iron Cavalry to defeat the coalition army of over a hundred thousand from the seven Western nations, saved the Great Lan Dynasty, and was conferred as Duke of Zhenguo by the Son of Heaven after the war.

But the Duke of Zhenguo was hereditary with reduction.

Now there was one more Duke of An, but it was hereditary with succession!

Many people thought that the title of Duke of An would be reserved for Chief Grand Secretary Ye Zean, after all, there was the political achievement of the Mingxin Reform, but this reform had not yet reached the point of being finalized.

Yet they did not expect that it was State Preceptor Xiang Yunshu who had taken the honor of Duke of An one step ahead.

And he even got hereditary succession!

"Your subject, thanks Your Majesty for the great favor."

Xiang Yunshu bowed calmly to thank him.

The Emperor looked at Xiang Yunshu, whose appearance had aged by decades, and said:

"I have one more word to give to the State Preceptor; I will keep the State Preceptor's ambition in my heart, and I hope that you and I, monarch and subject, can continue to work together and realize our grand ambition!"

Xiang Yunshu bowed deeply:

"Your subject, will give his all until his heart stops beating!"

"Duke of An, please rise, and please take your seat with the Chief Grand Secretary."

The Emperor said, then looked at Li Fei standing in the center of the hall:

"Li Fei, come forward!"

Hearing this, Li Fei took a big step forward.

The positions for participating in the court assembly were particular; simply put, the higher the status, the further forward the position.

Below the imperial dais, there were four people closest on the left and right:

Ye Zean, Wen Ren Zheng, Xiang Yunshu, and the Crown Prince.

Only then were the First Imperial Prince, the Third Imperial Prince, and other imperial relatives and high-ranking officials.

Of course, if Prince Li attended the court, his position would also be the furthest forward, and he would have a seat.

Li Fei came to stand about thirty steps away from the imperial dais, his position only behind the First Imperial Prince and others.

"Come forward again."

Above the imperial dais, the Emperor continued.

These words made the First Imperial Prince's expression change.

Hearing this, Li Fei continued to move forward, coming to a distance of less than ten steps from the imperial dais.

This was already the furthest forward position, on the same line as Ye Zean and Wen Ren Zheng!

When he first attended the court assembly, Li Fei could only watch the backs of Ye Zean, Wen Ren Zheng, and others from behind.

Now it was the ministers behind watching his back.

"Li Fei, I heard that today happens to be your nineteenth birthday."

The Emperor looked at Li Fei and said with a smile.

Li Fei was stunned, looked up at the Emperor, somewhat unexpected.

"The rewards just now were all what you deserved, and I have also prepared a gift for you."

The Emperor smiled.

These words shocked the ministers again.

So that sentence "don't be in a hurry to thank me yet" landed here.

So, there really was more reward!