Sovereign of the Ashes

In the Magus World, battle qi techniques were the core legacy of every knight house.

Unlike mages, knights did not heavily depend on meditation techniques. Hence, a knight house could only ascend to higher realms with an exceptional battle qi technique.

Although bloodline and potential played significant roles in the knights’ cultivation process, advancement was impossible without a sophisticated battle qi technique to propel them to the next rank.

Different tiers of battle qi techniques were linked to specific methods of meridian tempering and battle qi circulation.

Even a minor oversight could result in significant disparities.

The rigor required for mastering battle qi techniques was comparable to that of mages engaged in high-precision experimental research.

House Grantt’s current prized heirloom—the Violet Flame Battle Qi—was a technique that could continue to serve a knight well until they were mid-stage Rank Two, which was Julius’ current strength.

This technique evolved from the widely-used “Flame Battle Qi” of the Lysian Alliance. While many lesser nobles had access to this technique, it only served them until they became senior squire.

Only a select few, the truly fortuitous ones, could surmount these barriers and ascend to new heights.

Julius, the founder of House Grantt, rose from humble beginnings. For someone who achieved such a feat, his inherent skills, temperament, and luck were notably exceptional.

In fact, he was the creator of the unique Violet Flame Battle Qi, a derivation of the Flame Battle Qi technique.

Julius also traveled across the Magus World when he was young.

While he did not reach the remote Western Archipelago like Sein, his travels were extensive—west to the border of the Marmett Union Alliance and Sage’s Forest, north to the territories of the Ylli Knight Alliance, east to engage with the Byrne Empire, and south to the coastal regions of the Magus World.

It was during his travels along the southern coast that Julius first encountered and befriended the Reverse Winged Lion King.

These adventures broadened his horizons and provided him access to numerous other battle qi techniques.

Consequently, this exposure allowed him to integrate the best elements of these various techniques into the Flame Battle Qi, thus creating the Violet Flame Battle Qi—House Grantt’s unique technique.

Although the Violet Flame Battle Qi was not the strongest among battle techniques of its rank, it was still considered a top-grade method.

Within House Grantt, only the members of the direct lineage were privileged to learn the complete technique.

Those in the branch family could only cultivate a shortened version of the Violet Flame Battle Qi technique unless they exhibited exceptional talent.

This policy ensured the safeguarding of their valuable battle qi technique.

In the Magus World, the safeguarding of knowledge and techniques was taken very seriously—not only by mages but also by knight houses.

Julius, still considered relatively young for a Rank Two knight at just over a thousand years old, had ample time to advance further.

Mid-stage Rank Two was far from his limit. Though typically modest, there was a deep-seated pride within the founder of House Grantt.

Unbeknownst to Sein, Julius had been quietly thinking up new ideas to enhance the Violet Flame Battle Qi technique over the years.

Should his plans proceed smoothly, he could elevate the technique to the late stage of Rank Two within another three hundred to five hundred years.

By then, he would also become a late-stage Rank Two knight, still youthful at less than two thousand years old and well-positioned to potentially ascend to the Rank Three Sky Knight realm.

Each founder of a distinguished house possessed profound wisdom and strong willpower.

Through enduring hardships, they established powerful legacies that would honor their names for generations.

Many ancient families in the Magus World had evolved through such lasting legacies.

House Grantt, though only a little over a thousand years old, was a burgeoning family teeming with potential.

House Ernst, who, with several sky knights among their ranks, sought alliance through marriage, likely recognizing the house’s potential.

While Sein remained oblivious to the true value of the battle qi technique he presented, the significance was not lost on the others in the room.

As soon as Sein presented the battle qi technique, a dark purple light emanated from Julius, casting another layer of barrier across the room.

Meanwhile, Samson, undisturbed by the Blood Coral it had just shattered, exclaimed, “Holy shit!”

Stamping its fluffy front paws on the ground, a layer of white qi waves, barely visible to the naked eye, formed the third layer of the barrier.

It appeared that Samson was far stronger than Julius.

In the Magus World, magic beasts often had a longer lifespan than humans, suggesting that Samson might still be alive even when Julius was no longer around.

Such formidable magic beasts frequently became guardian beasts for knight houses, symbolizing the family’s heritage.

The Reverse Winged Lion King would likely watch over House Grantt as it flourished, until its own demise.

In time, perhaps Samson’s descendants would also serve as faithful companions to House Grantt.

From the moment it became Julius’ mount, the destinies of the Reverse Winged Lion King and Julius became intertwined.

Unable to maintain the composed demeanor expected of an elder, Julius eagerly took the crystal ball from Sein’s hands.

At this moment, Samson stopped pestering for treats and approached Julius instead. With its large, bronze eyes intently focused on him, it asked, “How is it? Is it a genuine Sky Knight technique? Is it complete?”

Samson appeared even more nervous than anyone else in the room.

Julius, however, needed more time to fully assess the completeness of the battle qi technique provided by Sein.

After a cursory examination, he slowly exhaled and replied, “It appears to be a genuine Sky Knight technique, far more profound than any Land Knight techniques I’ve encountered before.”

“Even that incomplete Sky Knight technique Cleona showed me last time paled in comparison to this one. More importantly, this battle qi technique can be cultivated up to peak Rank Three,” he continued thoughtfully.

Peak Rank Three was also known as the “demigod” stage, a special realm situated between Rank Four and Rank Three.

The term demigod distinguished a lifeform that stood apart from the countless lesser beings, a formidable entity on the brink of wielding the power of law.

Although Julius was not yet versed in the power of law, he discerned some mysterious and profound insights within the battle qi technique provided by Sein.

These insights were the kind that could only be grasped upon cultivating this battle qi technique to its peak.

Samson’s jaw dropped in amazement, its fishy-smelling saliva dripping from between its teeth.

When it finally recovered its senses, it lumbered over to Sein and, with a gentle pat of his fluffy paw on Sein’s shoulder, declared, “If all this is true and I’m not just dreaming, House Grantt will soon see the rise of a late-stage or even peak Rank Two knight.”