Chapter 124: Chapter 122: Enfeoffed as a Marquis

At this point, there was no longer any need for probing. Chen Yihan was certain: the Crown Prince was absolutely wrong!

Chen Yihan couldn’t be sure if this man was *that* Qin Li, as he had never met him. However, Chen Yihan was certain that *this* Qin Li had definitely not cultivated the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Only I am Venerable technique!

’What a joke. Someone who possessed a Five Elements Physique and could cultivate Five Elements Complete High-level Combat Skills... would they really need to risk their life cultivating the Only I am Venerable technique?’

Anyone who heard that would laugh their head off!

Besides, the Royal Family had researched the Only I am Venerable technique for years without a single clue. How could some youth have possibly succeeded so casually?

The Qin Li from Yellow Sand City was said to have indeed cultivated the Only I am Venerable technique. Two years had passed since then; he was probably long dead in some forgotten corner of the world.

Chen Yihan had no interest in who inherited the throne. Otherwise, he really would have gone to enlighten the Crown Prince with a few words: ’If you don’t keep a talent like this firmly in your grasp, you will regret it one day!’

Chen Yihan gave Qin Li a slight smile. "Young friend, your strength is truly extraordinary! In truth, I am the one who lost this match!"

Qin Li also smiled faintly. ’Strength really is everything!’ he thought.

’Back on the Phoenix Lake Shore, Hu and I were nothing but trash-tier Martial Artists in Chen Yihan’s eyes. Of course he wouldn’t give us the time of day. The fact that he didn’t just kill us already showed that the old man had a benevolent heart!’

But now, after seeing Qin Li’s vast potential, his attitude had immediately become warm and friendly. He even showed some intention of befriending him. It had to be said, people were pragmatic creatures, no matter the era.

"Senior, you praise me too much. This junior still has much to learn. If I happen to bother you in the future, I hope you won’t find me a nuisance," Qin Li said with a gentle smile, his manners impeccable.

Chen Yihan’s eyes lit up. He laughed and said, "Not at all, absolutely not! In fact, I would also like to ask for your guidance on the essence of the Five Elements Complete combat skills!"

Qin Li smiled. "No problem!"

"I live in the First Tributor’s Residence on Vermilion Bird Avenue, just outside the imperial palace. If you have time, young friend, just give my name and you’ll be free to come and go as you please!"

Without so much as a word to anyone else, Chen Yihan floated away, satisfied.

His words, however, left all the Civil and Military Ministers on the training grounds stunned, as if petrified. Their gazes toward Qin Li were a mixture of envy and jealousy.

First, the boy had caught the Emperor’s eye, and now he had earned the favor of the court’s First Tributor. He was truly rising to prominence! Many looked toward the Crown Prince’s private box, their eyes filled with schadenfreude.

As for the courtiers in the Crown Prince’s faction, their hearts were filled with worry.

’One Qin Li isn’t so scary on his own, but he’s still growing! That’s the most terrifying part! If someone like him is won over by the Second Prince, it will have a huge impact on the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne in the future.’

’This won’t do. We must find a chance to speak with the Crown Prince. It was just a few dozen people from the Daqing Gang. They’re already dead. Why fall out with a Martial Artist of limitless potential over something like that?’

As these thoughts ran through their minds, they suddenly saw Emperor Zhao Yuanli emerge with Crown Prince Zhao Xinghe, Second Prince Zhao Xinghai, and Princess Zhao Qianqian, heading straight for the training grounds.

Seeing this, the ministers all followed, trailing behind them in a grand procession.

From a distance, Zhao Yuanli called out with a laugh, "Qin Li, you truly did not disappoint Us! Tell Us, what official title should We bestow upon you?"

"Father Emperor, aren’t you in need of a few more guards? Wouldn’t it be great to have him be one of your guards?" Princess Zhao Qianqian, at his side, let her beautiful eyes sweep over Qin Li, her intentions unclear.

"How could We do that? Qin Li is a great talent. He would only be constrained at Our side!"

Zhao Yuanli thought for a moment, then said, "You are still growing. And... you actually possess a Five Elements Physique and cultivate Five Elements Complete combat skills. That means you won’t be lacking in any single type of Attribute Combat Skills. How about this... you... shall go to the Imperial Advanced Academy and serve as a High Level lecturer! As for a noble title... We shall name you... the Proud Celestial Marquis!"

"The Proud Celestial Marquis..." The ministers pondered this for a moment and understood the Emperor’s intent. Immediately, several ministers from the Crown Prince’s faction stepped forward from the back and said loudly, "Your Majesty, you mustn’t! You mustn’t!"

Another said, "Your Majesty is Heaven itself. If Qin Li’s title is ’Proud Celestial,’ wouldn’t that mean... wouldn’t that mean he doesn’t even respect Your Majesty? This is greatly disrespectful!"

The others chimed in, "Indeed, indeed, Your Majesty! This is great disrespect! He is but a youth. No matter how talented, what right does he have to call himself ’Proud Celestial’?"

"You all are so troublesome! We finally thought of a cool-sounding title, and you shoot it down. Then you tell Us, what should We call him?" Zhao Yuanli waved his hand, somewhat displeased.

"Your Majesty, Young Master Qin has yet to perform any meritorious service, and he has a Five Elements Physique. In this subject’s opinion, bestowing the title of Uncle Wuxing would be more appropriate..."

"Yes, Your Majesty! Uncle Wuxing is already a great honor!"

"We subjects second the motion!"

At this moment, Second Prince Zhao Xinghai spoke calmly, "Father Emperor, in your son’s opinion, even making him a Marquis is too stingy!"

"..."

*Gasp.* Zhao Xinghai’s words made everyone’s breath catch in their throats. They all looked at the Second Prince in disbelief. ’Your Highness,’ they thought, ’even if you want to win him over, you don’t have to be so obvious about it, do you?’

Over on the side, the expression on Zhao Xinghe’s face grew uglier. From his perspective, Zhao Xinghai was openly challenging his authority!

"Oh? Then tell Us, what are your reasons?" Zhao Yuanli said, glancing at the Second Prince, his face expressionless.

"First, Qin Li was previously a nobleman of the Great Qi Kingdom. I won’t hide from you all that Xinghai has investigated Qin Li’s identity before. Qin Li, please don’t take offense. After all, I am responsible for the safety of the Royal Family!"

Zhao Xinghai’s words made many people nod in secret approval. ’The Second Prince is quite forthright,’ they thought. ’Most people wouldn’t say something like that out loud.’

"A hundred years ago, the Qin Family of the Great Qi Kingdom was a truly powerful noble house, holding a hereditary Dukedom. Later, in a massive conflict with another family, both great clans suffered devastating losses and their power was greatly diminished. Only then did they gradually decline. However, the Great Qi Kingdom never revoked their Ducal title. According to my investigation, Qin Li is the last direct descendant of the Qin Family. By rights, he should be the one to inherit the title and fiefdom. It’s just that the current emperor of the Great Qi Kingdom... ahem."

As a Prince of one kingdom, openly criticizing the emperor of another was a disrespectful act, so Zhao Xinghai stopped appropriately. Everyone knew that the current emperor of the Great Qi Kingdom was aggressively weakening the power of the nobility, desperately trying to consolidate all power in his own hands. He wanted to suppress even the prosperous and powerful houses, let alone a destitute noble family. He would never grant Qin Li any fiefdom.

Zhao Yuanli nodded in agreement and said, "Continue."

"Therefore, as we welcome the worthy and recruit talent, we should not be too miserly. The man was a Duke before; bestowing him with the title of Marquis now is perfectly normal! If Qin Li performs meritorious deeds in the future, even making him a Duke would not be excessive!"

Zhao Xinghai spoke with eloquence and confidence, the corner of his eye catching the Crown Prince’s sullen face. ’Dear brother,’ he thought, ’your discomfort is my greatest comfort!’

"Second, I believe everyone can see that Qin Li is a genius Martial Artist! For such talent, we must be unconventional in how we employ them. To a Martial Artist, high office, handsome salaries, and noble titles are but fleeting clouds. The reason he spoke as he did in the Golden Hall—don’t you think he was just joking?"

Many ministers secretly pursed their lips. ’The Second Prince is truly a silver-tongued devil,’ they thought. ’He could talk a dead man back to life. Was that kid joking? I really thought he was serious.’

"What a Martial Artist—especially a genius Martial Artist—needs most is respect!" The Second Prince smiled faintly. Seeing a flicker of emotion in Qin Li’s eyes, he became even more certain in his heart. ’This genius is mine!’

"Third, as This Prince has said, Qin Li is from another kingdom. Cyan Dragon’s respectful treatment of the worthy and generous rewards for talent will be seen by all. This will serve as an excellent example for us when recruiting talent in the future!" Second Prince Zhao Xinghai swung his arm decisively, then turned to Emperor Zhao Yuanli and said, "Father Emperor, your son has finished speaking!"

Zhao Yuanli nodded in satisfaction. He looked at the crowd and said slowly, "Do any of you have anything else to say?"

The ministers who had just voiced their opposition all fell silent. To object further would be to go against the Emperor himself. No one was a fool, so they all naturally chose to retreat into their shells.

"Very well. We shall name Qin Li... the Five Elements Marquis! As for the Imperial Advanced Academy, you need only go once a week. Coincidentally, the Royal Library is also there. It contains a great many books. You should study more and broaden your knowledge in other areas. In the future... We have great use for you!" Zhao Yuanli said in a deep voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Li bowed. He hadn’t expected the Emperor to value him so highly. Qin Li was no ingrate; he naturally understood how to repay those who treated him well.

"We will also reward you with a residence. Didn’t Tributor Chen just say he wanted to discuss things with you? Then We shall gift you a manor on Vermilion Bird Avenue. In addition, your fiefdom... We will give you a major city. Which one do you want?"

Qin Li said with a smile, "The Crown Prince accused me of being some Qin Li from Yellow Sand City. To think there’s someone there with the same name as me—it must be fate. We’re both equally looked down upon by His Highness. Therefore, Your Majesty, I’ll take that one!"

"The Crown Prince was just playing with you." Zhao Yuanli laughed heartily, then mused for a moment. "Yellow Sand City... a wealthy place! You rascal, you must have looked into it beforehand! Haha, very well. You will submit sixty percent of the annual tax revenue, and the remaining forty percent will be yours to keep! From this moment on, you are the Five Elements Marquis of Our Cyan Dragon Kingdom!" (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com for more Chapters and to support the author and legitimate reading!)