Curled up unconscious on the bed, Feng Ling was as pitiful as an injured kitten. Bloodstains mottled her face and neck, and her expression was haggard. The clothes on her body had stiffened with clotted blood, most of it sticking to her wounds...

As Ling Xiao watched Feng Ling’s expression gradually grow peaceful, a strange tenderness welled up inside him. He called for Chunlan and Qiuyue, then took out an Elixir and handed it to Qiuyue.

"Have the servants prepare a large tub of hot water! Then... drop this Elixir in. It’s a restorative, and it will ensure her wounds don’t leave any scars. Go on."

Chunlan and Qiuyue stared at Feng Ling in shock, unable to imagine how she had ended up in such a wretched state after only a few days.

"Take good care of her," Ling Xiao said, pulling the blanket up a bit higher on Feng Ling before turning to leave the room.

Just yesterday, he had received a decree from His Majesty the King, bestowing upon Ling Xiao the title of Third-grade Marquis!

In the entire one-thousand-five-hundred-year history of the Lanyue Empire, there had never been anyone like Ling Xiao, made a Marquis at the tender age of fifteen—even if it was the lowest rank. One must understand, even the great ministers of the state would consider their lives well spent if they managed to secure a Third-grade Marquis title in their twilight years. What’s more, Ling Xiao’s title came with a crucial addition: it was hereditary.

The term "favored courtier" was no longer sufficient to describe Ling Xiao’s current status.

The news Clown sent back from the Imperial Capital was that General Ling Tianxiao’s military rank would remain unchanged, but his noble title had been elevated to First-grade Duke! He was just one small step away from becoming a Prince!

Clown had brought back a letter for Ling Xiao from Lady Ling. In it, she explained that when His Majesty the King decided to further ennoble the Ling Family, nearly every influential minister in the court had voiced their opposition. Even the Imperial Chancellor, Constant, an old man renowned for his lifelong integrity, had explicitly objected.

Constant argued that His Majesty the King’s actions were no longer a reward for a subject, but a detriment. With such an extravagant promotion, where did that leave the other nobles, the decorated ministers and generals who had rendered meritorious service to the Empire? Even if the Ling Family’s achievements reached the heavens, they couldn’t be rewarded in this manner!

Ling Xiao was a mere boy of fifteen. It had been less than a year since he was granted the title of Viscount, yet he was already being promoted again. It defied all reason and precedent!

Other influential ministers, like Wulan Xiong, who was at odds with the Ling Family, eagerly echoed Constant’s sentiments. Wulan Xiong went a step further and denounced Ling Xiao, accusing him of disrespecting the former lord of his fief, Li Houlin. Who barges into someone’s home with armed troops and forces them to move out? It was truly a case of "like father, like son"—though, of course, Wulan Xiong didn’t say that last part aloud. He continued that Ling Xiao then persecuted several of the great noble families in Penzes City, forcing them to abandon industries they had managed for hundreds of years, to the point where they now struggled merely to survive.

As a nobleman, Ling Xiao had failed to protect the interests of the nobility, choosing instead to curry favor with the commoners. Such behavior, he claimed, was an utter disgrace to the aristocracy!

In the throne room, everyone aired their own views. The majority of these high-ranking ministers, princes, and nobles already looked upon the Ling Family with disdain. With the announcement of His Majesty the King’s decree, even the ministers who had been on good terms with Ling Tianxiao fell silent. A First-grade Duke! Ling Xiao and Lingzhi were both still so young. At this rate, in less than ten years, the Ling Family might become a super-aristocratic house boasting "Three Dukes in a Single Family"!

Who wouldn’t be envious of such treatment? Who wouldn’t burn with jealousy?

But this time, His Majesty the King was determined to have his way. He even sat upon his high, pure-gold throne carved with the Blast Flame Lion King, pointing a finger and furiously rebuking the crowd below.

"This Empire belongs to the Li Family! Right now, I have the final say! What are your reasons for opposing this? Your jealousy and greed are the real sins here!"

Once His Majesty the King uttered such a pointed accusation, even Prime Minister Constant fell silent. He knew that the formidable Emperor of old had returned!

Word of these events soon reached Lady Ling’s ears. She, of course, did not believe His Majesty the King was being so magnanimous. After making inquiries through various channels, she finally uncovered a hint of the truth and immediately wrote to inform her son.

Ling Xiao read the palpable worry in his mother’s letter, then glanced again at the secret decree from His Majesty the King... A muscle in his handsome face twitched, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

In the secret decree, His Majesty the King first expressed his gratitude to Ling Xiao for his complete recovery. He then lavished praise on the various Elixirs Ling Xiao had concocted. Finally, the decree stated that if Ling Xiao was willing to offer up his Alchemy Secret Recipe, His Majesty would guarantee the everlasting prosperity of the Ling Family!

Of course, the decree contained not a single threatening word. There wasn’t even a hint of intimidation.

The language was entirely courteous. Even the Imperial Palace Guards and the Messenger who delivered the decree did their utmost to curry favor with Ling Xiao. This was a fifteen-year-old Marquis, after all! A man of immense favor with a boundless future! Who would dare offend him?

Before Ling Xiao could even decide how to handle this matter, he learned from Feng Ling—who had barely escaped with her life—that the Southern King had gathered a large number of High-tier Martial Artists to seize the Alchemy Secret Manual.

Outright plunder!

Ling Xiao sighed softly. He had always known this day would come sooner or later; he just hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

Ling Xiao thought to himself, ’It seems that in the face of overwhelming benefit, all tender sentiments are utterly meaningless. Even after Father risked his life to protect his lord, to keep the old King safe, he’s still just being used as a pawn by His Majesty the King in the end!’

Promotions and titles... why would Ling Xiao care about such empty honors? And it wasn’t just him; General Ling Tianxiao couldn’t care less about them either!

His Majesty the King was the easier problem to handle. After all, they hadn’t reached the point of an open break. Ling Xiao could stall for a while and figure out another solution later. In short, Ling Xiao felt neither great respect nor great fear toward the King.

The matter of the Southern King, however, was a thorny problem. No matter how many people attacked the Viscount’s Mansion tonight, on the surface, it would appear to have nothing to do with the Southern King whatsoever—not a single copper coin’s worth of connection.

The Southern King’s recent, frantic accumulation of wealth wasn’t necessarily a move against Ling Xiao. During a meeting with his followers, they all agreed that the Southern King was planning a major move within the next few years. Perhaps he would even declare himself king. In any case, the Southern King would never tolerate the Crown Prince—or his own infant brother, who was less than a year old—ascending to that throne!

To that end, Li Wutong wouldn’t care in the slightest if he lost his reputation as the "Worthy Prince"!

By the same token, Li Wutong would never give Ling Xiao any public pretext to act against him. Ling Xiao understood the man’s character well after just two encounters. Unless he had absolute certainty of success, Li Wutong would rather spend a fortune trying to bribe Ling Xiao—even offering things like magic crystal cannons—than have an open confrontation.

At this thought, a cold sneer touched Ling Xiao’s lips, and he snorted. ’Since none of you are willing to have an open confrontation and would rather resort to underhanded schemes,’ he thought, ’then I’ll let you have your way. But... it’s high time you understood one thing: a Cultivator is not to be provoked!’

Inside the large conference room, Ling Xiao’s entire inner circle was gathered. Even though Ling Xiao had already decided on a countermeasure, he still needed to inform everyone of the situation to prevent panic later.

Ling Wu sat there, his rugged face twisted in anger. "There’s not a single good one in the Royal Family!" he seethed. "The King is like that, the Crown Prince is like that, and now it’s the Southern King... it’s the same damn story! Young Master, I say we just overthrow the Li Family’s Dynasty completely. You should be the Emperor!"

Tiger’s massive frame was as tall as other men even when seated; Ling Xiao had a giant chair custom-made for him. He nodded in agreement with Ling Wu’s words but said nothing, thinking, ’Human affairs truly are complicated. Among the Beast Race, whoever is strongest has the final say!’

Meng Li then spoke softly, "Young Master, should we contact the hidden clans and sects in the city?"

"Contact them for what? Meng Li, have you lost your mind?" Ye Wen Ni sneered, looking at Meng Li. "First of all, they don’t know what’s happening. And even if they did, their only reaction would be to watch the drama unfold from the sidelines. You really think they’d lift a finger to help? Dream on!"

Meng Li was embarrassed by Ye Wen Ni’s sharp retort, but he knew she was right. He was merely clutching at straws, deeply worried after hearing that their opponents included a High-Tier Sword Emperor, several masters on the level of a Sword Sect, and numerous experts with the power of a Demon Sword Master.

’On our side, only Tiger is truly formidable enough to face them,’ Meng Li thought. ’But they have at least two masters at the Sword Sect level. Even if the Young Master can hold off one of them, what about the other?’

Uncle Fu cleared his throat. "I’m sure the Young Master has already devised a plan. Why not share it with us?"

As soon as Uncle Fu spoke, all eyes turned to Ling Xiao. Yisha’s gaze was filled with confidence. Ling Xiao had never once let them down. So, if her initial faith in him had been without reason, her trust in him now was simply a matter of course.

Ling Xiao chuckled. "You all should focus on how we’ll handle the fallout from all sides after their little group is completely annihilated. Yes, that’s it. I’m going to check on Feng Ling."

Watching Ling Xiao walk out, even Uncle Fu’s face was a picture of shock and disbelief. Where did his immense confidence come from?

As Ling Xiao reached the door, he heard voices coming from inside.

Feng Ling’s small face was scrunched up, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a layer of tears, and her voice was exceptionally faint. "It’s so bitter! I don’t want to drink it! Ling Xiao’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?"

"Feng Ling, you shouldn’t say that," Chunlan, ever the fast-talker, chimed in. "Didn’t you see? The Young Master may not have said anything, but the look in his eyes showed how worried he was for you! Besides, bitter medicine is the best medicine. If you don’t drink it, how will you get better quickly?"

Feng Ling’s face flushed red as she huffed, "Who asked him to be worried?"