Chapter 58: Bloomer's Request
Linley and his group disembarked and set out for the Imperial Capital. However, this port was in the central part of the province, and from the central part of the Southwest Province to the central part of the O'Brien Province, with the winding roads, the distance was nearly four thousand li.
With such a long distance, even riding at full speed, it would take ten days to half a month to arrive.
While Linley's group was traveling, in the Imperial Capital of Blazing Flame City, the vast majority of people were talking about the most dazzling rising star recently – Bloomer Arch.
"I heard that becoming a personal disciple of the War God means you might reach the Saint Domain. This Bloomer is really lucky."
"What do you mean, might? It's a certainty."
In a very ordinary tavern in the Imperial Capital, the men drinking were talking loudly: "On the day the personal disciples were announced, I was there at the scene. Three of the War God's personal disciples came, and all three were Saint Domain experts."
"That's not necessarily true. The War God now has twenty-seven personal disciples. The first one was taken many years ago; he might even be dead. Besides, who knows if those other personal disciples who haven't appeared are in the Saint Domain?" someone nearby retorted.
"You don't believe in the War God's strength?"
"Of course I believe in the War God, but does that mean every one of his personal disciples is formidable?" The man curled his lip and said, "Cultivation depends on talent. Look at the genius Sword Saint, Lord Oliveria. He cultivated alone and became so powerful. How many of the War God's disciples do you think can match Lord Oliveria?"
"You're not Oliveria either, so what right do you have to judge Bloomer? Besides, Lord Oliveria and Lord Bloomer are blood brothers!"
The people in the tavern immediately started talking about this legendary pair of brothers.
Back then, Oliveria had just entered the Saint Domain and easily defeated the Starlight Sword Saint 'Tilong'. Everyone believed that Oliveria already possessed the strength to fight against peak Saint Domain experts.
Although Tilong was a mid-stage Saint Domain, unless one was at the peak Saint Domain level, how could they defeat him so easily?
"I heard that tomorrow, His Majesty the Emperor will personally summon Bloomer and grant him a title." Suddenly, someone spoke.
"I've heard that too. Tomorrow, many nobles of the Imperial Capital will go to the 'Martial Arts Hall'."
The O'Brien Empire was an empire that valued martial prowess and military achievements. The founding emperor was the War God himself, so it was natural for this atmosphere to prevail. The place where the Emperor held morning court to summon his ministers was the Martial Arts Hall.
The Martial Arts Hall was also named by the War God back then.
The next day.
Many upper-class nobles of the Imperial Capital got up early, dressed sharply, and took their carriages to the Imperial Palace. On this day, the Emperor was to confer a title upon Bloomer, which was a major event.
The Emperor would confer a title upon every personal disciple of the War God.
For an emperor of a generation, having the opportunity to confer a title once was already quite good. After all, in over five thousand years, the empire had seen more than a hundred emperors, yet there were only twenty-seven personal disciples.
The title was also fixed; it wasn't the highest rank of Duke, but Marquis.
"Becoming a personal disciple of the War God, this favor is probably much higher than what was granted to me," Wharton thought casually as he sat in his carriage.
Personal disciples held a revered status, after all, being accepted as a personal disciple almost guaranteed entry into the Saint Domain.
Moreover, with the War God backing the personal disciples, naturally, no one dared to provoke them. Offend one personal disciple, and other personal disciples might come out of the woodwork.
Arriving at the palace gate, Wharton got off his carriage and followed the other nobles inside.
...
In the Martial Arts Hall, during regular morning court, there were only about a hundred ministers. But on this special day, many nobles who usually didn't attend morning court had come. The crowd was exceptionally large.
Ordinary imperial nobles were not qualified to attend; only those with status and power, the upper class, could participate. Wharton, as a Count personally appointed by His Majesty, was qualified to attend.
The Martial Arts Hall, usually quite spacious, no longer felt empty when nearly eight hundred nobles and ministers gathered inside. The entire hall was filled with people.
"Bloomer, congratulations, congratulations!"
In the center of the hall, many people were gathered around Bloomer, enthusiastically greeting him. After all, Bloomer's brother was a Saint Domain expert, and Bloomer himself would undoubtedly become a Saint Domain expert in the future. No powerful family would be foolish enough to offend a Saint Domain expert.
Bloomer merely nodded slightly to the various nobles.
"Secular power?" Bloomer looked down on these things.
In his heart, his greatest admiration was for his brother, Oliveria. Even the swordsmanship Bloomer practiced was something his brother had comprehended and passed on to him.
Since childhood, Oliveria had displayed astonishing talent while also protecting Bloomer. If someone bullied Bloomer, Oliveria would definitely avenge his younger brother.
"I wonder what level my big brother will reach, cultivating on that lonely mountain," Bloomer thought to himself.
Nearly nine years ago, his big brother had just entered the Saint Domain and easily defeated the Starlight Sword Saint 'Tilong'. At that time, some believed Oliveria possessed the strength to challenge peak Saint Domain experts.
Oliveria didn't indulge in material comforts but instead went out alone to wander and undergo ascetic training.
Three years ago, Oliveria even went into solitary cultivation on a desolate mountain outside the Imperial Capital. No one knew what level of strength Oliveria, who could challenge peak Saint Domain experts nine years ago, had reached now.
"Perhaps one day, my big brother will also reach the Divine level." In Bloomer's heart, his big brother was the most dazzling genius; there was nothing his big brother couldn't do.
And the facts indeed proved this.
Oliveria was truly a peerless genius, even the War God admired him and wanted to take him as a disciple.
"His Majesty is here." Many nobles noticed the Emperor's arrival and immediately and quickly returned to their positions, forming neat rows to respectfully welcome the Emperor.
The current Emperor of the O'Brien Empire, 'Joan O'Brien', was considered a wise ruler, aside from the minor flaw of being overly protective of his own.
Joan was relatively tall, standing a full one meter ninety. He inherited the empire's tradition of cultivating battle qi among its emperors and was quite robust. Wearing his imperial robe, he sat upon the throne.
"Haha, where is Bloomer?" Emperor Joan laughed heartily as he looked down. Joan was exceptionally happy today. Neither his father nor his grandfather had ever had the chance to confer a title upon a personal disciple of the War God. But he had this opportunity.
This kind of opportunity might only come once in a lifetime!
With nearly eight hundred people below, Joan couldn't find Bloomer at first. Bloomer stepped out from the crowd, stood in the center of the hall, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Bloomer pays homage to Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Joan took a careful look at Bloomer and praised, "Truly remarkable. I didn't expect the Archison family to produce two geniuses at once. You are no less than your brother."
A smile appeared on Bloomer's face.
Being compared to his brother by others made Bloomer feel very proud.
"I am very pleased that you have become a personal disciple of the War God. Now, I hereby bestow upon you the hereditary, non-diminishing title of Marquis, a mansion on Fushi Road, one hundred guards and one hundred maidservants, and one hundred thousand gold coins." Joan announced loudly.
The surrounding people looked at Bloomer with envy.
Generally, a noble's title would be reduced by one rank with each generation. If one's descendants were too incompetent, after a few generations, they would become commoners.
But a hereditary, non-diminishing title was different; it absolutely would not be reduced. A hereditary, non-diminishing Marquis title was far more valuable than some ordinary Duke titles. The empire had over a hundred Dukes, but most were not hereditary, non-diminishing.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Bloomer said respectfully.
Joan nodded with satisfaction. In fact, this kind of grant was standard procedure. Every personal disciple of the War God was made a Marquis, and all were hereditary, non-diminishing.
Wharton stood among the nobles and ministers, watching Bloomer, who stood proudly in the center.
Last time, during the War God's selection of registered disciples, he had lost to Bloomer. And now, regarding the Emperor's favor, what was granted to him was a hereditary, non-diminishing Count title, fifty guards and fifty maidservants, and fifty thousand gold coins. What Bloomer received was clearly a higher rank.
Wharton didn't care about material things.
But in his heart, Wharton had already regarded Bloomer as a rival: "Although he is nearly ten years older than me, he is just an ordinary person. I am a Dragonblood Warrior. These two factors cancel each other out. No matter what, I cannot be inferior to him." Wharton was very competitive.
This competitiveness was kept deep in his heart.
"Bloomer, I am in an excellent mood today. This is the first time since my ascension that I have conferred a title upon a personal disciple of the War God. Haha, tell me, what else do you want? As long as it's reasonable, I will surely grant it." Joan's voice echoed throughout the Martial Arts Hall.
Everyone in the hall turned their gaze to Bloomer.
In truth, Joan's words were just a formality. Historically, most personal disciples would express gratitude for the Emperor's grace and not make any further requests.
"Your Majesty, I do have one matter I wish to request of you." Bloomer said instead.
Wharton also looked at Bloomer with slight surprise.
"Speak." Joan waved his hand magnanimously.
Bloomer bowed first, then said, "Your Majesty, I have previously seen Your Majesty's Seventh Princess and fell in love at first sight. I humbly request that Your Majesty bestow the Seventh Princess upon me in marriage."
Bloomer's words echoed throughout the hall, and everyone was completely stunned.
A marriage proposal!
This Bloomer was actually proposing marriage!
Upon hearing this, Wharton felt his head spin. He shook his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Bloomer in the center of the hall.
Bloomer, however, only looked at the Emperor.
"I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant my request." Bloomer said again.
Almost all the surrounding nobles and ministers turned their gaze to Wharton instead. Everyone in the Imperial Capital knew about Wharton and Nina's relationship. And some time ago, Kalan, the son of the Imperial Left Premier, had personally told the Emperor that he was giving up his pursuit of the Seventh Princess.
Many believed that Nina and Wharton were definitely a couple.
Even Emperor Joan himself had been planning to choose a date for Wharton and Nina's engagement. But Bloomer's request made Joan's heart waver.
Joan glanced at Wharton, who was very conspicuous among the crowd. Wharton, standing two meters twenty, was the tallest among the nobles and ministers.
Joan smiled and said, "Bloomer, I would very much like to grant your request, but I must first ask Nina for her own opinion. Don't be impatient. Haha..."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Bloomer didn't say anything more.
...
After the court was dismissed, Wharton and Bloomer merely exchanged a distant glance before both left the Martial Arts Hall. Bloomer pulling such a stunt had indeed caught Wharton off guard.
Emperor 'Joan' of the O'Brien Empire walked through the garden, feeling very pleased.
"That Oliveria disregards fame and fortune. It was difficult for me to even try to recruit him. I was originally wondering how to win over the Archison family. I never expected... I never expected..."
In Joan's heart, Oliveria, who had easily defeated the 'Starlight Sword Saint' Tilong upon entering the Saint Domain, was indeed a figure worth recruiting.
And his younger brother was a personal disciple of the War God.
This Archison family could be said to have two future Saint Domain experts.
"Oliveria was already so powerful upon entering the Saint Domain; his future achievements will surely be even more astonishing. Also, I cannot afford to disrespect a personal disciple of the War God." Joan frowned. "But that Wharton..."
This was why Joan hadn't immediately agreed in the hall.
Wharton and Nina were in love with each other.
"Wharton's backing is just the declining Dragonblood Warrior clan, while Bloomer's backing is the War God and Oliveria."
The identity of a personal disciple of the War God truly made Joan think twice.
"Let's stall for now. No rush." Joan decided to continue using the same strategy he had used for the Wharton and Kalan rivalry. But in his heart, he had already begun to favor Bloomer.
At this moment, the nobles of the Imperial Capital, Blazing Flame City, were unaware that Linley's group, a team possessing six Saint Domain experts, was on their way to the Imperial Capital.