Chapter 366: Eerie Black Energy

Rulans opened his eyes, the clouded depths regaining a faint luster.

His expression held confusion and gravity.

"Though my flesh, meridians, and bones hold no trace of the Soul-Devouring Surge, a dark mass still lingers in my qi sea."

He furrowed his brows. "I can sense its presence, but manipulating it proves difficult."

Could this be real?

Roning looked at Elron with concern. "Could this be a side effect?"

Elron shook his head.

The spiritual force within Rulans was of high caliber, yet he had successfully dispelled it before.

This situation had never occurred.

"I'll try again."

Elron immediately cast Evil Purification, a brilliant column of light converging on Rulans' qi sea.

But no matter his efforts, the dark energy remained, showing no sign of dissipation.

Rulans hesitated, then touched the energy with his battle aura.

In the past, such contact brought excruciating pain; now, he was hesitant.

Hum~

As the black energy met his aura, it erupted like a candle plunged into an oxygen tank.

The dark energy swelled, seemingly devouring the battle aura it touched.

The familiar pain did not come; the enlarged mass settled quietly in his qi sea.

And now, Rulans discovered he could control it.

"Please stop, Master Mage."

Rulans halted Elron's third attempt.

"This dark energy cannot be removed, but it no longer harms me and can be controlled."

The old man gritted his teeth, feeding a surge of battle aura to the energy, causing it to swell further.

As he directed it, the energy manifested on his palm, forming a sharp blade.

"Is this like gaining another attribute?"

Roning gasped.

Rulans' attributes were fire and lightning; now, a dark one?

But one's attributes shouldn't change.

"This energy..."

Elron examined it. "It resembles spiritual force, yet lighter, without corrosive properties."

"So, we can't replicate the move used on Count Osen?"

That day, Rulans had crippled Osen with spiritual force.

Now, with this energy under his control, could he cripple anyone at will?

After testing, they confirmed it.

If the spiritual force before was a mad dog, now it was a docile sheep.

"Consider it a gift from the Seven Gods for my long companionship."

Rulans reassured himself, no longer fearing the new power, treating it as an additional attribute.

He swung his legs off the bed.

Though the weakness from prolonged erosion lingered, his mind and body felt remarkably light.

As he channeled his battle aura, surging lightning and fire intertwined, forming a nearly solid armor.

A powerful aura and pressure surged forth, startling Roning.

The old man wasn't just any Starfall Knight; his aura far surpassed Roning's.

"Ha!"

Feeling the joy of effortless control, Rulans laughed.

After years of silence, he finally tasted sweet relief.

Roning couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, what level is your strength now?"

He thought that after so many years of suffering, his strength should have declined.

"Before my downfall, I had been a Starfall Knight for years, at the peak of my strength."

Rulans sighed; the term 'strength level' hadn't crossed his mind in years.

"Though suppressed by the spiritual force these years, we've been in constant struggle. The 'body wheel' at my heart hasn't been opened, but my qi sea and meridians have been strengthened through repeated destruction and rebuilding."

If battle aura were rain, Rulans' body was now a parched earth.

He could now hold much more rain.

With more rain stored, his qi sea and meridians would grow stronger once healed.

He clenched his fist; the battle aura armor dissolved, and wind stirred in the room.

"If my body fully recovers, my strength will advance further."

The old man's once commanding gaze returned: "Then, ascending to Silvermoon Knight should be easy."

Roning's face lit up with joy.

With a Silvermoon Knight in Wushan Fief and Melonika as a Starfall Knight, even without the Northern Fief's forces, it was substantial.

Including Roning, Riedal, and Elron, Wushan Fief had five at the Breaking the Wheel stage.

Such a Wushan Fief would keep neighbors awake at night.

"Child, I owe my survival to you!"

Rulans turned, gratitude and affection in his voice. "Having a son like you is the honor of the Wushan family!"

Roning laughed. "Not my doing; it was Elron who freed you."

Elron bowed, wanting to say it was all Roning's gift, but realizing it might expose Roning's secret of enhancing their strength, he stayed silent.

Rulans chuckled; he could see the truth lay with Roning.

He had heard that Elron rose from mid-level mage to high, then to archmage; he didn't think it was hidden power.

Rulans suspected Elron's rapid advancement was tied to Roning.

"As Lord of the Northern Fief, they are your followers; the credit is yours."

War deeds worked this way.

The great lord rewarded lesser lords with land and gold based on deeds, and lesser lords rewarded their followers accordingly.

"Speak, Rongning, my child. What shall I give you to express my gratitude?"

Rongning listened, then shook his head slightly.

Having helped Rulans merely to repay past kindness, he had no intention of asking for anything in return.

"We are family. Seeing you restored to health is all I could wish for."

Rulans smiled with relief, patting Rongning’s shoulder.

"Good lad!"

He paused thoughtfully. "I hear your Ubei fief is building a port. It must require much labor and coin. Then I shall give you these."

"Alas, the title of Marquis is not mine to bestow as I please. Otherwise, I would have given it to you outright."

Titles held less weight for one who had weathered life’s peaks and valleys.

Bestowing it upon worthy descendants was no bad thing.

But the kingdom’s law decreed that a title could not be passed down while the holder still lived.

Rongning squinted and smiled. "Grandfather, how many men and coins do you plan to give me?"

"Hah! You just said you didn’t need anything!"

Rongning spread his hands. "I never said that."

Men and coin—strategic assets. Since the old man had brought it up, he would not hesitate.

"As for men, I’ll have a plan drawn up. As for coin, how much do you want?"

Rongning ventured, "How about ten thousand gold coins?"

Ten thousand gold coins was the requirement for the "Fortune's Favor" achievement.

If Rulans could provide this sum to help him complete the achievement, he would gain 8,000 Essence Cores at once.

Then he could elevate Macken to Flowing Star rank, and even Ridal to Silver Moon rank.

A marquisate, two Silver Moon knights—this was the dawn of his rise.

Rulans’ whiskers twitched as he laughed and scolded, "You rascal, you knew I had ten thousand gold coins on hand, didn’t you?" (End of chapter)