The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

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Evening.

Having declined Levis's invitation to attend some gathering in Coral City, Liszt and Meioubao, besides chatting, also discussed piano techniques in the piano room of Tulip Castle.

Meioubao truly enjoyed playing the piano, with proficient skill and a fluid rhythm.

Liszt's technique was far from reaching Meioubao's level, but he took a different approach, primarily playing his own "original" piano compositions.

During a sudden burst of enthusiasm, the Smoke Mission had also joined the excitement, reminding him of two familiar melodies—"With You"and"The Swan of Saint-Saens"—and along with the previously falsely claimed "For Alice", "Liszt's Piano Collection"thus included these three classic piano pieces.

However, perhaps due to his increased strength and spiritual power, he later remembered several piano melodies and "composed" a few more classic piano pieces.

So.

It didn't matter whether he played the piano or not; once he did, it was bound to be a sensational scene that astounded the crowd and brought countless young girls to ecstasy — although he seldom played the piano in public anymore, having passed the stage where he wanted everyone's worship and obsession, preferring instead to quietly enjoy life.

"Liszt, you are a true genius, astonishing not only in cultivation but also terrifyingly adept at playing the piano. If you aspired to piano performance, you would likely become the first great pianist of the Duchy of Sapphire, and your talent for composing could stand shoulder to shoulder with masters like Czerny."

"Playing the piano is just a minor skill for nurturing one's sentiments, Meioubao; there's no need to be so engrossed in it," Liszt lightly tapped a few piano keys, then turned away and stopped playing, "You should learn from me and spend more time on cultivation. Strength is the standard that determines a noble's status."

"Alas, I'm already twenty-five this year, and I've only just barely managed to challenge the constraints of the Earth Knight. Breaking through, I fear, might have to wait until next year."

Meioubao's talent was not bad, certainly stronger than that of Mesiro, who had been forcibly piled up to the ordinary level of the Sky Knight.

But he was just a qualified Marquis heir at best, with Sword Saint probably being the limit of his future.

Compared to the genius Marquis Merlin, the descendants of the Long Taro Family all seemed a bit inept; not only were they mediocre in cultivation talent, but even their fertility seemed lacking. The Mesiro couple had toiled for years to only have Meioubao as a single son, and Meioubao himself had been trying for over a year to have a child but to no avail.

Unlike the Tulip Family, where the Earl had three sons, and now the first son Levis also had a son of his own, no longer needing to worry about heirs.

"If talent is insufficient, then diligence must compensate. I fear your efforts are not on par with Levis's. Even though the Long Taro Family provides you with more resources, you might still fall behind Levis in advancing to be a Sky Knight," Liszt said somewhat patronizingly; he had the right to offer advice.

Meioubao was quite good at consoling himself: "Anyway, I'm already used to falling behind you, falling behind Levis doesn't matter."

"I have a very young follower who spends all her time on cultivation, except for eating, drinking, and sleeping. I highly doubt she will become a Sky Knight earlier than you."

"Impressive... You already have a Sword Saint follower, and now you're going to have another Sky Knight follower."

"I also have two Sky Knight captives. If Alonso Xiankelai does not pay the ransom soon, I'm afraid these two will also choose to pledge loyalty to me."

"Sky Knight captives, and Alonso is actually not choosing to pay the ransom?"

"I find it quite strange too," Liszt did not know what Alonso was up to—whether he was so luxurious as to not care about Sky Knight followers, or was delayed by something, or perhaps brewing some conspiracy.

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Even if Alonso was brewing some plot, there was no need to worry—with the Grand Duke in front to shield him.

...

After resting for a night in Tulip Castle, Liszt rode the Landwalker bird Loki back to Fresh Flower Town early the next morning. Today was the celebration banquet for the promotion of Coral Island's Count to Marquis of Bull Tail, which required dressing up in grand attire. He needed to bring his followers, Retainer Knights, and servants.

From among his followers, he selected Clear Water Sword Saint Yevich·Water Peanut, Iron Knight Alvin·Eagle Sword, the advisor from Port Town, Gao Ertai·Mast, and Marcus Wheel, the leader of the Black Horse Island Knights Order, to accompany him to Tulip Castle for the banquet.

To bolster the Tulip Family's presence—a Sword Saint and Iron Knight made excellent figureheads to "dress up the shopfront."

He also brought along the youngest follower, Emily, allowing her to see the world as a Retainer Knight and to unwind—constantly being tense in training wasn't reasonable, and since Emily herself was unwilling to rest, he would have to take her out himself, considering it a form of relaxation.

In addition, Liszt was accompanied by Ach, dressed in noble ladies' finery.

Since he had already announced that Ach was his sister, it was also time to introduce her to the family and to give Marquis of Bull Tail a shock in the process. Somehow, Liszt had developed this mischievous pleasure, always keen on creating big news and taking delight in the Marquis's astonishment whenever there was an opportunity.

That expression of utter disbelief, while trying to hide it, was quite amusing.

Perhaps it was his way of getting back at the Marquis for always pestering for updates on "The Sky Chronicle of Liszt," robbing him of the joy in his writing.

"Brother, Ach doesn't want to go to the banquet. This dress is so uncomfortable to wear," Ach complained, looking more charming in formal attire than any other noble young lady.

Her innocent face, paired with the fancy gown, her smooth skin, plus her petite figure, and her youthful and unripe demeanor, would certainly make all the noble young ladies feel ashamed of themselves—taking Ach to the banquet would likely shield Liszt from the predatory gazes of the female nobility.

Liszt could imagine just how many noble young ladies would set their sights on him like hunters at this banquet.

After all, he was such an exceptional person.

"This is human life, Ach. Learn to bear it first, and then you'll understand how to enjoy it," Liszt straightened his own ruffled Ruff collar, "I used to dislike Flack·Abbieye as well, thinking it was some fool's idea of a garment to torment oneself with, but after getting used to it... it still feels very uncomfortable!"

The Flack·Abbieye style of noble attire was complicated, strange, and uncomfortable to wear.

Perhaps it was precisely this oddity that made it a symbol of the nobility—the more intricate, the more it represented order, the stranger it was, the more it stood out from the crowd, symbolizing noble etiquette and aristocracy—as opposed to the common clothing of the commoners, it was the distinction that marked its greatest feature.

But Liszt didn't like it, not at all.

"When I establish my own kingdom, the first thing to reform will be the attire... Clothing must be simple and convenient as a principle, and only then can it possibly reflect the dignity of the nobility." Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

He mounted the bird.

At Liszt's command, the lengthy procession set off toward Tulip Castle. The journey was neither hurried nor slow, planning to arrive at Tulip Castle just before the start of the midday banquet to avoid the needless effort of social interaction—besides, important figures always made their entrance at the last moment, and he planned to make his appearance after the First Prince and others had arrived.