Kingdom Knight
Kingdom Knight
Hearing this from Zhang Tan, Tao Yunxiao was stunned and overjoyed.
Dragon Vanguard's elite!
Under normal circumstances, only the exceptional Purple Blood warriors would be inducted as a Dragon Vanguard elite. Upon becoming a Dragon Vanguard elite, they would be given much greater resources and facilities. They were promised a bright path ahead.
Originally, Zhang Tan promised this to the Mortal Blood's first place, and with Yi Yun winning the first two rounds, Tao Yunxiao felt there was little hope in him coming in first even if he won the final battle. Unexpectedly, luck had turned in his favor and Zhang Tan had promised that he could be a Dragon Vanguard elite by beating Yi Yun.
How could Tao Yunxiao not be excited?
Thankfully, he had received the ancestral artifact. With the ancestral artifact aiding him, his might would be doubled, and it would not be hard for him to defeat Yi Yun.
At that moment, not only Tao Yunxiao but all the Elders and the Grand Elder of the Tao tribal clan were stirring with excitement. If Tao Yunxiao could become a Dragon Vanguard elite, it would greatly aid that bid of bringing the Tao tribal clan out of the vast wilderness.
But Zhang Tan carried on with his words that shocked the Tao tribal clan's elders and Tao Yunxiao. Their original excitement had evaporated and they were left in a prolonged silence.
Zhang Tan said, "In this final battle, Yi Yun would become a Dragon Vanguard elite regardless of the outcome. But if Yi Yun were to win, he will also be conferred the title of Kingdom Knight."
The words "conferred the title of Kingdom Knight" shocked everyone.
Being defeated meant becoming a Dragon Vanguard elite.
Not only did victory make him a Dragon Vanguard elite, but he would also become a Kingdom Knight.
What was a Kingdom Knight in the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom? Under the divine emperor were the nobles. The nobles were divided into seven ranks: prince, duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron, and knight.
The knight was of course "Kingdom Knight".
Although Kingdom Knights were ranked last amongst the nobles, it was in no way of little value. All the nobles of the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom were canonized by the royal household.
The Tai Ah Divine Kingdom was a vast country. The founding emperor of the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom was a sage, so it was difficult to measure the number of territories under it.
The great vastness of the Cloud Wilderness was just a remote place in the northern part of the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom and it was of little value.
As for the Tao tribal clan, they were just one of the many tribes in the Cloud Wilderness. Their territory just spanned five hundred kilometers.
It was a great honor to be conferred nobility by the royal household in such a vast empire, even if it was only in name.
The title of nobility could not be used in idle talk. The difference between nobles and plebeians was great in any country in the vast wilderness.
Previously, the henchmen of Lian Chengyu often claimed that "Lian Chengyu will become a Kingdom Knight", while Lian Cuihua and those women would spread information on how powerful a Kingdom Knight was throughout the Lian tribal clan. This made it seem like Lian Chengyu would immediately become a Kingdom Knight. But in reality, there was a huge gap between passing the kingdom's selection and to be a Kingdom Knight.
Normally, to be a Kingdom Knight, one had to render meritorious services in battle. If not for meritorious services, they had to have outstanding talent to be noticed by the top before they could be conferred.
Just take the Dragon Vanguard as an example. 99% of the Dragon Vanguard warriors were never conferred titles. Their status was the same as a commoner and not a noble.
Even Zhang Tan as a Thousand Households of the Dragon Vanguard was just a 'Kingdom Knight'.
Which is to say, in terms of nobility ranking, Yi Yun would be at the same level as Zhang Tan.
Zhang Tan did not have the authority to confer Yi Yun as a Kingdom Knight, but after Yi Yun had induced Purple Air Comes From The East, it meant that he was bound to have a bright future and to become either a future duke or prince.
For a person who could become a duke in the future, so what if they gave the title of Kingdom Knight?
So to bestow Yi Yun the title of Kingdom Knight, Zhang Tan had consulted the senior members of the Dragon Vanguard. Only after they gave their permission did he procure the Kingdom Knight title.
The next thing to do was to enter the capital for approval. In fact, a title like Kingdom Knight was a sure thing once the upper echelon of the Dragon Vanguard had decided on it. Going into the capital for approval was just a process.
"As long as Yi Yun beats Young Master Yunxiao, he would become a Kingdom Knight." The warriors of the Tao tribal clan knew clearly what it meant by the words Kingdom Knight. They could not believe that a poor kid from a small tribal clan could become an esteemed noble.
Days later, they would have to bow to Yi Yun upon seeing him.
It would be such a humiliating scene for them.
"Tsk, that will only happen if he beats Young Master Yunxiao. Young Master Yunxiao has obtained permission to use our Tao tribal clan's ancestral artifact. With the ancestral artifact in hand, Young Master Yunxiao would be successful in any endeavor." Some Tao tribal clan warriors said indignantly. The warriors of the Tao tribal clan found it hard to accept that such a title could be given to a commoner of a small tribal clan. They were extremely proud but Yi Yun had trampled on their pride.
"That's right, for Yi Yun to get the title, he has to cross the hurdle of our Young Master. Our Tao tribal clan's ancestral artifact has killed numerous ancient desolate beasts. Can Yi Yun withstand the ancestral artifact?"
The title of Kingdom Knight made everyone green with envy, because this title was not just idle talk, but was something packed with real benefits.
Kingdom Knights could obtain resources from the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom annually. Not only that, a Kingdom Knight would receive a small piece of land in the central heartlands, where they could build their home.
Don't belittle this, it was an absolute attraction to the people of the vast wilderness.
Typically, a Kingdom Knight was pretty wealthy. As a Kingdom Knight was strong, he had a respectable status. As such, many would come to seek refuge under the Kingdom Knight, giving up their numerous possessions in order to become a servant of the Kingdom Knight.
Many beautiful young women would vie to dedicate themselves, selling their bodies to the Kingdom Knight and serving him. If they were lucky to be noticed by the master, they could become a room maiden or a concubine. It would be a great blessing.
This was the present situation of this chaotic world. Commoners lived arduous lives in this world. By being sheltered by a large tree, their lives would be easy even if they were to lead a freedomless life of servitude.
What Lian Chengyu had previously mentioned of a family clan was this. If he became a Kingdom Knight, he could own his little piece of territory. He could take in servants and beauties and enjoyed splendid riches.
This vague promise had made the people of the Lian tribal clan excited. To these suffering people, they could get by through their labor, with no fear of famine, plagues or attacks from beasts if they could follow Lian Chengyu into the central heartlands of the Tai Ah Divine Kingdom. Such days would be like paradise.
Now, Lian Chengyu's dreams had been crushed like his body—never to be realized.
How ironic it was that Lian Chengyu's ambitious goals were realized by Yi Yun.
Once Yi Yun became a Kingdom Knight, he could bring a group of people to his land in the heartlands. He could build his homes, take in servants and become a real lord of nobility.
The thought of a twelve-year-old noble made many jealous. It could only be described as a bright future.
Added with the fact that Yi Yun was handsome, even many girls of the Tao tribal clan would end up admiring him if he were to become a Kingdom Knight. Those fans of Hu Ya and Tao Yunxiao might even turn their backs on their infatuation and go for Yi Yun as one of his admirers. This was the power of the title of Kingdom Knight had.
Tao Yunxiao was so green with envy that his intestines turned green.
He originally thought that defeating Yi Yun to become a Dragon Vanguard elite was a great honor.
But in a turn of an eye, Zhang Tan's promise to Yi Yun shattered his pride mercilessly.
Even if Yi Yun lost, he would still be a Dragon Vanguard elite, and if he won, he would be a Kingdom Knight!
Tao Yunxiao's ambitions were similar to Lian Chengyu's. He too wanted riches and concubines, great power and glory. Tao Yunxiao just had a greater ambition than Lian Chengyu.
At that moment, his ambition had not even been realized one bit, but Yi Yun had already taken his first step. This made him jealous.
"Kingdom Knight? How could I allow you to become a Kingdom Knight? Stop dreaming. I'll defeat you no matter what it takes." While thinking this, Tao Yunxiao gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
He wanted to be a Dragon Vanguard elite and absolutely did not want to see Yi Yun become a Kingdom Knight. He had to win this final battle.