AUTHOR NOTES:

h.e.l.lo Everyone,

Thank you so much for your wonderful ideas. There were many great ideas for the new summons. After going through all of your comments, I decided what the next summon is going to be. My decision was based on the number of votes for the next summons and also what Liam would need the most to improve himself currently. The other ideas are interesting and great, so I decided that they will appear later in the story.

Thank you,

Bader

==========================

I nodded my head as I looked at old Nel and said: " Old Nel, there are too many nosy people who love to know more about me. I believe you can handle them, right? There will be new trusty maids and butlers that will arrive next week. As for the current maids and butlers, I want them to fall to face the same fate as Lamonias."

Old Nel said: "Yes, I understand." He didn't ask who or where the new maids and butlers are coming from.

I walked back to my room and let everything in these old men's hands.

I set down on my bed and started to focus on increasing my talent. I have 2 years to change my talent to the peak! Alright, let's start now!

___________________________________________________________________________

(~~ TWO YEARS LATER ~~)

Liam's POV:

While sitting on a tree branch outside of my mansion, I was thinking about how my two years have been going so far.

During the two years, the three old men did their best to manage the State and the city in my absence. Currently, most of the issues have been solved due to the appearance of the Adventurers Guild. The guild has been renamed by the three old men which surprised me because I didn't tell them the name. Their reason was that the name adventurer would increase the popularity of the guild more among people. The start of the guild wasn't much but soon it became popular because of the number of requests coming from merchants from nearby states to gather necessary materials from the forest.

More merchants arrived from nearby states to open shops due to the low tax rates. The Secluded State helped the merchants to move their products safely. Which made many more people move into the city looking for new opportunities and future.

Due to the increasing number of people and the increasing economy, the Medicine Masters guild decided to open a branch in the city which helps with the doctors' issue.

I have been receiving birthday presents form the Empress Dowager every year on my birthday. She sent an apology for her inability to attend my birthday party due to her sickness. I was surprised that she was sending me gifts even though I haven't made any birthday party. Everyone wanted to make one for me but I wasn't used to it and refused. I just accepted their gifts.

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Ren and Thor finally had the opportunity to come and meet me. Ren came after finis.h.i.+ng the first batch of Shadow Guards. While Thor building a loyal army. Both Ren and Thor's cultivation increased by stage. They didn't neglect their cultivation training. But their rate of improvement was low. Hmm I will help with increasing their talent later.

Ren reported to me that she trained 300 Shadow Guards at the Fifth Stage Body Forging which was more than what we agree upon. Looks like when I didn't allow her to come she went all out during their training. I feel sorry for her, I sent her back to train more shadow guards while keeping the 300 shadow guards with me heheheee. Her reaction was epic, she started to say 'I disappointed lord. I will go to train and bring more powerful shadow guards next time. I won't disappoint you again!!!!' The shadow guards that were staying with us in the room started to s.h.i.+ver when the word training was brought up.

Thor was able to subdue all the criminal organizations in the Secluded State and make them my loyal soldiers. He has around 54,000 loyal soldiers. But, to turn them into a Bloodthirsty Army, it would require 3 years of training. So, I told him to go back and finish the Bloodthirsty army as fast as you can. He had a fire burning in his eyes as he said ' Two years would be enough, I won't disappoint Lord!!!'

Ahh I feel sorry for the people that are going to be trained by these two maniacs. To be able to rule and fight in the future I will need a more powerful army and shadow guards, so it's fine I guess…

Veldora was the one that did most of the work between all of my followers. He had to travel all around the empire to gather herbs and treasures that can improve my talent. For two years, he was flying all around making rumors about dragons appearing all around the empire. He didn't have time to rest during the two years. Although I feel bad for him, it's necessary to increase my talent.

Kurma did nothing but eat all day long and ask me to pet his head. His cultivation keeps increasing while he doesn't do anything but sleep and eat. When I ask him to go out and try to practice the lazy fellow says that he is working on "protecting me" while sleeping next to me…..

Recently, I noticed that my talent training came to a stop. No matter what I do, I am unable to finish my exercise. It was as if I am facing a wall that prevents me from moving forward. So, I asked Old Holt to get me a talent measuring stone. He agreed and left last week, he should be anytime now.

Three hours later, Old Holt arrived and came to see me. He said: " Greetings, my Lord. Lord, here is the talent stone that you asked for. It's the one we use at my Holt Clan. To use it just put your hand on it and focus your mind into the stone."

I look at the 1 meter high and 0.5 meters long stone with numbers from 1 to 10 engraved on it. and say: " Thank you, Old Holt. That's a giant stone! Hmm… Let's test my talent then.."

I move my hand forward and touch the stone while focusing my mind on the stone. A weird wave of energy entered my body from stone. Soon, the stone started to get brighter and brighter and emitting a wave of energy to the surroundings attracting the attention of Veldroa, Kurma, Old Lynch, and Old Nel. The came running all the way to our place outside the mansion. Shadow Guards noticed the commission and decided to clear the whole area for my safety.

Soon, the numbers engraved on the stone started to s.h.i.+ne starting from 1 until it reached 5 very fast.

Old Nel was surprised by the speed of the numbers, he said: "oiiii, is your stone broken Old Holt? What's going on? This is not normal at all!!!"

Old Lynch had a shocked face as he said: " Our Lord talent was tested when he was young! It was reported to be rank 1 talent. Why is it more than that now!! Ohh I always felt something was wrong with their report!!! Those f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.ds from the palace faked the report!!"

Veldora started to say: "Lord is the most talented cultivators!!! Hmph!!! You lowly humans can't distinguish talented people with a glance!!"

After a while, the numbers 6, 7, and 8 s.h.i.+ned making the three old men scream as if they went crazy.

Old Holt was holding his hair tightly while saying: "This is the legendary 8 rank!!! It's the legendary 8 rank!!! It's been 200 years since it appeared!! The last emperor was a rank 8 talent!!!"

Old Nel started to cry as he said: "Our royal clan has a future!! We have a future!!"

Old Lynch was shaking as he said: " Ooo... Old Frineddddsss…. The stone is still s.h.i.+ning… This is not his limit…" From fear and excitement, he couldn't talk properly.

When Old Lynch said the word limit, the numbers 9, and 10 s.h.i.+ned. Making the three old men fall on the ground with their eyes wide open.

Old Nel said: " Rank 10 talent!!!! The rank of the first emperor!!!! Ahhhh… How dare those people at the palace hide this fact!! I will skin them alive!! I will ..." While Old Nel was talking, Old Holt and Old Lynch punched Old Nel as they pointed at the stone.

When Old Nel looked at the stone his heart stopped as he screamed: "Impossible!!! Monster!!! This inhuman any more!!!"

The stone started to s.h.i.+ne even brighter as the spot after number 10 started to s.h.i.+ne. There was no number engraved at that spot. Cracks appeared all around the stone as it started to crumble down.

Old Lynch and Old Holt screamed saying: "Monster!!! What a monster!!!"

Kurma jumped while saying: " Idiots, lord's talent is beyond your comprehension! Hehehe… After all, he is Kurma's master!!"

I looked at the stone while remembering the rate that my talent s.h.i.+ned. I should be rank 14 or 13. In this world, there are 15 ranks for talent measurement. Talents up to 10 means one is able to reach higher stages of cultivation without limit. However, ranks beyond rank 10 means they won't face difficulties when making breakthroughs and their speed is doubled with each rank. So rank 14 would be 8x rank 10 and rank 15 would be 10x rank 10.]

I summoned my status window:

[ Name: Liam Von Vermilion (Mike)

t.i.tle: Secluded State Ruler, Shadow Guards Master, Supreme Commander of Bloodthirsty Army.

Age:6(21)

Health: 100%

Cultivation Qi: None

Cultivation Body: None

Talent: Rank 15

Skills: High Senses Lv.6, Sword Disciple Lv.9, Pain Endurance Lv.3( Ability to endure pain to a certain level)

Servants: 4

Summon ticket: 2 tickets (Take a Mission). ]

I can see take a mission tabe was s.h.i.+ning. So I said: 'Open Take Mission'. The mission window appeared showing the completed, current, and new mission The missions were:

[ Mission Name: Talent Refining

Description: Increase Cultivation Talent to level 10.

Time Limit: 2 years.

Requirement: Talent Level 10.

Reward: 1 Mid Level Summon Ticket.

Status: Completed. ]

[ Mission Name: Build an Army

Description: Create an army that contained 50,000 soldiers.

Time Limit: 10 years

Requirement: 50,000 loyal Soldiers.

Reward:1 low level Summon Ticket

Status: Completed]

[ Mission Name: Build shadow guards

Description: Create a shadow guards squad that contains 500 loyal Shadow Guards.

Time Limit: 10 years

Requirement: 500 loyal Shadow Guards

Reward: 1 Low level Summon Ticket

Status: 300 Shadow Guards out of 500 Shadow Guards.]

[ Mission Name: Master Artists

Description: Become a Master in Painting, Playing Music, and Poetry.

Time Limit: 3 years

Requirement: Mastering Painting, Playing Music, and Poetry.

Reward: 1 Low Level Summon]

[ Mission Name: Knowledgeable

Description: Become knowledgeable in history, geography, mathematics, Cultivation, and war studies.

Time Limit: 5 years

Requirements: knowledgeable in history, geography, mathematics, Cultivation, and war studies.

Reward: 1 Mid Level Summon, Book

Status: Knowledgeable in Four subjects (History, Geography, Mathematics, Cultivation) out of Five.]

[ Mission Name: Master One Profession.

Description: Study one profession and become a master in it.

Time Limit: 10 years

Requirements: Become a master in one profession. (Alchemist, Formations, Medicin, Poisons, Beasts Tamer, etc.)

Reward: 1 High Level Summon, Book.]

[ Mission Name: Make Empress Dowager your Supporter.

Description: To get the throne, you must have Empress Dowager support.

Warning: Empress Dowager would do anything to kill anyone who has ill intentions against the throne and Vermillion Empire. She won't accept anyone who would destroy the future of Vermilion Empire.

Time Limit: 5 years

Requirements: Cure her illness, Make her provide you with full support.

Reward: 2 High Level Summon, 1 Rare Skill.]