Seeing the confusion on Evan Chu's face, Roland Lowell said, "Evan, don't turn this down. This is actually my idea. I'm very good at judging people, and I can tell your future achievements will definitely surpass mine. Hurry up and thank the Heavenly Dragon Emperor."
Evan Chu shot Roland a glare. He honestly didn't care about this so-called Protector-General of the Realm, and besides, he had no intention of staying in the Royal Capital for long. For a moment, he didn't even know what to say.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's great kindness! I, Evan, will dedicate myself to the prosperity of the Empire, even unto death!" Evan said, though the words felt hollow to him.
"Good! Very good! Everyone will be rewarded with ten thousand high-grade Starstones! Tonight, we drink until we drop!" declared the Heavenly Dragon Emperor.
Gavin Wei nearly lost his balance when he heard about those ten thousand high-grade Starstones. That was a million Starstones! The Emperor really knew how to make a statement.
So everyone thanked the Emperor again. At the banquet, quite a few people tried to cozy up to Evan Chu, now the youngest Protector-General of the Realm in history, but he handled them all one by one.
Finally, Skylar Yule raised his cup to Evan. "Evan, you and I hit it off the moment we met. Why not take this chance to swear brotherhood?"
Evan never expected the Second Prince to make such a request. For a moment, he was at a loss—Skylar was a prince of the realm, his status unimaginably high. Evan was just a commoner; even with the Protector-General title, everyone knew it was just the Emperor casting a long line to catch a big fish.
"Evan, just say yes. It'll do you a world of good—don't get hung up on status. Or are you one of those shallow types?" came Luna's voice in his mind.
"Alright! Since the Second Prince thinks so highly of me, let's swear brotherhood right here and now!" Evan said.
"Excellent! Truly excellent! Now that you've sworn brotherhood with Skylar, you're half my son as well. So today, I'll give you an official title and formally adopt you as my righteous son—I'm naming you Prince Valiant!" announced the Heavenly Dragon Emperor.
Evan was completely stunned. In an instant, his identity had become royal kin—something he never could've imagined, even in his wildest dreams.
It was the kind of happiness that hits out of nowhere. For someone his age to be valued like this—he honestly felt both thrilled and overwhelmed.
"Thank you, Father Emperor! I swear I won't let you down!" Evan immediately half-knelt and saluted the Heavenly Dragon Emperor with utmost respect.
"Very good! For me, Yuwen Tianhai, to have a righteous son like you is a blessing earned from a past life. Today, I'll personally preside over the brotherhood ceremony for you and Skylar!" Yuwen Tianhai said with a smile.
Evan had gone from Protector-General of the Realm to Prince Valiant in a single leap—his rank had risen another level, and all the ministers in the great hall were green with envy.
Soon, everyone left the palace and set up offerings and incense at the altar outside. In front of the crowd, Evan and Skylar Yule performed the full ceremony of sworn brotherhood.
After the ceremony, Evan turned to Skylar and said, "Elder Brother, please accept your little brother's bow!"
Skylar froze for an instant, then quickly smiled and replied, "No need for so much formality, worthy brother. From now on, we're family—share blessings and hardships alike. Together, we'll make the Heavenly Dragon Kingdom even stronger!"
"I'll do my best!" Evan said earnestly.
Then everyone returned to the great hall, drinking and laughing. Selena stayed by Evan Chu's side the whole time—she knew perfectly well he wouldn't stay in the capital for long. All this was just a temporary act.
After a few rounds of drinks, the crowd left the palace hall. Evan, Gavin Wei, and Selena headed to the Second Prince's manor, while Roland Lowell wanted to check on his own general's estate, which had been wrecked during the coup.
At the manor, Skylar Yule was suddenly called away on urgent business, leaving Evan and the other two. Gavin, feeling like a third wheel, made an excuse about drinking too much and a headache, then quietly slipped out.
Evan and Selena wandered through the back garden of the Second Prince's manor, eventually sitting down together in a pavilion.
Gazing at the koi swimming in the pond near the pavilion, Evan said, "I wonder when I'll ever be able to live as carefree as those fish, swimming wherever I please."
Selena looked at Evan and asked, "Are you worried about how to ask Skylar Yule for the Fire Spirit Pearl?"
Selena could see right through Evan's worries. Now, with his elevated status, things were even trickier. He still had huge responsibilities—finding the Spirit Pearls was top priority, and there was also the matter of his mother. There was no way he could settle down and live a peaceful life here.
Evan sighed. "Yeah, having this title bestowed on me by the Emperor is honestly suffocating. I'm not the type to sit still—there's so much I need to do. Selena, what do you think I should do?"
"Just do whatever you want. No one can force you—this place really isn't for you. But don't worry, I'll stay by your side until the day you finally accept me," Selena said softly.
Evan looked at Selena and said, "You're a wonderful girl, and I admit I do have feelings for you. But there's a wide gulf between us—how am I supposed to cross it?"
"Evan, the Demon Clan isn't as evil as you think. There are good people among them too. Back in the days of the Divine Battlefield, the Demon Clan were victims as well. I don't know all the details, but I do know they were used by someone whose power was truly beyond measure," Selena said.
Evan was taken aback. "Do you know who that person was?" he asked.
"I'm not really sure, but I know he was once a member of the Demon Clan. Later, he practiced some mysterious technique that completely purged his demonic nature. The great war on the Divine Battlefield between Human Clan, Demon Clan, and Beast Clan was definitely connected to him," Selena said.
Evan was even more shocked. His thoughts grew increasingly chaotic—there was so much he didn't know. What was that person's goal? To become the supreme ruler of the world?
"Luna, you know so much about the past—do you have any idea who Selena was talking about?" Evan quietly asked Sword Spirit Luna in his heart.
"That person is extremely secretive—few know he even exists. After all these millennia, he might be dead, or perhaps he's broken through to the highest realm and vanished into the void. I vaguely recall his name was Demon Sovereign," Luna answered.
"Demon Sovereign? Demon Lord? Now I'm really confused—which one is stronger?" Evan asked.
"The Demon Lord's strength is at best between the eighth and ninth level of the Saint Martial Realm, but the Demon Sovereign should be at the ninth level. For some reason, he didn't take part in the Divine Battlefield back then. Oh, and his name was Sovereign of Solitude!" Luna said.
"Sovereign of Solitude? He must have been truly lonely..."