NOVPUB
Chapter 128: The Steward of the King
The envoy, consisting of a dozen royal guards and a dwarf at the forefront dressed in royal attire, made their way from the teleportation station to Duke Valiard’s mansion. Along the route, the people respectfully cleared a path for them until they finally reached the mansion. Upon their arrival, Duke Valiard greeted them with a warm smile, as if he had been expecting their visit and was merely awaiting the appointed time.
Duke Valiard led them to the guest room, where he and the leader of the royal envoy could have a private conversation.
"What a surprise, Sir Steward, for you to come all the way from the capital. Is there something I can assist you with?" Duke Valiard asked with a smile.
"Duke Valiard, I believe you already understand the reason for our visit. It concerns the recent Heavenly Tribulation that appeared in the skies above Valiard City. Many people are uneasy, and there are numerous rumors and pieces of information we cannot verify. I’ve been appointed by His Majesty to seek clarification regarding this event," the steward explained.
Duke Valiard nodded. "I see. I apologize for the disturbance, but it was related to my recent activities. The Heavenly Tribulation was an unavoidable consequence."
"So the Heavenly Tribulation occurred because of something you did? May I ask what exactly caused it?" the steward inquired.
"As the steward surely knows, a Heavenly Tribulation is only triggered by something extraordinary, something like breakthrough to emperor stage, although that’s not the only trigger." Duke Valiard replied, to which the steward nodded in agreement.
"Recently, I created an artifact," Duke Valiard said confidently. His steady voice carried an unmistakable sense of pride. The steward suddenly stood up from his seat, clearly startled.
"You created an artifact? Does that mean—" The steward’s voice faltered as Duke Valiard nodded.
"Yes, it’s a Divine-grade artifact."
The steward trembled, his voice shaky as he asked, "Did you succeed?"
"What do you think, Sir Steward?" Duke Valiard replied with a smile. That was all the confirmation the steward needed—he now knew that another Divine-grade artifact had been born.
"What kind of artifact did you create?" the steward asked.
"A sword," Duke Valiard said calmly.
"Where is it? I want to see it for myself," the steward said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. As a blacksmith himself, his curiosity was piqued, and this also aligned with the king’s order for clarification. If Duke Valiard had truly forged another Divine-grade artifact, it would undoubtedly stir the noble circles once again.
"The rise of another genius like Mardred Valiard, his brother," many would surely think like that. The implications for Duke Valiard would be enormous. Since the mysterious disappearance of Mardred, along with the swirling rumors, the Valiard family—especially Duke Valiard—had been suppressed by the other dukes, leaving him at a political disadvantage.
This suppression had steadily eroded Duke Valiard’s influence, causing the Valiard family’s gradual decline in recent years. He shared the king’s frustration over this, but jealousy and politics were ruthless. However, the creation of another Divine-grade artifact could dramatically shift the dynamics in his favor. Even without his elder brother’s presence, Duke Valiard’s achievement in creating such a weapon would have immense strategic value.
The public’s perception of Duke Valiard would solidify—his name would become etched deeper into their hearts. They would regard him as an irreplaceable figure, a man who had created not one, but two Divine-grade artifacts. All of this within a span of 70,000 years—though it was a long time, the difficulty of such a feat could not be overstated.
All of this is evident in history, where no other Divine-grade artifact has been created in such a span of time. The fact that the same person crafted yet another Divine-grade artifact makes its value even higher.
"To see the sword, I’ll need to ask the owner’s permission," Duke Valiard said.
The steward froze, as though cold water had been splashed on his head.
"The sword has already chosen its owner? You created it for someone else? Not for yourself? Is this person from outside the kingdom?"
"Yes," Duke Valiard replied calmly.
The steward let out a deep sigh. "It’s a shame that such a powerful Divine-grade sword has fallen into the hands of an outsider. But, no matter. If you’ve truly succeeded in creating a Divine-grade sword, that’s all that matters. Still, I would like to see it for myself so I can report accurately to His Majesty."
"Of course. Please wait for a moment. I’ll see if I can invite him here," Duke Valiard responded.
"The owner is still here?" the steward asked in surprise.
"Yes," Duke Valiard confirmed before leaving the room. He returned a few minutes later with another person. The steward’s gaze fell upon a tall young man, about 180 cm in height, with a handsome face. The young man’s black hair was as dark as the night, and his blue eyes gleamed like clear seawater. Although the steward couldn’t sense the young man’s cultivation level, his instincts warned him that this individual was not to be underestimated.
His gaze then shifted to the sword at the young man’s waist—a beautifully crafted weapon. The moment the steward sensed the sword’s aura, his body trembled, and he nearly collapsed in shock.
The difficulty of creating a Divine-grade artifact is well-known. Even if someone manages to craft one, it’s most likely to be of a low Divine grade. To create something of a higher grade requires not only immense effort but also an extraordinary level of comprehension, rare resources, natural abilities, and even a stroke of luck. And even then, the creation of a low Divine-grade artifact is already a monumental achievement.
In the past million years, the number of artifacts that have reached the middle Divine grade can be counted on one hand. The last successful creation of a middle Divine-grade artifact occurred 160,000 years ago in the Forgeheart Kingdom, and all those involved in its creation have long since been buried, leaving only their glorious names behind.
When the steward sensed the aura of a middle Divine-grade artifact from the sword at this young man’s waist, he nearly stumbled from the shock. Could this mean that Duke Valiard had forged a middle Divine-grade artifact in this era? If true, it would not only shake the Forgeheart Kingdom but send shockwaves throughout the entire continent. A blacksmith capable of producing a middle Divine-grade artifact would be an unprecedented revelation!
"It might be wise to steady your breathing, sir. Don’t let yourself suffocate," came the voice of the young man. The steward snapped out of his shock, suddenly aware that his breathing had become erratic, and a tightness was building in his chest. He took a deep breath, slowly exhaling to calm himself.
"Sir Steward, as you can see and sense, the sword at his waist is the one I mentioned," Duke Valiard said.
The steward turned to Aldrian, offering a slight bow. "I apologize for my unsightly reaction. May I ask for your name, young master?"
"You may simply call me Aldrian," the young man replied. "I understand that you, Sir Steward, appointed by His Majesty the King, wish to see this sword."
"Yes, young master Aldrian, i’m here to seek clarification regarding the Heavenly Tribulation that suddenly appeared and caused unrest among the citizens. After Duke Valiard explained that it was caused by the creation of a Divine-grade artifact, I wanted to see it for myself as proof. Now, with this sword as evidence, there’s no issue, and His Majesty will surely be pleased with the news."
They both sat down on the sofa, but the steward’s eyes were constantly drawn to the sword. Aldrian smiled, noticing the eager expression on the steward’s face.
"Would you like to touch it, sir?" Aldrian offered, placing the Eternal Spirit sword on the table in front of them.
The steward was momentarily stunned but then nodded, reaching out to touch the sword. The sword trembled for a brief moment before settling down. As his hand made contact, the steward felt it—a surge of hidden power emanating from the middle Divine-grade weapon. The craftsmanship was profound, and he could sense that this sword wasn’t just a weapon but also an object capable of law comprehension. Faint traces of intertwined laws flowed within the blade, though they were subtle.
Aldrian knew the reason for this. The laws within the sword were not as pure as they had been when the material was still untouched Divine Iron. After being tempered and forged, the purity of the laws had diminished. However, with continued use and Aldrian’s infusion of his own laws into the sword, its power and clarity could evolve in the future.
The steward continued to admire the beauty and intricacy of the craftsmanship before turning to Duke Valiard.
"You crafted this? Do you have a highly skilled helper? As we know, your elder brother is in seclusion in the capital," the steward said, glancing at Aldrian. "And none of the Emperor-stage blacksmiths we know of are present in your mansion. Did you receive assistance from someone outside?"
"You could say that, sir steward," Duke Valiard responded with a smile. "In fact, you’ve already met him."
The steward looked puzzled. "I’ve already met him? When? Where?"
Duke Valiard pointed beside him, towards Aldrian. "Right now. He’s sitting in front of you."
