BXBX NOVEL Chapter 295 Me? As Duke?
Even with the Moon God\'s death, the Druids didn\'t retaliate against Cloudview County with the expected fury.
However, Druids continued to gather at the edge of Endless Forest.
The six tribes led by Mike hadn\'t left, and the Psychics of Cloudview County remained vigilant, constantly reinforcing the border with formations and traps.
Diana had briefly regained consciousness after collapsing.
She had told Amelia, "The Blackwoods no longer need to fear experts above the Basic Mastery stage," before falling unconscious again.
Amelia had taken her back to Glory City.
The Blackwood clan understood that Diana had played a crucial role in their victory, but Amelia explained that only her Celestial Botanical Technique and exceptionally rare treasures could truly heal the Demon Lord.
Ordinary methods were ineffective, leaving the Blackwoods unsure how to repay Diana\'s kindness.
The Blackwood clan gathered, kneeling before the Forebearer Psychic Position, expressing their gratitude to Ethan for slaying the Moon God and saving their family once again.
Ethan, perched proudly on the altar, waved his hand dismissively.
"It was nothing, hehe, just a small matter."
As if he hadn\'t spent the entire day after using \'Fight, My Dear Forebearer\' in a daze, suffering from the agonizing aftereffects.
"Forebearer, I acted recklessly, dragging our family into war with the Druids. Please punish me!" Nathan kowtowed, filled with guilt.
Ethan wasn\'t angry.
Everyone in the Blackwood clan knew that Nathan had come to Border town prepared to die, to secure a future for his family.
But neither Ethan, the Forebearer, nor the Blackwood descendants would abandon any of their own.
They would face all challenges together.
Ethan activated the skill \'Forebearer\'s Caress.\'
Charlie Crackle, in his Mist Serpent form, appeared before the Psychic Position, relaying Ethan\'s words, which he had written on the translucent panel.
"Master says, what\'s done is done. Facing the consequences with courage is the righteous path."
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Forebearer!" Nathan kowtowed repeatedly, secretly pleased that the Forebearer favored him the most.
The Blackwood clan gathered in the ancestral hall to discuss the future of Cloudview County.
As Ethan had said, now that they had returned, neither the Emerald Empire nor the Druids could take their land.
They would use every means at their disposal to make it clear that Cloudview County belonged to the Blackwoods!
"Forebearer, Edward, as I instructed, obtained the title of Duke from the ancient god, along with his promise. This status will allow us to command many powerful individuals and factions. I believe Edward should be the one to hold the title of Duke."
Edward, who had been listening attentively to his elders, was taken aback.
"Great-grandfather, me? As Duke?"
Surely, there were many elders more qualified than him.
"Yes." Nathan smiled.
"Martin already holds the title of Duke. Even with our close relationship, having two Dukes in one county could lead to conflict. But you are different. Kenneth is your brother-in-law, and you have ties to the Martins. He would be delighted. Besides, the old tree is never wrong.
He said you would sit on the throne, so sit boldly."
"I understand." Edward nodded solemnly.
The old tree, now in human form, closed his eyes and puffed out his chest with pride.
Edward retrieved several items from his Storage Ring: a jade slip with the imperial decree, a jade seal signifying his dukedom, and a magnificent robe.
He stepped out of the room, and with the Blackwood clan\'s approval, took a deep breath and engraved his name on the ancient god\'s decree.
A formation descended from the sky above Cloudview County, bathing Edward in a pillar of natural energy.
A throne materialized in the air.
Everyone in Azure Cloud\'s Border town stared in awe at the pillar of light. Explore more at m,v l\'e-NovelBin.net
Edward ascended with the light, taking his place on the throne!
His voice boomed across the sky.
"Today, Edward Blackwood of Azure Cloud, by decree of the ancient god, assumes the position of Duke of Cloudview County!"
Natural energy surged from the formation, converging upon Edward.
His aura swelled!
...
Meanwhile, in the imperial capital, during the court assembly held every eighteen days...
Chaos erupted among the officials.
"News from the Azure Cloud border! All the Psychics who evacuated Cloudview County have returned! Led by Daniel Blackwood, they launched a brilliant ambush, slaying four hundred and thirty thousand enemies!"
"Unbelievable! Not a single one obeyed the order to retreat! A mere county town withstood six tribes! And the Azure Cloud Blackwoods are no ordinary clan. Nathan Blackwood has undergone the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation and single-handedly held off a Druid Apostle. Intelligence reports indicate that another Blackwood, named Amelia, is also about to undergo the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation."
"I heard the Druids even sent elders this time. That hasn\'t happened in thirty thousand years! The Blackwoods used their trump card and killed the Moon God!"
"Hiss..."
Their astonishment was understandable.
During the last court assembly, they had all but written off Cloudview County.
Now, against all odds, it had survived!
Some even felt a secret thrill.
The cession of the twelve border counties had been a humiliation for many of the high-ranking officials present.
This victory was a much-needed morale boost.
But among the officials, none looked as grim as National Advisor Lance.
The Blackwood clan\'s victory brought him no joy.
Ceding the twelve counties in exchange for a millennium of peace had been a perfectly reasonable trade in his eyes, a political achievement he had intended to boast about.
But the Blackwoods\' defiance had disrupted his plans, even sowing seeds of doubt among the officials.
The survival of a county and a clan that had been deemed expendable was a slap in his face, a public declaration of his folly.
"Your Majesty!" Lance bowed towards the ancient god, who sat behind a curtain.
"The ever-victorious general, Owen, disobeyed your orders and engaged in battle with Druid elders in Cloudview County. He has jeopardized the alliance between Your Majesty and the Druids. This is treason! Please issue a decree, and I will immediately dispatch men to bring Owen back for punishment!"
His words ignited a storm of outrage among the military officials.
The grand hall echoed with the shouts of both civil and military factions.
Numerous generals pleaded for permission to lead their armies to Azure Cloud\'s aid.
Some even proposed summoning reclusive experts to lead the charge, emulating Grand Tutor Gilbert\'s northern expedition, to conquer the Mystic Alliance\'s Druid lands and claim them for the Emerald Empire.
Even some of the most conservative civil officials in the grand hall supported this idea.
As more and more officials voiced their support for military action, the ancient god\'s voice finally rang out.
"This matter will be discussed upon Grand Tutor Gilbert\'s return."
His words silenced the court.
Grand Tutor Gilbert had been campaigning in the north for millennia.
By the time he returned, Cloudview County would be overrun with Druid totems.