My name is Mael Khan I was born in Poet Town. This is what happened before I got captured by the demons.

I'm currently in front of the Royal Capital of the Nokan Kingdom. Duke Jerdon recommended me here. He was the man who took care of and assisted me in my Mid Foundation Establishment stage. I have gotten the rights to stand at the capital now that I'm a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator,

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I can still remember the start of my journey. This was all due to my brother Lohan Ben. I'm 21 right now. I heard that he got married last year. I bet his wife will be a beauty.

I can't help but envy him. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has received the best education from the start yet he was too unruly and got dumped to my school. If I was him, I wouldn't have been unruly and just learned with all my might.

Now, I have a status of a Peak Foundation Establishment Magic Cultivator. I can't wait and see his expression when he sees how powerful I have become.

Though, I'm not a man with no virtue. I will remember his help. He was the catalyst that started the reaction to my growth.

I heard that today the Third Princess will be having an announcement at the commoner's region in the capital. From the stories I heard, she was said to be short but mind-bogglingly beautiful. It makes one yearn to have a chance to meet her.

I gripped much more tightly to the recommendation letter Duke Jerdon gave me. I was supposedly recommended to be a disciple of the Royal Magic Tutor.

I can't wait to meet my future master! There are so many opportunities in this place. So many that I can't even fathom all of them!

Will I find myself a beautiful wife in this place? Just like my brother Lohan? I really cannot wait!

…

I find myself walking among the crowded streets of Capital City. The people around me have at least 8th level Mana Condensation cultivation stages. This is a stark contrast to what I've seen in Klerv Dukedom.

The common people are also dressed much better. Probably my brother wouldn't be able to imagine something like this. I'll write a letter to him later.

I reached the square of the commoner region. I can only hear a single voice coming from that place. Compared to the lively crowd I've been to earlier. The crowd here is really quiet.

"…conquer the Dukedom to the east! The Ferais Swords Kingdom has repeatedly tried to extort magical tools from our kingdom! Fellow citizens of the great Nokan Kingdom, prepare yourself!"

There, standing on the podium. A woman was standing gracefully. She was emitting a strong sense of dignity and chivalry. Her beautiful brown hair flowed down her shoulders.

She looked straight ahead with her clear and mature eyes. She has a small body, but it only highlighted her charm.

Mael was left standing agape as he stared at the beautiful woman who was making a speech. She was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

He didn't care about the contents of her words. War or Dignity, he did not give a damn! This woman is so beautiful that he felt his face flush red.

Mael pounded his chest lightly to calm his beating heart. He never felt such a sensation before.

"We will not let them trample our dignity!!"

With her passionate words, the crowd threw their arms to the air. They were so excited that some even released their cultivation pressures.

Mael felt stifled by the various cultivation pressures that were battering him from the crowd around him. He quickly left the crowd unless he wanted to faint there.

How did the Mana Condensation cultivators endure the cultivation pressure there? There must be a Core Formation elder in the crowd for the pressure to stifle me.

I looked left and right and asked the nearest person to me.

"Hey bro, who is that beauty on the podium?"

"Are you a country bumpkin? How can you not recognize the princess? She's not just some 'beauty on the podium' for ya'! She's the pearl of the Capital City!"

The man looked at Mael in annoyance. He really didn't like being dragged out and getting interrogated. He didn't like how Mael called her. That was his idol you know!

"She's the princess?"

Mael's jaw has reached the floor. So she was actually a princess. There's no way I would meet her.

With that, his first love was extinguished as fast as it was created.

…

"Master!"

Mael was kneeling in front of an old man with a silver beard. This was his first time meeting his supposed master.

"Mmm. Stand up."

The old man nodded his head in satisfaction and motioned for Mael to stand up.

This old man is the Nascent Soul stage cultivator assigned by His Majesty as the Royal Magic Tutor. He is the teacher of the children of His Majesty. He is a respected Water Element mage.

One of his disciples has even reached the Peak Core Formation stage.

"I would not immediately accept you as my disciple. You are aware that I teach the royal family, so I will not teach you if you disappoint me."

The old man caressed his beard as he spoke. He was much taller than Mael so he was looking down on him as he spoke.

"Yes! I will follow your instructions even if it is swimming through fire!"

With a determined voice, Mael spoke to the old man. He looked straight at the old man's eyes fearlessly.

"Mmm"

The old man nodded and left.

…

Mael's days passed by peacefully. He was cultivating a Core Formation cultivation manual his master gave him. He was to grasp and reach the Early Core Formation stage in 6-months. He was currently a stand-in disciple of the Royal Magic Tutor. As long as he does not pass this test he'll not be considered as an official disciple yet.

Today was the third week since Mael started cultivating in the mansion of his master. War has erupted between the Nokan Magic Kingdom and the bordering Ferais Swords Kingdom. They are fighting in the Dukedom which is within the territory of the Ferais Kingdom.

"Mael, follow me to the palace today. Assassinations have gotten more active recently. I don't want you to die before failing my test."

Master Nez is bringing me to the palace today. He said that I should be wary of Sword Cultivators. They are most likely an assassin sent by the Ferais Kingdom. As a stand-in disciple which is being tested to be an official disciple, I'm one of their targets.

Master also clarified that not all Sword Cultivators are affiliated with the Ferais Swords Kingdom so I shouldn't worry too much.

I can already feel myself grasping the basics of the Core Formation cultivation method. Only a little bit more and I would reach the Core Formation stage.

We entered the palace on foot. It was forbidden to fly inside the Capital City. Failing to abide by this rule means death by crippling their cultivation. Nascent Soul stage cultivators like master are not exempted from this rule.

I cannot imagine how they will kill someone by crippling their cultivation. I've only heard that crippling cultivation only makes you lose your cultivation.

We entered a beautiful courtyard inside the palace. Master stood there and called a maid. The maid then left after my Master said something to her.

Master and I stood there quietly. We waited for about 10 minutes before someone arrived.

It was someone I never expected to meet again so soon. It was the beautiful woman standing on the podium a few weeks ago. The Third Princess of the Nokan Kingdom. She still looked as beautiful as ever. The only difference is that she looked much more tired compared to before.

The love that I thought was extinguished, was reignited again.

"Teacher."

The Third Princess bowed towards my Master. She was wearing a blue cloak today.

"The war preparations must've taken a toll on you, Princess Lana."

Master spoke with familiarity to the Princess. Since he is the Royal Magic Tutor, he has spoken to her many times, so it's only normal that he spoke to her with familiarity.

"This is..?"

The Third Princess looked at me in curiosity. She wanted to know who I was.

"Forgive my intrusion, Third Princess Nona. I have come today with my Master since it is dangerous for a future disciple like me to be alone."

I bowed to the Princess. I can see my Master raising an eyebrow to the side. He must've been irked by my confidence that I will be his disciple in the future. I heard he has failed many before me.

"Oh, nice to meet you then."

The Third Princess quickly lost interest. She probably met the others who have failed before me. Thus, she only saw me as being overconfident.

But, this all changed when the demons invaded.