Year 819. The Lantis Republic. Celestial Island.

“The Prince has slain the Blade of Death! The Prince has slain the Blade of Death! The Black Masks had created the Gate to Hell, but it was foiled by the Prince’s ingenious schemes! The World Serpent had been severely injured by the eight Spirit Venerates! The Allfather has lost! The Allfather has lost!” Echoes of Shin’s expedition west reverberated through the densely populated island. Newspapers were spread throughout the nation, announcing every single legendary deed that Shin had accomplished.

From the very beginning, when Shizen had perished under Junius blade, to the moment that Shin foiled the Allfather’s plans for the west once and for all... Everything was published and circulated for all to see. However, the one thing that shook the nation far more than any other was Shin’s new cultivation level.

A twenty-three-year-old Rank 60 Spirit King… How absurd was that?!

Becoming a Spirit Practitioner was easy. Most humans in the world, once they underwent the Spirit Awakening Ceremony, would instantly become Rank 1 Spirit Practitioners. However, that was the only easy part. Cultivation was a long and arduous process, and many failed at the first level. It was said that only half of all humans could cultivate out from the Spirit Practitioner level and advanced into the Spirit Apostle realm. Those that entered the Spirit Apostle realm within ten years would be considered to be average talents. Those that did it in five could consider themselves as the top ten percent. Those that did it in three would be the best of the best. Any lower, and they would be placed on a pedestal, alongside super-geniuses such as Spirit Immortal Dream.

Shin and Kanari were part of that elite club. However, the two of them took it one step further. Crossing the first barrier of mortality at Rank 40 was considered to be a dangerous step. Only one percent of the entire human population could ever reach those heights. That was how difficult it was. However, freaks such as Shin and Kanari existed and reaching Rank 40 was just a matter of time. Those that ascended before they were twenty-five would be granted the legendary title of Luminary. Shin and Kanari made that jump when they were barely twenty.

That deed alone was enough to write their names down in the history books as some of the best cultivators to ever grace the planet. But Shin wasn’t done. In three years, he leapt from Rank 40 to Rank 50. The moment a cultivator passed the first barrier of mortality and extended their lifespan by a hundred years, in theory, their cultivation should have slowed. Going from Rank 40 to Rank 50 should be two times harder than it was going from Rank 30 to 40. Adding to that, Rank 50 to 60 should be three times harder than it was going from Rank 40 to 50. That was the main reason why there were so few powerful cultivators in the upper realms, and why Luminaries were so highly valued.

Alas, Shin doesn’t care about such restrictions. With his Celestial Dragon and the Hymn of Origin, Shin could absorb far more elements than before. The Hymn of Origin could cultivate in Water, Light, Mind, Space and Time elements, making it far easier for Shin to make breakthrough after breakthrough. Hence, in a mere three years, Shin was able to advance from Rank 40 to 50.

And just when the world thought that they’d seen it all… Shin’s trip to the Uncharted Wilderness had allowed him to return back as a Rank 60 Spirit King. It should be known, anyone who could reach the Spirit King realm before fifty would be seen as a person who could easily make it into the Spirit Venerate realm. Reaching that level before forty would make them a potential Spirit Saint contender. Below thirty, they would be the genius of an era, one that only came by once in ten thousand years. As for those that became Spirit Kings below twenty-five… The number of humans in the world’s history who had reached that legendary status could be counted with the fingers of one hand.

A Rank 60 Spirit King at twenty-three… If not for Dream’s existence, Shin could have been the greatest genius of all time. In many ways, Shin could be considered as the next Spirit Immortal, one that could match Dream’s legacy. Thus, the Lantis Republic had already dubbed him as such.

“The next Spirit Immortal, the Prince of Water. Quite a catchy headline!” A peal of hearty laughter thundered through the dining room of Shin’s mansion. Seated at one corner of the table, a blonde beauty happily bit down on her red apple, spilling all sorts of juices out of her mouth. Her left hand was supporting the thick parchment paper that had an assortment of words. However, most of them were recounting the deeds of the heroic Shin Iofiel.

The blonde choked: “Shin Iofiel, the greatest genius that the Lantis Republic had ever produced? Hmph! What did they do to ‘produce’ you? Wasn’t it all my hard work and effort?”

“Yes, Master. You’re the one that put in the most effort...” A cool voice answered Lady Seph, though there was a tinge of humour in the man’s tone. Seated at the head of the table, a black-haired man wore the calmest smile that one could ever possess. His face was bright and azure eyes as sharp as can be. Anyone who gazed upon the man’s visage would be instantly entranced by his regal air, even though he was younger than most.

“You’re teasing me again, Shin...” Lady Seph squinted her eyes, giving her disciple a death glare. Other than the Prince of Water, who else could sny sarcastically back at the Divine Healer? “Hah, the young would eventually bully the old… I remember the days where you were a slacker that argued over cleaning the toilet… How I wish to return to those days!”

“Master… Why are you making it sound like I was only good for cleaning toilets?”

“Huh? Wasn’t that the case?”

“...” The man of the hour, the Prince that everyone was talking about, had been shut clean by his Master’s teasing words. By Shin’s side, many youngsters stifled their chuckles as they leisurely took small bites from their luxurious meals.

“Hmmm, the Prince of Cleaning… Somehow that has a nice ring to it!” Never one to let an opportunity to tease Shin slip by, Elrin purred in defiance. “Lady Seraphim, would you please pen down some of your experiences with Shin back at Yakkyoku Clinic? If I sell that information to the Celestial Times, I wonder how much gold I would earn?”

“... Ninety-ten.” Lady Seph thought about it before seriously giving an offer.

“No! That’s far too steep! You have to realise the number of connections I have to pull! How about seventy-thirty?”

“Eighty-twenty… No lower!”

“Deal!” Elrin immediately shook the beauty’s hand, snapping down the contract before Lady Seph changed her mind. Now, everyone was raving about Shin Iofiel, the youngest genius alive. Essentially, now anything remotely related to Shin could be exchanged for a good amount of gold. Therefore, one could only imagine what sort of wealth would a book series depicting Shin’s origins would generate.

Seeing the two women, separated by a near two-hundred-year age gap, hit it off over money, Shin shook his head. “You guys...”

“Shin, I may be a Divine Healer, but my methods for earning money here is limited.” Lady Seph regretfully said. Playing down her earning potential, the blonde beauty turned her head to the side, as a tear fell down her left eye. “Would you pardon this unfit Master of yours? Selling your body for cash?”

“Master, you could just ask me for gold if you really need-...”

“I’m sorry Shin! Please forgive this bad Master!”

The play continued on, with Shin simply holding his head in frustration and his companions all hiding their laughter. It has been a while… It has been a while since Shin’s immediate surroundings were so… warm.

“Anyway, have any of you seen Kanari? Is she skipping lunch today?” In an attempt to shift the conversation, Shin pointed out the absence of his bosom partner.

Emma was the first to answer this time: “She’s with Errol.”

A succinct reply, but that was all Shin needed.“Ah, I see...” Shin flashed a warm smile.

Errol was Junius and Shia’s son named after the Awter Clan’s original Clan Master, Shin’s father, Errol Awter. With no family, the infant was completely defenceless on his own. And although he was carrying out justice, it was a fact that Shin slew Junius and as a consequence, caused Shia to take her own life. Errol’s orphan situation was solely attributed to Shin’s actions. Therefore, Shin had decided to adopt Errol into his care, to raise him as his own and different to how the Frie Clan had brought them up.

Kanari, who was now engaged to Shin, couldn’t just let the boy be. If Shin were to become Errol’s father, Kanari would be his mother. Though they weren’t related by blood, Kanari has long seen Errol as her first child. Furthermore, she was at the age where her motherly desire would kick in. Kanari wanted to care for the child just like she would her own. Other than feeding the boy breast milk, Kanari did everything that she could for Errol.

“Kanari isn’t even married, and she already has a child… I wonder what the world would think?” Elrin winked at Shin, deliberately trying to poke her friend for a reaction.

“You don’t have to worry about what the world thinks, Elrin. If they dare make fun of Kanari, they would feel the wrath of my Dragon’s Tear!” Shin joked. “Ah, but I do have to do something about her marital status though. I can’t stand it when others call her Miss Saniela instead of Missus Iofiel.”

Stunned by Shin’s bold statement, Elrin raised both her brows. However, she quickly settled herself. She was at the forefront when Kanari first awakened her feelings for Shin. Thus, one could say that Elrin had been there at the very beginning of their blossoming relationship. Elrin couldn’t be happier that her bosom friend had now gotten what she deserved.

“Hehe, at least you’re smart!”

The dinner continued on harmoniously. Shin would be teased left and right by the predominantly female cast at the dinner table while breathing in the delicious lamb chops on the table. That was until an emotionless voice broke the jovial laughter.

“By the way, Shin… What’s your plan now? Is it a convenient time to share it?” Ella, the ponytailed twin, asked her childhood friend about what to expect from the future.

They had taken out Junius, their longtime foe and the man who killed Shizen. They had foiled the Black Masks’ plans in the west and crippled their entire organisation in the process.

So… What’s next?

Although Shin had said something about creating a counter organisation to deal with the Black Masks, he’d been busy with a string of meetings to elaborate anything about that plan.

‘Looks like Shizen’s death is still affecting her...’ Shin looked at the cold woman, whose eyes lacked its usual radiance. He knew that Ella had a thing for Shizen, but he’d never expected their feelings to be that deep. Perhaps, without Junius as a target, Ella had now focused all of her energy on the Black Masks and the Allfather.

“No, I can share my thoughts. You brought up a great point, Ella.” Shin gently placed down his cutlery and stared at all those present. There was Lady Seph, his great Master and the world’s top healer. Seated next to her was Kesyl, the apprentice that had long become Shin’s junior-sister. Elrin, the expert merchant that was the number two figure of the Zedcris Conglomerate. The twins, two of the most exceptional archer talents of their generation.

Isadore and Kanari weren’t present, but no one dared to forget their existence. If not for Shin, they would be the two brightest stars of their generation. All of those talents were now under Shin’s wing and ready to move at a moment’s notice.

“First things first, I already gained permission from the Alliance to set up Guardian Sword. However, to do that, I need talented people… Personnel that I can trust.” Shin winked at the twins and the pair instantly caught his intentions.

“You can’t mean...”

“That’s right,” Shin chuckled as he looked towards the west window.

“It is time to gather all the orphans together once more!”