Above The Sky
Chapter 549 - 549 518 Count Phoenix 23

549: Chapter 518 Count Phoenix (2/3) 549: Chapter 518 Count Phoenix (2/3) “Miss Morphia?

And Miss Hua’an?

To encounter two fairy ladies at once is indeed a fortunate event.

Wait, there is more?”

The one who greeted them was an elderly nobleman, dressed in an earl’s coat, accompanied by two attendants at his side, clearly a personage of high rank.

Although in the Imperial Capital, especially in the upper districts, you could throw a ball and hit a dozen dignitaries, this white-haired elder was obviously not just an old fellow with a title—his facial features were deeply set, with a scar running from his left eye to his throat, filled with metal, his beard and eyebrows were snowy white but thick and dense, and with his tall and sturdy stature, one could tell that despite his age, his strength had hardly diminished.

“Ah?

It’s Count Phoenix!”

The lighting in the Imperial Capital Grand Library was quite soft, but as the elderly man known as Count Phoenix turned around, a bright and warm feeling spread, his crimson eyes sweeping over the two fairy misses who greeted him and looking behind them, clearly at Ian and Frost Butterfly, who were with the group of fae.

“Oh, Mr.

Ian…

the young Alchemy Genius, I recognize you.

Very good, there are not many among the younger generation whose names I remember, but you are one of them.”

He nodded slightly, giving the impression that being remembered by him was an honor in itself.

Yet Ian didn’t find this to be arrogant.

Because he was well aware that the other’s intention in saying so was not to show off his age but to honestly express his feelings—Ian’s name was the simplest among the cacophony of young nobles in the Imperial Capital, so of course, the old man could remember it after hearing it just once.

And why did Ian feel that this earl had such a peculiar way of thinking?

Isn’t it simple?

Because Count Phoenix had fairy bloodline!

Count Phoenix’s real name was Raziel Kishinev; his ancestors were from Yanjiang, and his forebears were captured as slaves by the Azure Sky Royal Court on their journey to Falling Star City.

Later, during combat between the Empire and the Azure Sky Court, he successfully rebelled, leading a slave army to rise up in the middle of the battlefield, ultimately becoming a noble of military merit of the Empire.

The first Count Phoenix survived thirteen near-fatal injuries and reached the Fourth Energy Level, living to be one hundred and thirty-five years old—a legendary figure in his own right.

It’s said that he often got scared by his own deeds when writing his autobiography, utterly confused about how he managed to survive back then.

“[This doesn’t make sense, I should’ve been dead here, right?

Why am I still alive?]” According to the first Count Phoenix, those were his original words as he watched the crystal recordings of his own battles, feeling like they were made-up stories: “[If I write this down, surely people will think I’m bragging, right?

Should I have you help me change it, make it more reasonable so that future generations won’t call me a braggart?]”

“[My lord, what is unreasonable about something you have personally experienced…]” His subordinates and descendants were helpless: “[Although it really is quite unreasonable, writing down such events would not make people think you are bragging—it would be too outrageous for mere boastfulness.]”

“[Still, it seems a bit exaggerated, you see, my heart was pierced and shattered by a Demon Spear sneak attack!

How did I manage to survive?

I was unconscious at the time, I felt like I had died.]”

“[My lord, you have the fairy bloodline, your heart can be replaced, and isn’t the reason you are Count Phoenix precisely because you always survive great disasters?]”

Although this generation’s Count Phoenix was somewhat less legendary than his ancestor, his achievements were also quite brilliant—he single-handedly protected the Imperial Capital Grand Library during the Dark Moon turmoil, repelling seven different forces’ secret looting and burning, one of the strongest pieces of evidence that aside from the Empire’s internal factions, other nations were also involved.

Furthermore, Count Phoenix himself was a Grand Scholar who graduated from the Truth Institute.

He was avid about collecting all sorts of precious books to fill his private library.

Count Phoenix himself was a very conversational elderly man.

He was quite happy to meet Ian, a younger generation he could remember immediately, and he and Morphia, the Book Fairy, were old friends who would often get together for tea and chatter, critically discussing various classical works and new books.

According to the gossip Hua’an quietly mentioned to Ian, Count Phoenix, in his youth, even pursued the Imperial Capital’s scholar from Falling Star City, who preceded Morphia, but alas, he ultimately failed.

As for the reason, it was quite bizarre.

According to the original words, the reason the fairy refused was because “Count Phoenix, you are a fire fairy, and I am a rock fairy, there are no combustible elements between us.”

Although this reason was peculiar, Count Phoenix’s attempt to retrieve the situation was of even greater weight, “Who says so?

Sulfur, coal, and petroleum are all earth attribute combustibles, aren’t they?

My love for you is like the incessant molten lava of a flashing flame, never to be extinguished!”

It is said that, as these words of affection were spoken, the other fae and Humans present were all profoundly shocked, yet after a brief moment of astonishment and emotion, the pursued fairy still declined.

She said, “Do you think I smell like sulfur?

Or that I am as black as coal and petroleum?” After silencing Count Phoenix with this retort, the esteemed fairy returned to Falling Star City, exchanged for a beautiful young male body, and Miss Morphia took over the post and headed to the Imperial Capital, up until today.

It’s not that Count Phoenix is unpleasant.

To be honest, his personality is quite good, and the fae all rather like him.

The reason for the rejection is simply that there wasn’t a spark.

And certainly, even to the fairies, the Count’s way of speaking was a bit odd.

After this heartache, like any ordinary Earl, he entered into a marriage with a noble young lady from the Imperial Capital, had children, and became even more devoted to scholarly research.

“So it is.

Is this your first time at the Grand Library, wanting to experience the collection of books in the Imperial Capital?”

Upon knowing the purpose of Miss Morphia and Miss Hua’an bringing Ian Frost Butterfly to The Grand Library, the old man stroked his beard and laughed heartily, “Just look at two books and leave?

Your vision is a bit low!

You’re in luck to meet me this time.

A country lad, I’ll show you what the most precious treasures of the Imperial Capital really are!”

Although it sounded like a taunt, Ian could tell that Count Phoenix sincerely meant well; he simply wanted to show Ian around, while taking the opportunity to boast about his past achievements in front of the newcomer.

That’s quite normal for an elderly man.

Additionally, guessing where the other wished to take him, Ian naturally couldn’t refuse.

“Thank you very much, Your Excellency the Earl.

It is indeed my honor to meet you.”

As a junior, he expressed his respect, making Count Phoenix laugh heartily, “Indeed!

Today is a lucky day for you!”

…

The young man had a good idea why Count Phoenix had been rejected by the fairy miss.

Even among fae, Count Phoenix’s character was too ‘honest’, but that wasn’t a big issue.

After all, Terra didn’t have such fools insisting on critiquing how a Fourth Power Level noble should speak in accordance with etiquette.

— Are you at the Fourth Power Level or am I?

Do I need you to teach me how nobles should talk?

Although he spoke oddly, the old man was definitely a kind-hearted senior, especially since Ian also possessed the Fairy Bloodline, which he had developed very evenly, earning the old Earl’s great admiration.

He berated himself, his son, and his grandchildren for being fools who failed to grasp the essence of the Fairy Bloodline, and became Humans with fairy powers, without truly elevating their own life essence.

Yes, he even included himself in the criticism, so much so that apart from Miss Morphia and Miss Hua’an uttering some responsive grunts, Ian and the Earl’s two attendants kept silent, and even the Frost Butterfly stopped flying, perching on Ian’s shoulder instead.

Frost Butterfly: (0x0)

The young man and the two attendants exchanged glances full of sympathy and understanding, while the attendants’ faces showed resignation and numbness.

However, although the Earl’s speeches were rather vexing, he did indeed have quite a few friends.

One of the reasons was that everyone could hear his genuine sincerity.

Additionally, he was indeed very generous.

Just like now, he had taken Ian directly to the ‘Precious Solitary Tome Collection Room’ of the Imperial Capital Grand Library.