Unexpected turn

The day had finally arrived.

The grand Maxwell Duchy Heir Selection Ceremony was set to take place in the central plaza of the Maxwell Estate, where thousands of nobles, knights, and commoners had gathered to witness this historic event.

Banners of House Maxwell adorned the towering stone walls, fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

The vast ceremonial grounds were filled with elegantly dressed aristocrats, all representing the noble hierarchy of the Stoneheart Empire.

This was not just about selecting the next Duke of Maxwell—it was a display of power and legacy.

The seating was arranged in a strict hierarchical order:

At the very front sat the representative from the two Dukes—Daemon and Maxwell, the two most powerful noble families after the royal family.

Behind them were the four Marquis families, including the Ainsworth Marquisate, which was still in mourning over Edward's assassination.

Next in line were the eight Count families, their expressions serious as they prepared to witness the event unfold.

Finally, the twelve Baron families, including Cromwell Barony, sat in the last rows.

At a slightly elevated position above all the nobility, a golden throne had been placed.

Seated upon it was Alia Stoneheart, the most prodigious member of the royal family.

Her presence alone made the entire noble gathering feel subdued.

She exuded an air of dominance and grace, her eyes calm but piercing as she observed everything in silence.

At exactly noon, the grand bell of the Maxwell Estate rang, signaling the official start of the heir selection ceremony.

Duke Maxwell himself stepped forward, his majestic presence commanding the attention of all.

"Today, we gather not just as noble families of the Stoneheart Empire but as witnesses to the future of House Maxwell!" his powerful voice echoed.

"To honor our ancestors and continue the legacy of strength and wisdom, we shall begin this ceremony as tradition dictates—by remembering those who came before us."

The entire assembly bowed their heads as the names of past Dukes of Maxwell were recited.

A solemn moment of silence followed.

Then, the real selection process began.

With Edward Maxwell dead, only three candidates remained:

Frederick Maxwell – The eldest son, favored by the nobility due to his political acumen.

Leonard Maxwell – The second son, a brilliant strategist and renowned warrior.

Christopher Maxwell – The youngest son, underestimated but possessing an undeniable talent for cultivation.

The first test was to measure their innate talent and cultivation levels.

Each of the three heirs stepped forward and placed their hands upon the Soul Measuring Stone, an artifact that would reveal their true potential.

As the stone glowed, the results appeared:

Frederick Maxwell: Mid Grade Talent – A solid foundation, but not extraordinary.

Leonard Maxwell: Top Grade Talent – Superior to Frederick's, proving his strong potential.

Christopher Maxwell: Low earth Grade Talent – A shocking revelation.

Murmurs erupted among the noble families.

Earth Grade Talent, even if it was low, was exceedingly rare in the Stoneheart Empire.

Even Alia Stoneheart raised an eyebrow in interest.

Next came the evaluation of their past achievements.

Frederick Maxwell was praised for his political strategies, securing multiple trade agreements that benefited the duchy.

Leonard Maxwell had led numerous successful military campaigns, proving his worth as a general.

But Christopher Maxwell's achievements were rather mysterious.

Unlike the other two, he had not spent much time in politics or the military.

However, his rapid rise in cultivation and mastery of rare martial techniques spoke for itself.

While some nobles whispered that Christopher lacked experience, others argued that his raw talent alone made him the strongest contender.

Finally, the most anticipated event of the ceremony arrived—the tournament battle to determine the next Duke of Maxwell.

The arena was cleared, and the three heirs stood face to face, their auras radiating power.

Each of them had reached the Peak of the Mortal Transformation Realm, making this a battle of pure skill and strategy.

"The rules are simple," the officiator announced.

"The last man standing wins. Killing is forbidden."

As the officiator raised his hand, the tension in the air was palpable.

Nobles leaned forward in their seats, eyes locked on the three contenders.

Then—

"Begin!"

The moment the match started, Leonard Maxwell exploded forward with terrifying speed, his fist glowing with battle aura as he aimed for Frederick's chest.

Frederick, ever the strategist, reacted swiftly.

He sidestepped, summoning defensive qi around his body.

He countered with a sharp palm strike, forcing Leonard to retreat.

Meanwhile, Christopher Maxwell stood still, observing his brothers' movements with a calm expression.

Then, he vanished.

The crowd gasped.

In a blink, Christopher reappeared behind Leonard, delivering a lightning-fast kick to the ribs.

Leonard gritted his teeth as he was sent flying several meters.

"Fast!"

Leonard barely had time to recover before Christopher closed the distance again, launching a flurry of strikes.

Frederick tried to capitalize on the situation, using his calm and precise techniques to attack Christopher from behind.

But—

Christopher dodged effortlessly, as if predicting every move.

Earth Grade Talent.

It was clear now.

Christopher's battle instincts and adaptability were beyond normal human limits.

Leonard and Frederick exchanged glances, realizing they had no choice but to team up against Christopher.

With a nod, they attacked together.

Leonard unleashed his most powerful martial art technique, while Frederick used a high-level energy attack.

But Christopher?

He simply smiled.

In an instant, his aura surged—his qi bursting forth in waves.

BOOM!

The moment their attacks landed, Christopher's qi erupted, forming a powerful barrier that nullified their strikes.

Before they could react—

He struck.

A devastating palm strike to Frederick's chest.

A brutal spinning kick to Leonard's head.

The two brothers crashed into the ground, unmoving.

The crowd fell silent.

And then—

"Winner—Christopher Maxwell!"

The officiator's voice echoed through the arena.

The nobles burst into applause, some cheering while others exchanged concerned glances.

Christopher Maxwell, the youngest and most underestimated, had won.

Duke Maxwell smiled in approval, but not everyone was pleased.

Especially not the Ainsworth Marquisate, whose representatives sat with dark expressions.

Edward's death had already weakened their influence.

And now?

Christopher's unexpected victory had changed everything.

Just yesterday they have come in contact with the eldest son Frederick to support him after the heir ceremony.

Now everything has lost it's further meaning.

After the fight, the nobles engaged in deep discussions about cultivation progression.

While it was true that the gap in cultivation speed could be compensated in the lower realms by consuming vast resources, this advantage diminished significantly upon reaching the Energy Accumulation Realm, where true talent and comprehension mattered more than external aid.

However, what impressed them the most was Christopher's qi reserves—not only were they solid and pure, but they also far surpassed those of his two elder brothers, proving his natural superiority, through talent.

From the elevated throne, Alia Stoneheart watched with a thoughtful look.

"Interesting…" she murmured.

The future of the Maxwell Duchy—and the Stoneheart Empire—had just taken an unexpected turn.