Jones did not hide anything from Kairos and instead proudly said, “I am the heir of the Solitary Blades clan after all. I have a strong backer that you don’t have and as your big brother, isn’t it my job to protect you?”

“Don’t worry about me, Jones.

Because I have not yet sworn my allegiance to any party, my situation is stable when the more powerful groups are trying to invite me.”

Kairos smiled knowing that there is no room for argument in this matter, but he still appreciates what Jones had done.

“It’s a delicate balance…”

“I know. It cannot last forever.”

“Hey, it’s my turn now,” said Alan, interrupting their conversation, “I’m going in! See you guys in a while!”

After him, one by one, the brothers went in for their own combat tests, and soon each of them successfully earned at least three stars thanks to their Origin Infusion ability. Among their group, the only other person with four stars besides Jones turned out to be their archer.

It is a surprise for the majority of the students because Edward is known to be a specialist for long-ranged battles, and most of them have seen how dominating his arrows are.

But when they saw how he moved like the wind and the deadliness of his wrist blades, they finally understood that if they tried to take advantage of him close-up, they would be the ones on the ground, slashed to bits.

By now, nothing can surprise the audience anymore.

When Tommy, the last of the brothers, stepped out of the combat room, the young heir of the Resounding Thunder family, Lan Lei, quickly went over.

The rest of his team, Alucard of Angelheart, Lugh of Light Rose, Flora of Blue Frost, and Fauna of Northern Cross, came together with him.

Lan Lei clasped Tommy on his arm and in a loud voice accompanied with a laugh he exclaimed, “You’re a wonder to behold brother!

The way you fought was admirable! You were just like an unstoppable hurricane that shreds everything on a battlefield.

Why don’t you come visit my family during the holidays as I had invited you before?

I’m certain we can train you into a great general!”

Around Tommy, his buddies nodded their approvals. This is a grand opportunity, and the second time he was invited by Lan Lei. If he could be groomed by the famous Resounding Thunder family, he will surely receive a lot of benefits.

Hearing Lan Lei’s loud voice, the other heir interested in Kairos’ group also started coming over to present their invites.

Since Jim has already accepted a few on Kairos’ behalf, those parties merely reemphasised their interest, but this time, they also extended their invitations to Kairos’ friends.

Before today, few paid attention to the rest of his team, but the implications of being cultivators of the Heavenly Path were too staggering.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the six of them will surely become the future pillars of Saint Empire if they mature. By forging a relationship with them early on, it will definitely be to the advantage of their family and clans in the future.

Since this is also a good opportunity for the boys, they build a rapport with as many of their classmates as possible.

Soon a large group of them mingled harmoniously while the others continued doing their aptitude test. However, at a corner of the room, another group sat isolated.

Seeing how popular Kairos had caused Calculus to become more irritated by the second, and his followers were silent as a grave. The most maddening thing was that he is unable to do anything at this moment.

“Hmph, I’ll let him enjoy this just a little while more. Soon, he will regret all this.”

The Principal excused himself, claiming to have work to finish, but in actuality, he had already lost interest in the rest after seeing Kairos and the other five.

There is another reason that no one else knew which made the Principal rush back. The previous time when Jones was tested by this aptitude crystal, the boy was clearly not on the Heavenly Path, yet six months later he is already on this legendary cultivation way. It is simply too much of a coincidence that all the friends of Kairos are on this Dao path, and he secretly began an investigation, one that he used only his most loyal men to not let anyone know; not even his master, the Fifth Prince.

It took a total of four days for the aptitude tests to finally finish. During that time their group already made plenty of acquaintances, most of which are heirs or core disciples of their own division.

As invitations started pouring in, everyone soon realised that it is impossible for Kairos and the group to visit all the different locations within the six months holidays, though most are situated near the capital.

Those that competed for the six of them to accept their invitations started to heat up, and at that moment Jones stepped forward and suggested to everyone to offer some of their ‘sincerity’.

The result was instant. Gifts and offerings poured out like they costed nothing.

Every ‘pouch of sincerity’ given by the young nobles was properly received by Jones, and that boy genius decided to immediately take out their sincere gifts and started placing them side by side for comparison, before the eyes of everyone. He did not fear to affront them, and instead of making the twelve years old to feel disgruntled by what he did, it only causes them to increase in their ‘sincerity’.

This situation can only happen because of how infamous Jones already is for doing such things, it can be said that everyone was expecting things to turn out this way.

After receiving those pouches he carefully noted down which family, clan or sect is generous by ranking them and promised they will be visited with priority, but otherwise made no promises on when they will be making the visit. Still, everyone was satisfied by the end like participants of an auction.

Once everyone in their year had finished their tests, the Snowdrifts gathered one last time before the holidays to exchange a way of contact. Promising to write to one another if they need any kind of help.

It was during this time that George walked over and requested to join the Snowdrifts and the others who heard that were all shocked beyond belief.

Of all people, George Kitty could be the one who paid the most attention to Kairos group since their rise, and it couldn’t be helped that despite the lack of interactions, he had become enamoured by this small party that were consistently creating miracles.

The strong are admired the most in Saint Empire. So much so that those brilliant and powerful individuals within the empire are all given rewarded handsomely by the crown once discovered.

Seeing how the heir to the Mountain Cats clan is interested in joining, those that almost left the place turned back.

“Nobles could join too? Can I as well?”

“Are the Snowdrifts recruiting? I’m just a minor noble, I should get priority right?”

“Hah, I’m even more minor than other minor nobles. I should be called a minimum nobility. If anyone got priority to join, it would be me!”

While competing who is closer to a commoner and therefore more entitled to join, many of the students also made their requests.

In the end, thanks to their relentless persistence, the Snowdrifts increased their total members to over a hundred. More people requested to join, but Kairos only picked those that he had fought together side-by-side during the ten days siege.

With all the tests finished for the year, the six months long holidays have officially started.

Their group arranged to meet by the gates of Saint City at daybreak the following day to begin their travel back home. Of course, this also includes Jones. Granted that he had a beautiful house to live in at the capital, but it is merely one of the mansions belonging to his God-father. The Solitary Blades clan where he stays at is, in fact, located the furthest.

Among their group, Edward, Tommy and Alan who are orphans live in the neighbourhood orphanage near Kairos’ house. Whereas Jim who is the son of a great merchant reside at a mansion a little bit closer to the city than the rest of them, but because his mother was once a prostitute, the two were shunned by the Hope family like a stain, and forced to live poorer than beggars in a rich man’s house.

Since Jim is the closest to the city, they decided to make a visit to his house as the first stop!

The group woke early, all of them eager to return home. On their way to the city gates, Alan and Kairos went to pick up their weapons from Siegfried, as well as some things they ordered from Helena.

For the rest of them, they have packed their belongings long ago and waited impatiently with their tiny contract beasts by their sides.

“Captain are we ready to go?”

“Hold on, we’re still waiting for Aisa.”

*Rumbles*

When they were talking, a loud noise drowned out their conversation, and the ground they are standing on started shaking aggressively.

“Enemy attack?”

“No wait, something is coming out from the ground!”

While the others are panicking, only Kairos was calm with a small smile on his face.

They began battle preparation by taking out their weapons, and even the city guards seeing this situation were about to come over.

Suddenly, a gigantic claw pushed out of the soil.

“Monster!!” the city guards called out in panic.

Another claw swiftly followed, and then a scaled head that is as large as a carriage.

*Roar?*

Kairos looked at the city guards nearby and waved an apology, “Hahaha. It’s only Aisa’s pet wyrm, nothing to worry.”

The guards had seen all sorts of mounts that those rich nobles have, did nothing but grumbled a little and returned to their posts. But, the other five protested against the bully valiantly. The culprit is, of course, Kairos who knew everything beforehand.

After considerately assisting Kairos towards becoming deaf, the boys soon set off on the back of the land wyrm that Aisa smuggled out. If they were to walk all the way, it would take too long, especially for Jones.

Normally, a prodigy like him would be given the best mounts by his clan, but this time, he managed to convince his god-father to let him join his friends. Yi De, who was recalled by the Solitary Blades Clan for urgent matters could only entrust Jones with Kairos and the others and hurried back. Though, in truth, it should be the former who is protecting them all.

Regardless, the most important thing is, it gave them the freedom to roam and play. As expected they fooled around, taking a detour toward a beautiful creek, but just as they left the city’s vicinity, they acutely sensed a few hostile presences.

Five guys stood before them, but with their Soul Perception, they found ten more lays hidden in ambush. All of them, B ranked.