Published at 8th of September 2026 7:20 am

Chapter 1088: Self Deprivation [GT Ranking Bonus Chapter]

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

During the graduation ceremony earlier today, Thalric’s name hadn’t been called. Asher had guessed that Cindralis had rejected his early graduation request. Asher didn’t know Thalric’s current combat prowess, so he didn’t exactly have any opinion on it, although he sort of felt bad for his brother.

And just like Malrik had said, even if Thalric dropped out today, nobody would really care, although he might be called a dropout during family banter, which was all jokes and love, as nobody would really mean it.

Besides, he guessed that Thalric wouldn’t drop out. Although nobody cared about him dropping out, Thalric himself would care. Being the first Wargrave and Star Academy student to graduate early was a positive image, but being the first Wargrave to drop out seemed a bit... not so positive.

"Besides, Thalric isn’t back yet, he is still at the Star Academy," Malrik continued.

Asher stayed silent for a moment; he had thought that Thalric was back. But it seemed he had been wrong. Students didn’t necessarily have to leave the Star Academy after the Year End Exams; they had the option to stay at the Star Academy, but from that point on, there would be no more free meals from the cafeteria, and they would have to pay for their food throughout their stay.

It was how Teo Swig had avoided Viscount Raymond all those times.

’Is he planning to stay at the Star Academy?’ Asher guessed to himself, but dropped the idea. He was sure that Thalric would return, maybe in the evening or something.

"When do you and Father plan to head to the Cursed Lands?" Asher asked as he decided to change the topic from Thalric.

Malrik, understanding that Asher was changing the topic, answered, "We haven’t fixed a date yet. I, the Elders and the Great Elders need to clear out our schedules and make sure our various Frontiers can operate without our absence before we depart." His tone was calm. "Although we would be heading there in a month or two at the latest."

Asher nodded his head in understanding, as he didn’t bother asking why they weren’t going immediately.

While another person might rush to the Cursed Lands the moment they heard about the Star Core Fragments, it seemed the Wargraves were being rather patient about it and taking things slow and steady.

The Wargraves understood that millions of people had been to the Blessed Lands and came back with literally nothing since ancient times. So, whether they rushed there or not didn’t guarantee anything. If they found something there, fine; if they didn’t, they would only come back half-disappointed. That was all.

’It seems Father has already briefed the Elders and Great Elders about my Star Core Fragment,’ Asher thought to himself.

As Asher was about to speak again, a knock resounded through the room. Opening the door, Conrad stepped in as he spoke.

"Young Master, a young man with the name Teo Swig is here for you." His tone was calm.

Asher turned towards Malrik and spoke, "It seems you don’t have to look around too much for him."

Without waiting for Malrik’s reply, Asher stood up. He was sure that Conrad could find out everything about Teo Swig in a matter of minutes, so Teo Swig might as well be recruited today if all went well.

Asher stepped out of Malrik’s room as he headed to the building entrance, and there Teo Swig stood.

"Tenth Sun," Teo Swig greeted with a slight bow, as he was now in the Wargrave Territory and he was no longer a student.

"How was the journey from the Raymond Viscounty?" Asher asked as he invited Teo Swig inside.

"I didn’t exactly come from the Raymond Viscounty," Teo Swig explained calmly. "I met an Instructor and told them I no longer stayed within the Raymond Viscounty, and I was now staying at the Wargrave Territory, but since they didn’t believe me, my Teleportation Scroll was modified to teleport me to a few kilometers away from the Wargrave Territory. Getting there, I simply flew here," he explained in one breath without pausing even once.

"I see, that’s understandable," Asher replied, as he had been surprised that Teo Swig had come earlier than his estimated time.

Teo Swig had learned how to fly using his Wind element, as he had been training it since his disqualification from the Inter-Empire tournament.

Asher knew that Teo Swig was here to take his parents so they could leave, as they couldn’t stay at the Wargrave Territory forever. They had been here for a week already, so he simply asked.

"Where do you plan to take your family?" He asked calmly as they headed towards the room Teo’s parents were staying in.

"We’ve decided to stay at the Wargrave Territory, Tenth Sun," Teo Swig answered, as he and his family had made the decision when he met them a week ago.

Asher nodded his head, as that was the right move. "Do you need any money for the house? Since it’s a family of four, getting a house of three within the Wargrave Territory is pretty expensive due to how peaceful it is here," he asked.

Teo Swig shook his head as he answered, "Thank you for your support, Tenth Sun, but I will have to decline," he said politely. "I’ve been saving for three years, so I have enough money to even buy rather than rent." His tone was calm.

He couldn’t accept any more help from the Tenth Sun. To him, he had already done enough by saving his parents and junior brother, and also killing the Viscount on top of that.

Asher arched an eyebrow, then nodded, saying nothing else. Although unknown to Teo Swig, even though he had enough money, the prices of houses in the Wargrave Territory, whether buying or renting, were no joke. But he would find out on his own.

They arrived at the room, where Lyra was standing. She bowed and greeted them.

"I greet the Young Master and Master Teo." Her voice was respectful.

Asher nodded at Lyra, not saying anything to her for the moment. He turned towards Teo Swig and explained the situation with Malrik and everything.

Teo Swig was stunned for a moment. He had just declined the Tenth Sun’s help, only to be helped again. He didn’t plan on turning down Malrik or anything of the sort; he planned to accept it immediately.

"It seems we finally meet, Teo Swig," Malrik’s voice came from behind.

Teo Swig froze for a moment, then turned around and bowed as he greeted respectfully, "I greet the First Sun."

Asher, seeing this, simply smiled and turned around, walking away with Lyra. Since Malrik was here to recruit Teo Swig and Teo Swig was here to take his parents, then he and Lyra were done here and weren’t needed anymore.

As he walked, he couldn’t help but remember the warmth between Teo Swig and his family. His memories of Earth couldn’t help but stir; he couldn’t help but wonder why his parents had abandoned him, making him an orphan.

Teo Swig had been away for three years, yet his parents had held on, not bending their will to the Viscount even once. Such was the power of love in a family, yet his own family back on Earth had abandoned him.

As the thought echoed in his head, he shook his head and abandoned the thought.

’I wonder if my life is one of those cliches where parents abandon their children for their own good, and they possess some secret big-shot cultivation identity, making them leave their child behind so their enemies wouldn’t find out about their child,’ he mused to himself in a form of self-deprecation.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: Wrote the Chapters earlier and was supposed to release them at yesterday’s release time, but after reading them, they all seemed subpar, so I deleted them and rewrote them, hence why the Chapters are late.

Also, still need those Golden Tickets and Power Stones, and to those who have sent, thank you very much.

Shall we open the new month with a Super Gift? It’s been 3 weeks since I last got one. *Crying Emoji*

Love you all to hell and back.

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