However, to Sun Fei's great surprise, the scene he had imagined—the entire testing platform collapsing and being destroyed instantly by this terrifying force—did not occur. Not even a crack appeared on the ground of the testing platform...
Because this terrifying and irresistible force vanished into thin air just as it hit the ground.
Completely disappeared.
It was as if this earth-shattering power had never appeared at all, leaving not even a trace of its presence.
Sun Fei's eyelids twitched; it was truly a terrifying method of manipulating power!
Unbelievable!
However, in the instant the power vanished, Sun Fei clearly heard a voice exclaim "Eh!" in his ear, seemingly extremely shocked that Sun Fei had managed to dodge the attack. The sound was faint yet clear, and it vanished in an instant.
"Consider this a small lesson. The dignity of the Imperial Knights' Hall is not something anyone can infringe upon at will... You little brat, remember this well, next time it won't be so easy, hmph!"
Just as Sun Fei was slightly taken aback, the same exclamation he had heard earlier rang in his ears again.
That sounds like a threat.
But for some reason, hearing Sun Fei's voice evoked a sense of familiarity.
Moreover, Sun Fei could clearly tell that the voice just now was definitely from the same person who had said the same thing that made the six Judgment Knight retreat earlier. The tone was calm and casual, without any element of intimidation, but it contained an innate nobility and unquestionable power that made it impossible for anyone to feel any resistance or disobedience.
This is an absolutely terrifyingly powerful individual.
Amidst the whistling wind, Sun Fei stood intently behind Materazzi, silently waiting for a moment, prepared to use his mage character's [ Teleport ] skill to escape at any time... but after the force missed its target, it did not reappear.
"Hey kid, why did you run behind me just now?" Materazzi glared, clearly unhappy with Sun Fei's choice.
"Uh, it was unintentional, absolutely unintentional!"
Sun Fei chuckled to himself, thinking, "Would I tell you that I'm hiding behind you to prevent this mysterious expert from threatening to kill me, and that I have to use you as a shield?"
"Phew! I never expected this, kid... You're really fucking awesome now!" The Empire's number one bard looked at Sun Fei with a complicated expression and exclaimed sincerely, "Hahaha, in the end, even the mighty Grand Knight Commander Akinfeev of the Knights' Hall personally intervened, and you weren't embarrassed. Damn it, in the Zenit Empire, except for three places, you can walk sideways!"
As if in response to Materazzi's remark, the next moment, cheers suddenly erupted around the Number One Sword-Testing Platform like rolling thunder. Tens of thousands of people shouted at the same time. The huge sound wave was like endless waves surging from the horizon, one after another. The vast and surging sound crashed against the distant Moro Mountains and the city walls of the capital like the tide.
" King of Chambord! King of Chambord!! King of Chambord!!! King of Chambord!!!!! King of Chambord!!!!"
The cheers, each carrying its own national dialect, eventually converged into a single word. For the lowly samurai, and even some minor nobles and officials from the vassal state, although the long-standing prestige of the Judgment Knight had led them to almost unanimously favor the Seventh [ Bloody Knight ], their deepest feelings leaned more towards King of Chambord.
After all, King of Chambord, like them, also came from one of the 250 vassal states.
From this perspective, King of Chambord seems more approachable. To many people from vassal states, it's as if King of Chambord represents them in the duel. This duel may have many hidden aspects they don't know, but they prefer to see it as a contest between the imperial aristocracy and the vassal states. King of Chambord's victory feels more like their own victory.
This is a very subtle, simple class sentiment.
Hearing the roaring cheers around me, and seeing the excited, frenzied faces below the testing ground, with arms raised high like a white forest, people were Leap...
A breeze blew from the distant Moro Mountains, and everyone shouted the name of ' King of Chambord '.
Sun Fei closed his eyes slightly and raised his arms, quietly switching to [ Paladin Mode ]. A faint golden light enveloped him, and an indescribable aura of nobility and benevolence quietly spread out. The bright Sun that had just passed noon shone down, illuminating the vast expanse of silvery-white snow and Sun Fei. It seemed that only one figure remained between heaven and earth. Sun Fei opened his arms, as if embracing the whole world.
At this moment, this young, invincible, powerful, and almost insane figure was firmly etched in the hearts of tens of thousands of people in the 250 vassal states, deeply engraved in their souls, and could never be forgotten.
This was an effect deliberately created by Sun Fei.
His aim was to firmly imprint his image as a king in the hearts of tens of thousands of people in the surrounding vassal states.
This is not done to deliberately show off.
Sun Fei believed that everything he had displayed on the testing platform today—his formidable strength, his madness in daring to throw a punch at the Judgment Knight, and his kingly demeanor in [ Paladin Mode ]—would definitely play an unexpected and subtle role at some point in the future!
"From this day forward, under the Emperor, King of Chambord, you are the King of Kings!"
Even Materazzi, the empire's foremost bard, abandoned his nonchalant demeanor. Looking at the hordes of people surging like a hurricane below the testing platform, and then at Sun Fei, whose aura had transformed into that of a pure, noble, and superior leader, he murmured a sigh. He didn't try to hide his voice; as if deliberately proclaiming it, his words carried clearly.
Having said this, the empire's foremost bard hesitated no longer, took a large gulp of fine wine, and in a flash, transformed into a golden streak of light and vanished into the distant sky...
Meanwhile, the cheers from the audience continued unabated and surged.
A Church knight in black armor ascended from below, approaching Sun Fei with a respectful and awe-inspiring expression. He said, "Your Majesty King of Chambord, this is an invitation from my master. Your Majesty, if you have the time in the future, please grant me a visit with my master!"
The black invitation was simple and solemn, square and without any superfluous markings. Only the upper right corner of the front bore the gilded emblem of the Summer Palace of His Holiness the Pope of the Zenit Empire, which already indicated the noble status of the "my master" mentioned by the knight. Even among the super-nobles and powerful figures in the imperial capital of Zenit, not everyone was qualified to receive such a gilded invitation.
Sun Fei didn't stand on ceremony; after thinking for a moment, he accepted the invitation.
The black-armored knight bowed slightly, turned, and stepped down from the sword-testing platform.
Many nobles in the VIP area looked at Sun Fei with envy.
The Holy Church's influence in the capital was no less than that of the imperial family. By receiving an invitation bearing the gilded image of His Holiness the Pope's summer palace, the King of Chambord had at least gained the Holy Church's attention.
Soon, the Holy Church's knight contingent, positioned beneath the Number One Sword-Testing Platform, rode off towards the capital.
The magical carriage, which had been under strict protection, also departed.
From the moment the duel began, the mysterious figure inside the magic carriage never showed his face, maintaining an air of mystery throughout. People could only vaguely guess that there must be a high-ranking figure from the Holy Church inside, but no one knew which high-ranking figure from the Imperial Diocese's Summer Palace it was!
The departure of the Church procession did not dampen the crowd's frenzied cheers in the slightest; on the contrary, the lack of pressure and restraint made them even more unrestrained.
Amidst the frenzied cheers, the crowd around the time platform slowly began to disperse.
Just as Sun Fei was about to leave, suddenly—
" King of Chambord Alexander? Not bad, indeed not bad. Among the 250 vassal states, you can be considered the number one. Although you acted a bit recklessly this time and offended the Imperial Knights' Hall, just be more careful in the future..." A handsome young man wearing an eagle helmet flew from the VIP area onto the testing ground using Wings of Wind magic. He nodded at Sun Fei, his expression filled with arrogant superiority, as if looking down at Sun Fei, and said, "Your strength has conquered me. If you are willing to serve the Dean Family, Kingdom of Chambord will surely soar to new heights in this Martial Combat Competition..."
Sun Fei glanced at him as if he were an idiot, then turned his head away and ignored him completely.
What a load of bull, the Dean Family! They're just trying to act all high and mighty in front of me.
"You..." The young man in the eagle helmet felt ignored by Sun Fei, and felt that his dignity had been neglected and insulted. He glared angrily.
A fragrant breeze wafted by, and suddenly a figure with an extremely alluring and graceful form appeared on the sword-testing platform.
It was Beyoncé, the darling daughter of the Big Family.
This young, beautiful girl, as aloof as an iceberg, sized up Sun Fei. Though beautiful, she exuded an air of arrogance and unapproachability. She approached him and said bluntly, "While you're still quite a distance from my standards, I'm willing to give you a chance, King of Chambord. You can pursue me now. If you behave well, I might consider going on a date with you..."
"Puff..."
Sun Fei almost spat out his drink.
This girl has an inflated sense of self-importance?
The two young men in front of him, from some unknown noble family in the capital, were almost identical to the Golden Knight Sutton and Diles, the top young expert from Hot Springs Pass, whom Sun Fei had met before. These people, born with Key spoon in their mouths, had an almost idiotic sense of self-importance and extreme egoism, as if the world should revolve around them.
Two idiots!
Sun Fei shook his head, both amused and exasperated, ignoring the couple completely. He waved towards the area below the testing platform, which elicited another thunderous roar of approval...
Third update.
Thank you everyone for your support. Thank you so much.