Star-Rank Warriors stood at the very bottom of the warrior power system.
A warrior's strength depended on how condensed their Dou Qi was. On the Azeroth Continent, after warriors first cultivated Dou Qi, a mysterious Star Vortex would naturally appear in their minds. The number of Star Vortexes varied according to how condensed their Dou Qi was, ranging from one to nine. Each additional Star Vortex represented an increase of one star in strength.
With every rank a warrior gained, their strength underwent a qualitative change.
A Nine-Star Warrior stood at the pinnacle of Star-Rank Warriors.
Beyond that, those who could surpass the nine-star pinnacle had a chance of joining the ranks of Moon Class experts. But this barrier was difficult to cross. Sixty or seventy percent of the warriors on the Azeroth Continent ultimately came to a halt there, unable to advance another inch for the rest of their lives.
Beyond the stars lay the moon.
On the Azeroth Continent, entering the ranks of Moon-Rank Warriors meant a warrior had truly entered the field and could choose from different paths and directions of cultivation. Some were destiny warriors who devoted themselves to refining weapons, while others were pet-beast warriors who chose to make contracts with magical beasts. Naturally, there were many other schools of cultivation as well.
Moon-Rank Warriors could all be considered influential figures in their own regions.
They could easily win the favor of the continent's great empires. Fine clothes and great authority were no trouble to obtain, and if they wished, acquiring noble status and a fief was as easy as lifting a hand.
Above Moon Class experts were Sun-Rank Venerables.
Figures such as Sun-Rank Venerables were almost gods, existing only in legends. Chambord City lay in a remote backwater; its people had never even heard of them, let alone seen one.
That was the warrior's path on the Azeroth Continent.
Yet the strength Sun Fei displayed at that moment overturned everyone's understanding of a warrior's power.
None of them understood what kind of power could shatter a Two-Star Warrior's Dou Qi flames with one light punch and kill him instantly, without giving off the slightest fluctuation of Dou Qi flames.
A little farther away, Lampard, Chambord City's strongest fighter and a Three-Star Warrior, was also deeply puzzled. Unbelievable. Alexander seems to have crushed Conca instantly through sheer physical strength alone... But, undead take me, since when could physical strength rival Dou Qi?
Only the honest Brook had guessed the "truth," trembling all over with excitement as though shaking off lice. This is divine power. It must be the divine power His Highness the God of War left inside His Majesty Alexander's body...
The old red-robed devil Bazel hid behind the crowd.
His face darkened at what he had just seen, though he showed no reaction outwardly.
But inwardly, Bazel could not help feeling surprised. I never expected this idiot not only to turn into a normal person so suddenly, but for his strength to become so hard to fathom as well... It seems my plan needs a slight adjustment, and I can't put it off any longer.
Everyone had their own thoughts, and for a moment, the city wall was so quiet a pin could have been heard dropping.
Sun Fei himself was slightly startled after killing Conca as fast as lightning.
He had discovered that his strength seemed to have increased astonishingly compared to the previous day's battle. After thinking it over, he figured the change was probably the result of his Barbarian character in the Diablo World rising from level five to level seven.
But this was clearly not the time to think carefully about such things.
He spun around and drew the king's sword from his waist with a backhanded motion. With a clang, he shouted, "Where is Pierce?"
White-haired Pierce froze for a moment, then immediately understood what Sun Fei meant. He stepped forward and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, I am here."
"Yesterday, you destroyed two enemy siege ladders in succession and rendered great service. I now appoint you, in the king's name, as Chambord City's new military magistrate. You will take charge of this King's Sword and oversee the defense of the city. If anyone dares disobey military orders or flee out of cowardice, kill them on the spot... That includes me. If I take one step back in the coming battle, use this King's Sword to pierce my heart!"
Sun Fei held out the sword to Pierce.
Sun Fei had actually come up with the idea on the spur of the moment, imitating scenes from military films in his previous life. Before a battle, morale was just as important as military law. His actions the previous day, fighting, healing injuries, and playing the divine messenger, had all been meant to raise morale. Now, by killing the military magistrate Conca and giving Pierce the King's Sword, much like an imperial sword from his previous life that granted its bearer the power to execute first and report afterward, he meant to establish his authority and enforce strict military discipline.
Combining kindness and severity was the way of a king.
Pierce hesitated for a moment before finally making up his mind and accepting the King's Sword. "As you command, my great king," he called. Then he rose, leaped onto the top of the city wall, and thrust the King's Sword high over his head. Like a lion, he roared, "Brothers, fight! For His Majesty King Alexander-fight!"
Pierce's shout ignited the soldiers' already surging, burning morale.
Clang, clang, clang-!
A series of metallic blows rang out atop Chambord City's wall.
Swords and sabers struck shields and armor, spears thudded against the ground, and hands slapped the stone wall... Everyone's blood was boiling. This was how the soldiers expressed their admiration and support for the king in their hearts.
This was Chambord City's king!
A true king.
If many people had still harbored a trace of doubt about the almost unbelievable rumors that had circulated since yesterday, all those doubts vanished in an instant.
There was no need for doubt.
Sun Fei's series of orders and actions had shaken everyone on the wall. In particular, the words with which he had angrily challenged Conca made the blood of these wounded soldiers, who had fought fiercely for days and nights, boil. On the Azeroth Continent, such simple acknowledgment was often more effective than any promise or material reward. A king like this was worth bleeding and dying for!
The herald Bazel stood among the crowd.
A cold light flickered in his eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking now.
Sun Fei raised a hand, and the scene fell silent at once.
The soldiers watched him, their blood still boiling, waiting for their king's next order.
Sun Fei looked around, frowned, and asked, "Why hasn't Warden Oleg arrived yet?"
"Your Majesty, I'm here, I'm here..."
A figure shakily squeezed out of the crowd, dropped to his knees after a few steps, and crawled toward Sun Fei. "Great Majesty Alexander, Oleg came as soon as he received your order... Praise you, my young king!"
It was none other than Warden Oleg.
He had arrived a little late, but had seen everything that happened to the military magistrate Conca. Thinking of everything he had done to Alexander before, Oleg felt cold all over, down to his very bones. He had originally hoped to hide in the crowd and slip through unnoticed, but to his surprise, King Alexander had called him out by name. Oleg dared not delay for a moment. Trembling with fear, he crawled out, knelt on the ground, and began showering the king with flattery.
He even wanted to crawl over on his knees and kiss the king's boots.
But-
Clang!
Blades clashed, gleaming coldly.
Brook and Pierce immediately moved in front of Sun Fei to protect him. The surrounding soldiers held their blades across Oleg's path, raising a wall of steel that would not allow him anywhere near the king.
They had allowed Conca to approach the king easily just now, nearly bringing disaster. Although His Majesty had later displayed his divine might and killed Conca without harm, they had already committed an unforgivable offense as the king's guards. These loyal soldiers would never allow such a mistake to happen again.
Oleg went pale with fright.
He lay on the ground, repeatedly knocking his head against it. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare me... I'm not like Conca... I'm utterly loyal to you. I'm willing to give everything for you... I'm your humble servant. Your orders are the meaning of my existence, I..."
Sun Fei frowned in disgust.
The warden was only about 1.6 meters tall, bald, with a full beard, a scar on his forehead, and a sturdy build. He looked like a tough character, but unexpectedly, he was a sycophant who had cultivated flattery to its utmost.
Could such a greedy, slippery character really be trusted to serve as the warden responsible for trying cases in Chambord City?
Sun Fei had his doubts.
"All right, get up..." Sun Fei motioned for the soldiers to put away their weapons, then walked over and said to Oleg, "That kind of nonsense means nothing to me. If my orders are the meaning of your existence, then take up a weapon and fight for Chambord City! You're a One-Star Warrior, aren't you? Look over there..." Sun Fei pointed to where the enemy had put up a siege ladder the previous day. He had smashed away a battlement there with one blow of his axe, leaving a gap. "In the coming battle, hold that gap for me. Do you understand?"
Oleg followed Sun Fei's gesture and studied the gap. He knew that once the battle began, it would certainly be where the fighting was fiercest. Even as a One-Star Warrior, he would probably have to pay a considerable price to hold it...
But he had no choice but to accept the order.
After becoming a normal person, Alexander had grown so forceful that Oleg trembled with fear. Oleg knew full well that if he dared utter a single word of refusal now, Conca, nailed dead to the wall, might well be his example the next moment.
"As you command, my young and great king. Even if Oleg dies in battle, he will hold that gap for you and never let a single enemy get near you!"
Oleg steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and accepted the order.
He knew that if he could not find a way to win the young king's favor today, his time as warden would be over. As he agreed, he habitually poured out another round of sickening flattery.
Sun Fei was so disgusted that he hurriedly stepped several paces away.
The second update.
There will be another around eleven tonight. To thank you brothers for your support, there will be three updates today.
But I don't dare do this every day. Daozi is changing styles and still figuring everything out; if I go too fast, I'm afraid all my previous efforts will be wasted and everything will fall into disarray.
Once Daozi gets a little more practiced, I'll definitely speed up the updates.
Please add this to your collections and send me your votes.