A drop of rain landed on Li Xiang's face.
Then a second, a third—soon, a light drizzle began to fall.
Wiping the rain from his face, Li Xiang looked up at the sky, which was still clear and sunny above him. Confused, he turned his gaze toward the distance.
Over the farmland, dark clouds were gathering, thick and oppressive like ink staining the sky. The atmosphere grew heavy, making it difficult for Li Xiang to breathe.
"What is that?!"
Cries of alarm rose around him.
In the storm, a massive shadow began to form. A giant head, with a hideous, grotesque face and blood-red, curved horns, loomed out of the clouds. Its body was half-hidden by the mist, but the sheer size of the creature, towering more than ten meters, radiated overwhelming pressure.
"It's a demon!"
"Why are the Black Armored Knights here?!"
"Damn that Vortigern!"
The crowd erupted in chaos, many drawing their swords, preparing to rush toward the farmland.
"Everyone, stop! Do you want to throw your lives away?" Baron Soren MacKenning stood up, raising his voice. "There are plenty of powerful knights over there. The Black Armored Knights will be dealt with. Your job is to finish the selection!"
The restless knights hesitated, calming down slightly. The selection tournament was nearing its end anyway, with Li Xiang's ninth group being the last match.
"Benno Greco versus Li Xiang."
Li Xiang gripped his spear tightly and assumed an offensive stance.
The fine rain continued to fall, soaking his robe.
Benno raised his sword.
Li Xiang's spear vibrated with a sudden force, flinging raindrops off its surface as he swung it backhanded. In an instant, several streaks of sword light shattered into white snowflakes under his spear's force.
Before he could fully retract his spear, Benno's sword gleamed with cold light and thrust forward with a sudden, violent force.
It was as if a storm was crashing toward him.
This was a formidable opponent, someone on par with him.
Li Xiang took a deep breath, and the spear in his hand accelerated, his mana surging into it.
The spear's surface lit up with fine lines. With a sharp hum, a thin layer of energy formed around the tip, glowing the brightest.
Clang!
The clash of metal against metal echoed.
Li Xiang's body trembled slightly from the impact. A magic circle appeared under his feet, and he used the force to push off, spinning like a top. His spear cut through the rain, slamming down with immense power.
Benno's sword shot up like lightning in a precise counter, and he let out a sharp shout. The blade hummed softly as white patterns lit up across its surface.
Runes.
Among the onlookers, some of the sharper-eyed servants reacted with surprise.
In the era of knights, where magi were rare, anyone who could inscribe runes was highly valued. Runes significantly enhanced the power of the weapons they were engraved on.
Many of those who had lost to Li Xiang earlier now wore expressions of schadenfreude.
Benno had hidden his strength in previous matches, only revealing it now to catch Li Xiang off guard.
But Li Xiang wasn't a traditional knight.
The moment he saw the runes, he didn't hesitate to retreat, raising his hand.
The magic circle triggered the lines on his spear.
Mana flowed smoothly like a lit fuse, erupting in a sudden explosion.
Rain flew backward, scattering in all directions.
Instead of retreating, Li Xiang advanced. His spear reformed in his hand, and he wove a dense web of crimson spear shadows.
The sound of clashing weapons became a rapid, staccato beat.
As Li Xiang pressed forward, Benno was forced to turn his sword into a defensive blur of motion. He was driven back several meters, his face flushed with exertion, clearly struggling under the pressure.
The spectators, including the servants, were stunned. Their earlier smiles vanished, replaced by astonishment. Although Li Xiang's style was unconventional for a knight, his lethal precision and battle-hardened techniques showed the experience of someone who had fought many times before.
With a powerful thrust, Li Xiang leaped into the air.
An unexpected move.
By all logic, he should've continued pressing his advantage.
While the servants watched in confusion, Benno's face twisted in fear. He had sensed something locking onto him—something powerful.
With a sharp cry, the ground beneath him cracked. Mud and rainwater splashed outward, but Benno felt his feet sinking.
Quicksand?
He had watched Li Xiang's earlier matches and had been wary of such a tactic.
Instinctively, he looked down.
A glowing purple-red ring had formed around him, trapping him in place.
What is this?
Benno roared in frustration, channeling all his strength into his sword. Onlookers could see powerful bursts of energy exploding around him, as if the air itself was shattering under the pressure.
Li Xiang watched Benno struggle, his spear raised high.
Pierce! Thrust! Spin!
This was the ultimate strike of the Mystic Realm Spearmanship.
The Spear of Mortal Death!
The spear vanished in an instant—no trace of it, not even the raindrops could react.
Everyone's attention was still focused on Benno's dramatic struggle, but then a sudden sound broke through.
Li Xiang's spear had pierced through Benno's massive knight's sword with ease. It was so fast that the sword hadn't even shattered.
The tip of the spear hovered just one centimeter from Benno's forehead.
His eyes rolled upward, staring at the glowing spear point. His lips turned pale, parting slightly, but no words came out.
A deathly silence fell over the field.
All the murmurs, whispers, and gasps disappeared in an instant.
The only sound was the soft patter of rain hitting the spear.
Li Xiang calmly released his grip, and the projected spear shimmered before dissolving into the air, along with the raindrops around it.
Benno stared at the hole in his knight's sword. If Li Xiang hadn't stopped the spear, it would've pierced straight through the blade, into his body, and out the other side.
Lowering his head in defeat, Benno said quietly, "I surrender."
Li Xiang nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing, turning his attention to the judges' table.
"Magnificent spearmanship!"
One of the knight referees broke the silence, his voice cutting through the rain. "Impressive experience and flawless technique. You are now a qualified knight. Congratulations on winning the final match of Group Nine and securing a spot in the selection. If you wish to pledge your loyalty to Baron Soren MacKenning, you will immediately be knighted."
A wave of envious glances fell upon Li Xiang.
It was rare to be offered immediate knighthood after the selection process. Most participants had to spend time searching for a noble willing to accept them before officially being granted the title of knight.
Many even faced rejection by the nobility, especially in remote areas where participants often lacked the necessary skill. Even with qualification, they weren't always granted knighthood.
To be offered a position directly meant that Li Xiang's talent and strength were exceptional, and his future seemed bright.
Smiling, Li Xiang responded, "Please allow me some time to discuss this with my family before making a decision."
"Of course, Baron Soren MacKenning is known for his generosity."
'Generous, my foot,' Li Xiang thought. 'Even if you gave me gold, I couldn't take it back with me! Besides, let's not pretend I don't know how ranks work. A baron is the second-lowest title. Oh wait, knights are the lowest... so I guess barons are only slightly better.'
He held back a chuckle at his own thoughts.
The rest of the event was the typical knight-awarding ceremony.
As the name suggests, it was the moment where a noble would formally grant knighthood to those who had pledged their loyalty. This was one of the main reasons nobles pushed so hard for the selection process—it ensured a steady stream of knights to defend their families and, for the most talented, to join their household.
The gap between nobility and commoners would only grow wider.
Li Xiang had no interest in staying to watch. He turned and quietly left.