A group of people clearly did not expect that a young wizard, not only possessing formidable magical abilities but also extraordinary physical strength, could take down a large group of individuals engaged in a wrestling match with him.
The most astonishing thing was that this group appeared to be more robust, even more muscular, than he was.
Zhao Lun demonstrated through sheer fact that even without the use of magic, a wizard is far from being a mere mortal who can be easily dealt with. As a result, no one dared to disturb them any longer.
The following day, at dawn, Zhao Lun accompanied the others to the ruined castle where they had come to battle, hoping to sense any anomalies in the area. This time, even Anna, Mulan, and Nicole came along, all eager to see what had changed.
Zhao Lun inspected the surroundings and commented, "Hmm, the energy of holy light here is abundant, which will be beneficial for you. You may continue as you wish."
"I can feel it—this holy light is so soothing, and that chant," Anna said. She found a clean stone to sit on and continued to listen attentively to the sacred sounds.
As she sat, a faint glow of white light appeared around her. This light mingled with the surrounding debris, forming a small patch of holy light that seemed to bloom. In this moment, Anna's face remained calm and serene, her expression full of solemnity and grace. She exuded humility, courage, justice, compassion, and sanctity—an aura that seemed to embody a multitude of virtues.
"Is this Anna's knightly power?" Maria exclaimed in surprise.
Monica and Angela, equally amazed, were witnessing Anna's external manifestation of power for the first time, just like Maria.
"No! It would be more appropriate to call it 'Holy Knightly Power'!" Zhao Lun interjected.
"Holy Knight?" Everyone was taken aback.
In reality, knights had become a rare sight, and true knights, let alone holy knights—beings even rarer—were regarded as nothing more than stories. No one expected they would witness one here today.
"According to the doctrines of the Church, knights like Anna are considered holy knights," Zhao Lun explained.
Knights could be categorized into several types. One type was the warrior knight, whose personal strength surpassed that of ordinary humans and who adhered to the knightly code. Such knights could be recognized as legitimate knights.
The other type was the noble knight, a title conferred upon humans of noble blood or those who had earned royal recognition. These knights didn't need extraordinary strength to acquire their title. Traditionally, this title was awarded to those who had achieved great deeds, and the knightly title came with privileges and noble treatment.
In this era, noble privileges had greatly diminished, but the astute few could still utilize such titles to amass considerable wealth.
Warrior knights had long ceased to appear, and titled knights had become rare as well. Even the British royal family had not conferred such prestigious titles on anyone in recent years.
The old generation of titled knights had grown old and were living in retirement, rarely seen in public, to the point where many had forgotten their existence.
"Holy Knight? I think I've seen a character like that in a game!" Maria exclaimed, finding a sheltered spot to set down a soft mat. She sat down, mimicking Anna's posture, as if preparing to channel the power of a holy knight.
Though no one spoke up, the others followed Maria's lead, eager to see if they could somehow tap into the knightly power themselves.
They spent the entire day there, staying until the evening before returning.
On the way back, Maria voiced her disappointment. "Why can't we become knights?"
She had sat in quiet contemplation for the whole day, especially during noon when sunlight poured in, bringing forth abundant holy light. She had believed it was her chance to attain something special, but in the end, she only felt bathed in holy light, so comfortable she could hardly move. Eventually, she heard the celestial hymns, but it seemed like she had gained nothing.
"You're being too greedy! This holy light keeps you free from illness and drives away evil spirits. You've also gained the essence of holy light..." Zhao Lun trailed off, realizing he couldn't continue.
These benefits, while numerous, were significant blessings for most people. However, for Maria, who was soon to become a wizard, their effect was limited. It was no wonder Maria was dissatisfied.
"Of course, if you truly want to become knights, there is a way," Zhao Lun said, changing the subject.
"What's the way?" The ladies looked at him, eager for an answer.
They knew Zhao Lun had read extensively, so he was bound to know some secret methods. Perhaps he had a shortcut to knightly status.
"Steadfast belief! Tireless training! And spiritual cultivation!" Zhao Lun declared.
The ladies, waiting for him to elaborate, were left in disbelief when he stopped at those words. "Is that it?"
"Yes, that's it!" Zhao Lun affirmed.
"Boss, this is too simple! And it's not even in line with traditional knightly ideals!" Monica said, casting him a doubtful look. If she didn't know Zhao Lun wasn't joking, she might have thought he was just spouting nonsense.
"Exactly. Because it's simple, it's hard to achieve, which is why many give up on this method. In fact, this kind of knight is the most powerful and the most orthodox. The Eight Virtues of Knighthood... just listen to them, don't take them too seriously. Well, it's not really suited for you," Zhao Lun explained.
The Eight Virtues were just a form of control by the Church, a guiding path for spiritual development. However, they weren't suitable for them.
"Not suited for us? Are you saying our virtues aren't up to par?" Nicole raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing dangerously as she looked at Zhao Lun. "If you don't give a satisfactory explanation..." She was joined by the others, all of them standing united in suspicion.
"Impossible! What I mean is that this kind of cultivation method leaves you no time for work, no time for shopping, no time for travel, and no time for beauty treatments… Do you think this is suitable for you?"
Zhao Lun referred to the ascetic way of life.
"Then, what method is best suited for us?" they asked, abandoning their knightly aspirations but still unwilling to give up on their dream of becoming "superhumans."
"Didn't you learn from Mulan?" Zhao Lun replied.
"That's actually a great method."
Later that evening, the final celebration.
The bonfire, the prayers, the food, and the wine were all bountiful, but everyone's enthusiasm had waned compared to the previous days.
"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Anna asked.
"The world is so vast; we want to go out and see it for ourselves," Zhao Lun answered.
"Then be careful. It's not safe out there," Anna warned.
"Oh? Why is it unsafe?" Zhao Lun asked, putting on a listening posture.
Time passed, and as the lively festivities dispersed, Zhao Lun and his companions made their way to the place Anna had arranged for them to rest. The next morning, after breakfast, everyone boarded the carriage arranged by Anna's family and began their journey.
Though Anna wanted to join them, she had matters with her brother that still needed tending and couldn't come along.
Indeed, the outside world was dangerous. Once they left the small town, they found themselves surrounded by endless forests of coniferous trees, with only a narrow path leading through. The bumpy ride in the carriage made it all the more uncomfortable.
"Switch the vehicle!"
Zhao Lun, now no longer concerned with the difference between carriages and cars, immediately suggested switching vehicles. The ladies, equally uncomfortable from the bumpy ride, quickly agreed.
However, the roads outside were not suited for cars, so they ended up switching to motorcycles. By the time evening approached, it was too late to travel much further.
They didn't rush; instead, they found a good camping spot. From their divine realm, they summoned some wooden planks and worked together to quickly build a sturdy shelter. By the time they finished, night had fallen.
They turned on the electric lights, lit a fire, and eventually turned the lights off. In the wilderness, the fire served to deter wild animals, and the bonfire proved to be most effective.
The howls of wolves echoed in the distance, and other animals circled nearby, some of which posed a threat. When the light caught their eyes, a sea of glowing green orbs reflected back at them, resembling the eyes of demons—spooky and unsettling.
"It really is dangerous out here!"
"I saw a pair of eyes outside just now. Those eyes were fiercer than any beast, more cunning than any human!"
"I saw it too! It's smiling!"
The beasts were smiling! This wasn't something only one person had seen, but something everyone had noticed.
"Get the weapons out! If they come closer, we'll deal with them. If not, then forget it." (To be continued.)