- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 194
On this continent, a knight’s cultivation is divided into three main stages. The first stage is the consolidation of the Life Seed to become an Apprentice Knight. The second stage is the formation of the Life Land to achieve Earth Knight status. The third and final stage is to attain the Holy Domain Knight.
Each stage marks a metamorphosis.
The consolidation of the Life Seed represents truly stepping onto the path of the extraordinary, no longer an ordinary person. Becoming an Earth Knight grants the ability to influence the external world.
Though Thor could previously release cold energy, it was merely due to his contract with the Nature Spirits, allowing the cold to spread without actually affecting the external environment.
Only now, as an Earth Knight, could he truly intervene.
The cold spread, freezing everything around him.
The camp was stirred, with many noticing the disturbance.
Brian was startled, but quickly realized what had happened, his pupils widening.
“This is…!”
“He broke through!”
Brian muttered to himself, and in the next instant, his figure vanished from the tent.
When he reappeared, he was already outside.
Even as an Earth Knight, Brian felt a bone-chilling cold, but he couldn’t care less at this moment.
“Young Master Brian!”
Steve, Perros, and Carter rushed over, quickly bowing in respect to Brian.
“Pass the word! Everyone step back!”
“Your lord should have broken through,” Brian instructed, though his eyes revealed an unmistakable shock.
At his age, nearly fifty, he had only just managed to break through to Earth Knight after a fortunate encounter.
Thor, on the other hand, was barely twenty.
A twenty-year-old Earth Knight was rare even in the entire Tulip Kingdom, let alone the three northern kingdoms.
In the Dresrosa family’s history, this was unprecedented.
Even Brian’s calm demeanor couldn’t contain his inner astonishment.
Just then, a similar eruption of life force occurred not far away. In one of the tents, the same energy spread out, followed by a surge of thunderous power radiating in all directions.
“What’s this?”
Brian’s eyes widened, and his breathing quickened.
He hadn’t expected that not only had Thor broken through, but also that Rayne had done the same.
It wasn’t just him—Steve and Perros couldn’t help but twitch their brows in surprise.
“It’s Rayne!” Perros murmured.
Steve didn’t speak, but his gaze followed the same direction, his face twitching.
Neither Thor nor Rayne was aware of the thoughts running through their companions’ minds.
Thor, now an Earth Knight, could clearly feel that his life energy had grown more than tenfold compared to before.
The cold energy seemed more potent and easier to control. At the same time, he vaguely sensed the trace of a law.
However, he could only sense it for now. He knew that activating it wasn’t within his current power. He would need to reach Sky Knight, fully manifest the icy realm, and nurture the Life Seed before that was possible.
Thor let out a long breath, stretched lazily, and the cold energy gradually dissipated under his control. He then walked out of the tent.
At the same time, Rayne did the same.
“My Lord!”
Rayne’s face broke into a smile as he saw Tor.
“Good work, Rayne!”
Thor nodded with a smile.
“Thanks to you, my Lord!” Rayne said gratefully.
Thor shook his head with a smile.
Meanwhile, Brian, Steve, and Perros came over to congratulate him.
“Congratulations, my Lord!”
“My Lord!”
The group spoke in unison.
“Thor, your talent may very well be the strongest the Dresrosa family has seen in 300 years.”
“I believe you’ll eventually break through to Sky Knight.”
Brian couldn’t help but exclaim, his gaze filled with admiration.
“Brother Brian, I appreciate your kind words.”
Thor smiled and nodded, not denying the praise.
Sky Knight was no longer a barrier for him. In fact, even Holy Domain Knights were no longer obstacles.
Of course, he didn’t need to say more. Speaking of things yet to be accomplished would only seem like boasting.
“Hahaha, when the time comes, Thor, you better look out for your nephew.”
Brian laughed and nodded.
“Of course!”
Thor smiled and responded.
“By the way, Brother Brian, you should prepare for what’s ahead. Those behind us might be losing patience.”
As they conversed, Thor suddenly thought of something. Looking into the distance, his voice turned playful.
“Are you sure you want to act?”
“Whoever is following you doesn’t seem like a simple existence.”
“We could leave from the right side. There’s a path few know about. If we erase our traces, they’ll find it hard to track us.”
Hearing Thor’s words, Brian’s smile faded as he grew serious.
“I understand!”
After a brief pause, Brian nodded in agreement.
“Carter, this is for you!”
Brian handed Carter a mysterious item, his voice serious.
“It should help you break through!”
“Make sure to use your merit points when the time comes.”
Thor spoke, pulling out a divine fruit from his pocket.
“Thank you, Brother Thor!”
Carter respectfully accepted, his expression filled with excitement.
“Go ahead!”
Thor waved his hand.
Then, he began making plans.
Since they were planning to leave those behind, it was essential to be fully prepared.
In the end, Thor and his group decided to set up an ambush in a narrow gorge, ensuring no one could escape when the time came.
The next morning, as the sunlight poured in, they set off again.
At this point, Carter had already broken through to the Earth Knight level.
At eighteen, Carter’s cultivation speed was terrifying, even surpassing Thor’s earlier achievements. His strength was on par with Rayne’s.
But that was to be expected, as not everyone had the chance to receive such an opportunity in the God Ruins.
Carter had made significant gains there.
With ample resources, his rapid improvement was quite apparent.
Thor gave a signal, and soon they were on the move again.
After about half a day’s journey, they arrived at the gorge.
The entrance to this narrow gorge was flanked by steep cliffs, with a path only ten feet wide in between.
By pushing large stones down, they could completely seal off the gorge.
Once they arrived, Thor immediately began giving orders.
The knights, including Thor and Brian, set to work.
After half a day, everything was ready, and Thor took up his position at the end of the gorge, waiting silently.
Time passed second by second.
The sky gradually darkened.
In the canyon, the rumbling of hooves and shouts drew closer and closer.
“Damn it! Those people were tougher than expected. Do you think that guy has already run off?”
Water couldn’t help but curse, his expression dark and frustrated.
He had been tasked with eliminating the followers trailing them the previous day, but he hadn’t expected them to be so strong, nearly costing him dearly. While he ultimately succeeded, it had delayed their pursuit significantly.
“He shouldn’t have. If we pass through here, we should be able to catch up,” Secchi Spencer replied, his own face no better, though he shook his head with determination.
As the two spoke, they suddenly froze, their expressions shifting as figures appeared ahead.
“Whoa!”
The horses neighed, and both knight groups came to an abrupt halt.
Secchi Spencer and Water exchanged looks, momentarily stunned.
Standing calmly before them was none other than Thor and his group.
“Lord Secchi, Lord Water, you two are certainly diligent,” Thor said with a faint smile, his tone light but his eyes cold as frost.
“Thor!”
Water muttered, his gaze sweeping across the canyon.
“Thor, I’ll give you a chance. Pay me 50,000 gold coins and relinquish all the territories your Dresrosa family has seized. I’ll pretend nothing happened a month ago,” Secchi Spencer said slowly, his voice laced with cold intent. “You’ll even leave here unharmed.”
“Relinquish everything?”
“Lord Secchi, your appetite is quite large. But it seems you lack the capability to back it up,” Thor said with a laugh.
As his words fell—
Boom!
Rumble!
Deafening roars erupted as massive boulders began crashing down from the canyon cliffs, sealing off the road behind Secchi Spencer and Water’s forces.
“Looks like you’ve made a very foolish decision,” Secchi Spencer said, glancing back at the now-blocked path. His expression was cold, but he seemed unperturbed.
“Foolish? I wouldn’t say so,” Thor replied with a smile.
In the next instant, an overwhelming wave of life force erupted from Tor.
As he stepped forward, gripping his knight’s lance tightly, layers of frost spread out with each step, freezing everything in their path.
“What is this?”
“Earth Knight?”
“Uncommon life force?”
Secchi Spencer and Water’s expressions twisted in shock.
But they didn’t have time to think further, as Thor suddenly lunged, his target clear: Secchi Spencer.
At the same moment, Rayne and Brian also sprang into action.
Behind them, Thor knightly retinue and Brian’s knights followed suit, clashing with Secchi Spencer and Water’s forces.
Four Earth Knights from Secchi and Water’s groups charged toward Thor and his companions.
Yet Thor speed was extraordinary. Even as a Grand Knight, he had been able to contend with Earth Knights. Now, as an Earth Knight himself, his strength was on an entirely different level.
While not yet comparable to a Sky Knight—who could take to the skies—he was far beyond the abilities of an average Earth Knight, even one at the late stage.
Secchi Spencer barely managed to raise his weapon instinctively.
Boom!
He was struck as if by a rampaging dragon, his internal organs roiling from the impact. A bone-chilling frost quickly spread over him.
Crash!
“Ahhh! My hand!”
Secchi Spencer’s scream echoed as he crashed to the ground. His right hand, which had held his lance, was now encased in layers of ice, and deathly energy spread through it. His arm’s vitality was rapidly fading—not simply disappearing but being stripped away.
“Not good!”
“Lord Secchi!”
Two Earth Knights rushed toward him, their faces pale.
But Thor was faster.
Thud!
Amid Secchi Spencer’s agonized cries, Thor lance pierced his chest. The frost immediately silenced his screams as his body was encased in ice, becoming a lifeless sculpture.
The sight made the two approaching Earth Knights freeze in their tracks.
“First one down,” Thor said calmly.
The chilling aura radiated outward, and though it had yet to reach the two Earth Knights, they already felt an unbearable cold seeping into their bones, their minds blank with fear.
Tor, however, didn’t hesitate. His figure moved again, charging at the two Earth Knights.
Meanwhile—
Rayne had similarly sent Water flying with a powerful blow, severely injuring him. However, Rayne wasn’t able to finish the job immediately, as two Earth Knights from Water’s group had intercepted him.
Though Rayne was momentarily held back, Brian, Steve, Perros, Carter, and the knights of Thor and Brian’s retinues faced no such obstacles.
An Earth Knight leading a single retinue stood no chance against two knight orders. The battle was utterly one-sided.
Especially with Brian’s strength now at the mid-Earth Knight level, there was no stopping him.
(End of Chapter)