Chapter 168: 168 Knight Competition

I do not know when the customs of this world's annual celebration were passed down; according to Blanche, it seems this holiday existed since the early days of the Empire, and it also carries the meaning of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.

Lulansi's birthday happens to fall on this day as well, so for the nobles of Wushan Territory, December 28th is a double celebration.

At five in the afternoon, before night had even fallen, the banquet had already begun.

Lulansi is dressed unusually formally today; he welcomes the nobles as the host and raises his glass in celebration.

The nobles, even Count Hesusu who is always picking faults, raise their glasses at this moment to offer birthday blessings.

Luoning, dressed in formal attire, naturally would not be absent from this banquet.

Here, besides Lulansi and Blanche, he has become the third focus of attention among those present.

"Luoning, will you be participating in the Knight competition held later?"

The speaker is Viscount Weituolinuo Danisi of Jianjiao City, who is currently conversing with Luoning.

Jianjiao City faces the Screaming Sea and is the port connecting Wushan Territory to the Wangdu. Traveling to the Wangdu from Jianjiao City is much faster than taking the land route.

If Blanche does not take a Griffin, she would come through Jianjiao City.

Do not let Viscount Danisi's current pot-bellied appearance fool you; he is a Professional Knight with Silver Grade strength and was an expert at charging into enemy lines on the battlefield when he was young.

"I will, Viscount Danisi."

Luoning clinks glasses with him and takes a small sip.

"Ah, then perhaps I can congratulate you in advance!"

Viscount Danisi says exaggeratedly, "The champion today will definitely be you."

While the two are speaking, Baron German, the One-armed Lone Wolf, also walks over, "Luoning, please forgive my discourtesy last time due to my pain."

When Luoning first went to Shanlin Town, he had escorted Marina and her younger brother home; at that time, German claimed to be in pain and did not receive him personally, not even providing lunch, which was indeed a lapse in etiquette.

German's thinking at the time was simple: he did not want to appear close to Luoning and thereby invite trouble from the Haide Family.

Yet he never imagined that five months later, Luoning would have completely transformed.

"Baron German, I have always remembered your gift."

Although German did not show himself at the time, Lady Fulawiya had gifted Luoning money, grain, horses, and other supplies, which were indeed helpful to him in the beginning.

He clinks glasses with him, "Perhaps tonight, I can bring you a little unexpected gift to express my gratitude for that day's generosity."

"Oh?"

German looks suspicious—a gift?

He and Luoning have not had much interaction; Lake Town and Shanlin Town are neither adjacent nor do they have business dealings, so he truly cannot imagine where this gift would come from.

"I look forward to seeing what kind of gift it is!" German says.

Luoning's gaze passes through the crowd and lands on Baron Leisen, who is currently chatting and drinking with the nobles; the man has no sense that his good days are coming to an end.

"I believe it will certainly not disappoint you."

Luoning is not adept at attending such banquets.

Although he will not be idle, communicating and interacting with so many people is a very mentally exhausting task.

Fortunately, after the banquet host Buleidun loudly announces, "The Knight competition officially begins," the nobles' attention shifts entirely to the event.

Night has fallen by now, but the plaza outside the banquet hall is as bright as day under the illumination of six Magic Crystal Lamps.

Wushan Castle may seem to be in its twilight years, but a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; these six large Magic Crystal Lamps alone are enough to make many nobles envious.

Luoning cannot help but look at the white-bearded old gentleman currently sitting beside Lulansi.

He is Lulansi's good friend, the Dean of the Wushan Extraordinary Academy, Honorary Count of Wushan Territory, Honorary Viscount of the Auduin Kingdom, manager of the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce in Wushan Territory, and a Level 7 Earth Great Archmage, Milosilafu Tulei.

It is said that half of these six large Magic Crystal Lamps were birthday gifts brought by him.

Milosilafu seems to sense Luoning's gaze; he smiles slightly, strokes his white beard, and nods slightly.

Luoning feels a bit awkward; is a Great Archmage's Mental Power really this strong, to be able to sense even this?

Helpless, he can only smile and raise his glass in a distant toast.

Milosilafu raises his glass, takes a sip, and says to Lulansi beside him, "This grandson of yours is quite excellent; his mental state is very full, and his future achievements will definitely not be below yours."

Lulansi laughs and glances at Luoning in the crowd below.

Although his eyes are full of satisfaction, he must still be humble with his words, "This kid's temperament is quite poor; if he cannot persevere, I fear it will be difficult for him to even reach the Golden Grade."

While they speak, most of the nobles have moved to the second-floor terrace and corridors, looking down at the illuminated plaza.

By now, the plaza is surrounded by knights of the First Knight Order, who will ensure that the aftermath of the battles does not spread outward.

This Knight competition has only one requirement for participants—no matter where you come from, as long as you are a Professional Knight under thirty, you can participate.

Because Luoning is participating, he does not go to the second floor; he walks to the entrance of the banquet hall and asks a knight beside him, "Jialier, are you participating?"

Jialier is a Bronze grade knight; if he were to participate, Luoning could not guarantee whether he could win against him with one hundred percent certainty.

Jialier bows, "Lord Luoning, according to the rules, I cannot participate."

"Why, I remember you are thirty years old, right?" Luoning asks in confusion.

Jialier explains, "The rule for the Knight competition is under thirty, which does not include thirty."

Luoning realizes, "That is truly a pity; if you participated, perhaps the champion of this competition would be you."

"Thank you for your recognition!" Jialier says gratefully.

Luoning does not know if it is his imagination, but Jialier's attitude toward him today seems even more respectful.

As they speak, the Knight competition has already begun.

The first to take the stage are two "entertainment-level" Primary Knights.

Although their strength is a bit weak, being able to compete under the gaze of so many nobles is also an opportunity for these knights.

If they perform well and gain the appreciation of a certain noble, their life's path will also be much smoother.

Although there are no flashy Battle Techniques, the contest of strength, agility, and swordsmanship still draws cheers from the nobles.

Especially after the winner is decided, some nobles take out gold coins and hand them to the attendants; this is a tip for the winner.

Nobles are never stingy when it comes to things that can please themselves.

The matches between knights proceeded one after another, the identity of the victor in the plaza changing constantly, and so far, no one has been able to win three consecutive matches.

At the same time, the strength of the knights taking the field grew stronger and stronger, from Primary to Intermediate, from Intermediate to Advanced, and the spectacle of the matches became increasingly magnificent.

The light stirred up by the clash of Battle Techniques sometimes even made the light of the Magic Crystal Lamps pale in comparison.

The rewards from the nobles also grew more and more generous; a victor who could win a single match would earn at least several dozen gold coins.

"The victor, Sir Luogenna Tieti of Muma City!"

Buleidun announced excitedly; he was very interested in such intense combat.

If it weren't for his status as the host, he would have wanted to enter the field to compete as well.

Of course, he belonged to the "entertainment level."

On the spacious terrace of the second floor, Viscount Mawen was beaming, and the surrounding nobles were all toasting him, praising him for having a good son.

With just one more win, Luogenna would be the first knight tonight to win three consecutive matches, and he would be able to step down to rest and directly participate in the final championship contention.

"Lord Luoning, are you not planning to take the field yet?" Jialier said with a smile.

Luoning shook his head; he still had some friendship with Luogenna, and the other party had expended quite a bit in the previous battle, so it would be better to let him win the third match and take a rest.

At this moment, a figure leaped down from the second floor and landed in the center of the arena.

"Jiamu Mengsong of Heimang City has come to challenge."

Luoning raised an eyebrow; this was the first Professional Knight from Heimang City to take the field.

"It is said that the knights of Heimang City are strong; do you know anything about this person?" Luoning asked.

Jialier nodded slightly, "Mengsong Ling is a Baron Territory under Earl Haide's territory; that land used to be called Zhenlin Zhen and belonged to Wushan Territory."

"However, Zhenlin Zhen was later occupied by the Black Gold Brotherhood. Although it was taken back during several encirclement and suppression wars, it was eventually granted to the other party due to the Haide Family's outstanding military exploits."

Luoning understood.

It is very common for nobles to grant territory to knights who have established military merit.

It seems the master of Mengsong Ling obtained Aosen's reward in this way, completing the transformation in status from a Conferred Knight to a true noble.

However, as far as Luoning knew, whenever the crusade against the Black Gold Brotherhood went smoothly, one of the recovered pieces of land would be granted to Earl Aosen.

The other party had already obtained several pieces of land from Wushan Territory in this way.

(End of this chapter)