The people gathered around Su Li tended to believe that Su Li could create miracles; they were all amazed by Su Li's words.
However, Knight Oerstein was not among them. His dignified brown beard trembled slightly as he let out a contemptuous snort from the corner of his mouth: "You, an Apprentice Knight, want to guide me, an Elite Knight, to make a breakthrough? Truly laughable!"
Upon hearing this, others also came to their senses, secretly furious, wondering if they had been enchanted by a demon. How could they believe such an absurd thing! An Apprentice Knight—how could he guide an Elite Knight to a breakthrough? If he had that ability, he would have already broken through himself; how could he just now be entering the initial stage of apprenticeship?
Su Li shrugged indifferently and said, "You can choose not to believe. As long as you don't regret in future distress that you didn't take this opportunity."
Su Li didn't care about anything Knight Oerstein said because it was completely impossible for him to decline this proposal. From an Elite Knight breaking through to a Champion Knight, even with only a one in ten thousand chance, knights would exert every effort to try.
Sure enough, seeing Su Li turn and leave, Knight Oerstein raised his right arm, pointing his warhammer towards Su Li: "I can believe you, but if it turns out you were just fooling me, have you thought about the price you'll have to pay?"
Su Li's lips curled slightly upwards, then he turned to look at Knight Oerstein and said, "So doesn't this precisely prove the reliability of what I said? If I weren't confident, why would I risk consequences to fool you, Knight Oerstein?"
Knight Oerstein was in fact already convinced. He knew well that Young Master Su Li must have corresponding confidence; otherwise, there was no need for him to do such a detrimental thing.
But his pride wouldn't let him bow immediately, so he said, "If there's really a reason, it could only be a plot by that guy Ouldred. But though he's boring, he's not despicable, and I don't think he would do that. Once all impossibilities are excluded, it must be your true intent, Young Master Su Li. What are your thoughts?"
"What are your thoughts?" was evidently a double-edged question, asking both about the way Su Li would help him breakthrough and the purpose behind it.
Su Li said calmly, "I said, Knight Oerstein, joining me in the Border Prince's Territory is the most suitable path for you. I've studied your past; during intense battles, your strength grows the fastest. Yet peaceful times are like a file that dulls the edge of your sharp sword."
Oerstein frowned, disappointed, thinking Su Li might have some special suggestion. "What you said, so many elites and mentors in the Knight Order have already thought about. I've also sparred with others, but there's no way to break through."
"No, it's precisely because of the comfort in sparring that you lack motivation. A life of comfort not only dulls your edge but also makes you inwardly too complacent. Only battles at the edge of life and death, only the sharpness of cutting through thorns, can help you break through this shackle. Don't you want to re-experience the time when you first ventured into Thorny River Valley, fighting monsters and enemies with bloodshed and unmatched resolve?"
After speaking, Su Li pointed to the knights beside him and said, "Do you think you deserve to be compared with Grand Master Ouldred now? The knights around me all have the spirit of striving forward. While they actively explored adventures, what were you doing? Hiding in the camp, training bitterly, even fearing the mocking gazes of others. I think you don't even deserve to be compared with the knights around me, let alone Grand Master Ouldred."
"Everyone, go ahead! Beat him awake, beat him hard."
Seeing Knight Oerstein's eyes flush with rage like that of a bull, all the elite knights around Su Li gasped; they were really caught in trouble by Young Master Su Li this time!
Knight Oerstein's greatest taboo in life was anyone discussing his gap with Grand Master Ouldred. He would even be extremely annoyed if someone mentioned Ouldred in front of him.
But now, not only did Young Master Su Li compare the two, but he also belittled him utterly!
This furious lion lost complete control, swinging his warhammer madly at the knights around Su Li, seeming both to vent his anger on them and to prove that he was far superior to them.
His golden aura exploded, and the warhammer roared through the air like a lion's roar.
Frederick angrily clenched his fists, immediately wielding a battle halberd to meet the charge, shouting, "Gather and prepare to face him. If we can't hold him back in this situation, we're all doomed!"
Before his words fell, the warhammer in Oerstein's hand had already drawn a golden arc in the air, striking heavily on Frederick's battle halberd. The massive clash of gold and iron boomed loudly, piercing the ears, and some of the weaker grooms and servants even had fresh blood seeping from their ears.
Su Li also took a deep breath; this was the first time since his transmigration that he saw an Elite Knight attack with full force. It was practically a humanoid dragon brute, and their one strike nearly produced a massive shockwave.
After the strike, Knight Frederick was clearly at a disadvantage. He staggered two steps back before regaining his footing, while Knight Oerstein immediately launched a follow-up strike—charging, connecting strikes, heavy slashing. Although he didn't use any skills, the immense pressure made Frederick unable to defend himself, being directly smashed back by the heavy warhammer.
Two other elite knights engaged him with a sword and shield and a two-handed sword, respectively; he deftly sidestepped and struck the sword and shield knight's shield with a hammer. Even though the sword and shield knight was already prepared to deflect the force, he still trembled in his left arm from the impact, falling to one knee.
Another Giant Sword Knight had to face Oerstein alone under the immense pressure, roaring, "Divine Prohibition: Red Night Obscurity!"
With his roar, his blade rapidly turned crimson, pointing skyward. A giant Eye of the Giant Dragon subsequently appeared behind him, staring majestically at the charging Knight Oerstein.
All the soldiers watching gasped; manifesting the bloodline, this was the elite knight's trump skill! It showed his seriousness about this fight and also how much pressure Knight Oerstein put on him, forcing him to use such a life-and-death combat skill.
The assault was too fierce; the Eye of the Giant Dragon's two terrifying beams of red and black light appeared, and if hit by these, one would immediately be sealed from using their bloodline power and be plunged into dizziness and fear. This strike was almost like borrowing the dragon's might, showing the human feeling of powerlessness against a dragon most vividly.
Su Li felt that if he himself had to face this strike, he would have no ability whatsoever to resist. Yet Knight Oerstein, after finishing off the sword and shield knight, still handled it with ease. Stepping on the kneeling knight's shield, he initiated a charge, not only avoiding those two terrifying beams but also breaking through the encirclement from several knights flanking him. Then he swung a heavy smash directly at the elite knight who had just released his bloodline power, forcing him back two steps with sheer might.
In the blink of an eye, Oerstein had used no bloodline ability, and solely with proficient combat tactics and mighty strength, repelled three knights at the elite level!
Schwartz, wearing Vibranium Rune Armor, saw this and his expression turned serious. He waved a hand, similarly drawing out a warhammer, charging towards Knight Oerstein.
"Bloodline Glory: Crimson Night Sharp Formation!"
As he roared, the knights engaged in battle suddenly felt invigorated, their weapons imbued with a crimson blood-like glow.
As a member of the Red Night Knight Order, Knight Oerstein certainly recognized this as one of the order's signature tactics. When the knights' weapons were shining with brilliant red light, they would strike like an enraged Red Dragon Monarch, substantially enhancing both damage and speed, with a high probability of disrupting the opponent's bloodline power, resulting in dual-layered critical inner and outer damage.
Upon activating this ability, all knights would make a rapid charge, hitting the opponent, causing dizziness.
It was precisely this powerful ability that allowed the Red Night Knight Order to slaughter countless beasts, alien races, and monsters while developing Thorny River Valley.
Even Knight Oerstein didn't dare face such a violent onslaught. Under this immense pressure, he finally roared and exploded with power, shouting angrily while stomping his right foot heavily. The ground instantly shattered like a volcanic eruption, innumerable golden lights blazing forth, along with a torrent of debris shooting in all directions—this strike was earth-shattering.
Even as strong as an elite knight, some were blown away by this massive shockwave.
But the elite knights proved worthy of their title; before the red light dissipated, each leaped back up, their warhammers, sharp swords, sword and shields, and long halberds slashing out with frigid glows, engulfing Knight Oerstein within the encirclement.