Chapter 617: Ghost Swordsman

Those clad in bear pelts, those clad in wolf pelts, those clad in boar pelts, gladiators, bronzed-muscle warriors, and shadow avatars—these were the six ancient warrior lineages that Liszt was aware of.

However, he felt he didn’t fit into any of these ancient warrior lineages, as his knowledge of them was too limited, making it easy to overlook details.

“So, an original ancient warrior lineage would be the best explanation.”

After careful consideration, he decided on his “new identity”: “I’ll claim to have inherited the Ghost Swordsmanship lineage… Ghost Swordsmanship is an ancient discipline, whose adepts perceive souls… The inheritance comes from salvage from a Black Horse Island shipwreck, a blessing from The Glory of Knighthood!”

Ghost Swordsman.

This would be his most suitable disguise before his identity as a dragon rider was confirmed: “Whether others believe it or not, I certainly do… It’s just a front. If the Duke of Sapphire doesn’t believe it and insists on investigating my true identity, then I’ll have no choice but to abandon my territory and flee overseas!”

Bring Acheronides, bring the sprites, bring Leo, and entrust the entire territory to the Marquis.

The day he becomes a dragon rider will be the day the flames of vengeance consume the Sapphire Duchy!

“May the Smokegrass Dragon’s fate-weaving power shield me, guiding the threads of destiny to turn misfortune into fortune, ever blessed by The Glory of Knighthood!”

Withdrawing his gaze from the distant fields,

Liszt had no desire to clash with the Duke of Sapphire. Abandoning the hard-won territory of Black Horse Island would be an agonizing choice—the land held inventions like white liquor, glass, and tofu, with paper production in development, along with vast crops like rubber trees and maize grass.

Moreover, those fields of smokegrass could attract another visitation by the Invisible Dragon at any moment.

Whether it was the Smokegrass Dragon or the Invisible Dragon, both were Sacred Dragons, and he couldn’t bear to part with either. If the Duke of Sapphire dared to seize them, then it would come down to whose might prevailed—who would emerge as the last one standing.

“Of course, we’re far from needing to worry yet. For now, let’s focus on when the Marquis of Raging Tides will appear!”

A day had passed.

The scouting knights had found no trace of the Roaring Knights, and Lee William frequently took to the skies with his telescope, yet still detected no sign of their position.

However, the Coral Island Knights were already lying in ambush, concealed in the forest by the banks of Little River Heart Fort.

Once the Roaring Knights launched their assault on the stone bridge and clashed with the Coral Island Knights, the two hidden knight orders would charge out, striking from the left and right to disrupt the Roaring Knights’ formation. Of course, against an elite knight order, such an ambush wouldn’t guarantee decisive victory.

Liszt would personally lead the Blizzard Beasts to deliver a shocking opening blow to the Roaring Knights, teaching them what it meant to face total annihilation.

In the blink of an eye, another night passed.

As sunlight bathed the land, Lee William, holding his telescope, soared into the sky and finally spotted the Roaring Knights.

This renowned elite knight order of Riverhead galloped from the west toward the rising sun, like a black flood surging toward Little River Heart Fort.

Black-clad and mounted on black steeds, they loomed through the dust clouds.

Thud!

The Marquis swiftly landed and immediately shouted, “Enemy attack! Sound the horns! Prepare to engage!”

“Enemy attack!”

“Ooooo-oooom!”

“Ready the charge!”

Little River Heart Fort burst into activity as the Coral Island Knights swiftly readied their gear, forming ranks for the impending battle.

Under Marcus’s command, the Black Horse Knights also quickly assembled. Marcus meticulously inspected each knight’s attire, and when he reached the end of the line, he was met with the sight of a boyish face.

"Emily, step forward!"

"Yes, Captain!"

"Inspect your equipment!" Marcus snarled icily.

The youthful face belonged to Liszt's youngest follower, Emily. She swiftly examined her gear—her armor was a set of mithril plate forged by the grandson of the Bull Marquis; her sword was the Crimson Blood, a gem weapon Liszt had already retired... along with her horn bow, knight's lance, horse armor, and arrows.

"Report, Captain! Emily has completed inspection with no omissions!"

"Fall in!"

Watching Emily finish her equipment check, Marcus quietly sighed in relief. As the youngest Earth Knight, he fully understood her talent. Liszt had also entrusted him to look after Emily, ensuring she wouldn't fall before fully realizing her potential amidst the chaos of battle.

War inevitably claims lives, and Marcus couldn't prevent the disorder of a cavalry charge. His only recourse was to scrutinize Emily's preparations as closely as possible.

The rest would be left to the glory of knighthood.

Among the ranks.

Emily gripped her knight's lance, her composure unshaken. While Marcus worried for her, she harbored no such concerns—the battlefield was her finest proving ground, evoking exhilaration rather than fear. Since the siege of Snowpear Fortress, she'd felt her cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds.

Particularly when she'd personally ran her lance through an Earth Knight, her blood seemed to boil, her strength surging dramatically. And when she'd slain another Earth Knight with the Crimson Blood, her power surged again.

She didn't understand why her progress was so rapid, but killing ignited a primordial excitement in her bones—not bloodlust. She didn't crave gore, nor did slaughter cloud her judgment. In truth, in times of peace she preferred solitary cultivation over worldly matters.

"Ooooooo—"

The sonorous war horns heralded the impending battle.

Emily tightened her grip on her knight's lance: "I can no longer see the lord's towering presence. I must work even harder, steadily grow stronger, to repay the boundless kindness the lord has shown me!"

...

War.

It came swiftly.

The Roaring Knights, led by Marquis Raging Waves, charged toward Riverheart Keep without hesitation, seemingly aiming to seize the initiative while the Coral Island Knights were still unprepared.

However, with the aid of telescopes, the Coral Island Knights had already formed their ranks, ready for battle.

Liszt, riding Hiddleston, the blizzard beast, was surrounded by an elite knight unit, with eight more blizzard beasts following behind. Watching the knightly tide approach, he stood perfectly still. Just as the Roaring Knights were about to reach them, the knights defending Riverheart Keep also launched their charge.

At this moment, Liszt calculated the distance.

Barked the command: "Blizzard Beast Squad, all beasts, target straight ahead—release rock grenades!"

"Rarr!"

Hiddleston was the first to open its maw, unleashing magic innate to its bloodline.

A massive boulder materialized mid-air and crashed down upon the Roaring Knights, followed by eight more enormous rocks, all hurtling toward the enemy formation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The rock grenades packed tremendous force. Even though the elite knights at the forefront immediately activated their combat skills to counter the attack, many were still struck down. Shattered stone fragments flew in all directions, causing chaos in the Roaring Knights' vanguard. Yet, being an elite knight order, they quickly regrouped and continued their advance.

At this moment.

Liszt issued another command: "Blizzard Beast Squad, all beasts, target the forward area—unleash Rock Spikes Barrage at will! Now!"