Lord: I can see loyalty.

The next morning.

At the large training ground in Porto, Podolski.

Two hundred or so Azure Knights were slowly forming ranks. Although the sun had not yet fully risen, they were full of energy and showed no signs of early morning fatigue.

The whispers, accompanied by the sound of the knights' iron boots, spread quietly. The knights quickly formed ranks, but their discussions did not cease.

The young knight named Russell Burke was looking around nervously, unable to calm down completely.

Looking in the direction of Count Vio Castle, Russell couldn't help but recall the past.

Although he was extremely young, he was already considered a veteran under Count Vio, having joined during the second militia recruitment and always following the then-captain "Vincent".

Later, Captain Vincent was the first to reach the advanced level of basic swordsmanship and chose to join the Royal Guard. He later became the captain of the Royal Guard and could be said to be a favorite of the Earl.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't envious. After that, he started training like crazy and didn't miss a single battle.

It was precisely because of this fighting spirit that he reached the advanced level of basic swordsmanship a few months ago and joined the current main force of the Southern Territory, the Azure Peak Knights.

He no longer envied Captain Vincent, not only because the Knights' salaries and status were not low, but more importantly, because of what happened today...

According to the knights' know-it-all, the reason Count Vio summoned everyone here today was to announce the content of their upcoming training: knightly swordsmanship!

Unexpectedly, the children of these farmers and miners would one day be able to learn the swordsmanship of such high-ranking noble knights!

"Brother Russell, what are you daydreaming about?" A cheerful voice came from the side. It was the cowardly warrior that Russell and Vincent had met in Broadbridge Village.

Victor.

Since that battle, the other party has also joined the militia, and last month, like him, reached the advanced level of basic swordsmanship and joined the Knights.

"It's nothing." Russell's smile faded, and he patted the other man on the shoulder. "You've really hit the jackpot. You know, today the Earl..."

Before he could finish speaking, the entire area around the Azure Peak Knights fell silent. Russell noticed the change, looked up, and saw the reason.

From the direction of the Earl's Castle, Jimmy and Ansque were escorting Earl Vio toward them.

He wisely shut his mouth and steadied himself.

The vast training ground fell silent instantly.

Vio and the others quickly arrived at the high platform of the training ground. The count glanced at the knights, coughed lightly, circulated his breathing technique, and spoke in a low but clear voice.

"Knights, guardians of the southern border, warriors, you have worked hard in the recent battle against the barbarians."

"Here you go!"

The knights of the Azure Peaks simply responded.

"Everyone, after such a long period of training, your mastery of basic swordsmanship can be described as 'reaching the pinnacle'."

"Now, we need an opportunity—an opportunity for you to become stronger!"

Vio paused deliberately, noticing the expectant and excited looks in the knights' eyes, before speaking again:

"Just recently, our Brotherhood in the Southern Territory successfully collected a set of knightly sword techniques at the Knights' Evening in the capital, which is more suitable for group training and easier than the Dune Sword Technique."

"Its name is the Serpent Eagle Sword Technique!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the training ground erupted in discussion once again.

Since they became knights, Vio naturally did not neglect his cultural studies.

After all, they were knights, not barbarian warriors.

Many people interested in knights naturally have an understanding of the knightly culture of the Kingdom of Rovia, and they are certainly familiar with the famous Serpent Sword Technique.

It is said that the Serpent Griffin swordsmanship originated from a branch of the Golden Griffin family.

The reason it is "in the past" is because its patriarch attempted to collude with other powerful families to replace the previous patriarch of the Golden Mane Griffin family.

As a result, the plan naturally failed, and during the division of their family, they escaped and became the current mid-level family in the kingdom—the Serpent Eagle family.

The Serpent Griffin Sword Technique was developed after relations with the Golden Griffin Clan improved, on the condition that the latter would no longer teach the Golden Griffin Clan's sword techniques, but instead create a weakened version by both families.

But compared to other less common knightly sword techniques, this is clearly a high-level skill.

It was through this swordsmanship that the Serpent Vulture family struggled from near extinction to its current position as a mid-level family in the kingdom.

After the origins and power of the Serpent Eagle Sword Technique spread among the knights, their faces were replaced by excited astonishment.

Vio simply smiled as he looked at the knights before him, without interrupting their whispers, and pondered in his heart.

Unfortunately, I've been busy with advancing my breathing technique recently, otherwise I would have given the Serpent Vulture Sword Technique a try.

After all, throughout the history of the kingdom's swordsmen, there have been cases of individuals learning two different knightly sword techniques.

It's difficult for a normal person to learn even one sword technique, let alone the fact that some knightly sword techniques have conflicting fighting styles. Not all sword techniques can be learned together, otherwise it's easier to lose your composure in actual combat.

Moreover, the benefits a knight gains from learning two knightly sword techniques are far less than those from learning breathing techniques.

Vio tilted his head slightly and glanced at Jimmy Ansque and Vio beside him.

Since Ansquie hadn't yet learned the Dune Sword Technique like Jimmy, the task of learning the Serpent Eagle Sword Technique and leading the knights in its training was naturally assigned to him.

Vio naturally didn't lag behind on the militia side either.

In fact, there are already a number of militia members in the current militia who have reached the advanced level of basic swordsmanship, just like the knights. It's just that the knightly order is currently at saturation and has not added any new members.

This gave Vio the idea to create a new order of knights.

Of course, these are all things to be discussed later, since the Azure Peak Knights have not yet expanded in size, and now is not the time to establish a new knightly order.

Next, the primary task is to let the strongest militia captains in the militia choose the knightly swordsmanship they want to learn.

And breaking through to the second level of the Sand Breathing Technique is more important.

After briefly reiterating the Serpent Sword Technique, the remaining arrangements were naturally left to Jimmy and Ansquie.

Vio quickly returned to his count's castle and came to a large, empty room.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he could feel a surge of magic rushing towards him, accompanied by the strange smell of herbs.

This is the "Knight's Training Room" that he commissioned Valentine, Old Patton, and the old craftsman Ryan to build.

Its walls, floors, and ceilings were all made of magic ore, including magic ore from the Eastern Territory that Vance and others had bought, as well as magic ore from their own Southern Territory.

In the center of the room was a wooden vat made of ancient wood, filled with countless floating herbs and other things he himself couldn't name.

This is clearly a bathtub.

Today, Vio will break through to the second level of the Sand Breathing Technique right here.