They looked at Lei Luo; the young Lord did not resemble those corpulent nobles, but he was merely well-proportioned, not particularly strong, even somewhat "frail." Compared to these barbarian youths who grew up in the mountains and forests, he seemed to lack an overwhelming power advantage.
After a brief silence, a relatively thin but fierce-eyed barbarian youth was the first to step forward.
"I'll go!"
He said in a muffled voice.
Lei Luo gestured for the guards to step back, leaving enough space.
"Come on!"
He didn't even draw the sword at his waist.
This disdainful attitude completely enraged the barbarian youth.
He roared, like a tiger unleashed, and lunged forward with a savage aura, his fist, the size of a cooking pot, aiming straight for Lei Luo's face.
This punch was powerful and heavy, accompanied by a whistling wind; an ordinary person would likely have their bones broken and tendons snapped if they took it head-on.
However, Lei Luo didn't move until the punch's wind reached his face; only then did he slightly turn his body, and his right foot, like a phantom, extended out, lightly tripping the youth's lower body.
At the same time, his palm seemed to casually press against the youth's chest.
"Bang!"
The barbarian youth only felt an irresistible force, stumbled, and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground a few meters away, stirring up a cloud of dust.
He struggled a few times, trying to get up, but felt a sharp pain in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat; he didn't even have the strength to stand.
One move!
In just one move, a seemingly strong barbarian youth was easily defeated!
The contempt on the faces of the remaining barbarian youths instantly vanished without a trace.
They finally realized that this young human Lord was by no means as simple as he appeared.
"Next."
Lei Luo clapped his hands, as if dusting off non-existent dirt.
Aide stood guard nearby.
More accurately, he was watching a show.
Lord Lei Luo, having already advanced to a Formal Knight, was invincible; it was just a matter of whether or not he used Knight's Battle Aura, or how much Battle Aura he used.
The second...
The third...
The subsequent challengers became much more cautious; they tried to rely on the barbarians' natural strength and physique to contend with Lei Luo.
But without exception, all of them were easily knocked down by Lei Luo using seemingly simple combat techniques.
Their proud strength and physique seemed so vulnerable in front of him.
Nine barbarian youths lay scattered across the open ground, only Thor remained standing.
His face was terribly grim, and his tightly clenched fists trembled slightly from exertion.
He had witnessed firsthand how his companions were easily defeated, with such effortless ease, as if Lei Luo was merely swatting away annoying flies.
This human...
Was very strong!
Unbelievably strong!
Thor took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.
As the son of the Barbarian Bear Tribe's chieftain, he was born with the bloodline of the Earth Bear, possessing immense strength far beyond his peers.
This was also why he had managed to injure several slave trader guards earlier.
He had originally thought that with his strength, he might have a slim chance.
But now, it seemed hope was dim.
However, the temptation of freedom, and the pride inherent in the barbarians' bones, prevented him from backing down.
"Roar!"
Thor let out a low roar, stomped his feet hard on the ground, and charged towards Lei Luo like a cannonball fired from a barrel.
Lei Luo's eyes narrowed slightly.
This Thor indeed had some skill.
In terms of explosive power alone, he was already close to the level of a Formal Knight.
Facing Thor's wild charge, Lei Luo chose not to dodge, but instead lowered himself slightly, clenched his right fist, and met the punch head-on.
A head-on collision.
To see just how powerful the Earth Bear bloodline truly was.
"Bang!"
Thor only felt a brutal force coming from the opponent's fist, almost breaking through his defenses.
A tearing pain shot through his right arm, and he was uncontrollably forced back seven or eight steps, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ground.
He endured the severe pain, stabilized himself, and looked at Lei Luo with eyes full of shock.
The opponent actually chose to meet him head-on!
And, in terms of strength... he was even stronger than him!
Lei Luo shook his hand, his knuckles making faint cracking sounds.
With that punch, he had used Knight's Battle Aura; otherwise, if it were purely a contest of physical strength, even as a Formal Knight, he might not have been able to suppress this kid with the Earth Bear bloodline so easily.
"Earth Bear bloodline? Not bad."
Lei Luo commented.
"Unfortunately, you haven't learned how to use it yet."
Thor gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Lei Luo, refusing to admit defeat.
According to tribal rules, one could only receive a shaman's totem carving and activate the bloodline power within them to embark on the path of cultivation after reaching sixteen years of age.
He was fifteen this year, three months short of sixteen.
He roared and charged again.
This time, he no longer charged in a straight line, but used more agile footwork, attempting to get to Lei Luo's side or behind him.
But Lei Luo's speed was even faster than his.
No matter how Thor changed direction, Lei Luo could always follow him like a shadow, staying directly in front of him, his arms like iron tongs, blocking and neutralizing Thor's powerful and heavy attacks again and again.
On the surface, it looked like Thor was attacking frantically and Lei Luo was passively defending.
But only Thor himself knew that each of his attacks was like hitting an impenetrable wall; not only could he not harm the opponent in the slightest, but he was also shaken by the opponent's counter-force, causing his blood and qi to churn and his arms to go numb.
"Good strength, but unfortunately too slow and too crude in technique."
Lei Luo was still calmly commenting while blocking.
This cat-and-mouse demeanor completely enraged Thor.
He suddenly stopped, his eyes bloodshot, his muscles bulging, and a faint earthy yellow light flowing beneath his skin, as if his entire body had expanded by a circle out of thin air.
"Bear—Charge!"
Thor let out a final roar, condensing all his strength into his shoulders, and with an almost self-destructive manner, slammed into Lei Luo!
Facing this desperate attack, a hint of admiration flashed in Lei Luo's eyes, but his actions were merciless.
He stepped forward, his palm like a knife, and with lightning speed, chopped down on Thor's charging shoulder.
"Puff!"
A sharp, stinging pain accompanied by numbness spread throughout his body; he felt his whole body go limp, unable to exert even a fraction of strength.
He knelt with a "thud" before Lei Luo, panting heavily, sweat mixed with dust streaming down his young and unwilling face.
He lost...
Completely lost.
And so easily, so thoroughly.
There was a silence in the open space.
All the barbarian youths stared blankly at Thor, who was kneeling on the ground, then at Lei Luo, who stood with his hands behind his back.
Fear, awe, bewilderment... all sorts of complex emotions intertwined in their eyes.
Lei Luo walked to Thor, looking down at him.
"Now, what is your choice?"
Thor raised his head, looking into Lei Luo's calm, deep eyes, struggled for a moment, and finally lowered his proud head, saying in a hoarse voice, "We... lost."
He extended a trembling hand and fiercely cut a gash in his own palm with his fingernail; blood immediately gushed out.
"I, Thor, a member of the Barbarian Bear Tribe, hereby make a blood oath to pledge allegiance to Lord Lei Luo! My loyalty shall be unwavering in this life; should I break this oath, my bloodline shall be severed, and my soul shall fall into the abyss!"
Following Thor's oath, the other nine barbarian youths also struggled to get up and followed suit, offering their loyalty to Lord Lei Luo through the ancient barbarian ritual.