Spellcasting Gods

Once he understood this, he immediately formulated a series of plans.

First, win the championship in the long spear competition of the tournament, then use the generous prize money to build a mercenary army of about three hundred people, and strive to make a name for themselves in the upcoming Battle of Blackwater, thus catching the Lannister family's coattails.

As for why it's the Lannisters, and not the Starks, not the Baratheons, not the Tyrells, and certainly not the Targaryens who are far away on the other side of the sea...

The reason is simple: they have an unparalleled advantage, namely, they have always maintained firm control over King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

In addition, the old lion is far wiser and more patient than the leaders of the other families, and the Lannister family has a tradition of always paying back debts. Anyone with a modicum of sense would understand which choice would be more advantageous to them.

In addition, according to the plot, after the old lion is killed by the little devil, he can take this opportunity to make a bold move and seize the unclaimed land of Highgarden through means such as marriage alliances.

In any case, after the church bombing, the Tyrell family lost almost all of its heirs. All Zhang Cheng needed to do was to arrange a marriage with an unmarried woman from the Tyrell family beforehand to ensure that she would not be at the scene of the explosion.

Secondly, secretly send people to inquire about the whereabouts of the dragon eggs, and try to find a dragon egg that can be hatched before the energy tide arrives.

Finally, and most importantly, find the place where the Children of the Forest once lived and collect the knowledge and magic they left behind.

……

After finalizing the tasks he needed to accomplish in this world, Zhang Cheng quickly threw himself into modifying the armor, completing all the procedures in just one afternoon.

In fact, this suit of armor is more of a disguise than a suit of armor.

As arcane energy flows through the runes into the armor, it immediately generates an Ice Armor and a Mana Shield. Any weapon that hits it will instantly deflect in an incredible way, and because there is an iron plate on the outside, not much of an anomaly can be seen.

However, if he were to unleash it directly, a semi-transparent energy shield would appear around his body, which would definitely cause a huge commotion unless everyone was blind.

Just as he was about to put on the armor and try it out, there was a sudden knock on the door.

boom! boom! boom!

"Sir, someone just delivered the list of opponents for tomorrow's martial arts tournament. I think you should take a look," Butler Deli's voice came through the door.

"Oh? So fast?" Zhang Cheng didn't even bother trying on the armor, quickly opened the door, and took the papers from the other person's hand.

Mason Asling appeared prominently in the fourth row, his opponent none other than the infamous "Knight of Flowers," Loras Tyrell...

The thought of this gay man who particularly enjoyed "flaunting his charm" brought a strange smile to his face as he muttered to himself, "It's just acting, isn't it? Tomorrow I'll show you the self-discipline of a true actor..."

Chapter 0102 Martial Arts Tournament (Part 1)

In the year 298 of the Aegonian calendar, the Grand Tournament was held as scheduled on the riverbank outside the city. Nobles from the Seven Kingdoms and knights eager to make a name for themselves flocked to the event, along with many wealthy citizens who came to watch the spectacle.

In no time, countless people crowded the newly set-up venue, and vendors took the opportunity to sell food and drinks to the audience, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere.

Although in novels and television series, Robert Baratheon, the "cuckold king," has always been portrayed as an alcoholic and lecherous king who almost neglects politics and only thinks about hunting, visiting prostitutes, and indulging his desires.

In reality, during the years he was crowned king, Westeros saw a tremendous increase in both agricultural production and commercial prosperity.

Although the royal family has accumulated a large debt due to extravagance, it has nothing to do with ordinary people.

On the contrary, due to the absence of large-scale wars, the whole society was in a relatively stable state, and most people were able to make a living.

Perhaps, as some economic experts have summarized, when the production structure is in a relatively primitive state, as long as there are no external factors that disrupt it, it can adjust itself and develop in a better direction.

Of course, none of the above has anything to do with Zhang Cheng.

As a contestant, he had already donned a full silver armor covered in exquisite patterns with the help of his servants, and with a smile on his face, he frequently waved to the female spectators in the stands, fully displaying his gentlemanly demeanor.

To cater to the world's aesthetic tastes, he even put on some makeup before leaving, making him look like a handsome man.

However, compared to Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, he displays more of a masculine side, especially with his exquisitely designed armor, which is more like a work of art than a sturdy piece of armor.

Many experienced fighters were secretly waiting to see them make a fool of themselves. They didn't think that something like this, with its many openwork patterns, could withstand the deadly impact of a lance.

Just as everyone was discussing this, the freckled maid carefully wiped the dust off her boots and whispered, "Master, please don't be stubborn. If you really can't take it, just admit defeat. I've heard that Lord Loras Tyrell is a gentlemanly knight who won't hurt his opponents casually."

"You're sure I'll lose?" Zhang Cheng glanced at the little guy with a smile.

"No, no, I just didn't want to see you get hurt." The girl quickly shook her head vigorously.

Born in the slums, she finally found a stable job, but before she had even worked there for a few days, she encountered the unfortunate event of her employer's death.

“Sir, Diana is right. I also suggest you give up and admit defeat as soon as possible. The Knight of Flowers may look young and thin, but he actually received rigorous training from a very young age and can use weapons such as longswords, axes, and maces to their fullest potential. Admitting defeat may be a bit shameful, but it's better than losing your life.” Blanco chimed in.

In fact, he had been trying to persuade his employer to abandon his unrealistic ideas for several days.

The martial arts tournament was not a refined gathering of nobles, but a dangerous performance where death could be a matter of time. The slightest mistake could result in lifelong disability or even death.

"Hehe, thank you for your kindness, but I am a stubborn and arrogant person, and I will never change my mind once I've made a decision. Besides, who says I'm bound to lose?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Cheng put on his helmet, carrying a long spear made of apple wood in one hand and a shield in the other, and urged his horse to slowly approach the arena.

Meanwhile, Loras Tyrell, on the other side, was also ready, raising his spear high in salute.

"Hmph! What a good actor..." Zhang Cheng smirked and raised his lance in salute.

Seeing that both contestants had entered the arena, Robert, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately finished his drink, stood up, and shouted, "I hereby declare! The first match of the tournament, the spear duel, between Loras Tyrell and Mason Aspen, shall now begin!"

As the last word fell, the two immediately urged their horses to accelerate.

Because of the heavy armor they were wearing, the horses were not running very fast, and it took them a good four or five seconds to enter the attack range.

Loras Tyrell clearly had a lot of experience in the game, adjusting the position of his spear while using his shield to protect his front.

It goes without saying that he planned to take down his completely unknown opponent in the first round.

However, Zhang Cheng clearly did not intend to end the battle too soon. He wanted to toy with his opponent and show his strength under the watchful eyes of countless people. So without hesitation, he injected arcane energy into his armor, threw away his shield, and took the full force of his opponent's attack.

boom!boom!

With two loud bangs, the two men brushed past each other, their wooden spears snapping in two.

The only difference was that Zhang Cheng's body barely swayed, while Loras Tyrell was thrown backward and almost fell off his horse.

Having shakily regained his footing, the Knight of Flowers quickly turned around, his eyes gleaming with disbelief.

At the moment of impact, he clearly felt his spear hit something, but for some reason, his opponent didn't react at all.

The king, sitting in the audience, looked surprised and turned to his attendant, asking, "Who is this Mason Aspen? Why have I never heard of him before? Strange, a knight with such skill should be quite famous."

“Well, Your Majesty, all I know is that Sir Mason Aspen once had to mortgage his lands because of debts,” the young man pouring the drinks explained in a low voice.

"Interesting. Looks like this tournament is going to be quite a show," Robert muttered, stroking his thick beard.

Meanwhile, Littlefinger Berry, sitting in the stands, stopped talking and stared intently at Zhang Cheng, who had turned around to launch his second sprint. It took him a full minute to come to his senses before he hurriedly left the stands.

After a brief rest, Loras Tyrell put his helmet back on, picked up a new lance, and launched the first charge.

This time, he didn't show any manners, nor did he wave to the women in the audience as he had done before. He had only one thought in his mind: to defeat the bastard who had embarrassed him.

"Wow, you're angry. That's exactly what I wanted." Zhang Cheng smiled contemptuously, lowered his body slightly, and began his sprint as well...

Chapter 0103 Martial Arts Tournament (Part Two)

As is well known, the key to lance fighting is to use the wooden lance in hand and the acceleration brought by the horse's running to strike the opponent's body parts, forcing them to lose their balance and fall off the horse.

Generally speaking, most knights, due to their heavy armor, were unable to move their bodies flexibly, let alone dodge. They could only hold their lances tightly and use the strength of their waist and legs to withstand the opponent's attacks.

This means that basic factors such as height, weight, strength, and the horse's sprinting speed often become the key to determining the outcome of a match.

Loras Tyrell was well aware of this, so he did not hesitate to suddenly accelerate his fine warhorse, intending to artificially create a time difference.

However, he obviously didn't know that Zhang Cheng's armor was not as thick as he had imagined; to be precise, it was more like a coat.

Aside from the thin sheet metal covering the outside to conceal its presence, the rest of the armor is made of arcane energy and consists of ice armor and a mana shield, which does not affect movement at all.

Just as the "Knight of Flowers" confidently thrust out his lance, a mocking smile appeared on Zhang Cheng's face beneath his helmet. He then made a move on horseback that left all the spectators speechless—he turned to the side, letting his opponent's lance glide past his shoulder and cheek, while his own lance slammed into his shield with a loud thud.

boom!

As expected, Loras Tyrell, who bore the brunt of the impact, was thrown from his horse and crashed to the ground in a disheveled state. His helmet also came off the moment of impact, and he was completely devoid of any semblance of chivalry.

Even more terrifying, because his feet were stuck in the stirrups, he was dragged forward by the warhorse, and his head was about to hit the wooden railing in front of him.

If it hits, not to mention the damage to the skull, the fragile neck alone will break on the spot.

Such a thrilling scene caused many people present to stand up involuntarily, especially the women who closed their eyes as if they couldn't bear to see their "Prince Charming" die tragically.

Similarly, the nobles closely associated with House Tyrell instinctively held their breath, knowing full well the enormous shock that would ensue if Loras Tyrell died at the tournament.

But at this critical moment, Zhang Cheng suddenly drew his sword, turned around and threw it with all his might, sending it flying over his opponent's warhorse and embedding it in the wooden fence in the middle.

The dragged "Knight of Flowers" landed perfectly on the blade, his foot grazing the sharp edge of the sword, snapping the leather rope securing it.

Due to inertia, he continued to roll forward a few more times before finally stopping, thus avoiding the tragic fate of breaking his neck.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap...

Before the audience could even react, Robert was the first to stand up, clapping and exclaiming, "Brilliant! This is the kind of fight I've been looking for! Mason Aspen! In the name of the King, I declare you the victor of the first round of the tournament today."

The words had barely left his mouth!

A deafening cheer erupted from the audience!

"My God! This is unbelievable! The famous Knight of Flowers actually lost to an unknown nobody!" a young man exclaimed in disbelief.

The slightly older, fat man standing next to him rolled his eyes in annoyance: "Idiot! Are you blind? Someone with this kind of martial arts skill, even if they're not famous now, will become famous after the martial arts tournament."

“That’s right! I think that apart from Sir Gregor Clegane, there is probably no other contestant who can rival Sir Mason.” Another elderly man in a purple robe also offered his assessment.

In fact, it wasn't just them; almost everyone in the audience was passionately discussing the match, and some bored women were even comparing who was more charming...

"Sir Loras, are you alright?"

After waving to the "King of Green Hats" and the audience, Zhang Cheng quickly jumped off his horse and came closer, deliberately pretending to be very concerned and asking.

"Thank you for your concern, Sir Mason. Thanks to your timely intervention, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to speak right now." The Knight of Flowers struggled to his feet, glancing at the sturdy fence with lingering fear.

He couldn't even imagine what would have happened if he had hit it. Perhaps being paralyzed and spending the rest of his life in bed would be the luckiest outcome.

Zhang Cheng smiled and replied, "This is what I should do. After all, I caused you to fall off your horse, so I should naturally take responsibility."

Loras shook his head with a wry smile: "No, please don't say that. The reason I fell off my horse was not because of you, but because of myself. I suddenly sped up. Besides, we were in the middle of a competition. You just did what any contestant would do. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. Finally, congratulations on advancing. I will send someone to deliver the ransom to you later."

It must be said that, as a well-educated nobleman, he indeed possessed a magnanimity that was difficult for ordinary people to match. He graciously admitted his defeat, neither making excuses for himself nor acting like a rogue.

Whether it was a performance or something from the heart, he was sending a clear signal to the outside world that he was someone who could afford to lose.

But Zhang Cheng clearly wasn't going to let the matter rest so easily. He continued with a smile and suggested, "Sir, I've heard that you have a habit of randomly giving a rose to a lucky lady after each duel. If you don't mind, may I borrow your rose and give it to a lovely and charming young lady?"

"Oh? Who are you planning to give it to?" Loras asked in surprise.

"Hehe, of course it's our new prime minister's daughter. Did you see her sitting in the stands?" After saying that, Zhang Cheng turned his gaze to Sansa and Arya not far away.