Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Spirit Stove of Saint Guidance (Part One)
Even though they were about to part ways, when Long Haochen saw that small white cauldron, he could not help but be drawn to it.
“Dad, what is this?”
Long Xingyu said, “This is the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove, a gift your father has prepared for you. There are many types of spiritual stoves, each possessing its own unique characteristics, and they are also ranked by grade. However, the more powerful a spiritual stove is, the greater the price one must pay to use it. Among the seventy-four known spiritual stoves, the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove ranks approximately sixty-eighth. Yet, its rarity is comparable to those ranked within the top ten.”
“The functions of the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove are detailed in the book I gave you. Simply put, this spiritual stove possesses no offensive or defensive capabilities on its own, nor can it significantly increase your internal spiritual energy. However, its potential for evolution is at least three times, making it comparable to spiritual stoves ranked within the top twenty. For us knights, it holds immense value. When activated, the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove allows you to draw the enemy’s attention, forcing them to target only you while sparing your companions. Unless you are killed or you voluntarily interrupt its effect, it will compel all enemies to focus solely on you.”
“Perhaps you cannot yet fully grasp the profound significance of this. But in time, you will surely understand just how tremendous its utility truly is. Moreover, the greatest advantage of the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove lies in the fact that it is the rarest attribute-less spiritual stove. Not only does it impose no burden on your body during usage, but it also consumes relatively little spiritual energy. Furthermore, it will not hinder your ability to absorb other spiritual stoves in the future. Therefore, your father has chosen it as your first spiritual stove, hoping you will appreciate this gift. As for what additional abilities it may evolve into later, even your father does not know; that journey of discovery must be undertaken by yourself.”
“Additionally, you must remember that spiritual stoves are not omnipotent. A more powerful spiritual stove is not necessarily more suitable for you. Those ranked within the top ten require enormous sacrifices to activate, some of which may even be unbearable for us. Nor is having a greater number of spiritual stoves always better. Only after careful and thorough judgment should you decide whether to fuse with a new spiritual stove.”
Long Xingyu’s voice was stern; every word he spoke was the culmination of years of experience.
“Father, then how many types of Spiritual Stoves can a person fuse with?” Long Haochen asked.
Long Xingyu shook his head and said, “I don’t know. Theoretically, there’s no limit to the number. However, Spiritual Stoves can easily conflict with one another. Should such a situation arise, it would be a near-certain death for the fusion practitioner. The highest known number of fused Spiritual Stoves is five. I have fused three. But that doesn’t mean the more Spiritual Stoves one fuses, the better. Spiritual Stoves require constant effort to evolve; a single Spiritual Stove that has undergone several evolutions can even surpass the combined power of multiple unevolved ones. Alright, I’ve conveyed the most important message from your father. Haochen, don’t forget what your mother said: no matter the circumstances, always prioritize your own safety.”
As he spoke, Long Xingyu extended his left hand and tapped Long Haochen’s chest, instantly enveloping the boy’s body in a hazy golden radiance that rendered him completely immobile.
With a flicker of his left hand, Long Xingyu rapidly tapped four times in succession upon Long Haochen’s chest, leaving behind four points of white light. Long Haochen felt as though his body had been pierced through; his internal spiritual energy was instantly stirred, spiraling around the spots his father had struck.
Grasping Long Haochen’s right hand, Long Xingyu carefully used a speck of golden light to slice open his fingertip, squeezing out a single drop of blood. The crimson droplet floated upward, sustained by Long Xingyu’s spiritual energy, before gently settling into the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove.
Instantly, the small white cauldron, which had been emitting a soft glow, burst forth with dazzling brilliance. A beam of white light shot out from within it, landing squarely upon Long Haochen’s chest.
The warm sensation stimulated every pore on Long Haochen’s body to instantly open, while the internal spiritual energy swirling within him immediately diffused outward, as if an intruder were attempting to invade his body.
White light flashed, and under its guidance, the small white cauldron slowly drifted toward Long Haochen’s chest, gradually seeping inward.
The original warmth instantly turned into scorching heat, as though a red-hot iron had been branded onto his chest. Long Haochen couldn’t help but let out a agonized scream, startling Bai Yue, who had just rushed into the wooden hut, causing her to flee back outside.
Fortunately, this burning sensation did not last long; after just a few breaths, the small white spiritual cauldron had completely merged into his body and vanished without a trace.
A faint white light rippled through Long Haochen’s body, causing a lustrous sheen to gradually emerge on the surface of his skin.
Long Haochen felt countless waves of scorching energy radiating from his chest, spreading to every corner of his body, including his mind. Alongside this blazing energy, countless profound truths flooded into his consciousness.
All his senses instantly shut down. Long Haochen stood rigid atop the mountain peak, his body emanating a faint, shimmering white light. Especially across his chest, with each pulse of radiance, small marks of spiritual furnaces continuously appeared.
This is the process of the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove merging with Long Haochen. Using blood as a catalyst and spiritual energy as a medium, this miraculous stove, condensed from the essence of heaven and earth, would thoroughly become part of his body. The most basic requirement for merging with a spiritual stove is two hundred units of spiritual energy, the starting point for a third-rank profession. Long Haochen had clearly long surpassed this threshold.
Long Xingyu stood there, silently watching his son, a tinge of melancholy gradually appearing in his eyes.
Bai Yue quietly walked over to Long Xingyu’s side, took his large hand in hers, and tears once again flowed uncontrollably. “Are you really not taking Chenchen with you? I… I can’t feel at ease leaving him. From childhood until now, he has never left my side.”
Long Xingyu pulled his wife into his embrace. “Rest assured, the arrangements I’ve made for him are the safest possible. If he never leaves our sides, he will never grow into a true man. Our confrontation with the demon race is becoming increasingly difficult. Our son possesses such outstanding talent; in the future, he is destined to become a pillar of the Temple Alliance. If you truly love him, let him spread his wings and allow him to soar through the sky.”
“That promise, can you please not go?” Bai Yue said with tears streaming down her face. She knew very well that this was also one of the true reasons her husband had left their son.
A look of resolve shone in Long Xingyu’s eyes. “This battle between A’nan and me is unavoidable. I have waited too long for this day. If I can bring about his fall, it will be a blessing for all humanity. Rest assured, for your sake and our son’s, I will do my utmost to return alive.”
The sky was clear and blue, while the mountain breeze brought a dry, refreshing coolness to Mount Odin.
Long Haochen slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing the three small wooden cabins before him, which seemed somewhat desolate, his heart plunged into icy coldness, no matter how warm he felt inside.
“Father, Mother!” Long Haochen cried out, rushing into the wooden cabin at the center—the room where his parents lived.
The simple furnishings remained unchanged, yet not a single trace of her presence lingered. An overwhelming sense of loss and longing, suffocating in its intensity, instantly flooded Long Haochen’s heart.
With a thud, he dropped to his knees, tears gushing forth like a spring. Though he had only just parted from them, in this moment he felt as though he were already engulfed by loneliness.

The Spirit Stove of Holy Guidance (Part Two)
“Father, even if you stay by my side, I will never stop striving!” Choking with sobs, Long Haochen bent over in anguish, his fingers digging fiercely into the ground as overwhelming emotions surged through him, refusing to subside.
It took a full meal’s worth of time before Long Haochen finally managed to climb up from the ground. Though his character was inherently strong, what mattered most to him was his emotional state. The sudden departure of his father and mother, without any prior warning, was something he found truly difficult to accept.
Standing up, Long Haochen’s gaze appeared somewhat dazed. Over the past two years, various memories kept surfacing in his mind: his father’s strictness and his mother’s gentleness.
“Why are days filled with happiness and joy always so short?” Tears nearly fell once again. Just then, Long Haochen noticed two letters resting on the wooden table not far in front of him.
Taking two or three quick steps forward, he snatched the letters into his hands.
The envelopes of the two letters were inscribed respectively with “For Haochen’s Eyes Only” and “Forward to Nalan Shu.” Clearly, one letter was intended for him, while the other was meant for the Master of the Haoyue Branch Temple.
Only after Long Haochen had somewhat calmed himself did he slowly open the letter left by his parents.
“Haochen, by the time you read this letter, your mother and I will already have departed. Neither of us wished to face the pain of parting. Separation is only temporary; you have grown up now and are a man. You must become strong, for from now on, the only strength you can rely on is your own.”
“After reading this letter, proceed directly to Haoyue City and learn various skills of the Guardian Knight at the Haoyue Branch Temple, where an excellent instructor awaits. Remember, unless absolutely necessary, do not easily reveal that you are also a Retribution Knight. I will emphasize this point as well in my letter to Nalan Shu. Nalan Shu is a trustworthy individual; you may follow his arrangements. Furthermore, you must master all Guardian Knight skills below the fourth rank and be able to employ them proficiently before journeying to the Sacred Mountain to obtain your mount.”
“The Holy Mountain is spiritually attuned. If it cannot awaken your innate talents and guide the trajectory of your future abilities, you will be unable to obtain a mount partner suited to you. Furthermore, mastering the skills of a Guardian Knight will greatly enhance your survivability. Remember this, remember it well.”
“You must continually cultivate your Spiritual Stove. Once possessed, it becomes the medium through which you refine your internal spiritual energy, thereby advancing your cultivation. You have now fused with the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove; your internal spiritual energy may temporarily diminish due to this fusion, but there is no need for worry—this is merely the process of your own energy merging with the stove. It will recover within half a month at the least, or a month at the most. The Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove is especially suited for Guardian Knights; henceforth, you should devote yourself to experiencing its power.”
“Haochen, your father and I are reluctant to part with you too. However, your father hopes that the next time we meet, you will have developed the ability to stand on your own. If your mother and I do not come to find you, it means we are tied up with matters of critical importance. Unless your cultivation reaches the seventh rank of a Temple Knight, and you pass the assessments and competitions to earn the Mithril Foundation Battle Armor, do not seek us out.”
The letter ended here. Long Haochen stared blankly at the paper, his heart overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of reluctance.
Suddenly, he turned around, rushed out of the wooden cabin, and shouted toward the distance: “Dad—Dad—! Mom—Mom—!”
Long Haochen did not leave Mount Odin immediately. He stayed there for three more days, until not a trace of his parents’ scent remained in the wooden cabin. Only then, with great reluctance, did he pack his belongings simply and descend the mountain.
Passing through Odin Town, he saw reconstruction work underway. At least two thousand elite soldiers from the Temple Alliance were stationed in the vicinity of Odin Town.
By the time he reached Haoyue City, it was already noon. Apparently, Haoyue City had undergone no visible changes. The moment he stepped through the city gates, Long Haochen silently vowed to do his utmost to reach the seventh rank of knighthood as soon as possible.
Haoyue City seemed unaffected by any sense of tension despite the demon race’s attack. Following his memory, Long Haochen made his way once again to the Haoyue Branch of the Knight Temple.
“Excuse me, I wish to request an audience with Hall Master Nalan.” Long Haochen presented his Provisional Knight badge.
The two guards at the entrance had been replaced; although they did not recognize him, seeing that someone barely in his teens possessed a Provisional Knight badge, they dared not treat him lightly and hurried inside to report his arrival.
After a short while, accompanied by a faint fragrant breeze, a figure rushed out from within the Haoyue Branch Hall.
“Brother Haochen, you’ve finally arrived.”
Bursting out from the branch temple was Li Xin. She wore the same attire as before: soft armor, her hair tied in a high ponytail, radiating heroic spirit. A year and a half had left no trace upon her; instead, her demeanor shone even brighter, clearly indicating significant progress in her cultivation.
“Sister Xin!” Upon seeing her, Long Haochen instantly felt as though he had encountered family. The emotions he had suppressed for several days nearly erupted once more. Under the stunned gazes of the two guards, he threw himself directly into Li Xin’s embrace.
Li Xin returned his hug tightly. Sensing the sorrow within Long Haochen’s emotions, she quickly asked, “Haochen, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Choking back tears, Long Haochen replied, “Father, Mother… they’re all gone. I’m the only one left.”
Li Xin was startled. “Are you saying the demons attacked…”
Long Haochen immediately realized her misunderstanding and hurriedly explained, “No, Father and Mother have gone elsewhere. They asked me to stay here and join the Haoyue Branch Temple to continue my cultivation.”
Li Xin patted her full chest in relief. “You scared me! So they’ve just gone on a long journey. That’s nothing; I actually wish I didn’t have to be with my parents either. From now on, the Haoyue Branch Temple is your home. If anyone dares to bully you, just mention my name. Come, let’s go inside first and talk there.”
As she spoke, Li Xin took Long Haochen’s hand and strode boldly into the Haoyue Branch Temple.
The two guards at the entrance exchanged glances, both revealing expressions of shock.
“Who is this young man? Why is our Rose Knight so affectionate toward him?”
“Keep your voice down. Do you dare pry into Miss Xin’er’s personal affairs? If you were as handsome as that young fellow, perhaps Miss Xin’er would look at you differently too.”
Li Xin led Long Haochen into the Haoyue Branch Temple. Everything here remained unchanged, yet when Long Haochen once again saw the six Divine Throne seats positioned in the center of the inner hall, his feelings were entirely different.
Pride instantly washed away his sorrow as his eyes immediately found the second throne on the left, the Divine Throne symbolizing doom and slaughter. That was his father’s glory!
Someday, I too must become the owner of one of these six Divine Thrones. A fiery gleam appeared in Long Haochen’s eyes.
Li Xin noticed his footsteps slowing down, so she stopped as well and said, “Little brother, it’s only been a little over a year, yet you’ve grown so much taller! In another two years, you’ll probably surpass your older sister. Hmm, you’ve also become even more handsome. Truly remarkable; when you grow up, who knows how many girls will be completely captivated by you.”
Li Xin was tall and slender; although Long Haochen had grown considerably, he was still half a head shorter than her. Yet, as she looked at him now, she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, her heart even beginning to beat a little faster.

The Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove (Part 3)
At nearly twelve years old, Long Haochen looked different from how he had a year and a half ago. The delicate features that once made his face strikingly pretty now bore sharper, more defined lines, transforming his beauty into handsomeness. His well-proportioned, slender frame, paired with shoulder-length black hair, rendered him almost flawlessly perfect.
“Li Xin, what’s wrong with you? He’s your younger brother, eight years your junior! Are you thinking of an old cow eating tender grass?” She silently scolded herself, and only then did her emotions stabilize. Yet her affection for Long Haochen grew even stronger. As the youngest child in her family, she had always longed for a younger brother. Although she hadn’t spent much time with Long Haochen, in Li Xin’s heart, she felt an extraordinary closeness to this brother of hers.
“Hmm, little brother, I remember your eyes weren’t this color before! They should have been azure blue. How did they turn pale gold?”
Snapping back to his senses, Long Haochen scratched his head and replied, “After Father performed the Divine Awakening on me, they changed to look like this.”
Li Xin was stunned. “A Divine Awakening causes the eyes to change color? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Ah! You’ve already undergone a Divine Awakening? Does that mean your spiritual energy has surpassed two hundred? Quick, tell me, sister, what is your internal spiritual energy?”
Long Haochen shook his head and said, “Sister, I don’t want to lie to you, but Father told me not to say.”
Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, Li Xin covered her mouth with one hand and murmured softly, “Oh my heavens! A third-rank Knight not yet twelve years old. Come, I’ll take you to see Uncle Nalan; he’ll surely be shocked by you.”
“What could possibly shock me?” came a voice tinged with amusement. Long Haochen and Li Xin turned to look, only to see Nalan Shu descending the stairs.
Seeing Long Haochen, Nalan Shu was also startled, but his eyes instantly turned fervent. He quickly stepped forward to stand before Long Haochen, looking him up and down, and asked with barely contained emotion, “That day… that day, was it your teacher…?”
Long Haochen was slightly stunned, but he quickly understood what was being asked and nodded with pride and confidence.
Nalan Shu took a deep breath, his eyes filled with fervent admiration. “I knew it, I just knew it.”
Li Xin asked puzzledly, “Uncle Nalan, what riddle are you two playing at?”
Nalan Shu’s expression darkened. “Why haven’t you gone to cultivate yet? You’re already a level seven knight. Whether or not you can break through to the rank of Grand Knight before the Demon Hunter Squad selection tournament is crucial to your chances of becoming a member of a squad. Hurry up and go cultivate; leave Haochen to me.”
Li Xin stuck out her tongue at Long Haochen and said, “Little brother, I’m going to cultivate now. Tonight, your big sister will throw a welcome feast for you and treat you to a grand meal. Hee-hee.” With that, she turned and dashed away.
Nalan Shu shook his head with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence. “That child… nearly twenty years old, yet still so flighty and carefree. Children from ordinary families would already be married by this age.”
Withdrawing his gaze, Nalan Shu looked toward Long Haochen, nodded to him, and said, “Haochen, come with me.”
Long Haochen followed him once again to the second floor, where Nalan Shu had his office. After securely closing the door, Nalan Shu could no longer contain his excitement. “The Throne of the God of Apocalypse and Slaughter! Haochen, do you realize? The demons were originally planning a major offensive this time. Yet, solely because your teacher intervened, he single-handedly frightened away five demon legions that had infiltrated the Alliance’s territory. Where is your teacher? Could you possibly arrange for me to meet Lord Xingyu?”
Long Haochen shook his head and said, “Hall Master Nalan, he has already departed. Here you are.” As he spoke, he took out the letter left by his father and handed it to Nalan Shu.
Nalan Shu eagerly tore open the envelope and began reading. A look of astonishment soon appeared on his face. After reading the letter’s contents several times, he looked back at Long Haochen with some disbelief. “You… you are actually Master Xingyu’s son? But why did Master Xingyu want you to learn the skills of a Guardian Knight under my tutelage? Why not those of a Retribution Knight? Master Xingyu is, after all, our Knights’ Alliance’s foremost Retribution Knight!”
Long Haochen replied, “Hall Master Nalan, Father forbade me from saying more. If he did not mention it in the letter, then I cannot speak of it either.”
Nalan Shu took a deep breath, carefully tucked the letter away, and after a moment of contemplation, said, “Very well. Regardless of the reasons, I cannot disobey Master Xingyu’s orders. From this moment on, you truly become a member of the Haoyue Branch Hall. I will do my utmost to train you. Master Xingyu specified in his letter that you are to participate in the Demon Hunter Squad selection held in a little over two years.”
“Hmm, I will follow your arrangements.” Long Haochen straightened his back and performed a standard knight’s salute toward Nalan Shu.
Nalan Shu patted his shoulder and said, “From now on, just like Xin’er, you may call me Uncle Nalan. To be honest, I feel somewhat apprehensive about teaching you knightly techniques. However, I believe that in the near future, you will surely become the greatest pride of our Haoyue Branch Temple. Come, let me first show you around our branch temple and arrange a place for you to stay.”
“Thank you, Uncle Nalan.”
The Haoyue Branch Temple covered an enormous area, far more than what Long Haochen had initially seen. Behind the main hall lay a vast expanse, primarily divided into three sections: the refined quarters for knights to rest, the knight’s plaza for cultivation, and the knight’s hall where knowledge and skills were imparted.
Centered around Haoyue City, nearby towns and villages select and send batches of squire knights to the Haoyue Branch Temple for assessment every two or three years. Only those who pass the probationary knight examination are allowed to remain at the Haoyue Branch Temple for study and cultivation. If they can break through to the third-rank knight within five years, they will become true members of the Haoyue Branch Temple and officially enlisted members of the Knight Temple. Otherwise, these probationary knights must either join the military or undertake other duties for the Knight Temple.
Therefore, what Long Haochen had seen before was merely the facade of the Haoyue Branch Temple; the actual branch temple lies further behind. Here reside nearly a hundred knights and over two thousand probationary knights. According to Nalan Shu’s introduction, besides himself, the Haoyue Branch Temple also includes one Earth Knight and seven Grand Knights. All those capable of advancing to Grand Knight will travel to the Knight Temple to be formally invested and reassigned.
Naturally, living conditions vary according to rank. Probationary knights share rooms in groups of four within refined dwellings, whereas full-fledged knights each enjoy their own private chamber.
Nalan Shu arranged Long Haochen’s accommodation right next to Li Xin’s. After taking him to dinner, he instructed the boy to rest first, promising to begin organizing his cultivation training the following day.
Upon reaching the third tier of profession, regardless of which Holy Temple one belongs to, the treatment is exceptionally favorable. This is because, during battles against the demonic races, they serve as the primary force resisting the demons.
Long Haochen’s refined dwelling was located on the third floor of the Knight Building within the residential district. It was a suite comprising one bedroom for rest, a quiet chamber dedicated to meditation and cultivation, and a private bathroom for convenience and washing. Inside the meditation chamber lay a simple magical array embedded with several magic crystals from light-attribute magical beasts, making the light attribute within the room significantly stronger than outside, thereby providing certain auxiliary benefits for cultivating internal spiritual energy.
Unaffected by the luxurious surroundings, Long Haochen retrieved his personal clothing from the Forget-Me-Not ring, tidied himself up briefly, and then entered the meditation chamber to begin his cultivation.
Time always seemed to pass swiftly during cultivation; the entire afternoon slipped away in an instant. It was not until dusk that a crisp knocking sound broke the tranquility of the secluded dwelling.
“Who is it?” Long Haochen asked as he emerged from his meditative state.
“Little brother, it’s me.”
Long Haochen opened the door to find Li Xin standing outside, lively and radiant. She was no longer wearing her soft armor from earlier but had changed into a sleek white outfit. Apparently having just finished bathing, her long pink hair still hung damp over her shoulders. In this state, she seemed less heroic yet more alluring.
“Come with me. Uncle Nalan asked me to take you to test your spiritual energy, and then I’ll show you around and treat you to a good meal to welcome you.”

The Spirit Furnace of Saint Guidance (Part Four)
“Oh.” Long Haochen, still immersed in his recent insights regarding internal spiritual energy cultivation and the Spirit Furnace, gave a simple reply before following Li Xin out the door.
Li Xin tidied her long hair, retying it into a ponytail with a blue ribbon, then led Long Haochen out the door and back to the main hall, ascending directly to the third floor.
Nalan Shu was already waiting there. Seeing them approach, he smiled at Long Haochen and asked, “How was your rest? Are you satisfied with your accommodations?”
Long Haochen first bowed to Nalan Shu before replying, “The accommodations are already excellent. Thank you, Uncle Nalan.”
Nalan Shu smiled gently; he found himself growing fonder of this child by the day. Despite having such a powerful father, the boy displayed not a trace of arrogance.
“You have completed your Divine Awakening, proving you possess the strength of a knight. However, since you’ve joined our Haoyue Branch Temple, registration is required. Therefore, I need you to undergo a test to measure your current spiritual energy. Starting tomorrow, you will study alongside the Knight Class to learn the skills and techniques of a Guardian Knight. If anything is unclear, come directly to me with your questions.”
“Alright.” Long Haochen replied, flipping his wrist to draw the heavy sword slanted across his back. Since his father had forbidden him from revealing his abilities as a Retribution Knight, he carried only one heavy sword on his person; the other remained within the Forget-Me-Not Ring.
“Brother, you want to switch to training as a Guardian Knight?” Li Xin asked, her face filled with confusion.
Long Haochen chuckled and replied, “This was my own choice after returning from the last test.”
The tools used for the spiritual energy test were no different from last time; it was still that same black stone pillar.
“Let’s begin,” Nalan Shu said, nodding toward Long Haochen.
Long Haochen’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, and the heavy sword in his right hand slashed down with lightning speed. A distinct layer of golden light enveloped the blade; this was not a skill, but the visual manifestation of internal spiritual energy being infused into it.
With a dull thud, a soft blue halo rose from the walls surrounding the trial hall. Both Nalan Shu and Li Xin stared tensely at the top of the black stone pillar.
“Two hundred and sixty-eight.” A large number appeared there.
Nalan Shu and Li Xin simultaneously gasped in shock. Li Xin cried out involuntarily, “Only two points of spiritual energy away from becoming a Tier Three Knight! Brother, are you even a normal human? A Tier Three Knight before the age of twelve!”
Keep in mind that a year and a half ago, when Li Xin first met Long Haochen, she herself was only a knight of this same level. Yet in just a year and a half, Long Haochen had more than doubled his spiritual energy. Although such rapid advancement stemmed from the simultaneous growth of both internal and external spiritual energy, it could only be described as truly extraordinary talent.
Long Haochen sheathed his sword and stood calmly. This reading of his spiritual energy did not surprise him, for it clearly did not reflect his true cultivation level. After fusing with the Holy Guidance Spiritual Stove, his internal spiritual energy had decreased by over fifty points; otherwise, he would already possess the spiritual energy of a fourth-rank knight approaching the fifth rank.
“A genius, truly a genius!” Nalan Shu murmured in awe.
Li Xin blinked her large eyes and glared fiercely at Long Haochen. “What a pity you’re so young,” she said. “Otherwise, I’d definitely claim you for myself first.”
Seeing her like this, Long Haochen’s face couldn’t help but flush red. He still clearly remembered how, more than a year ago, Li Xin had taken his hand and guided it to touch certain high, soft places.
“Let’s go, we’ll get something to eat.” Li Xin pulled Long Haochen along, exchanged a quick greeting with Nalan Shu, and then hurried out.
After leaving the Haoyue Branch Temple, Li Xin led Long Haochen to the largest restaurant nearby and walked inside.
The moment they entered, a waiter immediately approached them. “Miss Xin’er, you’ve arrived.”
Li Xin nodded and said, “Let’s get something to eat.”
The waiter glanced somewhat surprised at Li Xin, who was holding Long Haochen’s hand. “Please follow me to the second floor, you two.”
Li Xin shook her head. “Never mind, it’s just the two of us; we’ll sit in the main hall. Let’s take that window seat over there. Bring us the menu; I’m starving.”
As she spoke, she pulled Long Haochen along, walked over, and sat down.
By this time, the restaurant hall was already half full. After Li Xin led Long Haochen to their seats, she immediately began ordering food. However, her method of ordering truly opened Long Haochen’s eyes.
Taking the menu from the waiter, Li Xin tapped on it five or six times in succession. Just as Long Haochen wondered why the waiter wasn’t writing anything down, Li Xin said, “Hmm, we won’t need these few; bring us everything else.”
That single page of the menu listed a good twenty or thirty dishes!
“Sister Xin, that’s far too much; we’ll never be able to eat it all,” Long Haochen hurriedly remarked, gaining yet another new insight into this older sister. Her straightforward and heroic spirit, rivaling that of any man, made being around her exceedingly comfortable.
Li Xin’s expression stiffened. “Why can’t he eat? You’re still growing; you need to eat more.”
“Come on, what’s this about making him eat more? It’s clearly because you yourself are a bottomless pit.” Just as Li Xin finished ordering, a somewhat cold voice laced with mockery rang out.
Long Haochen turned his head to look, only to see two men and one woman entering the restaurant. They halted beside them as they passed; the speaker was precisely that young woman.
This young woman wore a deep blue robe. Faint elemental fluctuations caused a pale blue halo to subtly ripple across its fabric. On the left side of her chest was a mark of three stars, encircled by six golden lines.
A mage’s robe. Is this a mage? Long Haochen’s understanding of mages was limited to his father’s stories; this was his first time seeing one in person.
Three stars and six golden stripes represented the mark of a third-tier, sixth-rank professional. This was indeed a true mage. The titles for the first three tiers of mages were Mage Attendant, Mage Apprentice, and Mage, respectively.
“Bang!” Li Xin slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting angrily, “Lin Jialu, who are you calling a glutton?”
Lin Jialu snorted. “Whoever eats the most is the one I’m talking about.”
Only after noticing the mage’s robe did Long Haochen turn his attention to the young female mage’s appearance.
It could be said that both Lin Jialu and Li Xin were rare beauties, yet the two possessed entirely different styles. Li Xin was straightforward and brimming with heroic spirit, embodying a vibrant kind of beauty. In contrast, Lin Jialu exuded the delicate elegance characteristic of a noble lady.
With fair skin and an average build, she had pale blue long hair cascading down her back. Her eyebrows were graceful, her nose exquisite, and her eyes matched the blue of her hair. The contours of her face were exceptionally soft, easily evoking in others a desire to protect her.
However, in her hand, she held a magic staff about two feet in length. Crafted entirely from black wood, the top of the staff extended several slender branches of the same color, clutching a water-blue gemstone the size of a fist. The fluctuation of magical elements emanating from this staff was far more intense than that surrounding her mage’s robe.
“Looking for a fight again, are you?” Li Xin’s eyes blazed with fury as she stepped forward, instantly closing the distance to stand before Lin Jialu.
The two young men who had entered the restaurant alongside Lin Jialu hurriedly stepped forward, flanking her on either side to shield her, their faces taut with tension. Clad head to toe in warrior leather armor, they were clearly Lin Jialu’s bodyguards.
Mages fear ambushes above all else; compared to the devastating power of their spells, their physical bodies are far more fragile. Thus, accomplished mages are always accompanied by attendants.
“Both young ladies, please calm yourselves,” the warrior on the left cautioned tentatively. “Last month, you were only just punished by Lord Governor and Grand Master.”
“Hmph.” Li Xin and Lin Jialu snorted in anger almost simultaneously, glaring fiercely at each other with neither yielding.