Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Starlight Unicorn (Part One)
Upon hearing Ye Hua’s reminder, Long Haochen immediately felt a tinge of regret. However, after entering this area, he distinctly sensed that the funnel-shaped vortex surrounding the spiritual furnace within his chest had noticeably accelerated its rotation. Even without meditating to cultivate, his rate of spiritual energy improvement here would not be much slower.
“State your name.” A deep, aged voice spoke at that moment.
Long Haochen was startled. As his cultivation advanced, his spiritual power had grown increasingly potent. He did not realize that the reduced consumption of spiritual energy when he used his skills was not solely due to his constitution as a Child of Light; his powerful spiritual sense also played a significant role. Yet, at this moment, he had detected no one approaching.
“Ghost Shadow, Lord of Xiucheng City, accompanied by his son Ghost Warrior, has come to Sacred Mountain to select a mount and partner.”
In a flash, Ghost Shadow, who had consistently lingered at the rear, appeared nearby with his son, coming to a halt right beside Ye Hua and the master-disciple pair of Long Haochen.
An elderly figure slowly emerged from ahead. His body seemed part of the pale golden mist of light, his presence entirely concealed by the luminous haze.
The old man was slightly hunched; far from wearing armor, he didn’t even have a warrior’s uniform, only a simple gray cloth robe. Sparse white hairs fringed his bald crown, and the wrinkles covering his face could surely serve as deadly traps for mosquitoes and flies. His dim, yellowed eyes held not a trace of vitality. He looked so frail and nearing death that a single gust of wind might easily end his life.
“I am Ye Hua from the Haoyue Branch Hall, accompanied by my disciple Long Haochen, here at the Holy Mountain to select a mount companion,” Ye Hua’s cold voice rang out; even in this place, he could not break his habit.
The old man approached with extreme slowness. As he drew nearer, Long Haochen caught a clear view of his appearance and couldn’t help but startle.
This elder had only one arm; his left arm was severed cleanly at the elbow, his right eye was blind, and a massive scar ran across his face from the top of his head down to his jaw, as though his skull had once been split open.
As Long Haochen clearly saw the old man’s appearance, he also noticed that his normally cold-tempered teacher was now showing an expression of reverence in his eyes, slowly bowing before the elder. Ghost Shadow on the other side did the same.
Long Haochen dared not show any negligence and quickly followed his teacher in making a respectful bow.
Although Ghost Wu also bowed along with his father, his eyes betrayed a hint of disdain. Since childhood, he had been regarded as a prodigy within the Cultivation City’s main hall; whether in the Knight Temple or in Cultivation City, everyone treated him with utmost courtesy. Thus, bowing to such a frail, disabled old man on the verge of death filled him with considerable reluctance.
The old man’s single eye swept over the four individuals before him, and in a hoarse, aged voice, he calmly said, “Present your credentials.”
“Yes,” Ghost Shadow and Ye Hua replied in unison. Ghost Shadow was slightly faster, presenting a scroll first. Ye Hua merely cast a cold glance at him before promptly offering his own scroll.
The elder examined the scroll presented by Ghost Shadow first and nodded in approval. However, upon viewing the scroll from Ye Hua, he let out a soft exclamation of surprise, his gaze inevitably shifting to Long Haochen as he scrutinized the boy from head to toe.
Long Haochen vaguely understood that the scroll contained a complete record of everything that had occurred since his entry into the Haoyue Branch Temple, naturally including his age and level of cultivation.
At this moment, under the gaze of the one-eyed elder, he felt as though there was nowhere to hide, as if that dim, yellowed single eye possessed an overwhelming power of penetration.
The old man’s gaze quickly swept over him before he beckoned to Gui Wu, saying, “Come here.”
Ghost Shadow nudged his son and gave him a meaningful glance.
Gui Wu promptly hurried forward, at least appearing outwardly respectful.
The old man raised his single arm and casually placed it on Gui Wu’s shoulder. Gui Wu instinctively shifted slightly, as if to struggle, but the moment that withered palm landed on his shoulder, his entire body instantly stiffened, rendering him utterly unable to move even a fraction.
A drop of sweat trickled down Ghost Warrior’s forehead; he clearly felt that the old man’s palm was like a mountain, rendering all his efforts as futile as mud sinking into the sea.
“Hmm, eighteen years old. Entry permitted. You may leave.” The last sentence was addressed to Ghost Shadow.
With a flip of his wrist, a long, rectangular token appeared in the withered hand, its entire surface jet-black. He handed the token to Gui Wu, saying, “When encountering demonic beasts of different levels, the token will display different colors. The lowest-level demonic beast within the Sacred Mountain is tier two, corresponding to crimson; from there, it progresses through yellow, green, azure, blue, purple, white, and silver. Tier nine represents the pinnacle. If gold appears, it means you have encountered an aggressive demonic beast. Unless it immediately shows affection toward you, flee as quickly as possible. If a demonic beast draws close to you, you may attempt telepathic communication. Should you choose not to communicate, simply continue your search until you find your target. The time limit is thirty days. If no suitable demonic beast is found within those thirty days, the token will turn crimson-gold, and twenty seconds later, you will be teleported out, and the token reclaimed. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Gui Wu replied.
The scroll held by the elder suddenly turned to ash, releasing a wisp of gray energy that merged with the black token in his hand. A flash of light rippled across the token before it returned to normal.
“Thank you, Senior,” Gui Ying said respectfully, bowing deeply to the elder before turning and exiting the boundaries of the Sacred Mountain. Not daring to delay, Gui Wu cast a glance at Long Haochen nearby, then stepped into the pale golden mist, vanishing in an instant.
The old man beckoned to Long Haochen. “Your turn, young lad. Let this old man feel your bone age. See if you can truly bring me a bit of surprise.”
“Yes.” After glancing at his teacher, Long Haochen stepped forward slowly and stood respectfully before the old man.
The old man likewise placed his hand on Long Haochen’s shoulder, and a warm sensation immediately flowed into him. Long Haochen remained still, simply standing there quietly.
A moment later, a look of astonishment flashed through the old man’s single eye. Withdrawing his hand, he sized Long Haochen up and down once more.
“It is from the Haoyue Branch Hall,” the elder said in a deep voice.
“This junior is present,” Ye Hua replied, stepping forward two paces and bowing respectfully.
The old man’s single eye shifted to Ye Hua as he said, “Where did you find this little monster? He’s not even fourteen yet, yet he has already become a Grand Knight with over a thousand units of spiritual energy. Even decades ago, when that young fellow Long Xingyu arrived, his talent didn’t seem to match this boy’s. This is a true genius! Are you willing to report him to the Holy Temple so they can nurture his development?”
Ye Hua’s expression shifted slightly. He hadn’t expected that even this Mountain-Protecting Elder would feel such admiration for Long Haochen’s talent. Then again, it made sense; an extraordinary individual like him might not appear once in a hundred years.
“Senior, it is not that I am unwilling. It is simply that the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament will be held in half a year. I am confident that my guidance for him will be no worse than anyone else’s.”
After a brief moment of thought, the old man nodded and said, “Very well. I am too weary to concern myself with such external matters. Let it be as you wish. Child, did you hear everything I just said clearly?”
Long Haochen replied respectfully, “I heard it all clearly.”
The old man nodded again and said, “Then you may go as well. However, you are different from him; if you break through to the rank of Grand Knight before the age of twenty, you will be granted one additional privilege. If within thirty days you fail to find a mount suitable for yourself, you may enter the great teleportation formation atop the peak of the Holy Mountain to randomly obtain a magical beast from another plane to serve as your mount. However, if it comes to that, it will merely be a matter of luck. While you will certainly find a magical beast suited to you, its strength will be uncertain; it might even be a mere first-rank creature. Therefore, during these thirty days on the Holy Mountain, you must strive with all your might. Do you understand?”

Starlight Unicorn (Part Two)
“Thank you for your guidance, senior.”
“Hmm, you may go as well.” The elder waved his large hand; the scroll turned into light and merged into another token, which he then handed to Long Haochen.
Long Haochen turned and performed a standard knight’s salute toward Ye Hua.
“Go,” Ye Hua replied with a return salute. A stiff smile once again appeared on his face, yet his eyes burned with fervor.
Only then did Long Haochen turn and walk away, vanishing into the golden mist of light.
Watching the figure depart, Ye Hua was about to take his leave when the one-eyed elder before him stated calmly, “This child is a rare and promising talent. Little one, you have done well to cultivate such a disciple.”
A hint of delight flickered in Ye Hua’s eyes. “Thank you for your praise, Senior.”
The elder remarked indifferently, “I never praise others; I merely state facts. You may go as well.”
“Yes.”
Ye Hua withdrew from the luminous mist, yet the reverence in his eyes remained undiminished. Before coming here, he had never told Long Haochen what kind of existence the protecting elders within the Knight Sacred Mountain were, because knights who had not yet obtained a mount from the Knight Sacred Mountain were not qualified to know.
All the guardians of this Knight Sacred Mountain are seventh-order Temple Knights who, after fulfilling their missions, surrendered their Mithril Foundation Battle Armors and retired here to spend their twilight years.
There are even former eighth-order Holy Knights residing here. Were it not for the fact that Divine Seal Knights only relinquish their Divine Seal Thrones upon death, it is conceivable that Divine Seal Knights might also be found within these grounds.
The Knight Temple stands foremost among the Six Great Temples. Beyond its overt strength, the power concealed within this Knight Sacred Mountain can truly be described as terrifying.
Apart from the Divine Seal Knights themselves, no one knows exactly how many powerful retired knights dwell within this sacred mountain. Yet, regardless of where one enters the mountain, they will immediately encounter its guardians.
Although the old man just now looked pitiful, he was at least a seventh-rank powerhouse! Even in his current disabled state, neither Ye Hua nor Ghost Shadow could possibly match him. Moreover, every one of his disabilities was sustained in battle against the demon race. It can be said that every guardian within the Holy Mountain is a true hero.
Even if the three Divine Seal Knights of the Knight Temple were to come here, they would still bow to these most revered elders. They are all the pride and glory of the Knight Temple. Thus, even with Ye Hua’s peculiar temperament, he remained exceedingly respectful toward that elder just now.
“Brother Ye Hua has come out as well? It seems your disciple is not very old! Such a young knight is truly rare. I wonder what rank of knight he has achieved now?”
Ghost Shadow had not gone far; upon seeing Ye Hua emerge, he spoke with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
Ye Hua cast him a cold glance. “What does that have to do with you?”
Ghost Shadow laughed heartily and said, “Of course, there’s no connection whatsoever. However, since we’ll be waiting here for quite some time, why not make a wager? Let’s bet on which of our disciples—your apprentice or my son—will obtain a higher-tier magical beast mount. If I win, I won’t ask for anything else; just let me slap you once in return for that blow you gave me years ago. If you win, I’ll pay you three thousand gold coins. How does that sound?”
Gold coins possess considerable purchasing power; three thousand of them would be enough to buy a rather fine piece of magical equipment.
Ye Hua glanced coldly at him and replied, “If we’re going to make a wager, let’s wait until the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament before doing so. Mounts alone cannot determine everything. Let’s instead bet on the rankings within the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament. Do you dare? If I win, I won’t take your gold coins either; just let me slap you once more.”
Ghost Shadow’s eyes turned icy. “You’re still as arrogant as ever. How old is your apprentice? Are you really suggesting someone so young will participate in the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament? That’s utterly ridiculous. Have you forgotten that the age limit for the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament is twenty-five?”
Ye Hua said indifferently, “Just answer whether you dare or not.”
Ghost Shadow’s pupils contracted slightly. “I dare! Why wouldn’t I? In fact, I had already planned to let Ghost Wu participate in the Demon Hunt Selection Tournament to gain experience. My intention was for him to make a stunning impression when he participates again at twenty-three. My son is already an eighth-rank knight this year; perhaps he truly can fight his way into the final rounds and become a Demon Hunter.”
Ye Hua replied, “Then we shall wait and see. Wash your face clean, lest you soil my hands.”
Ghost Shadow’s face turned green with rage, yet he dared not initiate combat here. This was within the bounds of the Sacred Mountain; should he disturb its guardians, even his lineage from the Cultivation Lord Hall would not suffice to bear the consequences.
Long Haochen stepped into the luminous mist, where the light elements seemed to grow even denser, filling him with an indescribable sense of comfort. He silently thought to himself that even though he had already found a magical beast companion, it still seemed wise to remain here for the full thirty days. He could clearly feel that the circulation speed of his spiritual energy within his funnel vortex had more than doubled compared to usual, nearly matching the pace he achieved during meditation. Under these conditions, he could increase his spiritual energy by at least three or four points each day.
Walking forward, suddenly the view opened up before him; he seemed to have passed through the layer of mist, and the scenery ahead became clear.
Looking up at the sky, he was surprised to discover that what he saw was not fog, but a crystal-clear blue sky. It was as if the pale golden luminous mist that had appeared so hazy from the outside had completely vanished.
Bright and warm sunlight poured down, filling his vision with uneven, dancing tree shadows. The fresh air, carrying the fragrant scent of plants, instantly washed away all the fatigue from his journey.
He now stood at the foot of a mountain, with only the forest before him visible. Each sturdy tree reached at least forty or fifty meters in height. Though the forest teemed with a wide variety of plants, there was not a single path to be found.
With his left hand, he removed the Radiant Shield, and with his right, he drew his heavy sword, gripping both the black token and the sword’s hilt together for easy observation at any moment.
Whoosh! A yellow figure darted past him—a monkey-like magical beast. It landed on a nearby tree branch, bared its teeth at Long Haochen with a grin, then turned and scampered away.
What an amazing formation! Long Haochen exclaimed inwardly. In the outside world, nearly all magical beasts are hostile toward humans; eighty percent would actively attack upon encountering one. Yet here, after being bathed in the radiant energy of the Knight Temple’s formation, they had become far more friendly. This Knight Sacred Mountain truly was a miraculous place.
Glancing down at the token in his hand, he saw an orange light flare up, indicating that the magical beast he had just faced was of the third rank.
Daring not to waste any time, Long Haochen stepped into the mountain forest. A few musical notes escaped his lips as he unleashed a spiritual shield with considerable defensive power, enveloping himself within it. As he moved forward, he carefully observed everything around him.
Ye Hua had told him that upon entering the Knight Sacred Mountain, the first thing to do was to climb to the summit of a mountain; only then could one determine the direction and proceed toward the interior of the Sacred Mountain. The closer one got to the center, the more powerful the magical beasts encountered would become.
The vegetation in the mountain forest was so dense that Long Haochen had to clear his path with his heavy sword, making his ascent rather slow. It took him a full half-hour before he finally reached the summit of the first mountain.
Along the way, he encountered several magical beasts, but none were of high rank; most were merely level three or four. Upon seeing him, these beasts showed almost no sign of friendliness.
Reaching the mountain peak, the view before him suddenly opened up, revealing a continuous range of rolling mountains clearly laid out before his eyes.
It was a green ocean; atop the distant peaks stood exceptionally tall trees, so prominent that they were clearly visible even from his position.

Starlight Unicorn (Part Three)
“So beautiful!” Long Haochen couldn’t help but exclaim. Such a vast and magnificent sight instantly lifted his spirits. Taking a deep breath, he felt the abundant light elements swirling around his body as if in orbit. Resisting the urge to sit down and meditate, he fixed his gaze on the direction of the Sacred Mountain’s center and quickened his pace.
The range of the Knight Sacred Mountain was vast, and traversing it proved extremely arduous. In the blink of an eye, five days had passed. Long Haochen had climbed to the summit more than ten times to survey his surroundings, only to discover that he had covered merely one-third of the distance; the center of the sacred mountain still lay far ahead.
Moreover, the deeper he ventured inward, the higher the peaks became, correspondingly increasing the difficulty of the climb.
Nevertheless, as he continued his journey, the rank of the magical beasts he encountered gradually rose. Magical beasts of ranks five and six appeared endlessly. Regrettably, not a single beast had shown him any sign of affinity.
Having packed sufficient dried provisions and water skins within his Forget-Me-Not ring, Long Haochen rested for approximately three hours each day. Although he dared not meditate, he could clearly feel his spiritual energy progressing.
“Ah, a water source!” After climbing another peak, Long Haochen was delighted to see a lake in the valley on the other side of the mountain.
Looking down from the summit, the lake resembled a huge sapphire embedded among the mountains, reflecting the sunlight pouring down from the sky, truly like a fairyland on earth.
“This is perfect! Teacher said that magical beasts are most abundant near water, and many powerful ones can be found there too. Perhaps I’ll find my partner here.”
Without any delay, he hurried down the mountain. Perhaps because he now had a clear goal, his pace this time was extremely fast; within a short while, he had already descended the mountain.
From afar, he had already spotted several magical beasts drinking by the lakeside. He halted his steps, slowed his pace, and cautiously advanced toward them.
Soon, he witnessed an astonishing sight that sent a shock through Long Haochen’s heart. What was that?
Over a dozen unicorns were lingering by the lake, drinking water. Clearly belonging to the same herd, these creatures possessed snow-white bodies, golden manes flowing from their necks, and a single spiraled golden horn standing proudly atop their heads. Each unicorn bore a pair of massive wings, with the outermost feathers of their pristine white wings tinged in gold. As they moved, faint golden halos could be seen emanating from beneath their bodies.
This, this is…
A Starlight Unicorn?
Unicorns are undoubtedly the most beloved mounts of knights. Whether in the sky or on the ground, they possess formidable combat prowess, making them truly powerful magical beasts capable of operating seamlessly across both domains. Moreover, unicorns have gentle temperaments and are relatively easy to tame. Of course, they are also proud creatures; only by conquering them or earning their favor can one hope to form a contract.
Among unicorns, the Starlight Unicorn stands out as the finest. An adult Starlight Unicorn is a peak Tier-8 magical beast, merely a single step away from reaching Tier-9, second only to the sacred Holy Unicorn of Tier-9.
The Starlight Unicorn is a light-attribute magical beast. If one were to conduct a survey asking knights what mount they most desire, at least half would choose it.
Upon seeing the Starlight Unicorn, Long Haochen nearly held his breath. This creature was even more powerful than his sister’s Rose Unicorn!
They were breathtakingly beautiful, their bodily lines a perfect fusion of strength and grace. Their dense sacred aura was so pure that even the lake surface they touched seemed to ripple with circles of pale golden light.
Taking a deep breath, Long Haochen sheathed his heavy sword and shield. He knew his moment had arrived.
After calming his emotions as much as possible, he walked slowly toward the Starlight Unicorns.
Even outside the Knight Holy Mountain, the kind-hearted Starlight Unicorns would not easily attack humans, especially under the influence of the magical formation here.
Among these Starlight Unicorns, one stood exceptionally tall, measuring nearly twenty feet in length and twelve feet in height, with a horn approaching two feet long. Its pale golden eyes radiated brilliant light; while the others drank water, it alone stood silently, observing everything around.
Undoubtedly, this unicorn was the king of this place.
Seeing Long Haochen slowly approach, the Starry Unicorn paused briefly, its right front hoof gently scraping the ground.
Long Haochen immediately halted, speaking earnestly, “Honorable Starry Unicorn, I am a knight from the Knight Temple. I have come here seeking my companion. Might I be granted the opportunity to communicate with you?”
High-tier magical beasts possess intelligence comparable to, if not surpassing, that of humans. The higher the beast’s rank, the more difficult it becomes to earn its approval. Attempting communication is the first step.
The Starlight Unicorn King fixed its golden eyes upon Long Haochen. Meeting his gaze, which was also pale gold yet far clearer, the creature paused in slight surprise.
Intense golden light surged from the horn atop its head, cascading down as a shimmering veil that enveloped Long Haochen.
Instantly, a faint golden hue manifested across Long Haochen’s body, with the area over his chest glowing particularly bright.
The abundant sacred aura filled Long Haochen with warmth and affinity. Overjoyed, he realized that the Unicorn King’s willingness to communicate signaled a chance of gaining its approval, especially given that sense of closeness he felt.
“Hello, human.” A gentle male voice resonated within Long Haochen’s mind.
Although Xingyu had long ago informed Long Haochen that high-level magical beasts possessed the ability to communicate with humans, this was his first interaction with a creature of such caliber, and it still made him somewhat nervous. He quickly thought in his heart, “Hello, Starry Unicorn.”
The Starry Unicorn said, “The aura of light upon you is exceedingly pure, even surpassing my own; it makes me feel very comfortable.”
Long Haochen’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. “Then, may I become your partner?”
The most critical moment has arrived. If this Starlight Unicorn agrees, Long Haochen will gain a powerful eighth-rank peak magical beast as his mount. This is no mere juvenile unicorn! With such a formidable mount, even an Earth Knight might not be his match.
Hearing Long Haochen’s question, the Starlight Unicorn fell silent. The golden light emanating from its horn grew increasingly intense. Affected by this radiance, Long Haochen’s eyes sparkled with brilliance, their clear depths reflecting the unicorn’s image.
“I truly wish to accept your offer,” the Starlight Unicorn said, surprisingly using honorifics. “However, I cannot deceive you.”
Long Haochen was momentarily stunned. “W-what do you mean?”
“Respected Son of Light, I have perceived the origin of your light. I deeply wish to become your mount and companion. If that were to happen, perhaps within my lifetime, I might advance to become a level-nine magical beast. However, I cannot do this. Because we unicorns are beings of absolute honesty. With my talents, I am not qualified to serve the Son of Light. I apologize, but I must decline your offer.”
“Huh?” Not qualified? Long Haochen was instantly stunned. Even if the Starry Sky Unicorn had said he himself was unqualified, he wouldn’t have been this surprised. The creature before him was a powerful existence at the peak of tier eight! If even it wasn’t qualified, what kind of magical beast partner should he seek?
“I’m afraid your journey this time will be in vain. As far as I know, within this Knight Sacred Mountain, not only am I unqualified, but even those few level-nine magical beasts and their descendants are equally unqualified to become your partner,” the Starry Sky Unicorn said with a sigh.

The Starry Sky Unicorn (Part Four)
Long Haochen stared in disbelief and asked, “Then what kind of magical beast must I seek to become my mount companion?”
The Starlight Unicorn replied, “You need a companion possessing talents equal to your own. How could such a being be confined within the boundaries of this Knight Sacred Mountain? Although the environment here is favorable, unless we form a contract, we shall never possess true freedom. We will never be able to leave this place.”
Long Haochen smiled bitterly and said, “Then how am I supposed to find one?”
The Starlight Unicorn responded, “It is not entirely without hope. Within the great formation of this Knight Sacred Mountain lies a core teleportation array. At regular intervals, new magical beasts are teleported here. If those humans allow you to choose directly through the teleportation array, perhaps you might obtain a suitable companion. However, there is also the possibility of receiving a low-tier partner.”
“Thank you,” Long Haochen said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
The golden light receded. After nodding once more to Long Haochen, the Starry Unicorn shifted its gaze toward its own kind.
“A useless master breeds a useless disciple; to even dream of obtaining a mount like the Starry Unicorn is truly laughable,” a disdainful voice rang out. From within the forest, a figure emerged.
Long Haochen’s eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening as anger flared within them.
Emerging from the forest was a colossal magical beast, over twenty feet long and fifteen feet tall.
This creature’s entire body was crimson red, covered in thick, heavy scales. Its head resembled that of a dragon, while its body was exceptionally robust. Seated upon its back was a figure—could it be anyone other than Gui Wu, who had entered the Knight Sacred Mountain before Long Haochen?
The Red-Armored Earth Dragon, a sub-dragon species, is a level seven mid-tier magical beast. However, the one before them was clearly not yet fully grown. Though incapable of flight, its combat prowess on land was extraordinarily formidable. It possessed the fire attribute.
In merely a few short days, this Ghost Martial artist had already secured his own mount. Judging by rank, this Red-Armored Earth Dragon was comparable to his father’s Dragon Eagle.
“Do not dare insult my teacher,” Long Haochen commanded in a deep, stern voice.
Ghost Warrior snorted disdainfully. “Unconvinced? Fine! Come duel me then. Rest assured, I won’t kill you; at most, I’ll just break your limbs.” As he spoke, light flashed in his hands; a shield appeared in his left hand, while a spear twelve feet long materialized in his right.
Knights generally wield only two types of offensive weapons: besides heavy swords, there are spears. Let alone having already secured a mount; even without this Red-Armored Earth Dragon, Ghost Warrior possessed sufficient confidence to defeat Long Haochen.
Removing his shield and drawing his sword, Long Haochen showed no cowardice when facing Ghost Warrior mounted on the Red-Aarmored Earth Dragon. Just as he prepared to accept Ghost Warrior’s challenge, suddenly, a beam of golden light shot forth from beside him like lightning.
The dazzling golden light instantly enveloped both Ghost Warrior and the Red-Armored Earth Dragon. Previously, the King of Starlight Unicorns had now appeared proudly beside Long Haochen.
The Red-Armored Earth Dragon’s eyes instantly filled with palpable fear. Gui Wu also sensed an overwhelming pressure, his heart struck with sheer terror.
Could it be that he truly gained the Starlight Unicorn’s approval? No, that’s impossible.
But Gui Wu was no fool; how could he dare to confront such a powerful eighth-rank peak magical beast before him? Almost instantly, he channeled his spiritual energy to activate that token. A dense crimson-gold light erupted and spread outward in an instant. With a flash of brilliance, it teleported both him and the Red-Armored Earth Dragon away.
The sudden change before his eyes startled Long Haochen. The King of the Starlight Unicorn slowly lowered its head, nuzzling against his shoulder, its gentle gaze seemingly conveying that the dignity of the Son of Light was not something a mere clown could dare to offend.
With a long, resonant neigh, the Starlight Unicorn cast one final glance at Long Haochen before suddenly dashing forward. The other Starlight Unicorns that had been drinking water immediately followed suit; spreading the twin wings on their backs, they soared into the sky adorned with dazzling golden radiance, vanishing among the mountain ranges in the blink of an eye.
Standing somewhat dazed in place, Long Haochen did not linger in his sense of loss for too long. Since Starlight Unicorns were the most suitable magical beasts to serve as knight mounts, both Long Xingyu and Ye Hua had previously explained their characteristics to him in great detail.
The Starlight Unicorn is a symbol of light. Gentle and kind by nature, they are incapable of lying. They will defend their companions with their very lives, yet even toward their enemies, they never seek to exterminate them completely. Within the Temple Alliance, the white-knight prince fantasized about by young maidens is precisely one who arrives riding such a Starlight Unicorn!
If it did not deceive me, then this journey will likely yield no results. I can only try my luck via the teleportation array, or perhaps hunt down a magical beast on my own in the future and tame it myself.
Both paths carry significant uncertainty, but undoubtedly, the former offers more opportunities. After all, acquiring a magical beast companion through the formation still holds the possibility of gaining a powerful ally. Hunting wild magical beasts, however, is no longer viable; with his current cultivation, he could at best confront a low-tier Grade Five magical beast. Even the Starlight Unicorn, a peak Grade Eight creature, had declared itself unworthy of his talent; how could Long Haochen possibly be content with merely hunting a Grade Five dragon?
Moreover, his ultimate goal is to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Divine Seal Knight. Would it not be the height of absurdity if a future Divine Seal Knight rode only a Grade Five magical beast as his mount and companion?
After only a moment of contemplation, Long Haochen made his final decision: he would take a gamble.
Although he had already made his choice, Long Haochen did not immediately teleport out of the Knight Sacred Mountain. He certainly could not reveal the Starlight Unicorn’s words to the elder guarding the sacred mountain; doing so would expose his constitution as the Child of Light.
Therefore, he had no choice but to remain here until the thirty days were up. Moreover, although he believed the Starlight Unicorn’s words, a sliver of hopeful侥幸心理 still lingered in his heart. What if some ninth-rank magical beast took a liking to him?
Reality, however, is always cruel. The Starlight Unicorn’s words proved utterly accurate. Over the next twenty-plus days, Long Haochen traversed nearly the entire range of the Knight Sacred Mountain. He even ventured into the territories of several ninth-rank magical beasts, yet none spared him more than a glance before driving him away. One particularly aggressive beast nearly inflicted severe injuries upon him.
The thirty days passed in the blink of an eye. The token in Long Haochen’s hand began to ripple with a crimson-golden aura. The light expanded, forming a curtain of radiance that enveloped him. In the next moment, amidst a flash of brilliance, the scenery before his eyes transformed completely.
As the surroundings came back into focus, the first thing Long Haochen saw was his master. Ye Hua stood waiting, his face etched with anxiety. Thirty days—a full thirty days—had passed without Long Haochen initiating a teleportation out. This could only mean he had failed to find a suitable mount. But how could this be possible? He possessed the constitution of the Son of Light! How could no magical beast have shown him affection?
The disabled elder was also present. Watching Long Haochen emerge from the teleportation alone, he furrowed his brow slightly, a hint of puzzlement flickering in his single eye. To possess the cultivation of a Grand Knight before even turning fourteen, those magical beasts should have been scrambling to become his partner! Could it be that his standards were simply too high?