Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Admission Ticket and Equipment (Part One)
“Bang, bang, bang,” came the sound of knocking at the door.
“Little brother, we’re about to leave! Are you ready?” Li Xin shouted while pounding on the door in a most unladylike manner.
“All right, all right.” The door opened, and Long Haochen stepped out of the room.
Li Xin’s eyes lit up. “Wow, so handsome!”
Long Haochen wore a white archer-sleeved warrior outfit embroidered with silver dragon patterns. It was clean, neat, and fitted perfectly. On both sides of the collar, small silver dragons were stitched. At the center of his belt was embedded a Stone of Light, faintly radiating an aura of holiness.
His shoulder-length black hair flowed loosely, framing star-like pale golden eyes that were clear and luminous. With crimson lips, pearly teeth, skin as smooth and lustrous as jade, a high-bridged nose, and slightly deep-set eye sockets, he appeared utterly flawless.
In just half a year, Long Haochen had grown slightly taller, his figure now more slender and graceful. Without any exaggerated bulging muscles, his build was perfectly proportioned, embodying an ideal golden ratio.
Usually clad in the simplest cloth garments, Long Haochen already turned heads; now, dressed in this somewhat ornate warrior’s attire, he was so striking that even women would feel envious.
Long Haochen adjusted his clothes somewhat awkwardly. “Sister, is it really necessary to dress so formally? I’m not quite used to it.”
This outfit had been specially tailored for him by Li Xin. Apart from ordinary cloth robes, the only other clothes Long Haochen owned were the standard-issue warrior uniforms distributed by the Haoyue Branch Temple.
“How could I not be used to it? Little brother, white suits you perfectly; you look incredibly handsome. Sigh, why couldn’t you have been born a few years earlier? What a loss, what a loss! After spending so much time with you, your big sister’s standards have risen so high that if I can’t find a man in the future, I’ll just claim you for myself.”
While speaking, Li Xin gazed at Long Haochen from head to toe with sparkling eyes, simultaneously clenching her fist to threaten him.
Just then, two heads poked out from behind Long Haochen, rubbing against his calves while emitting soft “wu-wu” sounds.
Long Haochen bent down and patted the two lizard heads. “You two can’t come tonight; stay home and guard the house. Be good and obey. When I return, I’ll bring dried fish for you to eat.”
This bizarre creature with two lizard heads was clearly the magical beast companion Long Haochen had brought back from the Knight Sacred Mountain, whom he had named Haoyue, the Two-Headed Lizard.
Haoyue, now recorded by the Knight Sacred Mountain as a new species, had been back with Long Haochen for half a year.
Ordinary magical beast mounts each have their own dwelling places and are summoned to their knight’s side through a contract only when needed. Haoyue, however, was different; this fellow stubbornly insisted on staying right beside Long Haochen, refusing to return to its original space no matter what was said.
The blending of their bloodlines, coupled with an unwavering bond of never abandoning or giving up on each other, made the connection between them far deeper than that of any other knight and mount partner.
The first benefit bestowed by the Blood Contract was something Long Haochen had already sensed upon his return: a complete unity of mind and spirit. While an Equal Contract typically allows only the magical beast to perceive the knight’s intentions and act accordingly, the Blood Contract grants them mutual perception. Although Haoyue cannot speak, Long Haochen can constantly feel its shifting emotions, no matter how great the distance between them.
Upon hearing the words “dried fish,” both of Haoyue’s heads widened their eyes simultaneously. They exchanged a remarkably human-like glance, raised their necks, and nodded repeatedly at Long Haochen, looking as though they were already drooling.
Long Haochen patted their heads and said, “Then I’ll be off now. I’ll return early.”
As a member of the Haoyue Branch, Long Haochen received an income of five gold coins each month. Yet, he could never save any money, as every coin was spent on feeding that glutton, Haoyue.
This creature was incredibly greedy, especially fond of fish-based foods, with its absolute favorite being five-spice dried fish. As a result, Long Haochen had become a true “moonlight clan” member, sometimes even needing financial assistance from Li Xin to get by.
As time passed and their interactions grew longer, Long Haochen made a surprising discovery: Haoyue’s two heads each possessed independent thoughts. This sensation hadn’t been strong when they first returned from the Knight Sacred Mountain. However, after half a year, he increasingly noticed that the red-eyed head had a slightly irritable temperament, while the golden-eyed one was far gentler.
Only after receiving Long Haochen’s promise did Haoyue cheerfully return to its room, swishing its large tail and conveniently shutting the door behind it.
Li Xin said with a hint of envy, “Haochen, your Haoyue is so clever; it clings to you all day long just like a little child.”
Long Haochen chuckled and replied, “Yes! It’s just like my younger brother—no, I should say two younger brothers. I really can’t do anything with them. Sister, let’s go.”
The two left the Haoyue Division Hall and walked along the street. Long Haochen asked, “Sister, what’s this all about today? Why did Uncle invite us to dinner?”
Earlier, when Li Xin had brought clothes to Long Haochen, she had only told him that her father wanted to treat them to a meal today and had some matters to discuss.
After spending more time together, Long Haochen now knows that Li Xin’s father is Li Aoxiao, the Military Commander of Haoyue City, while Lin Jialu’s father is Lin Yinjia, the Governor of Haoyue City.
In all cities within the scope of the Holy Temple Alliance, the Governor handles civil administration while the Military Commander oversees military affairs, with both working in coordination.
Li Xin smiled and said, “It’s not just my father treating us to dinner today; Uncle Lin, Uncle Nalan, Uncle Bai Yu, the Master of the Haoyue Branch of the Magic Temple, and Uncle Chen Chunhua, the Master of the Haoyue Branch of the Warrior Temple, are joining as well.”
Long Haochen was startled. The five individuals Li Xin mentioned were all prominent figures and the core leadership of Haoyue City. As a medium-sized city, Haoyue hosted branch temples of only three out of the six Holy Temples: the Knight Temple, the Warrior Temple, and the Magic Temple. Together with the Governor and the Military Commander, these five could decide virtually everything within Haoyue City. That such five dignitaries would jointly invite them to dinner left Long Haochen utterly astonished.
“Sister, why is this happening?” Long Haochen asked in confusion.
Li Xin replied, “Naturally, it’s for the upcoming Demon Hunter Squad Selection Tournament. We are all participants, and they simply wish to give us some final instructions.”
As she spoke, they arrived at the Haoyue City Administration Hall. Li Xin pulled Long Haochen directly up to the third floor, where a dedicated staff member greeted them and ushered them into a side hall.
Long Haochen and Li Xin were clearly a bit late; around the round table already laden with exquisite dishes, only two empty seats remained, evidently reserved for them.
Long Haochen’s gaze swept across the room, and he discovered that among those present, besides Nalan Shu, there was another person he recognized: wasn’t it precisely Lin Jialu, with whom he had once crossed swords?
Li Xin naturally spotted her as well. The two women locked eyes, simultaneously snorted, and then turned their heads away, ignoring each other completely. However, when Lin Jialu’s glance passed over Long Haochen, she couldn’t help but freeze in surprise.
The dignified middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall frowned sternly. “Xin’er, do not be rude.” Clearly, this was Li Xin’s father, Li Aoxiao, the Military Governor of Haoyue City.
Li Xin stuck out her tongue playfully, then proceeded to greet everyone already seated. “Uncle Lin, hello. Uncle Nalan, hello. Uncle Bai, hello. Uncle Chen, hello.”
Several middle-aged men nodded in acknowledgment. Following Li Xin’s introductions, Long Haochen got to know these prominent figures of Haoyue City one by one and offered his greetings to each of them.

Admission Ticket and Equipment (Part Two)
Besides these individuals and Lin Jialu, two sturdy young men were also present. They took the initiative to greet Li Xin, who, along with Long Haochen, returned their salutations. The taller of the two brothers was named Chen Si, while the shorter one was called Chen Chen; both hailed from the Warrior Temple.
Li Aoxiao looked at Long Haochen with a smile and said, “Xin’er has mentioned you often. Indeed, you are a remarkable young talent, a hero among youths!”
In fact, ever since Long Haochen and Li Xin arrived here, nearly everyone’s gaze had fixed upon him. Though both Li Xin and Lin Jialu were beauties in their own right, Long Haochen’s presence utterly eclipsed their radiance.
“Uncle Li is too kind,” Long Haochen replied with a slight bow, speaking very politely.
Lin Yinjia said, “Brother Li, let us begin the meal first. Let these children have something to eat before we discuss serious matters.”
Li Aoxiao responded, “Indeed, that is proper. Everyone, please do not stand on ceremony; help yourselves to the food.”
Except for Long Haochen, the others clearly had some idea of what was to be discussed today. Although the atmosphere during the meal was not particularly lively, it remained comfortable. This was especially true for the two brothers, Chen Si and Chen Chen, who ate with such voracious appetite that their consumption even surpassed Li Xin’s. Of course, Long Haochen certainly dared not say this aloud to Li Xin…
They ate quickly, since there was no alcohol to slow them down, and soon most of the food had disappeared into the stomachs of the few young ones.
Li Aoxiao said, “The Demon Hunter Selection Tournament is about to begin. The five of you are the elites chosen from our three branch temples in Haoyue City to compete. This meal is to send you off with strength, and I also have some important instructions to give you.”
The main event had arrived. Long Haochen set down his utensils and listened attentively.
Lin Yinjia said, “The Demon Hunter Selection Tournament has a long history and holds immense importance for our Temple Alliance. Indeed, it is thanks to the existence of the Demon Hunters that the Temple Alliance has managed to halt the continuous encroachment of the demonic races over thousands of years. Moreover, nearly all high-ranking officials within the Alliance, as well as the leaders of the Six Holy Temples, once participated in this tournament. Now then, let the three temple masters first introduce how they selected these children. Brother Chen, please go first.”
Chen Chunhua, the master of the Haoyue Branch of the Warrior Temple, was a tall and burly middle-aged man. Nodding in response to Lin Yinjia’s words, he said, “Chen Si and Chen Chen are two elites who have emerged from our branch in recent years. Chen Si is twenty-four this year, just under the twenty-five-year age limit for the Demon Hunter Team selection tournament, and holds the rank of a Tier-2 Grand Warrior. He is a traditional shield warrior, exceptionally skilled in defense.”
The ranking system of the Warrior Temple is similar to that of the Knight Temple; a Grand Warrior is already a Tier-4 profession, equivalent to the rank of a Grand Knight.
The two brothers, Chen Si and Chen Chen, both appeared honest and simple; upon hearing Chen Chunhua mention them, they had already risen to their feet.
Chen Chunhua clearly held great affection for these two disciples and said with a touch of pride, “Chen Chen is two years younger than Chen Si; they are biological brothers. He practices as a Berserker, which excels in offense, and is currently a First-Rank Grand Master of War.”
Expressions of pleasant surprise were evident on the faces of Li Aoxiao and Lin Yinjia. The Demon Hunter Selection Tournament only accepted young people under the age of twenty-five, with a cultivation threshold of Third-Rank professions. For these two young warriors from the Warrior Temple to have already reached the Fourth Rank was truly an unexpected delight.
For any city, having its selected youths join the Demon Hunters was a tremendous honor. If they could achieve high rankings in the selection tournament, the city’s governor, military commander, and branch temple master would all receive commendations.
Li Aoxiao spoke with great satisfaction, “Excellent, excellent! You are promising young talents. I hope you can advance to the final stage of the selection tournament.”
The master of the Haoyue Branch of the Magic Temple, Bai Yu, smiled and said, “Reaching the fourth-tier profession should be no problem at all. With these two children protecting them, it seems certain they will secure qualification for the selection tournament. Everyone is familiar with Jialu; she is an absolute genius of our Magic Temple. At twenty-one, specializing in ice-type magic, she has already become a level-four Archmage.”
Listening to Bai Yu’s introduction, although Lin Yinjia strove hard to control his expression, the pride in his eyes remained unmistakable.
Li Aoxiao praised, “This child Jialu truly grows more impressive by the day; she is absolutely the future hope of our Haoyue City.”
Hearing her father praise Lin Jialu, Li Xin immediately felt dissatisfied and couldn’t help but retort, “Dad, you shouldn’t boost others’ morale while undermining your own. After all, your daughter here is already a level-three Grand Knight. I’m even three months younger than she is.”
Li Aoxiao glared at her. “You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?”
Lin Yinjia chuckled. “You two girls! So much time has passed, yet you still can’t let go of such a petty conflict? However, remember this: before participating in the Demon Hunter Squad selection competition, you must work together to qualify. It will be extremely dangerous, so there can be no room for rivalry when the time comes.”
Li Xin and Lin Jialu exchanged a glance, then immediately turned their heads away from each other again.
Nalan Shu smiled warmly. “Xin’er has already stated her cultivation herself; she specializes as a Retribution Knight. As for Haochen, I must keep his cultivation level confidential, though I can reveal his age. Haochen is fourteen years old this year and specializes as a Guardian Knight.”
“Fourteen years old?” Except for Li Aoxiao, who already knew something in advance, the others were all stunned.
Lin Yinjia frowned even more deeply and said in a grave tone, “Master Nalan, you can’t be joking. How can we let a fourteen-year-old child participate in the selection tournament? Don’t you know that before competing, each participant must go to the border and kill at least five demonic soldiers to qualify?”
Nalan Shu replied calmly, “This child’s teacher is Ye Hua, the very same ‘Zombie-Faced Night Asura’ from our branch hall. You all know his character; if he says his precious disciple is qualified to join the Demon Hunter Team selection tournament, it certainly isn’t empty talk. Our Knight Temple would never gamble with the life of such a gifted child.”
Lin Yinjia remained deep in thought, his gaze turning toward Li Aoxiao. Chen Chunhua, being close friends with Nalan Shu, said nothing. However, Bai Yu spoke with a stern expression, “Fat Nalan, you must understand this isn’t just about his life alone. If one member becomes a liability within a team, it could even lead to the entire group’s annihilation.”
Nalan Shu snorted and said, “Rest assured. Although I do not know to what extent Haochen’s cultivation has progressed, I can tell you this: in this Demon Hunter Selection Tournament, he will definitely reach the finals and compete brilliantly against the other five Holy Temples.”
Nalan Shu spoke these words with absolute certainty, displaying immense confidence.
Long Haochen sat there without uttering a sound. Ye Hua had instructed him not to easily reveal his current level of cultivation, at least not before officially participating in the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament. Therefore, he could only remain silent.
Just then, Lin Jialu suddenly said, “Father, uncles, I believe Uncle Nalan’s words. Because I have once sparred with Brother Long. He is very strong.”
Hearing Lin Jialu speak up for Long Haochen, a hint of vigilance immediately appeared in Li Xin’s eyes as she shifted her chair slightly closer to Long Haochen.
Li Aoxiao nodded and said, “I’ve also heard from Xin’er about Haochen’s abilities, and I believe he truly has the capability to participate in this competition.”
“The qualifications for the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament and the competition process itself are extremely stringent. To enter the main tournament, one must first obtain an entry ticket. As Brother Lin just mentioned, the five of you must rely on your own efforts and work together seamlessly; each of you must kill five demonic soldiers before earning the right to proceed to the Holy Temple Alliance for the main event.”

Entry Tickets and Equipment (Part 3)
“The Alliance has dispatched an inspector to oversee our Haoyue Branch Temple, responsible for supervising your qualification for the competition. During this process, no matter what dangers you encounter, the inspector will not intervene but will leave you to fend for yourselves unless you actively seek their aid. However, once you proactively request assistance, it means you forfeit your eligibility for this competition.”
“Our Haoyue City is located in the southeast of the Alliance, merely over four hundred li from the border. After careful discussion, we have planned a route for you to infiltrate the demon territories. Remember: strike swiftly and retreat immediately; do not engage in prolonged battles. If you truly encounter a crisis beyond your ability to withstand, then prioritize your lives over competition eligibility and seek help from the inspector. Your lives are paramount. We have already submitted the map to Inspector大人, and you will depart tomorrow. You represent not only the Haoyue Branch Temple but also Haoyue City itself. Here, we wish you success in this upcoming tournament.”
As he spoke, Li Aoxiao, Lin Yinjia, and the other three branch temple masters all rose to their feet, raising their teacups in hand.
Long Haochen and the other four hastily rose to bow before the five leaders of Haoyue City. Together, they drained the tea from their cups.
Lin Yinjia spoke in a grave tone: “Ever since the demons emerged six thousand years ago, plunging us into the Dark Era, we humans have struggled merely to survive and endure. It took us over two thousand years just to secure the territory we hold today. The demons are our mortal enemies; each one slain is a contribution to the protection of humanity. Although our Haoyue City is no great metropolis, the Demon Hunter Selection Tournament held once every five years is a momentous event. To help you achieve better results, we have prepared some gifts for you. Should you complete the preliminary qualification tasks and advance to the main competition, these gifts will forever belong to you. Follow me.”
The Haoyue City Administration Hall has four floors in total. Led by Lin Yinjia and Li Aoxiao, the group ascended to the top floor, entering a chamber guarded by ten warriors.
There was no furniture in the room, only several large wooden tables, upon which numerous pieces of equipment were neatly arranged.
Upon seeing this equipment, the breathing of the two brothers, Chen Si and Chen Chen, noticeably quickened. Li Xin and Lin Jialu remained far more composed; coming from wealthy families, they lacked nothing in terms of gear. Long Haochen’s eyes revealed a hint of delight, yet he remained perfectly calm.
Years ago, Long Xingyu had once told Long Haochen that for any powerhouse of the Six Holy Temples, equipment was part of one’s strength. However, only equipment earned through one’s own efforts would be truly cherished. The Radiant Shield could be considered Long Haochen’s first piece of genuine equipment, and now, before his eyes, he was clearly about to possess a full set of gear for the first time.
There was a great deal of equipment on the tables, evidently far more than just one set per person, offering ample room for choice.
Lin Yinjia smiled and said, “Although these pieces of equipment aren’t high-grade, they are still far superior to the common goods available on the market. Given your current level of cultivation, most of you will choose enhancement-type gear, allowing you to directly activate their effects during combat. You may now make your selections freely. However, remember that you can only choose one set per equipment slot.”
Lin Jialu shook her head and replied, “I already have my own equipment; there’s no need for me to choose.” As the daughter of a governor and with her family running a magical equipment shop, she naturally had no need to select new gear.
Li Xin also shook her head simultaneously, indicating that she too had no need for any equipment.
Lin Yinjia and Li Aoxiao had clearly anticipated this situation; these equipments were originally intended solely for Long Haochen and the Chen brothers.
The Chen brothers were already impatient. At a signal from Chen Chunhua, the master of the Warrior Hall, they quickly stepped forward to make their selections.
Li Xin nudged Long Haochen, signaling him to hurry up and choose as well, lest all the good items be taken by others.
The quality of melee equipment primarily depends on three aspects. First, naturally, is the material; the better the materials used, the stronger the resulting equipment will be. Second is craftsmanship; even with identical materials, equipment forged by smiths of different skill levels can vary significantly in quality. The third factor is enchantment. A piece of magical equipment is worth at least five times that of ordinary gear, and if the magical effects imbued upon it are sufficiently powerful, its value becomes immense.
Equipment is ranked from lowest to highest as follows: Ordinary Equipment, Alloy Equipment, Magical Equipment, Spirit-Magic Equipment, Brilliant Equipment, Legendary Equipment, Epic Equipment, Immortal Equipment, and Mythical Equipment.
To equip the young participants of this Demon Hunt Team, Haoyue City has indeed carefully selected these items. All are magical equipment; although they are merely the most common low-tier enchanted pieces that amplify attributes, any single item on the market would cost over a hundred gold coins. Spiritual-magical equipment, which ranks one level above magical gear, must include at least one skill. Equipment of that tier would inevitably be valued at over a thousand gold coins.
Chen Si, being a shield warrior, without hesitation first chose for himself a full suit of heavy armor, paired with a thick tower shield. Both the armor and the shield were reinforced with earth-elemental magic runes, granting them the highest defensive power among all the equipment present. His weapon choice was far simpler: a long blade imbued with a speed-enhancing effect.
Chen Chen’s selection reflected a different focus within the warrior class: a set of fire-attribute light armor and a pair of fire-attribute long blades. Once activated with spiritual energy, a layer of flames would envelop his body, adding fire-attribute attacks to further amplify his Berserker offensive power.
Long Haochen also chose a set of light armor. The plates, forged from an alloy of refined iron and heavy silver, were exceedingly thin, primarily covering his upper body along with his elbow and knee joints. The armor bore a dark silver hue, appearing rather unremarkable at first glance, yet it emanated a faint fluctuation of holy aura.
Enchantments of the light attribute were somewhat more difficult to apply than those of other attributes; thus, the holy power imbued in this soft armor, which didn’t even include a helmet, was not particularly potent. It offered a certain degree of defense, but its true advantage lay in its lightness.
Afterward, he selected two heavy swords. Among these pieces of equipment, only one heavy sword carried a light-attribute enchantment, so for his second blade, he opted for one infused with the fire attribute.
The design of both heavy swords differed little from the standard-issue heavy swords of the Knights. Their blades were inscribed with distinct magical runes, and each featured a fourth-tier demonic beast core embedded at its center. Each sword weighed between twenty and twenty-five kilograms. For Long Haochen, whose external spiritual energy reached two hundred, such weight was negligible.
Lin Yinjia asked with some curiosity, “Long Haochen, aren’t you a Guardian Knight? Why did you choose two heavy swords?”
Long Haochen replied somewhat embarrassedly, “I already have a shield; I just picked an extra sword as a backup. Is that alright?”
Lin Yinjia smiled gently and said, “Of course it is.”
Li Aoxiao added, “Once you return, make sure to familiarize yourselves with your equipment. We depart early tomorrow morning. If you complete the entry ticket mission, the inspector will take you directly to the Alliance. Additionally, Haoyue City will send specialists ahead to the Alliance to arrange all competition-related matters for you.”
“Yes.”
After returning to their lodging, Li Xin instructed Long Haochen to get some good rest before heading back herself. Long Haochen took out the five jin of dried fish he had bought on the way back and gave it to his loyal companion, the two-headed lizard Haoyue, then eagerly tried on the equipment he had just acquired.

Admission Ticket and Equipment (Part Four)
As soon as the light armor settled onto his body, he immediately sensed that the light elements gathering around him seemed to have intensified. Instinctively, he circulated his internal spiritual energy. A faint golden glow visibly rippled across the surface of the armor. Although it did not reduce the spiritual energy consumption when Long Haochen used his skills, both his offensive and defensive capabilities were enhanced.
More importantly, this set of armor was extremely lightweight, not hindering Long Haochen’s movements in the slightest.
As for the pair of greatswords, he liked them even more. When infused with spiritual energy, both swords radiated brilliant light; especially the light-attribute sword, which harmonized perfectly with his own attributes, could project a pale golden blade extending over a foot in length. The fire-attribute sword offered slightly less amplification due to attribute mismatch, yet since fire does not repel light, under the infusion of holy light spiritual energy, it could still unleash at least eighty percent of its full offensive power.
Long Haochen made a rough estimation: with this set of equipment, his combat prowess would increase by at least ten percent. Moreover, thanks to the Forget-Me-Not Ring, he could freely switch between wielding a sword or a shield with his left hand, effectively allowing him to alternate between the roles of a Guardian Knight and a Retribution Knight.
“Haochen,” came a cold voice from outside the door.
“Teacher.” Long Haochen hurried forward to open the door and welcomed Ye Hua inside.
Nearby, Haoyue, who was gnawing on a dried fish, let out two unfriendly whimpers upon seeing Ye Hua enter, seemingly still holding a grudge over past events.
Long Haochen led his teacher into the inner room. Ye Hua examined the light armor on his body and remarked, “Haoyue City is quite generous after all. Yet, not a single piece of Spirit-Demon grade equipment? They truly show favoritism.”
Long Haochen smiled and replied, “Having a full set of magical equipment is already an unexpected blessing. Didn’t you once say, Teacher, that a true powerhouse should not rely too heavily on equipment?”
Yehua snorted and said, “That was when I was teaching you; things are different now. The Demon Hunter Selection Tournament is not merely a competition—it can essentially be called a war. One misstep, and you could lose your life.”
Long Haochen replied, “Teacher, do you have so little confidence in me?”
Yehua said, “Having confidence is one thing; preparing for rain before it comes is another. Tomorrow you will depart, and I too will head to the Temple Alliance, where I’ll await your arrival for the main tournament. Here, take this.” As he spoke, Yehua removed a gray metal bracer from his wrist.
At first glance, the bracer appeared quite ordinary, but when Yehua took it off, Long Haochen was astonished to see that its interior was pale gold, composed of at least a hundred rice-grain-sized pale golden gemstones.
Long Haochen was not skilled in crafting equipment, but his unfamiliarity with these gems did not hinder his judgment of this item. Merely from the light-attribute spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from it, he could tell it far surpassed several pieces of equipment he already possessed.
“Your teacher is poor and has nothing valuable to give you. This Spirit-Light Bracer, when infused with spiritual energy, can generate a Holy Light Shield. It can be activated three times per day, with each activation lasting one minute.”
The Holy Light Shield is a defensive skill usable by Guardian Knights of the Grand Knight rank. Its defensive effect is far superior to that of the ordinary Spirit Light Shield. Moreover, the greatest advantage of the Holy Light Shield lies in its adjustable coverage: the larger the area it encompasses, the lower its defensive power becomes accordingly. More importantly, within the shield’s range, there is also a certain healing effect. It ranks among the most useful skills for Guardian Knights. Its only drawback is the enormous consumption of internal spiritual energy; activating this skill requires fifty points of internal spiritual energy, and an additional five points are consumed for every second it remains active.
From this, one can discern just how precious the piece of equipment Ye Hua casually handed to Long Haochen truly was. Each use effectively saved three hundred and fifty points of internal spiritual energy! Furthermore, being activatable three times daily, it was undoubtedly an excellent item for preserving one’s life. Even among Spirit-Mage ranked equipment, it qualified as a rare treasure.
“Teacher, this is too precious. I cannot accept it.”
Ye Hua’s expression darkened. “You think it’s not good enough? If you don’t want it, just throw it away. I’m leaving.” As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward the exit.
Long Haochen said with a helpless expression, “Teacher, that’s not what I meant. This Spirit-Light Bracer is far too precious; I…”
Ye Hua paused at the doorway. “I have no family, only you as my disciple.” With these words, he waved to Long Haochen, signaling him not to see him off, and departed alone.
Gazing at the bracer in his hand, Long Haochen felt a wave of warmth surge through his heart. “Master, I will not disappoint you.”
Early morning, East Gate of Haoyue City.
This is the place they had agreed to meet last night. Li Xin, riding her Rose Unicorn that had grown to a peak level five within two years, headed toward the East Gate alongside Long Haochen.
Over the past two years, Long Haochen was no longer a child; naturally, he felt too awkward to share a mount with Li Xin anymore. Nalan Shu had gifted him a sturdy horse, and now he rode beside her on his own steed.
“Haochen, where’s that fellow Haoyue? Where did he run off to?” Li Xin glanced around but couldn’t spot the two-headed lizard that usually stuck to Long Haochen like glue, sparking her curiosity. Ever since Long Haochen brought it back, the creature had been inseparable from him.
Long Haochen smiled. “Sister, it’s nearby. It will reveal itself once we leave the city.”
Li Xin said with great curiosity, “I truly feel that Haoyue is even smarter than my Rose. Yet, it is only at the fourth rank, mid-stage.”
Soon, the brother and sister arrived at the East Gate. There, the Chen brothers were already waiting, their faces brimming with excitement. Lin Jialu had not yet arrived.
“Miss Xin’er, Brother Long,” Chen Si stepped forward to greet them. He held Li Xin and her brother in high respect; as for Long Haochen, they largely regarded him merely as an appendage of Li Xin. After all, yesterday Nalan Shu had mentioned that Long Haochen was only fourteen years old this year. How much capability could a fourteen-year-old child possibly possess? Li Xin was different; not only did she possess higher cultivation than them, but she also commanded such a powerful magical beast as the Rose Unicorn. Her overall strength was comparable to that of both Chen brothers combined. The status of knights had always been considerably higher than that of warriors, so naturally, they wished to cultivate a good relationship with Li Xin.
Those selected to participate in the Demon Hunter Squad selection trials were all individuals of outstanding talent. The trials they were about to face would require everyone’s collaborative effort.
Li Xin nodded to them and asked, “Has Lin Jialu not arrived yet?”
Chen Si smiled and replied, “It’s not time yet. Let’s wait a while.”
Li Xin nodded with a grave expression.
The two brothers, Chen Si and Chen Chen, were also mounted on sturdy horses. Just as they were speaking, a carriage slowly approached and came to a halt a short distance before them.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Lin Jialu leaped down first, yet she stood there respectfully. Immediately afterward, an elderly man stepped out from within the carriage.
The elderly man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. His graying hair was combed with meticulous precision, the lightly scented pomade rendering his short locks gleaming like polished mirror. With thick eyebrows and large eyes, his gaze nonetheless carried a hint of coldness; his lips were somewhat thin. An aura blending arrogance and nobility made him seem unapproachable.
He wore a pale cyan mage’s robe, its edges outlined with golden threads that emitted a faint metallic luster. Lively wind elements naturally swirled around his body. In his hand, he held a long-staffed wand; the staff itself was dark green, topped with a bluish-white gemstone the size of a chicken egg.
Lin Jialu spoke respectfully, “Inspector, please, after you.”
The old man nodded, looking at her as his arrogant gaze softened slightly. “Let us go,” he said. Accompanied by Lin Jialu, he approached Long Haochen and the others.
Everyone hurriedly dismounted. There was no doubt that this elder was the inspector sent by the Temple Alliance, a mage. Although no obvious magical fluctuations emanated from him, he was clearly far beyond Lin Jialu’s level.
The elder approached the group without saying much, merely stating in a calm tone, “Depart.”