Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Mysterious New Instructor (Part One)
“Mmm…” Long Haochen slowly regained consciousness from his stupor. He blinked, his long eyelashes—enough to make any girl envious—fluttering twice before he gradually came to his senses.
With a sudden roll, he sat up from the ground. “I’m alright?” Seeing his body completely unharmed, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
All around was silence; within the forest, only the chirping of insects and the calls of birds could be heard.
Lowering his head, Long Haochen immediately spotted the wild vegetables neatly arranged beside him. He froze for a moment, then rubbed his temples.
Could it be that I fell asleep just now, and everything was merely a dream?
Huh, what’s this? In an instant, he noticed a ring had appeared on the hand he was using to rub his head. The blue ring emitted a smooth, lustrous glow—not metallic, but rather akin to the polished sheen of porcelain or jade. A circle of pale golden forget-me-not patterns encircled it, with a transparent gemstone no larger than a grain of rice embedded within. The gem was set completely flush into the ring; touching it revealed only the ring’s smooth surface.
The inner band of the ring was golden, slightly raised where it met the finger, yet wearing it produced no sensation whatsoever.
Long Haochen was stunned. He immediately realized that everything that had happened before he lost consciousness was real. Yet, precisely because of this, his mind was filled with questions.
What was the relationship between that little mute girl and the man in white? Moreover, how exactly had the man in white made those vicious-looking pursuers disappear? And who had given him this ring?
For nine-year-old Long Haochen, these questions were clearly too complex, and furthermore, he had no way of finding the answers.
He flipped to his feet and instinctively cast his gaze toward the spot where his pursuers had vanished. Immediately, he noticed something amiss.
Hurrying forward, Long Haochen saw that all the grass on what had once been a lush green patch of ground had disappeared, leaving behind bare earth that had visibly sunk several inches. Around the outer edge, some of the remaining grass bore scorched black marks, matching the color of the barren soil.
“Forget it, no use thinking about it. I’d better hurry home and make some wild vegetable soup for Mother.” Long Haochen patted his chest; the Nourishing Elixir was still there, instantly putting his mind at ease. Picking up the wooden sword beside him, he started walking home.
Yet, the moment the wooden sword came into his hand, he halted. He had discovered a miraculous phenomenon: his wooden sword seemed to have become weightless, as light as a feather.
One must understand that although the wooden sword in his hand was not a heavy blade wielded by true knights and was made of wood, it was nonetheless crafted from solid hardwood, weighing a substantial seven or eight jin. When he first joined the Odin Sub-Temple, it took him over a month of practice before he could steadily wield this sword with both hands.
Has the wooden sword become lighter? No, it remains exactly as it was! Could it be that my strength has increased?
Pondering this, Long Haochen gripped the sword with both hands, assumed a forward charging stance, and slashed downward with the wooden blade. Immediately, a whooshing sound erupted; the force behind this strike startled even himself. Yet his hands remained remarkably steady. He clearly sensed an inexhaustible surge of power coursing through every limb and bone in his body. After a few jumps, he felt as though his entire body had become lighter, just like the wooden sword.
This level of strength should require at least twenty points of spiritual energy, right? Long Haochen’s mind once again conjured the image of the little mute girl, her face marked by a hint of coldness and stubbornness. Murmuring to himself, he said, “Did you bring this upon me? Tomorrow, when I return to the Sub-Temple, I’ll test my spiritual energy again. After all, the wooden post used for evaluating spiritual energy is always there.”
A young boy’s heart is never too complicated. Although the events of the day had brought Long Haochen some trouble, the thought that his mother could once again drink the Peiyuan Elixir to nourish her body made him cast all those worries aside. After all, the little mute girl was merely a passerby; he silently prayed for her, hoping only for her safety.
A small courtyard, two thatched-roof houses, a few trellises hanging with melon vines, and some dried vegetables left out in the sun—this was Long Haochen’s home.
“Mom, I’m back.”
The door of the thatched cottage opened, and a woman dressed in simple hemp clothing with a thorn hairpin stepped out. Seeing Long Haochen running back excitedly from outside, a faint smile immediately graced her lips.
She was Bai Yue, Long Haochen’s mother; his features were almost as if carved from the same mold as hers. Although Bai Yue wore plain clothes and had endured many hardships, her breathtaking beauty still possessed the power to deeply震撼 anyone who beheld it. The only difference between her and Long Haochen lay in the color of their eyes: hers were black, while his were a clear, azure blue.
Yet, it was precisely because of this beauty that life had become even more difficult for mother and son.
Because of her beauty, Bai Yue, raising her son alone, had suffered countless harassments. Although she had resolved each one, how could they possibly live like that?
With no other choice, even after arriving in Odin Town, she had to build her home in the most remote corner. Her daily livelihood depended solely on washing clothes for a laundry shop run entirely by women, earning only a meager income.
“Chenchen, you’re back! How did today’s exam go?” Bai Yue smiled as she embraced her son, who had rushed in excitedly. She was exceptionally tall; at only nine years old, Long Haochen barely reached her chest.
Feeling the softness and fresh scent of his mother, Long Haochen exclaimed joyfully, “Mom, I passed!”
Bai Yue smiled gently and said, “I knew Chenchen was the best. Go wash up now; Mom will make you lunch.”
Long Haochen leaped out of his mother’s embrace. “Let me do it. I gathered some wild vegetables to make soup for you.”
As he spoke, he headed straight for the smaller hut nearby. Upon reaching its doorway, he couldn’t help but glance back at his mother; for some reason, she seemed unusually happy today. Normally, his mother rarely spoke, let alone offered him praise. Most of the time, he would find her lost in thought, alone. Only when facing him did she reveal a hint of tenderness, yet even then, she seldom uttered a word.
Bai Yue watched until her son entered the kitchen, murmuring softly, “Chen Chen, you have truly suffered so much. But…” She sighed gently, a trace of inner struggle flickering in her eyes, yet she ultimately suppressed the impulse stirring within her heart.
The night passed without further incident.
Early the next morning, after having breakfast prepared by his mother, Long Haochen set off for the Odin Sub-Temple.
After falling asleep last night, his dreams replayed the scenes that had unfolded during the day, even including the moment when that little mute girl placed the ring on his finger. This left him so eager upon waking that he couldn’t wait to verify just how much spiritual energy he now possessed.
Arriving exceptionally early, Long Haochen entered the Odin Hall before anyone else. There was nothing particularly valuable within the Odin Hall that would require guarding, especially since Instructor Balza, a prospective knight, resided directly behind it.
Walking briskly to the wooden stump used during yesterday’s assessment, Long Haochen removed the wooden sword from his back. He had deliberately come early today to test whether his conjecture was correct: to measure his spiritual energy.
Slowly raising the wooden sword, Long Haochen focused his mind, positioned his feet one ahead of the other, took a deep, forceful breath, and then brought the wooden sword down with all his strength.
Pfft—, crack…, boom—

The Mysterious New Instructor (Part Two)
Pfft—, crack…, boom—
Three distinct sounds followed one another in quick succession, yet each was remarkably different. The first was naturally the sound of a wooden sword striking a wooden post, while the second was the snap of the wooden sword breaking. Indeed, the wooden sword could not withstand Long Haochen’s slash and snapped right in the middle. Fortunately, it did not break completely; otherwise, the fragments might have flown off and injured him.
The final sound was the clatter of the stone bead falling back into place. Long Haochen, still frozen in his slashing motion, clearly saw that its highest bounce had remarkably reached the mark of twenty-five.
Was this real? It had to be; the broken wooden sword already proved it. Balza had once told them that the wooden swords they used could withstand a maximum spiritual energy of twenty.
Although Long Haochen still had little concept of what it meant to become a knight, advancing from a First-Rank Squire Knight to a Second-Rank Squire Knight overnight still filled him with shock and overwhelming joy.
“Hmm?” A soft grunt startled Long Haochen awake. Instinctively turning around, he was astonished to discover that, sometime without his notice, a middle-aged man had appeared behind him.
Although Long Haochen was startled, he felt no fear. Curiously, he examined the middle-aged man standing before him.
The man was tall and slender, with black hair and dark eyes, possessing a dignified appearance; his gaze was particularly bright. “Handsome” did not quite describe him—”majestic” suited him far better. Dressed in simple cloth robes and bearing a stern countenance, he emanated an invisible pressure that Long Haochen could distinctly feel, like towering mountains whose peaks vanished beyond sight.
After a brief moment of surprise, the middle-aged man quickly regained his composure, furrowing his brows slightly as he turned his gaze toward Long Haochen.
“Who are you?” Long Haochen asked curiously.
The middle-aged man said indifferently, “You passed the squire knight assessment yesterday. From today onward, I am your new instructor. You may call me Teacher Xingyu.”
Long Haochen hesitated before replying, “But I have never seen you before.”
Starry Sky said indifferently, “Your name is Long Haochen, you are nine years old, and your mother’s name is Bai Yue. Am I correct?”
Long Haochen nodded.
Starry Sky’s gaze suddenly grew several degrees more solemn. “Let us wait until Balza arrives before speaking further.” As he spoke, he added nothing more, merely turning slightly in one direction and moving his lips ever so subtly.
In just a short while, hurried footsteps echoed, and Long Haochen saw Balza rushing over, his face marked by profound shock and deep reverence.
“Greetings, Instructor.” Upon seeing Balza, Long Haochen immediately performed a knight’s salute.
Surprisingly, Balza did not return the salute as usual. Instead, he quickly stepped forward to stand before Xingyu and respectfully said, “My lord.”
Xingyu nodded. “Tell him I am his new instructor.”
“Yes.” Balza promptly turned to Long Haochen and said, “Lord Xingyu hails from the Haoyue City Knight Branch Temple. From today onward, for the next three years, he will be your knight instructor. You must follow all of Lord Xingyu’s guidance. Lord Xingyu is a true knight.”
“Oh.” Long Haochen obediently replied. In truth, he had no idea what the difference was between a squire and a true knight. But since this was his new instructor, he would simply train under him.
“Teacher Xingyu,” he thought, then obediently greeted Xingyu. Compared to others his age, his mindset was indeed far more mature and steady.
“Mm, let’s go,” Xingyu said, naturally taking Long Haochen’s hand and leading him outside. Just before stepping forward, however, his gaze subtly swept over Long Haochen’s pretty little face, a hint of melancholy flashing in the depths of his eyes.
Xingyu’s hand was large, with long fingers and a broad palm, almost completely enveloping Long Haochen’s small hand. Warmth and safety—that was all Long Haochen felt.
“Teacher Xingyu, aren’t we cultivating here?” Once they had left the Odin Sub-Temple, Long Haochen couldn’t help but ask.
“This place is not suitable,” Xingyu said.
Sensing the cold firmness in Xingyu’s tone, Long Haochen wisely refrained from asking any further questions.
Watching their departing figures, Balza muttered to himself in astonishment, “I wonder what identity this lord truly holds. Was that just now telepathic communication? At least a Grand Knight should possess such ability. No, perhaps even a Radiant Knight? By the heavens!”
Xingyu led Long Haochen out of Odin Town. Just as they left the town limits, Long Haochen suddenly felt a vast, warm, and profound energy flowing from Long Xingyu’s hand. In the next moment, a strange scene unfolded, as if they were soaring through clouds and riding mist.
Each time Xingyu lightly touched the ground with the tip of his foot, he would glide forward at least ten zhang. In just a few breaths’ time, Odin Town was already far behind them.
To Long Haochen, such speed felt like riding the wind and lightning; all he could do was grip Xingyu’s hand tightly, fearing he might fall off.
Soon, they passed through the forest where Long Haochen had gathered wild vegetables the previous day and climbed up a mountain behind it. Long Haochen was very familiar with this area, having grown up here. The locals of Odin Town called this mountain Odin Mountain. However, since beasts frequently roamed both within the mountain and the forest they had just crossed, and demonic beasts had even appeared there before, few people ventured to this place. He himself had only once reached the foot of Odin Mountain half a year ago, driven by curiosity. There, he had spotted an unidentifiable beast that frightened him into fleeing immediately. Since then, Long Haochen had never ventured deeper into the forest, let alone entered Odin Mountain.
“Teacher, there are beasts over here, and possibly magical beasts as well,” Long Haochen kindly reminded.
Starry Sky seemed not to have heard his words at all; instead, he quickened his pace even further, carrying him directly up Mount Odin. Even during the ascent, his speed never wavered. The surrounding scenery blurred past on both sides, while the fierce wind tousled Long Haochen’s hair into disarray.
Mount Odin was not particularly tall, standing at merely two hundred or so zhang; it took them only a short while to reach its summit.
Three small wooden cabins came into Starry Sky’s view. There was no courtyard, just three solitary cabins, and judging by the freshness of the timber, they had clearly been constructed very recently.
Starry Sky did not stop until he reached the cabins, then led Long Haochen into the largest one in the center.
Pushing open the door, a faint scent of wood drifted from within; it was not unpleasant, but rather carried a subtle fragrance. This central cabin was the largest, yet its interior held only the simplest furnishings: a wooden bed without even bedding, a wooden table, and two wooden chairs. It was that simple, even plainer than Long Haochen’s own home.
“Sit down.” Xingyu pointed to a chair and pulled one out for himself before sitting.
Long Haochen obediently took his seat. Though young and inexperienced, he could sense that his teacher was immensely powerful. Amidst his nervousness, there was also a touch of excitement.
“First, tell me what happened to you yesterday. Why did your spiritual energy double?” Xingyu asked calmly. His expression remained unchanged, yet his words exerted an invisible pressure on Long Haochen.
“Yesterday was like this…” Long Haochen felt he had nothing to hide, so he recounted everything that had happened the day before.
As he listened, Xingyu furrowed his brow only slightly once throughout the entire account, showing no other reaction.

The Mysterious New Instructor (Part Three)
“…, Master, do you think that little girl will be alright?” Long Haochen couldn’t help but ask after finishing his story.
Starry Sky shook his head and said, “She’ll be fine. She and that man in white must belong together; they’re both from the Assassin Temple.”
“The Assassin Temple?” Curiosity filled Long Haochen’s eyes.
Starry Sky lifted Long Haochen’s hand, which bore a ring, and muttered to himself, “Could this be a spatial ring?” As he spoke, his finger suddenly seemed to flash. The moment his fingertip touched the Forget-Me-Not ring, it instantly triggered a faint blue halo.
A flicker of surprise crossed Xingyu’s eyes as he turned to Long Haochen. “You’re quite fortunate; this must have been left for you by that little girl. It’s invaluable. Forget-me-not? That girl is rather interesting.”
Long Haochen scratched his head, his pretty little face forever clouded with confusion; he didn’t quite understand his teacher’s words.
“Teacher, do you know what method that person in white used to make those hideous villains disappear?”
Starry Sky smiled faintly. “Because he killed those people using the Thousand-Strike Spiritual Furnace, an exclusive artifact of the Assassin Temple, grinding them into dust before reducing them to ash with its accompanying green flames, leaving not a single trace behind. The spiritual energy amplification you’re experiencing is also due to that Thousand-Strike Spiritual Furnace. It cleared your twelve primary meridians, burning away all impurities within them, fundamentally transforming your body. This is no small favor; remember it well. Should the opportunity arise in the future, you must repay this debt. One cannot owe such a significant kindness, unless…”
He did not finish his sentence, but Long Haochen paid it no mind, for within Master Starry Sky’s words, he had discovered something far more intriguing.
“Master, what exactly is this Thousand-Strike Spiritual Furnace you mentioned? Are those white lights it?”
Starry Sky nodded. “You could say that. Simply put, a Spiritual Furnace is a crucible for spiritual energy, yet it possesses countless variations; each one is unique and exclusive. You are not yet at the stage where you need to learn about Spiritual Furnaces. All I can tell you now is that they are exceedingly rare. While possessing one does not guarantee becoming a powerhouse, lacking one certainly means you can never reach the pinnacle.”
“Oh.” Upon hearing his words, a sense of longing immediately swelled within Long Haochen’s heart. What would it be like if he too could possess a Spiritual Furnace someday? Glancing at the Forget-Me-Not ring in his hand, he couldn’t help but recall that little girl from that day.
Starry Sky said, “I have already instructed Balza to inform your family. You are permitted to return home once a week; for the rest of the time, you must reside here and cultivate under my guidance.”
Startled, Long Haochen asked with some urgency, “Master, will I still receive the Foundation-Building Elixir?”
Starry Sky nodded and replied, “I will provide it to you before each time you return home. If you perform well, I may even grant you several superior elixirs that offer great benefits to anyone’s constitution. Conversely, if you fail to meet my requirements during cultivation, I will expel you from the mountain. You will no longer serve as a Squire Knight of the Knight Temple, let alone have any hope of obtaining the Foundation-Building Elixir. Do you understand?”
As he spoke, a hint of profound meaning flickered in Xingyu’s eyes, even carrying a faint trace of guilt, yet he concealed it so well that Long Haochen noticed nothing at all.
Upon hearing Xingyu’s words, young Haochen immediately nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with determination and persistence. For the sake of his mother’s health, he resolved to diligently complete the cultivation training taught by his master. After all, his master was teaching him for his own good!
Xingyu nodded in satisfaction and said, “From today onward, I will teach you various subjects every morning, and guide your cultivation in the afternoons and evenings. You must commit everything I teach to memory; if even a single detail is forgotten, I will withhold your weekly portion of Origin-Nourishing Liquid.” He clearly knew exactly where Long Haochen’s weakness lay, as this simple warning alone frightened the little one into nodding frantically.
Xingyu continued, “Tell me what you know about the Temple Alliance.”
Long Haochen said, “Instructor Balza taught us that the Temple Alliance is composed of the Knight Temple, the Warrior Temple, the Assassin Temple, the Mage Temple, the Priest Temple, and the Spirit Temple. These six great temples join forces to safeguard humanity’s last remaining territories.”
Starry Sky nodded and replied, “You are correct, but that is only the most basic explanation. In the ancient era, thirteen thousand years ago, humanity gradually wrested control of the Saint and Demon Continent from the primordial races, who then dwindled into decline. Subsequently, dozens of human nations emerged across the continent one after another, ruling over it and establishing humankind as its masters. During that time, every nation strove to develop industry and agriculture while imparting knowledge to their people; it was the period of humanity’s most rapid advancement. The populace lived in peace and contentment, and the entire continent flourished.”
“Peace prevailed for a long time until wars began to erupt. The original dozens of nations continuously annexed one another through conflict, gradually forming a tripartite standoff among three great powers. None of these three nations dared to act rashly, maintaining a balanced situation that persisted for thousands of years. We refer to these seven thousand years as humanity’s glorious era.”
“Until six thousand years ago, this glorious era was destroyed by the arrival of the demon race.” As he spoke these words, profound hatred and loathing emanated from Starry Sky’s eyes.
“The sun and moon appeared together in the sky, nine stars aligned in a row, and a colossal rift in space-time, seemingly slicing open the heavens themselves, emerged above the eastern continent. Seventy-two Demon God Pillars descended from the sky, bringing with them a plague-like demonic aura.”
“During the first hundred days after the initial descent of the seventy-two Demon God Pillars, all living beings—whether beasts, magical beasts, or us humans—would undergo massive mutation upon exposure to the aura emanating from these pillars, transforming into creatures of the demon race and obeying the commands of the Demon Gods associated with each pillar. Within merely a hundred days, the seventy-two Demon God Pillars had added millions of troops to the demon armies. Fortunately, the demonic aura emitted by the Demon God Pillars lasted only those hundred days; otherwise, humanity would likely have faced extinction.”
Long Haochen was just a youth; for him, the weight of responsibility was not yet something he could truly feel. Listening to Xingyu’s tale felt much like hearing a story. Yet he had not forgotten Xingyu’s earlier threat, and as he listened, he etched every word firmly into his heart.
“Seventy-two Demon God Pillars stand, each guarded by a true demon who calls themselves one of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods. Ranked by power, they lead the infected demonic armies in launching devastating attacks against us humans. From the day those seventy-two pillars descended, humanity entered the Dark Era—an era that persists to this very day.”
“Six thousand years of relentless strife have seen all human nations destroyed. Though we amassed immense wealth and strength during our Age of Glory, we remained consistently outmatched against the formidable demons, nearly facing complete annihilation. It was only three thousand years ago, when the Six Holy Temples—formed voluntarily by humanity’s strongest warriors—emerged, that we barely managed to stabilize our position and halt the demons’ advance. Even so, our Temple Alliance now controls less than a quarter of the continent’s land.”
As he spoke these words, Xingyu’s voice grew noticeably impassioned, his eyes shining with brilliant, dazzling light. “Therefore, the first lesson I teach you today is to forever remember the pain and humiliation the demons have brought upon us. As knights, we must protect our homeland, safeguard our loved ones, and defend all of humanity. Those words you recite daily are no empty vow. Only by possessing sufficient strength can we protect those we are sworn to guard.”

The Mysterious New Instructor (Part Four)
“The demons have slaughtered tens of thousands of our kin, staining the earth with their blood. For three thousand years, our Six Holy Temples have never dared to relax even for a moment. For the sake of humanity’s survival and legacy, for the day when we can reclaim all that we have lost, we will devote every effort to driving away those cruel and vicious demons, until the very last drop of our life force is consumed.”
“Long Haochen, remember this: the demons are our sworn enemies, bound to us by a debt of blood as deep as the sea.”
Starry Sky’s voice brimmed with such fervor that even nine-year-old Long Haochen felt his blood surge with excitement at his words.
“The demons are our sworn enemies, bound by a blood-soaked vendetta,” Long Haochen repeated firmly, echoing Xingyu’s words.
Xingyu nodded. “Every effort we make is to drive them from our homeland, reclaim all that we have lost, and protect our loved ones. Tell me, if one day we fail to halt the demons’ advance, what will happen when they reach Odin Town? What calamity will befall your friends, and your mother?”
Long Haochen shivered involuntarily, the determination in his eyes growing even stronger.
Seeing his reaction, Xingyu’s gaze softened with satisfaction; he could clearly tell that the little one had taken every word to heart.
“That’s all the historical knowledge for today. Starting tomorrow, I will tell you about the origins of the Six Holy Temples. After that, I will teach you our human script and some knowledge related to the demon race.”
For the entire morning, Long Haochen remained immersed in the various stories recounted by Xingyu. Compared to his former instructor, Balza, this new teacher brought him entirely different experiences. With numerous classical references and straightforward explanations, Xingyu seemed to possess boundless knowledge. In just a single morning, Long Haochen felt his mind enriched with so much new information that he immediately grew fond of Teacher Xingyu.
“Tomorrow morning, I will test you on everything I taught you today. Now, let’s eat. After the meal, you may rest for half an hour.”
As he spoke, Xingyu, as if performing magic, arranged various foods upon the wooden table within mere seconds.
Slightly scorching energy surged from Starry Sky’s hand, and under Long Haochen’s stunned gaze, the food immediately began to emit rising steam and a rich, fragrant aroma.
A large basin of crystal-clear, plump white rice, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes with generous portions, plus a pot of fragrant chicken soup that made Long Haochen instantly swallow his saliva. Due to his family’s poverty, he had never eaten such good food from childhood until now; just looking at it made his eyes widen in astonishment.
Xingyu took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks. “Eat. After you finish, you can rest for a while.”
Long Haochen suddenly stood up quickly, walked over to Xingyu, and dropped to his knees with a thud.
“What are you doing? Don’t you know that a man’s knees hold gold beneath them? How can you kneel to others so easily?” Xingyu scolded angrily.
Long Haochen kept his head lowered, stammering, “Master, I… I…”
“What do you mean, ‘I, I’? Just a small favor and you’re ready to kneel? Did I teach a bowing worm?” Xingyu’s voice grew even stricter.
Long Haochen spoke softly, “Master, I was wondering if I could eat a little less each day, so that every week when I go home, I can bring some back for Mother. She has never tasted anything this delicious.”
Xingyu froze abruptly; all his previous anger vanished in an instant. He appeared utterly stunned, even rigid. Because Long Haochen kept his head down, he did not see that his mysterious new master’s lips were trembling slightly, while something crystalline had gathered in his eyes.
Slowly rising to his feet, Xingyu pushed open the door and stepped outside, yet his voice drifted back inside, “Get up and eat. I promise you, as long as you follow me and train diligently, meeting my requirements, I will have someone deliver a meal to your mother every day from now on.”
“Thank you, Master!” Overjoyed, Long Haochen turned while still kneeling and kowtowed several times with resounding thuds toward the direction of the door before finally standing up. Then he eagerly began devouring the tempting food.
Standing outside the door, Xingyu lifted his head to gaze at the sky, seemingly struggling to suppress something. In a voice only he could hear, he murmured, “Humility, honesty, compassion, courage, justice, sacrifice, honor, perseverance, benevolence, righteousness… What does he still lack? Is he truly a knight born for this path?”
By the time he returned to the wooden hut, little Haochen had already finished his lunch. Yet half of every dish remained untouched, and a bowl of rice had been neatly prepared and placed beside Xingyu’s seat. Seeing him return, Haochen hastily stood up and looked at him respectfully.
“The room next door is yours. Go rest for a while; I’ll call you when it’s time.”
“Yes.” Long Haochen felt that Teacher Xingyu was a gift from the heavens, and he cheerfully went to rest.
Half an hour later, Xingyu called Long Haochen out.
“From this afternoon until evening will be your cultivation time. Take this.” Xingyu handed Long Haochen a pair of emerald-green bamboo swords.
These bamboo swords were much lighter than the wooden sword Long Haochen had originally used. Holding one in each hand, they felt weightless yet conveyed a distinct sense of resilience.
Starry Sky grabbed his arm and leaped into the air once more, soaring down the mountainside. In just a moment, he had brought Long Haochen to the midpoint of the peak.
Pointing toward a large boulder ahead, Starry Sky said, “This is the natural nest of a colony of hawk ants. There are tens of thousands of them inside. Although these insects do not qualify as magical beasts, they possess strong aggression, especially toward intruders. Remember, use your bamboo swords to protect yourself.”
With only this brief instruction, before Long Haochen could even comprehend what was happening, Starry Sky kicked aside the boulder ahead and, amidst Long Haochen’s startled cry, thrust him into the pitch-black cavern beneath the stone.
A gentle force cradled Long Haochen’s body as he descended, dropping about five meters before his feet finally touched solid ground.
The massive stone above had already shifted back into place, plunging the surroundings into pitch darkness. Yet, just before the stone sealed shut, he had faintly perceived that the space around him spanned roughly ten square meters.
It was at that very moment that a low hum resonated; Long Haochen suddenly felt as though countless dense objects had materialized all around him, flying toward him from every direction.
Only now did he understand what Teacher Xingyu had meant, and instinctively, he began swinging the pair of bamboo swords in his hands.
However, all he had learned in the Odin Sub-Temple were the most basic techniques of slashing, chopping, and thrusting. Faced with countless frenzied hawk ants, his body was stung in multiple places almost instantly.
Excruciating pain surged from every part of his body, causing little Haochen to let out a shriek immediately, while the bamboo swords in his hands became utterly disordered.
“This is one of your cultivation methods, and also your initial trial. If you cannot even endure this stage, you may leave the mountain tomorrow.”
Starry Sky’s voice reached Long Haochen’s ears, slightly calming his panicked emotions, yet the pain coursing through his body intensified. His clothes offered no protection against the bites of the owl ants, and even as he wildly swung the bamboo sword in his hand, he could clearly feel it striking numerous creatures.
“I can hold on!” Long Haochen shouted. Thinking of his mother and recalling Starry Sky’s words from earlier that day, courage suddenly broke free from the shackles of fear. He desperately swung the bamboo sword, driving back the relentless owl ants attacking him.
“Although you cannot see right now, you have only lost your sight. You still possess hearing, smell, touch, intuition, and even taste. Use every ability at your disposal to perceive everything around you…”