Chapter 25: Punishment Knight Long Haochen (Part 1)
Who is this person? Nearly every assassin already hidden in the shadows found themselves asking the same question. Was she a contestant? But how could an assassin possibly be blind?
Only at this moment did all the assassins suddenly recall that during the previous two days of competition, the total number of contestants who had appeared here was merely forty-seven, not the forty-eight announced by that chilling voice.
Byes in the first two rounds—could it be… fifth rank?
But even if she possesses fifth-rank cultivation, what of it? A blind female assassin—how much of an assassin’s prowess can she truly unleash?
“Tap, tap, tap…” Cai’er silently walked toward the trial grounds. Her pace was slow, even slower than that of an ordinary person. She appeared like a walking corpse; the lifeless coldness had once again enveloped her aura.
The chilling voice from the podium completely ignored Cai’er’s actions as the countdown continued, “Five, four, three, two, one, begin.”
The moment that command rang out, Cai’er had just reached the center of the trial grounds—a spot that also lay nearly at the heart of those pillars, and moreover, constituted a fairly large open area. She now stood fully exposed before all the assassins lurking in the shadows.
Silence. A brief hush fell over the entire trial grounds; not a single assassin made the first move. Of the twelve participants, the first four eliminated would advance to the supplementary rounds, meaning the eight who survived this round would automatically secure places in the top ten. Under such circumstances, no one dared to act rashly.
Yet, just because others remained still did not mean Cai’er would do the same. She stood quietly in place, and after merely three seconds, the rhythmic “thud-thud” of her green bamboo staff striking the ground sounded once more. Slowly, she began moving in one direction—precisely toward a pillar behind which an assassin happened to be hiding.
Cai’er appeared completely defenseless; every part of her body seemed riddled with openings. Her pace was exceedingly slow, relying entirely on her green bamboo staff to feel her way forward.
Thwack—finally, her green bamboo staff struck the pillar. Cai’er halted abruptly. At that very moment, the assassin hidden behind the pillar made his move.
The assassin lunged from the middle section of the pillar. Clad in a tight, streamlined outfit that allowed for swift movement, he made no sound as he sprang forward, instantly soaring over Cai’er’s head while thrusting a lusterless, pitch-black dagger straight toward her shoulder.
Killing was forbidden in the competition; otherwise, his attack would have targeted Cai’er’s neck.
The other assassins hidden in the shadows remained motionless, quietly observing. Clearly, everyone welcomed the sight of someone stepping forward to deal with Cai’er, this outlier among them.
It struck!
All the assassins clearly saw the black-clad assassin’s dagger pierce Cai’er’s shoulder. Yet, at that very same moment, everyone’s pupils contracted sharply.
For they saw two Cai’ers.
The Cai’er who had been struck stood motionless, and the pitch-black dagger failed to draw even a trace of blood. Meanwhile, another Cai’er appeared two meters away.
Cai’er’s soft hand, once held by Long Haochen, now gripped the bamboo staff at a point one-quarter from its tip. Only half a foot or so of her palm remained visible beyond the staff as she executed a seemingly gentle yet swift forward thrust.
The assassin realized something was wrong the moment his strike missed, but he could not defy the laws of nature; his body still had to descend.
A numbness shot through the back of his neck, and the next instant, he lost consciousness.
The other assassins merely saw a blur before their eyes; the two Cai’er figures merged back into one, standing right in front of the pillar, precisely where she had just been struck.
The lower end of the green bamboo staff swept horizontally, striking the waist of the black-clad assassin who was slowly collapsing. The blow appeared gentle, yet the assassin’s body flew sideways like a tattered rag, landing directly at the edge of the arena.
“Number eighteen, eliminated,” a cold voice announced from the chairman’s platform.
Shadow Clone!
The heartbeats of all the assassins quickened, and cold sweat nearly simultaneously seeped from their hands gripping their daggers.
The Shadow Clone is a fifth-rank secret technique of the Assassins, said to require more merit points than any other fifth-rank technique. This seemingly blind girl had almost perfectly executed the Shadow Clone, even creating the illusion that when she split into two, no one could tell which was the real her.
Fifth rank—truly fifth rank, and such a powerful fifth rank at that.
“Tap, tap, tap.” The sound of the green bamboo staff striking the ground rang out once more.
Cai’er shifted her direction and moved forward slowly. Yet, as the competing assassins gazed upon the green bamboo staff in her hand, each felt as though they were staring at a death warrant. The sound of the bamboo staff tapping against the ground seemed to control their very heartbeats. No one dared underestimate this blind girl with her slender, almost frail figure.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
A series of sounds from leaping figures rang out; the assassins swiftly changed positions, none wishing to become Cai’er’s next target.
However, the arena was only so large, and there were only so many pillars; thus, as they shifted their forms, collisions inevitably occurred.
A rapid series of clinks echoed as daggers collided. The original silence was completely shattered by Cai’er.
Hearing the clash of daggers, Cai’er halted her steps. She simply stood there in silence, fully exposed to the sight of all the assassins, motionless. Yet, not a single assassin dared to approach her. Anyone could see that although she was blind, her other sensory abilities must be terrifyingly profound.
“The sooner this ends, the sooner I can go wait for him. I wonder if his competition today went smoothly.” The chill emanating from Cai’er quietly vanished.
Knight Temple Trial Grounds.
“Contestants number ninety-seven and number four, enter the arena for your match.”
The Knight Temple had reached its sixth match, and Long Haochen was finally called by his number. Yet at this moment, both Li Xin and Ye Hua wore expressions of extreme grimness.
Four fifth-rank knights have already been assigned, and one has already competed. To describe that match, the phrase “overwhelming force” suffices. The opponent facing that fifth-rank knight never stood a chance; after a single charge, they were forced to surrender and admit defeat.
Number Four is the second fifth-rank powerhouse scheduled to appear today, and his opponent happens to be Long Haochen, contestant number ninety-seven.
Entering the third round, thirty-eight contestants remain in total, including four fifth-rank knights. This means that out of all nineteen matches, only four will involve facing a fifth-rank powerhouse. Undoubtedly, Long Haochen is one of those four unfortunate souls.
Rising to his feet, Long Haochen’s face broke into a bright, sunlit smile as he turned to Ye Hua beside him and said, “Teacher, you once taught me that no matter how powerful an opponent may be, one must never lose confidence.”
Ye Hua was momentarily stunned, then nodded vigorously at Long Haochen. “Go. You are my disciple, Ye Hua’s.” In that instant, a fervent gleam appeared in the eyes of the man known as Asura.
Long Haochen strode forward into the trial arena. The knights in the resting area fell silent, their full attention fixed on the impending match. Among them was the black-clad youth whom Long Haochen had provoked just yesterday, yet who had not yet made his appearance. He watched Long Haochen with a calm and stern gaze, as if to say: Only by passing this trial will you qualify to become my opponent.
Long Haochen’s opponent was a tall knight, standing about 1.9 meters, with broad shoulders and a wide back. His thick, short brown hair curled slightly in natural waves. In his right hand, he gripped a broadsword even wider than a normal greatsword, while his left hand held a heavy shield—square at the top and tapering to a point at the bottom—rather than the round shield typically used by knights.
Punishment Knight Long Haochen (Part 2)
Surprisingly, the fourth knight wore no armor whatsoever; a clear air of arrogance marked his face as he scrutinized Long Haochen opposite him.
“I heard you’ve won all your matches these past two days relying solely on that charging skill? I advise you not to use such a trashy technique in front of me, or you will suffer a truly humiliating defeat,” the fourth knight said with evident contempt.
Long Haochen replied calmly, “There are no trashy skills, only trashy people.”
The fourth knight narrowed his eyes slightly and declared with firm resolve, “Very well.”
With a fifth-order knight stepping into the arena, the referee was also replaced by a seventh-order Temple Knight. This new referee appeared to be in his middle years, yet his physique was as mighty as a small mountain. Snorting coldly, he declared, “Enough empty talk! This is no place for mere words. The match begins!”
Just like the previous two matches, the moment the referee announced the start, golden mist instantly surged around Long Haochen’s body as he once again began gathering his power.
A cold flash gleamed in the eyes of Knight Number Four, clearly revealing his anger. Unlike other knights who would immediately summon their mounts, he slammed his broadsword against his shield with a thunderous clang. Then, moving as if gliding just above the ground, he charged straight toward Long Haochen without hesitation.
Assault—a fifth-order knight skill. Supported by immense spiritual energy, it unleashes speed even greater than Charge, while offering superior stability.
As he charged, a dense golden radiance erupted from the fourth knight. Unlike Long Haochen’s outwardly glowing gold light, this brilliance was entirely contained, forming a thin layer of armor over his body—the result of spiritual energy liquefying. This transformation simultaneously manifested on the weapon in his hand.
The thirty-meter distance was covered in the blink of an eye. The broadsword, blazing with intense golden light, slashed straight down toward Long Haochen’s head. Through his actions, he made it clear to Long Haochen that gathering momentum was useless against him; he didn’t even deem it worthy to summon his mount.
Bang—
The Shield of Radiance accurately blocked the path of the broadsword. Amidst a deafening crash, Long Haochen stepped back, yet his body erupted with the brilliance of Light’s Retribution as his luminous sword instantly slashed forward.
Although the buildup time was short, combined with Light’s Vengeance, his sword strike carried immense power; yet at this moment, Long Haochen had not employed any skills.
A disdainful sneer appeared on the face of Knight Number Four. Although his broadsword had indeed been blocked by Divine Defense, at the very moment Long Haochen swung his sword down, he had already activated another skill: Shield Charge.
The heavy shield surged forward, crashing violently against the heavy blade descending from Long Haochen’s strike.
Boom—
A tremendous explosive force erupted almost instantly. Long Haochen looked as though he had been struck by an elephant; with a muffled groan, he was sent flying backward, both feet lifted clear off the ground.
This is the gap between the fourth and fifth ranks. Although Long Haochen had already reached the rank of a Grade Nine Grand Knight, when facing a fifth-rank knight possessing liquid spiritual energy, he stood no chance whatsoever in a contest of spiritual power.
Charge! Although Knight Number Four was brimming with arrogance, he indeed had the credentials to back it up. His skills connected with perfect rhythm; even as he knocked Long Haochen flying, he immediately launched another charge. Golden light flared upon his broadsword as he cleaved downward with a Light Slash Sword aimed straight at Long Haochen.
The Light Slash Sword executed with liquid spiritual energy resembled nothing less than an extension of the blade itself, showing no trace of being energy manifested from spiritual power. It slammed directly onto the Radiant Shield that Long Haochen had hastily raised to block before him.
His stance unstable, Long Haochen hadn’t even touched the ground yet; there was no way he could unleash his Divine Shield to block. All he managed was to cast a Holy Light Soothing Shield to aid his defense.
Boom— The Holy Light Soothing Shield shattered. Long Haochen spat out a mouthful of blood as his body slammed violently into the ground, sending his Radiant Shield flying away.
Knight Number Four did not rush to pursue. Instead, he coldly swept his gaze toward the resting area, as if saying, “See that? This is the power of a fifth-rank cultivator.”
With a sudden roll, Long Haochen pushed himself up from the ground. His chest heaved continuously, fresh blood staining the corners of his mouth, clearly indicating severe injury. Yet he dared not retrieve his fallen Radiant Shield, his eyes fixed warily on Knight Number Four.
The fourth knight’s lips curled into a sneer. “I already told you, don’t use that trash skill, Gathering Power, in front of me again. Before absolute strength, everything is futile. Admit defeat and crawl out on your own.”
Due to his injuries, Long Haochen’s face was noticeably pale, yet he shook his head firmly without the slightest hesitation. His body swayed slightly, however, forcing him to quickly stab his light sword into the ground to steady himself while releasing a beam of white healing light onto his own body.
The fourth knight’s eyes narrowed. “You won’t cry until you see the coffin? Very well, I’ll grant your wish.” This time, he didn’t even bother charging; instead, he simply walked toward Long Haochen step by step. Intense golden light flared up once more as he rested his broadsword on his shoulder, each footfall leaving a distinct imprint in the earth.
Long Haochen gripped the hilt of his light sword tightly with both hands to support his body, his gaze never wavering from the fourth knight. The determination and persistence in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest despite his injuries.
The imposing referee kept a close watch on the two combatants, ready to intervene immediately should Knight Number Four threaten Long Haochen’s life.
In the rest area, Li Xin had already nervously grabbed Ye Hua’s arm. “Teacher, stop him quickly! That bastard will kill Haochen. Haochen is already injured.”
Ye Hua’s hands were already clenched tightly into fists. “Believe in him. He will win.”
At this moment, Knight Number Four had advanced to within three meters of Long Haochen. The broadsword in his hand was slowly rising; he was deliberately slowing his movements. What he loved most was seeing the helpless look in his opponent’s eyes when faced with his overwhelming power.
Unfortunately, he saw no such change in expression on Long Haochen. From beginning to end, there was only unwavering determination in Long Haochen’s eyes.
“It’s over.” Knight Number Four, clearly irritated by Long Haochen’s persistence, swung his broadsword horizontally downward, aiming straight at him. Bound by the tournament rules, he ultimately dared not strike a killing blow. Yet, with this single smashing strike, he was absolutely certain that Long Haochen would be rendered incapable of continuing the fight.
In that very instant, a sharpness keen as a blade suddenly flared within Long Haochen’s clear, pale golden eyes.
This fierce intensity had appeared once before when he locked gazes with the black-clad youth yesterday, but during the selection trials, this was its first emergence.
Hum—A brilliant ring of golden light suddenly erupted upward from the ground surrounding Long Haochen’s body. It was precisely the Retribution Knight skill: Ascension Array.
The broadsword slamming down was suddenly jolted by the Ascension Formation, its descent slowing for a beat. Immediately afterward, another layer of light erupted from Long Haochen’s body—the Holy Light Shield.
He had been preparing these two skills for a long time, ever since the moment he stood up. Facing a fifth-rank knight mounted on a steed, Long Haochen knew his chances were slim. Therefore, he could only endure and wait for the right moment. Fortunately, luck was on his side; the arrogant Number Four never even summoned his mount.
Back in Haoyue City, Long Haochen trained daily against Yehua, a Sky Knight. How could he possibly fail to withstand even a single round of attacks from a fifth-rank knight? He was indeed injured, but only because he had never unleashed his full strength. It was precisely through endurance and feigning weakness that he had waited for this very opportunity.
Retribution Knight Long Haochen (Part Three)
Given Long Haochen’s current strength, defeating a fifth-rank knight equipped with a mount would be extremely difficult, nearly impossible. No matter how high his talent, his opponent had after all cultivated for more than five years longer than him. Thus, only through strategy could he create an opportunity for himself.
Strength is always the key to victory, yet it is not the sole factor; a child employing cunning might even slay an adult. Moreover, the gap between Long Haochen and Number Four was far from insurmountable.
Although the Holy Light Shield was already a fourth-order Guardian Knight skill, it still could not withstand the fifth-order liquid spiritual energy. Nevertheless, there was no doubt that the combination of the Ascension Formation and the Holy Light Shield had bought Long Haochen sufficient time.
The light sword embedded in the ground suddenly shot upward, trailing a dense golden radiance. Simultaneously, Long Haochen swept his left hand horizontally, unleashing another streak of fiery red light that slashed across like a brilliant ribbon, intersecting with the golden glow of the light sword to form a crossing cross-slash.
At this moment, Knight Number Four and Long Haochen were nearly within arm’s reach. He had never expected that Long Haochen, who appeared utterly incapable of resistance, would launch such a fierce and sudden counterattack.
At this moment, he had no time to activate any skills; he could only barely thrust his shield horizontally in front of himself to block.
Boom—
A cross slash composed of light and fire slammed fiercely onto the shield. The fourth knight was indeed formidable, worthy of a fifth-rank powerhouse; even under such disadvantageous circumstances, he was only forced back two steps by Long Haochen’s impact. This was the advantage conferred by liquid spiritual energy.
However, this was merely the beginning. The cross slash had nullified the attacking momentum of the fourth knight’s heavy sword as he retreated with his body. Without the slightest pause after unleashing his dual swords, Long Haochen immediately followed up with another returning slash. Yet this time, a sharp, piercing radiance erupted from both of his blades.
One dazzling sphere of golden light merged with another brilliant sphere of golden-crimson; remarkably, both swords simultaneously unleashed the Sunlight Slash—the fourth-rank惩戒 Knight’s most powerful offensive skill.
Having just blocked a strike, the Fourth Knight was still reeling from shock and fury when Long Haochen’s twin swords, radiating fierce light, slashed back at him.
Boom—
This time, the Fourth Knight found blocking far more difficult. Under the overwhelming force of the Sunlight Slash, his shield erupted in scattered golden sparks, sinking diagonally downward to expose nearly half his body. He staggered backward repeatedly, nearly losing his footing.
Seizing the advantage, Long Haochen showed no mercy. His left hand thrust the flame sword forward, unleashing over a dozen streaks of crimson-gold light in a lightning-fast stab aimed directly at the Fourth Knight’s chest. Meanwhile, his right hand did not follow up with an attack; instead, he raised the light sword high above his head. Instantly, incandescent brilliance erupted from the blade. Yet unlike the Sunlight Slash, this radiance did not scatter outward but remained entirely condensed within the sword itself. The blade appeared to become utterly translucent, as intense sacred energy surged upward from it.
Long Haochen’s mouth resonated with a low incantation. At first glance, the transformation of his light sword resembled the Blade of Purity. Yet, compared to the Blade of Purity, the light sword in this moment was vastly superior in terms of the purity of its spiritual energy, the density of its sacred aura, and the oppressive pressure it emanated.
On the main podium, the Grand Knight seated at the center exclaimed in surprise, “What an impressive lad! To think he still had such a trump card hidden. So, he was never a Guardian Knight at all; no wonder he had only been using Charge and Divine Obstruction until now. He is actually a Retribution Knight. Remarkable! This is the advanced Retribution technique of splitting one’s mind for dual purposes, and he has even mastered the fifth-rank Holy Sword.”
At this moment, Knight Number Four was filled with frustration. Long Haochen’s sudden assault had caught him completely off guard, and even more critically, the relentless barrage following Long Haochen’s explosive surge afforded him no chance to catch his breath.
The Ascension Formation, the Holy Light Shield, the Twin Sun Slash, combined with the Lightning Thrust—this combo attack left him no time to mobilize even his full internal spiritual energy, let alone activate skills or summon his mount. A single moment of carelessness had plunged him entirely into a passive position. He had to completely withstand Long Haochen’s onslaught and wait for an opening to create breathing room before he could possibly launch a counterattack.
He swung his broadsword back to defend, doing his utmost to protect his front. A rapid series of clanging sounds erupted throughout the trial arena. Long Haochen’s Lightning Thrust was incredibly swift, and coupled with the initiative gained from the earlier Sun Slash, Knight Number Four ultimately failed to block completely. A streak of golden-red light grazed the side of his left arm, instantly leaving behind a scorched black mark.
True powerhouses never allow arrogance to creep into their battles. Yet the Fourth Knight clearly violated this principle. Unprotected by armor, though merely grazed by the flaming sword, the searing pain instantly rendered his left arm sluggish.
Even so, until this very moment, the Fourth Knight had never considered the possibility of defeat. Even if Long Haochen was a Retribution Knight, he had already unleashed so many skills; surely he must pause sometime? As long as he could seize an opportunity to counterattack, he remained confident that his overwhelming cultivation advantage would secure victory over Long Haochen.
But just then, atop the flaming sword that had completed the Lightning Thrust, a dazzling golden-crimson radiance suddenly erupted. It was once again the Sunlight Slash, only this time, instead of a slash, it was delivered as a thrust.
Though lacking the speed of the Lightning Thrust, it carried the full force of the Sunlight Slash. The Fourth Knight had no choice but to raise his shield once more in defense. Amidst a thunderous roar, he was blown back five steps again; the golden light on both his shield and broadsword had significantly dimmed.
Taking a deep, forceful breath while retreating, the fourth knight’s eyes were already filled with rage. He fully mobilized his liquid internal spiritual energy; though his retreat made his stance unsteady, it also presented an opportunity. With merely a slight adjustment of his internal spiritual energy, a golden holy light shield erupted forth, simultaneously healing the wounds on his left arm and forming a formidable defense.
Charging forward, Long Haochen moved in perfect harmony with his sword. In an instant, the trial arena witnessed only a streak of white light shooting forth, while his figure vanished from sight.
Unity of body and sword—this blade is a sword of light, not fire.
A crystal-clear, pure white sword of light, distorting and rippling the air around it, arrived in an instant.
Pfft—
The Holy Light Shield cast by the fifth-rank Guardian Knight unexpectedly failed to withstand this thrust of the light sword. Amidst a piercing screech, the blade forcibly pierced through the Holy Light Shield.
Holy Sword—a powerful fifth-rank offensive skill of the Retribution Knights. Besides its formidable attacking power, this skill possesses a special bonus effect against all dark-attribute creatures, doubling its attack strength.
The fourth knight was utterly terrified and hastily raised his shield to meet the assault. Long Haochen’s attacks followed too swiftly; after casting the Holy Light Shield, he had only just enough time to reinforce his own shield with an additional Holy Light Infused Shield for extra defense.
Just at that moment, a white sword beam shot forth from the light sword, slamming violently into the fourth knight’s shield, before the blade itself struck home.
Boom—
Under the stunned gazes of the spectators, the shield held by Knight Number Four shattered into pieces in an instant, though he finally managed to knock the light sword away. Yet, the tremendous impact left him unable to maintain his balance, and he collapsed heavily onto the ground.
A fiery red glow arrived silently, resting gently upon his shoulder. The scorching heat caused Knight Number Four’s neck to go limp.
Propping himself up with the light sword, with the fire sword pressed against the side of Knight Number Four’s neck, Long Haochen gasped for breath, blood trickling down from the corners of his mouth. Yet, the determination in his eyes remained utterly unchanged.
Executing skills with such density while injured placed an unimaginable strain on his body. However, it was precisely this relentless barrage of attacks, like a violent storm, that secured his victory.
Retribution Knight Long Haochen (Part Four)
A fifth-rank cultivator compared to a peak fourth-rank one truly represents a qualitative evolution! Even though Long Haochen employed numerous powerful skills, and despite his innate talents granting him far greater speed in skill execution than knights of the same rank, along with heightened perception and formidable Retribution Knight abilities, he still failed to injure his opponent before defeating Knight Number Four.
“I lost. I actually lost?” Knight Number Four sat dazedly on the ground, his face ashen. As a fifth-rank Earth Knight, failing to even place within the top ten in this Demon Hunter Selection Tournament meant he could not truly become a member of a Demon Hunter team. Having reached the age limit, he would never have another chance to participate in future tournaments. This single defeat instantly stripped this prodigy of any possibility of entering the core ranks of the Knight Temple.
Upon hearing the words “I lost,” Long Haochen had already sheathed his dual swords and silently walked aside to retrieve his Radiant Shield. Although he had won this battle, victory had come at great cost; Knight Number Four had exerted immense pressure upon him.
“No— I refuse to accept this, I refuse!” Knight Number Four leaped up from the ground, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Long Haochen. “I haven’t even summoned my mount or donned my armor yet. I possess a set of Spirit-Demon grade armor. How could you possibly be my match? How? Referee, I refuse to accept this result; I demand a rematch against him!”
The referee looked at him coldly, yet had already positioned himself between the man and Long Haochen, stating flatly, “You have lost.”
Knight Number Four exclaimed excitedly, “I haven’t lost. How could I possibly lose to a mere fourth-rank youngster?”
An aged voice came from the direction of the main podium, tinged with anger, “Let me ask you, what are the Ten Commandments of Knights?”
Knight Number Four was stunned. This was something every knight had to learn since childhood. Almost instinctively, he recited, “Humility, Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Justice, Sacrifice, Honor, Perseverance, Benevolence, and Righteousness.”
The aged voice stated gravely, “Then where is your humility and honesty? Rather than saying you lost to Number Ninety-Seven, it would be more accurate to say you lost to yourself. Choosing not to wear armor and not to summon your mount was your own decision. Since you cannot even abide by these two most basic commandments, your disposition is no longer suitable for being a knight. Guards, throw him out and remove his name from the Holy Temple.”
The fourth knight’s entire body shook violently, and in an instant, his face turned deathly pale. What did expulsion from the Temple signify? It meant he was no longer a member of the Knight Temple. He also knew exactly who had spoken. Even the three most powerful figures at the pinnacle of the Knight Temple would show this elder considerable deference.
With a thud, the fourth knight dropped to his knees, trembling as he cried out toward the main dais, “Grand Master of the Holy Knights, I was wrong. I know my mistake. Please, grant me another chance. I will never dare do it again.”
The Grand Master’s voice drifted over slowly, “To break through to the fifth rank before the age of twenty-five shows exceptional talent. However, you should also know that within our Knight Temple, we prioritize character over cultivation. As the foremost of the Six Holy Temples, if any core member of a Demon Hunter Squad fails to abide by the Knight’s Code, they only bring shame upon the glory of the Knights. Tell me, what is glory?”
All the knights present rose to their feet in unison, shouting together, “Glory is life.”
The Grand Paladin stated calmly, “Number Four, you heard it. Glory is life. Can you still possess the glory of the Knight Temple?”
Number Four’s body trembled violently, yet kneeling prostrate there, he could not utter a single word. He could tell that the Grand Paladin had truly been provoked to anger.
“Grand Paladin,” just then, a clear voice rang out. The gazes of everyone present inevitably shifted accordingly.
It was Long Haochen who spoke. Clenching his right fist and placing it over his left chest, he respectfully performed a knight’s salute toward the main podium.
“Speak,” the Grand Paladin’s voice softened noticeably, making no attempt to hide his affection for Long Haochen.
Long Haochen glanced at the Number Four Knight kneeling beside him and said respectfully, “Grand Paladin, when I was very young, my mother once told me that no one is perfect. Number Four merely lost his inner balance after suffering a defeat. Arrogance is indeed wrong, but to let this single incident become the turning point of his life would, in my opinion, be unfair to him. Character is shaped by one’s upbringing and environment; it cannot be entirely blamed on him. Please grant him another chance. Having learned from this lesson, I believe he will correct his ways.”
Upon hearing Long Haochen’s words, the Number Four Knight raised his head in astonishment, gazing at him with an expression tinged with complex emotions.
The direction of the main podium suddenly fell silent. Everyone’s attention was fixed on the movements there. After all, a genius knight like Number Four, who broke through to the fifth rank before the age of twenty-five, was as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn even within the Knight Temple.
After a long pause, a faint sigh drifted from the main podium, spoken by the Grand Paladin. “Very well. Since you plead for him, I will give him a chance. Number Four, listen carefully. If you wish to remain in the Knight Temple, then from this moment forward, you shall serve as the squire knight to Number Ninety-Seven. When the next Demon Hunter Squad selection tournament begins, provided you have faithfully fulfilled your duties as a squire knight throughout, I will permit your return to the Knight Temple.”
Number Four froze for a moment, then overjoyed, he exclaimed, “Thank you, Lord Grand Paladin, for granting me this opportunity.” Having said this, he rose, turned toward Long Haochen, and after a flicker of struggle passed through his eyes, he dropped to one knee with a thud before Long Haochen. “Master, Han Yu is at your command. I do not yet know your honorable name.”
Long Haochen, finding himself both amused and helpless, stammered, “This… um…”
“He is called Long Haochen.” A cold voice came from the resting area. Long Haochen turned to look; it was Teacher Ye Hua who had spoken.
Han Yu bowed respectfully and declared, “By the Light God above, I, Han Yu, vow to serve Long Haochen as my master for the next five years. My master’s glory shall be my glory. Should I break this oath, may divine punishment befall me.”
In battle, Long Haochen was always so calm, yet he was still only a fourteen-year-old boy. Faced with this situation, he immediately became flustered and hurriedly said, “Please get up,” while helping Han Yu to his feet.
Han Yu bowed respectfully again and said, “Master, there are some matters at my home that require my attention. I will return now to settle them. Tomorrow, I will come here to find you, and from then on, I vow to follow you unto death for the next five years.”
After the blow he just suffered, the arrogance on his face had completely vanished. Though a trace of reluctance still lingered in his eyes, remembering the terrible consequences of being expelled from the Holy Temple, he ultimately forced himself to endure his inner discomfort. After bowing once more to Long Haochen, he turned and departed. Although proud, he harbored grand ambitions; how could he ever realize his dreams if he were cast out of the Knight Temple?
Although Long Haochen was somewhat bewildered, he trusted that Night Hua must have had good reason to ask him to agree. After casting a Holy Light Shield upon himself, he returned to the resting area.
“Brother, you’re amazing!” Li Xin immediately rushed forward and gave him a big hug. Meanwhile, the other contestants from the Knight Temple looked at Long Haochen with expressions tinged with caution and apprehension.
In this one-on-one match, Retribution Knights clearly hold an advantage over Guardian Knights. Although Han Yu’s earlier defeat stemmed from his own arrogance, one must not overlook the fact that Long Haochen’s final barrage of attacks left him not even a sliver of opportunity. How could an ordinary Retribution Knight achieve such a feat? The explosive power unleashed in that instant, especially the combination of splitting his focus while wielding the Holy Sword, was the true key to victory. Even a fifth-rank knight could not withstand such an attack!