Chapter 3: The Teacher from Hell

Amidst the piercing screams, the tail of the scorpion-tailed lizard swept across in a final desperate struggle

Surprisingly, Bai Yue did not ask any further questions. She took the money and smiled, saying: "Haochen, you must listen to your teacher, do you understand?"

At this moment, Long Haochen's clothes were in tatters, and his entire body appeared almost swollen. His originally beautiful little face was barely recognizable. Even the pair of bamboo swords bore numerous marks from being bitten by the fierce ants.

Half an hour, a full half an hour, felt to Long Haochen as if he had endured a century. When his entire body had become numb from the pain and he could no longer wield the bamboo sword in his hand, his body weakened, and he fell into a state of unconsciousness

Bai Yue was taken aback, "Where did you get the money?"

Xingyu gently said: "Only you can make the right choice for yourself. In this regard, I cannot assist you. Given your personality, you may be more suited to being a guardian knight; however, I am a retribution knight. What I can teach you are mostly the abilities and skills possessed by retribution knights."

With a swift motion, the scorpion-tailed lizard did not allow him any more time to think. Its strong and powerful limbs pushed off the ground forcefully, charging straight at Long Haochen, aiming to bite his thigh.

Half an hour later, when Xingyu saw the swelling on Long Haochen's body gradually disappear, he finally stepped out of the wooden house

After soaking in the hot spring and having dinner, Long Haochen patiently awaited guidance from Xingyu. After a week of training, his feelings towards Xingyu had evolved from mere respect to a sense of awe, accompanied by a genuine fear from the depths of his heart

"Mom, this is for you." Long Haochen presented all the money he had just received to Bai Yue as if offering a treasure.

Xingyu then asked: "Why is the increase in spiritual power required for the advancement from Level 1 to Level 2 different from that required for subsequent levels after becoming a true knight?"

What is most surprising is that behind this handsome young man, he is actually carrying two long swords crossed over his back. These are clearly two fine iron swords, each over three feet long, three inches wide, and at least one inch thick. Although they appear to be unsharpened, their weight is certainly not light! They are practically a scaled-down version of a knight's great sword. How can someone so small wield such heavy swords?

However, Long Haochen had already made a judgment. With a swift strike, he rolled on the ground to evade the final attack of the Scorpion-Tailed Lizard, while simultaneously drawing the right-hand sword that he had previously thrust into the ground to assume a defensive posture

At that very moment, the stone at the cave's summit opened, and a tremendous force pulled his body upward, while countless fierce ants were suppressed by a mysterious power within the cave, unable to escape.

Teacher, I am back. Long Haochen walked excitedly into the wooden cabin

Walking on the wide streets of Bright Moon City, Long Haochen's eyes were filled with curiosity and astonishment

The most significant change is in the physical aspect. Although he has not tested it, Long Haochen is certain that his spiritual power has definitely increased. At least by two points, right? It has only been a week!

After dinner, the training will begin again. Xingyu will teach Long Haochen some techniques and will have him memorize certain things. The day's training will only conclude late into the night

One year later. Haoyue City

With a soft sound, the scorpion-tailed lizard, raised its upper body, and in an instant, its lower abdomen was pierced by a bamboo sword, simultaneously halting the descent of its body

After panting for the duration of half a stick of incense, the sky had already darkened further, and only then did Long Haochen feel that his strength had recovered somewhat, while the scorpion-tailed lizard lay there motionless.

The young knight faced a dilemma: "I’m afraid that’s not possible; this is the Knights' Branch of Bright Moon City, and only those from our temple are allowed to enter"

Long Haochen said: "It is my teacher who asked me to find Lord Nalan, and then deliver a letter to him"

The scorpion-tailed lizard is not so easily deterred; after a missed strike, it lunged at Long Haochen once more. Moreover, this time its body seemed to have inflated slightly.

The master and apprentice walked out of the wooden cabin and arrived at the top of the mountain

Long Haochen said: "It is only after entering the third-tier profession that one can truly be considered a strong practitioner of that profession. The transition from first-tier to second-tier is merely a process of adapting to that tier. You have taught me that whether it is the third tier or the subsequent fourth or fifth tiers, the improvement from first-tier to second-tier is the easiest."

Long Haochen first calmly surveyed his surroundings, finding no other magical beasts. Only then did he find a large tree to lean against and began to breathe heavily.

With a thud, the scorpion-tailed lizard fell to the ground, its body twisting violently. The agony in its abdomen caused it to scream incessantly, yet it did not die immediately.

On the floor of this wooden cabin, there is a pool carved out of stone. To be precise, it should be said that the pool was first created, and then this wooden cabin was built on top of it.

If any of Odin's children were to replace him, they would likely be frightened into unconsciousness shortly after entering that cave. However, Long Haochen remained fully conscious, continuously striving to battle against the owl ants. The owl ants are non-venomous, yet they can inflict intense pain. Their bodies, measuring only a few inches in length, are not only extremely hard but also possess formidable offensive capabilities

Long Haochen shook his head and said, "The teacher instructed me to personally hand it over to Lord Nalan"

As he gazed at the deceased scorpion-tailed lizard, nine-year-old Long Haochen gradually felt a change in his eyes. "Teacher, you are right. One must endure hardship to rise above others. I should not harbor any dissatisfaction towards you. If it were not for your guidance, I fear I would never see my mother again. Teacher, I promise I will no longer complain, not even secretly in my heart."

Measuring over four feet in length, its entire body is pitch black. Its short and stout limbs support it on the ground, while fine scales grow on its back. A barbed tail sways continuously behind it, and a pair of brown eyes is fixed intently on me

Even if all of this was arranged by Xingyu, when he saw Long Haochen at that moment, he still couldn't help but gasp, his eyes revealing a hint of compassion.

"It hurts so much. Wuu—" Long Haochen, soaking in the hot spring, shouted as he awakened from his unconscious state

Meanwhile, Long Haochen also completed a backflip using the bamboo sword he was supporting himself with, simultaneously releasing the bamboo sword in his right hand. This allowed him to land a moment earlier, while his left-hand bamboo sword thrust upward, accompanied by a faint layer of white lightning.

Teacher, I ... ...

Even the lowest-level magical beast is far more valuable than a wild animal. A magical beast of at least level one and intermediate rank is worth at least one gold coin. Long Haochen would not be willing to waste it

What tormented Long Haochen the most was that Xingyu did not allow him to sleep. After a night of exhaustion, Xingyu taught him a method of meditation, which, in Long Haochen's words, was called sitting and sleeping. However, Xingyu would supervise him; if he did not meditate according to Xingyu's teachings, without a doubt, Xingyu's bamboo sword would strike his back to wake him up

Relying entirely on his reflexes, Long Haochen leaped into the air, lifting himself over three feet, while simultaneously using his right hand to block downward with his sword, deflecting the strike from the scorpion-tailed lizard.

Xingyu swiftly inserted a pill into Long Haochen's mouth. In a flash of light and shadow, he moved at a speed many times faster than before, bringing Long Haochen back to the wooden cabin in almost the next moment

Ah? Is there such a big difference? Why is that?" Long Haochen asked in confusion

Upon hearing Xingyu's question, Long Haochen couldn't help but be taken aback. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head in confusion.

The menacing large mouth of the scorpion-tailed lizard loomed before him, and an intense sense of crisis caused Long Haochen's pupils to constrict sharply, as if something had exploded in his mind

Xingyu shook his head and said: "On the contrary, the ratio of the number of Guardian Knights to Punishment Knights in our Order of Knights is ten to one"

When he completed these tasks, a year had already passed. His visit to Haoyue City this time was due to the two tasks assigned to him by Xingyu, serving as an assessment of his arduous cultivation over the past year

Long Haochen felt a sense of relief as he bowed to Xingyu and then dashed out of the wooden house like a flash. Finally, he could go home

With two consecutive strikes, executed in a remarkably seamless manner, the body of the scorpion-tailed lizard finally lost its balance and was kicked upward by his foot

In that moment, he suddenly felt that the scorpion-tailed lizard, which was so close, seemed to slow down; every movement of it and the angle at which he was falling backward became exceedingly clear

As soon as his body moved, he naturally lost his balance. Although the pool was not deep, he still choked on some water. With a splash, he struggled out of the pool and began to cough loudly

Xingyu stood outside the cave, feeling the seconds pass by. The expression on his face changed several times. He raised his hand more than once, wanting to push aside the massive stone in front of him, but he held back.

At this point, Xingyu paused slightly before looking at Long Haochen and asking, "What do you think, in our Knight Temple, are there more Guardian Knights or Retribution Knights?"

However, the attack of the scorpion-tailed lizard does not end there; as its body hits the ground, its tail, armed with venomous hooks, sweeps across.

In the southeast of the Temple Alliance, Haoyue City is a medium-sized city. However, even for a city of this level, it was the first time for Long Haochen, who had grown up in Odin Town, to see it.

In any profession, the higher the level, the more pronounced the feeling of breakthrough will be

With two soft thuds, although the bamboo sword was resilient, its light weight rendered it relatively ineffective, striking the scorpion-tailed lizard as if it were hitting a deflated leather. However, Long Haochen was no longer the same as when he first took the squire knight assessment; with nearly thirty points of spiritual power output, he forcefully slammed the scorpion-tailed lizard back to the ground

What a vast city! The wide streets extend at least five zhang away, lined with numerous shops on both sides. The flow of vehicles is incessant, and the sounds of bustling activity rise and fall. The throngs of people here are in stark contrast to those in Odin Town.

This is a hot spring, and Xingyu excavated this pool at the springhead. Long Haochen, who is already unconscious, is unaware that the medicinal herbs soaking in the pool water are worth more than ten thousand bottles of Peiyuan Liquid.

The scorpion-tailed lizard glared fiercely at Long Haochen with its brown eyes, its large mouth gaping open to reveal its sharp white teeth, as if contemplating how long such a small human could last.

Where is this? Long Haochen looked around in confusion at the surrounding mist and the pool he was in. The intense pain that had once engulfed him had completely vanished; aside from being entirely clean and without any covering, everything seemed quite normal.

By afternoon, hell would descend. The nest of the owl ant was a daily requirement, and the outcome was always the same. The inhuman suffering tormented Long Haochen to the brink of despair, and whenever thoughts of giving up arose in his mind, Xingyu would simply remind him that there were only a few days left until he could return home

Xingyu swiftly removed the tattered clothing from Long Haochen's body, carefully placing him into the steaming pool water, leaving only his mouth and nose above the surface.

"It hurts so much." Long Haochen spoke candidly

The teacher kept his promise and indeed brought delicious food for mother. Upon seeing this, Xiao Haochen couldn't help but feel even more grateful to Xingyu

Hello, esteemed brothers. I am looking for Lord Nalan Shudian." Long Haochen politely greeted the two knights before speaking.

"Eat first." Xingyu cast a stern glance at him

The door opened, and Xingyu, holding clothes, walked in from outside

Xingyu Dao: "Because we are the Temple Alliance. As the foremost of the six great temples of the Temple Alliance, we, the Knights Temple, must consider not only our individual combat capabilities but also those of our companions. The reason there are six great temples is that these six professions, when combined, can exert the greatest combat power. As the core of the team, the knight must not only integrate magic and martial arts but also embody both offense and defense, while simultaneously providing cover for teammates. Therefore, the role of the Guardian Knight is significantly greater than that of the Retribution Knight."

"Little friend, who are you looking for?" As Long Haochen arrived at the entrance of the Knight's Sanctuary, the young knight on the left asked with a smile. It must be said that Long Haochen's charming little face exuded considerable charm.

Every time in the cave of the owl ant, the training undoubtedly ends in unconsciousness, and when he awakens, he will certainly find himself immersed in a hot spring, with all pain having vanished

Very well, you remember clearly. Let us begin today's lesson. I ask you, do you think that for a knight, is offense more important or is defense more important

Hmm. Long Haochen nodded repeatedly

A year of rigorous training brought him a transformative change. On the eighty-third day in the Owl Ant's nest, he was finally able to fend off the attacks from all directions with a bamboo sword. However, he continued to train daily in the Owl Ant's nest, with only the weapons changing. From the lightest bamboo sword to the wooden sword, then to the iron sword, refined iron sword, and heavy sword, he constantly adapted to various weights of dual swords. After he became accustomed to the knight's heavy sword, he spent another month practicing back down from the heavy sword to the refined iron sword, iron sword, wooden sword, and bamboo sword. He completed a full cycle of this progression.

"There is no need to continue tonight; you may go home. However, the meditation must not be interrupted. Come back early tomorrow morning." Xingyu tossed a bottle of Peiyuan Liquid to Long Haochen and waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Long Haochen pondered for a moment and said, "It should be more Retribution Knights, right? You mentioned that the combat power of Retribution Knights is stronger."

Scorpion-tailed Lizard, a Tier 1 Intermediate Magical Beast. It is approximately equivalent to the level of human professions with spiritual power ranging from 30 to 50.

Xingyu's voice came again, but he only explained a few simple sword techniques before the sound disappeared

"Looking for the lord?" The two young knights exchanged glances, and the one who had spoken earlier asked, "What is it that you need?"

Regarding Long Haochen's series of actions prior to this, even someone hidden in the shadows would have to commend it as perfect. Even the moment when Long Haochen lost his balance due to the impact could be seen as a bait to lure the enemy deeper. After all, his subsequent reactions showed not a trace of deviation. With two swords and a kick, he eliminated the scorpion-tailed lizard. At the same time, his spiritual power broke through the thirty major barriers, entering the realm of a Level 3 Squire Knight. This was also the reason Long Haochen felt an increase in his strength earlier.

Long Haochen said anxiously: "I am also from the Knight Temple! I come from the Odin Hall"

Although he had to endure such painful training every day, with hardly any time to sleep, by the end of the week, his originally frail body had noticeably strengthened, and his complexion had become much more vibrant. In addition to having a good diet, it was naturally due to the daily soaking in the hot springs

Long Haochen was unaware that the combined effects of hot springs and medicinal herbs are referred to as "washing the marrow and forging the bones"

Upon hearing his words, Bai Yue's face revealed a hint of relief as she patted her son's head and said, "Let's eat quickly."

Xingyu rarely revealed a hint of a smile on his face, "You are very honest, not just giving a casual answer to brush me off. Regarding this question, not only you, but even the higher-ups of the Knight's Temple would find it difficult to answer. It is precisely because of this question that after truly becoming a knight, the Knight's Temple was divided into two branches: the Retribution Knights and the Guardian Knights.

The moment he recalled the incessant, excruciating pain, he couldn't help but shiver. At that time, he had relied solely on sheer willpower to endure it, but now, upon reflection, he felt as if the intense pain was returning to his limbs and bones.

Do not rush to answer me. Long Haochen was about to say something when Xingyu interrupted him, "You have one year to think it over. One year later, tell me your answer"

Upon entering the wooden cabin, a wave of intense warmth immediately envelops one.

Bai Yue asked: "Is cultivation difficult?"

After entering the city, Long Haochen simply asked a few people and obtained the location of his first target, the Knight Temple's Haoyue City branch. After crossing several wide streets, he arrived at his destination, marked by a shield and sword, near the center of Haoyue City.

Each level of the Warcraft is divided into four tiers: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and peak. The main distinction between them and beasts is their ability to utilize spiritual power to enhance themselves or attack their enemies

If someone were to see Long Haochen's eyes at this moment, they would notice that in the center of his azure blue irises, the pupils had constricted to the size of a pinprick. Yet, his gaze remained extremely calm, and faintly, there was a cold glimmer that ordinary people did not possess.

After dinner, Long Haochen did not forget to prepare a soup with the wild vegetables for his mother using the nourishing liquid he had brought back, and only then did he happily return to his room to sleep

Two identical bamboo swords appeared in Xingyu's hands. "The sword is known as the kingly way among weapons. It can both attack and defend. To protect everything, one must first protect oneself. I will now teach you the sealing technique. Pay attention."

Then hand the letter to me, said the young knight on the left.

In just a week's time, he discovered that all his senses seemed to have significantly enhanced compared to before. Although he was tormented to the point of despair in the nest of the shadow ants, each subsequent visit brought him a different sensation. At least a week had passed, and he was now able to systematically fend off the attacks from the shadow ants coming from all directions. His reaction speed had also improved tremendously compared to when he first arrived.

The only thing the owl ant brought him was excruciating pain. Gritting his teeth and enduring the suffering, he swung the bamboo sword in his hand time and again

Xingyu teaches him various knowledge every day, including an introduction to monsters. "Coincidentally," he had mentioned this particular type of monster a few days ago.

This is its enhanced charging skill. Long Haochen, in surprise, found his bamboo sword already knocked aside, and at the same time, his body lost its balance and began to fall backward

These individuals are unaware that, if not for the need to remain low-key, he could easily wield two genuine knightly greatswords that are even taller than Long Haochen.

She was a young girl dressed in light armor, with her long pink hair neatly tied into a ponytail at the back of her head. A pair of beautiful powder-blue eyes was gazing intently at Long Haochen. The girl appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. Her figure was graceful and enchanting, with a sword hilt visible on each side of her shoulders.

He was running excitedly down the mountain when suddenly, a faint smell of blood caught his attention

"How do you feel today?" Xingyu asked lightly, not making Long Haochen clean up the dishes.

The young girl approached Long Haochen, curiously examining his face, and said to the two young knights: "I have heard everything you said. Rules are rigid, but people are dynamic. Moreover, this young brother is also a member under the banner of our Knight Temple, so I will take him to meet Uncle Nalan. Can a mere child really cause trouble?"

Long Haochen walked out of the pool in a daze, picked up a towel nearby to dry his body, and then changed into clean clothes. His mind also recalled everything that had happened earlier in the lair of the Xiong Ants.

Facing the beast for the first time, Long Haochen felt the hairs on his back stand on end. He gripped his bamboo sword tightly but did not act rashly, nor did he turn to flee. It was already quite remarkable for the nine-year-old to remain calm at this moment, as he remembered that Xingyu had mentioned the Scorpion-tailed Lizard could sprint at an astonishing speed over short distances. He had also been taught that as a knight, one must never turn their back to the enemy. It was already quite remarkable for the nine-year-old to remain calm at this moment, as he remembered that Xingyu had mentioned the Scorpion-tailed Lizard could sprint at an astonishing speed over short distances. He had also been taught that as a knight, one must never turn their back to the enemy

First-order magical beasts are generally weak; they typically do not possess skills to attack enemies using spiritual power, but can only enhance themselves. The Scorpion-tailed Lizard is one such creature. It is a carnivorous magical beast, with a certain level of defensive capability in its back scales, and its tail hook is poisonous, with its vital point located beneath its abdomen. However, it usually attacks while crawling on the ground, so it rarely exposes its abdomen.

Due to the excruciating pain, his speed slowed down time and again; however, whenever he thought of his mother, a new courage would surge within him

"My Lord Knight." The two young knights, who had only recently advanced to the rank of squire, simultaneously bowed respectfully.

In just a moment, he was already drenched in sweat. It seemed as if all his strength had been completely drained at that instant

There are a total of three wooden houses. In addition to the one each of them lives in, there is another one that Long Haochen has never visited. At this moment, Xingyu is leading him into this wooden house

Oh

Xingyu seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, and said softly: "Before we proceed with today's lesson, I would like to test whether you have forgotten what you learned last week. Tell me the amount of spiritual power required for a squire knight, a knight candidate, and a knight's promotion."

For seven consecutive days, every morning, Xingyu would teach Long Haochen various subjects, encompassing astronomy, geography, and history. The following day would involve assessments. This was also the happiest time for Long Haochen each day

The sword in his right hand plunged directly into the ground as his body fell backward, while he forcefully leaned back with his upper body. With all his strength, the sword in his left hand swept horizontally. In that instant, Long Haochen felt as if his spiritual power had broken through to a brand new realm. This strike landed heavily on the jaw of the scorpion-tailed lizard. Although it did not manage to knock it away while in a state of power enhancement, it did succeed in closing its vicious mouth.

"Monster?" Long Haochen couldn't help but exclaim, and his mood instantly became tense

At this moment, the grueling training of the past seven days had taken effect. Almost as a purely instinctive reaction, Long Haochen stepped to the left, simultaneously swinging a pair of bamboo swords fiercely, striking down on the head of the scorpion-tailed lizard.

At the same time, Long Haochen bent his entire body backward into a bow shape, using his right hand to support himself with the bamboo sword. His left leg swept out horizontally, once again striking the underside of the scorpion-tailed lizard's jaw.

The week of training against the swarm of owl ants was not in vain; without even thinking about it, Long Haochen instantly halted his steps, made a lateral leap, and simultaneously drew a pair of bamboo swords from his back.

The Guardian Knight, primarily focused on defense, wields a weapon in one hand and a shield in the other, serving as the core of the team. They excel in various supportive and healing sacred arts. Perhaps their individual combat power is weaker than that of the Retribution Knight. However, in team battles, the role of the Guardian Knight far surpasses that of the Retribution Knight

Before hunting the scorpion-tailed lizard, Long Haochen would have hesitated to answer this question, as the shadow of the Owl Ant Cave loomed large in his mind. However, at this moment, he shook his head without hesitation, saying, "Mom, it’s not bitter at all. The teacher is really good to me, giving me lots of delicious food every day, and even letting me soak in hot springs."

"Is this all you amount to?" Xingyu said coldly, "This is just the beginning. Come with me. Bring your bamboo sword."

He cautiously first found a stone to knock off the tail hook of the scorpion-tailed lizard, then tied two vines to its tail, and only then did he pull it along as he continued in the direction of home

Long Haochen was very curious about Haoyue City, and the people on the road were equally curious about him. Dressed in simple and unadorned cloth garments, he possessed a delicate face akin to that of a porcelain doll. A year later, Long Haochen's face no longer bore any signs of poor health, and he had grown significantly taller. Although he still resembled a child, he could also give off a sense of slenderness.

Thus, seven days have passed. Long Haochen has increased his endurance from only being able to last half an hour in the Owl Ant's nest to now being able to endure an additional fifteen minutes.

A dark shadow swiftly passed by the path he was destined to take. At this moment, it was only close to dusk, yet Long Haochen immediately discerned what had attacked him

Bai Yue seemed to have known for a long time that her son would return today. When Long Haochen walked through the door, he immediately saw a lavish dinner that he had never encountered at home before

The sunlight is gradually obscured by the night, and before one realizes it, dusk has arrived

Young Knight's Code: "It still won't do, young brother, here's the thing. You children of the sub-temples can only come to the main temple during the triannual assessment. You should hand the letter to me, and I will help you pass it on. Only if the temple master is willing to see you can I take you in."

"Let's eat." Xingyu, as if nothing had happened, pointed to the dishes on the table and began to eat first.

Due to Long Haochen being slightly dazed after responding to its first round of attacks, his reaction this time was a bit slower, but he still managed to strike it with the bamboo sword. However, this time the scorpion-tailed lizard did not fall to the ground.

He simply stated, "Put on your clothes and come out," and then walked out.

The bamboo sword moved, the light curtain rose, and the dreamlike sword light shimmered atop the mountain. Phrases of incantations continuously fell into Long Haochen's ears along with the sword light. And today, his hellish training had only just begun

While speaking, Long Haochen respectfully bowed towards the direction of the mountain peak, and then cautiously approached the scorpion-tailed lizard.

Long Haochen frowned, for Xingyu had specifically instructed him that this letter must be delivered personally to Nalan Shu.

Long Haochen looked at his teacher and stammered, "Teacher, I..."

Yes

At that moment, a clear and melodious voice resonated with the sound of books, asking, "What are you doing? Is it difficult for a child?" Accompanying the voice, a person emerged from the Hall of the Bright Moon.

Long Haochen slightly understood some things, "Teacher, will I be a Guardian Knight or a Retribution Knight in the future?"

As he watched the figure depart, Xingyu's lips revealed a smile that Long Haochen had never seen before. "Silly boy, have you forgotten where this place is? Three years, I can only stay here for three years. I will make sure to impart everything I have learned to you at all times."

Subsequently, Xingyu asked a series of questions, which lasted a full half hour before concluding this assessment. Long Haochen answered each of the teacher's questions without a single mistake, demonstrating his astonishing memory.

Early the next morning, he set off on the journey back to Odin Mountain. He did not encounter any more monsters along the way and soon returned to the summit.

From facing the scorpion-tailed lizard to achieving victory over the enemy, it was merely a matter of seconds. In those few seconds teetering on the edge of death, he unleashed all his potential. Especially during the preceding process, where his perception was particularly clear, it allowed Long Haochen to maximize all his abilities. The final lethal strike utilized the only skill taught to him by Xingyu, the Pure White Blade. In an instant, he concentrated all his physical and spiritual energy into a single point, generating one hundred and ten percent of his attack power. The final lethal strike utilized the only skill taught to him by Xingyu, the Pure White Blade. In an instant, he concentrated all his physical and spiritual energy into a single point, generating one hundred and ten percent of his attack power

The reason for stepping sideways instead of retreating is that Xingyu taught him not to retreat easily when the terrain behind is uncertain; otherwise, once affected by unknown terrain, it is easy to fall into a passive position. The situation is different when stepping sideways, as peripheral vision allows one to see and simultaneously evade.

Long Haochen answered almost without hesitation: "The squire knights progress from level 1 to level 10, with each level requiring an increase of 10 spiritual power. Upon breaking through 100 spiritual power, one is promoted to a squire knight. A squire knight also requires 10 spiritual power per level, and breaking through 200 spiritual power allows one to take the true knight assessment. The knight assessment not only evaluates spiritual power but also assesses the ten knightly principles. After becoming a knight, the first level still requires an increase of 10 points of spiritual power, meaning a total of 210 spiritual power is needed to advance to level 2 knight. After that, from level 3 to level 9, each level requires an increase of 30 points of spiritual power. Finally, to advance to level 10 knight, which is the fourth-tier profession, a cumulative total of 50 points of spiritual power is required, amounting to 500 spiritual power."

At only nine years old, Long Haochen must face the pitch-black cave, the frenzied owl ants, and the intense pain that comes at all times, completely on his own

Xingyu's gaze shifted constantly; he adopted a very extreme method in training Long Haochen. However, he was well aware of the benefits that such an extreme approach could bring. As long as Long Haochen could endure it, his extraordinary mental strength would be developed at the fastest pace. Moreover, there would be numerous other benefits accompanying this. The prerequisite, however, was that his willpower must not collapse

In order to avoid worrying his mother, Long Haochen told a kind lie, "It is the teacher who asked me to bring this to you. The teacher said that after becoming a squire knight, I would also receive a salary. This is the salary for the first year, and if my cultivation improves quickly, there might even be rewards in the future"

The Retribution Paladin is a knight primarily focused on offense, wielding two-handed weapons, complemented by mounts and offensive holy spells. Their single-target combat capability is exceptionally strong, and on the front lines, their power surpasses that of warriors and rogues of the same level

Pushing the door open, he then realized that he was in the third wooden cabin. Upon entering the central main house, he found that a sumptuous meal had already been laid out on the table

The pool water is nearly overflowing, presenting a brown hue, with numerous medications floating within it

On the way back, he did not encounter any more dangers and returned to Odin Town. He first rushed to the shop and sold the scorpion-tailed lizard for one gold coin and two silver coins, claiming it was a monster hunted by his teacher, before finally heading home

The Hall of the Bright Moon is far beyond comparison with Odin's Hall. From the outside, this imposing structure, which is at least five stories high, occupies a vast area, and at the entrance, two young knights clad in armor stand guard.

The feeling of lightness in the body is truly wonderful, as Long Haochen ran down the mountain while experiencing the changes in his body

The simple exchange of blows instilled confidence in Long Haochen. After successfully blocking the attacks of the Scorpion-tailed Lizard twice in succession, he was astonished to discover that magical beasts were not as terrifying as he had imagined. At the same time, some of the pent-up resentment he had felt over the past seven days dissipated significantly. Compared to seven days ago, he found himself stronger and quicker in his reactions. Undoubtedly, this progress was due to Teacher Xingyu, and such a rate of improvement had never been experienced before. Although the experience in the Owl Ant Cavern would always haunt him with nightmares, he had to admit that the results were indeed remarkable.

Long Haochen did not dare to say anything more and hurriedly sat down to eat. It was as if he had not eaten for a long time; tonight he was particularly hungry, consuming nearly three times his usual amount. Aside from Xingyu, who had eaten only a small portion, Long Haochen finished all the food in a short time, as if a storm had swept through.