Certified Knight

After returning to Haoyue City, Ye Tian got his mother settled in.

Naturally, Li Xin helped out during that time as well.

Haoyue City was, after all, a mid-sized city. Its prosperity naturally came with high living costs.

Ye Tian's savings were nowhere near enough to buy a place, so renting was the most he could manage.

Fortunately, Li Xin's father was Haoyue City's Military Commander, and her involvement made many things much more convenient.

However, Ye Tian added another part to his training routine in the days that followed.

He began accepting missions from the Adventurer Guild and heading to Haoyue Marsh to hunt magical beasts.

Not only did it improve his practical combat experience, but it also earned him money on the side. It was killing two birds with one stone.

Haoyue Marsh lay a hundred li north of Haoyue City. There were no especially powerful magical beasts there. Tier 3 Magical Beasts appeared from time to time, and it was said that Tier 4 Magical Beasts had once been spotted as well.

Yet after spending some time there, he rarely even encountered Tier 3 Magical Beasts, much less Tier 4 ones.

Of course, with Ye Tian's current strength, he would not fear a Tier 4 Magical Beast even if he ran into one.

And so, in the time that followed,

Ye Tian returned to his routine of traveling between two places.

He was either studying at the Haoyue Branch Hall or hunting magical beasts in Haoyue Marsh.

Two months later.

Haoyue Marsh.

Ye Tian had just completed a mission to hunt thirty high-tier Tier 2 Magical Beasts.

Tier 2 Magical Beasts were only equivalent to First Order Knight Attendants and posed no threat to him at all. At most, their numbers caused him a little trouble.

After putting away the Magical Beast Cores and some valuable parts, he was just about to return to Haoyue City.

"Awoo—"

At that moment, a piercing cry that seemed to split the clouds and shatter stone rang out.

Looking up toward the sound, he saw a Blue Eagle swooping toward him at high speed.

Blue Eagles were incredibly fast. Even juveniles could rival Second Order professionals, while the one before him was clearly already a Tier 4 Magical Beast.

"It's a Tier 4 Magical Beast. Looks like today is my lucky day!"

Ye Tian stood firmly with both swords in hand.

The Blue Eagle dove down, its pair of claws capable of piercing metal and shattering stone reaching for Ye Tian's head.

If those claws struck him, his head would surely burst like a watermelon.

A faint white glow surfaced on Ye Tian's twin swords, radiating a subtle Light Element Aura.

Only when the Blue Eagle reached him did he suddenly slash upward.

"Clang—"

Ye Tian's twin swords collided with the Blue Eagle's sharp claws, producing an explosive metallic crash as sparks flew in every direction.

Despite the force of its dive, Ye Tian forcibly blocked it.

"My turn now—Cross Slash!"

His twin swords swung with all his strength, unleashing two sword shadows, one horizontal and one vertical.

"Awoo!"

The Blue Eagle let out a pained shriek and was instantly sent flying, blood spraying everywhere.

"Lightning Stab!"

Ye Tian pressed his advantage, his left-hand sword thrusting out like lightning.

Dozens of illusory sword shadows shot forth, completely engulfing the Blue Eagle.

"Done!"

Ye Tian sheathed his swords, lightly clapped his hands, and stored the Blue Eagle's corpse in the Forget-Me-Not Ring.

This unexpected battle had been even easier than he had imagined.

This Blue Eagle was a Tier 4 Magical Beast. Its corpse alone could easily sell for several hundred gold coins.

Nothing unexpected happened during the rest of his journey.

After returning to the Adventurer Guild and handing over thirty Magical Beast Cores, he received a reward of one hundred and fifty gold coins.

"I can take it easy for a while again!"

Tossing the money pouch in his hand, Ye Tian broke into a satisfied smile.

As he made more trips to Haoyue Marsh, the magical beasts there could no longer improve his practical combat experience. The place had become more of a way to make money.

"It's about time I got certified as a knight!"

Once he received recognition from the Haoyue Branch Hall, he could head to the Knight Holy Mountain to choose a mount.

Magical beasts were extremely important to knights. A good magical beast companion could even raise the upper limit of a knight's strength.

To be honest, Ye Tian was quite envious of Li Xin's Unicorn. He just did not know what kind of magical beast would acknowledge him.

"I'll take the test tomorrow!"

Early the next morning.

Ye Tian eagerly sought out Nalan Shu.

"What? You've already broken through to become a Tier 3 Knight?"

Nalan Shu, who had only just arrived for work, was startled by Ye Tian's words.

How long had it even been?

A Tier 3 Knight not yet eleven years old—did he have to be this freakish?!

After a brief moment of shock, he quickly came back to his senses. "Wait, I remember that you haven't undergone Sacred Awakening. How did you break through to Tier 3?"

"I've already completed the Sacred Awakening ritual."

Ye Tian had prepared an explanation long ago.

About a month and a half earlier, he had encountered a knight in Haoyue Marsh. Seeing that Ye Tian was talented, the knight had offered to take him as a disciple and performed Sacred Awakening for him.

"Then what is your Innate Internal Spiritual Energy, Xiao Tian?" Nalan Shu asked impatiently.

Ye Tian immediately shook his head. "I'm truly sorry, Hall Master Nalan."

"It's fine. If you're not allowed to say, then don't. Come with me!"

With that, Nalan Shu eagerly led Ye Tian to the third floor.

The tool for the Spiritual Power Test was no different from before: it was still that Black Stone Pillar.

"Begin!"

Ye Tian's gaze sharpened. He stepped forward and brought down his sword in his right hand.

"Bang!"

A soft blue glow lit up along the walls surrounding the Trial Hall.

Nalan Shu stared nervously at the top of the Black Stone Pillar.

A large number appeared there.

Two hundred and forty-one!

That was already the standard of a Tier 3 Knight.

"A genius, a true genius!" Nalan Shu drew in a sharp breath and muttered to himself.

If what Ye Tian said was true and he had undergone Sacred Awakening a month and a half ago, then his Innate Internal Spiritual Energy had to be at least fifty points.

Even within the Knight Holy Temple, he would be considered an exceptionally rare genius.

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Nalan Shu gave a cheerful smile.

"Good. Two hundred and forty-one points of spiritual power is already at the level of a Tier 3 Knight. Xiao Tian, you can directly advance to the Knight Class for study and training, and you'll receive the benefits exclusive to knights."

"Thank you, Hall Master!"

After placing a hand over his chest in salute, Ye Tian continued, "Hall Master, I heard that those who reach Tier 3 before the age of twenty can go to the Knight Holy Temple to choose a mount. I would like to apply to go to the Holy Mountain!"

"You want to go to the Holy Mountain? No problem. Come with me to get your certificate!"

Nalan Shu agreed without hesitation.

The two turned and returned to the second floor, where they happened to run into Li Xin walking toward them.

"Why are you here with Uncle Nalan, little brother?"

"Xiao Tian came for a Spiritual Power Test. He's already a Tier 3 Knight. You're his older sister, yet he's already caught up to you, and you still don't know how to work hard."

Nalan Shu's expression darkened as he put on a stern act.

"What? Little brother, you've already undergone Sacred Awakening?"

Ye Tian nodded and repeated the explanation he had just given.

After her brief surprise, the girl's face showed a reproachful look. "You kept something this important from me. Do you even think of me as your sister?"

As she spoke, she reached out and pinched Ye Tian's cheeks.

"Sorry, Sister Xin. This time, it was my fault. It won't happen again."

"Alright, Xin'er, stop fooling around!"

Seeing that Nalan Shu had spoken, Li Xin gave a light snort and stopped.

"I'll let you off this time!"

The girl was not truly angry. She was merely using it to hide the shock in her heart.