The Rhythm of Life

"Sixth-Rank Knight?!"

Nalan Shu and Lin Jialu cried out at the same time.

The former was surprised, while the latter found it unbelievable.

The two had been close friends since childhood, only falling out over a certain matter.

In terms of talent, Lin Jialu's Innate Internal Spiritual Energy had even been three points higher than Li Xin's.

Yet she was only a third-tier, second-rank mage now, while Li Xin had already reached third-tier, sixth-rank. How could Lin Jialu possibly accept that?!

"Xin'er, weren't you only a second-rank knight before? How did you improve so much all of a sudden?"

Nalan Shu could not help asking.

"This is a secret!"

Li Xin subconsciously glanced at Ye Tian, then broke into a lovely smile.

Naturally, she could not tell anyone about the talent-suppression feedback from the Retainer Contract!

"Well? Lin Jialu, do you know how amazing I am now?"

Lin Jialu clenched her fists slightly, her face full of unwillingness.

She could accept losing to anyone, but she absolutely did not want to lose to Li Xin.

Even as a mage, aside from her staff, she had not used any other Magic Equipment. Yet Li Xin had likewise not summoned her Rose Unicorn.

Precisely because of that, Lin Jialu could not even find an excuse.

The girl shot Li Xin a vicious glare, then stomped her foot. "Let's go!"

With that, she turned and stormed out of the Haoyue Branch Hall.

Her two retainers knew that their young lady was in a foul mood. After hurriedly saluting Nalan Shu, they quickly followed after her.

"Hahaha, that felt so good."

Seeing Lin Jialu leave in disgrace, Li Xin was in an excellent mood and planted a hard kiss on Ye Tian's cheek.

That action had become more and more natural for her.

Still, she had finally vented properly!

"Xin'er, how did you suddenly make such a huge improvement?" Nalan Shu asked again.

Li Xin hurriedly waved her hands. "Oh, Uncle Nalan, stop asking. Anyway, I definitely didn't use any improper method."

"You girl."

Nalan Shu sighed helplessly.

But just to be safe, he still examined Li Xin's body.

Her spiritual energy was stable and did not seem to have been enhanced through any special means. Only then did he relax.

"Uncle Nalan, are you reassured now?"

"Although I don't know what happened to you, girl, it is undoubtedly a good thing. Keep working hard!"

As the Hall Master of the Haoyue Branch Hall, the more geniuses there were in the Branch Hall, the happier he naturally was.

At this rate, Li Xin could definitely become a Fourth-tier Great Knight by the next Demon Hunter Squad selection competition.

At that time, not only would the Haoyue Branch Hall gain prestige, but she herself would also have a better future.

"Then we'll be leaving if there's nothing else!"

After saying goodbye to Nalan Shu, Li Xin and Ye Tian left the third floor.

Li Xin hummed a tune all the way.

Ye Tian found it somewhat helpless. "Sister Xin, is there really any need to be this happy?"

"Of course there is!"

Li Xin's voice rose several pitches.

She gave a soft snort. "You don't know this, little brother. Lin Jialu and I grew up together. We used to be best friends who told each other everything."

"But five years ago, we both fell for a boy from their Mage Holy Temple—"

"That was in the past, and nothing happened!"

Li Xin suddenly stopped, then repeatedly stressed the point while looking at Ye Tian.

She looked nervous, as though afraid he would misunderstand.

Ye Tian could not help chuckling. He nodded lightly to show that he understood. "What happened afterward?"

Li Xin sighed in relief, though she was also somewhat dissatisfied.

Still, she continued, "At the time, Lin Jialu and I were good friends. After learning about it, I planned to let her have him so our friendship wouldn't be affected."

"But one day, that boy came to tell me that Lin Jialu had used her family's influence to force him, and he had no choice but to submit for the sake of his future."

"After that, I never saw that boy again."

"I went to reason with Lin Jialu, but she said I was despicable. We argued and argued until we started fighting, and that was how we fell out."

As she said this, Li Xin was especially indignant.

In her view, Lin Jialu had been accusing her of exactly what she herself had done.

"Sister Xin, have you ever considered that maybe both of you were telling the truth?"

Li Xin froze. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it possible that man told you and Lin Jialu the exact same thing? In other words, he played both of you!"

Ye Tian hit the nail on the head.

He had seen plenty of such tactics in his previous life.

Li Xin looked confused. "How could that be? Why would he do that?"

"Who knows?" Ye Tian shrugged. "Since you and Lin Jialu both have your own version of the story, why not sit down together and have a proper talk?"

Hearing Ye Tian say that, Li Xin gradually calmed down.

Thinking back to the day she had confronted Lin Jialu, much of what they had accused each other of had indeed overlapped.

Realizing this, Li Xin's mood sank.

Could it be that they had both really been deceived?

"Of course, this is only my guess. Sister Xin, you don't have to pay attention to it."

Li Xin immediately shook her head. "No, I have to find a time to get to the bottom of this!"

If she and Lin Jialu had truly been deceived, causing their lifelong friendship to shatter, it would have been far too unfair!

The two returned to their respective residences.

Li Xin did not immediately go looking for Lin Jialu. Instead, she first reflected on it carefully by herself.

Seeing this, Ye Tian said no more.

He returned to the meditation chamber and sat cross-legged to meditate.

With the support of the array, Light Element continuously poured into Ye Tian's body.

This cultivation speed could only be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

Night fell.

Ye Tian still had not awakened from meditation.

Suddenly!

Ding! Lin Jialu has mastered the Major Accomplishment Ice Ball Technique. Her strength has increased!

Congratulations, Host, you have received double feedback: first-tier magic, Ice Ball (Perfect), and water (ice)-attribute spiritual energy!

"Hmm?!"

The words in his mind jolted Ye Tian awake from meditation.

She was still practicing magic this late at night. Had she been provoked by their sparring match during the day?

But thanks to Lin Jialu's efforts, Ye Tian had also gained something.

He silently recited a spell, and an ice ball appeared in his palm.

"So this is magic. Not bad!"

Feeling the temperature in the meditation chamber plummet, Ye Tian nodded in satisfaction.

Originally, his Internal Spiritual Energy possessed the Holy Light attribute. Now, he had gained two additional Magic Element attributes.

"Next, I need to combine the skills of a knight and a mage to forge a combat style suited to me."

That would be no small project.

But Ye Tian was not in a hurry. He had plenty of time.

More than half a year of peaceful days quietly passed.

Ye Tian spent most of his time in the Haoyue Branch Hall.

Aside from attending lessons at the Knight Hall, he would spend his days meditating and cultivating in the meditation chamber of his residence.

Every few days, he would return home to visit his mother, and occasionally he would go to Haoyue Marsh to hunt magical beasts.

As for his cultivation—

Under the combined efforts of Long Haochen, Lin Jialu, and Ye Tian himself, it advanced at an astonishing speed.

Inside the meditation chamber.

Ye Tian sat cross-legged in the center, his eyes tightly shut.

Wandering Light Element energy filled the entire room.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Suddenly, a flash of light shone, followed by the emergence of a dense holy aura.

Ye Tian abruptly woke and opened his eyes, looking to the side.

The egg that had been quiet for so long was now flickering with pure white radiance.

"Is it finally going to hatch?"

Joy filled Ye Tian's heart as he rose and walked over to the egg.

As though sensing Ye Tian's approach, the white egg trembled slightly, and the light it gave off became increasingly dazzling.

"Come on, little one. I'm looking forward to meeting you!"

Ye Tian spoke softly in encouragement.

The next moment, the trembling grew more frequent. From time to time, faint sounds could be heard, as though something inside were striking the eggshell.

Ye Tian held his breath, not daring to make a sound.

Only the faint tapping remained in the entire meditation chamber.

About half an hour later.

"Crack."

Finally!