Withdrawal?!

Lin Jialu and Li Xin stood gracefully side by side.

The moment they saw Ye Tian, both girls' eyes lit up.

The young man wore a bathrobe, and through its opening, they could see his well-proportioned eight-pack abs.

Combined with the lingering droplets of water and the faint heat radiating from him, the sight was far too stimulating for two innocent young girls who had never experienced such things.

"Little brother, your body is way too good!"

Li Xin subconsciously swallowed and could not help praising him softly.

"It's decent enough." Ye Tian smiled and nodded, stepping aside. "Come in first."

The two girls entered the room one after the other and casually closed the door behind them.

"Sister Xin, Sister Jialu, did you come together because something happened?"

Ye Tian sat on the sofa, noticing the slightly serious expressions on their faces.

Li Xin and Lin Jialu exchanged a glance, then nodded at the same time.

"You guessed right, little brother. Jialu and I wanted to talk to you about the Demon Hunter Squad selection competition."

Lin Jialu smoothly took over.

"Teacher Feng said before that only the Top Ten from the Preliminary Round of the Six Great Temples can participate in the Final Round and form Demon Hunter Squads with practitioners from the other five professions."

"In other words, Li Xin can't enter the same Demon Hunter Squad as you."

Hearing this, Ye Tian finally understood why the two girls had come.

Li Xin immediately could not hold herself back. "This is so annoying! I want to enter the same Demon Hunter Squad as you too, little brother!"

"There's no helping it. Those are the Holy Temple Alliance's rules!"

Lin Jialu did not gloat over her misfortune. Instead, she felt sorry for Li Xin.

Ever since becoming Ye Tian's Retainer Knight and Magic Attendant, their relationship had clearly grown much closer, even faintly returning to what it had been before their falling-out.

Moreover, Demon Hunter Squads being formed from six different professions had been a rule of the Holy Temple Alliance for thousands of years.

It was truly far too difficult to make them make an exception!

Even Long Haochen, in the original story, had only become an exception by voluntarily giving up the Spirit Furnace reward.

Besides that, it might also have been out of consideration for the two Divine Seal Knights, Long Xingyu and Long Tianyin.

Of course, there might also have been the reason of wanting to quell the Assassin Temple's anger.

Ye Tian did not have Long Haochen's background. The only things that could make the Holy Temple Alliance value him were his strength and Ling'er!

But even if he were willing to give up the Spirit Furnace, there still would not be enough slots!

"Why did I become a knight in the first place?!"

Li Xin could not help complaining loudly.

Her childish behavior made Ye Tian chuckle.

"Sister Xin, if you hadn't become a knight, you wouldn't have met me."

"That's true, but I still want to be in the same Demon Hunter Squad as you and Jialu!"

Li Xin puffed out her cheeks and complained aggrievedly.

"Eugh—"

Lin Jialu shuddered and raised a hand to cover her eyes.

She simply could not bear to look!

When had Li Xin ever made such an awkward expression?

In fact, it was Ye Tian's first time seeing Li Xin like this as well. The formerly forthright girl had suddenly become all coquettish. It was unexpectedly rather interesting.

"Actually, it's not like there isn't a way."

"What way?"

Before Ye Tian could finish, Li Xin eagerly asked.

"It's simple. Just don't participate in the Final Round."

"Huh?!"

Both Lin Jialu and Li Xin froze on the spot.

"If we don't participate in the Final Round, how can we join a Demon Hunter Squad?"

Ye Tian smiled gently. "Have you forgotten your other identities? You're still my Retainer Knight and Magic Attendant."

"Normally, two knights can't join the same Demon Hunter Squad, but Retainer Knights are different."

"As long as the Demon Hunter Squad members agree, you can join the Demon Hunter Squad even without participating in the Demon Hunter Squad selection competition."

"The only downside is that Sister Xin might not receive any Final Round ranking rewards."

To his surprise, Li Xin smiled and waved a hand.

"That's wonderful. I won't participate in the Demon Hunter Squad selection competition. Once the competition is over, I'll join your Demon Hunter Squad as your Retainer Knight!"

"Sister Xin, have you really thought this through?"

Ye Tian could not help asking again.

With Li Xin's current strength, she had a good chance of reaching the top three.

That was a Spirit Furnace!

Li Xin was giving it up just like that, all to enter the same Demon Hunter Squad as him.

Ye Tian could not deny that he was genuinely touched.

"There's no need to think about it. It's just a Spirit Furnace. Maybe it wouldn't even suit me. Compared to that, I'd rather enter the same Demon Hunter Squad as you, little brother."

"There's still a long future ahead. I'm sure I'll be able to obtain a Spirit Furnace someday!"

Li Xin patted her chest, brimming with confidence.

Lin Jialu wore an odd expression. "The competition hasn't even started, and you're already confident you can take one of the top three spots in the Final Round?"

"Don't you have confidence?"

"Of course I do. This lady is Haoyue City's number one genius magic girl—no, I should be the Holy Temple Alliance's number one genius magic girl now!"

Lin Jialu gave a delicate snort and slightly raised her chin.

With her Innate Internal Spiritual Energy having broken through one hundred, she truly had the right to say such things.

"Sister Xin, you really are..."

Ye Tian trailed off, then his gaze suddenly became exceptionally serious.

"Since you've already decided, Sister Xin, I'll make you a promise here and now. In the future, I'll definitely find a suitable Spirit Furnace for you!"

"Then it's settled. Your sister is looking forward to it!"

Li Xin's beautiful eyes glittered, and the smile on her lips grew even brighter.

Seeing the two exchanging affectionate looks, Lin Jialu suddenly realized something was wrong.

"No, I'm withdrawing from the Demon Hunter Squad selection competition too!"

Lin Jialu abruptly stood up and loudly declared it to the two of them.

"Jialu, what kind of nonsense are you spouting now?" Li Xin asked in confusion.

Lin Jialu stubbornly raised her neck and said as if it were only natural, "Teacher Feng said that the top three can only choose from the other participants. If I obtain a Spirit Furnace, I won't be able to form the same Demon Hunter Squad as little brother either."

"In that case, I might as well withdraw like you and join the Demon Hunter Squad as a Magic Attendant when the time comes."

Her reasoning sounded logical enough, but Li Xin clearly did not quite believe it.

After all, even if she did not reach the top three, the other rewards were still extremely generous.

So she had suddenly become jealous only after seeing Ye Tian make Li Xin that promise, right?

"Sister Jialu, are you serious?" Ye Tian could not help asking.

Lin Jialu immediately nodded. "Of course I'm serious. Besides, I can keep Li Xin company so she won't be scolded alone when the news gets back to Haoyue City!"

Ye Tian had naturally more or less guessed what Lin Jialu was thinking.

He chuckled softly. "All right, Sister Jialu. The same goes for you—I'll definitely find a suitable Spirit Furnace for you in the future."

Hearing that, Lin Jialu unconsciously smiled.

Just as I thought!

Seeing this, Li Xin immediately rolled her eyes in annoyance, but she did not expose her on the spot.

After all, in some ways, Lin Jialu was quite loyal.

"Sister Xin, Sister Jialu, you don't actually need to withdraw. You can still participate in the Preliminary Round. It would be best to fully display your strength, then withdraw afterward."

"Why?" Li Xin asked curiously.

Lin Jialu, however, seemed to think of something, and her eyes flickered slightly. "Little brother, you mean..."

"That's right. Hall Master Bai and Hall Master Nalan have high hopes for you, so you naturally can't betray their expectations for the sake of your own desires."

"Although you won't be able to enter the Final Round, showing your true strength might at least earn them commendations from the Holy Temple Alliance."

There was no helping it. This was the only thing they could do.

Lin Jialu and Li Xin nodded together. "Understood. Don't worry, little brother. We know what to do!"

However, Ye Tian's expression suddenly turned strange.

Two fifth-rank participants withdrawing during the Preliminary Round—wouldn't the higher-ups of the Knight Holy Temple and Mage Holy Temple go completely berserk?