Assessment

At the same time.

Elsewhere, Ye Tian and Instructor Balza had already left Odin Town.

The two walked along a fairly level road.

"Xiao Tian, this should be your first time leaving Odin Town, right? How is it? Are you excited?"

Balza shed his usual sternness and could not help smiling as he asked.

Ye Tian shook his head lightly. "Not really. I'm just a little expectant."

"Good lad. I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

If anyone else had said that, Balza would only have thought they were putting on a brave face. But coming from Ye Tian, it seemed perfectly normal.

After all, he knew the temperament of this little fellow before him very well.

"Xiao Tian, you're the finest child in Odin Town, but don't become arrogant or complacent. Once you reach the Haoyue City Knight Branch, you'll be on your own. Talk less and observe more."

"Even if it's only a Branch Hall, there will certainly be no shortage of talented knights. Make friends with those you can. It will surely be a great help to your future."

"Of course, if you truly get the chance, there are some things you should fight for. Only by displaying sufficient talent will you gain the Holy Temple's attention and receive more resources for your training."

"..."

Along the way, Balza earnestly gave him advice.

Ye Tian kept every word in mind, nodding in agreement from time to time.

Several days later.

Ye Tian and Balza, covered in dust from the journey, finally arrived at their destination.

"So this is Haoyue City?"

Standing outside the city, Ye Tian raised his head to gaze at the towering walls before him. They were truly majestic and imposing.

Balza smiled and patted Ye Tian's head. "Don't just stand there. Let's enter the city and take care of business first. You'll be living here for quite some time, so there'll be plenty of time to learn about it later."

It was also the first time he had seen Ye Tian show such an expression.

This was how a child ought to act!

"Yes, Instructor!"

Ye Tian nodded, withdrew his gaze, and followed Balza into Haoyue City.

Haoyue City lay in the southeast of the Holy Temple Alliance. It was a medium-sized city, but compared to Odin Town, it was already a colossal metropolis.

The broad streets stretched at least five zhang across. Shops lined both sides, carriages flowed through the streets, and crowds bustled everywhere.

The place was lively in every direction!

After passing through several blocks, they soon reached the central district.

"We're here!"

Balza stopped before a building bearing the emblem of a shield and sword.

The towering building before them was the Haoyue City Knight Branch!

The Haoyue Branch Hall had three full floors and covered several times the area of the Odin Sub-temple. Two armored knights stood guard at its entrance.

"Hello. I am Balza, chief instructor of Knight Attendants at the Odin Town Knight Sub-temple. I have come to recommend this child for study at the Haoyue City Branch Hall. Here is my identification."

Balza solemnly handed over his identification.

After carefully inspecting it, the young knight on guard returned it to him. "Your identity checks out. Go inside and find Lord Zhao."

"Thank you!"

Balza placed a hand over his chest in salute, and the two young knights returned the gesture.

The moment they entered the Haoyue Knight Branch, an ancient and grand atmosphere washed over them.

At the center of the hall stood six enormous stone chairs. Each was over a zhang tall and covered in countless patterns of unknown meaning.

Divine Seal Thrones?!

Ye Tian's eyes flickered slightly as his gaze rapidly swept across the six stone chairs.

Every Divine Seal Throne was a genuine divine artifact with unimaginably powerful might, but only those who gained their recognition could borrow their strength.

Thus far, only three people in the entire Knight Holy Temple had successfully gained such recognition.

I wonder which one is the Divine Seal Throne of Eternity and Creation...

Among the six Divine Seal Thrones, only the Divine Seal Throne of Eternity and Creation was a super divine artifact. It was said to have once been the seat of the Creator God, while the other five were merely imitations made by humanity.

Withdrawing his gaze, Ye Tian and Balza headed up to the second floor of the Branch Hall.

Knock, knock!

"Come in!"

Balza pushed open the door and entered the room.

"And you are?" The middle-aged man seated behind the desk slowly raised his head.

"Reporting to you, Sir Knight, I am Balza, chief instructor of Knight Attendants at the Odin Sub-temple."

Balza hurriedly placed a hand over his chest and performed a knight's salute. Ye Tian did the same.

The middle-aged man nodded slightly and asked, "What do you need?"

"It's like this!"

Balza quickly explained the purpose of their visit.

The middle-aged man paused in surprise, then smiled and nodded. "There is indeed such a matter. However, children recommended by a Sub-temple must meet the requirements. Namely, before the age of nine, their External Spiritual Power must reach at least thirty points."

"Sir Knight, this child meets the requirement. A few days ago, during the Attendant Knight assessment, his spiritual power reached exactly thirty points!"

"Oh? I didn't expect Odin Town to produce such a promising seedling this year."

The middle-aged man was clearly surprised by Balza's words, but he was even more pleased.

"Words alone are not enough. He still needs to be assessed. Follow me!"

The middle-aged man rose slowly and left the office.

Ye Tian and Balza followed him to the third floor of the Haoyue Branch Hall.

The first floor was for reception, the second floor was the office area, and the third floor was where trials and assessments took place.

They entered the Trial Hall.

There were no furnishings or structures inside. The space was exceptionally vast, while symbols and patterns covered the surrounding walls, faintly gleaming with flowing light.

The middle-aged man stopped at the center of the Trial Hall, a gentle glow radiating from his hand.

The next moment, a completely black pillar abruptly rose from the ground.

"Begin. Attack this pillar with all your strength. Any direction is fine!"

Without wasting words, Ye Tian instantly drew the wooden sword from his back and charged forward in a single stride.

A charge and a slash—two simple movements executed in one fluid motion.

Bang—

As the wooden sword struck the Black Stone Pillar, blue halos instantly radiated from the walls around the Trial Hall, and an exact number appeared on the pillar.

"Sixty-five points!"

Sixty-five points of External Spiritual Power. Both Balza and the middle-aged man widened their eyes at the same time.

Ye Tian had only just turned around when his vision suddenly blurred.

By the time he came back to his senses, the middle-aged man was already standing before him, gripping his wrist and carefully feeling along it. Only after a long while did he release him, his face filled with shock and excitement.

"He really is only nine years old. Sixty-five points of spiritual power at nine... We've struck gold!"

Such a genius was unprecedented even within the Haoyue Branch Hall.

At this rate, he could become a Quasi-Knight in two or three years at most. That would break the record held by the greatest genius in the history of the Haoyue Branch Hall!

"Child, what is your name?" the middle-aged man asked.

"My name is Ye Tian."

"Ye Tian, you can remain at the Haoyue Branch Hall to study from now on!"

"Thank you, my lord!"

The middle-aged man turned to Balza and smiled as he nodded. "Balza, is it? You've done very well. You discovered such an outstanding child for the Knight Holy Temple. The Branch Hall will issue you a reward shortly."

"Thank you, my lord. It is this child who has worked hard. I did not help much."

Balza was delighted, but he answered honestly.

"Very well. Ye Tian, go wait in the first-floor hall for now. I'll have someone arrange accommodations for you afterward."