Haoyue Branch Hall; and That Wonderful Night with Bai Yue

"Dad, what level of knight are you?" Long Haochen looked at Long Xingyu, his eyes flashing with wonder as he asked curiously.

This was something he had always wondered about, but had never felt comfortable asking before.

However, after seven days of instruction, the bond between father and son had grown ever closer. Long Haochen finally gathered his courage and chose to ask.

But just as Long Xingyu was about to answer, Long Haochen blurted out, "Are you an Earth Knight?"

"Mom said before that Haoyue City is a second-class city, and that both its governor and the master of its branch hall are fifth-step Earth Knights?"

"How do you compare to them, Dad?"

Long Haochen asked excitedly. Every boy had a great hero in his heart, and when they were young, that great hero was their father.

And now, the great hero in Long Haochen's heart was Long Xingyu.

That was why he was so eager to know exactly how strong Long Xingyu was.

"I can command them." Long Xingyu did not say it outright, but he was still telling the truth.

At those words, Long Haochen's eyes lit up.

"If you can command fifth-step Earth Knights, then you must be a sixth-step Radiant Knight, Dad?"

"That's a pillar of the Alliance!"

Long Haochen was delighted. It was not that something like this would make him arrogant—Long Haochen would never do that.

Rather, he felt immensely proud and overjoyed to have such a father.

Long Xingyu smiled faintly. Seeing his son so happy naturally made him happy as well.

But, my son.

Your father was not merely a Radiant Knight. He was a Divine Seal Knight.

At the same time, he began to ponder inwardly.

That was right—the Haoyue Branch Hall!

He could pay it a visit next.

There was no need to mention its hall master, Nalan Shu.

That top genius, Li Xin, under normal circumstances, should have become his son's sworn elder sister. In Long Xingyu's memories, she had a good temperament and excellent talent and comprehension, enough to meet the standards of a Demon Hunt Group.

If she was willing, he could take her back to Dragon Control Pass and have her serve as his son's sparring partner. She would be far better than the other youths at Dragon Control Pass.

There was also a fifth-step knight there named Ye Hua.

Under normal circumstances, he should have become his son's teacher.

Though he was only a fifth-step knight.

His Innate Inner Spiritual Power was only nine points.

The amount of Inner Spiritual Power one possessed was an important measure of a knight's potential.

Generally speaking, if one's Innate Inner Spiritual Power could not exceed ten, then that knight would likely never be able to break through to the third step.

Yet Ye Hua had broken through this limitation, reaching the rank of Earth Knight with Innate Inner Spiritual Power of nine points!

At Dragon Control Pass, there were countless people whose Innate Inner Spiritual Power did not exceed ten points. If he brought Ye Hua back to Dragon Control Pass and the Temple Alliance and fully promoted his cultivation theories—

Even if only one-tenth of them could reach the fifth step, it would be an immense contribution to the entire Temple Alliance. His value would be no less than that of any ninth-step powerhouse!

"Looks like I need to visit the Haoyue Branch Hall tomorrow."

Long Xingyu muttered thoughtfully.

To prepare for the coming holy war against the demon race, he would spare no expense in raising the overall standard of the Temple Alliance.

And Ye Hua was one part of that.

Long Xingyu did not dwell on the matter for long. Instead, he looked at the delighted Long Haochen and led him to another place.

It was a massive wooden cabin. Within it was a pool steaming with heat, its waters suffused with strange colors.

These were precious natural treasures Long Xingyu had specifically brought out before leaving, treasures meant to lay a solid foundation. He had also added the spiritual power from some Bear Demon Race demon crystals left behind during the demon race's Autumn Offensive, along with many supplementary spiritual materials.

This made the medicinal properties much gentler.

Under Long Xingyu's guidance, Long Haochen quickly leaped into the pool. The spring water covered his entire body, leaving only his mouth and nose exposed as he absorbed everything the spiritual materials contained with all his heart.

Before long, while absorbing the medicinal power, Long Haochen fell into a deep sleep. He was simply too exhausted.

"After the Thousand Strike Marrow Cleansing on Hero No. 1, Haochen's Outer Spiritual Power reached twenty points, which was the level he had seven days ago."

"Now that seven days have passed, with my training and the support of countless medicinal ingredients, the increase in his Outer Spiritual Power has been tremendous."

"Probably within half a year—or perhaps just one season—he will be able to break through successfully and reach the level of a quasi-knight."

"And now, with his body replenished and enhanced by these countless materials, it has recovered and improved quickly. Even if it has not reached fifty points, it should be close enough."

Long Xingyu evaluated inwardly.

Then, he sat down cross-legged and began cultivating as well, waiting for Long Haochen to finish his training.

Half an hour passed.

The entire pool of spirit liquid had completely turned into clear water, thoroughly absorbed into Long Haochen's body, subtly transforming his physique.

Yet he remained unconscious. The previous training had been too taxing, leaving Long Haochen utterly exhausted. Even after the absorption ended, he did not fully notice it.

Long Xingyu picked him up, used spiritual energy to dry his body completely, dressed him, and carried Long Haochen back to the little thatched hut.

He laid him on his own bed, tucked him beneath the blanket, and let him sleep deeply.

Seeing how exhausted Long Haochen looked, Bai Yue felt somewhat distressed. She looked at Long Xingyu and complained softly, "Xingyu, honestly... Haochen is still young. His training should have some balance between work and rest."

"He's been sleeping like this for seven days straight. He's far too tired."

Unexpectedly, Long Xingyu did not answer Bai Yue's question.

Instead, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

Feeling Long Xingyu's action, Bai Yue blushed and said, "Haochen is still here."

Long Xingyu waved his hand, and the third-tier skill Aura Shield appeared in his palm. He tossed it toward Long Haochen, instantly enveloping him within it.

Nothing happening outside could affect him now.

After finishing all this, Long Xingyu looked at Bai Yue, his actions growing increasingly bold.

"It's better that he's asleep. We should hurry up and sleep too," Long Xingyu said.

Bai Yue's fair neck gradually flushed red, but she did not refuse. In a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, she said, "Alright."

Hearing that, Long Xingyu gathered Bai Yue into his arms and returned to the place where they belonged.

That night, creak, creak.

At that moment, neither slept the entire night.

The next day.

Bai Yue was still sleeping deeply from overexertion.

Long Xingyu had long since gotten up.

He waited outside the door for Long Haochen.

Before long, Long Haochen slowly woke and headed outside to Long Xingyu.

"Dad, what are we training today?" The moment Long Haochen saw Long Xingyu, he asked. Though the training was painful, it brought obvious improvements in strength.

Long Haochen had already fallen in love with that feeling.

"Today, I'm taking you somewhere," Long Xingyu said.

"Where?" Long Haochen asked.

"Haoyue Branch Hall."