Moonlight Meditation

Library.

"Your Highness, there are seven types of meditation: Meditating on the Sun, Storm, Thunder, Bright Moon, Dreamscape, Earth, and Ocean."

"The meditation technique I practice is Moonlight Meditation. It's the easiest to learn among all meditation techniques. My father, Viscount Hughes, hired a magician at great expense to teach it to me, and I can teach it to Your Highness."

Ilith said softly.

Hearing this, Xian couldn't wait to sit cross-legged on the ground, urging her with his eyes to hurry up.

"Your Highness, not now. Beginners learning meditation, except for Dreamscape Meditation, must see the real thing with their own eyes. Tonight at midnight, please come with me to the Clock Tower to observe the Bright Moon," Ilith explained, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Ahem. Xian coughed twice and stood up to hide his embarrassment.

He couldn't be blamed. After all, as a Earth person, how could he not be excited about the opportunity to become a noble mage? "Anlìyà, accompany me to read a book for a while."

"My pleasure, Your Highness."

At the same time, on the other side.

In the castle's Martial Arts Training Field.

The scorching sunlight poured down on the white stone-tiled ground, dyeing the entire area a golden red.

Under the blazing sun, the crisp sound of swords colliding still echoed here.

Clang clang clang! Berg, wearing leather armor and wielding an iron longsword, continuously launched attacks at Sauron Knight, who was wearing cloth.

Although his swordsmanship was disorganized, it was exceptionally fierce.

The ordinary iron sword in his hand was like a viper, stabbing at Sauron Knight's eyes, heart, lower body, and other vulnerable spots from various tricky angles.

Because Sauron Knight was only wearing a linen cloth without protection, if Berg's blade struck, it would undoubtedly result in serious injury or even death. However, that was impossible.

Even though Berg's attacks were more fierce each time, Sauron Knight easily blocked Berg's longsword as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.

Bang! Finding an opportunity, Sauron Knight raised his hand and with a sudden strike, directly knocked the sword out of his hand.

"I, I lost again..."

Berg looked at his empty hands. Already exhausted, he could no longer support himself and collapsed to the ground.

A large amount of sweat gushed out of him like a fountain, soaking his leather armor.

His weapon was knocked away again, just like when he failed to protect his lord. Berg's hands clenched tightly into fists, his nails digging into his flesh, but he felt nothing.

Humiliation, self-blame, inferiority—all kinds of negative emotions were enough to block his sense of pain.

"Kid, is this really the first time you've used a sword?"

Sauron Knight threw him a wool towel and forcibly pulled him up from the ground.

"The floor of the Martial Arts Training Field under the scorching sun is almost like a stove. If you lie there any longer, you'll be cooked."

A smile appeared on his weathered face, seemingly offering goodwill.

"Yes, I used to use bows and arrows and daggers," Berg replied, wiping his sweat.

In just a few wipes, the snow-white wool towel became stained with dirt.

The young man's face flushed slightly with embarrassment, as he had never used such a fine towel, coming as he did from a village.

This scene caused Sauron Knight to burst into laughter. He snatched the towel and casually tossed it to a servant standing nearby.

"To be honest, I previously thought you were just a lucky kid who would soon be abandoned by that incomparably noble Your Highness."

"But now it seems that Your Highness has discerning eyes, and we crude fellows were the ones who were blind."

Sauron Knight exclaimed.

In the battle just now, although Berg's swordsmanship was chaotic, it always managed to accurately strike his weak points.

Although he won easily, it was mainly due to the all-round crushing of his physique. If their physical qualities were the same, he might have been caught off guard, or even killed. This didn't seem like a talent for swordsmanship, but more like... a killing instinct.

Glancing at the "Hunter" above the young man's head, a hint of regret flashed in Sauron Knight's eyes.

"Kid, have you considered changing your profession?"

Berg, who was trying to take off his leather armor to cool down, was stunned by these words.

"With your talent, if you follow me to learn to be a Knight, you can advance to become a Knight within a year, given sufficient resources," Sauron Knight said in a deep voice.

"Can't I continue to advance to the Hunter's higher-level profession?" Berg asked in return.

"Heh, listening to you, it seems you don't even know what the Hunter's higher-level profession is." Sauron Knight shook his head speechlessly.

"The profession after Hunter is Hunter, said to be a profession secretly passed down by the great God of Storms and Hunting."

"But it's not a good profession for ordinary people. If you continue down that path, you might not even be able to remain human..." Sauron Knight said meaningfully.

"Sir Sauron, can you tell me more about it?" Seeing that he had finally heard information about job advancement, Berg quickly bowed and asked for advice.

"Knights focus on cultivating themselves, but Hunters, if they want to become stronger, not only need to take magic potions refined from various magical beast organs, but eventually even have to replace their own organs with those of magical beasts, becoming neither human nor beast..."

"Among almost all professions, Hunters have one of the worst reputations. The stronger they are, the more they are feared and discriminated against, and they even risk losing their minds."

"Therefore, seeing that you have some talent, I suggest you switch to the path of the Knight as soon as possible. With your lord around, you will not lack resources," Sauron Knight said lightly.

Berg fell into a long silence.

He finally understood why he hadn't been promoted for three whole years, even though he had been hunting and training almost day and night.

So advancing to Hunter requires taking magic potions... and subsequent advancements even require replacing organs with those of magical beasts. Is this path that my father left me really suitable for me?

His heart began to waver.

"Instead of hesitating, why not ask your lord? After all, as servants, we should take our lord's orders as everything."

Looking at the young man's frowning face, Sauron Knight gave his advice.

"Continue practicing."

"Okay."

A moment later, the sounds of swords clashing echoed in the Martial Arts Training Field again.

As evening approached, the yellowish setting sun finally fell, replaced by a night sky filled with stars.

The huge castle looked particularly majestic in the moonlight, like a taciturn black giant.

The dinner party was about to begin.

In his room, Xian accepted the white dress uniform from the male servant and declined his assistance.

He had no interest in changing clothes in front of a man; this wasn't some northern bathhouse.

"Hmm, not bad." Looking at the tall and handsome young man in the mirror, Xian nodded in satisfaction.

"I wonder what Ilith will look like in a dress." Xian thought for no reason.

He had been reading in the library until the afternoon, and only returned to his room to rest with his eyes closed after feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Firstly, he had to attend Viscount Hughes' dinner party, and secondly, he also had to learn meditation with Ilith at midnight.

"Take me to the hall."

"Yes, Your Highness." The male servant bowed respectfully.