Rejuvenation Spiritual Stove (Part 1)

As he spoke, he picked up Long Haochen and handed him over to Gao Yingjie. He understood Gao Yingjie's feelings. Obviously, this outstanding Temple Knight had been specifically assigned to follow Long Haochen. If not for Long Haochen, the Knight Temple would never have sent ten Mithril Base Knights to lead this batch of newly formed Demon Hunt Squads. There had never been such a precedent before.

In the eyes of others, this was because the Knight Temple had produced many exceptional talents this year. Only Saint Moon knew that the real reason lay with Long Haochen, the Child of Light.

Thus, after handing Long Haochen to Gao Yingjie, he let him first confirm Long Haochen's safety. That was clearly the most important matter.

Sure enough, Gao Yingjie immediately checked Long Haochen's condition after receiving him. Other than weakness, there was nothing seriously wrong. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief.

When Long Haochen and his companions had fought the demons atop the city walls, Gao Yingjie had remained hidden in the shadows. So long as Long Haochen had not faced absolute danger, he would not intervene lightly. After Long Haochen and the others returned to the Barracks, Gao Yingjie had naturally gone to rest as well. Yet now, he had encountered him again on the battlefield. How could Gao Yingjie not be shocked? Demon gods had appeared just moments ago! Still, no matter what, Long Haochen was unharmed, which calmed him considerably. As for how he had ended up on the battlefield, there would be time to investigate after they returned.

After handing Long Haochen to Gao Yingjie, Saint Moon's expression grew even grimmer. Compared to Long Haochen's condition, Sheng Lingxin's could only be described as terrible.

Sheng Lingxin's face was white as snow, yet strangely, it bore an innocent, infant-like smile. The moment Saint Moon saw it, he knew what his grandson had done. Combined with the corpses of those Demon God Guards on the battlefield, Saint Moon's heart twisted with pain. Still, no matter what, at least his grandson was alive. To have been stopped by three demon gods and yet survive was already fortunate.

The Three Great Demon Gods had appeared with the intention of crushing the Radiant Angels Knight Order in one blow. Even if reinforcements arrived, it would already have been too late. Once the three-thousand-strong Radiant Angels Knight Order collided head-on with the Three Great Demon Gods and their three hundred guards, their formation would immediately have fallen into disarray, resulting in massive casualties. With the demon army closing in from behind, the outcome would have been obvious.

But Sheng Lingxin's correct decision had saved the Radiant Angels Knight Order from its originally certain fate of death. A seemingly incomprehensible decision to defend in place had disrupted the Three Great Demon Gods' plan. Yet if he could not hold back the Three Great Demon Gods and buy time for reinforcements, the result would still not have changed. And Sheng Lingxin had actually accomplished it with only his peak Seventh Rank cultivation.

The reason the Three Great Demon Gods had pursued him was because the power unleashed by Sheng Lingxin's strike had already rivaled that of a peak Eighth Rank powerhouse. Killing such a strong opponent would have been no less valuable than destroying the Radiant Angels Knight Order. Moreover, Sheng Lingxin's ambush had enraged the Three Great Demon Gods. In the end, with Long Haochen and Haoyue's help, Sheng Lingxin successfully accomplished his objective. But he himself had fallen completely into a deep coma.

The Radiant Angels Knight Order had already withdrawn. Under Saint Moon's orders, they slowly retreated and returned to Demon Expelling Pass. The demon army's siege battle also came to a temporary end here.

When Long Haochen gradually regained consciousness, he only felt weak and sore all over. The Inner Spiritual Power in his body was sluggish, making it difficult to mobilize.

"Haochen, how do you feel?" Gao Yingjie's deep voice sounded.

Light gradually returned to Long Haochen's eyes. "I-I'm fine. Captain, where am I? Where is the Commander?"

Supporting himself into a sitting position, Long Haochen immediately found the answer to his question.

This was a spacious room. It was still dark outside, and the furnishings inside were extremely simple. Quite a few people were present, including Gao Yingjie and the other leaders of the newly formed Demon Hunt Squads. Sheng Lingxin lay on a bed beside him, while Saint Moon, Lan Yanyu, and seven or eight high-ranking generals from Demon Expelling Pass stood gathered around him.

"Great Grandfather?" Long Haochen cried out when he saw Saint Moon. His call startled everyone present, especially Lan Yanyu, who stared at Long Haochen in near disbelief.

Saint Moon nodded slightly at Long Haochen, his expression stern. "It's good that you're all right. Now that Haochen is awake, Yanyu, tell me what happened. Why did Haochen and Lingxin appear on the battlefield together?"

Lan Yanyu was clearly very afraid of Saint Moon. Her face turned even paler as she looked at her husband lying in deep unconsciousness, that strange smile still on his face. Her body trembled violently, but she could not utter a single word.

"Great Grandfather, I was the one who wanted to go onto the battlefield with Uncle," Long Haochen suddenly said.

Saint Moon froze, and Gao Yingjie and the others were equally stunned.

Saint Moon asked doubtfully, "You wanted to go onto the battlefield with him? I already asked around. At that time, you had only recently returned from the battle atop the city walls, and Lingxin called you over after you returned to the Barracks. What reason did you have to go back onto the battlefield with him? Did he not know that you are a member of a newly formed Demon Hunt Squad, and that directly entering a battlefield against the demons is extremely dangerous?"

Long Haochen faced the crowd calmly, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration. "Because Saint Uncle learned of my identity. Saint Uncle knew my father, so he was very concerned about me. After the battle ended, he specifically called me up to the city wall. One reason was to encourage me, and the other was to let me learn from him how to command an army."

Hearing Long Haochen's words, Lan Yanyu could not help revealing a look of astonishment. No one knew better than she did why Sheng Lingxin had summoned Long Haochen to the city wall. Yet he was saying such things now, and there was not the slightest trace of pretense on his face. It seemed as though every word came from the bottom of his heart.

Saint Moon's expression darkened. "Haochen, although Lingxin is my grandson, if he has done wrong, it must be investigated even if he has already died on the battlefield. You need not conceal anything for him. Let alone him, even I do not know who your father is. Your excuse is not a clever one."

Long Haochen shook his head. "Great Grandfather, I'm telling the truth. I used a skill my father created himself, and Saint Uncle happened to know that skill as well. He had even learned it from my father, so he recognized me. That is why he took care of me."

Long Haochen's words shocked everyone in the room once more. Who was Sheng Lingxin? He was the only great-grandson of Saint Moon, a Ninth Rank Gallant. Given his status, position, and cultivation, he had actually learned a skill from Long Haochen's father? And it was even a self-created skill. Just who was Long Haochen's father?

A trace of curiosity appeared in Saint Moon's eyes as well. "Who exactly is your father?"

Long Haochen took a deep breath, lowered his head, and looked at Sheng Lingxin, who remained in deep unconsciousness. Only then did he say, "I can only tell you alone."

Saint Moon nodded. Raising his right hand, he cast a glow that enclosed himself and Long Haochen. Moments later, the look on Saint Moon's face became incomparably strange. He even swallowed, his eyes filled with shock.

"No wonder. No wonder... Fine, I believe you. Continue. Why did you go onto the battlefield with him?"

Long Haochen said, "I watched the battle from the city wall with Saint Uncle. He also told me that he knew my father and encouraged me a little before sending me back to rest. I had only just come down from the wall when I saw Saint Uncle coming down as well, preparing to lead the Radiant Angels Knight Order out to battle. So I ran over and asked to fight alongside him. Saint Uncle originally disagreed, but the army was already poised to depart and there was no time to delay. Only then did he tell me to stay close to him, and he protected me at his side the entire time."

"Ridiculous!" Gao Yingjie could not help roaring. "How did I teach you all? Obeying orders and following command are a soldier's duty. This is a battlefield! Do you know how dangerous your actions were? You were completely unfamiliar with the Radiant Angels Knight Order's methods of battle. How could you rashly follow them out? Whether you put yourself in danger or affected the entire battlefield, it would be an unforgivable offense."

Gao Yingjie trembled with anger. If so many people had not been present, he would have wanted to discipline Long Haochen right then.

Long Haochen lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Captain. I know I was wrong."

Gao Yingjie looked at him coldly. "Show me your Merit Token. I am deducting all the merits you have earned."

Long Haochen nodded. He first removed the Sheng Lingxin Armor he was wearing. As he took off the armor, a book fell from his chest with a smack.

"Hm?" Long Haochen froze and picked up the book.

It was an ordinary-looking volume, but four gilded words were stamped on its cover: Grafting Flowers and Connecting Trees.

What was this? Long Haochen could say with absolute certainty that it was not his.

Saint Moon and Lan Yanyu were both stunned when they saw the book. Lan Yanyu had originally been unable to understand why Long Haochen was protecting Sheng Lingxin so fiercely, but the moment she saw this book, even she, as someone directly involved, began to believe some of Long Haochen's words.

Saint Moon also looked puzzled. "Did Lingxin give this book to you?"

Long Haochen scratched his head. "I don't know. Maybe Saint Uncle slipped it to me after I lost consciousness."

Saint Moon let out a long breath. "Only now do I fully believe everything you just said. You little brat, you were far too disobedient. How could you follow the army onto the battlefield? Do you know that if something had happened to you, those old fellows from the Knight Temple would probably come straight to me to settle accounts?"

The moment he said that, Lan Yanyu's expression changed drastically, while the other generals were utterly aghast. Just who was this young man? Even if he were the descendant of a Ninth Rank powerhouse, he should not have made Saint Moon Gallant this worried.