Quasi-Knight Examination (2)

Li Xin stood to one side, equally curious. As the master of Haoyue Branch Temple, Nalan Shu was a bona fide Earth Knight, a Fifth Order profession. Even within the Holy Temple Alliance, he was one of the rare powerhouses. Yet a single letter had made this usually carefree man so respectful. There had to be something strange about it.

But just as she wanted to lean over for a look, Nalan Shu had already put the letter away. He then nodded to Long Haochen and said, "Come with me." As he spoke, he turned and walked out.

Long Haochen followed Nalan Shu all the way to the third floor, with the curiosity-filled Li Xin following behind them.

The first floor of Haoyue Branch Temple was mainly for reception, while the second floor housed offices for handling various affairs. The third floor was where trials and examinations were conducted. The knights belonging exclusively to Haoyue Branch Temple lived in dedicated residences behind the branch temple.

The third floor was already above the domed ceiling of the first-floor hall. The moment he entered, Long Haochen immediately sensed that the air seemed somewhat unusual. The third floor was an extremely spacious hall, fully five meters high. As far as the eye could see, there was no furniture or decoration. Yet symbols and patterns covered the surrounding walls, with faint radiance flowing through them.

Nalan Shu walked all the way to the center of the trial hall before stopping. A gentle green light spread from his right hand, and a pillar-like object rose from the floor. It was entirely black, and its material could not be identified.

Nalan Shu said to Long Haochen, "Do you know why your teacher sent you here?"

Long Haochen shook his head. "Teacher said you would tell me."

Nalan Shu nodded. "Lord Xingyu sent you here for the Quasi-Knight examination. Let us begin. Attack this black pillar with all your strength. You may strike it from any direction."

When she heard the words "Quasi-Knight examination," Li Xin thought there was something wrong with her ears.

How old was Long Haochen? At most eleven or twelve, right? She had already been called the strongest genius in the history of Haoyue Branch Temple, and she had only passed the Quasi-Knight examination at the age of thirteen. Nalan Shu did not look as though he were joking, and from his tone, could little Haochen's teacher be of an even higher rank than Temple Master Nalan? Could he be a Sixth Order Radiant Knight? Heavens! A Radiant Knight could already serve as the master of a knight temple in any of the major cities of the Holy Temple Alliance. Why would he send his disciple to Haoyue Branch Temple for an examination?

While Li Xin's heart was filled with questions, Long Haochen had already made his move.

Black light flickered as Long Haochen drew an Iron Sword. The instant the longsword entered his hand, his entire temperament underwent an earth-shaking change.

The somewhat shy boy suddenly became stern and cold. His gaze was firm and unwavering, and his entire body gave off the sense of a boulder, steady and unshakable. An invisible aura of authority radiated from him. There was no trace left of a ten-year-old child.

A forward step and a cleaving slash—the two simplest knight attack movements completed his strike.

With a muffled bang, the Iron Sword hacked viciously into the black pillar.

With a hum, a gentle blue halo lit up directly across the walls surrounding the trial hall. Immediately afterward, an exact number appeared above the black pillar.

"107."

One hundred and seven spiritual energy. Both Nalan Shu and Li Xin could not help widening their eyes. One hundred spiritual energy meant breaking through into a Second Order profession. Even if 107 spiritual energy only placed him at the first level of the Second Order, it was still the Second Order! And above all, Long Haochen had not used any skills to enhance himself during the test. That had been nothing more than a pure, simple slash.

Not only they, even Long Haochen himself was stunned. My spiritual energy has already reached 107? Since testing at twenty-five spiritual energy in Odin Sub-Temple, this was his first test. He had never expected such a result. One year—just one year—and his spiritual energy had actually reached this level. A Quasi-Knight... I'm already a Quasi-Knight.

Excitement instantly surged through his entire body. At that moment, Long Haochen felt that every effort he had made over the past year had been worth it.

In just one year, a child's spiritual energy had risen from twenty-five to over a hundred, breaking through into a Second Order profession. It might not have been unprecedented on the Holy Demon Continent, but it could absolutely be called a miracle.

Long Haochen's own efforts were beyond question, but the medicinal broth in which Xingyu had soaked him every day, as well as the powerful expert from Assassin Temple who had cleared his meridians before, had also played an enormous role. Without those daily immersions in the medicinal hot spring, how could Long Haochen have continued cultivating? A single fainting spell alone would probably have forced him to rest for over a week.

One year had already laid a solid foundation for his body.

Nalan Shu gradually came back to his senses. The way he looked at Long Haochen changed dramatically, as though he had discovered a peerless treasure. There was even a hint of fawning on his plump face. "Your name is Long Haochen, right? How old are you this year?"

Long Haochen answered instinctively, "Ten."

Nalan Shu and Li Xin sucked in a breath once more. A ten-year-old Quasi-Knight? This could no longer be described with the word genius. Prodigy would be far more fitting.

"Temple Master Nalan, have I passed the examination?" Long Haochen asked.

Nalan Shu said, "This is how it is. Under the usual procedure, as long as a Quasi-Knight's spiritual energy reaches the required level, the examination is considered passed. But your teacher said in his letter that you must challenge a knight and endure that knight's attacks for more than a quarter of an hour. Otherwise, the examination will not count as successful."

Even Nalan Shu felt this requirement was far too harsh. Even a Quasi-Knight above Level Five might not necessarily last a quarter of an hour against a true knight, let alone a youth like Long Haochen who had only just entered the Quasi-Knight rank.

"Alright. Then please designate a knight." As Long Haochen spoke, he drew another Iron Sword with his left hand.

"I'll do it, I'll do it." Li Xin stepped forward almost without hesitation. This handsome little boy had stirred up far too much curiosity in her. A ten-year-old Quasi-Knight—what kind of concept was that? She had to see just how much combat power this tiny Quasi-Knight possessed.

Nalan Shu cast Li Xin a glance, then nodded. "Watch your limits."

Li Xin smiled. "Don't worry, Uncle Nalan. I wouldn't bear to hurt him either. He's the little brother I just accepted."

As she spoke, Li Xin also drew the twin swords from her back. Compared to the simple Iron Swords in Long Haochen's hands, her twin swords were far more ornate. Their blades gleamed with a pale golden light, each measuring three feet two inches long, while the engraved runes emitted a rich Holy Aura.

Li Xin held her twin swords and fixed her eyes on Long Haochen, only to be secretly startled. The moment he gripped his weapons, his temperament had changed with striking clarity. He was no longer the shy, reserved youth from before. Cold sternness carried a hint of sharpness, and faintly, he even made her feel a trace of pressure.

Nalan Shu retreated several steps and said in a deep voice, "Begin." With him acting as referee, he was confident that neither side would be harmed.

"Big Sister, be careful."