Star Brilliance Unicorn (I)

At Ye Hua's reminder, Long Haochen immediately felt somewhat regretful. However, after entering this area, he could clearly feel that the funnel vortex around the spiritual stove within his chest was spinning noticeably faster. Even without meditating to cultivate, his spiritual energy would not improve much more slowly here.

"State your names." A deep, aged voice rang out at that moment.

Long Haochen was startled. As his Cultivation Level had risen, his spiritual power had grown increasingly strong. He did not know that the low spiritual energy consumption when he used skills was not solely due to his Child of Light physique; his powerful spiritual power had also played a considerable role. Yet now, he had not sensed anyone approaching at all.

"Gui Ying of Xiu Cheng Main Hall has brought his son, Gui Wu, to the Holy Mountain to select a mount companion."

A figure flashed. Gui Ying, who had remained behind them the whole time, came forward with his son and stopped beside Ye Hua and Long Haochen, master and disciple.

An aged figure slowly emerged from ahead. His body seemed to be part of the pale golden mist, his aura completely concealed within it.

The old man was somewhat hunched. Let alone armor, he did not even wear a warrior's uniform, only simple gray cloth garments. A few sparse white hairs clung around his bald head, and the wrinkles on his face could absolutely serve as a weapon for catching mosquitoes and flies. There was not the slightest glimmer in his dim yellow eyes. He looked so frail and aged that it seemed a gust of wind might end his life on the spot.

"Ye Hua of Haoyue Branch Temple has brought his disciple, Long Haochen, to the Holy Mountain to select a mount companion." Ye Hua's cold voice sounded. Even here, he could not change his habit.

The old man walked over very slowly. Once he drew close enough for Long Haochen to see him clearly, Long Haochen could not help but jump in fright.

The old man had only one arm; his left arm had been severed at the elbow. His right eye was blind, and a huge scar stretched down his face from the crown of his head all the way to his chin. It was as though his skull had once been split open.

At the same time Long Haochen saw the old man's appearance clearly, he also discovered that his normally cold-natured teacher actually showed respect in his eyes as he slowly bowed to the elder. Gui Ying did the same on the other side.

Long Haochen did not dare be negligent and hurriedly followed his teacher in bowing respectfully.

Although Gui Wu also bowed with his father, his eyes revealed a trace of disdain. Ever since childhood, he had been a favored son of heaven in Xiu Cheng Main Hall. Whether in the Knight Temple or Xiu City, who had not treated him with courtesy? Bowing now to such a frail, disabled old man naturally left him somewhat unwilling.

The old man's single eye swept across the four before him. In a hoarse, aged voice, he said mildly, "Take out your credentials."

"Yes." Gui Ying and Ye Hua answered in unison. Gui Ying was once again a step faster, handing over a scroll. Ye Hua merely cast him a cold glance before also handing over a scroll.

The old man first examined the scroll Gui Ying had submitted and nodded. But when he looked at the scroll Ye Hua had handed over, he gave a soft sound of surprise. His gaze could not help falling upon Long Haochen as he inspected him up and down several times.

Long Haochen vaguely knew that the scroll contained every record from after he had entered Haoyue Branch Temple, naturally including his age and Cultivation Level.

Under the one-eyed old man's gaze, he felt as if there were nowhere to hide. It seemed that dim yellow eye possessed an immensely powerful penetrating force.

The old man's gaze quickly passed over him. Then he beckoned to Gui Wu. "Come here."

Gui Ying nudged his son and gave him a meaningful look.

Gui Wu hurried forward. At least on the surface, he appeared entirely respectful.

The old man raised his lone arm, seemingly casually placing it on Gui Wu's shoulder. Gui Wu's body twitched instinctively, as though he wanted to struggle. Yet when that withered hand landed on his shoulder, his entire body instantly stiffened, unable to move in the slightest.

A bead of sweat trickled down Gui Wu's forehead. He could clearly feel that the old man's palm was like a mountain. No matter how he exerted himself, it was like a clay ox entering the sea.

"Mm. Eighteen years old. Permission granted. You may leave." The latter sentence was addressed to Gui Ying.

With a flick of his wrist, a long token appeared in his withered palm, black from end to end. He placed it in Gui Wu's hand and said, "When you encounter Magic Beasts of different levels, the token will display different colors. The lowest-level Magic Beasts in the Holy Mountain are level two, corresponding to red. Then come yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, white, and silver. Level nine is the limit. If gold appears, then you have encountered an aggressive Magic Beast. Unless it shows affinity toward you immediately, leave as quickly as possible. If a Magic Beast shows affinity toward you, you may attempt to communicate with it through your minds. If it is unwilling to communicate, continue searching on your own until you find your target. The time limit is thirty days. If you still have not found a suitable Magic Beast after thirty days, the token will turn reddish gold and teleport you out twenty seconds later. The token will then be reclaimed. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Gui Wu answered.

The scroll in the old man's hand suddenly turned to ash. A strand of gray energy drifted out and merged with the black token in his hand. A glow flashed over the token before it returned to normal.

"Thank you, Senior." After respectfully saluting the old man, Gui Ying turned and withdrew from the Holy Mountain's boundaries. Gui Wu did not dare delay either. He glanced at Long Haochen in the distance, then stepped into the pale golden mist and vanished in an instant.

The old man beckoned to Long Haochen. "Your turn, young man. Let this old man feel your bone age. Let's see whether you can truly give this old man a few surprises."

"Yes." After glancing at his teacher, Long Haochen slowly stepped forward and stood respectfully before the old man.

The old man likewise placed his hand on Long Haochen's shoulder. A warm sensation immediately flowed into him. Long Haochen did not move, merely standing there quietly.

A moment later, astonishment flashed through the old man's single eye. After withdrawing his hand, he once more examined Long Haochen up and down several times.

"Haoyue Branch Temple," the old man said in a deep voice.

"This junior is here." Ye Hua stepped forward two paces and bowed respectfully.

The old man turned his single eye toward Ye Hua. "Where did you find this little monster? He truly isn't even fourteen yet, and he has already become a Great Knight. His spiritual energy has even surpassed a thousand. Even when that little fellow Long Xingyu came decades ago, he seemed not to have possessed such talent. This is a genuine genius! Are you willing to report him to the Temple and let the Temple train him?"

Ye Hua's expression changed slightly. He had not expected even this mountain guardian elder to recognize Long Haochen's talent. But it made sense. A freak like him might not appear even once in a hundred years.

"Senior, it is not that this junior is unwilling. It is simply that the Demon Hunting Group Selection Competition will begin in half a year. This junior is confident that my instruction will not be inferior to anyone else's."

After considering it briefly, the old man nodded. "Very well. This old man is too lazy to concern himself with such external affairs. Do as you please. Child, did you hear everything I said just now?"

Long Haochen replied respectfully, "I heard it clearly."

The old man nodded. "Then you may go as well. However, you are different from him. Since you broke through to Great Knight before turning twenty, you are entitled to one additional privilege. If you do not find a mount suitable for yourself within thirty days, you may enter the teleportation array at the Summit of the Sacred Mountain and randomly obtain a Magic Beast from another plane as your mount. However, if it comes to that, it will be entirely up to luck. You will certainly find a Magic Beast suited to you, but its strength will be difficult to predict. It may even be a level-one Magic Beast. Therefore, you must work hard during these thirty days in the Holy Mountain. Do you understand?"