This Dad Isn't Cutting It!

Long Xingyu felt somewhat unsettled, his heart filled with doubts.

Even after taking out the Bamboo Sword, he remained the same, completely unaware that he had now become a unit of measurement in Long Haoyu's eyes.

"Haoyu, I'll keep my strength at the level of a Level 8 Attendant Knight."

"Through this kind of actual combat, I'll point out your shortcomings and give you a qualitative improvement."

Suppressing his doubts, Long Xingyu regained a serious expression, finally looking somewhat earnest.

"Level 8 isn't enough. Level 9," Long Haoyu replied, tightening his grip on No Edge. He knew very well what No Edge was truly capable of.

He looked close to Level 8, but his actual strength was already nearing Level 9. Sparring against Long Xingyu at merely the level of a Level 8 Attendant Knight would not yield much benefit.

Although he could have kept this to himself and simply chased after his own father with his sword, which better suited his plans to be an unfilial son, it still did not seem appropriate.

The corner of Long Xingyu's mouth twitched slightly. "Using Level 8 strength against you is already more than enough. Don't forget that I have extensive combat experience."

"If I attack with Level 9 strength, this won't be actual combat. It'll be my one-sided crushing of you!"

Forget it!

No more talking!

Long Haoyu could not be bothered to waste any more words on this.

He admitted that Long Xingyu had a point. After all, he was a Divine Seal Knight of his generation.

Even if he suppressed his own strength, his rich experience and command over Spirit Energy were still things ordinary people could not contend with.

But Long Haoyu was not ordinary. With Long Xingyu's attitude, he knew there was only one way to change his mind.

Just two words: start cutting!

Long Haoyu moved, and No Edge moved with him.

He still used the rudimentary forms of several Knight Skills he had tried to explore during his previous sparring with Long Xingyu.

Seeing Long Haoyu begin his attack with those same rudimentary skills, Long Xingyu wore a faintly confident expression.

The Bamboo Sword had broken earlier due to an error on his part. Now that he had specially treated it, there was no need to worry about that happening again.

Just as he was about to seriously use his previous method to make Long Haoyu understand the flaws in his fighting, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Fatal Stab. Based on his experience, Long Haoyu needed to concentrate all his Spirit Energy onto a single point at the Sword Edge during this strike, leaving both his left and right sides exposed.

At such a time, a light strike would be enough to win easily.

With a slight sway of his body, Long Xingyu sidestepped the direct thrust of Fatal Stab and lightly swung his Bamboo Sword. "Haoyu, this attack leaves a huge opening on both sides."

"I didn't remind you before because I wanted you to discover it yourself. But you apparently haven't noticed this opening, so be more careful next time."

As Long Xingyu spoke, the Bamboo Sword in his hand was already descending.

Yet before it could truly touch Long Haoyu's side, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Long Haoyu's mouth.

No Edge swept upward in an extremely strange manner. The instant it collided with the Bamboo Sword, it slid down along the blade toward Long Xingyu's body.

At the same time, one of Long Haoyu's hands steadily reached toward Long Xingyu's face. His pupils had shrunk to pinpoints, carrying a faint trace of the Shadow Instructor.

???

What was he trying to do now?

Was there a move like this among Retribution Knights?

Long Xingyu abruptly came to his senses and hurriedly retreated to avoid it.

Long Haoyu did not let up his attack. He pushed off with his feet and closed in alongside Long Xingyu's retreat, his palm now incredibly close to Long Xingyu's face.

Clang—

The Bamboo Sword rose upright.

Long Xingyu also drew upon more of his experience.

Breaking free from No Edge's entanglement, he directly held the Bamboo Sword horizontally between his face and Long Haoyu's palm.

How could a dignified Divine Seal Knight allow some brat to cover his face?

If word got out, would he have any dignity left?

Seeing this, Long Haoyu shifted away from the Bamboo Sword, paused his steps, and smoothly unleashed Divine Light Combo, a chain of thrusts and slashes that continued toward Long Xingyu.

This kid...

Did he seriously not have a single flaw?

Was the opening in that thrust deliberately left there?

Long Xingyu was deeply shaken as he watched Long Haoyu's incomparably fluid combo.

Thinking back to how he had performed at the same age, he suddenly felt too ashamed to show his face.

The Bamboo Sword and No Edge clashed again and again, and Long Xingyu involuntarily raised the strength he was holding back by a little.

The power he had kept firmly at the level of a Level 8 Attendant Knight had now risen to Level 9.

Long Haoyu immediately sensed the obvious increase in strength. Within Shadow Space, he had fought himself at the same level countless times.

He could keenly sense changes in strength. Catching Long Xingyu unconsciously using more power, he found it rather amusing.

This dad isn't cutting it!

Long Xingyu met Long Haoyu's gaze. Seeing something off in his eyes, his expression could not help but change.

This little fellow really is a headache!

If I lose by a narrow margin in a sparring match at the same realm, then with this brat's tendency to resent me, he'll probably be even less convinced by me.

When that happens, it'll be even harder to guide him in becoming stronger. It seems I should raise my own strength a little more and let this little fellow lose once!

Long Xingyu felt utterly depressed. He had never imagined that one day he would face such a vexing problem.

With that thought, the strength of a Level 9 Attendant Knight rose once more, reaching the standard of a Quasi-Knight.

As his strength rose, Long Xingyu dealt with Long Haoyu's attacks more calmly.

Long Haoyu sensed it clearly as well. Just as Long Xingyu had guessed, the openings he revealed when using his Knight Skills had indeed been intentional.

Through the Shadow Instructor's continual guidance, he knew very well how to respond when an opponent caught those openings.

But after Long Xingyu shamelessly raised his strength, he could no longer cover every one of those openings from all directions.

Soon, after a dull sound, the Wufeng Heavy Sword in Long Haoyu's hand flew free and landed, embedding itself firmly in the ground.

Before Long Haoyu, a Bamboo Sword pointed at a spot one foot before his face.

He was confident he could challenge an ordinary Quasi-Knight, but dealing with Long Xingyu while he suppressed himself to the level of a Quasi-Knight was still rather difficult.

"Our first spar ends here. Your performance far exceeded my expectations. Your adaptability in battle especially matches the qualities a Retribution Knight should possess."

Long Xingyu withdrew his Bamboo Sword as though relieved of a burden. "With such Instinct, you truly are well suited to walk the Retribution Knight Path. You may even achieve remarkable things in the future!"

"I will walk the Retribution Knight Path. It is also a conviction I will need to uphold in the future."

Long Haoyu saw through Long Xingyu's attempt to save face and said calmly, "But now isn't the time to think about the future. The first sparring session is over. You said you would point out my shortcomings, so please do."

As he spoke, Long Haoyu gave Long Xingyu the Knight's Salute he had not given before their fight. His attitude was unprecedentedly sincere.

Long Xingyu: "..."

Recalling the strange look in Long Haoyu's eyes earlier,

he instantly understood.

This brat had done it on purpose, hadn't he?