Demon Subduing

Long Haoyu sensed the changes within himself.

Perhaps because, with the Shadow Instructor's help, he had stirred the power of his bloodline for the first time.

His body was still the same body, and there had been no breakthrough in Spirit Energy, yet his physical strength seemed to have improved tremendously.

The feeling was like when he had first fought the Scorpion Tail Lizard. At that time, he had entered an extremely profound state.

Now that the dormant power in his bloodline had been stirred, he no longer needed to wait for a crisis to passively trigger it. He could actively remain in that profound state.

But after truly attempting to draw upon the power within his body to temper himself, Long Haoyu realized just how wishful his initial belief that stirring such power would be easy had been.

"Part of the power within your body has now been drawn out, but you are still, after all, in a human body."

"Your Instinct is primarily human as well. Your next stage of cultivation is to integrate the Instinct belonging to your Heaven-Defying Demon Dragon Clan Bloodline into your body."

The Shadow Instructor suddenly spoke as he looked at the golden-gray mass of air hovering above Long Haoyu's head, already fused into one.

"At present, the power you wield is extremely distinct. Others can tell at a glance from your attacks that you possess Demon Race bloodline."

"When you can imprint all these Instincts into your body, you will be able to switch between them freely."

"I call this kind of cultivation—Demon Subduing!"

As his words fell.

The shadow maintaining its Perfect Self state began to change.

A golden-gray mass of air appeared above the Shadow Instructor's head, just like the one above Long Haoyu's. Yet in the next instant, it turned pure gold.

Bathed in pure gold, the Shadow Instructor seemed like the incarnation of light, his entire body shrouded in a sacred aura.

But the next second, the pure golden mass turned completely gray. Bathed in that power, the Shadow Instructor became like an evil ghost crawling out of hell.

He switched freely, effortlessly smooth.

Long Haoyu watched with a serious expression. He could not switch as freely as the Shadow Instructor.

Yet as he bathed beneath the golden-gray airflow, he felt that the Shadow Instructor had changed in many ways.

If seeing the Shadow Instructor activate his Perfect Self state for the first time had given him Heart Palpitations, then looking at him now gave him a sense of familiarity.

Turning over the Shadow Instructor's words in his mind, Long Haoyu roughly understood what this Demon Subduing cultivation truly meant.

It meant completely mastering the power of the Heaven-Defying Demon Dragon Clan Bloodline, preventing himself from being affected by it while still being able to wield its power smoothly and freely.

It was similar to the Retribution Knight path he intended to take—using overwhelming strength to crush enemies in every direction.

Cultivation was the same: using the simplest and most brutal method to suppress every bit of power that belonged to himself.

In the end, he would stand above those powers and look down upon them.

"I understand, Instructor. What you said about Internal Spiritual Power cultivation follows the same principle."

"As I become more adept at wielding these powers and continuously temper my body to merge with them, once I complete Sacred Awakening, will that be the moment I can officially use Internal Spiritual Power?"

Long Haoyu asked, methodically analyzing the cultivation of this night.

"The principle is correct, but such tempering will never end."

"Until you surpass the true pinnacle and attain the power to crush and sweep aside everything, able to disregard the enhancement brought by bloodline power!"

That was how the Shadow Instructor explained it.

Long Haoyu was not surprised. On the contrary, he was extremely excited.

If this Perfect Self state were to end so quickly, it would not be what he needed.

Slightly excited, he closed his eyes and once again entered cultivation, where the golden-gray airflow continuously clashed and tempered him.

At the same time, through this tempering, he continued to explore and understand how to use the two powers.

Time was like autumn water, flowing eastward and never returning.

During the day, Long Haoyu continued meditating on Mount Odin, occasionally joining his little brother and old man in combat practice. At night, he meditated in the Shadow Space.

In the blink of an eye, nine months passed quietly. His own Spirit Energy had been refined countless times.

His control over the power within his body, including his use of the simulated Internal Spiritual Power, had reached a certain level.

That day, when Long Xingyu arrived at Mount Odin, he did not have Long Haoyu continue meditating, nor did he spar with Long Haochen.

With his hands behind his back, he looked every bit the father.

"Haoyu, Haochen, this year of cultivation will come to a temporary end."

"Especially you, Haoyu. You reached 100 points of Spirit Energy nine months ago, and you have focused solely on meditation for so long. It is time for you to complete the Quasi-Knight Assessment."

"And Haochen, your Spirit Energy also reached 100 points three months ago. Although your focused meditation progress is a little behind your brother's, it is enough for you to go together."

"Once you complete the Quasi-Knight Assessment, I will begin the true Knight Special Training for you two brothers!"

As he said this, an almost crazed fervor appeared in Long Xingyu's eyes, a tangible manifestation of his thirst for power.

Both brothers understood what Long Xingyu meant. Perhaps because he had encountered a little thorn like Long Haoyu.

The current development was not what Long Xingyu had originally planned. Over the past year, he had already taught the brothers much of his knowledge.

He had touched upon External Spiritual Power cultivation, Internal Spiritual Power cultivation, the distinction between the two, and Sacred Awakening.

Although a year had already passed, Long Haochen's admiration for Long Xingyu remained as strong as ever.

Hearing Long Xingyu say this, Long Haochen immediately asked excitedly, "Dad, does that mean my brother and I can both undergo the Quasi-Knight Assessment?"

"Once we complete the assessment and bring back the Awakening Stone from the Haoyue Branch Hall, you can help us undergo Sacred Awakening and begin Internal Spiritual Power cultivation?"

Long Xingyu gave a hum. "That is exactly what I mean. So next, you and your brother only need to go directly to the Haoyue Branch Hall and complete the assessment."

Answering with great authority, Long Xingyu's gaze fell on Long Haoyu.

Having been pricked so many times, he now deliberately displayed his knowledge and strength even more than before.

Long Haoyu curled his lips and nodded to show that he understood. He completely ignored Long Xingyu's deliberate display of power and did not show the slightest envy.

He did not even find Long Xingyu's behavior strange.

It was not surprising for a father who could unleash his ultimate move on minor mobs to do something like this.

Then, he looked in the direction where Haoyue City should be.

He had practiced Demon Subduing in the Shadow Space for nine months, and he had also spent nine months in focused meditation for his real body's Sacred Awakening.

It was indeed time to complete the Quasi-Knight Assessment.

It was also time to bring back the Awakening Stone needed for Sacred Awakening!