Long Haochen: For Xuan Ye, I Must Work Hard

One month later.

Within the territory of the Temple Alliance, at a secluded Knight training ground.

"Snap!"

A long whip shimmering with golden light tore through the air, striking the ground heavily and kicking up a circle of dust.

Long Xingyu held the long whip, staring at the small figure in the center of the field.

"Again."

His voice was devoid of inflection.

In the field, Long Haochen's entire body was thoroughly soaked in sweat, his hair plastered damply against his face. Every breath he took brought a searing pain, and his arm, gripping the Knight Training Sword, ached as if it were about to split, trembling uncontrollably.

This was the umpteenth time he had been knocked to the ground today.

But he did not utter a single word of complaint.

The boy used his sword sheath to prop himself up, gritted his teeth, and once again stood up shakily, assuming a standard attack stance.

No matter how inconceivable the training volume was, or how Long Xingyu deliberately used his spiritual pressure to leave him gasping for air, Long Haochen had never once retreated.

Watching his son's stubborn back, a trace of admiration stirred in Long Xingyu's heart.

The Demon God Emperor Bloodline flowing through this child's veins truly granted him resilience and potential far beyond that of ordinary people, enough to support him in enduring this hellish tempering.

What was even more rare was that, through their time spent together day and night, he could clearly feel that Long Haochen's character was as pure as crystal, kind and without a single impurity.

Long Xingyu retracted the long whip and asked, "Why have you been able to persist until now?"

Hearing this, Long Haochen gripped the sword in his hand tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He raised his head, a flame burning in his clear eyes, his voice carrying the stubbornness unique to a young man.

"I must become stronger."

"Brother is waiting for me."

In his mind, scenes flashed uncontrollably.

That figure who was always smiling, who felt more like a father than his own father.

Since he could remember, it was Brother Xuan Ye who had been taking care of him. When he had a fever, it was his brother who stayed up all night by his bedside, using a damp towel to bring his temperature down; when he was bullied by other children in the village, it was his brother who shielded him, using his thin shoulders to block every punch.

In Long Haochen's heart, Xuan Ye was already an irreplaceable family member, his status not a whit inferior to his mother, Bai Yue, or his father, Long Xingyu.

He firmly remembered the words his father had spoken.

"Only by becoming stronger will I have the qualifications to go find him."

Upon hearing the word "brother," the trace of gentleness that had just appeared on Long Xingyu's face vanished without a trace.

Deep within his eyes, a surge of forcibly suppressed rage churned.

But he did not lash out on the spot.

Long Xingyu's tone turned indifferent.

"Your talent is indeed quite good now, and you have awakened the physique of the Child of Light. It is time I told you some of the truth regarding your brother."

Long Haochen's eyes instantly erupted with a glimmer of anticipation. He took a step forward, staring intently at his father.

Long Xingyu, however, remained unhurried.

"Your brother, Long Xuanye, is essentially a natural-born Demon Seed."

"I only found out later that he was a child Bai Yue picked up; it just so happened that he was the same age as you."

He fabricated the story; after all, it was impossible for Long Haochen to remember whether he had been born at the same time as Long Xuanye.

"The day I took you and your mother away, he awakened his power and fell into a frenzy, slaughtering wantonly. Had I not stopped him in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

He paused, watching with satisfaction as the color drained from Long Haochen's face, and continued.

"I had intended to spare his life out of familial affection and merely exile him. I never expected that he would be rescued by the Devil Race and awaken a terrifying Innate Dark Inner Spiritual Power."

"The person he is now has long since fallen into a demon with hands stained by the blood of the innocent."

Perhaps by sheer coincidence, Long Xingyu had gotten one thing right.

Xuan Ye was indeed increasing his Innate Dark Inner Spiritual Power, but the so-called "wanton slaughter" and "Demon Seed" were nothing more than malicious smears concocted by Long Xingyu to achieve his goals.

Long Haochen froze in place, as if struck by lightning.

His lips trembled slightly, but he could not utter a single word.

Watching his reaction, Long Xingyu continued in a coaxing tone.

"Haochen, he is no longer the brother you once knew. The person he is now is bloodthirsty, cruel, and a public enemy of humanity."

"You must become stronger. Not for anything else, but for the future of all mankind."

"With your talent, you are the only one who can put an end to him. Perhaps... only your sword can grant him 'eternal rest' from his endless madness and turn him back into the upright and gentle Long Xuanye he once was."

As he spoke these words, Long Xingyu felt a wave of nausea himself.

Upright and gentle?

In his eyes, Xuan Ye had been a "bad seed" with deep, calculating motives since he was a child. He had absolutely nothing to do with those four words.

But he had to say it.

Only by using this narrative could he bind Long Haochen, the sharpest sword, to his own side.

Long Haochen had always trusted his father implicitly.

At this moment, he felt as if his heart were being tightly gripped by an invisible giant hand, or perhaps struck by a heavy hammer; the pain was so intense he could barely breathe.

Collapse and agony surged over him. Tears swirled frantically in his eyes, but he forced them back by sheer willpower.

The boy remained silent for a long time—so long that Long Xingyu began to think he couldn't accept it.

Finally, he nodded heavily.

In those pure eyes, only endless sorrow and determination remained.

"I understand, Father."

"I will... grant Brother 'peace'."

He gripped the sword in his hand once more, the pain nearly drowning his small frame.

But he knew this was his responsibility.

For his brother's sake, to ensure he would no longer suffer.

He had to work even harder!

His current strength was far from enough!

Watching the fighting spirit reignite in his son's eyes, the corners of Long Xingyu's mouth finally curled into a smug smile.

With the constitution of the Child of Light, the assistance of the Saint Induction Spirit Furnace, and this unwavering, relentless determination...

Long Haochen's cultivation speed would reach a level that even he found frightening.

Long Xuanye?

What could you possibly use to compare yourself to him?

Just wait.

You can hide, but you cannot hide forever.

Even if I cannot kill you with my own hands, but... Haochen certainly will!

Having trained for less than three months, Long Haochen already possessed over four hundred points of Inner Spiritual Power.

This was the result of his full support and the resources piled up by the Knight Temple!

Long Xuanye?

Even if he were still alive, he would be nothing more than a stray dog, so what of it?

Could he even have half of Haochen's strength?

As Long Xingyu thought about this, a faint smile gradually appeared on his face.

Long Haochen, standing to the side, was stunned when he saw this.

I've been training hard, and it made Father happy?

Good!

For my brother, for my father, continue!

The boy used his sword blade to prop up his body and slowly assumed a starting stance.

Even though his body was trembling, his will was still forcing Long Haochen to hold on!