As the person at the center of it all, Yue Shen was thoroughly bewildered. He had never expected Han Qian to actually go to such lengths to find him an instructor.
He had originally thought the same as Long Xingyu: at most, they would find a sixth- or seventh-tier knight to instruct him.
But Han Qian's actions also made it abundantly clear how much the Knight Temple valued him, and just how many resources it was willing to devote to him.
After all, throughout the Knight Temple's history, everyone whose innate inner spiritual power exceeded eighty and who possessed a divine shelter constitution had become the strongest Divine Seal Knight of their generation, apart from a few who had died young.
Now that another genius with a divine shelter constitution had appeared in the Knight Temple, it would naturally spare no effort in nurturing him.
"Thank you, Uncle Wei, but let's end today's training here."
Yue Shen raised the longsword in his hand and lightly tapped his right shoulder with it, giving the middle-aged man before him a Knight's Salute.
"As expected of someone Lord Xingyu trained personally. Back when I was at the fourth tier, I definitely wouldn't have been a match for you," Wei Ping said with a sigh of admiration.
"I never imagined that, with neither of us using internal spiritual power, I'd already be completely helpless against you."
Wei Ping was an eighth-tier knight who possessed Mithril Base Battle Armor. His combat experience and mastery of skills were far beyond those of ordinary knights.
What was more, he was the leader of an active Demon Hunt Squad. He had spent more time on battlefields fighting demons than Yue Shen had spent cultivating.
He had thought he was merely accepting an ordinary instructor assignment. Who could have imagined that he would end up serving as Yue Shen's sparring partner and punching bag?
Well, even if the Holy Knight Commander had not ordered him to keep this confidential, he could not tell anyone about it.
He simply could not bear the embarrassment.
Still, this instructor assignment was surprisingly easy. To Wei Ping, it was practically the easiest mission he had accepted since becoming a demon hunter.
Yue Shen's comprehension and ability to learn on his own also left Wei Ping in awe. Essentially, he never needed to point out any of Yue Shen's shortcomings. Simply by sparring with him, Yue Shen could discover and correct them himself, leaving Wei Ping with hardly anything to worry about.
What he did not know, however, was that Yue Shen only exposed those flaws during their sparring sessions because he wanted to keep a low profile, deliberately putting on a show for his instructor.
After all, Yue Shen no longer needed anyone's guidance in cultivating internal spiritual power or learning knight skills. Still, he could hardly let Deputy Temple Master Han's and his instructor's good intentions go to waste, could he?
Besides, this instructor was a powerful eighth-tier holy knight and the leader of a Demon Hunt Squad. Naturally, Yue Shen wanted to build a good relationship with him.
"Not at all," Yue Shen reassured him. "I still have plenty of shortcomings, and there's a lot I need to learn from you, Uncle Wei."
"Such as?" Wei Ping asked, his face lighting up.
He himself could not think of anything he could teach Yue Shen, yet somehow Yue Shen had discovered his strengths.
As expected of someone Lord Xingyu had trained personally. His eye was just as sharp.
Yue Shen: "..."
I was just giving you a graceful way out. Even if you don't want to take it, you don't have to smash it to pieces, do you?
The atmosphere gradually grew awkward. Both men wore perfectly practiced, professional smiles, but neither exposed the other.
Just then, Han Qian pushed open the door and entered the quiet chamber.
Seeing the two staring at one another, Han Qian could not help asking in confusion, "Have you finished today's training?"
"Yes." As though rescued, Wei Ping immediately turned toward the Holy Knight Commander. "What are your orders, Holy Knight Commander?"
Han Qian gave Wei Ping a strange look,
then asked, "It's been a while since Yue Shen broke through to the fourth tier, hasn't it? How much internal spiritual power does he have now?" "Reporting to the Holy Knight Commander, Yue Shen's internal spiritual power is already approaching nineteen hundred," Wei Ping replied. "His cultivation speed is unlike anything I've ever seen. He'll break through to the fifth tier very soon."
After all, apart from sparring with Wei Ping every day, Yue Shen had no other training to complete, leaving him with a considerable amount of time to cultivate his internal spiritual power.
In less than a year and a half since arriving in the Holy City, he was already on the verge of breaking through to the fifth tier.
"Very good."
With a broad smile, Han Qian nodded at Wei Ping. "You may leave."
"Yes."
Only then did Wei Ping let out a relieved breath before quickly leaving the quiet chamber.
"Grandpa Han, is there something you need me to do?" Yue Shen bowed respectfully. He knew Han Qian must have something to tell him.
"I hear you've barely gone out since arriving in the Holy City. Being able to focus on cultivation is a good thing, but staying cooped up here all the time isn't," Han Qian said with a smile. "Besides, it's been quite some time since you reached the fourth tier. Go out and clear your head. Tomorrow, I'll have Wei Ping take you to Knight Sacred Mountain so you can choose your mount companion."
"All right." Yue Shen's face lit up.
The moment had finally come. He had been looking forward to choosing a mount companion at Knight Sacred Mountain for a long time.
Before Yue Shen set off for Knight Sacred Mountain, however, Han Qian naturally had a few instructions for him.
"Don't get excited just yet," Han Qian said. "First, we need to be clear about your goal for this trip to Knight Sacred Mountain."
Yue Shen nodded slightly and said with an obedient expression, "Please go ahead."
Han Qian gave a slight nod. "With your talent, the magical beast on Knight Sacred Mountain best suited to becoming your mount companion is undoubtedly a Starshine Unicorn. My old partner has also said that there is no way its Starshine Unicorn clan would reject you.
"So you don't need to worry at all about failing to gain a Starshine Unicorn's approval. On the contrary, they may come looking for you themselves to form a mount contract."
After a moment's thought, Han Qian continued, "Although there isn't much difference between individual Starshine Unicorns, those with the bloodline of the Starshine Unicorn King would suit you best. Do you understand?"
Yue Shen nodded. "I understand."
Satisfied, Han Qian nodded, then began explaining the magical beast species currently found on Knight Sacred Mountain, along with their habits and the locations of their habitats.
Yue Shen found this information rather novel and listened with keen interest.
The next morning, Yue Shen and Wei Ping left the Holy City. It was Yue Shen's first outing since arriving there.
Yue Shen, now nearly fifteen, had changed enormously since first arriving in the Holy City. Not only had he grown considerably taller, but he had also gone from a slightly childish, adorable little boy to a spirited, handsome youth.
Thanks to the food in the Holy City and his continued medicinal baths, his once somewhat scrawny body had also become well-proportioned and sturdy.
His smooth black hair gave him a vibrant appearance. Combined with the pale golden eyes he had gained from his exceptionally high affinity for the light element, his looks were practically flawless.
But because Yue Shen spent all his time cultivating in the government headquarters' knight division and had virtually no contact with girls, he naturally had no idea just how devastating his appearance could be to any woman.
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