A dozen or so wooden stakes stood in the gentle breeze.
The two stared at each other, one with wide eyes and the other with narrower ones.
"Yang Tian, is there something you're confused about?"
Balza asked as he looked at the boy with regular features and determination in his eyes.
Although he was not the most handsome, he still had a child's innocent charm. His fair skin and delicate features made him endearing.
"Instructor, I'd like to borrow some books on meditation from you, and learn how to meditate!"
Yang Tian looked at Balza, then voiced what was on his mind.
Balza was taken aback.
Meditation was only taught upon reaching a second-tier profession, in the third year.
Even the most basic form required these children to build a solid foundation first.
Their most important task right now was to strengthen their bodies and increase their external spiritual power.
Meditation marked the beginning of cultivating internal spiritual power. Even the ordinary meditation methods made freely available by the Holy Temple required a hundred points of external spiritual power.
"Yang Tian, I don't know where you heard about meditation, but it isn't something you should be learning right now!"
"Don't bring this up again, or I'll expel you from the Odin Sub-Temple. You mustn't reach for things beyond your grasp!"
Balza's expression turned stern as he reprimanded the boy.
Yet he was holding himself back considerably. With Yang Tian's discipline and talent, he might pass the Squire assessment at only seven or eight years old!
Even if he failed, he could keep studying at the Child Hall, since his young age gave him an advantage.
"No, Instructor. Even if you strike my name from the Child Hall's rolls, I still have to say this!"
"Give me six months. If I meet your standard, teach me skills and meditation ahead of schedule!"
Yang Tian stood firm. Three years was too long, and unlike the other children, he did not waste so much time playing.
Yang Tian had already prepared for the worst. Even if his innate internal spiritual power turned out to be as low as Ye Hua's, he would not give up.
"Give me a reason!"
Balza looked at the determined boy and asked sternly. With twelve points of spiritual power at four years old, his aptitude already far surpassed the others.
"Because I want to become strong!"
"In this age when the Demon Race runs rampant, I want to usher in an era of my own!"
Yang Tian spoke with absolute conviction, his resolute gaze fixed on Balza.
He could either become an ordinary person and keep drifting through life, or shine with a brilliance of his own.
He, Yang Tian, knew this world and the course this era would take. He wanted to fight for his chance.
That was why this resolve in his heart could not be shaken. Even if the Demon God Emperor himself appeared before him, he would still make the same choice.
Balza was deeply shaken by his words.
Could a four-year-old child really say something like that?
To usher in an era of his own-would an ordinary person even dare to dream of such a thing?
"Fine. I'll give you six months. If you can't do it, you'll settle down and train properly!"
"What's more, if you haven't reached the level of a sixth-level Knight Squire in six months, your training will be doubled!"
Balza spoke sternly, but said nothing about expelling Yang Tian.
Yang Tian's words had moved him, too. He had once been full of confidence himself, hoping to become a true Knight, but...
He seemed to see a shadow of his former self in Yang Tian.
Only Yang Tian was far younger than he had been back then.
"Even three days apart can be enough to make you see someone in a new light!"
"Instructor, just wait and see what I can do in six months!"
Yang Tian held his head high and puffed out his chest, then gave Balza a proper knight's salute as he made his solemn promise.
Every word seemed to carry conviction.
Afterward, Yang Tian began his afternoon training.
He completed the day's prescribed weighted run, along with half an hour of Basic Swordsmanship practice.
Watching Yang Tian prove himself through action, Balza began to feel a little anticipation.
"Hmph. Let's see if you can keep this up for six months. Even if you went without food or drink, reaching sixty points of spiritual power in six months would be difficult!"
"When the time comes, heh, you'll still have to buckle down and train properly for me!"
Balza gave a soft snort, then smiled as he spoke.
What he did not know was that Yang Tian really would neglect sleep and meals in the days that followed...
Feels like nobody's reading. Maybe I should just drop this...
Before you continue