"Outside..."
Jiang Li was taken aback. His cultivation was inferior to Qian Renxue's, and he truly had not noticed anything.
He then used a probing technique.
Once he sensed the figures of the temple master and the others outside the awakening chamber, Jiang Li knew something must have happened just now.
Otherwise, they would never have come.
"Did something trigger a manifestation just now and draw them here?"
Jiang Li looked at Qian Renxue and asked.
Qian Renxue nodded.
Jiang Li hesitated.
Once Qian Renxue's innate Internal Spiritual Power of 99 and her identity as a Child of Light were exposed, the Knight Temple's higher-ups would undoubtedly take notice immediately. They might even devote great resources to nurturing her, and he, too, would gain many benefits.
After all, this level of innate Internal Spiritual Power might allow her to activate the Eternal and Creation Divine Throne.
In terms of maximizing benefits, Jiang Li leaned toward this choice.
But there was one prerequisite: Qian Renxue had to agree.
Unlike his earlier concealment of certain information to get her to undergo Sacred Awakening, this matter had, in a sense, risen to the level of a decision that would restrict her personal freedom.
Before he and Qian Renxue had truly forged a deep bond, a unilateral decision could very well drive a wedge between them.
He had to consider it carefully.
"What would you like to do?"
In the end, Jiang Li left the choice to Qian Renxue, then explained the advantages and disadvantages to her.
"Go to the Knight Temple?"
"I don't want to deal with them for now."
After some thought, Qian Renxue made her decision.
There were many reasons for this. On one hand, she did not want to be restricted; on the other, she did not want to form too many emotional ties with the Knight Temple.
From what she understood, the so-called Knight Temple was, in a sense, a different tune played to the same effect as Spirit Hall.
Having one home was enough. She did not need a substitute.
Although the Knight Temple would do everything possible to protect her once her identity as a Child of Light was exposed, the information might very well reach the Demon Race as well.
Gaining support also meant shouldering greater danger.
The current human alliance was simply no match for the Demon Race.
As for her own safety, Qian Renxue was not overly worried. If something unexpected truly happened, she could teleport straight back to the Douluo Continent.
"Leave the explanation to me."
Just then, Ye Hua woke up. Clearly, he had heard Jiang Li's words and understood his disciple's concerns.
Ye Hua's long accumulation had now burst forth, and his Internal Spiritual Power had risen directly from three thousand to around three thousand six hundred.
Moreover, his talent had improved as well, with his innate Internal Spiritual Power reaching thirteen points.
Although it was an increase of only four points of Internal Spiritual Power, it was a qualitative improvement for him.
Ye Hua was confident that he could advance further within two years and break through to the realm of a Sixth-Order Knight.
"Teacher, sorry for the trouble."
Since his teacher had stepped forward, Jiang Li knew he would not have to trouble himself with what came next.
He still had great trust in his teacher.
Ye Hua then left the awakening chamber to explain things to the people outside.
During this time, Jiang Li did not remain idle either.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you. Would you consider it?"
Jiang Li looked at Qian Renxue and spoke solemnly.
He was extremely serious.
"Let's hear it."
Seeing Jiang Li's expression, Qian Renxue paid a little more attention as well.
"Although I don't know your exact identity on that continent, if I'm not mistaken, your status must be very distinguished."
"No matter how it's explained, even with the Equal Contract, becoming my mount is an unacceptable humiliation to you, isn't it?"
Jiang Li looked at Qian Renxue solemnly.
If this issue was not resolved, a shackle would forever remain between him and Qian Renxue.
The Blood Pact he sought would certainly never succeed.
Not only that, but when the right opportunity arose, Qian Renxue might even find a way to dissolve the contract.
So, what did he need to do?
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want to dissolve our contract?"
At the mention of this, Qian Renxue's expression darkened somewhat.
Indeed, even if she deliberately avoided thinking about it, this matter was a solid reality, one she could not ignore.
Yet for the sake of her other goals, she had no choice but to keep this contract.
The feeling was deeply unpleasant.
"No. Signing a contract with you is my honor."
"If you don't consider me a burden, I won't be the one to ask to dissolve this contract."
"I'm bringing this up because I want to break down this barrier between us."
"I have a proposal. Hear me out, and if you think it's acceptable, we can give it a try."
Jiang Li began his pitch.
"A proposal? Let's hear it."
Qian Renxue immediately grew interested.
She, too, wanted to know what method Jiang Li could use to resolve this matter.
"There's another kind of relationship between knights: that of a Retainer Knight."
"In a Retainer Knight relationship, one party is the superior and the other the subordinate, much like a sovereign and a subject."
"Even with the Equal Contract, it still doesn't change your status as my mount."
"Removing this imbalance is simple. We just need to offset our positions by signing a Retainer Knight contract with each other. That way, within this relationship, I'll be your Retainer Knight-in other words, your subordinate-while you're my mount."
"Would a proposal like this make you feel a little more comfortable?"
Jiang Li then voiced his thoughts.
His original plan in approaching Long Haochen and building a good relationship with him had been to find a way to become his Retainer Knight, thereby improving his own talent.
After unexpectedly summoning Qian Renxue as his mount, he had wondered whether he could travel to the Douluo Continent through reverse teleportation and use immortal herbs to change his talent.
But after reverse teleportation failed, he had no choice but to reconsider other options.
He could indeed have Qian Renxue obtain immortal herbs on the Douluo Continent and bring them over, but there were other problems with that. First and most directly, how would he explain his knowledge of immortal herbs? Second, he had discovered that Qian Renxue was studying the Equal Contract, and from the look of things, she had other ideas.
So, after Qian Renxue successfully underwent Sacred Awakening, he considered it and decided to bind them more deeply together.
As for whether becoming Qian Renxue's Retainer Knight would leave him with any misgivings, that was no issue at all.
After all, from the very beginning, Jiang Li had aimed to become Long Haochen's Retainer Knight.
Now that he could directly become his own mount's Retainer Knight, it was all the more secure.
"Your proposal is indeed quite good, but you haven't told the truth."
"Besides this, you have a goal of your own."
After some thought, Qian Renxue felt this was feasible, but she did not agree immediately. Instead, she used the Equal Contract to sense Jiang Li's emotions.
After undergoing Sacred Awakening and becoming a knight, she had gained a deeper understanding of the contract between them.
She could sense changes in Jiang Li's emotions through the contract.
This took Jiang Li quite by surprise.
Qian Renxue actually had such a sharp mind.
Sure enough, he could not underestimate anyone.
He did not know that Qian Renxue had sensed something amiss through the Equal Contract.
"That's right. Besides that, I have a selfish motive: becoming your Retainer Knight would benefit me."
"By signing a Retainer Knight contract with you, I'll share in some of your talent and increase my innate Internal Spiritual Power. It won't affect you."
"With my talent, it would be very difficult to climb to the pinnacle of this world, so I need this help."
Since she had seen through his intentions, Jiang Li did not hide them. After all, this was not something he could conceal, and he had intended to tell her anyway.
"All right!"
Sensing that Jiang Li's emotional fluctuations were perfectly normal and contained no trace of a lie, Qian Renxue nodded slightly and agreed.
This agreement was truly a good thing for him.
It could remove the thorn in her heart while also improving Jiang Li's talent.
The stronger Jiang Li became, the better it would be for what she wanted to do.
"I don't have the Retainer Contract here. When Teacher comes back, I'll ask whether he has it. If he doesn't either, I'll look elsewhere."
Seeing Qian Renxue agree, Jiang Li felt an added measure of joy.
Whatever the case, at least for now, he had found a way to improve his innate Internal Spiritual Power.
He made a rough estimate. Barring any surprises, after signing the Retainer Knight contract, his innate Internal Spiritual Power might very well rise to sixty-two or sixty-three points.
At that moment, outside the awakening chamber, Ye Hua had already given Temple Master Nalan Shu and the others an explanation.
The reason was utterly absurd.
Just now, he had used an ancient formation to summon an angel of light from ancient times, thereby receiving the blessing of the Light Angel God and improving his strength.
Although it sounded absurd, Ye Hua's increase in strength was undeniable.
Moreover, with such a large increase in Internal Spiritual Power in such a short time, the explanation involving the Light Angel God seemed to make sense as well.
Naturally, Nalan Shu said nothing more. Besides, seeing this good friend of his advance further was something that made him very happy.
Long Haochen and his mount Haoyue, however, had noticed something.
As a fellow Child of Light, Long Haochen had been extremely sensitive to that unusual sensation just now.
As for Haoyue, as the reincarnation of the God of Damnation, he was even more perceptive when it came to certain matters.
But since his teacher said it was the summoning of the Light Angel God, they surely had their reasons, and Long Haochen would not probe further.
Only after everyone left did Ye Hua return to the awakening chamber.
"Teacher, do you know the Retainer Knight contract?"
Seeing his teacher return, Jiang Li stepped forward to ask.
If he could resolve the issue of his own talent, he would find a way to help his teacher resolve his talent problem as well.
However, the initiative in this matter was not in his hands.
Still, he was not worried. There was more than one Child of Light here.
Before you continue