Sixth-order knights were also known as Radiant Knights. They had successfully opened spirit apertures within their bodies, allowing them to store far more spiritual power than fifth-order knights and greatly improving their staying power in battle.
"I imagine it won't be long before Ye Hua leaves our Haoyue City."
Seeing Ye Hua successfully break through, Nalan Shu could not help but sigh, a note of regret in his words.
Whether they were outstanding young prodigies or knights above the fifth order, their Haoyue Branch Hall could not keep them.
Such people had to be transferred elsewhere whenever possible.
Although powerful members of the Demon Race occasionally appeared here as well, it was nothing compared with the front lines.
"Humanity will surely win in the end."
In response to Nalan Shu's lament, Jiang Li served him a bowl of chicken soup for the soul.
"I look forward to that day."
"It's just that these old bones of mine won't be able to contribute much more. I hope you'll have a part in that success when the time comes."
Nalan Shu gave his reply as well.
Just then, the door to the room opened.
After successfully breaking through to the sixth order and becoming a Radiant Knight, Ye Hua had undergone a transformation inside and out. Even the wrinkles on his face had diminished somewhat.
"Old friend, I won't interrupt you and your disciples catching up."
"In a few days, let's get together for a small celebration banquet."
Nalan Shu also knew it would be inconvenient for him to remain, so he casually found an excuse and prepared to leave.
"In a couple of days, I'll compile all my experiences from the breakthrough and map out a cultivation path for you. With your talent, perhaps it won't be long before you can break through too."
Ye Hua was very aloof toward many people, and he was no different even with his old friend.
This was his way of repaying him.
"All right. This time, I won't stand on ceremony."
Leaving those words behind, Nalan Shu turned and departed.
"Teacher, Haochen, how about going to the Underground Chamber at my residence?"
Only after seeing that everyone remaining was one of their own did Jiang Li make his suggestion.
"All right, let's head over now."
Although Ye Hua did not know what Jiang Li wanted to do, his disciple naturally had his reasons for saying this.
The group then went to Jiang Li's residence once more and entered the Underground Chamber.
"Teacher, this is nine-grade purple ganoderma, a supreme treasure that can strengthen your foundation, nourish your meridians, and improve your constitution and fundamental condition. It can resolve your talent problem at its root."
"Haochen, this is ten thousand year ginseng king. It can solidify your physical foundation, replenish your deficiencies, and deepen your reserves."
Without beating around the bush, Jiang Li placed the two supreme treasures he had prepared earlier before Ye Hua and Long Haochen.
"This..."
Looking at the items before him, Ye Hua did not know what to say for a moment.
Since Jiang Li said this could resolve his talent problem, then it surely could.
After everything that had happened, he had long since come to trust this disciple of his absolutely.
Long Haochen, meanwhile, was somewhat hesitant and uncertain. He truly had no idea how to respond to all this.
His senior brother had given him far, far too much.
He truly did not know how to repay him.
"Take them here. I'll stand guard for you."
Jiang Li gave them no room at all to voice a refusal.
Since he had chosen to bring them out, he was not going to be stingy.
"Teacher, I..."
Unsure what to choose, Long Haochen looked toward his teacher, Ye Hua.
"Haochen, don't stand on ceremony with your senior brother. Once you grow strong in the future, just don't forget the help he gave you today."
Ye Hua was much more at ease about it.
He had come to see that, at this stage, he could not fully repay this disciple's help and kindness.
He could only grow stronger and fulfill a teacher's duties when his disciple needed him.
Then Ye Hua began taking the nine-grade purple ganoderma according to Jiang Li's instructions.
As for Long Haochen, he no longer hesitated either.
During this process, Jiang Li did not remain idle. He continually observed the precise changes in his teacher and junior brother after they took the medicinal treasures.
By his judgment, when these medicinal ingredients were refined into pills on this plane, they would incorporate the plane's characteristics and spiritual power, allowing their medicinal effects to manifest to a greater extent.
But if they were taken directly on the Holy Demon Continent, there was no need for so much trouble.
The reason was simple: both the planar characteristics and the spiritual power were supplied by this plane, merely increasing the spiritual power contained within the medicinal ingredients.
On the Holy Demon Continent, these medicinal fluids could be absorbed while being consumed; the most essential factor remained their medicinal properties.
It took the two of them more than half a day to refine the medicinal power.
"I can feel it. My talent really has changed."
"Not only that, my internal spiritual power has now reached 4,900. I'm already at the third level of the sixth order."
"Xiao Li, thank you."
Feeling his transformation, Ye Hua was brimming with confidence at that moment.
Although his innate internal spiritual power remained unchanged and had not increased further, this exceptionally rare medicinal herb had given him the possibility of breaking through its limitations. If he continued at this pace, his future achievements would be greater.
This also meant he would not have to take up one of his second disciple Long Haochen's retainer knight slots.
Jiang Li had brought him all of this.
"Senior Brother, I've improved a great deal too. The main changes are a stronger physique and an increase in external spiritual power. The medicinal power of the ten thousand year ginseng king is also still in my body, strengthening my vitality. Once I finish compressing my internal spiritual power into liquid form, I'll be able to break through to the fifth order."
Long Haochen also explained the improvements he had gained after taking the ten thousand year ginseng king.
Because of the blood pact, and because this ten thousand year ginseng king was also considerably beneficial to Haoyue, Long Haochen had voluntarily given Haoyue a large portion of its medicinal power during the process. That was why he had not broken through directly to the fifth order.
"Go back and properly absorb the medicinal power. When the Demon Hunt Squad Selection Tournament comes, the two of us will compete together as fifth-order knights."
Jiang Li smiled calmly and did not keep them long.
Since they had both broken through, it was his turn next.
Not only in internal spiritual power, but in external spiritual power and mental power as well.
He was going to win this Demon Hunt Squad Selection Competition.
He simply did not know whether he would end up taking his junior brother's opportunity.
Jiang Li did not feel much burden over such a thing.
Some things had never belonged exclusively to any particular person. It all came down to fair competition.
Jiang Li then entered secluded cultivation, first taking the Light Spirit-Nurturing Pill to increase his internal spiritual power, then proceeding to take the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum and the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew to raise his physique and mental power to a certain level before attempting to break through to the fifth order and forge a deeper foundation.
While Jiang Li was in seclusion, improving his strength and working toward his breakthrough, Long Haochen sought out Ye Hua and told his teacher what was on his mind.
He wanted to share the skills he had obtained from the Inheritance Ring with his senior brother.
Only then would he feel a little better.
"Haochen, let me offer you a suggestion. Since your father gave this to you, you can decide for yourself what to do with it."
"However, your father did leave instructions beforehand, so you can choose a compromise. Don't share the exclusive inherited skills your father created himself with your senior brother."
"You can share those skills that are publicly available for exchange with merit points in the Six Great Temples with him."
"Don't think doing this won't be of much use to your senior brother. He has no merit points right now and can't exchange for those skills yet. Sharing them with him ahead of time will give him an additional measure of combat strength sooner, and save him those merit points in the future."
"What's more, a Divine Seal Knight's insights are an astonishing treasure in their own right, something money cannot buy."
After some thought, Ye Hua offered his solution.
"Teacher, that's a great idea. I'll do as you say."
"Once I break through to the fifth order and unlock the skills in the Inheritance Ring, I'll share them with Senior Brother right away."
Hearing his teacher's words, Long Haochen's eyes immediately lit up.
As time flowed on, half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
By then, Qian Renxue had already returned to the Holy Demon Continent, while Jiang Li remained in seclusion.
"It's time!"
Within the Underground Chamber, a golden light suddenly blazed from Jiang Li's eyes. All his accumulated power and reserves were sufficient.
It was time to break through to the realm of a fifth-order knight.
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