"How old is he?"
"Only seven and a half."
Long Xingyu fell silent for a moment before saying with emotion:
"Seven and a half, a Fourth-Order Grand Knight, and he can even create his own sword techniques. Uncle Yang, this child really is extraordinary."
Yang Haoyu did not respond. He simply watched the crystal ball.
Long Tianyin spoke up. "Brother Yang, you didn't call us here to watch him cultivate just so we could praise him, did you?"
Yang Haoyu rose from the stone stool and walked over to the crystal ball.
"Yuhao is a Fourth-Order Grand Knight now. That level of strength isn't much in Imperial Dragon Pass, but out in the wider world, he's already capable of holding his own.
"He's cultivating too quickly. I'm worried about his foundation.
"Imperial Dragon Pass is in the Far North, where ice-attribute Spiritual Energy is too abundant. The effect of his ice-attribute spiritual body is doubled here, and his Spiritual Energy is growing far faster than normal."
With that, he turned to look at Long Xingyu.
"Xingyu, aren't you going to the Holy City?"
Long Xingyu frowned. "Uncle Yang, do you mean for him to come with me?"
He was planning to look for his wife this time and had no desire to bring a burden along. Going to the Holy City was only an excuse.
"That's right." Yang Haoyu nodded.
Long Xingyu was silent for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Uncle Yang, I'm not going to the Holy City for sightseeing. The Demon Hunt Squad selection just ended, and the Temple Alliance is reorganizing the Demon Hunt Squads.
"As a newly appointed Divine Seal Knight, I have to report for duty. I'll pass through several Demon Clan infiltration zones on the way. Taking a seven-year-old child along is too dangerous."
Demon Clan infiltration zones were places beyond the six great mountain passes that small Demon Clan forces had invaded. They were generally few in number, and there were no Demon Clan powerhouses among them.
"Xingyu, he doesn't need your protection."
Yang Haoyu said, "What he needs is to leave Imperial Dragon Pass and go somewhere the ice-attribute Spiritual Energy isn't so abundant.
"At the same time, he also needs real combat. Take him out with you and let him see what a real battle is like.
"If he runs into danger, you only need to watch from the side. There's no need to intervene unless it's absolutely necessary."
Long Xingyu still shook his head. "Uncle Yang, I understand how you feel, but a seven-year-old child, no matter how gifted, has never experienced a real life-and-death struggle. If he actually runs into the Demon Clan, something could go wrong. I can't gamble with his life."
"He's not an ordinary child." Yang Haoyu's tone was calm as he continued, "He has the strength to protect himself, and whether he encounters the Demon Clan or magical beasts, they'll all be opportunities for him to train his combat skills."
Long Xingyu looked at the crystal ball without speaking.
At that moment, Long Tianyin spoke up:
"Xingyu, Brother Yang has a point. Yuhao really is extraordinary. When he awakened half a year ago, you heard about the phenomenon that appeared in heaven and earth.
"Innate Internal Spiritual Power of one hundred, an ice-attribute spiritual body-talent like that ranks among the finest in the Temple Alliance's history. If we keep him cooped up in Imperial Dragon Pass, we'll only hold him back."
Long Xingyu was silent for a long time before he finally nodded.
"All right, I'll take him with me. But let me make this clear in advance: if we run into danger on the road and I tell him to run, he has to run. If he doesn't listen, I'll send him straight back."
Yang Haoyu nodded. "Agreed."
That evening, Yang Haoyu went to see Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao was meditating in his room. When he heard a knock, he looked up and saw Yang Haoyu walk in.
"Grandpa."
Yang Haoyu sat down at the table and looked at him for a while before speaking. "Yuhao, would you like to go out and see the world?"
Huo Yuhao froze for a moment. "Go out? To train?"
"That's right. Grandpa plans to let you leave Imperial Dragon Pass and go out for some training."
Yang Haoyu nodded and said with a smile, "Your Spiritual Energy is growing too quickly. The environment in Imperial Dragon Pass enhances your ice-attribute spiritual body. If you stay here for too long, your foundation could easily develop problems.
"You need to go somewhere the ice-attribute Spiritual Energy isn't so abundant, slow down the growth of your Spiritual Energy, and solidify your foundation."
Huo Yuhao listened quietly, though inside, his heart was already bursting with joy.
He had long wanted to go out and see this world, but he had never had the chance.
"Divine Seal Knight Long Xingyu is going to the Holy City to report for duty. He'll pass through several Demon Clan infiltration zones on the way."
Yang Haoyu looked at Huo Yuhao and continued, "You'll go with him. If you come across any fighting on the road, watch from the side and learn as much as you can. If you encounter a suitable opponent, he'll also let you fight."
Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat.
Leaving Imperial Dragon Pass, going to the Holy City, traveling with a Divine Seal Knight, and passing through Demon Clan infiltration zones along the way meant opportunities for real combat.
He had spent more than seven years in Imperial Dragon Pass. Apart from when the Demon Clan had attacked on the day of his awakening, when he had been unconscious, he had never truly faced the Demon Clan.
No matter how much combat experience he had in his previous life, it belonged to his previous life.
This body needed real combat to bring everything into harmony. His circulation of Spiritual Energy needed to be tested in real combat, and his sword techniques needed opponents to refine them.
More importantly, leaving Imperial Dragon Pass meant he could experience a much wider world.
Auctions, the Temple Alliance, other passes, and the cultivation systems of the other temples.
He needed more ice-element magic texts, more cultivation resources, and more information.
As good as Imperial Dragon Pass was, it was too small and too limiting.
"I'll go." Huo Yuhao nodded firmly.
Seeing his eyes light up, Yang Haoyu's lips curved slightly, but he quickly resumed his usual seriousness and continued his instructions:
"Don't get happy too soon. Long Xingyu has a bad temper, and he won't be pleasant to you on the road.
"And Demon Clan infiltration zones are no joke. If you really run into danger, he won't protect you the way he did in the training grounds."
"I know." Huo Yuhao nodded. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll definitely be careful."
Yang Haoyu stood and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.
"Go pack your things. You leave first thing tomorrow morning."
He turned and walked out of the room, and the stone door closed behind him.
Huo Yuhao sat at the table, looked at the closed stone door, and took a deep breath.
Then the corners of his mouth slowly rose.
I'm finally going out.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice rang out lazily. "Oh, going on a long trip? Take me with you."
"You're always in my Sea of Consciousness. How would I take you with me?"
"I mean, if you run into anything fun, remember to call me. Don't let me sleep all the time."
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm yawned and said casually:
"Also, that Long Xingyu, the Divine Seal Knight, sounds pretty impressive. You should be able to learn a lot from him."
"I hope so. Even if I don't learn anything, going out is better than staying here."
Huo Yuhao nodded, then stood and began packing.
He did not have much: a few changes of clothes, a book of phrases for learning the ancient elven language, and two standard-issue iron swords. That was all.
As for the spiritual magic he wanted to learn, it was already etched into his mind.
After packing his few things, Huo Yuhao began meditating to restore himself.