The Knights’ Sacred Mountain (III)

"The Knights' Sacred Mountain is a place where our Knight Temple raises various kinds of magical beasts. In the Knights' Sacred Mountain, there is a peculiarity discovered by our ancestors from the Alliance three thousand years ago. That place is very good for the growth of magical beasts and will reduce their wild nature. Taming them becomes really easy. A young knight just needs to be approved by one of them, and then he can take it away, making it his mount. It is also one of the best privileges our Knight Temple has, just like the enchanted equipment that a young genius mage from the Mage Temple can receive. But, you should know that among those in our Knight Temple's top ranks, all of them visited the Knight's Sacred Mountain."

Long Haochen's dark blue eyes immediately lit up. "What if all of the magical beasts from the Knights' Sacred Mountain are tamed?"

Li Xin couldn't help laughing. "How can it be so easy‽ In our entire Knight Temple, if there are a few tens of Knights below twenty years old in the same year, it is already not bad. And sometimes, there are not even ten knights. Also, at the Knights' Sacred Mountain, there is a great summoning array that seems to be able to connect to a particular place from which a magical beast will be summoned every so often. Thus, you don't have to worry about the Knights' Sacred Mountain having a shortage of magical beasts. That said, on the mountain, there are even 9th step magical beasts. If one can get a 9th step magical beast, it can be considered equivalent to having reached at least the 7th step of the vocation."

Long Haochen asked, "Elder Sister, at which step is your Rose Unicorn?"

Li Xin proudly answered, "My Rose is, at the moment, a 5th step magical beast, but it isn't mature yet. After it has grown up, it can attain the 7th step at the least, granting power equivalent to someone with a 6th step vocation. Your elder sister will also become at least a 6th step Radiant Knight, so you should double your efforts, too. Haha…"

"Yeah, then I'll double my efforts with my first goal set to becoming qualified to visit the Knights Sacred Mountain."

The mission was easy to complete. With the protection of a Genuine Knight who had already visited the Mountain, it wasn't a difficult task at all for a 2nd step knight who could use Divine Obstruction to kill ten magical beasts. After only half a day, the task was accomplished. He got 25 gold coins and his first entry of a completed mission on his adventurer certificate.

Sometimes, a new meeting was truly a wonderful thing. That was how Li Xin felt. She really liked her new little brother. Not only did she help him with his mission, she also accompanied him to the Odin Town, which was located more than 100 kilometers away from Haoyue City,1 and they were both very reluctant to part.

It would soon be night and, looking at the red-colored sunset on the horizon, Long Haochen couldn't help showing a triumphant smile. "Teacher gave me two days to complete a mission, but I only needed one. Let's go back home to see Mother, then I'll go back to the summit of the mountain tomorrow morning to surprise Teacher."

Thinking about that, he jubilantly headed home, but at the same time, his head was filled with envy. He was reminiscing about the beautiful reddish silhouette of the Rose Unicorn. How fantastic would it be if in the future he could have a magical beast as his mount! Long Haochen clearly knew that it would have been impossible for him to pass the examination if Li Xin had ridden her Rose Unicorn.

Filled with that sentiment of admiration, he quickly saw his cottage. To give a good surprise to his mother, he gently, and stealthily, opened the entrance door. But, after a single step inside, he became dumbstruck.

His pair of blue eyes instantly became dull, and his whole body couldn't help trembling.

Because of his mental strength, which was different from an ordinary person's, Long Haochen had, generally, a calmer attitude than people of the same age. But, at that moment, he couldn't control himself at all. In front of him was the most unimaginable scene he could ever dream of.

Bai Yue was in the courtyard, but was seated on a man's lap. That man was the one who had a place, second only to his mother's, in his heart; the one who enabled him within a single year to become a Standard Knight. Teacher Xingyu.

"You… you…"2 Long Haochen stood there, completely speechless; his mind was completely blank at that moment.

"Chen-Chen." Bai Yue tried to stand up from Xingyu's lap, but he suddenly held her in his arms and a thin light appeared, making her unable to move or speak.

Xingyu stood up, moving Bai Yue to the side, and gave a cold look at Long Haochen.

"Why‽ Why are you taking advantage of my mother‽" Long Haochen stood there, shouting hysterically. Right after that, he took out his pair of refined-iron swords. His eyes had become very red.

Xingyu's wrist moved slightly and used a mysterious trick. In his right hand appeared a bamboo sword. With his left hand placed behind his body, and his sword's tip turned towards the ground, he faintly said, "Come."

There was nothing left of the excited mood Long Haochen had been in. Instead, despair, agony, hate, and all sorts of negative feelings were rising within him.

"AAH!!!" Long Haochen let out a cry, charging towards Xingyu. This time, he didn't use any skills, just swinging his two swords, going all out against Xingyu.

He didn't know Xingyu's actual strength, nor his speed at all; in fact, it was impossible for him to match his teacher. However, Teacher was taking advantage of Mother! and because he discovered that there was this kind of matter between the two people who had the biggest places in his heart, there wasn't an ounce of reason left in him.

Bang!

With a little swipe from the bamboo sword in Xingyu's hand, it was as if Long Haochen was crushed by a mountain; he was sent flying backwards and fell in the courtyard.

"What did I teach to you? Regardless of what kind of foe you are facing, even if it is me, you have to remain calm." said Xingyu faintly.

At that moment, Long Haochen recalled his lessons. His body crawled and rolled on the ground; his heart was filled with hate and he felt betrayed; and all the blood in his body seemed to be burning. He charged once more, without the least bit of hesitation.

Pure White Edge Thorny Charge

Using an enhanced charge, he launched his most powerful attack.

However, it was completely useless.

Xingyu used spiritual energy at the same level as Long Haochen's. He had a mere bamboo sword in his hand, and it was a very thin one, but it hit at the weakest spots on Long Haochen's swords that were swung at full power.

The bamboo sword collided, and the shock reached both of Long Haochen's hands. His iron swords fell on the ground, letting out two Puff! sounds. Long Haochen also fell back, his bottom sitting on the ground.

"Argh!" It didn't stop at that. Even without weapons, Long Haochen, still in pain, once more charged like a mad tiger towards Xingyu.

Xingyu's brow wrinkled, the bamboo sword thrust forward straight towards Long Haochen's stomach. However, Long Haochen didn't even try to avoid it and directly jumped towards the sharp point of the sword.

Xingyu had a fright; although it was only a bamboo sword, it was still sharp. Without anything protecting Long Haochen's body, even if he wasn't killed, he would still be greatly wounded. Thus, he subconsciously stopped the bamboo sword and let Long Haochen dash towards his body.

Without hesitation, Long Haochen bit Xingyu's arm.

At Xingyu's level, it would have been easy to get rid of him, but he didn't move. Instead, he let Long Haochen's teeth sink ruthlessly into his arm. His only reaction was a slight wince.