His right sword plunged into the ground as his body fell backward, while his upper body arched back forcefully. With all his strength, he swept his left sword horizontally. In that instant, Long Haochen felt his spiritual power seem to break through to a new realm. This sword struck the scorpion lizard’s lower jaw with a heavy blow. Although it didn’t knock it away in its power-enhanced state, it did force its ferocious mouth shut.

At the same time, Long Haochen used his right bamboo sword as a support, bending his body backward into an arch. His left leg swept out, striking the scorpion lizard’s lower jaw once again.

Two consecutive strikes, delivered in extremely tight succession, finally caused the scorpion lizard to lose its balance, the kick lifting it upward.

Simultaneously, Long Haochen used the bamboo sword as leverage to perform a backflip, releasing his right bamboo sword, allowing him to land a split second earlier. His left bamboo sword, carrying a faint layer of white lightning, stabbed upward like lightning.

With a “噗哧” sound, the scorpion lizard’s body arched upward, and its lower abdomen was instantly pierced by the bamboo sword, holding its falling body in place.

Amidst a shrill scream, the scorpion lizard’s tail swept across, making a final, desperate struggle.

But Long Haochen had already anticipated this, and upon succeeding with his sword, he immediately rolled away, dodging the scorpion lizard’s last attack, while drawing his right sword, previously stuck in the ground, to assume a defensive stance.

Bang, the scorpion lizard fell to the ground, its body twisting violently. The pain in its abdomen caused it to scream repeatedly, but it did not die immediately.

Long Haochen first calmly surveyed his surroundings, finding no other magical beasts. Only then did he find a large tree to lean against, breathing heavily.

In just a moment, his entire body was drenched in sweat. All of his physical strength seemed to have been drained away at that moment.

From facing the scorpion lizard to defeating it, it was only a matter of seconds. These seconds, spent teetering on the edge of death, could be said to have unleashed all of his potential. Especially the unusually clear perception he had before, allowing Long Haochen to maximize all of his abilities. The final, fatal blow even used the only skill Xingyu had taught him, Pure White Blade, instantly concentrating all of the body’s spiritual power into a single point, generating 110% of its attack power.

Even someone hidden in the shadows had to admit that Long Haochen’s series of actions was perfect. Even the moment when Long Haochen lost his balance from the impact could be seen as a deliberate lure. After all, his subsequent reactions were flawless. Two sword strikes and a kick were all it took to kill the scorpion lizard. At the same time, his spiritual power also broke through the 30 mark, entering the 3rd level of Attendant Knight. This was also the reason for the increase in strength that Long Haochen had felt earlier.

For any profession, the higher the level, the more obvious the feeling during breakthroughs.

After panting for about half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and as the sky grew even darker, Long Haochen finally felt some of his physical strength returning. The scorpion lizard lay there motionless.

Looking at the dead scorpion lizard, something gradually grew in the eyes of nine-year-old Long Haochen. “Teacher, you were right. No pain, no gain. I shouldn’t have been dissatisfied with you. If it weren’t for your guidance, I’m afraid I would never see my mother again. Teacher, I will never complain again, not even secretly in my heart.”

As he spoke, Long Haochen bowed respectfully in the direction of the mountaintop, before cautiously approaching the scorpion lizard.

Even the lowest-level magical beasts are more valuable than ordinary beasts. This level one intermediate magical beast is worth at least one gold coin. Long Haochen couldn’t bear to waste it.

He carefully found a stone and knocked off the scorpion lizard’s tail hook, then used two vines to tie it to its tail before dragging it back towards home.

He didn’t encounter any more dangers on the road and returned to Odin Town. He first ran to the shop, claiming the magical beast had been hunted by his teacher, and sold the scorpion lizard for one gold coin and two silver coins before finally returning home.

Bai Yue seemed to know that her son would be returning today. When Long Haochen walked through the door, he immediately saw a lavish dinner, unlike anything he’d ever seen at home before.

His teacher had kept his promise and brought delicious food for his mother. Seeing this, little Haochen felt even more grateful to Xingyu.

“Mom, for you.” Long Haochen excitedly took out all the money he had just received and handed it to Bai Yue.

Bai Yue was stunned. “Where did you get this money?”

Not wanting to worry his mother, Long Haochen told a kind lie. “Teacher told me to give it to you. Teacher said that after becoming an Attendant Knight, I can get a salary. This is the first year’s salary. If my cultivation improves quickly, maybe there will be bonuses later.”

Surprisingly, Bai Yue didn’t ask any further questions, but took the money and smiled. “Haochen, you must listen to your teacher, understand?”

“Yes.” Long Haochen nodded repeatedly.

Bai Yue said, “Is cultivation hard?”

If he had been asked this question before hunting the scorpion lizard, Long Haochen would have hesitated. After all, in his heart, the shadow of the ant-lion’s nest was quite severe. But at this moment, he shook his head without hesitation. “Mom, it’s not hard at all. The teacher teaches me very well, gives me lots of good food every day, and lets me soak in hot springs.”

Hearing his words, a hint of relief finally appeared on Bai Yue’s face. She touched her son’s head. “Hurry up and eat.”

After dinner, Long Haochen didn’t forget to use the nourishing liquid he had brought back to cook a bowl of wild vegetable soup for his mother, before happily returning to his room to sleep.

Early the next morning, he set off on the road back to Odin Mountain. He didn’t encounter any more magical beasts on the way and soon returned to the mountaintop.

“Teacher, I’m back.” Long Haochen walked into the wooden house excitedly.

Xingyu seemed to have been waiting there, and said calmly, “Before starting today’s lesson, I want to test you on whether you have forgotten what you learned last week. Tell me, the amount of spiritual power required for promotion for Attendant Knight, Quasi-Knight, and Knight.”

Long Haochen answered almost without hesitation, “Attendant Knights, from level one to level ten, increase by ten spiritual power for each level. Breaking through one hundred spiritual power means promotion to Quasi-Knight. Quasi-Knights also increase by ten spiritual power for each level. Breaking through two hundred spiritual power allows for the real Knight exam. The Knight exam not only tests spiritual power, but also tests the ten Knight principles. After becoming a Knight, the first level still requires an increase of ten points of spiritual power, meaning a total spiritual power of two hundred and ten to be promoted to level two Knight. The following nine levels require an increase of thirty points of spiritual power for each level. When the final Knight level ten advances to the fourth tier class, it requires an accumulation of fifty points of spiritual power, which is five hundred spiritual power.”

Xingyu then asked, “Then why is the increase from level one to level two different from the later increases after becoming a true Knight?”

Long Haochen said, “Because after entering the third tier class, you are truly considered a strong person in that class. Level one to level two is just a process of adapting to that tier. You taught me that this is the same for both the third tier and the subsequent fourth tier and fifth tier classes. The increase from level one to level two is the easiest.”

Next, Xingyu asked a series of questions, lasting for a full half-hour, before the test was over. Long Haochen answered all of his teacher’s questions without any mistakes, demonstrating his amazing memory.

“Very good, you remember very clearly. Let’s begin today’s lesson. I ask you, what do you think is more important for a Knight, attack or defense?”

PS: It’s time for little Haochen to make a choice. Will he choose protection or punishment? Guess everyone. Hehe. Don’t forget to vote for Haochen, he really needs recommendations and favorites.