Chapter 308
"Patriarch."
The old man named Longshan Zhu had been a fourth-level knight for many years, serving as a pillar of the Longshan family.
How many fourth-level knights are there in the entire Longshan Territory?
If not for Viscount Longshan's personal request, Longshan Zhu wouldn't have bothered to tutor a junior of the Longshan family.
Yet, what he initially intended to handle casually turned into an incredible, almost dreamlike experience.
So much so that he was still in disbelief, constantly needing to verify if he was dreaming.
"What happened?"
Viscount Longshan sensed something was wrong when Longshan Zhu didn't speak.
"Could it be that Yuan really is hopeless?"
Viscount Longshan's tone carried disappointment. The Longshan family had an extraordinary bloodline and practiced the family's Longshan Cultivation Method.With Longshan Zhu's guidance, even if Longshan Yuan was inept, he should at least be able to sense his Qi Sea within a month.
"Hopeless?"
Longshan Zhu was startled by Viscount Longshan's words and quickly explained, "Patriarch, Young Master Yuan is not hopeless. He has already sensed his Qi Sea."
"Not hopeless."
Viscount Longshan was relieved for a moment, then his eyes widened. "You said he already sensed his Qi Sea?"
Whether it's the Longshan Cultivation Method or other knight cultivation methods, the first step is to sense the Qi Sea.
This is the prerequisite for becoming a first-level knight. Any being who senses their Qi Sea can use its power to transform themselves and then choose a suitable knight cultivation method.
However, sensing the Qi Sea is difficult, testing the knight's aptitude.
The Longshan family allowed one month for their members to sense the Qi Sea.
As long as they sensed the Qi Sea within this month, they had hope of becoming an official knight and would receive the family's support.
But now?
How long had Longshan Zhu been guiding Longshan Yuan?
An hour?
Or two?
"Are you saying Yuan sensed his Qi Sea within two hours?" Viscount Longshan's voice trembled.
In the Longshan family's history, since the first viscount settled in Longshan Territory, only three people had sensed their Qi Sea within two hours.
Two of them became fifth-level great knights, leaving a significant mark in the family's history.
The third one, unfortunately, perished prematurely.
The Longshan family didn't always have a fifth-level great knight. Currently, the strongest in Longshan Territory was a fourth-level knight.
The emergence of a fifth-level great knight would return the family to its peak, akin to the first viscount's era, commanding submission from surrounding viscounts.
Even the empire would bestow rewards, congratulating the Longshan family for producing another great knight.
Such honors and benefits all stem from a fifth-level great knight.
"Sensing the Qi Sea within two hours..." Longshan Zhu fell silent again.
If it were true, he would be elated, not unsure of how to speak, tinged with a bit of trepidation.
"Patriarch, Young Master Yuan sensed his Qi Sea in... two breaths." Longshan Zhu steadied himself and spoke with difficulty.
In fact, he wasn't sure if it even took two breaths. He only remembered Longshan Yuan glancing at the Longshan Cultivation Method and then claiming to sense the Qi Sea.
If Longshan Zhu hadn't clearly felt the Qi Sea fluctuations in Longshan Yuan, he would have reprimanded him.
"You said... two breaths?" Viscount Longshan was stunned.
Sensing the Qi Sea in two hours was barely believable, but two breaths?
Two breaths weren't even enough to calm oneself, yet he sensed the Qi Sea?
"Are you sure?"
Viscount Longshan took a deep breath, stood up, and asked solemnly.
He knew Longshan Zhu well, an elder who disliked joking, especially on family matters, never hiding or lying.
But sensing the Qi Sea in two breaths was too unbelievable.
"I'm sure."
Longshan Zhu affirmed.
He was certain that Longshan Yuan's Qi Sea was sensed after meeting him and reading the Longshan Cultivation Method.
"Sensing the Qi Sea in two breaths... Is our Longshan family really about to soar?" Viscount Longshan was initially shocked but then overjoyed.
Sensing the Qi Sea in two hours suggested a potential fifth-level great knight.
But sensing it in two breaths? A sixth-level legendary knight? Or a seventh-level demigod?
In the Plateau of Nations, seventh-level demigods who didn't secretly spread their faith could join any empire, gaining immense glory, even receiving praise from the gods of the Sea of Light.
A seventh-level demigod could establish a new empire if they wished, negotiating with the gods of the Sea of Light.
"Who else knows about this?"
Viscount Longshan's eyes turned deep.
"Patriarch, only the two of us know."
Longshan Zhu understood the gravity and spoke seriously.
"Good."
Viscount Longshan nodded.
Neighboring viscounts and distant forces might tolerate a future great knight sensed in two hours.
But two breaths? If leaked, it would be bad news.
Viscount Longshan was sure the empire would intervene, possibly forcing Longshan Yuan to the imperial capital.
"From now on, Yuan sensed his Qi Sea in five hours, not two breaths."
Viscount Longshan thought for a while and seriously told Longshan Zhu.
Sensing the Qi Sea in two hours suggested a future great knight, still somewhat eye-catching.
Five hours was ideal, indicating potential for a fourth-level knight, without attracting too much attention.
"Understood."
Longshan Zhu responded immediately.
He realized this was an unprecedented opportunity for the Longshan family. With patience, Longshan Yuan's growth would herald the family's rise.
"Yuan is the hope of our Longshan family. We mustn't let anyone threaten him," Viscount Longshan murmured.
After leaving the family's underground training ground, Lin Yuan sensed he was being watched.
"Are they sending someone to protect me?" Lin Yuan thought.
He showcased part of his talent to receive the family's full resource support, improving his cultivation efficiency.
This was based on his experience from eight previous transmigrations. He wasn't worried about arousing family suspicion.
As the pure-blooded third heir of the Longshan family, the stronger his talent, the better for the family.
Moreover, Lin Yuan's displayed talent was restrained, just instantly sensing the Qi Sea, which wasn't much.
Boom boom boom.
Just then, the towering Dashan approached.
"Young master, I heard you sensed your Qi Sea in five hours," Dashan asked naively.
"Yes," Lin Yuan nodded.
Shortly after sensing the Qi Sea, Longshan Zhu returned, repeatedly urging him not to reveal the true speed.
Lin Yuan understood the intention and agreed.
"Sensing the Qi Sea in five hours, young master, you must have high knight talent," Dashan said in his deep voice.
It had taken him almost a day to sense his Qi Sea.
"Let's go."
Lin Yuan said.
"Alright."
Dashan immediately knelt, letting Lin Yuan sit on his shoulder.
Standing over three meters tall, Dashan resembled a small giant, with Lin Yuan on his shoulder without any sense of discord.
"The starry sky is so beautiful," Dashan said, looking up as he ran.
Night had fallen, and numerous deep, vast 'stars' appeared. Even across space and time, one could sense their immense power.
"Indeed, it is beautiful," Lin Yuan agreed.
He recalled information about the 'stars' above the sky.
In this world, after reaching the seventh-rank demigod, one needed to gather faith and elevate their divine kingdom to enter the Sea of Light or the Abyss of Darkness.
Why 'elevate the divine kingdom'?
Because the gods' divine kingdoms ascended to the sky, becoming eternal 'stars'.
Thus, every 'star' Lin Yuan saw was a god's divine kingdom, with the stronger gods corresponding to more terrifying 'stars'.
The 'stars' representing the twenty-four main gods exuded such a powerful aura that it shook most of the starry sky.
Even from a vast distance, Lin Yuan felt a bit of trepidation when observing those twenty-four stars.
By sensing the divine kingdoms of the main gods, Lin Yuan vaguely perceived their true power.
Each main god was not weaker than Huny, a unique ninth-rank. They were close to the tenth rank.
"The cultivation system here places the internal world outside... This allows for rapid growth of the internal world by relying on the main world."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
In the main universe, eighth-rank beings keep their internal worlds inside, hence called internal worlds, allowing them absolute control.
The internal world is the foundation of eighth-rank beings. Keeping it outside is too dangerous.
But this also creates a separation from the main universe, hindering growth, hence the strenuous effort to develop multiple layers of space.
To maximize the depth and thickness of the internal world.
"It's a good cultivation system. Interesting"
Lin Yuan nodded. Placing the internal world outside has many benefits, such as accelerating growth and reducing personal burden.
However, the downside is that enemies could target the 'stars' in the sky, directly hitting the gods' weak points.
Both the gods' divine kingdoms and the eighth-rank beings' internal worlds are their core foundations. Their collapse would have unimaginable consequences.
"Dashan, do you think those stars will ever fall?" Lin Yuan asked casually.
"Fall?"
"Stars?"
Dashan widened his eyes, confused.
Each star represented a god. A star falling meant a god's death.
In Dashan's understanding, gods were eternal, high above in the Sea of Light, overseeing all beings.
Gods falling? Unthinkable.
"Young master, how could stars fall?" Dashan said.
He had never considered this. Since birth, he had seen the stars in the sky, unchanged for years.
"True."
Lin Yuan nodded.
'But many of them will fall in the future'
...
Soon, under Dashan's running, Lin Yuan arrived home.
His parents were already waiting, having received the news.
In this world, one of the twenty-four main gods of the Sea of Light is the 'Net Goddess', whose divine power constructs a magical net covering the human realm.
Any news could be transmitted through this 'magic net,' making communication very convenient.
"Son, your knight talent surpasses mine. As expected of my son, Longshan Fang, hahahaha."
Longshan Fang exclaimed, excited.
Sensing the Qi Sea in five hours—a clear sign of a future fourth-level knight.
In all of Longshan Territory, there were fewer than twenty fourth-level knights. Each one was a pillar of the Longshan family, the strongest deterrent against other viscount territories.
"You have the nerve to brag?" The young woman beside him couldn't help but say, "I remember it took you almost half a month to sense your Qi Sea."
"Isn't he better than me?"
Longshan Fang was unfazed.
Better by a bit or by a lot, still better.
If another family member sensed the Qi Sea in five hours, Longshan Fang might mock them, but this was his son.
He felt only pride.
After chatting with his parents for a while, Lin Yuan returned to his training room.
"So many Longshan Fruits?" Lin Yuan looked at the dozens of fruits.
Longshan Fruits, produced in Longshan Territory, are spiritual fruits containing vast energy, aiding knights in training.
When Lin Yuan first sensed the Qi Sea, Longshan Zhu had a spiritual fruit ready to help him lock onto the Qi Sea's fluctuations with its abundant energy.
The energy in Longshan Fruits is not only vast but also gentle. Even if not absorbed, it remains dormant in the flesh, to be absorbed slowly later.
Thus—
Longshan Fruits are precious. Normally, a family member receives one a month, if they have knight potential.
But now, Lin Yuan's training room had dozens of Longshan Fruits.
Most Longshan family members had never seen so many in their lifetime.
"I can't start training yet."
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, casually picking a Longshan Fruit and eating it, feeling the gentle energy flow through his body.
His priority was to replenish the lost essence from Longshan Yuan's years of indulgence.
...
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