Chapter 83: Section 84: The Shining Young Knight (Two-in-One)


    “What is spiritual power?” Bai Ya immediately voiced his confusion, “It sounds very ethereal.”


    Cang Xu smiled, “I can’t cultivate, and I’m not very clear on what exactly spiritual power is. But as far as I know, there are actually quite a few examples of those who can utilize spiritual power.”


    “Inhabiting the Frost Continent, among the Barbarians, their elite warriors mostly possess an intuitive ability to dodge. When they encounter invisible attacks or are ambushed, they can all dodge responsively. According to scholars’ research, they believe that the essence of this intuitive dodging is the power of the spirit. If this ability is stronger, it can even sense traps.”


    “There are many icefall zones in the Frost Continent, large areas of ice with a key point of collapse. Hopping and running around randomly on other parts of the ice does nothing. But as soon as you lightly step on this point of icefall, the entire ice surface will instantly shatter, and the person who loses their footing often perishes as a result.”


    “Other groups’ explorers often die in icefall zones, or are killed by Magic Beasts hiding in deep snow. However, after elite Barbarians develop their intuitive dodging ability to the extent that it can sense traps, they can avoid them beforehand and safely walk on the snow.”


    “As this ability continues to be enhanced, Barbarian warriors will no longer fear being encircled on the battlefield. They are always able to rely on their intuition to avoid being caught in a dire situation.”


    ...


    Upon hearing this, Zhenjin was stirred inside.


    He thought about the time when he had risked entering a group of lizards to rescue Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others.


    Facing the encirclement, he wasn’t panicked, calmly dealt with all the attacks, and effortlessly dodged the relentless assaults—it was quite similar to the Barbarians.


    Cang Xu continued, “In the Wilderness Continent, there is a Wind Sword Saint. He is a Holy Domain Level expert, who since the beginning of his cultivation, has focused solely on his longsword. He wears no armor, has no other weapons, and devotes almost all his energy to improving his Sword Skill. According to the legends, every time he draws his sword, it’s too quick for the eye. His sword techniques are extremely minimalistic, and each strike ensures the life of at least one enemy.”


    “This Wind Sword Saint holds high prestige and influence among the Beastmen and is worshipped by many. Since the Fighting Energy he practices is very common and his bloodline is not exceptional, yet he has reached such heights, this serves as a role model and provides hope to the vast majority of Beastmen who lack good innate talent and don’t practice superior Fighting Energy.”


    “For those Beastmen who seek instructions from him, the Wind Sword Saint once explained—extremes in heart, extremes in sword. People speculate that this is him developing spiritual power, projecting the spirit’s power onto his sword, achieving the legendary mystical state of unity between man and sword.”


    “Are there such figures among the Beastmen too?” Bai Ya exclaimed in surprise, “If that’s the case, why are the Beastmen still unable to stand up to our Human Race?”


    Zhenjin shook his head solemnly, “Don’t underestimate the Beastmen. The Beast Race can dominate the entire Wilderness Continent, clearly possessing many outstanding warriors and heroes. Although it’s our Empire that currently holds the upper hand, in reality, we have only occupied a corner of the Wilderness Continent, having only broken through one of the tribes of the Beast Race. The true war potential of the Beast Race has yet to burst forth.”


    Bai Ya was just an ordinary person, harboring ambitions of making a mark and headed to the Wilderness Continent, hoping to become a knight.


    Many were like him.


    In the Empire’s political propaganda, they purposefully downplayed the strength of the Beastmen, touted the benefits and prospects of war, inciting various levels of the Empire’s forces to surge into the Wilderness Continent.


    Zhenjin and the Hundred Needle Family were included in this, but as a noble, Zhenjin had a much broader perspective than Bai Ya.


    People from lower social strata held purely optimistic views about the Human Race’s prospects on the Wilderness Continent. The upper social strata almost all knew: this was just the initial phase of the Human invasion, merely getting a steady footing. A real major battle would still be needed in the future to determine the outcome of the conflict between the two races.


    “The Wilderness Continent is at least twice the size of the Holy Bright Continent, and yet it has only produced one Wind Sword Saint. He is an exception; bloodline is still the cornerstone of power. When comparing overall strengths, our Human Race vastly surpasses the Beast Race,” Zi Di offered her opinion, “This war between the Human Race and the Beastmen, we are destined to win!”


    Zi Di’s optimism was also the most common perception of the Human Race.


    She too had to win.


    The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce had no room for development in the Holy Bright Continent; expanding and growing through the war between the Human Race and Beast Race was the best path.


    Zhenjin did not continue to explain.


    He had realized: every little thing he mentioned, Cang Xu could mention more, and Cang Xu’s words were even more convincing than his own explanations.


    Yet Bai Ya clung tightly to the topic, “How can one awaken spiritual power? I also want to become such a person!”


    He didn’t possess an exceptional bloodline, and was merely a common hunter’s son; Miss Xi Qiu had not provided him any material support. Thus, Bai Ya was very interested in spiritual power.


    Zi Di then chuckled and said, “Your question, the Wind Sword Saint has already answered—extremes in sword, extremes in heart. This means you need to focus all your attention and energy on one point. So, Bai Ya, if you want to learn from the Wind Sword Saint, you’d first need to forget about your Miss Xi Qiu.”


    “Ah, how can that be?!” Bai Ya was shocked and shook his head repeatedly.


    Everyone chuckled again.


    Bai Ya, hearing the laughter and seeing the teasing looks from others, realized he was being made fun of.


    He touched his head, his face turning red.


    But despite feeling embarrassed, Bai Ya still gritted his teeth and looked at Lord Zhenjin with eyes filled with admiration, love, inquiry, and begging, “Lord Zhenjin, do you have any insights?” Sёar?h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a pause, Bai Ya continued to ask, “You also possess spiritual power, but you are completely different from the Wind Sword Saint—you love Ms. Zi Di!”


    Lan Zao and Cang Xu glanced at Bai Ya, thinking how bold he was.


    Lan Zao, a middle-aged man, and Cang Xu, an elderly man, both had rich life experiences and understood the gap between social hierarchies. If it were them, they would never dare, as commoners, to ask a Holy Temple Knight for secrets of cultivation.


    But Bai Ya was just a young man, with very little life experience. It was for this reason that he had fallen in love with Ms. Xi Qiu, a noblewoman.


    Bai Ya had the romanticism and naivety typical of youth.


    In his heart, he had already decided: Ms. Xi Qiu was waiting for him, hoping he would become a knight, return gloriously to his hometown, and marry her.


    And after experiencing so much on this island, he also faced threats of death.


    Various reasons made him extremely eager to gain power.


    But he also understood the harsh reality. He didn’t have bloodline advantages or cultivation resources, so spiritual power, though it seemed elusive, became his only hope.


    This was precisely why the Wind Sword Saint was so influential and charismatic.


    Bai Ya’s straightforward words made Zi Di take a discreet look at Zhenjin, her gaze tinged with shyness.


    Zhenjin coughed and rolled his eyes inwardly. “Who knows what spiritual power is!”


    He had reached this point solely by cheating with a Heart Core.


    But he didn’t want to continue lying.


    Constantly lying would only lead to more lies.


    Because a lie is not the truth, there will be discrepancies. Once discrepancies occur, the liar needs to cover the previous lie with another. But would the subsequent lies have no discrepancies?


    This way, the discrepancies would accumulate, eventually forcing the liar into a state of desperation, unable to extricate themselves.


    Moreover, for Zhenjin, an important point was—lying contradicted the knight’s spirit!


    In fact, Zhenjin’s recent lie covering up the lizard-like pupils had already put him under great pressure.


    So, he decided to tell the truth this time, “Bai Ya, I might disappoint you. Regarding spiritual power, I am also not very clear. Maybe… it is related to my experiences. I’ve faced life and death many times, which has toughened my spirit.”


    “Ah, is that so?” Bai Ya’s face was full of disappointment.


    This young man admired and trusted Zhenjin greatly, not suspecting at all that Zhenjin might be hiding something.


    Zhenjin wanted to comfort Bai Ya, but he opened his mouth and didn’t know what to say. He could only cast an expectant look towards Cang Xu.


    Cang Xu indeed did not disappoint him.


    The next moment, Cang Xu said to Bai Ya, “What Lord Zhenjin said makes a lot of sense.”


    “Many scholars have analyzed and summarized that the true essence of the Wind Sword Saint’s cultivation is that he put his life on the line, facing death every time he fought or trained. Stimulated by death, he gradually unearthed spiritual power. Lord Zhenjin’s encounters on this island share a similar essence to the Wind Sword Saint’s voluntary combat against formidable enemies.”


    Bai Ya raised his eyebrows, “So, to uncover the power of the spirit, one must actively seek adventures and face the threat of death? Isn’t that too dangerous?”


    Cang Xu said, “That’s why the Sword Saint of the Blazing Wind had many disciples but never managed to foster another Sword Saint. Although there emerged many excellent talents, more of them met untimely deaths. His method of cultivation was too perilous, heavily dependent on luck. Till now, there hasn’t been a disciple who could fully inherit the Sword Saint’s mantle.”


    Bai Ya sighed upon hearing this and could only give up the idea.


    Although Bai Ya was willing to take risks for power, he had his limits. Seeking the power of the spirit by facing death everywhere was below his bottom line.


    Like Lord Zhenjin, who bore the responsibility of revitalizing his family, Miss Xi Qiu’s love and expectations were Bai Ya’s motivation and also his constraint.


    The next moment, Bai Ya looked at Lord Zhenjin with even more admiration and respect.


    “Lord Zhenjin, you are truly remarkable! So young, yet you’ve mastered the power of the spirit. Compared to the Sword Saint, Lord, you possess an even superior bloodline. Among the Holy Temple Knights, you must be the most unique. It is my honor to meet you and follow you!” Bai Ya exclaimed heartfeltly.


    Lord Zhenjin: …


    “Not just an honor, but also a hope,” Zi Di took over from Bai Ya and also gazed at Lord Zhenjin, her eyes filled with tender affection.


    Cang Xu laughed heartily and assertively said, “Lord Zhenjin, your talent is exceptional, and you definitely have a brighter future than the Sword Saint. But what I admire most is the moral character you possess. With you here, the Hundred Needle Family will surely rise again.”


    Lan Zao said nothing, but upon hearing Cang Xu’s words, he silently nodded his head.


    Like Cang Xu, he too held Lord Zhenjin’s moral character in high esteem.


    At that moment, scenes of his interactions with Lord Zhenjin flashed through Lan Zao’s mind.


    He and Huang Zao kneeling on the ground, with Lord Zhenjin forgiving their crimes—this was mercy.


    Lord Zhenjin toyed with the Bronze Level leader sheep and killed the Flying Squirrel chief among others—this was bravery.


    Lord Zhenjin repeatedly truly listened to and accepted recommendations from Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others—this showed his willingness to consider others’ opinions.


    Leading the entire team, facing difficult decisions, Lord Zhenjin resolutely decided to cut wood for bows and successfully hunted the Flying Squirrel group—this was wise leadership.


    Poisoned, lacking food, enduring the pursuit of beasts in the desert, many crises, Lord Zhenjin always inspired others—this was steadfastness and optimism.


    Lord Zhenjin promised: to do his utmost to save everyone, although only their group of five remained, it wasn’t Lord Zhenjin’s fault. He had done all he could; he was always fulfilling his promise—this was reliability.


    What made Lan Zao feel both ashamed and admired was what he learned from Cang Xu and Zi Di. In the Volcanic Cave, at the most dangerous moments, even if Cang Xu offered himself up, Lord Zhenjin upheld the spirit of a knight and didn’t resort to treating people as food—such a noble character!


    None understood more than Lan Zao the nobleness, rarity, and commendable spirit and virtue under the shadow of death.


    After leaving the volcanic region, through battles, ravenous hunger, and severe lack of food, Lord Zhenjin still insisted on giving the little lizard and Jumping Rat meat to Cang Xu and Zi Di—this was his compassion for the weak, his selflessness!


    What deeply moved Lan Zao was that, even knowing his own crimes, Lord Zhenjin still pitied him, didn’t abandon him, ultimately making Lan Zao decide to keep living.


    Although Lord Zhenjin never said comforting words to Lan Zao, Lan Zao firmly believed—Lord Zhenjin understood him!


    Looking at the young knight before him, at his handsome face, at his golden hair, at the composed and elegant smile on his lips, Lan Zao’s eyes slowly moistened.


    He didn’t just see Lord Zhenjin; he didn’t just see a Holy Temple Knight; he saw the sun.


    In his eyes, in his heart, Lord Zhenjin seemed to constantly radiate light from all over!


    This light wasn’t because of the identity of Lord Zhenjin Holy Temple Knight, nor because of being the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, nor from the external reflection of sunlight; it was from the internal character and spirit.


    There he stood, appearing ordinary but in reality, he was a banner, a banner belonging to knights!


    Lan Zao genuinely wanted to follow this flag from deep within his heart.


    In recent days, as night fell and Lan Zao rested, alone facing himself, he reflected and speculated.


    “If at that time, when I discovered Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others trapped at the top of the dune surrounded by a swarm of lizards, my brother and I had disregarded our own safety to go to their rescue, we might have joined up with Lord Zhenjin. Would that have changed the outcome?”


    “But at that time, I listened to my brother’s words and chose not to rescue them. Could that be the divine, could it be fate punishing and warning us brothers?”


    “Lord Zhenjin, even a person as deeply sinful as I have been saved by you, never abandoned!”


    “From now on, I will follow you with all I have, with everything I possess, faithfully unto death!”


    “You once saved my brother, but when your fiancée was in danger, both Huang Zao and I chose to flee and abandon her. From now on, I will spend my life atoning for this choice!”


    “Following someone like you, is it possible… perhaps… that it could diminish my darkness? Could it reduce my sins?”


    “It’s like the sunlight shining down, melting all the darkness…”


    After coming out of the Oasis, Lan Zao was reticent, his internal journey unknown to others.


    He had once degraded himself to slavery and proclaimed loyalty to Zhenjin. But that was only because Huang Zao had offended such a significant figure as Zhenjin, and for his brother’s sake, Lan Zao had no other choice.


    But now, Lan Zao’s quiet loyalty was of a completely different nature.


    This loyalty was very little due to Zhenjin’s noble status. More so, it was that Zhenjin’s understanding of Lan Zao made him feel recognized, and the immense grace of Zhenjin having saved both Lan Zao’s life and spirit.


    Furthermore, it also stemmed from Lan Zao’s own remorse and guilt, his attempt at self-redemption, driven by an intrinsic human impulse towards goodness.


    Looking at Zhenjin expressionlessly, Lan Zao’s emotions were exceedingly complex. In the tumult of overwhelming emotions, his eyes gradually reddened, and his vision blurred more and more.


    Zhenjin looked at Bai Ya, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and Lan Zao, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp.


    All of these people looked at him, their eyes filled with eagerness, worship, affection, tenderness, loyalty, and appreciation.


    The young knight was a bit overwhelmed.


    What he found slightly terrifying was Lan Zao’s tendency to burst into tears right there.


    “What does this mean?!”


    “I only told a very minor lie, hoping to lay a little groundwork for the future and to hide the Heart Core.”


    The unexpected intensity of everyone’s reactions was overwhelming, and Zhenjin felt he could no longer bear it. He shook his head quickly, “You all think too highly of me. Enough of this, let’s keep moving.”


    Zhenjin turned around and continued to lead the way ahead.


    Others did not know, but did Zhenjin not know himself?


    He knew that his abilities were actually quite limited.


    He also knew that although he appeared very decisive on the outside, deep inside he also felt doubtful, lost, hesitant, and worried.


    He longed for bravery but also feared death.


    He was a noble, a knight, but he was also just an ordinary person.


    “Right, I almost forgot! Lord Zhenjin also possesses a humble quality!” Lan Zao’s eyes brightened again.


    “It’s hard to imagine someone his age, with such achievements, still maintaining such a humble and cautious mindset. This is certainly not pretence! I’m sure this humility comes from his heart. I really want to know immediately how great the accomplishments of Lord Zhenjin will be in the future.” Lan Zao watched Zhenjin’s retreating figure, filled with myriad emotions, endlessly admiring.