Mira stood close by, and she couldn’t hide her curiosity.
Rowan Voss wasn’t just the master of Moonhaven Hall. He was a true Earth Knight, the fifth stage of their path. In the whole Temple Alliance, people at his level were rare.
If one small letter could make him show that much respect, there had to be a huge reason behind it.
She was still thinking when Rowan finished reading. He nodded at Leo.
"Come with me."
He turned and walked out.
Leo followed him toward the third floor. Mira went along too, full of curiosity.
The first floor of Moonhaven Hall was the main reception. The second floor was where all kinds of matters were handled. And the third floor was where tests were held.
All the knights of Moonhaven Hall lived in the housing built behind it.
On the third floor, above the hall of the first building, sat a dome. The moment Leo stepped inside, a heavy feeling pressed down on him.
The hall was wide. The ceiling was about five meters high, and there was no decoration anywhere. Marks and lines were carved on the surrounding walls, giving off a faint glow.
Rowan stopped in the middle of the test hall. A pale blue light flickered from his right hand.
The floor split, and a stone pillar rose up. It was completely black. It was hard to even guess what it was made of.
Rowan turned to Leo and asked, "Do you know why your master sent you here?"
Leo shook his head. "Master said you would tell me."
"Senior Corvin wanted you to take the Standard Knight test." Rowan nodded. "Let’s begin. Strike this black pillar with all your strength. From any angle you like."
*Standard Knight test.*
The moment she heard those words, Mira thought she had misheard.
How old was Leo? Eleven or twelve, at most?
Mira was considered the most talented knight in Moonhaven Hall. And even she had only passed the Standard Knight test at thirteen.
Rowan wasn’t joking. From his tone, Mira began to guess something.
*Could Leo’s master be even higher than Uncle Rowan? A sixth-stage Radiant Knight?*
*Heavens!* Radiant Knights were legends in the Temple Alliance! Why would someone like that send his student all the way to Moonhaven Hall for a test?
Mira’s heart was still tangled in questions when Leo got ready.
He drew his Refined Iron sword. The blade gleamed black.
And the moment he held it, his whole mood changed.
Where had that ten-year-old’s innocence gone?
One step forward and one strike. Those were the two most basic moves of any knight.
*Clang!*
The Refined Iron sword smashed into the black pillar without mercy.
*Bzzzt!*
A pale blue mist rose from the hall’s walls. And on the black pillar, a number glowed.
**107**
107 Spiritual Energy!
Rowan and Mira’s eyes both went wide.
100 Spiritual Energy meant the second stage of their path. And even though 107 was only the first rank of the second stage, it was still the second stage!
And the biggest thing was this. Leo hadn’t used any Skill to boost his strength. It was just a plain, pure strike!
It wasn’t only those two who were stunned. Leo was shocked too.
*Is my Spiritual Energy already at 107?*
Last time, at Eldrin Hall, his Spiritual Energy had only been 25. After that, today was the first time he had tested it. He had never imagined a result like this.
*A Standard Knight... I’m really a Standard Knight now!*
A wave of excitement rushed through his whole body.
At that moment, Leo felt that all his hard work for the past year had finally paid off.
Corvin had taken a little boy from 25 to over 100 in just one year. And pushed him into the second stage of Knighthood.
On the Holy Demon Continent, it might not be the only case, but it could only be called a miracle.
Leo had worked incredibly hard himself, no doubt about it. But the man in white from the Assassin Temple had helped him too. And so had Corvin, who soaked him in that hot pool. That pool had done wonders for his body.
Without the hot pool, how could he have survived such brutal training? Passing out once would have been enough to send him to a long rest!
In just one year, his body’s foundation had become very strong.
Rowan’s face slowly returned to normal. But the way he looked at Leo had changed completely. It was like he was looking at a rare treasure.
A flattering smile spread across his round face.
"Your name is Leo Ashford, right? How old are you this year?"
Leo answered without thinking. "Ten years old."
Rowan and Mira both sucked in a deep breath again.
Calling him talented wasn’t enough. It was beyond talent. It was a miracle!
"Hall Master Rowan, did I pass the test?" Leo asked.
"Technically, yes." Rowan said. "By the rules, you only need 100 Spiritual Energy to reach the second stage. But your master wrote in the letter that you must challenge a Genuine Knight in battle. And you must survive his attacks for a full fifteen minutes. Otherwise, it doesn’t count as passing."
Rowan thought the condition was far too harsh.
Even a fifth-rank Genuine Knight might not survive another Genuine Knight’s attacks for fifteen minutes. Let alone a kid who had only just become a Standard Knight.
"That’s fine. Then please call someone for this."
Leo drew his second Refined Iron sword from its sheath.
"I’ll do it! I’ll do it!"
Mira rushed forward at once. She didn’t hesitate at all. Her beautiful blue eyes couldn’t hide her excitement.
*A ten-year-old Standard Knight! Is that even possible?*
She had to test this little knight’s fighting strength no matter what.
Rowan looked at Mira and nodded. "Be careful!"
Mira smiled. "Don’t worry, Uncle Rowan. I won’t hurt him. After all, he just became my little brother."
She pulled both swords from her back.
Her swords were far more beautiful than Leo’s. Golden light poured from both blades. Each sword was a little longer than 1.06 meters. And the marks carved into them gave off a holy glow.
Mira held her swords and looked at Leo. Then she was secretly shocked.
The moment he picked up his weapons, his whole mood had become completely different from that shy boy. Now he looked fierce.
And strangely, the pressure coming from him was starting to affect her a little.
Rowan stepped back a few paces. He said quietly, "Begin!"
As the referee, he was sure he could stop them from hurting each other.
Leo looked at Mira.
"Big sister, please be careful."
Mira smirked, spun her golden swords once, and charged.
Then she saw it.
Leo hadn’t moved a single step. He just stood there, perfectly still, and smiled at her.
The same calm, strange smile he had when time slowed down for him.