"The mystery of kendo is that one lies in speed, the second lies in angle, and the third lies in strength."

Erko waved his palm gently and regarded his palm as a sword blade. With a light stroke in the air, he actually had a momentum that could cut through all things. His palm was slender and beautiful. Looking at the boy's stunt, he changed his subject and smiled, "Loran, I ask you, do you feel hot recently in your star veins?"

"No." The boy shook his head and blinked his eyes and said, "Nothing is the slightest feeling, Teacher Elko, do I never have the chance to awaken the Star Source Mark again?"

“Not to.”

"But... I heard rumors from the elders in the village that if a person is over 16 years old but still does not have the Awakening Star Source Seal, it is almost impossible for him to Awakening Star Source Seal in this life, nor will he be able to master the Awakening Star Source Power."

"It may not be so." Erko smiled softly and said, "Nothing in the world is absolute. It's like a truth that some people cannot understand in half their lives. When they reach age, they will naturally realize it. The same is true for the Star Source Seal. The blood of the Apocalypse Luo Yi flows in your body. In the future... they will definitely grow into a great knight."

Luo Lan frowned: "Teacher Elko, I heard from the big sisters in the village that you used sweet words to deceive many of the big sisters' first kisses, saying that your mouth was like a smear of honey, which made people forget it. You said to me like this, are you lying to me too? In fact... I will never have the chance to awaken the Star Source Mark in my life, right?"

"Won't."

Erko's old face turned red and said, "How can we believe the rumors in the village? Those girls just took the initiative to kiss. I did not give them any word for encouragement. And Lolan, you don't have to worry. Even if you can't awaken the Star Source Mark in this life, it doesn't matter. This does not prevent you from becoming a great warrior. In the ancient times of our Star Source Empire, there was a great knight who eventually became an Apocalypse with his strong physical strength. His name..."

"Call Linshan."

The boy pursed his lips and said, "You have told me this story countless times, but... Lin Shan is an alien of the acquired awakening star source mark, and he has powerful fire power, but I don't. With my power... I can't compare with him at all."

"But……"

Erco smiled softly and said, "I have seen it in a book. When Master Linshan was fifteen years old, at the same age as you. He only focused on practicing the body and was able to punch 300 kilograms of strength with one punch. You are not far from that, so Lolan, you will also become a great knight. You don't need to have any doubts about this."

"Yes, teacher."

The boy said happily: "So... can I try to practice slashing with your sword today?"

"Okay, let's go, let's go to the jungle to practice swords and boxing."

"Okay, thank you teacher!"

The boy was ecstatic and almost forgot about the fact that he had not yet awakened the star veins.

...

In this way, days passed day by day, and the days of selecting young people in the village were getting closer and closer. There were also rumors outside. It is said that Ailan City will send some knights from the Knights of Light to the village in the distant mountains to personally select potential young people, allowing them to enter Ailan City Academy for training for free, and have a certain chance to become a glorious imperial knight in the future.

As usual, Luo Lan practiced swords and boxing every day, and his strength increased day by day, but he could never break through the limits of his body and could not awaken the legendary star source mark.

Finally, the day of selection is coming.

eve.

A handsome knight in armor and gray robe came to the courtyard of Luo Lan's house, tied the war horse he was holding in the courtyard, walked forward, the moonlight shone on the badge on his chest, and shining with dazzling light. He walked forward respectfully, with one arm across his chest, bowed, and saluted: "Madam, Luo Lan!"

"Teacher Erco!"

Luo Lan's mother smiled slightly: "You are here so late today. Is there anything wrong with Luo Lan?"

"Nothing is wrong, just come and have a look."

Erko also smiled a little, but then said with a serious look on his face: "Tomorrow is the day for the selection exam. Alan City will send the Knights to this small village to select the best among the young people. Loran... still hasn't awakened Star Source Seal?"

"No."

Lolan looked at his palm, a little disappointed.

"fine."

Erko smiled: "Even if you don't have the star source mark, you will definitely become a great knight. After all, not all knights can control the star source power. Moreover, this time you have to seize the opportunity and must be qualified to go to Ailan City Academy to further study. In this case, when I come back, you may already be an apprentice knight."

"Why, teacher, are you leaving?"

Lorran's watery eyes were wide open, and he seemed unable to accept the news that Erco was leaving.

"Yes, I received the order and was about to go to Xingyuan City to perform a mission. I will leave tonight." Erko frowned, with few showing worries, and said: "The Holy See has sent an order to cancel the vacation of all the knights under the Knights of Light, so my vacation mission has ended and I must go to the battlefield as soon as possible."

"Battlefield?" Luo Lan was shocked: "Are the rebels from the Far East appearing again..."

"No." Erco shook his head and said, "It's a monster. The monsters hiding in the mountains in the north are ready to move again. A few days ago, it was said that the Knights of Light killed three Sky Knights. This incident shocked the headquarters of the Holy See and even alarmed the great figures in the Temple of Goddess. This time I will leave overnight and accept the dispatch of the Holy See."

"Since that's the case... the teacher takes care of it all the way!"

"Well, so are you!"

Erco turned around, gently rubbed Luo Lan's short hair, showed a warm smile, and said with a smile: "Boy, get stronger quickly, the teacher doesn't want to hear the sarcastic sarcasm of the uneducated brats in the village again. It would be better for you to teach them a lesson by yourself."

"Well, I will definitely work hard to become stronger!"

The boy clenched his fists and watched Erco leave, Lolan sat in the courtyard, dazed.

"rustle……"

The sound of mother's footsteps came from behind: "Loran, why haven't you returned to your room yet? It's dewy outside, be careful not to catch a cold."

"Mother."

The boy looked back at his mother, with a little confusion on his face and said, "Teacher Alco said that his father is a powerful controller of the star source power, is that right?"

"It's not just the masters of the star source power..."

The woman's face surged with pride, and even a little admiration, saying, "He is a powerful apocalypse who integrates the fire of the gods. Looking at the Star Source Continent, there are not many people who can compare to it. But... he suddenly disappeared, suddenly there was no news, and he never returned to this home again. Maybe... maybe when you wake up the Star Source Seal one day, you can go to him by yourself."

"I will be sixteen next year. In the history of the empire, no one can awaken the star source mark at the age of 16."

Luo Lan was a little depressed and said, "If I can't control the power of the star source, even if my body is strong, it's just a waste in the eyes of others."

The woman stepped forward, gritted her teeth, and said, "No, even if you can never awaken the Star Source Seal, my mother still firmly believes that you are the treasure given to me and your father by God!"

Luo Lan continued to sit quietly under the stars without saying a word.

...

The next morning.

In a square for sacrificial sacrifices in the southwest of the village, the sparsely populated place was already full of people. People from different villages came here with their children to conduct a selection of children's destiny.

In the distance, with the heavy sound of horse hooves, the crowd moved away, and a row of knights from Ailan City entered the square. Suddenly, a group of children, including Lolan, all showed their yearning to become a powerful knight, serve the empire, fight against monsters, and become a hero that people say. This is the common dream of every child on the Xingyuan Continent!

Looking at the knights' ingenious armor, shields engraved with the Imperial Knights' badges, as well as the swords at their waists, the heavy and sharp rifles in their hands, and the pure-blooded war horse with pure fur, all the children showed envious eyes, dreaming that they could become one of them.

Unfortunately, the empire had very strict requirements on knights. It not only required strong enough combat skills, but also had to master strong enough star source power. Otherwise, it would only join the local army and its status could not be compared with the knights of the Knights of the Light.

A knight holding a broadsword walked in front, turned over and dismounted, and said, "Captain, are you ready?"

"Sir, all are ready."

The village chief said in a trembling voice: "Farmers, hunters, and all children of the age of suitable age have been sent, with a total of 83 people, and the list is here."

"good."

The Knight took the list and said, "Then... let's get ready to start. I'll report my name, and come up to receive the selection and assessment."

"Yes, sir!"

A group of children made tender voices.

The Knight slowly took off his helmet, revealing a short golden hair, looking at a group of children, a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and said, "The assessment is divided into two types, one is the strength assessment, and the other is the star source power assessment. If you pass any one, you will be considered as being qualified to be selected for Ailan City Academy. OK, let's start!"
Chapter completed!