It turns out that it all came down to the prophecy of the old astrologer Grace. It seems that he will indeed be the saviour of the Lancelot Empire in the future? Earlier, at the Dark Mantle headquarters, Grace had a strange look on her face when she looked at him. Could she have seen something then?
Hearing Karel's sentence, Han Shuo suddenly had a realisation. He knit his brows in thought for a moment before smiling bitterly as he looked at Karel and said, "To be honest, I have only just heard this news. I have not been thinking about what I can do for the Lancelot Empire and have only been thinking about what I should do for myself."
When Karel heard Han Shuo's truthful answer, he laughed involuntarily and said, "Perhaps in the process of helping yourself, you would also have unknowingly helped the Lancelot Empire change its power and achieve an expansion of its territory. For example, you helped Lawrence become king, or you ambitiously attacked the seven duchies. Although these can be considered your own actions, their end result would still change the structure of the Lancelot Empire."
Han Shuo couldn't help but think for a moment after hearing Karel's words. He suddenly realised that what Karel had said actually made sense. He had been considered a member of the Lancelot Empire ever since he arrived in this world. Personally, he felt that life in this country was quite good, and he had many friends and lovers in this country. In this case, when Han Shuo realises his own ambitions, he is also considered to be benefiting the Lancelot Empire at the same time.
"Haha, my lord is truly a wise person. What you said really makes a lot of sense." Han Shuo looked at Karel, not hiding his flattery at all.
When Karel heard Han Shuo flattering himself so brazenly, his look became a little strange. He smiled faintly as he said to Han Shuo, "Phoebe is my dearest student and your relationship with Phoebe can be considered official. Besides, Lawrence is also my student. You're not really an outsider. There's not much difference between Bollands following you and me. Besides, I'll be frank with you about some things.
"If Senior has any advice, do not hesitate to share it with me. I will definitely keep your words in mind." At first, Han Shuo was still worried that Karel would not allow Bollands to study under him. Now that he had heard Karel put it this way, he also felt that it was reasonable. From Karel's relationship with Phoebe and Lawrence, they were no strangers. As for Bollands following Han Shuo, they were still considered to be of the same faction.
However, Han Shuo faintly realised that the reason Bollands found him today to give his answer was most likely because Karel had received some information from the old astrologer Grace. He understood that Lawrence and Han Shuo were the future hope of the Lancelot Empire and was therefore willing to allow Bollands to train under Han Shuo.
Seeing that Han Shuo was sincere, Karel smiled as he nodded and said, "You may have learnt something about Bollands' origins from Lawrence. Back when Bollands was an assassin, his hands were truly said to stink of blood. Bollands' murderous habits have not diminished after so many years. I hope that you will be able to lead him to the path of righteousness and not become an irrational tool of slaughter. Can you promise me that?" It seems that Karel was quite good to Bollands. Not only did he respect Bollands' decision and allow Bollands to leave his side, he was also concerned about Bollands' future. However, Han Shuo's purpose in teaching Bollands the Godslayering Devil Path was to groom Bollands as a tool for eliminating dissidents. Only with proper demonic cultivation would Bollands not lose his rationality and become a madman who only knows slaughter.
Han Shuo hesitated for a moment, frowning as he pondered over and over again, before answering Karel honestly, "Bollands' bloodthirsty nature wouldn't change even after training with me. However, my martial arts would be able to guide him properly and allow him to retain his rationality. If he is able to break his own bonds, he will no longer need to rely on slaughter to increase his strength.
Therefore, I can only guarantee that he will always have a clear mind and will not become the killing machine you mentioned. However, in order for him to progress in the early stages of martial arts, it would definitely be necessary for his potential to be ignited by killing. Only by releasing the killing intent that he had suppressed all these years would he improve by leaps and bounds".
Karel was stunned when he heard Han Shuo's explanation. He stared at Han Shuo for a long time before he said, "What exactly is this unusual training method you want to teach him? Why does it sound like one of those evil techniques from the Church of Calamity? Could you really be as rumoured to be a member of the Calamity Church?"
Shaking his head, Han Shuo smiled bitterly as he explained, "It is completely different. My martial technique is a training method that is similar to the fusion of combat aura and magic. Ah, I don't know how to explain it either. Anyway, my master said that such a martial art doesn't come from the Profound Continent.
Karel was shocked when he heard this and stared at Han Shuo for a long time before he exclaimed with an excited expression, "A martial technique not from the Profound Continent?! What kind of extraordinary person is your master?"
"That is indeed what he told me. My master possesses such formidable strength that he can break the bonds of the planes without the use of magical arrays. He also has magical powers that can move mountains and drain oceans..." Han Shuo based his description on his understanding of Chu Cang Lan's abilities.
Ever since Han Shuo had revealed his demonic magic, King Uhtred of the Lancelot Empire had known that Han Shuo possessed a mysterious martial technique. Of course, the sacred sword master karel had known about it long ago. However, the origin of this martial technique was a perennial question for them. Han Shuo naturally needed a series of lies to fill this gap, so he repeated to Karel what he had told Bollands.
When Han Shuo finished his description, Karel looked at Han Shuo in horror and said, "Your master may be a true divine character. I really don't know how you were so lucky to meet such a person. No wonder Grace prophesied that whoever you support will be able to become the new king of the Lancelot Empire. It seems that Grace's astrologer is indeed mystical.
Whoever I support would be able to become the king of the Lancelot Empire? Han Shuo was also shocked and became emotional again. It's no wonder that there was even a hint of pleading in Uhtred's tone when he spoke to Han Shuo. The old astrologer seemed to have really helped him.
However, the old astrologer was able to predict the future, was she also able to see the past? Was she able to see his true origin and find out that the original Bryan had died a long time ago?
"Bryan, is-is your master still on the Profound Continent? C-can I meet him?" While Han Shuo was letting his imagination run wild, Sacred Swordmaster Karel's emotions were suddenly in chaos, his eyes glittering as he looked at Han Shuo and asked.
Han Shuo abruptly returned from his wild thoughts, smiling bitterly as he shook his head. He repeated what he had said to Bollands to fob off Karel, "After Master taught me this fighting technique, he left the Profound Continent. I don't know his whereabouts either. I'm sorry."
"So that is the case!" Karel was obviously a bit disappointed as he muttered, "It's really too bad. I've been at this level for so long, if I had the opportunity to meet such an impressive person and perhaps ask for advice on some problems, I might be able to break my bonds..."
For people who had reached the level of Sacred Swordmaster Karel, their only concern was to constantly improve their strength. At his age, he was already numb to wealth, rank, fame and power. Even the strength of a country could not contain people like him, and they only longed for and pursued the rumoured demi-divine realm mentioned by their ancestors.
"Earlier, when I visited the underground world, I met a level five magical creature. You may have found some information about it through the Dark Mantle. The ancient lizard king Dagassi had left after reaching the demi-divine realm. I suspect that he might have left the Profound Continent as well, heading for a more expansive plane." Han Shuo was silent for a while before suddenly speaking again.
Karel, who had been thinking, was awakened by Han Shuo's statement. Soon after, Karel sighed and said, "Legend has it that those who reach the Demi-Divine realm are actively approached by the guardian of the Profound Continent plane, and that the guardian can help these characters break free from the constraints of the Profound Continent.
This information was given to us by Stratholme of Stranglethorn Vale when we previously visited the Seven Grand Duchies. Stratholme was only one step away from the Demi-Divine Realm, and he vaguely knew some of the Profound Continent's deeper secrets. It would seem that the Demi-Divine magical creature should have gained the qualifications to leave.
Old monster Stratholme! Han Shuo's eyebrows furrowed when he heard about this person again, this time from Karel. Han Shuo fully understood Stratholme's true strength, a step away from the Demi-Divine realm. It seemed that he was more formidable than Karel.
Only experts who had reached the strength of the Demi-Divine realm would have the qualifications to be summoned by the plane's guardian. It seemed that the Profound Continent was indeed full of unknown secrets. Han Shuo was secretly worried as he replied, "I guess Dagassi has indeed left. Ah, such a distant dream, I really don't know when I would have such qualifications."
"You still have a long time to explore. Besides, you have a good master and should be faster than us. Ai, for people like us who are already too old, this bottleneck has been limiting us all along. We can only wait bitterly if we are unable to break through. Karel sighed, his snow-white hair and flabby skin showing the ruthlessness of time. An expert like him could indeed live much longer than ordinary people, but the distance of this final step was incomparably great.
As he looked at Karel, Han Shuo realised for the first time that even these supreme figures of the Lancelot Empire had their own worries. Perhaps this was his only worry! Han Shuo didn't know how to react, so he just remained silent in front of Karel, waiting for Karel to come out of his funk.
After a while, Karel had a vague trace of understanding. Then he looked at Han Shuo intently and smiled as he said, "I've heard Bollands describe many of your wonders, but I've never really seen your martial technique. Perhaps your martial arts can give me some inspiration. If you don't mind, we can spar a bit."
Han Shuo was somewhat startled that Karel would suggest sparring with himself given his status. However, Han Shuo understood that what Karel was interested in was the technique he was practising and not Han Shuo's personal strength.
Han Shuo stared blankly for a moment before he smiled and replied modestly, "Sparring is out of the question. The fact that you are willing to advise me is already more than I could ask for. Forgive me in advance for being so presumptuous."
Karel seemed to appreciate Han Shuo's straightforwardness, smiling as he nodded his head and said, "Don't worry, just use your martial technique to attack me. I'm very curious about your martial arts.
Let's see how it compares to the martial aura I've cultivated!
Han Shuo was similarly excited when he heard Karel's sentence, as he had not found out his true strength since he reached the separate demon realm. Han Shuo felt confident enough to face opponents at the level of Great Swordsmaster, but he had yet to encounter experts at the level of Sacred Swordsmaster.
Although the Dark Elf matriarch Adele whom he had met earlier in the underground world was extremely strong, Han Shuo realised when he stood in front of Karel that Adele was still weaker than Karel. Moreover, Han Shuo hadn't really fought with Adele before, he had only used evil methods to harvest Yin to replenish Yang and suck Adele dry, and hadn't really fought with Adele.
Han Shuo might be able to truly understand the current strength of his Separate Demon Realm by fighting with the Sacred Swordmaster Karel. This would also help him to make an accurate judgement the next time he met a strong opponent.
Therefore, Han Shuo was somewhat excited when he heard Karel's suggestion that they spar.
"The martial technique I practice is called Demonic Magic, which is similar to combat aura, but has different characteristics from combat aura. You might be able to feel it after a while." Han Shuo stepped back a few steps, the Demonslayer Edge suddenly appearing in his hand.
"For Bollands to think so highly of you, it proves that your martial technique definitely has its peculiarities. Hehe, Bryan, you don't need to hold back. Don't hesitate to attack me. Karel stood up from the boulder and took a translucent longsword from his space ring. The longsword was three fingers wide, one hundred and thirty centimetres long and had a cross engraved on the hilt.
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