Chapter 14 - Apprentice Knight

With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, he reached towards the private bath in Hartmann City.

The bathhouse was large, with a massive pool filled with hot water. But that wasn't what he was looking for. He passed by the pool and headed toward a series of private rooms, each with its own bathtub.

He walked inside each room and dropped a packet of Body Training powder. He walked out and entered another private room repeating this process 11 times. 

Once he was done, he returned to the group waiting outside.

"How many of you feel that you can awaken their life seed very soon"

Two people raised their hands hearing this, one was Arthur and another was son of family knight. Arthur was almost 16 and the other young man was at the age of 17.

"You two i have dropped a new medicine in the tub, enter in it" Luis said "Remember to run the knight breathing while absorbing the medicine"

All the young men present were confused, what medicine?

For increasing their strength don't they just drink life potion. What kind of new medicine is it that they need to absorb it through their body.

Although everyone was confused, Arthur had the most firm belief in Luis so he entered without any delay, the other boy also entered right after.

----

It has been 5 minutes since Arthur entered the private room and others were eyeing each other silently. A few whispered amongst themselves.

"What if it really works?"

"Yeah,"

"If they can awaken their life seed..."

"HAHAHAHA" Suddenly a hearty laughter was heard from the room beside Arthur.

'It seems the Body Training Powder has worked' Luis nodded with satisfaction hearing the laughter.

The private room slowly opened and the young man walked out with a huge smile.

"Thud!"

With a thud, he kneeled down Infront of Luis

"I, Ruben will follow Luis Hartmann till my last breath. This is my true oath"

As Ruben Declared his Oath, the surrounding air began to blow faster.

Luis felt a new connection form between him and Ruben, almost like a thread of energy that stretched out between them.

Suddenly, a change occurred within him, he saw a small thread made out of energy travelling through the void.

'Is this going toward the god of contract' The thought came to his mind but was immediately vanished.

A small invisible shield formed around his body, the thread which was about to enter the void had no where to go. The shield was formed by the special vortex in his body and then the thread was pulled and connected to the vortex.

Luis felt a rush of new memory injected in his mind. He quickly began to process this memory and couldn't help but be excited.

The vortex has new ability now. He can take other people to the cultivation world but It is only applicable to those who have taken a oath. The oath will now bypass the contract god, but will be marked directly in the vortex.

'At least I don't have to deal with the unknown gods at this early stage,' 

"You may rise. How do you feel"

"Young master, It was amazing. When i entered the tub my body started absorbing the green liquid, i followed your instruction and used knight breathing technique" Ruben said excitedly "then... a miracle happened! The life seed began to form in my body, with me eventually breaking through the realm of apprentice knight"

Ruben was really grateful for Luis helping him. He would reach age of 18 in just 40 days from today, if he couldn't awaken the life seed, he would have work as militiamen in the surrounding towns like his predecessors.

Luis nodded satisfied. But all the other 10 were very shocked hearing Ruben, young master really has such a strong magic medicine. 

"Hey, Do you think we'll get to use the medicine too?"

"Yes, we definitely can share this medicine, but we must follow young master with heart from now on like Ruben"

They began whispering slowly happily.

Just then another door opened, Arthur walked out of the room with a big smile. He also kneeled down towards Luis without any hesitation.

"I, Arthur Hartmann will follow Luis Hartmann till my last breath. This is my true oath" The surrounding air again began to blow fast after Arthur told his oath.

Luis felt yet another second small connection forming between him and Arthur. The thread was connected to the vortex. 

According to Arthur speculation, it would take him more than 15 days to awaken his life seed but it only took him less than 5 minutes by using this medicine.

He looked at Arthur with a new light. It seemed that his cousin had his own secret, but this is not bad. The Hartmann family had many secrets of their own which outsiders didn't know.

"Good. The rest of you can enter the private rooms now. I've prepared enough medicine for everyone."

Everyone cheered when Luis said this and they hurried into the private bathrooms.

"You can get up now Arthur" he instructed gently, his cousin is really good and can be his right hand man in the future.

Arthur stood up with his faces full of question, but he didn't ask anything knowing what to talk and what not to.

"Your emotions really show all over your body, don't worry i will tell you everything slowly"

Luis teased Arthur. Previously pipi could be hidden inside his body so she could be taken with him but humans couldn't be sent. Now with the oath connection, he can open a stable vortex that only he and his connected people can see.

If others watch they wont see the vortex but will just see him disappearing out of thin air.

Arthur grinned as Luis pointed him out, he really cannot hide his emotions. But this is only Infront of his close family members, to others he will appear very cold. He has to maintain the dignity of his family and father.