4 days later
Luis has been staying in the Ferterra base for the past 4 days, occasionally going to the cultivation world and practicing the martial arts he had learned.
He tried to practice the martial arts that he looted from Anyu Gang, but it was far inferior to Turtle Martial Arts.
These past few days, he became more familiar with the Vortex Qi in his body. He could now perfectly attach it to his sword, making the attack sharper and heavier.
He also taught others, but their progress was far slower than his. They would need months of practice if they wanted to become Official Knights. This was due to their average talent. If Luis hadn't helped them, most of them couldn't have awakened their life seed before the age of 18.
'I hope everyone has arrived' With much thought in his head, Luis headed towards the training ground.
Today was the day when almost all of his followers would assemble and meet him. He had given order to Liam to recall them using the authority of the Young Master of Hartmann Barony.
When Luis arrived, he saw men lined up with Liam overseeing them. They stood at attention, disciplined as ever, waiting for his command. He knows every single person here.
"Liam, how many are here?" Luis turned to Liam and questioned
"Young Master, all 41 militiamen arrived. No one dared to disobey the order written in your name."
Luis nodded in approval. "Good. My judgment was not wrong."
He stepped forward, scanning the faces of the men. He knew each one, whether by name or from previous interactions.
"Everyone, You must recognize me. I am Luis Hartmann, eldest son of Felipe Hartmann." Luis addressed them, his voice commanding attention.
He paused, letting the weight of his lineage sink in. Then he began his questioning.
"First, I need some basic information about you all."
"Raise your hand if you are above the age of 20."
Of the 41 men, 25 raised their hands.
"Raise your hand if you are above the age of 25."
Nine hands dropped, leaving 16 still raised.
"And who here is above 30?"
This time everyone dropped their hands. Luis was just 14 years old, and he obviously didn't have much interaction with those who would be above 30.
"You're all getting older," Luis said, his tone serious, "and yet none of you have awakened your life seed."
The men lowered their heads in shame. Luis continued speaking.
"Some of you are commoners, some are sons of family knights, and some are even my cousins." Luis looked around at everyone's face, recognizing most of them.
"Do you want to live like this?" Luis asked, his voice growing louder. "Do you want to be powerless in a world driven by strength?"
No one dared answer. The silence was heavy; their heads hung low.
"Don't lower your head. Look at me." Luis shouted angrily, "Even if your talent is lacking, haven't you pushed yourself to the limit?"
"Haven't you trained relentlessly, from dawn until the dead of night? So, why do you bow down now? Tell me, do you really want to live like this, defeated and small?"
Everyone looked at Luis and clenched their fists with unwillingness and shame. They don't want to live, but what could be done? Everything in this world depends on talents. Hard work brings you success is just a lie.
"I don't want to live like this, young master!" A guy in his twenties shouted. Luis recognized him. He was Brian, a son of a commoner who was given a chance to train with them.
"I promised my mother I would become an official knight before she died. Now, I am not even an apprentice knight. My mother always comes into my dream and questions me. I can't keep living like this. I really don't want to live like this. I want to complete my promise to my mother."
Brian's eyes were full of tears talking about this. The others eyes were also full of unwillingness and expressed their regrets and frustration.
"I also want to become like my father."
"I train so much harder; it is not fair."
"..."
Luis watched all this with silence, letting them vent their feelings. Everyone has their own regrets in life that others cannot fully understand. He couldn't fully empathize with them like Brian's mother. Luis will say he sympathizes for her death, but in actuality he doesn't care much.
Only when the bad incident happens to oneself or your loved ones will you feel pain. The only thing he can do right now is stay silent and listen to their story. A few moments later, they stopped venting and began staring at Luis.
"I can give you what you desire," Luis declared, his voice cutting through the air.
"I can give you an opportunity to awaken your life seed and break through the realm of apprentice knight."
Luis voice sounded, and the whole ground totally became silent. The eyes that were staring at Luis widened.
"In return, all I need is your loyalty. I want you to be the sharpest spear in my hand."
The ground was still in silence when suddenly a bang was heard. It was Brian who kneeled down.
"I, Brian, will follow Luis Hartmann till my last breath. This is my true oath.
The surrounding air began to blow faster.
Next, there were constant sounds of bangs as others kneeled down. They could offer their loyalty and become the sharpest spear in the hand of the young master even if he didn't offer the chance for them to awaken their life seed.
Now, they have stronger reason to be loyal to Luis. They didn't doubt Luis. Young Master of Prestigious Hartmann Barony would not lie to them.
Nobles are very prestigious. They are the real rulers of this continent. Not only humans, even elves, orcs, goblins, and dragons have their own noble families.
Even if Luis lied, no one here would dare to question him. The influence of nobility for thousands of years has created such a mentality among people.
He watched as all the people here were connected to his vortex. Now, he will directly take them to Cultivation World instead of giving them body-training powder like he did to the previous group.
"Everyone, don't be shocked by what you see next. What you are about to see will change your lives forever." Luis declared to everyone as a vortex appeared in front of them,
"Enter inside without any delay."