After the Ratfolk attack, the Doanh Stronghold was shrouded in grief, as many had perished. The Doanh Stronghold Lord personally visited every household, helping the citizens with rebuilding efforts. He publicly announced a portion of the gold found in the Ratfolk city and distributed it, though this was only a small fraction of the colossal wealth he had secured. He kept the vast majority hidden in a secret vault, intending to use it only when absolutely necessary, withdrawing small amounts for daily expenses. He dared not use too much for fear of drawing attention, especially from Han Khong Bao, the spy for the Grand State Preceptor.

  The Doanh Stronghold Lord was overjoyed by his disciple Aeris's successful breakthrough, but he also felt apprehensive about the breakthrough condition—being on the brink of death, hovering between life and oblivion. Thus, he dared not attempt it himself, believing his current strength was more than sufficient.

  With nothing pressing to do, Noe went to the Forest God Deer's domain to study the world with him and the other local Druids, including Aeris.

  It was there that Noe discovered a strange phenomenon in this land: around every Dragon's Den, the surrounding territory developed extraordinarily. Animals evolved quickly, both in intelligence and physique, with many species growing to enormous sizes. Noe presented this idea to the Forest God Deer, who confirmed its accuracy. From this, Noe deduced part of the reason why a Ratfolk City had appeared right beneath the Dragon's Den.

  Noe explained his findings to the Doanh Stronghold Lord and requested permission to cultivate a type of Luminous Immortal Herb. This herb, normally just a common roadside weed with no special properties, would transform into a precious medicinal material called Dragon Immortal Herb when watered with dragon urine and fertilized with dragon dung. The herb would absorb almost all of the dragon's vital energy and dragon energy, preventing rats or other animals from evolving even if they drank the river water flowing from the Dragon's Den. This would prevent the emergence of another Rat Kingdom. The Doanh Stronghold Lord immediately agreed, entrusting this task to Noe and Ufretin.

  Noe and Students

  One morning, the Doanh Lord invited Noe to meet. When Noe arrived, he overheard the Doanh Lord and his son arguing loudly, their voices echoing ??? to the outside.

  Doanh Lord: "You must wake up early and study! As the ancients said: 'The early bird catches the worm!'" ??

  Son: (Resisting) "The worm that wakes up early is caught by the bird, so why should I wake up early?!" ??

  Doanh Lord: (Face flushed with anger, veins throbbing on his forehead) ?? "There is no such saying! Don't lie!"

  Son: "But it's true! If it's true, you should believe it!" ??

  Just then, Noe arrived at the door and cleared his throat. The Doanh Lord immediately became serious, regaining his composed demeanor:

  Doanh Lord: "Please help me with my son, he is so stubborn." ?? Noe nodded, accepting the request. The Doanh Lord then stepped out, leaving the two alone.

  Son: (Indifferently) "I'm warning you, I won't study anything! Force me, and I'll rebel! It's best if you let me go play."??

  Noe: (Smiling gently, eyes full of understanding) "I promise I won't make you study. So, would you like to be my teacher?" ??

  The boy, seeing a new game, immediately agreed, his eyes shining ?. Noe picked up the book but deliberately misread many parts, his tone teasing. The boy immediately protested, pointing at the book ??, making Noe read it over and over correctly. Just like that, the boy memorized the book without even realizing it. The Doanh Lord was very pleased and entrusted Noe with teaching his son permanently.

  The son, Doanh Th??ng Quan, grew fond of his teacher because of his unique and interesting teaching methods, so different from the dry teachers before. Noe's teaching style was unconventional, as the two were always outdoors, never sitting in a room. They met many people, their conversations cheerful ???, then found an empty space to sit down and study the things around them, the gentle wind blowing past their ears ???, the faint scent of fresh grass ?? lingering.

  One day, the Doanh Lord’s son and his teacher passed by the river and saw a fisherman's clothes on the bank. The boy, giggling playfully ??, had the idea to mock the fisherman by putting a fake snake into the clothes, the faint smell of plastic ?? wafting out. Noe saw everything but did not show annoyance or anger.

  Noe: "I can teach you a game even more interesting than the one you're playing." ??

  The Doanh Lord’s son, his face curious ??, followed his teacher’s suggestion, removing the fake snake and replacing it with two shining coins. The two hid to watch the fisherman’s reaction when he found the two coins.

  A moment later, the fisherman came ashore, a basket full of fish in his hand, the pungent smell ?? of fresh fish filling the air, and put on his clothes. He found the first coin and looked around to see if anyone had dropped it. When he saw the second coin, he knelt down ??, clasped his hands, his eyes filled with tears ??, and said: "Thank you, Supreme Deity, for giving this to me! These two coins are enough for my mother to buy medicine!" The fisherman bowed several times and left, his thin frame ???♂? gradually disappearing into the distance.

  The Doanh Lord’s son, having witnessed everything, spoke to his teacher with suspicion: Son: "I don't believe there is a Supreme Deity!"

  ???♂? Noe: (His gaze deep, looking at the boy) "Then do you believe in Gods and Immortals?" Son: (With a bright smile) "I do, because there is a True Immortal right in front of me."

  ?? Noe: "Then why don't you believe in the Supreme Deity?"

  Son: (With a hint of melancholy) "Because this world is unfair. Some are rich, some are poor, some have power, and some don't."

  ?? Noe: (Smiling gently, with boundless tolerance) "That is your definition of fairness. But the Lord’s Justice is different. Those who contribute are rewarded; good people are blessed for three or four generations."

  Son: (Innocently) "Only three or four generations? Will my descendants suffer like that fisherman?"

  ?? Noe: (Smiling, stroking the boy's head) "The Law of the Supreme Deity is much more complicated than that, but for your mind, that is enough."

  Son: "Then how can my descendants also live comfortably?"

  Noe: (Stroking the boy's head) "The simple way for a boy like you is to do good deeds and accumulate merit for many people." Son: (Smiling with determination) "From now on, I will do good deeds to accumulate merit for my descendants!" ??

  From then on, the Doanh Lord’s son traveled throughout Doanh Thành with his Teacher, helping people, and no longer causing trouble. This changed the way people viewed the Garrison Lord’s son, with words of praise being passed around ???. The rumor reached the Doanh Lord, making him constantly joyful, showing off his son everywhere, his eyes filled with pride ??.

  Once, the Doanh Lord’s son walked past a crowd of distinguished people. They were surrounding an individual and listening to instructions.

  Son: "How can I have many talented people around me, Teacher?"??

  Noe: (Smiling brightly, his eyes full of hidden meaning) "First, you must be talented and trustworthy yourself. Because talented people are rarely fools. The wise bird chooses the tree limb where it will perch ??."

  From then on, the Doanh Lord’s son was determined to become a master of both literary and martial arts, working harder than anyone. The boy matured day by day, his knowledge and skills improving dramatically.

  On another occasion, the Doanh Lord’s son asked, his tone more serious: "So how should I choose the friends I keep?"

  Noe: (Speaking slowly, every word steeped in philosophy) "A talented person without virtue is a destroyer. A virtuous person without talent is useless. If you must choose, choose the person with virtue but no talent. Because talent can be taught in 5 or 10 years. But Virtue requires 100 years to instill."

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  The highly intelligent Doanh Lord’s son understood immediately. He went out, sat in contemplation ??, and began sorting his friends: some became closer, others drifted away, their relationships gradually becoming clearer.

  Later, the two teacher and student followed the horse keepers, roaming across the grasslands ?? surrounding Doanh Thành. Short trips lasted a few days, long ones sometimes a month, the clattering of horses' hooves ?? and the scent of fresh grass ?? always surrounding them. Throughout the journey, ?oàn Chính and M?nh Th??ng were always accompanying them, protecting and learning at the same time. Noe had the ability to converse with animals ???, which greatly helped the horse herds. As a result, the number of horses increased rapidly each year, their quality improved, and the number of warhorses grew.

  The student followed his teacher, growing bigger and more talented every day. Horseback riding and archery were trivial matters; his knowledge was profound, and his communication skills were excellent. The boy was the pride of the small city, helping his father with many tasks.

  Time flew by quickly; Noe had been in this land for over ten years. The customs and way of life here were familiar to him. He knew all the plants and animals clearly.

  On another occasion, Noe taught about the division of ranks for those practicing magic. Ranks indicate the energy source within a person; the more energy, the higher the rank.

  

  
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    Ordinary Person (Level 0 – 190): People with little to no internal energy.
  
    
  
  
    
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      (Example: ?oàn Chính)
    
      
  
  
    
  
  
    


  
• 
  
    Mortal (Level > 200): Can project energy outside the body, creating an invisible shield.
  
    
  
  
    
  • 
    
      (Example: M?nh Th??ng)
    
      
  
  
    
  
  
    


  
• 
  
    Superhuman (Level > 300): Can manipulate energy into color or colorless elements.
  
    


  
• 
  
    Level 400 and above: The path of cultivation splits.
  
    
  
  
    
  • 
    
      Sage (Level > 400): The path is obscure, with no clear way forward.
    
      
    
    
      
    • (Example: Ufretin)
      
        
    
    
      
    
    
      
  
  
    
  • 
    
      Human Cultivator (Nhan Tu Tiên) (Level > 400):
    
      
    
    
      
    • 
      
        Qi Cultivation (Phàm tiên) (Level > 400): Body becomes light, able to fly like a bird ???, fast speed.
      
        
      
      
        
      • 
        
          (Example: Noe)
        
          
      
      
        
      
      
        
    
    
      
    • 
      
        Foundation Building (Siêu tiên) (Level > 500): Body is light, able to tread on clouds, ride the wind, and walk through walls.
      
        
      
      
        
      • (Example: Doanh Lord, Aeris)
      
      
        
      
      
        
    
    
      
    • 
      
        Core Formation (K?t ?an) (Level > 600)
      
        
      
      
        
      • (Example: Gold Dragon, Forest God Deer)
      
      
        
      
      
        
    
    
      
    • 
      
        Nascent Soul (Nguyên anh) (Level > 700)
      
        
    
    
      
    • 
      
        Earth Immortal (??a tiên) (Level > 800)
      
        
    
    
      
    • 
      
        
    
    
      
    
    
      
  
  
    
  • 
    
      Human God Cultivator (Nhan Tu Th?n) (Level > 400): An obscure path, with no clear way forward, called Earth God.
    
      
  
  
    
  • 
    
      Immortal-Turned-God (Level > 800): An obscure path, with no clear way forward, called High God.
    
      
  
  
    
  • 
    
      
  
  
    
  
  
    


  

  Young Master: "Teacher, why are humans at such a low rank? I don't mean to compare with the Gods, but is there no way to surpass the Immortals? At least equal them?" ??

  Noe: (Understanding his student's feelings) "This is the division method used by Immortals, so it takes inner energy or internal power as the criteria. If we used a different method, the order would be different."

  Young Master: "Give me an example, Teacher."

  Noe: (Thinking for a moment) "For example, Combat Strength. An Immortal with much energy may not necessarily have high Combat Strength. Because fighting ability depends on the weapon, counter-elemental armor, etc. It also depends on speed, raw power, and control capability, etc."

  Young Master: "So, someone as strong as you, which type do you belong to?"

  Noe: (Shaking his head) "Truthfully, I am not strong. My archery skill is average, and I lack a good weapon. My other abilities are only supportive. I do not specialize in combat."

  Young Master: "So how can one achieve high Combat Strength?"

  Noe: "I do not fear the man who knows a thousand techniques; I only fear the man who practices one technique a thousand times."??

  Young Master: (Nodding) "I understand, Teacher. Then teach me how to wield a sword. I like using a sword."

  Noe ??: "Very well, but I will only give basic instruction; advancing further requires a different teacher. The basic principle of the sword is not to slash, but to stab. The stabbing technique requires the unified connection of force from the entire body (body, arm, and sword flow as one)..."

  Noe: "I have a set of swordsmanship called the 'Ten Forms Sword Style'. You only need to master one form to be equal to a general.

  

  
1. 
   
     True Intent Pierces the Clouds (Chan Y Xuyên Van): A straight, fast thrust, carrying pure will ??.
   
     


  
2. 
   
     Sunset Retreat Counter (L?c Nh?t H?i M?): A feigned retreat followed by a sudden thrust from behind.
   
     


  
3. 
   
     Death Qi Shatters the Boundary (T? Khí Phá Gi?i): A powerful downward thrust that shatters external defenses.
   
     


  
4. 
   
     Heavenly Mechanism Pierces the Bone (Thiên C? Th?u C?t): A subtle thrust aimed at the weak point to pierce deep within.
   
     


  
5. 
   
     Dual Extreme Chain (Song Tuy?t Liên Hoàn): Two consecutive and absolute thrusts at close range.
   
     


  
6. 
   
     Shadowless Assassination (V? ?nh ám Sát): An extremely fast thrust that leaves no shadow ??, specialized for assassination.
   
     


  
7. 
   
     Illusory Form Void Pierce (Huy?n Hình Xuyên H?): An ethereal thrust that passes through empty space to reach the target without a straight line.
   
     


  
8. 
   
     Divine Lightning Speed Break (Th?n L?i T?c Phá): A thrust carrying the speed of thunder ?, breaking through all defenses.
   
     


  
9. 
   
     Sword Transformed to Needle (Hóa Ki?m Vi Cham): A thrust that condenses the sword's energy into a tiny point to penetrate.
   
     


  
10. 
    
      Two Polarities Split the Sword (L??ng Nghi Phan Ki?m): A thrust that splits into two directions simultaneously, attacking both above and below or left and right."
    
      


  

  ??? Doanh Th??ng Quan Stats Sheet – Apprentice Knight Class (LV 110)