[Combat Techniques] (Purple)
[Resilient Spirit] (Purple)
[Unyielding Body] (Purple)
[Sincere Praise, a Childlike Heart] (Red)
Seeing these four options appear after using the Trial of the Knight of Beauty certificate, Chen Li understood everything.
He was currently in a white space, its floor dotted with rose petals.
"So you can actually choose what you want to learn," Chen Li realized.
Just holding the certificate only provided basic information; it was only after using it that Chen Li learned the detailed mechanics.
Activating a Knight's Trial certificate cost 10 Star Stones.
The time-flow ratio inside the trial space to the outside world was 100:1.
Investing 1 more Star Stone could expand this ratio tenfold, to 1000:1.
Investing another 10 Star Stones would expand it another tenfold, to 10,000:1.
And so on.
Why did it cost even more Star Stones, you ask? Because, of course: Miracles are never free!
Within the training space, everything was both real and illusory. This was what the initial 10 Star Stones were for.
His body was his real body, but any injuries and even death were illusory.
Even the training process itself could be made illusory afterward to prevent mental breakdown from prolonged training, yet the tangible results would be retained.
In this space, Chen Li didn't need to consider anything except putting in sweat and effort.
The four options above were the four possible focuses for his training this time.
It only gave four options not because Argenti only had four, but because a single certificate would only randomly generate four. To receive more boons from Argenti, he would need more trial certificates.
After completing the training, Chen Li would receive a boon in the form of an inherent skill, shaped by his chosen focus and his performance during the training.
The four options had different colors, representing how proficient Argenti was in each area.
White < Green < Blue < Purple < Gold < Red
Thus, the choice was obvious.
When faced with three short options and one long one, always pick the longest. Especially since this one was red—of course, he had to choose it!
"I just don't know what kind of knightly boon I'll get from training in sincere praise."
But Chen Li had a feeling it wouldn't be something as simple as just being able to spout pretty words.
He hoped it was a persuasion-type boon. That way, he could better deceive... ah, better convince the clients on the other side of the screen to allow him to travel to their worlds.
Although the character of the clients he encountered varied wildly, the worlds themselves were innocent.
After he selected this option, countless roses converged in front of him, and from within the blossoming flowers, Argenti emerged.
"My dear friend, it seems our souls are truly in sync. This is the training I take the most pride in. I witnessed your performance in spreading the glorious name of the Aeon of Pure Beauty, Idrila. I shall impart to you all my techniques for discovering the beauty that permeates every corner of life," Argenti said to Chen Li with a smile.
"Great... no, wait a minute. Did you just say you witnessed my performance in spreading the name of the Aeon of Pure Beauty, Idrila?"
"That is correct. This trial certificate was unlocked because you completed the Knight's Trial. It is only natural that I would be aware of this information," Argenti stated.
The "Knight's Trial" itself was part of the price for summoning the knight to fight for him, not purely a reward.
Even if the other party was indifferent to you, or didn't even give you a certificate, you still had to complete their trial.
Since he was rewarded with a trial certificate, it was only logical that the "knight" within the certificate would know how he had fulfilled his end of the bargain.
"...May I ask a bold question, Argenti? Does your main body know about this experience?" Chen Li asked, his heart starting to race.
"He does not, but my main body is aware that you have fulfilled your promise to him," Argenti replied.
"Then there's still hope for me! My friend, please, you have to teach me how to quickly appease an angry woman, I'm begging you," Chen Li said, stepping forward and grabbing Argenti's hands.
"Oh, my friend, do you have a young lady you admire?" Argenti asked, somewhat surprised by Chen Li's attitude.
"No, I'm just worried I might die at Jingliu's hands. Let's start the training right away," Chen Li said, his expression difficult to read.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have created ten Abominations of Abundance himself just to kill them.
Chen Li was confident that Jingliu wouldn't care whether he had killed the abominations or not, but she would definitely care that he was capable of creating them.
"Since you are so enthusiastic, my friend, then I shall not fall behind. Let us begin! I will simulate a street that I once visited. Please, find the beautiful things within it." Argenti snapped his fingers, and the rose-colored space instantly transformed into a city street.
Chen Li's praise training had begun.
---o---
"..."
An悠然 serene yet chilling atmosphere washed over him. Looking at Jingliu, who was staring at him with her scarlet pupils without saying a word, Chen Li immediately apologized.
"I am deeply sorry for using such a method to fulfill the requirement of slaying ten Abominations of Abundance. When I get to your world, I will slay one thousand of them as compensation."
After his training with Argenti, Chen Li understood that sincerity was currently his only way out.
After apologizing, Chen Li secretly glanced at Jingliu's face, trying to gauge her reaction, but he couldn't read any emotion from her expression.
Did the special effect not work? Jingliu is quite beautiful, so it should have worked, right? Chen Li's heart was pounding with anxiety.
If this were the real Jingliu, Chen Li was certain she wouldn't give him a hard time, because the real Jingliu cared less about how many abominations he killed and more about whether he could forge a Curio to summon the spirit of Baiheng.
But he wasn't facing the real person right now.
Who knew what thoughts this "teacher" projection might have?
The "special effect" he was referring to was the boon he received after completing the Trial of the Knight of Beauty.
[The Sincere Heart]: When you face a being you perceive as possessing "beauty," you can communicate with them more effectively, allowing them to feel your sincerity and be more easily moved by your earnest words.
He called it his special attack against "Beauty."
The knight's boon had been appropriately adjusted based on his performance. Chen Li couldn't see beauty in everything like Argenti could, but this passive ability was far more suitable for him.
Chen Li had yet to personally use this boon with its vague definition and somewhat ambiguous effect. But he knew that a vague description often meant a wide range of application.
"You wish to learn my swordplay, is that right?" Just as the silence became so heavy that Chen Li didn't know what else to say, Jingliu finally spoke.
"Yes, that's correct," Chen Li nodded.
It wasn't that he particularly wanted to learn Jingliu's swordplay, but among the four options she had given him this time, swordplay was the only thing worth learning.
[Swordplay] (Gold)
[Battlefield Command] (Blue)
[Morale Boost] (Purple)
[Self-Restraint] (Purple)
With these four options, the choice should be obvious.