The Knight of Light plants the sun in the eternal night.

The caravan, which had originally planned to do business in the Glowing Town, left the Swamp Manor early the next morning.

The only difference is that the direction is no longer the glowing town.

Instead, they returned to the Thousand Tent Hills.

Because the caravan's goods were bought up by Riot's inhumane spending, the swamp manor, with its rapidly increasing number of serfs, was in dire need of everything. Instead of spending time going to the glowing town to buy goods each time, they simply bought out the caravan.

Before parting, Leo instructed, "Manager Tatum, welcome back to your caravan next time. Remember to bring plenty of food and supplies; I'll take care of everything."

Manager Tatum readily agreed, "Young Master Leo, rest assured, this trade went smoothly, and our caravan will be back soon!"

Another stall owner inquired, "Young Master Leo, once your fortress is completed, may I rent out shops?"

"You want to open a shop here?" Leo asked. "What kind of shop are you planning to open?"

"A general store."

"A general store? That's fine." Leo nodded. He would subsidize artisans among the serfs to open shops, but that didn't include general stores.

It can attract outside merchants to settle in, which can improve the prosperity of the territory.

Buying serfs alone is not enough; they also need to attract free people to join them. Only then can they prove that the Swamp Manor is developing.

After the caravan left, the Swamp Manor enjoyed a few days of peace.

The meanings of the flowers these past few days haven't been very good; they've all been trivial gossip and mundane family matters, offering no useful information.

Leo, feeling restless, decided to make a trip to the Glowing Fungus Castle to learn the Baron's family secret technique, the Glowing Slash.

"Professor Franken, the manor is in your hands now. Keep a close eye on it," Leo instructed. "I'm heading to the Glowing Fungus Castle. I'll be back in a day or two, or at most three to five days."

"Go ahead and don't worry, Leo. I'll take care of everything at the manor for you." Franken waved his hand.

Immediately, Leo left Harrison and other knights to guard the house, while he led Rhodes, Pluto, and other knights on a swift journey.

We arrived at the Fluorescent Mushroom Castle in the morning.

The Baron had gone to inspect the manor and wouldn't be back until the afternoon. It was his brother Neander who greeted Leo: "You're back because you need something?"

"Yes, I'm preparing to ask my father for the secret technique - the Glimmering Slash," Leo said truthfully.

This is a family secret technique passed down through the Glowing Mushroom family, and Leo, being a member of the family, is naturally qualified to learn it.

Neander glanced at Leo.

Since that hunt, Leo's heartfelt words had changed his opinion of his younger brother to some extent.

Feeling that Leo was relatively "well-behaved" and didn't seem like the type to compete with him for the title, he changed his attitude and said gently, "Since Father hasn't returned, I will teach you."

Neant is a Tier 2 Grand Knight.

Leo nodded: "Okay."

"Let's go to the training ground." Neant led Leo directly to the training ground, where they worked up a good sweat before lunch.

Secret Technique - Glimmer Slash is a powerful attack skill.

Infusing holy light and battle aura into the blade, condensing it into a faint light, is roughly equivalent to continuously compressing holy light and battle aura into a sharp edge.

Then, it unleashed its sharp edge.

The speed and quality of its condensation vary depending on the user's technique. As Neander demonstrated, he said, "When my father taught me, it only took me three days to master it."

He condensed a faint light on the blade and then slashed out, the light cutting and rubbing against the air.

It makes a sizzling sound.

Ahead was an iron dummy that was struck by the glimmer of light and instantly cleaved in two.

"The principle isn't difficult; just learn and practice diligently." Neant sheathed his sword, displaying the demeanor of a master. "Your talent is mediocre. First, memorize the principle, and try to master your first Dao Micro Light Slash within a week."

"Okay, big brother." Leo nodded.

Although it's unpleasant to say, it has to be admitted that Neander's talent is indeed stronger than his, so there's nothing to be angry about.

"Take your time practicing. I'm going back now. Let's have lunch together." Neant waved his hand and left.

After he left.

Leo stopped cultivating; the sun mark on his palm was now sending out a warm guidance, pointing towards the large lawn between the inner and outer fortresses.

"Let's trigger the flower language first." Leo headed straight for the source of the warm guidance and found it was a sycamore tree on the lawn. "Huh, this is the second time I've triggered the flower language. The sycamore tree taught me the secret technique - Heart of Steel!"

What about this time?

Leo touched the trunk of the sycamore tree with great anticipation.

An aged voice then rang out, like the teachings of a wise man: "Your ancestors often practiced the secret technique—the Glimmering Light Slash—under the tree. I have fully comprehended it and made some minor improvements. Feel it with your heart, and today I will pass it on to you."

"hiss!"

Leo was surprised.

This was exactly what he wished for. He quickly closed his eyes, held onto the tree trunk tightly, and silently absorbed the teachings of the sycamore tree.

A wisp of heat spread from the tree trunk, rapidly circulating through Leo's body, repeatedly mimicking the operating method of the Secret Technique - Glimmer Slash, or more accurately, the operating route of the modified Secret Technique - Glimmer Slash.

A moment later, Leo had fully mastered the improved secret technique - Glimmer Slash.

They also learned where the improvements to the Sycamore Light Plant lay, mainly in accelerating the condensation speed of the Light Slash and slightly increasing its sharpness.

"Let's call it... Secret Technique - Sharp Light Slash!" Leo decided to give it a new name.

Looking up at the sycamore tree, with no one around, he bowed to it as both a gesture of gratitude and a formal apprenticeship ceremony.

This sycamore tree is truly a respectable teacher.

The unexpected joy came too suddenly. Leo had originally planned to stay at the Glowing Mushroom Castle for a few more days and mooch some meals.

just now……

He waited until evening, after his father and Mrs. Sandra had gone to bed, and then he quietly read for a while before the door was pushed open.

A figure flashed in quickly: "Young Master Leo."

"Sit down." Leo gestured to the bench. "Alice, you've been investigating around Mrs. Sandra for quite some time. What's the progress?"

Alice hesitated and stammered.

Leo snapped at him in a low voice, "Looks like you're planning to turn yourself in, huh? I'll go report to my father right now!"

"No!" Alice hurriedly stood up. "Young Master Leo, I'll tell you everything."

"explain!"

"Madam has been perfectly normal lately, and hasn't taken any action against you. However... I secretly read the letter that Mr. Sanchez wrote to Madam... There was no information about you in it, but... there was some..."

"Something?"

"Information about the heretics." After Alice finished speaking, she completely gave up and said in a desperate tone, "Lord Sanchez asked the lady for some sponsorship in his letter to support a certain evil necromancer."

"A necromancer?" Leo asked, his voice trembling.

Necromancers are one of the evil professions that practice shadow magic, existing between the power of shadow and the power of holy light. They are at risk of falling into the shadows and becoming shadow monsters.

Leo asked urgently, "Where's the letter?"

"It was burned by the lady."

"Burned?" Leo's eyes flickered a few times before he instructed, "Alice, investigate in this direction from now on, and try to preserve the evidence, understand? If you do, you'll be well rewarded."

Alice asked cautiously, "Young Master Leo, after I do this, are you really sure you won't expose me or punish me?"

"I swear on my name, the Glowing Fungus," Leo stared into the other's eyes, "that if you find irrefutable evidence of Sanchez and Sandra's collusion with the Shadows, I'll guarantee you a peaceful life for the rest of your days!"

After making the promise.

Leo waved his hand: "Go ahead, but be careful not to get caught."