36 chapters Peeping "Elder Prude!"
The Guard Squad recognized Elder Prude.
They were all well aware that he was Viscount Grant's old friend and also the local civil deputy officer.
Although, in theory, he was only there to assist The Empire in managing the White Folks, to these Ordinary soldiers, he was unquestionably a superior officer.
——Not to mention that their immediate superior, Deputy Captain Redd of the protective team, was also one of the White Folks.
A soldier clad in light armored clothing, sporting a noticeable red nose, approached with a pleasant smile: "Have you come here intending to leave the city?
The main gate is closed now that it's evening.
I can take you to another exit…"
"No need, I'm here to show this little one what the world is like." The elder raised his hand, interrupting the other's eager offer: "How many 'flies' today?
I guess there must be quite a few."
He said indifferently, "Take us to see them."
The soldier glanced sideways at Ian, seemingly realizing something, then chuckled coarsely with a shake of his whiskers: "Is it the kid who survived the Natives and even managed to kill in return?
No wonder there are so many flies today."
He discreetly refrained from further comment and led the way for Elder Prude and Ian.
The walls of Harrison Port had collapsed in many places due to the consecutive lightning strikes during the great storm eight years ago, including the disastrous high winds.
To this day, the northern and eastern walls have not been completely restored, only the western side has been prioritized for repair because it adjoins the autonomous region of the Natives.
Nevertheless, due to various reasons, there are still sections of the wall that haven't been mended, merely surrounded by wooden fences enclosing a cleared space, connected to the opposite shore by a pontoon bridge.
This is the secretive trade point between Harrison Port and the Redwood Natives.
Ian looked around the trade point; at its center was a bonfire burning resin, its fragrance repelling mosquitoes.
Various types of furs, meats, and unusual herbs hung on crude supports and planks, awaiting the selection of visitors.
Some merchants squatted behind their goods, engaged in sporadic conversation peppered with colorful content, occasionally bursting into loud laughter and making obscene gestures.
The red-nosed soldier walked into the trade point, instantly causing the traders who haggled over merchandise from both sides to pause, looking puzzled.
Some of the merchants seemed about to rise and greet the soldier, but after seeing his grave expression, they sat back down, observing Ian and the rest with curiosity and anxiety.
——An inspection by a high-profile figure?
That was indeed rare.
Even if wealthy city-dwellers wanted to buy Native specialties, they generally sent servants to purchase them instead…
"Burn, how many flies today?"
Approaching a merchant with a limp, the red-nosed soldier asked directly, "Elder Prude would like to have a look."
"Ah?"
The limping merchant was clearly not expecting to be the focus of a high-profile figure's inspection.
He stood rooted for a while, and only under the impatient urging of the red-nosed soldier did he stand up, somewhat puzzled, and bow to Elder Prude: "S-sir, please take a look…"
Behind him was a wheelbarrow covered with a filthy animal hide.
Even the resin fragrance from the trade point's bonfire couldn't mask the foul stench of decay.
The red-nosed soldier also showed a discomforted expression, stepping back slightly.
Upon smelling this, Ian was slightly startled.
He had encountered this extremely foul scent of decay before.
It was the odor that rose when the body of his uncle Ossenna decomposed by the lakeside, and he dissected it.
The limping merchant lifted the hide, smiling obsequiously at Elder Prude and Ian: "The flies from the past two days are all here…"
He seemed to continue speaking, but all of Ian's attention was fixated on the 'merchandise' in the cart.
Corpses.
Placed in the handcart were several contorted bodies, their skin darkened and covered in strange patterns—the bodies of the Natives!
"The Natives still maintain a hostile stance toward us, occasionally dispatching Scouts to spy on the city's interior, while we send out scouts to probe the woods." Noticing Ian's gaze firmly locked on the pile of corpses, Elder Prude, who felt the boy must have been shocked, stroked his beard and stared at the bodies calmly explaining: "The discovered Native scouts all end up here; other tribal Natives are willing to pay a high price for the corpses of enemy tribes—they are not monolithic, and there is a tradition of consuming corpses, and the city has no lack of those willing to do this corpse-recovery business."
"Ian, these are just the ones who were found; most scouts go unnoticed."
The elder didn't mention what would happen if the scouts from Harrison Port were discovered by the Natives…
because, as is common knowledge, the Natives never wasted food.
At that moment, heavy footsteps approached from outside the trade point.
"Old Burn, here are two more new arrivals; if those beasts don't eat you this time, you're going to make a fortune.
You'll have to buy us drinks when you get back!"
Two soldiers clad in armored clothing, with light crossbows hanging at their waists, pushed a cart while chatting and laughing loudly as they came closer.
As they entered the trade point, they quickly noticed the red-nosed soldier and Elder Prude—the two soldiers' faces stiffened, and they fell silent immediately.
"Look."
The white-haired elder turned his head, signaling Ian to observe: "Although you may not be able to tell, those are the scouts from the tribe that intended to abduct you and Elan to use as offerings."
"Actually…"
Muttering to himself, Ian could certainly tell.
The tattoos of each Native tribe were not the same; the dark patterned bodies on the cart behind Old Burn clearly belonged to several different tribes.
And the bodies of those shot dead by crossbows, pushed forward by the soldiers, bore a striking resemblance to the shaman he had killed!
"Ian, the city is not safe.
The Natives will exact blood for blood, and they will certainly try to kill you—to kill all those who made them bleed,"
Elder Prude's voice sounded, calm and indifferent, "We are the same.
This is a vendetta that has lasted for decades, and even hundreds of years."
"Have you finished looking?
Remembered everything?
Then let's go."
The old man tossed a Talle and a few Bisons, making the soldiers and the lame old Burn thank him gratefully.
He then left the trade post with Ian who seemed still to be shaken by the corpses: "Don't think that it's safe inside the city, and don't come out to shop alone…
Danger lurks everywhere, especially lately."
"Do you know the way back home?"
After leaving the Guard Squad building and arriving at Central Avenue, the old man lowered his head, released the hand he had been holding, and gently said to Ian, "Do you want me to send someone to take you home?"
"I know the way," Ian answered softly.
"No need, thank you, Elder."
The Elder nodded, "Then go home.
Recently, don't come out alone at night anymore."
"Mmm, okay, Elder."
Pude watched Ian obediently agree to his words and then hesitated slightly before leaving.
Halfway through, the boy looked back, and upon noticing that the old man was still watching him, he continued to jog nervously, disappearing around the street corner.
"Pretending to be good, quite convincingly…
Little rascal, you agreed so readily, saying you wouldn't go back alone, and yet you still unhesitatingly went home by yourself."
Watching the direction Ian had vanished, Elder Prude squinted his eyes and shook his head with a hint of emotion, "This kid, deep down, he's not afraid of me at all, nor is he afraid of those Natives."
"With that bravery and thick skin, if our kind were still in the Imperial Capital…
such a fine lad would have a brilliant future."
At that thought, the old man couldn't help but give a bitter smile, feeling dispirited, "Oh well."
"If that were really the case, I probably wouldn't have had a chance to become an Elder as a Dwarf-Human mixed breed of the White Folks."
He turned around and left the West City District.
Elder Prude's reflections, of course, were unknown to Ian.
"Phew—"
Walking briskly on the dimly lit streets, now enveloped in night, he entered his home, closed his eyes, then exhaled deeply, "This world is indeed more interesting than I imagined!"
Ian opened his eyes, his gaze sparkling with excitement, far removed from the submissive demeanor he had shown while with Elder Prude.
The boy couldn't help but mutter to himself at this moment, "And indeed, they have noticed the inconsistency in Teacher Hiliad's killing of the Natives—if it was the original Ossenna, it would have been absolutely impossible to kill that shaman and the three hunters."
This, Ian had figured out long ago.
Anyone who understood Ossenna and thought about it seriously would have noticed something amiss.
But what of it?
What he intended to hide was not his Spirit Energy…
but Hiliard's identity!
Spirit Energy Users were not uncommon in this world, and the White Folks had a relatively high number of them.
A White Folks boy awakening his Spirit Energy at the brink of death, helping his uncle to retaliate and kill a few Natives…
this was certainly more plausible than Ian personally killing his uncle and then teaming up with an Empire fugitive to fake it, wasn't it?
As long as they found an answer that seemed reasonable, they would not think further.
This was a common trait among Humans.
"Moreover, the Natives still won't give up and will continue to attempt to assassinate me…
I need to be on alert, but it's also possible that Elder Prude is just trying to scare me, to make me reveal my identity as a Spirit Energy User and seek protection."
"The city defenses have tightened a lot, and several Natives who tried to sneak in have already been killed.
If there are no surprises, the Natives should quiet down for a while."
His thoughts returned to the bodies of the Natives at the trade point, and Ian's brow creased, shaking his head, "Regardless, if I want to go out to collect Magic Potion and resources for Sublimation, it's likely to be more dangerous than I imagined."
"But it's not a big deal, at least they definitely won't expect me to be much stronger than they imagine."
—He wouldn't foolishly venture out of the city until he succeeded in the Primordial Condensation and took his first steps on the Path of Sublimation!
His Spirit Energy indeed would benefit greatly from being in the wilderness, but of course, safety comes first.
You must be alive to gain anything; everyone knows that.
Today had been a very fulfilling day, and instantly, Ian felt a sharp hunger in his belly, making a growling noise.
"Ah, stop thinking so much."
With a rueful laugh, Ian picked up the salmon in his hand and headed for the kitchen, "Time to eat first—this pale blue salmon is nourishing for the body; it must be delicious.
Let me think about how to cook it."
Seconds later, he made up his mind.
"Let's make salt-baked salmon."
Ingredients (Thanks to the alliance leader Bù Lí Nánshān for the reward!) 39: Chapter 37 Ingredients (Thanks to the alliance leader Bù Lí Nánshān for the reward!) The salmon sashimi tasted quite good too, but Ian didn't like to eat it raw.
Besides, this was the Otherworld, who knew if the fish were the same as those on Earth, or if there were parasites unknown to everyone?
Flame-grilling, of course, was a relatively safe choice.
Hiliard hadn't returned yet, and Elan was still asleep.
Ian tidied up his clothes and found a few more holes in his pants, which made him frown slightly, "Looks like I need to buy some new clothes…
it's fine now in summer, but no matter how tough the Terra People's constitution is, autumn and winter will inevitably be inconvenient."
The boy took off his soaked clothes, placed them by the brazier to dry, and then began to deal with the salmon.
Taking up the Fish Dividing Knife, he dipped it in water and sharpened its edge on the Sharpening Stone.
Ian expertly sliced off the fish head, then separated the body, and finally detached the tail.
Later, he would use the tail, head, and bones to make soup, wasting nothing.
Next, he stood the fish body upright and split it open following the direction of the bones.
Ian carefully removed the bones and spines, and what remained was pure flesh.
Indeed, this salmon was of Blue Mist level; the flesh looked very tender and even smelled faintly sweet, which made Ian swallow hard with hunger surging.
"It's a pity there aren't enough spices and oil, otherwise, frying the flesh and bones and then stewing a rich soup would be much more delicious than just boiling fish in saltwater…"
Ian felt somewhat regretful about the ingredients—he often cooked for himself back on Earth, where his culinary skills were quite good, and this salmon flesh would have been a top-tier ingredient there.
Yet, he wasn't able to fully unleash its deliciousness here.
"Grilled fish isn't bad either—after all, high-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods."
But he was always optimistic.
After preparing the fish, Ian rubbed it with a layer of brownish-red sea salt for marination, then took out the silver coins from the ashes and lit the brazier.
The silver coins gifted by Hiliard still needed more 'nurturing' to age, but Ian wasn't in a hurry.
His previous savings in Ossenna and the Sleep Powder could still safely be used as funds, which were enough for quite some time.
While getting ready to grill the fish, he planned to also process the herbs given by Elder Prude.
"Come to think of it, the Beria Concentration Herb…" picking up the wooden box, the boy's gaze shifted, "what level of Sublimation Plants is that?"
Ian had had the 'Clairvoyant Vision' for a while now, and he believed he still hadn't fully tapped the potential of this Spirit Energy.
But at least, he had categorized the many 'colors' that appeared in the Clairvoyant Vision and came up with a crude classification system.
Upon activating Clairvoyant Vision, Ian's view would transform into a world made of various colored mists, which, depending on trends from dire to auspicious, and the quality and rarity of items, could be divided into different categories and levels.
The black and the red representing good and bad luck respectively.
The gray, white, blue, and purple representing the rarity of items.
And the gold, a unique color that couldn't yet be defined.
According to Ian's instincts, and the events he had experienced, black represented a death crisis—certain death, the kind that unless you struggled vigorously against, would never change; comparable to 'an eight-year-old child battling his mushroom-intoxicated uncle who was in cahoots with the natives.'
Red was a blood disaster, posing a risk to life, but not a certain or inevitable death.
An example might be 'choosing to venture north will result in an attack by a group of Forest Leopards'—as long as you don't go, it's fine, and even if you do encounter them, you might be able to fight them off.
This represents good and bad luck.
Next up represents the rarity of certain things.
Gray occupies the vast majority of the Clairvoyant Vision.
It represents low quality, defects and old age, or unprocessed common raw materials, such as sand and soil, decrepit bricks and tiles, and wooden tables used for over a decade.
White is slightly less than gray.
It represents ordinary, normal, newly produced furniture, or some processed materials like kiln-fired bricks, glass, and algae oil.
The density of the white mist varies.
The lightest is nearly gray and represents a half-year-used red sandalwood chair, while the thickest can be seen in the long sword hanging at the Blacksmith Shop's door, worth about five Talles—It's the blacksmith's pride.
As for blue, it represents rarity.
It surpasses all ordinary, common materials and often relates to Sublimation Plants with extraordinary effects—like the Abnormal Bone from Ossenna and the Sober Sleep Powder from Suboer, both belonging to this category.
Finally, purple is scarce—Ian doesn't know what purple represents because he only saw a glimmer of it from afar passing by the Viscount's Mansion.
The entire Harrison Port, only the Viscount's Mansion had a touch of purple light.
No matter how rich or mysterious other places were, they were only encompassed by Blue Mist.
Inferior gray, ordinary white, rare blue, scarce purple.
These are the item tiers Ian has come to know so far.
Above these, there might be even higher tiers like 'Excellence,' 'Epic,' 'Heirloom,' 'Mythical,' but those are a different story, at least, present-day Ian has yet to encounter items of such levels.
As for the golden light on his teacher Hiliard…
Ian still isn't clear what category the golden hue circulating on Hiliard belongs to.
Is it a 'fortune' or 'rarity'?
And is gold above purple, representing excellence, an epic, or a legend?
Even… a myth?
Everything was unclear, so he could only categorize it separately.
The only thing he knew was that the golden radiance had the power to change his future.
This time at the fish market, Ian was certain his ability could indeed discern the rare ingredients hidden among the many ordinary ones, even if the gray-white mist was thick, it could not hide the blue light.
"Let me take a look."
At that moment, Ian activated his Foresight View and observed the herbs in the box.
The Beria Concentration Herb was similar to sharp grass, but more acute; its tips were like pine needles, the whole plant deep green, with a thin layer of white fuzz, slightly prickly to touch, and smelled like a lighter version of pine resin.
It often grew alongside sharp grass, and only skilled herbalists could select it from amongst many common weeds based on the different shapes of its tips.
The package contained dried Spirit Focusing Herbs, which had a better focusing effect but worked slower, whereas the freshly harvested herb was a lighter shade of green, could be used as a fast-acting pain reliever, but lacked the focusing effect.
In Ian's eyes, everything was shrouded in mist.
Within the Foresight View, the medicine package appeared light blue, mainly because there were still many other auxiliary herbs in the box, the Spirit-Focusing Herb being the main material was blue, while other materials were just ordinary white.
"They've thoughtfully divided it into ten-day portions…"
Muttering to himself, Ian took out a package of herbs from the medicine box, examined it carefully for a moment, then untied it and placed it into the already boiling clean water—and at the second breath after the herbs submerged, steam rose, and a faint, refreshing fragrance filled the room, smelling like the gentle rain in early spring's slight chill.
It would take half an hour to simmer the herb, just enough time to grill the fish.
The fire was strong, and as the cedar wood burned, it let off a natural wood aroma.
Ian skewered the well-prepared juicy fish meat with wooden sticks, placing them beside the flames.
Then came the waiting.
Under the high temperature of the flames, the salt crystals that had been spread on the fish began to crystallize and flake off, the surface of the fish dried and shriveled, then split open, but what followed was the tender inner flesh, its delicious oil continuously bubbling out and dripping down with the roasting flames, occasionally causing the fire to surge instantly, burning fiercely.
The room was soon filled with the scent of the herbs and the fatty fragrance.
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Smelling the steaming meat, an already eager Ian couldn't help but remark, "Such good fish meat, even if it was eaten raw without being sliced, the taste would likely be quite good."
He took down a skewer of grilled fish that was ready.
Within the Foresight View, the cooked fish was visible to the naked eye, surrounded by light blue luminescence, with mystical fog lingering, embodying a mysterious and delectable flavor.
Already very hungry at the fish market, Ian swallowed his saliva and bit into it.
At once, a scorching sensation filled his mouth, the light salty flavor of the sea salt, paired with the fresh and tender fish was indeed a delight.
Chewing the juicy fish a few times, Ian could clearly feel the smoothness as his teeth cut through the flesh, the unique texture of the fish combined with the taste of the sea sliding down into his belly, his stomach that had been waiting began to digest, and he had already taken another bite.
As he swallowed bite after bite of the fish, sliding into his stomach, the blue mist within his belly dissipated, a feeling of satisfaction and a refreshing comfort spread throughout his body, chasing away exhaustion, and even the tips of his fingers and toes tingled—a sensation of blood rushing to the extremities conveying strength.
At that moment, Ian felt his physical strength was rapidly recovering.
As the Virtual Primordial Seed, this 'second heart', began operating, he felt a brand new force emerging in his stomach and intestines, distinct from physical strength, another kind of life force.
It swept through every corner of his body, revitalizing muscles and organs.
This sensation was quite amazing; it was as if the state he had previously considered to be robust and energetic was in fact sub-health and nowhere near the upper limit of physical strength.
"It's not just that."
At that very moment, the boy keenly sensed that at his heart, where the Virtual Primordial Seed was located, a small vortex seemed to have appeared…
It was spinning, pulsing, just like the heart circulating blood throughout the body, extracting and purifying that life force distinct from physical strength, known as 'Origin Quality', from the stomach and blood.
Then, it transported an even more refined Origin Quality to every corner of the body!
Unable to help but hum softly, Ian felt as if his entire body was like after having been in the cold wind all day, he'd returned home to soak in a comfortably warm bath.
It wasn't just that; his physical strength surged even more…
his senses sharpened.
Now, Ian was more energetic and in better condition than ever before!
When Hiliard returned to the house, he couldn't help but be astonished.
"This fragrance…"
Already a bit puzzled outside, once inside, the old knight exclaimed in amazement, "The scent of the herbs and Origin Quality food—the smell of Sublimation ingredients?"
"How did that boy get hold of them?"
Carrying his doubts, he quickly walked into the room, just in time to see Ian taking down four grilled fish steaks, sizzling with oil, placing them on a wooden plate.
"Teacher?
You've had a tough night."
Seeing the old knight return, Ian, who had just finished preparing the Spirit Focusing Herbal Water and was about to let it sit in a cool place for a whole day, turned his head.
He greeted with a smile, "Here are some freshly made fish steaks."
"It's a pity there's no sauce or oil, otherwise the taste might be even better."
Thanks to Zuo Bo Jia Ye Zi for the alliance leader's reward!) 40: Chapter 38: Choice (Thanks to Zuo Bo Jia Ye Zi for the alliance leader's reward!) The fragrance of the Spirit Focusing Herbal Water was refreshing, but even more potent was the fresh aroma of the fish flesh.
Although many people highly praise the fresh taste of eating fish and seafood, regrettably, Ian preferred strong flavors; without chili peppers he found eating meals unappealing, and he didn't like dipping fries in ketchup, preferring a bit of salt and pepper instead.
As for fish, at the very least it needed some steamed fish soy sauce, right?
Unfortunately, none was available.
One thing that dissatisfied Ian on the Terra Continent was that spices and various food sauces were quite precious here—even refined salt was a luxury, and everyday cooking could only involve coarse salt.
"Eat?
That's not urgent."
Upon entering the house, Hiliard observed the fish fillet on the plate seriously.
The steaming orange-red flesh of the fish was cooked perfectly, its oils slowly seeping out, emitting a fragrance that stimulated the appetite, with a small spoonful of salt beside the plate.
Salt was rather expensive in the Empire, but that only applied to refined salt.
At Harrison Port, coarse salt was abundant.
Not to mention the salt fields in the surrounding villages, there were also rock salt mines in the nearby Bison Mountain Range that could be exploited.
"The cooking is excellent, very fragrant."
Feeling quite hungry, Hiliard turned his head and praised, "And you're really lucky to have found a Primordial Beast…"
"No.
Wait…"
Gazing into his apprentice's green eyes, the old knight seemed thoughtful.
He corrected himself with sudden realization, "It's not luck…
Is this your Spirit Energy?"
Ian did not answer.
He just smiled slightly, and Hiliard did not press further, but simply laughed heartily and turned back to the fish fillet, "It seems that even without me, you could live quite well, even exceedingly well!"
Since Ian did not ask where he went in the afternoon like a typical child would, he would respect Ian's secrets.
Drawing on his experience, Hiliard deduced from Ian's attitude toward himself and the features like 'finding the hard-to-detect Primordial Beast in the pile of fish' that Ian's Spirit Energy included traits like 'Emotion Grasping,' 'Clairvoyance,' 'High Precision Observation,' or even 'Essence Observation.'
In short, it was an extremely rare compound class of observational-type Spirit Energy.
This type of Spirit Energy didn't have a direct combat strength, but it greatly aided an Awakener's growth, the more so the higher the Energy Level.
If it weren't for this Spirit Energy, Hiliard would probably not have considered taking Ian as an apprentice.
Because he would ultimately have to leave.
If the apprentice didn't have the potential to become stronger on his own, why would he take him into the dangerous world of Sublimators and let himself be burdened by his identity?
But if he didn't take the other as an apprentice, he wouldn't be able to discover Ian's talent on the path of a Sublimator.
"Your Spirit Energy is truly a luck-bringing ability," he remarked.
Then, eyeing the steaming fish fillet, the old knight noticed Ian's smiling expression but shook his head, "You eat more of it.
This kind of thing is very useful for a beginner Cultivator like you, but for me, it has no effect."
"It's just dinner, Teacher.
Consider it tuition," Ian insisted.
Looking into his student's eyes, Hiliard laughed and conceded, "Okay, okay, I'll eat a bit, just to taste your culinary skills."
He wasn't pretentious.
He stepped forward, forked a piece of fish, and took a bite.
Instantly, Hiliard's eyes brightened.
Ian had prepared the fish flesh very well; he had thought there would be some bones or residue, but there was none, just smooth and tender fish flesh.
Moreover, the degree of grilling was perfectly suitable.
As soon as the tongue and the roof of the mouth pressed down slightly, the oil and the essence of the fresh juices from the flesh and fibers spread to all taste buds, and the fresh and pleasant flavor of the magic salmon was something he hadn't tasted in a long time.
Of course, by his standards, the taste of this fish flesh was a bit bland, but one couldn't expect an eight-year-old child to measure up to a palace chef in using seasoning.
"It's hard to imagine," Hiliard thought with amazement, "My student, aside from cultivating, could it be that he is also a natural-born chef?
If he were properly trained, just with this pair of eyes that can discern good ingredients, he could be a top palace chef…"
After another bite, he was reminded of some past memories and couldn't help but sigh, "Remarkable."
When Hiliard looked at Ian again, he saw the boy's curious gaze.
"Teacher."
The boy asked, "What is a Primordial Beast?"
"Are there many types of Magical Beasts?
This fish is so weak, can it still be considered a Magical Beast?"
Ian was very interested in this knowledge; after all, he was young in this life, and didn't know much about what might be considered common sense on the Terra Continent.
Fortunately, his teacher seemed to be very knowledgeable and, aside from common sense, perhaps knew many 'secrets.'
Of course, more importantly, Ian wanted to know exactly what it was he had consumed.
"Primordial Beasts are ordinary natural creatures that, upon being infected by the Spirit Energy Field, also known as 'magic power' and 'spirit energy' in common parlance, transform into Magical Beasts from normal animals."
After putting down his fork, Hiliard thought for a few seconds, organized his words, and then slowly said, "And what people commonly refer to as Magical Beasts, scientifically known as Native Beasts, are the optimized species that inherited the genetic basis of Primordial Beasts…
inherited the Bloodline of Primordial Beasts and have stabilized the beneficial Bloodline."
"Practically all of the Magical Beasts on the Terra Continent are Native Beasts.
A small number of Primordial Beasts continue to appear; the weaker ones mostly become food, while the exceptional Primordial Beasts' offspring increase the variety of Native Beasts, enriching the complexity of Bloodlines."
"But aside from these, there exists another type of Magical Beast that doesn't belong to this chain—they have been present since ancient times, seemingly without an origin or derivatives."
Saying so, Hiliard raised his hand, gazing at his palm, he spoke softly, "They are known as 'Ancient Demonic Beasts,' and they are the most powerful and the most mysterious among many Magical Beasts."
At this point, the old Knight noticed Ian's earnest expression as he listened and couldn't help but laugh, "Explaining all this in detail is like giving you a biology class on Magical Beasts.
I will explain it to you in detail when we have time."
"As for now…
since you can eat Beast Flesh, you can anticipate that your accumulation rate of Origin Quality and the condensation of the Primordial Seed will definitely be faster than I imagined."
Nodding to signify Ian to sit properly, Hiliard said seriously, "Ian, the next question will determine the path of your future cultivation."
He said earnestly, "Which Inheritance do you want to cultivate?"
"Which 'Bloodline' or 'True Form'?"
"Eh?"
Upon hearing this, Ian, who had also become solemn, was slightly taken aback and said confusedly, "Isn't it the same as you, Teacher—to inherit The Unyielding Fortress, starting from being a Sand Armor Apprentice?"
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He still remembered the expression on Hiliard's face that morning when he mentioned his own Inheritance.
The old Knight appeared as spirited as if he had turned fifty years younger, clearly filled with immense pride and self-regard.
He had thought that his teacher would have him cultivate the same True Form.
"That is the True Form that is most suitable for me, but it might not suit you."
Hiliard shook his head and spoke frankly, "Moreover, although True Forms from The Unyielding Fortress lineage are indeed powerful, the ingredients for Magic Potion, the rare parts of various Magical Beasts, are all extremely scarce."
"Sand Armor Apprentices, Rock Cast Knights, these might still rely on ordinary Demonic Beast Materials for transition.
But once you reach the state of 'Lord of Stone,' 'Mountain Apostle,' the required materials are mostly the organs of extremely powerful Magical Beasts, and the auxiliary materials are also sublimation plants that are as rare as gold."
"As for 'The Unyielding Fortress'…" Hiliard couldn't help but smile wryly at this point, "Its core main material requires parts of 'Ancient Demonic Beasts', or let's say, 'Ancient Dragons,' that are powerful beyond imagination."
"The Heart Core of Ancient Dragons, Spinal Cord Gel, and the Spiritual Neural Network; even I…"
At this point, the old Knight paused and shook his head.
Hiliard spoke slowly, "Do you understand?
Power comes at a price; some Bloodline True Forms can only be cultivated by Sublimators from great forces.
You are my Apprentice, which makes you more systematic than an ordinary Sublimator who rose in the wild, but in terms of resources, you're not much better off than a rural Sublimator."
"This afternoon when I went out, I also took the opportunity to survey the distribution of Magical Beasts around Harrison Port.
Later tonight, I plan to list a few of the most suitable True Form Bloodline Inheritances for you that would allow you to advance to the Second Energy Level using only materials from nearby Magical Beasts."
"By that time, you will probably be in your twenties, with strength sufficient to ensure your own safety.
You'll be free to travel across the entire continent, looking for materials of the next caliber without me having to worry about your future."
After finishing speaking, Hiliard said no more, but Ian understood very well.
The old Knight hadn't expected Ian's spirit energy to be so readily accessible, making it easy to find Beast Flesh as food; it seemed that the future would likely not be in short supply, and the pace of cultivation might be much faster than he imagined.
In light of this, subsequent considerations also needed adjustment—after all, if it were Ian, perhaps he could find some materials that are difficult for ordinary people to obtain.
However, Hiliard couldn't be certain of this and could only leave the choice to Ian himself.
—To choose a path with the potential for a great future but destined to be fraught with hardships and obstacles.
—Or a smooth and steady path, but with a potentially limited summit.
"Indeed, objective circumstances must also be taken into account…"
With a slight frown, Ian mused softly to himself.
He looked up and said to the old Knight, "Then Teacher, apart from the Sand Armor Apprentice, what other Inheritances are available for me to choose from now?"
It wasn't that he had already decided to change allegiances.
He simply intended to hear about the other options.
Magical Beasts (Thanks to the alliance reward from Lord Odin's One-eyed Princess!) 41: Chapter 39 Magical Beasts (Thanks to the alliance reward from Lord Odin's One-eyed Princess!) "Harrison Port is surrounded by an environment that's quite nourishing, the sea and mountains fostering a great number of dual water-earth system magical beasts.
Also in the Redwood Forest, there are many magical beasts with no elemental inclination, simply possessing strong vitality.
Their bodies all contain materials usable for concocting magic potions."
Since Ian asked, Hiliard seriously explained.
At the moment, he had returned to his true form, no longer disguised as Ossenna, and sat down to say, "Today, I only surveyed the magical beasts in the sea, but honestly, the land magical beasts around human settlements are merely magical wolves, giant bears, and gigantic wild boars, hardly worth mentioning.
Only in the deep mountains are there other species."
The old knight took a cup of water and used water as ink to analyze the situation on the table for Ian, "Here is Harrison Port, located on the southeast coast of the Bison Mountain Range.
To the south is Sigh Cliff, and right next to it is Odell Reef, which is home to the 'Soaring Surge Gargantuan Eel' and the 'Whirlpool Sea Serpent,' both extremely dangerous."
"To the northeast is the Chaotic Reef Area, where there's a large number of fortifying corals and reef-eater otters.
There are also some precious pearls and labyrinth algae distributed there, which is rather dangerous."
"To the east, near the shore, there are tidal fish swarms, with the Fish King being the fisherman's favorite.
In the open sea, there are Ironclad Sharks which are generally not very dangerous, as Ironclad Sharks usually don't eat people unless you go into the water wearing armored clothing or have wounds on your body."
Hiliard explained with great seriousness and detail, and for a moment, Ian couldn't help but recall his mentor back on Earth, who offered instruction in the same earnest way.
Following his explanations, for the first time, Ian understood so clearly the distribution of magical beasts around Harrison Port.
The boy also recognized that gathering so much information in just an afternoon was enough to prove that Hiliard was quite serious about this matter.
"Lastly, near Sigh Cliff, there's a sea area with Thunderhunter Jellyfish, extremely dangerous.
Those jellyfish can fly and are particularly active during thunderstorms, indiscriminately attacking any creature that enters their territory," Hiliard concluded.
After speaking, the old knight put down his finger, furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, and then said, "The fish swarm, gargantuan eel, and sea serpent could follow the 'Sea Dragon Bloodline' lineage, which is also an inheritance capable of advancing to the Fifth Power Level."
"However, it's not the orthodox Dragon Blood and requires an additional purification ritual, using the blood of an ancient dragon of the same series to shed and cleanse; it's as troublesome as The Unyielding Fortress."
"But without the Sea Dragon Bloodline, the path narrows.
Apart from some extremely secretive and rare inheritances, most gargantuan eel and sea serpent inheritances end at the Third Power Level.
For the leader of the tidal fish swarm, it can only follow the 'Wave Breaker' of the First Power Level."
Even Hiliard's tone carried a hint of disdain, but the reality was not as such.
In fact, according to the common knowledge of Sublimators previously shared by Hiliard and Ian, the Third Power Level on the Terra Continent was already considered a mighty hero, whose feats were sung by ballad poets.
Not to mention, the Governor of Harrison Port was only at the Second Power Level, which was sufficient to hold a hereditary viscountcy; the Third Power Level could even serve as a general in The Empire.
And the First Power Level was enough to elevate one above commoners, to be received by the local nobles and enjoy numerous privileges.
Having the inheritance of the Third Power Level was considered a godsend for ordinary self-taught Sublimators, who might never break through the Second Power Level in their lifetime, let alone acquire the status of a noble or attain a high position in The Empire.
Even a complete inheritance like 'Wave Breaker' was unattainable to them, relegating them to being loosely-formed Sublimators.
However, in Hiliard's seemingly indifferent tone, this clearly wasn't enough.
"The reef-eater otter has both water and earth systems, so it could also be used as a primary material for a Sand Armor Apprentice's magical medicine ingredients, though it's a bit of a stretch.
To advance steadily, the prime materials for magical medicine should be the eye crystal of a Salt Sea Sand Lizard, the stone heart of a Sludge Giant Bear, or the petrifying venom sac of an Obsidian Scorpion."
The old knight shook his head slightly, clearly not very approving of the quality of the reef-eater otter: "The Thunderhunter Jellyfish is a low-tier primary material for the 'Magic Potion' of a 'Bloodline True Form' like the 'Aurora Titan,' full of potential, but far too dangerous."
"As for the precious pearls and labyrinth algae, one can create mirage illusions, and the other can confuse the mind, perfectly forming a 'Fairy' bloodline…
That's not bad, as it can progress to the Fourth Power Level, with a few special branches like the 'High Elemental Fairy,' 'Natural Fairy,' and 'Silver Fairy' having the potential for the Fifth Power Level."
"As for the last, the Ironclad Shark, if it could be paired with the 'Wind-Riding Swordfish' and Whale's Tears, a special kind of water series elemental crystal, then one could advance a high-tier True Form, the 'Tide Messenger'."
Hiliard had great, even exceedingly great expectations for Ian.
He believed if there wasn't an advancement form of the Fourth or Fifth Power Level, then the Bloodline True Form wasn't worthy of being learned by Ian.
However, even if it was a Bloodline True Form with a future of the Fifth Power Level, there was still a hierarchy in advancement difficulty and strength.
The Unyielding Fortress was the most difficult as well as the strongest among them.
"Is that so…"
After listening to the old knight's explanation, Ian couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
At this moment, his thoughts became firmer.
Everyone Was Stunned To See How Little Anakin Looks Today
Brainberries
You Do It Every Day Not Knowing That, Biblically, You Are Sinning
Brainberries
—He wanted to choose the strongest inheritance.
Who wouldn't want to become stronger?
Having the conditions to choose the best path yet not attempting it because the advancement is challenging would surely lead to regret in the future.
But what Hiliard said was also very realistic.
The ingredients of the three Ancient Dragons were not easily obtained; they were the most powerful forces on the Terra Continent, and one would need to go all out to acquire these materials.
"The Unyielding Fortress, it's one of the strongest inheritances, right?"
After contemplating for a while, Ian spoke up, asking Hiliard, "Then what Magical Beasts' materials are needed for its lower- to mid-tier Magic Potions?"
"Still choosing the path of the Sand Armor Apprentice?" Hiliard noticed Ian's expression and, realizing the seriousness of his attitude, couldn't help but shake his head, "You really don't heed advice, you have a lot of suffering ahead."
However, he was not disappointed but instead smiled and encouraged, "There is no inheritance that is the strongest, the strongest are always Humans.
As for the ingredients, it's simple, any Magical Beast related to the 'Earth Element' can serve as the Prime Material."
"If you aren't afraid of hardship and are willing to take this path, then I have nothing more to say."
"No." Ian shook his head and explained, "According to what you've said, the Water Dragon Bloodline, the Aurora Titan, and the Tide Messenger, even the Fairy Bloodline, are all very strong inheritances…
but the Bloodline True Form is clearly not something you can achieve just by knowing how to cultivate it, is it?"
Ian looked at Hiliard's solemn face, "As a Sand Armor Apprentice, at least I could learn a lot of experience and techniques from you, sir, and avoid some of the detours, while for the other inheritances, I'm afraid I'd have to grope my way on my own."
"This path is more difficult than you think."
The old knight sighed lightly, while Ian was unconcerned, "There's no need to rush about the future; the future me can worry about that."
"You, sir, are a great achiever of The Unyielding Fortress; with your teaching, at the very least, my foundation in the first few levels will be very solid."
"Most importantly," the boy concluded at last, "it would be a bit foolish not to utilize the lessons and experience of a teacher."
"That's not how you should use a teacher
Guidance (Thanks to the Silver Alliance reward from Lord Odin's One-eyed Princess!) 42: Chapter 40 Guidance (Thanks to the Silver Alliance reward from Lord Odin's One-eyed Princess!) "Teachers aren't supposed to be used like that!"
Waving his hand, Hiliard chided with a somewhat amused smile, "When I said it was difficult, it's because I'm a wanted criminal.
Do you really think this inheritance isn't monitored?"
"If the Ascendants from The Empire side detect a new Unmovable Fortress Practitioner like you, won't they guess who you inherited it from?
You'll become the Empire's new highest-level wanted criminal."
"Really?" Ian raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised, "Aside from you, teacher, isn't there anyone else in The Empire who practices this True Form?"
"They can't learn it."
Looking up at the ceiling, Hiliard spoke softly, "This inheritance had some errors before, and I was the one who corrected them, but I haven't had the chance to summarize and revise…"
Mid-sentence, the old knight stopped, seemingly lost in memories.
Seconds later, he lowered his head, fixing his gaze on Ian's face.
Hiliard slowly said, "You also make a good point.
With me as your teacher, it would indeed be a waste not to practice the Unmovable Fortress."
"In that case."
He had just thought of a compromise, "You can use the Reef-eater Otter as the prime material for the Magic Potion for Sand Armor Apprentices."
"The crystal bone in the spine of the Reef-eater Otter possesses dual Earth and Water elements, which can be used as magical medicine ingredients for both Earth and Water True Form inheritances.
If paired with some additional materials for stability, you can take advantage of both and be considered as an Ascendant with Earth and Water affinities."
"However, that's only for the First Energy Level.
From the Second Energy Level onwards, you must specialize.
By then, I estimate you will have figured out which path you truly wish to follow."
"Whether you choose to follow a Guardian's True Form inheritance like the Unmovable Fortress or a Water Series True Form inheritance like the Tide Messenger."
At this point, Hiliard frowned and emphasized, "This is just a special case with True Forms—the Bloodline Inheritance is extremely stable in its compatibility, but has low tolerance for this kind of manipulation."
"Moreover, this would also mean that when advancing to the Second Energy Level, you'll need more Second Energy Level magic potions to compensate for the current deficiencies."
What Hiliard described was also the method used by many of the great Nobles and powers when cultivating their heirs.
They have the conditions and capital to set their children on The Path of Sublimation at a young age, and provide them with many different choices.
But even after passing through adolescence and undergoing special training to achieve a Quieting Mind and guide the Origin Essence Cycle within, these children still lack rich life experiences.
They can't clearly recognize their own strengths and weaknesses, nor can they select the most suitable inheritance from the dazzling array of True Forms within their families.
The Path of Sublimation cannot be delayed, but if they fail to choose the most appropriate path, their future growth will also be extraordinarily rough.
Therefore, they use magical medicine ingredients from mixed-attribute magical beasts to make preliminary advancements—after all, compared to the strict requirements of Bloodlines, True Forms only need 'functionality.' As long as the functionality matches and there's no contradiction, any magical beast's ingredients will do, with only minor differences in detail.
This way, the process from the First to Second Energy Level provides young cultivators with ample time to think about the kind of future they want.
As for Bloodline Ascendants…
they don't have a choice.
The descendants of veteran Bloodline Ascendants naturally follow in the same path as their parents.
True Forms offer the convenience of universality and choice, while Bloodlines can directly inherit some Sublimation Organ seeds to their offspring, eliminating the need to gather magical medicine ingredients.
As they age, they can mature without additional effort, saving a lot of resources and time.
This is the fundamental difference between the two major Inheritance systems.
Even so, as the cost of 'more options,' once the inheritance for the next advancement is officially confirmed, the requirement for magic potions of the subsequent level would double, or even more.
This should be a very serious issue, after all, even nobles can't afford too many Second Energy Level magic potions.
But the old knight turned his head, looked at the still warm fish fillet on the table, and thought of the potential spirit energy of Ian, he chuckled, "For you, it might not be a problem."
"I will follow the teacher's advice."
Ian naturally had no objections—this is the advantage of having a teacher, they always manage to find a perfect and suitable path for the present based on their rich life experiences.
As for now, he still needed to focus on condensing his Primordial Seed.
In the Ascender System of Terra Continent, condensing the Primordial Seed is the basic entry-level requirement.
Condensing out several Sublimation Organs is what makes an Apprentice at the First Energy Level; having a system of Sublimation Organs with the Origin Essence Cycle spreading throughout the body makes one an elite at the Second Energy Level; condensing the Origin Essence into a tangible form, refining it into Life Spirit Energy, unleashing the extraordinary powers of magical beasts to their limits, and even using wisdom to break through those limits to manifest the 'Heartlight Body,' is the domain of a Master at the Third Energy Level.
Going further up is the realm of transcending human limits, and even in ancient myths, one could have their own titles.
That is the realm of 'Glory' and 'Demigod.'
Hiliard had an extremely high hope for Ian, believing that this student he had picked up by the roadside possessed potential surpassing nearly all apprentices he had in the past, and such a promising seedling would be an utter waste if it could not be cultivated into a Fourth or Fifth Energy Level High-level Ascendant.
"Ian, you've just eaten the flesh of a Primeval Demon Fish, which although weak, has quite rich Origin Essence in its flesh and blood, and your Virtual Primordial Seed should have already refined a part of it."
Gently tapping the table, Hiliard signaled the boy to perk up and listen to him, "The Primordial Seed's automatic operation is too slow and wastes a lot."
"Therefore, next, I will teach you a Breathing Guiding Technique, which can accelerate the Primordial Seed's refinement of Life Essence."
The cultivation of Ascenders is actually quite similar to building a house.
Origin Essence is an essential substance for Ascenders to refine Sublimation Organs, comparable to bricks, glass, and lumber, which are building materials.
Food, whether ordinary wheat flour, pork, beef, sheep mutton, fish meat, or Beast Flesh, can all produce Origin Essence, comparable to logs, clay, and gravel, which are raw materials.
The quality of the Primordial Seed determines the quality of the Origin Essence extracted from food by the Ascender, akin to whether the strength, toughness, and adaptability of a brick are superior.
The Breathing Guiding Technique determines the speed at which Ascenders extract Origin Essence from food, like the rate at which various raw materials are turned into construction materials.
Finally, the Bloodline True Form inheritance is like a blueprint for the building.
The higher the level of the inheritance, the more exquisite, grand, and lofty the building is, the more functional it becomes, and the more solid and reliable it is against being destroyed.
Food, Primordial Seed, Breathing Guiding Technique—one cannot go without any of these three.
Lacking one is like trying to walk with a broken leg, and even the most talented individuals would find it difficult to catch up with others.
And inheritance is more important than these three.
——Even with perfect raw materials and the fastest construction speed, if the foundation is skewed from the start, or if there are missing stairs, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms…the building is likely to collapse on its own, uninhabitable.
In Hiliard's view, Ian's spirit energy could ensure the supply of food, and his talent for cultivation is excellent, so the quality of his Primordial Seed must also be high.
With that, he just needed to learn the Guiding Technique and then inherit his legacy; his future achievements would undoubtedly be outstanding.
Breathing (Thanks to the chief with fair hands and a clean face for the reward!) 43: Chapter 41: Breathing (Thanks to the chief with fair hands and a clean face for the reward!) "Is that so?
Indeed, the Elders of the White Folks are no fools.
If they really want to know, you can certainly reveal your identity as a Spirit Energy User."
When Hiliard took Ian to the outer courtyard to prepare for the training of breathing techniques, he became aware of Ian's encounter the previous night and listened to Ian's retelling of Elder Prude's actions.
The old Knight nodded slightly, approving of the boy's response, "Don't worry, Spirit Energy Users are absolutely a priority for cultivation.
You, being a Spirit Energy User, even the local Lord would allocate resources your way—this is a fairly significant achievement.
For any local Lord who wants rewards and promotion, the quota of Spirit Energy Users within their territory is very important."
"However, it all depends on you.
When you think it's appropriate, that's the time to disclose it.
"As for the Natives, rest assured.
If there's really someone far beyond your ability intending to harm you, I will definitely step in."
——Does that mean if the opposition's strength is similar, I'm supposed to deal with it myself for training purposes?
Ian understood this well, and it matched his impression of Hiliard—the old Knight clearly wasn't the type to particularly dote on his apprentices.
Instead, he was keen on encouraging students to challenge themselves and improve during crises.
Just what he wanted.
"Let's do it right here."
With that said, Hiliard had Ian sit cross-legged with him in the backyard outside the house.
Because it had rained in the afternoon, the air was slightly cool at night, and the sea breeze blew gently, unexpectedly inducing tranquility.
The teaching of the Breathing Guiding Technique began here.
"Although it is called Breathing Guiding Technique, it's actually not necessary to deliberately speed up your breathing."
"Ian, imagine the charcoals in a forge.
Their burning is slow and serene, but if you pump air into them with bellows, the flames will burn fiercely, hot enough to melt steel into molten iron."
"The human body is the same; the food that people eat every day, isn't that a kind of charcoal?
And aren't regular breaths like wind being blown into a forge?
The human body itself is a constantly fanning and burning forge, and for Sublimators, this forge is even more robust and efficient."
"Ian, imagine it.
Envision the Primordial Seed operating in harmony with the flow of your blood, slow and natural, like a breeze stirring a brook.
But this is far from the limit of the Primordial Seed.
Use your breath to stimulate the Primordial Seed, driving it like a storm that billows sails, like a river rotating a waterwheel."
Hiliard's voice was gentle and clear as he sat cross-legged on the ground, guiding Ian with his eyes closed and kneeling, helping him grasp a rhythm of breathing: "Very good, just like that.
You've picked it up quickly, but the details still need improvement."
"Next, extend your hand and pay attention to the rhythm of my breathing, as well as the coordination of muscles, organs, and even blood."
The old Knight had Ian place his hand on his chest to sense the frequency of the heartbeat, the pathways of the blood, the regularity of muscle and organ function as he began to instruct, "Adjusting your breath is just self-suggestion, the most important part is guiding.
Gather the Essence Fragments scattered in every blood vessel throughout your body, release the power stored deep within, and have the Primordial Seed transform it into pure Origin Quality."
"Control your heartbeat, make it slower, yet stronger; let your body become relatively still, feel your blood churning throughout your body, piercing through every extremity's circulation."
"In doing so, you will be able to sense those fragments flowing in your body, like the ears of wheat in the light."
'Ears of wheat in the light' is a common term among Sublimators on the Terra Continent.
It refers to all 'powers bestowed by the sun' and 'Fruits of Life,' the source of all Extraordinary Powers.
Golden ears of wheat, ripening in sunlight, just as Origin Quality is condensed from the essence of life; if one views blood as the tangible flow of sunlight, and Origin Quality as the wheat of life, then the Guiding Technique is the process that accelerates the growth of wheat.
Ian listened attentively to Hiliard's teachings, trying as much as possible to control his breath, aligning it with the other's.
But the metabolism of an eight-year-old's body was too rapid, and his lungs and chest cavity were not fully developed, making it difficult to breathe at the same rate as an adult.
Even for him, it was hard to truly 'still' his mind in a short period of time to gather and condense the Essence Fragments within his body.
However, Ian was very adept at imagining, observing.
And, listening.
With his eyes closed, Ian activated 'Clairvoyant Vision.'
Instantly, he could see his teacher in front of him, his body overflowing with a golden glow.
If he concentrated, he could even see pale golden streams of heat and spheres of light moving within that body.
They crisscrossed and intertwined, forming a complex yet incredibly orderly structure.
Inhale—Exhale—
Gazing, listening, imitating.
Ian's heart was unprecedentedly at ease and tranquil.
Inhale—Exhale—
Reflecting, analyzing, summarizing.
Ian's mind was working intensely like never before.
He had noticed that Hiliard's breaths were long and prolonged, forceful yet not abrupt, like a flowing river.
They weren't like the explosion of dynamite or the strike of thunder with their sudden lethal force, yet they still possessed a surging, immense power.
The Knight's breathing had blurred the distinctions, where once the rise and fall of the lungs, the flow of blood could be sensed, Ian should have easily known when the other was inhaling or exhaling.
But the old knight's breathing left him somewhat bewildered, for it seemed to be a long breath without an end, like a long sigh without conclusion.
—What kind of breathing was this?
By this time, Ian could no longer keep up with Hiliard's rhythm.
Despite the knight's guidance, he suddenly lost control of his breath and then began to cough violently.
"Cough cough…cough cough!"
"There's no need to rush; you've done very well."
Stretching out a hand to gently pat Ian's back, easing the boy's discomfort, Hiliard said with patience, "You are nearly grasping the rhythm, it's just that your physical condition is still insufficient, unable to keep up with your thoughts."
Honestly, Hiliard was already quite satisfied at this moment.
The unique physical signs of children are also the reason they find it difficult to begin their training.
Conversely, if one can overcome the shortcomings of childhood and operate the Guiding Technique under such circumstances, then Ian's future practice stability will definitely far surpass that of his peers.
"The Guiding Technique can strengthen the lungs and speed up the refinement of Origin Quality, but it doesn't affect the muscles and can't hone the willpower."
After completing his thoughts, the old knight spoke, "Starting tomorrow, I will arrange some physical training to help you exercise your body."
He emphasized, "Every Inheritance requires different levels of physical quality.
The Sand Armor Apprentice requires an extremely high standard, needing strength and conditioning beyond ordinary people as the basic condition to consume the Magic Potion and form the Sublimation Organ."
"Rather, the more powerful the Inheritance, the higher the foundational qualities needed.
If one thinks that possessing a powerful Inheritance means they can relax their training, they are bound to suffer greatly."
"Not to mention anything else, the dramatic changes and stimulation to the body from the Magic Potion alone are enough to kill an unprepared Sublimation Apprentice."
"Even like just now, when you were only slightly distracted, your body couldn't handle the burden of the breathing technique."
"I understand, Teacher." Having caught his breath, Ian very much understood the importance of physical quality emphasized by Hiliard.
It's just the requirements for class change; I get it.
The more powerful the profession, the more foundational requirements needed.
It's perfectly normal.
On Earth, this kind of setting had been tasted enough!
He already had the idea of exercising to improve his physical strength, for the Terra People's physical quality indeed had unique advantages.
Without proper tempering, he wasn't even clear on the limits of his own body.
"Let's try again, this time a bit slower."
Noticing that Ian was still keen and had not recoiled from the previous pain, Hiliard did not end the teaching session, "Remember the rhythm, it's not just the lungs, your body, muscles, organs, and blood all need to follow the rhythm of breathing…"
"Mhm."
Following Hiliard's instruction, Ian breathed rhythmically.
All sounds were drowned out by the noise of the July sea tide, and the once rapid frequency gradually became peaceful and elongated.
With each breath, the power that lay dormant deep inside his body slowly awoke, slowly awakening…
Soon.
Ian fell asleep.