Under Leider’s guidance, Ivan chose the “Bat’s Eye,” recorded behind the clinic’s sign, and began formally practicing this Knight Breathing Method, transforming the flowing blood energy into Bat’s Eye blood energy.
[Knight Breathing Skill Experience Points +1]
[Knight Breathing Skill Experience Points +1]
[Knight Breathing Skill: lv3(1/300)]
As expected of an upper-class Breathing Method, only one third of the blood energy had transformed, yet the Knight Breathing Skill had already leveled up to level 3. A Small Light of Wisdom descended, providing Ivan with a more comprehensive understanding of the Breathing Method. His control over blood energy became more natural, and his related skills were further unearthed.
In addition, he had also obtained a level 3 Light of Wisdom.
It took three consecutive days for Ivan to fully transform the blood energy within his body into ‘Bat’s Eye’ blood energy. The blood energy became much purer, more than doubling from before, which left him feeling pleasantly surprised.
The purer and more abundant the blood energy, the more it brought other changes to the body: part of the blood energy was connected to the stomach, greatly enhancing the body’s digestive capabilities; another part settled in the ears, significantly increasing his hearing ability.
Other blood energy spread throughout the body, also bringing changes, making the body more responsive.
This was the powerful effect of “Bat’s Eye.”
Ivan thought, bats not only could locate by echolocation but also had ‘stunt flying’ skills like sharp braking and rapidly changing flying speeds, which were a combination of hearing and agility. Naming this Breathing Method after the ‘bat’ was truly appropriate.
Strength: 2.9, Agility: 2.7, Body Constitution: 3.1, Spirit: 1.4
Upon the completion of blood energy transformation, his agility continued to rise, now having increased by 0.5 graduated degrees, he could feel that this was not the limit.
What thrilled Ivan the most was a newfound sensation near his heart, as if there was another heart there, occasionally hearing its beats, he knew this had to be the ‘Life Seed.’
He did not know whether it was the effect of the upper-class Breathing Method or the level 3 Breathing Skill, or perhaps the combination of both, but he knew that the Life Seed was a key factor in advancing to Knight Class.
“Not enough, the sensation of the Life Seed could be clearer, the body has not yet reached its limit,” he carefully savored the changes and came to a conclusion; there was still a slight room for improvement in the blood energy.
A new day.
That morning, a guard from the City Lord’s administration broke the tranquility of the Marichadon family.
“Mr. Ivan, Baron Karl has a message for you. Please arrive at the eastern dock by the 14th, and be sure to board the ship by 8 o’clock.”
“Extend my regards to Baron Karl, I will definitely reach on time.”
In the front yard, the guard brought a message to Ivan and then turned around and left the Marichadon family.
With four days left, the day of departure would be sixteen days after meeting Baron Karl, timed precisely.
As Ivan watched the guard leave, a hint of gloom flashed through his eyes.
Turning around, he found two pairs of eyes staring straight at him, filled with an intense curiosity.
Peggy couldn’t help but launch a series of questions, “Brother Ivan, what was that all about? What dock? Why do you have to board a ship? Where are you going?”
Ivan feigned surprise, “Didn’t Beaman tell you guys? I thought he informed the entire family, could it be he only told Father and Paul, who knows what that guy is thinking all day.”
“That damned Beaman, he said nothing,”
Both shook their heads, Sean complained indignantly.
Peggy wasn’t so easily convinced, “Then tell us, where are you going?”
Ivan replied, “I’ve received an invitation from the City Lord to go to a place to study sorcerer cultivation methods, you heard just now, it’s in a few days.”
Sean quickly approached him, grabbing his arm, his eyes shining with a different light, “Sorcerer! I want to go too, I want to go too, Ivan–“
Ivan slapped his hand away, speaking annoyed, “Do you have an invitation? If not, just stay at home obediently, I’ve found a great Breathing Method for you guys, you’ll be able to learn it soon.”
Peggy stared at him intently, “So, Brother Ivan, you’re leaving soon.”
Ivan nodded slightly, “Yes, but I’ll be back, just like Father often goes on missions. Peggy, take good care of Sean at home, don’t let him wander around.” He reached out and ruffled his sister’s fluffy brown hair.
“Hmm.”
Peggy, unusually, didn’t avoid it. Girls are quite sensitive, and she had already started to feel sad about the farewell.
In the next two days, Ivan continued to refine his blood energy using the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method, causing transformations in his body.
Strength: 2.9, Agility: 3.0, Body Constitution: 3.2, Spirit: 1.4
His body became stronger, increasing by 0.3 graduated degrees in agility and 0.1 graduated degrees in body constitution.
His perception of the Life Seed became even clearer.
“About there,” he said.
With his understanding of the Breathing Method and control over his blood energy, he sensed that his body and blood energy had reached their limit. Any further improvement would require breaking the physical shackles, that is, to condense a Life Seed.
He didn’t rush to advance but rested well for a day, until the morning just before he left.
“Let’s see if there are any oversights,” said Ivan to himself, as a membrane of light appeared, lighting up a Level 1 Light of Wisdom which made him profoundly transparent.
There were no issues.
The next second, he took the crucial step towards becoming a Knight with a firm belief—condensing the Life Seed.
As he operated the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method, all the blood energy in his body was drawn, flowing from capillaries to small blood vessels, from small vessels to large ones, like streams into rivers, finally converging towards his heart.
Blood energy rapidly gathered at the heart, increasing with time.
The heart trembled!
He could clearly feel a palpable pain emanating from his heart; the pain was intensifying, as if he were back to when he had been severly poisoned.
He had to act quickly to activate the Life Seed. If it exceeded what his heart could bear, it would inevitably cause irreversible damage to his body and might even lead to a failed advancement, ruining his efforts.
The next step was equally dangerous, requiring the breaking of the heart’s barrier, and failure would definitely result in severe damage.
At this point, Ivan had no other choice but to advance courageously forward.
Go!
The blood energy passed through the heart barrier and successfully collided with an invisible aperture near the heart’s surface.
There was no Life Seed in the aperture itself, but he knew there must be one at its center. It only lacked blood energy, the key element, and he firmly believed this.
The blood energy flowed towards the central point, gathering into a cluster and incorporating the last thread of blood energy inside his body.
The cluster of blood energy continued to circulate.
Suddenly, the cluster turned black in the blink of an eye.
Thump!
A joyful sound resounded inside him, like the grand bell of life.
Ivan understood that his blood energy had transformed into Combat Energy, and he had become a Knight.
“This is Combat Energy,” he said.
He opened his palm, and a faint black energy appeared, clinging tightly to his skin, spreading gradually to cover his entire palm before retracting back into his skin.
If anyone had seen this moment, they would have marveled at his control over Combat Energy, especially how he had managed to steadily cover his entire palm right after advancing.
The Combat Energy of a Knight is generally black, hence, Knights are also known as Black Iron Knights.