Flying Fish Port had nearly ten thousand people, and there were only about forty formal Knights, half of whom were under the command of the City Lord. Even in the entire Aromatic Wheat Dukedom, the total number of Knights was only around a thousand.
Commoners had to address a knight as “Your Excellency” or “Knight Sir,” and nobles also had to treat them with respect.
This was the status of a Knight.
“I finally have some ability to protect myself,” Ivan thought, feeling the changes within his body. The so-called ‘Life Seed’ was a Combat Energy Sac located in the invisible aperture. The Combat Energy flowed slowly, stretching out several strands of Combat Energy that covered the surface of the nearby heart, spreading along the blood vessels connected to the heart and radiating outward.
Unlike the previous blood energy, Combat Energy had a more marvelous quality. It could move along with the blood flow and also move on the surface of the blood vessels. Moving on the surface, undoubtedly faster, did not interfere with the normal circulation of blood.
Combat Energy could reach various parts of the body along the blood vessels and then adhere to the body’s surface, forming a layer of protection and augmentation.
Generally, a knight who has just completed their advancement cannot stably attach the Combat Energy on their body surface and needs a long period of training. This stage is called ‘Junior Knight.’
An Intermediate Knight could enable Combat Energy to cover their entire body, forming a ‘Combat Energy Coat.’
A Senior Knight could wrap their weapon with Combat Energy.
He had just entered the level of a Knight and was now a Junior Knight.
Ivan tried the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method and found that the enhancement of his hearing, digestive system, and body agility still existed, with even more significant effects.
Strength: 3.0, Agility: 3.5, Body Constitution: 3.4, Spirit: 1.6
On the membrane of light within his field of vision, the attribute panel data showed significant changes, increasing by 0.1 strength, 0.5 agility, 0.2 body constitution, and even the consistently unchanged spirit rose by 0.2 graduated degrees.
On the Academic Prodigy panel, his Breathing Skill experience had surged forward, reaching half of the total Experience Points needed for Level 3.
[Knight Breathing Skill Experience Points +150]
[Knight Breathing Skill: lv3(157/300)]
He had improved a bit in the past few days. Now that his Level 3 experience was more than halfway, he felt reaching Level 4 wouldn’t be so difficult.
In the membrane of light, there was one Level 2 and two Level 3 Light of Wisdom potions left.
Just now, he had considered using the Light of Wisdom to safeguard his promotion, but ultimately he had dismissed the idea. Being with or without the Light of Wisdom were two different states; switching mid-way was like hitting the brakes while speeding. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control it and might crash.
Knights usually had a trump card in their Breathing Techniques, known as ‘Secret Killing Moves.’ The Bat’s Eyes was no exception. He remembered clearly that one move called ‘Bat Ring Dance Stab.’ Once he learned the Knight part of the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method, he could learn and use it as his combat method.
Being clad in finery, he wouldn’t embark on a night journey, especially since he was to set off tomorrow.
Since he was leaving, Leider and Paul unusually hadn’t gone early to the Mercenary Group’s location.
After breakfast, Ivan shared this good news with his family.
“I’ve broken through to Knight.”
“Let me see.”
Even the usually solemn Paul couldn’t sit still. He leaned forward, staring at the layer of Combat Energy on his palm that resembled a black veil. Needless to say, Beaman pushed forward, making it so that Sean, who couldn’t squeeze through, could only peek over the table.
“Good, very good,”
Leider sat without moving, unable to hide the joy on his face.
Beaman couldn’t help but ask, “Ivan, how did you break through?”
Paul was equally curious.
The twin brothers had been squires for a long time. Regarding how to become a knight, they still were unclear, evidently lacking some crucial understanding.
Ivan dispersed the Combat Energy from his hands and answered, “It’s quite simple. First, sense the Life Seed, then gather all the blood energy in your body to concentrate it from ethereal to tangible.”
“Don’t think just because you became a knight that I won’t dare to beat you up,”
Beaman was somewhat annoyed. He wasn’t looking for that generic answer.
Actually, all three brothers had asked their father, Leider, about this question. Leider had discovered the Life Seed during a battle against an enemy through an outburst of the Goliath Frog technique. In a critical moment, he brashly proceeded, accidentally concentrating it into a Life Seed, then turning the tables on his enemies.
His god-like experience was not very informative, yet Beaman’s aspiration to join the army was not without this influence.
After some thought, Ivan said earnestly, “The blood energy needs to be of higher purity; one must have sufficient understanding and control over the Breathing Method and blood energy, as well as unwavering conviction. Remember one thing—the Life Seed is there.”
In the end, he pointed near his heart.
Several people couldn’t help but stare at his finger.
“What are you thinking? This is just a general reference.”
Ivan wordlessly pushed Sean, who was nearly climbing onto the table with his body leaned forward, back into his seat, also causing Beaman and others to embarrassingly retract their gazes.
Leider nodded in agreement, “Ivan is right. You must believe that there’s a Life Seed there.”
It’s pointless to debate whether the Life Seed truly exists or not. Without exception, those who do not believe in its existence invariably find it difficult to become a knight. Therefore, one must firmly believe in its existence.
Paul and Beaman nodded in unison, taking this point to heart.
Beaman curiously asked, “Which Breathing Method did you ultimately choose? Was it your family’s Goliath Frog Breathing Method?”
“Bat’s Eyes, an upper-class Breathing Method.”
Ivan glanced at Leider and, receiving his cue, reluctantly disclosed the matter of his coming upon an upper-class Breathing Method.
“This…” It sounded like a segment from a knight’s tale. Beaman remained silent for a while after hearing it, and looking at his youngest siblings enviously, he said, “You’re all in luck.”
“Hehe, everyone’s in luck.”
Upon hearing about such good fortune and thinking it was the most powerful upper-class Breathing Method, Sean was immediately overjoyed to the point of losing himself.
However, he didn’t know that the Goliath Frog Breathing Method had a characteristic. It was hard to transform the refined blood energy into other Breathing Methods’ blood energy. The incomplete transformation meant the blood energy was not pure, which would pose a significant obstacle when they attempted to break through to the Knight Class.
Paul and Beaman would not switch to another Breathing Method unless absolutely necessary.
Leider commanded in a stern tone, “If you don’t want the whole family to die horribly, remember not to reveal a single word to anyone, especially you, Sean!”
“I understand, Dad.”
Sean wasn’t foolish; he understood the principle of bearing the consequences of possessing valuable items. The others, too, grasped this concept.
After a pause, Ivan said, “Dad, come with me. I have something to give you.”
Then, in his own room, he handed over to Leider the Bat’s Eyes plaque, numerous Breathing Method beast hide scrolls, the recipe for the Ocean Blue Potion, his apothecary notes, two sets of the Ocean Blue Potion, and the letter from the Hobson family.
…
Early the next day,
Ivan left the Marichadon family alone, without anyone seeing him off.
“Mr. Ivan, this way please.”
At the Flying Fish Port dock, Ivan was greeted by a guard upon his arrival, who led him to the eastern shore within the dock.
Baron Karl was already waiting in front of a black ship; not far from him stood six young men and women. Beyond them was another group of around a dozen young men; the people who came to send them off were kept beyond the dock.
“Good day, Baron Karl.”
“Hmm, just wait on the side for a moment until everyone else arrives.”
Ivan spotted two familiar figures, one of whom was Justine who liked to wear light green long dresses. Clearly, she was also set to become a sorcerer apprentice like himself. Another familiar figure among the group was Rosyth.
At that moment, Rosyth stared at him with eyes wide in disbelief, unable to believe Ivan possessed the qualifications of a sorcerer.
“Good morning, Ivan.”
“Morning.”
Seeing Ivan, Justine inexplicably felt a bit more at ease.
The two exchanged a sign, indicating that now was not the time for idle chat.
After a while, Baron Karl gestured to the captain of the guards, “Where is Feyen?”
“That commoner hasn’t arrived yet.”
Baron Karl’s face darkened, and he commanded coldly, “You take some men and bring him to me.” He emphasized the word ‘bring’ heavily.
Following the captain’s summons, a large number of guards left the dock with great momentum.