Chapter 20 : Advanced Sword Techniques
Chapter 20: Advanced Sword Techniques! Knight’s Breathing Technique!
Leo had been observing his teacher’s movements the entire time.
Eve Sova’s speed was too fast, and her senses were extremely sharp.
So he remained motionless. While the others were attacking, he carefully watched, searching for flaws in Eve Sova.
Until just now, he finally came up with a countermeasure—hearing.
Leo decisively made his move. First, he threw out the sweat cloth to interfere with her hearing.
At the same time, he chose the most tricky angle beneath her ribs.
The heavy sword seemed to transform into a frenzied python.
This sudden scene caused everyone present to feel a jolt of shock.
However, although Eve Sova was ambushed, she reacted instinctively.
In the blink of an eye, she raised her palm like a blade, meeting the ten-pound Iron Sword head-on.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out.
The thick Iron Sword was shattered into two pieces midair by her pitch-black palm.
The broken blade fell to the ground, producing a series of clinking sounds.
The entire room fell into deathly silence.
Just now, Eve Sova had broken an Iron Sword with her bare hand!
And it was a heavy sword nearly ten pounds, as wide as a palm.
This was something only a true knight could accomplish.
Eve Sova untied the cloth covering her eyes and lowered her gaze to her palm.
At this moment, a layer of black aura—almost tangible—floated over it.
She clenched her fist and actually felt a trace of soreness in her palm.
She hadn’t expected to be forced to release black aura, and for it to even cause her discomfort—this meant the opponent’s Strength had already reached the threshold of a Quasi-Knight.
Just now, she had used a Breathing Technique, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Looking up at the attacker who had retreated, Eve Sova’s eyes lifted slightly. “Heh, not bad… Leo.”
Only then did the Squires present come back to their senses.
“That’s black aura coating!” Rog stood up, pointing at Eve Sova’s palm as if he had realized something. “Knight-level!”
Black aura coating was the sign of breaking into the knight realm.
In other words, standing before them was the sixth knight-level powerhouse of Blackstone City—Eve Sova!
Leo slowly walked toward Eve Sova, brushing past Rog, who was in the way. “Teacher, according to what you said just now… did I win?”
Leo stared at her palm. He had indeed struck her just now.
Unexpectedly, Eve Sova calmly shook her head.
“No. What you hit was only my wrist guard.” She pointed at the leather guard on her hand.
Leo froze, blinking blankly.
‘That works too?! A wrist guard?! He had never expected such a move.
What about the Knight’s Code—fairness, honesty?
To think that a knight-level powerhouse like Eve Sova could be so cunning.
So if I hit her clothes, that doesn’t count either?’
Muttering inwardly, Leo didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Eve Sova shook her head, but then her tone shifted. “However, I didn’t expect you to train Basic Sword Techniques to this level in such a short time. As your teacher, I’m quite pleased.”
She turned and walked to the wall, pulling out the sword embedded there and returning it to its scabbard.
“Take this Starfall as your reward.” Without even turning back, she casually tossed the longsword behind her.
As if she had eyes in the back of her head, the sword landed precisely in Leo’s arms.
Leo looked up, but Eve Sova’s figure had already disappeared at the doorway.
“Oh, and one more thing—while Clarsen is away, I’ll be in charge of all matters in the sword room. Clean this place up.”
Her voice gradually faded, echoing through the room.
But at this moment, the atmosphere in the sword room became somewhat awkward.
Rog and his group looked at Leo, who was examining his new sword. After hesitating for a while, Rog finally stepped forward.
Thump.
Several of them knelt on one knee in unison, performing a standard knight’s salute.
“Brother Leo, we were the ones who offended you earlier. We hope you won’t take it to heart.” Rog’s expression was sincere.
Leo looked at them.
These guys were truly adaptable—able to bend and stretch as needed.
They changed attitudes faster than flipping a page, without the slightest psychological burden.
Half an hour ago, they were calling him a country bumpkin—now they were calling him brother.
Of course, Leo understood why.
With Clarsen gone, the entire sword room was now under Eve Sova’s control.
And she had just broken through to the knight realm.
As her only student, if they didn’t try to curry favor with him now, they might as well give up staying under her authority.
“Scram, scram, you fence-sitters. Don’t try to cozy up to us.” Arthur stepped between Rog and Leo, chin raised confidently.
Leo glanced at them. Each of them now looked obedient and honest.
It seemed that, at least for a while, no one in the sword room would come looking for trouble.
When he left the sword room, he found Eve Sova standing outside, as if waiting for him.
“Teacher Eve Sova, were you waiting for me?”
“I almost forgot to mention—you’ve already mastered Basic Sword Techniques, and your Strength is well-trained. It’s about time you formally begin knight training.” Eve Sova pointed toward a small courtyard in the distance. “At sunset, come to my courtyard. I’ll teach you Advanced Sword Techniques and the Knight’s Breathing Technique.”
Leo’s eyes lit up.
Advanced Sword Techniques! Knight’s Breathing Technique!
Both were exactly what he needed.
However, on the surface, Leo maintained a respectful demeanor and bowed seriously. “Thank you, teacher.”
Watching Eve Sova leave, Leo clenched his fists in excitement.
At that moment, Arthur ran up from behind him. “What?! Leo, you’re going to start learning the Knight’s Breathing Technique?”
He had overheard what Eve Sova said.
The Knight’s Breathing Technique was the starting point of the knight’s path.
Once a Knight’s Squire’s body met the requirements, they would begin learning the Breathing Technique.
As long as one entered the basics of the Breathing Technique, they would step into the Quasi-Knight realm—and Quasi-Knights could be employed as Knight Attendants.
It was important to know that not every Knight’s Squire had the chance to learn it.
It required a strong body as a foundation; otherwise, one could not withstand the immense burden of the Breathing Technique.
Arthur looked at the boy before him, whose physique had grown increasingly sturdy.
Only now did he realize that, without noticing, Leo had become much stronger than before.
He had never imagined that Leo could undergo such a drastic transformation in such a short time—it was like being reborn.
Perhaps it had something to do with the Merfolk meat he had treated him to.
But it also proved that Leo’s talent was extraordinary—far beyond his own.
As Arthur was lost in thought, Leo patted his shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
Arthur’s eyes lit up. “To celebrate?”
“To the stable. You can help hand me tools.”
Everything had only just begun—he had no right to relax.
This was merely the opportunity to learn the Breathing Technique. What came next still required his own relentless effort.
The next step was to find a way to enter the basics of the Breathing Technique.
Only by doing so could he become a Quasi-Knight.