Chapter 127 : Taking the Initiative! Three Major Breathing Techniques!
Chapter 127: Taking the Initiative! Three Major Breathing Techniques!
The one who spoke was the capable woman in front of him who had just subdued him, both arms wrapped in the Bronze Flame that only a Mid-tier Knight possessed.
On his left stood a delicate-looking young girl, her sword emitting a soul-chilling cold light, pointed straight at his heart.
On his right was a bald man, his sword likewise aimed at his throat.
And behind him—what terrified him most was behind him.
A towering giant of a man, over two meters tall. Though he couldn’t see him, he could hear the thunder-like heartbeat within his body.
That heartbeat alone sounded like a death knell from hell, sending chills through his entire body.
The four stood less than two meters apart, like a heavenly prison locking James firmly in the center.
“My heavens…” James’ Breathing Technique, which had just begun circulating, stopped instantly.
He was a declining Low-tier Knight, yet surrounding him now were four Formal Knights.
The woman in front was a Mid-tier Knight, both people on his sides were skilled swordsmen, and most terrifying of all—
Was the giant behind him.
That man merely standing there made him feel as though he was already dead.
“Hey! Leo, need help?”
From the rooftop on the other side came Ray’s voice.
Silver radiance flickered in his hands as he drew his bow, an arrow fully nocked, the entire shaft wrapped in a bright, chilling glow.
He aimed at Reno, who was charging forward.
“Damn it…” James’ lips trembled. Through the gap between the two, he witnessed a horrifying scene.
Leo stood still, unmoving, waiting until the moment Reno rushed in front of him.
His black aura-coated hand unleashed an explosively powerful sword light.
Clang!
Reno’s sword was sent flying into the air.
A streak of silver sword light passed straight through him.
Then a line of blood burst open.
On the rooftop, Ray slowly lowered his bowstring.
There was no need for him to act anymore.
Although Leo and Reno were both Low-tier Knights—
The gap between them was like heaven and earth.
The difference in swordsmanship and strength meant Reno couldn’t even withstand a single move from Leo, dying on the spot.
“Not bad. I feel like it’s even a bit stronger than Eve’s swordsmanship.” Ray jumped down from the rooftop, casually patting Leo’s shoulder.
“……” On the other side, Eve narrowed her eyes upon hearing Ray’s words and directly pierced James’ heart with her sword.
Tommy had already fainted from the pain long ago.
“Leo… you said… your servants… you said these were all your…” Rang Laide looked at the five people who had suddenly erupted into action, as if he had guessed their identities.
“What! You brat, how dare you say I’m your servant.” Ross immediately protested.
“Fake identities… just fake identities.” Ray seemed to be enjoying himself, soothing his wife.
Leo crouched down, checking Reno’s condition.
“Alright. In that case, Leo, you should announce it.” Laforin glanced at Rang Laide, who still seemed somewhat worried.
He knew what the man was concerned about.
He feared that killing these two Wilderness Knights would bring retaliation from the others.
“Father, I’ve already broken through to the Knight Realm. In Blackstone City, I’ve been granted a fairly large fief. I need you to help me manage it.”
Leo had been planning this decision for a long time.
Blackwater City, as a border town, lacked resources, was fraught with danger, and was isolated.
This territory simply wasn’t worth staying in anymore.
And he didn’t want to keep worrying about it either.
It just so happened that Blackstone City had granted him a fief, and he didn’t have time to manage it himself. Letting his father take charge was perfect.
The Wasteland Territory was already thoroughly corrupted—its downfall was only a matter of time.
If they stayed, there was only one ending:
Being completely drained by the Wilderness Knight Order, just like those villages on the Centaur Plateau.
Compared to Blackwater City, the land around Blackstone City was more fertile.
Moreover, it was guarded by the Six Great Knights and dozens of Quasi-Knights, making it far safer.
Rang Laide thought for a moment and looked at Ray, who was grinning nearby. “Could it be… this gentleman is the City Lord of Blackstone City, Laforin?”
He only knew that Laforin, the City Lord, was a High-tier Knight.
Earlier, he had seen the silver radiance in Ray’s hands.
“No, no, no. The City Lord is over there.”
Rang Laide performed a Knight’s Etiquette toward Laforin. It was the first time in his life he had seen a High-tier Knight—let alone two.
After all, the commander of the garrison in Wasteland City was only a Mid-tier Knight.
So many great knights had come for him—
‘Leo has truly made something of himself.’
Rang Laide clenched his fist and raised his wine cup high. “Alright, everyone, enjoy your last night in Blackwater City. At dawn tomorrow—we depart!”
After cleaning up the scene,
Blackwater City welcomed its most joyful banquet in years.
Most people were filled with anticipation about leaving.
After all, Blackstone City had a renowned reputation—a place where even nobles and knights sent their children.
Only a small portion still felt nostalgic about the land they had lived on for decades.
But after receiving a subsidy of one silver coin, that bit of attachment quickly vanished.
“Woohoo!” Ray danced happily around the bonfire.
Compared to gatherings in castles, this small border town felt far more unrestrained.
On the other side, Eve glared at Ray. His earlier comment—“I feel like it’s even stronger than Eve’s swordsmanship”—still lingered in her mind.
Ross and Laforin toasted each other.
They left Leo’s final night in Blackwater City to him and his father.
The father and son sat in silence for a while.
As a transmigrator, Leo hadn’t spent much time with his father.
Their connection had mostly been letters reporting safety, along with the five silver coins sent monthly for living expenses.
Rang Laide looked at Leo, his heart full of pride, yet unsure how to speak.
After holding it in for a long time, he finally said, “By the way, son… how did you know they would come tonight?”
“They’re greedy.” Leo answered casually.
He touched the dozen or so gold coins in his clothes, then glanced at the small head peeking out from a mouse hole in the corner of the courtyard.
Several days earlier, Leo had remotely controlled that mouse to steal all of Reno’s money.
So tonight, he was ninety percent certain the other party would take the bait.
Rather than passively waiting for the Wilderness Knights to act, Leo chose to strike first and force them into a dead end.
……
Time passed quickly. Leo led his father and the civilians of Blackwater City on a long journey.
They had now settled in Blackstone City.
Leo’s knighthood registration had been approved by the kingdom. All conditions were met—what remained was to choose an auspicious day for the Knighthood Ceremony.
As the seventh knight of Blackstone City, Leo was granted a considerable fief.
It was located within the city’s territory, roughly the size of two villages.
Coincidentally, it was now the Month of Sowing. Rang Laide led the farmers, busy with spring planting.
He felt he had grown old—so old that he might not even defeat a Level 2 Beastkin anymore.
Yet he had never imagined that in his lifetime, he would be able to retire peacefully in a place like Blackstone City.
Leo had become a knight and had his own path.
What he needed to do was simply manage this territory well for his son.
At that moment, the old servant spoke, “My Lord, it seems the City Lord’s wife has sent another invitation.”
“The Madam is considerate. I’ll go.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll watch over things here.”
……
With his father managing the territory, Leo became a hands-off lord.
During this period, before the ceremony, he was not yet officially a Formal Knight in name.
However, Laforin had already granted him all the treatment he deserved.
Territory, Breathing Techniques, resource allocation.
Regarding the Blackwater City incident, Leo hadn’t expected Laforin to dispatch all the knights except Anthony—even personally leading the group.
The Black Mountain Knight Order.
For the first time in his life, he felt what it meant to have backing.
At this moment, Leo sat in his courtyard.
Upon his return, Laforin had arranged a new residence for him.
It was located in the very center of the castle, right next to Laforin’s own courtyard.
It was said to have originally been Laforin’s private residence.
Looking at the courtyard, it was clearly far more grand than the small yard he had as a Quasi-Knight.
Decorative vases, lush greenery—just the courtyard alone was nearly a hundred square meters.
One main hall, six guest rooms—enough to house over a dozen people comfortably.
If placed in his previous life, this residence would likely be worth over eight figures.
In addition, Leo had exchanged all the Merit Points from his last hunt for resources.
Tier 2 Body Tempering Potions—he had taken the last three bottles from the Knight Hall.
It seemed Lady Manta had rested for too long, and potion supply was becoming insufficient.
He also exchanged for some Tier 2 functional potions.
And a pile of refined iron materials.
Blackstone City lacked skilled blacksmiths—only ordinary weapons and armor were available. High-quality equipment had to be commissioned from the kingdom.
Ever since his encounter with Mia and Flag, he had felt a sense of crisis.
So he wanted to see if external means could assist him.
Now, Leo sat at a stone table, taking out a cloth bundle from his clothes. Inside were three booklets.
Two of them were the other two Breathing Techniques of Blackstone City.
The Furnace Breathing Technique he currently practiced focused on condensing black aura to coat the body, enhancing defense.
The Rock Breathing Technique accumulated black aura within bones and muscles, enhancing strength.
Laforin and Ross both practiced this Rock Breathing Technique.
The third was the Lightning Breathing Technique, practiced by Ray and Anthony.
For these middle-aged men, their primary Breathing Techniques had already reached their limits.
So they chose to cultivate a second Breathing Technique to enhance their combat capabilities.
However, for people like Leo and Eve, Laforin’s advice was not to cultivate a second Breathing Technique.
Instead, they should concentrate their energy and resources on maximizing their primary Furnace Breathing Technique.
Each breakthrough in realm brought a qualitative transformation—
Something that secondary cultivation could not replace.
Moreover, when cultivating a second Breathing Technique, the two types of Energy Factors within the body would clash.
Thus, the special effects of the two Breathing Techniques could not be activated simultaneously.
But Leo wasn’t thinking about that.
For him, the priority was to imprint these two Breathing Techniques into his mind and have them displayed on his panel.