Chapter 13: Breathing Technique and Reputation

A pale fish-belly white appeared on the horizon.

Luo De opened his eyes on the bed.

The [Second Heart] and [Tree’s Blessing] granted him physical strength and recovery far beyond normal.

After a brief rest, he had already returned to peak condition.

His physical stamina was nearly limitless, but his spirit was not.

After a night full of events.

Luo De felt a desire to do nothing at all.

“Can’t leave the cleanup undone.”

He struggled, then got up.

But he found Tally still lying on his chest.

Last night, despite her exhaustion, Tally demanded food as soon as they returned to the ranger’s cabin.

Normally, Luo De would have coldly pushed her away, but the succubus had truly been useful last night, so he softened and spent the rest of the night playing with her—only to find, after a while, that both of them had fallen asleep.

Luo De gently laid her on the bed.

After washing up, he practiced his breathing technique as usual.

The breathing technique he currently cultivates is the standard version issued to officials of the Aetheron Kingdom, with no official name; everyone calls it the [Standard Breathing Technique].

If breathing techniques were ranked from low to medium to high:

Then the [Standard Breathing Technique] is the middle-tier gatekeeper.

Those stronger than it are medium-tier; those weaker are low-tier.

In essence, breathing techniques are the same as the meditation methods used by mages—both are ways to accumulate spirituality.

The difference is one strengthens the body with spirituality, while the other converts spirituality into magic.

When he first gained the [Second Heart]:

His body instinctively absorbed spirituality, wildly reshaping itself to adapt to the new heart.

That’s why he could leap two ranks in such a short time, reaching the peak of fourth tier.

Now that the transformation is complete, he can only rely on the [Standard Breathing Technique] to absorb spirituality.

Fortunately, he also gained the skill [Tree’s Blessing], which greatly increased his speed compared to before.

He believed he could break through to fifth tier in just a few days.

When training ended:

Tally finally woke up.

She was lethargic, ignoring Luo De’s sweat, pressing herself against him and kissing his neck repeatedly.

“You’re mine~”

Luo De pushed her off.

“What? We agreed on five days— you’re backing out?!”

“Not today.”

Tally becomes especially reckless when indulging; Luo De must first settle other matters.

Like the spoils from Father Owen.

Luo De held the spell satchel of the halfling Ali.

But you cannot place one spell satchel inside another.

This is common knowledge known by nearly everyone on the continent.

The magic within folded spaces created by different mages varies, and may even repel each other.

If repulsion occurs, the folded space collapses, and all items inside are flung into another dimension.

He took out the spell satchel.

He quickly inventoried its contents.

Aside from five hundred Jin Along, Father Owen’s belongings were far fewer than Ali’s.

[Doctrine of Sacrifice]

[Offering the Body as Sword]

[Intoxicating Veil]

And a spellbook containing a spiritual enhancement technique called [Austere Body Strengthening].

[Doctrine of Sacrifice] was the steel-bound book Father Owen carried.

This steel book was clearly of exceptional quality—it could serve as a weapon and also enhance the caster’s speed.

[Intoxicating Veil].

It was likely the tool he used to cast mind-control spells.

[Offering the Body as Sword] and [Austere Body Strengthening] were connected.

Training [Austere Body Strengthening] requires living as an ascetic and inflicting wounds upon oneself with weapons bearing holy properties.

This grants a powerful body.

Father Owen must have trained this spiritual technique, which explained his abnormal physique.

Luo De had no interest in [Austere Body Strengthening].

After all, Father Owen’s appearance disgusted him.

But [Offering the Body as Sword] could be useful.

Its quality was good, and its design was similar to the steel swords Luo De usually used.

“I’ll take this.”

Tally picked up the [Intoxicating Veil].

“Take whatever you want. These spoils are equally ours.”

Luo De also gave her the halfling Ali’s magic short sword and half the magic potions.

Tally didn’t care about those.

She merely felt her performance last night had been mediocre and hoped to raise her rank.

She sensed a faint aura within the [Intoxicating Veil] that could help her ascend.

“During the five days we agreed on, you must work harder—I’m about to ascend.”

Luo De was surprised.

Succubi are an extremely lazy race; they rarely seek to raise their own rank.

Afternoon.

Luo De entered Shi Ying Town.

Today happened to be payday.

On his way, he met Vivian in Bai Yu District.

Vivian was still clearing the burned trees.

This seemed to be a special custom of the Tree Spirit.

Luo De did not disturb her further, planning to bring her new saplings and nutrient solution on his way back.

Upon entering the town hall:

Luo De sensed the staff whispering and pointing.

It wasn’t because of Tally.

At this moment, she had transformed into an ordinary peasant woman.

Their whispers made no effort to hide—almost all centered on how he saved Daphne last night.

As expected.

Just as little Tom had spread rumors about him keeping a succubus, the constables had spread word of his heroic deeds last night.

The people of Shi Ying Town are all loudspeakers.

But Luo De was perfectly happy about it.

After all, no one dislikes words laced with praise and acknowledgment.

“We never even thought of the Maze on Shuangzhi Mountain until we met you.”

On the way, he met David, who happily recounted last night’s events.

“Did you know? Those twenty people in the maze were all notorious thugs and thieves—you wiped them all out, and now the townsfolk can finally sleep soundly.”

“When I first saw you last night, I thought I’d mistaken someone! Miss Isabella is peak sixth tier—I thought her sword strike would cut you in half. I never expected—”

Luo De waved his hand, meeting David’s curious and stunned gaze, and said:

“I was beaten until I spat blood.”

“Brother, your spiritual accumulation doesn’t even reach fifth tier! How?”

“Don’t flatter me like that.”

Luo De knew that his encounter with Isabella had been pure suppression.

Where was there any back-and-forth?

Her entire state was powered by items of exceptional quality—her [Steel Vine Charge], capable of fifth-tier destruction, couldn’t even pierce her defenses.

Fortunately, shared skills grow stronger with practice and deeper understanding.

Unlike human-made fixed-rank spiritual techniques,

innate racial skills have growth potential.

"By the way, David, do you know where I can buy higher-grade spiritual arts?"

The Spiritual Guild had too few spiritual arts, and all were low-grade—they no longer satisfied Luo De.

"Higher-grade spiritual arts? I do know where, but they’re all held by private groups, and the prices are extremely high."

The Spiritual Guild is the kingdom’s official organization, which encourages citizens to learn spiritual arts; thus, the arts it offers are not only sufficiently basic but also very cheap.

Luo De thought of the six hundred gold Along in his pocket.

Instantly, he felt confident.

"It’s just money—I still have some."

(End of Chapter)