Chapter 171: Fusion

Robin is polishing his new Tang Sword, and the sudden explosion outside the city startles him, causing the sword edge to quiver.

The mechanical clock's chime mixed with horse hooves from far to near, the window shutters clanged in the night wind; he gazes at the moonlight reflected on the blade, always feeling that Madam Ai Sha Er isn't as simple as her mother said.

Within three days, news of Young Master Xi En's sudden death swept the western lands like wildfire.

In the noble salon, whispers rustle, crystal glasses clink, mingling with exclamations about romantic affairs.

Commoners gather in the tavern, gesturing with rough palms the fragrant details, spittle droplets mixing with ale splashing.

Someone says they saw the maid Magic Power being dragged out of the duke's manor, her hem soaked with fresh blood.

Others rumor that Xi En's death was strange, his face bearing a satiated smile, looking like a puppet drained of spirit.

From the street chatter, Robin catches a key clue: Madam Ai Sha Er closed the doors to thank guests, and the lights in Duke Huo Ke's study have burned until dawn for three consecutive nights.

Robin's gaze sweeps over the flashing numbers on the System Panel, a barely perceptible curve lifts his mouth.

Dragon Devouring Breathing Method (????): can simultaneously practice other breathing methods, devouring the Life Force of the concurrent breathing methods to aid one's own breakthrough.

Legendary Knight Experience: 49999/50000 (Breathing methods that can be practiced concurrently: 3/3)

Behind the mysterious question marks of the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method seems endless power waiting for him to excavate.

Just a bit of experience away from breaking through the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method, which would not only let him join the Order Knights but also let him cultivate an additional breathing method, further boosting his strength.

Thinking of this, his heartbeat quickens a few beats.

Yet it is precisely this point that keeps him from breaking through; in the end he chooses to spend some Global Experience to push the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method into Order Knight.

Dragon Devouring Breathing Method (Sunrise Throne): can simultaneously practice other breathing methods, devouring the Life Force of the concurrent breathing methods to aid one's own breakthrough.

Order Knight Experience: 0/200000 (Breathing methods that can be practiced concurrently: 3/4, can fuse breathing methods 3/3.)

After breaking Order Knight, the original question mark also becomes Sunrise Throne, leaving him uncertain.

But soon, an extra concurrent breathing method appears, giving him some anticipation, though he didn't expect further choices later.

"Fusion Breathing Method?" Robin quickly selects the option to fuse breathing methods, and as expected it is those three low‑tier breathing methods.

Afterwards, the Storm Breath Breathing Method also gains a note: Perfect Order Knight Level.

"Perfect Order Knight Level should refer to Third Tier Order Knight, which is the limit of this Storm Breath Breathing Method." Robin quickly judges, and can roughly guess the limit of this breathing method without system assistance.

Ordinary people practicing this breathing method can at most reach Order Knight; achieving Perfect Knight is impossible.

Just like those low‑tier breathing methods, with system help they can reach Legendary Knight, but most only reach Great Knight pinnacle, then need to seek higher‑level breathing methods to break through Legendary Knight.

Robin clicks Fusion Breathing Method.

"Will you fuse Soil Dragon Breathing Method, Spirit Snake Breathing Method, Raging Bear Breathing Method into one breathing method?"

As Robin's fingertip lands on "Yes", the System Panel suddenly erupts with dazzling golden light.

The light patterns of the three low‑tier breathing methods twist like living things; Soil Dragon's brown‑ochre, Spirit Snake's dark green, Raging Bear's iron gray swirl in the void, like three Giant Pythons fighting over a single heart.

He feels his temples throb, a faint iron‑rust smell rises in his nostrils, as three distinct Life Forces clash in his meridians.

The fused light tide lasts twenty minutes, each second feeling like being thrown into a furnace for reforging.

When the heavy feel of Soil Dragon seeps from deep bones, the cunning of Spirit Snake slithers along the spine, and the frenzy of Raging Bear detonates in the dantian like thunder.

Robin nearly loses grip on the new Tang Sword several times, but at the instant the blade strikes the table corner, inspiration strikes; he uses the rhythm of the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method as an anchor, visualizing the three forces as wild horses tamed by Order Power, forcing them to step in unison through his meridians.

When the light tide recedes, a chaotic‑colored light cocoon floats at the center of the System Panel.

Robin holds his breath, watching the cocoon's surface flash sequentially with phantom scales, rock armor, bear claws, finally solidifying into a rhombic emblem, its pattern containing Soil Dragon's steadiness, Spirit Snake's femininity, and Raging Bear's ferocity.

At the moment the icon is fully perfected, Robin hears a roar in his chest, as if an ancient beast's howl pierces time.

【Fusion Breathing Method Earth Dragon Turbulent Wave】

Trait: combines earth‑type defense, serpentine trickery, bear strength; can switch dominant form during combat as needed; can be cultivated to the final rank Order Knight.

Earth Dragon Turbulent Wave Breathing Method (Legendary Knight Level): high power, high agility, high regeneration, Legendary Knight Experience: 1/50000

Life Force: 3500

Robin presses his throbbing heart, feeling the threefold power surging within.

He tries the Soil Dragon form; his right forearm instantly shows rock‑like texture; switching to Spirit Snake form, his spine can twist as if boneless; when Raging Bear power floods his body, his finger joints crack "ka ka", even cracking the new Tang Sword's hilt.

"So fusion isn't just simple stacking." He looks at the new data jumping on the System Panel, suddenly recalling a fragmentary book in the Viscountess's study, which said ancient knights could become elemental kings, perhaps this is the high‑level form of breathing method fusion.

Robin leans against the wooden window of the inn, watching gray‑black smoke rise toward the duke's manor, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the newly fused breathing method emblem.

The dizziness from the Earth Dragon Turbulent Wave three days ago hasn't fully faded, now replaced by a scorching excitement; he can clearly sense the panicked footsteps on the street, the clank of guard armor, even the hammer blows from the Blacksmith Shop a mile away, all vibrating like strings within his perception range.

"That old Huo finally started biting his own tail." He chuckles at the window glass, the silver hair reflected by the bonfire glowing reddish, resembling the blood flowing from the duke's rear kitchen.

Since Xi En's sudden death, the duke's manor purge has lasted three full days; yesterday even three corpses were hung upside down at the city gate for display, the crime list scribbled "collaborator", but Robin knows those are names on Madam Ai Sha Er's male companion list.

Soon, spies from his parents delivered news: the purge at the duke's manor killed the three male companions favored by Madam Ai Sha Er, and also wiped out a batch of underground forces.

Clearly, these people were Madam Ai Sha Er's henchmen.

(End of chapter)