Chapter 61: Exploitation

Robin was both startled and delighted, and hurriedly opened his ability panel to check. He saw the panel display:

Earth Dragon Breathing Method (Advanced Knight Level): Accelerates life recovery, Knight Level experience: 1321/10000

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

Knight Apprentice Level experience: 5/1000 (Can practice breathing method: 0/1)

Seeing this information, Robin's eyes widened sharply, and a flash of lightning seemed to slash through his mind; he instantly understood the truth behind the strange phenomena in the lord's secret chamber.

It turned out that Lord Bloet's evil ritual conducted in the secret chamber was likely intertwined with this "Dragon Devouring Breathing Method" by countless threads.

He must have intended to swallow other knights' Life Force, using the special ability of the "Dragon Devouring Breathing Method" to break through to a higher realm.

That I happened to obtain it and successfully cultivate it now, the coincidence is truly awe‑inspiring.

"It's all destiny!" Robin sighed deeply, feeling both a lament for the fickleness of fate and a hint of gratitude for surviving the calamity.

This unexpected gain is both an opportunity and a challenge. After calming down a bit, he decided to strike while the iron is hot and bring out the Spirit Snake Breathing Method, which had previously failed, to try again.

This time, with the aid of the "Dragon Devouring Breathing Method," the situation was completely different.

Robin followed the essentials of the Spirit Snake Breathing Method, adjusting his breath and guiding the qi.

The originally complex and obscure breathing pathway now became clear.

His breath moved like a lively spirit snake, winding through his body. Soon, he felt his body change, a unprecedented sense of agility surged to his mind, and his flexibility seemed to be greatly enhanced in an instant.

Robin checked the panel again, and, as expected, it showed:

Spirit Snake Breathing Method (Knight Apprentice Level): Primary agility, body flexibility greatly increased, Knight Apprentice Level experience: 3/1000

Of course, the compatible slot after the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method also became 1/1.

Robin rested his chin and muttered to himself, "It seems that to practice an additional breathing method, one must first raise the Dragon Devouring Breathing Method to Knight Level."

As time passed, the caravan drew ever closer to Tu Tan Men Xing Sheng.

During the journey, Robin gradually became familiar with the people of the caravan.

He learned from Camille that Tu Tan Men Xing Sheng is an important commercial province in the southern kingdom, especially that recapturing Tutamen City is the province's hub, where trade flourishes and merchants and adventurers from all over gather.

Camille hoped this time to sell the goods procured from the Black Forest in Tu Tan Men Xing Sheng and earn a hefty profit.

Half a month later, the caravan finally arrived at the provincial capital—Tutamen City.

Camille kept her promise, not only paying Robin twenty Gold Coins, but also introducing several local merchants to him.

"Lord Robin, thanks to you we could arrive safely," Camille said, shaking Robin's hand, her tone full of gratitude. "If you ever have a chance to come to Tutamen City, be sure to find me!"

Robin nodded, smiling, "Certainly. May your business prosper."

After waving goodbye to Camille, Robin led his newly seized warhorse, full of anticipation, toward the capital city of Tu Tan Men Xing Sheng.

The dusty road had not diminished his yearning for this bustling metropolis. Yet, the moment he reached the city gate, reality gave him a vivid lesson.

"Entry fee is ten copper coins per person, twenty copper coins per livestock," a city gate guard blocked Robin's path, the sharp spear tip glinting coldly in the sun.

The guard pointed at a nearby wooden box, his tone tinged with impatience and arrogance, "Even knights aren't free."

Robin lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping over the guard.

He keenly sensed that the opponent was only at the strength of a Knight Apprentice.

Beside the wooden box sat a Formal Knight, idly twirling a riding whip, occasionally glancing at the crowd entering the city.

"No wonder this is the capital; this setup can't be compared to the countryside of the Brot Viscount's Domain," Robin thought, admiring how everything here displayed a grandeur and order starkly different from the remote viscount's lands.

"Sorry, it's my first time in Tutan Gate; I don't know the rules," Robin said with a polite smile, his tone even.

As he spoke, he took three silver coins from his purse and gently placed them into the wooden box.

The silver coins clinked against the box bottom, producing a crisp sound.

The Formal Knight nearby, seeing this, nodded approvingly. He stood, brushed dust from his armor, looked at Robin, and, with a tone of seasoned advice, warned, "First‑timers in Tutan Gate all act like this, especially you country knights. Remember, this place isn't your countryside; everything follows rules, or misfortune will be yours."

Robin gave a slight nod in thanks.

In this city, rules are everything; only by obeying them can one survive better.

Leading his warhorse, he slowly entered the gate, and the scene before him instantly became extraordinarily lively.

Streets teemed with traffic, people came and went, and a chorus of hawkers' cries and laughter intertwined.

On both sides of the road, shops lined up, dazzling and abundant, from exquisite silk garments to precious magical items, everything imaginable.

Robin inhaled deeply; the air was saturated with the scent of spices, delicacies, and wealth.

In the following two days, Robin profoundly understood what it means that "living in the capital is not easy."

The fresh feeling of first entering Tutamen City had not fully faded when life's difficulties began to arrive one after another.

To find a place to stay, Robin roamed the streets and alleys, staring at the posted rental notices, his brows furrowing tighter.

Ordinary houses were cramped and dim, yet the rent was absurdly high—ten Gold Coins a month, nearly equal to his half‑year's hard labor earnings in the Viscount's domain.

The slightly more spacious and comfortable dwellings were even more daunting, with a starting price of fifty Gold Coins.

He had thought that a little over a thousand Gold Coins would be enough to settle in Tutamen City; now it seemed only a joke.

He could only honestly become a wandering drifter.

After finally finding a barely acceptable rundown shack, when he was joyfully preparing to move in, the landlord, smiling broadly, informed him that besides rent, he must also pay a hefty deposit and a myriad of miscellaneous fees—cleaning, security management, totaling three hundred Gold Coins.

Robin clenched his teeth in helpless resignation; though unwilling, he could only accept this seemingly unreasonable yet customary rule.

He hadn't expected that, reborn here, he would still have to endure the landlord's exploitation.

(End of chapter)