Translator: CinderTL
Although he had successfully guided the Knight's Breathing Technique once, his subsequent practice sessions did not become any smoother.
"Huff..."
Roland exhaled deeply, his gaze sweeping across the increasingly glaring sunlight and rising temperature outside the window. He shook his head slightly.
"An entire morning, and I've barely managed to guide the breathing technique three times. It seems mastering the Knight's Breathing Technique is far more challenging than I anticipated. But..."
He rose from his chair.
Despite the stumbling progress, Roland's face showed little discouragement. He could clearly sense that each failed attempt refined his grasp of the mysterious "Qi sensation." With persistence, guiding the Knight's Breathing Technique would inevitably become more effortless.
Clinging to this conviction, he pushed open the door.
His eyes met Galvis, who stood with his hand raised, poised to knock.
"Galvis?" Roland frowned slightly at the sight of the man. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing..." Galvis scratched his head awkwardly.
"Isn't it almost noon? My stomach's starting to..."
Midway through his sentence, the bard noticed a subtle change in Roland's demeanor and his eyes widened.
"Roland! You... you..."
His voice was filled with astonishment.
"You've successfully channeled the Knight's Breathing Technique?"
Seeing Roland nod slightly, Galvis's fingers instinctively plucked the strings of his ever-present lute.
A melodious tune flowed forth, accompanied by his clear, resonant voice.
"Oh, gods above! Praise your guidance! Roland, you truly are the hero destined for me!"
"What?"
Roland's eyebrow twitched involuntarily at the bard's theatrical display.
Though he had been traveling with Galvis for some time, he still struggled to fully adjust to his companion's occasional flamboyant antics.
Ignoring the spectacle, Roland headed straight for the kitchen.
Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt that channeling the Knight's Breathing Technique even once had drained him more than practicing the Mithril Body Tempering Technique ever had.
Though he had enjoyed a lavish breakfast just that morning, by noon, his stomach felt like it was burning with hunger, the intense sensation sending sharp jolts through his nerves.
To put it dramatically, Roland felt like he could devour an entire cow right now.
"Hey, Roland!"
Seeing Roland's utterly calm expression, Galvis stuck to him like an unshakeable plaster, clinging tightly to his heels.
"How can you be so composed? By the gods, that was the Knight's Breathing Technique!"
"So what?"
Roland replied absently, his hands moving deftly as he prepared the ingredients. The sharp blade tapped rhythmically against the cutting board.
While successfully guiding the breathing technique was indeed cause for celebration, he knew it was merely the first faint knock on the heavy door of the Transcendent Realm.
The path to becoming a true Transcendent Knight stretched long and arduous before him.
Galvis scrutinized Roland's face, confirming that his friend wasn't feigning modesty, before blurting out urgently, "My friend! Don't you realize how incredibly difficult it is to guide the Knight's Breathing Technique?"
"Even if an ordinary person were lucky enough to obtain it, they'd likely lack the innate talent to guide it successfully! Even those with exceptional gifts often require months of arduous practice to progress from sensing the Qi to mastering the guidance! But you! My hero!"
The bard danced with excitement, his fingers strumming the lyre haphazardly, producing a series of discordant notes.
"You achieved it in less than half a day! By the gods! This is... this is a miracle!"
Roland's hands moved without pause, deftly slicing ingredients on the cutting board. He ignored Galvis's exaggerated praise, but his brow gradually furrowed as he recalled his own process of mastering the breathing technique.
He had indeed encountered difficulties, but...
They seemed far less daunting than Galvis described.
"That's not right..."
The knife fell steadily, cleanly dividing the ingredients. Yet Roland's thoughts raced on.
In the Golden Valley Kingdom, nearly every noble's son received training at the Knight Academy.
Even after excluding those who failed the rigorous assessments, the remaining pool of candidates remained substantial.
During the noble banquet at Far Ocean Port, Roland had carefully observed the attendees and found that not a single noble present possessed the transcendent aura of a knight.
This was clearly illogical.
This phenomenon seemed to silently confirm the truth of Galvis's words.
So, that means... Roland thought to himself.
The wounds inflicted on the Golden Valley Kingdom by the Blood Moon Rebellion were likely far more severe than I imagined.
No wonder, despite having the largest territory among the surrounding kingdoms, the Golden Valley Kingdom has maintained a defensive posture in foreign conflicts for years...
Though his thoughts surged like a tidal wave, Roland didn't dwell on the matter.
After all, barring unforeseen circumstances, he likely wouldn't return to live in the Golden Valley Kingdom for the rest of his life.
Then, the reason I've been able to guide the Knight's Breathing Technique so smoothly...
As he slid the prepared ingredients into the pot, Roland pondered slowly.
Could it be due to my basic attributes being far superior to those of ordinary people?
After all, even among the Knight Academy's top graduates, few possess extraordinary strength immediately upon graduation.
"Besides, with my current strength, I'd be considered one of the best even in the Transcendent Realm."
As Roland analyzed his own advantages, Galvis's voice continued to chatter incessantly in his ear.
"At this rate, Roland! It won't be long before you become a true knight! A knight before thirty... tsk tsk..."
The bard clicked his tongue, a hint of envy and excitement inevitably creeping into his eyes.
"You know, knights are the most balanced and powerful transcendent professionals I've encountered during my travels across the continent! And you, Roland..."
"Galvis..."
Roland shook his head helplessly, cutting off the bard's rambling eulogy.
"I appreciate the praise, but according to ancient texts, there are countless transcendent professions in this world. Knights are likely far from the most powerful."
"Oh, of course!"
Galvis raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased by Roland's interruption of his praise. He immediately retorted, "There are indeed transcendent professionals stronger than knights, but—"
He deliberately drew out the word.
"While they gain immense power, they also bear terrible costs!"
"Take the barbarians, for example, who rely on slaughter to fuel their bloodlust. In battle, they completely devolve into frenzied beasts. Then there are the powerful spellcasters—what you humans call wizards—who often become lost in mental labyrinths, ultimately embarking on a perilous, irreversible path into the unknown. And..."
Galvis slung his harp over his shoulder and began counting on his fingers.
"Have you ever heard of sorcerers who draw power from their bloodlines? I once had the... misfortune of witnessing one. Tsk tsk..."
A rare flicker of disgust crossed his eyes, as if recalling something deeply unpleasant.
"Apart from their heads, which remained relatively intact, their entire bodies were corrupted and twisted by their bloodline's power, barely retaining any human form. Scales, horns, mutated limbs... it was a living nightmare!"
"In comparison..."
The bard spread his hands, his voice regaining its earlier fervor.
"Among the few transcendent professionals remaining in the world, the knight—with virtually no side effects and limited only by lifespan—surely deserves to be called the most balanced transcendent profession, wouldn't you agree?"
Roland fell into a brief silence.
It wasn't out of awe at Galvis's vast knowledge, but because another thought had suddenly sprouted in his mind.
"To become a knight, one must master the Knight's Breathing Technique. To become a wizard, as far as I know, one needs to grasp a meditation technique... So, what are the entry requirements for other transcendent professions?"
This wasn't mere greed or wanting more after already having enough.
Rather, Roland knew he possessed a Job Panel.
If the opportunity arose, he wouldn't hesitate to explore other transcendent paths.
After all, who would refuse a chance to enhance their power?
"Of course," Roland said, quickly gathering his wandering thoughts.
"For now, the most important thing is to focus on becoming a knight!"
He was about to delve deeper into the mysteries of other transcendent professions, using Galvis's words as a springboard, when a clear, familiar female voice suddenly rang out from outside, barely concealing its excitement.
"Roland! Roland! Where are you? I've brought you something amazing!"
(End of the Chapter)
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