The Knight's Journey, Spirituality Blessing

The Knight's Journey, Spirituality Blessing

This world had many paths to transcendence.

The knight was undoubtedly one of the most common—and one of the strongest.

Through day-after-day training, one became an Apprentice Knight. Then, by beginning to practice a Knight Breathing Technique, one had effectively set foot upon this path.

It could be said that as long as one was willing to endure hardship, anyone had a chance.

From beginning to end, the stages of knight cultivation were divided into Apprentice Knight, Formal Knight, Bronze Knight, Silver Knight, Golden Knight, Sky Knight, Sanctuary Knight, and Legendary Knight.

Setting aside Apprentice Knights, who had virtually no requirements, the remaining seven stages constituted a knight's journey.

However, in the earlier stages, there was no absolute gap between knights. For example, while a Formal Knight could not match a Bronze Knight in strength, speed, or physique, for some gifted individuals, such a gap could be made up for.

Furthermore, differences in Breathing Techniques resulted in subtle differences in base attributes. Some people were simply born with stronger physiques, so naturally, they would be somewhat stronger than others after becoming knights.

Of course, the further one progressed, the harder such gaps became to bridge.

There were many legends of Golden Knights defeating Sky Knights against the odds, but not a single case of a Sky Knight defeating a Sanctuary Knight.

"What immense power."

Ryan looked at the dead Great Horned Deer. He felt that the strength in one of his hands alone could crush it.

And... Ryan looked at the Spirituality Panel.

Spirituality: 27

Divinity: Deer Spirit's Blessing

"Deer Spirit's Blessing?"

Ryan came back to his senses and saw the villagers around him staring at him in shock. The elderly villagers in particular were overcome with emotion.

"The Deer Spirit—the Deer Spirit still lives. The Deer Spirit has not fallen."

"Our faith... still remains."

Having said that, the group knelt before Ryan.

Ryan looked at Brandt. Indeed, the young man before him was the one most likely to receive the Deer Spirit's Blessing. In that instant just now, he had sensed the other's closeness to himself.

More precisely, his closeness to the Deer Spirit.

But the Deer Spirit, with only a trace of divinity remaining, no longer had the power to bestow a blessing upon Brandt.

"Do you wish to receive the Deer Spirit's Blessing?"

"Yes. Only by receiving the Deer Spirit's Blessing can I embark upon the transcendent path. Only then can I lead my people through the Fierce Winter."

Brandt looked at Ryan, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"The Deer Spirit no longer has the power to bless you. You should know that as well."

Ryan's words made Brandt fall silent. But in the next moment, his raised gaze blazed with intensity at Ryan's next words.

"The Deer Spirit cannot bless you, but now, I can."

With that, Ryan looked around at the several hundred people gathered around him and said,

"From this day onward, I will be able to bestow blessings upon you. At the same time, I can take you from this Ice Snow Land to live somewhere... a little warmer."

"As you wish, I am a noble. So, are you willing to become my subjects?"

As Ryan's words fell, the ring of elderly people nearest to him prostrated themselves, cheering aloud.

"The people of Aixnier shall be eternally loyal to you!"

At the moment he came into contact with the Deer Spirit, Ryan had sensed the noble quality within these people.

Loyalty.

The people sheltered by the Deer Spirit were brave and skilled in battle, and they were also loyal to that which they protected.

At the moment everyone swore loyalty to Ryan and became his subjects, Ryan's Spirituality surged to a peak.

Spirituality: 488

The village's four hundred and sixty-one villagers brought him a massive amount of Spirituality.

Ryan looked at Brandt again. "Are you willing to become my Guardian Knight?"

The young man knelt on one knee, his gaze incomparably resolute.

"Brandt pledges loyalty to you."

Spirituality: 498

He provided ten times the Spirituality of the others. At that moment, Ryan's expression also became exceedingly solemn as he pressed his palm against Brandt's forehead.

In an instant, one hundred points of Spirituality vanished. In its place, a small Deer Spirit sank into Brandt's brow.

With the Deer Spirit's Blessing, Brandt's strength increased markedly. Visible to the naked eye, the aura around him became almost indistinguishable from Ryan's.

The Deer Spirit's Blessing had granted him the strength of a Formal Knight, and the young men around them stared with fanatical eyes.

Their gazes toward Ryan now held even more reverence than before.

"Stag Knight Breathing Technique."

A sharp glint flashed through Brandt's eyes. When Ryan looked at him again, he instinctively sensed several terms.

Physique Enhancement. Breathing Technique Cultivation Enhancement.

Brave and Fearless. Loyal. Passionate. Noble. Leader.

The Deer Spirit's Blessing was the same for everyone, but what one gained from it depended entirely on the individual.

The Physique Enhancement and Breathing Technique Cultivation Enhancement were likely boosts from the Deer Spirit's Blessing to the Stag Knight Breathing Technique, allowing Brandt to gain more attributes through breakthroughs and training.

But the latter terms, those representing virtues such as bravery and fearlessness, came entirely from Brandt himself.

Ryan believed that for someone like this, receiving the Deer Spirit's Blessing was merely icing on the cake rather than timely aid. Of course, in this environment, Ryan's arrival undoubtedly counted as the latter.

If the others around him could only provide Ryan with commoners, craftsmen, and soldiers, then Brandt was a Hero Unit to him.

Under Brandt's leadership, soldiers could face any war without fear. And when the people within the territory saw that such a knight also belonged to their lord, it would bring them much positive confidence.

For Ryan, however, the most important term was loyalty.

Loyalty did not simply refer to Brandt's loyalty toward Ryan. It was not a number, but a virtue.

He was loyal to what he protected, loyal to his own heart, loyal to the lord he served, loyal to his every word and deed, and loyal to the responsibilities entrusted to him.

For instance, Ryan could never make Brandt do something that went against his heart.

At this moment, Ryan was even more excited than Old Beard, the steward, but he suppressed his emotions and looked at the eager gazes around him.

"Are you willing to become my Squire Knights?"

"I will pledge loyalty to you."

One young or middle-aged man after another knelt down, while their wives and mothers watched expectantly from afar.

Ryan glanced at his Spirituality. Brandt provided ten times more Spirituality than others, and likewise, the blessing he received required ten times as much.

In other words, blessing each of the others required only ten points of Spirituality.

He had three hundred and ninety-eight points of Spirituality remaining. Looking at the expectations of the hundred or so people around him, Ryan hesitated before turning to Brandt.

"There are only thirty slots. Brandt, do you have any good suggestions?"

"I will follow your will."

Brandt stepped forward. Now a Formal Knight, he selected thirty people from among the hundred or so.

Ryan placed his trust in him. Three hundred points of Spirituality scattered down, and in but an instant, he had gained thirty Apprentice Knights.

On each of them, Ryan could sense the effects of Physique Enhancement and Breathing Technique Cultivation Enhancement.

And there were also traits that seemed far inferior to Brandt's, yet still included loyalty and passion.

This was basically enchanting, except the enchanted targets... were people.