Continuous Advancement in Realm

It was not until the early hours of the morning that his mother, Nara, left Abel's room. Abel sat quietly on a stool, thinking back on his life in the castle over the past two years. With a combined mental age of over forty from both lives, he understood Knight Bennett's thoughts perfectly. If Abel had not displayed extraordinary learning ability and outstanding talent for knight cultivation, everything could have remained as it was. He could have left home at eighteen, rather than being sent to an unfamiliar place now, when he was only twelve.

He tapped the Horadric Cube on his right arm and took out a bottle of dark golden Qi Condensing Potion. Abel decided to drink one today to improve his strength. Bennett Castle had been like a guardian deity, making Abel, newly arrived in this world, feel safe. Now that he was leaving the castle, that sense of security was gone, and he urgently needed greater strength to ensure his own safety.

The amber potion slid down his throat and into his body. A steady stream of Qi began to flow and circulate through every muscle in his body. Sitting on the carpet, he continuously used the Knight Breathing Technique to transform the Qi it generated. This Qi was gentle, just like the Qi produced during his usual training, except it did not consume the food in his stomach. Instead, it directly formed a Qi Vein. Supported by this Qi, his third Qi Vein slowly took shape. Its formation was stable, unlike the perilous breakthroughs he had experienced on his own, when each new Qi Vein seemed liable to dissipate at any moment. This one was exceptionally solid.

Abel used the Knight Breathing Technique every night, yet he had never maintained it for so long. Ordinarily, he could only perform twenty breaths each night, but today the technique flowed on without end. With every breath, the curtains in the room swayed in time with his rhythm.

A full half hour later, the medicinal effect within his body finally began to fade. Abel's Qi Veins had stabilized at three, and the remaining Qi was enough to form another half a Qi Vein. This delighted him. Its effects were far stronger than the master-grade Qi Condensing Potion described by the auction house.

In truth, the master-grade Qi Condensing Potions mentioned by the auction house varied in quality as well. A truly perfect Qi Condensing Potion contained no impurities whatsoever. Yet no matter how skilled or experienced a master might be, there were limits to what human ability could achieve. Abel's Qi Condensing Potions, however, had been synthesized by the divine artifact Horadric Cube. During synthesis, every combination strictly used the Power of Rules to control the potion's impurity ratio and medicinal effect.

What was the Power of Rules? It was divine might, the power of gods. As a divine artifact, the Horadric Cube could use a portion of a god's Power of Rules to alter the items it synthesized. A flawless Qi Condensing Potion was naturally far more powerful than an ordinary master-grade Qi Condensing Potion. Other than the Horadric Cube, where could he find a god bored enough to refine potions for Rookie Knights? Strictly speaking, the Qi Condensing Potions in Abel's possession should be called Perfect Grade Qi Condensing Potions, or perhaps ultimate-grade Qi Condensing Potions.

The temptation of advancing one level in half an hour was too great to resist. Abel took out the last Qi Condensing Potion from the Horadric Cube and drank it as well.

That sensation of rapid advancement returned. The Knight Breathing Technique continuously condensed the Qi generated by the Qi Condensing Potion into part of a Qi Vein. Slowly, his fourth Qi Vein formed as well. Once Abel's fourth Qi Vein stabilized, the potion lost its effect.

When Abel stood up, he discovered that his entire body was covered in black grime. His white undershirt had been dyed dark brown, and the foul stench of the filth filled his nostrils. There was no need to wonder why. His body, which should have improved gradually over several years, had been forcibly strengthened within a short time. The impurities that would normally have been expelled little by little along with the Qi over those years had all been forced out at once as his body advanced, leaving him in this state.

Abel hurried into the washroom, threw away all his clothes, and scrubbed every trace of filth from his body with soapberry. After changing the water three times, he was finally clean. Then he opened the window and let the fresh morning air carry the foul odor out of the room.

Over the past six months, Abel had grown ten centimeters and now stood 1.6 meters tall. Long-term, systematic Knight training had sculpted every muscle on his body into clear definition. Abel had been a fitness coach himself, and he knew how to build the perfect body through training.

Abel greatly admired this world's martial techniques. Whether warrior or knight, anyone holding a weapon could become incredibly powerful. But this world placed far less importance on unarmed combat. Most warriors and knights simply fought barehanded in a brutal exchange of punches.

As a fitness coach, Abel was proficient in boxing, free fighting, Muay Thai, and Tai Chi. Though he had not been much of a fighting expert on Earth, his extensive theoretical knowledge made him an expert in unarmed combat in this world.

When sparring barehanded with his elder brother Zack, Abel could easily knock down his brother, who was far taller and stronger than him. Unarmed combat was not determined by strength alone. Before the scientific and systematic unarmed fighting techniques developed on Earth, the barehanded fighting skills of everyone Abel knew in this world seemed clumsy.

This was related to the environment of the world. Humanity's greatest enemy was the orcs. Trying to fight an orc barehanded, against their powerful physiques and lightning-fast speed, was tantamount to seeking death. Moreover, fighting empty-handed between nobles was considered extremely improper. Conflicts between nobles were settled with swords.

After throwing several punches and performing a few combat movements, Abel felt the changes in his strength and speed. Because they had increased too quickly, he had difficulty controlling his newfound power. When he had reached for a drink earlier, he had crushed the wooden cup into pieces. This lack of control was a drawback of rapidly increased strength, but it was acceptable. Abel was only twelve this year, and there was less than a month until the New Year. Even after the New Year, he would only be thirteen. Yet at thirteen, he had already reached the level his eighteen-year-old brother had attained.

When Abel had studied Tai Chi, his instructor had once said this: Tai Chi was the best martial art for controlling one's power. It was reserved and contained, unbroken and flowing, using softness to overcome hardness, alternating urgency and calm. Its smooth, cloud-like style gradually brought the practitioner's intent, Qi, form, and spirit into harmonious unity.

Standing in the room, Abel slowly adjusted his breathing. His mind gradually calmed from the excitement of advancing several levels in succession. He performed the first form, Tai Chi Opening; the second, Diamond Pestle; the third, Lazy Tying Coat; and continued all the way through the seventy-fourth form, Closing Form. By the time he finished, it was fully daylight.

With the help of a full set of Tai Chi, the strength of a Level 4 Rookie Knight brought by his advancement had completely fused with his body. His strength had not diminished, only become more harmonious. Standing before the mirror in his room, Abel discovered that he could use Tai Chi to control the strength he displayed externally. If he completely released the control of Tai Chi, an experienced cultivator would be able to tell that he was a Level 4 Rookie Knight. But after using Tai Chi to conceal it, he could show others whatever level he wished them to see, provided it did not exceed his actual level.

This was extremely useful to Abel right now. He had been wondering how to explain to his father that he had advanced two levels in a single night. Now, the problem was solved. With that thought, he concealed his apparent level at Level 2 and began packing his belongings with satisfaction.