Lord of the Wilds and the Brotherhood of the Wilds

[Lord of the Wilds] and [Brotherhood of the Wilds] (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Levi Snake

Black Snake Breathing Technique: Second Order (5/5000)

Golden Cross Slash: First Order (1/1000), Special Effect: Elementary Vibration

After three days, the Golden Cross Slash had finally been mastered.

However, Levi looked at the new Special Effect section on the panel.

"Special Effect?"

This was the first time Levi had encountered such a thing.

Clearly, Elementary Vibration referred to the "Vibration Power" Knight Fred had mentioned. This was the Golden Cross Slash's most powerful aspect.

It was an exceptionally ingenious technique for exerting force, causing the Knight Sword to vibrate at high speed and achieve an effect like cutting iron as if it were mud.

"This also proves that the Golden Cross Slash is truly advanced. It has a Special Effect despite being only First Order. Even the Second Order Black Snake Breathing Technique has no Special Effect."

Levi was stunned. He had no idea where Knight Fred had learned such an overpowered sword technique.

He now seriously suspected that whoever had created this genius-level sword technique was at least a Great Knight, perhaps even the legendary... Legendary Knight! Having learned the sword technique, Levi was deeply satisfied and wished he could immediately grind it to the limit.

While the iron was hot, he practiced the Golden Cross Slash several more times.

He had only just grasped the method for wielding Vibration Power. The vibrations he could produce were extremely faint, and he needed a long time to build up momentum. In actual combat, he would likely be killed before he could even unleash Vibration Power.

So, he still needed to practice diligently.

[Golden Cross Slash Proficiency +3] [Golden Cross Slash Proficiency +2] [...]

Perhaps because he had only just mastered it, the Cross Slash had plenty of room for improvement.

Every time Levi practiced, he gained at least 2 points of proficiency.

He did not stop until hunger set in.

After resting for a while and eating something, he ran into Knight Fred, who had just returned from training the Militia.

"Young Master, have you mastered Vibration Power?" Seeing Levi's cheerful expression, Knight Fred asked.

Levi nodded. Taking three days to initially grasp Vibration Power was not particularly difficult; it was perfectly average. There was an enormous gap between initial mastery and peak perfection. Levi had merely gotten started, and besides, he had a foundation in swordsmanship. He was a man who had ground Basic Swordsmanship to max level.

Vibration Power was only the most basic force-exertion technique of the Golden Cross Slash. Even those without much talent for swordsmanship could master it if they were willing to put in the time.

The Ripple Power and Rotation Power beyond it were what became increasingly difficult.

Knight Fred smiled. "You have quite a talent for swordsmanship. Your father took two days to master it as well."

Levi immediately felt defeated. So even my talent for swordsmanship is inferior to Father's.

"How long did it take you, Lord Fred?" Levi asked.

Knight Fred held up two fingers.

"Two days?"

"No, two attempts..."

"...Forget I asked."

Levi was dealt a severe blow. Was this what a true swordsmanship genius was like?

He had practiced nearly a hundred times over three days before barely managing to master it.

Yet Knight Fred had needed only two attempts.

At that moment, he keenly felt the gap between geniuses and ordinary people.

And even someone as formidable as Knight Fred had remained at the Ripple stage for twenty years.

He still saw no hope of comprehending Rotation Power.

Levi did not dare imagine what it would be like for an ordinary person.

"Fortunately, I have the Proficiency Panel. As long as I work hard, as long as I stay alive, one day I'll reach the Rotation stage."

Levi calmed himself.

"Oh, right. The man I sent to investigate the Boar Gang has returned. Guess what?" Knight Fred narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance before continuing, "The Boar Gang has joined the Brotherhood of the Wilds."

"The Brotherhood of the Wilds? No wonder that Boar Knight was so brazen. So he found someone to back him up." Levi sneered.

The Brotherhood of the Wilds was a somewhat well-known force in the north of the Kingdom.

It was said to be an organization that worshipped the Lord of the Wilds. Its members were generally Wandering Knights, bandits, and brigand groups roaming the wilderness.

The Brotherhood of the Wilds advocated the doctrines of "returning to the wilds, where all things are free" and "all things arise from Chaos, and all things return to Chaos." They believed that all things had originally come from the Chaos Wilderness, living amid chaos and disorder, and would ultimately return to chaos. Only then could all living things compete freely under heaven.

The Lord of the Wilds was Chaos incarnate in the mortal world.

For this reason, they advocated overthrowing the tyranny of The Church and the Kingdom, abolishing every system of authority and the system of noble lords, and returning to a primitive system akin to anarchy. Only in such a state could all things continuously evolve under the creed of survival of the fittest, until everyone could become a god! Without question, this was absolute heresy. Thus, the Brotherhood of the Wilds was a key target of The Church and the Kingdom.

This organization had been dormant for a long time, but perhaps because of the upheaval caused by the Millennial Holy War three years ago, the Kingdom and The Church had been too occupied to concern themselves with such minor players. Now, the organization had reemerged.

"What do you intend to do?" Knight Fred asked.

Without hesitation, Levi said, "Then let them keep Old Blacksmith Toby for us for now. Little Blacksmith Milan's skills are nearly sufficient. In a few days, arrange for more people to become his apprentices. Production of weapons and equipment for the Militia cannot be interrupted."

Knight Fred nodded. "All right. These times are growing ever more chaotic."

It was not that Levi was timid. The truth was that his current strength was far too lacking compared to the Brotherhood of the Wilds.

The Brotherhood of the Wilds had existed for so long and had absorbed many gangs and Wandering Knights. If not for the fact that it had no Great Knight, its number of Knights might even surpass those of the Great Counts.

And after lying low for so many years, who could say for certain that the Brotherhood of the Wilds had no Great Knight backing it? I'm still too weak. If I had Father's strength, I could charge directly into the Boar Gang. The Brotherhood of the Wilds probably wouldn't dare stand up for them.

Levi mocked himself, then returned to his daily training routine.

Holy Radiance Calendar, Year 1004, Month of Budding (February).

It should have been the season when all things revived, but Blackwater Valley lay in the northern lands. Though it was no longer as cold as the Month of the Freezing Winter, heavy snow still sealed off the mountains.

Levi was forced into an isolated life, but fortunately, he could grind experience for the Black Snake Breathing Technique and Golden Cross Slash, ensuring he always had something to do.

Levi's daily routine now consisted of practicing the Breathing Technique twice each in the morning, noon, and evening, while spending the rest of his time training the Golden Cross Slash.

The Breathing Technique was the foundation and naturally the top priority. However, it consumed far too much of Levi's physical and mental energy, while also placing a heavy burden on the territory's food supplies. If he trained the Breathing Technique at full force, the food stored before winter would be somewhat insufficient. As for that Black Bread, Levi truly found it hard to swallow.

But at Levi's current pace, practicing the Breathing Technique six times a day and conservatively gaining 15 proficiency points meant he could break through to Third Order in roughly a year and advance to become a Pre-Knight.

That speed was already extremely fast, not inferior even to that of his genius father.

As for the Golden Cross Slash, Levi trained every day until he reached the limit his body could endure. Unlike the Breathing Technique, sword techniques did not require excessive concern about Cultivation Deviation, so his progress was fairly rapid.

Of course, every week, Levi gave himself one day of rest, allowing his overworked body a chance to recover. Only the transformations brought by the Breathing Technique had made his body exceptionally strong. An ordinary person would be worked to death by this level of training.

Holy Radiance Calendar, Year 1004, Month of Vitality (March). All things revived; grass grew and orioles flew.

Levi's Golden Cross Slash smoothly broke through to Second Order. He immediately opened the panel.