Apprentice Market

"Come to think of it, your Ralph Family's inherited breathing technique may not be on par with the royal family's, but it's still quite good, isn't it? Why didn't you..."

Andre asked curiously.

Ron scratched his head awkwardly. Indeed, in his original memories, his father and older brother had repeatedly asked whether he was interested in Knight training.

But back then, he had been immersed in wine, women, and pleasure all day long, utterly dismissive of the grueling and exhausting Knight training.

Now, even regret came too late.

Andre noticed Ron's expression and understood everything at once.

"So that's how it is. Back when you were in the Royal Capital, you were a well-known wastrel."

His tone suddenly turned teasing as he gently swirled the tea in his cup.

"I remember one time, you got so drunk in the royal Garden that you lost your senses and, right in front of several ministers, you and a personal maid publicly..."

"Cough, cough!" Ron hurriedly cut him off, embarrassment showing on his face.

Those utterly absurd memories of the original owner were nothing short of a nightmare to him now.

Seeing Ron squirming in his seat, Andre finally burst out laughing.

"All right, for the sake of these fifty Magic Stone Fragments, I won't air your dirty laundry."

He set down his teacup, his expression becoming serious again. "But seriously, Ron, have you really thought this through?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Corona Breathing Technique is indeed powerful, but precisely because of that, it is far more difficult to cultivate than ordinary breathing techniques."

A trace of concern flashed through Andre's eyes. "Even in our royal family, not everyone can master it."

"Besides," he paused, "with your current physical condition, rashly cultivating such an advanced breathing technique could very well..."

"I know the risks." Ron interrupted him. "But compared with what awaits me in three months, what does this little risk amount to?"

It didn't matter. He had a cheat, after all, and there was another reason he wanted to cultivate a breathing technique: to see whether he could awaken an Extraordinary profession related to Knights and gain additional strength growth.

Seeing the determination in Ron's eyes, Andre let out a long sigh. "Since you insist, I won't try to persuade you any further."

He stood up, rummaged around, and pulled a stack of crumpled handwritten pages from his carry bag. Clearly, he had copied them down so he could study them at any time.

"This is a manuscript I copied back then. It contains some cultivation essentials and precautions."

"But I need to remind you of something."

Andre stared fixedly into his eyes. "If you think you can just take these notes and figure out how to practice on your own, then you are gravely mistaken."

Ron looked at him in confusion.

"High-level breathing techniques are not that simple."

Andre shook his head. "They require a strict guidance process and specific body-tempering methods. Otherwise, it is very easy for things to go wrong."

He looked at the stack of crumpled handwritten pages.

"For example, the first stage and the second stage after it require specially made Scorching Essential Oil to temper the body. If you get the medicinal proportions wrong, or take it at the wrong time..."

Andre pointed at his chest. "At best, your body will suffer burns. At worst, you'll combust from the lungs outward."

Ron sucked in a cold breath. Only then did he realize how naïve his earlier thoughts had been.

"Different stages also require different body-tempering medicines."

Andre continued, "The third stage requires Lava Droplet, while the final stage requires..."

Seeing Ron's slightly pale face, Andre smiled. "Don't worry. Since I've accepted so many Magic Stone Fragments from you, I'll naturally see this through to the end."

As he spoke, he handed the notebook to Ron. "I wrote down the formulas for these medicines, but I'll still need to personally guide you through the actual refining process."

Ron took the notebook and opened the first page.

Amid the densely packed writing, there were not only the essentials of the breathing technique, but also numerous annotations on refining medicines.

"To be honest," Andre said with a smile as he tucked the pile of Magic Stone Fragments into his clothes, "I'm quite looking forward to seeing how far you can cultivate this breathing technique."

There was a hint of mischief in his tone.

"Even in our royal family, there aren't many who can fully master the Corona Breathing Technique. Most get stuck at the second stage and can never advance another inch."

"Are you trying to crush my enthusiasm?" Ron asked with a bitter smile.

"How could I?" The smile on Andre's face deepened. "I'm encouraging you."

He stood up and straightened his apprentice robe.

"Let's go to the Herb Shop first. The ingredients for Scorching Essential Oil aren't especially precious, but the proportions are important. I need to help you choose them myself."

Seeing how delighted Andre looked, Ron finally realized that this prince had probably been waiting to name his price all along.

After all, in this world where wizards ruled everything, what meaning did the inheritance of a mundane royal family hold? It was better to take this chance to exchange it for some tangible benefits.

As for so-called family prestige, when life and death were at stake, who cared about such empty reputation?

After leaving the dormitory area, Ron followed Andre along a winding stone path.

"Don't tell me you've barely visited the market these past few months?" Andre asked as he led the way, turning back to look at Ron.

Ron touched his nose uncomfortably. Indeed, he had barely left his room before, shutting himself inside every day to grind away at the Basic Meditation Method.

Even the daily necessities he needed were purchased through errand-running servants. His only chance to leave each month was to collect the Magic Stone Fragments sent over by his family.

"I remember you even had your meals delivered to your room."

Andre smiled. "If I hadn't come looking for you today, I would've thought you'd starved to death in there."

Along the stone path, dim blue moss lit their way ahead.

All kinds of strange plants on either side emitted eerie glows in the night. Some swayed as passersby walked past, while others blossomed in the darkness with illusory radiance.

"Watch out for these plants." Andre pointed at a cluster of purple-glowing Mushrooms on the ground. "These are Nightmare Umbrellas. They will..."

"I know." Ron instinctively took several steps back. "The admission guide said they release hallucinogenic spores."

"Oh?" Andre raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you did read the admission guide very carefully."

"After all, aside from those books, there was nothing else to read." Ron smiled bitterly.

During that period, he had devoted all his time to meditation and reading, leaving him knowing very little about what was happening outside.

"And I really did fall for it once. During my first week here, I slept in that area for an entire day. When I woke up, I found myself hugging a poisonous, spray-spitting mandrake. I've paid special attention to these things ever since."

Andre found it rather amusing and was just about to say something when a piercing scream suddenly rang out in the distance.

A Gray Robe Apprentice stumbled out of the bushes beside the path. His right hand had already turned into a twisted, vine-like mass.

"This happens several times every month." Andre shook his head. "But you don't need to worry. Living like a cave dweller, as you do, is actually safer."

"The apprentices' market is just ahead."

Andre walked around him and pointed at a dilapidated stone archway ahead.

"Here, you can find almost anything an apprentice could want. Of course, that's assuming you have enough Magic Stone Fragments."

As they passed through the archway, a strange mixture of herbs and potions hit them head-on.

A cat wearing boots strolled elegantly past them, its fur gleaming with a metallic sheen in the faint light.

Next came a chattering group of tiny fairies, chasing after a Crystal Ball that bounced on its own.

Ron was so absorbed in the sight that he nearly bumped into a tall figure standing before a stall.

The massive, tentacle-like body made him reluctant to approach, so he quickly sidestepped.

"Don't be nervous." Andre smiled. "The Kraken Race may look frightening, but they make excellent business partners. Just be careful when speaking to them—their saliva is Corrosion."