Basic Swordsmanship, Tier Four!

10:30 p.m.

Molly's bedroom.

The girl stood on the floor, gripping the silver Broken Sword in her hand. Its blade was thin and light, yet it carried a heavy, solid presence.

"Whew..."

Molly took a deep breath and activated the Warrior's Breathing Technique.

Without her noticing, her breathing technique had already broken through to Tier Three.

As it circulated, a warm current slid down her throat and spread throughout her limbs and body.

Her somewhat tired body was instantly filled with strength.

"Ha!"

Molly let out a low shout. Her wrist suddenly tensed, and the Broken Sword slashed fiercely through the air before her!

Screech—

A faint tearing sound cut through the air.

Then, a wind blade almost invisible to the naked eye shot from the tip of the Broken Sword and struck the wall opposite her, leaving behind a shallow white mark.

Just then, a panel suddenly appeared before Molly's eyes.

[Basic Swordsmanship: Tier Four 0/10000]

[Warrior's Breathing Technique: Tier Three 230/10000]

[Holy Judgment: Tier One 300/10000]

"It worked!"

Molly's eyes immediately lit up, and the corners of her mouth rose despite herself.

She could clearly feel that, as Basic Swordsmanship broke through to Tier Four, a brand-new power rampaged through her body like a sleeping dragon awakening.

The hand that gripped the sword felt steadier now.

When she turned her wrist, the previous stiffness was gone. It was as though the Broken Sword had fused with her arm.

Not only that, but her five senses seemed to have grown much sharper as well.

The chirping insects outside the window, car horns sounding in the distance downstairs, even the voices from the television in the neighboring apartment—all of it reached her ears clearly.

She lowered her head and looked at her hand, clearly feeling the strength filling it.

This feeling was incredible!

She could easily punch a cow to death now!

Molly couldn't help swinging her sword again, sending several more wind blades flying out.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

This time, the wind blades were faster and more powerful, and the white marks on the wall became deeper.

"Tier Four Basic Swordsmanship really is different."

Molly clicked her tongue in amazement, the excitement in her heart seeming ready to overflow.

She had a feeling that even if she faced five versions of her former self, she could still beat them effortlessly.

Tier Three Warrior's Breathing Technique, Tier Four Basic Swordsmanship.

Just a few days ago, she would never have dared imagine having such strength.

If she kept training like this, could she really cultivate the legendary Sword Intent?

Molly's heart brimmed with anticipation.

Sword Intent—it was something that existed only in legends.

It was said that once someone comprehended Sword Intent, every swing of their sword would carry an unstoppable momentum.

Even without magic, they could cleave mountains apart and split rivers open!

But before Molly could celebrate for long, an intense hunger suddenly surged into her heart like a tidal wave.

Grrrrr—

Her stomach let out a loud protest.

That hunger was stronger than after any of her previous sword-training sessions.

It felt as if an invisible hand were tugging at her organs, making her want to swallow everything in sight.

"Damn, breaking through to Tier Four uses up that much energy?"

Molly grumbled and quickly turned toward the table.

The table had long been piled high with all kinds of food.

Beef, chicken, bread, milk... the entire table was packed full, enough to feed a burly man for a whole day.

Molly had bought all of it earlier precisely to deal with the hunger after sword training.

She grabbed a piece of cooked beef and swallowed it in two or three bites without even tasting it.

Then she picked up a drumstick, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed wildly.

As for the bread and milk, she crammed them into her stomach like a stuffed duck.

"Crunch, crunch..."

She devoured everything like a whirlwind.

In less than ten minutes, every bit of food on the table had been wiped out.

Molly patted her stomach and checked how she felt, but a helpless expression appeared on her face.

"Only half full?"

She was speechless.

When she had broken through to Tier Three before, eating all that would have at least made her eighty percent full. She hadn't expected that after breaking through to Tier Four, her appetite would become this huge.

Being half full was barely any better than not eating at all. Her stomach still felt empty.

"Ordinary food can no longer meet my body's consumption."

Molly frowned, silently pondering.

As her strength rose, her body needed more and more energy.

Ordinary food had too low an energy density. Even if she ate until she was stuffed, it might not meet her needs.

This couldn't go on.

She couldn't buy a massive pile of food every day and still fail to get full, could she?

"Alchemy..."

Molly's eyes suddenly lit up.

She recalled the novels she had read before. The protagonists in them all relied on pills to increase their strength and replenish their energy.

Pills had a high energy density. One could equal several meals.

And she had the Proficiency Panel!

She couldn't say much about anything else, but as long as she relied on this panel and practiced day after day, grinding proficiency—

Even something as lofty-sounding as alchemy might not be beyond her!

"Yes, alchemy!"

Molly clenched her fists, a clear goal forming in her heart.

Once she dealt with the matter before her, she would look up information on alchemy and start learning from the most basic herbs.

She took out her phone and checked the time.

10:50 p.m.

It was almost eleven.

Molly's gaze softened.

She thought of her younger sister, Moyan.

That little one should still be waiting for her in her room right now.

Molly put away the Broken Sword, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The night wind carried a slight chill. Blowing across her face, it refreshed her.

Molly took a deep breath and activated the Warrior's Breathing Technique, instantly mobilizing the strength in her body.

With a light jump, her body rose into the air as weightlessly as a feather.

She leaped a full nine meters high, passed her sister's window, and landed steadily inside the room.

The light was on in the room. Moyan sat on the bed with both hands on her knees, gazing eagerly toward the window.

When she saw Molly jump in, her eyes brightened and delight appeared on her face.

"Lady Pale!"

She called out softly, her voice carrying a trace of dependence.

Molly nodded, walked to the bedside, and looked at Moyan.

After the previous mana replenishment, Moyan's complexion had improved greatly. A faint blush had appeared on her face, and she was no longer as Pale as a sheet of paper.

The wings on her back had also shrunk into a small bundle against her back. Unless one looked carefully, they were impossible to notice.

"Are you ready?"

Molly asked, her voice still carrying a trace of deliberate coldness.

"Mm!"

Moyan nodded vigorously.

Molly extended one finger and slipped it between Moyan's two cherry-colored lips.

The Warrior's Breathing Technique operated at full force, and a stream of pure vital essence flowed slowly from her fingertip into Moyan's body.

Moyan's body trembled lightly. Like a kitten, she narrowed her eyes.

Several minutes later, Molly withdrew her hand.

Moyan's complexion had become even rosier.

She opened her eyes and looked at Molly, her gaze filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Lady Pale."

"Mm."

Molly replied blandly and turned toward the window.

"Remember our agreement. Don't run around, and don't expose your identity."

"I understand!"

Moyan nodded vigorously.

Molly said no more. With a leap, she jumped out of the window and vanished into the night.

She turned into the nearby alley and canceled her transformation.