"The War God Academy?"
Leilin knew that the War God Academy was the best knight academy in the Salla Kingdom, where George lived. It not only admitted only nobles, but its entry conditions were also extremely strict—it was said to accept only true geniuses.
"Fencing is merely my hobby. Only becoming a Wizard is the pursuit of my life!"
The power of a Knight, though formidable, still fell within Leilin's comprehension and had not exceeded the limits of human understanding. But the legendary Wizards were powerful beings who could manipulate wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and obtain prolonged lifespans!
The strength of a Wizard had clearly surpassed the boundaries of humanity, something Leilin could hardly imagine.
Moreover, every Wizard was a learned scholar. They studied everything in nature with rigorous attitudes, discovered patterns, and utilized them to gain tremendous power! This approach suited Leilin's identity as a scientist from his previous life far better.
"Indeed! Even a Great Knight is nothing more than a servant to a formal Wizard. The power Wizards command is beyond our imagination..." George said with a solemn face, his tone almost reverential.
"Why is it that no matter what you say, it always makes me feel like I'm listening to a traveling bard..." Leilin rolled his eyes.
"Haha... I was sent off to the royal court by my old man, and after going through that so-called noble upbringing, I turned out like this!" George reverted to his usual self.
He suddenly blinked and said with a mischievous grin: "Leilin, you don't have a fiancée yet, do you? Why don't I introduce my sister Li'er to you! She's a well-known beauty around these parts..."
"Get lost!"
Under the moonlight, the two youths playfully brawled their way off the meadow.
"Good night, George!"
"Good night, Leilin!"
Leilin handed the Cross Sword to George, said his farewell, and returned to the carriage.
The dim carriage still had only him inside. It carried a faint smell—a nauseating mixture of decay and sweat—which made the noble youths unwilling to linger in the cars. Once rest time came, they would bolt out onto the meadow to play like untamed colts.
The attitudes toward romance in this world were quite open, especially among nobles. With the enhanced perception provided by his Chip, Leilin had already stumbled upon quite a few couples in the bushes, which forced him to choose training spots farther from the camp.
Recalling those impromptu scenes he had witnessed with his sharp eyes, Leilin felt a surge of irritation, reminding him of the memories of his former life as a spoiled rich kid.
"Who would've thought—getting a young body would also amp up the urges..." Leilin let out a bitter laugh.
After calming himself slightly: "Chip! Pull up my body data!"
"Leilin Farell. Strength: 1.5. Agility: 1.6. Constitution: 1.4. Condition: Healthy."
It had been over a month since he began training with the Knight's Breathing Technique. Leilin's physical condition had not only caught up with his peers but slightly surpassed them. When facing George, he had concealed his true abilities, leaving George with only vague and inaccurate guesses.
"Not bad! Time for today's training!"
Leilin assumed the proper stance and entered his training routine. This was his daily discipline—according to the Chip's analysis, practicing the Breathing Technique after nighttime exercise yielded the best results.
After roughly twenty minutes, Leilin's body was drenched in sweat, but the black impurities being expelled had noticeably decreased.
"Phew!" Leilin opened his eyes, looked at his body, and sighed helplessly. "It's only natural that the Breathing Technique's effect is weakening. According to the Chip's calculations, even after optimization, the Farell family's secret Breathing Technique will completely lose its effectiveness once it brings my physical attributes up to 2... This is the boundary of a Preliminary Knight. Beyond this point, only through my own effort and the life-or-death stimulation of the outside world can I attempt to awaken my Life Energy and advance further..."
Thinking of this, Leilin pulled a yellow berry from his jacket pocket. The berry's surface was dotted with black spots, looking rather unsettling.
He tossed it straight into his mouth and then pulled out a plant root, chewing on it vigorously.
"Warning: Subject's cellular fatigue has been relieved. The Knight's Breathing Technique may be practiced again!"
The Chip's voice chimed in.
"Good!" These plant formulations were something Leilin had developed over the past month through constant experimentation with the Chip. They effectively alleviated bodily fatigue and allowed him to increase his daily training sessions.
Combined with the Constitution-enhancing potions he had brewed, Leilin's physical attributes were able to improve so rapidly.
"Once more!" Leilin entered the Breathing Technique state again.
Over the past month, the caravan had passed through several small kingdoms before finally entering the wasteland region.
The wasteland was sparsely populated, with nothing but barren yellow sand, fierce beasts, and bandits leaving any sign of activity.
Since entering this region, the caravan had encountered several dangers. Though there had been no casualties, Leilin's sense of crisis grew ever stronger, and his yearning for power became increasingly urgent.
...
When the dawn's first light broke across the sky, the caravan set off once more.
Leilin sat apart with his arms crossed over his chest. The surrounding youths kept their distance with obvious distaste, leaving a wide empty space around him.
"Who knows what methods Besta used—the people in this carriage are still freezing me out. Any normal teenager would've been driven mad by now, I suppose. Too bad they're dealing with me!"