Above The Sky
Chapter 43 - 43 41 Breathing Thanks to the chief with fair hands and a clean face for the reward!

43: Chapter 41: Breathing (Thanks to the chief with fair hands and a clean face for the reward!) 43: Chapter 41: Breathing (Thanks to the chief with fair hands and a clean face for the reward!) “Is that so?

Indeed, the Elders of the White Folks are no fools.

If they really want to know, you can certainly reveal your identity as a Spirit Energy User.”

When Hiliard took Ian to the outer courtyard to prepare for the training of breathing techniques, he became aware of Ian’s encounter the previous night and listened to Ian’s retelling of Elder Prude’s actions.

The old Knight nodded slightly, approving of the boy’s response, “Don’t worry, Spirit Energy Users are absolutely a priority for cultivation.

You, being a Spirit Energy User, even the local Lord would allocate resources your way—this is a fairly significant achievement.

For any local Lord who wants rewards and promotion, the quota of Spirit Energy Users within their territory is very important.”

“However, it all depends on you.

When you think it’s appropriate, that’s the time to disclose it.

“As for the Natives, rest assured.

If there’s really someone far beyond your ability intending to harm you, I will definitely step in.”

——Does that mean if the opposition’s strength is similar, I’m supposed to deal with it myself for training purposes?

Ian understood this well, and it matched his impression of Hiliard—the old Knight clearly wasn’t the type to particularly dote on his apprentices.

Instead, he was keen on encouraging students to challenge themselves and improve during crises.

Just what he wanted.

“Let’s do it right here.”

With that said, Hiliard had Ian sit cross-legged with him in the backyard outside the house.

Because it had rained in the afternoon, the air was slightly cool at night, and the sea breeze blew gently, unexpectedly inducing tranquility.

The teaching of the Breathing Guiding Technique began here.

“Although it is called Breathing Guiding Technique, it’s actually not necessary to deliberately speed up your breathing.”

“Ian, imagine the charcoals in a forge.

Their burning is slow and serene, but if you pump air into them with bellows, the flames will burn fiercely, hot enough to melt steel into molten iron.”

“The human body is the same; the food that people eat every day, isn’t that a kind of charcoal?

And aren’t regular breaths like wind being blown into a forge?

The human body itself is a constantly fanning and burning forge, and for Sublimators, this forge is even more robust and efficient.”

“Ian, imagine it.

Envision the Primordial Seed operating in harmony with the flow of your blood, slow and natural, like a breeze stirring a brook.

But this is far from the limit of the Primordial Seed.

Use your breath to stimulate the Primordial Seed, driving it like a storm that billows sails, like a river rotating a waterwheel.”

Hiliard’s voice was gentle and clear as he sat cross-legged on the ground, guiding Ian with his eyes closed and kneeling, helping him grasp a rhythm of breathing: “Very good, just like that.

You’ve picked it up quickly, but the details still need improvement.”

“Next, extend your hand and pay attention to the rhythm of my breathing, as well as the coordination of muscles, organs, and even blood.”

The old Knight had Ian place his hand on his chest to sense the frequency of the heartbeat, the pathways of the blood, the regularity of muscle and organ function as he began to instruct, “Adjusting your breath is just self-suggestion, the most important part is guiding.

Gather the Essence Fragments scattered in every blood vessel throughout your body, release the power stored deep within, and have the Primordial Seed transform it into pure Origin Quality.”

“Control your heartbeat, make it slower, yet stronger; let your body become relatively still, feel your blood churning throughout your body, piercing through every extremity’s circulation.”

“In doing so, you will be able to sense those fragments flowing in your body, like the ears of wheat in the light.”

‘Ears of wheat in the light’ is a common term among Sublimators on the Terra Continent.

It refers to all ‘powers bestowed by the sun’ and ‘Fruits of Life,’ the source of all Extraordinary Powers.

Golden ears of wheat, ripening in sunlight, just as Origin Quality is condensed from the essence of life; if one views blood as the tangible flow of sunlight, and Origin Quality as the wheat of life, then the Guiding Technique is the process that accelerates the growth of wheat.

Ian listened attentively to Hiliard’s teachings, trying as much as possible to control his breath, aligning it with the other’s.

But the metabolism of an eight-year-old’s body was too rapid, and his lungs and chest cavity were not fully developed, making it difficult to breathe at the same rate as an adult.

Even for him, it was hard to truly ‘still’ his mind in a short period of time to gather and condense the Essence Fragments within his body.

However, Ian was very adept at imagining, observing.

And, listening.

With his eyes closed, Ian activated ‘Clairvoyant Vision.’

Instantly, he could see his teacher in front of him, his body overflowing with a golden glow.

If he concentrated, he could even see pale golden streams of heat and spheres of light moving within that body.

They crisscrossed and intertwined, forming a complex yet incredibly orderly structure.

Inhale—Exhale—

Gazing, listening, imitating.

Ian’s heart was unprecedentedly at ease and tranquil.

Inhale—Exhale—

Reflecting, analyzing, summarizing.

Ian’s mind was working intensely like never before.

He had noticed that Hiliard’s breaths were long and prolonged, forceful yet not abrupt, like a flowing river.

They weren’t like the explosion of dynamite or the strike of thunder with their sudden lethal force, yet they still possessed a surging, immense power.

The Knight’s breathing had blurred the distinctions, where once the rise and fall of the lungs, the flow of blood could be sensed, Ian should have easily known when the other was inhaling or exhaling.

But the old knight’s breathing left him somewhat bewildered, for it seemed to be a long breath without an end, like a long sigh without conclusion.

—What kind of breathing was this?

By this time, Ian could no longer keep up with Hiliard’s rhythm.

Despite the knight’s guidance, he suddenly lost control of his breath and then began to cough violently.

“Cough cough…cough cough!”

“There’s no need to rush; you’ve done very well.”

Stretching out a hand to gently pat Ian’s back, easing the boy’s discomfort, Hiliard said with patience, “You are nearly grasping the rhythm, it’s just that your physical condition is still insufficient, unable to keep up with your thoughts.”

Honestly, Hiliard was already quite satisfied at this moment.

The unique physical signs of children are also the reason they find it difficult to begin their training.

Conversely, if one can overcome the shortcomings of childhood and operate the Guiding Technique under such circumstances, then Ian’s future practice stability will definitely far surpass that of his peers.

“The Guiding Technique can strengthen the lungs and speed up the refinement of Origin Quality, but it doesn’t affect the muscles and can’t hone the willpower.”

After completing his thoughts, the old knight spoke, “Starting tomorrow, I will arrange some physical training to help you exercise your body.”

He emphasized, “Every Inheritance requires different levels of physical quality.

The Sand Armor Apprentice requires an extremely high standard, needing strength and conditioning beyond ordinary people as the basic condition to consume the Magic Potion and form the Sublimation Organ.”

“Rather, the more powerful the Inheritance, the higher the foundational qualities needed.

If one thinks that possessing a powerful Inheritance means they can relax their training, they are bound to suffer greatly.”

“Not to mention anything else, the dramatic changes and stimulation to the body from the Magic Potion alone are enough to kill an unprepared Sublimation Apprentice.”

“Even like just now, when you were only slightly distracted, your body couldn’t handle the burden of the breathing technique.”

“I understand, Teacher.” Having caught his breath, Ian very much understood the importance of physical quality emphasized by Hiliard.

It’s just the requirements for class change; I get it.

The more powerful the profession, the more foundational requirements needed.

It’s perfectly normal.

On Earth, this kind of setting had been tasted enough!

He already had the idea of exercising to improve his physical strength, for the Terra People’s physical quality indeed had unique advantages.

Without proper tempering, he wasn’t even clear on the limits of his own body.

“Let’s try again, this time a bit slower.”

Noticing that Ian was still keen and had not recoiled from the previous pain, Hiliard did not end the teaching session, “Remember the rhythm, it’s not just the lungs, your body, muscles, organs, and blood all need to follow the rhythm of breathing…”

“Mhm.”

Following Hiliard’s instruction, Ian breathed rhythmically.

All sounds were drowned out by the noise of the July sea tide, and the once rapid frequency gradually became peaceful and elongated.

With each breath, the power that lay dormant deep inside his body slowly awoke, slowly awakening…

Soon.

Ian fell asleep.