The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 296: Kindest and Wisest (1)

Chapter 296: Kindest and Wisest (1)

Divine Body of Dragon Phoenix Method.

Hex read the Method with care. The baron’s notes implied that this Method created him. Perchance, maybe, but still.

Each of the ten steps had harsh requirements for completion. Still, each step consisted of five aspects: energy manifestation, body transformation, soul transformation, elemental fusion, and integration.

Energy manifestation required him to condense refined energy into matter. Basically, he had to turn energy, which was immaterial, into something materialistic. It required immense amounts of energy and control over the energy. A slight mistake and the energy would rip the user apart.

Body Transformation didn’t mean that the user had to alter their appearance or become something other than human. According to the Baron, body transformation had two purposes: to increase the storage capacity for the transformed energy and elements while enhancing the conductory abilities.

Better storage included quantity as well as quality. The body should be able to hold more energy and handle the enhanced energy state.

Soul Transformation enhanced the soul. It involved meditation and rare resources. Here the baron added a note of caution.

All the information I have included in these notes stems from what I could salvage from the Witch’s secret chamber. There was no trace of the exact resources used for you. You will have to experiment with this.

Hex understood the meaning behind the baron’s note. He encountered such things often in the slum. Some people developed resistance to certain medicines and brews. Only better and often pricier solutions could help them afterward. Sadly, not many could afford the cost and suffered greatly.

Elemental Fusion’s description took Hex some time to understand. It boiled down to storing in his inner space – others had a small void in them to store the elements – and making it part of them. The text spoke of letting the elements become alive and the same as one’s blood and soul. It didn’t explain how to do so, though.

Hex believed he would have to try and experiment to understand it with more clarity. The text did invoke one particular question in him though.

’Using this Method requires one to have at least one element fused and behave similarly to how the flesh and the soul act. So, did the Witch do so when creating me?’

The question sparked even more questions in his mind. Did he have an element imbued in him? If yes, which one? If not, how did the Witch still complete the Method?

With each newly uncovered piece, his gratitude toward the baron and his admiration for the Witch grew. The first he expected. His master, the baron, demanded respect and awe from everyone around them. His attitude toward him might have been cold at times but his care and softness became apparent once he read the scrolls.

The Witch pulled his feelings into several directions. He felt sympathy toward her when he read the diary. He admired her intelligence in coming up with so many things that changed the world permanently. And he hated her for bringing chaos and despair wherever she passed through.

It would take some time to sort his feelings toward her out. Perhaps, only when he uncovered many of the secrets of the world would he be able to make his mind up regarding her.

Realizing he wouldn’t sort everything out at the moment, he left it for what it was. Instead of mulling over stuff he couldn’t control, he looked at the scroll again.

The last part discussed the integration. All the aspects needed to form a whole in the end. And once again the baron cautioned to proceed with care. If one of the aspects didn’t align with the other, it would lead to injuries or death.

"Come on. At this point, anything seems capable of killing me," Hex exclaimed, peeved by the repetitive notes of caution.

He got it. It was dangerous. The Method most suitable to him even killed the Godking. He wasn’t planning on being careless. He valued his life quite a bit.

He understood the several aspects to some degree. The next step would be to understand how each aspect was done.

’Let’s see. Increasing the amount and quality of energy can easily be done by combining the abilities of my heart and the monolith.’

With his two treasures, he could easily complete the energy requirement. In fact, his tremendous control and Second Blessing would prevent any backlash resulting from storing huge quantities of energy inside his body.

’The other aspects are a bit harder because of the resources required. All I can hope is that Sterling is right about Wrixia.’

The silver-haired heir claimed the place to possess the rarest and largest collection of resources on sale. Whether it was true or not, he had to see for himself.

After ensuring he didn’t miss anything regarding the Method, Hex closed the scroll.

He looked at the gentle current as they drifted along. There was still some time before they reached Wrixia. With nothing else to do, he pulled out the Diary.

After the first read, he hadn’t opened it again. Reading it made him want to dig up that old grandfather of his and kick him.

’I still have to go through it. Who knows it might contain hints about the resources she used.’

That was what he told himself. But when he opened it, he flipped to the page he had stopped on the last time. It didn’t seem possible that the Witch would have penned the resources down during her childhood years. Yet, he started from there. Again.

He barely started when he sensed a shift in the air. He lifted his head...and stared right into a pair of glowing eyes.

He readied himself into action within a fraction of a second. With a slight tap on the ground, he jumped onto his feet. He didn’t have a sword. But a cloak of energy and Ice covered him.

Good reaction. But it’s of no use against me.

"Saint Calm Sea?"

He recognized the voice at once. He hoped to hear it for some time. While he hadn’t expected to hear it before reaching Wrixia, it pleased him.

Knowing that the Saint stood before him, he relaxed. Only now did he observe the Saint.

The Saint wasn’t humanoid. The creature before him had leathery skin, a firm shield on its back, and a height comparable to his.

He remembered seeing the creature in a book filled with sea creatures. Saint Calm Sea looked like the one called ’turtle’.

Who else did you expect to see?

The warm tone in His voice indicated that the Saint didn’t mind him becoming flustered for a second.

"No one. I just didn’t think I would meet you before reaching Wrixia."

I wasn’t planning on meeting you even then.

The straightforward manner of the Saint caused Hex to be stumped for words. There was little he could do to force a Saint to meet him if He didn’t wish to do so.

"But you still came," he said, hoping not to offend Him. "Despite not willing to do so, you came. Can I ask what made you change your mind?"

’Did the Saint notice the Method? Was he going to die?’

Before reading the scroll, he didn’t expect it to carry such a secret. The Saint once read his mind. He hoped it had to do with the special space created by the Desert Flower Monarch.

The Saint didn’t reply immediately. The silence weighed heavy on Hex’s heart. He waited. His heart beat rising with each passing second. He dared to confront an Enlightened Knight but not a Saint. Not without a massive army of powerhouses to cover for him.

I came because of that.

Hex followed the Saint’s gaze. It was directed at his hands. Or rather, the Diary in his hand.

"This?" He made sure by lifting it and pointing at it. Seeing the Saint nod, he couldn’t help but ask, "Why?"

At the same time, Hex discovered something that shocked him. He feared losing his life. He feared losing the scroll. What he didn’t expect though was that he didn’t wish to lose the Diary either. Not because it held clues to resources. He just didn’t wish to lose it. His grip on the Dairy increased. And his heart calmed down. The shocking thing was, unlike with the scroll, he was ready to fight against the Saint to keep the Diary.

The Saint saw through his intention at once.

Relax, kid. I came because I sensed a familiar aura coming from it. The same aura I sense from you. The aura of a little girl who had the kindest heart and wisest brain. She also had black hair and eyes. Just like you.