I can evolve everything

In the days that followed, Renn's life became routine and monotonous.

During the day, apart from necessary physical recovery training, he spent most of his time locked in his study studying the "Black Rock Breathing Method".

The book "Black Rock Breathing Method" lay open on the table, its text grammatically obscure and filled with various metaphors and religious prayers.

For example, the phrase "to stir the pulse of the earth's veins and forge my flesh and blood in trials" is something that ordinary people simply cannot understand without expert guidance.

The practice of breathing techniques relies entirely on one's own understanding and enlightenment.

Renn really didn't understand it.

Even though he recognized each word individually, many paragraphs became like gibberish when put together.

He used the most rudimentary method—rote memorization.

I forced myself to memorize every single letter.

Even if he can't understand it now, as long as he remembers it, it might suddenly become clear to him at some point during his travels.

Alternatively, we can re-enter the corridor to conduct further deductions when we have sufficient energy in the future.

Time slipped away amidst the sounds of turning pages and wielding swords.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Dinner four weeks later.

Pan-fried cod and creamy stewed vegetables were laid out on the table, a special dish added to celebrate Ryan's upcoming departure.

Linus sat at the head of the long table, slowly and methodically cutting the fish on his plate.

"Father," Raine put down his silver fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and tentatively began, "about that book, 'Black Rock Breathing Technique'..."

Upon hearing this word, Linus stopped cutting the fish.

Sitting opposite, Lina curiously raised her head, her gray eyes darting back and forth between her father and second brother.

Although she had never heard the word before, her intuition told her that it was something powerful.

"What is this breathing technique?" Lina couldn't help but ask. "Is it some kind of special swordsmanship?"

Linus did not answer immediately.

He put down his knife and fork, first glancing at Renn to signal him to stop eating. Then he looked at Lina.

"That's just a technique for adjusting endurance, to make it easier to stay breathless during long runs," Linus said casually. "You'll naturally come across it once your fitness improves."

After speaking, he looked at Raine again and gestured towards the study.

"Raine, come to the study after you finish eating. I have a few letters for you to take to Karen."

"Yes." Ryan immediately understood and continued to work on the cod on his plate.

Although Lina felt a little strange, as if her father and second brother were hiding something from her, she didn't ask any questions due to her strict upbringing. She just silently stirred the stew in her bowl with a spoon.

After dinner, we went to the study on the second floor.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, dispelling the chill of the night.

After Linus sat down, he pointed to the chair opposite him.

"sit."

Here, he no longer tried to hide his true feelings as he had at the dinner table.

"Lina isn't a knight yet, not even a novice knight." Linus silently watched the firewood crackling in the fireplace.

"According to the Knight's Law and the family's rules, she is not entitled to know any details about the Breathing Technique. This is not only for secrecy, but also for her protection."

"I understand, Father." Ryan nodded. "I just... there are some parts I really don't understand."

"It's normal not to understand it." Linus seemed to be in a good mood and joked, "If you could understand it after reading it once, you should be being groomed as a future legendary knight in the Royal Knights right now."

As he spoke, he leaned forward, staring intently at Renn.

"I know what you want to ask. You want to know what breathing techniques are and how they can make you stronger."

Ryan sat up straight: "Please enlighten me, Father."

"In this world, the air, the food, and even the ground beneath your feet contain various forms of energy. Ordinary people can only passively receive its nourishment to sustain their lives. But knights can actively utilize these powers..."

"Breathing techniques are that tool. Through specific breathing frequencies, coordinated with the heartbeat, they squeeze potential from your blood and bone marrow to capture external forces and lock them into your body."

"Locked inside the body?"

"Exactly. It's like hammering iron." Linus gestured a hammering motion:

"Forge those energy hammers into your body, change your physique. Make your skin as tough as cowhide, your bones as hard as rock. That's what the apprentice knight stage is all about—accumulation."

"What about formal knights?" Renn pressed.

"When quantitative change leads to qualitative change," Linus's voice deepened. "When the power within you accumulates to its limit, you need to build a core in your heart, which we call the 'Seed of Life.' Only by igniting this seed can you unleash power like a monster, and even maintain your fighting ability after losing limbs."

"Regarding Sir Karen..." Ryan asked his second question, "Is there anything I should be aware of?"

When Karen was mentioned, Linus's wrinkles seemed to smooth out a bit, but then he became even more serious.

"Iron Hand," Linus uttered the nickname, "From when I wasn't a knight until now, he has always been an anomaly among knights."

"An outlier?"

"Most knights, by his age, would either be enjoying life in their territory or holding a sinecure in the knightly order. But he was different. He was still on the front lines, still leading his squire to the most dangerous places to exterminate monsters and hunt down wanted criminals."

Linus stood up and walked to the bookshelf.

"He's a man of unyielding character, harder than a rock in a latrine. He doesn't care about your background, he doesn't care if you can read or write. He only cares about two things: loyalty to chivalry, and... survival."

He turned around and looked at Ryan.

"He will send you to face monsters that even regular knights would find troublesome. The mortality rate is very high for his squire. But I still agree that you should go and train with him."

"Why?" Renn asked, puzzled.

"Because only those who survive under his command deserve the title of knight," Linus said, a hint of arrogance on his face. "Men of the Wilder family don't need a greenhouse. What you need is the tempering of blood and fire."

"There's one more thing," Linus added, as if remembering something.

"Karen hates anything fancy. Don't show off your cleverness in front of him unless it saves your life. If you don't understand, just say you don't understand. If you're scared, just say you're scared. But he won't tolerate lies."

"I understand." Ryan nodded solemnly.

"And this too."

Linus took a heavy cloth bag out of the drawer and threw it on the table.

"These are five gold coins and seventy-four silver coins. They're not for you to squander," Linus said seriously.

"You've never been far from home. Apprentice knights need money for equipment maintenance, medicine, and even just to buy a loaf of bread from a traveling merchant in the wilderness. Karen is always broke; he spends all his money on compensating the families of his fallen squires. If you follow him, you'll only learn skills; you won't earn a single copper coin."

Ryan did not refuse, silently putting away the money bag and feeling its heavy weight.

"Go get some rest," Linus waved his hand. "We're leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Don't let Fitz see your dark circles; that old man will nag you about it all day."

Raine stood up and left the study.

The corridor was quiet.

Instead of going back to his room immediately, Ryan walked to the window at the end of the corridor.

Moonlight streamed into the courtyard, where Lina had toiled during the day, but now the place was deserted.

"The Seed of Life..." Renn murmured to himself, his hand unconsciously pressing against his chest.

Although he still only has a vague understanding of that obscure secret manual, he has a cheat code.

Given enough time and energy, he will eventually be able to open the door to legend.