Chapter 299: Cooperation Reached
When the topic suddenly turned to her professional field, A Miao immediately became eager to try. She quickly retrieved the detailed memory from inside the Star Realm Bank at that time.
At that time, Yuan Zhu was in a strange temporary viscous Holy Light state, constructing energy circuits (simulating meridian organization) in his body, and through the wrong Breathing Method, inefficiently converting Holy Light into controllable active energy, using the circuits in his body to burst out powerful attack power.
This secret technique amplification, overall, though cumbersome, was cost-effective:
Consuming 10 units of Holy Light to ultimately obtain at least 13 starting damage. But the secret technique operation process was overly complex, continuously switching and adjusting Holy Light’s properties and states, which was very energy-consuming and tested control.
But the most outrageous was undoubtedly the incorrect and inefficient use of Steel Breathing Method. It actually veered from the Knight System to Kunlun Way’s ‘inner dantian’? Utterly unreasonable!
It was precisely because of this excessively provocative behavior that she couldn’t help but take action, forcibly reshaping Yuan Zhu’s breathing method (violent knee strike).
The original Pseudo Source Qi Breathing Method instantly restored to original state, returning to Holy Light Breathing Technique.
‘Pseudo True Qi’ and viscous ‘Holy Cough temporary meridians’ disappeared; Holy Light Particles were dispersed, following the breathing reintegrating into limbs, bones, flesh and blood, temporarily reinforcing physical qualities, obtaining a Holy Steel Body.
After discarding ‘Pseudo True Qi’ and Insectoid Race martial arts. His physical qualities received all-around reinforcement, greatly increasing defense, resistance, stamina, base strength, physical strength; every move and technique wrapped in Holy Light enchanted damage. Yuan Zhu called it ‘Knight Flow Steel Fist Form’, a pure ultimate violent enjoyment. Very similar to Frog-Type power reinforcement.
The original consumption immediately reduced from 10 units of Holy Light to 7. While output maintained at 13+ and even increased.
He was killing excitedly at the time and didn’t pay too much attention. Afterward, according to Immortal Scripture Data feedback, the Holy Knight state’s highest output once maintained at 15-16.
Precisely because of this significantly effective reinforcement, and the two skills Holy Cough and Holy Breathing nurtured by his own Holy Seal. He had to develop Personal Holy Light in the ‘Holy Knight’ direction.
After all, Sanctuary Holy Seal lacked supporting inheritance, so he created it himself. The two skills he comprehended not only greatly saved costs, but their outbreak effects far exceeded capabilities learned later.
Therefore, he had to develop Holy Light around Holy Cough and Holy Breathing, so Holy Knight was the best choice. And among those around him, only Zhou Chu and A Miao understood the Knight System.
Compared to the genuine Female Knight A Miao, Zhou Chu was just a pirated version. Her Knight Armor entirely relied on law binding to claim as her own, not a True Knight. So, Yuan Zhu chose to visit and seek guidance.
…
A Miao: “From what you’re saying, you want to use Holy Light to replace the Knight System’s most basic Steel Breathing Method? And not just temporarily obtaining ‘pseudo Steel Body’ reinforcement effects, but like a real knight, permanently elevating physical strength? Creating a Holy Light version of ‘constant Steel Body’?”
Yuan Zhu nodded: “Yes!”
He had painstakingly burned pumpkins to comprehend Flask Power, wasn’t it just to complete this final shortcoming! Now conditions were met, he was just about to ask the expert to optimize the cultivation manual for his Great Holy Grail Body.
A Miao propped her chin with her elbow on the tabletop, frowning in deep thought… Moments later, she clicked her tongue: “Tsk! I have to say, you have ideas! I’m very curious, your Holy Church possesses numerous secret technique inheritances for training and reinforcing the physical body, why must you imitate Steel Body?”
Yuan Zhu: “Holy Church has many top inheritances, but I have no way to obtain them. My choice of Holy Seal also has ideas. I don’t want to sell my freedom, sell myself to join different factions, becoming not in control of my own body. My destiny and growth trajectory must be grasped in my own hands. And Steel Breathing Method is the inheritance I can access and is most suitable for me.”
Not to mention others, Yuan Zhu had seen genuine Holy Knight inheritance in the Space of Gods; just imprint and formulate the Holy Seal to develop a complete series of Holy Knight reinforcements. It even involved some core disassembly and utilization of the Knight System.
Yuan Zhu didn’t want to imprint those Holy Seals, which doomed him unable to walk the orthodox Holy Knight route. But he still wanted to elevate Human Body strength, so he could only think of ways from the Breathing Method.
After understanding his demands, A Miao said: “Actually, simply using Power of Pollution from other systems to operate Steel Breathing, replacing the ‘steel’ concept with pollution elements to create an alternative ‘Steel Body’, is theoretically not difficult. Steel Breathing Method very early on was used by different Knight Orders as basic textbooks to select reserves, actively disseminated to the public for promotion and spread. It even formed multiple folk martial arts schools like Steel Fist and Iron Shirt.”
“There are also many emerging Pollution Factions that absorbed, restructured, and incorporated Breathing Methods for their own use, developing non-Knight System ‘Pollution Holy Bodies’, successfully establishing their own sects. Your envisioned Holy Steel Body can also be counted among them. But the problem is, those systems that successfully absorbed Breathing Methods, their ‘Power of Pollution’ is similar to the Knight System’s Steel Origin, able to manifest and solidify, permanently fusing with flesh and blood tissue, undergoing benign pollution mutation.”
“For example, under Steel Breathing Method, condensing ‘Steel Origin’ to erode and transform cell structures, forming active metal structures, gradually obtaining Steel Body. But Holy Light clearly lacks such properties, it will just dissipate… Meaning Holy Light Breathing Technique modifies flesh structures on one side while volatilizing and dissipating on the other, unable to retain. Unless—you can find light-attribute Holy Light Metal, absorb and refine ‘Holy Steel Origin’ with Steel Breathing to transform the physical body. But that is not Holy Breathing, but the Knight System’s Steel Breathing.”
Yuan Zhu nodded: “As long as the possible dissipation issue of Holy Light Breathing is solved, you can cultivate Holy Light version Pseudo Steel Body? So easy? Doesn’t the Knight System have countermeasures, allowing various factions to steal your ‘core cultivation technique’?”
A Miao stared at him strangely: “When did you form the wrong cognition that Steel Breathing Method is the Knight System’s core ability? Steel Body is just elevating and reinforcing ‘extraordinary’ individual qualities, the most basic ability. Above that, Armor is the core equipment for further amplifying ‘knights’. Even, Armor’s importance far exceeds the ‘knight’ itself.”
“Generations of knights diligently cultivate Breathing Methods, elevating their own qualities and strength, only to match Armor, and use the physical body to nourish Armor. Ultimately, when knights die in battle, their Steel Body turns into nourishment, reversely nourishing and sacrificing to Armor for its promotion. Countless generations of knights succeeding one another, nourishing sets of extremely powerful Armors. Once equipped, even ordinary newcomer knights can instantly obtain top combat power.”
“So, do you think Armor is the Knight System’s true core? No, Collective Power is! Knight Orders are never solo fighters, but link all members together, fighting with group power. Therefore, Breathing Method leakage is never a problem; even those who use Breathing Methods to cultivate strange ‘Pollution Holy Bodies’ will be targeted as prey by the Group, captured and stuffed into old Armors, forcibly refined into ‘new knights’. Even if Armor is lost and stolen by other pollution systems, it’s not a big problem.”
“Collective Power is the Knight System’s true core, this Rule originates from Knight System Pollution Root, unable to imitate, unable to leak or lose. If anyone truly masters ‘Collective Power’, no matter in what ‘pollution form’ it expresses, it will be defined as a new Knight System. So, if you have the ability, go ahead and steal and cultivate Holy Knight Body. You don’t even have a decent set of Armor, no one will trouble you.”
Yuan Zhu: “…” Why does it feel a bit humiliating?
After digesting A Miao’s understanding of the Knight System, Yuan Zhu considered and said: “Uh… It’s like this. Through my relentless cultivation, I’ve developed a technique to ‘intercept Holy Light Particles, store them in the body, prevent leakage and dissipation’. At the same time, I greatly admire Steel Breathing Method and plan to experiment on a batch of goblins. I hope Miao Miao you won’t hesitate to give pointers, cultivate and guide these ‘Holy Gob Knights’ together with me in practicing the most authentic Breathing Method, forging a Holy Knight Body. Once successful, they will join the Unlimited Goblin Combat as ‘newcomers’, enriching contestant professions: Holy Steel Body vs Extreme Warrior, more gimmicky.”
A Miao rolled her eyes at Yuan Zhu, saying in a tone that saw through his tricks: “Although you have suspicion of freeloading my professional knowledge, I have to admit, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’ve heard many legends about Heterogeneous Knights, but haven’t truly seen a Pollution Body born outside of Steel Breathing. I’m very interested to answer your questions, point out issues, and propose solutions.”
“Frog-Type power modification doesn’t require much brainpower, you say your goblins can complete it and cultivate mundane martial arts. But Breathing Methods have extremely high requirements for intelligence, precise body control, and comprehension of the Breathing Method. 100 healthy adult males with qualified intelligence cultivating Steel Breathing Method together may not even have one who stands out and masters Steel Heart, becoming a reserve. Are your goblins really that intelligent to comprehend the more difficult Holy Light Breathing Technique?”
A Miao was full of distrust about this, feeling Yuan Zhu was purely fabricating to hook her. Like ‘my cat can do somersaults, want to come to my place tonight?’ All routines. Obviously fake at a glance!
Yuan Zhu confidently said: “You have your secrets, don’t I? Rest assured, I never boast. If I say there are ‘Extreme Goblin Strongmen’ proficient in fighting performance, there definitely are. If I say there are ‘Holy Gob Knights’ cultivating Holy Light Breathing Technique, I’ll definitely conjure them for you!”
A Miao changed posture, slumping back into her seat: “Then I’ll wait for your new entertainment! Using Holy Light to replace Steel Origin will inevitably encounter many difficulties and setbacks. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can bring your ‘experimental subjects’ to find me. If I’m in a good mood that day with free time and energy, I’ll definitely help you brainstorm.”
Candle: “Then what if you’re in a bad mood, or no time, no interest?”
A Miao smiled faintly: “Then it depends on your sincerity. You can use chips I’m interested in to move me, or spend money to employ me. I always strictly abide by contract spirit, and will find ways to fulfill promised commitments. Um… Do you have other matters?”
Yuan Zhu waved his hand dejectedly: “None, none, I’ll leave now.”
“Next visit, remember to bring your family’s ‘goblins’ for me to play with and inspect their quality. If too garbage and deceiving me, there won’t be a good end.”
Candle Child gave A Miao a thumbs up: “Guaranteed satisfaction, see you.”
…
After leaving the Cat House, Yuan Zhu didn’t rush home, but strolled under the colorful neon lights of Cat Street, appreciating the rare night view of Running City.
Bizarre signs, Totem Poles towering every few dozen or hundred meters, ‘miniature shrines’ and small temples built at shop junctions. Filled with ‘exotic style’ completely different from Earth.
Looking around, this Cat Street had many similarities with Earth’s modern cities: midnight neon, similar buildings, and Totem Poles very like utility poles. But differences were big too: orcs puking wildly by the roadside, elf young ladies faintly visible under pink light boxes beckoning passersby outside the windows… and non-existent ‘power lines’.
Right! Power lines!
Yuan Zhu suddenly realized what felt different about ‘Running City’ compared to Celestial Dynasty third-tier cities. This world, due to ‘electricity’ not being popularized, hadn’t derived industrial products like ‘power lines’.
Therefore, streets had numerous street lamps and Totem Poles erected, but no dense power lines connecting them, making the modern city aesthetic lack the finishing soul. It looked overly clean and tidy, without the familiar cluttered feel.
Strolling along the street, he even detected faint flows of supernatural energy from inside these [totems, shrines, small temples]. It was somewhat similar to the ‘evil god aura’ he had sensed during the secret ritual where he had nearly been sacrificed back then.
Yuan Zhu said to Snake Snake, “Did you perceive it? These shrines and totem poles are not mere decorations. In other words, the ‘deities’ enshrined in the nearby shopfronts truly exist and are still diligently working.”
Snake Snake: “How rare. The status of [deities and sects] on Du Ling Star is pretty much the same as [companies and enterprises] in all walks of life on Earth. The fundamental operating model of society has long been deeply integrated with supernatural powers, closely intertwined. I see these totems and shrines as ‘signal base stations.’ Thinking of it that way, doesn’t it resemble your Earth hometown even more?”
Yuan Zhu did not refute, instead saying with a hint of worry, “That’s why, on Du Ling Star, the entry barriers for all walks of life are much higher than on Earth. It’s not enough to just have technology, determination, and initial capital to succeed; to enter any industry, one must be prepared to withstand malicious suppression from peers in the same industry—[demon gods]—and to compete with them for market share. Is that something an ordinary ability user can achieve?”
He could fully imagine the terrifying extent of ‘class solidification’ in all walks of life on Du Ling Star.
Even in feudal and backward ancient Earth or in modern times rife with rampant capitalism, [class solidification] was so entrenched as to be impregnable; let alone on Du Ling, where supernatural powers exist? [Top-tier pollution roots] + [deity classes] brought dimensionality-reduction despair and crushing oppression.
Ordinary people truly have no path to success; just thinking about it fills one with a sense of powerlessness. Joining prestigious upright sects like [Holy Church, Buddhism, Security Bureau], or attending [university] to graduate and enter large enterprises or conglomerates, is the correct path.
For someone like Yuan Zhu, who opened a [private frog farming workshop], it was undoubtedly taking the evil path, with a dim future ahead.
However, in the eyes of local residents (Nie Yin, senior student), he still had immense potential. Because behind him stood hidden powers of the same level (Shadow Demon God, Tiger Demon), they were placing their bets on him.
