Chapter 48 - 48 Dark Breath

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Dark Breath

Editor: Noodletown Translations

“Dark Breath?” Mu Fan savored those four words.

“Uh-huh, it’s a martial arts skill that involves inhaling and exhaling, and it’s also a skill for self-enhancement.” The Fighter retracted the metal short stick and softly spoke to Mu Fan, “For example… watch me.”

What happened next made Mu Fan’s eyes widen! Breathing… in… out… The previous sound of breathing still lingered, but in the next second he watched as the Fighter in the tattered gray robe gradually disappeared before his eyes—not vanishing directly, but slowly fading away bit by bit under his gaze.

The person just vanished like that?

A sudden voice startled Mu Fan, “I’m still standing here, you just can’t perceive me.”

“I can’t see you, is this the effect of Dark Breath?” Mu Fan asked excitedly, though slightly puzzled, as the skill only rendered someone invisible with no apparent function.

“Of course not.” A stick suddenly appeared; before Mu Fan could react, he was knocked to the ground, sitting there nursing his head, sulking.

“Breath, as its name suggests, involves inhaling and exhaling; what you saw was just a trick. What you hear, smell, and sense comprehensively is what’s real.” The Fighter holding the stick reappeared before Mu Fan.

“Dark Breath involves manipulating the muscles in every part of your body, controlling your breathing and closing your pores, achieving an effect akin to being absorbed into the night, with some tricks for invisibility.” The Fighter twirled the short stick in his hand, creating a mysterious green trail that captivated Mu Fan’s attention.

“But that’s just its basic function. Fundamentally, this martial arts skill allows your mind to reach a state of absolute calm, significantly enhancing your five senses. In contemporary terms, it directly enhances your spiritual power.”

Mu Fan only knew about power levels so far. He vaguely sensed that spiritual power related to the state he experienced under the Blood-colored Vision, that clear sense of control over himself.

“Martial arts skills are divided into ten layers, each layer’s effect equates to a Federal level of about 2. Upon mastering the Fifth Layer, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your muscle control across your body; you’ll understand in due time.”

Mu Fan was bewildered, unaware that the martial arts skill the Fighter Instructor introduced was unheard of within the Federation. The brain remained an uncharted human territory; spiritual power utilization had barely entered the initial stages. A martial arts skill that directly enhanced spiritual power was absolutely inconceivable!

If anyone found out, how many geniuses would be astounded? How many great powers would fight to the death over it?

Why? Because level 10 is the first Spirit Lock! Less than 0.1% within the Federation have unlocked the Spirit Lock! The Spirit Lock comprehensively restricted a person’s understanding of themselves. When you felt you had reached the limit of martial arts or mecha operation, unlocking the first Spirit Lock made you realize that this was just the beginning!

The Spirit Lock is the key to transcending one’s limits!

“Right now, you’re solely a spiritual power level 3 entity; it’s too early to discuss this with you. All right, start learning with me.”

“Slow down your breathing, use your mind to control as many muscles as you can perceive, soothe them, slow them down, synchronize your heartbeat with your surroundings, and use your spirit to merge with your body. When darkness descends, I am the night…”

The Fighter raised his head slightly, gazing profoundly at the boy he hypnotized into meditation. His eyes filled with age, contentment, emancipation, and a hidden fervent anticipation!

Suddenly, he raised his left hand, wrapped in timeworn armor plates. A dark green, gentle light floated in his palm, suspended quietly, and then directly pressed onto Mu Fan’s forehead. As the hand made contact, the light vanished, and Mu Fan’s eyebrows suddenly furrowed, then relaxed.

“Heh… heh, compatibility, the spark actually continues in this world… Our lineage’s inheritance…”

…

Mu Fan opened his eyes, awakened by a private chat from Fat Brother. Looking around, he found himself in the corridor, having left the training field. The Fighter Instructor had disappeared again, leaving him feeling mystified every time he came, but there was no choice; the instructor was too formidable to defeat.

Whatever the Fighter mentioned about Dark Breath, practicing it made him feel like… he’d fallen asleep? Um, Mu Fan scratched his head embarrassedly, indeed that was how it felt.

However, upon recalling it now, the martial arts skill’s practice method naturally emerged in his mind. He couldn’t verbally articulate it but felt it was already ingrained. Something felt different in his mind compared to before seeking out the Fighter, though he couldn’t specify what. If he had to summarize, the world’s perception seemed clearer, and he felt clearer too.

Unfortunately, just as he was about to contemplate further, he was interrupted by a call from Fat Brother, who didn’t know where he got a fat Miluo, chewing it loudly. The sight of juice splattering everywhere met Mu Fan as soon as he left the Battle Net, so he unapologetically snatched another from Fat Brother’s side to start munching.

“Mu Fan, what do you think is taking the Broken Axe so long? It’s driving Fat Brother crazy. I’ve worked out more in these past days than in the entire past six months; pops is satisfied, but the key is, I’m not.”

Mu Fan, squinting as he gnawed on the Miluo, casually responded, “I have a hunch, they’ll definitely show up. I just hope it doesn’t interrupt the Federation’s grand examination.”

“Don’t be silly. No way the Star Thieves dare cause trouble during those two days; that’s when the Federation’s on highest alert throughout the year. If we go then, we’ll probably be surrounded by patrolling and vigilant mechas.”

“Let’s hope so,” Mu Fan said noncommittally, then revealed a look of longing, “Harry, you know? If it weren’t for meeting you, my world wouldn’t be as exciting.”

These sincere words made Harry, who was earnestly devouring the fat Miluo, pause. He looked at Mu Fan seriously and said, “Hey, we’re friends, aren’t we? If nothing happens in a few days, come over to my place; my pops has been wanting to meet you for ages, and there’s some gathering or whatever you should check out.”

Mu Fan gave a nod, agreeing with Fat Brother.

“There’ll be lots of girls!” Fat Brother said with a lewd grin, getting pushed away by Mu Fan as he reached over.

All Mu Fan wanted now was a satisfying fight with those Star Thieves and then move on to the Federation’s grand exam swiftly!

What, snatch the military mecha? Black said it would handle it.

What if it won’t work? Use the Dark Breath taught by the Fighter Instructor to flee; probably no one would notice.

Reflecting on it, Mu Fan saw many paths to survival, little realizing that others viewed it as sheer folly!

After spending the rest of the afternoon amidst Fat Brother’s wailing, Mu Fan eagerly returned to his own place, donned his helmet, as he was eager to test if his APM had improved.

Taking a deep breath, sitting properly, he donned the helmet with a solemn expression and pressed the start button.

“Mecha driving training.”

“Ding, entry failed, please listen to the message—Lord Black is busy today, take a day off, Mu Fan, go practice on your own.”

Don’t you know the Star Thieves are coming!! Mu Fan was completely taken aback.

…

Black, in the form of a data stream, was cautiously hacking the dedicated network of Loga Star’s government, occasionally mingling with some military interfaces.

Having breached a node without triggering alarms, Black was immediately proud, “If only my planetary body were here, no need for such cumbersome hacking, using slightly more resources would trigger alarms, how annoying. Mu Fan, my dear, I’m paving the way for you, letting you rest at home, isn’t that considerate? Relax; that day, I measured your APM 30 lower than usual; with a Chaotic Zigzag Step, I guess you’d just walk sideways here. Truly, I am too understanding.”

Oblivious to its own deviousness, Black chattered away in the virtual space, like a chatterbox, “Oh, this data stream is interesting, let me track it.”

Several streams from military lines simultaneously appeared in the administrative network, all pointing to the same timestamp, June 2nd…

***********

PS: Thanks to “Tian Wei Xia Tian Wei Liang” for the reward of 10 coins.

Finally, someone answered the bounty correctly. “Xiao Xiang Yu Yue” student, please reply as soon as possible in the pinned discussion thread. The role application for this book officially opens; everyone interested in a cameo, feel free to sign up.