Chapter 165 Retreat (4.8k)

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

This morning, just after dawn, Colin had returned from Betty's residence.

Feeling his empty storage ring, he couldn't help but let out a breath.

He had already obtained 45 bottles of magic potion. At the same time, nine thousand magic stones had been given away, leaving only a little over a thousand magic stones on him.

If we look at the limit-breaking points needed to break through the circle meditation method, one thousand magic stones... is obviously not enough.

He even said that he now needs a thousand magic stones to break through the circle meditation method to gold.

So in fact, he can only use more than a hundred magic stones for the Xisheng Meditation Method.

...This is obviously not enough, not to mention the fact that we will have to spend money on daily life later.

Return home and go to the meditation room.

Turning over his hand, he took out a bottle of magic-killing potion. Looking at the crystal clear potion in the glass bottle, Colin sat cross-legged and thought quietly.

The subsidy provided by the Xisheng School to advanced apprentices is one hundred magic stones per month... If you save one province, this is enough for one month's living expenses.

But if he wanted to let Xi Sheng's meditation method break the limit, in order to ensure that the limit breaking points were as sufficient as possible, to be on the safe side, he would have to prepare at least two thousand magic stones.

Two thousand magic stones...

Colin sighed softly. Even if he worked at full capacity to make photo crystals, he would only be able to produce two to three hundred magic stones a month.

It's a drop in the bucket... Could it be that I have to take on some tasks from the school?

Or do you want to learn another profitable craft?

But these may involve risks or consume time...

It's not possible to change your meditation method while earning magic stones.

After all... while the magic-killing potion was taking effect, he was very vulnerable without magic power.

It was in a stable environment like Neustadt that he dared to take this risk.

But if you accept a mission, what mission should you accept?

If you learn a craft, what should you learn? Or witchcraft crystal making?

I struggled in my heart for a long time, but still couldn't think of an answer.

Colin shook his head and put it aside for now.

Decided to do something else first.

With a thought, pale golden particles gathered.

The progress after the knight level has surprisingly reached 99/100... The progress after the solar breathing method has also reached 99/100.

If there are no miscalculations, after today's practice, these two items should be able to reach their limits.

With his legs spread wide and he practiced the familiar second limit-breaking solar breathing method, his irritable mood gradually eased.

The graceful muscles were constantly rhythmic like a python, and the heat gradually evaporated. After a while, a large amount of sweat gathered into winding traces and flowed down the angular chin and body, gradually accumulating dark wet marks under the feet.

In this way, he practiced the second limit-breaking solar breathing method over and over again.

The sun rises from the east, slowly moves across the sky, and then gradually sets towards the horizon.

The earth was slowly dyed golden by the embers of sunlight, and rich orange light flowed in from the gap in the wooden door of the meditation room.

at this time!

Colin's movements suddenly froze.

The next second, he exhaled a long breath, and the air flow drew a white mist in the air.

Pale golden particles gathered in front of him.

[Level: Ultimate Great Knight (100/100)]

[Breathing method: Solar breathing method Ⅱ↑ (100/100)]

As he expected, the Knight Level and Solar Breathing Techniques had reached their limits.

But Colin didn't have much joy.

After the Ultimate Knight's progress reaches the limit, the improvement is not particularly big... After all, the Ultimate Knight's peak is still the Ultimate Knight, and there is no breakthrough.

…can’t break through either.

On the path of knighthood, if one does not accept life transformation and does not add assistance such as alien bloodline, mechanical breeding equipment, etc... then the great knight will have reached his limit.

It's just that here, because of the breakthrough of the solar breathing method, he was able to take a small step forward on the original limit of the great knight——

There is such a small realm as the Ultimate Great Knight.

But now, limited by the level of the breathing method, the ultimate Great Knight has reached its peak, and the way forward has been cut off... and it cannot be improved anymore.

Perhaps breaking through the limitations of solar breathing again may lead to a breakthrough.

But the Solar Breathing Technique... He currently doesn't have any extra magic stones to break the limit for it.

‘I went around and around… and finally reached the magic stone. ’

Colin wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighed slightly in his heart, and at the same time cast a golden cleaning technique around him.

The dirt and sweat stains on the floor were cleaned instantly.

After pondering for a moment, he no longer hesitated, changed into a formal witch robe and hurried out.

Whether it's doing school tasks or learning another craft to make money... it's not a good choice.

He decided to take a different path.

The omnibus was speeding along the road, and the oncoming wind picked up the old coachman's large linen coat.

Not long after, the carriage carrying Colin stopped in front of a small courtyard.

White gates, white walls, and the single-family villas inside are all white.

Fresh green meanders all over the entire wall, gate, and villa exterior.

Through the fence-like gate, you can clearly see the sea through the afterglow of the setting sun.

Sea of ​​flowers.

Countless flowers of different shapes and colors bloom around the white villa in the middle.

The arrangement is not regular, and can even be said to be a bit messy. The several big trees in the courtyard are also growing wantonly, and their branches are messy. They are far less neat and orderly than the landscape trees I saw in my previous life.

But these messy flowers and trees seem to be perfectly natural when put together, and have an indescribable natural beauty.

This is the residence of his senior sister, half-elf Lilian.

After letting out a soft breath, Colin took a step forward and rang the doorbell surrounded by vines.

When——

Qingyue's voice sounded.

Colin's face was calm and he stood waiting quietly at the door. The breeze blew, swaying the flowers in the yard and stirring the broken hair on his forehead.

Not long after.

The door of the villa suddenly opened.

A petite figure walked out.

"Junior Colin... why are you coming to me so late?"

Lilian asked doubtfully as she walked towards the door.

She did not wear the school's standard witch robe as in the past, but wore a simple white dress. Her mid-length blond hair was not tied up, but fell down like a waterfall.

If it were on Renee or any other girl, such a look would undoubtedly be pure and cute...

But when it comes to Lilian, there is only childlike cuteness... and fantasy.

Colin's eyes moved slightly.

Wherever Lilian passed, the delicate flowers seemed to bloom even more, and the next second there was a glowing halo.

At this time, the wind had stopped, but under the gradually darkening sky, the flowers did not stop swaying. The dreamlike halo slowly lit up, forming a clear path of light as Lilian moved forward.

Then, like a domino effect, starting from the light path, the flowers lit up one after another, and finally the entire sea of ​​flowers lit up.

"Is there something wrong with Betty?"

In the sea of ​​​​flowers, Lilian raised her head and asked softly.

"Senior Lillian, good evening."

Colin came back to his senses, shook his head, and replied:

"Everything goes well with Lady Betty."

After saying this, Colin hesitated for a moment, felt a sudden change in his heart, and said:

"Senior Lillian, I'm here to borrow some magic stones from you... Well, I will pay them back within half a year, and the interest will be 5% per month."

Yes, rather than wasting time and taking risks to make money, it would be better to come directly to Lilian to borrow some magic stones.

Improving your strength first and then earning magic stones is the most cost-effective option.

Lilian was obviously stunned when she heard Colin's words.

Brushing the broken hair around her ears, she asked:

"How many magic stones do you need?"

"Three thousand magic stones." Colin blurted out.

Since I have borrowed everything, I might as well borrow some more to be prepared.

"Okay." Lilian nodded.

Colin was slightly startled. He didn't expect Lilian to be so cheerful.

Looking at Lilian with a calm face, he felt a little embarrassed, hesitated for a moment and then said:

"The interest is ten percent per month."

In fact, for borrowing money, the monthly interest rate of 5% is already considered high.

But the kindness of being willing to borrow the magic stone cannot be measured by the magic stone.

"No need." Lilian shook her head, "No interest required."

Her voice was soft but firm, making people unable to resist.

"Okay." Colin pursed his lips and answered simply without being pretentious.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Lilian." He paused and said again.

Lilian waved her hand, turned and walked towards the villa.

"wait a second."

Her voice carried with the wind, and the flowers that lit up seemed to sense that their owner was leaving and extinguished little by little with her steps.

When Lilian walked into the villa, the garden in front of her was dark again.

It just so happened that the last rays of the setting sun on the horizon were gradually sinking into the earth.

Darkness falls.

But Colin's heart was filled with hope like the rising dawn.

"call--"

He breathed out gently, and a smile gradually appeared on his handsome face.

But soon, he calmed down all his emotions and regained his composure again.

The magic stone, the biggest problem at the moment, has been solved.

But a person who travels a hundred miles is half a mile... As long as you fail to successfully change your meditation method for a day, you cannot take it lightly.

What's more, after taking the magic-killing potion, he had no magic power for several months... It was not an easy thing to survive smoothly.

Not long after, Lilian returned with the magic stone.

After taking the magic stone she brought, Colin thanked him again before saying goodbye and leaving.

There are still many things to do next, so you have to hurry up.

…………

The next day, in the school, Altbald's residence.

In the study room.

"You mean you are going to practice in seclusion for three months starting today?" Atbold said slowly.

"Yes, mentor." Colin replied, paused and continued to add:

"So I came to you to ask for your help in applying to be exempted from the tasks assigned by the school in the past few months."

Although Altbold has no tasks assigned to him here.

But as for the Xisheng School, each apprentice will be assigned one or two simple tasks that match their strength level every month.

Normally, no surprises, these tasks must be done.

"That's it." Atbold nodded and said slowly: "Okay, I will help you apply. You can practice with peace of mind."

His face was gentle, and he didn't seem to suspect that Colin was just being lazy.

Seeing this, Colin felt a little relieved. This was originally a thorny issue, but Atbold's attitude was much more tolerant than he thought.

"Then I won't disturb you."

He bade farewell to Atbold and hurried away.

Then he rode the public carriage non-stop back to his parents.

When the omnibus came to the door.

Renee is directing the unloading of a freight wagon carrying a strange tree.

A group of knight porters stood in two rows and lifted the big tree and transported it to the middle left side of the courtyard.

There, a big hole had been dug in advance.

Colin got out of the carriage and watched them replant the tree.

This is the willow-tube weeping leaf tree he bought for two hundred magic stones.

As the name suggests, it looks like a willow tree, but its leaves are made of countless slender tubes.

These tubes can sense smells and vibrations.

In terms of smell, the sensitivity is even far higher than that of ordinary dogs.

Of course, if it is used for warning, animals are actually more suitable... There are many animals with better detection effects than it.

Colin bought it mainly because it was a plant.

As long as they are plants, most of them can be fused by Nado.

Nado's own detection ability is weak, and she bought this willow-tube weeping tree precisely to make up for this shortcoming.

Let the defense of his small courtyard be stronger.

The knight in front worked hard shoveling the dirt.

Shovel after shovel.

The soil gradually buried the thick brown root system of the willow tree.

At the same time, in Colin's perception, an invisible aura was slowly rising from the ground along the root system, slowly eroding the weeping willow tree.

During this process, a touch of blue-gold veins appeared on the surface of the willow-tube weeping tree. The trunk, branches, and even leaves were all dyed with green-gold veins.

Everything was going smoothly, and the willow-tube and weeping tree, which was not weak in life level, had no ability to resist at all under Nado's erosion.

Seeing this, Colin secretly raised his estimate of Nado in his heart.

Perhaps purely in terms of attack power and strength, Nado is at best equivalent to an intermediate wizard apprentice, and is not too strong.

But in the nature of life, it is more than this level.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh again.

I didn’t expect such a useful plant to be available for free…Thanks to the generous mentor Atbold.

Withdrawing his gaze, Colin walked towards the tree and gently rubbed the bark.

Nado's body is actually a strange gel material. If it weren't for the fact that it could survive on just water, sunlight, and soil... it wouldn't really look like a plant.

But no matter what, with the detection ability of the willow tree to sense smells and vibrations, Nado can better use his special ability-resistance force field.

This is a force field that Nado will generate after being saturated with enough plants, and its power can reach up to the level of a senior wizard apprentice.

It is most suitable for home care and nursing homes.

However, even so, he still felt a little worried.

As soon as he takes the anti-magic potion, he will lose his magic power, and if he loses his magic power... he will lose most of the wizard's power.

If magical knowledge is the engine, magic is the fuel that drives it.

But compared with such risks, he cannot accept a significant drop in qualifications.

Today, such an environment is rare and stable.

Exhaling softly, Colin ordered Renee:

"Renee, starting from today, except for buying ingredients every half month, you and Demi are not allowed to go out again."

"Okay, Master." Renee nodded.

Colin had told her about this in advance, but now he just emphasized it.

"Yeah." Colin nodded, no longer hesitated, and walked towards the basement.

He is going to complete the last task before retreat——

That is to break the limit for solar breathing!

Without magic power, the knight's power became his only reliance.

Right now, both the Solar Breathing Technique and the Knight Level have reached their limits at the same time. According to yesterday's test, it only costs 500 magic stones to break the limit with Solar Breathing Technique...

The magic stone in his hand was just enough, so he had no reason not to break the limit!

‘I just don’t know if breaking the limit will allow me to take the knight’s path further and break through to the ultimate great knight. ’

He exhaled softly, no longer hesitated, and began to break through the limits.

The limit-breaking point had already been transformed into two thousand and five points last night. There was no need to transform the limit-breaking point anymore. He headed hard towards the ↑ symbol point behind the second limit-breaking daylight breathing method!

boom!

The light golden light intertwined and changed, and a new line of characters appeared on the gold paper.

[Solar Breathing Technique (Golden)].

Colin closed his eyes slightly, digesting the information in his mind.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, disappointment appearing on his face.

The Golden Sunlight Breathing Technique after breaking through the limit failed to substantially improve him as he thought, allowing him to take another step forward on the road to knighthood.

But it cannot be said that there has been no improvement at all. In terms of knight power, it is probably 10% or 20% stronger than before.

It's just that this kind of improvement is not a qualitative improvement. In his opinion, it still belongs to the category of the ultimate great knight.

'The improvement of the knight...may require the integration of a few more breathing techniques. ’

Looking at the Yili Breathing Method next to the Daylight Breathing Method, Colin thought to himself.

But he doesn't have the time, energy, or magic stones to try it now... he can only put it in the future.

‘But anyway… it’s somewhat improved. ’

After adjusting his mood, Colin began the limit-breaking circle meditation method.

The circle meditation method could actually break the limit a few months ago, but in order to avoid wasting magic stones, the limit has not been broken yet.

Not long after, as the number in the limit-breaking point column suddenly decreased from 2000 to 1000, the circle meditation method also successfully broke through the limit and became golden.

Everything is ready, the next step is the official retreat!

Colin took a deep breath, took out the magic elimination potion, raised his head and drank half of the bottle in one breath!