Chapter 126: Chapter 126

However, things like the 【Body Refinement Technique】 Secret Pattern Program were simply too heaven-defying. The initial 【Comprehensive Body Refinement Technique】 had allowed Ron, a malnourished youth, to reach his physical limits in an incredibly short time.

Though the outside world attributed this to Ron’s talent, he alone knew it was no talent at all, but the 【Comprehensive Body Refinement Technique】 Secret Pattern Program.

And the evolved version of the 【Comprehensive Body Refinement Technique】, the 【Transcendent Body Refinement Technique】, was essentially a collection of numerous Sword Stances that allowed Ron to fuse his Whole-Body Force into a seamless whole, smoothing over every single shortcoming.

Likewise, the 【Transcendent Body Refinement Technique】 could only be utilized through the Secret Pattern Program. Ron himself had great difficulty applying it directly, not unless his Whole-Body Force progress reached one hundred percent and stabilized without regression.

Otherwise, even if he knew exactly what to do, he simply couldn’t execute it.

It was like a professional shooter: ignoring external factors, he knew perfectly well what he needed to do to hit the bullseye with pinpoint accuracy, yet he still couldn’t make every single shot perform exactly as he envisioned.

Only a Knight who had fully mastered Whole-Body Force could precisely control every minute detail of their body, and only then could they truly wield the 【Transcendent Body Refinement Technique】.

Of course, Ron could also use it when he entered the Full-Immersion Knight State.

In truth, it should be stated the other way around: it was precisely by executing the 【Transcendent Body Refinement Technique】 Secret Pattern Program that he managed to enter the Full-Immersion Knight State.

The process of entering the Full-Immersion Knight State was the process of executing the 【Transcendent Body Refinement Technique】 Secret Pattern Program.

With such a heaven-defying 【Body Refinement Technique】 Secret Pattern Program, Ron certainly had no intention of revealing it to the territory’s higher-ups merely for the sake of a few extra combat matches. That did not serve his interests.

…

With no more matches scheduled for today, Ron finally had a moment to relax. Unfortunately, after the fierce battle he had just endured, watching the remaining bouts between apprentices felt unbearably bland by comparison.

Soon, dusk fell. Ron was just about to leave when he received another transmission from Foss: “Wait a moment before you go. My father wishes to see you. Also, don’t you want your rewards?”

Hearing these words, Ron’s heart jolted. He wasn’t particularly concerned about the rewards; they wouldn’t disappear regardless of when he collected them. He had no immediate use for the Bloodline Secret Art anyway, and his supply of Ignition Potions was more than sufficient.

What truly sent a shock through him was the Lord of Sis’s summons. Given that he had already grown suspicious of the territory’s leadership following Morris’s death, a direct audience with the Lord made it impossible not to overthink.

Had the Lord discovered Morris’s special treatment of him and wanted to probe for information? Or had the anomalies he possessed, the ones that couldn’t be explained away by talent alone, caught the Lord’s attention?

For a brief moment, Ron’s head buzzed with racing thoughts. He maintained his composure on the surface, offered a brief explanation to Jason, who had come to invite him to a celebration, and then followed Foss to see the Lord.

…

“My Lord.”

In a reception room within the Bell Tower, Ron bowed respectfully to the Lord of Sis. This was the second Senior Knight Ron had ever encountered. Compared to an ordinary Knight, or even an ordinary person, Lord Pleguez didn’t display anything particularly extraordinary.

A gloomy, brooding demeanor was a temperament any normal person might possess, and it was clearly not a defining trait of Senior Knights.

While Ron cautiously observed the man from the corner of his eye, Pleguez openly scrutinized Ron in return, taking in every detail, including that tiny tells:

“What’s this? You’re nervous seeing me? Where did all that bravado from challenging a quasi-Knight in the arena go?”

“Ron has long admired My Lord but never had the honor of an audience. Today, receiving My Lord’s personal summons, I am overwhelmed with excitement and have inadvertently lost my composure. I humbly ask for My Lord’s forgiveness.”

Lying came as effortlessly to Ron as breathing. However, his opponent this time was a Senior Knight capable of perceiving every detail. Plegguez let out a cold scoff:

“Boy, don’t you know that a Senior Knight can see through all lies?”

At these words, a jolt of electricity shot through Ron, and he felt cold sweat beginning to bead on his back. But the most pressing matter right now was dispelling the man’s suspicions, otherwise he feared he wouldn’t be leaving this room.

A hundred thoughts swirled in his mind, but Ron quickly found a way out. He immediately concentrated his focus, doing his utmost to maintain a combined force state on the mental and spiritual level. Though he didn’t know whether the Lord of Sis could peer into his thoughts, he had to prepare for that possibility.

As long as his will was unified, even if the Lord attempted to probe him, he would at most catch a glimpse of surface-level memories. The subconscious was far too vast, too sprawling, and too fundamental for anyone to pry into. Ron seriously doubted the man could see that deep.

As for the physical level, Ron obviously couldn’t enter the Full-Immersion Knight State right in front of the Lord to achieve total bodily control, but he had to maintain as much control over what he currently could manage as possible.

“Ron wouldn’t presume. I was simply overwhelmed with excitement a moment ago.”

In a single heartbeat, taking advantage of the brief moment as he lowered his head to bow, Ron rapidly completed his mental adjustment.

“Oh? You’ve adjusted yourself so quickly? You truly are the genius I’ve had my eye on!”

Pleguez appeared highly satisfied with Ron’s reaction. He let out a couple of hearty laughs before revealing the reason for this audience:

“The swordsmanship you demonstrated during your bout with that quasi-Knight was rather interesting, though it still felt somewhat incomplete. Did you create that sword art yourself?”

“My Lord, I wouldn’t call it a creation. It is merely a synthesis of various sword techniques and combat scenarios.”

“A synthesis is a creation! Young man, there’s no need for excessive modesty. In my eyes, you possess the talent to become a Scholar. However, for the territory as it stands now, one or two extra Scholars wouldn’t provide any substantive help. In contrast, I far more desire that you reach the Senior ranks and become a pillar of the territory.”

Saying this, Pleguez reached for a palm-sized, perfectly square iron plate from the side table beside him and held it out in front of Ron, explaining as he did:

“This is a Gustaran swordsmanship inheritance I obtained from the Royal Capital of Helios. Foss and his brother have each used it a few times. There should still be one or two inheritance opportunities remaining. I gift it to you! I hope you will put such outstanding swordsmanship talent to good use and become the sword of the territory, protecting all who dwell within.”

“Thank you for My Lord’s generous favor. Ron will undoubtedly do everything in his power to protect the territory.”

Ron received the swordsmanship inheritance with both hands and offered his response. His words were entirely heartfelt; after all, he currently lived in Sis Territory himself. If he didn’t protect Sis Territory, what else was there to protect?

“Excellent.”

Pleguez nodded, then waved his hand at his second son Foss, who stood waiting at the side. “Give him his rewards for the Individual Combat Apprentice Tier.”

“Yes, Father.”

Foss acknowledged the order before gesturing to Ron. “Follow me. Once you’ve collected your rewards, you can head back and rest. I’ll try to arrange tomorrow’s match a little later so you have time to prepare.”

“Yes, sir.”

…

The rewards for the Martial Tournament’s Individual Combat Apprentice Tier were also distributed at the Bell Tower. The item Ron coveted most was naturally the Bloodline Secret Art, and the one he received this time was called 【Ice Armor】.

In Foss’s own words: “We were originally going to reward you with 【Icy Touch】, but considering your talent, my father made a last-minute decision to give you 【Ice Armor】 instead.”