Chapter 41: The Emergence of the Human Breathing Technique

"How could this be?"
Wang Xiao couldn't understand why it simply wouldn't work.

With nothing better to do, Wang Xiao opened the Eastern Region’s chat channel.

To his surprise, he discovered that someone had already obtained a breathing technique—and it was a human breathing technique at that.

The lucky one was Fang Shengli, who had even posted a message.

The gist of his post was that the breathing technique could be exchanged for supplies or by joining Yanhuang City.

This attracted quite a few lone wolves, but it also caused a severe shortage of resources in Yanhuang City.

After some hesitation, Wang Xiao decided to message Fang Shengli.

"Commander Fang, are you there?"

A short while later, Wang Xiao received a reply.

"Still so formal?"

Wang Xiao paused—this Fang Shengli was certainly an interesting character.

"Heh."

"This is about the breathing technique, isn’t it?"

"I hadn’t even asked yet, and Commander Fang already guessed it. No wonder you’re the commander."

"Heh, just call me Brother Fang. As for the breathing technique, I can give it to you."

No pie ever falls from the sky for free.

"Just tell me—what do you want in return?"

"Ha, it’s easy to talk with smart people. I don’t want supplies."

"Then what do you need?"

He can’t possibly want me, could he?

"I want a favor."

"From me?"

"Yes, your favor. If I asked you to join Yanhuang City, would you come?"

"No."

"Well then, that’s settled."

"So, what do you say? One favor."

Wang Xiao considered it for a moment and agreed.

"Alright."

"Haha, then here’s to a pleasant cooperation?"

"A pleasant cooperation!"

After only a short wait, Wang Xiao received an email.

"You trust me this much?"

"I have faith in your character."

"Great!"

Wang Xiao hadn’t expected Fang Shengli to trust him so much.

[Human Breathing Technique (Basic): The most fundamental breathing technique, able to raise the limits of the human body.]

Wang Xiao studied the human breathing technique carefully, then compared it to the orc breathing technique.

Upon comparison, Wang Xiao noticed several differences.

The orc breathing technique focused on the enhancement of bloodlines.

It was an internal enhancement, relying on the continuous elevation of the bloodline to improve the body.

In contrast, the human breathing technique emphasized an external-to-internal process: absorbing certain energy factors from the environment to strengthen oneself.

This basic breathing technique provided only a very limited amount of energy factors, but even a little was better than nothing.

Wang Xiao wondered if it might be possible to combine these two techniques and create a new one.

Without further delay, he began with the human breathing technique to see how it would work.

He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing.

With each breath, Wang Xiao sensed a special energy in the air.

That energy slowly gathered toward him.

Those must be the energy factors, Wang Xiao thought to himself.

He continued relaxing his body, allowing the energy factors to seep into him.

After three hours of cultivation, Wang Xiao emerged from his trance.

"There’s an improvement, but not much. As expected from a basic technique."

Wang Xiao turned his attention to the orc breathing technique.

This one was somewhat trickier, but he had to give it a try.

He took out a piece of fourth-tier fierce beast meat, had the logistics team prepare it simply, then returned to his room.

After taking a bite, Wang Xiao started practicing the orc breathing technique.

He reasoned that if humans couldn’t use the orc breathing technique to enhance their bloodline, it must be because they lacked a special bloodline.

But what if he tried absorbing the bloodline from a fierce beast?

A wave of warmth surged through his body!

Excellent! It worked!

Delighted, Wang Xiao intensified his breathing.

Heat—heat radiating from within!

Sweat beaded densely on his skin.

First his stomach—it felt as if a fireball was burning inside, making Wang Xiao cough uncontrollably.

He opened his mouth, feeling as though flames would burst from his throat, and the dryness forced him to gulp down large swigs of tea.

His head grew increasingly dizzy. What was happening? He couldn’t breathe?

Was there a problem with his lungs?

That was Wang Xiao’s last conscious thought.

...

His first attempt at the orc breathing technique ended in failure.

"This won’t do. That was only practicing the orc technique, I haven’t even tried combining it with the human technique yet."

Taking a deep breath, Wang Xiao prepared to start again...

Elsewhere.

"How’s it going?" Aike asked, practicing his breathing technique as he spoke.

Ji Weijie watched the readings closely. "I’m still observing. Keep going!"

"Alright!"

Heat poured from the top of Aike’s head, and Ji Weijie could see from the monitor that Aike was like a furnace.

The blood in his body flowed faster than usual.

...

Once again, Wang Xiao collapsed to the ground. Still not working.

This time, though, he had made it to the end of the process.

Just as he stood up and was about to try again, someone knocked at the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?"

"It’s me, Ji Weijie!"

Wang Xiao opened the door to find Ji Weijie drenched in sweat and panting.

Puzzled, Wang Xiao asked, "What is it? I’m busy right now."

Ji Weijie grinned. "Is what I have to say less important than what you’re busy with?"

Wang Xiao waved a hand. "Go ahead, seeing you so sweaty."

With a mysterious smile, Ji Weijie said, "Remember the sheepskin parchment you gave me yesterday?"

"What? Did you crack it?!"

A mischievous grin appeared on Ji Weijie’s face.

Of course, he didn’t think his expression was mischievous.

He gave a thumbs up. "Heh, you guessed it!"

Wang Xiao looked skeptical. "How can you prove it?"

I’ve died so many times without fully succeeding, and now you’re saying you’ve succeeded just like that?!

Ji Weijie couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Wang Xiao’s incredulous expression.

"Haha! See my sweaty head?" he said, not waiting for Wang Xiao to reply. "That’s the result of my cultivation."

"Sweaty head?" Wang Xiao echoed.

Ji Weijie’s face darkened. "Want to know how to cultivate it?"

"Heh."

With Ji Weijie watching in bewilderment, Wang Xiao put a piece of meat in his mouth and began to cultivate.

His skin turned flushed, looking remarkably like Aike during his practice.

From confusion, Ji Weijie’s expression shifted to shock.

Shocked as he was, Ji Weijie didn’t interrupt Wang Xiao.

After a while, Wang Xiao finished practicing.

He had only intended to startle Ji Weijie with a demonstration, but unexpectedly, this time he succeeded.

What a pleasant feeling—just like a sauna.

Ji Weijie came over. "Have you absorbed any special bloodlines?"

"???"

Seeing Wang Xiao’s confusion, Ji Weijie guessed he probably hadn’t absorbed any odd bloodlines at all.