Chapter 2: A New Path, the Crane's Cry Breathing Technique

[Secret Chronicle of the Path: Upon use, you may designate an "Existence" and grant your Life Armament a "Path" aligned with that Existence.]

Zhou Yan stared at the “long-lost” item in his inventory and immediately chose to use it.

In the next moment, his consciousness was drawn into a void-like space.

His body automatically manifested the Life Armament, now transformed into gleaming metal armor.

Seven enigmatic concepts appeared once more before his eyes:

Peerless, Exquisite, Profound, Calamity, Benevolent, Dominant, and Abundant.

“The last time I chose Abundant, the sustained path it granted proved extremely practical. Apart from a few formidable foes, I never again worried about my Life Armament’s endurance,” Zhou Yan reflected silently. He believed his choices and plans had been sound.

In the early days, resources were scarce; his spiritual energy barely sufficed for personal use, let alone to maintain the Life Armament’s durability. Hence, he prioritized endurance.

Later, as his means of sustaining power improved, Zhou Yan began to strengthen his defenses to avoid sudden death.

Now, under the combined effects of his circuits, his survival ability had reached an almost overflowing level.

He turned his thoughts to another area for enhancement: offensive power.

Indeed, though under the “Super Fusion” talent his attributes were undoubtedly the strongest among peers, once his defensive foundation was secure, it was natural to bolster his attack.

Attack is the best defense.

The faster he eliminated his opponents, the more he could avoid unforeseen accidents.

Zhou Yan’s gaze swept over the five Paths aside from “Dominant” and “Abundant.”

At last, his eyes settled on “Profound.”

Profound beyond profundity, wisdom to the utmost.

From a deep instinct within, he understood the role of this Path—to enhance his mental attributes and grant an additional amplification to the control and effect of “special energy.”

In fact, in terms of multipliers, his mental attribute had always surpassed his physique and acuity compared to ordinary people.

His close-combat abilities were already formidable, so Zhou Yan preferred to expand his striking capabilities from this “transcendent” side.

With his intention set, the supreme existence representing “Profound” directly emitted a wondrous pulse, sweeping swiftly through the boundless void and across his entire body.

His Life Armament rapidly absorbed the wave.

On the surface of the Life Armament, countless mysterious and arcane luminous pathways shimmered under the pulse’s influence.

Zhou Yan, alert, noticed his consciousness had returned.

He was still lying in his own bed.

A series of information prompts flickered before his eyes.

[You have chosen to petition “Profound” and received its answer.]

[Life Armament has activated the Path “Candlelight.”]

[Path: Candlelight—Based on the Life Armament’s star rank and tier, increases the effectiveness of “special energy” usage by the bearer while reducing its consumption.]

[Current Life Armament star rank: 1, tier: 0. “Special energy” effectiveness increased by 30%, consumption reduced by 30%.]

A Path effective on special energy?

Zhou Yan’s eyes flickered. Silently beneath the blanket, he raised his right hand before his eyes. On the back of his hand, the faint mark—imbued with the one-star demonic blood of Shuten and the Great Oni—glowed with a purple light at his will.

Demonic power, too, is a form of special energy, after all.

Upon activating the demonic power stored in the mark, his physique and acuity received a substantial boost—if quantified, it would range roughly between 70 and 90 in magnitude.

If he mastered the use, he could even wield the demonic power offensively to deal special damage.

For example, Shuten’s signature move, “Demon Fist,” could unleash flames of demonic power to strike foes.

However, the demonic power stored in the mark was finite. Outside a monster world like “Hundred Demons,” where monsters could be slain to replenish it, the demonic power he currently held, though plentiful, would one day run dry.

No matter. For now, he neither needed demonic power nor the Super Fusion talent.

Simply wearing the Life Armament was enough to make him invincible in the current environment—he even had to hold back, as few opponents could withstand his full strength.

Not even Li Guanqi.

Zhou Yan’s gaze deepened. He suppressed all unusual signs, sat cross-legged, and began practicing the breathing technique he had long neglected.

Suddenly, countless birdsong echoed sharply through the room.

With this practice, Zhou Yan immediately sensed a difference.

The burden on his body felt remarkably light.

Why?

His mental strength was now extremely high. Though this did not make him “smarter,” it accelerated his thinking speed immensely.

He quickly understood the reason—wearing the Life Armament had greatly increased his actual physique.

This meant he could endure much more intense training.

With this in mind, Zhou Yan did not hesitate to ignite his spiritual energy.

Previously, he had never trained while wearing the Life Armament. At his lower physique, practicing the “Hundred Chirps” stage of the breathing method already imposed a noticeable strain.

Thus, he had not rushed to delve deeper into the technique.

But now the situation had changed; there was no need to hold back.

With my astonishing wisdom, aided by the slight boost from spiritual energy burning.

Deep blue, grant me—

No, the “Little Breathing Method,” break through for me!

A faint smile, the “Dragon King’s grin,” curled at Zhou Yan’s lips.

Following the points taught formally by Luo Xuan during the “Crane’s Cry” stage of the breathing method, he spent less than half an hour and successfully broke through from the already maximized Hundred Chirps level to the Crane’s Cry level.

*

Next door, Luo Ke, tinkering with some small gadget, suddenly perked up her ears.

“Sis, listen. What’s that sound coming from Zhou Yan’s room?”

Beside her, Luo Xuan, standing with sword in one hand and eyes closed, slowly opened them and said, “It’s the sound of Crane’s Cry. Zhou Yan’s breathing method has broken through.”

“Ah!?” Although Luo Ke was not particularly passionate about martial arts, years of exposure had made her realize just how extraordinary Zhou Yan’s progress was.

Her face full of disbelief, she said, “At this level, ‘genius’ can’t even explain it.”

Then, donning a detective’s expression and stroking her chin, she intoned gravely, “According to this detective’s deduction, maybe Zhou Yan had a very special past. He must be a super inheritor from a hidden clan, with enemies—ow! Big sis, why’d you hit me?!”

Luo Ke immediately clutched her head after a sharp chop from Luo Xuan.

Luo Xuan said coldly, “Have you forgotten what Officer Fu said? Zhou Yan is just an orphan from a remote village, with no mysterious background.”

Luo Ke muttered, “Who knows? Maybe someone made up a wild past for Zhou Yan because of his amnesia.”

“There must be a huge conspiracy!”

“Luo Ke, if you’re bored, go to bed early. Tomorrow Zhou Yan’s fighting in the top four.”

“Oh right! He’s facing Zheng Keren tomorrow. I should sleep early and cheer for him!”

***

(Though we haven’t reached 2,000 monthly votes, we’re at 1,500. Not letting down everyone’s support, here’s an extra chapter!)

Extra chapter, fierce and fierce!