They all call me Great Master

Continued to expend 180 XP, "Cat's Grace.Orange" leveled up twice.

Being promoted to Lv3, "Cat's Grace.Orange" not only provided more feedback to "Orange Cat," but "Force of Orange" also granted Arthur an extra 0.5 in Physique, lv2+0.2, Lv3+0.3, and "Sleep of Orange" also granted the ability to fall asleep quickly.

To put it simply, if you want to sleep, you can doze off as soon as you lie down.

It's practically a blessing for insomniacs.

Also, along with the previous cumulative XP expenditure from learning "Silent Successive Steps" and "Cat's Grace.Orange," Arthur's Spirituality increased by another 0.3.

After glancing at his attributes, which had become "Physique: 2.6" and "Spirituality: 1.0," Arthur's gaze returned to the secret techniques he could master.

As for saving up XP?

That was out of the question!

Arthur was well aware that, for him at this stage, quickly converting all XP into strength was the optimal choice—increasingly loud fame and the potential arrival of a 'Challenger' at any moment. He surely couldn't get through each challenge with "Breath of Death," could he?

After all, this vast Mystic Side wasn't all about the 'Death Poetry Society'!

There were other people, other forces at play.

If he used "Breath of Death" too frequently, someone would eventually catch a glimpse of the secret, and it wouldn't take much; just a targeted preparation against the 'Aura of Death' would restrict his 'power' by ninety percent. When that time came, aside from the option of going berserk with "Breath of Death," he would have no other choice.

And if he chose to let "Breath of Death" run wild, it wouldn't matter in the wilderness, but any urban center, and he would certainly become public enemy number one for the city's ruler.

Nobody could tolerate the large-scale death of their civilians—even if they didn't care much for those civilians, they knew the importance of the populace.

If all the commoners died, who would farm their lands, tend their livestock, and provide services?

Thus, most lords opted to appease the commoners, encouraging them to work hard and reproduce abundantly.

And it wasn't for anyone else.

It was for themselves.

Not to mention anyone else, the Countess of South Los surely understood this logic.

So, if he were to go berserk with "Breath of Death" within South Los, he might as well wait for relentless thunderous pursuits.

Just thinking about the scene he had witnessed that day made Arthur's scalp tingle, even now.

The power of Thunder, the majesty of Heavenly Might!

Always inspiring fear!

Among all the recorded secret techniques, the one Arthur found most intriguing was "Memory Technique," but it required the brain of a Slote Territory goldfish.

Another secret technique, "Abdul's Fire Control Technique," was the same, lacking the 'Fire Lizard's Pouch.'

When he set aside those two techniques, Arthur's gaze shifted to "Noise Technique" and "Wand Combat Technique."

For the Spirit Medium profession, the convenience of "Noise Technique" was second only to "Hand of Void," while "Wand Combat Technique" was an additional boon in combat.

After pondering for a while, Arthur made his decision—

"Noise Technique Lv3: Although most people think it's only good for pranks or chasing away stray cats and dogs, the Court Mage 'Xarlico' from the Empire didn't find it amusing enough. After discovering this secret technique, the Court Mage, who was bored after his friend 'Harrington' declined an invitation to play cards, started to perfect the technique; however, most people aren't interested in the later parts of it; Effect: Based on Spirituality, and expending a tiny bit of physical strength, quietly chanting the Glyphic Language Hei allows the caster to create either a loud bang or two rustling noises within a 16-meter radius of the caster."

(Note 1: The loud bang is approximately 100 decibels)

(Note 2: The rustling noises can be the sound of wind blowing through a window, the rustling of leaves, footsteps, or the low cries of men, women, and children, as well as the sound of trousers tearing or farting)

...

Arthur, looking at the notes, couldn't help but stroke his chin.

Although that Empire's Court Mage was truly idle, the idea of sounds of trousers tearing and farting caught his interest.

With proper application, they could be very effective.

Just think, what would happen if someone's trousers tore while they were charging at you with a sword?

Even an 'Arcana Level' expert would have to look down at their trousers.

That would be his opportunity.

Simply put, this technique was divine against those concerned with their dignity!

As for the farting sound?

Even better!

From then on, he would be the king of balls and salons. Anyone who disagreed would have to hold it in, for as soon as they spoke, it was as if they had farted.

'It's a pity there's no sound for diarrhea!

And also…

Did this Master create a secret technique to cause 'agonizing diarrhea' or not?'

Arthur, full of anticipation, turned his attention to "Wand Combat Technique"—

[Wand Combat Technique Lv2: In the middle of the Silver Age, a Master Alchemist named Lady Abel created this secret technique. The initial purpose was merely to compensate for her lack of physical strength, ensuring safer journeys when she went out to gather materials. However, as time passed, she continuously perfected this technique, eventually reaching the current level: Effect: Consumes some physical strength and uses the Glyphic Language "Ga" to cast the secret technique, imbuing the wand with magical power, transforming it into a wand with combat abilities for 1 minute.]

(Note 1: The caster has and only has one "Magic Wand".)

(Note 2: When the "Magic Wand" in hand completely breaks, a new "Magic Wand" may then be chosen.)

(Note 3: The "Magic Wand" cannot leave a radius of 6 meters from the caster.)

(Note 4: The combat ability of a Lv2 "Magic Wand" is equivalent to an experienced combatant.)

...

There was nothing abrupt about it, unlike the Master Hercules and the Court Mage Xarlico, Lady Abel was consistently stable, steady and sure-footed, enhancing her technique step by step without allowing for a single error to surface.

Arthur acknowledged this.

While surprises were delightful, they were definitely not the norm!

Only gradual improvement was the norm.

And it was the most pleasing norm to witness.

Arthur's gaze swept over the remaining 22 XP, marking the end of this increase in strength.

He glanced regretfully at "Smoke Mirror Usurpation". Although it only required 20 XP to learn, his Spirituality did not meet the standard.

Clearly, it was a high-level secret technique for rapid initiation.

"Is it that Marinda has created the way in which she infused the Power of the Undead into the smoke, or is it achieved through the combination of a corresponding secret technique?"

Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Remembering how Marinda used the smoke to fight off enemies, travel, and store things, Arthur felt a bit of envy.

So versatile!

It was just too versatile!

Unfortunately, such a secret technique was not something he could acquire.

He didn't have the necessary bargaining chips.

Or rather...

He couldn't afford the price.

With that woman's character, unless he was willing to sign a contract to become her slave, there was no chance he would achieve her level of proficiency.

Just as she would want his six "Hands of Void".

Thinking this to himself, Arthur rose from the horizontal beam, stretched a big stretch facing the morning sun, and softly said—

"A beautiful day begins."

As soon as the words fell, Simon beside him woke up groggily.

"Advisor, why do I have a headache and feel so weak all over?"

The apprentice policeman stood up shakily, constantly shaking his head.

"Sleeping outdoors all night, that's normal. Just eat something and warm up by the fire, and you'll feel better," Arthur said calmly.

Of course, the apprentice policeman wouldn't call into question his advisor, while Pendragon looked at his master with a shocked cat face, seemingly not understanding why his own owner was so shameless.

Arthur, on the other hand, looked down indifferently at the Orange Cat in his arms, which had gone through twists and turns and was bound to have an extraordinary destiny.@@novelbin@@

An idea emerged in his heart.

He spoke in a voice that only he and Pendragon could hear—

"Pendragon, do you want to control your own destiny?

Pendragon, do you want to possess power?

To no longer be chased, no longer be beaten, to no longer face terrifying people or things powerless to resist, to no longer be senselessly spat upon and laughed at by those idle people.

Pendragon...

Are you willing to accompany me through the rest of my life, until I die?"

The young Spirit Medium set Pendragon down from his embrace and extended his right hand.

The Orange Cat sitting there tilted its head to look at the young Spirit Medium's hand.

After a moment, the Orange Cat placed its paw on it.

And softly meowed—

Meow~