Chapter 235: Chapter 223: Parting Instructions

"Of course, you could also travel the continent and try your luck."

The Purple-haired Witch seemed a bit sleepy. She raised a hand and yawned.

"Spiritual Energy is so powerful that even though it’s difficult to master, many Spiritual Masters and scholars have studied it in depth."

"They’ve categorized the techniques for using Spiritual Energy into several main types."

"Self-shaping, prophecy, teleportation, creation, manipulation, Enchantment, transformation, and so on. The list is endless."

"The results of this research were all collected in the great libraries of the time, but..."

Vanessa smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt.

"Centuries have passed. The cities that once housed those great libraries have long since turned to dust, with only a few crumbling ruins left behind."

"If you’re lucky enough, you might just stumble upon a few ancient tomes on Spiritual Energy in those ruins. Then... you could naturally learn the relevant techniques from them..."

’Good luck... a lucky find...’

Hearing those words, Roland shook his head helplessly.

Setting aside the challenge of even finding those ancient sites, it was a complete unknown whether any books detailing Spiritual Energy techniques could have survived the long passage of time.

’It seems like using Spiritual Energy to increase my Power will be a long-term project...’

"But... if I wasn’t mistaken just now, Mr. Roland."

Just as Roland was lost in thought, Vanessa spoke again.

The Purple-haired Witch was leaning on the table like a lazy cat, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"You just used Spiritual Energy to augment your own Power, didn’t you? How did you do that?"

Roland was deliberating on how to answer when a voice called out from outside the tent.

"Roland!"

He turned to see Avril quickly push aside the curtain flap and enter.

The Elf Maiden’s gaze flickered between Roland and Vanessa before she moved to Roland’s side and said with a slight frown.

"Dean Graham wants to see you."

"Are we retreating?"

Roland asked as he straightened his clothes.

"No..."

Avril shook her head gently.

"Dean Graham and Lord Jia Xiu have discussed it and decided... to launch a counterattack against the Wolf King—that is, the Witch Demon."

"A counterattack?"

Hearing this, Roland frowned deeply.

Jia Xiu is severely injured, and Fisher’s fate is unknown...

’At a time like this... Graham has actually decided to counterattack?’

He pondered this and quickly understood the Knight Academy Dean’s reasoning.

’It’s precisely because their strength is compromised that they have to seize the initiative.’

If Jia Xiu and Fisher were unharmed, with three Transcendents holding the camp, the Witch Demon wouldn’t have been able to cause much trouble, no matter what chaos it tried to stir up.

But now...

"I understand."

Sighing, Roland nodded gently.

He then told Avril about the arrangement they had just made to share the same tent.

When Avril heard that Vanessa would also be staying in this tent, she immediately insisted on moving in as well.

Roland had anticipated this and naturally nodded in agreement.

After a few more words of instruction, he pushed aside the curtain flap and headed for the Central Army Camp.

Perhaps because the Assassin Jia Xiu had already gone to rest, the Central Army Camp was empty, leaving only the faint smell of blood and wisps of unsuppressible Negative Energy lingering in the air.

Seeing that Graham’s face was even paler than before, a guess immediately formed in Roland’s mind.

’It seems the fight with that enemy who has the Undying Attribute wasn’t as easy as he made it sound. But...’

Roland recalled the timing Graham had described for his battle with that enemy, as well as the time Jia Xiu arrived at the camp, and couldn’t help but frown.

’Could it be... that the Witch Demon isn’t the only enemy who can control Negative Energy?’

"Roland..."

Graham’s voice was a little hoarse.

Seeing Roland enter the tent, the burly man spoke slowly.

"I assume Avril Shadow Envoy has already told you about the plan?"

When the young man before him nodded, the Knight Academy Dean continued.

"Jia Xiu and I have discussed it. We’re preparing to set out for Broken Stone Canyon tomorrow. But... the reinforcements sent by that old fellow Derek should arrive in a few days, so we need someone to stay behind and establish contact with them."

"Jia Xiu and I have decided that Avril Shadow Envoy will serve as the temporary commander, leading a small contingent of the army to hold this position. As for you..."

Graham looked at this student of his, of whom he was very fond, and continued.

"You only ended up here by accident. You have no obligation to help clear out the Land of Mist. So... you should stay here, too, and wait for the reinforcements."

"But..."

Hearing this, Roland, who had been looking down, raised his head to look at the burly man before him.

Graham hadn’t said it outright, but Roland understood that the man was deliberately trying to protect him.

After all, they were going up against a powerful Caster. Even with two Transcendents like Graham and Jia Xiu leading the charge, the battle would be extremely dangerous.

Leaving him behind was clearly a way to keep him far from this perilous conflict.

Thinking of this, a trace of gratitude couldn’t help but show in Roland’s eyes as he looked at Graham.

Graham, who often sparred with him, knew better than anyone what his capabilities were.

Roland was a cut above the soldiers who had yet to break through mortal limits.

Having him on the battlefield would, at the very least, increase their chances of victory.

And Graham had every right to order him into battle.

But instead, he had chosen...

"Alright, kid."

Graham patted Roland’s shoulder lightly, coughing a few times, his voice a little weak.

"Staying here doesn’t mean you’ll be completely safe, either. Heaven knows if the enemy will bypass our main force to raid this position and completely cut off our connection to the outside world. So, if that really happens..."

He paused, his lips moving for a moment before he spoke in a low voice.

"If you really can’t hold them off, prioritize your own safe retreat. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Heh..."

Seeing the serious expression on Roland’s face, Graham chuckled softly.

"That Breathing Technique I taught you, how is your training coming along?"

"The progress is slow, but it’s going very smoothly."

"That’s good..."

Graham nodded in satisfaction, then leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower.

"The Scroll with the Breathing Technique recorded on it... I put it in a hidden compartment in the third drawer from the left of the wooden desk in the center of my room. If..."

The Knight Academy Dean took a deep breath and said slowly.

"If I... don’t make it back this time, I need you to retrieve it for me and give it to... give it to..."

His brow furrowed, and his gaze suddenly went distant, as if lost in a memory.

After a moment, he suddenly waved his hand dismissively.

"Forget it. Don’t give it to anyone."

"Even if those old fellows Derek or Marston come asking you about it, you must not tell them. If the situation demands it..."

Graham gritted his teeth.

"Destroy it. Understand?"

"I understand, Lord Graham."