The Duke found the text on the dial somewhat familiar; it seemed to be the same type of script that appeared on the brass ring.
"Fourth-level aptitude! Indeed, not bad." Vivian stared at the dial and said.
"Fourth-level..." the Duke calculated mentally. His Spiritual Power was 9.1, which was four points higher than the average person’s five points.
This suggests that each point increase in Spiritual Power aptitude elevates one level.
There are ten levels of Spiritual Power aptitude in total, which means a tenth-level aptitude has 15 points of Spiritual Power.
"Fifteen points... what kind of monster possesses such aptitude?" the Duke thought to himself.
His highest attribute now was strength, which was barely over twelve points.
A person naturally born with fifteen points of Spiritual Power was beyond the Duke’s comprehension.
"Is a fourth-level aptitude considered good?" the Duke asked.
"It’s certainly good for ordinary people, but in the Wizard community, it wouldn’t be much; it’s just barely reaching the threshold," Vivian replied.
She then took several bottles from a bag she carried and said, "After these events, I’ve had some insights, and I’ll be going into seclusion for some time to charge into the Great Knight. Here, take these Giant Whale Secret Potions."
The Duke was dumbfounded at the six full bottles of Giant Whale Secret Potion in front of him; each bottle was even larger than the last time.
"So many! Aren’t you using them yourself?" the Duke asked.
Vivian laughed and said, "I still have plenty. Father won not just the Black Sword at the auction, but also a large piece of Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance, enough to make Giant Whale Secret Potions for the two of us for a while."
In her words, she had already started considering the Duke as one of her own. The Duke was no longer just a subordinate to her.
Even ordinary Nightingale members, no matter how great their achievements, could not have deserved so many Giant Whale Secret Potions.
Vivian had been very busy since her return; as the Commander of Nightingale, she had many matters to deal with and arrange.
She also settled Uncle Doyle’s family, allocating them a piece of land near a small village by Fengqiu City.
With this land, Uncle Doyle’s family could live quite comfortably, and they were exempt from taxes for five years.
Most peasants don’t own their own land, so Uncle Doyle’s family was getting quite favorable treatment.
The Duke’s treatment had greatly improved too; as a Knight Level power, he was a significant figure in any noble faction, worth cultivating.
If he wished, just a word from him would have many nobles extending olive branches.
However, the Duke would not betray Earl Hardy and defect; his goal was not to spend half a lifetime in luxury.
The Duke pursued greater strength and longer life.
These were difficult to achieve in his past life, but here, anything seemed possible.
Most ordinary people in the Vera Kingdom have a lifespan of around fifty; living to sixty or seventy is considered aged.
Knight Attendants who practice the Breathing Technique typically live past seventy, Official Knights close to a century.
The Duke had heard from the people at the Adventurer’s Tavern that legendary Great Knights could live to one hundred and twenty, and some even to a hundred and fifty.
As for Wizards, their lifespans were even longer, enough to witness several generations rise and fall.
The Duke was naturally not content with the lifespan of an Official Knight; centenarians were common enough in his past life, nothing special to him.
Although he did not live to a hundred in his past life, this made him yearn even more for a long life.
...
After Vivian left, the Duke practiced basic swordsmanship with the Black Sword, mainly to familiarize himself with the sword’s weight and feel.
Once the body becomes familiar, using the Black Sword in battle will be more effective.
After completing basic swordsmanship training, the Duke opened a bottle of Giant Whale Secret Potion, dripped a drop on the back of his hand, and spread it before commencing Breathing Technique cultivation.
[You completed a Giant Whale Breathing Technique cultivation, proficiency +13]
At this rate, in about half a month, he could cultivate to the eighth layer, not far from the ninth-layer Great Knight Realm.
The Duke continued his cultivation leisurely, steadily, and step-by-step, gradually forming drop after drop of liquid Fighting Spirit within.
After finishing Breathing Technique cultivation, it was time for the Dragon Spine Burning Wave Sword Technique training, which wasn’t far from completion either.
During his time outside, he had to conserve Fighting Spirit and couldn’t expend it freely, so the technique’s progress hadn’t progressed much.
Now that the Duke was back at the estate, he could freely expend his internal Fighting Spirit to use this technique.
He went to the flat ground outside the house. After his Fighting Spirit was activated, a circle of flames appeared on the Black Sword, burning fiercely.
This was why he went outside to cultivate; if he wasn’t careful indoors, he might burn down the wooden houses on the estate.
With the increase in his internal Fighting Spirit, he could use the technique many more times every day.
He calculated in his mind, and in roughly ten days, he could grind this technique to level five, likely its max level.
Life at the estate was very calm and peaceful, with ten days passing in the blink of an eye.
Since reaching Knight Level, the Duke’s position within Nightingale was different from before.
Apart from Earl Hardy and Vivian, no one else had the authority to give him orders or assign tasks.
Knight Level experts typically oversee regions or handle troublesome issues; minor problems don’t require his involvement.
The Duke was happy to have leisure time, taking advantage of this quiet period to grind proficiency.
[Dragon Spine Burning Wave Sword Technique level increased, Constitution +0.3, Strength +0.1, Agility +0.3]
[Free attribute points +1]
[Dragon Spine Burning Wave Sword Technique: LV5 (Trait: Breaking the Sky)]
[Breaking the Sky: When using the Dragon Spine Burning Wave Sword Technique, you can trigger Fighting Spirit attached to the sword to form Sword Qi]
[Constitution: 11.3]
[Strength: 12.3]
[Agility: 11.3]
[Spirit: 9.1]
[Free attribute points: 1]
After grinding the Dragon Spine Burning Wave Sword Technique to max level, several pieces of information appeared in the Duke’s mind.
Besides basic attribute enhancements, he also gained one free attribute point; this was the same as before.
The only difference was that after reaching max level this time, he acquired a new trait.
The previous Bleeding trait didn’t seem very practical, as the Duke wasn’t counting on bleeding to defeat enemies.
But this time’s trait was different, allowing him to use Sword Qi.
Unable to contain his curiosity, the Duke began to experiment; with a thought, a circle of flames instantly enveloped the sword.
He swung the longsword, and in the manner emerging in his mind, condensed the Fighting Spirit on the sword into Sword Qi, unleashing it.
Instantly, a two-meter-long red Sword Qi flew out, slicing a target twenty meters away into shreds.
The Sword Qi exploded upon contact with the target, causing the entire target to shatter and combust, strewing sparks all over the ground.