The next day, Reed was practicing the blazing slash again in the small courtyard.
Although a light drizzle was falling from the sky, it didn't affect Reed in the slightest. Flames erupted from his sword, immediately creating a wave of heat in front of him.
"Indeed, a white two-star skill! The power of the blazing slash is truly impressive!" Reed's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Originally, he thought it would take weeks of hard practice to master the skill. Yet, with the help of the starfall sword, he had achieved it in one go yesterday, filling him with confidence for the future.
"If I can master the blazing slash so quickly, perhaps I can also try the thunder roar, the secret skill of our family!"
A bold idea surged in Reed's heart.
He remembered that when they moved to this dilapidated estate, he had personally hidden several precious family items, including the skill book that recorded the thunder roar.
The Thunder Roar, the heirloom of the Archer family, was also the famous skill that his father, Victor Archer, used to become a silver knight.
Unlike the blazing slash, the thunder roar was more domineering and much harder to cultivate.
Reed remembered that his father had once said there were only two knight skill books in the Archer family. One was the blazing slash he was currently practicing, and the other was the thunder roar.
In Reed's memory, his father rarely mentioned the thunder roar, only occasionally lamenting its power and the difficulty of mastering it after a few drinks.
According to his father's words, the blazing slash could only attack enemies in front, with Reed estimating that its range covered at most three people. Moreover, it was easy to be ambushed from behind while using it.
The thunder roar, however, was completely different. It could cover a wide area with its attack or concentrate its energy to strike a single point with tremendous force.
Thinking of this, Reed immediately made his way to the family library.
Reed skillfully walked to the corner of the room, where several old blue floor tiles were laid.
He bent down and gently tapped one of the tiles, the sound slightly hollow. He took a deep breath and forcefully lifted the tile.
Underneath the tile was a wooden chest wrapped in oilcloth, covered in dust. Reed carefully moved the chest out, gently wiped off the dust, and opened it.
Inside the chest lay several yellowed books, one of which had the words "Thunder Roar" embossed in gold letters on the cover.
This was the heirloom of the Archer family, the white nine-star knight skill book: Thunder Roar!
Reed carefully took out the skill book and gently opened it.
"Thunder Roar, with the force of thunder, destroys everything in its path..." Reed silently read the opening lines, unable to contain his excitement.
The book detailed the cultivation methods for the thunder roar and described the power of each level.
The thunder roar was divided into nine levels, each increasing in power.
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However, the difficulty of cultivation also increased significantly, requiring the practitioner to temper their body with the power of thunder. A slight mistake could lead to injury, or even life-threatening danger.
"This skill... truly domineering!" Two hours later, Reed closed the book, feeling both excited and anxious.
He knew the value of this skill book far exceeded that of the blazing slash. If he could master it, his strength would improve by leaps and bounds.
"Boom..."
Suddenly, a low rumble of thunder from outside interrupted Reed's thoughts.
He looked out the window to see dark clouds covering the sky. The light drizzle had turned into a heavy downpour, signaling an approaching storm.
"A thunderstorm today? This is a heaven-sent opportunity!" A bold idea surged in Reed's heart.
The cultivation of the thunder roar required the power of thunder.
And this sudden thunderstorm provided the perfect environment for cultivation.
Reed made a swift decision. He carefully stored the thunder roar skill book, left the library, and headed to the small courtyard.
"Pitter-patter..."
Large raindrops poured down, instantly soaking Reed's clothes.
The cold rain stimulated his skin, making him shiver involuntarily.
Reed closed his eyes, recalling the method described in the book, and felt the thunder elements permeating the air. With the help of the gray holy light, his perception of thunder was exceptionally sharp.
He took a deep breath and, following the method in the thunder roar skill book, tried to guide the thunder elements in the air into his body.
"Brother, it's raining! What are you doing outside?"
At that moment, Emily's anxious voice came from inside the house. She saw Reed standing in the rain, drenched, and was worried.
Emily ran out with a raincoat and draped it over Reed: "Brother, you'll catch a cold like this! Come back inside!"
Reed opened his eyes and saw the concern in his sister's eyes, feeling a warm surge in his heart.
"Emily, I'm fine. I'm practicing a knight skill and need the thunderstorm's help. I can't give up halfway. Don't worry, I'll be okay."
"But..." Emily wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Reed's determined expression, she knew she couldn't change his mind.
"Alright, but you must be careful," Emily said softly.
Reed nodded and closed his eyes again, focusing all his energy on the cultivation.
Under the guidance of the gray holy light, tiny threads of thunder elements began to slowly enter Reed's body. These thunder elements, like mischievous sprites, darted through his body, bringing a tingling sensation.
As time passed, more and more thunder elements poured into Reed's body.
When these thunder elements gathered together, they became wild, rampaging through his body, causing sharp pain.
"Ugh..." Reed couldn't help but groan, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
But he endured the pain, continuing to guide the thunder elements through his body according to the skill book's method.
This was the critical moment in cultivating the thunder roar. He couldn't slack off even a little.
If he gave up now, not only would all his efforts be wasted, but he could also suffer severe physical damage.
As time ticked by, Reed's body gradually changed under the tempering of the thunder.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the night sky, illuminating the entire small courtyard.
Reed's body shuddered violently as the abundant thunder elements inside him resonated strongly with the lightning.
"Crack!"
A soft sound came from within Reed's body.
"It's done!" Reed's eyes snapped open. "It's done already? So quickly?"
Had he already reached the first level of the thunder roar?
The speed was so fast that Reed could hardly believe it.
"Father didn't achieve it this quickly, did he?"
Ignoring the rain, Reed hurried back to the library and opened the thunder roar skill book. He didn't dare open it outside, fearing the rain would damage it.
According to the skill book's description, he had indeed reached the first level of the thunder roar.
Seeing this, Reed let out a long breath, feeling an indescribable sense of relief.
He knew that it was probably the help of the mysterious gray holy light within him.
Although he still didn't know the name of this gray holy light, it had awakened his gray knight's heart and activated the starfall sword.
Now, even cultivating knight skills could be significantly shortened in time. It was truly powerful.
Reed sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and looked inward.
He found that although he was not a squire level 2, the total amount of gray holy light in his body exceeded the standard recorded in the books for a squire level 2.
The more holy light power one possesses, the stronger their strength. This is the simplest truth on the Stan Continent.
"Although I haven't reached squire level 2, with my current strength, even facing a squire level 2 , I have the power to fight!"
Opening his eyes, he looked up at the sky. The dark clouds had dispersed, the rain had stopped, and a bright moon hung high in the night sky, emitting a pure and radiant light.
...