Chapter 69
Elijah sat up in bed. The morning light was fully through the windows now, and he could hear Lisa moving around in the kitchen, the sound drifting down the hallway. The warmth of her kiss still lingered on his lips, but his mind was already shifting toward the tasks ahead.
A screen flashed in the corner of his vision.
Day 13 of your Tasks, Little King
- Create a breathing technique for your gang members (Level One)
- Create a breathing technique for your inner circle (Higher quality)
- Upgrade your training equipment with remaining System Points
- Go for a run wearing the upgraded equipment
- Do body training and weight training wearing the equipment
- Use the Adaptation breathing and Gathering breathing
- Shower
- Eat breakfast with your family
- Help your gang
Elijah read the list and nodded. There was no time to waste.
"System, create the level one breathing technique for my gang," he said quietly. "Something to help them reach the advanced knight stage faster. What are my options?"
The screen flickered.
Searching for compatible normal techniques...
Technique: Level One Breathing (Tier 3)
A foundational breathing technique designed for widespread use. Increases Ki enhancement by 30% when activated. Provides steady, reliable growth up to the Advanced Knight Stage. Can be taught to others without restriction.
Cost: 1,000 System Points
*Note: This technique is superior to most lower-class breathing techniques, which typically provide 10–15% enhancement. Middle-class techniques provide 20–25%. This technique sits at the upper edge of middle-class, approaching high-class.*
"Create it," Elijah said.
Level One Breathing technique created. Instructional materials generated. Cost: 1,000 System Points
System Points: 3,070 → 2,070
The knowledge settled into his mind—not the technique itself, but the blueprint for it.
For his inner circle, he needed something more.
"System, create a higher quality breathing technique for my inner circle," Elijah said. "Something that will give them 50% Ki enhancement."
The screen was silent for a moment.
Searching for compatible advanced techniques...
Technique: Inner Circle Breathing (Tier 5)
A high-level breathing technique designed for elite Cultivators. Increases Ki enhancement by 50% when activated. Provides accelerated growth and significantly higher physical limits. Can be taught.
Cost: 1,500 System Points
*Note: This technique approaches the level of unique techniques. Breathing techniques of this quality are typically worth 100,000 to 500,000 dollars on the open market.*
Elijah's jaw tightened. Fifteen hundred points was more than half of what he had left. But it was worth it. Kai, Henry, Aurora, maybe Tristan if he joined—they deserved something that would let them stand beside him when the real battles came.
"Create it," Elijah said.
Inner Circle Breathing technique created. Instructional materials generated. Cost: 1,500 System Points
System Points: 2,070 → 570
He had just enough left for the equipment upgrades.
"System, upgrade my training equipment," Elijah said.
Equipment Upgrade Available
Current equipment: Basic (20–30kg vest, 15kg limb weights, restrictive breathing mask)
Upgraded equipment: Advanced (50kg vest, 30kg limb weights, highly restrictive breathing mask with Ki filtration)
Cost: 570 System Points
Effect: Increases training difficulty by approximately 200%. Adaptation and growth rates will accelerate significantly.
"Do it," Elijah said.
Equipment upgraded. Items stored in inventory.
System Points: 570 → 0
Elijah sat there for a moment, his System Points at zero for the first time in days.
But he had what he needed, a breathing technique for the gang, a breathing technique for his inner circle and equipment that would push his body further than ever before.
He pulled the new equipment from his inventory.
The vest was heavier, the fabric denser, the weight pressing down on his shoulders like a physical force, Fifty kilograms.
The limb weights were thicker, the straps wider, thirty kilograms each.
His arms dropped slightly under the weight, his legs tensing to keep him upright. And the mask was different.
It covered his mouth and nose like before, but there was something else now—a faint hum, a vibration that made his Ki stir in his chest.
The system had called it Ki filtration.
He didn't fully understand what that meant, but he could feel it working, could feel the mask pulling at his Ki as he breathed, making every inhale a battle.
He strapped everything on and stepped outside.
The run was brutal.
His legs screamed with every stride, the weights pulling at his joints, the vest compressing his chest, the mask stealing his air.
His Ki sense was dulled by the filtration, his connection to the energy around him weaker than it had ever been.
He could barely feel the Ki in his own body, let alone the world around him. But he kept running.
The streets of the 7th District blurred past him.
Ten kilometers later, his body was screaming, his lungs were burning, his Ki was flickering like a dying flame.
But the Adaptation breathing was working, pulling energy from somewhere deep, pushing his body to adjust, to grow.
When he finally stopped, he was standing in front of the gym.
He didn't remember running there.
His body had simply carried him, and now he was here.
He went inside.
The body training and weight training took another two hours.
He moved through the exercises mechanically, his body running on instinct and willpower.
Pushups, pullups, squats, deadlifts—each rep was a war, each set a battle.
The weights were heavier than they should have been, his body weaker than it wanted to be.
But he kept going, and through it all, the Adaptation breathing and Gathering breathing worked in tandem.
The Adaptation breathing pushed his body to adjust, to grow stronger, to accept the strain and turn it into power.
The Gathering breathing pulled Ki from every corner of his body and brought it toward his heart.
The door behind his heart opened wider, and his cultivation base grew.
Eternal Grounded Tree Breathing Technique – Level 1: 40% progress
Gathering breathing efficiency increased
Adaptation breathing efficiency increased
Elijah removed the equipment and stored it in his inventory.
The Healing breathing was already repairing the damage, knitting his muscles, soothing his joints, preparing him for whatever came next.
He showered quickly, changed into clean clothes, and walked home.
The kitchen smelled of eggs and toast when Elijah walked through the door.
His mother was at the stove, a spatula in her hand, her back to him.
Amy was at the table, her phone in one hand and a fork in the other, her purple hair still wet from her own shower.
"You're late," Amy said without looking up.
"I was running."
"You're always running these days."
Stella turned from the stove, her eyes moving over Elijah's face. "Sit down. Eat."
Elijah sat.
The eggs were soft, the toast was warm, the coffee was strong. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, letting the food settle into his empty stomach.
His mother sat across from him, her own plate untouched, watching him.
"You look tired," Stella said.
"It's just the workout I am doing," Elijah replied.
Amy snorted. "Don't overdo it. You're already super fit and handsome. Why keep working out?"
He finished his breakfast, kissed his mother on the cheek, ruffled Amy's hair despite her protests, and walked out the door.
The bar was busy when Elijah arrived.
Not with customers the gambling den wasn't ready yet, and the tournament was still two weeks away. But with his people.
Gang members moved through the space, carrying boxes, arranging furniture, cleaning windows.
Some of them nodded at him as he passed. Others just watched him with wary eyes.
Kai was in the office room.
The couch was there, the table was there, the bottles of whiskey were there. Henry sat on the couch, his feet up, his green eyes half-closed.
Aurora sat in the chair by the window, her silver hair loose, her blue eyes sharp.
Mai stood near the wall, her phone in her hand, her purple hair falling across her face.
Rena sat at the desk, her notebook open, her pen moving. And Tristan stood near the door, his arms crossed over his chest, his purple eyes watching.
Elijah walked to the head of the table and sat down.
"I have something for everyone," he said.
They looked at him.
"Breathing techniques. Two of them. One for the gang members, and one for the people in this room."
Henry sat up straighter. "Breathing techniques? Where did you get them?"
Elijah didn't answer.
He reached into his inventory and pulled out the instructional materials the system had created—papers bound in simple folders, filled with diagrams and instructions and breathing patterns.
He set one folder on the table. "This is for the gang members. It's called Dark Amber Breathing. It provides 30% Ki enhancement when activated. That's better than what most of them are using now—ten percent, maybe fifteen if they're lucky."
He set another folder on the table. "This is for the people in this room. It provides 50% Ki enhancement."
The room went silent.
"Fifty percent," Kai said, his voice quiet, almost disbelieving. "Elijah, breathing techniques that provide fifty percent enhancement are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Where did you get this?"
Elijah met his eyes. "Does it matter?"
Kai stared at him for a long moment, then shook his head slowly. "I guess it doesn't."
Henry reached for the folder, his fingers hovering over the cover like he was afraid it might disappear. "This is real? This isn't some joke?"
"It's real," Elijah said. "And it's yours. All of yours."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"Kai will make copies for everyone," Elijah said. "Study them and learn them. The stronger we all are, the safer this territory becomes."
He stood up. "Henry, Tristan—you're with me. We're going to patrol the territory and check on the training."
Henry was already on his feet, the folder clutched in his hand like a treasure. Tristan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed.
Kai watched them go, then turned to the others. His blue eyes were bright, his smile wide. "You heard him."