Boundless Cultivation
Chapter 98 - Father vs Son

Edgar POV

Edgar’s heart filled with pride, witnessing Alaric’s growth throughout the years. The little boy had achieved in under two years what many young cultivators couldn’t accomplish even in a decade.

The boy possessed a tremendously powerful bloodline and an equally impressive head over his shoulders. But it was Alaric’s discipline that truly manifested his impressive potential into reality.

Edgar wasn’t conceited enough to believe he had a hand at shaping Alaric’s future. True, he did his part just like any other teacher would and the count’s son was an ideal student that soaked every bit of knowledge he offered like a parched soil absorbs water.

But there was no denying that even without his aid, Alaric would’ve bloomed into a fine warrior who would dictate the fate of this county. Still, he was grateful for having the opportunity to teach a child that shone so brightly.

The rumbling of the ground pulled him out of his reverie, and he once again concentrated on the clash between father and son. The count had severely restricted his powers, but the strength of a peak Tier 3 was still evident in his every attack.

The entire training arena crackled in a light show of blue and yellow lightning. Sure, Alaric’s bloodline power wasn’t refined yet - the crackles of yellow tendrils were easily snuffed by the more powerful crackles that blazed blue.

Still, it was unthinkable for a peak Tier 1 to wield their bloodline power at this level without a suitable bond that refined their gift.

When Alaric declared he had already defeated the boss of the final zone, both he and the count were astounded. Not due to a lack of faith in Alaric, but simply because it was an unprecedented feat at his age.

In fact, neither Edgar nor the count had ever heard of a genius who had completely conquered the tutorial rift in all their years. That spoke of how rare an accomplishment it was.

And although the system restricted the sharing of information about the final zone, Alaric managed to convey how powerful the boss of the final zone truly was - early Tier 3.

An unbelievable claim - except it was a claim made by Alaric and both of them knew the boy could be trusted with his judgement.

If Alaric hadn’t warned Edgar that he would have to limit his power in order to control it properly, he would’ve been a little disappointed. Although the offensive powers Alaric currently demonstrated were shocking, they couldn’t match an opponent at Tier 3.

So he was very curious to witness the true ceiling of Alaric’s current power level. Ever since Alaric showcased the talent and insight for reforging multiple aspects of his body, Edgar had adopted a less active role in training the boy.

He mostly served as a guide to help Alaric navigate his own way through cultivation hurdles by answering queries. It was during that period that he noticed Alaric dodging questions about how he had gathered the insights in the first place.

He had the uncanny feeling that Alaric was keeping secrets. However, he had never subjected Alaric to an interrogation.

Edgar had convinced himself a long time ago that Alaric was simply a magnet for insights. Whether that was due to his potent bloodline or something else, he would never know.

Still, the boy was cautious, and Edgar believed that it was Alaric’s cautiousness that prevented him from unleashing his full power right now. Perhaps it was an issue of fear, trust, or something else entirely. Stil,l Edgar wasn’t really annoyed at that fact, only a little saddened.

It seemed Eustace had come to the same conclusion, but it didn’t sit right with him. Alaric was the count’s son, after all. It was understandable that he would be more bothered by that fact.

So when Eustace halted the fight with Alaric, commanding him to unleash his full power, Edgar was genuinely looking forward to it. At first, Alaric hesitated, but what he saw Alaric do thereafter trumped all his expectations - the boy was a true powerhouse in the making.

***

Alaric observed his father with true vision while sparring, carefully discerning the condition of the seven chakras in his subtle body. Just like Edgar, his father’s first four chakras were quite well-developed, with his solar plexus chakra being the star of the show.

And that fact was quite evident by the barrage of densely packed lightning bolts he hurled at Alaric. The violent crackles of blue lightning effortlessly shredded through his defenses, making his yellow lightning look like a shallow imitation.

Alaric was convinced that if he didn’t have a fully reforged body, he would’ve been out of the fight a long time ago.

But the count’s three higher chakras had many energy blockages that restricted his cultivation potential, forever barring the path to higher tiers. Even this brief examination revealed where his father’s strengths and weaknesses as a cultivator lay, and this allowed him to adjust his fighting strategy accordingly.

His heart stung when he realized there was nothing he could do at this stage for his father. Even sharing the secrets of chakra-cultivation wouldn’t matter now. His father was too old, and it was very risky to dismantle the foundation that had been so firmly cemented into his soul.

“Have you grown so powerful that you can daydream while sparring with your father?” said the count gravely. “Or is there something more important that requires your attention?”

Alaric promptly halted and bowed. “Not at all, Father. Forgive my insolence.” He kept his tone playful - but not disrespectful - demonstrating he hadn’t really minded the count’s words. At Alaric’s reply, the count’s eyes softened, as if he realized there was no need for him to be that harsh.

Sparring with the count was a completely different experience compared to when clashing with Edgar. The head butler molded his fighting style to Alaric’s rhythm, allowing him to experiment with new tactics - both offensive and defensive.

His father fought brutally, leaving no room for error or experimentation. It was easy to understand that his father wanted Alaric to fight him like his life depended on it.

Alaric sensed that his father’s approach to fighting in that manner was colored by the count’s anxiety surrounding his safety, with a healthy dose of skepticism about his capabilities.

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“That’s alright, but why do I feel you are still withholding your strength?” enquired the count, his interest apparent. “Is something the matter?” He noticed Edgar lean in, eager to catch the excuse that would come out of his mouth.

Alaric mentally chuckled. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to fully unleash his strength and reveal just how strong he had grown over the years. However, he had to limit his strength for two important reasons.

“I’m not able to control my body properly when I fully channel my strength,” replied Alaric seriously. It was one of the reasons he had to hold back in this fight.

Although he could channel more mana into his body, it came at the cost of losing control. Truthfully, he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the two people he respected so much.

But there was a deeper reason he had been hesitating to unveil his true power - the Oath skill. First of all, he hadn’t consulted with them before creating an oath, which in itself ought to earn him a punishment for being so reckless.

Oath skills were like a double-edged sword that could harm a user just as easily as it could destroy their opponent when wielded recklessly.

However, what he was really apprehensive of was the interrogation that was likely to follow when the power of his oath skill was revealed in proper form. There was no way to explain how he had managed to create such a powerful oath skill all on his own without arousing suspicions.

“So you told us already,” started the count. “And we promised to help you fix that problem before you leave for the academy.” When Alaric simply nodded awkwardly, he continued, “It’s pretty difficult to fix that issue when we haven’t witnessed it yet, don’t you think?”

Alaric nodded and released a sigh, realizing that his excuse didn’t hold any power anymore. He could clearly see the chain of events that would now unfold with perfect clarity in his mind.

It was an outcome that he had wanted to avoid for a while now. However, he had realized now that it wasn’t feasible to conceal his strength if he wanted their help. Plus, they were his family, and they had a right to know. He would trust them with his secrets.

As the count channeled more power into his elemental abilities in anticipation of a tougher challenge, Alaric ceased his efforts at tapping into his bloodline power. Instead, he flooded his body with mana and activated his [Superior Mana Manipulation] ability.

He had been using his bloodline ability during the fight to cop a feel for the difference in strength in their bloodline powers.

And now that he had witnessed the massive chasm that sprawled between them in regards to the potency of their bloodline power, Alaric determined it would only become a hindrance at this point to use it.

Conjuring two swirls of mana that gleamed an ominous violet, Alaric initiated the second phase of the fight. Hundreds of mana missiles - tiny motes of condensed mana - zigzagged their way through the defensive net of lightning that crackled around the count.

Alaric witnessed in awe as the frequency of lightning crackling around his father’s form ramped up, eliminating tens of mana missiles at each burst before a single threat could reach him.

I would’ve expected nothing less from you, Father. Alaric hesitated to lunge, not fully trusting his body just yet. Instead, he conjured another ball of violet mana and hurled it at his father. Let’s see how you handle that?

It appeared his father was content to stay stationary, demonstrating how futile Alaric’s attacks were against his superior defenses. As before, a crackle of lightning intercepted the condensed mana ball before it could hit the count, igniting a powerful blast at a safe distance.

The crackles of lightning were powerful and almost instantaneous, rendering any long-range attacks futile. Without any other option, Alaric decided to close the range with a lunge.

And just as he feared, he felt somebody had catapulted him without his permission. If his father hadn’t moved out of the way, he would’ve crashed into him. A sharp jolt hammered his side, seizing his body for a while before he managed to recover.

Getting his spinning mind under control, Alaric attempted another strike, this time channeling less mana. The count met Alaric’s empowered fist with his own, flashing a light smile.

The streaks of lightning that had coiled around the count’s forearm an instant before already looked ominous. As soon as their fist connected, Alaric regretted his decision to face him head-on.

A sharp jolt of electricity - far more potent - surged through his whole body, delivering agony in waves and almost bending his spine as he struggled to remain conscious. His hair singed and his flesh burned as the lightning coursed through his form.

Unlike the electricity generated with his own bloodline power, this power was a foreign enemy that brutally ravaged his body from the inside. Alaric channeled his healing skill, in an attempt to heal the damage, barely holding on.

When he opened his eyes, he had expected a smile on his father’s face. Instead, he saw the count clutching a shattered fist that had turned bloody, with a frown on his face.

It seems the power of a perfect, supreme-grade body is now apparent. Alaric couldn’t help but chuckle, which elicited a grunt of annoyance from his father. Edgar, on the other hand, almost clapped his hands, smiling brightly.

“That wasn’t bad, but don’t get ahead of yourself,” blurted the count. “I can easily defeat you with one arm tied behind my back. In fact,” the count spread his arms to the side, “I will allow you a free hit as a prize for surviving the previous attack.”

Alaric simply grinned, opting to ignore that baseless claim. If his father hadn’t restricted his powers, perhaps that could’ve been a possibility, although unlikely. As he was now - restricted to Tier 2 - there was no possibility.

He didn’t let the sudden generosity of his father fool him. In his true vision, he discerned a thin layer of lightning elemental mana enveloping the count’s whole body - invisible to the naked eye, but blazing with power in his true vision.

Are you really testing my naivety right now? Alaric chuckled. Well then, let me show you a surprise too. Alaric didn’t even need to feign his laughter as he accepted the proposal with a shrug.

The count interpreted his joy in his own way, disappointment evident in his face. No doubt, he wanted to teach his child a lesson he wouldn’t forget. However, it seemed Edgar had caught on to Alaric’s tactic - the head butler had more experience fighting him, after all.

Alaric closed the distance with a lunge and swung his fist, barely maintaining the trajectory of the strike due to his overwhelming momentum. It looked like he would miss.

The count adjusted his own body so that Alaric’s strike could connect with him. Of course, a crackle of lightning erupted around his body at the last moment.

Unfortunately for the count, Alaric discharged a mana-scrambling wave a split second before his fist grazed the count’s chest.

The layer of elemental mana woven around the count’s body melted like butter on a hot pan as Alaric’s empowered fist delivered a shot of pain straight into his father's body.

The last remnants of electricity harmlessly fizzled around his forearm, as his father’s body was flung a few feet into the air before he managed to regain control.

Clutching the side of his bloody chest, Count Eustace spat blood from his mouth - the shock evident on his face before he masked it with neutrality.

Alaric squeezed his fist, relishing the sensation. It wasn’t sore in the slightest. To think that was the result of simply grazing his chest. He shook his head. A full-blown attack would’ve caused major devastation.

Suddenly, Edgar erupted into laughter. “That was the mana scrambling wave I warned you about.” When the count turned his head and glared at the head butler, he put up his hands in mock surrender.

“It seems I’ve severely underestimated your strength, my boy,” said the count, breaking into a genuine smile for the first time. “What did you say was the power level demonstrated by the boss of the final zone - early Tier 3?”

It wasn’t difficult to decipher the veiled threat. So, you are finally getting serious? Fine by me.

“That is correct,” Alaric replied with a smile. “And I suggest you unlock your aura along with unleashing more of your power because I haven’t demonstrated my full power yet.”

Alaric burned a hefty chunk of his willpower in preparation for activating his oath skill, as he sensed the count removing another level of restriction on his power level. As if responding to the count’s order, a gathering of thunderclouds darkened the sky overhead.

Crackles of lightning flashed in the cloudy sky in bright purple, generating a low rumble that shook the ground. Alaric thought he heard the faint cry of a bird somewhere in the distance.

In between the flashes of lightning, he caught the faint outline of a silhouette - a large bird - piercing through the clouds. What was that? Before he could process what he had glimpsed, the count pulled his attention.

“Remember, you wanted this,” said the count as an oppressive weight filled the air, matching the gloom that swept over it.

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