Boundless Cultivation-Chapter 83 - Now, it’s my turn

It was a well-known fact that cultivators couldn’t really ‘die’ inside the tutorial rift. And yet, young cultivators dreaded it nonetheless. The fear of death was a universal feeling that haunted every cultivator - sooner or later.

Most people lived their whole lives under the grasp of that fear, while a select few managed to overcome it. For Alaric, it was a different story - he didn’t entertain that fear anymore since he had lived through it; experienced death itself.

So he had often wondered what it would feel like to die inside the tutorial rift. Would it match his experience of real death or be something completely different?

Now, he had the answer. A plethora of emotions bombarded him as he lived through the ordeal - astonishment at how closely it mimicked the experience of real death, relief at surviving it, and enlightenment as he discovered the true purpose of the experience.

The pain and agony associated with the process were nothing new to him. In fact, he bet most young cultivators from powerful houses would have pain tolerance high enough to withstand the experience.

It was the fear of the unknown - what lay on the other side - that sowed anxiety and dread in most people’s hearts. Alaric couldn’t deny he didn’t feel the same. The all-consuming void that followed for a brief few moments after he ‘died’ at the claws of the Sphinx left a bad aftertaste in his soul.

This void wasn’t like what he had encountered during his reforging sessions - no, it was far more unsettling. There were no emotions, sensations, visuals - nothing, not even the presence of the ego - a complete and neutral blank that declared the cessation of existence.

The feeling lingered even after he woke up in his room. It was possible to enhance one’s pain tolerance through training. However, there was no method to prepare against the feeling of complete cessation - the feeling was simply too foreign.

Well, not too foreign for chakra cultivators. One of the requirements for awakening the crown chakra was to unravel the body-mind complex through intense meditation and glimpse the true nature of reality; the soul. But that's beside the point.

He couldn’t fathom many young cultivators that could undergo the experience of ‘death’ inside the tutorial rift without developing a short-term mental breakdown and associating the process with extreme anxiety.

And that was a major reason why many young cultivators stopped challenging an opponent inside the tutorial rift once they suffered ‘death’ at their hands. They simply couldn’t reconcile with such extreme experiences.

Fortunately, Alaric’s encounter with true death, his age, and his experience as a master chakra cultivator had conditioned him for such events. And, once the fog shrouding his mind cleared, he immediately grasped why such a condition was even set up by the system.

Throughout history, a well-known fact was associated with the most powerful warriors of each generation - none of them feared death, in fact, they embraced it.

The tutorial rift was designed to help players overcome the fear of death. Yes, suffering through such an extreme event would be agonizing and nerve-wracking - enough to manifest a shift in personality- but the rewards were equally great.

And Alaric intended to make full use of that. No matter how many times I have to die at your paws, in the end, I will survive, and you will not.

***

The next couple of days went by in a blur of activities. He had been clashing with Vehphara every day, yet still failed to harm anything except illusions of her making. Despite fighting her with his eyes closed, somehow, the sphinx managed to trap him in her tricks.

He had lost count of how many times it appeared as if he had achieved victory - having mutilated the beast with powerful attacks - only for her to reveal her unblemished form and kill him thereafter.

Dying so many times - even if fake as it was - put a toll on his mind. He found himself struggling to keep himself calm when facing her without channeling the energy of his sacral chakra. However, he kept at it because the whole ordeal was tempering his mind even further.

The one good thing about the whole ordeal was that his skills were leveling up rapidly - especially his [Mana Scrambling] skill, which had become the hardest to progress lately.

However, what truly elated him was the fact that the fights with the Sphinx had become a whetstone for sharpening the energy that resided within his throat chakra.

Chanting mantras could partially awaken the throat chakra, but it required an extensive amount of time. The clashing of oaths - his with Veyphara’s - accelerated the entire process to a whole new level, especially after he imposed the strict condition.

In retrospect, it was an extremely rash decision to wager his powers forever should he fail to meet the condition stated in his oath. Alaric would’ve never advised such an action to anybody.

In fact, he imagined hearing the stern voice of his master - furiously chastising him for such reckless behavior.

However, he wasn’t worried - only those who risked losing everything could hope to attain great power. Besides, he had risked more precious things in his previous life and came out on top. He would do so again.

A rain of crystal shards jolted him back to the present, where he was engaged in a ferocious battle with Veyphara. Only a quarter of the sand remained in the massive hourglass - it would either propel him to new heights or doom everything.

Alaric chuckled, witnessing the mirth in the eyes of the Sphinx - no doubt, she considered him foolish for binding himself with a temporary oath, especially one that didn’t grant any immediate benefits but carried massive risks.

Little did she know, it was an investment in his future potential. He was ready to struggle now to reap the rewards later. Fulfilling the oath would sharpen his willpower enough to enable him to mold reality to his whim when it really mattered.

“You’ve been a fool, human,” stated Vehphara as she flapped her wings, enveloping the grand hall in an icy blizzard. “So reckless - so eager to defeat me that you gambled your powers forever.”

Alaric evaded the towering pillars of the tornado, concealing thousands of crystal shards with wild abandon. Sharp, icy winds whipped his body, covering it with innumerable scratches even as he maneuvered past the deadly shards.

Snowflakes coalesced into huge limbs, tipped with sharp claws that reached for him - snow golems. Clusters of hail pelted his shield, even as he spun like a top, carving through the snow golems that rushed at him.

With so many enemies swarming, he was forced to discharge a mana-scrambling wave every few seconds, followed by mana blasts to carve a path through the unkillable horde. At this rate, sustaining the fight beyond a few minutes wouldn’t be possible even with his dense mana reserves.

As if that wasn’t enough, he found himself ensnared by a foreign energy, which interrupted the activation of his next skill. The snow golems leaped at him, pinning him with their sheer body weight.

He knew it was all an illusion - entities crafted by the mirage queen. And yet, their chill seeped into his bones, slowing the beating of his heart. Once more, he tried to activate [Mana Scrambling]; once more, he failed.

The Sphinx had seized control of his energy. With no access to his mana, he was like a sitting duck, forced to accept his fate. Cycling the energy of his chakras could only help for a while but wouldn’t really even the battlefield.

No…I will not lose like this! Not today. A surge of defiance ignited within him. He refused to ‘die’ under her derisive glare.

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A series of tingles cascaded through his spine as innumerable pillars of light erupted around his form, blasting the snow golems that restrained him. Notifications chimed in his mind as he regained control of his mana.

Something inside him transformed; he felt different - more in tune with his surroundings and yet detached.

“Impossible,” Vehphara screamed in astonishment. With rage-filled eyes, she plunged the tip of her massive claw - crackling with red lightning - aiming to end him and this show.

Alaric ignored the oncoming strike, instead choosing to inspect the new changes manifesting in his body. His eyes closed as a serene expression replaced the frustration that had gripped him moments before his inevitable death. freewebnøvel.coɱ

With every beat of his heart, a whirlwind of mana saturated his entire body - bones, muscles, blood vessels, and more. It felt akin to plunging into a cool pool on a hot summer day, the water refreshing every cell of his body.

A piercing sound breached his awareness, and he flung his arm, seizing the tip of the claw swirling with red lightning. Moments later, a bright shimmer erupted from where he grasped the tip, extinguishing the powerful energy coating the claws.

“Give me a moment, madam,” said Alaric with a lopsided grin as he twisted his grip, shattering the tip of her claw. “Can’t a decent man catch a brief reprieve? I will entertain you later.”

“You…how dare you speak to me like that?” Indignation marred her face as she prepared another strike. However, she paused within moments of hurting Alaric as he nonchalantly raised an arm to signal a pause, exuding his displeasure at not being heeded.

More than anything, Vehphara was confused - she couldn’t identify the self-assured man who stood before her. Curiosity overpowered her perceived insult, and she decided to humor him for a while.

No doubt, she thought that defeating a confident prick would be more pleasurable when they believed they had become invincible.

Taking advantage of the momentary lull in battle, he decided to check his notifications.

[Mana Resonance lvl 8 -> Mana Resonance lvl 15]

[Advanced Mana Sense lvl 7 -> Advanced Mana Sense lvl 15]

[Advanced Mana Absorption lvl 7 -> Advanced Mana Absorption lvl 15]

[Advanced Mana Control lvl 7 -> Advanced Mana Control lvl 15]

[Mana Scrambling lvl 23 -> Mana Scrambling lvl 25]

A burst of euphoria erupted in his chest. Finally, it’s time to take the next step.

Congratulations! You have evolved 10 mana-based skills and are now eligible for evolving your ability - Mana Manipulation.

Options available:

Superior Mana Manipulation (Rare).Would you like to evolve your ability [Mana Manipulation] (common) to [Superior Mana

Manipulation] (Rare) - Yes / No?

Just as he was about to confirm the prompt, another notification chimed in.

Rare skill detected - [Mana Scrambling].

Initializing…

Skill acquisition achievement surpassed the required threshold. Your skill [Mana Scrambling] will be designated as the root skill for your evolved ability.

Hmm…interesting. The potential of a tree depended on its roots that bore its weight and delivered nutrients. The stronger the roots, the taller and more vast a tree could grow.

A root skill served a similar function - to unlock the full potential of an evolved ability. Thus, it made sense to utilize one’s most potent skill as the root skill during an ability evolution.

Alaric was mildly surprised since he had not expected to achieve a root skill. Not all evolved abilities were molded in one - it was a rare phenomenon.

Without further ado, he confirmed the prompt. A void stretched across his vision.

One by one, he sensed all of his evolved mana skills - except for mana scrambling - dissolve into that void. His root skill blazed brilliantly, serving as a beacon that attracted numerous tiny motes of fireflies, swirling around the core before transforming into a colossal shape.

A writhing mass of yellow-green tendrils illuminated the blackness of the void. The energy pulsed with an almost sentient awareness, as if it had a mind of its own. Alaric had the distinct impression that whatever this energy was, it remained incomplete - probably at the budding stage.

The void receded as the writhing mass of energy wrapped itself around his heart, its tendrils extending outward, snaking into the far reaches of his limbs.

Some of the tendrils — far thinner, almost thread-like — linked directly to his mana core, establishing a seamless connection with every fiber of his being. The invasion felt alien, yet he sensed no malice — only transformation.

In fact, as the final threads of energy intertwined with his mana core, the yellow-green mass fully dissolved into his subtle body, leaving no trace behind.

Congratulations! You have acquired the ability [Superior Mana Manipulation] (Rare).

[Superior Mana Manipulation lvl 1]

Superior Mana Manipulation - Your ability to wield mana has transcended human limitations. No longer bound by conventional skills, you can shape, absorb, reinforce, and command mana with absolute precision, molding it to your whim to create miracles. The seamless fusion of ten evolved skills grants you unrivaled efficiency and adaptability, allowing for instinctive, fluid control beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. With greater mastery, even the impossible becomes within your grasp.

The feeling of incompleteness he had felt earlier was erased as he became fully attuned to the ambient mana in his surroundings. A vortex of energy coalesced around him as he began to rapidly absorb the surrounding mana.

Hmm…I’ll have to inspect the changes in my body thoroughly later. He squeezed his fist, relishing the newfound strength coursing through his form. For now, I have a kitty to punish.

He gazed at Veyphara, releasing a lopsided grin. It appeared as if the beast could read his thoughts because that would certainly explain the look of resentment on her face.

Or perhaps the beast had just realized how foolish it was to allow him to evolve his ability. Regardless, it didn’t matter anymore - today, she would face her end.

A foreign energy enveloped his form, striving to invade his body in an attempt to attach itself to his mana core. His body felt like a mountain; the foreign energy wisps of wind that dissipated harmlessly after colliding with his mighty form.

No, it didn’t quite dissipate; Alaric had absorbed a part of it and converted it into his own mana.

“How is that possible?” said Vehphara in disbelief, raising her hackles as she arched her massive body. No longer was she an embodiment of pristine beauty.

Alaric slowly opened his eyes, locking his gaze with two burning orbs of ruby. He discerned her ruby eyes emitting waves of power, no doubt casting her grand illusion.

He sparked his mana core, funneling a portion of his mana to shape an intangible barrier around his mind. The waves of energy clashed against this barrier and incinerated on contact, unable to shatter it.

Abject terror crossed her face as Veyphara fluttered her crystal wings and reached for the ceiling - no doubt, she would’ve reached for the skies if that were a possibility.

“You’ve had your fun.” Alaric grinned as he shot his arm and grasped the air. “Now, it’s my turn.”

A blue shimmer enveloped the massive form of the Sphinx as he channeled a hefty portion of his mana into the attack. He had seized control of her body just as she had been doing all this while.

“Release me this instant.” Vehphara thrashed in the air, shrieking in rage and fear. The icy winds, tornadoes of crystals, and snow golems vanished - now that her mana was cut off from her.

The first use of his new ability proved very promising, but he could feel the strain of wielding his ability in this manner. Vehphara’s willpower was no joke - he was struggling to retain control over her body and mana as she fought to reclaim them.

His mana reserves were dwindling at a rapid rate. Is it because the ability hasn’t leveled up yet?

He glanced at the giant hourglass - only a handful of white sand remained. There was no time to waste. Fortunately, he wasn’t out of options.

Alaric channeled a drop of his solar-plexus chakra, bolstering his mana manipulation ability. He immediately felt the effects as the resistance he faced diminished completely.

He flicked his wrist, hurling the massive body of the Sphinx into the far wall, where it crashed with a deafening boom.

Before she could recover, he bombarded her body with a barrage of mana-blasts - now tinged with red - and plunged the grand hall in a shower of debris.

Another wave of power slammed into the barrier enveloping his mind and dissipated. He clutched at the air with both of his wrists and pulled Veyphara’s body - now laden with injuries - only to smash it again and again into the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Alaric completely dominated her with his sheer control over mana. As the dust and debris settled, he inspected her form one final time.

The chimera sprawled across a crater in the floor, her limbs twisted at an odd angle. Numerous bloody wounds marred her previously pristine form - shattered crystal wings, paws with missing and broken claws, ruffled hair, broken teeth, and more.

“How…have you..” she croaked, spluttering blood from her mouth. “I’m Queen Veh..I bear the Oath…how…” She struggled to accept her fate.

Perhaps, for centuries, she had barred access to the next zone of the tutorial rift, stifling the dreams of worthy cultivators. Facing an anomaly such as Alaric was beyond even her comprehension. Her pride refused to accept this fact.

With a grin on his face, Alaric stepped closer to the final boss of The Howling Expanse.

“Madam, as much as I’d like to discuss your various flaws this fine evening,” he condensed a colossal amount of mana in his palm, the swirling ball of blue turning a shade darker with every second until it turned to violet.

“It seems our date is over. But, of course, as a noble, I will not deny you a parting gift. Please, handle it with care.” He hurled the ball of devastation at Vehphara, who froze in fear and confusion, unable to utter a single word as she was swallowed by the force of the mana blast.

The grand hall was bombarded with shockwaves as the payload detonated into a massive explosion. A shield absorbed the impact of the blast around his body. Alaric dropped to the floor, completely spent as he waited for the dust to settle.

Not a sign of the massive creature remained inside the huge, red-hot, glowing crater that devoured most of the grand hall. A series of notifications confirmed that indeed - this time - he had defeated the mirage queen.