Free Web NovelChapter 15: EX - Rank
An hour later, my wife and I arrived at the family’s treasury under the guidance of Elder Butler Polly.
My wife couldn’t help but click her tongue in surprise as she gazed at the huge number of martial art manuals spread across the countless bookshelves in my family’s treasury.
"Too many. I’m afraid even the royal family doesn’t possess such a vast collection."
A few minutes later, Polly found a manual and handed it to me.
He said,
"Young Master, I think this manual will suit your wife."
I held the book in my hands. It was bound in human skin and looked ancient, as if it had endured the passage of a hundred years.
I was about to open the book, and a sound rang out.
Ting!
– Object Manipulation (SSS+):
Users who practice this manual can infuse mana into any inanimate object and manipulate it at will through their thoughts. The longer an object is nurtured with its owner’s mana, the smoother and more efficient the control becomes, while consuming less mana. However, it requires a tremendous amount of mana to continuously infuse the object on a daily basis.
’’SSS+’’
My pupils widened for a moment as I stared at the bright text before my eyes.
Polly nodded.
"Don’t be surprised. Your father has quite a lot of them in the family treasury. After all, he earned more merits than anyone else during the Holy War. Even though humans ended in defeat, the Holy Grail still rewarded him with many treasures."
My wife hesitated for a moment before replying.
"Henry, you should learn it instead of me. A treasure granted by the Holy Grail can only be used once before it vanishes and returns to its creator."
I merely spoke up.
"Shut up... I don’t like your hesitation."
Just like that, I placed the book on her thighs and gazed into her eyes. I could see uncertainty and complicated emotions in them.
A few moments later, she sighed and nodded.
"Thank you."
Polly tried to hide his smile before speaking to me.
"Young Master, your father wishes to see you in the family head’s office in five minutes. You alone."
I blinked for the moment before nodding. I pushed the wheelchair, heading to the family head’s office right now
A few minutes later, I spoke to my wife.
"Wait for me here."
My wife simply gave me a bitter smile.
"Where else could I go without you?"
I stared at my wife for a while before opening the door and entering the room. My father was reading a book intently, his eyes thoughtful as he leaned back against the fur-covered chair.
’’I’m here, father.’’
My voice held no emotion.
My father merely looked up and gazed at me for a long moment before asking a question I had never expected.
"Are you my son?"
I stared back at him indifferently. I was beginning to understand the meaning behind that question. He knew I wasn’t his old Henry.
"I’m your son."
My father nodded in satisfaction before tossing two old books at me.
My father’s cold voice drifted out.
"As long as you’re my son, I don’t care where you come from. At least, that trash served a purpose for the true son I wanted."
I caught two old books and took a look at them.
Ting!
Ting!
The virtual, bright texts appeared in front of my eyes.
— Unbeaten Sword Art (EX)
Your swordsmanship is unmatched – capable of breaking every sword style and dismantling any sword technique in the world. However, it is extremely difficult to cultivate in the early stages, and very few can actually master it.
Tier 1:Basic Sword Break (Mastery: 0/100%)
Basic technique, nothing worth mentioning, but it is very hard to cultivate. If the user cannot reach 100% mastery, they would be better off giving up on Tier 2.
Tier 2:Space-Rending Slash (Mastery: 0/100%)
An energy slash capable of cutting through almost anything, but it consumes an enormous amount of mana and can only be used repeatedly once Tier 4 mastery is reached.
Tier 3: Sword Manipulation (Mastery: 0/100%)
You can manipulate and control any sword with your thoughts, as long as it contains your mana.
Tier 4: No-Sword State (Mastery: 0/100%)
At this level, you no longer need a sword because you yourself become the sword.
Warning: Once you use this Sword Art, all other sword arts will become unusable.
— Cultivation Art of Soul Stabilization (SSS+)
By meditating, you can absorb mana from the surrounding air to increase your rank. At the same time, the purified mana cleanses your mind, pushing you into a state of emptiness – soulless, emotionless, and hollow.
"Thank you, father. I love them."
I nodded in satisfaction before opening the book. Endless invisible runes floated in the air before entering my mind.
At this moment, I felt I could read the books anytime as long as I recalled them. The words automatically appeared in my mind right then.
Just a few seconds later, the two books floated in the air and returned to my father’s palm.
My father smirked.
"Are you sure about your decision? Even with your [SSS+] potential, nothing guarantees that you’ll be able to learn this manual. I can say that with certainty – I’ve seen a few people with [SSS+] potential try to use them before. And in the end, they suffered the consequences. Their swordsmanship turned into their weakness."
I just answered calmly.
’’I’m certain of it.’’
Not because of my blind confidence, but because of my wife. I believed the system would have a few tricks for me to counter the weaknesses of this manual. Plus, he didn’t intend that using a sword was his only way of fighting.
"This manual will be an investment that gives results in the future. No matter how long it takes, I will wait."
My father nodded in satisfaction and reminded me.
"Don’t overuse the [Cultivation Art of Soul Stabilization] to rank up. The best way to develop is by killing monsters in the Gate."
I nodded coldly.
Anyway, my only intention for that manual was to suppress the monster inside me. From now on, I didn’t need to hug my wife in bed anymore.
