Boundless Cultivation-Chapter 75 - Now What?

Alaric reached his next destination with just moments to spare before the morning sun rose between the two canyon cliffs. A fertile plain stretched between the two cliffs, surrounded by crashing waterfalls that perpetually misted the land.

The massive gnarled body of an ancient tree towered at the center of the region - its numerous branches teeming with countless emerald leaves that blanketed the whole region in shadow.

Small shrubs and flowering plants thrived in the moist soil, buzzing with flying insects. The fresh aroma of flowers hung in the air. This region was an anomaly inside The Howling Expanse - a stark contrast to the barren desert and wasteland that dominated the rest of the expanse.

Alaric hoped to find the third key fragment here because his intuition assured him that this was the fabled ‘Forest of Life’.

Finally…I’ve arrived. He inhaled the fresh morning air, revitalizing his senses. Before setting foot inside the forest, he inspected his mana core one more time.

Mana Core Stage: Liquid Core (Mid -> Advanced ) - Viscous Liquid

For the last six months, he had continually worked on advancing his mana core, increasing its density and expanding its size. Yesterday, while meditating on his core inside his cultivation sanctuary after retrieving the moon scarab, he had crossed a new threshold.

Now, his core - as large as a peach - brimmed with thick, viscous liquid mana that flowed like honey. As a result, he could unleash more mana blasts and mana scrambling waves without worrying about running out of mana.

Dry leaves and twigs crunched under his foot as he ventured into the tiny forest. He activated [Mana Pulse], scanning the whole area for any traps and searching for clues to the location of the life scarab - the third key fragment.

He found nothing suspicious. An eerie calm filled the region, as if something was about to happen. Without waiting any longer, Alaric launched a mana blast at the ancient tree.

Thick tree roots slithered out of the ground and formed a wall, just as the swirling ball of mana was about to hit the body of the tree.

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The mana blast smashed into the wall of roots and vines, damaging a massive chunk and creating a hole in their guard. A sharp screech pierced the area - the tree was wounded. But it didn’t matter. More roots sprouted and intertwined with vines, sealing the hole in its defense in mere seconds.

So, long-distance attacks wouldn’t work. I have to close the distance

Before he could proceed further, a strong breeze blew over the area, showering the forest with a whirlwind of leaves, twigs, and mud. He shielded his body and heightened his senses.

More roots sprang up from the ground as the dry, brown leaves and twigs coiled around them to forge humanoid-shaped creatures - tree golems. At first two, then five, and eight.

Alaric grinned as he activated [Zen Flow] and [Mana Empowerment]. His mind sharpened and power surged through his veins as he leaped into the battlefield like a reaper, punching holes into the tree golems with his empowered fists coated with mana gauntlets.

Even though he was having so much fun, time was of the essence. Shaping a large mana sword, he sliced through the treants, staining the forest floor with thick tree sap. A face smashed here, a limb slashed there - he didn’t stop.

Indecipherable screeches filled the air, but he tuned them out. He kept slaughtering the monsters and advanced toward his goal - the Tree of Life. Long, sinewy limbs of the treants cracked through the air and struck at his layered mana shield - uselessly.

A mountain of splintered barks, roots, and branches littered the region. Alaric was having the time of his life. So far, the fight had been easy - too easy. As if answering to his thoughts, the canopy of the ancient tree looming overhead pulsed with an eerie emerald glow.

He felt the ambient mana inside the forest surge as the mutilated bodies of the treants knitted themselves back together - their severed limbs reattaching or regrowing from their stumps.

As if that wasn’t enough, the tree golems grew larger, thick tree barks covering their sinewy bodies for added protection.

Alaric hacked through dozens of tree golems, severing their rooty limbs. It didn’t matter. Under the emerald light of the ancient tree, they had practically become unkillable.

This isn't working. I have to kill that tree fast. Alaric was overpowering the tree golems, for now. However, if he couldn’t destroy that tree, he would lose the battle soon enough.

Another gust swept through the area as the ancient branches of the tree shuddered violently overhead. A shower of mana-infused emerald leaves assaulted his shield, each leaf chipping away at it a little bit.

Within a span of a few minutes, thousands of leaves ate at his shield. He was forced to drop his shield to conserve mana. Instead, he decided to take the attack head on and push through the pain.

Hundreds of cuts ravaged his body, drenching his clothes in thick rivulets of blood. He had been able to survive the attack due to his reforged skin, bones, and muscles.

Alaric activated [Restorative Flow], only to stop it moments after when a sharp pain erupted in his heart. He had sensed the healing energy being siphoned from his body.

His healing skill had become a danger to him under the emerald glow of the forest. Instead of healing him, the skill debilitated him while reinvigorating the enemies.

Alaric smiled. Bring it on! Without wasting any more time, he dashed toward the ancient tree, swinging his mana sword in a wide arc.

A wall of treants barred his way, but he carved open a path for himself. He landed a clean hit on the tree, but his mana sword failed to cleave through the thick body completely.

A massive tree limb slammed his body faster than he could dodge. He was flung across the forest floor, blood spraying from his mouth, but he twisted midair to land on his feet.

The ancient tree had fully awakened, its gnarled branches thrashing furiously through the air.

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He pushed [Mana Empowerment] and [Zenflow] to its limits, barely dodging each strike. Unlike the attacks of the tree golems, the limbs of the ancient tree packed a punch. He couldn’t take too many hits without his healing skill active.

“That’s it. I’m done with you.” Alaric cycled a drop of root chakra and morphed his mana sword into a large axe. He hadn’t trained with an axe before, but he supposed it would be the perfect weapon to fell a tree.

He flung mana blasts at the oncoming branches, deflecting their trajectory before hurling himself at the tree. “Aargh…take this.” Alaric roared as he buried his mana axe deep into the tree’s body.

The tree of life groaned in agony as tree sap splashed everywhere. Wrenching his mana axe free, he sidestepped another strike before hacking into the opposite side of the tree.

Alaric wove through the tree’s thrashing limbs like a butterfly and struck with the precision of a wasp. Occasionally, he unleashed mana blasts at the advancing treants that attempted to impede his progress.

Massive slabs of bark peeled away from its body, but the tree began regenerating moments later.

“Oh, no you don’t”. Alaric discharged a mana scrambling wave, nullifying the healing energy empowering the tree before driving his mana axe deep into its core. A massive crack spread through the trunk before the tree splintered.

Alaric pushed through, prying the two sides apart. The massive body of the tree crashed to the ground with a deafening roar. Only a hollow stump remained of the ancient tree of life - an emerald glow emanating from deep within.

However, before he could complete the job, thick vines wrapped around his waist and yanked hard.

He clutched onto one section of the tree with dear life, refusing to let go. The vines coiled tighter, squeezing the breath out of his lungs. He felt his bones crushing under the pressure.

If that’s how you want to play, then so be it. Alaric cycled another drop of root chakra, dug his feet onto the ground, and fortified his waist with [Mana Empowerment]. Veins bulged in his head as he clenched his teeth. With a tremendous roar, he pulled as hard as he could.

His whole body felt taut as a bowstring under the immense strain. His muscles screamed, on the verge of tearing. Yet, slowly, he felt the tree’s grip wane against his strength, and moments later, he uprooted the tree stump from the ground.

The pull of the vines on his waist immediately slacked as he plopped to the ground. The numerous treants fell to the ground like dead twigs and leaves. The emerald glow of the canopy vanished, retreating into the hole in the ground where the tree once stood.

Alaric activated [Restorative Flow] to heal his battered body. The battle was over—now it was time to claim the reward. He peered into the gaping hole where the tree’s roots had once thrived.

Among an intricate weave of numerous tree roots, he found what he was searching for - a vibrant emerald-green scarab with tiny veins running through its wings. It pulsed rhythmically with faint green energy. The small thing smelled like the fresh morning dew on soft grass.

Alaric reached down and retrieved the life scarab - the third key fragment.

***

After securing the life scarab, Alaric didn’t delay longer than an hour to go on a hunt for the death scrab - the final key fragment. He arrived at his destination within a short few hours, taking advantage of the shortcuts he had discovered long ago while mapping of The Howling Expanse.

It was a massive burial complex, nestled in the deepest chasm of the zone where neither sunlight nor the moonlight ever reached. A place forever forgotten and abandoned, removed from the pages of history.

Alaric had only discovered this location thanks to his research of the ancient lore texts he had found inside the king’s hall of knowledge. According to legend, the leader of this region, along with numerous local inhabitants, had been plagued by an incurable disease long ago.

To prevent the spread of the disease, they had all decided to take their lives, opting to greet the afterlife with a proud smile instead of withering away in agony. Alaric respected their sacrifice.

But he also knew of the deep agony tormenting poor souls who didn’t receive a natural death.

Today, he would set them all free.

A perpetual darkness blanketed the region with an eerie silence. Neither the howl of the wind nor the buzzing of insects greeted him as he ventured deeper into the burial complex. He activated [Mana Pulse] and diligently scanned every nook and cranny with his senses.

He closed his eyes to improve his concentration - there was no use keeping his eyes open in his darkness. A sea of graves sprawled inside the complex, waiting for somebody to disturb their sleep.

And, it seemed Alaric did exactly that. The eerie silence was shattered by the shaking of the graves in unison. One skeletal limb pulled itself out of the grave, followed by numerous dozens.

The moans of a thousand withered souls filled the area. Alaric could only thank the gods since he wasn’t able to smell the filth inside this ancient place due to his forged lungs.

It’s time to get started. Alaric launched mana blasts upon mana blasts at the ceiling, dislodging massive chunks of stone.

Individually, the skeletal ghosts were not a match for his strength. However, it simply wasn’t possible to clash with a sea of them, especially when their touch cursed his skin and sucked the life force out of him.

There was a better way to fight these creatures. He precisely jumped from the top of gravestone to gravestone, avoiding their reach while continuing to blast sections of the ceiling.

When too many skeletal ghosts encircled him, Alaric hurled mana blasts at them to create more space.

Within fifteen minutes of relentless effort, a huge chunk of the ceiling came crashing down on top of the sea of undead. Their lifeless husks didn’t stop moving even under the weight of hundreds of tons of debris.

However, when the first rays of the sunlight penetrated the burial complex through the opening in the ceiling and touched their body, they ignited in flames and turned to ash.

Yes, it’s working. These creatures were extremely weak to direct sunlight. He channeled more mana into his [Mana Pulse], locating thin sections of the ceiling that would be the easiest to destroy. His efforts bore fruit when a chain reaction caused the whole ceiling to collapse.

He had to dodge the massive chunks of falling stone for dear life, but in the end, the strategy proved to be a huge success. Sunlight flooded the ancient burial site and filled it with a river of torrential flames.

Even through his mana shield, he sensed the intense heat on his skin. Once the flames settled down, he approached the center of the burial site.

The tomb of the high priest was easy to distinguish with his imposing gravestone and intricate adornments. He shattered the grave and instantly evaded as the mummified husk of a corpse leaped at him.

An intense death energy radiated from the corpse of the high priest, almost equalling the might of Anu-Khepra-Ra. Unfortunately for the high priest, it suffered the same fate as the golden sunlight touched his skin.

“Shyahhh…olorb, oheyoo…” it groaned in pain, reaching for Alaric as its body erupted into flames. He almost pitied the undead creature. But then again, relieving it from its misery would be a true mercy.

After a short while, the body of the high priest crumbled to dust, leaving only a black glow where its chest had been. He glanced at the black obsidian scarab, its wings glowing with crimson fissures.

When he picked it up, it was cold to the touch and Alaric could bet he heard it whisper in an unfamiliar language. Whatever it was, he didn’t care for it any longer. He had acquired the final key fragment.

***

Alaric sneaked through the inner halls of the black pyramid. He had obtained all the key fragments two weeks ago but had withheld the information from Anu-Khepra-Ra. His intuition told him that offering the key fragments to the king without discovering his weakness first would be a mistake.

Fortunately, the king hadn’t suspected anything yet. After waiting for so long, today presented another opportunity to investigate the sealed chamber. The king had retreated to rest, and his minions stood guard like lifeless dolls.

Alaric halted as he reached the stone door of the sealed chamber, its surface etched with ancient hieroglyphs and cryptic symbols. He activated [Mana Pulse] to thoroughly inspect the door for any signs of weakness.

Hmm…what’s that? Alaric’s face lit up as he discovered something promising. If he was right, he had just found a way to unlock this sealed chamber. Although, that would be a very risky move.

However, even before he could attempt anything, it looked like all his efforts would be wasted. The ambiance turned deadly cold as an eerie green light swept through the halls.

Alaric whipped around as his danger sense blared a warning.

“Now, what exactly do you think you’re doing here, my friend?”

Standing before him was Anu-Khepra-Ra, grinning widely. Only, the smile never reached his eyes.