Boundless Cultivation-Chapter 72 - Lung Reforging

Alaric sprawled across the sand, one side of his bloody face pressed against the hot grains. His vision blurred at the edges, and each shallow breath sent tiny puffs of sand swirling around his face.

The solar automation advanced towards him, slowly, promising a world of pain. Every shattered bone in his body screamed that he wasn’t ready to take on the guardian of the Sun Temple.

No… I will not give up. He spat blood and forced himself up with trembling hands. Channeling every drop of mana into his healing skill, he infused it with a sliver of heart chakra energy, accelerating the healing of his bones.

The giant amalgamation of metal halted, measuring him with uncanny intelligence in its hollow eye sockets. I have to destroy the artifact in its center to bring it down.

The solar automaton had effortlessly digested Alaric’s most powerful attack—a fully charged mana blast. But he wasn’t out of ideas yet. As soon as his body recovered enough, he lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of mana javelins and bullets.

The mana constructs shattered uselessly against its body — some kind of indestructible stone. The automaton barely moved, only turning its head to track him as he circled, launching attack after attack.

Alaric conjured another fully powered mana blast. This time, the guardian reacted. As the blast slammed into its chest, the automaton staggered—a single step—before absorbing the energy completely, just like before. It was a futile effort.

In an instant, the automaton closed the distance, swinging its massive fist. Alaric barely raised a layered mana shield in time, but the impact was catastrophic. The shield cracked, and the force sent him hurtling through the air once more.

Even with his [Zenflow] and [Mana Strengthening] skills activated, the automaton outmatched him in both speed and strength. A direct victory was impossible without a fully tempered body — under normal circumstances. But Alaric was no ordinary cultivator.

He cycled a drop of root chakra energy, and raw power surged through his veins. As the automaton struck again, he met its fist with his own. The collision shattered his bones, reducing his fist to a gore of blood and flesh.

Even through the pain, he grinned. The automaton’s hollow eyes fixated on its own ruined fist in what seemed like confusion. Didn’t see that coming, did you?

Strange mechanical sounds echoed from within as its core flared bright yellow. Debris and stone from the surroundings hurtled toward its arm, reshaping the fist in seconds.

Alaric’s own fist was healing too, but not nearly fast enough. He couldn’t win a drawn-out battle against this ancient guardian — not in his current state. But he didn’t have to.

His true goal was the key—the Sun Scarab—which now lay unguarded inside the temple. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the entrance.

The automaton chased after him, clearly enraged. Its speed spiked in sudden bursts, but Alaric knew it couldn’t sustain that pace. Still, he knew that if he didn’t reach the temple soon, it would catch him.

So, he attempted to redirect the energy that [Mana Strengthening] evenly dispersed throughout his body, channeling it solely into his legs. The skill resisted, fighting against his command, and he struggled to bend it to his will — forcing it to do something it was never designed for.

It drained a staggering amount of mana and demanded immense focus, but he succeeded in reinforcing his legs by siphoning energy from the rest of his body. This feat was only possible due to his past experiments with the skill.

A ping went off in his mind, but he had no attention to spare.

Alaric propelled himself forward, tearing through the sandstorm at incredible speed, his legs thrumming with newfound power. Glancing back, he spotted the automaton standing motionless, a brilliant yellow shimmer coiling around its core.

Why is it just standing there?

A chill raced down his spine in a warning. Instinct took over, and Alaric veered sharply to the side—just as a yellow beam cut through the sand where he had been moments ago, carving a deep, smoldering crater. A low, ominous hum followed the attack.

The air rippled with heat from the solar beam. Holy hell! Alaric didn’t need any convincing to dodge that solar beam - one hit from that, and he was finished.

As he closed in on the Sun Temple, he dodged beam after beam. Every strike left a trail of devastation, turning sand into molten glass. But amidst the chaos, a glint caught his eye — an opportunity, a way to turn the battle in his favor.

He smirked. Time to fight fire with fire.

The solar beams felt like condensed light particles rather than mana. With that in mind, he sprinted toward the polished metal mirrors positioned outside the Sun Temple.

Let’s see if this works.

Dodging another deadly blast, Alaric retaliated with mana projectiles while carefully adjusting the angles of the metal mirrors.

More than once, he narrowly escaped being evaporated, evading the beams by the skin of his teeth.

Once satisfied with the setup, he turned to face the automaton and yelled, “Come on, you useless hunk of rock!” He heightened his senses to their peak, channeling even more mana into [Zen Flow] and [Mana Strengthening]. “Give me your best shot.”

For a split second, he swore the automaton was furious. It halted its pursuit and emitted a deep, metallic groan — like a strained steel cage on the verge of collapse. The yellow energy in its core flared, surging with power. Then, with a deafening crack, its jaw split open, unleashing a colossal solar beam.

Alaric jumped to the side, barely evading the lance of pure destruction. The blazing torrent struck the polished mirrors—now precisely angled toward the automaton.

In an instant, the beam ricocheted off the reflective surface and shot straight back, slamming into the automaton’s chest.

Alaric’s grin widened as the machine tasted its own wrath. The redirected blast struck the artifact embedded within its core, detonating on impact. A thunderous explosion erupted, black smoke billowing from its shattered frame, filling the air with the acrid stench of burnt metal.

The automaton groaned, its mechanical body convulsing as it struggled to remain upright — massive chunks of its armor obliterated.

Alaric didn’t hesitate. Seizing the moment, he surged forward, determined to finish what he started.

Now, with its powerful core destroyed, the automaton no longer appeared as menacing. Alaric unleashed a fully charged mana blast at its face before driving a powerful kick into its chest.

The massive guardian toppled, its colossal frame crashing onto the ground, its face reduced to rubble.

The shattered core flickered with weak sparks — it was trying to absorb sunlight, attempting to repair itself. But before it could recover, Alaric discharged a mana-scrambling wave, followed by another devastating mana blast aimed directly at its center.

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As he had suspected, the mana scrambling wave had no effect — it was immune to such interference. Good thing he hadn’t wasted more mana on it. But the mana blast did its job, destroying the core.

With that, the artificial life sustaining the rocky construct flickered out, leaving behind a hollow shell.

Phew! That was tough — but exhilarating.

After a brief pause, he strode back into the grand chamber, where the Sun Scarab rested atop its pedestal. As he grasped it, a faint electric jolt pulsed through his arms, sending shivers across his skin.

But nothing else happened. Settling onto the ground, he began sorting through his notifications.

Skills:

[Zen Flow lvl 14 -> Zen Flow lvl 15]

[Mana Blast lvl 10 -> Mana Blast lvl 12]

[Mana Scrambling lvl 10 -> Mana Scrambling lvl 12]

[Mana Shaping lvl 5 -> Mana Shaping lvl 9]

[Layered Mana Shield lvl 3 -> Layered Mana Shield lvl 7]

[Mana Pulse lvl 2 -> Mana Pulse lvl 8]

[Restorative flow lvl 1 -> Restorative flow lvl 6]

Alaric preferred to check his skill-level notifications only after they had accumulated for a while. Otherwise, seeing insignificant progress soured his mood. Among all his abilities, [Mana Pulse] had advanced the most — no surprise, since he relied on it frequently to map the terrain of the Howling Expanse.

He took a deep breath, clearing his mind. Now, it was time to focus on the insights he had gained from fighting the solar automaton.

Ding! Insight detected for the skill [Mana Strengthening lvl 10] (Common). Skill evolution options available - Mana Reinforcement (Uncommon), Mana Empowerment (Uncommon), Mana Augmentation (Uncommon).

Alaric grinned. He had already researched the common evolution paths for [Mana Strengthening], and among them, he saw the option he had been hoping for.

He recalled what he had learned about each evolution.

Mana Reinforcement was the direct upgrade to the mana-strengthening skill. Thus, it allowed users to infuse their whole body with mana to improve strength, agility, and durability with greater potency.

Mana Empowerment—the skill he desired—offered much greater precision and efficiency. It allowed cultivators to selectively enhance their muscles, bones, nerves, or joints as needed.

The skill came with a trade-off - Mistakes could prove costly for those without fine control.

That very reason made it unpopular among most practitioners. But for someone like Alaric — who excelled at precise skill manipulation — it presented a far greater advantage.

There was another compelling reason he wanted it: it would be invaluable in his reforging sessions.

The final option - Mana Augmentation - was a little different. Instead of fortifying the body, it amplified mana-based attacks such as [Mana Blast] and [Mana Scrambling].

It was an enticing alternative, and for a long time, he had debated whether to choose it. However, after some consideration, he decided to go with mana empowerment. The reason was simple.

The skill would complement his body reforging sessions and offer a greater boost when he cycled his root chakra energy. Without further ado, he selected mana empowerment as his next skill upgrade.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill [Mana Empowerment] (Uncommon).

[Mana Empowerment lvl 1]

Mana Empowerment – You can infuse your muscles, bones, nerves, and joints with mana to temporarily exceed your physical limits, greatly enhancing strength, speed, and durability. This skill also allows for selective reinforcement of specific body parts for improved efficiency. Higher skill levels increase power, duration, and control, making enhancements more potent and sustainable.

He used his new skill to precisely fortify the muscles in his body and instantly sensed a difference. The flow of mana coursed through him with far greater fluidity, seamlessly synchronizing with his reforged muscles. His muscles contracted and relaxed with greater efficiency, responding to his commands almost effortlessly.

This is incredible!

Alaric wanted to test his newly evolved skill while fighting a monster, but for now, he decided to exit the rift. He was exhausted and needed some rest.

***

The Next Day

“Kid, are you sure you want to reforge another organ?” Edgar asked, his tone laced with skepticism. “Reforging five aspects of your body is going to be quite a hassle.”

Alaric simply grinned and replied, “Absolutely. I’ll be fine,” as he examined the small vial of sky-blue liquid — The Abyssal Tidemother’s Elixir.

The Sanctum Keeper had done him a favor by offering such a rare elixir. Settling into his usual spot on the forest floor in The Whispering Woods, he downed the elixir in one smooth motion.

The liquid slid down his throat like an icy stream, pooling in his stomach. Yet, strangely, he didn’t feel the coolness in his stomach. Instead, it spread from his throat to his lungs, each breath turning frosty cold.

A deep shiver overtook him as the frost spread from his lungs, creeping into his limbs and even his fingertips.

He anchored his focus on his breathing and the vivid image of his lungs expanding within his mind’s eye. Deep, deliberate breaths came easily, but each inhale sent another icy chill down his spine.

Slowly, his senses dulled as a vast, boundless void enveloped him. Only his awareness of his lungs remained — an intricate projection unfolding before him. As his perception deepened, he delved into their structure.

He traced the flow of cold through his trachea, down into the bronchi, where it branched into a sprawling network of delicate muscles—bronchioles—that ultimately fed into tiny air-filled sacs—alveoli.

A wave of disgust churned in his gut. These tiny sacs were saturated with toxins and impurities, thick enough to make him gag. He couldn’t fathom how he hadn’t detected these impurities before.

How am I even breathing?

The elixir methodically dissolved the impurities, expelling them through each exhale. Every breath burned his throat as the tainted remnants scraped against his airways, leaving behind raw irritation.

Clenching his jaw, he cycled his [Restorative Flow] skill, healing the scarring in his throat and numbing the pain.

Suddenly, a crushing pressure swelled within his lungs, threatening to rupture them. His breath caught in his throat as searing jolts of energy rippled through his chest. The fragile air sacs and delicate muscle fibers quivered under the strain.

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Just before the pull of gravity separated his awareness from his body, he activated [Mana Empowerment], directing its power into the intricate tissues of his lungs.

In the vast void of his mind, his lungs illuminated like ancient roots spreading through fertile soil. The tiny air sacs expanded further, weaving into an elaborate network of blood vessels, pulsing with newfound vitality.

Three radiant energies—blue, green, and red—converged upon his lungs in perfect harmony, each playing its role: purging impurities, reforging lung tissues, and healing them—over and over again.

Time lost its meaning. Under the combined influence of his [Restorative Flow] and [Mana Empowerment] skills, the reforging process progressed effortlessly. He didn’t even need to use the power of his chakras.

He surrendered all control to the forces already in motion and immersed himself in studying the intricate anatomy of his lungs, determined to extract every possible insight.

When he finally emerged from his trance, his entire body felt significantly lighter. A sudden, irresistible urge to take a deep breath overpowered him, and when he did, it felt as though he was inhaling fresh air for the first time.

It was as if he had spent his whole life breathing polluted air, and now, a natural filter had formed in his lungs, screening out the contamination. He could inhale and exhale at an astonishing rate, each breath rejuvenating his body and saturating his blood with oxygen.

Everything was going well — until Alaric suddenly froze. Where is the stench of the impurities?

His gaze snapped toward Edgar, who was grimacing and pinching his nose with visible discomfort. Clearly, the head butler could still detect the stench.

Hmm... does that mean I’ve become immune to foul odors? He grinned and inspected his gains.

Lung Reforging:

Reforging Progress - 4%

Mana Infusion Potency - 5%

“Are you done already?” said Edgar, confused. “That took you half the usual time.”

Alaric simply nodded. So, using [Mana Empowerment] helps to accelerate the reforging process. It was just as he had hoped.

Edgar parted his lips, seemingly about to say something, but then he hesitated, shaking his head instead. “Quit grinning like a fool and take this,” he extended a wooden stick toward Alaric. “You need a shower. Now.”

Alaric grabbed the stick, and with a brief flash of mana, they both vanished.

***

Freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothes, Alaric ran his fingers through his hair, feeling refreshed after purging himself of lingering impurities.

Fortunately, the lung reforging hadn’t dulled his ability to perceive pleasant scents—only the repulsive ones. And for that, he was immensely grateful. After all, how could he possibly enjoy his meals otherwise?

His eyes fell upon the array of dishes neatly arranged on his table. The sight alone ignited his hunger. He lifted a spoonful of steaming chicken broth, inhaling its rich aroma, when suddenly a maid burst into his room, her breath ragged.

“Y-Young master,” she stammered, clutching her chest, her face pale as bone. “They’re calling for you.” Her eyes kept darting outside the window.

Alaric didn’t bother asking what had gotten her so scared. Instead, he left his food and strode toward the window.

Outside, three figures on horseback stood before the manor’s main gate, surrounded by a throng of guards.

They were clad entirely in black—armor, cloaks, everything. The man in the center—their leader — bore a black mask and a flowing cape, emblazoned with the sigil of a Radiant Sun.

Alaric didn’t need to see anything more to understand that these men were associated with the Church of The Radiant Flame.

What he couldn’t comprehend was why his father—the Count—wore such a grim expression. Nor why Edgar, Captain Aldric, and Sir Baldwin mirrored the same solemn look.