Abuda asked in confusion, "A higher realm? Doesn't that just mean accumulating battle qi to break through the sixth-rank limit?"
"It does mean breaking through the sixth-rank limit imposed by heaven and earth, but there are still higher realms beyond the sixth rank. After the sixth rank comes the seventh, where battle qi turns into liquid. That lets the body hold more energy, so you aren't wrong about accumulating battle qi."
"But there are even higher realms beyond that, and the stepping stone to reaching them is comprehending the force of heaven and earth. Sense nature and find a path of heaven and earth that suits you. The earlier you start building this foundation, the more important it is. It matters far more than simply accumulating battle qi."
Although Abuda did not quite understand what his son meant, he had personally experienced the combat power of that realm in their fight just now. Delighted, he asked his son, "Does that mean you've comprehended it? Can you teach me?"
Lucas shook his head, shattering his father's hopes outright. He said bluntly, "This sort of thing depends on your ability to comprehend."
With that, he demonstrated to his father the true offensive power of the spear technique he had comprehended in the rain. Seeing his son's spear shadows filling the sky like an unceasing downpour, Abuda coveted it even more. He asked, "Can I comprehend something like that?"
Lucas glanced at his father's weapon and said with a smile, "Not with the limitations of your weapon. But you can comprehend something else!"
Abuda had felt a little dejected when his son once again said he could not, but hearing that there was something else, he happily grabbed his son's arm and asked, "Hurry up and tell me what it is!"
Lucas led his father over to a large rock and used Wielding Something Light as Though It Were Heavy. After a single spear strike, the modest-sized rock turned straight to powder, just like the one at the village training grounds.
Seeing this, Abuda clearly felt that it suited him better than those sky-filling spear shadows. He wanted to learn it even more!
Lucas's goal was to venture into the Higher Plane, and naturally, he did not want to end up all alone. That was why he wanted to stir his parents' enthusiasm for cultivation. Seeing that he had achieved the effect he wanted,
he explained to his father, "What I used was Wielding Something Light as Though It Were Heavy. It's a way of controlling force. The power erupts suddenly after the attack reaches its target, allowing you to unleash the greatest offensive power. This doesn't suit you either, but the broadsword you use is fairly heavy. You can try comprehending something else called Heavy as Light. Attacks like that look light and weightless, but they also involve controlling offensive power to the utmost before unleashing it in a final burst."
"Although one goes from light to heavy and the other from heavy to light, they reach the same destination by different paths. Both involve absolute control over yourself. After that, you can try comprehending the force of heaven and earth."
Although Abuda did not understand what these things were, he was still a Sixth-Rank Warrior. He had his own way of looking at things, so he said, "You mean absolute control over yourself and your battle qi, then."
Lucas nodded. Seeing that his father understood, he said to him, "Father, teach Mother these things too when you get back."
Abuda nodded, then left with his broadsword slung over his shoulder.
Once his father had left, Lucas turned to his magical beast, Anton. Previously, because Anton was still quite young, Lucas had brought the bear along whenever he challenged other magical beasts, but had not let the bear participate much in the fighting, except for the time they encountered a Level Nine Magical Beast. He had been forced to have Anton take the first blow for him, or neither of them would have had a chance of surviving.
After that incident, Lucas had made up his mind. He could not keep spoiling this childlike little bear. Lucas had raised a son before, too. Certain habits had to be instilled while a child was young, or the child would become completely unruly after growing a little older.
The little bear Anton had thoroughly enjoyed watching his boss thrash his father just now, and was still in the mood of a spectator watching a show. But when the bear looked up at his boss,
a sudden chill arose within. Anton hurriedly tried to remember whether the bear had caused any trouble lately. After thinking it over and deciding that there seemed to have been none, Anton relaxed, then said to his boss with a grin, "Boss, you're done fighting. Let's go back and eat roast meat!" Hearing that food was all this fellow could think about, Lucas was so annoyed that he kicked the bear's backside several times. Anton was not upset, either. The bear knew that every time his boss finished kicking that backside, meat would follow.
Lucas sighed. He had been raising this fellow like a little pet. Now it looked as though he was on the verge of spoiling the bear rotten. This would not do.
Lucas said bluntly, "All you think about is eating. I've heard of something delicious. Want to try it?"
At the mention of something delicious, the little bear Anton's eyes lit up. The bear immediately crawled over to Lucas's legs, hugged his thigh, and asked, "Boss, what is it? What ingredients do we need? I'll go get them for us!"
Lucas encouraged himself inwardly as well. I was the one who lured this magical beast over with food in the first place. I'm not angry at all. I need to be magnanimous. I'm an open-minded person.
Open-minded, my ass. Lucas promptly delivered a few more kicks. For the sake of food, the little bear crawled back over once again, looking utterly adorable. Lucas stroked his chin, put on a thoughtful expression, then said, "I remember it needs honey."
Hearing that it involved a favorite food, honey, Anton immediately began drooling. Then the bear said, "I know where the honey is at home. Boss, what's the other ingredient?"
As the bear spoke, Anton started running home. Lucas did not follow, instead saying unhurriedly, "The other ingredient is rather precious. We need a bear's right paw. I hear bear paw steamed with honey is very nourishing."
With nothing but food on the brain, Anton was still agreeing with Lucas and said without hesitation, "Where's the bear paw? Let's go get it."
After running for a little while, the little bear Anton finally caught on and jumped in fright. Trembling, the bear said, "Boss, how about we don't eat it?"
This was exactly the effect Lucas wanted. He had spoiled this brat rotten over the years, just as Linley had raised Bebe. Despite having the bloodline of a God-Slaying Rat, Bebe had ultimately failed to fuse even a single one of the profound mysteries of the laws. Without a grandfather who was a Sovereign, who knew how long it would have taken him to become a Highgod?
Now, his own magical beast did not have such exceptional advantages. This fellow's mother was merely a ninth-rank black bear. Without working hard, Anton might not even be able to break through to the Saint level. This was also the first magical beast with which Lucas had formed an Equal Contract. Lucas still did not want to give up on the bear so easily.
So he said to Anton, "What are you standing around for? Get over here and practice your magic and train!"
Before you continue