INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

"The reason being that I'm proficient in all the weapon-fighting styles one can master with their hands." Adam said with a flicker of a smile that had a lot of pride in it.

"Well, that's advantageous for me then. Even if you're not the most exceptional teacher, you'll still be able to impart more weapon styles to me than any other master could.

Although it may not be entirely comparable, it's still far superior in other aspects," William remarked, his gaze shifting around Adam's body before he asked, "Adam, where's the sword? You don't seem to have it with you."

Adam nodded, glancing at his right side, where the sword should have rested, but now it still conspicuously absent. "Yeah, the bald guy named Delmar took it. He said he was going to verify its authenticity and ensure it's still… up to standard, I think."

"But he mentioned something about experimenting with the sword. Should I be concerned?" Adam asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

"I don't think so," William replied, as Adam's his brow furrowed slightly. William quickly added, "At least this way, you'll know if it's the real deal or not. Don't stress over it too much—he might look a bit peculiar, but his work is generally reliable… for the most part."

Adam wasn't entirely sure whether to feel reassured or to worry, but for now, he chose to let it slide and inquired, "Before we proceed, tell me about your strengths, your level, and which realm you're currently in. That is, if you're following the modern power system or if you're still adhering to the ancient method of cultivating over eons?" Adam added a light in the end.

William shook his head with a slight smile. "Yeah, I don't think anyone's insane enough to use the ancient cultivation method anymore. It's far too time-consuming, and the level of difficulty is exponentially higher compared to mana training."

"That may be true, but the ancient method is actually a more economical way for most to train. Mana training, while superior in many respects, has one significant drawback: its cost." Adam said in counter.

"It's prohibitively expensive to train that way. Only those born into wealth or with substantial backing can afford mana training or they have to apply to military which will quickly lock out their freedom." Adam said in dread.

"That's one of the reasons why the ancient cultivation method is still prevalent among the general populace."

William nodded, acknowledging the validity of Adam's argument. He also understood the other compelling reason the old cultivation method persisted: Raw Strength.

Even though mana training excels in numerous ways, it may always lag behind in terms of sheer, unadulterated power. Mana training allows for the casting of multiple spells, which helps to offset this deficiency, but without mana, an individual is left to rely solely on their physical strength.

When it comes to Pure Physical Power, only a Cultivator can truly dominate. Even if that cultivator were to face multiple adversaries, the odds would still tilt in their favor.

One of the reasons why the old stories were able to be so legendary and still remain true to their words.

Flying Swords, Pulling a mountain with bare hands, killing of thousands with just a swift of their hands and even being able to sleep with the king's wives. All of them had one thing common about them and that was their validity.

Clearing his mind, William continued, "Well, my current level is TWO, my realm is Peak, and my highest attribute... hmm, I'd say it's strength."

William didn't feel the need to conceal his true power level because there was no reason to. Although their bond might not be foolproof, it was strong enough to foster a relationship where he could genuinely learn everything Adam had to offer.

Even if this information were to leak, what would happen? Perhaps the media would have a brief field day, and his fame would skyrocket as people hailed him as an extraordinary prodigy, the likes of which are seen only once every few millennia.

...Perhaps he should leak it himself.

As William weighed the pros and cons of increased popularity, particularly among the opposite gender, Adam was taken aback, thinking, "Is he serious? Or is he just trying to make himself look better? But judging by his expression, he's not lying. But... seriously, Level TWO Peak Realm?"

"Are you really at such a high level?" Adam asked, snapping out of his thoughts.

William refocused and replied, "Yeah, I know it sounds a bit far-fetched, but I'm inexperienced in combat, so that evens it out." William said trying to be modest.

'This kid... I don't think he realizes the gravity of his situation,' Adam thought.

'He might be one of the few young people in all of Escana to reach such a high level.' Then he reconsidered, 'No. He isn't one of the few; he's the only one at such a high level who seems completely unaware of it. Is it just me, or have I been so out of touch that the next generation is just built so differently?'

These thoughts raced through Adam's mind before he shook them off, noticing William still waiting for him. "Alright... You said your strongest attribute is strength, right?"

William nodded, and Adam continued, "But you also mentioned that you lack combat experience, so how is strength your highest skill?"

William was caught off guard by the question, realizing he hadn't fully understood the connection between combat and one's attributes. All of his attributes were roughly equivalent, with none standing out more than the other. The reason he had cited strength was that it felt marginally superior to him.

Perhaps the Dragon Breathing skill played a role in this. Without fully grasping the implications, he had simply spoken his mind.

"By what is commonly known people are only strong in categories that have a connection with their lives."

"Ahh... I'm not entirely sure," William admitted. "But whenever I run, punch, or do anything physical, I always feel like my strength is slightly better than my speed or defense."

Adam nodded thoughtfully. "Your body might be an anomaly. Most people in your situation would find their speed or agility to be their strongest attributes, but some are different."

"But let's not dwell on that. Let's return to the primary issue. You've told me about your skills and power, but I can't accurately assess what I'm dealing with until I evaluate them firsthand. So here's what we're going to do now:

First, you'll come at me with your full strength, and I'll only dodge or defend without retaliating. Then, I'll come at you, and you'll need to defend against my attacks or, if possible, counterattack."

"The first scenario will allow me to gauge your strength and skill level, and the second will help me assess your speed and reaction time. With both combined, I'll be able to identify your weaknesses. Does that make sense?"

William thought to himself, "He said he hasn't done this training thing for a while, but based on how he just explained it, it was actually quite well-structured." He nodded in agreement.

"Alright then, come at me with your full strength."