Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

Chapter 29 29 Body Beyond Limits

One hour passed.

And yet, he was still running.

The rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoed across the training grounds.

He neither gasped for breath nor slowed his stride.

Aizen watched with wide eyes, his expression one of disbelief.

But the most surprised person on the field was William himself.

"What the hell? Why am I not tired?"

By all logic, he should have collapsed by now.

Even if he didn't fall, his legs should have grown sluggish, his breath ragged.

That was how the human body functioned—at least for those who hadn't transcended their limits.

Yet, strangely enough, his body showed no signs of fatigue.

"Young Master, are you truly all right?" Aizen finally asked.

William, still running, responded with an equally confused look.

"For some reason... I seem to be fine."

Another thirty minutes passed.

And still, he showed no signs of exhaustion.

Eventually, Aizen let out a dry chuckle, realizing the futility of continuing the exercise.

"It seems this test serves no further purpose. Come here for a moment, Your Highness."

William slowed to a stop and approached.

Aizen took hold of his wrist and pressed two fingers against the faint blue veins beneath his skin.

"I will examine your physical state. You may feel something unusual, but do not move."

As soon as William nodded, a cool sensation seeped into his wrist, spreading through his body.

A faint tremor ran through him at the unfamiliar feeling.

"Is he using his magic to sense the internal structure of my body?"

William couldn't help but admire the technique.

Magic was notoriously difficult to manipulate without manifesting it externally.

Yet Aizen was delicately guiding his magic through William's body, probing every part with the precision of a master craftsman.

There was no pain, only the slightest discomfort—likely the result of Aizen adjusting the magic's properties to harmonize with William's own energy.

This level of control was beyond what William had ever imagined possible.

At last, Aizen's eyes trembled, his expression shifting through a whirlwind of emotions.

Disbelief. Excitement. Regret. Relief. Contemplation.

"Your Highness," Aizen's expression grew serious, his voice steady and deliberate.

"Instead of vying for the position of House Hern's successor... have you ever considered aiming to become the next Sword Saint?"

"...!?"

William was too stunned to respond.

Abandon the struggle for succession... and instead pursue the path of a Sword Saint?

Seeing his confusion, Aizen spoke again, his tone calm and measured.

"Your Highness, you may have dismissed the ease of your energy circulation as insignificant, but in truth, it is an extraordinary blessing."

Energy circulation was the process by which the body purified itself, gradually clearing blockages in the internal pathways.

Even if practiced daily without fail, the process was incredibly slow.

For a child who began training early, achieving full circulation typically required decades—at best, a lifetime of dedication.

And that was assuming the individual also practiced advanced sword techniques to refine their energy.

Neglect even a single step, and the pathways would remain obstructed for an entire lifetime.

"But Your Highness..." Aizen exhaled slowly, as if trying to contain his own astonishment.

"You were born with all your pathways completely open."

William stiffened.

"...Meaning?"

"Meaning you have surpassed what others take a lifetime to achieve, before even beginning formal training."

"...Then I am simply ahead by a few decades, am I not?"

Aizen shook his head.

"It is far more than that."

William frowned.

"What could be greater than such a head start?"

Aizen's voice trembled slightly as he spoke the next words.

"If all your pathways had been open from birth, then your body has already undergone complete purification. There is no higher state."

William's breath caught in his throat.

Then...

"And yet," Aizen continued, his gaze burning with an intensity William had never seen before, "your body is still refining itself. Even now, however faintly, your circulation continues to improve."

William's mind reeled at the implication.

It meant one thing.

His body had already reached perfection.

Yet somehow—he could still grow stronger.