Edward Clark's stern and dignified face instantly showed immense anger. With a forceful step, a surge of powerful vital energy erupted within him, and the surface of the lake beneath his feet seemed to be pressed down by a tremendous force, causing the water within two meters to sink and form a huge pit. In the next moment, Mr. Clark Sr. had already dashed forward, crossing dozens of meters in a flash, and appeared directly in front of Henry Clark.

"Who... is it..." Henry Clark sensed someone rushing over and was greatly startled, instantly boosting his internal strength. He was, after all, the mighty and valiant Grand General, the empire's infamous violent bear, and his combat power was naturally formidable. He had already reached the eighth level of the Transcendent stage before the age of forty, and years of fierce battles had made him capable of erupting to face an enemy at any moment. Transcendence—once one could cross this threshold from the Saint's Vein-Cleansing stage to the Transcendent stage, one would truly enter a whole new world, and one's power would fundamentally change.

Although "moving mountains and filling seas" might be a bit of an exaggeration, possessing transcendent power was already beyond what ordinary human strength could overcome.

But this time, just as he raised his power and before he could figure out what was happening, he was already kicked flying. His body crashed straight through several corridor pillars, and in the next moment, Edward Clark stepped forward and landed several more punches.

"If he's a little bastard, then what are you? And what am I, your father..." Edward Clark had completely lost the calm he had during cultivation just now. His explosive temper erupted fully, and he gave his son a thorough beating.

"Ugh... I knew I was in for it..." As he was kicked by the old man, Henry Clark immediately understood what was going on. With plenty of experience, he hugged his head and didn't dodge, just braced himself. It was all that little bastard's fault. If he wasn't injured, just wait and see how he'd deal with him.

Other than using some vital energy for the first kick, Edward Clark didn't use any more for the following punches, and after a few blows, much of his anger had dissipated. Don't be fooled by how the old man seemed as calm as still water when commanding a million troops—unruffled, composed, both wise and brave. But all the old brothers and members of the Clark family knew that when the old man truly got angry, his temper was explosive.

"Stop pretending in front of me. You're already close to the eighth level of the Transcendent stage, with skin as thick as leather. These few hits shouldn't hurt you that much." After a few blows, his anger subsided a bit, and seeing Henry Clark's pained expression, Mr. Clark Sr. was almost amused by his lousy acting.

As soon as Henry Clark heard this, he immediately stood up straight. Growing up in a military family, standing like a pine, sitting like a bell, walking like the wind—these were the basics. Of course, that little bastard in his own family, known as the number one scourge among the four great troublemakers of the imperial capital, was an exception. He really couldn't understand—back when the old man disciplined him and his brother so strictly, if he had disciplined that little bastard the same way, he wouldn't have turned out like this. Yet in the end, all the blame was pushed onto him. What a bitter fate!

"Hmph." Seeing Henry Clark remain silent, Edward Clark snorted coldly. "Do you know why I'm hitting you?"

"Your son failed in his upbringing, letting that little... brat do something disgraceful and bring shame to the family, so..."

"Nonsense!" Edward Clark cut him off angrily before Henry Clark could finish. "I, Edward Clark, enlisted at fifteen, became a general at nineteen, led a hundred thousand troops to quell a rebellion at twenty-two, led a million troops to expand the empire's territory at twenty-five, increasing the empire from twenty-six provinces to the current thirty-nine. At thirty-two, I was made Grand Marshal, commanding all the empire's armies; at forty-one, I was titled Duke Protector of the Nation; at fifty-five, I led you and your brother to stand alone against the coalition of five nations. In sixty years, from a commoner to Grand Marshal commanding all the empire's armies, to Duke Protector of the Nation, I've endured countless slanders and injustices. Even now, the old nobility of the empire still think our Clark family isn't of noble blood, that we're just brutes. But so what? Family reputation? Nonsense! The reputation of our Clark family was earned with our fists, with military merit. What do those worthless rumors matter?"

When I was young, if I got into a fight and caused trouble, they'd say I was disgracing the family, but now that doesn't even count for anything? Why are people treated so differently? But if it's not for this, then what is the old man angry about?

"Still don't get it? How can you call yourself a father? Your son was beaten like that and you didn't even say a word." Seeing Henry Clark looking at him in confusion, Edward Clark really felt the urge to hit him again.

"Ah!" Henry Clark immediately pulled a long face. "That little... brat tried to rape a princess, we're in the wrong here..."

"In the right, in the wrong—what does that even mean? When you were young, didn't you beat up plenty of those noble brats? Even the current emperor was beaten by you. When were you ever in the right back then? Every time, wasn't it me who took the blame for you?" Seeing Henry Clark still a bit unconvinced, Edward Clark said, "How I discipline you at home is our own business. Raping a princess? It didn't happen, did it? If it had, then it would be rape. If it didn't, then nothing happened. Today, I just want to ask you—how do you raise your son? He can't even handle a princess. Do you remember what I used to tell you? If you get into a fight outside, I'll cover for you even if the sky falls. If you get beaten, I'll beat you when you get home. That's how I raised my son. How do you raise yours? You can't even protect your own son. Get out."

After saying this, Edward Clark gave another kick, sending the mighty Grand General, the violent bear, flying once again.