'Sword Realm….'
Hao Xuan recalled the cultivation scriptures mentioning it over and over again but this was the first time he saw it first hand.
According to the scriptures, Weapon Cultivation was different from all other types. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages and even though some might be able to achieve the same result, but the process of doing so would be varied.
For example, a magician could learn a skill, use their mana to power it and cast a fireball. A cultivator could also do the same depending on their cultivation method.
An 'Elementalist' would focus on understanding the energies in nature and could cast the same type of fireball through utilizing the fire energies of different kinds.
And then there were weapon cultivators like Hao Xuan who used specific weapons. They would only truly shine after grasping the mysteries behind their weapons and raising their Weapon Dao.
The Weapon Dao was the mastery of the weapon so it had its own realms as well. The first five were mentioned in one of the scriptures Ryfon sent.
Realm-1: Resonance
Realm-2: Unison
Realm-3: Luminescence
Realm-4: Nirvana
Realm-5: Abyss Breaker
The better a cultivator was with the weapon, the higher their realm could be. There were different ways of raising weapon realms like practicing numerous battle skills, creating your own skills, using the weapon in combat and perfecting each and every technique etc.
"His Sword Cultivation is probably at the Second Realm at least…" Hao Xuan mumbled looking at Stasa right in the eyes. Both of them were sitting on the opposite ends of the hall but were glaring at each other with such fervor that many people noticed and cleared the way between them.
The bald teen sitting next to Stasa also noticed and a frown formed on his shiny forehead. He lightly kicked Stasa in the shins.
"Don't start again. This is neither the time nor the place. You can fight him all you want when we get into the tournament. The others will be there as well so we won't be outnumbered like today."
"I know," Stasa nodded without turning away from Hao Xuan, "I know when to back down," he finished and finally broke eye contact.
Hao Xuan smiled.
'I was right. That kid is the leader…' he thought looking at the bald teen.
Earlier and just now, the authoritative tone of his voice clearly showed that even though he was calling him brother and talking respectfully, his status was higher than him.
'Stasa is the third guardian, meaning he is one of the most trusted pupils of the hall since they allowed him to police all the other students. Yet this baldy, he doesn't care about that in the slightest. Maybe I should introduce myself…' his smile widened even more as he threw away the cigarette and stood up.
Seeing Hao Xuan getting ready to leave, the little boy extended his hands towards him.
"Daa!"
Hao Xuan stopped after taking a couple of steps and turned around to look at him.
"Almost forgot about you," with a sigh Hao Xuan bent down in front of him, "Where are your parents kid? What kind of irresponsible-" but before he could finish, a shocked gasp came from behind him and a lady walked over with hurried steps.
"Jin'er, what are you doing here?! Mommy was so worried!" she yelled, relieved.
Hao Xuan looked towards the lady and his mouth almost fell open. The lady noticed him standing there and had much of the same reaction as him but she regained her composure much earlier.
She picked up the fussing boy that kept trying to get away from her and revealed a gentle smiled to Hao Xuan.
"I'm so embarrassed. I hope this little rascal wasn't much trouble to Lord Deimos," Dai Yuan said with a slight bow of her head, waking Hao Xuan up.
He cleared his throat and swiftly shook his head, "Not at all. I just found him in the hallway outside, sleeping in a corner. I asked around but nobody knew who he was…" the explanation he gave was the one that he had come up with earlier.
Dai Yuan frowned and looked at the little boy, whose name was Dai Jin.
"How did you even get out of your room? There are dozens of protective formations around your room and none of them were even touched!"
"Da da!" Jin moved his hands up and down animatedly, trying to explain to the best of his abilities but there wasn't much he could say when he only knew one word.
Hao Xuan scratched the back of his head awkwardly and try to casually back away but Dai Jin looked over at him and extended both his hands asking to be carried.
"Daa!"
Dai Yuan was surprised yet again. Her son didn't get along with strangers at all and was usually very shy and quiet around people he didn't know but he was so friendly towards Hao Xuan?
*Cough*
*Cough*
Hao Xuan didn't know what to say or do so he quickly took a couple of steps back.
"Well since you two have been reunited, I'll take my leave."
But as soon as he turned to leave, Dai Jin started crying, and loudly! Gathering the attention of everyone in their surroundings.
Many people glanced over, looking at them with furrowed brows. To them it looked like Hao Xuan had just made the child cry and now was running away so they looked at him with disgust.
"What a horrible person."
"You really can't judge a book by its cover it seems. He looked a bit cool but is such a degenerate?"
Hao Xuan tried to ignore their words and gazes but soon met the eyes of Henrik who was looking at him with a deadly scowl.
"The academy's reputation is at stake!" his voice rang in Hao Xuan's mind, making him faltering.
"What the hell do you want me to do?!" Hao Xuan yelled in response.
***
A few minutes later the entire hall was cleared away with only an extremely long table in the center. All the participants were sitting there in a specific order. At the head of the table was Dai Yuan. To her left was Ceni and to her right was Hao Xuan with Dai Jin in his arms pulling on his mask while talking in his own language.
Many people looked over at him and whispered amongst themselves, giggling every now and then. Stasa and the bald teen were smiling ear to ear while looking straight at him.
Hao Xuan didn't even know where to look so he just sat there like a statue.
'Kill me right now….someone…..'
