Cultivation Through Artifacts

Khal stared at his armor which was now completely gray and felt great joy. But to erase his suspicion that still lingered in his heart, he threw a punch once again, this time toward a bigger and way massive boulder on the other side.

BAM!

With a loud crash, the huge boulder that could have broken any Low Stage Cultivator's first if they tried to simply punch it without any Secret Art or armor, now rendered into dust while the armor seemed perfectly fine!

"Just as I have thought." sighed Khal happily, as his suspicion had fully vanished.

It seems the material of the armor has truly changed, but its durability has not. It was as solid as ever, maybe even a bit stronger than it previously was!

"Could it be that the more I change its appearance the harder it can get? I can't wait to find it out!"

Feeling as his curiosity started to grow hence walked next to the small pond in the distance and put his hand into it.

And just as he thought, after a few seconds his scales trembled and changed, giving him an appearance as if his armor was made out of crystal clear water yet his body could not be seen at all!

It even flowed around his body, giving a feeling he was truly made out of pure liquid which was amazing!

"Let's see if the same goes for its hardness too like this." Khal didn't hesitate and swung his arm, punching a wide tree into dust in a flash!

BAM!

Watching as the tree fell heavily onto the ground, Khal raised his arm and couldn't help but form a wide smile below his face.

This was incredible! Outrageously amazing and unbelievable! This armor was simply the best as it not only had great defense, but it had a camouflaged ability too!

Coupled with his Talentless Presence, now he could truly hide whenever and wherever he wanted from now anyone!

Once he does then no one will be able to find him! Maybe it was not arrogance to assert that not even a Ninth Stage Cultivator had what it took to find him once he conceals himself!

"I did the right choice, no question about it." nodded Khal as he made the armor vanish from his body back into his consciousness and retrieve his fan in the next second.

Taking out the scroll and opening it, Khal read the concept of the Hundred Slice Cage and memorized it.

After 1 hour, as its concept and the level of complexity of the Art was quite deep to understand, Khal extended his weapon and closed his eyes.

In a wink, his interior arose in his mind whilst several paths where he could control his Essence appeared; obviously, they were the normal Essence Paths and not the ones that were sealed.

"I should use it like this right?" murmured Khal as he began to manipulate his Body Essence from his chest slowly toward his fan. The sole exception this time compared to any other was that he bent and twisted the Essence like a rope, giving it a twisted string-like appearance during its route!

"Let's try it out." once the Essence reached his fan, causing it to light up with a gentle silver glow with a mixture of blue, Khal swung his weapon.

Swish!

Several crescent arcs with the color of silver and blue arose before Khal, however instead fly into the distance and slicking the trees up, it simply floated before him, seemingly gently and harmless.

"It worked!" Khal felt ecstasy upon learning he succeeded on the first time, but the best part was still in the end.

Raising his fan, Khal smiled and swayed it once again, but this time he sent normal wind blades instead of the first type ones.

And just as he did...

BOOM!

With a great explosion that sent debris and broken tree parts into the air, Khal searched as the surrounding areas got exploded almost to nothingness!

From a few wind blades that exploded, he achieved greater chaos than he would with his Devil Fangs normally!

"This will come in handy." thought Khal as he knew that with his ever-growing Essence, this Secret Art will be one of his killer moves for sure!

-

-

-

Time passed in a wink and the darkness fell finally, opening the banquet that all participants have waited for!

"I am glad to see all of you in one piece and I hope it will remain like this! Now then, enjoy the food, the drinks, and the fresh atmosphere as long as you wish!" Master Adam raised a glass of champagne toward the crowd before him, opening the feast officially!

CHEERS!! 

After raising their respected glasses full of different kinds of wines and champagne, everyone took a small sip from their drinks and began to talk with each other spiritedly.

"So Khal, what are your plans for the future?" Raven who had already found Khal and Theon among the crowd, looked at the former one with interest in her eyes.

"Huh? My plans? Well, I should go back to my Academy first and graduate. If I know it right, one is eligible to leave the Academy once they surpass the Fifth Stage and beat their Master."

"Yep, that is true. But what about after that? Any exact plans except getting stronger?" asked Raven, making both Khal and Theon feel confused as they did not understand her sudden questioning.

"Well... I have no specific objective as I only want to become stronger with each day thus no, except getting stronger I have none."

"I see. And what about you, Theon?"

"The same as for Khal. Graduate, and getting stronger. I plan to become as strong as my Master!" Theon's eyes brightened up like stars in the sky, making Raven smile warmly immediately.

"You seem very fond of your Master. What is his name?"

"Of course I am! He is the kindest and best Master one can wish for! He knows everything and can solve anything! But as for his name..." suddenly Theon's smile vanished and only an awkward laugh escaped his mouth.

"I am sorry, but I fear I cannot tell you as I was prohibited from doing so."

"I see, that is not a problem at all, I can understand your Master." smiled Raven, but her eyes flashed with a mysterious glint.

"And what about you? What do you plan to do now that you placed 1st? You are famous now you know that right?" grabbing the momentary silence Khal grabbed the opportunity and asked Raven.

"What are my plans, hmm..." pondering deeply without any sign of acting, Raven shifted her gaze at Khal and said, "As I have already passed the final test of my Academy and successfully graduated from there, I plan to make my own Sect."

"So that is why you asked us what we plan to do, now it makes bigger sense." nodded his head Khal and asked, "And why a Sect? I mean, it needs tons of things to create and build a Sect out of nowhere, right?"

"Yes it is, but I have already planned beforehand and completed everything. The only thing that now waits for me is to collect members that are wishing to join my Sect."

"And so far how many members did you gather?" asked Theon, no sarcasm or sly meaning behind his words.

"If you join, then that will make it 91, hence you can still be considered as a Core Disciples once I form my Sect. I hope you know what a Core Disciple means and I don't need to explain," said Raven curiously, but thankfully it seemed she didn't have to.

"Yeah, that sounds exceptionally great, I will join! Though, as I said I'm still in Academy, is that a problem?" asked Theon, seemingly confused and worried.

"Not at all. If you decide to join, then you are already in, and once you graduate you can enter my Sect right away."

"Perfect, then I'm in!" smiled Theon as he already decided on the matter inside his head.

Raven smiled upon hearing this and shifted her gaze at Khal, who seemed to be still hesitant about his choice.

"How about you? Do you want to join?"