Cultivation Through Artifacts

Khal was startled by what he just heard.

Just now, a boy who was a whole head smaller than him said he will crush him, which was quite surprising. Of course, he would not dare to underestimate anyone in this world because that would only mean the end of his life, but still, it was a bit funny to the point where Khal couldn't hold back his smile.

"What? You dare to underestimate this master of yours?" squinted Angor his eyes in an instant at Khal, showing he was ready to fight at any given second.

Khal, realizing his mistake waved his hand around quickly and said, "No, no, not at all. I was just... Surprised, that's all. Just surprised."

"..."

Angor however didn't really believe in what Khal just said and snorted.

"What arrogance! It seems I must teach you a lesso-."

*Slap!*

However, even before the little boy could have finished talking, suddenly a hand appeared from the side, slapping his head with such strength that it made Angor lean forward.

"Oi! What was that for?" frowned Angor angrily as he held his head in pain and glanced up at the man who just smacked his head.

"Learn manners!"

*Slap!*

"Argh! H-Hey!"

While Angor staggered forward because of the second slap, a muscular man with short black hair stepped forward and looked at Logan.

Naturally, this man was no one else but Raffin, the very first teacher who chose Andre yesterday. His whole being was just as dominating as ever, still holding an insanely powerful aura that Khal has never seen before.

"I apologize because of this rascal's behavior, I will be sure to teach him what real manner is!"

"Who is the rasca..." started to say Angor angrily, but instantly as he noticed Raffin's piercing glare he decided to stay silent.

"Ah, it's little Raf! You seem as fit as ever, how are you?" smiled Logan happily and extended his arm forward to shake hands.

"!?"

When Khal and Angor on the side heard that Logan called Raffin as little Raf, who was in fact older than him, they didn't know how to react.

In this world, it was common knowledge that the older one was, the bigger and stronger power they held. So because of that, respect was a must. But even if one was a complete idiot and ignored that fact, it was an unwritten rule to respect your elders if you wanted to avoid unnecessary problems, so hearing just how Logan called Raffin left the two utterly dumbfounded.

And what was even more confusing that for some reason, Raffin didn't show even the slightest of irritation by what he had just heard, but simply smiled back at Logan and grabbed his hand!

He let the whole matter go without caring!

"Greater than ever. And as I can see, you have become even stronger too! Haha! If you have the time, I hope we can spar sometime!" said Raffin with a radiating smile as he shook Logan's hand with a firm hold.

"For sure! It was long ago since I fought against you, so I would gladly accept your offer." replied Logan with the same delighted expression like he just reunited with his long-lost brother.

However, what Khal and Angor did not know, that below those happy facades, what transpired was an insanely huge, but invisible war. It was a battle to assess the other's strength with nothing more but their very own Essence!

Just only after learning how strong the other one became did the two let go of each other's hand, but even after that, they stayed silent for quite a while.

"So? Your discipline wanna fight with mine?" asked Logan, breaking the silence with another smile.

"Yes." nodded Raffin and crossed his bulging arms before his wide chest. He stood there like he was able to support the skies if it was about to collapse just by his own body alone.

"I see. I was about to do other things, but if this is the case, I can't refuse. Let's go." said Logan and after glancing at Khal, he started to show the way toward the arena.

Raffin and Angor started to follow Logan in silence, while Khal stayed behind for a bit and sighed. He knew that he had no choice because if once one challenged him for the right of his key, he must accept.

"Well, if he has the courage to challenge me, he must be strong right?" thought Khal with a nonchalant expression and was about to step forward, when suddenly a sharp pain penetrated into his right ear.

"What the...!" started to say Khal, however the moment he raised his hand to check what happened, Khal's eyes widened with shock.

With surprise, he activated his Heaven's Eyes and looked at his right ear. There, what he could see was a small, glamorous earring, made out of shining black crystal.

"Huh? Isn't this...?" thought Khal as he realized that it had the exact same look and shape his weapon had before it had been destroyed by the Razor Hound. The only difference however was that it was a mini version of it, while the black crystal had a deeper shade than before.

Just as he was about to see if it truly was what he thought, suddenly Logan's voice sounded in his ear.

"Let's go."

"Sure." replied Khal quickly and caught up with the three, but deep inside, he was still extremely confused.

He could clearly feel that the earring on him emitted a gentle power, exactly the one he used to kill the Razor Hound. To feel that power from his earring that had a strange connection with his body, made Khal wonder.

"This should be because of that Ember Core I obtained, right? Just what is an Ember Core?" thought Khal and started to ponder.

Naturally, Logan and Raffin noticed the change in him too, but didn't say anything. Whatever Khal found troubling was not their business, and to tell the truth they didn't really care about it.

Instead, they continued to stay silent as they walked forward and it wasn't long when they finally arrived before the same building where Liza fought with Janna.

"We have arrived." told Logan and pushed the door open, revealing the colossal arena with a circular platform in its middle.

However, when Khal entered the building, he wasn't surprised because of the massive sight before him, but instead the hundreds of people around the place.

"Huh?"

As they walked in, Angor on the side noticed Khal's stupified expression and pushed his chest out with pride.

"Surprised? I told my friends to invite everyone they know, so they can witness as I crush you with my power!"

"..."

When hearing this, not just Khal, but even Logan and Raffin looked at Angor in silence. Asked your friends to invite everyone they know? And just only to show off your power before hundreds of people? Just how much courage does this little boy have?

Proud, Angor grinned widely like a kid amazing his parents and with steady steps walked forward, ignoring the sharp stares from both the experts and Khal.

"Hey look, he finally came!"

"Oh? So he is the one who challenged that guy for Blade Mountain's right? Is he strong?"

"Can't you see? With such determined expression and posture who would think he is weak? Also, look at his Cultivation Tattoo! He is on the Third Cultivation Stage!"

"What? Oh my God, you are right! He is truly on the Third Cultivation Stage!"

People started to talk among each other loudly, causing the whole place to turn noisy in an instant.

Normally, Khal wouldn't care about what others talked about, but when he heard that Angor was on the Third Cultivation Stage, he turned silent.

He didn't notice it before because he didn't check it, but now that he paid greater attention to it, he was able to see three thin lines under each other on Angor's wrist. The first two lines went around his wrist fully, while the last one was only a small dot, showing that Angor had broken into the Third Cultivation Stage not long ago.

"Never judge a book by its cover, huh?" sighed Khal after realizing his mistake and glanced at the little boy again, but this time with seriousness.

"In the future, I need to be way more careful." thought Khal and instantly after his expression turned calm once again, he walked forward.