Cultivation Through Artifacts

As the half-black and white longsword pierced Emera's chest with a seemingly fatal strike, Khal looked coldly at Emera without any trace of sympathy toward her.

"I don't know nor do I care who you are but if you ever dare to disrespect me in such manner again, I won't be this forgiving as I was just now." Khal's voice was akin to a basin of cold water that made Emera's body tremble uncontrollably.

"I... I am sorry..." Emera was no fool although her temper was bad. She knew that she had died just now if it were not for the sword in Khal's hand she would have definitely seen her ancestors even though she was just 22 years old!

The feeling as life force was poured into her body through the weapon's blade was something Emera has never seen before but was smart enough to know only powerful individuals had the strength to possess one!

Khal when seeing how sincere Emera's apology was sneered coldly and pulled his sword out of her chest before placing her figure onto her feet.

"Argh..." a painful grimace emerged on Emera's somewhat pretty face the moment Khal pulled his weapon out of her body, but to her great shock blood didn't start to flow out of the wound as one would expect it to.

As a fact, the wound including the ones that she has obtained through her battle with Raven several minutes ago began to shrink and vanish, healing on their own at a terrifying speed!

'What is that sword? It not only brought me back from the edge of death but even allowed my body to heal! Wait, more importantly, who even is he?' several questions popped up in Emera's head, her brown eyes looking at Khal's cold but seemingly handsome face with both puzzlement and shock.

'So young... Is he a Core Disciple?' Emera thought in her heart but when she saw how Senior Lin appeared on her side she decided to remain silent.

"How are you feeling?" Senior Lin asked calmly, but even without a reply, she knew what the answer was and couldn't help but feel shaken inside.

The pierced chest, the broken bones, and the sliced flesh... Everything that should have needed at least a week of recovery was healed under a single minute! This was something she has only seen when one swallowed an extremely powerful healing pill or consumed a priceless treasure!

"What is that sword?" Senior Lin decided to ask, her eyes fixed on Khal's Life and Death Sword.

"It is also one of my Talents." Khal showed a smile as he waved his hand and unsummoned his sword.

"You... Just how many secrets do you still have?" Senior Lin asked as she massaged her temples gently.

"Way too many to count." Khal laughed, leaving Senior Lin dumbfounded but also thirsty to know more.

"Anyways, I hope Elder Rene will explain to us what really happened," Khal said to Senior Lin, but his eyes were already on Elder Rene's figure on the side who seemed to be at loss for words at the moment.

Upon seeing how several pairs of eyes fell on him Elder Rene straightened his posture and without any hesitation began to narrate the events that happened inside the building.

It was a short story and only under a few minutes did he finish talking, but even after a whole minute later no one talked as everyone was left stupefied. Everyone except Khal and Raven, the only two who knew the real reason why things happened as they did.

"So you are telling me... One of our Inner Court Disciple who is on the verge of stepping foot into the Third Cultivation Stage was beaten by someone at the bottom of the First Cultivation Stage? Did I understand that right?" Senior Lin asked, her face holding a deep frown.

"Yes, Sect Master." Elder Rene nodded and added, "Furthermore, the battle didn't even last more than a few seconds, about ten seconds at most."

Senior Lin widened her eyes and glanced at Emera, but seeing her face was all flushed from the shame she currently felt, she had to accept the truth.

"I see... Then she automatically becomes an Inner Disciple." Senior Lin waved her hand.

"Sect Master, if I may." suddenly Raven stepped forward and asked, "I want to challenge a Core Disciple."

Everyone's face changed when they heard Raven's request. Only Khal's face turned into a helpless smile and even shook his head as a result.

'This girl... She is truly something else.'

"Look, I respect your strength and I know you have the qualifications to beat even the best Inner Court Disciples, but a Core Disciple... You want to swallow more than you can bite." Senior Lin sighed as she examined Raven's figure in greater detail.

"Sect Master is right. Although you have won against Disciple Emera this does not mean you will be able to do the same against those that have already become a Core Disciple." Elder Rene nodded in agreement and added, "It is already a huge shock you were able to win against a peak Body Refiner with your current strength. As for a peak Body Temperer... That is just impossible."

"I will be the one to decide what is impossible or not." Raven said with great confidence and looked at Senior Lin before bowing, "I request the Sect Master's help in this manner."

Senior Lin sighed again and said, this time with a wry smile, "I would help you if I could, but the requirement to become a Core Disciple is that one needs to become a Body Temperer. Even if you have the strength your Cultivation Base is still lacking."

"I see." Raven seemed to understand and nodded, "Then I only need to become a Body Temperer. Noted."

The word 'only' made both Senior Lin and Elder Rene shake their heads helplessly. They slowly didn't know if Raven had unwavering confidence and determination or was simply arrogant.

Either way, it was not their part to determine what she will do nor how she should behave until she follows the sect's rules and dos not cause a ruckus.

"Disciple Emera, please show Raven the way into the Inner Court and also help her in anything if she has questions. Hope you can do that at least." Senior Lin said before she turned toward Khal and said with narrowed eyes, "As for you, we will talk later."

"Hehe..." Khal scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile and watched as Senior Lin vanished into thin air with Elder Rene too.

"Come, I will show you around," Emera in front of Raven while also giving a sidelong glance at Khal.

"You guys can go, I need to go somewhere else," Khal said and without waiting for a reply walked away.

"Just who is he? I have never seen his face before. Is he a Core Disciple?" Emera mumbled in a low voice.

"He was one indeed before becoming an Elder," Raven said nonchalantly, her azure eyes watching Khal's departing figure.

"I see, so he indeed wa-, wait... What did you just say? Elder?!?"

"Yes, he is an Elder of this Sect.." Raven nodded casually and ignoring the stupefied expression on Emera's face asked, "So? Will you show me where the Inner Court is or not? I wish to start my cultivation already."