Weapons Hall

"Bang"

After 15 minutes of cultivation, Alex advanced to the third stage of the body refinement realm.

He blinked his eyes open. Alex felt the vast energy within his body surge and flood through each meridian of his body, his eyes flashing with joy.

He took a deep breath, savoring the sensation of immense power coursing through him.

"I stink like shit!" he grumbled as he sniffed his own body.

"I suppose I should take a bath, but first let's see how much Qi I'll need for the next realm." He examined his status screen.

[Name: Alex Dracon]

[Cultivation Level: Body Refinement Realm Stage 3]

[Stage 4: 0/450]

[Element: Destruction]

[Bloodline: ???]

[Physique: temporarily sealed]

[Inventory: None]

[Skill: Non-Dimensional God Refining Technique (1)]

"450 this time; that means I'll need more than half an hour to reach the fourth realm; the time is getting longer with each minor realm, and why 450 and not 300?

Shouldn't it be double the previous amount, but this time it's triple."

[Of course, host, the first to third stages were all about strengthening your blood and flesh, and now both of them have reached the pinnacle of what anyone in the body refinement realm can achieve, and now that you're entering the fourth stage, it'll be about strengthening your muscles and bones,] the system explained.

[In every realm, the first to third stages are considered low level, the fourth to sixth stages are mid-level, and the seventh to ninth stages are high level, and every time the host must cross the barrier between these levels, the more Qi the host will require.] The system explained.

"Then can a cultivator in the third stage fight a cultivator in the fourth stage?" Alex inquired.

[It varies; many people can fight people of higher stages than them, but crossing between barriers is rare, and those who can are considered geniuses.]

"Really?" Alex asked, surprised.

[Yes, the host should be able to fight someone in the 4th stage Body Refinement realm on an equal footing, and if the host practices some techniques, I am confident you will easily defeat them.]

Hearing the system's words, Alex was filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Doesn't that mean if I reach the 7th stage of the body refinement realm, I could fight someone who is in the 9th stage?" Alex asked, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

If he truly could, Alex believed he could easily win this tournament; his father told him that the weakest competitor should be in the 7th stage of the body refinement realm, and if he reached the seventh stage, he could probably win without too much effort.

[...]

[Host, I understand what you're thinking, but you're incorrect.

Even if you make it to the seventh stage, I doubt you'll be able to win.]

"Huh, why?"

[Your father has stated unequivocally that the weakest one will be at the 7th stage of the body refinement realm, which means that even if you could defeat a 9th stage body refinement realm, there is a chance that there are stronger people who have already reached the Qi Gathering realm, and there is no way you could defeat a Qi Gathering realm, as there are many differences between it and the body refinement realm.]

"You're right, don't worry; I know that reaching the seventh stage isn't enough."

Well, Alex was indeed thinking of only reaching the 7th stage and taking it easy, but hearing the system words, he understood how stupid his idea was, there was no way this competition is that easy.

While he couldn't believe it, his father's words were clear that the competition would be fierce, and reaching the seventh stage of body refinement might not be enough to secure victory.

"I'll need to get to the Qi gathering realm before the competition," he reasoned.

[You have seven months to practice; forget about reaching the seventh stage of the body refinement realm; in these few months, you could even advance to the Qi Gathering realm.

I'd be very disappointed if you couldn't.]

Alex decided to take a bath before going to pick out a weapon for himself. Following that, he will visit the clan library and select some techniques to practice. He was determined to make the most of the remaining seven months.

He left his house after taking a bath and went to the weapon hall. The clan's weapons are kept in the weapon hall, where you can find everything from swords to spears and even more exotic weapons like glaives.

The weapons in this world are graded from mortal to earth, sky, heaven, and divine, with four levels in each grade: low, mid, high, and peak.

Having a low-grade mortal weapon was advantageous to Alex, who was in the third stage of body refinement; if he had attempted to take a higher-grade weapon, he would have found it extremely difficult to control due to his limited strength.

Alex had always been good with the sword since he began training, and it was clear that he had a natural affinity for the weapon, which is why he had already decided what to choose from the weapon hall.

On his way there, he caught the gaze of many people, who looked at him with surprise after seeing Alex appearance, he change dramatically from the weak and seemingly powerless young man they had seen before to the current strong and imposing youth who stood in front of them.

Alex continued walking towards the weapon hall, which was located on the clan's western side, when he arrived, he quickly found the building he was looking for.

It was a two-story building with a large archway in the front and a long line of weapons displayed inside. There was a board on the building with the words "weapon hall" written on it.

Alex stepped through the archway and took a few steps into the hall. As he entered the weapon hall, he felt a sense of awe at the sight of all the weapons lined up in neat rows.

Weapons ranged from swords, axes, spears, and shields to maces, bows, and even a whip, which he had no idea could be used as a weapon.

Alex didn't linger too long looking at the weapons before moving on to the side where the swords were displayed. When he arrived, an old man was sitting in front of the sword display stand.

"Hm?' The elderly man turned to face Alex with interest in his eyes. Alex could feel the man's piercing gaze as he cautiously looked back at the old man.

"Oh, I've never seen you before, kid.

Who are you?" The old man inquired after Alex came to a halt in front of him.

"Greetings Elder" Alex greeted the old man with a polite bow and responded, "I am Alex, elder."

"Alex?

I've heard of that name before." The old man's face lit up with recognition, and he looked at Alex again with shock in his eyes.

"Don't tell me... you are that waste, Alex?"

To Be continued...