A True Comrade

[Soft Sword Mastery Acquired!]

[Throwing Weapons Mastery Acquired!]

[Great Sword Mastery Acquired!]

[Bow and Arrow Mastery Acquired!]

In a certain room inside a luxurious establishment inside the Inner Disciples Region of the Paradyne Academy. The figure of a young man could be seen intermittently smiling while waving numerous weapons on both hands. At first, his movements looked amateurish and inexperienced, but as time passed by, his moves became fluid and without waste.

If a master of the sword path was present and saw Dan's improvements, his jaw would definitely fall for several stories and even pierce through the core of the planet. However, despite Dan's familiarity with the weapons, he knew that he shouldn't be complacent. After all, mastery of weapons wasn't everything on the battlefield.

"The Weapon Mastery skills instantly adjust my mind and my body with the weapon. However, it doesn't mean that I'll instantly become a master, just because I'm familiar with the weapon doesn't mean that I'm a master..." Dan shook his head and stopped his inflating ego.

All sorts of miracles and mysteries existed under the heavens. Dan knew the becoming overly arrogant would become his downfall. Nevertheless, he didn't suppress his excitement and shouted for as long and as high as he could. Fortunately, the walls of his room were reinforced with Sound Isolating Formations or else his neighbors would think that he was being murdered.

"Now I suddenly regret letting George go. If he stayed, I could have someone spar with me so I can gauge my current battle prowess..." Dan mumbled to himself before shaking his head, stretching his body, he walked out of the Inn and explored the Inner Disciples Region.

The Inner Disciples Region was located in the heart of the Paradyne Clan Region. If one knew nothing, they would find it hard to believe that such a vast expanse of land was the entire Academy Grounds.

Life inside the Paradyne Academy could be compared to city life. All sorts of mortals could be seen walking everywhere, and all sorts of stalls with great food could be seen dotting the alleyways and Dan could feel a deep sense of familiarity with the area.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that the population of mortals was higher compared to the number of disciples, present. The mortals didn't act like they owned the place and would become deeply respectful in the face of a true disciple of the Academy.

Dan was inside the entertainment region and could see numerous establishments for gambling, food, bars and even brothels where one could experience the sensual pleasures in life.

"Hello there, young master. You look like you're a new face here, is it your first time here? Don't worry, come with us and we will make you comfortable as soon as possible..." A female attendant approached him from the side and tried to coax Dan in availing their massage services. Lifting an eyebrow, Dan understood that what would happen wasn't limited to just massages.

After all, cultivators faced the threat of being smitten by the heavens and they liked venting their stress in all sorts of ways.

Shaking his head, Dan got rid of the female attendant with great effort and could finally roam free without anyone offering him anything.

"Hmmm?" Dan's eyebrows locked, he saw a figure clad in jet-black robes standing near a dark alleyway. The figure talked with an inner disciple of the Academy and the expressions of the two were distorted into a lecherous one.

Dan's curiosity peaked and he approached their vicinity in a calm and discreet manner.

"Are you sure about that, bro? Are those articles that you talked to me about, brand new?"

"Indeed, they are brand new items, fam. You do know that we have numerous sources of articles, right? It should be brand new and genuine!" The jet-black robe figure spoke in an excited voice. His tone garnered the excitement of the other party as the two entered the dark alleyway.

Dan activated Stealth and followed suit, though he shouldn't really concern himself about such suspicious things since it would happen every day in this district. Dan's intuition told him that he should follow them from behind.

The two figures arrived near a dilapidated door and slid inside. Dan found himself inside a room filled with filth. A strong smell of liquor constantly wafted in the air. Scouring the area, Dan realized that only him and the two figures were present.

"Okay, now that we're here, what do you want to do? Do you want to try our strength and acquire these for free, or do you want to pay up front?" The jet-black robe figure chimed and the disciple revealed a wry smile on his face, "If I didn't hear the rumors of you having cultivated your right arm to the peak of strength, I would've challenged you." He shook his head, "But I am not so foolish to do such a thing when I know your strength..."

His words made the jet-black robe figure nod his head in satisfaction before raising his hand, displaying three fingers, "Three Standard Spirit Stones..."

"Ughhh, as usual, it's quite expensive..." The male disciple moaned in pain, but still handed over three murky Spirit Stones the size of a roadside pebble.

"I have confirmed and received the payment," The jet-black robed figure handed over three jadeslips and the disciple hurriedly stashed it inside. "It is time for me to leave, I still need to buy some incense for these articles..." His eyes flashed in a light of reverence before leaving the room.

Dan stared at the side all this while with a blank expression on his face. No matter how many simulations he did inside his mind. He never understood what unfolded before him. Kneading his aching temples, he stood up and walked towards the door.

"It would be better for you to reveal yourself, comrade." A calm voice echoed behind Dan as the latter froze. "When did he noticed me?" Dan thought inside his mind before undoing his Stealth.

His figure appeared inside the establishment like a ghost, but the jet-black robed figure merely shrugged and said, "Comrade, you could've come here using the normal procedures and I would welcome you with warm arms..." Taking a bottle of murky liquor, he poured it into a wooden cup before drinking everything down.

Slamming the wooden cup on the table, he gestured for Dan and the latter sat before the former. Dan lifted his head and stared at the other party. His eyebrows locked when he noticed that the former didn't have any trace of ill intent. "Is he not mad that I infiltrated his establishment and eavesdropped in his transaction?" Dan inwardly thought.

"Since you came here without following the normal procedure. I am afraid that I have to test if you're a genuine comrade..." The man's eyes flashed in a critical light and Dan mumbled, "A genuine comrade, what's that?"

The jet-black robed man, chuckled, "Only those who remained untainted with the temptations of life and haven't listened with the whispers of the demons can become our true comrade, a pure mind without intent for sensual pleasures, we only accept that kind of people as our comrade..." The man's eyes shone in a melancholic light and Dan couldn't help but think back about their conversation with a fellow disciple.

"You may have heard about it earlier, but what the comrade said earlier was true, my right arm is stronger than my left." Placing his right arm that looked average above the table, he softly mumbled, "I have cultivated my right arm's strength for about two decades, enduring the lonely days with my right arm, I have achieved the peak of arm strength, and creatures such as girlfriends do not matter to me anymore..."

Dan stared blankly at him like a petrified wooden chicken.

"Come, place your arm, display your purity to me and showcase the arm strength that you have cultivated by not having a Dao Companion!" The man's voice pierced through Dan's heart and the latter remembered the days that he spent in solitude back in his previous life.

Back then, Dan was a lonely soul and without having a significant partner, his arm strength had reached the peak and he could even break a world record if not for the fact that he was an awkward and introvert man.

Remembering those days, a small smile lifted on his face and his facial expression revealed the same excitement and anticipation that the man before him had.

Dan felt excited, excited about the prospects of meeting a true comrade!