Chapter 17: Scarlet Reaper

"Super Righteous Sect? What kind of name is that? You're kidding me, right?"

Elan was stunned by the name. He couldn't help but think about what kind of man would name their faction something so absurdly self-righteous. The name sounded almost comical to him, and he struggled to take it seriously. To top it off, they even put the word "Super" on it, making it sound even more exaggerated and ridiculous.

Chuckling, Arion said, "Well, that's what it says on top of the token. You can look at it yourself."

Elan glanced at the top of the golden token, and indeed, there it was: "Super Righteous Sect." The words were clearly inscribed, the very ones he couldn't quite make out when he first examined the token in the storage ring.

"So what kind of faction is this? Is this a religious group?" Elan asked, still trying to wrap his head around the peculiar name.

Most of the sects Elan knew of on Earth were religious factions. The name "Super Righteous Sect" sounded like something a zealot might come up with, adding to his skepticism.

"Kinda," Arion began, then continued, "Okay, I'm just assuming based on what I've read in Chinese novels. In those stories, a sect is typically a group or organization dedicated to martial arts or spiritual cultivation. They usually have their own unique techniques, philosophies, and a strict hierarchy. Given the two items we found—the sword and the old book—there's a good chance that the Super Righteous Sect operates similarly to those sects in the novels. But you might be right in thinking it's a religious group, especially with a name like Super Righteous Sect." Arion laughed after his explanation.

"Also, since we're so isolated from civilization, we can't really confirm if the Super Righteous Sect actually exists in this world or if it's the same as the sects in the Chinese novels," Arion added.

Elan couldn't help but wonder why Arion said that there was a good chance that the Super Righteous Sect might be similar to the sects in the Chinese novels just because of a sword and an old book. However, if the Super Righteous Sect was indeed like those fictional sects, then perhaps they had every right to put the word "Super" in their name.

As Elan pondered this, he began to think about the kinds of people who might be members of the Super Righteous Sect. He imagined them being like those overly zealous individuals on Earth who would immediately condemn anyone who didn't share their beliefs with a stern "You're going to hell." The thought amused him, and he chuckled to himself. Even in this world, there might still be people with the same rigid mindset. The idea of encountering such characters in this new realm made him laugh, finding it oddly comforting that some things never changed, no matter where you were.

Elan decided not to dwell on it for now since there was no confirmation that they were the same. It was best to focus on the information at hand and not get lost in speculation.

"Okay, okay, let's get back on topic. So what is the connection of this golden token to the Super Righteous Sect?" Elan asked.

Arion explained, "The golden token is likely a symbol of affiliation with the Super Righteous Sect. In many sects, tokens like these are used as identification. They can serve various purposes, such as granting access to restricted areas, identifying members of the sect, or even acting as a pass for certain privileges. This token might allow you to enter specific locations within the sect's territory or give you access to resources and information that are reserved for sect members. Essentially, it's a key that can unlock opportunities and benefits within the sect."

Elan nodded, absorbing the information and thinking that the golden token wasn't of much use to him at the moment. That explained why it was considered less impressive.

He placed the golden token back on the wooden floor and said, "Alright, now tell me, what is the second most impressive of the three items?"

Elan thought the second-most impressive item would be the old book, not the sword. However, Arion's response surprised him.

"The second most impressive item is the Scarlet Reaper," Arion declared.

"What? Scarlet Reaper? It's actually the sword?" Elan was now very intrigued by the old book, wondering what secrets it held to make it the most impressive item of the three. The anticipation of discovering its contents grew even stronger in his mind.

But for now, Elan focused on the sword and said, "Okay, I didn't expect the old book to be the most impressive. But first, tell me about this.. Scarlet Reaper."

Elan was impressed by the name of the sword. Scarlet Reaper. 'How intimidating. Now that's how you name something, not like that silly Super Righteous Sect.' Just thinking about the name of the sect made Elan want to roll his eyes.

"The Scarlet Reaper is a... Mystic Grade Spiritual Weapon," Arion explained.

"Mystic Grade Spiritual Weapon? What makes this Scarlet Reaper so special compared to other weapons?" Elan asked.

"A Spiritual Weapon is crafted with special materials that imbue it with unique properties, for instance, the Scarlet Reaper is forged from a rare ore called Bloodshadow Steel, which is colored black and red. This ore gives the weapon enhanced durability, sharpness, and the ability to channel spiritual energy. Unlike Mortal Grade weapons, Spiritual Weapons are imbued with spiritual energy, offering increased effectiveness and sometimes even minor elemental or magical properties. It can also bond with its owner, making it a perfect extension of your own power."

Elan held the Scarlet Reaper in his hands, feeling the weight and balance of the weapon. He was even more impressed now that he knew about its unique properties. However, he was confused about the concept of channeling spiritual energy and how to use it effectively.

"How do I use spiritual energy?" Elan asked Arion, his curiosity piqued.

"You can't fully utilize the power of the Scarlet Reaper yet, you don't have any spiritual energy in your body," Arion explained.

Elan felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. Without spiritual energy, he couldn't harness the full potential of the weapon. He wondered what he needed to do to gain this energy and fully utilize the Scarlet Reaper's capabilities.

Arion could sense Elan's dejection after hearing that he lacked spiritual energy. Wanting to reassure him, Arion spoke up.

"Don't worry, I'll explain how to gain and use spiritual energy when we go over the old book," Arion said reassuringly. 

Hearing the old book again and how it would teach him how to use spiritual energy sparked a realization in Elan. He began to grasp why the old book was the most impressive of the three items. The thought of uncovering the secrets hidden within its pages and learning to harness spiritual energy filled him with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Elan felt a growing anticipation, eager to know its contents and uncover the mystery it held.

"For now, let me see how you wield the sword. Even without spiritual energy, the Scarlet Reaper is still more powerful than a normal weapon," Arion continued.

Without hesitation, Elan gripped the Scarlet Reaper firmly, feeling its weight. The sword was about 23 pounds. As he began to swing the sword inside the hut, he noticed that every swing produced a distinct "zing" sound, cutting through the air with precision. 

After a few minutes of swinging the sword, Elan stopped and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He realized that if he hadn't drunk the spiritual water, he would have struggled to wield this 23-pound sword. But after consuming the spiritual water, using the sword felt surprisingly easy.

"By the way, Arion, why is it called a Mystic Grade Spiritual Weapon? Are there other grades for spiritual weapons?" Elan asked.

"It's likely, but unfortunately, I don't know of any other spiritual weapons. So for me, this Mystic Grade Scarlet Reaper is the most powerful weapon I've ever seen," Arion responded.

Elan acknowledged Arion's explanation, thinking that Arion had a point. If this Mystic Grade weapon was already so impressive, he wondered what higher grades might be like. How powerful could they be? And how heavy and formidable might they feel in his hands? The thought filled him with curiosity.

"Anyway, I admit this sword is really great, but the problem is I'm not very skilled with swords. I'm more accustomed to spears," Elan admitted.

"You don't have to worry about that, I will compile all the sword movements and techniques from Earth and transfer them to you," Arion explained, then he passed the techniques by directly interfacing with Elan's neural pathways using advanced data transfer methods.

Elan felt a sudden surge of information flow into his mind. It was as if a floodgate had opened, and a torrent of data poured in. His brain tingled with the sensation of new knowledge being downloaded directly into his neural pathways. He could see flashes of sword movements, intricate techniques, and detailed stances. Each piece of information was vivid and clear, as if he had practiced these techniques himself for years.

As the surge of information finally subsided, Elan blinked, trying to process what had just happened. 

"What the hell! Why didn't you tell me you could do that? You could have done that in the first place. I thought your abilities were just to identify items and their usage," Elan exclaimed.

Elan thought about how much easier things would be if Arion could transfer information like this all the time. If Arion had transferred knowledge this way from the start, he wouldn't have had to go through long explanations. It seemed so much more efficient, and Elan couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated about the missed opportunities for faster learning.

"Why would I do that? If I did that all the time, I would be silent and not engage with you. That would be incredibly boring. It's better for us to always be engaging and getting to know each other," Arion replied while chuckling. "Besides, transferring information that way doesn't really count. It's like a copy and paste without any real understanding or connection."

Elan couldn't refute Arion's logic. The idea did make sense, even though it was a bit unconventional. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but notice that Arion sounded like a woman he had just met who was trying to get to know him better through conversation and interaction. The thought struck him as oddly humorous.

The more he considered Arion's reason for not always using direct information transfer, the more ridiculous it seemed. Unable to hold it in any longer, Elan burst out laughing. The absurdity of Arion's explanation, mixed with the strange comparison to someone trying to build a relationship, was just too much.