Chapter 15: South Figaro Martial Hall

Thirty miles east of the Heavenly Ultimate Hall, in an old, dilapidated temple, a bald elder landed and, without waiting for Titus to speak, pushed him into the temple. "Senior..." Just as Titus was about to express his gratitude, he suddenly felt the Blade Gale within him tremble violently, as if it might leave his body. He had a unique feeling, as if he had sensed something similar somewhere before. Sword Gale? Titus quickly realized what was happening and turned around, only to be taken aback. He saw a young girl dressed in white standing in the temple, her exquisite face flawless. Her deep, mysterious eyes were not only profound but also contained a unique vitality. Her perfect and proportional figure, coupled with her unique and spirited demeanor, was breathtaking. Titus had seen many women, but none could compare to the girl in white, not even Chloe, touted as the Skynet Sect's number one beauty. It then dawned on Titus that the girl in white was the owner of the Sword Gale. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity; it was because the Blade Gale and Sword Gale had resonated before. Once they met, this inexplicable sense of familiarity arose. "I am Titus. May I know your name, miss?" Titus bowed. "Kaylee," the girl in white replied. "Thank you, Senior, and Miss Kaylee, for your rescue. I, Titus, will remember this kindness and will surely repay it in the future," Titus said. "I don't need you to remember. You will surely repay it," Kaylee replied. "We've just met, and yet you trust me so much?" Titus was surprised. "You are a blade cultivator. Those who can become blade cultivators must have a strong and upright heart. The blade is the ultimate symbol of strength, and those without sufficient resolve cannot become blade cultivators." Kaylee glanced at Titus and continued, "Although you have cultivated the Blade Gale, the energy you've accumulated is insufficient, significantly weakening its power. Therefore, you are only half a blade master. Of course, this has to do with the martial techniques you practice. The low grade of your techniques and the few Blade Martial Techniques you've learned have led to your limited understanding of the blade." Titus was profoundly moved by these words, which clarified things that had been vague to him. Although the Venerable Clowde was a master of the blade, his understanding of it was extraordinarily high. Titus was aware of this but couldn't fully comprehend it due to his insufficient realm and understanding. What Titus lacked the most wasn't top-tier skills but rather the most basic and fundamental ones. Kaylee's insights were exactly what Titus needed, providing him with the basic knowledge he lacked. "To cultivate the blade, you must first practice many blade techniques, feeling and comprehending the blade through them, then understanding its essence." Kaylee spoke slowly, "Of course, this is just my superficial understanding. After all, I practice the sword, which is somewhat different from the blade. However, both paths ultimately converge at the highest level." Feeling, comprehending, understanding the blade's essence... This was precisely what Titus needed most. Of course, even without Kaylee's guidance, Titus would have eventually figured it out on his own, but it would have taken much longer. Kaylee's advice saved Titus a lot of time. "Thank you for your guidance, Miss Kaylee," Titus thanked her with a bow. "Don't mention it. This is just a brief overview from Kaylee. Many martial artists are aware of these principles, but whether they can understand and apply them depends on the individual," Kaylee explained. Blade cultivation and sword cultivation both are types of martial cultivation. Countless blade cultivators and swordsmen throughout history, including many masters, have left behind their experiences and understandings. As Kaylee mentioned, many inheritors of martial arts lineages are aware of these principles, but knowing them is one thing; integrating and applying them is another matter entirely. Titus also understood this. Even with the memories of the Venerable Clowde, he couldn't become a peerless powerhouse overnight. He needed time to cultivate and accumulate experience. The third stage of blade soul cultivation required an understanding of the blade. Previously unsure of where to start, Titus now knew he needed to strengthen his foundation first. As Kaylee suggested, he needed to experience the existence of the blade. As for how to do that, it was a vague concept. Therefore, he needed to deepen his experience, such as practicing Blade Martial Techniques or diligently wielding the blade. "What are your plans now?" Kaylee asked Titus. Although they had just met, their previous resonance between Sword Gale and Blade Gale made them feel like old acquaintances. Even though Kaylee's question seemed abrupt, Titus didn't find it odd. Instead, it felt like a casual inquiry between friends. "Chloe destroyed my Sea of Qi and took my Martial Spirit seed. I must seek revenge!" Titus declared. "As a blade cultivator, your resolve must be extremely firm. This Chloe is one of the main obstacles on your path of blade cultivation. To progress further, you indeed need to remove this obstacle." "However, with your current cultivation level, if you return to the Skynet Sect, you probably won't even see Chloe before being captured and punished." Kaylee paused for a moment before continuing, "The South Figaro Martial Hall in Xanth City of the Yanille Empire will open in two months. Top disciples from various sects will gather there for the battle to enter the hall. You can head to Xanth City now and wait two months to participate in the battle." Yanille Empire... Titus was naturally aware of it, being the strongest force in the Lindblum State and controlling nearly half of its territory, with Xanth City being one of the six main cities of the Yanille Empire. Of course, the most prosperous area in the entire Yanille Empire was the imperial capital. Even the combined prosperity of the six main cities couldn't match that of the imperial capital. As for the South Figaro Martial Hall, Titus had heard of it. It was one of the sacred places for young martial cultivators in the eastern part of the Lindblum State, a place many young martial cultivators longed to join. The South Figaro Martial Hall possessed cultivation resources that ordinary sects lacked. "Will Chloe participate in the battle to enter the hall?" Titus asked. "South Figaro Martial Hall opens once every two years, and the top disciples from the five major martial sects and thirty-six states of the eastern Lindblum State will participate. The Skynet Sect sends participants in each session, and as a direct disciple of the Skynet Sect's Sect Master, Chloe will definitely take part." Kaylee continued, "The golden period of martial cultivation is brief, and entering the South Figaro Martial Hall can accelerate cultivation. The powers of the eastern Lindblum State wouldn't miss this rare opportunity." "Thank you for the information, Miss Kaylee. I will leave for Xanth City immediately." Titus thanked her and set off. Xanth City of the Yanille Empire was at least ten thousand miles away, and even traveling by cloud boat would take at least half a month. "Take this token with you. If you need help, present it at the Heavenly Sword Pavilion in Xanth City, and someone will assist you." Kaylee handed a glazed sword-shaped token to Titus. "Thank you, Miss Kaylee." Titus, not one to hesitate, accepted the token. He could only remember Kaylee's kindness for now and repay it when the opportunity arose. Without further delay, Titus left the temple. Kaylee watched him go, only withdrawing her gaze after a moment. The bald elder appeared beside her, glancing briefly at Titus. "Young Lady, although this person is a blade cultivator and has comprehended the Blade Gale, his foundation is too weak. It will be difficult for him to progress further..." the bald elder frowned. Blade cultivator was rare, but that didn't mean it warranted such attention, even giving away a glazed sword token. "The future... is uncertain..." Kaylee murmured to herself. Despite only a brief encounter with Titus, she sensed something special about him. What exactly it was, Kaylee wasn't sure, but she felt that someone capable of releasing a Blade Gale comparable to her own was definitely not ordinary.