The sword techniques he had copied were 4th-ranked techniques. Whether it is sword or spear techniques or elemental techniques, there were usually three types of martial techniques.
The first one is the low-ranked martial techniques, that are below 3rd rank. These are the martial techniques that a person can perform by using the mana he has stored in his body. These techniques are not that strong since there is a limit to how much mana a person can store in his body.
The second type of martial technique is the mid-ranked technique, which is between 4th and 6th rank. While a person performs these techniques, he will be able to connect his body and the weapon with nature. By doing so he will be able to use the mana that is present in nature without even absorbing it. It will not only increase the power and duration of a martial technique but it will also increase the physical strength and speed while performing it.
The third type of martial technique is the high-ranked technique that is above the 7th rank to the final 9th rank. These techniques are just like the mid-ranked techniques but instead of connecting with nature, these techniques will allow the cultivators to directly connect with the higher realm. So the output of power and strength is many times higher in these techniques.
While the cultivators can perform any ranked sword techniques after learning them, the high-ranked elemental techniques can only be performed with stronger cultivation. Otherwise, it will be dangerous enough to injure the user.
***
Since aran had already copied more than forty 4th ranked sword techniques by then, he decided to learn some of these techniques which cover most of the mana points of the body.
After selecting three important sword techniques he learned all three of them. Unlike the elemental techniques, it's very easy to master sword techniques if one can learn all the hundreds of mana points that need to be activated for performing it. With the book, it was the easiest part for aran.
On the next day, Aran went to the training ground of the swordsmen's club and started his training. While every other swordsman was struggling by not being able to remember the exact mana points, aran was continuing his training since he had easily learned them.
Until then most of the club members were thinking that the club was being unfair to them by taking aran into the club without even testing him, but looking at aran training, they realised that he does have the talent. So continued to train with him.
While aran was spending his time in the club, training and getting to know each other, he heard that the principal of the academy has returned to the academy with all the remaining professors. Although there were more than fifty professors in the academy most of them were absent.
Reinhold, the principal of the academy was a peak master stage cultivator with three attributes. He was considered the strongest cultivator in Carvel.
Although everyone thought that the principal might explain the absence of most of the professors, he didn't talk anything about that. But without him saying anything everyone in the academy knew that the reason behind their absence is the continued war between the Carwel and Fendweric.
After returning, Reinhold called a meeting for all the professors and ordered them to intensify the students' training and continue with all the practical classes which were on hold due to the absence of most professors.
After a week of aran's training started, professor Fedric announced to the class that there will be two practical elemental and swordsmanship classes every week and he also mentioned that the students from both classes will be attending the practical classes together. But for aran who was busy thinking about the tournament, it didn't seem like any special.
Aran focused most of his time on training and after a month he had mastered all three techniques. When he mastered these sword techniques he was feeling strong enough to fight most of the profound stage cultivators.
When aran asked Alexia about when they are leaving, she told aran that they will be departing in three days and to get prepared for the tournament. Since the tournament was held in the palace of the Bryde family last year. This year it was held in the central palace of the Cardinal family. Knowing that aran was looking forward to his plan.
***
After two days he met his friends and informed them that he will be gone for a month to the tournament. After that, he went back to his room. When arrax saw him preparing for the journey he started to wonder what aran was doing.
" What are you doing?" Arrax asked.
" Preparing for the journey! "
" What journey? "
" I am going to Bellrun with the club members to participate in the tournaments! "
" But why? Don't tell me you care about these stupid tournaments! "
By then arrax knew aran is not someone who gets happy with some stupid tournaments.
" No. I am going there for the tournament. There is a high-ranked sword technique that I can only get there. That's why I am going. "
" Just a sword technique? What about the hundreds of techniques I copied from the library? Do you want to go there just for a sword technique ?" Arrax asked.
" It's not just a sword technique, but a part of the most powerful sword technique in the world. And I also have some other business there. "
Since arrax knew that aran had already planned this, he knew that he won't be able to stop him and also, he didn't want to stop aran, instead, he wanted to go with him.
" I am coming with you! "
" Yeah, I will summon you when I get my hands on the techniques. "
" No! What I mean is that I am coming with you "
" What? Are you serious? I don't think the club will allow you to travel with us. And also, why can't you just stay here?"
" Because I am bored with staying here doing nothing! "
" You were living alone, doing nothing for years before I found you. So what's the problem now?"
" What I was doing has nothing to do with you. I was weak then, but now, in this lower realm, I can do more than just copy books! "
"That's good, but I still can't risk others finding out about you !"
" If you are travelling that far for a single sword technique, then it must be very important for you right? If you don't take me, then I won't help you with copying the technique, when you summon me" Arrax said.
Aran knew that he won't be able to complete his mission without arrax and that he needs him but he still wants ready to risk others finding out about him.
" Stay here and help me with this and I will give you a pill for just this once. "
" No! you will take me with you or I won't help you! "
" Two pills !"
" Very tempting but still No!
We had a mutual agreement, and your behaviour is not very mutual. " Arrax said.
Aran realized that he won't be able to convince arrax so he had no other choice.
" Okay then I will take you, but you won't get anything in return for this mission and also, you will help me with everything I need on this mission. If you are okay with the deal. Then I can take you with me"
Even though arrax desperately wanted the pills, he decided to let it go this one time and accepted the deal.
On the next day, aran finished all the preparations. In the early morning aran headed to the club hall with Arrax, who is in the form of a black cat sitting on his shoulder.
When aran reached the club hall, everyone saw a cat sitting on aran's shoulder. They asked him if it was his pet and aran said yes.
" Why is your pet out of the ring ?" One of the swordsmen asked.
" He just wants to get some air. " Aran replied.
Since the cultivators keep their pets in their living storage rings, they were wondering why is aran keeping his pet outside.
As some of them tried to see if it was a mana beast they couldn't feel the mana power from arrax. As they saw it they were surprised to know that aran was keeping a normal pet with him.
" Is it just a normal cat?" a swordsman asked.
" Yes! "
For everyone, it seemed stupid about aran wasting his time on a normal cat. But aran immediately tried to change the subject.
" So? When are we leaving?" He asked.
" In just a moment, They are preparing the airship!"
" Airship? Does the club have its own airship? I thought we were travelling on the horse "
He was genuinely surprised to know that the club has its own airship. But hearing him the club members started to laugh.
" That's what we thought when we first joined the club, " one of them said.
As everyone was waiting, suddenly alexia arrived and said
" The airship has prepared. Let's go! "
Hearing that, everyone followed her to the flying ground.
As aran went there and saw the airship, he realised it was a low-ranked airship.
Even though aran was surprised to know that the club has its own airship, since it was common for his family to usually travel on that, it felt normal for him.
When all the swordsmen, who were participating in the tournament boarded the airship, the pilot of that ship activated it and the journey towards the Bellrun began.