Puber racked his brain to find information about Damarlinsk Castle for Komer, but regrettably, there was scant information about the castle—most were hearsay, and there was almost nothing of real use.
The cautious Puber even made a trip to the Psychiatric Hospital himself, hoping to glean a little something from the now insane Baron Hawkins. But after spending two to three hours, the idiotic-looking Baron Hawkins did nothing but mutter mysterious words like "moshu" and "tentacles" over and over without yielding any further results, leaving Puber with no choice but to leave disappointed.
With the remaining time, Puber could only focus, as per Komer's request, on gathering and understanding the geography of the Caucasus Region and the situations of the indigenous people.
With the help of a famous traveller in Cyprus City, Puber gained a rather comprehensive empirical understanding of the geography of the Caucasus.
This traveller's ancestors had been an apprentice knight under the first Lord of the Caucasus who built Damarlinsk Castle, having lived in the Caucasus for over seven years. He was quite familiar with the whole region, and he had a personal notebook that detailed the landscapes he traversed over those seven years, which became the only relatively detailed geographical guide for the entire Caucasus Region.
Puber nearly reclassified and compiled the entire notebook from scratch, systematically organizing the details of the Caucasus Region. What was more valuable was that this notebook also contained rather detailed records of the construction process of Damarlinsk Castle, which was an unexpected surprise for Puber.
Ilot, during this time, had not slackened at all. Under the urging of Komer and Puber, and knowing full well the difficulties and troubles he would face in the land he was about to visit, he understood that martial power was his only reliance. Thus, he uncharacteristically worked hard during this time, not only enduring arduous cultivation of his inner Qi but also practicing his swordsmanship every day, hoping to improve in a short amount of time.
Komer quietly watched Ilot's display.
The flexible rapier in his hand had been replaced with a broad-backed Great Sword, a common weapon for warriors on the Continent. The two-inch-wide spine of the sword glinted with a calm light, with two deep blood grooves etched sharply into it.
The hilt was wrapped with ice silk, the S-shaped silver handguard was exceptionally beautiful and delicate, and Komer secretly enchanted the middle of the sword's spine with Dark Arts, enhancing the fusion between the sword and its wielder significantly. This left both Ilot and Puber amazed, especially Ilot.
He could distinctly feel that his Great Sword, which had been with him for several years, suddenly became much lighter and more responsive, and it seemed even more aggressive. Often, as soon as an attack formed in his mind, the Great Sword would almost unconsciously coordinate with his wrist to execute the move. This sensation made Ilot feel wonderfully strange.
Ilot and Puber were astonished by whatever Komer had done to the Great Sword, but Komer simply smiled and told them he had applied a bit of magic enchantment, leaving both Ilot and Puber somewhat skeptical.
A magic enchantment should only be possible for mages or higher-ranking magic researchers to cast, something even regular magicians couldn't use. Moreover, the enchantment would have to be chosen based on the characteristics of the enchanted object. The fact that Komer so easily enchanted Ilot's Great Sword made both Ilot and Puber curious about what kind of experiences their boss had gone through in the past three years.
However, Komer didn't care to elaborate much, only telling them that he would inform them at the appropriate time.
The thick and heavy Great Sword appeared exceptionally agile and nimble in Komer's hands as Ilot executed precise and standardized basic combat moves such as chopping, stabbing, lifting, wiping, and flicking. The shrill whistling sounds brought up by the sword's edge indicated that Ilot had indeed put considerable effort into this area.
The years spent on the Deccan Plateau should have greatly benefited Ilot. On the Battlefield where life and death are at stake, there are likely no tricks to speak of; strength is the only guarantee of survival.
"Boss, that enchantment of yours really does have its uses. This old sword has suddenly become quite lovable—never been this easy to use before. It seems now as if it can understand human thoughts," Ilot said excitedly after practicing his sword dance, the sensation of utter tactility making him itch to find an opponent to vent on. Unfortunately, Puber was a weakling, and Ilot was not sure whether Komer currently possessed any martial power.
With a faint smile, Komer knew all too well what Ilot was thinking. These two guys often tried to probe him, out of their desire to understand what else he knew that they didn't. Komer could only respond vaguely, not willing to reveal too much about himself at this juncture, as that wouldn't be of any benefit to anyone.
"Ilot, I see you have the martial power needed, but your cultivation of inner Qi doesn't seem satisfactory. Relying solely on martial power, you may become a qualified, even excellent, warrior, but to step up from martial power to Martial Dao, lacking sufficient cultivation of inner Qi is like chasing a mirage or a reflection in water."
Komer knew that Ilot's lifelong wish was to become a great martial artist, but martial power and the Martial Dao were worlds apart. Martial power could be improved through diligent practice, but to surpass others and become a master of martial arts, one had to step into the realm of Martial Dao. Advancing in Martial Dao wasn't something that could be achieved through mere hard practice. Talent, a good teacher, and diligence were indispensable, especially the enhancement of Inner Qi, which was essential to become a strong martial artist.
Hearing Komer say this, Ilot sat down, somewhat dejected, took a deep breath, and said, "Boss, you make it sound so easy. Can Inner Qi be cultivated just like that? I guess I'm somewhat lucky, having had a good teacher since I was young to build a solid foundation. My cultivation of Inner Qi can barely be considered at the elementary stage. What I showed at the Rose Lounge was already my best performance. I didn't expect that guy to be so powerful, effortlessly neutralizing my special skills. The Thunderhorse Knight Group really isn't just all talk. But I can feel that he had Mana, definitely an important figure in the Church of Light. It's just too bad my cultivation of Inner Qi is too low to contend with him."
Most ordinary warriors and knights focus their training mainly on martial power and skills. The majority of soldiers and knights in the army can only reach this stage, though knights have slightly better chances due to their status and conditions, which make it more likely for them to receive external favors, especially those backed by the Church.
If warriors and knights wish to break through from martial power to Martial Dao, they need talent and opportunity. Without a good teacher, no matter how gifted they are, it's in vain. And without a certain level of talent, even the guidance of a good teacher wouldn't lead to much higher achievements.
Many knights, who find it difficult to break through in Martial Dao, resort to magic for assistance. Although this doesn't improve their martial abilities, it allows them to integrate martial skills with magic in practice. Even though they are only the most elementary spells, they can already produce significant effects. This is one of the reasons why many knights are willing to serve under various Churches.
Honestly, before obtaining that crystal stone Magic mirror, Komer's understanding of martial arts was quite superficial and fragmented. Although his teacher intermittently imparted some knowledge of basic martial skills and Martial Dao, he, who was once immersed in magic and spells, wasn't very interested in something that required long, uninterrupted cultivation. He listened but didn't put much effort into practice. However, a peculiar phenomenon made him gain a sudden and profound understanding of martial arts, even though his own abilities were not high.
Ever since he got that piece of crystal stone mirror, he felt as if his cognitive abilities had improved remarkably, especially after each sleep.
He always felt he dreamed about countless things he had never seen or heard of at night, like being educated or experiencing certain events. And when awakening from those dreams, everything became fragmented and hard to recall in entirety.
Moreover, as time passed, those things would quickly fade in his mind.
But one thing gave Komer a great sense of relief. Many things he needed inadvertently took root in his mind, and some vague images of people began to take shape. Although he didn't know who those figures were, he was finally able to recall them clearly.
Komer's understanding of martial arts stemmed from those dreams. Some inexplicable knowledge somehow became imprinted in his mind, allowing him to develop a systematic understanding of the martial knowledge his teacher had taught him.
Even Komer sometimes found this strange phenomenon hard to believe, but after practicing tentatively for a while, he was surprised to find that he progressed rapidly in martial arts. Whether the practice of Yoga Technique had helped his growth in martial arts or he was just a martial genius, Komer himself didn't know. From his own perspective, though, he still preferred the cultivation of spells.
"Ilot, if you really want to advance further in martial arts, maybe I can help you. Although I don't know much about martial arts, I was fortunate enough to receive advice from a martial arts master during my years of exile."
Komer decided not to divulge his inner thoughts; he felt it might be more beneficial for him to keep many things in the dark, as often half-hidden truths could kindle boundless hope.
"Oh? Boss, really? Which martial arts master is it?" Ilot asked eagerly, unable to contain his excitement.
His greatest dream was to become a commanding warlord on the Battlefield, but he knew that without exceptional martial skills, it was impossible. He also knew he had no interest in magic, so he focused solely on improving his martial arts, even going so far as to guard the kingdom's borders to use the combats there to enhance his skills.
Unfortunately, his foundational teacher was limited in expertise and couldn't help him much further in martial arts. Now, hearing what Komer said, his excitement was beyond measure.
"I won't mention his name; we had an agreement not to disclose his information to others. However, from what I know, his martial skills are among the top on the Continent, right?" Komer said, fibbing to Ilot in his earnestness, but he was confident that the martial knowledge in his mind could at least elevate Ilot to a higher level.
Ilot didn't press further, aware that the strong on this Continent often had their peculiarities. As long as there was a chance to improve his martial arts, it didn't matter who it was. He knew that Komer did not make promises lightly, so if he boasted, it must be with considerable certainty.