CHAPTER 35: CHOOSING A GRADED WEAPON

It’s been three days since Caden made his return to Morningstar, just like always, he stayed in White Jade Castle.

This is the home of House Ryder after all.

Although there were many branch members of House Ryder who wanted to personally congratulate Caden.

But he was quite busy with a lot of things.

During this period, aside from Prince Kane, who received an enrollment letter from the Rostia Royal Academy.

The rest of the princes went through the process of written examinations and physical tests.

Royal academies sent their agents across every kingdom to carry out these examinations and tests.

Once completed, they will return and submit the results, and the enrollment letters will be processed afterwards.

But Caden didn’t need to go through all of that.

He had already accepted the enrollment letter of Valor Royal Academy so he just had to wait.

And in a few days, he will be leaving for the Valor Royal Academy. His siblings, as well, will be heading to their academies.

But before they left, both Prince Caden and Prince Kane were invited into the House Ryder’s weapons gallery.

The one who invited them was none other than their father.

King Ryder stood at the entrance of the hall to receive his sons, aside him....no one is permitted to enter this hall.

If the princes weren’t invited, they wouldn’t have stepped their feet into this special room.

King Ryder was dressed in a purple gown that reached his feet, upon meeting his sons.

Their movements immediately came to a halt as they bowed their heads before the king. "Greetings, father," they voiced out in unison.

King Alex wore a warm smile "Greetings my sons, since you boys will be leaving for the royal academies"

"I suppose I should hand over your first graded weapons," King Alex spoke.

Both princes were astonished. Graded weapons weren’t like any other weapons.

They were artifacts created through secret means. Imbued with Mana Cores of variant humans.

Even though Sword Level cultivation has 9 Levels and the Mana Convergence Stage has 9 stages.

These artifacts have 10 grades.

Graded weapons are all rare relics. Its grades are determined from its active skills and marks.

Even 1st-grade weapons which has a single mark are considered a treasure amongst ordinary Sword Level cultivators.

Since graded weapons were designed using Mana Cores of variant humans, they also possess an active Skill.

An active Skill granted to the wielder upon activation.

The sword Caden had used to take out those E-tier Snow Goblins was an ordinary blade.

He was just too powerful for an E-tier Snow Goblin to handle.

But this time.....they will be getting their first graded weapon before heading out for their royal academies.

They could be seen walking down the hall, the royal weapons gallery stretched out before them.

A vast and impressive chamber filled with an astonishing array of deadly instruments.

Glass cases and podiums stood like sentinels, each one housing a relic of warfare and conflict.

Blades of every shape and size glistened in the light, their edges honed to a razor’s sharpness.

Spears, both long and short, stood at attention, their tips gleaming with deadly promise.

Daggers, ornate and plain lay nestled in their velvet beds, their points as sharp as needles.

Swords with hilts of gold and jewels hung on the walls, their blades shining like a streak of lightning.

King Alex’s eyes gleamed "My boys, you two are the future of Morningstar, so I will give you a chance to choose a graded weapon"

"Return to me in thirty minutes when you select your graded weapon, but mind you....this is a warning" King Alex paused for a second, "Once you’ve chosen your graded weapon"

"You cannot return it and it will remain with you as your life partner. Only when you become the King shall you step into this room once again and choose a second graded weapon"

"For now... the 4th grade is the limit, you must not choose a weapon from 5th grade and above," King Alex concluded.

Both princes bowed their heads before leaving the scene, they were scattered across the gallery.

Caden was strolling through the sword area. Even in his past life, he was a Swordsman.

He was passing through the graded weapons encased in glass boxes when he noticed something.

His movements came to a halt as he stood before a glass box, he could see a green sheathed scabbard within the box.

For some reason, he felt deep connections with this graded weapon. What surprised him the most was the Primordial System.

The transparent cyan panel appeared before him once again.

[Reporting...]

[You’ve found a compatible graded weapon]

[You’ve found the long lost Celestial Dragon Blade]

"The celestial dragon blade?" Caden mumbled, with just a glance, he could tell the grade of this weapon.

It was a 4th graded weapon.

[The Celestial Dragon Blade was crafted in the legendary immemorial era by theGreat Principality Supreme Conqueror]

Caden’s eyebrows furrowed. "A graded weapon crafted by the Great Principality Supreme Conqueror? What the hell is it doing here then?" He was shocked to the core.

But he was also wondering if this was a blade owned by a Conqueror.

How strong could it be?

His eyes gleamed as he licked his lips. He stretched forth his hand, the glass case vanished, and Caden grabbed the graded weapon.

[Congratulations! Your draconic soul has been linked with the4th grade Celestial Dragon Blade]

[You’ve obtained your first graded weapon]

Caden’s lips curled into a faint smile as he read through the notifications, while he held the blade.

He could feel it, this was no ordinary weapon.

He returned to his father with his 54h-grade weapon. A few minutes later, Prince Kane returned as well.

Instead of a blade, Prince Kane brought back a 4th-grade runed spear.

They went for the limit; if the limit was 5th grade, they would have picked a 5th-grade weapon as well.

Seeing that both his sons chose a 4th-grade weapon. King Alex couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Wise choice, my children, but Caden, don’t you want to pick a useful graded weapon?" King Alex asked.

Caden wore a warm smile. "There will be no need for that, Father, this one is good," He answered.

King Alex shook his head "While I’m saying that is because this is a strange weapon, even I have tried to use it but it was too adamant"

"It was too stubborn and besides my ancestors claimed this was a weapon founded in the Red Continent"

"I can let you choose another weapon if you don’t mind" King Alex explained.

Caden shook his head "I’m sorry Father but I chose this, I quite understand how to use it"

King Alex softly exhaled "Well if you’re so stubborn, then there’s nothing I can do to stop you but don’t come back crying to me"

"I won’t let you swap it next time" King Alex stated.

"Since you boys are present...why don’t I demonstrate the power of a graded weapon"

King Alex spoke; his sheathed scabbard was hung on his right waist, and both brothers bounced back.

Creating a distance between themselves and the King.

Why?

It’s because of his graded weapon. King Alex is renowned for a few reasons.

The first reason is due to his strength, possessing a Mana Aptitude that surpasses 70%

The second reason is his Sword Level cultivation, possessing a Sword Level of a Sword Great Grandmaster.

And a Mana Convergence Stage of an Arch Mage.

A monster amongst monsters.

The third reason is his mastery over the five House Ryder’s Aura Styles and the three House Ryder’s Magecraft Arts.

And the fourth reason is his graded weapon.

King Alex Ryder is among the four entities in the Purple Continent to possess a 9th-grade weapon.

He was about to unsheath a 9th grade.

The air shook vigorously, both princes could feel the pressure. Every cell in Caden’s body was begging him to run as fast as possible.

The man standing before him is a monster!