After leaving the Soul Hunting Forest, Chen Xin walked back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan with Tianlin. Their pace was slow because, along the way, Chen Xin was teaching Tianlin the art of swordsmanship.
"Xiao Tian, all sword techniques are based on seven fundamental moves: hook, hang, point, lift, stab, sweep, and slash. No matter how intricate a sword technique is, it cannot deviate from these seven actions. These are also the essence of my Seven Kill Swordsmanship. If you wish to inherit my Seven Kill Swordsmanship in the future, you must master these seven moves to perfection."
At the moment, Chen Xin wasn't teaching Tianlin any sophisticated techniques, but rather a basic foundational swordsmanship. During the day, he supervised Tianlin's rigorous practice, they traveled in the evenings, and at night, meditation replaced sleep.
In essence, Tianlin had no time to rest.
However, he did not complain. Under Chen Xin's guidance, he had become strong enough to defeat three of his past selves from just three days ago.
Tianlin's diligence greatly satisfied Chen Xin. On the first day, Tianlin's crude swordsmanship might have scored a mere 0.1 out of 100 in Chen Xin's eyes, but now, it could score at least 10—a hundredfold improvement.
One morning, as Tianlin awoke from meditation and began his morning practice, following his teacher's instructions to rehearse basic sword techniques, something shifted in his mind. Subconsciously, memories of the Shu Mountain Treasure Record's foundational sword techniques surfaced.
Following his instincts, his movements gradually deviated from what Chen Xin had taught him, and he began practicing the Shu Mountain Treasure Record's foundational techniques.
This marked a breakthrough in his mastery of basic swordsmanship. He was now ready to cultivate the Shu Mountain Treasure Record's sword techniques.
The Shu Mountain Treasure Record's foundational sword techniques emphasize lightness, fluidity, and grace in swordplay, coupled with effortless and measured footwork. Each move appears as if it were executed by an immortal.
"Hmm? Xiao Tian, this swordsmanship—?" Chen Xin noticed the change immediately. With his sharp eye, he could discern that this was also a beginner's sword technique, but far more exquisite than what he had taught.
"Stop for a moment, Xiao Tian. Can you tell me who taught you this swordsmanship just now?"
Hearing this, Tianlin paused his movements and clasped his hands in salute. "Teacher, this technique came to me as I practiced—it wasn't taught to me by anyone else."
The Shu Mountain Treasure Record and the Nuwa Emperor Meditation Method were Tianlin's greatest secrets, hidden even deeper than his twin martial souls. While foundational sword techniques were harmless to reveal, it was an entirely different matter with advanced swordsmanship. Were he to display it recklessly now, he wouldn't be able to explain its origins. Claiming to have created techniques like the Ten Thousand Swords Technique, Sword God Style, or Heavenly Sword Technique as a novice would be utterly unbelievable.
It would be better to wait until he became stronger before sharing some of these techniques with Chen Xin.
"No one taught you, and you came up with this yourself? I didn't expect that this child not only has extraordinary talent in cultivating soul power but also possesses such remarkable aptitude in swordsmanship," Chen Xin thought, stunned. "Has the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan picked up a prodigy?"
Seeing Chen Xin remain silent, Tianlin asked timidly, "Teacher, did I upset you by altering the sword techniques you taught me? I promise I won't do it again."
Chen Xin shook his head with a smile. "No, I'm not angry. On the contrary, I'm very pleased. Remember, if anyone ever tells you that practicing swordsmanship requires nothing but rigid adherence to rules and no flexibility, you don't need to argue with them—just cut them down with your sword. That person would surely be trying to harm you."
"In this world, no two people are exactly alike, and likewise, no two swords are the same. Even though my Seven Kill Swordsmanship was taught to me by my father, it has already become vastly different in my hands. I hope you will do the same. What I can teach you is merely the technique, but the sword intent and sword heart unique to you must be discovered on your own!"
"My own sword intent and sword heart... I understand, Teacher. I will carve out a path that belongs to me." Although Tianlin didn't fully grasp the meaning, he understood that Chen Xin only had his best interests at heart. He was a truly exceptional teacher.
"Teacher, how would you rate the sword technique I just performed?" Tianlin asked, eager for feedback.
Sixty points—while still not a high score—held a profound meaning. It signified that, in Chen Xin's eyes, Tianlin had reached the threshold of competence.
Twenty days later, the two finally returned to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. What should have been a journey of just a few days had taken over half a month due to their training along the way.
Upon their return, Chen Xin said, "Xiao Tian, you've worked hard along the way. I'll allow you to rest for a day. Go back to your room and relax. I need to report our progress to Fengzhi."
"Understood, Teacher!" Tianlin replied before running off to his room.
Inside his room, which had been cleaned daily, everything was spotless despite his long absence. Tianlin eagerly grabbed the crystal ball used to measure soul power and began channeling his energy into it. Instantly, the crystal ball lit up brightly.
"My soul power has reached Level 15!" Tianlin was startled. He had suspected that after absorbing the 600-year soul ring, his soul power would surpass Level 13.
But now it seemed that he had been at least halfway to Level 14 at the time. After over half a month of training, he had now reached Level 15.
"Fantastic! If I can maintain this cultivation speed, I might be able to handle the future crisis," Tianlin thought. Ever since joining the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, his greatest concern had been the impending clan extermination crisis—the Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Operation.
Based on the original timeline, the operation would occur in about 14 to 15 years, when Tianlin would be around 20 years old.
Although time seemed tight, Tianlin was confident in his cultivation speed. This wasn't just due to his innate talent but also because the Holy Spirit Pearl could accelerate his training. He had already tested it during their journey back.
Under Holy Breath Domain, Chen Xin's cultivation speed increased by 10%, but for himself, the boost reached a staggering 30%.
Additionally, he had another hidden trump card—the Nuwa Emperor Meditation Method. While in Chen Xin's presence, he hadn't dared to practice it, relying instead on the techniques Chen Xin had taught him.
Now, in the privacy of his room, it was the perfect time to switch to the Nuwa Emperor Meditation Method.
Sitting cross-legged, Tianlin immediately entered a state of deep meditation. As for resting, he had no time for that. Only after overcoming the future crisis could he truly sleep peacefully.
Meanwhile, Chen Xin returned to the main hall and took his seat, reporting their journey's results to Ning Fengzhi.
"A 600-year soul ring. Tianlin managed to absorb a 600-year soul ring. It's a miracle—any slight mistake could have caused his body to explode!" Ning Fengzhi exclaimed with a mix of shock and delight. At the same time, he felt a pang of fear—this close call could have cost the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan their future Title Douluo.
However, another thought quickly crossed his mind, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
PS: Rongrong: Am I being sold off?