Battle Chen Xin Again

Following behind Chen Xin as they left the main hall, Chen Yuan was still thinking about what Ning Fengzhi had just said.

In half a month, Xue Qinghe, the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, would come to study under Ning Fengzhi.

In Ning Fengzhi's view, this was an excellent opportunity for the sect to intervene in the empire and develop further.

But First Prince Xue Qinghe was not truly a prince. He was an Undercover Agent of Spirit Hall—Qian Renxue, the daughter of the former Pope Qian Xunji and the current Pope Bibi Dong.

Chen Yuan sighed inwardly. While I'm growing rapidly under my teacher's protection, the world's plot is constantly moving forward as well. It seems I need to become stronger faster.

As for warning Ning Fengzhi, he had no intention of doing so. It would easily bring unnecessary danger upon himself. Going with the flow while seeking opportunities to improve his strength was the key to dealing with the future.

By then, it was already late. Master and disciple returned to the courtyard where they lived, and Chen Xin instructed the kitchen to prepare some food for himself and Chen Yuan. Once they had eaten their fill, they each returned to their rooms to cultivate.

Although Chen Xin was already a Titled Douluo, he had never once slackened in his cultivation. His nightly Meditation had never ceased.

Chen Yuan had always felt a sense of urgency, so even though he had absorbed his Second Spirit Ring today and become a Soul Grandmaster, he had not forgotten to cultivate.

The night deepened, and the night quickly passed...

The next day!

Chen Yuan still woke early and went to the Training Field to begin his training. This time, however, he did not use the Eight-Catty Iron Sword, instead switching to the Sixteen-Catty Iron Sword.

Now that he had absorbed his Second Spirit Ring, and it was even a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, his physical condition had improved once more. Naturally, his training intensity had to keep up as well.

After wielding the Sixteen-Catty Iron Sword and completing three hundred sword swings with fierce force, Chen Yuan was drenched in sweat, but he was not exhausted to the point of being unable to move.

After Chen Yuan took a short rest, Chen Xin, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward and said:

"Yuan'er, we'll do practical combat training today. You absorbed your Second Spirit Ring yesterday, so I'll see exactly how much your strength has improved. Besides, I'll be a little more serious today!"

As his words fell, Chen Xin raised his right hand. Light flickered over it, and a Seven Kill Sword appeared in his grasp. Then, beneath his feet, nine Spirit Rings rose up—two yellow, two purple, and five black—circling and rotating with terrifying force. This was the pressure of a Titled Douluo.

Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised, but even more delighted. This was a perfect chance to see just how strong he had become through his teacher's hands.

He put away the Iron Sword he used for training, reached out, and grasped the Seven Kill Sword. One yellow and one purple Spirit Ring rose beneath his feet.

Chen Yuan could feel the heavy pressure emanating from Chen Xin, so he went all out from the very start and shouted:

"Teacher, I won't hold back! First Soul Skill, Sword Drawn from its Sheath! Second Soul Skill, Boiling Killing Intent!"

The yellow and purple Spirit Rings beneath Chen Yuan's feet lit up in sequence. Countless invisible currents wound around his Seven Kill Sword, while a crimson hue swept across its blade. Strands of Killing Intent traveled from the sword into his body. Under that stimulation, the blood throughout his body seemed to burn, and a surge of Killing Intent rushed straight into his mind, turning his eyes blood-red.

His body had not expanded much, but he was clearly different now, as if he had become an emotionless killing machine.

His strength, speed, resistance... all increased by 100%. Even the pain throughout his body was greatly reduced. He truly was a killing machine.

"Whew~~"

Surging power coursed through his body, making Chen Yuan feel better than ever. He even desperately wanted to savor the thrill of tearing enemies apart with the Seven Kill Sword.

Bang!

Chen Yuan stomped his right foot hard into the ground, sending fierce winds scattering in every direction. Borrowing the rebound force, he charged wildly toward Chen Xin at terrifying speed, his ferocity utterly frightening.

Chen Xin frowned slightly as he looked at Chen Yuan, whose eyes had turned blood-red and whose entire body radiated Killing Intent. Though the boost from this Soul Skill was exaggerated, if it truly had too great an effect on his mental state, then it would become a move meant for risking one's life.

Only when Chen Yuan drew near did Chen Xin swiftly draw his sword. Moving after yet arriving first, he held it horizontally before himself. With a clear clang, it collided with Chen Yuan's Seven Kill Sword.

From the force transmitted through Chen Yuan's Seven Kill Sword, Chen Xin estimated that it exceeded four hundred catties. Although Chen Yuan was only around eight years old, this strength was already no less than that of an adult.

But compared to Chen Xin, that bit of strength was nowhere near enough. With a burst of force from Chen Xin, Chen Yuan was sent flying back from the impact.

He flew seven or eight meters through the air before steadying his balance. Upon landing, he bent his legs slightly and borrowed the force once again to charge toward Chen Xin.

There seemed to be no emotion in Chen Yuan's blood-red eyes, but he had not lost his reason. His footwork remained orderly as he unleashed the Seven Kill Sword Art—strikes, thrusts, rebounds, presses, upward slashes, chops, sweeps, cuts... every movement was filled with aggression.

Chen Xin was greatly delighted. Though he could steadily suppress Chen Yuan, he was a Titled Douluo. He was certain that even a Soul Elder would be unable to suppress his disciple.

Chen Xin then swung his sword, knocking Chen Yuan's aside and sending him flying. He shouted in a deep voice:

"Enough, Yuan'er. Stop attacking. I already know your strength!"

As his words fell, Chen Xin looked at Chen Yuan. He wanted to know whether Chen Yuan could control this Soul Skill.

At that moment, after taking three heavy breaths, Chen Yuan closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his blood-red eyes had returned to their clear black-and-white appearance. The power in his body gradually faded, and exhaustion rapidly washed over him.

"Teacher!"

Chen Xin finally smiled. Chen Yuan had not been controlled by his Soul Skill and had broken free from the influence of Killing Intent. Chen Xin was very satisfied with that.

He then recalled his Martial Soul and looked at Chen Yuan as he said:

"Very good. Your First and Second Soul Skills can allow you to unleash the combat strength of a Soul Elder. You have also achieved minor mastery of the Seven Kill Sword Art. Few people will gain any advantage against you in close combat. As for the Killing Character Art, once you can wield that Sixty-Four-Catty Iron Sword as naturally as your own arm, with complete ease, the Killing Word Technique will be complete."

"Yuan'er, for now, I am very satisfied with you. In the future, all you need to do is study diligently and train hard, truly cultivating them to great mastery."

Chen Yuan also recalled his Martial Soul and said respectfully:

"This is all thanks to Teacher's careful guidance."

Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back. After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice:

"Our family has another inherited secret art. I will teach it to you as well, but with your current strength, you are still not strong enough to use it."

"This inherited secret art is called Refining Rings. As its name implies, it means directly refining Spirit Rings. Spirit Rings are also a form of energy. When we normally use Soul Skills, we cannot make full use of all their energy. But by refining a Spirit Ring as energy into the Martial Soul, one can gain power that surpasses one's limits."

"This is very difficult. To suppress a Spirit Ring in its energy form, one's own Soul Power must be sufficiently profound. Even I still cannot do it..."