Three Years Flew By

Recently, Ning Fengzhi had been extremely busy, frequently coming and going from the Heaven Dou City Crown Prince Residence. Officially, he was there to teach the Crown Prince. While he did indeed provide instruction, his greater purpose was to support the Crown Prince in securing his position.

With Ning Fengzhi's help, Xue Qinghe had also gained some loyal supporters at court, greatly strengthening the Crown Prince's authority.

Ning Fengzhi's contributions were unquestionably immense. However, this also meant he spent less time in the sect and had less time to teach Ning Rongrong. Given how pampered Ning Rongrong was within the sect, her nature had been given free rein.

Moreover, whenever Ning Fengzhi left the sect, a Titled Douluo would accompany him for protection—either Chen Xin or Gu Rong.

As a result, the time Chen Yuan spent training under Chen Xin had also been cut by more than half, but Chen Yuan did not mind.

Chen Xin had already taught Chen Yuan all three Chen Family Secret Arts: the Seven Kill Sword Art, the Killing Word Technique, and Refining Rings. All that remained was diligent practice.

Naturally, Chen Yuan would not slack off. Even when Ning Rongrong came looking for him to play, he deliberately brushed her off.

He knew perfectly well that his time was precious and could not be wasted carelessly at present.

Amid Chen Yuan's monotonous yet disciplined training, time flowed on. Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, an isolated Training Field on the Back Mountain!

Eleven-year-old Chen Yuan was currently sweating away at the Training Field. In his hand was a Sixty-Four-Catty Iron Sword, yet he wielded it one-handed as though it were an extension of his arm. Every swing whistled with force, sharp and fierce.

Over those three years, through his disciplined training, he had thoroughly mastered the sixteen-catty iron sword, the thirty-two-catty iron sword, and the sixty-four-catty iron sword, one after another.

By now, through training, nutritional supplements, and medicinal baths, Chen Yuan's physical condition had become exceptionally formidable. His muscles were firm but not bulky, and he stood one meter eighty tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His entire body resembled an upright longsword. His features had fully matured, with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and an air of heroic vigor.

Only after completing a set of the Seven Kill Sword Art did Chen Yuan sheathe his sword and stand still. His face was not flushed, his breathing was steady, and his expression remained calm. The sixty-four-catty iron sword felt weightless in his hand.

Chen Yuan then frowned and said:

"I wonder when Teacher will return. After half a year of cultivation, my Soul Power has finally undergone a qualitative change from quantitative accumulation. I've officially risen from level twenty-nine Soul Power to level thirty Soul Power. I can absorb my Third Spirit Ring and become a Soul Elder. For my Third Spirit Ring, I should choose a Spirit Beast that is at least five thousand years old."

At the same time, he thought to himself:

Based on my age, which is close to Ning Rongrong's, I've officially broken through to level thirty Soul Power at eleven, still several months away from turning twelve. That's faster than Tang San and Xiao Wu, those two with Innate Full Soul Power. But one spends all day forging iron while the other plays every day. Neither of them seems to be cultivating wholeheartedly.

The first reason I surpassed them is because I cultivate diligently. The second is because the two Spirit Rings I absorbed—one hundred-year and one thousand-year—raised quite a bit of my Soul Power while helping me break through my realm, saving me several months or even longer of cultivation. One step ahead gives me the chance to stay ahead at every step. I must seize every opportunity that comes next.

With that thought, Chen Yuan began practicing the Seven Kill Sword Art once more. His Swordsmanship had already reached an extremely high level, but he had yet to truly grasp Man and Sword as One.

According to Chen Xin, it was a self-sacrificial technique that could double one's attack power. Once mastered, it would become a killing move. There was no reason for him not to master it completely.

Before he knew it, the sun had begun to sink westward, and the clouds at the horizon had been dyed a fiery red!

Ning Fengzhi, who had gone to Heaven Dou City, returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect under Chen Xin's protection.

Chen Yuan was overjoyed to see Chen Xin return and immediately went before him to explain the situation.

"Teacher, I've broken through to level thirty Soul Power. I can absorb my Third Spirit Ring and become a Soul Elder. Please help me hunt it."

Chen Xin was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this. He happily patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder and said with a smile:

"Not bad. With such cultivation speed, few across the entire continent could compare. Rest well today and restore your strength. Tomorrow, come with me to see the Sect Leader, then we'll head out together to hunt Spirit Beasts."

"As for the type of Spirit Beast we'll hunt, Yuan'er, do you want to use Sword Flight and soar into the sky by your own power?"

Without hesitation, Chen Yuan nodded. Sword Flight was an exceptionally cool and practical ability. He said firmly:

"Teacher, I do."

Chen Xin smiled faintly. He had wanted Sword Flight back then as well, so he said:

"Then we'll hunt the same type of Spirit Beast I did—the Golden Feather Divine Eagle. It is among the finest of eagle and hawk-type Spirit Beasts, possessing razor-sharp beaks and claws that can greatly enhance the sharpness of our Martial Souls. But what we truly want is its Flight Ability, which lets it cross a hundred meters in an instant. As for its age, given your physical strength, it would be best to choose a Golden Feather Divine Eagle between four thousand and six thousand years old."

Chen Yuan's eyes lit up at those words. It seemed that once he became a Soul Elder, he would already be able to use Sword Flight. From then on, with the skies vast and the land wide, where could he not go?

Chen Yuan then nodded and said:

"I'll follow all of Teacher's arrangements."

Chen Xin said:

"Go back and rest. Make sure you restore your energy!"

Chen Yuan replied:

"Teacher, I understand!"

When night fell, Chen Yuan returned to his room. Excitement kept him from entering Meditation for a long while. Only after he had calmed down completely did he enter a meditative state.

The next day!

Chen Xin and Chen Yuan, master and disciple, rose early. Chen Xin then brought Chen Yuan to Ning Fengzhi.

An irrepressible smile covered Chen Xin's face.

"Sect Leader, I won't be able to protect you on your trips to Heaven Dou City for the time being. My disciple has already broken through to level thirty Soul Power. It's time to hunt the Spirit Beast he needs for his Third Spirit Ring!"

Ning Fengzhi was also greatly surprised by this. He immediately looked at Chen Yuan and said in astonishment:

"Chen Yuan, you broke through to level thirty Soul Power at only eleven? You truly are the number one genius of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Let's go, Sword Uncle. I'm looking forward to seeing how much Chen Yuan improves after absorbing his Third Spirit Ring!"

Chen Xin nodded, then said:

"The Spirit Beast we're hunting this time is quite extraordinary. It may take no short amount of time."

Ning Fengzhi had no objections and said:

"That is as it should be. With Chen Yuan's talent, absorbing an ordinary Spirit Ring would be nothing but a waste of that talent."

Chen Xin turned his head at those words and said:

"Yuan'er, let's go."

Chen Yuan immediately responded and followed Chen Xin out:

"Yes."

Once outside, Chen Xin grabbed Chen Yuan. His figure shot into the sky like a streak of sword light, flying toward Sunset Forest.

However, after arriving at Sunset Forest, Chen Xin did not descend. Instead, he continued flying northwest until they reached a region of steep cliffs.

The surroundings were barren, filled with mountain peaks that pierced the sky like sharp swords. They towered into the clouds, majestic and imposing.

The habitats of eagle and hawk-type Spirit Beasts had never been in ordinary forests.

Once he became a Soul Elder, he would go Down the Mountain. With Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong watching him so closely, many plotlines would be difficult to develop.