The Way of the Sword, a Life of Hard Training

As the chief Grand Elder, Ye Xuanji's courtyard was naturally located in a secluded place, so the noise from outside would not disturb him.

When the two arrived, Ye Xuanji led Chen Junting straight toward the Sword Room.

As soon as they entered the Sword Room, the swords covering the walls immediately caught Chen Junting's attention.

Leaving aside the wide variety of treasured swords, even the exquisite gems set into their scabbards glittered with alluring light.

Judging by the look of them, these swords were not meant to be used.

"Envious?"

Ye Xuanji walked over to Chen Junting and gently patted him on the shoulder.

Chen Junting also experienced his master's improper side for the first time. It seemed that the immortal-like bearing he had displayed when they first met had all been an act.

After secretly rolling his eyes...

"Master, this Sword Room is...?"

Though he already had a guess in mind, Chen Junting still asked at an appropriate moment.

"This is my exclusive Mimetic Cultivation Ground."

Ye Xuanji paid little attention to his disciple's eye roll. Instead, he stepped forward and casually drew out a treasured sword.

The patterns engraved on the blade, along with the dazzling starlight embellishing it, all spoke of the sword's expense and magnificence.

"You don't need to rush."

As if he had seen the longing in Chen Junting's eyes, Ye Xuanji said, "Your exclusive Mimetic Cultivation Ground began collecting the corresponding materials for you yesterday, when you joined the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

"Do you know the difference between your Martial Soul and mine?"

Ye Xuanji suddenly changed the subject.

"The Martial Soul of the Seven Kills Sword possesses killing aura, while the Martial Soul of the Star Saint Sword possesses starlight?"

Faced with the sudden question, Chen Junting gave the obvious answer.

But after recalling what he had felt during his Martial Soul awakening and Soul Ring absorption, he spoke hesitantly. "Perhaps my Martial Soul also has Momentum?"

"Exactly."

A look of approval appeared on Ye Xuanji's face.

"That is why the Seven Kills Sword has vanished from sight over the past ten thousand years, despite the emergence of countless new sword Martial Souls, yet it has never fallen from its position as the world's number-one sword Martial Soul."

Ye Xuanji flipped his wrist, and the Star Saint Sword appeared in his hand. A mighty Momentum erupted instantly, enveloping Chen Junting completely.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Junting dropped to one knee.

Light flared in his right hand, and the Seven Kills Sword Martial Soul manifested on its own.

Likewise, a powerful Momentum burst forth from it.

Just as Chen Junting slowly rose, the Momentum from before suddenly vanished, leaving his entire body feeling relaxed.

At that moment, Ye Xuanji's words reached his ears.

"Did you feel it? This is Sword Momentum."

Hearing this, Chen Junting turned his gaze toward the Seven Kills Sword.

A vast and righteous killing aura seeped outward from it.

"Master, the Sword Momentum of the Seven Kills Sword Martial Soul is innate, while the Sword Momentum of other sword Martial Souls must be cultivated after birth."

Chen Junting raised his head and met Ye Xuanji's gaze.

"Correct."

Ye Xuanji was clearly very satisfied with this answer.

"This is the innate advantage of the Seven Kills Sword Martial Soul. Moreover, once one's mastery of Sword Momentum reaches a certain level, it will undergo a transformation and become a Domain. Ancestor Chen Xin transformed his Sword Momentum into the Seven Kills Domain when he became a Titled Douluo."

"A Domain!"

Hearing that familiar yet unfamiliar word, Chen Junting's eyes immediately lit up.

Looking across the entire Douluo world, Domains were synonymous with power.

In battles between Soul Masters of equal rank, a Soul Master possessing a Domain had an overwhelming chance of victory.

"Then, Master, are we going to cultivate Sword Momentum next?" His eagerness for a Domain had already made him raring to go.

But soon, a basin of cold water was poured over him.

"Do you think Domains are cultivated?"

"Then..."

Ye Xuanji did not explain. Instead, he said, "You must understand that the Way of the Sword has five realms. The first is Sword Arts, the moves and techniques of the sword. The second is Sword Momentum, the sword's imposing might and domain. The third is Sword Intent, which requires the wielder to merge the artistic conception they have comprehended into the sword. The fourth is Sword Soul, which requires the wielder to merge their own soul into the sword—in other words, Man-Sword Unity. You are the sword, and the sword is you. The final realm is the legendary Sword God. Yet ever since our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, were founded, no one has ever managed to walk this path. Perhaps only the gods of legend can do so."

"Tighten your grip on your sword. From today onward, your training will require you never to let go of it. As a swordsman, you must become connected with your sword Martial Soul, comprehend it, and master it."

Ye Xuanji's tone suddenly turned stern.

"The Way of the Sword progresses from shallow to profound. If you cannot even master Sword Arts, how can you hope to comprehend a Domain from Sword Momentum?"

As he spoke, Ye Xuanji's gaze grew increasingly sharp.

"Now, we'll begin with the basics."

For the entire afternoon that followed, the first thing Ye Xuanji taught Chen Junting was how to hold a sword correctly.

According to him, when he had first met Chen Junting, his courage and vigilance had been commendable—but his posture when wielding a sword had been complete garbage.

He demonstrated how to grip the hilt with both hands and how to adjust the positions of his fingers to achieve the best possible grip.

Chen Junting carefully observed his master's movements, then imitated him awkwardly until he gradually mastered them.

Next, Ye Xuanji began teaching him how to regulate his breathing. He explained that breathing was an extremely important part of Sword Arts, affecting the body's balance and stability. He repeatedly demonstrated how to breathe deeply, relax the body while inhaling, and tighten the muscles while exhaling.

In the days that followed, Ye Xuanji's instruction could be described as gradual and methodical. The basic sword techniques also began to progress.

Once those were more or less in order, cultivation of the Seven Kills Sword Art and the "Kill" Formula began as well.

From that day onward, Chen Junting truly entered a life of hard training, and his days became exceptionally fulfilling.

At dawn, he practiced the basic sword techniques a thousand times, then took a medicinal bath to relieve his fatigue.

After breakfast, he practiced the Seven Kills Sword Art and the "Kill" Formula, followed by another medicinal bath.

In the afternoon, he read and studied knowledge about Soul Masters and Soul Beasts, as well as practicing actual combat techniques under his master's guidance.

At night, he replaced cultivation with meditation. During meditation, he also had to summon the Seven Kills Sword and lay it across his legs, using it to sense and become familiar with Sword Momentum.

Of course, during this period, Chen Junting gradually became acquainted with other people his age besides Ning Tian, such as Wu Feng.

However, when they first met, Wu Feng had been somewhat hostile toward him, apparently feeling that he had taken away part of Ning Tian's attention.

But after Chen Junting gave her a lecture on "reason," with Ning Tian mediating between them, their relationship improved considerably.

Afterward, even Wu Feng's First Soul Ring was obtained through Chen Junting's efforts.

Gradually, Chen Junting felt that he and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had become impossible to separate.

Aside from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's investments in him—including, but not limited to, his exclusive Mimetic Cultivation Ground, expensive medicinal baths, and supplies of Heaven and Earth Treasures as food—his friends and master also belonged here.

He had long since truly accepted the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect as his home from the bottom of his heart.