Wang Chuan's Own Path

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, yet Wang Chuan did not waste a single moment. Before dawn each day, he was already standing on the Training Ground with his long blade in hand. Only when the sun set did the whistling wind of his blade gradually fall silent. As his practice deepened, his blade techniques quietly began to change. The basic forms that had once carried traces of Chen Xin's instruction now increasingly leaned toward the nimble rhythm Huang Quan had left behind. Every swing of his blade carried an indescribable, ethereal quality.

Chen Xin, standing beside the Training Ground, saw all of this. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of gratification. A genius alone was already enough to leave others far behind, but a genius willing to settle down and hone himself through hard work had limitless potential. What delighted him even more was that Wang Chuan could already integrate the Void Power of his martial spirit, "Nothingness," into his blade techniques. When the blade cut through the air, it carried a faint grayish-white aura that both increased the speed of his strikes and made their force fiercer. However, this power did not come without a price—the void aura slightly slowed his movements, making his evasions somewhat sluggish and leaving him more vulnerable to an enemy exploiting his openings.

Xiao Chuan not only has exceptional cultivation talent, but his comprehension of blade techniques is no less remarkable. Chen Xin silently sighed. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has truly found an invaluable treasure this time.

After sheathing his blade once more, Wang Chuan saw that Chen Xin had merely been watching and had not pointed out any flaws as he usually did. He could not help feeling uneasy. Gripping the hilt, he took small steps over to Chen Xin and asked timidly, "Master, is it... because my blade techniques differ from what you expected that you did not offer any advice?"

Hearing this, Chen Xin could not help laughing. He reached out and patted Wang Chuan on the shoulder. "How could that be? Everyone is an individual. Your martial spirit is Nothingness, naturally inclined toward attack and speed. That has long determined the direction of your blade techniques. If you truly practiced exactly as I taught you, following every step without daring to adapt, then I would be disappointed."

He paused, his gaze turning solemn. "I am actually very happy for you—you were able to step beyond my framework and forge your own path. Look at me. Though my swordsmanship was inherited from my father, its style is vastly different from his. How could it be any different for you? Whether blade techniques or sword techniques, only by cultivating something that belongs to yourself can you truly comprehend that unique 'intent.' Do you understand?"

"An 'intent' that belongs to me alone..." Wang Chuan lowered his head and murmured, his fingers gently stroking the scabbard. Then he suddenly looked up at Chen Xin, his eyes lighting up. "Master, I think I understand! I will definitely carve out a path that belongs only to me!"

What he did not say was that the core of this "intent" had never been the pursuit of greater power. From beginning to end, he had cultivated with all his strength so that he could protect the people he cared about around him. He never wanted to watch someone important fall into danger again because of his own weakness.

Perhaps this obsession gave him the motivation, or perhaps the boost from his Second Spirit, Ambrosial Arbor, was simply too heaven-defying. These days of arduous cultivation had caused Wang Chuan's Soul Power Level to rise rapidly. After all, when he had first absorbed Bing Yi's spirit ring, he had relied on Ambrosial Arbor's power to leap directly to Level 13. His Soul Power's swift growth now was only natural.

When he circulated his Soul Power and sensed it again, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise. His level had now firmly settled at Level 16. Yet Wang Chuan felt no satisfaction whatsoever. Instead, he clenched his fists. He wanted to become stronger—strong enough to protect everyone he wished to protect. He never wanted to become a burden again when danger struck because he lacked the strength.

While Wang Chuan focused on his cultivation, Chen Xin spoke with Ning Fengzhi in the sect's main hall about the perilous incident from when Wang Chuan had absorbed his spirit ring.

"Uncle Jian, you mean Wang Chuan had already been in a certain death situation at the time—the spirit ring's backlash was about to burst him apart, and it was his Second Spirit that actively protected its master and pulled him back from death's door?" Ning Fengzhi paused, his hand holding the teacup stiffening as his voice filled with shock.

Chen Xin nodded gravely. Recalling the scene, he still felt lingering fear. "That is correct. At the time, the martial spirit called Ambrosial Arbor suddenly spread a pale green domain barrier. The life force within that barrier was unbelievably abundant. Not only did it instantly suppress the spirit ring's backlash, it also restored all of Wang Chuan's injuries and depleted Soul Power. Even his Mental Power, which had been thrown into chaos by the backlash, was firmly stabilized."

"That is far too powerful!" Ning Fengzhi abruptly set down his teacup, unable to conceal the excitement in his eyes. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, after living so long, have either of you ever seen a martial spirit that could actively assist its host in stabilizing their condition while absorbing a spirit ring? I dare say this is absolutely a martial spirit unprecedented on the Douluo Continent!"

Bone Douluo Gu Rong, seated nearby, was the first to shake his head. His tone was certain. "Never. While absorbing a spirit ring, any external enhancement is ineffective. That is an iron law of the Douluo Continent. Even boosts from Support System Spirit Masters are isolated by the spirit ring's power. Not even you, Feng Zhi, can do it, let alone a martial spirit actively providing assistance."

Chen Xin nodded as well. "That is indeed the case. If one could receive support while absorbing a spirit ring, with Support System Spirit Masters comprehensively strengthening Soul Power, Mental Power, and physical strength, then would not all Spirit Masters be able to easily absorb spirit rings beyond their level? Yet for all these years, no one has ever managed it. Only Xiao Chuan's Ambrosial Arbor can break this common understanding."

Ning Fengzhi looked through the window at Wang Chuan swinging his blade on the Training Ground, his gaze becoming ever more resolute. "With such a heaven-defying martial spirit and such diligence, Xiao Chuan's future is limitless. We must protect him well and cannot allow anything to go wrong."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong nodded at the same time. They both understood that Wang Chuan was not merely a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but also the hope that would support the sect in the future.