Jiang Siming was sent flying. He couldn't stop the coppery taste from rising in his throat, but forced himself to swallow it. He staggered back a few steps and barely managed to stay upright before roaring, "I'm not giving up!"
"Good! Again!" Sword Douluo said with an appreciative smile.
The first day of training finally came to an end. Jiang Siming had taken the worst beating of his life.
But Jiang Siming hadn't backed down. No sword had ever been bent, and if a swordsman gave in, he would lose his sword heart.
For the next few days, Jiang Siming was subjected to Sword Douluo's brutal beatings.
"Uncle Sword, Siming, stop for a moment. I have something to say to Siming." Ning Fengzhi interrupted their training. He had no choice. One was willing to teach, and the other was willing to train. The two of them had barely rested over the past few days. They even rushed through their meals, taking only enough time to get the sleep they needed.
It was the first time Ning Fengzhi had seen Sword Douluo teach someone with such dedication. Even Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had never received so much of his attention.
"Ning... looking... for me?" Jiang Siming's swollen face made it impossible for him to get a full sentence out.
Looking at Jiang Siming's bruised and battered face, Ning Fengzhi fought back a laugh. "You'd better not talk. Grandmaster asked me to tell you that they're heading to Heaven Dou City soon. If you want to get in touch with them, go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and look for someone named Qin Ming."
Jiang Siming nodded to show he understood, then glared resentfully at Ning Fengzhi, who was struggling to hold back his laughter.
Jiang Siming had to speed things up. After all, the matter with Poison Douluo still hadn't been resolved. Tang San and the others needed the immortal herbs to improve their strength. Otherwise, the Spirit Master Tournament would be a real problem.
Jiang Siming turned around and glared fiercely at Sword Douluo. The result, as expected, was another beating.
Section 41: The Great Bright Sword Song Runs Out of Control
On the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's training grounds, two figures, one old and one young, radiated peerless sword intent.
"Is that all you've got, boy?" Sword Douluo taunted.
"Don't get cocky, you old bastard. I'm going all out." Their exchange was purely a contest of swordsmanship. Clearly, Jiang Siming's current level of Sword Dao posed no threat to Sword Douluo.
"Great Bright Sword Song!" For the first time, Jiang Siming wielded the Immortal Slaying Sword to use his Self-Created Soul Skill. Killing intent filled the entire training ground, and the temperature seemed to drop in an instant. His simple slashes, sweeps, thrusts, and chops held no flashy flourishes; they were meant only to kill. Jiang Siming's eyes reddened slightly as boundless killing intent stirred around him. With overwhelming force, he charged at Sword Douluo.
"A Self-Created Soul Skill?" Sword Douluo couldn't hide his surprise, but his hands never stopped moving. The Seven Kill Sword erupted with equally overwhelming force, attempting to break through Jiang Siming's aura. Sword Douluo could already tell that Jiang Siming's Great Bright Sword Song was no ordinary Self-Created Soul Skill. He could clearly feel it affecting his mind, as if his will to resist were being weakened. It was as though he were a lamb awaiting slaughter. Though he faced only Jiang Siming, it felt like he was up against an entire army.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Jiang Siming growled in a low voice, seeming to have lost his mind as he charged wildly at Sword Douluo.
"Has the boy gone mad?" Sword Douluo worried.
As Sword Douluo wondered, Jiang Siming swung his sword at him. The Seven Kill Sword blocked it with a backhanded parry, but an intensely powerful Slaughter Aura still shot through the Seven Kill Sword and surged toward Sword Douluo. Sword Douluo hurriedly retreated, narrowly avoiding the unexpected attack.
"This boy's Slaughter Aura is stronger than ever. Every move is a reckless, life-for-life attack." Sword Douluo felt utterly aggrieved. Wasn't he playing fair?
The main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Uncle Gu, is everything all right at the training ground? Should I go take a look with you?" Ning Fengzhi asked anxiously. The overwhelming killing intent was shocking, even though the energy field it gave off wasn't particularly powerful. Anyone who didn't know better might think a band of desperadoes had attacked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Fengzhi, there's no need to worry. Old Man Chen is a Titled Douluo, after all. If he gets the better of him, it'll be quite a sight." Bone Douluo wasn't worried in the least. Instead, he looked amused. If one of the two Douluos didn't have to stay behind to protect Ning Fengzhi, they would have rushed out to watch long ago.
Ning Fengzhi smiled helplessly and shook his head. But after hearing Bone Douluo's words, he felt more at ease.
The battle between Jiang Siming and Sword Douluo lasted a full three days. Ning Fengzhi ordered all sect disciples to stay away from the training ground.
Sword Douluo's mood over those three days had been absolutely miserable. It was the perfect example of being unable to hit Jiang Siming, yet having no choice but to keep fighting. He couldn't figure out what state Jiang Siming was in. If he forcibly interrupted him, he had no idea what might happen. All he could do was slowly wear down Jiang Siming's Soul Power.
At last, Jiang Siming stopped. His overwhelming killing intent vanished without a trace, and he toppled straight backward.
"I finally got the kid under control." Sword Douluo let out a long breath.
Inside the Mirror Space.
"What the hell? How did I end up in the Mirror Space?" Jiang Siming only remembered that after using the Great Bright Sword Song, his consciousness had grown hazy. He'd lingered in that state for a while before entering the Mirror Space.
"Ding! Phase Two unlock assessment initiated."
"What the heck? A Phase Two unlock assessment?" Jiang Siming was confused.
"Since the host bypassed the system's permissions and entered Phase Two early, the assessment difficulty has increased. Number of opponents: one. Full replication. Use of the Second Martial Soul prohibited. No time limit."
"Just one opponent? Not bad. So this isn't a group fight, but a duel? System, does full replication include thoughts?" Jiang Siming had a bad feeling. There might be fewer opponents this time, but he had no idea what "full replication" meant.
"Full replication includes all of the host's abilities except the Second Martial Soul, as well as a comprehensive replica of the host's combat thoughts, fighting style, and more."
"Are you messing with me? I'm fighting myself. Wouldn't it always end in a draw?" Jiang Siming complained inwardly. People's movements were full of habitual patterns, and combat depended on quick reflexes and well-developed habits. It was like martial artists from the same school in the wuxia films of his previous life, unable to land a hit on one another.
Still, Jiang Siming didn't believe the system would give him an assessment that was completely impossible to pass.
"Begin the assessment?"
"Bring it on!" Jiang Siming wanted to see whether the other really was exactly like him.
The next moment, a brand-new Jiang Siming appeared before him.
They both summoned the swords they knew best: the Immortal Extinction Sword and the Immortal Slaying Sword.
Neither of them used Soul Skills. There was no point in using skills that boosted or weakened their abilities.
The clash of swords rang out again and again.
"Damn it, he really is exactly like me." Jiang Siming clenched his teeth. But in the instant he let his guard down, a sharp sword pierced his throat.
In a room in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Jiang Siming suddenly woke up to find Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo, and Sword Douluo all beside him, staring at him with strange expressions.