After his strength had stabilized at level 87 and real combat against Bone Douluo had confirmed that he had joined the ranks of the continent's top experts, Lin Yi did not slack off in the slightest.
He knew that stabilizing his realm and improving his combat strength depended on constant tempering and challenge.
So, while "torturing" the Talent Hall, Lin Yi began frequently seeking out Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, the two pillars of the sect, to request sparring matches and guidance.
His battles with Chen Xin were contests of supreme sharpness, speed, and precision.
Chen Xin's sword had long transcended the realm of ordinary Soul Skills. Every stroke contained the supreme truths of swordsmanship: some brushed over him like a gentle breeze, seeping in through every crack; others struck like thunder from the ninth heaven, overbearing and unrivaled; still others fell like an endless autumn rain, leaving no gaps.
Lin Yi had to push his mental strength, reaction speed, and defensive anticipation to their limits, searching for that fleeting glimmer of life amid countless sword lights. He used Black Dragon Devour to try to neutralize some of the sword energy, then launched tricky counterattacks with Dark Demon Evil Thunder Wrath and Ice Dragon Aurora Wave.
After every battle, he would have several new sword scars, some deep and some shallow. His Soul Power would be nearly exhausted, and his mind would be on the verge of collapse, but the gains were immense.
His control over the rhythm of battle, his timing in choosing Soul Skills, and even his awareness of his own defensive weaknesses all improved rapidly.
His clashes with Gu Rong, on the other hand, were contests of strength, defense, and endurance. Gu Rong's White Bone Domain and endless bone attacks were a combination