Sword Douluo had only meant to go through the motions, but he stayed at the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace for a full three days.
[Congratulations! You have comprehended Sword Heart! Sword Path Advancement Seven Stages. Reward: seven evolution points]
Early one morning, as Qin Yuan was receiving Sword Douluo's guidance, a line of information suddenly appeared before his eyes.
At the same time, an incredibly sharp sword intent surged from him. The plane-tree leaves drifting around him were silently shredded to pieces.
Delight flashed in his eyes. Qin Yuan abruptly turned to look at Sword Douluo.
Only to find Sword Douluo staring at him, dumbstruck.
Wait, he'd broken through just like that?
By Sword Douluo's estimate, even with his guidance, it should have taken at least two or three months for Qin Yuan to reach the Sword Master realm.
So what was going on?
I've only been guiding you for three days. How did you break through already? You're making me look like I have no talent for the Sword Path!
Sword Douluo could barely take it.
But he had his pride.
So he put on an air of calm and said, "Not bad. You're only a tiny bit behind me."
Qin Yuan felt the old man wasn't telling the truth, but he had no proof, so he said sheepishly, "You're right, Senior Sword Douluo. I've been studying the Sword Path for half a year, and only just reached the Sword Master realm. I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself in front of you."
A certain Douluo who had studied the sword for fifteen years before reaching the Sword Master realm: "ಠ_ಠ"
This kid was doing it on purpose! He absolutely was!!
Sword Douluo had never been so sensitive before.
Sword Douluo left, swearing he'd never set foot in this damned place again. That Biyang bastard!
Ning Rongrong, who had spent a mere three days with Yuan Gege, didn't want to leave. She clung tightly to him, crying and begging not to be separated from her Yuan Gege.
If her father hadn't dragged her away by force, Qian Renxue, who was itching to kill, might already have been unable to hold herself back.
In the end, Ning Rongrong's eyes were red as she took one reluctant step after another, turning back at every step and calling "Yuan Gege" again and again.
She was leaving, and she was still provoking me... Qian Renxue's killing intent surged. She couldn't help glaring at her Xiao Yuan, too.
Qin Yuan stood frozen with fear: "ヾ(;ﾟ;Д;ﾟ;)ﾉﾞ"
Even after they had left the palace far behind, Ning Rongrong still sat in the carriage with her head bowed and her eyes red, saying nothing.
Ning Fengzhi felt for her, but he was also troubled.
He naturally knew what his daughter was thinking. But then he thought of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules.
The future sect master's partner had to be a powerful Battle Soul Master!
And Qin Yuan, with his Half-level Innate Soul Power, simply wouldn't do. He couldn't help sighing inwardly:
"This is a love destined to bear no fruit."
To keep his daughter from sinking deeper, he felt he had to act. He needed to find a way to make her cut off contact with Qin Yuan and let time wash away her feelings.
It would be best to send her out to see the world, so she'd realize there were plenty of men better than Qin Yuan.
Preferably someone her own age.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help thinking of Shrek Academy.
He turned to his daughter and smiled warmly.
"Rongrong, it's time for you to attend an advanced Soul Master Academy and spend more time with people your own age. You can't stay in the sect forever. Which academy would you like to attend?"
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy!" Ning Rongrong replied without the slightest hesitation. Her beautiful eyes, which had been dim with sadness, now glittered brightly, as if they were shining.
Ning Fengzhi's mouth twitched. He'd have to be insane to let his daughter attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy. That would be like delivering meat straight into a wolf's mouth.
The Qin Yuan he looked down on was right there in Heaven Dou City!
So he patiently reasoned with her, appealing to both logic and emotion. Only after a long bout of persuasion did Ning Rongrong finally give up on Heaven Dou Royal Academy and choose Shrek Academy instead.
Seeing his daughter finally give in, Ning Fengzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"She'll finally be far away from Qin Yuan. Once Rongrong enters the Soul Master Tournament and sees countless talented Soul Masters, she ought to realize that good-for-nothing isn't worth her attention."
Then, regret filled his heart as he sighed again.
"Ling Tian is still the son-in-law I like best. What a pity about that boy..."
Half a year later.
[Sword Path Advancement Nine Stages. Obtained nine evolution points]
As Qin Yuan practiced his swordsmanship, a line of information suddenly appeared before his eyes.
His eyes lit up. He stopped swinging his sword, sheathed it, and tossed it into his Storage Soul Tool.
"I've finally broken through to Sword Path Advancement Nine Stages." Qin Yuan let out a long breath, his heart full of emotion.
With a thought, he brought up his panel.
[Name: Qin Yuan] [Age: 13] [Martial Soul: Golden Dragon] [Soul Power: Level 40 (+)] [Soul Rings: Three-Clawed Dark Gold Dragon Soul Ring (6,324 years) (+), Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon Soul Ring (4,444 years) (+), Titan Tremor Roar Soul Ring (6,666 years) (+)] [Soul Bone: Golden Dragon Wings (5,444 years) (+)] [Skills: Chess Path Advancement Nine Stages (5,679/50,000), Carving Path Advancement Nine Stages (4,289/50,000), Sword Path Advancement Nine Stages (0/50,000)] [Evolution Points: 46]
His gaze dropped to the skills section. Looking at Chess Path and Carving Path, he saw that even though he hadn't studied them much over the past year, his understanding had continued to deepen with time.
He simply hadn't focused on them as intensely.
Then his gaze fell on the evolution points.
Over the past year, he had gone from his first glimpse of the Sword Path all the way to Sword Path Advancement Nine Stages, earning a total of forty-five evolution points. Added to the one he'd had left over, that made forty-six.
Since he needed to fight in the Great Soul Arena to build his Sword Path experience, he hadn't used any evolution points to raise his Soul Power Level.
But after a year of cultivation, his Soul Power had still risen by two and a half levels. Just a few days ago, he had reached level 40.
With Extreme Power, his Soul Power had begun to compress to the extreme after he broke through level 30. Its quality and depth far surpassed those of Soul Masters at the same level.
But that had also greatly slowed his rate of cultivation. He had gained only two and a half levels in a year!
His gaze moved up to his age. He sighed.
"I'm already thirteen. The Soul Master Tournament is only a year away. Time flies!"
Qin Yuan's eyes gleamed. It was time to start planning for the Immortal Herbs!
But first...
The corners of his mouth gradually spread into a grin.
"System, give me all the points!!!"
Without a moment's hesitation, he went all in.
He used every evolution point to raise his Soul Power Level.
In the blink of an eye, after a year of accumulation, only one evolution point remained.
But in exchange, his Soul Power began to soar at incredible speed, erupting like a volcano!
Level 41!
Level 43!
Level 46!
Level 49!
Level 51!
Yes, his Soul Power had ultimately settled at... level 51!
A Soul King at thirteen!
At level 40, the Soul Ancestor realm, each level-up cost four evolution points.
At level 50, the Soul King realm, each level-up cost five.
He'd spent forty-five evolution points to leap an entire major realm!
Feeling his Soul Power swell by an unknown number of times, Qin Yuan's peerlessly handsome face was filled with intoxication.
This feeling of growing stronger was incredible~
After a long while, he regained his composure and rubbed his chin as he thought to himself:
"With my Soul Power now, absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as my fourth shouldn't be a problem. Soul Shock barely affects me anymore, but..."
A wild look appeared on his face.
"But how could I be content with absorbing a mere ten-thousand-year Soul Ring? My fourth and fifth Soul Rings need to be at least thirty thousand years old!
"With the power of the Immortal Herbs on top of that, once I've absorbed my fourth and fifth Soul Rings, my Soul Power should soar straight to level 60!
"By the time I return from Star Dou Great Forest, I'll be a Soul Emperor! A thirteen-year-old Soul Emperor!!"
That would save him more than fifty evolution points!
He'd worked himself to the bone studying for a whole year, and had earned only forty-five evolution points!
As for how he'd endure the thirty-thousand-year limit that only a Soul Saint could withstand while he was still level 50, he already had a plan.
Before you continue