A Dark Moment

With a strange mix of frustration and exhilaration, after a sumptuous lunch at the City Lord’s Mansion, Chen Xin gave Erlang's cultivation room one last complicated look before turning and leaving the City Lord’s Mansion to descend the mountain. ඏ🍧 ☺👮

Despite his repeated defeats in his sparring with "Erlang" over the past six months, it must be said that this kind of unrestrained, all-out, and exhilarating battle has allowed Chen Xin's strength to improve by more than 50% faster than before!

Furthermore, under the increasingly intense pressure of Erlang's fighting spirit, Chen Xin's Sword Intent and sword heart also became increasingly sharp and brilliant.

If Chen Xin is a peerless sword with its sharp edge fully exposed, then Erlang, who is holding back his strength to spar with it, is a master blacksmith with superb skills. With each hammer blow, he not only forges the sword to be more resilient, but also helps it control its own sharpness. It can be sheathed to hide its edge, and it can also be drawn when needed, its frost-like edge terrifying!

Chen Xin had a premonition that within two years at most, he would be confident of breaking through to level Level 90!

Then there's his father, Chen Jianjun. Based on his original cultivation speed, it would probably be seven or eight years before he would be confident enough to break through the barrier from Level 96 to Level 97.

However, he is now feeling the urge to break through, and if he can seize the opportunity, he may very well achieve a breakthrough in the near future!

All of this stemmed from a few discussions with Ling Yi about the path of Martial Soul cultivation.

Ostensibly, Ling Yi was seeking advice from Chen Jianjun, raising various questions, and then extending Chen Jianjun's answers to ask new questions.

However, as Ling Yi's questions became more numerous and increasingly difficult, Chen Jianjun was sometimes rendered speechless by them.

As an observer and listener, Chen Xin couldn't understand most of the questions and answers between Chen Jianjun and Ling Yi, but he was still greatly shocked.

After entering the Titled Douluo realm, according to Chen Jianjun's explanation, the gap between each level is enormous.

This gap is most noticeable above Level 95, which is Chen Jianjun's most direct feeling.

However, Ling Yi was able to have unimpeded exchanges on cultivation with Chen Jianjun, who was at Level 96, even at the Soul Emperor level. Not only that, Ling Yi's extended questions often prompted Chen Jianjun to think deeply and were deeply moved, even giving Chen Xin a dreamlike feeling of questioning life.

Sometimes, just because you are making rapid progress in your cultivation and are strong doesn't mean you can teach others so that they can also achieve the same speed of cultivation.

Education is also a skill, and a very rare one at that.

This talent has nothing to do with the strength of an individual, but depends on their mindset, cultural background, language aptitude, and so on.

Chen Jianjun is undoubtedly a powerful figure, but his approach to teaching his son Chen Xin is more about using himself as a mirror for Chen Xin to learn from and emulate, rather than telling Chen Xin how to comprehend Sword Intent, what directions to take, or how to choose...

However, Ling Yi can sense each person's situation and offer different solutions for them to choose from and try until they find the path that best suits them. Then he provides concise yet effective advice to guide them in thinking and reflecting...

Leaning against the elevator on the cliff of Green Cloud Mountain, Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the ever-changing clouds on the horizon, silently reviewing the battle with "Erlang" in his mind.

Even with most of his mind focused on reminiscing, Chen Xin, with his Soul Douluo level and crystal-clear sword heart, could still easily sense the prying gazes coming from all directions.

With a slight frown, Chen Xin considered turning back to the City Lord’s Mansion and having Ling Yi eliminate all the spies who had infiltrated Lingyun City. However, she thought that given Ling Yi's control over Lingyun City, he must be fully aware of the existence of these spies.

Since Ling Yi knew about the existence of these spies, yet still let them run rampant, he must have his own plans.

With this in mind, Chen Xin suppressed the murderous intent that had just arisen in his heart.

Unfortunately, although his strength improved rapidly under the blows of "Erlang", the feeling of repeated defeats was really not pleasant.

Over the past six months, to be honest, Chen Xin had accumulated a lot of anger in his heart.

To paraphrase Chen Xin's inner thoughts. "Even my father has never hit me like this!"

These things, which they thought were hidden, were actually as conspicuous as fireflies in the dark in Chen Xin's sword heart perception, just like flies, annoying and repulsive!

With anger simmering in his heart, Chen Xin's entire aura became dangerous. His face was cold, and his body was City Lord’s Mansion Sword Intent, as if he had just had a big argument with someone, and was the one who lost the argument.

"What's going on? It seems this guy didn't have a very pleasant experience on the mountain?" a spy who wished to remain anonymous muttered to himself.

A passerby on the street was also secretly wondering. "They've had a conflict with the City Lord’s Mansion? That's good news!"

"My lord, does this mean we have a chance to invite this person to our side?"

At a window on the third floor of a restaurant, a waiter wiping the table asked a customer who was drinking tea in a low voice.

"Don't rush, let's observe first~" The guest picked up the teacup and put it to his lips, speaking softly while blowing on the floating tea leaves, his movements natural.

Similar conversations occurred in every corner of Lingyun City, just like the countless Blue Silver Grass scattered throughout the city.

At the summit of Green Cloud Mountain, Ling Yi casually stored these images into his mind's Sea of Consciousness, to be retrieved later when needed.

Several days later, on the fourth floor of the Martial Soul Research Institute, in room 403.

Ling Yi stood on the podium, tapped the five large characters "Martial Soul Organ Theory" on the blackboard beside him with his pointer, and said loudly to the crowd below, "A few days ago, I asked a question: If the ' Martial Soul Organ Theory ' is true, then why are some people's Martial Soul Martial Soul of high quality while others' are of low quality, and why do some people have Innate Soul Power Innate Soul Power while others do not?"

"Now, who can tell me what your opinion is?"

"Liu Hao".

"I think that if Martial Soul is really an organ of us humans, then this organ will naturally have different strengths and weaknesses according to the individual's innate differences, just like the child of a tall person is very likely to be tall as well..."

"Ni Xing".

"I think there should also be some postnatal developmental factors involved. For example, when we are in the womb, the fetal development is affected by the mother's nutritional status, which will also affect the physical condition after birth. In addition, the nutritional intake during infancy will also affect the subsequent development and growth..."

"Eryue Xuan".

"I think external environmental factors also play a role. For example, in icy and snowy environments, people who can survive need to be more cold-resistant and have a greater tolerance for low temperatures..."

"Shang Wenqing"

"I think..."

As Ling Yi called out names one by one, these people also expressed their opinions. Yu Xiaogang, who had not been called out yet, felt as if his heart was being squeezed. His right hand, hidden under the book, was clenched into a fist as if he were squeezing his own heart!

The reason is that what Liu Hao and Ni Xing said was almost exactly the same as what he had been racking his brains in the library these past few days!

Yu Xiaogang dares to swear that he only kept these contents in his heart and did not put a single word on paper!

But this scene in the classroom at this moment tells him that what you can think of, others can also think of; your wisdom is not as unique as you think!

Gradually, as one viewpoint after another was expressed, Yu Xiaogang's heart began to go numb, and he began to get used to that inexplicable sense of loss.

The feeling of having painstakingly prepared and wanted to perform in front of everyone to win praise, only to have it all revealed by others first, is even more painful than a failed performance!

"If I were the first one called upon, I would definitely speak better and more comprehensively than these people!"

With this resentment, Yu Xiaogang lowered his eyelids, concealing the unwillingness in his eyes.

At this moment, all the words he had prepared beforehand had been said, and he could do nothing but silently sulk in his heart.

"Yu Xiaogang".

"..."

"Hmm? Yu Xiaogang...?"

"Hey! Yu Xiaogang, the city lord is calling for you—"

The calls from beyond the heavens brought Yu Xiaogang back to his senses, as if he were in a dream. He then realized that he was still in the classroom.

He subconsciously glanced around and immediately saw Liu Hao, Ni Xing, Eryue Xuan and others around him turning their heads to look at him, each of them seemingly showing a mocking and disdainful expression.

"Xiaogang?"

Just then, a gentle voice came from behind. Yu Xiaogang looked in the direction of the voice and saw Ling Yi's face on the podium, which showed a hint of worry.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ling Yi's concerned voice continued, "I told you before that you need to balance studying with rest. Have you been spending all your time in the library studying lately?"

"..."

Faced with Ling Yi's question, Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't know how to answer, so he could only remain silent.

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang remained silent, Ling Yi could only shake his head helplessly. He opened his right hand and summoned the "Azure Wood Blue Silver King" Martial Soul. Two yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Ring appeared under his feet, totaling six.

As Ling Yi's thoughts stirred, the deep purple Fourth Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed, and a white-gold light curtain carrying a holy meaning shone down on Yu Xiaogang.

Fourth Soul Skill: Holy Light Illumination!

Feeling the sacred power of light envelop his body, even though Yu Xiaogang's heart was still somewhat gloomy, he couldn't help but feel a sense of ease and comfort as he felt the divine power of light enveloping his body.

However, the six bright Soul Ring under Ling Yi's feet were so dazzling that Yu Xiaogang found them glaringly obtrusive.

After a short while, noticing that Yu Xiaogang's complexion had improved considerably, Ling Yi stopped his Soul Skill, flipped his hand to retract his Martial Soul into his body, and the six Soul Ring swirling beneath his feet also disappeared.

Ling Yi looked at Yu Xiaogang, shook his head helplessly, and repeated the same old advice, "Remember in the future, you need to balance work and rest when you're studying..."

Having said that, he stopped paying attention to Yu Xiaogang and instead looked around at the others below, asking, "Alright, now let's get back to the main topic. Aside from what the students have already said, does anyone have anything to add?"

Ling Yi's gaze swept across the entire room, meeting everyone's eyes, but no one seemed inclined to speak. Finally, his gaze lingered briefly on Yu Xiaogang, who was bowing his head, but he quickly looked away.

"Alright, since no one has anything to add, let's continue the lesson."

"Just now, Liu Hao, Ni Xing... you all spoke very well, even better than I expected..."

"Just as you said, if the ' Martial Soul Organ Hypothesis ' holds true, then we can completely interpret the essence of the Martial Soul from the process of our own birth and growth..."

"The innate bloodline from parents and grandparents; the nutrition and development from the mother's womb and even from infancy; the external environment we live in... all these factors will affect our final growth."

"Similarly, the existence of Martial Soul is also like this."

"The history of the Douluo Continent can be traced back tens of thousands of years, to the existence of the power of Martial Soul. How the earliest Martial Soul came about is now impossible to ascertain, but through generations of bloodlines, this power has completely merged with us humans and has begun to influence every aspect of our world..."

"The power of Martial Soul varies in strength, but the presence or absence of Soul Power determines the chasm between ordinary people and Soul Master!"

"So, if I were to tell you today that every person on this continent actually possesses Innate Soul Power, would you believe me?"

As soon as he said that, the entire 403 room fell into a deathly silence.

It wasn't that everyone disagreed with Ling Yi's point of view; on the contrary, everyone in the audience was deep in thought, pondering the basis of Ling Yi's view and how they could follow the city lord's line of thinking!

"Alright, let's leave this question for now and discuss it in the next class. Let's get back to the development and growth of the Martial Soul as a human organ..."

Without giving the students much time to think, Ling Yi continued:

"As we all know, there are several universally recognized Top-Level Martial Soul on the Douluo Continent."

"For example, the ' Clear Sky Hammer ' is known as the number one Tool Martial Soul in the world, the ' Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon ' is known as the number one Beast Martial Soul in the world, the ' Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda ' is known as the number one support Martial Soul in the world, and the ' Nine Heart Begonia ' is known as the number one healing Martial Soul in the world..."

"With so many top-ranked individuals in the world, we won't discuss their unique characteristics or how powerful they are today, because the theme of this lesson is the individual differences in the ' Martial Soul Organ Hypothesis '."

"If any of you students follow current events and are observant, you should have heard of the name ' Clear Sky Twin Stars,' right?"

"I've heard of it!" *N

"Okay, it's good that you've heard about it. Otherwise, I would have to find another example for you, which would be too much trouble—"

"Hehe—" *N

"Since you've heard of the ' Clear Sky Twin Stars,' you should also have heard that Tang Hao, the younger brother, was already tacitly designated as the successor by the entire Clear Sky Sect a few years ago, rather than his older Tang Xiao, who is fifteen years his senior."

"Tang Hao's talent is so strong; he became Seven-Ring Soul Sage at only thirty-something years old. His older Tang Xiao, didn't become Seven-Ring Soul Sage until he was almost forty, right?" Shang Wenqing interjected. "Therefore, as long as the people of the Clear Sky Sect aren't stupid, they will naturally recognize Tang Hao as their successor..."

"That's right~" Ling Yi nodded, confirming Shang Wenqing's information, and said, "Wenqing Clear Sky Sect chose Tang Hao as its successor is that Tang Hao's talent is a notch above Tang Xiao's!"

"So~"

Ling Yi changed the subject, looked around at the crowd below, and asked, "Mingdu the 'Clear Sky Hammer ' Martial Soul, are both sons of ' Heaven-Shaking Douluo ' Tang Zhen, and are even brothers born of the same mother, so why is there such a significant difference in their talents?"

"Yes! Why?" *N

Ling Yi's question immediately left everyone in the classroom puzzled.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out, something no one expected:

"Because..."