The Secret of Thunder Tiger's Skull, Chen Xin's Sword Dao

The next morning.

The four of them returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect early.

Ning Fengzhi stood at the entrance of the main hall, craning his neck in anticipation. When he saw Han Yu and the other return safely, the worry on his face gradually eased.

Inside the main hall.

Ning Fengzhi smiled as he produced two treasure boxes made of purple sandalwood. He opened the lids and turned them toward Han Yu and Ning Rongrong.

They were spirit bones—one a translucent, crystalline head spirit bone, and the other a pure white arm spirit bone.

"Han Yu, Rongrong, you are the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Take these two ten-thousand-year spirit bones." Ning Fengzhi rubbed his thumb gently against his scepter, his tone casual, as if he were gifting something of little value.

If one looked closely, they would see the arm spirit bone was for the right arm.

Clearly, Ning Fengzhi had carefully selected these two ten-thousand-year spirit bones; the head bone was perfect for an auxiliary-type tool spirit master like Ning Rongrong, and Han Yu wielded his sword with his right hand.

High-level spirit bones were priceless treasures that could not be bought; ordinary people would absorb them immediately upon finding them, and only major sects and factions stored them for their next generation of prodigies.

Han Yu felt a warmth in his heart. He bowed in thanks and took the boxes.

"Han Yu thanks the Sect Master."

"Thank you, Daddy. But do you like me better or Han Yu better?" Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes, remembering how Han Yu had caused her to be watched by her two grandfathers during training the night before, and asked.

"You are Daddy's daughter, so of course it's you." Ning Fengzhi was amused by the question and reached out to pat his precious daughter's head.

"But Han Yu has two now."

"Two? Could it be..." Ning Fengzhi looked sharply at Han Yu and stood up from his chair, causing Ning Rongrong to turn her head away and pout.

Han Yu nodded, released his two martial spirits one after the other, and explained, "The spirit ring for the Mystic Array Disk is four hundred and thirty years old, and the spirit ring for the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword is a Thunder Tiger that had just reached one thousand years. I was lucky enough to absorb a head spirit bone."

After listening and seeing the two elders nod in confirmation, Ning Fengzhi was filled with joy. He gripped his scepter excitedly and tapped it lightly against the floor.

Han Yu was truly a heaven-sent talent. He had achieved the unprecedented miracle of a thousand-year first ring and had even been lucky enough to obtain a spirit bone, though the age of this bone was truly too low and did not match his talent at all.

"Han Yu, you did very well, but in the future, if you obtain spirit bones, you can store them first to trade for more suitable ones." Ning Fengzhi patted Han Yu's shoulder with a look of gratification, teaching him earnestly.

Han Yu's lips moved slightly, and he nodded.

A thousand-year-level spirit bone was indeed too low for him; if he had a choice, Han Yu would never have chosen to absorb it.

However, this Thunder Tiger skull was unusual. Perhaps because the Thunder Tiger had been baptized by heavenly lightning and evolved only to end up as Han Yu's spirit ring, it had harbored resentment and mutated, merging into Han Yu's body along with the ring.

It came with a magical ability: it could, like the Thunder Tiger, slightly increase the age of the spirit bone through lightning strikes. It was quite useless—how many thunderstorms could one possibly encounter?

"Alright, you've been running around all day, go back and get some rest," Ning Fengzhi said.

Han Yu paused at the sound, looking expectantly at Chen Xin.

"Han Yu, come with me," Chen Xin said with a light cough.

Gu Rong, standing to the side, watched them leave and snorted, muttering under his breath, "We had a little contest on the road to see who would win, and the winner would get to teach Han Yu first. He actually prepared to use his ninth spirit skill on me."

Ning Fengzhi gave a sheepish smile; he wouldn't comment on the affairs of the two elders.

He had more important things to do. Dropping his dignified demeanor, he chased after Ning Rongrong, who was running around the hall, trying to coax her—even the "high-lift" game she used to love didn't work anymore.

The back mountain of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Above the mist-shrouded, secluded peaks, a waterfall cascaded down into a pool.

The two stopped at the edge of the water.

Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back, his green robes fluttering in the breeze.

"Do you know what the Way of the Sword is?" Chen Xin asked, his back to him.

"Master, this disciple does not know," Han Yu answered honestly.

Chen Xin nodded with satisfaction, turned around, and continued, "In the path of the sword, the greatest taboo is having too many distracting thoughts.

Desire, cowardice, indecision... the more these thoughts cloud your mind, the duller your sword becomes."

As he spoke, he raised his hand, his voice steady and unhurried. His index finger traced a line through the air, and a sword aura flashed past with a sharp, clear ring.

"Remember, sharpness is born from simplicity. Today, I will teach you the three core words of my sword path:

Observe, Settle, Strike.

As for whether you can comprehend sword intent, and what kind of sword intent that may be, that depends on your own enlightenment.

Sword intent is the manifestation of the obsession within one's heart.

For example, my Seven Kill Sword Intent is the ultimate slaughter, stripping away all hesitant distractions.

Higher realms include the Sword Heart, the unity of man and sword, and the Way of the Sword itself.

Once you have cultivated your own sword intent, I will tell you more."

Chen Xin finished speaking and looked at Han Yu, who was bowing his head in deep thought. He nodded with satisfaction and waited quietly.

"Observe the opponent, think thrice before acting?" Han Yu murmured.

Chen Xin smiled knowingly and explained, "Everyone's understanding of the sword path is different. You need not worry about that; as long as your heart is firm in your own convictions, that is enough."

"Back when I followed my father to learn the sword..."

Chen Xin spoke eloquently, carefully detailing to Han Yu the detours he had taken when first cultivating sword intent.

He broke down every type of sword intent he had encountered over the years one by one, sharing his own understanding of how to counter them, how to conceal the weaknesses of one's own intent, and why certain combinations of sword intents were inadvisable.

Han Yu sat up straight, listening with rapt attention, his comprehension of the Way of the Sword no longer the blank slate it had been before.

It was only when Han Yu became dizzy and lightheaded, his body swaying uncontrollably, that Chen Xin finally stopped.

"Very well. The Way of the Sword is infinitely profound and has no shortcuts. We shall stop here for today. You are to practice here on your own every day, and I will check your progress on schedule." Chen Xin's voice was gentle, drifting clearly into Han Yu's ears.

"Yes, this disciple thanks you, Teacher." Han Yu bowed deeply toward Chen Xin's departing figure, his voice tinged with a trace of joy and tremor.

Only after Chen Xin had left did Han Yu stand up.

He summoned the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword, his palm gently brushing over the blade. With his eyes closed, the teachings he had just received surfaced in his mind. Suddenly, he flicked his wrist, pointing the sword directly at the waterfall ahead, his gaze gradually sharpening.

Half a month later.

It was another early morning.

Han Yu arrived at the mountain peak early.

In his hand was a delicate, lightweight wooden sword, narrow and slender in shape. With his level of strength as a Spirit Master, wielding it required no effort at all, as if he were holding a few feathers.

He confidently jumped into the pool and climbed onto the giant rock directly beneath the waterfall.

He intended to emulate Yang Guo and practice his swordsmanship under the cascade.

Raising the wooden sword, he managed to hold his position against the water for only a few seconds before a massive force sent him flying, leaving him looking like a drowned rat.

Han Yu stood up from the pool, feeling dejected, and scratched his head.

He failed to notice that Chen Xin and Gu Rong had appeared by the edge of the pool at some point, watching him with great interest.