Sword Douluo's Sword Dao Flaw, Ning Rongrong's Admiration

Clang!

The two swords struck each other through their sheaths, letting out a clear ring of metal.

All the two swords carried was the purest sword intent.

Even so, the aftershock that burst out at the instant of collision still shook dust from the rafters in soft streams. The celadon vase on the desk finally failed to hold on; a fine crack split silently down its middle, and then it broke cleanly in two.

"Not bad."

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Chen Xin's eyes.

With a turn of his wrist, the Seven Kill Sword, sheath and all, traced a tricky arc and swept horizontally from the left toward Li Qinglian's waist and abdomen.

The sword's momentum was extremely fast, as quick as a streak of white lightning tearing a rift through the air, wrapped in a fierce, resolute Seven Kill intent.

It was a path that pressed forward without hesitation, with no thought of turning back.

Li Qinglian advanced instead of retreating. The Green Lotus Sword, sheath and all, blocked horizontally, precisely stopping the spine of the blade in the instant before the Seven Kill Sword could touch his waist. Then his sword momentum shifted, borrowing the force of the block to push forward, the sword tip driving straight for Chen Xin's chest.

Clang!

Another clear ring sounded.

Their figures crossed past each other. Each spun half a turn and faced each other head-on once more.

Clang clang clang clang clang!

A continuous series of collisions exploded densely through the narrow room, each crossing of swords bursting with tiny sparks.

The two swords attacked and counterattacked at high speed within a tiny space, blue and white sword-light weaving into an airtight net.

Wherever the blades passed, everything was cut apart.

"Hahaha, satisfying!"

"Your sword intent's conception is above mine."

Chen Xin laughed aloud, a rare thing for him.

He shook his wrist, and the Seven Kill Sword spun once in his palm before the tip pointed at Li Qinglian again. Several thin cuts had been sliced into his white clothes by Sword Qi.

Chen Xin looked at Li Qinglian with burning eyes.

If they spoke only of attainment in the way of the sword, he was already far inferior to Li Qinglian.

This young man's strength was no longer beneath his own.

"Li Qinglian. I've always felt that my way of the sword still has many shortcomings, but I can't figure out where the problem lies." Chen Xin sighed and looked at Li Qinglian.

He did not treat Li Qinglian as a child, but as a senior.

At least in the way of the sword, Li Qinglian was the elder.

"Sword Douluo. Actually, I think you should create a sword technique that belongs to your own sword."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for your Seven Kill Sword Intent to advance any further."

Li Qinglian put away the Green Lotus Sword and pointed out Sword Douluo's crux.

"A sword technique?"

Sword Douluo's eyes lit up. He seemed to have grasped something.

"Yes, a sword technique."

"A sword technique is a self-created soul skill that a swordsman creates based on what he has gained from his own cultivation."

"Sword Douluo. Do you think the soul rings you obtained from hunting soul beasts truly fit your sword intent? Can they really express your intent?"

Li Qinglian gave a soft laugh.

"Only by creating a Seven Kill Sword Technique that belongs solely to you, and combining it with the Seven Kill Sword Intent, can you fully integrate your sword intent and completely release its power."

"Pairing sword intent with soul skills is somewhat neither fish nor fowl."

Soul skills came from soul beasts. Even if they had been adapted locally, in the end, they still could not possibly align with sword intent.

"When you use your own sword technique, every swing of the sword nurtures the sword. Your sword intent will grow stronger and stronger..." Li Qinglian continued.

The powerhouses of this world performed far too poorly in this regard.

For a mere unity of man and nature, only a little over ten people could comprehend its mysteries.

For Sword Douluo to comprehend sword intent in this world already made him a genius.

"Create a sword technique that belongs to me."

"Seven Kill Sword Technique!"

"Good, good, good!"

The light in Sword Douluo Chen Xin's eyes grew brighter and brighter, until in the end it became burning hot.

When he looked at Li Qinglian, his gaze carried gratitude.

He finally understood where the gap between himself and Li Qinglian lay.

Li Qinglian had no soul rings, yet through the fusion of sword technique and sword intent, he could erupt with combat power far beyond his own cultivation.

That day, at the competition arena.

What Li Qinglian had used should have been his sword technique—or perhaps a self-created soul skill. That one strike had broken apart Dai Tianyao and Zhu Zhuyun's Martial Soul Fusion. It was terrifying beyond belief.

And he, Chen Xin, should also have had his own sword technique.

"So that's how it is. All these years, our Seven Kill Family has never been able to take another step forward. The problem was here all along."

"I didn't feel it before. But thinking about it now, pairing my sword intent with soul skills really is somewhat neither here nor there."

Chen Xin murmured.

In the past, he had never seen Li Qinglian's sword, so he had not felt there was anything wrong with himself.

The Seven Kill Sword Intent had indeed greatly increased his strength. But after seeing Li Qinglian's sword, he discovered that his own sword intent had not been brought out to its fullest at all.

"Humans obtain soul skills from soul rings. Because of that, the strong all study how to gain more powerful, more suitable soul skills from powerful soul beasts. The more that happens, the easier it becomes to overlook one's own power."

"The Clear Sky Sect's Rampaging Wind Hammer Technique and Great Sumeru Hammer are also self-created soul skills. These self-created soul skills are not weak."

"Chen Xin has been taught!"

Sword Douluo took a step back and bowed to Li Qinglian.

"Senior Chen Xin, you go too far. How could this kid possibly accept such a great courtesy from you?"

Li Qinglian froze for a moment, then hurriedly helped Chen Xin up.

"If one hears the Dao in the morning, one may die content by evening. If not for young sir speaking up, I, Chen Xin, would surely have gone to my grave with regret."

"I, Chen Xin, still have several decades left to live. I must create the Seven Kill Sword Technique. Even if I only create a move or two, my life will not have been in vain."

Tears shimmered in Chen Xin's aged eyes.

After walking four-fifths of his life's path, he had finally found his own Dao.

Young sir?

Li Qinglian froze for a moment.

Sword Douluo truly did have a pure heart. Even though the two of them differed so greatly in age, he was actually willing to call him sir.

No wonder the other party could comprehend sword intent.

If he truly created the Seven Kill Sword Technique, he would surely become a grandmaster of his generation.

"But... this room can't be lived in anymore."

Looking at the room, which was already a complete mess, Li Qinglian gave a wry smile.

"Don't worry, little brother. I've already instructed the steward here. All losses here will be covered by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

Before the words had even fallen, a refined and elegant figure had already appeared at the doorway.

The newcomer wore a moon-white long robe. His features were handsome and gentle, and there was an innate scholarly air between his brows and eyes. It was none other than Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

At his right hand, he was also holding a short-haired girl in a white dress. She was lively and adorable, with a pair of round eyes that were openly sizing up Li Qinglian, filled with worship and curiosity.

"Greetings, Sect Master Ning."

Li Qinglian cupped his fists.

"Hahaha. No need to be so polite, little brother."

"Uncle Jian has never submitted to anyone all these years. Little brother, you are the first."

Ning Fengzhi's smile was warm.

He knew that Sword Douluo must have gained greatly just now. Otherwise, he would never have called Li Qinglian young sir.

"Big Brother Li Qinglian, my name is Ning Rongrong."