Qi Dao's Life Shall Not Be Inferior to Any Other

Back home, Qi Dao could not wait to summon his iron sword!

The iron sword was dull gray and looked utterly ordinary, with several cracks running along its blade.

Yet when Qi Dao held it in his hand, that intangible connection arose once more.

After all, in the Douluo Continent worldview, there were concepts such as sword intent and the unity of man and sword.

For example, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and the sword fanatic Ji Juechen.

Looking at the iron sword in his hand, Qi Dao recalled that wondrous state he had entered outside the awakening hall.

Perhaps that had been something akin to enlightenment!

With that thought, Qi Dao could not bear to put down the iron sword in his hand.

So what if his innate soul power was only half a rank?

He would still become a god among swords!

The spirit of youth was something that could never be reproduced in this world!

Qi Dao's life would not be inferior to anyone else's!

At the dinner table, Qi Dao looked at his father.

"Dad, could you help me buy a scabbard tomorrow?"

Father Qi froze, then asked in confusion, "Son, what do you need a scabbard for?"

On the Douluo Continent, weapon martial soul masters did not need to carry weapons on them. They only needed to release their martial souls when it was time to fight.

Qi Dao smiled. "I want to put my iron sword martial soul into a scabbard and carry it with me."

"Huh?"

Not only Father Qi, but Mother Qi was stunned as well. They could not understand what kind of logic had led Qi Dao to such an idea.

Father Qi asked, half amused and half helpless, "Son, can you tell Dad why you want to carry your martial soul around?"

"You should know that once you release your martial soul, it will continuously consume soul power even if you do not use it."

Qi Dao said seriously, "Because I think it will help me comprehend the soul and will of the sword. Maybe it will allow me to cultivate faster."

After hearing him out, Father Qi and Mother Qi still looked utterly baffled.

What kind of nonsense was that?

If holding a sword could let someone comprehend the sword's soul and will, then why had Father Qi felt nothing after holding swords for more than twenty years?

The couple exchanged glances and quietly shook their heads.

It seemed that no matter how precocious their son was, he was still just a child, which was why he harbored such fantastical ideas.

But it did not matter. Perhaps after some time, he would come to understand it himself!

Still, seeing that their son had not become dejected over awakening only half a rank of innate soul power, the two of them were already very satisfied.

Father Qi said with a cheerful smile, "Alright, Dad will help you buy a scabbard tomorrow!"

"Thanks, Dad!" A smile appeared on Qi Dao's face.

The next day, Father Qi truly did bring back a black scabbard, its surface engraved with delicate patterns.

Qi Dao took the scabbard and immediately loved it. At once, he sheathed the iron sword within it, hung it at his waist, and rested one hand on the hilt.

That subtle sensation washed over him again.

Father Qi chuckled and teased, "Son, can you feel the sword's soul now?"

The moment he finished speaking, Qi Dao closed his eyes and raised a finger to his lips.

"Shh~"

He could feel it. His connection with the iron sword was gradually growing stronger.

Though it was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, it was undeniably strengthening!

Father Qi held back his laughter.

It really looked convincing!

Mother Qi stood some distance away, her face full of affection.

"Our son is so handsome!"

Father Qi walked over and grinned. "Of course he is. He takes after me!"

That night.

Qi Dao sat quietly on his bed, meditating. The iron sword lay horizontally before him, and his calm little face carried a trace of solemnity.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was bright, and a smile appeared on his peaceful face.

"It really works. My cultivation speed is faster than before."

Although the increase was only a faint trace, so weak that it was nearly impossible to detect, Qi Dao was utterly certain of it.

Though the effects could not be seen in a day or two, over time, they would still add up from grains of sand into a tower!

Qi Dao picked up the iron sword lying horizontally before him and said with a smile, "Iron Sword, oh Iron Sword, the Great Dao reaches the heavens, and I'm one step closer to becoming a Sword God!"

The moment he finished speaking, a thought suddenly struck him.

"It won't do to keep calling you Iron Sword. Sooner or later, you and I will shake the world—how can we not have a domineering name?"

"Let me think~"

Qi Dao rubbed his chin and racked his brains.

After a long while, his eyes lit up.

"One day, I shall be invincible among men, while you reign supreme among swords!"

"Your name shall be Peerless!"

"Peerless elegance, unmatched beneath the heavens!"

"Buzz~"

In an instant, a humming sound rang out within the room.

Qi Dao held the scabbard and could clearly feel an intense vibration.

Somehow, he seemed to hear Peerless cheering with joy!

Qi Dao burst into laughter. "I heard your voice. It seems you really like this name!"

"Let us strive together toward our shared goal!"

"This is the bond between us!"

"Buzz~"

Qi Dao did not notice that the crack on the blade had miraculously healed by a tiny amount.

Starting the next day, Qi Dao began practicing swordsmanship under Father Qi.

Father Qi was merely an ordinary twenty-ninth-rank Grand Soul Master, not some great master of the sword.

However, in his early years, he had spent time in the Great Soul Arena to make a living and had accumulated plenty of combat experience.

Even now, he and Mother Qi had a regular soul-hunting team that specialized in helping others hunt soul rings.

Having fought through life-and-death battles, his swordsmanship was not the style of any famous school, but it was more geared toward actual combat.

Simple, yet practical!

"The offensive movements of swordsmanship can mainly be divided into two categories: slashing and thrusting."

"When you slash, your arm must relax. Use the sword's own weight and the rotation of your waist and hips to bring the blade down, rather than relying solely on the strength of your arm."

"Relax, relax!"

"When gripping a sword, it must be 'firm without being rigid.' You need to prevent the sword from flying out of your hand while keeping your wrist flexible. Look at the way you're holding that sword!"

"How many soul skills do we Soul Masters have in total? Especially us Tool Soul Masters."

"Take us Sword Soul Masters, for example. All our abilities lie in our swords. If your swordsmanship is lacking, your strength will be cut at least in half."

When teaching Qi Dao swordsmanship, Father Qi was extremely strict.

However, that was exactly what Qi Dao needed.

Besides, Father Qi really did know his stuff!

Mother Qi stood at a distance, watching the scene with a gentle, gratified smile on her face.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

When Notting Academy began its term, Father Qi and Mother Qi brought Qi Dao there and met the headmaster of Notting Academy, Hans.

The couple had once been students of Notting Academy as well, and they were among the more accomplished graduates of their generation. In the future, they would most likely become Soul Elders, and perhaps even have a chance in their lifetime to set their sights on becoming Soul Ancestors.

Hans greeted them warmly. "Mingyuan, Wang Rou, how does it feel to return to your old school?"

"This must be your child, right?"

"I can see steadiness and wisdom in his eyes—qualities ordinary children do not possess."

"Hello, Headmaster Hans!" Qi Dao respectfully greeted Headmaster Hans.

Hans laughed heartily. "What a polite child!"

Hearing Headmaster Hans praise Qi Dao, Father Qi and Mother Qi could not help smiling as well.

Father Qi said, "I brought Qi Dao to enroll at Notting Academy this time. This child awakened his martial soul two months ago, and he also has innate soul power."

As he spoke, he handed over Qi Dao's Martial Soul Hall awakening certificate.

Hans opened the certificate. After reading its contents, the way he looked at Qi Dao gained a hint of pity.

A malignant mutation of his martial soul—his luck was simply terrible.

Innate half-rank soul power. He would most likely be unable to break through Rank 20 in this lifetime. After all, not every person with innate half-rank soul power could reach Rank 29 like his old friend Yu Xiaogang.

At that thought, his eyes lit up.

That's right!

How could he have forgotten about the Master?

Their circumstances were so alike—both had suffered malignant mutations of their martial souls. If the Master taught him, wouldn't that be fate?

Just then, the door to the principal's office suddenly opened, and a figure strode in without so much as a greeting.

When Principal Hans saw who it was, he clapped his hands in delight.

"Master, you came at just the right time!"