One month later.
Papal Palace.
Pope Qian Xunji, wearing a violet-gold crown, clenched his pale fingers around his jeweled scepter. His narrow eyes were sharp as he gave the order:
"My patience has run out. Since the Clear Sky Sect refuses to know its place, I shall have to act personally. Elders Flash Mongoose and Lei Dao, accompany me out of the city to hunt for a soul beast!"
"Yes! We obey Your Holiness's decree!"
Xu Residence, Martial Arena.
Fully recovered, Xu Huxiao trained his palm techniques with a steadfast gaze and meticulous precision.
He had already learned from his father that Qian Xunji had personally left the city to hunt the Blue Silver Emperor. What surprised him was that the two Title elders accompanying him happened to be Flash Mongoose and Lei Dao, the very people chiefly responsible for plotting against the Xu Family!
The net of heaven was vast indeed; death was hanging over their heads!
Because he knew that this soul hunt was destined to fail.
Tang San would be born, the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin would sacrifice herself, Tang Hao would erupt and break through, Qian Xunji would be severely injured, and of the two Title elders he brought along, one would die while the other would be gravely wounded.
He just wondered which unlucky bastard would die—Flash Mongoose or Lei Dao?
Either way, it was unquestionably good news for him.
She Long and Ci Xue were with Qian Renxue in Heaven Dou City. If they learned that Flash Mongoose and Lei Dao would end up with one dead and one severely injured, then even if they were at odds with the Xu Family, they probably would not make another move anytime soon.
Then there would be Bibi Dong murdering her master and ascending to the position of Pope. Amid such turbulent changes, he should have a period of peaceful growth ahead of him.
That was very important.
Because what Xu Huxiao lacked most right now was time.
With three supreme martial arts at his side, his Twin Arms would fear no powerful enemy in the future.
Once his father had fully recovered in a few days, Xu Huxiao planned to obtain the first Soul Rings for his Twin Arms Martial Souls and remove the restriction on his Soul Power growth. He believed that with the might of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, his Soul Power Level would rise quickly.
Roar~
A light dragon's cry spiraled through the wind, and the translucent dragon-shaped energy seemed to come alive.
Gathered but not dispersed.
Xu Huxiao thrust out a palm, like a dragon ascending to the heavens. His muscles and bones stretched out like a great dragon shaking its sinews.
Though he had practiced the same Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms countless times, he still gained new insights every time he performed them.
Bang!
The force of Revisiting the Dragon emerged seven parts from the palm. It recoiled when it met emptiness and shattered what was solid, blending hardness and softness, its strength inexhaustible.
With just one palm strike, the remaining seven primary forms and ten variant forms flowed forth in an unbroken stream.
Roar—
Palm after palm struck out, the dragon cries unceasing. On Xu Huxiao's bare Twin Arms, even the finest hairs rose and fell like ripples on water. Combined with the subtle circulation of his energy, they actually outlined layers of translucent dragon-scale armor.
His neat golden hair flowed like golden flames. As he breathed in and out, his breathing unconsciously became deep and powerful, and his entire body naturally merged into the ever-changing palm technique.
Hoo~
A moment later.
Xu Huxiao withdrew his palms, and the mystical sight vanished.
"I don't know if it's because of this other world, but this set of Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms doesn't seem merely exquisite. It feels as though it contains the ultimate principles of heaven and earth."
"Ever since I reached the Essence Intent Realm, every practice session has made my blood boil."
"Dragon-subduing, dragon-subduing... yet I feel like I've become the true dragon soaring through the nine heavens."
"It truly is indescribably wondrous!"
"Martial arts, Martial Souls, bloodlines... there must be some shared connection among the three."
In the nearby resting pavilion.
An elderly man with white hair and beard, yet a face as smooth and tender as a baby's, stared unblinkingly at Xu Huxiao in the arena.
His expression was as though he had found an unparalleled treasure.
This old man was none other than Sword Douluo, Chen Xin!
After the celebration, he had not returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Instead, he remained at the Xu Family to stand guard, preventing other fools from taking the opportunity to cause trouble.
Normally, he kept a low profile and focused on comprehending the Sword Force he had newly grasped.
Until one day, Chen Xin accidentally discovered Xu Huxiao practicing martial arts in the Martial Arena.
At first, he merely thought the child was fooling around and paid it no mind.
But after several consecutive days, he noticed that this little fellow appeared in the Martial Arena without fail to practice a palm technique.
That piqued his interest. Feng Yu's son seemed to have inherited Xu Bayan's martial arts fanaticism.
Thus.
Chen Xin moved from the quiet room where he contemplated Sword Force to the Martial Arena. He wanted to see how long this little fellow could persist.
But if he had not watched, he would never have known. Once he did, he was utterly shocked!
He discovered that Huxiao was not practicing for fun. His palms, fists, footwork, and movements were incomparably precise, his techniques followed discernible patterns, and they actually carried something of the flavor of a Self-Created Soul Skill.
Chen Xin had asked Xu Bayan, but Xu Bayan said he had not taught it to him. He did not know what his son was practicing either. When he heard that his son might have developed a Self-Created Soul Skill—
The broad-minded Xu Bayan merely laughed heartily and said, "As expected of my son," looking immensely proud.
Chen Xin was somewhat speechless. Was the important part whose son he was?
The important part was that this was a six-year-old child's Self-Created Soul Skill!
However, that was not what truly astonished Chen Xin. What truly shocked him was what he sensed three days ago.
That day was just like today.
He had actually sensed "force" from this little fellow!
Palm Force!
Though it was weak, like a seed that had yet to see the light of day, it undeniably existed.
If he had not been immersed in Heart-Submergence while comprehending Sword Force, he never would have noticed it.
What was "force"?
"Force" was an advanced transformation of one's personal domain after reaching level ninety-six, yet it had appeared on a child.
It was simply impossible!!
Chen Xin thought it was an illusion, but over the next two days, he sensed it again whenever Xu Huxiao focused on practicing his palm technique.
There was no mistake. The fluctuations appearing around this little fellow were indeed "force"!
After confirming it, only two words appeared in Chen Xin's mind:
Heaven-defying!
Monster!
For those few days, he even doubted the Sword Force he had cultivated. A six-year-old child could cultivate "force," so had his seventy-eight-year-old self...
Spent over seventy years living like a dog?!
Later.
Once Chen Xin calmed down, he began searching for the reason. Just how had this little fellow done it?
But after two straight days, aside from sensing that weak yet rounded Palm Force, he discovered nothing new.
Thus, Chen Xin reached a conclusion:
This little fellow was absolutely a peerless genius, one favored by heaven!
Such a gifted child, and one from his own family at that—he had to sweet-talk him, pfft, pfft, he had to take him as a disciple!
Chen Xin believed that under his guidance, this uncut jade would surely shine with a brilliance that would shock the continent.
When the time came, a master and disciple both becoming Title Douluos would be a celebrated tale in the Soul Master world!
With such wonderful hopes in his heart, Chen Xin found Xu Bayan today and told him of his discovery and his plan to take a disciple.
But Xu Bayan, this Savage Bear, still wore that proud expression of "as expected of my seed." He was completely nonchalant, without the slightest surprise.
Chen Xin could no longer bear it. Was it really so hard to look a little shocked? It was as if he were the only one making a fuss over nothing!
Left with no choice, he released the sharp aura of the Seven Kill Sword and dragged this Savage Bear to the Martial Arena to see for himself.
"Well, Bayan, did you sense it? That fluctuation of 'force.'"
"Hehe, Yu'er's cooking keeps getting better. These beef tendon meatballs with the candied chicken cutlet pancakes are simply a perfect match. Burp~"
"Uh, Uncle Sword, what did you just say?"
Chen Xin turned to look at the slightly plump Xu Bayan, who was stuffing pastries into his mouth. His eyes narrowed slightly as killing intent leaked out.
This Savage Bear was not the least bit astonished that his son had displayed "force." No, he had not even taken a proper look!
Chen Xin felt his Seven Kill Sword stirring again. He said flatly:
"Oh, nothing. Little Yan, let's spar. It's been a month. Let me see whether you've recovered."
Xu Bayan stared blankly as the candied chicken cutlet pancake in his hand split directly in two. A powerful Sword Intent enveloped him. Knowing that Uncle Sword was serious, he hurriedly forced a smile.
"Uncle Sword, don't be angry. We're family. Put away your Seven Kill Sword already."
"I sensed Huxiao's 'force.' This kid really is exceptionally gifted. Even I have no idea when he cultivated it, but he's still young. Even if he has the beginnings of 'force'—"
"It's not much use yet."
"..."
"Not much use? Oh, I knew I was playing music to a cow. Enough talk. Summon your Martial Soul! I'll let you experience whether my Sword Force is useful."
Seeing the Sword Intent around him grow stronger and stronger, Xu Bayan knew he had said the wrong thing again. He quickly raised his hands in surrender and tried to make amends.
"No, no, Uncle Sword, we're family. Put the sword away."
"I know you want to take Huxiao as your disciple. I support that with both hands and both feet. I'll have Huxiao come over and acknowledge you as his master right now."
At the mention of taking a disciple, Chen Xin suddenly remembered. Right, his purpose was to accept a disciple. Why was he getting tangled up with this bear-brained brute?
When Xu Bayan saw the Sword Intent around him weaken, he immediately shouted to Xu Huxiao, who was regulating his breathing in the arena:
"Son! Come over to Dad! Your Grandpa Sword has something to tell you!"
Before you continue