Half a Year: Jade Flute Swordsmanship Mastered!

Days like this passed, day after day.

Xiao Lin was injured every day. When his palms were rubbed raw, he bandaged them and kept practicing. When he sprained his wrist, he rubbed it and kept practicing. When he strained his shoulder, he gritted his teeth and kept practicing.

There was hardly an uninjured spot on his body. Before old wounds could heal, new ones appeared, leaving him in a miserable state.

Even Gu Rong could no longer bear to watch.

One day, while Xiao Lin was washing his wounds by the river, Gu Rong quietly sought out Chen Xin and said in a low voice, "Old man, aren't you being a little too harsh? He's still just a child! Look at all those injuries—I feel heartbroken just looking at him."

Chen Xin fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Old Bone, do you know? I've taught swordsmanship to many people, but none of them have ever worked as desperately as he does."

Gu Rong froze for a moment.

"His daily training is three times that of an ordinary person." Chen Xin's voice was low, as if he were speaking to himself. "I set his target at a thousand strikes, but he always practices fifteen hundred before stopping.

"I tell him to train for two hours, yet he always trains for three before he'll quit. It's as though he's afraid of improving too slowly, afraid of wasting even a single second."

"How could I not teach a disciple like that with all my heart?"

Gu Rong fell silent.

He looked toward Xiao Lin, who was washing his wounds by the river. Though the youth was covered in scars, his back remained perfectly straight. There was not the slightest trace of retreat or complaint in his eyes—only determination and persistence.

"This kid..." Gu Rong sighed. "He really is a freak."

"Yes, a freak." The corners of Chen Xin's lips lifted slightly. "And he's even creating his own swordsmanship."

"What?!" Gu Rong's eyes widened. "Creating his own swordsmanship? How long has he even been studying? It hasn't even been half a year, has it?"

"Not even half a year." Chen Xin nodded. "Yet his swordsmanship already contains things I never taught him. He has integrated the sense of rhythm from music into his sword moves, making their flow smoother and more natural. He has even begun trying to use a flute in place of a sword, combining flute techniques with swordsmanship."

After a pause, he said in a tone that was nearly a sigh, "Old Bone, I suspect that if this kid's martial soul had been a sword, his future achievements might even surpass mine."

Gu Rong's mouth fell open, and it took him a long time to close it.

Higher than the Sword Douluo? That was an evaluation at the level of a Titled Douluo!

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, two figures clashed fiercely in an open meadow.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of wooden swords colliding fell as densely as rain, sending waves of air rippling through the air.

One of the figures was Xiao Lin. After half a year, he had undergone a complete transformation.

His body had become more balanced and sturdy, the muscles in his arms and shoulders sleek yet powerful. The most obvious change was in his eyes—half a year ago, they still held some of a youth's softness, but now they were as sharp as swords, as if they could pierce through anything.

Standing opposite him was the Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.

Both held wooden swords, trading blow after blow in an evenly matched battle.

Xiao Lin's swordsmanship was nimble and graceful. At times, it was like a spring breeze brushing willow branches, gentle and unbroken; at others, it was like thunder and lightning, swift and fierce.

His sword moves carried a peculiar sense of rhythm, as though he were not wielding a sword but playing a silent melody. Every thrust carried its own unique beat, leaving others impossible to read and impossible to guard against.

Chen Xin's swordsmanship, meanwhile, was steady and seasoned. Every strike was exactly right—not a fraction too much, not the slightest bit too little. He appeared to be defending passively, but every block was actually guiding Xiao Lin's rhythm as he tried to uncover flaws in his swordsmanship.

The faster they fought, the fiercer the battle became.

Suddenly, Xiao Lin feinted with his sword, his body abruptly retreating half a step. Then, from an unbelievable angle, he thrust out the wooden sword in his hand!

This sword strike was as fast as lightning!

This sword strike came from an exceptionally tricky angle!

This sword strike seemed to use not a sword, but a flute. He had completely woven the circulation of breath and the rise and fall of rhythm from flute-playing into this strike!

Chen Xin's pupils contracted sharply.

Before he could think, he instinctively raised his wooden sword horizontally before him to block!

Clang!!

A crisp metallic ring sounded out.

The wooden sword in Chen Xin's hand was actually knocked from his grasp by Xiao Lin's strike. It spun several times through the air before embedding itself in the grass some distance away.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lin's sword tip rested an inch from Chen Xin's throat.

The victor had been decided.

Silence fell over the meadow.

Xiao Lin panted heavily, slowly withdrawing his wooden sword before bowing deeply to Chen Xin. "Big Brother, thank you for letting me win."

Chen Xin stood where he was, looking at his empty hands before turning to look at the wooden sword stuck in the grass. He remained silent for a long time.

Then he smiled.

It was a relieved, unrestrained smile that came from the bottom of his heart.

Naturally, he had not used his full strength, and he had even suppressed his Soul Power to Xiao Lin's level. But that swordsmanship just now had truly been formidable—impossible to guard against.

"Your swordsmanship has succeeded."

Xiao Lin raised his head, a smile appearing on his face as well. "Yes. I combined the flute with the sword and created a swordsmanship set of my own, called—Jade Flute Swordsmanship."

"Jade Flute Swordsmanship..." Chen Xin savored the name, then nodded. "A good name. It can be considered a Self-Created Soul Skill."

"It's all thanks to Big Brother's teaching." Xiao Lin spoke sincerely. "Without Big Brother's careful guidance over the past half year, I would not have Jade Flute Swordsmanship today."

"Stop flattering me." Chen Xin laughed as he scolded him, though the smile in his eyes could not be hidden. "What you have achieved today is the result of your own hard work. I merely showed you a path. The one walking that path is you."

He stepped forward and patted Xiao Lin on the shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of emotion. "Half a year, thirty-fourth-rank Soul Power, and self-created Jade Flute Swordsmanship... Xiao Lin, you are the most talented young man I have ever seen. Keep it up. A Titled Douluo will never be your endpoint."

Xiao Lin nodded heavily.

After mastering Jade Flute Swordsmanship, Xiao Lin felt much more at ease.

"With this set of Jade Flute Swordsmanship, my final weakness has finally been made up for." Xiao Lin stood with his flute put away and let out a long breath of stale air, a satisfied smile on his face.

At long range, he had Guangling Melody and Ambush from Ten Sides; in close combat, he had Jade Flute Swordsmanship; for enhancement, he had The General's Command. He could attack and defend as one, advancing or retreating freely.

Though he was only rank thirty-four now, in a real battle, even against a Soul King above rank fifty, he had the strength to fight.

However, before he could rejoice for long, news arrived that weighed heavily on his heart.

That evening, Xiao Lin was roasting a captured wild rabbit beside the campfire when Gu Rong and Chen Xin returned from outside. Both wore somewhat complicated expressions, as though they had something to say but did not know how to begin.

In the end, Gu Rong could not hold it in any longer. He plopped down beside Xiao Lin, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Xiao Lin, we... might have to leave."

Xiao Lin's movements paused, and the roasted rabbit nearly fell into the fire.

"Leave?" He looked up at Gu Rong and Chen Xin. "When?"

"Tomorrow morning," Chen Xin said, his voice carrying a trace of apology.

"The sect has actually sent several letters urging us to return. Rongrong has been running wild outside for over half a year, and there are matters in the sect that need us to handle as well. We can't delay any longer."