Sword Douluo Chen Xin Breaks Through to Level 97

Chen Ling lightly flicked his wrist, casually drawing a crisp sword flourish. He then slung the Qingming Sword across his back, a composed smile on his face.

Chen Xin, on the other hand, was in an entirely different state.

The direct clash just now had left his arm numb, and one sleeve had been shredded apart by Sword Intent, exposing half his arm and making him look rather disheveled.

The shock of everyone at the edge of the field stemmed precisely from this.

Every level among Titled Douluo was a chasm, yet this gap in levels that had crushed countless Soul Masters was practically meaningless before Chen Ling.

Since their battle began, he had not used a single Soul Ring skill. He had fought solely with pure swordsmanship and basic Soul Power, not even using the unique advantage of his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Under such circumstances, Chen Xin, despite having the higher Soul Power Level, had actually been forcibly suppressed and placed at a disadvantage.

What they did not know was that although Chen Xin's level was higher, Chen Ling was practically cheating.

With a full set of Spirit Bones and Self-Created Soul Skills used like normal attacks, it would have been strange if Chen Xin could win.

Chen Xin looked at the calm Chen Ling, his eyes filled with countless complex emotions.

Others could not see it, but he knew it clearly in his heart.

But as a swordsman, he needed the momentum and courage to press forward without hesitation.

Chen Xin's gaze hardened. He had already decided to go all out; Soul Masters fought with far more than just technique.

More accurately, very few Soul Masters of this era honed their other combat methods. Most relied on Soul Skills, making both Chen Xin and Chen Ling exceptions.

"Senior Chen, how about we decide the victor with one strike?" Chen Ling asked with a smile. Although he did not know exactly how the One-Leaf Bewildering Wheel worked, it was worth trying.

More importantly, Chen Ling recalled Sword Douluo's feat—facing three opponents alone, then breaking through to level 97 at the cost of an arm.

If he controlled his strength properly, perhaps he could not only complete the system mission, but also help Chen Xin reach level 97 ahead of time.

"Fine."

Chen Xin answered in a deep voice. The instant his words fell, the vast Soul Power around him began to boil and surge, while terrifying sword momentum spread out layer by layer.

"Everyone, fall back at once!"

Dugu Bo immediately activated his Soul Power and shouted a warning.

The instructors and powerful Soul Masters used their Soul Power to bring everyone back, completely clearing the field as they waited for the clash between the two top experts' Soul Skills.

Not only Dugu Bo, but Ye Renxin and Shi Heng also summoned their Martial Souls, preparing to join forces against any Soul Power shockwaves that might follow.

This was the ultimate showdown between two top experts, no ordinary spar. If they let down their guard, even from far away, they could easily be injured by the raging energy shockwaves.

Soul Rings rose once more. The two seventh Soul Rings lit up simultaneously, but rather than displaying the usual enlarged form of a weapon Martial Soul, both condensed the power of their Martial Soul Avatars into themselves.

Chen Ling drew upon the power of the Self-Martial Soul Fusion Skill, while Chen Xin used the Self-Created Soul Skill, Man-Sword Unity.

To be precise, he had not deactivated this move since the battle began.

Just as Chen Xin was about to unleash his Soul Skill, a gentle yet highly penetrating ripple of spiritual power quietly spread out. Chen Ling's low murmur sounded by his ear: "One flower, one leaf, one bodhi; all reincarnations are but a mystery."

As the words fell, the world before Chen Xin instantly spun around. The surrounding scene changed completely, and he fell at once into a long-buried memory of the past.

He stared blankly at the familiar figure before him, disbelief written across his eyes.

"Father?"

In Sword Douluo Chen Xin's eyes, Chen Ling had already transformed into Chen Jianjun. That bearing, identical to Chen Xin's own, made it obvious at a glance that he was no ordinary man.

The immersive illusion was far too real, and Chen Xin became completely immersed within it, as though he had returned to those days.

Looking at his father before him, he uncontrollably asked, "Father, are you truly going to challenge Spirit Hall's Grand Worshiper?"

The Chen Jianjun before him did not answer directly. He merely raised his eyes toward the distant direction of Spirit Hall, standing tall and straight like a longsword pointed at the heavens, his character resolute and his presence overwhelming.

"Chen'er, do you know what a swordsman of the Seven Kill Sword lineage should pursue most in his life?"

Deep reluctance and worry churned in Chen Xin's eyes. He knew that his father's appearance meant that his mind had long been made up.

He forcefully suppressed the bitterness and panic in his heart, lowered his head, and replied, "Your son does not know."

"Your own sword path. Only by finding the path that belongs solely to yourself can you travel far along this road."

Chen Jianjun paused slightly. With a trace of emotion in his voice, he continued, "I was once fortunate enough to witness Qian Daoliu's strength firsthand. The shock of that battle has remained unforgettable throughout my life."

He slowly turned around, his gaze settling gently upon Chen Xin, full of expectation. "My cultivation has been stuck at the level 97 barrier for many years, unable to advance even a step. Only this battle can give me the chance to touch the peak of the sword path."

"In the future, you must also find the sword path that truly belongs to you."

With those final instructions, Chen Jianjun turned and strode resolutely toward the road ahead.

The scene in the illusion shifted once again, changing in an instant.

The next moment, a savage, horrifying wound appeared across Chen Jianjun's body. Golden Soul Power lingered upon it, constantly eroding his life force.

High in the sky, a golden figure stood suspended in the air. It was Qian Daoliu.

He looked at Chen Jianjun, who was nearly at the end of his strength, and a trace of surprise passed through his eyes. "I did not expect you to truly break through because of this and step into level 98."

But seeing that the other man's life force was on the verge of exhaustion, Qian Daoliu ultimately did not attack again.

With wounds like these, even if he did nothing, this man would not last much longer.

Chen Xin's figure became translucent within the illusion. He stared blankly at the scene before him, his eyes instantly reddening with tears.

He instinctively reached out to support his severely injured father, only for his fingertips to pass directly through the other man's body and grasp nothing.

"Father."

Looking at Chen Jianjun, grievously wounded yet still smiling, Chen Xin felt a tangle of emotions in his heart. He seemed to understand something, yet a hazy veil remained between him and the true essence, leaving him unable to grasp it.

At that moment, Chen Jianjun, who had been about to speak, paused slightly. He turned toward Chen Xin's direction, and a relieved smile bloomed across his face.

"Grand Worshiper, please continue the promise you and I made all those years ago."

Chen Jianjun raised his sword. A vast, unstoppable momentum abruptly surged around him, and the Seven Kill Sword in his hand trembled and rang, as though answering its master's resolute heart.

Qian Daoliu's expression was indescribably complex.

As fellow practitioners of the sword path, he understood Chen Jianjun's meaning at a glance.

He too showed his fullest respect. Raising his hand, he activated the Angel Holy Sword. Brilliant golden sword light tore across the sky, carrying supreme might as it crashed down toward Chen Jianjun.

"Chen'er, watch carefully."

Chen Jianjun murmured softly. The Seven Kill Sword left its sheath and met the attack, resolutely facing that golden sword light that crushed everything in its path.

Outside the illusion, in reality.

Chen Ling's silver sword light was already within inches of him, yet Chen Xin stood motionless, completely immersed in the illusion of the past.

"This is bad." Ning Fengzhi's eyes were filled with anxiety. What had happened to Uncle Sword?

Everyone held their breath.

After a moment of silence, Chen Xin suddenly spoke, his voice sonorous and forceful: "Seven Kills, thunder rises; one sword shatters the sky!"

The instant his words fell, the Seven Kill Sword in his hand hummed without end, as though it shared its master's heart and answered with fervor.

"I understand now, Father."

A smile of complete enlightenment rose at the corner of Chen Xin's lips. His Soul Power suddenly surged, and soaring Sword Intent tore through the clouds, piercing straight into the heavens.

Vast power instantly swept through his body, firmly blocking the silver-white sword light rushing toward him.

The shackles shattered, and the bottleneck crumbled.

A level 97 Titled Douluo had arrived.