Swordsmanship Reigns Supreme

Cao Xin also wore a look of disdain. He lowered his head, looked at the turtle shell, and curled his lip.

"Doesn't that mean this thing is useless?"

There was obvious disappointment in his voice.

Zang Xin said,

"Not necessarily."

"When we get back, I'll find a Level-Nine Soul Engineer and have this turtle shell made into a Level-Nine triggered defensive Soul Tool."

"If anything unexpected happens..."

"It can protect you for a while."

He paused.

"Of course, no matter what..."

"It's never wrong to have a bit more luck."

Cao Xin understood.

Indeed, having better luck was always a good thing.

He closed the wooden box and put it away.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed.

He suddenly wondered whether he could use the conceptual abilities of [Set Facts Aside] and [Self]...

To enhance the Fortune Power contained within this turtle shell.

After all, fortune...

The more, the better.

A year later.

Tang Sect Headquarters, Martial Arts Arena.

It was afternoon.

At the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Two figures were weaving past one another.

A young boy moved like a swimming dragon, brandishing the longsword in his hand.

He darted nimbly through his opponent's dense barrage of attacks. His footwork flowed like drifting clouds and running water, every step landing precisely within the gaps in the other's attacks.

The Sentimental Sword in his left hand shimmered brilliantly.

The Ruthless Sword in his right hand was heavy and steadfast as iron.

The two swords alternated in his hands.

After only a few thrusts...

His opponent had already been forced to the edge of the Martial Arts Arena. He staggered back again and again before finally raising both hands helplessly.

"Junior Brother, excellent swordsmanship."

Zhang Tianyou clasped his fists, speaking with wholehearted admiration.

A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead, and the front of his clothes was slightly disheveled from the intense exertion.

Yet his expression remained calm. There was not the slightest trace of resentment over his defeat.

He had now reached the cultivation of a Five-Ring Soul King...

Among Tang Sect disciples of his generation, he could be considered outstanding.

Yet in that spar just now...

He had been led around by Cao Xin's sword momentum almost from start to finish.

Every offensive move he had tried to unleash had been interrupted or evaded at exactly the right moment.

Cao Xin returned the salute.

The two swords silently dispersed from his hands as he clasped his fists.

"You flatter me, Senior Brother."

His breathing was steady and his expression unchanged, as though that fierce exchange had merely been an ordinary warm-up.

Ever since returning from the Ascension Platform...

He had maintained a pace of three sparring matches every day.

Over the past year, both his mastery of swordsmanship and his judgment of battle situations had improved tremendously.

Zhang Tianyou shook his head with a smile and sighed sincerely.

"I mean it."

"After all, I've never seen a Three-Ring Soul Elder defeat a Five-Ring Soul King before."

He had traveled far and wide over the years and witnessed quite a few battles between Soul Masters. A Three-Ring Soul Elder utterly defeating a Five-Ring Soul King was truly something he had never seen in his life.

That was right.

The seven-year-old Cao Xin...

Had already entered the Three-Ring Soul Elder realm.

Yet despite having only three rings...

Cao Xin's true combat strength was terrifying. Even Five-Ring Soul Kings could not withstand a single exchange against him.

His coordination with the Sentimental and Ruthless Swords had grown increasingly skillful, coupled with his use of Mental Shockwave and Four Seasons Sword Intent.

In sparring matches, he had almost never encountered an opponent capable of making him go all out.

However, that was also because Tang Sect disciples above the sixth ring generally had their own matters to attend to.

They were either dispatched to oversee Tang Sect branches in major cities or sent out to carry out important missions, remaining away from headquarters year-round.

Thus, even Cao Xin found it difficult to seek out Six-Ring Soul Emperor opponents for practice every day.

And over the past year, most of the opponents he had sparred with had ranged from four to five rings.

Though each had their own unique strengths...

They ultimately could not put him under any real pressure.

Hearing this, Cao Xin merely smiled without speaking.

Afterward, Zhang Tianyou clasped his fists toward Cao Xin, then turned and left the Martial Arts Arena.

At that moment, Zang Xin arrived.

"Little Xin."

Seeing who it was, Cao Xin naturally called out,

"Second Dad."

At that moment, Zang Xin's gaze toward Cao Xin was filled with pride.

In barely a year since awakening, this child had grown from a complete beginner into a Soul Elder who could now easily defeat Five-Ring Soul Kings.

Such speed was rare even in the entire history of the Douluo Continent.

Three rings at seven years old.

Such talent...

It was simply unprecedented and unparalleled.

As he thought this...

The curve of his smile deepened further.

"I happen to be going to Shrek Academy."

"Do you want to come?"

Cao Xin considered it.

"Sure."

He could visit Shrek Academy and see if there were any suitable opponents to spar with.

Over the past year, most of the opponents he had sparred with at Tang Sect Headquarters had become familiar with his methods. Their fights had lost some of their novelty. Facing a new group of people he had never fought before might inspire something new.

Seeing Cao Xin's eyes suddenly brim with fighting spirit, Zang Xin smiled helplessly.

Everything about this child was good.

He was obedient and sensible, and he cultivated diligently.

He never gave Cao Dezhi or him any cause for concern.

But for some reason, he particularly loved fighting.

Over the past year, he had sought people out for sparring nearly every day, as though he felt restless all over if he did not fight a few matches a day.

Even if he could not find a suitable opponent...

He would practice swordsmanship alone until every movement became as natural as breathing.

He truly was incomparably diligent.

But effort was ultimately rewarded.

Cao Xin had now comprehended a trace of Sword Intent.

And once he fully comprehended it...

Within the sword path, he would reign supreme.

Zang Xin knew very well that this was exceedingly rare even in the history of the entire Douluo Continent.

Because...

The Douluo Continent placed greater emphasis on raising one's cultivation.

Soul Masters pursued increases in Soul Power Level, breakthroughs in Soul Ring age, and accumulated Soul Skill power...

As a result, most people remained at an extremely superficial stage when it came to developing their own potential.

Those deeper realizations of artistic conception...

Few would touch upon them during the early stages of cultivation.

Generally, only after reaching the Limit Douluo realm would one begin to comprehend such profound and mysterious things as Sword Intent or Spear Intent.

Yet Cao Xin had already touched the threshold of Sword Intent at the age of seven, while still a Three-Ring Soul Elder.

This talent and comprehension...

Even at a place like Shrek Academy, where geniuses gathered, it would be enough to make everyone take notice.

"Then let's go."

Half an hour later, Shrek Academy.

Although Shrek Academy and Tang Sect Headquarters were both located within Shrek City.

The straight-line distance between the two enormous institutions was not even ten kilometers.

This was Cao Xin's first time coming to Shrek.

The reason was simple.

He had no time.

From the moment he awakened his Martial Soul until now...

Every day of his schedule had been packed full.

Cultivating Soul Power, practicing swordsmanship, comprehending Sword Intent, sparring, and the occasional training at the Ascension Platform left him almost no spare time to visit other places.

After all, since he had transmigrated.

If he did not accomplish something great...

How could he live up to being a transmigrator?