Before the Seven Kill Sword

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was built against the mountain.

The stone steps behind the mountain gate lead upwards, with disciples in neat armor patrolling along the way. Several nine-story pagodas stand on the mountainside, and sunlight falls on the glazed tiles, their colorful glow visible even from a distance.

Yuan Yu followed Ning Fengzhi into the inner courtyard and looked up a few times.

"Rongrong, your family is even more particular than the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Ning Rongrong walked ahead with her arms behind her back. "Regretting waiving the guard fee?"

"A little."

Tang San said from the side, "Senior Sword Douluo can hear us."

Yuan Yu immediately swallowed the rest of his sentence.

At the entrance to the inner courtyard, a tall, elderly man was waiting. His face was withered, and his frame was unusually large. When he saw Ning Rongrong, he opened his arms wide.

"Rongrong, let Grandpa Bone take a look!"

Ning Rongrong ran over with a smile. Bone Douluo Gu Rong picked her up and spun her around halfway. The first thing he did after putting her down was to look at the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. As soon as the nine-story pagoda lit up, he stared at it for a long time, then turned his head and snorted at Chen Xin.

"Who was it last night who said they weren't in a hurry at all?"

Chen Xin said, "You misheard."

"My hearing is better than yours."

In what way are you better than me?

The two Titled Douluo started bickering as soon as they met. Ning Fengzhi was obviously used to it and simply told Tang San to go to the council hall first. Chen Xin, however, did not move and pointed to a courtyard paved with Bluestone next to him.

"Let's test it out first; it won't take long."

Gu Rong immediately became interested. "You want to try this kid?"

"Level 59, Tool Martial Soul: Sun Wheel Blade."

Gu Rong looked Yuan Yu up and down, his gaze gradually changing. "Twelve years old?"

"Younger children eat early and grow quickly."

"Can Soul Power increase by eating?"

"If the food is better, maybe it will work."

Gu Rong chuckled, "Interesting. Chen Xin, go easy on Rongrong, don't hurt her."

Chen Xin walked into the courtyard and stopped thirty paces away. The Seven Kill Sword appeared in his right hand. The sword was long and narrow, and its entire body was clear. When it appeared, there was no amazing light, but the wind in the courtyard stopped abruptly.

"The rules are simple."

He raised his sword and held it horizontally in front of him.

"Walk from the stone line to me, and let the blade touch my sleeve. That means you've passed. I won't use Soul Skill, only sword intent. If you can't hold on, just speak up, and Gu Rong will catch you."

Gu Rong crossed his arms. "Why am I the one who answered?"

"Because you have free time."

Yuan Yu drew his Sun Wheel Blade, and Five God-given Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet. The outer edges of the Spirit Ring, each a different color, were faintly glowing with gold. The five patterns representing water, fire, thunder, wind, and rock lit up in turn, and a sixth Rosy Cloud Pattern emerged from the back of the blade.

Ning Fengzhi saw his Spirit Ring in their entirety for the first time, and his gaze lingered for a moment.

"Begin," Chen Xin said.

Yuan Yu crossed the stone line.

With the first step, a sharp aura pressed down upon him. One of his hair ribbons was cut off, and a shallow tear appeared in his white robe. The Seven Kill Sword hadn't even moved yet, but its imposing presence already covered a distance of thirty paces.

Yuan Yu did not retreat; the Rock Pattern sank beneath his feet, and he continued forward.

Fifth step: Fine sword marks appear on the Bluestone.

The tenth step brought a sudden increase in pressure. The Sun Wheel Blade vibrated and hummed under the force of the sword strike, his arm went numb, and the tip of the blade dipped a few inches.

"Stone Breathing, First Form: Serpent-Pattern Rock, Dual Extremes"

Two Gravity steadied his body, and Yuan Yu took three more steps forward. The sword's momentum pressed down from the front. The Rock Pattern could stabilize his footing, but it couldn't block the ubiquitous, fine, sharp edges. His shoulders and cuffs tore one after another, and several blood lines appeared on his skin.

Ning Rongrong frowned. "Grandpa Jian said he wouldn't hurt anyone."

Gu Rong said, "They're all superficial injuries. That kid didn't even ask to stop."

On the fifteenth step, Yuan Yu twisted his wrist, and Water Pattern flowed along the blade. The oncoming sword momentum was deflected to both sides by the blade, leaving two long marks on the Bluestone. He took advantage of this gap to quicken his pace and took the twentieth step in one breath.

A glimmer of light appeared in Chen Xin's eyes.

The Seven Kill Sword was raised slightly by half an inch.

The swordplay in the courtyard immediately changed. Previously it was just heavy, but now with every step forward, Yuan Yu could see several sword shadows rushing towards him. The Wind Pattern swirled around his body, and even as he changed direction repeatedly, two sword energies still grazed his waist.

Step 24.

Step 25.

Thunder Pattern lit up, and purple and white Lightning Flash exploded from beneath their feet.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash"

Yuan Yu rushed straight to the Chen Xin.

The Seven Kill Sword pressed down, cutting off the Lightning Flash in mid-air. Yuan Yu was forced to slide back half a step by the sword's force, his shoes leaving two black marks on the stone surface.

"The speed is enough, the road is too straight," Chen Xin said calmly.

Yuan Yu looked up. "Then let's take a slightly longer route."

The Rosy Cloud Pattern lit up.

"Mist Breathing, Second Form, Eightfold Mist."

Eight layers of pale Rosy Glow spread out from the courtyard, with a White-Clad figure moving forward on each layer. Eight Sun Wheel Blade appeared before Chen Xin's eyes at the same time, their footsteps falling in different directions, their distances and proximity all in disarray.

The Seven Kill Sword swept across.

The first four layers of rosy clouds shattered.

The sword's edge turned, breaking through three more layers.

The final layer had reached Chen Xin's side. Yuan Yu appeared from the Rosy Glow, his Sun Wheel Blade slashing towards Chen Xin's right sleeve. Chen Xin twisted his wrist, and the Seven Kill Sword blocked the blade, the sword and blade colliding with a clear sound.

Yuan Yu's sword was knocked away, but at that moment, Wind Pattern swirled from the hilt to his wrist. He turned around with the force of the impact, gripped the scabbard with his left hand, and gently pushed it forward.

Laugh.

A thin, inch-long tear appeared on the right cuff of Chen Xin's sleeve.

The next instant, Yuan Yu was swept away by the sword's force. Gu Rong raised her hand to support his back and gently placed him on the ground.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Chen Xin looked down at her cuffs, and the corners of her mouth slowly lifted.

"The blade didn't touch, but the scabbard did. You pass."

Yuan Yu rubbed his numb arm. "Senior, my clothes are ruined even more."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will compensate you with ten sets."

"Then I can go through it again."

Gu Rong laughed and scolded, "You looked like you were about to die just now, but you perked up as soon as you heard about paying for your clothes."

Tang San walked to Yuan Yu's side, first noticing the several bloody marks on his shoulder, then reaching out to touch his wrist.

"Your meridians are undamaged, and your Soul Power is flowing faster than it did on the way here. The pressure from the Seven Kill Sword has worn down your barrier."

Yuan Yu flexed his fingers, his palms still tingling slightly. "If I play another half game, I should reach level 60."

Ning Rongrong brought over some medicine from the sect and tossed it into his arms. "Apply the medicine first. Ten sets of clothes are ten sets of clothes, don't let any blood drip on my floor."

Yuan Yu looked down at the clean Bluestone: "Miss, your way of showing concern for people is really damaging to the floor tiles."

"One more thing, reduce the number of outfits to five."

Yuan Yu immediately opened the medicine bottle.

Ning Fengzhi smiled as well. He could see clearly that although Chen Xin had held back his strength in the last few steps, Yuan Yu's ability to take thirty steps and touch the sleeve was still far beyond that of an ordinary Soul King.

Yuan Yu sheathed his sword, his Soul Power still flowing rapidly within him. The level 59 barrier had been worn down to a thin layer by the sword's force, and he was very close to reaching level 60.

Ning Fengzhi waited until he calmed down before taking a list from his attendant.

"The sword test is over. Next, let's discuss young friend Tang San's business."

At the very top of the list was a number.

Five hundred sets.