Chen Xin: The swordplay I teach is flashy?

Half a month flowed by like running water.

Lin Ye stood in the center of the Training Ground, his white paper martial soul hovering above his palm, a keen glint flashing through his brown eyes.

"Master, watch closely."

With a slight flick of his wrist, gray-black light shimmered across the white paper, and a spatial rift abruptly opened ten meters away.

Bone Douluo's eyes widened. "Well done, lad! You've only been at it half a month, and you can already imitate my spatial abilities!"

Though its power fell short of his own, this was indeed an embryonic form of his bone dragon martial soul's Spatial Traversal.

Lin Ye ended the technique and stood still, fine beads of sweat seeping across his forehead.

"I still have a long way to go. This is all I can manage."

Bone Douluo laughed heartily and patted Lin Ye's shoulder. "That's already excellent. Once you've learned this, you'll stand head and shoulders above your peers in combat. It's far better than a certain someone's flashy swordplay."

His words had barely faded when a cool voice came from behind him. "Oh? Old Bones, what were you saying just now?"

"Sword Freak! When did you..."

Bone Douluo spun around, only to find that Sword Douluo had somehow appeared behind him.

"Just when a certain someone said the swordplay I teach was flashy."

"Y-you can't deny that the swordplay you taught Little Ye is flashy! He wouldn't even use it in real combat, would he?" Bone Douluo said bluntly.

"It's still better than that Spatial Traversal you teach him, which is so difficult to grasp."

"You don't understand swordsmanship anyway. In the early stages, swordsmanship is about accumulating sword techniques. Only with a broad foundation can one gain a deeper understanding of the sword," Sword Douluo said, folding his arms.

Watching the two Douluos start bickering the moment they met, Lin Ye's lips curved slightly.

This is pretty entertaining.

Over the past half month, he had studied Swordsmanship under Sword Douluo while learning Close-Combat Defense and spatial techniques from Bone Douluo.

He had watched the two Titled Douluos' soul skills many times. Although his own strength and understanding of their soul skills prevented him from reproducing them fully, he could already imitate their basic forms.

"Lin Ye! Grandpa Sword! Grandpa Bone!"

Ning Rongrong came running from afar like a cheerful little bird.

"Daddy's back! He wants us all to eat together!"

She seized Lin Ye's wrist, her eyes sparkling. "Come on, come on! They made lots of delicious food today!"

Before Lin Ye could respond, Ning Rongrong had already dragged him into a run.

"Slow down..."

"Oh, come on! Daddy's already waiting at the dining table!"

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged smiles and followed at an unhurried pace.

In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's family dining hall, Ning Fengzhi sat upright at the head of the table, his hair black as ink and a gentle smile ever present on his refined face.

"Lin Ye, come sit here."

Seeing Lin Ye enter, he pointed to the seat on his right.

Lin Ye bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Sect Master."

Once he sat down, Ning Rongrong immediately squeezed into the seat beside him, her little face brimming with anticipation for the delicious food.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo arrived afterward and took their respective seats. Attendants stood silently along both sides of the dining hall, awaiting instructions from those seated at the table.

Before the dishes were served, Ning Fengzhi's gaze swept over everyone before settling on Lin Ye.

"Little Ye, have you settled into the sect over the past half month? Have you gained anything from training with Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu?"

Lin Ye answered earnestly, "It's been wonderful. I've benefited greatly from both masters' instruction."

"Grandpa Sword's Swordsmanship is exquisite beyond compare, and Grandpa Bone's spatial soul skills have truly opened my eyes."

Bone Douluo shot Sword Douluo a smug glance. "Hear that? Spatial soul skills are more impressive!"

Sword Douluo gave a soft snort. "Little Ye clearly praised my Swordsmanship first."

Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook his head. His two uncles really hadn't changed a bit.

"I'm sorry that urgent business took me away from the sect earlier, leaving me unable to arrange your formal initiation ceremony."

He looked warmly at Lin Ye. "This afternoon, I'll gather all the sect's disciples and announce that you've become a Core Disciple. You'll also formally become Uncle Jian's and Uncle Gu's disciple."

Lin Ye rose and bowed. "Thank you for nurturing me, Sect Master."

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand. "Sit down. We're all family now. There's no need for such formality."

After Lin Ye sat down, Ning Fengzhi continued with concern, "Has your first soul ring stabilized? An eight-hundred-year soul ring is unprecedented in Douluo history."

"It has stabilized. My soul power level has already risen to fourteen."

A trace of surprise flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Another level in just half a month? Good, very good."

He then asked about various details of Lin Ye's daily life, just like an old father...

With the dishes still yet to arrive, Ning Rongrong grew bored listening beside them. She slumped over the table, gently swinging her little feet beneath it.

Seemingly noticing his daughter, Ning Fengzhi brought the conversation to an end.

"All right, let's eat first, or Rongrong will be starving."

"Daddy's the best!"

Ning Rongrong cheered. At the order, the attendants laid all the delicacies they had prepared earlier on the table.

After the meal, Ning Fengzhi asked Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to stay.

"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with you."

"Rongrong, take Little Ye back to get ready first."

"Okay, Daddy."

Ning Rongrong took Lin Ye's hand and said, "Lin Ye, I'll take you to change! You have to wear the sect disciples' uniform for the ceremony this afternoon!"

Inside the dining hall, the three elders watched the two children leave and exchanged smiles.

Ning Fengzhi lifted his teacup and took a small sip. "On my trip to Vast Sea City for the auction, I heard something interesting along the way."

"Oh?" Sword Douluo raised an eyebrow.

"When I passed through Nuoding City, I heard that a child with innate full soul power had appeared there as well."

Bone Douluo perked up. "What martial soul?"

"Blue silver grass."

"Blue silver grass?"

Bone Douluo frowned. "What a pity. A trash martial soul."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "A pity indeed. Still, that child has become Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's disciple. Perhaps he'll be able to forge a different path."

Sword Douluo scoffed. "That master of theory? Nothing but warfare on paper."

Ever since Lin Ye had shattered the theory of soul ring absorption limits, he had begun to doubt this so-called Grandmaster.

Before questioning him, he had never realized it. Once he did, however, he discovered that not a single one of this so-called Grandmaster's theories deserved to be called a core theory.

The three soon moved on to other subjects, discussing the latest movements of the various duchies and imperial families, as well as Spirit Hall's recent unusual activities.

Also.

Not long before, at Nuoding Academy.

Tang San stood at the dormitory door, holding the certificate the Grandmaster had given him.

"Dorm Seven... This should be it."

He pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of a dozen or so children from different grades.

"A new Work-Study Student?"

A tall boy stepped forward and looked down at Tang San.

"I'm Wang Sheng, the boss of Dorm Seven. According to the rules, newcomers have to fight me."

Tang San nodded calmly. "Tang San. Please show me what you've got."

Three moves later, Wang Sheng lay sprawled on the ground, utterly dumbfounded.

The children of Dorm Seven burst into cheers, turning toward Tang San and shouting.

"Boss!"

Tang San scratched his head in confusion. "This..."

"Boss, that's our rule here. If a newcomer wins, he becomes the new boss," Wang Sheng said as he stood up.

"Oh."

A short while later, the dormitory door was pushed open again.

A pretty girl with a scorpion braid walked in, an imperious look on her rosy little face.

"Which of you is the boss here?"

Tang San looked at the girl and stepped forward. "I am."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Good! I challenge you!"

"My name's Xiao Wu. Wu, as in dance!"