After the battle ended, Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back on a hillside untouched by the fighting, gazing into the distance. Tang Xuan sat cross-legged nearby, recovering his soul power. Once he had recovered, Tang Xuan rose from the ground.
"Senior," Tang Xuan called.
Chen Xin turned at the sound and looked at Tang Xuan. "Are you all right, lad?"
"Don't worry, Senior. I'm fine. My internal organs only suffered a slight shock, and I exhausted too much soul power," Tang Xuan answered with a smile.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I've gained a great deal from it." Tang Xuan bowed to Chen Xin in gratitude.
Chen Xin reached out and helped him straighten. "We sparred as equals. What guidance are you talking about? Whatever you gained came from your own abilities. If anything, I should be thanking you."
"What are you thanking me for, Senior?" Tang Xuan asked in puzzlement.
"It's been many years since I reached level 96. In terms of accumulated soul power, I have more than enough to advance to level 97, yet I've never managed to break through all these years," Chen Xin said with a sigh.
"If you've accumulated enough cultivation but still can't break through, then the problem lies in your state of mind. If your mental state hasn't reached the corresponding realm, your cultivation can't advance either," Tang Xuan said.
Chen Xin gave Tang Xuan an approving look and nodded. "You're right. It's a matter of mental state. Every breakthrough beyond level 95 requires more than just accumulated soul power cultivation. What matters even more is insight into one's state of mind. I haven't reached level 97 because there's still something lacking in mine."
Tang Xuan looked at Chen Xin curiously, wondering what could have left such a