Begin Elite Education
The next morning.
Sunlight spread across the earth, and cool breezes carrying the scent of summer fruit ripening and a hint of warmth swept over Chen Xiaojun as he stood on Jieshi Slope after his morning run, leaving him feeling exceptionally relaxed.
Chen Xiaojun stood there quietly, watching the magnificent sunrise until a dazzling ray of sunlight shot out from the horizon and the beauty of the rosy clouds faded away.
At eight o'clock, Chen Xiaojun arrived at the Martial Hall beside the ancestral shrine. He entered through the gate, and the first thing he saw was the large training ground called the Practice Ground.
More than twenty people were already training, including Chen Jianjun and several of his clan brothers, while his clan uncle Chen Wu supervised from the side.
In fact, June 20 was the beginning of summer vacation, which was why there had been so many people of his generation there yesterday.
The summer vacation at academies on the continent generally ran from mid-June to mid-August, so two months from now, his older brother Chen Jianjun would also be leaving to pursue his studies.
After exchanging greetings, he crossed the large training ground. Five or six large buildings stood straight ahead; these were the classrooms.
There were fewer than forty children studying at the Clan School and kindergarten, making this a form of elite education.
The large building in the middle was the main classroom. The plaque above the entrance bore the words "Zhejiang Studio," meaning to bless future generations and carry on the prosperity of the clan.
When Chen Xiaojun entered, Chen Yu and Chen Cong were seated inside. The Martial Hall was generally run by Chen Cong and Chen Wu.
Chen Wu was Chen Wenchao's son. He was in his early forties, had the Cultivation Level of a Soul Saint, and was responsible for teaching the Children practical combat.
Several Soul Masters, including Ye Xiuxin, who belonged to the Support and Healing Types, served as teaching assistants. From time to time, an elder would come to instruct their own direct descendants.
Chen Cong's face was not very large, but even with all his features crowded together, nothing looked out of place.
His deep yet gentle eyes shimmered with a captivating, clear-blue, starry light that was especially enchanting.
He was the person in the clan who had studied Soul Master Theory most extensively, and the best choice to teach the clan's inherited knowledge. In truth, every clan needed someone like him.
In the ten thousand years of Soul Master history on Douluo Continent, one should not underestimate the collective wisdom of human civilization. How could the Soul Master World be as unconcerned with theoretical research as people had claimed in his previous life?
Look at five thousand years of history in his previous life's Celestial Empire: it was practically a War History, and research into weapons had never stopped.
Soul Masters were the most respected profession and wielded the highest level of force on Douluo Continent. How could they not conduct research?
No one could fail to recognize the value of theory. Many achievements in the Martial Soul world had been won with blood.
For example, the age limit of Soul Rings and conflicts between attributes: a single mistake could exact a terrible price, even death.
Faced with such consequences, how could anyone treat theoretical research carelessly?
The academies spread across the continent all offered theory classes, didn't they?
They couldn't possibly teach their students through practical experience alone.
Even an oddball like Shrek offered theoretical education, though it was more like a master-and-disciple inheritance.
Besides, in every era there were people who simply loved theory. The power of time was vast, and the fruits of research accumulated over such a long period were terrifying.
It was just that some important research findings concerning specific Martial Souls had not been made public. They had been deliberately hidden away and kept as treasured secrets.
Chen Xiaojun had asked his father, Chen Xun, about it. His Second Granduncle Chen Cong was not only a famous Theoretical Grandmaster on the continent, but also, more unusually, unlike Grandmaster, he had practical combat experience.
He was a Level 89 Peak Soul Douluo, with tremendous combat strength and only one step away from becoming a Titled Douluo.
One could say that receiving elite one-on-one education from Chen Cong was a blessing.
After a brief exchange of polite words,
Chen Yu nodded and said, "Xiao'er, starting today, you'll undergo six years of introductory Soul Master education."
"Grandpa hopes that over these six years, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the Soul Master system. After breaking through to Soul Elder in six years, you can go out and study."
Chen Cong explained, "The standard academic system on the continent begins at age six. Students spend six years at a Junior Academy, then six years at an intermediate academy, followed by six years at an advanced academy."
"They advance step by step, and finish their studies at around twenty-four, though outstanding students can graduate early."
"That's why the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament on the continent is for those Under 25."
"Our Chen Clan supports its members going out to study and travel. The Seven Kill Sword can only improve through extensive practical combat."
"However, between the ages of six and twelve, they must first complete the clan's initial inheritance of Soul Master knowledge, gain an understanding of the Soul Master system, and acquire the basic ability to protect themselves. Only then are they allowed to leave."
Only then did Chen Xiaojun understand. The academic system on Douluo Continent was actually quite similar to the one in the Celestial Empire, even having junior, intermediate, and advanced levels. Graduating from an advanced academy was practically equivalent to finishing a master's degree in his previous life.
He would have to go through another round of it.
Chen Cong paused, then said solemnly, "Before we begin studying Soul Masters, remember these two ancestral teachings. First, the words of our fifteenth-generation ancestor Chen Xili: 'Existence is reasonable.' Even flaws must have their reasons. Second, the words left behind by our twenty-second-generation ancestor Chen Feiyi: 'Anything is possible.'"
"These two teachings shaped the character of our Chen Clan: 'There is no need to fear changes in Martial Souls, no need to follow ancestral rules, and no need to fret over what people say!'"
"This means that we need not fear Martial Soul mutations, need not follow the old rules laid down by our ancestors, and need not worry about people's criticism and attacks."
"Our ancestors taught us not to fear any Top-Tier Martial Soul or Top-Tier Soul Master, not even our own Seven Kill Sword."
"They wanted us to inherit the clan's Secret Techniques based on the research of our predecessors and ancestors, and to carry the past forward into the future. We must not cling to old ways because of other people's thoughts, opinions, or criticism-including those of our own Chen Clan ancestors."
"In fact, although each generation of our Chen Clan has faced its twists and turns, our overall strength has steadily increased over the long term."
"Even Titled Douluos have appeared in every generation without fail."
"So you must always remember these two points!"
Chen Xiaojun was already in his thirties in his previous life and knew that these were all golden words passed down through the clan.
But what the hell was "Wang Anshi" doing in there too?
Still, this was no time to think about that.
So he loudly recited, "'Existence is reasonable'! 'Anything is possible'! 'There is no need to fear changes in Martial Souls, no need to follow ancestral rules, and no need to fret over what people say'!"
Chen Cong nodded and ran a fingertip along the rim of his celadon teacup. "Let me ask you a simple question first. Do you know how the two broad forms of Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls are divided into specific categories according to their uses?"
Chen Xiaojun replied, "I do. Specifically, they can be divided into Instrument Martial Souls, Beast Martial Souls, Plant Types, Food Types, Support Types, Healing Types, Body Types, and Special Types, including but not limited to humanoid forms, elemental forms, summoning types, ancient creatures, and various others."
Chen Cong's blue-speckled gaze shifted. "Good. Then let's begin. Soul Masters cultivate around their Martial Souls, so they must understand their traits."
"So, what are the traits of your Martial Soul?"
As soon as he said this, the Bronze Bell beneath the eaves began to ring without any wind.
Chen Xiaojun fell silent. He wanted to say something, but then quieted down and looked at Chen Cong.
Chen Cong smiled. "You only awakened yesterday. It's normal that you don't know. Try to sense your Martial Soul properly. It has a spirit of its own."
"All right, I'll first tell you about our Chen Clan's Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul. Yours is also a sword-type Martial Soul, so you can use it as a reference."
"Martial Soul traits are generally divided into shared traits and exclusive traits. Shared traits are those common to all Martial Souls of the same type. Exclusive traits are, as the name suggests, the essence of an Inherited Martial Soul-in other words, what people commonly call a 'Martial Soul characteristic.'"
"For example, our Seven Kill Sword has several shared traits."
"First, as a Tool Martial Soul, it can leave the body and become an independent weapon. This is a shared trait of the two broad forms, just as a Beast Martial Soul can possess its user."
"Second, the Seven Kill Sword is a metal Instrument Martial Soul, so it is not easily destroyed, unlike Plant Types, which are often cut apart or burned to ash."
"Once destroyed, it is also extremely difficult to restore. Plant Types are different, though; they recover extremely quickly, in proportion to Soul Power. As long as they have enough Soul Power, they can keep growing without end."
"Actually, we Soul Masters are more easily injured than Instrument Martial Souls."
"Third, as a sword-type weapon, it has the basic attribute of sharpness. Metal naturally has some degree of Firmness and Resilience. That should be easy to understand, right?"
Chen Xiaojun listened attentively. He knew this was basic knowledge he absolutely had to master. "Mm, anything else?"
"Fourth, only one can be manifested at a time. There's only one sword; it can't turn into another sword at the same time, right?"
"Even if there are more, they're all energy forms created by Soul Skills, or else temporarily materialized entities that disappear once the time is up."
"As I said just now, many Plant Types can keep growing and remain present, and their quantity depends on Soul Power."
"Food Types can be eaten, and there can be many of them too."
"But your case may be different in this respect. You have ten Sword God Pearls, ten swords. Not only can you attack with multiple swords, you may also be able to release multiple Soul Skills at the same time."
"You might even form a Combination Technique. If several low-level Soul Skills are combined properly, they can be no weaker than a high-level Soul Skill. You can pay more attention to developing this aspect in the future."
Chen Xiaojun gave a thumbs-up. "Second Granduncle, what insight!"
The little fellow's flattery hit the mark. Chen Cong narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. "Now, let's talk about the exclusive traits of the Seven Kill Sword."
"First, the Seven Kill Sword can absorb Killing Qi to increase its attack power. Paired with the family-inherited Seven Kill Qi-Concealing Technique, it's like a tiger with wings. I won't explain that further."
"Next, Ring Embedding!"
Chen Xiaojun asked, "Ring Embedding?"
Chen Cong's starry gaze looked particularly beautiful, reflecting the shadow of the sparse trees outside the window. "That's right. Martial Souls capable of withstanding Ring Embedding are extremely rare."
"Ring Embedding is the process of cultivating a Soul Ring until it breaks away from its original ring-shaped form and merges into the Martial Soul, becoming one of the nine stars on the Seven Kill Sword. Each star corresponds to the color of a Soul Ring, and the result is an increase in power."
"This is a Soul Ring Secret Technique."
"A Soul Ring Secret Technique is an advanced application based on Soul Rings. Besides Ring Embedding, the existing Soul Ring Secret Techniques include Ring Detonation, Ring Fusion, and Ring Stacking."
"Ring Detonation is the Tang Family's exclusive Soul Ring Secret Technique. It blows up Soul Rings to unleash tremendous power. The higher a Soul Ring's level, the more power gained from detonating it, and it can even unleash several times the user's own strength."
"But this is a Life-or-Death Combat skill. Not only can the user not use their Soul Rings again for a period of time, their body, Soul Power, and Mental Power are all closely connected, and any of them may be injured."
"My guess is that the cooldown period during which it cannot be used grows longer as the Soul Ring's age and power increase, because more time is needed to recover."
"Supposedly, only one person in each generation is taught it. I don't know if that's true."
"If our Chen Clan could obtain it, we could study it thoroughly."
A look of longing and desire appeared in Chen Cong's eyes.
"Second Brother!" Chen Yu called out from the side.
They were among their own people now, so there was no problem. But if he accidentally let it slip in an unsuitable setting in the future, it would cause an uproar.
There was no other reason: Secret Techniques were the foundation of a clan.
Some things could be done, but not spoken of.
Chen Cong gave an awkward smile. "Occupational habit, occupational habit!"
Before you continue