Chen Xin looked beyond Sword Peak and snorted coldly:
"What petty scoundrel dares spy on me as I teach swordsmanship!"
The next instant, Chen Xin unleashed his Seven Kill Sword Intent. A dense killing aura filled the surroundings of Sword Peak, chilling the heart.
The wooden sword in Chen Ci's hand immediately slipped out of his control and flew into Chen Xin's hand.
Gripping the wooden sword, Chen Xin imbued it with Seven Kill Sword Intent, then raised his hand and swung toward a distant mountain peak.
With a single stroke, the mountain peak was sheared flat.
The wooden sword, too, crumbled into dust in an instant.
Chen Ci stared blankly at the sight.
Is this the power of sword intent?
But during the Douluo I era, cultivation in the way of weapons generally seemed to reach only the realm of unity of man and weapon.
Those like Chen Xin who comprehended intent were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
As for the soul and god realms in Legend of the Dragon King, no one had reached them at all.
Since Chen Xin is teaching me the way of the sword, I can also reveal its subsequent realms to him. But whether he can attain them will still depend on his fortune.
If Chen Xin can comprehend the subsequent realms, it might not be impossible for him to advance another step in cultivation. Even becoming a Limit Douluo might be possible.
Chen Ci looked at Chen Xin and asked:
"Teacher, are there no other realms beyond that in the way of the sword?"
Chen Xin shook his head and said:
"Perhaps there are, or perhaps there aren't.
"As far as I know, the highest cultivators on the continent have only comprehended 'intent.'"
Chen Ci pressed on:
"Teacher, all things have spirits. Humans have spirits, and Soul Beasts have spirits, so why can't swords have spirits?
"Perhaps the subsequent realms of the way of the sword have something to do with spirits?"
Spirits?
Hearing Chen Ci's further questions, Chen Xin fell into thought, feeling that the idea seemed to have some merit.
After a long while, Chen Xin looked at Chen Ci and said:
"That may be possible, but the realms beyond intent are far too distant for us.
"Even I am still exploring sword intent. As for you, don't reach for heights beyond your grasp. Enter unity of man and sword first."
Chen Ci said nothing more. He only knew that the subsequent realms were called sword soul and Sword God, but as for having him explain exactly what sword soul and Sword God were-
That was impossible.
Under Chen Xin's guidance, Chen Ci began cultivating the way of the sword.
The first step in cultivation was practicing basic sword moves, including thrusts, upward flicks, rising cuts, deflections, slashes...
Chen Ci did not consider himself a genius, but he believed diligence could make up for a lack of talent.
If ten repetitions were not enough to learn something, he would practice a hundred times.
If a hundred repetitions were not enough, he would practice a thousand times, ten thousand times, or even a million times.
Practicing basic sword moves was not only cultivation in the way of the sword; it could also temper and hone the body.
And if Chen Ci remembered correctly, the age of Soul Rings one could absorb was related to physical fitness and mental strength.
This was also cultivation on the path of a Soul Master-truly killing two birds with one stone.
Unfortunately, during the Douluo I era, people did not know the uses of whale rubber, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had none in reserve.
Otherwise, his cultivation speed could have increased considerably, and the age of the Soul Rings he could absorb could have risen significantly as well.
The days that followed were dull and monotonous, but Chen Ci enjoyed them.
Chen Xin only had him practice the sword for half the day. Chen Ci spent the rest of his time immersed in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's library.
He needed to fabricate an image of himself as someone widely read, or it would be difficult to explain why he knew so many things in the future.
Four days later, Chen Ci approached a steward of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and told him to have the sect's forces search the entire continent for whale rubber.
With his status as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's son-in-law, as well as being the grand elder's disciple, Chen Ci faced almost no restrictions in mobilizing the sect's forces.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect already had extensive commercial interests. One week after Chen Ci joined the sect, they successfully found the first piece of whale rubber.
A Soul Douluo then brought the whale rubber back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
When Ning Fengzhi and the others heard Chen Ci say that whale rubber could raise the maximum age of Soul Rings a Soul Master could absorb, they were deeply shocked.
They all gathered.
Looking at the whale rubber, Ning Fengzhi asked:
"Chen Ci, are you sure absorbing this can increase the age of Soul Rings someone can withstand?"
Chen Ci nodded and gave an ambiguous answer:
"This is something I found recorded in an ancient book, but the account in that book was very vague.
"I infer that this can increase the age of Soul Rings someone can withstand."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, rejecting this approach:
"No, this is too risky. You already have twin martial souls. If you cultivate normally, you'll definitely be stronger than ordinary Soul Masters.
"And with Rongrong supporting you, there's no need for you to take risks."
Chen Xin and Gu Rong both nodded as well, agreeing with Ning Fengzhi's approach.
Ultimately, at Chen Ci's insistence, Ning Fengzhi summoned an outer disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
That disciple had cultivated for many years and had only just broken through to rank ten in the past few days.
They would have him absorb the whale rubber first. If it truly worked, they would then have Chen Ci and Ning Rongrong absorb it as well.
Chen Ci had no objections to this, because he knew whale rubber would definitely work.
During the days of the experiment, Chen Ci continued following his usual schedule.
He practiced the sword for half the day and spent the other half reading in the scripture library.
A few days later, the outer disciple returned from Soul Hunting and requested an audience with Ning Fengzhi. He said, delighted:
"Sect Master, this whale rubber really can increase the age of Soul Rings someone can withstand.
"But perhaps because I hadn't spent long absorbing it and hadn't absorbed it fully, the increase in Soul Ring age wasn't very large."
Chen Ci shook his head and said:
"Perhaps it was also because this whale rubber wasn't old enough. Judging by the contents of the ancient book, the older the whale rubber, the better its effects should be."
Listening to their conversation, an unusual gleam flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He understood better than anyone what whale rubber meant for the Soul Master World.
He was also even more convinced that Chen Ci was the person who would bring a turning point to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Thus, Ning Fengzhi fully mobilized the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's forces, sweeping up all the whale rubber circulating in the two great empires of Heaven Dou and Star Luo.
Chen Ci and Ning Rongrong each received a piece of exceptionally high-quality ten-thousand-year whale glue as well.
A few days later, Chen Ci finished half a day of sword cultivation and prepared to head to the scripture library to slack off.
But Chen Xin stopped him.
Chen Ci's talent for the way of the sword was simply too terrifying. In just ten short days, he had already essentially mastered the basic sword moves, and every move and stance had begun to show their spirit.
Repetitive training no longer held much meaning for him.
But to keep Chen Ci from becoming arrogant and conceited, Chen Xin did not tell him this:
"Chen Ci, basic sword moves are no longer very effective at training your body.
"And you've only just absorbed the whale rubber. You need a more intensive sword technique to help you absorb it.
"Today, I will teach you my family's Seven Kill Sword Technique. In the future, you must never pass it on to others without my permission."
Chen Ci did not hesitate and nodded immediately.
The Seven Kill Sword Technique could not only help him train his physique, but also give him some offensive capabilities while the Ruthless Sword had no Soul Rings.
"Seven Kill Sword Technique, first form..."