"Of course!"
With a thought from Gu Wuchen, the Dustless Sword flew from its sheath, ringing out in waves as its sword light shone with a biting chill.
The temperature of the surrounding air dropped sharply.
"So cold."
In Ning Rongrong's hand, the Ice Lotus tea that had been piping hot was now ice-cold.
"A Sword Martial Soul with the ultimate ice attribute."
Chen Xin was thrilled. A Sword Martial Soul with the ice attribute was exceedingly rare.
His own Seven Kill Sword presided over killing aura, while the other's Martial Soul possessed the ultimate ice attribute.
"Young Master Gu, would you care for a spar?"
Unable to contain his excitement, Chen Xin spoke.
Gu Rong, who was standing nearby, could not resist teasing him. "Old Chen, you're already so old, yet you're still this impulsive. Aren't you ashamed?"
Chen Xin shot Gu Rong a glare. "What do you know? This is kindred spirits recognizing each other."
"If an old bag of bones like you understood, the sun would rise in the west."
"You!" Gu Rong was too angry to speak.
Seeing the two argue, Gu Wuchen smiled. "Senior Chen Xin, in that case, I would be willing to try."
"Good! Young Master Gu, you have courage. I admire that."
The two hit it off at once, rising and making their way into the courtyard.
Chen Xin assumed a fighting stance, his presence changing abruptly. Gu Wuchen felt as though he were facing a killing god of awe-inspiring might.
"Martial Soul, come forth!"
Chen Xin shouted, and Seven Kill flew from its sheath. Killing aura surged to the heavens, and sword Qi crisscrossed the air.
Incomparably fierce killing aura shot skyward, while the crisscrossing sword Qi threatened to tear the entire courtyard apart.
Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, and the presence of a rank ninety-six Titled Douluo swept over them.
He had no intention of using a Soul Skill. He merely held the Seven Kill Sword and assumed the most basic opening stance.
Yet that simple posture cut off every path of escape for Gu Wuchen, as though, in the next instant, a sword strike capable of splitting heaven and earth would descend.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong sat to one side, their expressions calm.
They both knew Chen Xin would never hurt Gu Wuchen. He only wanted to see just how astonishing this child's talent for the sword was.
Only Ning Rongrong watched the two nervously. This was the first time she had seen a child around her own age spar with her Grandpa Sword.
In the courtyard, Gu Wuchen stood with his back straight, the Dustless Sword in his hand.
Two Thousand-Year Soul Rings slowly rose.
In an instant, Chen Xin stared at the sight before him in disbelief.
"Thousand-Year Soul Rings!"
His first two Soul Rings were Thousand-Year Soul Rings. No wonder Qian Daoliu had taken Gu Wuchen as his disciple. So there was another reason.
Ning Rongrong's little mouth hung wide open, her face full of shock. Then she turned to Ning Fengzhi.
"Thousand-Year Soul Rings? Daddy, didn't you say the First Soul Ring could only be a hundred years old at most? And that no one could have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? Weren't you lying to Rongrong?"
The suspicion on Ning Rongrong's face left Ning Fengzhi at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"Daddy doesn't know either. When the spar is over, Daddy will ask him properly."
Ning Fengzhi did not know either. All these sights had surpassed his understanding.
Gu Rong, however, drank his tea and smiled without a word. This spar was truly something to look forward to.
Chen Xin's overwhelming killing aura swept toward Gu Wuchen. An ordinary Soul Grandmaster would probably have lost his composure long ago, unable even to hold his sword.
But Gu Wuchen's eyes remained clear, without the slightest trace of panic.
"First form, Dustless in One Thought."
Gu Wuchen softly recited the sword formula, and his bearing abruptly changed.
In a single thought, every distracting notion vanished, and he entered the ultimate state of Dustless Ice Heart.
Chen Xin's killing aura, powerful enough to shake a Titled Douluo, sank like a stone into the sea, unable to disturb his mind in the slightest.
Even the air around him seemed to fall still. Only the Dustless Sword in his hand gave a clear, ringing cry.
"Good!"
Chen Xin's eyes lit up at once, and he could not help blurting out his praise.
In all his long life, this was the first time he had seen a seven-year-old child instantly steady his mind beneath his killing aura, and even break through the suppression of his presence.
Even a Soul Master who had immersed himself in the way of the sword for decades might not possess such a state of mind.
Before Chen Xin could move again, Gu Wuchen struck first.
"Second Soul Skill, Dustless Fleeting Shadow!"
His figure instantly became one with the surrounding ice dust. It was Snow Shadow Instant Movement, fused with the Snow Empress's origin.
Only a faint afterimage remained where he had stood. Gu Wuchen vanished completely, leaving behind not the slightest fluctuation of Soul Power or trace of his presence.
"Hmm?"
Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, instantly bringing the Seven Kill Sword across his back.
Clang!
A crisp clash of metal rang out as the Dustless Sword, wreathed in glowing blue ice blades, struck the spine of the Seven Kill Sword with pinpoint accuracy.
It was Snow Dust Ice Blade, fused with the Snow Empress's origin.
Chen Xin felt an extreme chill travel along the blade. The hand gripping his sword hilt stiffened slightly, and the circulation of Soul Power within him faltered for an instant.
He was even more shocked.
Not only was this child's speed close to Teleportation, but his attack also carried such an overbearing Ice Seal effect. Even a Soul Elder might not be able to withstand that strike.
"Not bad! Again!"
Chen Xin laughed heartily and turned his wrist. With a light flick of the Seven Kill Sword, he deflected the force of the Dustless Sword.
He did not counterattack, merely drawing his sword back into a guard as he waited for Gu Wuchen's next attack.
Gu Wuchen did not pause. Using the force of the recoil, he retreated, then used Snow Shadow Instant Movement again, becoming a sky full of snow shadows as he struck at Chen Xin from every direction.
Each strike was faster than the last, each fiercer than the one before.
Every strike carried extreme cold and the power of immaculate purification. Wherever the blade passed, even the killing aura Chen Xin had released was cut to pieces.
Holding the Seven Kill Sword, Chen Xin calmly blocked every attack.
But the longer they fought, the greater his admiration grew.
There was nothing flashy about this child's swordsmanship. Every strike was precise and sharp, every move aimed straight at an opening.
More remarkable still, his Sword Intent was utterly pure, without a single distracting thought. He grew steadier as the fight went on, never losing his measure because his opponent was a Titled Douluo.
As expected of a child taught by two Titled Douluo.
Suddenly, Chen Xin turned his wrist, and the Seven Kill Sword surged with force. A sharp streak of sword Qi burst from the blade and sped straight toward Gu Wuchen.
There was no killing intent in this strike, but it carried an irresistible pressure, cutting off every path of escape.
Gu Wuchen's pupils narrowed slightly. Instead of retreating, he advanced.
Gripping the Dustless Sword, he recalled the second level of Sword Intent that he had pondered over and over.
Cut away every speck of dust at its smallest point; use the most precise edge to break the strongest defense.
Just as the sword Qi was about to reach him, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
He had grasped the second level of Sword Intent!
"Second form, Frost Blade Breaks Dust!"
Gu Wuchen gave a low shout, and the glowing blue ice-dust blade on the Dustless Sword surged outward.
He turned his wrist and struck with pinpoint precision.
There was no earth-shaking display, only an edge as fine as a hair, which instantly pierced Chen Xin's sword Qi and sped straight toward him.
Chen Xin was shaken to the core and hurriedly raised his sword to block.
Clang!
Another crisp ring sounded. The seemingly unremarkable edge actually shattered the Soul Power protecting his body, leaving his arm tingling from the impact.
Gu Wuchen's sword finally stopped three inches from him, held perfectly steady without overstepping in the slightest.
The courtyard fell silent in an instant.
Chen Xin looked at the child before him, his hand gripping the Seven Kill Sword trembling slightly. It was not fear, but sheer excitement.
He threw back his head and laughed, his laughter full of exhilaration. "Good! What a Frost Blade Breaks Dust! What a Dustless Sword! In nearly a hundred years of life, this is the first time I've seen such a dazzling genius of the sword!"