"What impressive sword qi!"
A voice of admiration rang out. Gu Han and Bibi Dong turned toward the sound to see Qian Xunji approaching with Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin beside him.
The exclamation had come from none other than the Sword Douluo.
"I didn't expect that not only young Gu is a sword wielder, but even the legendary Holy Maiden herself also follows the sword path."
Bibi Dong and Gu Han exchanged glances, both sensing the same curiosity in each other's eyes. Still, they respectfully sheathed their swords and gave a slight cupped-hand salute to the three approaching figures.
"Master, Clan Head Ning, Senior Sword Douluo."
"Xiao Han, it's Sword Douluo who wanted to see you," Qian Xunji said with a satisfied smile. Ever since taking Gu Han as his disciple, Dong'er had become more motivated than ever in both cultivation and study.
And Gu Han himself was an undeniable prodigy. Though his innate talent had been subpar, that flaw had long since been remedied by the effects of immortal herbs. Coupled with his intelligence and diligence, it was only a matter of time before he stood at the pinnacle of the continent.
Hearing this, Gu Han had his suspicions, but instead of making assumptions, he humbly asked, "May I ask what guidance Senior Sword Douluo wishes to give me?"
Chen Xin didn't answer right away. He simply rubbed his smooth chin and scrutinized Gu Han carefully.
The more he looked, the more pleased he became. But alongside that satisfaction came a tinge of regret—such a gifted sword cultivator, and he hadn't met him first. What a pity.
"Not bad at all. Your Holiness has truly taken in two outstanding disciples."
"Young Gu, would you be willing to spar with me in swordsmanship?"
"I'm honored, Senior. Please instruct me."
Upon hearing Chen Xin's proposal for a duel, Gu Han accepted without hesitation. After all, when it came to swordsmanship on the Douluo Continent, no school was more famed than the Seven Kill Sword lineage.
He had long been curious to witness their techniques firsthand.
The others cleared the field for the match. Gu Han summoned his Frostblade Sword.
"Senior, please go easy on me."
"Come then, you may strike first," Chen Xin replied as he summoned his martial soul—Seven Kill Sword.
Faced with a lifelong master of the sword—an actual Titled Douluo—Gu Han dared not take him lightly.
"Watch my sword qi!"
A burst of frost-cold sword qi erupted, instantly covering the sparring ground in a layer of ice. A crescent-shaped arc of sword qi, as tall as a person, slashed toward Chen Xin. At the same time, Gu Han moved in, his footwork nimble and precise, closing the gap behind his attack.
"Well done!"
Chen Xin's eyes lit up. With a horizontal swing of his Seven Kill Sword, the wordless "Kill" aura exploded forth, shattering the icy sword qi and forcing Gu Han back in the same breath.
With a flick of his fingers, the Seven Kill Sword circled around him and shot toward Gu Han once more.
Gu Han twisted midair and regained his footing. With a flick of his wrist, sword shadows flew—dozens of sword arcs cut through the air, clashing with the flying Seven Kill Sword and knocking it aside.
"Well done, boy!"
Chen Xin grabbed his sword again and rushed in. Each of his strikes was swift, precise, and revealed the depth of his mastery.
The Seven Kill Sword Art radiated not only lethal intent, but a regal grandeur—brutality tempered with elegance, ferocity balanced by subtlety.
Yet Chen Xin never once relied on soul power to suppress Gu Han. This was a contest of pure swordsmanship.
Though Gu Han's skills couldn't match Chen Xin's refined mastery, his mysterious, unnamed sword style allowed him to hold his own.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal clashing rang out in rapid succession. Their figures blurred across the arena, each clash sending sparks flying.
As the duel progressed, Chen Xin became more and more impressed. "This boy is so young, and yet his swordsmanship is already so adaptable and elusive…"
With a loud clang, their blades locked again. Frost-charged sword qi clashed with the killing aura of the Seven Kill Sword, covering the arena with crisscrossing sword marks. Any ordinary person who entered this space would be shredded instantly by the residual qi alone.
"You're a talented one, boy. No doubt about that," Chen Xin laughed, clearly growing more fond of him.
"But this alone… won't be enough!"
As he spoke, Chen Xin twisted his blade, redirecting Gu Han's Frostblade Sword. Then, in a swift diagonal thrust, his Seven Kill Sword darted forward like a venomous serpent.
Gu Han's eyes widened. He had no time to react—the blade passed right by his cheek, slicing a single strand of hair that drifted down and landed on the blade itself.
The match was over. Chen Xin withdrew his sword in a flourish and stood with his hands behind his back.
"Excellent. You're a fine seedling—much better than I was at your age."
It wasn't the first time Chen Xin had praised Gu Han. From his duel with Tang Hao to this very moment, he'd found himself more and more impressed by the boy.
And yet, that admiration also came with a hint of regret.
What a pity. The boy already has a master.
"Senior flatters me. Your swordsmanship is truly unmatched, a heritage of generations. I've admired your name for a long time. Today I've seen it for myself, and I must admit—I am far beneath your level."
Gu Han spoke from the heart. Chen Xin's swordplay was as natural as breathing, without a single flaw to exploit.
Moreover, his techniques had already surpassed the confines of traditional sword forms. He adapted on the fly—fast or slow, hard or soft, never revealing what came next. It was impossible to predict his next move.
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause rang out. Ning Fengzhi praised, "Young Gu, your accomplishments at such a young age are truly remarkable. A hero born of youth, indeed."
Gu Han offered a modest smile. "You honor me, Clan Head Ning."
"No need to be so modest," Chen Xin added with a grin. "From what I've seen, you've already grasped the essence of sword intent. Tell me—what does swordsmanship mean to you?"
At that question, all eyes turned to Gu Han.
He paused for a moment. Then his gaze sharpened.
"A sword is a weapon of slaughter, that much is true—it is, by nature, forged for battle. I won't deny that," he began. "But I believe the sword is also a path of protection. With a sword in hand, one must protect those they hold dear."
"If one cannot protect the people they care about… then even reaching the peak of swordsmanship means nothing."
"Protecting those you care for, hmm?" Chen Xin echoed thoughtfully, nodding in approval. "Well said. While a sword is indeed a weapon of war, it's also a means of defense—a tool of guardianship. To guard those you treasure… and cut down all who would harm them."
"In terms of swordsmanship, there's little more I can teach you. But I do have a sword manual—and some insights into sword intent and domain comprehension. Perhaps you'll find them useful."
Qian Xunji raised a brow in mild surprise. He hadn't expected Chen Xin to be so generous—this was their first proper meeting, and he was already offering to pass on his family's secret techniques.
Ning Fengzhi, too, was stunned. He had assumed Chen Xin only intended to mentor Gu Han briefly, not bestow him with the family's core techniques.
But Bibi Dong was different. Her face lit up with joy and pride—not jealousy, but genuine happiness for her junior brother.
Such a powerful man… and he's my junior brother.
Gu Han glanced toward Qian Xunji, as if silently seeking permission. The Pope nodded in agreement, giving his blessing.
Seeing this, Gu Han stepped forward and respectfully bowed in the ceremonial gesture of accepting a master.
"Disciple Gu Han greets Master."
"Hahaha! Excellent! I finally have a successor."
Chen Xin was overjoyed. He had only come intending to offer a few pointers, but this unexpected turn of events delighted him.
In the world of Douluo Dalu, it was a long-standing rule that a person could only have one master for life. However, if the original master gave permission, it was acceptable to formally take on another.
Still, in the history of the continent, it was virtually unheard of for any master to willingly allow their disciple to take another master.
This could be considered a groundbreaking precedent.
~~~
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