The first soul ring marks the beginning of a Soul Master's path—and it is also the most important soul ring in a Soul Master's entire career.
The number of years a first soul ring carries almost determines the upper limit of a Soul Master's future potential. If it's too low, then even with innate full soul power, it will be difficult to add a ten-thousand-year soul ring by the time one reaches the fifth ring.
The Seven Kill Sword is one of the most powerful offensive weapon-type martial souls on the continent, so naturally, the chosen soul rings should come from powerful offensive-type soul beasts.
Just as Ning Tianchen was hesitating, Chen Xin appeared in front of him.
"Why am I thinking so much?" he chuckled to himself. "Sword Douluo also possesses the Seven Kill Sword martial soul—he surely knows which soul beasts are best suited for it."
With this thought, Ning Tianchen quickened his pace and walked up to Chen Xin.
Chen Xin raised his right hand in the shape of a sword finger, and with a slight flick, the Seven Kill Sword martial soul materialized out of thin air, floating in the air between them.
"Hop on. This is Sword Flight—you'll have to learn it sooner or later."
Ning Tianchen had just stabilized himself when the sword beneath his feet suddenly accelerated, almost throwing him off.
Chen Xin, dressed in a flowing blue robe, looked like a carefree immortal drifting on the wind.
Catching his balance, Ning Tianchen couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
Sword flight—this had been his dream since childhood.
However, his current strength was still too low, and his internal soul power couldn't sustain sword flight yet. Even if he learned it now, it would be useless.
The Seven Kill Sword's flight was incredibly fast. In the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, the two had already arrived at a soul beast town on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.
Chen Xin had no intention of staying there. Still, he deactivated his flight state and chose to walk through the town to enter the forest.
The people walking through this soul beast town were almost all Soul Masters.
This place was filled with hidden experts—high-level Soul Masters often disguised themselves among the crowds. One wrong move and offending the wrong person could result in disaster.
"So in the future, when you come to a soul beast town on your own, act as low-key as possible. Of course, if someone picks a fight with you, no matter how strong they are, don't back down. As long as I'm around, no one can touch you."
As he spoke, Chen Xin's eyes suddenly narrowed, scanning the gazes of those around them.
So domineering!
Ning Tianchen couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
Their elder-younger pairing attracted curious stares from many passersby. Some even harbored ill intent.
But sensing Chen Xin's gaze, those with bad thoughts quickly gave up and composed themselves.
"Sword Elder, I'll remember your words," Ning Tianchen replied with a respectful bow.
There were many unspoken rules in a soul beast town. Apart from what Chen Xin had mentioned, the rest weren't truly dangerous. So Chen Xin had only summarized the key points.
Sunset Forest.
This was Ning Tianchen's first time entering a soul beast forest, and naturally, he felt a mix of excitement and anticipation.
As they ventured deeper, the forest became increasingly wild and primitive.
In areas untouched by humans, the paths grew more treacherous—or rather, there were no real paths at all. Ning Tianchen and Chen Xin had to walk over thick, exposed roots to progress.
The trees' root systems were tangled and complex. Cracks often appeared beneath them, and one wrong step could send someone falling below.
After just one hour of walking, Ning Tianchen was drenched in sweat, his strength drained by the oppressive heat.
"Rest here. While we take a break, there's something I want to tell you," Chen Xin leaned against a tree trunk, holding a twig he'd picked up without Ning Tianchen noticing.
"Go ahead, Sword Elder. I'm listening," Ning Tianchen replied weakly.
At six years old, his young body really couldn't handle this much exertion.
As Chen Xin waved the twig in his hand, he asked:
"Do you know what sword qi is?"
Ning Tianchen paused to think and suddenly recalled a post he'd seen in his past life on the internet.
After mentally reviewing it, he responded:
"It refers to a layer of soul power enveloping the sword, carrying great lethality. A sword with sword qi has the ability to attack at range."
Chen Xin nodded approvingly.
"Sword qi can be explained just from the literal meaning. But cultivating sword qi is a long and difficult journey."
"Ordinary sword qi—you can master that once you obtain your first soul ring. But to reach a higher level, the insight gained from soul rings alone is far from enough."
"When you reach the point where you can pour your spirit, intent, energy, and strength into your sword technique, maintaining full concentration, calm composure, and striking only when the time is right—that is when your own sword qi will truly be formed."
After finishing his words, Chen Xin waved the twig in his hand.
An invisible burst of sword qi shot out, felling all the trees in front of them.
The broken trunks fell in the same direction, forming a smooth, flat path.
Ning Tianchen looked ahead with a complicated expression.
Teaching is teaching, but why act so cool?
With Ning Tianchen's current ability, even if he fully concentrated while using the Seven Kill Sword martial soul, he couldn't even produce half a trace of sword qi.
Chen Xin wasn't even using a sword-type weapon—just a casual swing—yet he unleashed such power.
Ning Tianchen didn't feel discouraged. Given time, he believed he could do the same.
"The next stage of your training requires that within six years, you master 'walking, transforming, spinning, flipping — light, steady, swift.'"
"This is the core principle of the Seven Kill Sword's 'Sword Movement'—your footwork must be swift and fierce, yet light and stable. Move like a gentle breeze, steady like a mountain. Your body's movement should be like startling birds in the sky and rolling on the ground without kicking up dust. A single strike should be like a breeze: you see the sword's light but not the sword itself; amid endless changes, you see the sword's glow but not the wielder."
In short, this means integrating body movement into sword techniques.
After obtaining the first soul ring, it would probably take a great deal of time and sparring with strong opponents before truly understanding the mysteries of body movement.
"Sword Elder, if I fulfill your requirements, can I formally become your disciple?" Ning Tianchen blinked and asked.
A rare smile appeared on Chen Xin's face as he softly replied, "Tianchen, do you really want to take me as your master that badly?"
No parents, no family—you better hold onto a powerful mentor's thigh tightly if you want to survive in the future.
Muttering silently to himself, Ning Tianchen nodded firmly.
Chen Xin laughed heartily and lightly patted his forehead. "I've lived my whole life without children. I wouldn't mind taking a disciple in my old age."
Knowing this wasn't quite the time yet, he suddenly changed his tone, "Since you've rested enough, let's get going."
Walking along the wooden path Chen Xin had made, Ning Tianchen's eyes frequently glanced at him.
His mind kept replaying Chen Xin's words just now.
Sword Douluo's words imply he doesn't want to take me as a disciple. Or could it be he wants to take me as a grandson instead? Ning Tianchen analyzed in his heart.
Even if that was true, he saw no reason to reject or resent it.
In his past life, his grandparents and parents treated him well. Now that he was in Douluo Continent, deep down he didn't want to be someone without a family.
For three days they circled the outskirts of Sunset Forest but still hadn't found the soul beast they needed.
"Heh, don't worry. What's meant to come will come," Chen Xin suddenly smiled.
Ning Tianchen muttered softly, "How can I not worry? This is my first soul ring after all."
It was like having one million gold soul coins right in front of him but never being able to reach them—an unsettling feeling.
"All right, the soul beast you need is not far ahead. Stay behind me and don't fall behind."
With that, Chen Xin quickened his pace, moving as lightly as a swallow. His footsteps made no sound on the ground.
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