As the Guardian Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Chen Xin had his own private courtyard within the sect.
The courtyard was spacious, its ground paved with blue bricks. All around, lush flowers and trees grew in elegant arrangement, their branches whispering softly as the breeze passed through.
Whenever Chen Xin had free time, he would often practice swordsmanship here, long sword in hand.
Now, leading Gu Han and Bibi Dong, he arrived at the open space in the middle of the courtyard.
The clearing was smooth and clean, encircled by vibrant greenery. It was a quiet, serene place—perfect for martial arts and sword training.
Standing at the center of the courtyard, Chen Xin's expression suddenly grew solemn. His aura condensed sharply.
In the next moment, with a fierce ripple of soul power, his Martial Soul—Seven Kill Sword—materialized in his hand.
The Seven Kill Sword gleamed with a piercing cold light. Its blade bore naturally formed patterns, exuding an endless killing intent.
Gripping the Seven Kill Sword, Chen Xin looked at the two before him, his gaze gentle yet full of expectation. A faint smile appeared on his face, and his voice rang out steady and powerful:
"Come. Let me see how much you two have come to understand the Way of the Sword over these past three years."
Gu Han and Bibi Dong exchanged a smile, full of confidence and mutual understanding. Side by side, they stepped to face Chen Xin.
Gu Han's gaze sharpened as the Frostblade Sword appeared in his hand. Wisps of chilling air coiled around its blade, as if even the surrounding air would freeze. The blade shimmered with a frigid brilliance.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong swiped her slender hand across her soul tool, producing a long sword of deep blue hue, its edge impossibly sharp. Crafted from a rare material, once imbued with soul power, it was no weaker than the best Martial Souls.
Gu Han cupped his fist respectfully and declared solemnly:
"Master, please guide us."
Bibi Dong playfully winked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. A sly smile curled on her lips as she added:
"Uncle Sword, my junior brother has recently mastered a super-powerful sword technique—you better be careful!"
Her lively voice carried the spirited charm of a young girl, yet hidden within was an unmistakable confidence in their swordsmanship.
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Chen Xin's eyes, and he laughed heartily:
"Haha! If that's the case, then allow me to witness for myself what new brilliance Xiao Han has achieved."
Within his laughter was both the eager anticipation of a master watching his disciples' growth and the thrill of a sword expert about to encounter a novel technique.
"Then, Master, please guide us."
Confidence radiating from him, Gu Han shared a knowing glance with Bibi Dong. A smile formed on both their lips.
In the blink of an eye, they moved. Like arrows released from twin bows, they launched from opposite sides in a pincer attack, charging forward with lightning speed.
At the same time, the two unleashed the Taiji Sword technique.
Gu Han's Frostblade Sword carved a seemingly gentle yet immensely forceful arc through the air—waiting to erupt with devastating might when the time was right.
Bibi Dong, wielding her deep blue sword, moved like a butterfly in graceful flight—her sword strikes appearing soft and fluid, yet secretly harboring endless variations, like hidden currents beneath a calm lake.
Their movements, though smooth and seemingly leisurely like a gentle breeze, wove an impenetrable sword net filled with countless hidden transformations, impossible to defend against.
Chen Xin's eyes gleamed brightly as he witnessed this. It felt as if a new door had opened before him, and he couldn't help but praise aloud:
"Excellent swordsmanship!"
Instantly, his aura soared. His Seven Kill Sword gleamed coldly under the sun as he unleashed a torrential assault—an overwhelming display of the fierce and unmatched Seven Kill Sword Technique, engaging the two in a brilliant contest.
For a time, sword light crisscrossed the courtyard, the clash of blades composing a magnificent symphony of swordsmanship.
The Taiji Sword technique that Gu Han and Bibi Dong displayed left Chen Xin inwardly astonished.
This sword style fused hardness and softness in perfect harmony.
When it was forceful, it surged like thunder and lightning, slicing through anything that dared block its path.
When it softened, it transformed into a spring breeze and gentle rain, neutralizing even the fiercest attacks without a trace, trapping the enemy in a strange, powerless state as though mired in a swamp.
Their coordination was seamless, their moves complementing one another flawlessly—truly as if they were one.
What shocked Chen Xin even more was that this sword style seemed to resonate perfectly with the natural rhythms of the world itself.
To his trained eye, every breath the two took, every step and swing of the sword, resonated in harmony with heaven and earth—as though they were dancing with nature itself.
Relying on this technique, the pair demonstrated strength far exceeding what their ranks would suggest, leaving Chen Xin more and more impressed.
"Truly remarkable swordsmanship!"
Chen Xin marveled again. Seizing a fleeting opportunity, he suddenly withdrew from their encirclement.
The Seven Kill Sword in his hand burst into brilliant light as he unleashed a precise slash—carefully measuring his soul power to a level the disciples could handle.
"Watch this sword qi!"
A blast of killing-intent-charged sword qi roared forth like a howling gale, bearing down on the two with unstoppable momentum.
The two reacted instantly. Meeting each other's gaze, they understood without words, moving in perfect unison.
Their swords danced, and the Taiji Sword's unique skill of dissolving force activated silently.
Gu Han's Frostblade Sword drew arcs through the air, redirecting a portion of the sword energy harmlessly aside. At the same time, Bibi Dong's sword flowed like a stream, dissipating the remaining energy completely.
In just a flash, the deadly sword qi—one that could have slain even a Soul Emperor—was effortlessly neutralized.
Seeing this, Chen Xin ceased his attacks and retracted his Seven Kill Sword. His eyes brimmed with excitement and admiration, and a joyous smile spread across his face.
"Good swordsmanship! Absolutely exquisite!"
He looked at Gu Han, eyes filled with eager expectation and curiosity.
"Xiao Han, this sword technique—have you given it a name?"
Gu Han and Bibi Dong also sheathed their swords. Upon hearing the question, Gu Han respectfully cupped his fist and answered:
"Master, this sword technique is called the Taiji Sword."
Hearing this, a slight hint of puzzlement flickered in Chen Xin's eyes. He humbly asked:
"Xiao Han, what exactly is 'Taiji'?"
Gu Han bowed slightly, his expression earnest as he began explaining methodically:
"Master, Taiji represents the fundamental principle behind the workings of all things in the universe. 'Tai' means 'supreme,' and 'Ji' means 'pole'—together, they refer to a supreme, boundless state. It embodies the interplay between two opposing yet complementary forces: Yin and Yang."
At this point, Gu Han paused, retrieving paper and pen from his soul tool and sketching a Taiji Diagram.
"Master, please look—this is the Taiji Diagram. The black fish represents Yin, and the white fish represents Yang. Yin contains a seed of Yang, and Yang contains a seed of Yin. They cycle endlessly, giving rise to all things."
"In the context of this sword technique, hardness represents Yang, and softness represents Yin. When attacking, it can be as fierce and overwhelming as thunder. When defending, it flows like spring rain, dissolving the opponent's power without direct confrontation. The two forces support and transform into each other, making the swordplay continuous and ever-changing. That is the meaning of the Taiji Sword."
Bibi Dong added with a playful smile:
"Uncle Sword, the Taiji Sword emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness—combining both in balance. It responds to the enemy's strength with clever adaptation, never meeting force with force. It's like water—seemingly weak but capable of boundless transformation and power."
Chen Xin listened quietly. As Gu Han and Bibi Dong explained, a brilliant light gradually filled his eyes.
Waves of emotion stirred in his heart. This Taiji Sword, so different from his usual fierce and aggressive style, nonetheless complemented the sharpness he valued in swordsmanship.
To him, the Taiji Sword was like a wondrous new world.
Especially after crossing blades just now, he felt its profound depths even more clearly.
Though the moves appeared gentle and flowing, they concealed surging power.
The technique of force redirection could silently dissolve an opponent's attack—unseen and unfelt, yet possessing the strength to turn the tide with minimal effort.
And when the technique unleashed sudden bursts of force, they exploded with shocking might at precisely the right moment.
This fusion of hardness and softness opened a new door for Chen Xin—he found himself utterly fascinated.
The philosophy behind the Taiji Sword could very well push his own swordsmanship to new heights.
"Good! What a marvelous Taiji Sword!"
Chen Xin couldn't help but praise again, unable to conceal the excitement and awe on his face.
A powerful thought grew in his heart: This Taiji Sword might just be the opportunity for me to advance further.
Though he was Gu Han's master and traditionally should be the one imparting knowledge, his boundless passion for the sword instantly overpowered any hesitations.
Becoming solemn, Chen Xin stepped forward, cupping his fist respectfully toward Gu Han with sincere reverence:
"Xiao Han, this Taiji Sword has opened my eyes. Its mysteries of Yin and Yang, its endless transformations, are profound beyond measure."
"The way of the sword requires constant exploration. Though I am your master in name, for the sake of advancing on the sword path, I humbly ask—would you be willing to instruct me in the profound subtleties of the Taiji Sword?"
As he spoke, his eyes burned with unwavering determination and devotion to the sword.
Gu Han was startled by Chen Xin's solemn gesture and immediately returned the salute with utmost respect:
"Master, you honor your disciple far too much! Your achievements in swordsmanship are far beyond my reach. For you to seek my instruction is a blessing to me—it is I who should feel honored, not the other way around!"
Bibi Dong, equally shocked, hurried forward to assist Chen Xin, laughing brightly:
"Uncle Sword, if you're so formal, you're treating us like outsiders! If you want to learn, just tell us. How could we ever refuse you?"
"Besides," she added with a wink, "you've studied swordsmanship for so many years and have such deep insight—you might even find ways to improve the Taiji Sword after learning it!"
Her lively voice, full of respect and warmth, instantly brought the three closer together.
Chen Xin's face softened into a warm smile, his eyes full of relief and gratitude. He gently shook his head and chuckled:
"Dong'er, you're becoming more and more glib with your words."
His gaze shifted between Gu Han and Bibi Dong, a deep warmth flowing through his heart.
He could feel their genuine respect and affection—completely sincere, without a hint of reservation.
This bond between master and disciples felt especially precious in this moment.
"To have disciples like you is truly my greatest blessing," he said with a touch of emotion in his voice.
Then his expression turned serious once more as he looked at the two:
"Since that's the case, I won't stand on ceremony. I hope you will teach me the full essence of the Taiji Sword without holding anything back."
His words were filled with fervent devotion to the sword.
~~~
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