Gu Han didn't waste any words. He walked back to the open clearing, summoned his Frostblade Sword, and focused intently.
Slowly, he began to unfold his sword stance, demonstrating the essence of Taiji for Chen Xin.
Each move of Gu Han's sword was light and graceful, his posture relaxed and flowing, every stroke brimming with the unique rhythm of the Taiji Sword.
As he demonstrated, Gu Han explained:
"Master, the key to the Taiji Sword lies in intent, not in rigid forms. Once the true meaning is grasped, sword moves can be unleashed freely, born of the heart."
With that, Gu Han took a deep breath, and his sword style grew even softer. It was as if an invisible force guided the Frostblade Sword, drawing elegant arcs through the air—like willow branches dancing in the breeze. It appeared gentle and yielding, yet hidden beneath was a surging power.
"The highest good is like water. Water appears formless yet harbors infinite transformations. In its softest state, it is like spring rain—silent and subtle, dissolving the enemy's attacks as if vanishing into the sea."
As he spoke, Gu Han slowed his movements. His sword glided like flowing water, brushing past nearby flowers and grass—sharp, yet leaving them untouched.
Then, in a sudden shift, his sword style became fierce and commanding, like a raging river bursting through its banks. Each stroke carried the force of a landslide, sword qi howling as it tore through the air with a resonant hum.
"When it turns forceful, it strikes like waves crashing against the shore, erupting with unstoppable might that the enemy can hardly withstand."
Completing the full set of movements, Gu Han withdrew his sword, exhaled slowly, and added:
"The flow of the sword is endless—softness and hardness transform into each other, cycling without cease. This constant shift keeps the enemy off balance and unable to predict our moves."
With that, Gu Han retrieved a water jug from his soul tool and took a long drink.
Meanwhile, Chen Xin had already immersed himself in contemplation, replaying the demonstration in his mind. He muttered under his breath, repeating several key phrases:
"Focus on intent, not form... The highest good is like water... Harmonizing strength and gentleness... Shifting between real and false..."
As a master of the sword for many years, and as the heir to the Seven Kill Sword, Chen Xin possessed profound foundations. With Gu Han's guidance, it was as if the clouds parted and the sun finally shone through.
The more he pondered, the brighter the light in his eyes grew. Many doubts and obstacles that had once baffled him were instantly unraveled.
It was as if he had opened a door to a brand-new world. Countless insights and inspirations about the sword surged into his heart like a tidal wave.
Suddenly, a powerful surge of aura erupted from his body. His soul power roared within him, and even the air around him stirred and howled under the invisible force.
Chen Xin's explosive aura swept across the courtyard like a mighty tide.
Gu Han and Bibi Dong instinctively tensed at the overwhelming soul power, but they quickly realized that although the pressure was vast and formidable, it carried no killing intent—no malice, only pure force.
Gu Han's eyes widened in shock:
"This... a breakthrough?"
Bibi Dong was equally astonished, excitement gleaming in her eyes:
"It seems Uncle Sword has grasped something crucial from the Taiji Sword—he's breaking through in an instant!"
In the blink of an eye, Chen Xin shattered his previous bottleneck and ascended directly to Rank 95.
Yet even with such a dramatic leap in strength, Chen Xin's face showed no trace of joy.
Instead, his expression grew ever more solemn. He knew—this was the most critical moment of his sword comprehension. Not a shred of distraction could be allowed.
With complete trust in his disciples, Chen Xin simply sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes, and fully immersed himself in comprehending the true essence of Taiji.
At this moment, the outside world no longer existed for him. His consciousness delved deep into the mysteries of the sword.
The gentle breeze stirred his silver hair, but Chen Xin remained motionless, completely one with the world, his spirit immersed in the profound and unfathomable realm of the Taiji Sword.
Watching Chen Xin seated there, his aura vast and majestic, Gu Han felt profound awe.
After all, at the realm of a Titled Douluo, every breakthrough was incomparably difficult, each step requiring endless effort and time. Many would remain trapped at a bottleneck for a lifetime.
Yet now, a single demonstration of the Taiji Sword had allowed Chen Xin to transcend the threshold—a miraculous and unprecedented breakthrough.
Of course, much of this was due to Chen Xin's lifelong dedication to the sword, his deep foundations, and his extraordinary insight. It was these years of silent accumulation that, encountering the right opportunity, enabled such a qualitative leap.
Gu Han sighed deeply in his heart:
"As expected of the Taiji Sword created by the grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng."
This sword technique, originating from another world, was built on an extraordinary philosophy. Its adaptability was simply astounding.
Whether in the martial arts world where Zhang Sanfeng once lived or this fantasy realm of soul beasts and soul power, the Taiji Sword could stand among the very highest arts.
The Taiji Way was not limited by any particular power system or environment. In different worlds and under different laws, it could still shine brilliantly with its own unique radiance.
The Taiji Sword wasn't merely a set of moves or techniques—it embodied a profound understanding of the laws that govern the world.
That was why it could flourish and dominate across vastly different realms.
Taiji was never an ordinary martial philosophy. It was deeply rooted in the very natural order of the world—like a towering tree whose roots intertwined with every inch of the earth.
Like water: gentle yet capable of wearing down stone. Like wind: invisible yet able to topple mountains and uproot forests.
By merging such reverence for nature into swordsmanship, the Taiji Sword became not just a tool for combat, but a true expression of harmony with the universe.
Compared to this, Gu Han thought with disdain, the secret arts of Tang Sect—hidden weapons and Mysterious Heaven Skill—were simply unworthy of mention.
Hidden weapons depended on intricate mechanisms and ambush tactics. While effective in battle, they were ultimately just methods of trickery, lacking any deep exploration of martial arts or the natural laws.
Even the Mysterious Heaven Skill, though unique, appeared narrow and limited when placed alongside the grand vision contained within Taiji.
In Gu Han's view, the pursuit represented by Taiji was a far nobler and more profound path—a true comprehension and application of the rules that governed all things.
This, he realized, might also explain why in the martial world, the Tang Sect was never truly first-rate. It dominated only a corner of Sichuan, while great sects like Shaolin and Wudang—who had profound understanding of both human nature and the natural world—stood supreme.
Although Gu Han wasn't particularly fond of Shaolin due to certain portrayals in films and novels, he couldn't deny Shaolin's dominance in the martial world.
The courtyard basked in the warm glow of sunset, the sky gradually darkening.
Chen Xin remained seated, immersed in the depths of his Taiji comprehension, his soul power gradually settling into a calm, profound stillness.
Gu Han and Bibi Dong sat side by side on the stone platform under the pavilion, occasionally glancing at Chen Xin.
They kept their spiritual senses fully expanded, alert to any disturbance.
Though this was Chen Xin's private courtyard, rarely visited by outsiders, at such a critical moment for his sword enlightenment, neither dared to be careless—even if the chances of an accident were vanishingly small.
Just then, Chen Xin's eyes suddenly snapped open.
Twin beams of sharp light shot from his gaze, cutting through the air like tangible blades, causing the atmosphere around him to shudder faintly.
He rose to his feet with the agility of a young man, and at that very instant, the Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand.
The sword's blade gleamed coldly, condensing an endless killing intent and sharpness.
Yet in the next moment, his aura transformed.
It became natural, gentle—even serene. He no longer radiated aggressive dominance, but anyone who looked upon him would still feel an instinctive awe.
Then Chen Xin moved.
His swordplay was like a shifting, ever-changing dance—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes soft, sometimes fierce.
When swift, his strikes fell like a torrential storm—sword light flashing wildly, the surrounding air filled with the howls of sword qi, as though everything would be swept into a merciless net of swords.
When slow, his movements flowed like a quiet stream—graceful, fluid, every motion filled with elegance and deep meaning.
At its softest, his sword was like spring breeze brushing willow branches—light and supple, appearing weak but hiding countless dangers.
When forceful, his strikes crashed down like a mountain collapsing or a tidal wave roaring ashore, overwhelming with terrifying power.
Upon closer inspection, one could see traces of the original Seven Kill Sword Technique hidden within this new Taiji Sword style.
The Seven Kill's characteristic sharpness and dominance had not vanished—instead, they had been tempered and harmonized by the gentle flowing nature of Taiji, achieving a perfect fusion of strength and softness.
Each strike wove together two seemingly opposite forces, achieving an astonishing balance that reflected Chen Xin's breathtaking mastery of the sword.
Gu Han and Bibi Dong watched closely, utterly captivated by the new style Chen Xin displayed—a blend of the true meaning of Taiji and the ferocity of Seven Kill.
Though Gu Han himself, with the help of the Nameless Manual, had incorporated all his sword knowledge and insights into Taiji, Chen Xin had achieved this purely through his own accumulation.
This alone filled Gu Han with sincere admiration and respect for Chen Xin's accomplishments in the Way of the Sword.
~~~
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