Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

"Jian'er, your soul power still hasn't grown, has it?"

At the residence of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Consecration, a small lakeside building stood serenely.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin ascended the stairs, arriving at a tightly shut door on the second floor.

"Click."

He pressed a mechanism on the door, and the heavy double doors slowly slid open.

"Jian'er, you shouldn't stay in the Sword Pool all day. Although the Simulation Training Ground helps you comprehend my self-created soul skill, it's not something you can master in just a short time…"

Sword Douluo glanced inside, a faint smile breaking through his otherwise stoic expression. "You mustn't aim too high. After all, it took me thirty years to create this skill, one that rivals the Clear Sky Clan's Great Sumeru Hammer. Expecting to grasp it in three years is simply unrealistic."

Thump. Thump.

As the doors fully opened, Sword Douluo peered inside, continuing his musings. "At your age, building a solid foundation of soul power is more important. Even with your innate full soul power, three years without progress is troubling. Old Bones' disciple has already surpassed you…"

"Huh? Where is he?"

He paused mid-sentence, his gaze sweeping through the room filled with sword formations, yet no figure was in sight.

"Not in the Simulation Training Ground today?"

Murmuring to himself, his expression suddenly shifted, his pupils narrowing. His gaze locked onto the center of the sword formations.

Sure enough, a faint figure of an eight- or nine-year-old boy began to emerge.

"Teacher, I've been here all along."

Qin Jian stepped out of the formation, a warm smile gracing his youthful face.

He was clad in light blue robes similar to Sword Douluo's, resembling a miniature version of his teacher from afar. Yet his delicate and handsome features far outshone his master's austere visage.

"This… is Body as the Sword!?"

Sword Douluo's voice trembled slightly, betraying his astonishment.

Qin Jian took slow steps out of the Sword Pool, tilting his head to smile at his teacher. "Yes, Teacher, after three years, I've finally grasped the basics of your self-created soul skill!"

Sword Douluo took a deep breath, exhaling slowly to calm the storm raging within him.

He had never underestimated the talent of his personal disciple. Even though Qin Jian's soul power hadn't increased in three years, Sword Douluo had never doubted him.

After all, this was a boy with innate full soul power, and his martial soul was none other than the blade itself, the weapon of slaughter.

But to think Qin Jian could comprehend the initial stages of Man and Sword as One at such a young age... the sheer talent required was beyond his imagination.

"Let's go. Time for dinner."

Regaining his usual stoic demeanor, Sword Douluo casually ruffled Qin Jian's soft hair before turning to descend the stairs.

Qin Jian quickly trotted after him, a sly smile tugging at his lips. Teacher's just pretending to be calm. I bet he'll run to show off to Bone Douluo after dinner!

The dining table was small, with Sword Douluo and Qin Jian seated across from each other at a comfortable distance.

"Thank you, Teacher, for preparing dinner," Qin Jian said earnestly. Starving after a day of cultivation, he immediately dug in, eating ravenously.

Watching his disciple's wolfish appetite, Sword Douluo shook his head. "Slow down, or you'll choke."

"Mmmph..." Qin Jian mumbled, nodding through mouthfuls of food.

"And for the record, I didn't prepare this meal," Sword Douluo remarked, picking at the dishes with a slight frown. "The sect's cooks made it, but their skills are far inferior to yours."

Qin Jian paused, swallowing his food before flashing a playful grin. "Then I'll cook for you from now on, Teacher."

Looking at the boy's youthful yet refined face, Sword Douluo's heart softened. This child's smile always radiates such warmth…

For a moment, he hesitated, the chopsticks in his hand suspended mid-air.

"Teacher? Is something wrong?" Qin Jian asked, his innocent eyes filled with curiosity.

Sword Douluo's lips parted slightly before closing again. After another glance at Qin Jian, he finally spoke. "Jian'er, as far as I know, soul beasts in human form cultivate much faster than humans, don't they?"

Clatter!

Qin Jian's hand trembled, and a chopstick fell onto the table, the sound piercing the silence.

But in the next instant, Qin Jian's expression returned to normal. He casually picked up the chopstick, grabbed another bite, and chewed nonchalantly.

Through a mouthful of food, he muttered, "Teacher, haven't you said before that soul beasts in human form have exceptionally high talent? Their faster cultivation speed is perfectly normal."

Sword Douluo smiled faintly at his disciple's forced composure.

Having decided to expose Qin Jian's true identity, he wasn't about to let the matter drop.

Resting his chin on his left hand, he feigned nonchalance. "If that's the case, why hasn't your soul power increased in the past three years?"

Thump, thump.

Qin Jian's heart raced, but he forced a stiff smile. "T-Teacher, I don't understand what you mean. What does my lack of progress have to do with soul beasts?"

"How could it not be related?" Sword Douluo's tone remained light, yet his words sent chills down Qin Jian's spine. "You're a soul beast in human form, aren't you?"

Continuing to eat, Sword Douluo's demeanor was calm, even relaxed.

But across the table, Qin Jian was frozen. Slowly lowering his head, he clung to a shred of hope. "Teacher... you're joking, right? How could I be a soul beast?"

Sword Douluo studied his disciple's cautious expression and couldn't resist teasing him further.

For three years, this boy had carried himself like a little adult. Sword Douluo had long wanted to see him flustered. Even if Qin Jian was a soul beast, his childlike innocence should still shine through.

"Jian'er, your disguise is impressive. Despite being under level 60, you've completely hidden your soul beast aura. Neither Old Bones nor I detected it initially…"

He rose, walking to Qin Jian's side and sitting next to him.

"But as my personal disciple, spending so much time together, your habits inevitably differ from humans…"

His predatory gaze bore into Qin Jian, like a hunter cornering his prey.

Sweat trickled down Qin Jian's pale face, dripping onto the floor.

"Teacher, this is just a baseless assumption, isn't it?" he murmured softly.

Sword Douluo shook his head. "You refuse to admit it? Then let me share something you might not even know."

He chuckled. "You think your concealment flawless, not realizing it depends entirely on your soul power. If your soul power were ever depleted, you'd no longer be able to mask your soul beast aura…"

Qin Jian's face turned ashen. He abruptly stood, retreating several steps, his eyes wide with shock. "Teacher… is that true?"

Sword Douluo's laughter echoed warmly.

"Of course it's true!"

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