Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

……

"You've made good progress recently."

Qian Shui did have some personal feelings for Feng Jingyi, after all, she was a girl who practiced swordsmanship, and he often gave her practice moves. However, due to the characteristics of her martial soul, he couldn't explain to Qian Shui how to fly on a sword in a very intuitive way.

"Thank you." Feng Jingyi wiped her sweat and put away her Wind Sword Martial Soul.

Although Qian Shui's training was tiring, it was effective, and his soul power cultivation was basically not neglected. On this basis, his combat power improved by more than one level. Anyone who wasn't stupid would understand the key to this.

The boy before her had changed drastically—in personality, appearance, and even his social standing. The abilities he displayed were unmatched by his peers, how could she not feel awe?

She didn't know what had happened to make someone act this way, but it couldn't be anything good. She heard that he had even attacked the Pope in public, and although he ended up getting a beating, this kind of rebellion was something Feng Jingyi had never shown before.

"Class monitor, you have great talent. After all, your martial soul is a sword. Don't limit yourself to soul skills; you need to understand the essence of the sword." In the past, Feng Jingyi was like a mage wielding a sword. Her Wind Sword martial soul was like a fire poker, only occasionally used to chop people up.

It's well known that mages are most afraid of close combat, so for a swordsman to perform like this is simply shameful. Feng Jingyi is actually very talented; if she had a systematic swordsmanship training system, her achievements would likely be very high.

However, Qian Shui said he couldn't test it and didn't know, since he was still developing it himself.

Consider becoming Sword Douluo's apprentice? Aside from his sword intent, which is something to be proud of, Chen Xin's mindset is actually that of a mage. If Seven Kill Sword were to play as an assassin, how many people could withstand the pressure of a large level difference?

This is precisely why Qian Daoliu, the owner of the Angelic Martial Soul, is the number one swordsman in the world, rather than a member of the Seven Kill Sword Dust family.

Sword Martial Souls break through the surface with a single point, so there should be no possibility of direct defense. However, Chen Jianjun did not manage to harm Qian Daoliu in the slightest back then, which shows that this way of playing is abnormal.

A direct, forceful attack? Who can defeat the all-around angelic spirit through a direct, forceful assault? Either it's like Poseidon borrowing the power of the ocean to overwhelm others, or it's like Tang Chen using skillful techniques to suppress all rivals.

"I see!"

"We're actually on the same path in this regard. There's not much I can do to help you, but sharing my experience is no problem," Qian Shui said frankly, indicating that he would guide her.

"Ok!"

Looking around, everyone had a variety of questions. For example, Ling Yunzhi actually needed an understanding of the so-called 'ice'.

From a physics perspective, Qian Shui can naturally explain this; it's the intensity of molecular thermal motion that controls the process of 'temperature reduction'.

But that won't work. Molecules and atoms can't explain it; only the manipulation of 'temperature reduction' can explain it. This ability is already quite extraordinary. Ignoring the microscopic level, the very act of 'ice' solidifying itself is already capable of countless transformations. Ice magic is not limited by anything; there are endless possibilities for its development.

Fortunately, the other party was a smart person, and Qian Shui only needed to give a little hint about the thought process.

Ruoyou lacks control over extreme speed, something Qianshui is most familiar with. As long as Ruoyou refines her body and develops her skills in the same way as Qianshui, that should be enough.

Both support methods are the same: the tempering of the body and soul power. As for the rest, that's up to you to choose.

This is already quite good. After all, there aren't even martial arts manuals in Douluo Continent, so we can't expect too much.

The rest is up to time. After all, to achieve something, the foundation must be the daily grind and hardship.

Chapter 52: The Birth of a Child and the Receive of Immortality

The situation on Douluo Continent underwent a dramatic change that year.

With the occurrence of the Tang Hao incident, the youngest titled Douluo in public was born, and Tang Hao accepted the title of Haotian.

With Qian Xunji's death, the power structure of the Spirit Hall underwent a change, and this era ushered in the Iron-Blooded Pope, Bibi Dong. No one knew the cultivation level of this female pope; they only believed that she inherited the papacy as the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall.

Qian Daoliu, a level 99 Peerless Douluo, re-emerged from seclusion to personally hunt down Tang Hao, causing Tang Hao, the youngest of the nine, to disappear without a trace. Meanwhile, the previous generation's Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Chen, did not reappear. This was followed by the seclusion of the Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world, thus altering the fates of many.

The rapid decline of the old era created a power vacuum, which was then replaced by new forces. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, under Bibi Dong's leadership, has established a new power structure.

These changes are like a mountain pressing down on ordinary people who have no control over their fate, and this is the case for Qian Renxue, who went to the Heavenly Dou Empire.

This was her 10th birthday, but she no longer had her usual smile and had lost everything and everyone around her.

"Miss, a letter from Wuhun City."

"understood."

It was late at night when she finally dropped her pretense, silently tidying her clothes and rubbing the corner of her eye to relieve her mental fatigue.

When she picked up the message from her hometown, she didn't frown as usual, because it wasn't an order or a new plan to be carried out.

She finished reading the "Analysis and Forecast of the Current Situation in Mainland China" with a smile, and the familiar handwriting filled her with a sense of reassurance.

"I'd like to reply to some of your messages~"

She carefully put away the familiar note at her desk. This was the happiest day she had had in recent days, after all, it was a letter from Qian Shui.

Although there was no way to send messages across the river, and no reason to do so, a birthday was a good excuse.

He gathered some information, summarized it, and analyzed it from the perspective of a time traveler. He said nothing more; after all, he shouldn't know where Qian Renxue was or what she was doing. While this analysis was strange, it didn't exceed the limits of what he could say.

Qian Shui simply delivered it to the Elder Hall ahead of time, informing them it was a birthday gift for Qian Renxue. His subordinates gave it to Qian Daoliu, who merely remarked that Qian Daoliu was "unromantic" before sending it away, treating it as a new, news-style story from Qian Shui.

...

On this day, Qian Shui intentionally presented himself with a result that reached the Silver Battle Soul level, and it was a record of challenging all Soul Master level opponents.

"Old Wang! Old Wang! Old Wang!"

Ignoring the chants of Qian Shui's hidden nickname from the crowd, Qian Shui smiled at her teammates who had come with her from the sidelines, a smile that hadn't been heard in a long time.

"Brother Shui! You're amazing!" Yin Jin excitedly greeted him, as if he himself had received this honor.

"It's your turn next."

He waved his hand and walked out of the Great Soul Arena, because Ghost Douluo had made a long-awaited appearance.

"What happened to Uncle Gui?"

"Dean Qianxin should be arriving in the next few days..."

Ghost Douluo understood the importance of this to Qian Shui and had long ago instructed his subordinates to pay attention to the matter. This news arrived roughly around the time Qian Shui began his Soul Fighting.

Qian Shui didn't show much emotion. He had been mentally prepared for this day. He said "I know" and set off back to Wuhun City. When he arrived, the dean was already bedridden.

The director was all alone; most of her peers had passed away, and only the elderly residents of the facility kept her company. Qian Shui had long ago made a promise with the director to see her off in her final days, which was why he had remained at the facility.

Perhaps because his cultivation level was at the Soul Saint level, the old man was still conscious despite being bedridden.

"Xiao Shui, you've come..." The dean's eyes were tired and cloudy, but a hint of joy appeared when Qian Shui arrived.

"I'm back." Qian Shui wasn't sad; he didn't want the dean to take away his grief.

"Little Shui, you're so kind. Unlike others, who still bother this old woman at a time like this..."

Qian Shui didn't speak, but just smiled as she looked at the dean.

“You’ve always been so special. You didn’t cry when you were brought home. You know there are so many children, it’s hard to choose names. Since you didn’t cry, I could only name you ‘Water.’ I wish it were a nicer name…”

"You've been a bright child since you were little. You never cry or make a fuss, and you learn everything very quickly. From then on, I knew you were extraordinary, so even after I learned that Xiao Dong had abandoned you in the Star Dou Great Forest, I firmly believed that you could survive..."

"Miss Xue seems like a completely different person after she left, just like Dong'er back then, but she is, after all, your teacher..."

"Don't blame Dong'er for what happened. That child, she actually came from here too. She's always been kind-hearted, and she often came back to help out at the orphanage when she was able... It's just that somehow she married Xiao Ji, and then Xiao Xue was born..."

"I don't know the details, but perhaps this is the beginning of her change. After all, she used to have a boyfriend she loved..."

"Nothing in this world goes as planned, but you're different. You have talent and wisdom; you have the power to choose, unlike me... this is all I can do in my life."

……

The dean said a lot, and Qian Shui just listened quietly.

The dean was not some chosen one of heaven; she was just an ordinary soul master who could only reach the Soul Saint level in her entire life. The sun in the sky was so far away that ordinary people were destined to have only an ordinary life.

The following night, the dean passed away, and the funeral was conducted peacefully according to her last wishes.

All the capable children she had mentored came to see her off on her final journey.

Hu Liena and her siblings also came. The little girl cried very sadly, just like the other children in the yard.

Bibi Dong may have come, but she probably didn't show her face.

With everything settled, Qian Shui prepared to leave the place he first saw upon arriving in this world.

After tidying up everything in the room, Qian Shui also began to tidy herself up, something she hadn't done in a long time.

The boy in the mirror now had long, flowing hair, and his spirit had left his body to help him dress up.

She combed her messy hair and, based on her memory, tied it into a topknot, which reasonably corresponded to the cultivation method. Her primordial spirit floated in front of her and inserted the wooden hairpin she had made herself. "It truly feels like an immortal touching my head, granting me eternal life..."

Looking at myself, who resembles a little Taoist priest, I can't help but sigh. I cultivate the Tao in a natural way, yet I am still greedy and insatiable. The human heart is ultimately difficult to understand, let alone life and death!

Qianshui left, and as he looked back before parting, he suddenly felt that there was one less place to return to in this world.

Chapter 53 Combination of Work and Rest

Perhaps because Qian Shui's reaction to Qian Renxue's sudden departure was too great, his calmness this time seemed somewhat abnormal. People who knew him well have been keeping a close eye on him lately, fearing that he might engage in a few more reckless training sessions.

And they were convinced that this kid could really train himself to death.

"I mean, you don't have to come every day, do you?" Qian Shui looked at Hu Liena, who came to keep an eye on him every day after school, with a hint of helplessness.

Hu Liena had had enough of Qian Shui's excessive training. She and her brother were heartbroken by the dean's passing, but this senior brother not only calmly handled the funeral arrangements, but what was even more frightening was that he showed almost no emotional fluctuation.

Although Qian Shui appeared indifferent, a child's young age doesn't mean he's stupid. She knew that Qian Shui just seemed a bit aloof, after all, he hadn't even put on airs like a senior brother.

When this senior brother was expressing his emotions outwardly, he dared to directly attack the teacher. When he was in pain, he would train himself to the point of being unrecognizable. He finally managed to distract himself with something and get better, but who knows what will happen to him once the dean leaves.

"Senior brother, you're so worrying. And aren't you even a little sad about what happened to the dean?" Hu Liena said with a tense expression. Now that Qian Shui had started asking, she wanted to find out the truth as well.

How could I not be heartbroken...

"But…"

Qian Shui interrupted her: "Alright, I know what you're thinking. I'm not that fragile. The dean has lived out her life peacefully. If that's the case, why should we, the living, be so attached to it?"

Qian Shui patted Hu Liena's head, knowing there was no need to explain these issues to a child: "Go back, or go to the Papal Palace. It's not that you're not welcome, but you'll make those guys laugh at you."

"Okay~"

Finally, Hu Liena left the base of the main team members for the competition, while Qian Shui continued to direct the training of these teammates.

……

Qian Shui has now officially moved into the base of the regular team members. At this time, Qian Shui, who is even more focused on his studies, began a super mechanical life rhythm. Apart from eating, he only cultivates. The other six people finally witnessed the full picture of Qian Shui's cultivation.

"Has the team leader always cultivated like this?" Yin Jin's original impression of Qian Shui was that he was a prodigy with unparalleled talent, but talent alone is useless, especially for someone like Qian Shui who seems unattainable... Scroll?

At this moment, Qian Shui was fighting against a Soul Emperor-level Battle Soul Master, while the others were running around the arena watching the battle.

"His incredible focus and execution skills—is that why he was able to survive in the Star Dou Great Forest?" Ling Yunzhi's evaluation of Qian Shui rose even higher.