Douluo Continent: The Martial Soul is Black Kite, the Herrscher of Knowledge

Wu Changkong sheathed his sword and said calmly, "Your swordsmanship is flawless in every move, and every stance is just right. But precisely because it is too perfect, something is missing."

"What's missing?"

"soul."

Wu Changkong looked at him: "Your sword lacks your own unique flavor. You are imitating, following a predetermined path. But for a true swordsman, the sword is himself, and he is the sword."

Fu Li fell silent.

Ah-Ji once said something similar—using the power of the Herald of Consciousness would "activate one's true nature and liberate one's true nature."

Does this mean that his sword also needs to "liberate its nature"?

"Let's do it again," Fu Li suddenly said.

Wu Changkong looked at him, as if trying to make a judgment.

"This time, don't suppress your soul power," Fu Li said.

Yu Zhen nearly jumped out of his chair: "No! This is too dangerous!"

But Wu Changkong ignored him.

He looked into Fu Li's eyes, and there was something familiar in those gray eyes.

That was longing.

A desire for greater power.

"it is good."

Wu Changkong's aura suddenly changed.

His soul power surged, and six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—appeared beside him.

Fu Li also took a deep breath, sheathed the spirit-forged longsword in his hand, and replaced it with the sword "Words Too Much Must Be Killed".

As soon as he acquired the sword, two purple spirit rings appeared beside him.

Wu Changkong's eyes finally changed.

A thousand-year soul ring? A second ring is a thousand years?

What exactly is this child's martial spirit?

But Fu Li no longer gave him time to think.

With the longsword in hand, Fu Li's aura completely changed.

If he was a calm lake just now, he is now a towering wave.

Flamboyant, unrestrained, and arrogant.

This is the real him.

Fu Li unleashed a sword strike.

There are no moves, no techniques.

It was just a simple sword strike.

But this sword strike stirred up all the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy).

The sword energy, like a dragon, tore through the air, carrying an aura of destruction, and headed straight for Wu Changkong.

Wu Changkong's pupils contracted sharply.

He sensed it—the power of this sword strike had far exceeded the Soul Master's tolerance.

Second Soul Skill: Frost Mist!

Wu Changkong wielded the Heavenly Frost Sword in his hand, and a thin mist overflowed from the sword, condensing into frost in the air.

"boom--!"

A huge explosion resounded across the training ground.

The soul-guiding shield trembled violently, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

Yu Zhen and Long Hengxu were pushed back several steps by the shockwave, their faces pale.

The smoke and dust cleared.

Wu Changkong stood still, his long hair disheveled by the strong wind, his robes fluttering in the wind.

The sword in his hand had broken in two.

Across from him stood Fu Li, sword in hand, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"Teacher Wu, you flatter me."

The training ground was deathly silent.

Yu Zhen opened his mouth wide, but couldn't utter a single word.

Long Hengxu looked like he had seen a ghost.

Wu Changkong looked down at the broken sword in his hand, then looked up at Fu Li. A chill enveloped the broken sword, and the next moment, the intact Heavenly Frost Sword reappeared in his hand.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be working for me."

He paused, then added:

"If you want to learn swordsmanship, I can teach you anything."

Fu Li sheathed her sword and smiled slightly: "Alright."

In his mind, Ah Ji was excitedly dancing around: "Hahahaha! This immortal knew it! A hidden master! A hidden plot! Fu Li, did you see that? This is definitely the start of a hidden plot!"

Fu Li silently ignored Aji's voice and bowed slightly to Wu Changkong: "Please give me more guidance in the future, Teacher Wu."

Wu Changkong nodded and turned to leave.

……

As the last rays of the setting sun gradually faded, Donghai Academy disappeared into a dark blue night.

Fu Li sat on a bench on campus, holding Aji in his arms. He fed Aji a spiritual herb while thinking about his insights from the day.

"Ah Ji, I think I understand what you're saying a little better now. Liberating one's nature... one's nature..."

Ah Ji pecked at the seven-leafed herb, not disturbing Fu Li.

Although it was a bit crazy, it still knew what was important. During the day, it insisted that Fu Li choose Wu Changkong as his teacher. Besides wanting to see the hidden plot, there was another reason: the other party was a swordsman.

Ah Ji knew that one could not become a true master by working in isolation. Only with Wu Changkong around could Fu Li hone his sword skills in real time.

"Ah-Chi, tell me, what is my nature...?"

"How would I know what your true nature is?" Ah Ji rolled his eyes, ate the last leaf, and said, "You should ask yourself that question."

"However..." Ah Ji changed the subject, "A person's martial spirit is a symbol of their soul. Since you can awaken me as your martial spirit, why don't you learn from me?"

"Learn from you?" Fu Li blurted out. "Do you think I'm a spoiled brat?"

"Huh? What do you mean? Do you think I'm a spoiled brat?" Ah Ji was indignant. Although it was true that such a word could be used to describe it, it would never admit it.

As long as it doesn't admit it, it will forever remain the ethereal and chivalrous Black Kite Immortal!

"Hmph! I'm not going to talk about that anymore." Ah Ji turned his head away haughtily. "Let's talk about your sword instead."

"My sword?" Fu Li was unsure what the other person meant.

"Yes, it is a sword, or more precisely, the third essence of the Taixu Sword Qi, its meaning."

"Implication?" Fu Li murmured, "Could this be the meaning of sword intent?"

Ah Ji scratched his head guiltily: "Of course not. The so-called meaning needs to be based on something."

"Possession? What's the connection between these two?"

"Of course there is. The understanding of the meaning, with the 'Key of Domination' as the means, emphasizes the unity of man and sword, and the forgetting of self and object. These two are inherently complementary."

"The Key of Domination, what is that? Isn't the 'Words Must Be Killed' technique in my hand enough?"

"Too much talk leads to murder, of course. Although it is an extension of my consciousness, it is not the key to consciousness."

At this point, Ah Ji suddenly felt guilty. Of course, it had a Key of Consciousness.

This is the shape, umm...

just forget it.

"It's okay, the saying 'too much talk leads to death' still applies, and with the Douluo Continent system, you can still cultivate," Ah Ji said earnestly.

In the Douluo Continent system, swordsmen are divided into three realms.

Sword intent, sword soul, sword god.

Sword intent represents the entry point of swordsmanship training. It is the spiritual will that unites essence, energy, spirit, and swordsmanship, and can suppress the opponent's mental strength and consciousness.

Sword Soul is the fusion of sword intent with the soul, bloodline, and martial spirit after sword intent has been perfected. It is the soul of the sword and a qualitative change in the way of the sword.

Sword God is the ultimate form of swordsmanship, mastering the laws of the sword, reaching the pinnacle of the mortal realm, and even the prototype of divine skills.

The realm of Sword God can suppress all swordsmen who have not reached this level, preventing them from even having a chance to make a move.

"So, should I use this system to cultivate?"

Ah Ji nodded seriously and earnestly instructed, "Every system has its merits. This so-called Sword Soul and Sword God Path, although not as good as the Void Sword Qi, will still benefit you in your final comprehension of the Divine Essence once you understand it."