Douluo: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

He looked at Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe at the table, then glanced at Su Yuntao, who was still in a special state not far away. He straightened his expression and slowly said, "Since you want to take him as your disciple, I naturally have to explain my situation properly. Chen Xin is indeed my senior uncle in terms of seniority, and he can even be considered my distant uncle."

Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe grew increasingly curious, and the two Title Douluos hidden in the shadows also subconsciously perked up their ears, as they were also very interested in the Sword Douluo's past.

"This story begins with my great-grandfather, who is also Chen Xin's grandfather..." Upon hearing the beginning of the story, Tang Shan couldn't help but be startled. In the original work, Chen Xin's father was a level 98 Title Douluo, a person from the same era as Qian Daoliu. So, Chen Xin's grandfather, Chen Zhan's great-grandfather, must have been older than Qian Daoliu, possibly a person from the same era as Jin Crocodile Douluo?

"My great-grandfather's martial soul was also a longsword. He was exceptionally talented and never encountered an opponent until he broke through to become a Title Douluo. That's when he met a genius hidden by the Spirit Hall. That person was extremely strong, and his martial soul looked like a ferocious beast. He defeated my great-grandfather in just two or three moves."

Chen Zhan was lost in memories, his voice tinged with emotion, "That Title Douluo from the Spirit Hall didn't use his full strength; he only defeated my great-grandfather."

Afterwards, my great-grandfather constantly challenged him, and they also traveled across the mainland and joined the army to experience the horrors of war. Through this rigorous training, both of their skills improved rapidly.

Tang Shan had a question in his mind: the powerful figure from the Spirit Hall that Chen Zhan mentioned was most likely the current Second Elder of the Spirit Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"Later, my great-grandfather cultivated to level 97, but that person had already broken through to level 98. In the final battle, my great-grandfather risked burning his martial soul, but only managed to inflict some minor injuries on the opponent. Before his death, my great-grandfather glimpsed the path to level 98, but ultimately failed to cross it. He could only entrust that powerful person to pass on his remains and inheritance to his two sons, namely my grandfather and Chenxin's father."

I never imagined there was such a connection. Was Golden Crocodile Douluo already a level 98 Super Douluo back then? Listening to Chen Zhan's account, Tang Shan felt a bit emotional. Reaching level 98 at such a young age, yet remaining at that level until Tang San became a god, I really don't know if that's fortunate or unfortunate.

“My great-grandfather created two sword techniques. The first one accompanied him through his cultivation up to level 97. It wasn’t very famous and was called Slaughter. The second one was created by him before his death after he glimpsed the level 98 realm. You’ve definitely heard of it; it’s the famous Seven Kill Sword Technique.”

Tang Shan could already guess what would happen next by giving the two sets of sword techniques to his two sons, with different paths of inheritance.

Just as he had expected, both brothers possessed extraordinary talent, and a love-hate relationship ensued as they both tried to prove that the sword technique they inherited was the most powerful.

"Because the Seven Kill Sword Technique can be improved simply by challenging opponents of the same level, Chen Xin's father's advancement was relatively smooth; while the Slaughter Sword Technique requires extensive battlefield experience, and my grandfather never managed to break through to the Title Douluo level in his entire life. You can guess what happened next: Chen Xin's lineage gradually prospered, while my lineage slowly declined. It was even worse in my generation; my martial soul mutated, and I awakened a longsword martial soul, which has nothing to do with the Slaughter Sword Technique inherited from my father."

After figuring out the whole story, Tang Shan suddenly realized something was wrong: "Wait a minute, what you're passing down is swordsmanship. Even if you've modified it yourself, it's at most a saber technique. My older brother clearly has a beast spirit, how could he possibly be practicing swordsmanship?"

"This is because my father discovered the true way to cultivate the Slaughter Sword Technique before he passed away. The core is to have extremely high combat intuition and to improve by constantly fighting on the battlefield. As for the so-called sword techniques and knife techniques, they are just external forms. The real key is the combat mode hidden inside."

Chen Zhan looked at Su Yuntao with fervent eyes: "My father's only wish in his life was to prove to Chen Xin that the Slaughter Sword Technique is no worse than the Seven Kill Sword Technique. I wanted to fulfill his last wish, but I am of mediocre talent and had already given up. I didn't expect to meet him in the Soul Arena. His combat intuition and practical experience are the best I have ever seen in my life. He is definitely the best candidate to cultivate the Slaughter Sword Technique."

After briefly summarizing Chen Zhan's words, Tang Shan finally understood his lineage and origin. Simply put, he and Sword Douluo Chen Xin came from the same source, but their lineages were not on good terms and split into two branches. Chen Xin's lineage mainly relied on challenging opponents to hone themselves and inherited the Seven Kill Sword Technique; Tang Shan's lineage, on the other hand, required first to have sufficient combat intuition and experience, and then to hone their skills on the battlefield, inheriting the art of slaughter.

No wonder he was once a soldier, and no wonder he thought Su Yuntao was suited to cultivate slaughter. A soul master with the intuition and combat experience of a soul beast is naturally a genius in cultivating slaughter.

Xue Qinghe had also sorted out her thoughts, but her attention was clearly not on the inheritance. She still looked at Chen Zhan expressionlessly, her eyes sharp: "I ask you, do you have any resentment towards the Spirit Hall? After all, your great-grandfather died after fighting with people from the Spirit Hall."

Chen Zhan felt a chill run down his spine. He carefully observed Xue Qinghe's expression but couldn't discern whether the other party wanted him to be dissatisfied with the Spirit Hall or not. He could only speak the truth: "What resentment could there be? My great-grandfather also said in the letter he left for his two sons before his death that he burned his spirit this time in order to glimpse a higher level of swordsmanship. There's no need to resent that powerful figure. Besides, that powerful figure even took the initiative to return my great-grandfather's remains and inheritance. There's no resentment to speak of."

"But isn't the internal strife in your family caused by succession issues? Haven't you ever had any doubts?"

"It has happened before," Chen Zhan answered honestly.

"I did have doubts before, but those doubts disappeared after Chenxin's father broke through to level 98. Because Chenxin's father discovered that each of the two sets of inherited techniques left by his great-grandfather could potentially reach level 98, not the way we initially thought, where one set could only reach level 97 and the other level 98. Moreover, if these two sword techniques could be combined into one, there is hope of reaching the pinnacle of human skill."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe's murderous intent towards Chen Zhan completely dissipated. If he really had any dissatisfaction with the Spirit Hall, she would never have allowed Su Yuntao to become his disciple.

"This inheritance sounds good. If my elder brother is willing, I won't stop him." Tang Shan finally made the decision. After all, it was an inheritance that could directly lead to level ninety-eight, so why not take it? Although there were still doubts about how much of it actually helped with cultivation.

"Then thank you both very much," Chen Zhan quickly said.

Xue Qinghe didn't take the person's gratitude to heart. Instead, he asked with some curiosity, "What mistake did you make back then that led to your expulsion from the Wall Army?" Chen Zhan sighed, "This matter is also somewhat related to the massacre."

After that, Tangshan and Xue Qinghe heard something little known to others.

Once, a small squad from the Walled Army, on a mission, encountered a 500-strong army from the Star Luo Empire, and a conflict broke out. Because it was an elite squad, the Walled Army members were all Soul Masters, while the Star Luo Empire army, though numbering 500, was mostly composed of ordinary people. The two sides fought evenly, until suddenly, Chen Zhan entered a state of enlightenment. When he regained consciousness, he had single-handedly slaughtered the entire Star Luo Empire army.

"After that sudden enlightenment, although I mastered the sword intent, I was expelled from the army by the general."

Chen Zhan didn't say what happened to the squad that followed him. Either he killed them while he was in a state of enlightenment, or they perished together with the Star Luo Empire's army. Since Chen Zhan was expelled from the army, the answer is most likely the former.

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Chapter 79 The Mystery and Essence of Will, We Are Friends (Please Subscribe and Follow)

"I wonder if I could ask that senior in secret for guidance? I have some questions about the cultivation of sword intent."

Without further discussion about the expelled troops, Chen Zhan remained silent for a while before bowing and pleading with Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe was taken aback. He hadn't expected this person to be so bold, daring to ask for guidance on their first meeting.

Tang Shan's eyes flickered. He sensed the sword intent and the spear intent emanating from the Serpent Spear Douluo. This was the very energy he had been searching for that could potentially help him break through to the Dan Jin realm. However, he hadn't dared to ask the Serpent Spear Douluo before because he wasn't very familiar with him. Now that Chen Zhan had taken the initiative to ask, he might be able to take this opportunity to learn more about this area.

After exchanging a few words with the Serpent Spear Douluo in secret, Xue Qinghe nodded and said, "Alright, you can communicate, but you must pledge allegiance to me from now on."

Chen Zhan hesitated only slightly before making his choice. He stood up and bowed deeply to Xue Qinghe, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

He had thought it through clearly. He was originally a citizen of the Heavenly Dou Empire, and he was no longer in the army. Loyalty to the First Prince of Heavenly Dou was not a problem at all. Not to mention that the First Prince not only had a disciple he favored, but also a senior with unfathomable cultivation and astonishing sharpness.

"Since you've pledged allegiance, you must never betray me, or you'll face consequences you can't bear."

Without a sound, the tall, upright old man stood beside Chen Zhan, gently patted his shoulder, and spoke in a calm tone that carried an undeniable power of authority.

Chen Zhan was startled. He hadn't noticed someone appearing next to him at all. How terrifying must their cultivation be? Their strength might be even higher than he had imagined.

"Let's go to the training ground; it's a spacious area," Serpent Spear Douluo calmly instructed.

“Yes, senior.” Chen Zhan hurriedly replied, then looked at Xue Qinghe and said respectfully, “Your Highness, I will go and ask for your guidance first.”

Xue Qinghe waved his hand and stood up: "Let's go together. I also want to see what spear intent is and broaden my horizons."

"Count me in." Seeing that Xue Qinghe was also going to observe, Tang Shan didn't stand on ceremony and quickly joined in, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"What do you think sword intent, spear intent, or fist intent are?" Serpent Spear Douluo stood in the spacious training ground, looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, his hands behind his back, and asked.

Tang Shan was delighted to be standing by the field. He hadn't expected that the first question from the Serpent Spear Douluo would pique his curiosity. If he could understand the essence of these "intentions," he might be able to deduce the corresponding cultivation methods to help him break through to the Dan Jin stage.

"It should be the sublimation of weapon or fist and foot skills after reaching a certain level." Chen Zhan's answer was also Tang Shan's understanding. In his previous life, he had read so many novels that anyone who possessed so-called sword intent or fist intent had basically reached the pinnacle of skill. This was a very common understanding.

"Wrong." Chen Zhan was taken aback by the words of the Serpent Spear Douluo. He did not dare to refute immediately and quickly bowed, saying, "Please enlighten me, senior."

"The so-called sword intent and fist intent are not the sublimation of techniques. The core is your thinking and mind." The Serpent Spear Douluo still had his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp like a spear.

"It's not about comprehending willpower through extraordinary skills, but rather about comprehending willpower first, after which skills will naturally become extraordinary. Because at that time, your willpower is the willpower of your weapon and fists, and the goal of your willpower is the goal that your weapon and fists must achieve. When the two are united, the weapon and fists have thought, and skills will naturally improve."

Tang Shan fell into deep thought. The words of the Serpent Spear Douluo seemed to have opened a door to a whole new world for him, allowing him to vaguely grasp some key points, yet there was still a sense of ambiguity, like looking at flowers through a fog.

"Then how can we enhance this willpower?" Chen Zhan, deep in thought, bowed again to ask for advice, his face showing obvious excitement. Clearly, these few words had already given him a lot.

Instead of answering, Serpent Spear Douluo changed the subject: "After you have made the due contribution to His Highness, I will guide you on the next steps. Consider this explanation as a gift for your loyalty to His Highness."

"Alright then, thank you for your guidance, senior." Chen Zhan was somewhat disappointed. Although they had only exchanged less than ten sentences, he had already gained a lot. He had wanted to ask more questions about his cultivation, but in the end, he was unable to do so.

"Go back and rest, or you can stay here. In a few days, we'll return to Tian Dou City together. There will be further arrangements." Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Chen Zhan was very sensible. He respectfully took his leave and turned to leave.

"Tang Shan, if you have any questions, feel free to ask Senior She. Don't hesitate." Xue Qinghe smiled at Tang Shan, her tone friendly.

Tang Shan was taken aback, then felt somewhat embarrassed: "Your Highness, is my intention really that obvious?"

"You can't hide the joy in your eyes at all, it's not like I can't see it." Xue Qinghe pursed his lips, his tone teasing, without any airs of a prince.

"Then, Your Highness, I won't stand on ceremony." Tang Shan said, turning to the Serpent Spear Douluo with a respectful attitude: "Senior She, may I ask how one comprehends this will?"

Previously, he had thought that willpower was the sublimation of skill, but the words of the Serpent Spear Douluo undoubtedly shattered his conjecture, and clearly told him that it is not skill that sublimates into willpower, but rather willpower that drives the improvement of skill. This reminded Tang Shan of a saying: It is not that the older it is, the stronger it is, but that the stronger it is, the older it is.

"Of course, no problem." Looking at Tang Shan, Serpent Spear Douluo agreed readily, without the coldness he had shown towards Chen Zhan before. He even had a faint smile on his face, and his attitude had become much gentler.

What a joke! We're both subordinates of Xue Qinghe, how can a small battle like this compare to Tang Shan's? He's the owner of a soul ring, a once-in-a-millennium talent, while you've only had an ordinary soul ring for a few years. His master is a renowned master across the continent, while your master or father is someone else, with what kind of background they have. He was born with exceptional talent at a young age and has been nurtured and trained by the elite, while you're already middle-aged, your cultivation progress has slowed down, and your future potential is limited. Do I even need to ask who you should value more?

The thoughts flashed through his mind, and Serpent Spear Douluo calmed himself, quietly awaiting Tang Shan's inquiry.

"Senior She, what exactly does 'having one's own thoughts' mean? Does it mean attaching one's spiritual power to one's fists and feet?" Tang Shan went straight to the point, asking the question that puzzled him the most.

“Of course not. Mental strength is mental strength, and willpower and thought are willpower and thought. Although they are related and can assist each other, they are fundamentally different and cannot be confused.” Snake Spear Douluo stroked his beard, his tone calm, clearly having anticipated Tang Shan’s doubts.

“I know you find it hard to understand the idea of ​​imbuing your fists and feet with thought, and you always feel that there is some mystery hidden in it, but I can tell you that there is no complicated mystery, the core is very simple. You must first think clearly about why you are punching and kicking, why you are using this weapon, why you are going to take action. You must have a clear and firm goal in mind, and firmly anchor your thoughts and consciousness on this goal, without deviating or wavering. This is the foundation of imbuing your fists and feet with will.”

Upon hearing the word "anchor," Tang Shan felt a jolt in his heart. Countless thoughts intertwined and mingled, and his understanding of will made a leap forward in an instant, with most of the previous ambiguity dissipating.

"In fact, some Soul Masters unconsciously incorporate their will into their attacks during life-or-death battles, and this will does have an effect, but they are unaware of it and cannot maintain this state voluntarily."

Having grasped the essence of will, Tangshan listened to the words of the Serpent Spear Douluo and, after a moment's thought, gave an understanding that greatly satisfied the other party.

"Like killing intent, when you truly want to kill your opponent, your attack will contain a strong killing intent. This is the most basic will. People with weak hearts will be intimidated by this will and panic before the battle even begins."

"That's right. It's not difficult to attach your will to offense and defense. Any Soul Master who has actually fought has had this experience. What's really difficult is to maintain this temporary state for a long time and actively control it!" Luo slowly began to explain the essence of will in detail.

"We need to find our original motivation for throwing a punch and taking action, identify a realistic goal or a belief worth upholding, and then keep practicing it. Every battle after that is a practice and reinforcement of this grand goal. Over time, our will will naturally become stronger and more stable."

As soon as he finished speaking, a huge serpent spear suddenly appeared in Serpent Spear Douluo's hand, and a terrifying aura emanated from him, instantly reaching the Suju Martial Arts Arena.

"Words are useless; let me show you my intent!"

With a low shout, the Serpent Spear Douluo slowly thrust out his spear, the movement slow yet carrying immense power. Tang Shan felt his whole body stiffen, as if he had been targeted by a prehistoric giant python, instantly unable to move. Although he did not feel the slightest pressure from soul power, his entire body seemed to be forcibly bound by some invisible force, even his breathing became sluggish, and he could only watch helplessly as the tip of the Serpent Spear approached him inch by inch, a suffocating sense of oppression washing over him.

"This is the power of will, unrestricted by soul power, yet capable of striking directly at the heart. In my view, my spear can be both insidious and ruthless, striking unexpectedly, and also fierce and invincible. This is the core of my spear intent, the belief I have always upheld."

The sharp force pierced Tang Shan's forehead, causing a sharp pain, and the voice of the Serpent Spear Douluo slowly rang in his ears.

The next second, the invisible force binding his body quietly dissipated, and Tang Shan couldn't help but let out a long breath. He didn't know when, but his back was already covered in a layer of cold sweat, and his heart was still pounding wildly.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. Today I have truly witnessed the power of will and benefited greatly!" Bibo Jie hurriedly tidied her somewhat disheveled clothes and solemnly expressed her gratitude to the Serpent Spear Douluo.

"It's alright, it's nothing. Compared to your help to His Highness, this simple guidance is nothing at all."

"You flatter me, senior. I merely did what I could." Tang Shan dared not take credit. "His Highness proposed a simple plan, and from implementation to execution, it was all arranged personally by His Highness. I truly didn't contribute much, so I dare not claim any credit."

"Young Master and this kid are so alike, always thinking the other's contribution is greater."

The voice of the Porcupine Douluo rang in the ear of the Serpent Spear Douluo through sound transmission.

“His help is real, and he is very talented, so he deserves to be nurtured.”

Serpent Spear Douluo looked at Tang Shan seriously and said in a solemn tone, "If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, you can come and ask me at any time. Don't be shy."

Seeing Tang Shan nod in agreement, Serpent Spear Douluo then transmitted his voice back to Porcupine Douluo: "That's right. When the young master helped this kid back, he told us the same thing. He always said that this kid was a great help, and he didn't do anything himself. The two of them get along well."

"With the help of someone like Tang Shan, Young Master's great cause will surely succeed." The porcupine douluo's tone was full of joy.

……

"Your Highness, is there anything else you need?" Tang Shan felt a little embarrassed looking at Xue Qinghe standing to the side with a smile on his face. He had been so focused on his cultivation and asking Serpent Spear Douluo for advice that he had left Xue Qinghe, his golden thigh, out in the cold. It was really inappropriate, so he quickly tried to make amends.

Xue Qinghe looked at Tang Shan with curiosity, his gentle smile revealing a genuine sincerity. His demeanor was as approachable as ever: "There's nothing to instruct me on. As I said, your greatest help to me is to focus on your cultivation and grow up quickly, which is more effective than anything else. Also, you don't need to be so polite to me. Don't always treat me like a prince; just treat me as a friend. There's no need to be so reserved."

"Then Your Highness, I will not stand on ceremony. I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust and will devote myself to cultivation to grow up as soon as possible."

Although Tang Shan still maintained a polite tone, his body had completely relaxed, and his tone was much more relaxed, without the previous restraint.

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Chapter 80 The Iron Wall City in the Night (Please read, subscribe, and add to your favorites)

"How about this, didn't you say you'd tell me if you needed anything? How about we take a stroll around Ironwall City together tonight?"

Seeing that Tang Shan was no longer restrained, Xue Qinghe's heart stirred, and he spoke up to make a suggestion.

Good relationships are cultivated slowly. Xue Qinghe naturally wants to keep such an outstanding genius firmly in his grasp, and it's worth the effort to do so.

"no problem."

Tangshan didn't think much of it and readily agreed.

Not long after returning to the lobby, Su Yuntao, who was in a special state, slowly came to his senses. He looked around at his surroundings in a daze, feeling that they were somewhat familiar, but his mind was still hazy, and he couldn't immediately tell where he was.

"Big brother, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

Tang Shan's concerned voice rang in her ears, and Su Yuntao gradually came back to her senses from her daze.

"Shanzi, what are you doing here? Where am I?"

Su Yuntao stood up, subconsciously moved her limbs, looked up at Tang Shan who was full of concern, and asked.

Although he already knew from Chen Zhan that Su Yuntao would be fine, Tang Shan finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Su Yuntao wake up. Following Chen Zhan's lead, he recounted the whole story in detail.

"I never imagined that person had such a special relationship with Sword Douluo."

After hearing the whole story, Su Yuntao couldn't help but sigh.

"Big brother, what are you thinking?"

Tang Shan looked at Su Yuntao, whose temperament had changed somewhat, and couldn't help but ask.

"Shanzi, do you have any suggestions? I can't make up my mind about this on my own."

Su Yuntao then sought opinions from Tangshan.

"You don't need to worry about your master. The key is whether that cultivation method suits you. Anyway, according to that person's description, it seems pretty good." Tang Shan's meaning was clear: Su Yuntao's becoming Chen Zhan's disciple would not affect his identity as a master's disciple.

“I’ll talk to him more in the next few days and find out more about him.”

After speaking, Su Yuntao turned to Xue Qinghe, her face full of gratitude: "Your Highness, I just troubled that senior to help me. If it weren't for his help, I'm afraid I would have been forced to become his disciple."

Su Yuntao already knew about Chen Zhan's attempt to force him to become his disciple, and he was naturally very grateful to Xue Qinghe for stopping him.

"It's alright. He's still one of my Soul Masters. I won't let anyone take advantage of him."

Xue Qinghe didn't take this small matter to heart. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Su Yuntao, his gaze fell on Tang Shan.