Capítulo 21: Chapter 21: The Martial Ancestor's Divine Position - Yet Another Victory!
"How dare you ambush me!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was utterly humiliated. As a dignified Titled Douluo and an elder of the Spirit Hall, being sent flying by the sword of a mere Soul Elder was an unprecedented disgrace.
If word of this spread, how would Chrysanthemum Douluo maintain his reputation?
The nine spirit rings around his body surged as rage filled him. He was prepared to regain his dignity by confronting Zhou Yi.
"Chrysanthemum Pass, looking for a fight? I'll accompany you!"
Sword Douluo stepped in front of Chrysanthemum Douluo, his own nine spirit rings shining brilliantly. The sight made Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart skip a beat.
Although their cultivation levels were similar, their combat strength was in entirely different leagues.
In a one-on-one battle, Chrysanthemum Douluo knew he wasn't a match for Sword Douluo.
Sword Douluo's offensive power was among the best of all Titled Douluos. The sword engraved on the Pope's Decree itself was Dustheart's martial soul, symbolizing him as a representative of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
"Chrysanthemum Elder, please calm your anger," Bibi Dong interjected, her voice measured and composed. "Zhou Yi, after all, cannot compare to you. His earlier strike was merely to demonstrate a theoretical concept in swordsmanship and took advantage of an ambush. I ask Chrysanthemum Elder not to take offense."
Zhou Yi's earlier attack had indeed been astonishing, far exceeding Bibi Dong's expectations. Still, she did not believe that Zhou Yi could truly contend with a Titled Douluo.
Dustheart and the others shared the same sentiment.
They believed Chrysanthemum Douluo had only suffered a loss because he had been caught off guard.
In reality, Zhou Yi's strike had only used 30% of his strength.
That casual slash embodied the concept of Sword Intent Beyond Worlds but did not employ its devastating killing move.
Otherwise...
Chrysanthemum Douluo wouldn't just have a sword mark across his chest. He would have been lying incapacitated on the ground.
"You brat, I'll let this slide for the sake of the Holy Maiden today. Next time, if you have the ability, let's fight fair and square!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo seized the opportunity to back down gracefully, not wishing to embarrass the talented Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong.
More importantly, that Sword Intent Beyond Worlds lingering in his body was causing him significant discomfort.
Currently, his strength was likely reduced to only 60-70% of its usual capacity.
If he were to face Sword Douluo now, he would undoubtedly be crushed.
"This brat's earlier words may have been a mix of truth and lies, but his swordsmanship is indeed astonishing—perhaps even rivaling Sword Douluo!"
Though Chrysanthemum Douluo put on a show of disdain, internally, he was deeply alarmed. He now regarded Zhou Yi with utmost seriousness.
"Fight fair and square? Chrysanthemum Pass, do you even hear yourself?"
Sword Douluo scoffed, his tone laced with ridicule.
"A Titled Douluo challenging a Soul Elder to a fair fight? Did water seep into your brain?
"If you were a Soul Elder just now, you'd already be a corpse!
"And do you think wielding a treasured sword would be enough for you to defeat Mr. Zhou?"
At this moment, Dustheart's respect for Zhou Yi had reached a profound level.
Before, he had admired Zhou Yi's theories on swordsmanship. Now, Zhou Yi had demonstrated an unparalleled mastery of the sword.
Were it not for his own status as a Titled Douluo in his twilight years, Dustheart might have been tempted to take Zhou Yi as his master.
But he was, after all, the renowned Sword Douluo—unyielding in his pursuit of swordsmanship, yet unable to bow to a Soul Elder in his twenties.
Nevertheless, Dustheart's decision to address Zhou Yi as "Mr. Zhou" spoke volumes about the high regard in which he now held him.
"Hmph, it was just a sneak attack!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo stubbornly retorted.
Deep down, he knew that if he had been a Soul Elder, that strike would have cleaved him in two.
Letting out a disgruntled snort, he folded his arms and retreated to stand behind Bibi Dong, stiff-necked and aloof, as if indifferent to everyone around him.
In truth, all he wanted was some peace.
No, correction—he wanted Ghost Douluo.
Clang!
Zhou Yi sheathed his sword. The iron blade was the one he had used for practice in his earlier days.
Though he possessed a martial soul as a weapon, summoning it consumed Soul Power.
It wasn't practical to use his martial soul for everyday training.
Besides, there was a distinct difference between a real iron sword and a sword formed by a martial soul.
"Mr. Zhou's swordsmanship is divine," Sword Douluo remarked as he approached Zhou Yi, his posture noticeably deferential.
"The insights you've shared today surpass a century of study."
The various theories on swordsmanship Zhou Yi had expounded earlier had deeply inspired Sword Douluo, leaving him with invaluable revelations.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin continued his deep discussions about the Way of the Sword with Zhou Yi.
On the side, Ning Fengzhi watched the two interact, feeling like an unnecessary third wheel.
What shocked him the most was this:
Sword Douluo, normally the epitome of aloofness and invincibility, was acting like a humble student listening intently in a lecture.
It completely overturned Ning Fengzhi's worldview.
After all, Sword Douluo always maintained a cold, superior demeanor, as if he stood above all others.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Ning Fengzhi would have thought this Sword Douluo was an imposter.
"Zhou Lang truly lives up to his reputation. Even Sword Douluo is convinced by him!"
Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed at Zhou Yi lecturing Sword Douluo. In her mind, this man, the one she had chosen, was indeed extraordinary.
He was simply unmatched.
"Dong'er's heart belongs solely to Master!"
Yu Xiaogang glanced up discreetly at Bibi Dong's breathtaking beauty but quickly shifted his gaze, burying his heartbreak deep within. Silently, he took careful note of Zhou Yi's words.
After all, Zhou Yi had tasked him with refining and expanding his theories.
Once completed, these theories would be published to benefit the entire Soul Master world.
Of course, there would be a fee involved.
Zhou Yi's previous works already included the first Zhou Yi Martial Soul Theory, which proposed the "Eighteen Core Competencies of Martial Souls," and the second, Zhou Yi's Philosophy of the Heart, which posited, "The stage is as vast as the heart allows. Even a mortal body can rival the divine."
Now, Yu Xiaogang felt there was room for a new addition—Zhou Yi's Theory of Swordsmanship.
In time, the Zhou Yi Theories might very well become the foundational textbooks for Soul Master academies everywhere.
And as the editor and compiler of these theories, Yu Xiaogang himself might earn eternal fame, his name engraved in history.
With this thought, his enthusiasm soared, and he poured his heart and soul into the work.
This greatly pleased Zhou Yi.
Sleeping with the goddess of his dreams every day while having her former admirer tirelessly work on his behalf—freeing him to spend even more time with her—was nothing short of perfection.
And while Zhou Yi instructed Yu Xiaogang to compile the Zhou Yi Theories partly for profit and prestige, there was a deeper purpose. He had a plan that tied into his ambitions for divinity.
Though Zhou Yi possessed a system, whether he could ascend to godhood without inheriting a divine position was still uncertain.
Zhou Yi wasn't one to leave things to chance.
A divine position was something he might never use, but it was not something he could afford to lack.
However, he had no interest in inheriting the roles of those so-called "lesser gods" of the Divine Realm.
Instead, he aimed to forge his own unparalleled divine position—Martial Ancestor.
The divine position he envisioned would far surpass that of the Sea God, perhaps even rivaling the God-Kings of the Divine Realm.
Even if he never needed it, he could pass it on to his women or children.
In essence, it was all about preparation.
But forging a divine position required faith. The Sea God had achieved his divine status through the belief of the sea's denizens.
For Zhou Yi to establish his position as Martial Ancestor, he would need the collective faith of countless beings across Douluo Continent.
A plan was already forming in his mind.
Still, there was no rush. He had plenty of time to strategize.
Having concluded his discussion with Sword Douluo, Zhou Yi spoke:
"Swordsmanship is not about gaining power through plundering Soul Rings and Soul Bones but through the self.
"And without guidance or manuals, how does one rely on oneself?
"I know of a sword—a tale of a humble shepherdess. She knew nothing of swordsmanship, martial souls, or soul skills. She was an ordinary person.
"One day, a white ape came to cause trouble. The shepherdess used a bamboo stick to drive it away. This white ape was no ordinary beast, and through countless encounters, the shepherdess's swordsmanship unknowingly transformed, growing ever more formidable.
"Without realizing it, she mastered a natural swordsmanship, so pure it defied armies, a single strike capable of vanquishing a million foes!
"And there is another sword: its wielder observed the tides of Lake Dongting rising and falling, drew inspiration from the heavens and earth, and developed the Overturning Rain Sword Technique, breaking through the void itself!
"Without a mentor, nature itself is the best teacher!"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood motionless, his mind buzzing as Zhou Yi's words struck him like a thunderclap, stirring waves in his heart.
"A natural swordsmanship—a single strike to match a million soldiers!"
"Observing Lake Dongting to develop the Overturning Rain Sword and shatter the void…"
Chen Xin felt his very soul evolving and transforming.
For the first time, he saw a clear goal and the path to pursue it.
He glimpsed a grand, unparalleled Sword Dao.
Truths like these are not lightly shared.
Yet Zhou Yi was so generous, imparting his insights without reservation or selfishness. Chen Xin was deeply moved by his noble character.
At that moment, Chen Xin abandoned all pride and worldly concerns.
He resolved to become a true swordsman.
And so, he made a decision that would astound everyone.
He would formally apprentice himself to Zhou Yi!
Standing up, Chen Xin respectfully approached Zhou Yi, his expression solemn as he bowed deeply.
"I have wandered aimlessly for half my life, lamenting that I never met a true master.
"If Sir does not disdain me, Chen Xin humbly requests to become your disciple."
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