Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 557 Shattered Soul

In the days that followed, Chen Xin'er and Chen Yu immersed themselves in martial arts training. Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone across the valley, they arrived at the training grounds. Chen Xin'er wielded the Azure Sky Sword, her movements lithe and graceful, her sword moves agile like a dragon. Every swing of the sword created a whirring sound, and a blue light seemed to shimmer around the blade. Chen Yu wielded the Sky Valley Battle Halberd. His moves were fierce and powerful, each strike seeming to split mountains and crack rocks, and the ground trembled slightly under his heavy blows.

Taixuzi also specially arranged for disciples from the valley to serve as sparring partners for them. These disciples were all elite members of the Taixu Valley, possessing exceptional strength. During their sparring sessions, Chen Xiner and Chen Yu constantly exchanged ideas with them, constantly refining their techniques through actual combat. Sometimes, Chen Xiner would stumble upon a single misstep, but she never gave up, diligently listening to the advice of her sparring partners and repeatedly refining her techniques until she mastered them. Chen Yu, likewise, relied on his unwavering perseverance and enterprising spirit to gradually master the essence of the "Heavenly Falling Halberd Method."

However, during these seemingly peaceful days of cultivation, Chen Xin'er was always worried about Lin Feng. Every few days, she would find Taixuzi, her eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation, and ask, "Senior, how is Lin Feng doing? When will he be able to come out of seclusion?"

Taixuzi always smiled and comforted her: "Miss Chen, don't worry. Lin Feng is still in seclusion. When he comes out, he will meet you."

Although Chen Xiner always received the same answer, she inevitably felt a little disappointed, but she never gave up hope. She knew that Lin Feng must be working hard to recover, and all she could do was to practice hard here, improve her strength, and wait for the day when Lin Feng would return.

As time went on, Chen Xin'er and Chen Yu's strengths continued to improve. Chen Xin'er's Wandering Dragon Sword technique became increasingly sophisticated, her sword moves now reaching a state of unfettered control, each strike imbued with immense power. Chen Yu's Skyfall Halberd technique was also mastered to perfection, combining both hardness and softness, boasting both astonishing power and unpredictable variations.

A month later, during a sparring match, Chen Xin'er faced off against a formidable sparring partner. The opponent's swordsmanship was fierce and relentless, but Chen Xin'er remained undaunted. Unleashing her Wandering Dragon Sword Technique, she parried his attacks with agile movements and exquisite swordplay. During the fierce exchange, Chen Xin'er suddenly found a weakness. With a flash of blue lightning, she thrust her sword forward, swift as a gust of wind, striking the opponent's vital points with pinpoint accuracy. The disciple, stunned by Chen Xin'er's remarkable improvement, finally conceded defeat.

Chen Yu also displayed formidable prowess in his battles with his sparring partner. Wielding his Tiangu Battle Halberd, each strike unleashed a tremendous force, forcing his opponent into retreat. His halberd technique was not only powerful, but also seamlessly integrated, making it impossible to defend against. Throughout the battle, Chen Yu constantly adjusted his tactics to suit his opponent's needs, fully demonstrating his profound understanding and mastery of the Tianluo Halberd technique.

In the hidden chamber of Taixu Valley, a rich medicinal aroma permeated the air. The Shennong Stone, quietly immersed in the emerald green medicinal liquid, emitted a soft, milky white light, illuminating the entire chamber. The Star Blade controlled Lin Feng's body, and he sat upon the Shennong Stone like a statue. His eyes were tightly closed, and a faint halo surrounded him. This was the healing power released by the Shennong Stone, which continuously flowed into his body, like a warm stream, nourishing every inch of his meridians.

The chamber was serene and silent, the only sound being the gentle gurgling of the flowing medicinal liquid, as if whispering the secrets of time. Time seemed to slow down here, every minute and every second stretching out.

Deep within Lin Feng's body, in that mysterious realm of the soul, a lone figure sat. His body was covered in dense cracks, like a piece of fine porcelain shattered by a heavy hammer and then barely pieced together. Each crack recorded the tragedy and despair of the past. This person was Lin Feng's soul.

Six years ago, that earth-shattering self-explosion became an indelible nightmare in his life. Facing a formidable enemy, he resolutely chose to perish alongside his foe to protect his convictions. However, the overwhelming force not only shattered his body, but also instantly tore his still-young soul into countless fragments.

At that time, Lin Feng's soul power was as weak as a candle in the wind. Without the protection of his body, his soul was like a kite with a broken string, drifting helplessly between heaven and earth. The wind whipped him recklessly, each gust like a sharp blade, peeling away the fragments of his soul bit by bit and blowing them away. He was on the verge of completely dissipating in the vast world.

However, the gears of fate quietly turned, and at the moment his soul was about to disappear, the Star Blade stepped forward. Using itself as a container, the Star Blade carefully gathered the scattered fragments of Lin Feng's soul and took them on the long and arduous road to redemption.

After countless searches and attempts, Xingchen Dao finally found Taixu Valley and the Shennong Stone. Nourished by the Shennong Stone, which contained magical healing power, Lin Feng's soul began the difficult process of self-repair.

Time flowed slowly, and two months passed in a flash. During these two months, Lin Feng's soul silently endured the pain and torment of repair in silence. Under the healing power of the Shennong Stone, those cracks were slowly healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

That day, a subtle tremor emanated from the depths of Lin Feng's soul. His eyes, which had been tightly closed for so long, finally opened slowly. What came into view was a spherical barrier emitting a soft blue light. He was standing at the center of this barrier.

"Where is this...?" Lin Feng's voice was particularly weak in this silent spiritual realm, filled with deep confusion and bewilderment. He slowly raised his hand, wanting to touch the barrier, but found his movements slow and difficult, as if his body had not yet fully obeyed the command of his mind.

At that moment, a figure who looked identical to him slowly appeared outside the barrier. His face was calm, but his eyes revealed an unconcealable sense of relief and joy. He stared at Lin Feng silently, his lips curled up slightly in a faint smile, and he whispered, "You've finally woken up."

Lin Feng stared at the man before him, who looked exactly like him. His eyes widened instantly, and his hazy consciousness snapped back to consciousness. Instantly, the battle six years ago, his own self-destruction, the protection of the Star Blade... countless memories flooded back into his mind like a surging tide.