Several days after the royal banquet, on a crisp morning in the private training ground of the Li family's rear courtyard.
The dawn light was faint, the thin mist not yet fully dispersed, carrying a chill and the freshness of grass and trees in the air. Marco stood at the center of the grounds, took a deep breath, and looked at his father Li Zhaoyan standing opposite him with his hands behind his back. Today, his father would personally test the results of his training during this period.
"Marco, don't hold back. Let me see your current capabilities," Li Zhaoyan said calmly, holding an ordinary practice spear in his hand. The spear shaft was pitch-black without any Soul Power fluctuations, as if it were mere ordinary iron.
"Yes, Father!" Marco's eyes burned with fighting spirit. He was quite confident in his current strength - Level 45 Soul Ancestor, ten-thousand-year fourth Spirit Ring, External Spirit Bone Double Pupil Eye, plus numerous self-created or comprehended techniques. He believed he could put up a fight even against a Soul King, and should at least be able to hold his own against his father for some time.
With his mind set, Marco shouted: "Azure Flame Phoenix, Soul Avatar!"
Azure flames suddenly erupted as four Spirit Rings appeared in sequence, especially the jet-black fourth ring that emitted a heart-palpitating pressure. He directly activated his fourth Spirit Ability "Azure Flame Engulfment," his entire body instantly wrapped in condensed azure-gold flames. His aura surged violently, with all attributes amplified by 100%!
Simultaneously, a gleam flashed in his eyes as his Double Pupils manifested, insight power fully activated. Every subtle movement within a hundred meters was clearly perceived. Observation Haki also spread out, sensing every fluctuation of aura from his father.
"Father, be careful!"
Before the words faded, Marco stomped his foot, instantly activating "Shave." His figure vanished from his original position like a ghost, appearing the next moment at Li Zhaoyan's side and rear. His right leg wrapped in Armament Haki swept toward Li Zhaoyan's waist and abdomen with a tearing shriek through the air - a fierce kicking technique! This strike combined speed, power, and Haki, swift as thunder!
However, facing such a fierce attack, Li Zhaoyan didn't even move his feet. He merely turned his wrist slightly, the seemingly ordinary black spear moving as if alive, extending backward at an incredible angle. The spear's butt landed precisely on the weakest point of Marco's kicking force - the side of his ankle.
"Tap!"
A light sound echoed as Marco felt a gentle yet irresistible force transmit through. The offensive momentum of his entire leg instantly collapsed, his body center of gravity shifting, nearly losing balance. He was shocked - his father's discernment was so sharp!
"Tempest Kick!"Marco spun mid-air, several azure Vacuum Slashes shooting from his legs in a fan-shaped coverage toward Li Zhaoyan."
Li Zhaoyan remained standing in place, the spear in his hand seeming to come alive. With minimal movements - tapping, deflecting, or guiding - always precisely hitting the core energy nodes of each Tempest Kick at the critical moment, causing them to dissipate before nearing. He never used Soul Power, effortlessly neutralizing the attacks relying solely on physical strength and his understanding of spear technique.
Refusing to accept defeat, Marco pushed his speed to the limit. Using Moonwalk, he stepped through the air, leaving afterimages in his wake as he launched attacks from all directions. His Azure Flame Claw Strikes carried scorching effects, Finger Gun concentrated force on single points to break defenses, Armament Haki covered his fists and feet to enhance their power in direct clashes, his Double Pupil Eye constantly sought out weaknesses, and Observation Haki predicted his father's counters... He poured forth every technique he had learned without reservation, his assault raging like a storm!
Azure Flames howled, Haki surged, and Spirit Abilities flashed as the entire training ground filled with violent energy collisions. Marco's attacks were undeniably powerful—each strike would have put Soul Masters of the same level on high alert.
Yet Li Zhaoyan remained like an unshakable reef standing firm since ancient times. Holding his spear with one hand and moving within a confined area, the black spear became an impenetrable fortress. No matter how tricky, swift, or powerful Marco's attacks were, they were always perfectly blocked, deflected, or dissipated by that miraculously skillful spear technique. Every movement of the spear seemed to contain a mysterious rhythm—appearing slow yet always striking later but arriving first, neutralizing the strongest attacks with minimal effort.
After fifteen minutes, Marco was panting heavily, his Soul Power and stamina nearly depleted, while Li Zhaoyan's breathing remained steady, without even a wrinkle in his clothing.
Finally, when Marco executed a full-power "Gun Fist" (a spear-like thrust using his fist) enhanced by Azure Flame Engulfment, his father gently guided the spear shaft to redirect the attack, leaving Marco completely exposed. In that instant, Li Zhaoyan's spear shot forward like a striking viper, its tip stopping right before Marco's forehead.
Everything came to an abrupt halt.
Marco froze in place, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he stared blankly at the spearpoint so close to him. He had lost—utterly and completely. Despite using everything in his arsenal, he couldn't even make his father move from his position or use a single Spirit Ability!
Intense frustration and confusion welled up inside him. He had felt so strong, so why did he seem like a child waving a sword before his father, full of openings?
Li Zhaoyan slowly retracted his spear. Seeing the obvious defeat and confusion on his son's face, he let out a soft sigh.
"Are you feeling perplexed?" Li Zhaoyan's voice was calm yet struck right at Marco's heart. "Do you think that with all your strange encounters, skyrocketing strength, and mastery of numerous powerful techniques, why do you still fall so easily?"
Marco remained silent but nodded tightly, his lips pressed together.
"Marco, your problem isn't lacking strength or techniques," Li Zhaoyan pointed out sharply. "On the contrary, your problem is that you have too many techniques, too scattered! Spirit Abilities, kicking techniques, those special martial arts, your eyes' abilities, two different types of Haki... Each one alone holds great potential. But when you mix them together, while it may seem flashy and fierce, in reality..."
He paused, emphasizing his next words: "They lack coherence—all show and no substance!"
"You are like a craftsman in possession of countless precious gems, yet you don't know how to inlay them into a perfect work of art—instead, you just pile them up haphazardly. Your attacks lack effective transitions and shifts, your power application is scattered, and naturally, openings abound. Against opponents far weaker than you, you might overwhelm them with sheer power and a variety of techniques, but once you encounter a true master, these flashy moves will become your burden!"
Li Zhaoyan's gaze was profound: "You're still young, and I shouldn't be telling you this so early, lest it crush your confidence or trap you prematurely in rigid patterns. I originally planned to wait until you reached the Soul King realm before guiding you to organize what you've learned and find your own 'path'."
"However," his tone shifted, becoming stern, "the opportunity at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well caused your strength to surge in a short time, granting you successive ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings and an External Spirit Bone. While this is undoubtedly a good thing, it has also unknowingly bred arrogance and pride in you. You've begun to rely too heavily on the power brought by these 'fortuitous encounters,' neglecting the most fundamental aspects of a Soul Master—understanding the essence of power, deeply exploring your own Martial Soul, and integrating all your abilities into a unique combat system of your own!"
"If you don't wake up in time and correct your mindset, this innate talent and these opportunities may ultimately limit your potential!"
These words struck Marco's heart like a morning bell and evening drum, heavy and resonant. The disappointment and confusion he had felt earlier were instantly replaced by a deeper shock and reflection. He recalled the battle just moments ago—his attacks, though fierce, indeed lacked a core guiding principle, as his father had said. His various abilities seemed to operate independently...
Yes, what is the true core of the Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit? How can the Double Pupil Eye better coordinate with the Martial Soul? How should the Six Styles, Haki, and Spirit Abilities be chosen, integrated, rather than simply stacked? It seemed he had never calmly pondered these questions deeply. He had only been content with mastering more and stronger techniques, smugly satisfied with that.
Seeing his son lost in thought, his eyes gradually clearing from confusion, Li Zhaoyan knew his words had taken effect. He said no more—some paths, a child must figure out on his own.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Go back and think it over carefully." Li Zhaoyan patted Marco's shoulder and turned to leave the training ground.
Marco stood alone in place, unmoving for a long time. The sunlight gradually dispersed the morning mist, bathing him in its glow, yet it couldn't lift the weight in his heart.
He silently bowed in the direction his father had left, then walked slowly back to his room.
Unlike his usual routine, he didn't immediately begin training. Instead, he lay directly on the bed, hands behind his head, eyes open and fixed on the ceiling. His mind replayed every detail of the recent battle—his father's seemingly simple yet profoundly insightful spear techniques, and those deafening words of admonition.
"Lacking a system... flashy without substance... arrogance..."
These phrases echoed repeatedly in his mind.
He recalled the excitement of obtaining the ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring, the ecstasy of acquiring the Double Pupil Eye, the pride of mastering new techniques... yet he had rarely calmed his mind to ponder how to truly internalize these powers, how to make them synergize into something greater than the sum of their parts.
"Father was right... I have indeed become somewhat arrogant and complacent," Marco silently admitted to himself. The experience at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Double Pupil Bird's sacrifice had truly caused him to lose himself in the thrill of rapidly increasing power, neglecting what was more important.
He lay there for the entire afternoon. When Ye Lingling came knocking to call him for dinner, he politely declined with the excuse that he "wanted some quiet." Qing Yu seemed to sense her master's low spirits, quietly curling up by the pillow and occasionally nuzzling him with her head.
As night fell, the room was plunged into darkness. Yet Marco's eyes gleamed with the light of contemplation in the dark. The sense of defeat gradually gave way to a strong thirst for knowledge and self-reflection.
"What should my 'path' be...?"
"Is the core of the Azure Flame Phoenix ultimate immortality and vitality? Or the destruction that incinerates everything?"
"Is the Double Pupil Eye an auxiliary ability, or should it become a core component of my combat system?"
"Are the Six Styles and Haki meant to be supplements, or should they deeply integrate with my Martial Soul abilities?"
One question after another surfaced in his mind. He no longer rushed to seek answers but began to truly and systematically examine everything he possessed.
This "failure" might be more valuable than ten victories. It jolted the somewhat inflated Marco awake, making him calm his heart again, face his shortcomings directly, and embark on a path that truly leads to strength—one requiring constant thought and exploration. He knew that sorting all this out was far more important than blindly pursuing Soul Power levels and flashy techniques. The night was still long, and his contemplation had only just begun.