DD Spiritual Sword [396-398] (Patreon)

Chapter 396: Demonic Flame – Righteousness Leads to Godhood, Rebellion Leads to Demonhood

After hearing the words of the Fire God, it seemed that the idea of letting Ma Hongjun take the God Trial ahead of schedule could only be postponed. Now that he knew this, Tianlin would definitely not let Ma Hongjun go to Sea God Island anymore.

Rather than pursuing a brief moment of rapid strength, it was better to let him train step by step until he became a Titled Douluo before considering it. After all, his foundation was far inferior to Tianlin, Qian Renxue, and others. A single Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was far from enough to make up for that.

However, with this decision, Ma Hongjun might not be able to participate in the high-level battles of the upcoming continental wars. Without the trials of Sea God Island, his level would inevitably fall behind the others.

“Oh well, who told me to be the boss? The one at the very front should always be me. At worst, I’ll just have that fatty handle logistics in the future,” Tianlin said helplessly.

“Are you worried that the trial-taker’s strength isn’t enough?” Apparently seeing through Tianlin’s concern, the Fire God asked, “How is this guy’s temperament?”

“Temperament? Slightly above average, I suppose. In the past, he was controlled by evil fire and had a terrible temperament. These last few years, with strict teachers supervising him, he’s improved, but to say he’s reached the point of unyielding perseverance—there’s still a way to go,” Tianlin answered truthfully.

Upon hearing this, the Fire God shook his head in disappointment. “Then there’s nothing that can be done. I did have a method that could allow his strength to soar, but the prerequisite is an extremely strong temperament.”

“Please, Fire God, speak plainly,” Tianlin requested. If there was a way, he still wanted to try.

“In fact, this space was created by me back when I was in the God Realm. The original purpose wasn’t for God inheritance, but to seal the demonic flame of heaven and earth!” The Fire God spread his palm, revealing a jet-black flame. Unlike a normal, radiant flame, this one filled people with dread at a glance, and from the bottom of one’s heart, a feeling of nausea and fear arose.

Demonic Flame Melting Gold—Tianlin had heard of this legend before. The ‘gold’ in question wasn’t ordinary metal; even the ultimate metal would be reduced to ink under the burning of this flame.

Compared to this demonic flame, the evil fire that once tormented Ma Hongjun was like a petty thief compared to a crazed murderer.

“If your friend has a tenacious temperament, I can let him train in the place where I sealed the demonic flame. With my help, I guarantee there would be no risk to his life. After a year, no matter what, his strength would be greatly improved,” the Fire God said calmly.

His words made it sound as if the demonic flame was all benefit for Ma Hongjun, but Tianlin knew it couldn’t be that simple—surely a but was coming.

“But this demonic flame can stir up the negative emotions in people’s hearts. It’s easy for someone to fall completely into darkness. If your friend has a strong temperament and can resist his own negative desires, he can definitely achieve the qualifications to become a first-rank god. But if not, he’ll become an unparalleled demon, a hundred times scarier than your so-called evil soul masters. At that time, if he fully masters the demonic flame, even you, Tianlin, will have difficulty stopping him.”

As expected, the Fire God revealed a terrifying downside—in simple terms, being corrupted makes you ten times stronger.

“Righteousness leads to godhood, rebellion leads to demonhood—a real gamble, and one we can’t afford to lose,” Tianlin said with a bitter smile. “Sorry, Senior Fire God, I really have no confidence in Hongjun’s temperament this time. Please forgive me for refusing your proposal.”

“Sword Brother, I don’t think Hongjun would necessarily fail,” Ning Rongrong said, holding Tianlin’s hand. “Just like how I want to become stronger for Sword Brother, Fatty also has someone he cares about now. When people care for someone, they can unleash infinite strength. When we get back, why don’t we tell Fatty and Xiangxiang about this and let them decide for themselves?”

“You’re right. His future should be decided by himself,” Tianlin realized. He couldn’t prepare a broad avenue for every person. He could only point the way, but how they walked it was up to them.

After bidding farewell to the Fire God, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong returned to the Extreme North. Now that they had achieved all their goals there, it was time to head back.

At Ning Rongrong’s strong insistence, Tianlin didn’t choose sword flight this time but ran back together with her.

With their current strength, even without going all out, they could get home in about seven or eight days.

But Tianlin knew the real reason: Ning Rongrong just wanted to spend more time together. He had already told her that upon returning, he would send her to Sea God Island to officially begin the Sea God trials.

He didn’t plan to go with her; once she left, they wouldn’t see each other for several years. That made her cherish every remaining moment.

…

Seven days later, they arrived at a small town in the Balak Kingdom. As their farewell drew closer, they found themselves deliberately slowing their pace.

In their hearts, they both knew that this display of lovers’ reluctance was somewhat sentimental. Once they became gods, there would be plenty of time to spend together. What was a few years apart? But knowing was one thing; doing was another.

Actually, Tianlin should have been able to handle it. With his Shu Mountain cultivation arts, he should have had a detached mindset. Unfortunately, he was only someone who practiced the Shu Mountain sword arts, not a true cultivator.

His techniques came from the Nuwa Empress’ lineage, which emphasized love in the heart—a philosophy utterly at odds with the Daoist pursuit of clarity and detachment. So, although he knew the Shu Mountain internal arts, he had never really practiced them. They didn’t suit his current self.

He didn’t have the detached mindset of a cultivator, let alone the ambition he now harbored to unify the continent. If he cultivated rashly, he risked going astray.

“Sword Brother, in two days at most, we’ll be home. When we get there, do I have to go to Sea God Island right away?” Ning Rongrong buried her head in Tianlin’s chest and asked.

“Yes, we’ve already wasted quite a bit of time these days. After that, you need to take some people to train together as soon as possible. I’ve already written to the Emperor Battle members, asking them to gather at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I’ll select some to go with you. If Sister Yan and Yiran accompany you, you’ll have more support.” Tianlin gently stroked the back of her head. “Don’t be sad. Once you become stronger, we’ll see each other again soon.”

“Mm!” Ning Rongrong nodded, not saying much.

Seeing she was still reluctant, Tianlin suddenly said, “Rongrong, when we get back, let’s have a simple wedding ceremony first!”

Chapter 397: Proposal – Returning to the Sect

“Wedding?” Ning Rongrong was shocked, embarrassed, and overjoyed. Was Sword Brother proposing again?

Though they’d long been engaged, Tianlin had always carried heavy burdens: first the Spirit Hall Hunt, then mysterious new forces, preparing for future wars, helping her qualify for the God Trial, and so on.

Ning Rongrong always felt her Sword Brother was too exhausted. No matter how much she wanted to marry early and just be an ordinary wife, she never insisted or pressured Tianlin. She never expected him to suddenly bring it up himself.

Tianlin took her hand and asked, “Rongrong, I know this is sudden, but I promise once everything is settled, I’ll give you the grandest wedding. Will you marry me?”

“Tut tut, proposing like this, in an ordinary inn, not even a bouquet or betrothal gift—who would’ve thought Xiao Tian is such a straight man!” Snow Empress smacked her lips.

“Exactly! No sincerity at all. Rongrong, you can’t just accept…” Ice Empress said angrily. Now that she pinned her hopes on Ning Rongrong and would become her companion divine beast, she wouldn’t let Rongrong be wronged at all.

Just like in the original story, where the Ice and Snow Emperors protected Huo Yuhao, now Ning Rongrong was like a new little sister to them.

“I will!” Unfortunately, Ning Rongrong couldn’t hear Ice Empress’ words. She had dreamed of this moment for so long. Whether the ceremony was grand, whether there were flowers or betrothal gifts—none of it mattered.

“Sigh, this girl…” Snow Empress and Ice Empress shook their heads helplessly. Even if they’d never been in love, it was obvious Ning Rongrong was deeply in love with Tianlin. As older sisters, what could they do but bless her?

That night, Tianlin and Rongrong slept in each other's arms. Tianlin wasn’t a lustful man; he left the most intimate things until after their marriage, out of respect for Ning Rongrong.

The next day, the two continued their journey. Where before Ning Rongrong had dawdled and delayed, now she rushed home as fast as possible. What might have taken two days was finished in around one.

When they returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They’d been worried sick—after all, the sect’s two most important people had gone alone to the dangerous Extreme North, seeking the legendary Ice and Snow Empress to obtain Ning Rongrong’s second martial soul. It sounded impossible.

If Tianlin hadn’t repeatedly promised success, and if Ning Rongrong hadn’t carried Chen Xin’s spell coordinate, Ning Fengzhi would never have allowed such a thing.

“Rongrong, Tianlin, did your plan succeed?” Ning Fengzhi asked hopefully. Even with all his knowledge, he had never heard of artificially creating a second martial soul. If Tianlin had done it, it would be an epoch-making miracle.

Chen Xin and the other Titled Douluo, as well as Gu Rong, Ma Hongjun, and the younger generation, all crowded around curiously.

Ning Rongrong smiled, using her actions to prove that her Sword Brother had never spoken empty words.

Suddenly, a boundless chill filled the hall. Ning Rongrong’s hair turned snow white, her temperament icy and pure, her blue robe fluttering in the cold wind—just like the legendary Snow Maiden.

Especially striking were the two blood-red soul rings around her: one with seven gold lines, the other with three. Both were true ferocious beast rings, containing power far beyond hundred-thousand-year soul rings.

Compared to these, Ning Fengzhi instantly felt his own hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor ring wasn’t so impressive.

“So this is the Ice and Snow Maiden’s martial soul? It’s so beautiful. I think Rongrong’s even more beautiful than Qian Renxue’s Seraphim,” Ye Lingling sighed.

“This girl does have taste. Seraphim? Even a god-level martial soul can’t compare to my Ice and Snow Maiden in beauty,” Snow Empress said proudly. “If the God Realm hadn’t changed the laws of heaven and earth, making it impossible for soul beasts to become gods and increasing the difficulty of their tribulations, I could have become the Ice and Snow Goddess!”

The proud Snow Empress had become a human’s spirit and soul ring at root because of the God Realm’s oppression.

Unfortunately, Tianlin couldn’t change that yet—he didn’t even dream of it. He always did what was within his ability.

Changing the laws of heaven and earth was far beyond him as someone who hadn’t become a god.

But if one day he did become the strongest in the world, maybe he’d try to do something. Of course, he wouldn’t betray his human race to help soul beasts regain dominance.

However, he would give them a fair chance—restoring the difficulty of their tribulations to normal, so top soul beasts like Snow Empress and Ice Empress wouldn’t be forced to take human form.

The million-year god tribulation now was more like a first-rank god attacking a soon-to-be god Ultimate Douluo—an insurmountable gap. Even the strongest soul beasts couldn’t succeed. For Skydream Ice Silkworm’s sake, Tianlin would find a way to give back.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong slowly floated down and withdrew the Snow Maiden martial soul, though the surrounding cold didn’t fade. The ultimate ice’s effect on the environment wouldn’t disappear so quickly.

“Good, very good! As expected of my granddaughter, Rongrong, you’re now the continent’s second greatest genius after Tianlin. In my opinion, Qian Renxue can’t compare to your looks, and even her cultivation talent might not match yours now,” Chen Xin said proudly.

He was seeing through the lens of a doting grandfather. In truth, Qian Renxue’s cultivation speed was still a bit faster. Ning Rongrong had an immortal herb, but Qian Renxue had the power of Heavenly Power with Tianlin.

Over the past few years, with Tianlin’s help, she’d refined her soul power to the utmost. Other than Tianlin, no one in the continent could match her. Even though she was already a Soul Douluo, her innate level 20 speed hadn’t slowed at all, on par with the effect of immortal herbs.

She also had the Yearning Heartbroken Red in her hand. If she gained its approval and consumed it, her potential would rise even further.

Rongrong’s only real advantage was her twin martial souls. But without a yin-yang soul core, the two couldn’t be used together. She couldn’t boost herself with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda while fighting, so overall, it was still hard to beat Qian Renxue.

“Hehe, thank you, Grandpa! Sword Grandpa is the best!” Ning Rongrong giggled, holding Chen Xin’s arm. The truth didn’t matter; as long as someone said she was better than Qian Renxue, that was her favorite person.

After all, in Ning Rongrong’s heart, Qian Renxue was her lifelong rival!

Chapter 398: Ma Hongjun’s Fear

In the Seven Treasure Hall, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong recounted their journey to the Extreme North in detail.

When everyone heard that Ning Rongrong had reached Soul Sage and Tianlin had become a Soul Douluo, Ning Fengzhi and the others were filled with pride and joy.

Tang Hao, who had run rampant across the continent and whom even Spirit Hall couldn’t handle, had been brought down by the younger generation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

The title: Clear Sky Douluo had always belonged to the strongest of the Clear Sky Sect. Other factions would tremble at this name, but now it was a joke to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

“Hmph, Tang Hao slaughtered too many soul beasts in his life. To him, only his wife was special; all other soul beasts that got in his way were evil. Now that you’ve set him up to be killed by the Ice and Snow Empress he got what he deserved,” Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile.

With Tang Chen gone, Tang Hao was the Clear Sky Sect’s strongest. Though Tang Xiao was a higher level, he had no hundred-thousand-year ring and didn’t know the Grand Sumeru Hammer. In actual combat, he was weaker. Now that Tang Hao was dead, the Clear Sky Sect was no longer a threat.

Without Chen Xin’s help, Gu Rong alone could take on Tang Xiao—especially since, during Tianlin and Ning Rongrong’s trip, Gu Rong had broken through to level ninety-seven, his strength soaring.

Hearing this, Tianlin regretted not killing Tang San sooner. If he’d absorbed his luck earlier, he would have reached Titled Douluo long ago, and Gu Rong wouldn’t have been stuck at his bottleneck for so long.

“Boss, Big Sis, is that Fire God inheritance real? Did you really see the Fire God?” Ma Hongjun asked eagerly. He’d heard about the Fire God from Tianlin before.

A main Elemental God of the God Realm—a first-class deity, equal to the Angel God of Spirit Hall and the Sea God of Sea God Island.

Tianlin had encouraged Ma Hongjun to aim for the Fire God, and unknowingly, Ma Hongjun had made the Fire God his idol and ultimate goal.

Hearing this, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances. They didn’t want to hide the truth from Ma Hongjun.

“Sword Brother, let me explain this time,” Ning Rongrong said, turning to Ma Hongjun. “Hongjun, we did meet the Fire God, but…”

Ning Rongrong relayed the Fire God’s words word for word. Ma Hongjun, who had been overjoyed, broke out in a cold sweat.

So his foundation was still insufficient for the Fire God’s seat, unless he underwent the baptism of the demonic flame—a flame a hundred times more terrifying than his past evil fire.

He hadn’t been able to withstand the evil fire back then, let alone this demonic flame.

Although the Fire God said he could guarantee his safety, that was even scarier. Death would be a relief. How many prodigies had died on the path to godhood over the millions of years of the Douluo Continent? If Ma Hongjun became one of them, it would be an honorable death—most didn’t even qualify to die on that path.

But if he didn’t die, he would become a disaster for the world, a demon whose potential surpassed the current Four Ultimate Douluo. If he grew strong enough, and the gods couldn’t interfere, the world would face calamity.

“Hongjun, this is too scary. Let’s not go, okay? Senior Brother said, with your talent, becoming a second-rank god is easy. There’s no need to risk such disaster for a first-rank god,” Bai Chenxiang said, frightened, pleading with Ma Hongjun.

“But Boss said, as a second-rank god, I can’t bring family to the God Realm. After that, I’d spend eternity alone—what would be the point of becoming a god? If so, I might as well try. Besides, if I were the number one genius, maybe a disaster would happen, but there are plenty better than me.”

“Boss, Rongrong, and even Qian Renxue from Spirit Hall—if I really became a demon, they’d be able to stop me. So I don’t really have to worry,” Ma Hongjun said, trembling.

Tianlin hadn’t expected Ma Hongjun to agree, but seeing his shaking hands, he knew that Ma Hongjun hadn’t truly made up his mind—he was just comforting himself. With this state of mind, even if he went to the Fire God’s inheritance site, he’d probably back down at the last moment.

Tianlin shook his head inwardly. The demonic flame could only be resisted by those with indomitable will. With Ma Hongjun’s state, his chance of success was zero.

“Hongjun, unless you truly make up your mind, I won’t take you. I want you to become a god, not a demon,” Tianlin said bluntly.

Ma Hongjun lowered his head. He could fool others, but not Tianlin, who saw right through his fear and bravado.

He glanced at Gu Ran. If it were him, maybe he could succeed.

Gu Ran’s talent was the worst among them—worse than the Shrek Seven Devils and the Emperor Battle team, far worse than himself.

But after so many years, his soul power hadn’t surpassed Gu Ran’s, and their gap hadn’t even shrunk.

The reason, besides Tianlin’s occasional help, was Gu Ran’s own effort.

When others rested, he trained; when others trained, he worked even harder. To keep up with Tianlin, he gave it everything. With such a tenacious temperament, he could pass the Fire God’s trial. Unfortunately, he just didn’t have the innate talent.

Maybe Gu Ran could become a Titled or even Super Douluo, but a first- or even second-rank god was out of reach.

“I’m useless!” Ma Hongjun clenched his fists in frustration. He had great talent but, due to his personality, not even the courage to take the God Trial.

Sensing the gloomy mood, Oscar, skilled at lightening the atmosphere, draped an arm around Ma Hongjun and laughed, “Hey, Fatty, what’s the rush? You’re still young. Temperament can be honed. Wait another twenty years—maybe you’ll be mature enough then. You’ll be stronger, with higher levels, and better odds of success.”

Oscar’s suggestion was much like Tianlin’s earlier thinking—the safest plan.

Oscar then turned to Tianlin and Ning Rongrong. “By the way, Tianlin, Rongrong, I heard Tang Hao had a full set of soul bones. Since you killed him, you must have taken all his treasures, right?”