DD Spiritual Sword [420-422] (Patreon)

Chapter 420: The Fire God's Nine Trials

The powerful flames finally drew the attention of the Fire God's lingering divine sense.

Far away in the Divine Realm, the Fire God smiled slightly. "Oh? Is this the one the Asura Legacy holder mentioned, the one who can inherit my godhood? Indeed, that fire is impressive—worthy to be tested by burning."

"Come in, then. Ahead lies either hell or heaven, depending on your fortune."

With a flip of his palm, the Fire God opened a portal to a different dimension at the Extreme North. Ma Hongjun exclaimed with joy, "Teacher Qin, look! The gate is open!"

"What an intense heat—it must be there. Hongjun, let's rush in!" Qin Ming, possessed by the Inferno Grey Wolf, pushed off with his hind legs and leaped straight into the space.

Ma Hongjun followed at once. As soon as they entered the scorching hell, the spatial gate closed behind them.

To suddenly move from a place of extreme cold to one of extreme heat was uncomfortable even for two fire-attribute soul masters. The flames previously absorbed by Tianlin were now rekindled by the Flame Lord.

"So this is the Scorching Hell. Besides ultimate ice or fire soul masters, I doubt anyone else could survive here," Qin Ming sighed.

"You're right—this is a cultivation paradise for flame soul masters." A massive fiery red silhouette descended from the sky—it was the Flame Lord. "By order of the Fire God, I'll escort you both to Hell Flame Valley at the heart of Scorching Hell."

"Thank you, Flame Lord," Qin Ming cupped his hands. He had already learned of the Flame Lord's existence from Tianlin, so he wasn't surprised.

The two followed the Flame Lord deeper, heading to a place even Tianlin hadn't reached.

"Hell Fame? That's a strange name. Teacher Qin, have you heard of it?" Ma Hongjun asked. Normally, gods name their domains with a purpose, but Hell Flame sounded ominous, as if it would incinerate people completely.

Qin Ming shook his head. "Never heard of it—maybe it's related to the Fire God?"

"No need to guess," the Flame Lord said. "Even the Fire God himself doesn't know why he chose that name. He became a god from humanity. He said his fire greatly respects that name, so he used it."

Soon, they arrived at a warm valley. Yes—warm, not scorching. The temperature was just right, quite unlike outside. It felt like spring all year round, despite the valley's name. In truth, it was a lush and auspicious place.

At the center of the valley sat a stone table, where a middle-aged man calmly drank tea.

"Ah, drinking tea with a phantom body can't capture the true subtle fragrance. It's a pity my real body can't descend to the mortal realm. I haven't tasted earthly tea in ages," the man sighed.

Hearing his self-talk, Ma Hongjun and Qin Ming immediately realized: This man didn't belong to the human realm—he must be the Fire God from the Divine Realm.

"Qin Ming greets Lord Fire God!"

"Ma Hongjun greets Lord Fire God!"

They both greeted him hurriedly. Compared to any Title Douluo, this was the true powerhouse.

The man set down his cup and looked at them, his gaze locking instantly onto Ma Hongjun. With his ability, he saw at a glance which of the two was the one Tianlin said could inherit the Fire God's godhood.

"You must be Ma Hongjun. The Asura Legacy holder spoke to me about you. As expected, you are extraordinary—your Phoenix martial soul is second to none among all martial souls except for god-level ones. You are qualified for my Fire God trial. However, Tianlin said your temperament isn't the best. Are you confident you can withstand the burning of the Demonic Flames? If not, it's still not too late to leave."

The Fire God's tone was intimidating, not just to scare Ma Hongjun. Failure in the test would be devastating.

But Ma Hongjun showed no fear. Now he had many who sincerely supported him. "Lord Fire God, please grant me the trial. Send me into the Demonic Flames—I will prove myself to you."

The Fire God sensed Ma Hongjun's resolve and was moved. This guy wasn't as bad as Tianlin had said. He didn't feel any fear—just this courage was already rare.

Either Tianlin had misunderstood him before, or something significant had changed him recently.

Either way, it was good news. The Fire God smiled. "Barely satisfactory. What about you? Are you here to take the trial as well?"

When the Fire God looked at him, Qin Ming immediately replied, "Yes, Lord Fire God, please grant me the trial as well. I know I'm not qualified for your godhood; I'm only here to assist Hongjun."

The Fire God nodded. "That's fine. Among soul masters, your talent is quite outstanding—not inferior to the Sea God's Seven on Sea God Island."

Qin Ming was the second-youngest Soul Emperor on the continent's surface in the original story, and his talent was exceptional among ordinary soul masters.

He had also cleansed his soul power with the purple-gold elixir from Tianlin. If he could further improve through the Fire God's auxiliary trial, he might one day become a god—not a primary or even secondary god, but there was hope for a tertiary god.

"Now, both of you step forward. Let the Light of the Fire God judge your qualifications!"

Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun stood before the Fire God without hesitation.

The Fire God raised his palm, sending out a beam of firelight that shone down, covering both of them.

First was Qin Ming. The firelight turned into a black pillar, forming a flame-shaped flower with four petals on his forehead.

This was the mark of the Black-Level Four Trials. Qin Ming's talent was slightly below that of Zhu Zhuqing (who took immortal herbs in the original), since his purple-gold elixir was a bit inferior to true immortal grade.

But reaching the Black-Level was already extremely rare.

On Sea God Island, only the seven Sea God's Heirs among the Title Douluo could pass the Black-Level Trial.

As for Ma Hongjun, the firelight was a dazzling red—the mark of the top-level trial. Just as the Fire God was about to be disappointed, three streams of light suddenly appeared on Ma Hongjun.

These were from the three immortal herbs Ma Hongjun had consumed, and he was now refining their medicinal power with the Fire God's light.

The Fire God was delighted. This guy was originally a lower-grade Evil Fire Phoenix, but after consuming nearly three immortal herbs—two of which were pure yang and supreme yang grasses, and the third harmonized the two—if he could refine all the essence, his talent would rise greatly.

The red light gradually shifted, tinged with gold—scarlet gold, the mark of the Fire God's Nine Trials.

A flaming cloud appeared on Ma Hongjun's forehead. The Fire God said in satisfaction, "At last, a human who can begin the Fire God's Nine Trials has appeared. Very good! The trial for a first-tier god begins!"

Chapter 421: Baptism by Demonic Flame

"So this is a god's trial?" Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun felt as if several cards appeared in their spiritual sea and each summoned the first card.

A solemn voice rang in their ears.

["Qin Ming, Black-Level Four Trials, First Trial: Baptism by Demonic Flame. Endure under the demonic flame for six months, maintaining your true self."]

["Ma Hongjun, Fire God's Nine Trials, First Trial: Baptism by Demonic Flame. Endure under the demonic flame for one year, maintaining your true self."]

As expected, the first trial was the Baptism by Demonic Flame, just as Tianlin had predicted. With both together, Qin Ming could help share the burden.

"Then, I wish you luck. From here, follow Ah Huo. I must take my leave," said the Fire God. As a mighty celestial god, he couldn't accompany them through the trials; assigning things to the Flame Lord was sufficient.

"Farewell, Lord Fire God!" The Flame Lord bowed and then said to the two, "Follow me!"

The Flame Lord led them deeper. Behind Sui Ren Valley lay the sealed land of the demonic flame.

Of course, the Fire God would not unleash all the demonic flames for the trial—enduring the full force would destroy even him. Only a small portion was unsealed.

But even this tiny portion made both feel their inner desires intensify as they approached. Qin Ming, usually self-disciplined, felt it; let alone Ma Hongjun, whose evil fire, dormant for years, now threatened to flare up again.

"What terrifying demonic fire—even I almost succumbed. I wonder about Hongjun…" Qin Ming worried for Ma Hongjun, as the flame was fearsome even without entering their bodies.

"Hmph, are you scared? Too late now. Since you've accepted the Fire God's trial, it's too late to regret." The Flame Lord sneered, leading them to a cliff. He pointed down. "This is the sealed land of the demonic flame. Jump, and your trial begins. In a year, I'll come collect your corpses."

"Hongjun." Qin Ming patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder, intending to encourage him.

But Ma Hongjun spoke first. "Teacher, you don't need to say anything. I understand. These demonic flames stir the desires for wealth, lust, and power. But that's not the strongest force. My boss told me the story of a great god—his power came from love, hate, passion, and enmity. I'll use those to resist wealth, lust, and power!"

With that, Ma Hongjun leapt into the array below. Qin Ming smiled—his talk with Tianlin before leaving had truly helped him grow.

He jumped after Ma Hongjun without hesitation.

Their decisiveness surprised the Flame Lord. Using love and hate to resist the temptation of wealth and power was indeed what the Fire God had said—the only way to resist the demonic flame. So this chubby kid knew.

Could the great god he mentioned actually be the Fire God himself?

Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun jumped into the sealed land. Instantly, countless purple-black demonic flames surged from the ground, corroding both their bodies and souls.

Under the Fire God's protection, their lives were safe, but the pain remained. The only way to end the suffering was to give in to their desires and become a peerless devil.

"Hongjun, recite the calming mantra Tianlin taught and use the Daoist mental method. Don't let the demonic flame corrode your soul," Qin Ming called.

"Yes, Teacher. 'The human path is vast, the immortal path is boundless, the ghost path is joyous! Life is the gate for humans, immortals value life, ghosts value endings; the immortal path is always auspicious, the ghost path always ominous; high purity and beauty, mournful songs echo in the void...'" Ma Hongjun sat cross-legged, practicing the Daoist method to clear his mind.

Qin Ming sat beside him, helping to share the demonic flame's corrosion. With their combined efforts, at least the first six months should be no problem.

…

While Ma Hongjun and Qin Ming were being tested, Ning Rongrong's group finally arrived at Sea God Island. With Ning Rongrong's ultimate ice, storms on the sea were no threat, and their ship arrived much faster than in the original.

Now, guided by some local priests, they reached one of the Sea God's Seven Sacred Pillars—opposite the Seahorse Pillar.

Land soul masters must cross the Sea within the Sea to reach the Seahorse Pillar and qualify for the Sea God's trial.

The Sea within the Sea was full of fierce sea soul beasts—weak soul masters would struggle to cross.

But for them, it was easy. Yu Tianheng's lightning greatly restrained sea creatures, and Ning Rongrong's ice froze the surface. They crossed with ease.

Yet, their excellence made the Seahorse Douluo's gaze grow cold. He thought: only one faction on the continent could have bred so many prodigies.

He clenched his fist behind his back and questioned, "You lot—are you from Spirit Hall?"

Spirit Hall once attacked Sea God Island but was repelled by the seven sacred pillar guardians. Though Sea God Island won, the grudge remained.

Thus, Spirit Hall members could never receive the Sea God's trial.

"We're not. We come from the three upper sects of the Douluo Continent. Senior, you can tell by my martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. I am the direct heir and next sect leader," Yu Tianheng said, then pointed to Ning Rongrong. "This girl is the next heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Oh, the upper three sects," Seahorse Douluo relaxed. They bore no grudge with Sea God Island. "But this girl's martial soul isn't the Glazed Tile Pagoda, but the Snow Maiden. Can she inherit the sect if she doesn't have the main martial soul?"

"Senior, I have twin martial souls. My other one is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda," Ning Rongrong said, revealing the pagoda.

The nine-colored light stunned Seahorse Douluo. He hadn't expected such a prodigy: twin martial souls and breaking the Glazed Tile Pagoda's limit.

"Remarkable. Young lady, when you grow up, the sect rankings may need rewriting," Seahorse Douluo marveled.

Everyone smiled. Did they need to wait for Rongrong to grow up? The rankings had already changed, and their true genius wasn't even here yet.

Chapter 422: Sea God Island—Everyone's Trial

"All right, line up as you arrived and take the trial one by one." Now that he knew they weren't from Spirit Hall, Seahorse Douluo wasted no time.

He slowly raised his hands devoutly, palms half a foot apart, a soft blue light gathering between them—the same light Ning Rongrong sensed from the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

As the blue light intensified, it bathed the Seahorse Pillar in azure radiance. Then, a blue light shot up the pillar's patterns to the top in an instant.

Seahorse Douluo turned to look at Oslo—the fastest among them, and the only one at this level with full soul bones—a miracle.

A blue column descended on Oslo, changing from blue to white, then yellow, then purple, deepening until finally turning black. Seahorse Douluo's expression never changed; for someone so young and equipped, a black-level trial was expected.

Six black lights shot out, turning into six golden cards with special gold text. A black six-pointed star appeared on Oslo's forehead—the mark of the Black-Level Six Trials.

Black-Level Six Trials: for an ordinary Soul Sage, it would be impossible, but with Oslo's equipment, there was hope.

Seeing his Black-Level Six Trials, Oslo was excited. Tianlin had briefed them on the trial levels before.

The trial colors matched soul ring colors: white, yellow, purple, black, red, gold. Black symbolized Title Douluo potential; Black-Level Four Trials for regular Title Douluo (like the 92nd rank Seahorse Douluo before them), Black-Level Six Trials for Super Douluo.

No wonder Golden Crocodile Douluo valued Oslo—he had the potential to be a Worship in the Hall of Worship.

"Look at you—there's no way I'll lose!" Yu Tianheng stepped up. "Please grant me the trial, senior."

Seahorse Douluo nodded. "Good. Young people competing isn't bad." He gathered blue light and shone it on Yu Tianheng.

The process repeated, ending in Black-Level Six Trials. Yu Tianheng's talent was now no less than Dai Mubai's in the original.

"Haha, see, Oslo? Even with only one soul bone gifted by my clan, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is just as good!" Yu Tianheng boasted. "That's why I'm the captain!"

Now Seahorse Douluo was truly unsettled. Two Black-Level Six Trials in a row?

But he had yet to see the most shocking results.

Oscar: Black-Level Six Trials.

Dugu Yan: Black-Level Five Trials.

Shi brothers: Black-Level Five Trials.

Yu Feng: Black-Level Four Trials.

Zhu Zhuqing: Black-Level Four Trials.

All these were Black-Level Trials. Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing hadn't taken immortal herbs in the original, but Oscar was a food-type genius with innate full soul power and now had a celestial elixir from Tianlin, while Zhu Zhuqing had survived life and death, her mentality greatly improved, so she barely kept her Black-Level status.

Only Bai Chenxiang and Meng Yiran fell short—both got Purple-Level One Trial. Bai Chenxiang did a little better than in the original, thanks to Yang Wudi's help and sect resources.

Their faces fell at getting only purple trials—they really lagged behind.

"Xiangxiang, it's okay. Hongjun is working hard far away, and he carries your hopes too! Yiran, you as well—I believe you'll both forge your own paths!" Ning Rongrong comforted them.

Bai Chenxiang had given her celestial elixir to Ma Hongjun; otherwise, she might have gotten Black-Level.

Meng Yiran had always trained in poison with Dugu Bo; her true power couldn't be judged by level alone.

"Purple-level is fine. We'll work hard." Both girls were determined.

"That just leaves me and Sister Huanyin." Ning Rongrong led Huanyin to the pillar.

But when they stood ready, only one beam of light shone—on Ning Rongrong.

The light shifted rapidly, passing black and turning red.

"Red? A top-level trial!" Seahorse Douluo exclaimed. Red meant Limit Douluo potential—enough to inherit the high priest position.

The red light didn't stop, turning back to blue but tinged with gold.

The light split into nine, marking Ning Rongrong's forehead with a trident.

"What? I thought this was just a top-level trial, but what's this gold? In all Sea God Island's history, such a trial never happened!" Seahorse Douluo was at a loss—he didn't know of the Sea God's Nine Trials.

Ning Rongrong took out a mirror and touched the mark. "It's the same as Sword Brother's—this must be the Sea God's Nine Trials mark."

"Yes, that's the Sea God's Nine Trials!" a gentle voice called from afar, seemingly from the heavens—melodious yet full of benevolence.

As the voice neared, space seemed to twist, then a woman appeared before the pillar—no one saw when or how she arrived.

She was beautiful, draped in a red robe, long sea-blue hair flowing behind her, looking no older than thirty, with elegant bearing. In her right hand, she held a three-meter-long staff.

"Greetings, High Priestess!" Seahorse Douluo bowed deeply. "I failed to follow the Sea God's orders properly. Please punish me."

"It's not your fault. The Sea God's Nine Trials have never appeared before—I've never seen them myself." The woman smiled gently, showing no blame.