DD Spiritual Sword [432-435] (Patreon)

Chapter 432: Forced Marriage

"Xiao Tian, this soul ring is extraordinary! It's at least 500,000 years old. Looks like that Asura God didn't offer any other rewards before—he was waiting for you to reach level 90 to give you something big," Tianmeng Ice Silkworm exclaimed.

"I understand. Not only that, but this soul ring contains at least six different divine powers. The one who shaped it must be the Asura God, and the one who infused other powers, if I'm not mistaken, should be the Element God," Tianlin said, now fully operating his cultivation technique to absorb the soul ring.

He could clearly feel that while absorbing this soul ring, the five elemental attributes within his demon sword were increasing—not all at once, but in a particular sequence.

Currently, the strength of the elemental attributes in his sword, from weakest to strongest, was: fire, wind, lightning, water, earth.

So, fire increased first. When fire matched wind in strength, wind started to increase, followed by lightning.

This soul ring was actually helping Tianlin's demon sword correct its imbalance among the elements.

"How thoughtful, Lord Asura God. Thank you!" Tianlin said gratefully. He then summoned his soul bone armor, pushed his body to its limit, and entered deep meditation to absorb the soul ring with all his strength. The longer he absorbed it, the higher the soul ring's age would become.

…

Meanwhile, a piece of joyous news spread throughout Heaven Dou City: their great Crown Prince was getting married. The bride was none other than the goddess with the Ice Phoenix martial soul, Shui Bing'er.

The people of Heaven Dou City were unimpressed—they thought Xue Beng was unworthy of Shui Bing'er. Still, none dared speak out, so they hid their disdain and offered congratulations to the crown prince.

Emperor Xue Ye promptly ordered Prince Xue Xing to bring generous betrothal gifts to propose marriage at Shui Bing'er's family.

Shui Bing'er's mother, Shui Qingwu, was the former dean of Skywater Academy and an eighty-third level Soul Douluo. She possessed the same Ice Phoenix martial soul as her daughter, though of lower quality. Usually, she could fight at full strength and was a rare powerhouse below the Title Douluo level; while only an eighty-third level Soul Douluo, her real combat ability rivaled that of a high-level Soul Douluo at eighty-nine.

Unfortunately, her marriage was not happy. She was far stronger than her husband, leading to a lopsided relationship, and her strong-willed nature caused them to drift apart. Her husband eventually cheated and fathered Shui Bing'er's younger sister, Yue'er, with another woman.

She had considered killing the man, but, as can be seen from her upbringing of Shui Bing'er, she was inherently kind and chose to let him go.

Afterward, that irresponsible man abandoned little Yue'er, so Shui Qingwu took her in, gave her her own surname, and raised her as Shui Yue'er.

These experiences left her with a poor opinion of men, which is why Skywater Academy only admitted girls and never allowed men inside.

Today, seeing Prince Xue Xing seated as a guest and a eunuch reading out the list of betrothal gifts, her long-repressed anger was nearly triggered again.

"Dean Shui, what do you think? Our Heaven Dou Empire is very sincere," Prince Xue Xing smiled.

Shui Qingwu had to admit, the gifts were truly generous: countless gold soul coins, a ten-thousand-year soul bone, ten precious soul tools, and a promise to build a new Skywater Academy for her in Heaven Dou City so she wouldn't have to rely on others.

If it were any other request, she might have agreed. But what they wanted was her daughter's lifelong happiness.

Xue Beng was absolutely not someone who could be entrusted with her daughter's life, and Shui Qingwu saw this clearly. Scarred by her own experiences, she didn't want her daughter to repeat her mistakes. "Sorry, Your Highness—"

Before she could refuse, Prince Xue Xing's face darkened and he interrupted, "Dean Shui, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Why not ask your daughter's own thoughts? Rumors everywhere say your daughter and our crown prince are deeply in love and have pledged themselves to each other. It was her idea for us to propose. Are you toying with the royal family?"

"Nonsense! My sister would never fall for that Xue Beng!" Shui Yue'er said angrily. She knew very well how much her sister disliked Xue Beng—there was no way they were in love.

"Yue'er, enough!" Shui Bing'er immediately stopped her sister from speaking further. To insult Xue Beng in front of Prince Xue Xing was to provoke the royal family. "Your Highness, my sister is young and doesn't understand. Please don't be offended. I rarely interact with the crown prince, and we've hardly ever been alone together, let alone fallen in love. I really don't know where these rumors came from. Please, Your Highness, don't believe them."

"Hmph! This isn't a rumor you can just deny. Now everyone knows about your relationship with the crown prince, and the wedding date is set for a month from now. Kingdoms and duchies under the empire have sent congratulations and gifts. And now you say it's all rumors and refuse to marry? Where does that leave the dignity of the Heaven Dou Empire?" Xue Xing fumed.

For the royal family, it no longer mattered whether the news was true. At this point, Shui Bing'er had no choice but to marry—their face was more important than anything.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I am willing to explain to the public that this is all a misunderstanding. Please inform His Majesty and ask for some time," Shui Bing'er pleaded.

"Explain? How? Will you tell everyone you don't like the crown prince and he's just pining for you? How is our future emperor supposed to face the world then? How can he rule the land?" Xue Xing pressed.

A ruler's word is never in jest. Once spoken, it must be carried out.

"Miss Shui, I'll give you three days. If you still refuse after three days, then to preserve the empire's face, there's nothing we can't do!" With that, Xue Xing stormed out of Shui Bing'er's home.

Outside, he ordered, "Deploy the army to surround this place and assign two royal Soul Douluos to guard them. No one from the Shui family is to leave for three days. Also, send the three deans from Heaven Dou Royal Academy to warn Huo Ran and Feng Yuan—this isn't their concern, and they'd best stay out of it."

The other two Soul Douluos from the Elemental Academies were the heads of Blazing Fire and God Wind Academies. If they helped Shui Qingwu, it could become a problem.

As for Thunder Academy, it was actually managed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon sect, who had kept a low profile like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and were unlikely to get involved.

Chapter 433: Ning Fengzhi Fans the Flames

"Damn it, they've blocked off our residence! Xue Beng's the one spreading rumors about my sister, yet we're being blamed," Shui Yue'er complained, looking out the window at the royal knights surrounding their home.

Prince Xue Xing had even found a legitimate reason: to protect the future crown princess.

To the Shui sisters, only one word came to mind: shameless.

"To the royal family, the cause doesn't matter anymore—only the outcome does. Nothing is more important to them than face," Shui Qingwu murmured, feeling helpless. Even though she was a Soul Douluo, one Soul Douluo was no match for the great Heaven Dou Empire, especially when she was already in a vulnerable position.

"Mother, why not ask Grandpa Huo and Uncle Feng for help? With three Soul Douluos, surely they wouldn't dare mess with us?" Shui Yue'er suggested.

Shui Qingwu shook her head. "No. Do you think Prince Xue Xing is that foolish? He must have already warned them. If they were lone soul masters, maybe they wouldn't be afraid. But as academy deans responsible for hundreds of students, they can't risk it."

"All four Elemental Academies have already offended Spirit Hall. Only Thunder Academy has the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon sect as backers. The other three have no choice but to rely on the Heaven Dou Empire. In this situation, I think they'll choose to sacrifice Bing'er."

Hearing this, Shui Bing'er, who had just been happy about Yang Wudi's promise, fell into despair. Even if she could control the Ice Phoenix, what was the point if she had no freedom or future?

"Skywater Academy's students are all girls—they're more vulnerable than the others. We can't abandon them. If sacrificing myself gives them a future, then I'll marry!" Shui Bing'er staggered away from her mother and sister.

She didn't even know how she got back to her room. As soon as she did, she buried herself in bed and cried.

Shui Yue'er leaned against her sister's door, hearing her crying from inside, heartbroken. She'd never seen her strong sister like this.

But her own strength was far too weak. Unless a Title Douluo intervened, no one could stand up for her sister.

Currently, the only Title Douluos in the Heaven Dou Empire were from the three upper clans, and they were unlikely to turn against the empire for Shui Bing'er—it simply wasn't worth it.

…

At this moment, on distant Seven Treasure Mountain, Ning Fengzhi also learned of the situation in Heaven Dou City. He had acted timidly these past years, but never neglected important matters.

With an intelligence network built by the Speed Clan, he knew about everything happening on the continent.

Reading the latest report, Ning Fengzhi said slyly, "Heh, Xue Beng wants to marry Shui Bing'er? What a coincidence. If it was a month earlier, I'd have been helpless, but now, of all times!"

"I've met Shui Bing'er—she's a potential Title Douluo, more talented than anyone on the Emperor Battle Team except Tianlin, even before taking any immortal herbs," Yin Yang, head of intelligence, said. Not knowing such a prodigy would have been shameful.

"Also, Shui Bing'er is a friend of Old Yang, right? He spoke highly of her kindness and excellence last time he returned," Dugu Bo recalled. He and Yang Wudi were in the same department and had heard Yang mention her many times.

Ning Fengzhi smiled, "Exactly. I've known for a while that Old Yang and Shui Bing'er are close. This can be used. Old Yang is currently making medicine for her, and the timing of the finished pills coincides with the wedding. He won't be leaving soon. Spread the word: no one is to tell Old Yang about Shui Bing'er marrying Xue Beng until the wedding day."

"Fengzhi, you're trying to stir up trouble?" Gu Rong stared.

Yang Wudi had a temper—he'd once fought Spirit Hall to the death. If he learned his friend was being forced to marry someone she disliked, he'd definitely act, maybe even attack Heaven Dou's capital.

And if Ning Fengzhi deliberately waited until the wedding day to tell him, things would get even worse—wasn't this just asking for Yang Wudi to crash the wedding?

Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "It's not enough yet. Uncle Ying, collect all evidence of Xue Beng's past crimes and make sure Old Yang sees it."

"Fengzhi, do you realize Yang Wudi is part of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? If he disrupts the crown prince's wedding, it'll be a total break with the royal family. Haven't you been keeping a low profile these last few years? Did you eat something weird?" Gu Rong was baffled by Ning Fengzhi's plan.

"Uncle Bone, I kept a low profile before to avoid disturbing Tianlin's closed-door training. But you all saw the phenomenon a few days ago—that was proof Tianlin broke through to level 90. Now that he's reached Title Douluo, our sect has rested long enough—it's time to act."

"For Tianlin, who's already a Title Douluo, the royal family is no longer useful. This is the perfect chance to openly break with them. I estimate Tianlin will come out of seclusion any day now; then I'll have him support Yang Wudi. Let the royal family become Tianlin's first sacrifice as a Title Douluo." Ning Fengzhi grinned.

For years, Ning Fengzhi had intentionally annoyed the royal family to distance himself from them. But both he and Tianlin valued their reputations—they needed a legitimate reason, a step-by-step approach, to justify breaking away.

If they made a scene at Xue Beng's wedding, he doubted Emperor Xue Ye could stay calm; even if he didn't openly attack, he'd certainly make moves in secret. That would justify their actions.

Ning Fengzhi also had a deeper plan: to take over the Elemental Academies.

After the continental war, Ning Fengzhi planned to build the largest academy in the unified central continent—an institution dedicated solely to teaching, like Shrek Academy in later generations, to cultivate talent. The Elemental Academies had great teachers and could lay a solid foundation.

Chapter 434: Yang Wudi's Fury; Tianlin Rushes for His Second Million-Year Soul Ring

A month passed quickly, and the entire Heaven Dou City was decorated for the wedding the next day.

Under royal pressure, Shui Bing'er finally gave in. She had no choice but to marry Xue Beng.

Even the deans of Blazing Fire and God Wind Academies personally tried to persuade her, saying that becoming the empress would greatly benefit the Elemental Academies. As Shui Qingwu predicted, the two deans weren't heartless, but they bore the future of countless children—so they had to sacrifice Shui Bing'er.

…

"Haha, the pill is done!" In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's medicine hall, Yang Wudi was overjoyed. Using the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb, he'd mutated the Snow Silkworm and, after a month of refining, finally produced the Snow Spirit Pill.

The pill didn't boost power much, but greatly purified ice-attribute soul power, making skills stronger and easier to control. With it, Shui Bing'er would fully master the Ice Phoenix.

Just as he celebrated, some disciples began gossiping about the crown prince's misdeeds. This annoyed Yang Wudi, who wondered why people kept talking about Xue Beng in front of him.

He was sick of it. Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince was a disaster.

Dugu Bo deliberately had people accidentally reveal such things to him—Ning Fengzhi's idea. If it were anyone else, they'd have realized it was too deliberate, clearly meant to make him dislike Xue Beng.

Dugu Bo would even say, if his friend or granddaughter were forced to marry someone like Xue Beng, he'd storm the palace. Any real man would.

Ning Fengzhi wanted to rile Yang Wudi up, to make him act—preferably to tear down the palace and take care of Xue Beng.

After storing the pill, Yang Wudi left for the mountainside, where he'd arranged to meet Shui Bing'er. He waited all day, but she didn't show.

"That's odd. She's always punctual. Could something have happened?" Yang Wudi wondered. Since she didn't come, he decided to head to Heaven Dou City to find her.

He was always a man of action and immediately descended the mountain the fastest way—jumping down.

At that moment, a dark figure stealthily followed him—it was Bone Douluo Gu Rong, sent by Ning Fengzhi to protect him, since Tianlin still hadn't come out of seclusion.

If Tianlin wasn't ready, Yang Wudi would be in mortal danger, so Gu Rong was the backup plan, even if it meant delaying their takeover of the Elemental Academies.

As for Shui Bing'er, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help her—maybe marrying Xue Beng was her fate.

In fact, Tianlin was ready to come out at any time. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's requirement for an 800,000+ year god-given soul ring was long met; it was now at 999,999 years. Tianlin was breaking through to a million years.

The red soul ring with nine golden stripes now showed a tenth, its color transforming from red to dark gold.

Although six gods had made the ring, the Asura God shaped it, so its color matched his power.

"Xiao Tian, almost done! Hang in there!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was excited. Tianlin's soul bone armor had greatly increased his endurance—he could now bear a second million-year soul ring.

A million-year soul ring was on a completely different level from a nine-hundred-thousand-year one—equal to a god ring. If successful, Tianlin's actual combat power would be astonishing.

"Uncle Tianlin is amazing. He's far beyond Xiaobai now, maybe even on par with my mother," Xiaobai admired Tianlin greatly—among soul beasts, the strong are respected.

…

Yang Wudi reached Heaven Dou City in less than half an hour—nothing for a Soul Douluo.

He was puzzled by the city's festive decorations and the "double happiness" characters on every door.

He found a Speed Clan disciple who gathered intelligence in the city. "Hey, I'm Yang Wudi, vice head of the medicine hall. What's going on here—some kind of mass wedding?"

"Sir, it's not a mass wedding. The crown prince is getting married, and the entire city is to celebrate by royal decree," the disciple replied.

"By royal decree? So Xue Beng, after all his misdeeds, now wants to settle down?" Yang Wudi sneered, having heard too much about Xue Beng's bad reputation.

"And who's the bride? Who's so unlucky to marry that guy?"

"It's a girl named Shui Bing'er from Skywater Academy," the disciple answered.

Upon hearing that, Yang Wudi lost it. He grabbed the disciple's collar and roared, "Who? Shui Bing'er? Nonsense! No way she'd fall for Xue Beng!"

The disciple trembled, "Sir, I wouldn't dare lie to you. It's true. The city's been saying Shui Bing'er and the crown prince are in love, and she agreed to the proposal."

"Bullshit!" Yang Wudi shoved him away. "She came to Seven Treasure Mountain every day to avoid Xue Beng—how could they be in love? This is a scheme to force her hand."

He realized it immediately. He was lazy, but not stupid.

"That shameless Xue Beng—I'll kill him today!" Yang Wudi summoned his Breaking Soul Spear and charged toward the palace.

He valued friendship, and after being provoked for days, there was no way he'd let his friend be pushed into the fire.