DD Spiritual Sword [453-455] (Patreon)

Chapter 453: Heavenly Sword Defeats the Ferocious Beasts

Tianlin had just fended off the attacks of the Myriad Demon King and Zi Ji, but now, facing Di Tian's Black Dragon Sword, he no longer had time to swing a third strike. Still, he was far from out of options.

"Holy Demon Protection!"

Tianlin wrapped himself tightly with his six wings. Divine power shielded his body, and dark power guarded his soul. Even though Di Tian's Black Dragon Sword could harm both, it failed to shake Tianlin in the slightest.

Clang!

The Black Dragon Sword struck as if upon the hardest divine iron in the Divine Realm, not leaving so much as a scratch on the Holy Demon Six Wings.

"What?" Di Tian was shocked. No one had ever blocked his Black Dragon Sword so effortlessly. The Holy Demon Angel before him had undoubtedly reached the divine level—and not a weak one at that.

A cold, murderous aura radiated from Tianlin as he brandished his twin swords and charged at Di Tian.

Though he normally used a single sword, he was no stranger to dual swordsmanship. After all, Shu Mountain had its own dual-sword experts, like Li Xiaoyao's disciple Jiang Yunfan, a master who had reached the realm of enlightenment.

In his current form, Tianlin's divine and demonic sword powers converged within him. He could unleash Jiang Yunfan's ultimate move if needed.

But there was no need yet. No matter how strong Di Tian was, he was only at the demigod level. The gulf between him and the divine-level Holy Demon Angel was vast; even normal attacks from Tianlin left Di Tian struggling to keep up.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

None could see Tianlin's form—only countless sword flashes and the tearing sound of sword energy slicing space around Di Tian.

Di Tian's limbs and body began to break apart, bit by bit. Even his tough physique could not withstand the Sword Dao of Destruction in Tianlin's current state.

"Di Tian!" Bi Ji rushed over desperately, radiating emerald light. "Emerald Guard! Jade Defense! Verdant Light Wave!"

Bi Ji's three main support skills came into play:

Emerald Guard transformed enemy attacks into healing for allies.

Jade Defense boosted defense and reflected damage.

Verdant Light Wave was her strongest healing soul skill.

With Bi Ji's help, Di Tian's near-collapsed body rapidly recovered. Tianlin's destructive sword energy even turned into healing, and the powerful Verdant Light Wave restored Di Tian to his peak.

Moreover, Tianlin suffered backlash from his own sword energy and had to halt his attack, giving the beasts a chance to breathe.

"As expected from the strongest support soul beast of this age, Bi Ji. Your healing power is unmatched." Tianlin praised, "But unfortunately, even now you can't stop me. My earlier attack was just a scratch. Now, taste my ultimate—Heavenly Sword!"

Tianlin became one with his sword. The forces of nature gathered to him, and Shu Mountain's mighty area sword techniques merged man and nature, making the attack immeasurable.

"Don't get cocky, human!" Di Tian roared. For hundreds of thousands of years on the Douluo Continent, he had never been forced into such a desperate position by a human.

Abandoning his human form, Di Tian transformed into his true body, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King. His massive form rivaled Tianlin's sword-fused form.

But their powers were not equal: one was divine, the other at best half-divine.

"No way, Di Tian can't win. I must help him!" Zi Ji also transformed into her true body—a Hell Demon Dragon—slightly smaller than Di Tian, and joined the fight.

The Myriad Demon King and Bi Ji followed. The king tried to restrain Tianlin with vines, while Bi Ji did her utmost to support her allies.

Even Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, ignoring their injuries, stepped up to help. Though their fighting power was diminished, their bodies remained tough, able to absorb some damage for Di Tian's group.

Who would have thought these beasts could cooperate so well one day?

Of course, there was also the coward—Demon Spirit. Seeing Di Tian losing to the Holy Demon Angel, it took the opportunity, while the others charged, to escape in the opposite direction.

Its morals were as dark as its attributes.

Tianlin ignored it, uninterested, since neither the Spirit Pearl nor the Demon Suppressing Sword was with it.

He fixed his gaze on the other beasts. The Heavenly Sword finally began its descent upon the forest.

Facing four great beasts and the two kings of the forest, the Heavenly Sword's power was overwhelming.

Di Tian's Dragon God Claw, Zi Ji's dragon breath, Myriad Demon King's vines, Sky Azure Bull Python's lightning, and Titan Giant Ape's heavy punches—all were reduced to ashes as the sword swept past. Bi Ji had no time to heal them.

….

"Divine power!"

At the center of the Lake of Life, the retreating Silver Dragon King suddenly opened her eyes, sensing a divine force.

But gods could not descend into the lower realm at will. Was the Divine Realm breaking its own rules just to wipe out the soul beasts?

Di Tian and the others were actually fighting a divine-level opponent. How could they possibly win?

"Even if I have to die, I'll bring you gods down with me!" the Silver Dragon King roared. Though she couldn't show herself yet, with the power of the Thunder Spirit Pearl, her lightning attribute had almost recovered, allowing her to unleash divine-level power from afar, nearly reaching first-level godhood.

…

All the beasts were now gravely wounded by the Heavenly Sword. As sword energy was about to strike the land, Tianlin shouted, "Rise!"

He redirected all the sword energy skyward; otherwise, this strike would have destroyed at least half of Star Dou Forest.

"So strong! I never thought that, with the Saintess and Jun Tianlin joining forces, their combat power would be this terrifying." Spirit Kite Douluo was in awe.

Holy Dragon Douluo nodded. "If the Saintess could be with Jun Tianlin, Douluo Continent would be ours, under the control of Spirit Hall."

"Hmph, you must be joking. Jun Tianlin is our greatest enemy! We're only cooperating today out of necessity. The next time we meet on the battlefield, it'll be a fight to the death!" Chrysanthemum Douluo could never accept such an alliance; he hated Tianlin, who had killed Old Ghost with his own hands.

"Elder Chrysanthemum is right. No matter how compatible they seem, they are still our enemies. We must know where we stand." Bibi Dong warned. She had suffered in the past from not understanding her place.

But Bibi Dong knew things were now different. The events of the past would not repeat: she was not Qian Xunji, Qian Renxue was not her old self, and Tianlin was no waste like the old Grandmaster.

If the three joined forces, they could suppress all others.

But for that, she would have to give up unifying Douluo Continent and have Spirit Hall fully support the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—which she was unwilling to do, after years of preparation.

Still, the current situation wasn't bad. Even if she lost in the future, with Tianlin's feelings for Qian Renxue, at least her daughter would be safe. That was enough.

Chapter 454: Holy Demon Angel vs. Gu Yuena—Descendant of Nuwa Makes a Move

Because Tianlin had redirected the sword energy, Di Tian and the other beasts were injured but not dead, temporarily unable to fight, much like Sky Azure Bull Python.

"Di Tian, who would have thought we'd be wiped out by humans?" Zi Ji said bitterly.

"It doesn't matter. If we die, so be it. But like this, we have no face to see Lord Dragon God." Di Tian was not afraid of death. Dying at the hands of a divine-level opponent wasn't shameful, but he worried for the soul beasts' future.

If the beasts were wiped out, what would happen when humans hunted soul beasts as they had before? The soul beasts would soon be extinct.

"Di Tian, I can spare your lives," Tianlin suddenly said, "but you must return what's mine."

"What's yours? You've been saying we took something of yours. What are you talking about?" Zi Ji demanded. She had no memory of meeting this youth before, much less stealing from him.

"It's those Spirit Pearls and that sword. Zi Ji, didn't you notice? This boy's two martial souls are two of the legendary Spirit Pearls and Divine Sword from back then. The rest of the pearls fell into our hands." Di Tian had realized this all along. To him, once treasures entered the Lake of Life, they became theirs, regardless of the original owner.

He just hadn't expected the original owner to come back—this powerful.

"That's right. I've already reclaimed the Earth and Fire Pearls from Bear Lord and Scarlet King. Three pearls and the Demon Suppressing Sword remain in your hands. Return them, and I swear not to harm you today." Tianlin promised.

"If you want to take them, you'll have to have the strength!" At that moment, a crisp, angry female voice echoed from the sky.

"Master!" Di Tian and the soul beasts rejoiced—had their master emerged?

Bibi Dong and the others were shocked. These beasts were already strong—who knew they had a master? Just how many secrets did Star Dou Forest hide?

"Hmph, Silver Dragon King, you've come out too? But why the arrogance? How much power do you still have left?" Tianlin looked toward the voice, smiling. Facing the soul beast master, he showed no fear.

The Silver Dragon King hesitated. "You know me? Judging by your auras, you are inheritors of the Asura and Angel Gods. Did they tell you about me?"

"Damn enforcers! It was the Asura God who killed Lord Dragon God with his sword, and now they send you to wipe out the soul beasts!"

The Silver Dragon King was furious. She had wanted revenge, but now the gods had sent someone to kill them.

Tianlin shook his head. "You misunderstand. The Asura God never wanted to harm you again. I came here of my own will, not on his orders. I just want my Spirit Pearls and Divine Sword back. Return them, and I'll never disturb you again."

"Hmph, impossible. Those pearls are our treasures now. If they were yours, I'll just kill you and make them ownerless again!" The Silver Dragon King's domineering nature showed; in the soul beast world, the strong take from the weak.

Tianlin frowned. He had been patient, but if they didn't listen, he would not hold back. "Then show me how much power you have left!"

"Die! Thunderlight Annihilation!" A terrifying bolt of lightning shot from the Lake of Life toward Tianlin.

Tianlin sensed a power unlike soul power—spiritual power—stronger even than his Heavenly Sword.

"So, you're using the Thunder Spirit Pearl's power for a blow matching a first-level god. But using my pearl against me—how naive!" Light flared from both of Tianlin's hands as Angel and Asura powers merged to form a giant, hundreds-meter-long light blade.

"Skydome Void Blade!"

Unlike the group-attack Heavenly Sword, this was a single-target strike, far more powerful.

The light blade swung, turning day to night; this sword could cut through light itself.

"Slash!"

The blade and lightning collided. As the two forces clashed, the whole forest trembled.

The Silver Dragon King hesitated. She hadn't expected Tianlin to unleash such power. If this attack exploded in Star Dou Forest, everything would be destroyed, and all soul beasts would die at her hands.

"What a terrifying sword art! I never imagined his swordsmanship was this profound!" Di Tian, a sword expert himself, had never heard of Shu Mountain sword techniques. Regardless, both the Heavenly Sword and Skydome Void Blade far surpassed his Black Dragon Sword. If it weren't for Tianlin's limited strength, even without fusion skills, Di Tian wouldn't be a match.

Now, neither side could hold back. Tianlin feared breaking his promise to Qian Renxue—if these powers exploded, everyone in the forest except him, Qian Renxue, and the Silver Dragon King would die.

"This is madness! So many lives will be lost!" At that moment, a gentle, slightly exasperated voice sounded in Tianlin's soul.

Tianlin was shocked—apart from Skydream Iceworm and Xiao Bai, someone else had been hiding in his spiritual sea all these years, undetected.

"Universe Thought Realm!"

Several rings suddenly appeared in the sky, enveloping the collision point and forming a strange space.

Both powers hit their limit and exploded, but the rings contained the blast within a small area, causing less damage than a chainsaw.

"What's going on?" Tianlin and the Silver Dragon King were stunned. They had gone all out, but these mysterious rings suppressed both attacks.

The Silver Dragon King didn't know where the rings came from, but Tianlin did—they came from his spiritual sea, and only he had heard the woman's voice.

What kind of being lived in his spiritual sea?

"Xiao Tian, I'll answer your questions later. For now, use this chance to reclaim the Spirit Pearls," the woman said telepathically.

Tianlin nodded inwardly. Since she had helped him and never harmed him all these years, she was likely not an enemy—if she was, he'd be dead already, unable to resist someone of her level.

Chapter 455: Threat and Counterthreat

The recent clash had ended in a draw, the explosion contained by the descendant of Nuwa's Universe Thought Realm. Still, both Tianlin and the Silver Dragon King were greatly drained.

Tianlin and Qian Renxue's fusion had ended; Tianlin had only about ten percent of his soul power left, while Qian Renxue, with less profound strength, was on the verge of collapse. The Silver Dragon King, having forced out nearly first-level god power with the Thunder Spirit Pearl, suffered backlash and her old wounds reopened—she was not the pearl's true owner.

At this point, she likely couldn't launch another attack.

Tianlin calmly held Qian Renxue and looked toward the Lake of Life. "Silver Dragon King, do you regret fighting me? If not for someone's intervention, your Star Dou Forest would have been destroyed by your own hand."

"I never expected a human could unleash near-first-level god power. Truly surprising. Who helped just now?" The Silver Dragon King still felt fear and gratitude for the mysterious benefactor who had saved her people—but also dread at their overwhelming strength.

Tianlin shook his head. "I don't know. But she seems to dislike conflict."

"Hmph, can you still fight? Your last attack was powerful, but you and your partner have exhausted your power. Though Di Tian and the others can't fight, neither can you or those Title Douluo below. If I order it, I can gather several seventy-thousand-year soul beasts to kill you all." The Silver Dragon King sneered. The advantage was now hers.

As for the mysterious expert, she guessed they belonged to neither side, just someone kind-hearted who didn't want to see mass slaughter. If they were on Tianlin's side, they would have helped sooner.

"Heh. Silver Dragon King, you don't know me. I always keep a trump card. Why do you think I left myself with ten percent soul power?" Tianlin smiled calmly; he'd never leave himself in danger.

The eighth ring of the Demon Sword lit up, enveloping himself and Qian Renxue. "Eighth Soul Skill: Extreme Curse of Yin-Yang Reversal!"

The Demon Sword's light surrounded them, and in moments, their paleness vanished—they were fully restored.

This was the Demon Sword's strongest healing skill, usable on a person once a day. No matter the injury or exhaustion, so long as they lived, all strength, health, and energy would be restored.

"My soul power is back! What an incredible ability!" Qian Renxue couldn't believe her hands. With this, Tianlin's soul power was always double that of his peers.

"So, Silver Dragon King, do you still want to send those seventy- or eighty-thousand-year soul beasts to die at my feet?" Tianlin was at his peak again—the strongest one present.

Beneath the Lake of Life, the Silver Dragon King's face darkened. He had turned the tables again—his cunning matched his strength. "I admit defeat, human. You win this time."

She sighed. "Bi Ji, Zi Ji, hand over the Wind and Water Pearls."

The sisters, reluctant but helpless, obeyed. The Water and Wind Pearls flew to Tianlin, who happily received them—four of the five Spirit Pearls were now his.

Bibi Dong, watching below, was shocked. These pearls resembled the one she owned. Years ago, after her hatred was eased by Qian Renxue, her Rakshasa God affinity had faded, and only the evil in the pearl kept her god power from slipping away.

The pearls could even influence god trials. Bibi Dong knew how powerful they were. Now, Tianlin had several, and had just gained two more. She grew uneasy—his growing strength was bad news for Spirit Hall.

"And the Thunder Spirit Pearl and Demon Suppressing Sword? Hand them over." Tianlin pressed on; this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

"Don't push your luck, human. You have four out of five pearls—enough. I still need the Thunder Pearl, and I'll never give you the sword," the Silver Dragon King said firmly.

The pearls were vital to healing her wounds. Without the Thunder Pearl, she couldn't have unleashed first-level god power.

Originally, her injuries would have taken twenty thousand years to heal. With the pearl, it would only take two hundred—one hundredth the time.

As for the Demon Suppressing Sword, it was even less likely. Its power restrained soul beasts. Even when ownerless, its divine power alone immobilized Demon Spirit. In the hands of a sword master, it would spell disaster for all soul beasts.

Tianlin snapped, "You refuse? Don't forget, your followers are at my mercy. I could kill them now."

"Don't forget, your Spirit Pearls and Sword are in my hands. With the Thunder Pearl, I can use my power to open a space rift—if you kill Di Tian and the others, I'll exile your treasures to another dimension. You can spend thousands of years searching for them," the Silver Dragon King threatened in turn.

But Tianlin, now a Title Douluo with ultimate Douluo strength, was not so easily cowed. "So you'd rather break everything than give in? If that's how it is, there will be no peace between me and the soul beasts. When I reach my next breakthrough, I'll hunt every soul beast down. Until your kind is extinct, I won't rest!"

"You dare!" The Silver Dragon King was truly shaken by his resolve—and he was right. At level 94, he could match Di Tian. If he trained for another decade or two, reaching level 97, neither Di Tian nor the Deep Sea Demon Whale King could stop him. At level 99, even all the beasts together would lose to him—his threat of extinction was no empty boast.