DD Spiritual Sword [459-461] (Patreon)

Chapter 459: Initiating the Holy Emperor Trial

The descendant of Nuwa nodded with satisfaction. To be able to analyze things to this extent—identifying the enemy, their location, origin, and ultimate goal—Tianlin had deduced everything so clearly.

At the very least, Tianlin didn't have this ability when he first arrived in this world. It seemed that over these years, by following his elders, he had truly learned a lot.

"Xiao Tian, it's not just your strength. Your ability to think has also improved tremendously. In fact, you have another advantage. Do you know what it is?" the Nuwa descendant asked with a smile.

Tianlin nodded. "I do. It's that I know about him, but he doesn't know about me. He doesn't have the original Evil Sword Immortal's memories, only an obsession to return to the Sword Immortal world. That means he doesn't recognize my Holy Spirit Pearl or Demon Sword and knows nothing about me being a transmigrator. Right now, he's really just a somewhat stronger native villain from the Douluo Continent."

"Good. It seems I don't need to worry about the Evil Sword Immortal anymore. With your current strength and wisdom, he's certainly not your match. Now, Xiao Tian, I have one last thing to tell you. After the Holy Spirit Pearl arrived in this world, it adapted to the plane's rules and condensed a divine position on its own. Now that you've reached the Titled Douluo level, you're eligible to initiate this divine trial. Don't worry, this trial won't affect your Asura God trial, and even the local gods won't detect it. Are you ready?" The Nuwa descendant's demeanor shifted from gentle to awe-inspiring.

"A new divine trial? I'm ready anytime! If Tang San can have two divine thrones, why can't I? Please instruct me, senior!" Tianlin replied confidently. He had always thought about inheriting two divine thrones. If the Nuwa descendant hadn't appeared today, he would have sought out other divine inheritances or found his own path to godhood.

Now that a broad avenue had appeared before him, he had no reason to refuse.

"Very well. Listen carefully, Xiao Tian. This divine throne is called the Holy Emperor. I know you love freedom and don't wish to become an emperor. However, being an emperor doesn't necessarily mean ruling the world. Leading the people, correcting chaos, eliminating evil, and guiding the world into the future also qualifies, just like Nuwa the Human Emperor and Shennong the Earth Emperor." The Nuwa descendant spoke solemnly. In the Sword Immortal world, Nuwa and Shennong were not literal emperors, but they were leaders in the hearts of all beings because they led their peoples to a new future.

"The Holy Emperor divine trial has only one test: to save the world. Lead your family, friends, and loved ones to work together. The day you completely eradicate evil from this world is the day you become emperor."

After speaking, the Holy Spirit Pearl emitted a brilliant golden light onto Tianlin's forehead. Soon, the Asura Sword Mark on Tianlin's forehead was replaced by a crown-shaped symbol.

"This is the Holy Emperor's mark. I believe it will be of great help to you. When you make significant progress, this mark will also grant you rewards on my behalf," said the Nuwa descendant.

"On your behalf?" Tianlin was startled. Suddenly, he noticed that the Nuwa descendant's once-solid figure was gradually dissipating. "Senior, your body!"

"No need to worry. After all, I'm not of this world. Like Jing Tian and Chong Lou, I'm being rejected by this plane. Previously, I hid within the Holy Spirit Pearl, but after intervening just now and initiating the Holy Emperor trial, the world's rules have noticed me. If I force myself to stay, it could cause this plane to collapse."

"Xiao Tian, from now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. I believe you can fulfill our trust. When the time comes, your power will break this world's limits. I'll be waiting for you in my own world, looking forward to seeing you again. Oh, and Chong Lou also said, if you ever want to avenge him, go to Yanbo Spring to find him."

"And Little Bug, thank you for your companionship all these years. I was very happy with you!"

The Nuwa descendant smiled and turned into points of light, returning to her own world.

"Senior, rest assured. We will definitely meet again," Tianlin promised.

"Nuwa descendant elder sister!" Unlike Tianlin, who had only just met her today and felt gratitude, Skydream Ice Silkworm was sobbing uncontrollably. After all, it had lived with her for eight years, often talking and sharing stories from their respective worlds out of boredom.

They were truly like siblings. Now that his sister was leaving, how could he not be sad? No wonder the Nuwa descendant had avoided meeting Tianlin before—because the day they met was also the day they parted.

"Uncle Skydream, that auntie's gone! Don't cry, she said she's just gone home. Xiao Bai will go with you to find her in the future." Xiao Bai patted Skydream Ice Silkworm gently to comfort him.

"Xiao Bai is right, Brother Skydream. I promise you, I'll take you to the Sword Immortal world to see her one day," Tianlin said firmly. The person he owed most was the Nuwa descendant.

After all, his martial soul and techniques were all granted by her. He was determined to fulfill her request.

"Xiao Tian, let's work even harder at cultivating now. First, absorb the Spirit Pearl, then head to Slaughter City to complete your Asura God trial," said Skydream Ice Silkworm.

"Alright!" A flash of light appeared on Tianlin's forehead, the mark switching back from the Holy Emperor crown to the Asura Sword. Now he could freely choose which divine power to use. Although the Holy Emperor was much stronger, Tianlin was more skilled in controlling the Asura mark, having already completed five Asura trials.

He could even use some Asura Light. In battle, the Asura mark was still more practical for him now.

Tianlin took out three Spirit Pearls. "Brother Skydream, I have water, fire, and wind pearls. Senior said to absorb one per year. Which should I choose now?"

Skydream knew the Five Spirit Immortal Arts, so it considered and replied, "I suggest water or fire. The other aspects of the Five Spirit Arts are similar, but the auxiliary skills differ most. If you choose water, you'll unlock the Immortal Cold Realm spell to boost energy defense. Combined with the earth element's physical defense spell, you'd be nearly invincible."

"The fire element's Sky Fiend Battle Aura, on the other hand, can double your already powerful attack strength," Skydream analyzed.

"So, one is absolute stability, the other is all-out offense!" Tianlin mused. "In that case, I'll absorb fire. Though sometimes it's better to play safe, I need speed now—I can't waste time against the likes of Tang Chen."

"Then don't hesitate—absorb the soul ring now!" urged Skydream. The faster Tianlin grew stronger, the sooner it could see its sister again.

Chapter 460: Absorbing the Fire Spirit Pearl, Return to Slaughter City

In his room, Tianlin transformed the Fire Spirit Pearl into a red-gold soul ring and began absorbing it.

The ring fused with Tianlin like it was always part of him, causing him no harm. He just needed to ensure that his body's attributes didn't exceed their limits from the pearl's power.

Ning Fengzhi's Soul Guidance and Bone Tempering method worked again. Most of the energy was used to boost his attributes; the rest tempered his soul bones.

After tempering with the Earth and Fire Spirit Pearls, Tianlin's two previously lower-aged soul bones—the 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor Left Arm Bone and the 100,000-year Gale Demon Wolf Right Leg Bone—should both rise to 300,000 years.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's right arm bone could also surpass 500,000 years.

The Nuwa descendant once said that to maximize the soul bone armor's power, Tianlin's skull and trunk bone needed to reach one million years, and the limb bones needed to surpass 500,000 years each. For Tianlin now, this wasn't impossible—he still had three more Spirit Pearls to absorb.

The real problem was the trunk bone. A million-year trunk bone was hard to find. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King had enough cultivation, and with some tempering, could break through a million years.

But according to the Sea God's Nine Trials, that would be Ning Rongrong's final test, and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was perfect for her soul ring. Tianlin didn't want to take it from his wife, so he'd have to find another way.

An hour later, the Fire Spirit Pearl's soul ring was fully absorbed, unlocking fire-element immortal arts.

Four new soul skills:

Sky Fiend Battle Aura: Group buff, doubles attack power, can stack with other martial soul buffs.

Purgatory Sea of Fire: Large-area fire attack, able to burn everything before it.

Fire Shield: Complete immunity to fire attacks, can reflect them or absorb fire energy to power up the next attack.

Summon God—Fire God: This Fire God is not the native Douluo one, but a deity from the Sword Immortal world, sealed within the Fire Spirit Pearl.

Tianlin finished his practice. Although the Spirit Pearls gave him huge benefits, they had drawbacks: they didn't directly increase his soul power like regular soul rings did. He was still stuck at level 94, with a slightly loosened bottleneck, but it wasn't something he could break through quickly.

After spending another month refining his soul bones, Tianlin had no time for further seclusion. Nearly three years had passed since Ning Rongrong went to Sea God Island.

He recalled that, in the Sea God's Nine Trials, only the first and third (crossing the Sea God's Light and tide-body refining) took a lot of time, about a year each.

The second, fourth, fifth, and sixth were all combat tests and didn't take long. By now, Ning Rongrong should be almost at her sixth test. Tianlin needed to quickly defeat Tang Chen and bring him to Sea God Island.

At dawn, Tianlin checked out of his rented room and left the small city, heading toward Slaughter City. With his current strength, he was confident he could handle the King of Slaughter.

After all, even though the King of Slaughter possessed Tang Chen's martial soul, soul power, and soul bones, he lacked Tang Chen's combat experience and couldn't use his signature skills like Ring Explosion or the Great Sumeru Hammer. At most, he could wield 70-80% of Tang Chen's power.

Returning to the familiar gloomy town, the bar at the gate looked the same, with a few degenerates guzzling Bloody Marys, each eager to enter Slaughter City.

But the bartender had changed. Being a bartender at the entrance to Slaughter City was a high-risk job—one could be killed by crazed degenerates at any time.

"Hello, what can I get you?" The bartender greeted Tianlin expressionlessly.

"Entry to Slaughter City," Tianlin said directly.

The bartender nodded. "Then please drink a Bloody Mary first. I'll prepare it for you."

The rules hadn't changed: entry required drinking blood.

Tianlin had refused before, and now he was even less interested. He grabbed the bartender by the collar. "If you don't want to die, just let me in."

"Heh, a pretty boy and so arrogant! But he's a newcomer afraid to drink a Bloody Mary—he looks delicious. I wonder how his blood tastes?" A burly man licked his lips, eyeing Tianlin greedily.

His lackeys also looked hungry. Not even inside Slaughter City yet, they were already addicted to Bloody Marys. Such people wouldn't last long in there.

Tianlin glanced at them. The leader's name was marked black, the others purple—though tinged with black.

In Tianlin's view, yellow meant "shouldn't be killed, just taught a lesson." Purple was optional—depending on whether they'd repent and atone. Black meant absolutely unforgivable—they must die.

"One who must die, plus a bunch who refuse to repent—I don't need to be polite." Tianlin's eyes flashed as a terrifying killing intent erupted.

The burly man and his lackeys felt as if they were in hell. Their blood froze and their bones snapped—Tianlin could now use killing intent as a physical attack.

In an instant, they were all dead with no remains.

"Deathgod Domain?" The bartender was terrified. "You're a Deathgod who passed the Road to Hell."

"That's right. You've heard of the name 'Sword Asura,' haven't you?" Tianlin said coldly.

"Youngest ever hundred-victory champion, became a legend in Slaughter City in just two years…" The bartender, a Slaughter City outsider, naturally knew the name. "My apologies, sir! I didn't realize it was you. I'll open the gate right away."

Tianlin released the bartender, who nervously went to the bar, switched a hidden mechanism, and opened the entrance to Slaughter City.

Tianlin jumped in, passing through a sea of corpses to the city gate. He took out his 9527 token from his soul tool.

The two armored guards at the gate, seeing this, immediately opened the gate, thinking he was just a new outsider.

Stepping inside, the outer city looked the same as before—dark and lifeless, without a glimmer of light. But the population had dropped sharply. Where once there were starving, skin-and-bones people barely surviving, now only a few scattered figures remained.

Chapter 461: The Strange Changes in Slaughter City

"Welcome to Slaughter City!"

As soon as Tianlin entered, he heard a familiar female voice—the veiled woman who always guided newcomers.

She came to fulfill her duty upon learning someone had entered.

When she saw Tianlin's face, she was shocked. "You're… the Deathgod, Sword Asura!"

"Long time no see, Miss Hell Envoy. Has Slaughter City changed a lot? Where did all the people from the outer city go?" Tianlin asked with a smile.

"They died, unable to get Bloody Marys or protection," she replied nervously. "Lord Sword Asura, may I ask why you've come to Slaughter City today? This place isn't for someone like you."

"You seem afraid of my return," Tianlin noticed. Years ago, he'd left with only a rank in the 60s. People would assume he was only level 70-something now.

A Soul Sage in their 70s, even with soul skills, would be nothing in Slaughter City. Besides the King, there were Contra and a Titled Douluo among the enforcers.

If she wanted to force him out, she could have called them. Instead, she was overly cautious—the only explanation was that she knew he was now a Titled Douluo.

But Slaughter City was isolated. How did she know?

"It's the rules—Deathgods can come and go as they please. I just miss the Hell Slaughter Arena. Can't I check it out? Take me to the inner city," Tianlin said, heading in.

The veiled woman tried to stop him, but Tianlin vanished in a flash. She knew she was powerless to stop him.

"Damn it, stubborn Sword Asura! If you insist on courting death, I'll report to the King—let's see who prevails!" Her face twisted. She knew that if Tianlin reached the inner city and arena, the city's secret would be exposed.

So, Tianlin had to die.

Shaking her off, Tianlin entered the inner city, which looked the same as before—full of debauchery and vice.

But Tianlin noticed the population had dropped. Even the street killings had lessened. Some people eyed Tianlin, eager to kill, but seemed to restrain themselves, as if wary of something.

"Is this still Slaughter City?" Tianlin wondered. A city where no one dared kill didn't live up to its name.

"Xiao Tian, something's wrong. The atmosphere here is totally different—the people's behavior and the place itself. Feel carefully: what's missing?" Skydream Ice Silkworm prompted.

Tianlin released his spiritual sense. "Seems normal—the Asura Domain and Rakshasa God's power cover the city. Wait, only Rakshasa God's power? The Asura domain is here, but I can't sense any Asura divine power."

That was a problem. As a divine successor, entering a god's legacy site, he should sense the god's aura—like Qian Renxue with Angel God or Ning Rongrong with Sea God.

Suddenly, the Asura mark on Tianlin's forehead flashed, and the Asura God's voice sounded: "That's right, my successor. I had you investigate because I lost all control over Slaughter City—even my domain's power is gone."

"Asura God, so you noticed this anomaly and sent me?" Tianlin asked.

"Exactly. I created this place, but my divine sense couldn't enter. Tang Chen's trial has failed, and I can't contact him. Only now that you're here can I observe through the Asura mark. I never expected to lose all my power here."

"Now, besides that detestable Rakshasa, there's a very evil aura here. Be careful. My true self is in the God Realm and can't help, but with your current strength, you should be fine." The Asura God was confident—few could match Tianlin now.

"Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this," Tianlin promised.

He suspected it was related to the new Evil Sword Immortal. For both the Asura and Holy Emperor trials, he had to investigate.

"Good, I leave it to you, my successor!" The Asura mark faded as the god withdrew his divine sense.

Tianlin headed deeper into the inner city, towards the core—Hell Slaughter Arena.

Unlike other areas, this place still reeked of blood, with roars often echoing from within.

There was an entrance fee—Bloody Marys.

Tianlin couldn't be bothered; his figure flickered as he entered like the wind. The waiting crowd only felt a breeze.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!!"

The roars from the Hell Slaughter Arena were just as fierce as before—a new round of slaughter had begun.