DD Spiritual Sword [468-470] (Patreon)

Chapter 468: Slaying the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King

Just as Skydream Ice Silkworm was feeling smug, Tianlin frowned.

"Brother Skydream, don't let your guard down. I doubt Evil Sword Immortal is truly dead. Just now, he seemed to switch to Bibi Dong's appearance in an instant. If I'm right, he must also possess Bibi Dong's undying body. Even though my Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit Slash barely reached god-level, it hasn't completely surpassed the limits of that immortality due to my cultivation. He's likely just badly injured and hiding somewhere."

Skydream was startled. "Right, since this guy was created by Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong, he must have inherited her powers too. That undying body is a real headache—practically unkillable."

"Well, a big boss that's too easy to kill wouldn't feel real anyway. Even if he's not dead, he won't recover soon and will have to hide for a while. That's enough." Tianlin wasn't too disappointed, and throughout, he hadn't revealed much about himself.

Evil Sword Immortal's biggest weakness compared to Tianlin was a lack of information. He didn't have the memories of the previous Evil Sword Immortal's past life, only an obsession about returning to the Sword Immortal world to take revenge someday. He knew nothing of the Holy Spirit Pearl, Demon Sword, or Demon-Suppressing Sword, nor that Tianlin had inherited the Sword Immortal world's legacy or was a transmigrator—Tianlin's greatest advantages. Dealing with Evil Sword Immortal was no harder than facing a native Douluo Continent expert.

Tianlin slowly descended from the air. When he was ten meters above the ground, he could no longer hold himself up and fell, gasping for breath.

"Xiao Tian, are you okay?" Skydream asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. I just used up too much energy fighting four powerful opponents in a row. Especially the last Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit Slash—it nearly drained me dry. I can't even use my ultimate curse to recover now," Tianlin said weakly. "Luckily, I knocked out the Slaughter King and sealed the Demon Spear Douluo. I need to recover some soul power fast."

Tianlin sat cross-legged and began meditating. Skydream noticed that Tianlin's biggest flaw was his lack of cultivation. The Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit Slash was indeed earth-shattering, even more powerful than Di Tian's Dragon God Claw, but Tianlin could only use it once; afterwards, he was completely drained, unable to use even recovery skills. Di Tian, on the other hand, could use the Dragon God Claw as a regular attack.

Unless Tianlin used sneak attacks like just now, he was still a bit behind Di Tian and Evil Sword Immortal in a direct fight. He had to find a way to increase his cultivation quickly. Once he reached Ultimate Douluo, he should be able to use the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit Slash multiple times.

An hour later, Tianlin had recovered about 20% of his strength—enough for now. He stood up and used the Demon Sword's eighth soul skill, Extreme Curse Returns Yin and Yang, instantly restoring himself to full strength.

Tianlin walked over to the Slaughter King, summoned the Holy Spirit Pearl, and said, "Tang Chen, I'll free you now. First Soul Skill: Five-Elemental Purification!"

Light from the Orb shone on Tang Chen, waking him up with a painful howl as his body smoked and turned red. Actually, the real target of the Five-Elemental Purification was the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King inside him. Tianlin's goal was to force the Bat King out of Tang Chen's body.

Suddenly, Tang Chen's skin split open with many wounds, and dark red blood spurted out, gathering in the air to form a giant nine-headed bat. The Bat King had been parasitizing Tang Chen, able to turn itself into blood and enter a host's body through wounds, taking control from within.

In the original story, it was forcibly purified by the Sea God's Light and had no chance to escape, but Tianlin hadn't used his full power, giving it a slim chance at survival. Unfortunately, even that hope was about to be taken away.

Since this Bat King was Tang Chen's eighth trial, Tianlin decided to finish it for him, to prevent it from parasitizing someone else and helping Evil Sword Immortal again.

Using his teleportation skill, Tianlin appeared in front of the Bat King and slashed down. "Annihilate the Three Realms!"

This was the Seven Kills Sword technique under the Sword of Annihilation, ten times stronger than the Seven Kills Sword Dao. The Bat King's body and nine heads began to disintegrate under Tianlin's strike.

The Bat King was originally powerful—on par with the strongest beasts of the Star Dou Forest, worthy of being the eighth Asura trial. But it had already been gravely injured earlier, nearly burned to death by the Five-Elemental Purification, and now its remaining strength was less than a Soul Douluo's. It stood no chance against Tianlin's sword.

"Screee!" 

The Bat King screamed in pain, but Tianlin showed no mercy. For decades it had controlled Tang Chen's body and committed countless atrocities, causing tens of thousands of deaths through the Slaughter City's minions. It deserved its fate.

With its death, a blood-red soul ring and a piece of soul bone appeared before Tianlin. The ring had four gold stripes.

"Who would've thought this Bat King had over 400,000 years of cultivation? Too bad, Xiao Tian, your Demon Sword's soul rings are full, and the Holy Spirit Pearl can't absorb such an evil ring. What a waste!" Skydream sighed. A 400,000-year soul ring was a treasure for most, but now it could only be left to dissipate.

Tianlin shook his head. "Nothing to be done." He waved his hand, dispersing the soul ring to avoid the frustration of being unable to absorb it.

But there was still the soul bone. Tianlin grabbed it—it was a left leg bone, the only spot he was missing. "Nice, I'll absorb this later to perfect my soul bone armor," he said, satisfied.

Back on the ground, Tianlin fed Tang Chen a pill for minor healing, enough to keep him alive. He could have fully healed Tang Chen with the Extreme Curse Returns Yin and Yang, but there was no need—after all, Tang San and Tang Hao had both died because of him, and if Tang Chen knew, he'd turn against Tianlin.

Tianlin needed Tang Chen to live a bit longer, just to fulfill his promise to Bo Saixi. After that, Tang Chen's body, ravaged by the Bat King's poison, would soon fail—Tianlin's medicine could only delay it; when the effect wore off, Tang Chen would die.

Chapter 469: A Deal with Tang Chen—The New Slaughter King

After brief treatment, Tang Chen slowly opened his eyes and looked at the unfamiliar Tianlin. "Who are you?"

"I am Jun Tianlin, the new Asura God inheritor," Tianlin replied. "Tang Chen, I've completed what you couldn't—killed the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King. But your time is short. Any last words?"

"Is that so? The new Asura inheritor… So strong at such a young age. I was never your equal. What do I have left to say?" Tang Chen sighed.

"Do you have any unfulfilled wishes? I can try to help," Tianlin asked, though he already knew Tang Chen's wish but wanted him to say it himself for maximum benefit.

"A wish?" Tang Chen thought, then said, "Just one. I want to see Bo Saixi on Sea God Island one last time. I've wronged her—she must have waited so long for me."

Tang Chen's fate was even worse than in the original: now, with poison in his body, soul power exhausted, and his limbs broken by Tianlin, he couldn't move at all.

"Sea God Island is far. Frankly, I doubt your body can make it," Tianlin said.

"Young man, I've never begged anyone, but I beg you now. I don't have much to offer, but I have six soul bones. If you fulfill my last wish, you can take them all, including a 100,000-year one."

That's what Tianlin had been waiting for. He knew the only thing Tang Chen could offer was his soul bones. Though he could take them now, Tang Chen would die, ruining his promise to Bo Saixi. If he took them after reaching Bo Saixi, he'd risk making her an enemy. Only by Tang Chen's voluntary offer could Tianlin avoid trouble.

Tianlin cupped his hands. "Since you're so sincere, I'll help you. I'll use a seal to slow the poison. Once we reach Sea God Island, I'll release you. Agree?"

"Fine. As long as I can see her, I'll endure anything."

Tang Chen nodded. Tianlin then used a dark gold seal on him, but before sealing him completely, he noticed a pendant at Tang Chen's waist and used his soul power to draw it over.

It was a hammer-shaped order—Clear Sky Order, the highest token of the Clear Sky Sect. With it, one could become the chief elder and intervene in sect matters. Though Tianlin wasn't a sect member and couldn't control the sect, the token might come in handy later.

Once Tang Chen was sealed, Skydream smirked, "Well done, Xiao Tian. If Tang Chen knew you were always planning to take him to Bo Saixi, he'd die of anger."

"Uncle Tianlin is bad—a liar!" Xiao Bai teased.

"Be good, Xiao Bai. Don't learn from me, or your mother will freeze me to death," Tianlin warned, but didn't care about Skydream's opinion.

He added, "Bad or not, don't forget, Tang San and Tang Hao died because of me. Tang Chen and I are mortal enemies, even if he doesn't know it yet. With enemies, trick them as much as possible."

Tianlin put the sealed Tang Chen into his magic pouch and walked to another crystal—Demon Spear Douluo was still sealed inside.

Tianlin didn't plan to kill him, as he was needed to help manage Slaughter City.

Taking Demon Spear Douluo with him, Tianlin returned to Slaughter City. The veiled girl, having waited for the outcome, saw Tianlin return instead of the Slaughter King and was briefly surprised.

"Congratulations, Your Grace, on your victory and gaining control of Slaughter City," she said respectfully, recognizing Tianlin as her new master.

"You're really calm for a secretary. Your boss is dead and you barely react?" Tianlin joked.

"I'm used to death. Even if the Slaughter King dies, nothing changes. In Slaughter City, the strong rule, the weak lose all," she replied.

"Well said. You can keep being my secretary—I think you're perfect for the job."

"Your Grace, I'm an emissary, not a secretary!"

She seemed insistent, but Tianlin didn't mind the title. He had more important things to do.

He released Demon Spear Douluo from the soul tool. Demon Spear Douluo realized he was back in Slaughter City and, seeing Tianlin, attacked with his spear.

Tianlin easily grabbed the spear, warning, "Still fighting? You're no match for me. Don't seek death."

"By the Slaughter King's order, I must kill you," Demon Spear Douluo insisted.

Tianlin was troubled. He didn't want to kill him but didn't know what else to do.

The veiled girl explained, "The Demon Spear clan has no independent will. From birth, they're taught only one thing: the Slaughter King is their master, whose orders must be obeyed, guarding Slaughter City forever."

That gave Tianlin an idea. "Demon Spear, I am the new Slaughter King. I order you to stop!"

"New Slaughter King?" Demon Spear paused. Slaughter City had existed for millions of years—it was normal for the King to be replaced. "To prove it, please open Hell Road."

Only the Slaughter King could open Hell Road—a perfect test.

Chapter 470: Reorganizing Slaughter City

"Proof? Sure." Tianlin smiled, following Demon Spear Douluo and the veiled emissary to the Hell Arena.

Slaughter City was created by the Asura God, and as his inheritor, Tianlin also held authority there—just not as much as the King. Now, with the King gone, Tianlin was the sole master.

It wasn't the time for the Slaughter Battle, so the arena was empty. Opening Hell Road required sacrifices, so on the way, Tianlin used his Judgement Eye to catch over a dozen black-named criminals.

In Slaughter City, there were no red-names, but plenty of black and purple. Tianlin had no mercy for these evil-doers.

After disabling their powers, Tianlin killed them. Their blood flowed into channels in the arena, forming the giant blood-red pattern of old.

A red beam shot skyward; entering it opened Hell Road—just as Tianlin had done before.

"Well, Demon Spear Douluo, want to try Hell Road?" Tianlin asked with a smile.

Seeing the gate open, Demon Spear Douluo knelt. "Demon Spear, head of the enforcement team, greets the new Slaughter King!"

"The Slaughter Emissary greets the new King as well," the veiled girl echoed.

These two managed enforcement and administration; with their loyalty, Tianlin fully controlled Slaughter City.

Tianlin used his Judgement Eye to examine them—the veiled girl was white-named, just a neutral secretary and guide. Demon Spear Douluo, surprisingly, was green-named, just like Tianlin.

"You're green?" Tianlin asked in surprise.

Demon Spear was confused. "Uh, My Lord, I don't have a wife, so I can't be green!"

Tianlin was speechless. "You know the other meaning?"

Thinking it through, Tianlin realized Demon Spear had only ever killed evil-doers trying to escape, making him a good guy by default.

"Well, who'd have thought there's a good guy in Slaughter City," Tianlin laughed. Demon Spear hadn't meant to be good, but his actions made him so.

"Demon Spear Douluo, I won't always be here. You and the Emissary will manage Slaughter City for me. I'll give you the Judgement Eye power." Tianlin sent a golden light into Demon Spear's eyes.

"Listen: from now on, observe all the practitioners and fallen ones. White, blue, green, yellow, and purple names—treat them as usual."

"But if you see black-named fallen, increase Hell Arena's difficulty as punishment. If you see blue-named practitioners, help them—good people should grow stronger."

"What about gold and red names?" Demon Spear asked.

Tianlin was deadly serious. "Those two are most important: red-named—kill them at all costs. Gold-named—help them pass Slaughter City's trials at all costs."

"As you command!" they both replied.

The Emissary remarked, "With this, in a hundred years, this will be the City of Judgement, not Slaughter."

Tianlin smiled. "That's good. Slaughter City may trap evil, but it's also been a paradise for them. I don't want people to escape justice just by hiding here."

Dividing authority between Demon Spear and the Emissary, Tianlin headed to the former King's palace to cultivate—he'd gained much recently and planned to absorb the new soul bone to improve further.

…

Meanwhile, in the God Realm, the Rakshasa God sensed her hidden Bat King was destroyed and her authority over Slaughter City lost, infuriated.

"Good, very good, Asura inheritor. I thought Tang Chen was a rare genius, but you're even more troublesome."

If Rakshasa was furious, Asura God couldn't be happier. His inheritor had solved the city's anomaly, defeated the Bat King, and reclaimed Slaughter City—perfectly passing the sixth trial. He decided not to give the seventh test immediately, letting Tianlin train for a few days; soon, he could see the day he handed over his god position.