DD Spiritual Sword [496-497] (Patreon)

Chapter 496: Husband and Wife Reunited

Yu Feng spread his wings and flew over the sea, dragging the two-headed Thunder Dragon onto the shore.

Although the Thunder Dragon wasn't dead yet, it was inhaling more than exhaling, clearly badly injured.

"This is really strange. Why would a two-headed Thunder Dragon appear at sea? This is a land soul beast, isn't it?" Yu Tianheng was baffled. Could the family records be wrong, and this dragon is actually amphibious?

"Maybe it was injured on land, then escaped to the sea, and drifted to Sea God Island?" Oslo guessed.

"How is that possible? Every time we take theory exams, you're always last place. Do you even know how far Sea God Island is from the continent? A soul beast entering the sea from land couldn't possibly drift all the way here—if it didn't drown halfway, it'd be eaten by sea soul beasts. Besides, this Thunder Dragon is so badly injured." Dugu Yan dismissed Oslo's impractical guess.

Oslo protested, "Who says I'm always last? I was second-to-last in our graduation exams! I scored two points higher than Xiao Tian!"

"But Xiao Tian isn't here now, so you're first again," Shi Mo mercilessly jabbed.

Oslo was speechless. He suddenly realized how important Tianlin's presence was to him and sighed, "Xiao Tian, where are you? Hurry up and come back—I don't want to be at the bottom!"

Dugu Yan ignored Oslo's antics and asked Yu Tianheng, "Tianheng, regardless of how this Thunder Dragon got here, can you tell how old it is? Is it suitable for you?"

Yu Tianheng nodded, "Of course. My knowledge of soul beasts may not match Lingling's, but when it comes to thunder attributes and sub-dragon types, not even Lingling can beat me. After all, I'm the direct inheritor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon sect."

Unlike Oslo, this was the first time Yu Tianheng wasn't missing Ye Lingling. As long as she wasn't around, he was the number one theorist.

Tianheng observed the two-headed Thunder Dragon's size, skin color, and neck length, then his eyes lit up. "Great, this Thunder Dragon is over seventy thousand years old. It's even more suitable for me than a god-given soul ring!"

With the eighth soul ring settled, everyone was happy for Yu Tianheng. This would greatly enhance his strength and increase his chances of passing the sixth trial.

In the shadows, Tianlin smiled to himself. This Thunder Dragon was, of course, something he'd specially prepared. After injuring it, he sealed it with dark gold and presented it as a gift to Yu Tianheng.

Tianlin knew Tianheng needed a soul beast the most. The others didn't really require a god-given soul ring—there were plenty of sea soul beasts for them to choose from.

But because of the unique requirements of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Tianheng needed a dragon-type soul beast, which was hard to find. That's why Tianlin had gone to Sunset Forest to specifically catch this two-headed Thunder Dragon.

Yu Tianheng killed the dragon and started absorbing the soul ring.

Watching Tianheng absorb the soul ring, Ning Rongrong frowned. This was too much of a coincidence. Rather than say the Thunder Dragon drifted here, it seemed more like someone had sent it on purpose.

Someone was helping them in secret. Who could it be?

"It looks like he's already here," Zhu Zhuqing suddenly came up to Ning Rongrong and smiled.

"Zhuqing, who are you talking about?" Ning Rongrong pretended not to know.

Zhu Zhuqing gave her a teasing glance. "Why pretend? I don't know why he hasn't shown himself, but I think you'll have no problem with your sixth trial. He'll protect you."

Ning Rongrong blushed and nodded. Tianlin's early arrival made her very happy.

That night, Yu Tianheng was still absorbing his soul ring. Dugu Yan stood guard, while Ning Rongrong quietly left the girls' camp and headed into the forest.

If Tianlin was planning to appear during her sixth trial, that would be three days from now—she couldn't wait that long!

"Sword Brother, I know you're here. Come out," Ning Rongrong called softly. She waited for a long time, but there was no response. She felt truly wronged, her lips pouting and tears sparkling in her eyes. "You're clearly here, but you won't see me. Is it because you don't like me anymore? If so, I won't even bother with the sixth trial. I'll just sail home and find you."

Hidden in the shadows, Tianlin was helpless. After all these years, this girl was already twenty, but sometimes still acted like the ten-year-old she used to be.

Especially with him, her stubbornness flared up at the slightest displeasure.

With no other choice, Tianlin had to reveal himself. Otherwise, he feared this little witch might really sail off alone just to force him out.

"Rongrong." Tianlin's voice snapped the sobbing Ning Rongrong back to her senses.

Seeing the husband she'd missed day and night, Ning Rongrong couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into his arms. "Sword Brother, you're so mean! You came but wouldn't see me. You must have fallen for someone else, right? Is it Qian Renxue?"

Tianlin hugged her back and smiled. "Well, Rongrong, as for Qian Renxue, it's not really that I've fallen for her, because I've always liked both of you—eighty percent for you, twenty percent for her."

"You!" Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. So much for deep marital love—three years apart and he's still so blunt! She'd known about this for a long time, but he was still just as shameless as ever.

Unable to vent her anger, Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, showing her little tiger teeth, and bit Tianlin's shoulder. But with her strength, she couldn't even leave a mark on his skin.

"Biting as soon as you see me—truly a little witch," Tianlin laughed, stroking her hair, completely unconcerned.

"Hmph, bullying me just because you're strong. Your skin is as thick as an armored beast's," Ning Rongrong grumbled, then her eyes suddenly brightened as she looked at his lips. "But here, it's thinner."

She leaned in, her breath brushing against his lips, and before Tianlin could react, she pressed a mischievous kiss to the corner of his mouth—though it was more playful than gentle, and her little bite left a faint mark.

...

A while later, Tianlin was covering the corner of his mouth in pain. This little girl was truly ruthless—no matter how strong he was, he hadn't trained this area, and she'd even made him bleed.

But this was just a bit of playful fun between husband and wife, so Tianlin didn't use his Blue Silver Emperor soul bone to heal quickly.

After venting, Ning Rongrong's anger was gone. She leaned into Tianlin's embrace, reluctant to leave.

"Sword Brother, why did you arrive early?"

"Because I calculated it'd soon be time for your sixth trial, so I came early. This trial is different from before—it's dangerous," Tianlin said seriously.

"Dangerous? Why? Senior Bo Saixi is in charge of this trial. She's very powerful, but she's always treated me kindly these past three years. She wouldn't try to kill me, would she?" Ning Rongrong was puzzled.

Chapter 497: Summoning a God, Shifting Fate

"No, she would. Originally, she definitely would, but because of the letter I sent three years ago, now it's only a possibility. I came early to eliminate that final risk." Tianlin told Ning Rongrong the whole story of Bo Saixi and Tang Chen, including how Bo Saixi would have to sacrifice herself when Ning Rongrong reached the ninth Sea God trial.

Ning Rongrong finally understood Bo Saixi's feelings. She was obsessed with her lover. No wonder—if she were in Bo Saixi's shoes, she also wouldn't want to die before seeing Tianlin again.

Although Tianlin had promised to bring Tang Chen to see her, words alone couldn't make Bo Saixi believe it completely.

Ning Rongrong gazed at the sea, leaning in Tianlin's arms, looking a bit melancholy.

Tianlin had just explained why he hadn't returned Tang Chen earlier. He was worried that Bo Saixi might heal Tang Chen. In the original, apart from being poisoned, Tang Chen's body had been shattered by the sudden descent of Asura God power during the eighth trial.

But now, he was only poisoned—the Asura God power had long since left his body. With Sea God Island's Ghost Douluo being a poison expert, plus Bo Saixi's Sea God's Light, there was a chance he could be saved.

Even if the odds were only one in ten thousand, with Ning Rongrong involved, Tianlin wasn't willing to take that gamble.

If Bo Saixi was able to be with a fully healed Tang Chen, she might fight even harder than in the original work. Killing an examinee during a trial would displease the Sea God, but wouldn't actually break the rules—the Sea God wouldn't punish her much.

So Tianlin had planned to show up halfway through the sixth trial with the crystal sealing Tang Chen, letting Bo Saixi know Tang Chen was in his hands, and ask her to wait until Ning Rongrong finished her trial before handing him over.

That way, Ning Rongrong would be guaranteed to pass the sixth trial of the Sea God's nine trials.

The plan was sound, but Ning Rongrong felt uneasy. Bo Saixi had treated her well these past years, and would have to die for her to become a god. In this way, she owed Bo Saixi a lot. She knew Tianlin could save Tang Chen—his Extreme Curse Restoring Yin and Yang could heal anything—so she should at least plead for Bo Saixi, allowing her to be with Tang Chen in her last days, to repay the kindness.

But if she pleaded, she'd be asking Tianlin to save someone destined to be his enemy. If Tang Chen recovered, he'd certainly return to the Clear Sky Sect, and due to Tang San and Tang Hao, he'd definitely become enemies with Tianlin, a fight to the death.

Tang Chen wasn't like Bo Saixi. As the Sea God Island High Priestess, Bo Saixi couldn't leave for long, so no matter how much she missed Tang Chen, she couldn't go to him.

Truly a dilemma. If she didn't plead, she owed Bo Saixi; if she did, she'd be betraying Tianlin.

No wonder Tianlin didn't want to show up early—so she wouldn't have to struggle with this choice.

"I'm sorry, Senior Bo Saixi. This time, Rongrong has to be selfish. I can't make my husband more enemies," Ning Rongrong thought to herself.

When Ning Rongrong stayed silent for a long time, Tianlin knew she was struggling. Although she'd ultimately choose him, she would still feel guilty.

Tianlin couldn't help it.

Tang Chen was an Ultimate Douluo and close to Bo Saixi. If he returned to the Clear Sky Sect, he'd be a huge threat to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Besides himself and his master, no one in the sect could beat him.

Even if his master had made great progress in the Sword of Destruction, at best he could tie with Tang Chen.

Tianlin had even decided that if Bo Saixi did manage to heal Tang Chen, he'd intercept and kill him on his way back to the Clear Sky Sect—he didn't want more Ultimate Douluo-level enemies.

He wasn't afraid, but the sect disciples weren't, and Ning Rongrong definitely wasn't.

"By the way, Rongrong, it's good you called me out early. I've prepared a special reunion gift for you. It'll definitely help you break through the sixth trial," Tianlin said, trying to change the subject.

"A gift? So the two-headed Thunder Dragon was for Tianheng? What about mine? I'm your wife, our relationship's closer than with your brother! His was a seventy-thousand-year soul ring. If my gift isn't as valuable as a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, I won't accept it!" Ning Rongrong pouted.

She was already a little jealous. After Tianlin arrived, the first person he cared about was Yu Tianheng, even though she was his wife.

Tianlin gently stroked her hair and said softly, "Don't worry, it's even more precious than a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Take out your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Ning Rongrong didn't know what Tianlin was up to, but she never doubted him. She immediately summoned her pagoda.

Seeing the eighth red soul ring on the pagoda, Tianlin was pleased. Condensing a god-given soul ring into a hundred-thousand-year soul ring took great perseverance—she had clearly matured a lot.

Next, Tianlin summoned the Holy Spirit Pearl. "Rongrong, do you remember when Master and I fought Qian Daoliu? I summoned two helpers."

"Mm, I remember. One was the Martial God, the other was the Mountain God." Ning Rongrong definitely remembered—Tianlin with the power of two gods was incredibly strong.

Tianlin nodded. "That's right. Martial God and Mountain God are incarnations of deities, very powerful. They are actually divine consciousnesses and part of the power left behind by real gods in the spiritual pearls. The Earth Spirit Pearl became my soul ring, so I can summon the Mountain God. The Martial God was subdued by a great god and sealed in my Holy Spirit Pearl. The soul ring is like a key to unseal their power, letting me use the Summoning God technique. As my strength grows, I can keep unlocking more of their power."

"So, as long as you get a spirit pearl, you can summon a god?" Ning Rongrong asked.

"More or less. You have to get it and learn to use it." Tianlin took out a blue spirit pearl. "This is the Water Spirit Pearl. The being inside is a bit special—not a god, but a great demon, the Snow Demon, whose power rivals my Martial God and Mountain God."

"Although I can't let you absorb the Water Spirit Pearl's power directly, I can transfer the Snow Demon's divine consciousness and a portion of its power, sealing it inside your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. From now on, you'll have the right to summon the Snow Demon."

Tianlin had planned this long ago. With his current strength, he didn't need another summoned god, and most of the Snow Demon's power would remain in the Water Spirit Pearl, so it wouldn't lose much power—he just couldn't summon it himself anymore.

He would have liked to give all its power to Ning Rongrong, but the pagoda couldn't withstand the full might of the Snow Demon—it would explode. He'd considered sealing it in her Ice Snow Maiden martial soul, but Ning Rongrong's Snow Maiden was special: a sentient soul with the Ice Snow Maiden's consciousness living inside.

Tianlin worried that putting the Snow Demon's spirit in there would destroy Snow Empress's soul.

The Ice Snow Maiden had guided Ning Rongrong's transformation—they couldn't repay kindness with betrayal by risking something so dangerous.

And transferring the Snow Demon's maximum power into the pagoda—at the level of a first-level god—would be enough for Ning Rongrong during their time in the Douluo Continent.

Looking at the Water Spirit Pearl, Tianlin thought to himself, "Miss Snow Demon, please take care of my wife for now. When we go to the Immortal Sword World, I'll be sure to visit your true form and thank you in person."