DD Spiritual Sword [510-512] (Patreon)

Chapter 510: Yu Xiaogang Dies to the Clear Sky Hammer; Liu Erlong's Wrath

The Grandmaster finally made his way to the Seven Treasures Mountain's mid-slope. With his low level and slow pace, by the time he arrived, Tianlin and Dragon Duke had already returned and had been waiting so long they were nearly dozing off.

They also noticed someone sneaking along behind him—Liu Erlong. Ever since the Grandmaster returned from the Clear Sky Sect, she had been ill at ease. She didn't trust the situation. This time he went out without informing her; worried, she secretly followed.

Gu Rong didn't stop her. Better to have her along—one more witness. They had arranged for others to fan the flames anyway; with Liu Erlong here, it would be even easier.

"Senior Dragon Duke, he finally came. You can swallow it now." Tianlin, like a kid who'd made a mistake, spoke timidly in front of Dragon Duke.

He'd forgotten something: the mirror sausage only lasts three minutes. He'd stuffed it in Dragon Duke's mouth too early. Given how slowly the Grandmaster moved, the time would be up long before he arrived.

Fortunately, Dragon Duke had experience. He hadn't swallowed it all, but he couldn't spit it out either, or the remaining sausage would lose efficacy. So he had to hold it in his mouth.

Now his gaze toward Tianlin brimmed with resentment. Brat, even if you wanted me to eat this, you didn't have to do it so early. I've been holding a bloody sausage in my mouth for ages—when I get home, my good wife probably won't even want to kiss me.

Gulp. 

Dragon Duke swallowed the sausage in one go, then turned and glared at Tianlin. "Brat, I'll settle accounts when we're home. This time I'm reporting you to your parents for bullying the elderly. Prepare to kneel on the washboard."

"I'm just used to it. When I asked Grandpa Eagle to run errands to Heaven Dou City, he'd always be there and back in two minutes. Who knew the Grandmaster would be so slow?" Tianlin protested.

Dragon Duke blew his beard and glared. "Your Grandpa Eagle is level ninety-two, an agility-type Title Douluo. And this guy? Pfft—level twenty-nine, and not even really any type. How could their pace be the same?"

"Senior, please don't be angry. I'll refine more pills for Yiran and Oscar later. The urgent task now is killing." Tianlin hurried to placate him.

"Hmph!" Dragon Duke was in a sulk and needed to vent. Right then, a Yu Xiaogang popped out of the bushes. "It's decided—it'll be you. Clear Sky Hammer!"

Enraged, Dragon Duke slammed the hammer straight at Yu Xiaogang's face. Yu Xiaogang, a mere level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster, was so frightened by the suddenly appearing Clear Sky Hammer that he froze, watching it come down on him.

"Xiaogang, careful! Red Dragon True Body!" At the critical moment, Liu Erlong, who had been shadowing them, acted. Activating her Martial Soul True Body, she blocked the blow with her body.

Even so, she was gravely injured by that one hammer, coughing blood. After all, she was just a Soul Douluo. To withstand a Title Douluo's hammer and live was already remarkable.

"Erlong, are you okay?" Yu Xiaogang hurried to help her up. He hadn't expected Liu Erlong to disobey him and follow, but it was lucky she had—otherwise that first strike would have killed him.

"I'm fine. Xiaogang, get behind me." Liu Erlong pulled him behind her and shouted, "Clear Sky Sect—come out! How dare you ambush Xiaogang. Are you courting death?"

Yu Xiaogang's status now was anything but simple. With Heaven Dou Empire's help, he had acknowledged his family again and rejoined the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. He was also the Empire's National Teacher—of utmost prestige.

"Tch. Such a hassle." Dragon Duke muttered, throwing a black robe over his figure and a mask over his face, then leapt out.

"Who are you? Did Tang Yuehua send you to kill me? Aren't you afraid of my contingency? I've already handed my second letter to someone else. If I die, the letter will soon reach Bibi Dong." The Grandmaster snapped.

"From the Defense Clan—Niu Ben. You think he'll live?" Dragon Duke's voice was cold. "Our sect will deal with him too."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes tightened; he'd been found out.

It wasn't hard to guess. Whoever did this needed to hate all three major forces, with their hatred for the Spirit Hall and Clear Sky Sect exceeding that for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

For the Defense Clan, the hatred of Spirit Hall and Clear Sky Sect needed no elaboration. Because of the old incident where Chen Xin accidentally killed Niu Gao, the Defense Clan also bore a grudge. Niu Ben, Niu Gao's son, would naturally want revenge for his father.

But since Chen Xin had killed by mistake, and the true culprit was Tang Hao, they hated the Clear Sky Sect even more.

The Grandmaster had given him the letter and told him: only deliver it to Spirit Hall if he died—so the Clear Sky Sect could be exterminated. Niu Ben would not hesitate.

Even if Niu Ben peeked at it, it didn't matter: it only said that the Grandmaster was being coerced by the Clear Sky Sect. In other words, if the Grandmaster didn't die, the letter was useless.

This was the Grandmaster's leverage against the Clear Sky Sect, to stop them from actually killing him for a perfect plan. If they kept their word and saved him, he would immediately have Liu Erlong kill Niu Ben and retrieve the second letter. Faux-death was still death; he feared Niu Ben might exploit it. The sect Yu Xiaogang most wished to destroy was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

But with Niu Ben discovered early, that card was dead. The first letter had already been sent; once he and Niu Ben were dead, there'd be no proof. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would never wash away the false charge of murder, and the Clear Sky Sect would sit back and watch two great powers fight, profiting as the fisherman.

"Good one, Tang Yuehua. I underestimated your wits and your ruthlessness." Yu Xiaogang hissed.

"Hmph. Now you can die with no regrets. Sixth Soul Skill—Howling Sky Divine Hammer!" Dragon Duke didn't waste words; the mirror sausage's time was short, so he went straight for a big move.

He didn't use the ninth soul skill, not because he couldn't, but because using a ninth soul skill to kill a mere Grandmaster and a heavily wounded Soul Douluo would itself be suspicious.

Against Liu Erlong, the sixth was just right.

"Howling Sky Divine Hammer? You're Tang Xiao!" Liu Erlong was shocked. If it were an ordinary Clear Sky elder, she and Yu Xiaogang might have a sliver of hope. But against Tang Xiao, there was none.

Dragon Duke didn't answer. He drew on the might of heaven and earth and smashed down.

"Eighth Soul Skill—Red Dragon Soars to Heaven!" Liu Erlong mustered all her soul power to resist and shouted, "Xiaogang, run!"

"Erlong, be careful!" Yu Xiaogang didn't hesitate and fled at once. Not purely from cowardice—he knew only if he fled would Liu Erlong have any chance.

In times like this, dithering meant both would die.

"Trying to run? Second Soul Skill—Hammer Shadow Clone!" Dragon Duke split off another Clear Sky Hammer and hurled it at the Grandmaster.

Liu Erlong was already beyond her limits just holding off the strike; she couldn't save him. The hammer hit the Grandmaster square in the chest. In an instant, every bone in his body shattered; his heart burst completely.

"Xiaogang!!!" Liu Erlong's scream was piercing. Even if her father or Yu Yuanzhen had died, she wouldn't be this despairing.

"Quit yelling. You're next." Dragon Duke said.

"Who dares hurt my niece?"

"Who dares commit violence on my Seven Treasures Mountain?"

At that moment, space began to ripple, thunder rolling with it.

Hearing the two voices, Dragon Duke feigned alarm. "Not good—Gu Rong and Yu Yuanzhen are here. Damn you, Liu Erlong—if you hadn't made such a scene, I could've killed that trash without a sound."

Dragon Duke hurriedly withdrew his move and hurled a hammer toward the source of the voices. Liu Erlong finally collapsed into unconsciousness. Before she passed out, she saw a massive bone dragon colliding with a Clear Sky Hammer, and a stalwart figure lifting her up.

Chapter 511: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon vs. Clear Sky Hammer; Yu Yuanzhen's Furious Dragon Roar

In a void, Liu Erlong opened her eyes. There was nothing around. Ahead, a figure was walking forward. At the end of that road was the gate of hell. She recognized him at a glance—it was her beloved, Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang, don't go! Xiaogang!!!"

Amid her desperate cries, Yu Xiaogang still walked through the gate. Liu Erlong fully awoke—only to see not Yu Xiaogang, but Yu Yuanzhen.

"Uncle!" Liu Erlong seemed to find her anchor and threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Uncle, I just dreamed Xiaogang died."

Yu Yuanzhen gently stroked her hair. The Thunderclap Douluo's eyes were moist. "Erlong, that wasn't a dream. This is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. You and Xiaogang were ambushed by Tang Xiao and were at death's door. Thankfully, Brother Gu acted, saving you—but we were still a step too late. Xiaogang is gone."

"No… impossible. I don't believe it!" Liu Erlong refused to accept that Yu Xiaogang would fall before proving his theories.

Not until Tianlin produced the Grandmaster's corpse sealed by Dark Gold did she finally accept the truth.

Staggering to the body, Liu Erlong wailed. Yu Yuanzhen rubbed her back. "Erlong, the dead are gone. We must avenge Xiaogang now. Tell me what happened. Why did Tang Xiao kill him?"

"I… I don't know. Right—Niu Ben. Tang Xiao mentioned Niu Ben of the Defense Clan when he talked to Xiaogang. Maybe he knows something. Oh no, Uncle, go save Niu Ben! Tang Xiao said they were after him too."

Without hesitation, Yu Yuanzhen flashed with lightning and shot out of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly. The plan was complete. He had already helped them find the Clear Sky Sect's plan and motive. The rest he left for Yu Yuanzhen and Bibi Dong to deduce themselves—what you figure out is more convincing. In any case, a good show was guaranteed.

…

Elsewhere, Tang Xiao dragged his injured body back to the Clear Sky Sect and recounted the ambush. Hearing it, Tang Yuehua and the elders fell into heavy silence.

They hadn't expected Tianlin to be this strong. With his current power, even Spirit Hall might not be able to destroy the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Their plan was impossible to complete.

Then Tang Yuehua realized something: why had Tianlin appeared so coincidentally to ambush Tang Xiao?

"Ning Fengzhi wants to kill the Grandmaster and frame us." She didn't know Ning Fengzhi's entire plan, but she guessed the end goal.

"Second Elder, go to the Heaven Dou palace at once and find Niu Ben. Kill him at all costs. If he dies, whatever Ning Fengzhi's plan is, it won't work."

Though slow to start, Tang Yuehua quickly pinpointed the recipient of the Grandmaster's second letter.

"Understood. Leave it to me." The Second Elder didn't hesitate. With Tang Xiao and the First Elder injured, he was currently the strongest in the sect—it was his duty.

He rushed to the Heaven Dou imperial palace, where the Defense Clan was building the empire's barracks.

Though their sect master had been harmed by Tang Hao, they had nowhere else to go; only by joining Heaven Dou could they preserve their last spark.

Yu Yuanzhen was already lying in wait. He wanted to see who the Clear Sky Sect would send. Though Tang Xiao had escaped, they had killed his son—he would exact a blood price.

Niu Ben had no idea death was near and continued directing construction.

Suddenly, a lethal spinning hammer shot down from the sky. At the last second, a dragon claw swept in and blocked the Clear Sky Hammer.

"W-what's happening?" Niu Ben fell on his butt in fright. He'd almost died.

"The weight of that Clear Sky Hammer… It's you, Tang Tai! Get out here!!!" Yu Yuanzhen roared to the heavens. Instantly, dark clouds gathered over the palace; thunder pealed. The Super Douluo's fury triggered a localized anomaly in heaven and earth.

Tang Tai was the Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder—the Berserker Shatter Douluo. His Clear Sky Hammer was known for its weight. Perhaps in defense he was the weakest Title Douluo in the sect, but in offense he was second only to Tang Xiao—because he only attacked, never defended.

Tang Tai hadn't expected Yu Yuanzhen to be here. He was no match and wanted to retreat, but Yu Yuanzhen's spirit sense blanketed everything; any movement would be detected.

"In the sky!" Yu Yuanzhen looked up. "Eighth Soul Skill—Dragon's Ascending Thunderburst!"

Opening with the eighth soul skill showed how furious he was. He condensed a broad swath of blue-black thunderclouds, which rained countless bolts down. Each bolt formed a small thunder dragon mid-descent, inflicting paralysis.

"Old madman!" Tang Tai cursed as he recalled the Clear Sky Hammer and re-summoned it, executing the Nine Absolutes of the Clear Sky, scattering dragon after dragon.

The spreading lightning surged into the palace, demolishing swathes of buildings.

Yu Yuanzhen flew into the sky. Seeing the hammer wielder, his hatred overflowed. "Tang Tai, it is you! Clear Sky Sect—return my son's life!"

"Old dragon, calm down. We didn't kill your son…" Tang Tai tried to explain, but Yu Yuanzhen—who had seen Yu Xiaogang killed by a Clear Sky Hammer—was blood-crazed and wouldn't listen.

Thunder dragon claws raked relentlessly. No matter how high Berserker Shatter Douluo's attack, it couldn't surpass Thunderclap Douluo's. In a few exchanges, Tang Tai was covered in wounds from the lightning.

Fortunately, just as he was about to be killed, the Shocking Heaven Douluo arrived. Tang Yuehua had worried and sent another elder. The two Title Douluo together still couldn't defeat Yu Yuanzhen, but could protect themselves.

Killing Niu Ben under Yu Yuanzhen's guard was impossible. In the end, they had to retreat helplessly.

Furious as he was, Yu Yuanzhen didn't lose his reason. He knew he couldn't kill them quickly; the priority was to uncover the truth.

He grabbed Niu Ben and flew back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Emperor Xue Ye walked out of his hall and stared at the devastated palace, wearing the blank look of "who am I and where am I." 

The places Tianlin had wrecked before had barely been repaired; now, forget repairs—time to rebuild from scratch.

The emperor was aggrieved. If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Clear Sky Sect's Title Douluo wanted a spar, why the palace of all places? And no apology afterward—just flying away.

Fine. You're Title Douluo, aloof and mighty. I can't afford to offend you.

Chapter 512: The Clear Sky Sect's Conspiracy

Yu Yuanzhen brought Niu Ben back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Niu Ben had held a deep grudge against the sect that killed his father—accident or not, Niu Gao had died under Chen Xin's sword.

But now his hatred for the Clear Sky Sect exceeded everything—even Spirit Hall—because he'd seen the Grandmaster's corpse and understood: they'd come to kill him to silence him.

To avenge himself on the Clear Sky Sect, he unhesitatingly produced the Grandmaster's second letter. Yu Yuanzhen took it at once. The letter was addressed to Bibi Dong—another farewell. It said he'd been forced by the Clear Sky Sect to use his life to frame the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and provoke Bibi Dong's hatred to start a war. He disagreed, so he wrote this contingency. If Bibi Dong was reading it, he had already died at the Clear Sky Sect's hands. He urged her to be careful and not be goaded into war with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; they were very strong now, and he feared she'd be in danger.

Another letter that never explicitly called for revenge, yet dripped with heartfelt words that would push Bibi Dong to avenge him. The difference: the first letter's target was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; the second's target was the Clear Sky Sect.

Clearly, compared to his disciple, his own life mattered most.

After reading it, Liu Erlong wept anew. She couldn't understand why, at the end, the Grandmaster was still thinking of Bibi Dong. With her straightforward mind, she couldn't read between the lines—she was simply wounded by the letter's tender words, which weren't written for her.

As a sect master, Yu Yuanzhen was sharper. His fists clenched. "I see. Clear Sky Sect—good, very good. To aid Tang San and Tang Hao's revenge, you resort to framing schemes like this."

"What do you mean, Senior? Please explain."

"Yes, Sect Master Yu—what do you mean 'framing'? Was the Grandmaster not their true target?" Tianlin and Ning Fengzhi looked puzzled. The son-in-law and father-in-law had recently studied acting and looked much more natural than before.

Yu Yuanzhen said, "Sect Master Ning, you said the letter I received wasn't written by you, but by someone forging your hand?"

"Yes." Ning Fengzhi nodded. That was indeed what he had arranged.

"If I'm right, there's another letter at Xiaogang's home, one forged in my handwriting. Two purposes: first, to lure me to the Seven Treasures Sect, then have Xiaogang die quietly here and let me 'happen' to find the body, making me a witness. Second, to use my name to draw Xiaogang to Seven Treasures Mountain. Otherwise, with the grudge he bore you, if not for a letter from me, why would he come?"

"I even suspect there's a third letter, forged in Xiaogang's tone and hand, already sent to Bibi Dong, with contents much like this one—but with the target switched from the Clear Sky Sect to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, saying he came here to die to avenge his disciple, and telling her not to worry."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi suddenly understood. "I see. If their plan had worked, the Grandmaster would have died on our mountain, and Bibi Dong, upon receiving his letter, would think we killed him, pushing her into war against us."

Yu Yuanzhen nodded. "Exactly. But when they told Xiaogang, he refused. So they revised the plan, using these three letters to manipulate me, Xiaogang, and Bibi Dong. If not for Erlong following and the ensuing battle with Tang Xiao drawing our attention, their plan would have succeeded."

Yu Yuanzhen shuddered at the close call. Credit belonged entirely to Liu Erlong.

In the back, Yang Wudi smirked. Ning Fengzhi never left leaks. How could he make such a mistake? In truth, if Liu Erlong hadn't come, he would have happened to be gathering herbs nearby, and a battle to draw attention would still have erupted.

"I remember now. When we visited the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Yuehua sent me and Boss Flender away and spoke to Xiaogang alone. He came out looking different—this must have been it." Liu Erlong's tears flowed again. "That idiot always tries to shoulder everything alone. Why didn't he tell me? We could have gone back to the clan early—what could the Clear Sky Sect do to us?"

"This… For the Clear Sky Sect to scheme so deeply… Sect Master Yu, you are truly perceptive. I never would've thought this far. Without you, I would already be in their trap." Ning Fengzhi said in shock.

"Sect Master Ning, don't belittle yourself. You're brilliant, but compared to me you're still young and lack guile. Guile grows with age. When you're as old as I am and have experienced all kinds of plots, you'll see through them too." Yu Yuanzhen comforted him.

Ning Fengzhi nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes. I am enlightened."

Yu Yuanzhen and Chen Xin were of the same generation; Ning Fengzhi treating him as a senior was fitting.

"Oh no—by now Bibi Dong has likely received that forged letter from Xiaogang. If she falls for it, the Clear Sky Sect's conspiracy will succeed." Yu Yuanzhen suddenly remembered. "We must deliver Xiaogang's genuine letter to Bibi Dong to avert disaster."

"Let me go. I'll bring the Grandmaster's remains and this letter to the Spirit Empire. With my current strength, I won't be in danger there. And this is the Grandmaster's last wish—he thought of Bibi Dong until the end. I've always respected him; I'll help fulfill his final wish." Tianlin stepped forward.

"Good child, I leave it to you!" Yu Yuanzhen nodded. With Chen Xin in seclusion, Tianlin was the strongest here and could move freely within the Spirit Empire—the perfect envoy.

Tianlin stored the Grandmaster's body in a soul guide, took the letter, and flew off on his sword.

…

Within the Spirit Empire, to face the shifting continent, Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong were in hard cultivation.

Qian Renxue's sixth trial was at its final juncture. She was already behind Ning Rongrong—she had to face Qian Daoliu at full power, only barred from borrowing Angel God power, with no limitations on soul skills, and unlike Ning Rongrong, she had no helpers.

 Much harder.

Even so, she nearly cleared it on her own.

"Angel's Judgment!" As the final stick of incense was nearly burnt, Qian Daoliu unleashed his last assault.

"Angelic Radiance—Seal of the Swords of Light!" Qian Renxue transformed Angelic power into countless light swords, covering Qian Daoliu in a sword rain. The swords dealt no damage, but any struck would have their soul power stalled and be unable to move—a sealing technique.

Thanks to her new ultimate, Qian Daoliu's attack was delayed by a few seconds. In those few seconds, the incense burned out.

["Qian Renxue—Angel God Sixth Trial passed. Reward: Angel God Affinity +20%. Current: 70%."]

Qian Renxue passed the sixth trial, and her affinity was strikingly high—matching Tianlin's when he cleared the Asura God's sixth trial. It seemed her strength was far beyond the original.