DD Spiritual Sword [522-524] (Patreon)

Chapter 522: Heaven Dou's Crushing Defeat, Tuoba Xi Prepares for Counterattack

Ma Hongjun watched the Fire God dance with his spear, completely entranced. Such a marvelous spear technique was truly rare in a lifetime.

Unfortunately, he had never trained with long weapons before, so his understanding of this spear technique was very limited. He could only try his best to memorize it mentally, and to deepen his impression, his body subconsciously moved the Fire God Spear in rhythm with the Fire God's movements.

Ma Hongjun was completely immersed in practicing this set of spear techniques. He didn't know how much time had passed before he barely mastered the first move and started to get the hang of the second. Only then did the Fire God allow him to leave the cave.

When Ma Hongjun came out, Qin Ming, looking anxious, rushed over. "Hongjun, you finally came out! I wanted to go in several times to find you, but the Flame Lord always stopped me. He assured me you were fine, so I held back."

"Teacher Qin, why are you so anxious? I just went to retrieve a spear, and then practiced an incredibly powerful spear technique with the Fire God's avatar." Ma Hongjun proudly brandished his spear with a flourish in the air. "Heh, with my current attack power, even killing a Title Douluo-level expert is no problem."

"Oh, so that's the Fire God Spear? Fiery aura swirling, divine power restrained—truly worthy of being the Fire God's divine weapon." Tianlin examined the spear. Although it still fell short compared to his own Asura Sword or Ning Rongrong's Sea God Trident, among ordinary divine weapons, it definitely ranked at the top—at least not inferior to Qian Renxue's Angelic Sword.

"It's a pity you didn't obtain the Fire God's other divine weapon, the Fire God Sword. It's probably still on the Five Elements Continent. But that's fine; to inherit a god's position, just getting the approval of one divine weapon is enough. There's no need to be a dual master of spear and sword like the original Fire God."

"So the Fire God had a sword too? No matter, I still think the spear is cooler!" Ma Hongjun didn't care much; he preferred spears to swords anyway.

"Kid, you even know about the Fire God Sword and the Five Elements Continent? Have you been there?" The Flame Lord asked in surprise. People from Douluo Continent shouldn't know about the Five Elements Continent.

Tianlin smiled and shrugged, "Hehe, who knows, maybe I visited there in a dream."

"Hongjun, so you were practicing spear techniques! No wonder you didn't come out. Do you know how long Teacher Qin and I have been waiting outside?"

"How long? Three or four hours?" Ma Hongjun guessed. He felt like he'd only been in the cave for that long.

Qin Ming, exasperated, said, "Three or four hours? If it was just that, I wouldn't be so anxious. You were in there for a full two months, you know?"

"Two months?!" Ma Hongjun was shocked. He'd been inside that long? No wonder those experts who went into seclusion could spend a year with just one blink—time means nothing in cultivation.

Tianlin didn't mind at all. This was a good place to cultivate. Although two months wasn't enough to raise his soul power level, he had finished refining his soul bones, greatly increasing his physical strength. He patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder. "Alright, anyway, Hongjun not only got a divine weapon, but also learned a divine technique. That's definitely a good thing. Hongjun, what's your current affinity with the Fire God? And what's the content of your eighth trial?"

Ma Hongjun immediately took out the Fire God's assessment card. "After passing the seventh trial, my Fire God affinity rose to 80%. Next, I need to raise my strength to the Title Douluo level within five years. I don't think that'll be a problem."

Tianlin nodded, "That's the same as Rongrong's. It shouldn't be a problem for you. Alright, let's leave now. I came to find you at Chenxiang's request. Everyone else has already gone home. She's been very worried about you."

"Then, boss, let's go quickly." Hearing news of Bai Chenxiang, Ma Hongjun immediately became anxious. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in four years—the longing in his heart was no less than hers.

Qin Ming turned and bowed to the Flame Lord. "Senior, Hongjun and I will take our leave now. Thank you for your care and guidance over the past four years—it's benefited us greatly."

"Go on, then." The Flame Lord looked at Ma Hongjun. "Kid, remember, after you leave, always sort out your soul power. Don't just focus on accumulating it. Mixed and chaotic soul power will damage your foundation. If you want to achieve a first-class godhood, you must have a solid foundation. Remember my words: 'If the foundation is not firm, the earth will shake and the mountains will sway!'"

"Yes, thank you for your advice!" Ma Hongjun replied seriously. This was also what Tianlin had always told him.

Tianlin knew why Ma Hongjun had failed to inherit a godhood in the original story—he hadn't built a solid foundation when he was young. So he always reminded him. Now, with the Flame Lord's warning as well, Ma Hongjun finally took it seriously.

After saying goodbye to the Flame Lord, the three left the Scorching Hell.

After many years, Qin Ming and Ma Hongjun were finally going home. But during the two months of their training, the situation on the continent had changed drastically.

….

Over a month ago, at the Jialing Pass battlefield between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire, after a year-long stalemate, Bibi Dong finally took action herself. Because of the Grandmaster's death, her affinity with the Rakshasa God increased. Although she still hadn't reached godhood, after a year of hard training, with the help of the Evil Spirit Orb and Evil Sword Immortal's secret assistance, Bibi Dong completely broke free from the Rakshasa God's restrictions. Now, her strength surpassed even the three former Ultimate Douluos.

Once she made her move, the supposedly impenetrable Jialing Pass was like paper—easily breached.

Without the protection of the city walls, the regular army was no match for the soul master legions. In the end, they either died or surrendered, and the front lines advanced deep into Heaven Dou territory.

Originally, Bibi Dong didn't want to take any prisoners—her immense hatred made her want to slaughter everyone in the Heaven Dou Empire and the Clear Sky Sect.

Fortunately, Qian Renxue and Hu Liena persuaded her to spare ordinary soldiers who surrendered, but not the Clear Sky Sect. That was Bibi Dong's bottom line. All Clear Sky Sect disciples remaining in the city were executed by her.

Even the second and third elders of the Clear Sky Sect died at her hand on the front lines.

With the loss of two Title Douluos and hundreds of thousands of troops, the Heaven Dou Empire was gravely wounded. They had always been the weaker side, and after this crushing defeat, they were no match for the Spirit Empire. Calls for surrender spread throughout the land.

The sentiment was especially strong among commoners, because Qian Renxue cleverly revealed that she was actually Xue Qinghe. The prestige she built up as crown prince inspired great respect among the people—turns out their prince hadn't died and was now here to save them.

On the Star Luo Empire's side, because of Tuoba Xi's defense, Dai Weisi couldn't break through. He had hoped to take advantage of the war between the Spirit Hall and Heaven Dou to invade the Spirit Hall, but he couldn't even capture Gengxin City.

After all, Gengxin City's walls had been built by master blacksmiths from the Blacksmith Association, designed specifically to withstand soul master attacks. The city had only fallen before because Tuoba Xi launched a surprise attack. Now, with Tuoba Xi fully prepared, he had taken full advantage of the terrain and timing.

Seeing this, Bibi Dong was content to leave everything there to Tuoba Xi and didn't pay it much attention. She even considered abandoning Star Luo for now—letting Tuoba Xi hold out as long as he could.

However, a prolonged defense leads to eventual defeat. The city's supplies were nearly exhausted; losing the city was only a matter of time. At that moment, Tuoba Xi received a message from the Speed Clan. With the whole continent focused on the Spirit Hall and Heaven Dou, it was time for him to launch a counterattack.

Ning Fengzhi's intentions were clear: Since Bibi Dong didn't want the Star Luo Empire for the moment, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would take it.

The Spirit Empire had already advanced deep into Heaven Dou, so it was time for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to act. Tuoba Xi had been in hiding long enough—it was time to rebel.

Chapter 523: The Proposal to Move the Capital

Ning Fengzhi reviewed intelligence on the various battlefields.

"It's time for Tuoba Xi's hidden line to be exposed. If we keep fighting like this, he'll be wiped out. To hold out for a year against 700,000 troops is already remarkable, but that's his limit."

"Fengzhi, if we do this, we'll be formally entering the continental war. Isn't it better to sit back and reap the benefits while the Spirit Empire is attacking Heaven Dou with full force?" Yin Yang hesitated.

"We'll have to get involved in the war eventually. Now that Rongrong and the others have returned, each with near-Title Douluo strength, if not now, then when? We can't wait until the Spirit Empire completely defeats Heaven Dou before stepping in. Uncle Ying, I know what you're worried about, but don't worry. We won't be everyone's target at first," Ning Fengzhi said solemnly.

"While it's common sense to eliminate the neutral third party when two sides are fighting, that only holds if the two sides are evenly matched. Right now, the Spirit Empire is far stronger than Heaven Dou and is clearly the continent's number one. Heaven Dou is only fourth. We can count as second. If the fourth and first join forces to eliminate the only force that can rival the first, what will Heaven Dou do against Spirit Hall afterward?"

"So Heaven Dou will have no choice but to seek an alliance with us. Tuoba Xi's defection won't happen overnight. I've already sent people to assist him in secret. He should be able to hold out another month. Now it all depends on when Heaven Dou acts."

Gu Rong nodded. "What you say makes sense. But I'm a bit dissatisfied. Why is our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect always second? I can't wait to see us become number one."

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "You'll see it. Before everything settles, being second is easier than being first. And I'm not interested in being the temporary number one. Just wait, Uncle Bone, within three years, we'll become the lasting number one. Xiao Tian and Rongrong will finally be able to do what they want."

Ning Fengzhi said "lasting," not "forever." He understood that nothing lasts forever. In this generation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would reach its peak under him and Tianlin.

But as time passed—ten thousand, a hundred thousand years—the sect would eventually decline, and new powerful clans would rise. That's the law of change; no one can alter it. So, like Skydream Iceworm, Ning Fengzhi kept reminding Tianlin that after he became a god, unless other gods bullied the sect, he shouldn't interfere in the continent's affairs anymore.

All they could do was create a smooth path for the next generation of the sect to live, cultivate, and develop. Whether the next generation would walk that path, and how, was up to them.

Ning Fengzhi saw Tianlin's potential. He didn't want Tianlin to spend his life obsessed with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Doing his best for a few decades on the continent would make him a qualified vice sect master.

After that, with endless life, he should live for himself.

…

Meanwhile, after losing Jialing Pass, Heaven Dou's General Ge Long had considered retaking it, but they simply didn't have enough strength. Forget retaking it—just preventing further losses was hard enough.

Compared to the two empires, Spirit Empire had a major weakness: insufficient troops. They had only 800,000 soldiers—100,000 stationed at Spirit Hall City, 200,000 at Gengxin City, and the remaining 500,000 all deployed to the Heaven Dou front.

To take Jialing Pass, the army suffered heavy losses. Although they wiped out 300,000 Heaven Dou troops, Spirit Hall also lost 100,000, most before Bibi Dong emerged and during the direct attacks on the pass.

And every time they seized new territory, some forces had to remain to garrison it. Now, with the army nearly at Heaven Dou's capital, only about 300,000 troops and 30,000 soul masters remained available.

According to Bibi Dong's original strategy, she would have slaughtered her way through, making progress much faster. But Qian Renxue strongly opposed this.

Not only had she promised Tianlin never to massacre cities, but her eighth trial was to punish evil and promote good. If Bibi Dong slaughtered cities, the first person the Angel God trial would require her to kill would probably be Bibi Dong herself.

Moreover, Bibi Dong's revenge was aimed at the Clear Sky Sect and the Heaven Dou royal family that sheltered them, not innocent civilians. Hu Liena also advised her. Bibi Dong heeded their words, slowed her vengeance, and stretched out the front lines.

This gave the Heaven Dou royal family a chance to catch their breath.

At the same time, Spirit Hall generals Luo Hengji and Luo Fujii breathed easier. If Bibi Dong really insisted on massacring cities, they could only contact the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and rebel early.

Fortunately, Bibi Dong wasn't as crazy as before. At least she listened to Qian Renxue and Hu Liena.

In the Heaven Dou imperial capital, Emperor Xue Ye and Xue Beng hurried back to the palace—not in triumph, but forced back in defeat.

With the loss of Jialing Pass, Spirit Hall seized the entire Limaping Plain, and now their forces pointed straight at Heaven Dou's capital. At this rate, in less than three months, Heaven Dou would be destroyed.

Xue Ye quickly summoned his ministers, Tang Xiao, and others to discuss the next steps.

"Your Majesty, the Spirit Hall army is overwhelming, especially Empress Bibi Dong. It's said that with a single sixth soul skill, she wiped out tens of thousands of our troops. She's invincible. We shouldn't confront her head-on. I suggest we avoid the main force and retreat to Binghai City," one official advised.

"You want me to move the capital? And to the continent's edge, near the far north?" Emperor Xue Ye said coldly. "The Heaven Dou Empire has stood on this continent for a thousand years, and now you want me to move just because of the Spirit Empire and a false empress Bibi Dong?"

"Please, Your Majesty, I also believe this is the only way. Spirit Hall is far too strong. We still have 700,000 troops, but if Bibi Dong wants to kill, she only needs time—because she's an Ultimate Douluo," Tang Yuehua advised.

Her words carried more weight than any official. After the Grandmaster died, she became the empire's chief strategist. It was she who ordered the retreat when Jialing Pass was about to fall—otherwise, not just 300,000, but a million troops would have died.

Previously, her deployments had repelled Spirit Hall several times. In terms of command, she was far ahead of Bibi Dong and no less than Ge Long. But when Bibi Dong stopped playing games and attacked with overwhelming power, Tang Yuehua's wisdom became useless in the absence of anyone who could resist her.

Chapter 524: Heaven Dou's Crisis

Hearing Tang Yuehua's advice, Emperor Xue Ye fell into thought. He knew moving the capital was the only way. Otherwise, if Spirit Hall reached the palace, Heaven Dou would truly be destroyed.

But if he did, his name would be forever marked by shame in the empire's history.

"Is there really no other way?" Xue Ye asked hesitantly.

Suddenly, Tai Tan had an idea and asked Tang Xiao, "Right, Clan Leader Tang, how are the Sun Crystal and Cold Heart Frost Crystal left by the Grandmaster? It's been a year—surely you could have ground them into needles by now, especially with the Clear Sky Hammer. If possible, I can forge the Ice-Fire Meteor Needle right away—it might threaten Bibi Dong. If she dies, we'll have a chance to counterattack."

Tang Xiao was embarrassed. He had given those two stones to Tianlin as compensation long ago. No one had asked before, so he hadn't mentioned it.

"Um, Tai Tan, sorry, I lost those two stones a while ago. Really sorry."

Tang Xiao was embarrassed. In the past, he'd never have spoken so politely to a former Clear Sky Sect servant, but now, he was in the wrong. At least he still had some dignity.

"You lost them?" Tai Tan's eyes widened. "Such important things—how could you lose them? Do you know what that means to us?"

Tai Tan was so angry he forgot about rank and questioned his former master.

Tai Tan thought to himself, "No wonder only Master Tang Hao is worth following in the Clear Sky Sect. The rest are useless."

Hearing Tai Tan's tone, Tang Xiao frowned. He was still a Super Douluo and Heaven Dou's top fighter. Even if he made a mistake, others weren't qualified to question him. He already apologized; for someone like Tai Tan, that was quite an honor.

"Tai Tan, are you questioning me? Do you think you have that right?" Tang Xiao said coldly.

"Hmph, why not? I'm no longer one of your Clear Sky Sect. You're not my master. I'm now commander of the Tang family army, equal in rank to you," Tai Tan retorted, unafraid.

Tai Tan's loyalty was only to Tang Hao, not Tang Xiao.

"All right, brother, Mr. Tai Tan, now's not the time for infighting," Tang Yuehua quickly intervened. One was the top fighter, the other the top army commander. Internal conflict was fatal now.

"Hmph!" Tai Tan snorted and said no more.

The situation was already set—nothing could be done about the lost materials. Now the Ice-Fire Meteor Needle couldn't be made. He could only focus on making the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus and the Torrential Pear Blossom Needle—easier to find materials for but much harder to craft. He had spent the year researching and could now barely make one or two.

"Your Majesty, because of Clan Leader Tang's blunder, I also support moving the capital. Once I finish making top-level hidden weapons, we'll have a chance to counterattack. Before that, we must buy time."

"You!" Tang Xiao glared at Tai Tan. The sarcasm shifted all blame to him. If not for needing Tai Tan now, and knowing he was in the wrong, he'd have smashed him with a hammer.

"Ahem!" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly coughed violently—he was so angry. The two people he relied on most were so unreliable. He felt chest pain, and not just from anger—the life Ning Fengzhi had prolonged for him with a secret technique was about to end.

Xue Ye suddenly missed Ning Fengzhi. At least he was reliable, and his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could resist Spirit Hall. Sadly, after falling out with Heaven Dou, the sect had withdrawn from continent affairs and now focused only on self-preservation.

Xue Ye was angry at Ning Fengzhi's lack of action—didn't he understand that great power meant great responsibility? He lacked loyalty and care for the people.

Seeing Xue Ye's mixed feelings, Tang Yuehua suggested, "Your Majesty, using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power is the best way. Now is the time. No matter how aloof Ning Fengzhi is, he can't let Spirit Hall destroy Heaven Dou. If that happens, his sect will also suffer. They can defend themselves, but the sect's development would be greatly limited."

"So we don't need to move the capital?" Xue Ye asked hopefully. He really didn't want to be a figure of shame.

"Father, we still need to move," Xue Beng said. "Even if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect helps, they won't go all out. For them, self-preservation is most important. If they lose too much fighting Spirit Hall, their own sect will suffer. So they'll only stall for us."

"But that's enough. For us, time is everything. Star Luo sent word—they'll take Gengxin City within a month and send reinforcements. We need time to craft hidden weapons. Then, with our hidden weapon army and Star Luo's million troops, attacking Spirit Hall from two sides, that will be our chance to counterattack. Now, no matter the cost, we must get the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to help us."

"Sigh, all right!" Emperor Xue Ye sighed, suddenly seeming decades older. "Xue Beng, you go see Ning Fengzhi. No matter what he wants, as long as he'll help, give it to him. From now on, you decide national affairs."

"Yes, Father, don't worry. I won't fail you!" Xue Beng promised. He could tell Xue Ye was near death. As crown prince, he had to step up.

Xue Beng's character wasn't great, but he had a sense of responsibility. In times of crisis, he wouldn't run away, but would bear the burden. Unfortunately, his policies were the opposite of Tianlin's—they were not on the same path and would remain opponents.

The next day, Xue Beng prepared lavish gifts and, with three deans from Heaven Dou Academy, set off for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.