DD Spiritual Sword [578-580] (Patreon)

Chapter 578: Siege

The Asura God departed. Though he worried about the Evil Sword Immortal, he also trusted his successor. The God Realm of the future no longer needed his meddling—he was just a retired old man now.

Tianlin descended onto the islet in the middle of the lake and circulated his cultivation. He had one more task: to materialize the Demon Sword, freeing it from its martial-soul form to become an ultra-divine weapon like the Suppressing-Demon Sword. Only then could the two blades be fused.

With Tianlin's current level, he was certain he could accomplish it.

The Demon Sword floated in midair as nine soul rings slowly merged into its blade. Once the power of the nine rings was fully absorbed, the sword would leave Tianlin's body and gradually return to its strongest state.

…

Like him, Ning Rongrong was also in arduous cultivation. On the way back to Sea God Island, she hunted a high-level sea soul beast, pushing her soul power from level 89 to 90. She then received a Sea God–bestowed soul ring as the ninth ring for her Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

She passed the Eighth Trial smoothly. Next, Ning Rongrong hunted two more sea soul beasts to replenish the Ice and Snow Maiden's rings and increase her own soul power. With the quantity from the three rings gained after attaining Title rank as a boost, her soul power had reached level 94. The Ice and Snow Maiden now had three red and five black rings; the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had two yellow, one purple, four black, and two red—she could be counted among the foremost powerhouses of the age.

As Tianlin predicted, the Ninth Trial was indeed to slay the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and undergo the Seven Emotions test, inheriting the Sea God's divinity.

After returning to Sea God Island, the Sea God's remnant spirit appeared and taught Ning Rongrong the Golden Thirteen Halberds. With the martial arts foundation Tianlin had given her, she learned extremely fast.

Now, Ning Rongrong cultivated her soul power beneath the Sea God's Light while meticulously studying the Golden Thirteen Halberds. The Sea God told her she must wait until her soul power broke through to level 95 and she had perfectly mastered the first three forms of the Thirteen Halberds before challenging the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.

With an ultra-divine weapon, the Snow Demon and talismans Tianlin gave her, her odds were actually quite good.

Watching the tireless Ning Rongrong training day and night, Bo Saixi nodded in relief. "This child's progress is astonishing. Tang Chen, it seems we'll be meeting again soon."

Suddenly, Bo Saixi felt a shudder in her heart, a surge of intense unease. Her gaze turned toward the continent. "Tang Chen? Why do I sense Tang Chen's aura? No, that's not right—there's something different. Could it be the Bat King?"

She had noticed back then that Tang Chen's soul was missing pieces—likely because the Bat King had possessed him for so many years and devoured much of it, leaving Tang Chen so weak before his death.

Though the Bat King was dead and Tang Chen's life was at its end, she hadn't dwelled on it. But now, it seemed very likely that the missing part of Tang Chen's soul had been used by someone.

This was the Evil Sword Immortal's contingency. The Bat King had been resurrected. Back when he controlled the Slaughter City for so many years, he had already obtained the Bat King's blood.

The soul bone the Bat King gave Tianlin contained an extremely powerful ability: rebirth from a drop of blood. Naturally, the original body also had this ability. So even though Tianlin slew the Bat King, the single drop of blood left with the Evil Sword Immortal ceaselessly reshaped its body. After so many years, the Bat King had fully revived.

Greedy by nature and fond of drinking blood, he aligned perfectly with the sins of Greed and Gluttony.

The Evil Sword Immortal then used flesh and blood absorbed from the Worship Hall elders to manufacture a new body, infused the portion of Tang Chen's soul that the Bat King had devoured along with the power of Original Sin, and recreated a new "Tang Chen" with Tang Chen's appearance and martial soul.

Even his soul power—combined from the offerings of several grand worshipers, the Bat King, and the soul power of soul masters provided by Xue Beng—had reached level 99. But the will within the body was entirely the Bat King's. Without Tang Chen's soul to resist, the Bat King's control over this new body was even more perfect.

The city massacre that day occurred because the Bat King, masquerading as Tang Chen, paid a visit to the Clear Sky Sect, which was why Tang Xiao and the rest didn't go to the Heaven Dou palace to demand accountability.

Otherwise, the Clear Sky Sect—always presenting itself as a righteous sect—would have rebelled alongside the three Education Committee members just to preserve its image. After all, the attackers weren't Bibi Dong but the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even if they lost, as long as they surrendered quickly, they might not be annihilated.

Up to now, the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect only killed on the battlefield and had never killed any who surrendered. The Clear Sky Sect likely wouldn't be an exception. Because of the old betrayal, good days would surely be over—but avoiding extermination would be blessing enough.

…

Before the walls of Binghai City, Yu Tianheng led his army to knock at the gates. Xue Beng awaited them as if he had long expected this.

"Hmph. Traitors and rebels, you've finally come," Xue Beng said coldly as he looked down at the army below.

"We won't shoulder that slander. Xue Beng, neither my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan nor the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever joined your Heaven Dou court—we merely cooperated. So the word 'subject' doesn't apply to us, much less 'traitor.' No one fits that word better than you," Yu Tianheng said angrily. "Xue Beng, continent-wide contention should be decided by ability, but you've turned the butcher's blade on innocent civilians. You are the continent's greatest villain, and you killed Education Committee members who treated me with great kindness. Publicly and privately, I will tear you to pieces today."

"Haven't you advanced to Title rank? I, Yu Tianheng, challenge you now. Do you dare accept?"

Tianheng wanted a duel with Xue Beng. He was confident—in his eyes, Xue Beng was a half-baked Title Douluo he could easily defeat.

After yesterday's battle, Xue Beng no longer had the confidence he once did. He had thought that after breaking through to Title, he would be among the world's top experts. He hadn't expected to fight Mo Shenji to a near draw, which showed him how weak his practical combat ability was.

Yu Tianheng was unlike the three Education Committee members—he was in his prime, brimming with vigor, and possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, hailed as the world's number one beast martial soul. Xue Beng knew he wasn't a match.

"Hmph. Yu Tianheng, no need to provoke me. I am the Heaven Dou Emperor, precious beyond measure. How could I duel a brute like you? If you want to kill me, come up and do it."

"Then wait for me. Soul Master Corps, breach the city," Yu Tianheng ordered. He had brought a total of four hundred thousand troops. But because of Xue Beng's prior atrocities, fully one hundred fifty thousand were already dispersed to aid civilians across the cities; only two hundred fifty thousand remained at his command.

With so few, taking Binghai City was nearly impossible—Heaven Dou's elite had gathered there, with the famed commander Ge Long directing the defense.

What Yu Tianheng could rely on was the advantage of soul masters.

The first soul master battalion he sent out numbered fewer than fifty, but they were true elites. Formed in seven-person cells, they revealed their identity: the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strongest fusion battalion. However, each squad's lead soul master had been replaced by Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan members. With their clan's attack power, breaching the walls would be much easier.

Chapter 579: The Battle to Breach the City — Zhu Zhuqing Commands from the Rear

"Hmph. Planning to use the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's overwhelming attack to break the walls? Dream on. Hidden weapon corps, deploy!" At Xue Beng's order, Tai Tan led the Tang Clan Army onto the battlements.

Ordinary soldiers' arrows were useless against high-level soul masters; defense would have to rely on the Tang Clan Army.

Tai Tan was exhilarated. His elite corps, trained for years, would finally shine today. He would make the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a sacrifice to the Tang Sect.

Below, Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly. As expected, Xue Beng had deployed this unit—just as she had anticipated.

In terms of numbers and elite quality, Heaven Dou outmatched them now. Therefore the only real threat to Heaven Dou was the joint Soul Master Army of the Seven-Treasure Sect and the Blue Lightning clan.

Zhu Zhuqing understood that Xue Beng's only hope of countering the Soul Master Army was this hidden weapon corps. And with relatively few men atop the walls, it seemed he had hidden a larger hidden-weapon force elsewhere as an ambush.

"Your Majesty Fire Dragon, please bring out what I asked you to prepare. Your Majesty Thunder, please be ready."

"Haha, such a spirited girl. If Star Luo had been ruled by you back then, I might not have left," Wu Zhao laughed as he took an enormous iron stone from his soul tool and hurled it before the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Corps.

In the next instant—almost to the second—the hidden weapon corps fired their Zhuge Divine Crossbows, while Yu Yuanzhen attached a measured charge of lightning to the iron stone.

Zhu Zhuqing was creating an electromagnet. With a Title Douluo like Yu Yuanzhen, she didn't even need copper wire as a conductor.

In a flash, all the bolts fired by the Zhuge Crossbows veered off course, drawn to the iron stone.

"What?" Tai Tan was shocked. The Tang Sect's Zhuge Divine Crossbows, neutralized so easily?

"Fourth spirit skill, Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Rush!" The Blue Lightning clan disciples seized the moment to unleash their spirit skills. Several thunder dragons roared toward the city walls.

Xue Beng was alarmed. "Quick! Disciples of the Defense Clan, hold the line!"

"Giant Rhino Guard!" A hundred Defense Clan disciples leapt from the walls, took on their martial soul forms, and tried to block the thunder dragons with their bodies.

"Good. Xue Beng's second layer of defense is exactly as I expected. Teacher Qin, use your explosive power to shatter the magnet. Fusion battalions, activate seven-in-one fusion skills. Blue Lightning clan disciples, prepare the second volley—this time we must breach the wall," Zhu Zhuqing ordered again. They were the attackers. Though attacking is generally disadvantageous in war, initiative often lies with the attacker; the defenders can only react.

In the battle of Heaven Dou City, Ning Fengzhi had dismantled all of Bibi Dong's offensives to win a great victory.

Today, Zhu Zhuqing would launch an unstoppable onslaught Xue Beng couldn't counter.

"Sixth spirit skill, Explosive Inferno!" Qin Ming didn't hesitate. As a Title Douluo, he acted even faster than the prepped Blue Lightning disciples.

With a boom, the iron stone shattered under Qin Ming's explosive power, sending a storm of bolts and fragments flying.

At that moment, the first Blue Lightning attack had been fully blocked by the Defense Clan.

Their defense was astounding enough to withstand the blows of the world's top beast martial soul. But the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon wasn't so easily received. Though the strike hadn't injured them, it shattered their iron armor.

Zhu Zhuqing had told them yesterday: once the Defense Clan blocked the attack, the second wave should begin immediately. They raised their fourth soul rings without hesitation.

"Hmph. It's useless no matter how many times you try," Tai Tan said confidently, arms crossed. The Defense Clan's defense was no joke. After Niu Gao's death, Tai Tan had forcibly incorporated most of the Defense Clan's disciples; they had since served as the hidden-weapon corps' meat shield.

"Is that so? Senior Tai Tan, you'd better look closely," Zhu Zhuqing smiled.

"Hm?" Tai Tan was taken aback. In that instant of distraction, a chorus of screams rose from below.

The Defense Clan disciples had been pierced through by the very hidden-weapon bolts and shards from moments before.

Tai Tan hadn't anticipated this at all. In the next second, with no more obstacles, the Blue Lightning Corps' second strike smashed the walls. Under the seven-in-one fusion skill, the leading Blue Lightning elders could temporarily exert power comparable to Title rank. Thousands of Tang Clan troops on the walls were slaughtered; only the higher-level soul masters survived.

"Breached wall! All forces, charge!" Yu Tianheng shouted.

"Kill!!" The two hundred fifty thousand troops, long raring to go, surged toward Binghai City like a tide.

Though they were outnumbered by Xue Beng's four hundred thousand, they were fresh from a string of victories and riding high morale—far beyond the shattered remnants under Xue Beng.

Not to mention the many Title Douluo leading them, while Xue Beng had only the three Title Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect—a far cry from the Seven-Treasure Sect's numbers.

"Your Majesty, we can't let them enter the city. Your servant requests to sally forth and meet them," Ge Long urged. His best unit was the heavy cavalry, but such troops were useless in cramped city streets. Only the open field was their stage.

"Very well. Heavy Cavalry Corps, advance," Xue Beng ordered at once. The wall had already fallen; defense had little meaning now. He had to seize every advantage.

This was exactly what Zhu Zhuqing wanted—to lure the heavy cavalry out. In the open, Tianlin's talismans could be used to full effect without harming innocent civilians in the city.

She left the rest to Yu Tianheng, leaped onto the wall, and faced Tai Tan. "Senior, in this battle against your Tang Clan Army, I've outplayed you. From here on, I'll be your direct opponent."

"You just used magnetism to break my Tang Clan Army and the Defense Clan's line, didn't you?" Tai Tan asked darkly. As one of the three master craftsmen of the age, he knew a bit about magnetism. The Defense Clan's iron armor was excellent, but when exposed to electricity, a magnetic field would form.

"Correct. A magnet's polarity can be reversed by reversing the current," Zhu Zhuqing said. "At first, His Majesty Thunder created a positively charged magnet; afterward, the Blue Lightning took care to create a negative field around your Defense Clan."

"The first Blue Lightning volley weakened the Defense Clan's armor. Then opposite polarities attracted, and the razor-sharp hidden-weapon bolts and iron shards were pulled right into them—naturally easy to pierce."

"I haven't spent all my seclusion years just cultivating. Out of boredom, I learned a bit of everything. Didn't expect it to come in handy today."

"You little lass!" Tai Tan roared and threw a punch at Zhu Zhuqing.

She slipped aside with a flicker. "Senior, your punches are fierce, but they're useless if they don't land. My speed is no less than the Speed Clan's, and while my attack may not match the Breaking Clan, my piercing power is among the best on the continent. Have a taste."

Two yellow, two purple, four black—eight soul rings flared as Zhu Zhuqing entered her true form. Tai Tan's strength surpassed that of some Title Douluo, but he lagged far behind in other aspects. If she relied on speed and skirmishing, she had overwhelming odds.

Chapter 580: Yu Tianheng's Ferocious Assault on Xue Beng — The Clear Sky Sect's Lip Service

"First spirit skill, Nether Thrust." After dodging several of Tai Tan's heavy punches, Zhu Zhuqing counterattacked. Though her raw attack wasn't on par with the Breaking Clan, her piercing power was top-tier.

Ting!

Tai Tan's Vigorous Orangutan body was rough and thick-skinned; even if its defense didn't rival the Defense Clan's, it was formidable. Zhu Zhuqing's strike didn't wound him.

But her speed was astonishing. Failing with one strike, she immediately withdrew, then powered up with her legs and lunged again—at the exact same spot. She intended to break the point to shatter the whole, piercing Tai Tan's tough body.

Tai Tan was stifled to the extreme. Zhu Zhuqing was right—strength meant nothing if it couldn't connect.

"Damn it. The hidden weapon corps is useless, and Tai Tan is pinned," Xue Beng said grimly. He had thought his side could hold out much longer; having the wall fall so quickly left him flat-footed.

Zhu Zhuqing's pre-battle analysis had been correct. Xue Beng had deliberately lured them to attack the city, with an ambush set up in the rear. Once Yu Tianheng's back lines were hit, the heavy cavalry would sally forth, and a pincer attack inside and out would be devastating.

A hidden-weapon unit was already maneuvering for a rear raid—but maneuvering took time. Xue Beng had counted on holding the walls to buy that time. Now the plan was in ruins.

The armies had already clashed head-on. He could only hope his heavy cavalry was strong enough to smash the Seven-Treasure and Blue Lightning Soul Master Corps.

In truth, he knew that was nearly impossible. Without a hidden-weapon escort, even the best heavy cavalry couldn't match a soul master army.

Sure enough, the moment they charged, the heavy cavalry suffered grievous losses under a storm of flames, lightning, and sword auras.

"Xue Beng, die! Infinite Thunder Arc!" Yu Tianheng found Xue Beng and thrust out his palm. A massive thunder sphere shot toward Xue Beng at incredible speed.

Xue Beng had Title-level soul power, but none of his nine spirit skills could withstand this swift, devastating thunderball. He was helpless.

Just then, a black iron hammer shattered the thunderball and, without losing momentum, hurtled toward Yu Tianheng.

That strike carried Super Douluo-level power—Yu Tianheng couldn't block it.

Clearly, only Tang Xiao could wield such a mighty hammer today.

"Dragonform!" A thunder dragon appeared before Yu Tianheng and swatted the hammer aside with its tail—Yu Yuanzhen. "Tang Xiao, it's not right for us elders to interfere in the younger generation's battle. If you want to fight, I'll keep you company."

Tang Xiao caught his returning Clear Sky Hammer and stood with it. "It's not that I want to intervene in the younger generation's battle—I have no choice. Forgive me, Yu Yuanzhen."

"I don't understand. The Clear Sky Sect stands tall in this world. Whatever you do in secret, publicly you present yourselves as righteous. Xue Beng acts against heaven, slaughtering without end—six cities destroyed, earning the wrath of all. If you continue to aid him, you put the Clear Sky Sect against the entire continent. Tang Xiao, in the face of justice, I can set aside my hatred for Xiaogang. If you, like the three Education Committee members, can distinguish right from wrong," Yu Yuanzhen said sternly.

At the mention of the six cities, a trace of sorrow flashed in Tang Xiao's eyes. Whatever else, the Clear Sky Sect did claim righteousness. Back when he and Tang Hao were called the Clear Sky Twin Stars, even if they weren't acting from a chivalrous heart but for reputation, they still did many acts of "justice."

If possible, he truly wished to switch sides now and smash Xue Beng with a single hammer. But thinking of his grandfather's order, he could only say helplessly, "Forgive me, I have difficulties I cannot speak of. Yu Yuanzhen, fight me."

Tang Xiao swung his hammer. Yu Yuanzhen met it with his claws. For the moment, the two were evenly matched.

"Hm?" Yu Yuanzhen was momentarily stunned. Tang Xiao was level 97, while he was only 96. He had prepared to be on the back foot, yet they were even.

Tang Xiao wasn't going all out.

Among experts, a single clash could reveal intentions. Yu Yuanzhen realized Tang Xiao wanted him to keep him occupied—giving him a legitimate reason not to intervene on Xue Beng's side.

Elsewhere, the Clear Sky Sect's remaining Grand Elder, the Soaring Heaven Douluo, and Fifth Elder, the Shocking Heaven Douluo, likewise engaged the Fire Dragon Douluo Wu Zhao and Fire Wolf Douluo Qin Ming in even" battles.

Tai Tan was being pushed back step by step by Zhu Zhuqing. Ge Long had gone down to command the troops. The other royal Soul Douluo were being thoroughly suppressed by Yu Feng and the three deans of the Elemental Academies.

In short order, all of Xue Beng's bodyguards had been drawn away, leaving him alone.

Across from him stood the grim, killing-intent-filled Yu Tianheng.

Now he truly regretted it. Why had he killed those two Education Committee members? He could have used them to threaten Yu Tianheng. Instead, he'd hung their heads out to inflame Yu Tianheng—completely enraging this tyrant dragon.

Originally, Yu Tianheng had prioritized the greater picture and didn't want to start a war yet—but Xue Beng had forced his hand.

The Evil Sword Immortal had been right—he shouldn't have initiated the war. If the hidden-weapon corps had all stayed within the city, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't have been able to neutralize so many Zhuge Crossbows with a single magnet. His impatience to defeat the Soul Master Army had driven him to send out all his main forces, leading to this outcome.

In the tower, Tang Yuehua looked toward the battlefield and thought, "Forgive me, Grandfather. I don't know why you gave us such an order, but whether with the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect's conflicts are private grudges. Xue Beng has earned universal hatred—if we help him now, it will doom our sect."

Yes—Tang Xiao and the two elders' actions were orchestrated by her. They didn't dare defy Tang Chen's order, but on a matter of great right and wrong, they could pay lip service and quietly act otherwise.

Most importantly, the Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was not the Spirit Empire. Their methods of unification clearly favored accepting surrenders. It was only because Bibi Dong held such murderous intent toward the Clear Sky Sect that they had aligned so tightly with Heaven Dou.

Clenching his furious fist, Yu Tianheng lunged at Xue Beng. Xue Beng took on his martial soul form and fled deeper into the city.

But even in true form, a swan's flight speed wasn't fast enough. In moments, Yu Tianheng caught up.

He kicked Xue Beng in the back, slamming him to the ground.

Xue Beng coughed up blood, burning with resentment. When had an emperor ever suffered such injury?

"Bastard, die! Ninth spirit skill, Birds of Snow in Flight!"

Xue Beng's ninth spirit skill was an ice-elemental ultimate—summoning countless ice birds to attack. Its freezing power wasn't weak; in an instant, Yu Tianheng was frozen solid.

"Heh. This temperature counts as ice? You're just giving me a cool breeze," came Yu Tianheng's scornful voice from within the ice.

On Sea God Island, to help Ning Rongrong accumulate combat experience, he had sparred with her many times. Compared with Ning Rongrong's Ice and Snow Maiden, this "ice" was leagues apart.

Crack, crack.

With a flex of Yu Tianheng's body, cracks spidered across the ice. He burst free a moment later. Xue Beng's strongest ninth spirit skill had frozen him for not even three seconds.