DD Spiritual Sword [590-592] (Patreon)

Chapter 590: Four Years of Continental Stability

A month later, thanks to the efforts of Tianlin and the likes of Ning Fengzhi, one policy after another began to run smoothly. Tianlin then set down his burden and, under the pretext of preparing to face an even greater future evil, went into seclusion to cultivate. He passed the imperial throne to Gu Ran, and returned alone to Seven Treasure Mountain.

Seven Treasure Mountain wasn't exactly deserted now, but there truly weren't many people staying here for the time being. The place seethed with heat and fumes, comparable to Gengxin City.

Under Lou Gao's summons, all the master-level and above blacksmiths across the continent had gathered here.

"Master, you're finally here. We currently have one divine smith, fourteen grandmaster blacksmiths, and nearly a hundred master blacksmiths—all here for you. The total mineral output of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Gengxin City over the last hundred years has also been centralized here," Lou Gao reported, brimming with excitement. He had waited far too long for this day. For a blacksmith, there is no higher honor than forging a divine weapon.

"Jun Tianlin, and me, as well as a hundred disciples of my Clear Sky Sect, have come to assist you. We hope you will consider today's service as atonement for our past offenses, and not hold our sect's former enmity against us." Tang Xiao had also arrived, leading the elite disciples of the Clear Sky Sect.

This had been Tang Yuehua's suggestion. Though she didn't know exactly what Tianlin intended to do, the fact that he had gathered the continent's finest blacksmiths and the most precious ores clearly meant he was going to forge something.

And not just anything—surely an unprecedented treasure the likes of which no one had ever seen. If the Clear Sky Sect could lend a hand at such a moment, then once it succeeded, their prestige would soar. Perhaps they might not fully regain the bearing of the world's number one sect, but at least they wouldn't be cold-shouldered by other sects over the Xue Beng affair.

It must be said, this woman was indeed smart, with no small sense of the bigger picture. If not for the even more formidable Ning Fengzhi and the prescient Tianlin, she would've matched any other in strategy.

"Good. Then, thank you all for your hard work this time," Tianlin said with a cupped-fist salute.

No matter how many past grudges there had been, at least in this moment, they were no longer enemies.

In the Forging Hall, within the weapon room, the sword-forging furnace blazed fiercely—its fire more terrifying than the Ultimate Fire or Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Divine Flame.

For this fire fused the spiritual power of the Fire Spirit Pearl with the power of the Sun-Glow Crystal Core—an extremely precious resource even in the Immortal Sword world.

Back when Lou Gao forged the Sky-Subduing Sword, that blade was of ice attribute, so he used up only the Cold-Heart Frost Core and still had Sun-Glow Crystal left. That mineral can also amplify fire attribute spiritual power. Only with such a fire could the God-Demon Sword be forged.

For this forging, Tianlin could not be absent. He had to supply spiritual power throughout the entire process, or else no matter how advanced Lou Gao's technique was, it would be useless.

Tianlin held the Demon Sword and the Demon-Subduing Sword and stood by the furnace. When the fire roared at its fiercest, he unhesitatingly tossed both swords in.

Thus began a forging process that would take several years.

…

Meanwhile, as the continent gradually stabilized, the Evil Sword Immortal lurking in the dark finally sensed something amiss.

Lately, the evil thoughts he and Bibi Dong had used to heal were diminishing day by day.

Finding this strange, he couldn't help but venture out to investigate. He discovered that the continental war had ceased. The Douluo Continent had been completely unified by a new nation called the Douluo Empire, and social order was being restored.

With less killing, the resentment he used to heal naturally dwindled. His plan had failed again.

He casually grabbed someone in Ice Sea City and read his memories, learning what had happened. Xue Beng, that idiot, ignored his advice and forcibly started a war with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, only to be utterly defeated—dead outright.

He could no longer sense the aura of the Bat King either. Clearly, even the Bat King had died completely this time. After wasting so much of his power for such an outcome, the Evil Sword Immortal was furious. But now he had no target for his anger—Xue Beng was dead. What, should he exhume him for a posthumous flogging?

As for jumping around out in the open—that he dared not. He could feel several auras on the continent growing stronger and stronger. It wouldn't be long before multiple deities appeared. In his severe-injury state, he was no match for gods.

"Damn it. Had I known Xue Beng was such a fool, I never should've chosen him over Dai Tianjue," the Evil Sword Immortal fumed. He had chosen Heaven Dou over Star Luo because Xue Beng's soul master forces far exceeded Dai Tianjue's.

But Xue Beng had taught him a truth: if the soldier is a bear, one bear ruins a squad; if the general is a bear, one bear ruins an army; if the king is a bear, one bear ruins a nation.

He had no other recourse now. Having lost the continent's supply of evil thoughts, he could only heal by himself. Wounds that would've taken two years to mend would now take at least four to five. And Bibi Dong's power couldn't be restored to its peak—her Death Spider Emperor martial soul, once burned, remained collapsed. Without sufficient evil thoughts, the Evil Spirit Pearl couldn't repair it.

Fortunately, Bibi Dong had twin martial souls. The Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor could still inherit the Rakshasa God position.

Thus spring passed to summer, autumn to winter. Unknowingly, four years slipped by.

Over these four years, with support from Oscar's Pearl Sausages, most of the original Emperor Team broke through to the Titled Douluo realm.

Yu Tianheng's level had risen as high as 95. Snow Jade Crown and the Fire Dragon King's soul bones gave him enormous boosts. He had now taken over the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan in place of Yu Yuanzhen. With his wife Dugu Yan—also a Titled Douluo—and his cousin Yu Tianxin as vice clan chief assisting him, the clan's strength kept climbing, with hopes of surpassing the Clear Sky Sect.

Zhu Zhuqing went traveling across the continent. In the past, she was either fleeing or in hiding; this time, she had truly gained her freedom.

It was said she even went to visit Dai Mubai, who was hiding near Star Luo's border. With Star Luo annihilated, his days had become even harder. He used to have the title of prince, living in luxury without worrying about food or clothes. Now, with no soul power and no noble status, he could only work odd jobs to survive.

Zhu Zhuqing left a bag of gold soul coins sufficient for his living expenses and instructed the soldiers in the city to protect him so no one would rob him—then left without looking back.

She owed Dai Mubai nothing; this was kindness enough.

Watching the increasingly radiant Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai felt a thousand emotions. If only he had trained hard back then and not fallen, or if he had faced death head-on like Zhu Zhuqing, would his ending be any different? Alas, it was too late.

Meanwhile, Gu Ran and Ye Lingling had not become Titled Douluo. They had no choice—Gu Ran was now emperor, and with the nation in its infancy, he had to focus on governance. Training time naturally shrank. Being at the Soul Douluo level already was quite good.

These four years, Gu Ran governed diligently, perfectly embodying Tianlin's words from back then: A ruler is the offering a country gives to its people; by the king's sacrifice is the nation's prosperity bought.

Aside from Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, who had to inherit their clans, the rest of the Emperor Team joined the Douluo Empire's court to assist him. He did not feel his achievements were lesser than others. As the people's lives improved, the masses hailed him as a sage-king. He felt his compatibility with this plane was growing stronger.

He was confident that one day, he would surely initiate the Plane Lord's trial.

Chapter 591: Lou Gao's Road to Godhood—Divine Radiance Shines

Seven Treasure Mountain. The God-Demon Sword had been in forging for four years. Though not yet fully complete, it had taken shape.

The Demon-Subduing Sword and the Demon Sword had already begun fusing at the blade, but the sword form remained imperfect. This was the moment for the divine smith Lou Gao to truly act.

Precious minerals like Fallen-Dragon Divine Iron and Nine-Lumens Spirit Cores had been put to use under Tang Xiao's Clear Sky Hammer, day after day. As for Deep-Sea Heavy Silver and the like—who knew how much had been consumed.

At first, Lou Gao's martial soul, the Sacred Molding Pen, couldn't even strike the God-Demon Sword. The instant the chisel fell, that terrifying force would rebound and fling Lou Gao away.

This was precisely what the descendant of Nuwa had warned: even a divine smith cannot forge an ultra-divine weapon. They simply cannot work metals containing such power. Even if Tianlin poured all his spiritual power into Lou Gao, it wouldn't help—his base strength was too weak.

Fortunately, the God-Demon Sword was a righteous divine weapon. It didn't harm Lou Gao; it merely repelled him with its overflowing power.

Because of this, Lou Gao refused to give up. For a blacksmith, forging a divine weapon was an obsession. He would not stop the forging of the God-Demon Sword.

In the past few months, he had been sent flying so many times that "hundreds" or "thousands" no longer sufficed to describe it.

But Tianlin noticed that each time Lou Gao got up and struck the blade again, he stood just a tiny bit closer to the sword—mere millimeters.

Dripping water wears through stone. Today, Lou Gao's Sacred Molding Pen finally landed on the God-Demon Sword for the first time. In an instant, immense divine power surged from Lou Gao, and a ring of light appeared behind him.

"Hahahaha! After all these years, you finally allow this old man to forge you? My thanks!" Lou Gao laughed, wielding the Sacred Molding Pen to continuously strike the sword blade. With each strike, the light ring behind him condensed further. When it reached its limit, a second ring appeared.

The blade, which had been somewhat discordant due to the fusion of two swords, now was gradually approaching perfection.

Gu Yuena was greatly shocked. "This Lou Gao is actually becoming a god—and a self-created godhood at that!"

Tianlin smiled. "For soul masters, becoming a god at level 100 is the ultimate goal; for blacksmiths, forging a divine weapon is the highest realm. Lou Gao, like Senior Sister Huan Yin, has stepped onto his own path. When the God-Demon Sword is complete, he will become a God of Craft. Truly worthy of being my first disciple. I only wonder—what tier of deity the God-Demon Sword will allow him to become."

Lou Gao himself had no idea he was on the verge of godhood. He didn't even feel the surge in his power. At this moment, nothing existed in his eyes except the God-Demon Sword.

This earth-shaking peerless divine armament was about to be born in his hands.

…

At the same time, in the current imperial capital of the Douluo Empire—Spirit City—and in the former Heaven Dou imperial capital—Heaven Dou City—two other powers were stirring.

Within Spirit City, a small city had risen—a city within a city. This was the academy that Ning Fengzhi had long planned to build: a super academy the size of a small city, constructed by renovating the original Spirit Hall Academy site, and erected within months with the help of countless soul masters.

It boasted complete facilities, a strong faculty, and top-tier provisions in food, lodging, and transport.

The academy recruited talent from across the world for training, and aside from teaching, it did not take part in any political or military affairs.

The office of headmaster would be held by the emperors of the Douluo Empire across generations. In other words, the first headmaster was Tianlin, and the current second is Gu Ran.

In truth, when Tianlin abdicated, the academy wasn't even finished; his tenure as first headmaster was nominal.

Aside from the headmaster, the three chief academic chairs were held by Ning Fengzhi, Golden Crocodile Douluo, and Yu Tianheng.

The dean and vice dean overseeing daily administration were Meng Shenji and Shui Qingwu, respectively.

Qin Ming also chose to join the academy and continue as an instructor.

Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and others became its first cohort of students. Now, four years later, they were seniors.

"Senior Shui Yue'er, I heard you once fought alongside Lord Saint Demon. Is that true?" Several starry-eyed girls crowded around Shui Yue'er with envy—clearly all fans of Tianlin.

Tianlin was the first emperor of the Douluo Empire, but also a Titled Douluo. "Your Majesty" and "Your Grace" were equivalent forms of address; ordinarily, either was acceptable. But since there was already an emperor in the palace, most people now called him "Your Grace" to avoid confusion.

"Of course. That was when Lord Saint Demon had just become a Titled Douluo," Shui Yue'er said, nose in the air. "Back then in the Heaven Dou palace, in front of us were two Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect, plus Soul Douluo like Ge Long and countless imperial soul masters; behind us were tens of thousands of Heaven Dou imperial guards. It was perilous beyond compare. Yet I and Lord Saint Demon felt no fear—he fought at the front, and I guarded his back."

"To entrust his back to me—can you imagine how much Lord Saint Demon trusted me?"

The girls' big watery eyes nearly overflowed with envy. "Wow, how romantic. If only I could fight alongside Lord Saint Demon too. He's handsome, strong, and super nice without any airs."

"Alas, I was just a step late. By then, Lord Saint Demon already had a wife. Though he and I were mutually devoted, we could only part with heavy hearts," Shui Yue'er pivoted, turning a blood-stirring tale of battle into a soul-stirring romance.

The girls clearly preferred this, instantly conjuring a tragic scene of the two saying a reluctant goodbye under the setting sun—lovers unable to become family was indeed a great regret.

To be honest, Shui Yue'er did regret it bitterly. Why had she been so shallow during the Academy Tournament, dismissing Tianlin as just a kid and fancying Dai Mubai with his mature, slightly wicked charm?

If only she had known the gulf between them would become so vast, she would've done anything to intercept Tianlin back then.

Passing by, Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er both shook their heads. Only she could make "hiding behind someone" sound so elegant. And since when were you and Tianlin "mutually devoted"?

Back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they remembered well: because Shui Yue'er was too flighty, and Tianlin was the calm type who almost never got angry except with enemies, he ended up avoiding her to keep from being entangled in her chatter.

Was that your so-called "tragic missed romance"?

Shui Bing'er felt she had never seen anyone so brazen—unfortunately that person was her own sister. She feared she might freeze her if she couldn't hold back.

"However, the one who truly is mutually devoted with Lord Saint Demon should be about to come out of seclusion, right?" Huo Wu suddenly said.

"Mhm. Based on the timeframe His Grace gave before leaving, it should be in the next few days," Shui Bing'er nodded, looking toward the former Worship Hall. She could feel a power there growing stronger by the day.

…

That very night, a vast holy radiance shot out from the Worship Hall, illuminating the entire darkness.

Almost simultaneously, in Heaven Dou City, golden sword aura pierced the sky, no less imposing than the glow from the Worship Hall.

Clearly, Qian Renxue and Chen Xin had succeeded.

Chapter 592: The Descent of the Sword God and Angel God

Two gods in one day—earth-shaking and heaven-stirring.

Qian Renxue, emerging from the Worship Hall, and Chen Xin, leaving Heaven Dou City, were both surrounded by seven rings of light.

They were clearly first-tier gods.

Chen Xin had successfully elevated his god position. Though his first-tier godhood wasn't yet fully solidified, his combat power was in no way inferior to an old-line first-tier god like the Angel God.

The Sword God is famed in the God Realm for attack. Even at second-tier, he could rival first-tier. Now, his instant burst at full power might be approaching the level of a God King.

Moreover, Chen Xin had another advantage: before his ascension, he had already transformed the Seven Kill Sword into a divine artifact, and with the Absolute Sword inherited from the Sword God, he now wielded two divine weapons.

This is an advantage only possible for weapon-spirit soul masters.

If Chen Xin fought Qian Renxue, who had only one divine weapon, with his dual swords, he would absolutely have the upper hand.

Floating up slowly, Chen Xin's figure flashed as he sped toward Spirit City. He sensed that Qian Renxue had also become a god, and he did not trust this woman who had once contemplated exterminating his sect as much as Tianlin did.

At his current speed, it wouldn't even take a quarter-hour to reach Spirit City.

Qian Renxue's ascension drew large crowds. A power so immense could be sensed even by non–soul masters.

She was just closing her eyes to feel the vast divine power within her when she sensed a mighty force approaching rapidly. She opened her beautiful eyes and, upon seeing the newcomer, smiled. "So it's Senior Chen Xin. Congratulations on elevating your godhood from second-tier to first-tier—a rare opportunity indeed.

"But to rush here so urgently the moment you become a god—are you afraid I'll act against your people and reclaim Spirit Hall's status?"

Chen Xin halted before her and replied without pretense, "Yes. Given your past ambition, how could I be at ease with you?"

"Then you truly misunderstand me, Senior. I did covet the continent, but that was in its chaotic days. Now the Douluo Continent has been unified, and Tianlin is governing diligently. People live in increasing comfort. The establishment of the Continental Academy and the initiation of soul tool research are both policies that benefit nation and people. Under such circumstances, I would never disrupt the continent," Qian Renxue said solemnly.

Chen Xin, now also a god, could sense that Qian Renxue was not lying. He nodded. "So much the better. As long as you do not betray Tianlin's trust, we are not enemies."

"Thank you. I still have to thank Xiao Tian properly for something," Qian Renxue's mood was especially good—not just because she had succeeded, but because of her grandfather, Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu had not died—or rather, not completely—and this was thanks to the Yearning Heartbroken Red and the Heavenly Snow power.

Over the years, the constant tempering by Heavenly Snow power had made Qian Renxue's soul power exquisitely pure—near perfect. Her soul skills wielded with that power were several times stronger than those of peers of the same level. Thus, although she was only level 96 when inheriting the god position, her combat strength was no less than level 98. Most importantly, because of this purity, she, like Tianlin, had no bottlenecks.

For most soul masters after level 95, breakthroughs require not just accumulation but also profound comprehension of their martial soul. She didn't need that—so long as she cultivated soul power, breakthroughs after 95 were as simple as eating and drinking.

The Yearning Heartbroken Red also purifies soul power, but since she didn't need that, all its medicinal effect went to directly elevating her soul power.

It raised her from level 96 straight to the peak of level 98—the title "King of Immortal Herbs" is well deserved.

During the inheritance, Qian Daoliu discovered this as well and continuously infused his own soul power into Qian Renxue via Angelic Divine Light, allowing her to break through to level 99 during his sacrifice. At that point he immediately ceased the sacrifice. With level 99 achieved, Qian Renxue could become a god without a sacrifice.

Of course, sacrifice cannot just be "stopped" at will. Qian Daoliu merely refrained from sacrificing his soul at the last moment, using the Angelic Divine Light to protect his own soul instead. His body still dissipated, and all his soul power was poured into his granddaughter.

For Qian Renxue, that was enough. As long as his soul remained, she could, with first-tier divine authority, bring Qian Daoliu up to the God Realm and rebuild his body.

This incomplete sacrifice delayed Qian Renxue's ascension, as she needed time to stabilize her suddenly soaring soul power. Otherwise, she could have become a god at least two years earlier.

But compared to that delay, wasn't her grandfather's revival more important? The formerly cold and aloof Qian Renxue now felt as happy as a little girl.

For her, even Tianlin now ranked only second in her heart. First would always be her doting grandfather.

"By the way, Qian Renxue, after becoming a god, did you scan this plane with your divine power? I already tried. Perhaps because my Sword God power is purely for slaughter, its perception of evil isn't strong. I couldn't detect the Evil Sword Immortal Tianlin mentioned. If possible, we should eliminate him now," Chen Xin said, getting down to business.

Qian Renxue's expression grew solemn. "Senior, I haven't forgotten. But even my Angel God power, which is naturally opposed to evil, can't sense my mother's aura at all. Tianlin said the Evil Spirit Pearl's concealment is such that even the God King Asura cannot find it. With just us two first-tier gods, we won't be able to locate it."

Chen Xin sighed. "Seems we can only wait for Xiao Tian to come out. But I think it won't be long. Since becoming a god, I can feel his power continually rising. Surpassing us is only a matter of time."

"Of course. In that case, why don't you station here with me afterward? What my mother hates most has always been Spirit Hall. If she becomes a god, she will surely seek revenge here. We must guard this place," Qian Renxue said.

After becoming gods, they need not immediately ascend to the God Realm. As long as they didn't abuse divine power in the lower world, they could remain for a time.

"Alright," Chen Xin agreed. Qian Renxue's reasoning was sound.

She smiled. "Then please make yourself at home, Senior. Though Spirit City is no longer ours, the Worship Hall still is. I count as half a host. Unfortunately, I must go see my father and mother now, so forgive me for not receiving you."

"Hm? You have another father and mother?" Chen Xin blinked. Did Bibi Dong have an affair, or did Qian Xunji cheat? He'd never heard of this.

"I do. My other father's surname is Jun, my mother's surname is Mo. Oh, and I have a master whose surname is Chen," Qian Renxue said, and before Chen Xin could react, she flashed away toward the imperial palace.

Chen Xin finally understood. Goodness—her "father and mother" were actually Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan, Tianlin's parents.

Smart girl. If she couldn't handle the jealousy-prone Rongrong yet, she'd first win over Tianlin's parents—and even tag him as her "master," since she had indeed learned the Seven Kill Sword. Claiming him as her master wasn't exactly wrong.

…

These years, Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan had been living in Spirit City. Their identities were no longer simple. Two ordinary people had been elevated to Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager after Tianlin became emperor.

Not long after, when Tianlin abdicated, they were elevated again to Supreme Emperor and Supreme Empress Dowager. Their status was so high that even Emperor Gu Ran had to bow when meeting them.

During this time, with Ning Rongrong abroad and Tianlin at Seven Treasure Mountain, only Qian Renxue had frequently kept them company during breaks in cultivation before the final stage of her inheritance. For this girl who had suddenly appeared and might become another daughter-in-law, the two felt mixed emotions.

They had resisted a bit at first, but Qian Renxue was attentive and meticulous, stunningly beautiful, and radiated a holy aura. Under her "offensive," how could two ordinary people hold firm? In no time, they were completely won over.

They even blurted things like, "If Tianlin ever bullies you, come tell us," and so on.

Fortunately, they held one bottom line: they insisted that the primary daughter-in-law was Ning Rongrong, and Qian Renxue would be the second.