"Boss, didn't you call me and Sister over because you had orders for us?" After leaving the hall, Gu Ran asked, confused. They'd just come to pay respects—it didn't seem they were needed for anything.
Tianlin smiled. "Nothing much. I just prepared gifts for you and Rongrong, but not for the others, so I called you out separately."
Though Tianlin's favoritism wasn't new, he still had to show fairness in public—selfishness was best kept private.
He opened his soul tool and first took out a jet-black right arm bone. "Gu Ran, this is a ten-thousand-year right arm bone. Its soul skill lets you turn soul power into chains—perfect to make up for your current weaknesses. Take it."
"A soul bone—and a ten-thousand-year one! Thank you, Boss!" Gu Ran took the bone, trembling. He already had two, and if he absorbed this one, even many Title Douluo wouldn't have as many soul bones as he did.
He was truly grateful to Tianlin. Tianlin had helped him even more than his own master, Gu Rong. Without Tianlin, he would have fallen behind in the Royal Battle Team long ago.
But now, not only had he kept up, but he was among the best, thanks to Tianlin's fairy herbs, techniques, soul bones, and other treasures.
"We're brothers—no need for thanks. Once you absorb it, your soul power should reach sixty. Time to think about your sixth ring."
"Yes, Boss, I won't let you down!" Gu Ran left joyfully, eager to find a safe place to absorb the treasure.
"Brother Sword, what about my gift, is it a soul bone too?" Ning Rongrong stretched out her hand, unashamed to ask her future husband.
"It's not a soul bone, but no less valuable. It's this—my strongest attack talisman: Demonic Flame Slash!"
Tianlin handed her a talisman. He'd originally made it to hunt the Behemoth, but the hundred-thousand-year tribulation was too strong, so it wasn't used. He'd kept it for protection in the Slaughter City, but there was no one there who could threaten him—so it had remained unused.
"Demonic Flame Slash! That's the talisman you said could kill a Title Douluo?" Ning Rongrong exclaimed. For a soul master at her level, this was more precious than a soul bone—it was like having an extra life.
"So be careful with it—it's hard to make," Tianlin said, ruffling her hair. To him, no matter how precious the talisman, Rongrong's safety mattered more.
He planned to try making another one after reaching the seventieth level, especially since the God of Asura's second test was to kill a forty-six-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
The talisman made at level sixty probably wouldn't be enough—he'd need a stronger one at seventy.
Having succeeded once, he was confident about making a better one next time.
"All right, I need to go down the mountain for a bit. I've been gone two years, I need to visit my parents." After giving his gifts, Tianlin prepared to leave.
Just then, Ning Rongrong grabbed his hand. "Brother Sword, don't go yet! Hehe, I have a surprise for you too!"
She dragged him to his courtyard. Tianlin didn't know what the surprise was but didn't mind waiting.
As they entered, Ning Rongrong shouted, "Uncle, Auntie, come out—Brother Sword is back!"
Two figures rushed out—it was Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan.
"Tian'er!" Mo Lan hugged Tianlin, tearfully saying, "You're finally back. Mom missed you so much."
To her, Tianlin's cultivation didn't matter—his safety was her biggest comfort.
"Father, Mother! How are you here?" Tianlin was both excited and puzzled. He'd often wanted to bring them to the sect, but they weren't used to it and always returned to their village after a few days.
"Ning Sect Master brought us here himself," Jun Tianhai explained. "He said as your strength and fame grow, if we stayed unprotected, we might be targeted. So, we followed him here."
Tianlin nodded—Ning Fengzhi's worries were valid. Even if Seven Treasure Village was close, it would still take time to get there.
Given their cultivation, any enemy could snatch them in a minute—what could Tianlin do then?
"Are you used to living here?" Tianlin asked.
"Haha, it was a bit odd at first, but with Rongrong here, it's fine. Sect Master Ning has a good daughter—she's the best daughter-in-law, always chatting with us," Mo Lan said, pulling Ning Rongrong close.
She liked Ning Rongrong—she even wanted her to call them "Mom" and "Dad," but the girl was too shy. Even after a year of gentle pressure, she just couldn't say it. It would have to wait until they were officially married.
"Thank you, Rongrong!" Tianlin held Ning Rongrong's hand. There was no greater surprise for him.
Ning Rongrong blushed. "It's nothing. And Uncle, Auntie, my dad said you can just call him by name—calling him Sect Master Ning is too formal."
"Uh…" Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan exchanged glances. Facing Ning Fengzhi, they couldn't be too friendly. After all, their status was worlds apart. Even with Tianlin's pills, Jun Tianhai was barely above forty, while Ning Fengzhi was the sect master and a Title Douluo. They couldn't put themselves on the same level.
Tianlin smiled wryly—they'd been ordinary people too long to adapt to life among such high-ranking figures. All the more reason for him to become a god quickly.
Once he became a god, Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan would be the parents of a god—then, no matter whom they met, they'd never need to feel inferior.