After delivering the soul bones, Tang Hao left. He couldn't stay long at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Yin Yang flew at full speed to find Ge Long. Tianlin also said, "Uncle Ning, Master, I'll fly to the villages Tang Hao mentioned and investigate."
He summoned a bronze sword, enlarged it, and floated onto it—this was a new sword forged by blacksmiths from Gengxin City, just for sword flight. Otherwise, he could only use the Demon Sword, which was fast but prevented him from using sword techniques at the same time.
"Stop!" Ning Fengzhi stopped him sternly. "Xiao Tian, your job now is to focus on cultivation. Before level seventy, you don't go anywhere. I'll arrange for people to investigate the border."
"But Uncle Ning, I feel something's off this time." Tianlin frowned. Whenever things deviated from the original, he felt uneasy—that meant his greatest advantage, foreknowledge, was gone.
"I don't know why you're so agitated, but I've told you: to do great things, patience is most important. I see your resolve and confidence, but not your patience. That's deadly."
"Don't forget, our most important task now is survival. How can we save others if we can't save ourselves?"
Ning Fengzhi's meaning was clear: for Tianlin now, only two things mattered—surviving the clan's disaster (the soul-hunting operation), and strengthening himself to complete the Asura God's trial.
As long as Tianlin became strong, what couldn't be solved?
"Yes, I understand, Uncle Ning!" Tianlin was unwilling but obeyed.
Unhappy, he left the main hall and went straight to his courtyard to meditate.
"Sigh, Uncle Sword, go check on Xiao Tian. I've rarely seen him so anxious," Ning Fengzhi said worriedly.
Sword Douluo only nodded.
But how could Ning Fengzhi not care about ten thousand lives? He also sent Gu Rong to investigate.
First, Gu Rong was strong enough to handle any danger. Second, his ghost-type martial soul might be able to discover why the victims died so differently.
In the secret room, Ning Fengzhi's table was covered with a huge map of the Heaven Dou camp. Too much had happened in the past two years; he needed time to analyze it all.
Emperor Xue Ye was getting weaker by the day; power was shifting.
"Xue Beng has suddenly announced he's competing for the crown prince position with Xue Qinghe, and a mysterious Titled Douluo has appeared."
"As for Xue Qinghe, since her real identity is from the Spirit Hall Qian family, she can't be without Titled Douluo protection. But if Xue Beng's still alive, it means her side's Titled Douluo can only match Xue Beng's."
"Because of Prince Xue Xing, aside from the three deans of the Imperial Academy, most noble soul masters have sided with Xue Beng, and he's got many ministers' support. Xue Qinghe has the people's favor and, on the surface, my disciple's identity. They're evenly matched."
Ning Fengzhi drew an equals sign between them. He was surprised Xue Beng had gathered such powerful forces.
Something was strange. If he were Xue Beng, he'd have stayed hidden until he was sure of victory. Revealing himself now was too early.
"But since he's come out, he must be after a bigger advantage. If neither side can win quickly in soul masters or politics, the breakthrough must be elsewhere." Ning Fengzhi pointed to a big character: 'Army!'
Heaven Dou claimed a million troops, a force even Spirit Hall feared. Both sides would fight for them.
But most generals, like Marshal Ge Long, avoided factional struggle. Ge Long had even retreated to the border to avoid the two princes.
"Hmm? Xue Beng's move is less about the throne, more about targeting something." Ning Fengzhi spotted a blind spot, then was shocked. "Could Xue Beng be one of their people? But why?"
Although puzzled, Ning Fengzhi showed no anger or panic. In composure and patience, he far surpassed the current Tianlin.
Soon, he smiled. "Xue Beng, whatever your reason for joining them, I can use you to help Xiao Tian!"
…
Meanwhile, Chex Xin reached Tianlin's courtyard. Seeing him deep in meditation, he didn't disturb him and waited until dawn for Tianlin to awaken.
"Master, why are you here?" Tianlin quickly got up.
"I came to see you. Are you angry at Fengzhi for stopping you from investigating?" Chen Xin asked.
Tianlin shook his head. "No, Uncle Ning was right. What's most important now is surviving the soul-hunting operation and finishing the god trial. I'm just a bit unwilling—my strength is still too weak."
"The soul-hunting operation isn't too bad. With careful planning, I'm confident we have a seventy percent chance. It's the second Asura God trial I can't figure out."
Seeing his disciple troubled, Chen Xin said calmly, "The gods will never give you an impossible trial. I think the second Asura God trial is meant to help with the next, so you can keep improving in the process."
"Let me ask: have you decided what attribute your seventh soul ring should have?"
"Attribute? Lightning, wind, or fire, I suppose. My Demon Sword already has strong water and earth." Tianlin hesitated.
Chen Xin shook his head. "I think neither lightning, wind nor fire is best. And not water or earth, either. You chose those attributes before to combine soul skills. But the seventh ring is different—no matter what you absorb, the skill will just be your true weapon martial soul form. So why not try to enhance your sword itself? All swords are about sharpness and edge—that's their essence!"
Chen Xin's words were a revelation.
The second Asura God trial isn't avenging Skydream but absorbing the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's ring? Its attribute is metal, and with that, the true weapon martial soul form will have the ultimate attack power!