In the Seven Treasure Hall, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong recounted their journey to the Extreme North in detail.
When everyone heard that Ning Rongrong had reached Soul Sage and Tianlin had become a Soul Douluo, Ning Fengzhi and the others were filled with pride and joy.
Tang Hao, who had run rampant across the continent and whom even Spirit Hall couldn't handle, had been brought down by the younger generation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
The title: Clear Sky Douluo had always belonged to the strongest of the Clear Sky Sect. Other factions would tremble at this name, but now it was a joke to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Hmph, Tang Hao slaughtered too many soul beasts in his life. To him, only his wife was special; all other soul beasts that got in his way were evil. Now that you've set him up to be killed by the Ice and Snow Empress he got what he deserved," Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile.
With Tang Chen gone, Tang Hao was the Clear Sky Sect's strongest. Though Tang Xiao was a higher level, he had no hundred-thousand-year ring and didn't know the Grand Sumeru Hammer. In actual combat, he was weaker. Now that Tang Hao was dead, the Clear Sky Sect was no longer a threat.
Without Chen Xin's help, Gu Rong alone could take on Tang Xiao—especially since, during Tianlin and Ning Rongrong's trip, Gu Rong had broken through to level ninety-seven, his strength soaring.
Hearing this, Tianlin regretted not killing Tang San sooner. If he'd absorbed his luck earlier, he would have reached Titled Douluo long ago, and Gu Rong wouldn't have been stuck at his bottleneck for so long.
"Boss, Big Sis, is that Fire God inheritance real? Did you really see the Fire God?" Ma Hongjun asked eagerly. He'd heard about the Fire God from Tianlin before.
A main Elemental God of the God Realm—a first-class deity, equal to the Angel God of Spirit Hall and the Sea God of Sea God Island.
Tianlin had encouraged Ma Hongjun to aim for the Fire God, and unknowingly, Ma Hongjun had made the Fire God his idol and ultimate goal.
Hearing this, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances. They didn't want to hide the truth from Ma Hongjun.
"Sword Brother, let me explain this time," Ning Rongrong said, turning to Ma Hongjun. "Hongjun, we did meet the Fire God, but…"
Ning Rongrong relayed the Fire God's words word for word. Ma Hongjun, who had been overjoyed, broke out in a cold sweat.
So his foundation was still insufficient for the Fire God's seat, unless he underwent the baptism of the demonic flame—a flame a hundred times more terrifying than his past evil fire.
He hadn't been able to withstand the evil fire back then, let alone this demonic flame.
Although the Fire God said he could guarantee his safety, that was even scarier. Death would be a relief. How many prodigies had died on the path to godhood over the millions of years of the Douluo Continent? If Ma Hongjun became one of them, it would be an honorable death—most didn't even qualify to die on that path.
But if he didn't die, he would become a disaster for the world, a demon whose potential surpassed the current Four Ultimate Douluo. If he grew strong enough, and the gods couldn't interfere, the world would face calamity.
"Hongjun, this is too scary. Let's not go, okay? Senior Brother said, with your talent, becoming a second-rank god is easy. There's no need to risk such disaster for a first-rank god," Bai Chenxiang said, frightened, pleading with Ma Hongjun.
"But Boss said, as a second-rank god, I can't bring family to the God Realm. After that, I'd spend eternity alone—what would be the point of becoming a god? If so, I might as well try. Besides, if I were the number one genius, maybe a disaster would happen, but there are plenty better than me."
"Boss, Rongrong, and even Qian Renxue from Spirit Hall—if I really became a demon, they'd be able to stop me. So I don't really have to worry," Ma Hongjun said, trembling.
Tianlin hadn't expected Ma Hongjun to agree, but seeing his shaking hands, he knew that Ma Hongjun hadn't truly made up his mind—he was just comforting himself. With this state of mind, even if he went to the Fire God's inheritance site, he'd probably back down at the last moment.
Tianlin shook his head inwardly. The demonic flame could only be resisted by those with indomitable will. With Ma Hongjun's state, his chance of success was zero.
"Hongjun, unless you truly make up your mind, I won't take you. I want you to become a god, not a demon," Tianlin said bluntly.
Ma Hongjun lowered his head. He could fool others, but not Tianlin, who saw right through his fear and bravado.
He glanced at Gu Ran. If it were him, maybe he could succeed.
Gu Ran's talent was the worst among them—worse than the Shrek Seven Devils and the Emperor Battle team, far worse than himself.
But after so many years, his soul power hadn't surpassed Gu Ran's, and their gap hadn't even shrunk.
The reason, besides Tianlin's occasional help, was Gu Ran's own effort.
When others rested, he trained; when others trained, he worked even harder. To keep up with Tianlin, he gave it everything. With such a tenacious temperament, he could pass the Fire God's trial. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the innate talent.
Maybe Gu Ran could become a Titled or even Super Douluo, but a first- or even second-rank god was out of reach.
"I'm useless!" Ma Hongjun clenched his fists in frustration. He had great talent but, due to his personality, not even the courage to take the God Trial.
Sensing the gloomy mood, Oscar, skilled at lightening the atmosphere, draped an arm around Ma Hongjun and laughed, "Hey, Fatty, what's the rush? You're still young. Temperament can be honed. Wait another twenty years—maybe you'll be mature enough then. You'll be stronger, with higher levels, and better odds of success."
Oscar's suggestion was much like Tianlin's earlier thinking—the safest plan.
Oscar then turned to Tianlin and Ning Rongrong. "By the way, Tianlin, Rongrong, I heard Tang Hao had a full set of soul bones. Since you killed him, you must have taken all his treasures, right?"