Though Gu Ran made a blunder, Ma Hongjun got the skull he wanted, and the rest of the soul bone distribution was straightforward.
There was a left arm bone, a torso bone, and the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone left.
The left arm went to Meng Yiran, the torso to Yu Feng, and the most precious Blue Silver Emperor leg bone was handed by Ning Rongrong to Ye Lingling.
Both Blue Silver Emperor and Nine-Hearted Begonia were plant types, making their attributes compatible. For an auxiliary soul master, survival on the battlefield was more important than just support abilities.
This Blue Silver Emperor soul bone granted flight and a skill: Spreading like wildfire and the spring breeze. With these, Ye Lingling's survival rate would skyrocket.
Once the soul bones were distributed, besides Gu Ran, three people received nothing: Bai Chenxiang, Huanyin, and Oscar.
Bai Chenxiang was fine—she had recently received the even rarer Immortal Spirit Pill. As for Huanyin, Tianlin had taught her the complete set of techniques from Lingyin, one of the Seven Swords Saints of Shu Mountain, including the Ningyin Tune, Panic Melody, Mournful Lament, Cycle Song, Heavenly Sound Array, and so on.
Huanyin was completely absorbed in these tunes. For her, they were priceless—she wouldn't trade a hundred soul bones for them, and she didn't yet realize how much they'd shape her future.
The Emperor Battle Team originally had ten members: one teacher and nine students, a neat number. She was the eleventh—seemingly extra, but actually, she'd be the first to forge her own path.
As for Oscar, Tianlin gave him the remaining Immortal Spirit Pill. Of all who joined the sect, Oscar had received almost no rewards, yet he'd contributed greatly.
Now, every disciple going out for missions or soul beast hunts carried several of his sausages—many had been saved by them, making Oscar very popular.
With his contributions, no one begrudged him the pill. Plus, without an immortal herb, it was uncertain whether Oscar could gain the favor of the Food God. The Immortal Spirit Pill was as potent as the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid.
With the spoils divided, everyone was about to disperse and strengthen themselves with their new gifts when Tianlin approached Ning Fengzhi.
"Uncle Ning, I have a request," Tianlin said.
Ning Fengzhi, who was about to leave, sat back down and smiled. "Xiao Tian, what is it?"
He already had a guess. Besides, as the bride's father, tradition dictated the groom's family should propose.
"Uncle Ning, Rongrong has successfully awakened her twin martial souls and activated the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Next, she must go to Sea God Island for the Sea God's Nine Trials, which will take years. Meanwhile, I'll be in seclusion to break through to Title Douluo. So, before we part, I'd like to have a simple wedding with Rongrong."
"I know this may be unfair to her, but I swear, once everything settles, I'll give her the grandest wedding. Please grant us your blessing."
"Rongrong is my only daughter. You two love each other and have long been engaged. Now you're old enough to marry, so I have no objections," Ning Fengzhi said seriously. "But you know the thorny path ahead. Do you have the confidence to protect her from every hurt, to give her a peaceful life?"
"I do!" Tianlin replied immediately.
"It's alright even if you don't," Chen Xin suddenly stood up. "Fengzhi, Rongrong and Xiao Tian are still young. They have much to learn, but with us around, there's no such thing as a peaceful life—only someone bearing the burden. As master and grandfather, I'll be that person. So, you two needn't fear. Just get married!"
Chen Xin was even more protective than Tang Hao, but unlike Tang Hao, he had principles—he'd do anything to protect his loved ones but would never kill aimlessly.
"Master!"
"Grandpa Sword, thank you!"
Tianlin and Ning Rongrong glanced at each other, deeply moved, and knelt in front of him. "Master, if Rongrong and I marry, our parents are naturally the elders, but you are also closest to us both. We hope you'll be our witness."
"Of course! I'd be happy to witness your happiness," Sword Douluo said, helping them up.
He'd watched both children grow, and they were more important to him than even godhood.
"Wonderful! Boss and Rongrong are getting married—we must celebrate!" Ma Hongjun cheered, sidling up to Bai Chenxiang. "Hey, Xiangxiang, how about us, too—?"
"In your dreams!" Bai Chenxiang stomped on his foot with her heel. "We barely know each other. Ask me again in a hundred thousand years!"
"A-A hundred thousand years?!" Ma Hongjun was stunned. That number meant… rejection?
Everyone could tell Bai Chenxiang was joking, but Ma Hongjun, though experienced with women, was a straight arrow at heart, just like Gu Ran.
As he despaired, Bai Chenxiang changed her tone.
"But, if you really go to that demon flame trial Senior Borhter mentioned, and come back alive, maybe I'll knock off ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine years."
"That would be just one year left!" Ma Hongjun's mood rollercoastered. Bai Chenxiang's words pulled him from despair—he might be dense, but he wasn't dumb. He now understood she wasn't rejecting him, just encouraging him.
At that moment, Gu Ran was even more excited. "Boss, leave all the wedding details to me—I'll make sure it's spectacular!"
Back when the sect was less developed, the three of them stood out most among the younger generation, and Tianlin treated Gu Ran like family.
"No need, Gu Ran. Rongrong and I want to keep it simple—just invite a few close friends," Tianlin said.
He and Ning Rongrong weren't greedy. For now, they didn't need thousands of blessings—just their dearest friends and family.
If the wedding were too grand, two people couldn't attend: Ning Rongrong's best friend Zhu Zhuqing and Tianlin's brother Oslo, as both were technically dead.
Only a private gathering would let them all be together.
Tianlin planned to use the wedding to gather everyone and discuss the future.
As for an even grander affair, that could wait until he became the world's strongest—by then, even the dead could attend, and no one would dare interfere.