"Why? Why did I lose? Tell me, Jun Tianlin." Evil Sword Immortal stared at the God-Demon Sword skewering him.
"Every defeated Evil Sword Immortal asks that. The last one lost the same way. Here's the answer: absorbing human wickedness is convenient for power, but do you think it's good for you? Arrogance breeds overconfidence; wrath clouds reason. An arrogant army is doomed—more so when it lacks reason. These were key reasons for your fall. From the very start, you could never win." Tianlin drew the sword as Evil Sword Immortal dissolved like the shattered pearl.
At that moment, the Holy Spirit Pearl radiated countless beams over all present; the largest two enveloped Tianlin and Ning Rongrong. Slightly lesser rays fell on Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Qian Renxue, and others, while a few ignored rules entirely, piercing the shut Gate of the Gods into the God Realm. Scattered glimmers touched every soul master who had fought. These were the Holy Emperor's auxiliary trials—an accidental, universal bestowal only such a divine official could grant.
A gentle voice sounded in their minds:
["Jun Tianlin: led kin and comrades in concert, destroyed the Evil Spirit Pearl, slew Evil Sword Immortal—Holy Emperor god-seat fully inherited."]
["Ning Rongrong: assisted husband Jun Tianlin, led kin and comrades in concert, destroyed the Evil Spirit Pearl, slew Evil Sword Immortal—Holy Empress god-seat inherited."]
["Qian Renxue: assisted beloved Jun Tianlin to victory—Angel god-seat ascended."]
["Ning Fengzhi: extraordinary wisdom, assisted son-in-law Jun Tianlin to victory—Guidance of the God of Wisdom. May use it to restore cultivation and create a self-made god-seat."]
["Chen Xin: assisted disciple Jun Tianlin to victory—Sword God god-seat ascended."]
["God of Lust: assisted disciple Jun Tianlin to victory—cultivation and aptitude increased."]
["Gu Rong: assisted junior Jun Tianlin to victory—cultivation and aptitude increased."]
["Dugu Bo…"]
["Yin Yang…"]
["Ma Hongjun…"]
"…"
After the God of Lust, all participants received cultivation and aptitude increases—the boost was not minor. The Douluo Continent was about to enter a golden era. In a few years, many Title Douluo—and even gods—would arise among those enhanced.
In the God Realm, the God of Lust rejoiced—Evil Sword Immortal was defeated; she was saved. With the Holy Emperor's auxiliary bestowal, her power rose close to God-King. With time, she would become a true God-King, not a watered-down, revocable one from absorbing Evil Sword Immortal's power.
Even better, the Holy Spirit Pearl's wording called Tianlin her "disciple"—a tacit acknowledgment of her status as his master's wife. With the Holy Emperor's recognition, let's see how Chen Xin could deny it now.
Three beams entered the God Realm: one for her, one for Lou Gao—boosting him—and the brightest, which flew into the God-Forbidden Land. After releasing the Golden Dragon King, Evil Sword Immortal had sealed the Asura God there.
Asura God was bound by colossal chains that shackled limbs and soul, extreme flames beyond even the Fire God's burned beneath him, and a vast wound at his abdomen seeped black miasma—the Evil Sword's cut ravaging him within. Evil Sword Immortal wanted him to taste a fate worse than death.
Weakened but unyielding, Asura God believed his heir would save him.
His wait bore fruit. The Holy Spirit Pearl's cross-realm light bathed him. His contributions to the war were no less than Ning Fengzhi's—had he not saved the God of Lust then, Evil Sword Immortal would have won.
The evil within him dispersed at once; his wounds visibly knit; his power surged.
"Hahaha! We did it! Well done, Tianlin!" Asura God laughed, flexed, and shattered his chains, soaring out of the forbidden land.
When the dust settled, the Gate of the Gods reopened, and Asura God headed straight to the Human Realm.
The Human Realm was peaceful and jubilant. Even those on the continent's fringes had felt the earthshaking battles at Seven Treasure Mountain. Now, all was calm.
When Emperor Gu Ran had summoned the continent's high-level soul masters, many guessed a conflict surpassing continental war was coming. The war ended, and they were unscathed—the outcome was obvious: their First Emperor, Jun Tianlin, had led them to protect the continent once more.
As the Holy Emperor's boons descended, two figures received none: the God of Destruction—this mess stemmed largely from him and the Evil God-King; without their folly, Evil Sword Immortal wouldn't have devoured the Six Sins. Though he helped Ning Fengzhi, it was at best atonement, not merit. As Asura God's judge, Tianlin balanced his crimes and contributions: no punishment, but no reward.
The God of Destruction didn't mind; the God Realm's safety was reward enough.
The other was the Golden Dragon King. Its physique was mighty; though struck by the God of Destruction's World Annihilation, it had recovered somewhat and was preparing to flee. It had witnessed Tianlin's terrifying power—no chance even in hundreds. With Tianlin hugging his wife in celebration, now was the time to escape.
But Tianlin hadn't forgotten it. He'd saved it for someone more fitting.
…
"Where are you going, Golden Dragon King?" A melodious voice sounded behind it—the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, whom it had long wished to devour.
When Tianlin became Holy Emperor, she reshaped her body with his power. As his attendant divine beast, Gu Yuena had fully mastered seven-lineage immortal arts. Though only God-King in cultivation, her combat strength could rival a Supreme God-King.
"Silver Dragon King, what are you doing?" the Golden Dragon King panicked. "We are both soul-beast sovereigns, incarnations of the Dragon God. We should cooperate—don't be rash."
"Cooperate? Laughable. Weren't you just threatening to devour me to restore the Dragon God's power? Fine, I'll oblige—by taking your bloodline instead. Yin-aspect immortal art: Blood-Devouring Curse!"
A blood-red curse struck.
In its despairing gaze, its bloodline power was drained away. The massive golden dragon body withered to a skeleton.
Once Gu Yuena fused that bloodline power, she could begin the Dragon God Great Trial, becoming a new Dragon God. Thus, Tianlin's promise to give soul beasts a path forward would take its first step.
The God of Destruction watched, conflicted. He'd wanted to intervene—he hated soul beasts and didn't want their resurgence—but recalling Tianlin's might, he held back.