Douluo's Spirit Pearl Divine Sword

"You idiot, when are you going to pick up your lost wits again?" Bai Chenxiang jumped out of the bushes with a dark face, grabbed Ma Hongjun's ear, and apologized to Ning Rongrong repeatedly, "I'm sorry, Sister Rongrong, I'll teach him a lesson later, you and your senior brother continue."

"Wait, junior sister, let Hongjun go first. I want to see what important matter he has to discuss. If it's significant enough, then fine. But if it's some trivial matter, I'll turn his phoenix into a roasted chicken today!" Tianlin said fiercely, looking at Ma Hongjun.

At the same time, a large group of people emerged from the bushes.

Gu Ran: "Boss, you don't need to lift a finger. I'll grill it for you and skewer it with my bones to make skewers!"

Yu Tianheng: "I think fried chicken cutlets made with lightning might taste even better."

Dugu Yan: "No, no, no, I think it's better to kill them with poison first. I've been learning about poison cooking recently. You don't know, as long as people who eat poisonous food take good care of their detoxification, they are not only harmless, but can also improve their health."

Meng Yiran: "Really? Yanzi, could you teach me how to make it? I'll make it for Oscar when I get back. We happen to have the ingredients here."

Zhu Zhuqing: "The cat eats fish but not meat, so I just drink the soup."

Ma Hongjun subconsciously swallowed. These people were really too vicious. He just hoped that Flander wouldn't trick him and that the flowers he sent were substantial. He didn't want to be turned into food by these people.

"Hey boss, when I went home this time, my teacher gave me a flower. I sensed that the fire attribute in this flower is almost as strong as that of the Phoenix Sunflower, so I hope you can help me identify it." Ma Hongjun nervously took out the treasure box.

Upon hearing this, Tianlin's interest was piqued. The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was a celestial product, so how could it be that it was comparable to this flower? Could it be another celestial product with fire attributes?

He then opened Ma Hongjun's treasure box, and a scorching red light shone brightly, illuminating everyone's faces with a blood-red glow even in daylight.

"This...this is!" Tianlin's eyes gleamed as he looked at the rose-shaped red flower.

At this moment, a figure rushed over from a distance like a madman. It was Yang Wudi. As soon as he opened the treasure box, the herbal radar that came with his body went off.

"Its shape resembles a rose, its color is blood red, and its blooms are like a blazing fire. There's no mistake, it's a fire phoenix!"

Yang Wudi's excited tone was exactly the same as when he first saw the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.

Ma Hongjun looked puzzled. "Fire Phoenix, Senior Yang, are you calling me?"

Yang Wudi gave him a disdainful look. "Of course not. You're just a wicked fire chicken. Although you've been purified by the Phoenix Sunflower, you're still far from being a real fire phoenix. I'm talking about this flower in the box, named Fire Phoenix. If the Phoenix Sunflower you ate back then gave you the word 'pure' in fire, then the Fire Phoenix gives you the word 'extreme.' Any fire soul master who takes this will definitely experience an explosive increase in fire attribute strength!"

Chapter 412 The Idol Who Taught Ma Hongjun and Tianlin

"I never expected that this flower would have the same name as my martial soul. What a coincidence!" Ma Hongjun said happily. His master had really given him a good thing.

"What a pity, what a pity!" At this moment, Yang Wudi suddenly shook his head.

Ma Hongjun was puzzled. "Senior Yang, what's the pity?"

Yang Wudi held up two fingers. “It’s a pity in two ways. First, although this Fire Phoenix is ​​precious, it was picked before it reached its peak medicinal effect, so it is still far from being a true immortal herb. Second, you have already taken the highly nourishing pure yang herb Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, and the medicinal power in your body is already too strong. You cannot take this herb again.”

Ma Hongjun looked disappointed upon hearing this. He had thought that if he could eat another celestial delicacy, he might have the ability to resist the demonic flames. But it turned out to be a false alarm. "My teacher spent a full 100,000 gold soul coins, only to buy a chicken bone. That was his life savings."

"One hundred thousand gold soul coins?" Upon hearing this price, Yang Wudi was immediately furious. "What idiot who doesn't know anything about herbs set this price? Even if this Fire Phoenix hasn't reached its peak, it's still a top-grade herb, even surpassing the ninth-grade Purple Ganoderma. It's worth at least five million gold soul coins. Isn't this disrupting the market?!"

For Yang Wudi, precious herbs are priceless. This fire phoenix is ​​only worth 100,000 gold soul coins, which is an insult to both him and the flower. He even wanted to find the flower seller and give him another 4 million gold soul coins to bring back the value.

The crowd couldn't understand this strange idea; wasn't finding a treasure by chance a good thing?

"Um, Grandpa Yang, please don't be angry. I have a question for you. If Hongjun takes this herb along with this, will there be no problem? Didn't you and your senior brother say that this pill has the ability to combine medicinal effects?" Bai Chenxiang comforted Yang Wudi, who was on the verge of going crazy, and took out a pill, which was the Crystal Immortal Spirit Pill.

Although she obtained the pill, she had not yet taken it. Originally, she hoped to take some other herbs first before taking the pill to maximize its effects.

But after hearing everyone's discussions about gods these past few days, Bai Chenxiang realized one thing: her aptitude, no matter what, was far from meeting the standards for becoming a god.

This divine item might give her the potential to become a Title Douluo, but it would also be her limit.

“Well, it’s not impossible if taken with the Immortal Elixir. The Fire Phoenix hasn’t reached its peak medicinal effect yet, which could actually be beneficial. Otherwise, if it were a top-grade Fire Phoenix Immortal Herb, even the Immortal Elixir would have difficulty fusing two immortal herbs of the same fire attribute. Tianlin was able to succeed because of his three immortal herbs: the Autumn Water Dew was mild, while the Blazing Apricot and the Eight-Cornered Profound Ice Grass countered each other.” Yang Wudi nodded and said thoughtfully.

"That's wonderful!" Upon hearing this, Bai Chenxiang showed a look of joy.

"No, Xiangxiang, this is from the boss, I can't accept it." Ma Hongjun immediately refused. Without the immortal herb, Bai Chenxiang would basically never be able to be promoted to a higher title. With some effort, becoming a Soul Saint wouldn't be a problem, but at most, she would be a Soul Douluo.

“Hongjun, listen to me first. Actually, I’m doing this for myself. My senior brother said that gods in the divine realm are also divided into ranks. Second-level gods are not qualified to bring others along. Only first-level gods can. If you only become a second-level god, we are destined to be separated. One of us will go to the divine realm to live forever, and the other will grow old alone on the continent.” Bai Chenxiang persuaded.

Her meaning was clear: if their final achievements were that one would become a second-level god and the other a titled Douluo, what would be the point? They would still have to separate anyway.

Why not do everything we can to help someone reach level one? That way, even if Bai Chenxiang is just an ordinary person who can't cultivate, it doesn't matter. She can still enjoy eternal life as a member of the family of a god.

Ma Hongjun hesitated and looked at Tianlin. When he saw Tianlin nod to him silently, he realized that Bai Chenxiang was right. If the two wanted to be together, Ma Hongjun had to become a first-level god.

Encouraged by Tianlin, Ma Hongjun no longer hesitated, accepted the Immortal Spirit Pill and promised, "Xiangxiang, don't worry, I will pass the test and will definitely not let you down."

"Mm!" Bai Chenxiang nodded with a smile.

Tianlin stepped forward and patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder. "Now you're under even more pressure. But pressure is what drives you. Cultivate with me later. I'll teach you a Taoist technique to calm your mind and clear your thoughts. We brothers have done all we can to help. Now it's up to you."

"Boss, thank you!" Ma Hongjun's heart, which had been trembling, suddenly calmed down at this moment.

He took out a soul bone from his pocket. It was a skull that Gu Ran had given him. Although it was a misunderstanding, Gu Ran's kindness in thinking of him was genuine.

Tianlin's cultivation technique, Gu Ran's soul bone—this is the bond of brotherhood; Bai Chenxiang's elixir—this is the love between lovers; the immortal herb, the Fire Phoenix—this is the affection between a mentor and a disciple.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already gained so much. With these as his backing, what was there to fear from the mere inferno of demonic flames?

That night, Tianlin, unusually, ditched his newlywed wife Ning Rongrong and accompanied the fat man Ma Hongjun in his cultivation, teaching him a Taoist technique.

"The path of humanity is boundless, the path of immortals is vast and boundless, and the path of ghosts is joyful."

When life begins, the immortal path values ​​life, while the ghost path values ​​death.

The path of immortals is always auspicious, the path of ghosts is always inauspicious, and the highest realm is pure and refreshing.

A mournful song echoes through the vast sky; I only wish to attain immortality, not to be impoverished in the human realm.

.........

The heavens are vast and boundless, and my Way flourishes daily.

"Hongjun, make sure you memorize all these incantations. Although they are not top-tier cultivation methods, they are authentic Taoist techniques. Taoist methods emphasize tranquility and non-action, and a clear mind, which are the nemesis of demonic flames," Tianlin instructed.

"Don't worry, boss, I've memorized most of it." Ma Hongjun said with a relaxed smile. The incantation wasn't long. As a Soul Master, his brain development was always much stronger than that of ordinary people, so he had this much memory.

Tianlin shook his head. “Hongjun, it’s best not to use the word ‘almost’. One of the masters I admire most once said that if you always practice until you’re almost there, you’ll fall short at the crucial moment.”

"That's truly profound, boss. So you have someone you admire?" Ma Hongjun asked with great interest. "A great god? So you mean a deity? Could it be the Asura God you inherited?"

Tianlin denied it, saying, "No, although that great god's divine office is the same as the Asura God's, which is to be in charge of judgment and law, that great god is much stronger than the Asura God. His source of power is different from that of ordinary people. Ordinary people's power often comes from fame, fortune, lust, and power, while his power comes from love, hate, and grudges. A person can give up their life for love, hate, and grudges, but can he give up his life for fame, fortune, lust, and power? Especially since the love in his heart is a great love. He once said that the world needs love, not indifference; it needs affection, not ruthlessness; it needs reunion, not separation. For this goal, he can risk everything, so he is very strong, so strong that no one can defeat him."

“Hongjun, if you want to become a god for fame, fortune, lust, and power, then let me tell you, you will not succeed, because you will never be able to resist the demonic flames.”

"Truly magnificent!" Ma Hongjun murmured. "There is such a great master in the world. I would love to meet him if I could."

“There will definitely be an opportunity. Speaking of which, I’m not entirely unrelated to that great goddess. My Holy Spirit Pearl and one of that great goddess’s sisters’ treasures both belong to the goddess Nuwa. So we have some connection. Hongjun, as long as you work hard, we can become strong enough to break the limits of this universe and go to a world with a higher power system. Who knows, we might just meet that great goddess then.” Tianlin encouraged with a smile.

Ma Hongjun nodded, "Hehe, I understand, boss. You really taught me a lot, things that Mu Bai never taught me when he was the boss."

"So what did Dai Mubai teach you?"

"Does eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring count? Actually, back then, my lustful desires would only flare up once every ten days or so. But following him, even when they weren't flaring up, I would go to brothels. As a result, the more I went there, the harder it was to control my lustful desires. Eventually, they started flaring up every few days, or even once a day. Now I understand that many things have to be resisted. Blindly indulging in desires will only lead to being controlled by them in the end." Ma Hongjun scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

Tianlin smiled helplessly, "Then let's discard everything he taught us now. I'll tell you the story of that great master, and from now on, you can take him as your role model..."

Tianlin hoped that Ma Hongjun could also idolize such a person, just like himself. As for the test of the Demon Flame, with that great god's willingness to bear the sins of the whole world and sacrifice for the world, the difficulty would probably be about the same as taking a hot bath.

Chapter 413 Parting Ways and Going Their Separate Paths

Happy times always pass very quickly. Several days have passed, and Yu Tianheng and the others have already gone home to report to Yu Yuanzhen.

Upon learning that his grandson was preparing to travel to the legendary Poseidon Island in search of a chance encounter, he was both worried and delighted. He was worried about the dangers of the place, but delighted by his grandson's courage.

In the end, he agreed. All the other young talents had gone, and if he didn't go, wouldn't he fall behind? The direct descendants of their Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan were definitely not inferior to anyone.

As for monsters like Tianlin, Yu Yuanzhen no longer considers him human; he is a demon.

During this period, Ma Hongjun also consumed the Fire Phoenix and the Immortal Elixir, along with the skull. At this moment, his level is close to seventy, even surpassing Gu Ran.

It is often said that genius is 99% effort and 1% talent, but many times, that 1% talent is far more important than the 99% effort.

The reason Ma Hongjun was able to surpass Gu Ran so easily was not only due to the advantage of the immortal herbs, but also because his aptitude was far superior to Gu Ran's.

After consuming the two immortal herbs, his martial spirit evolved once again, and his fire phoenix could finally unleash the purest and most surging ultimate fire.

During this time, he is diligently cultivating the Taoist mental techniques, immersing himself in the art. Only when he has mastered the basics will Tianlin allow him to travel to the Scorching Hell.

In addition, the Shi brothers and the others also received their parents' consent. Finally, the day of departure arrived, which was also the day of parting.

Especially for Tianlin and Ning Rongrong, the newlywed couple, who had only been married for less than a month, it was easy to imagine how reluctant they were to part ways.

"Rongrong, besides Master's coordinates, please also carve my coordinates. No matter what danger you encounter, do not hesitate to call for help immediately, understand?" Tianlin instructed.

Ning Rongrong nodded, "Don't worry, Brother Jian, everything's done. Grandpa Jian's coordinates are still in the same place, on his storage belt. But do you know where your coordinates are engraved?"

Tianlin was taken aback. He hadn't paid attention to that before. What did it matter where it was engraved? As long as it was engraved, that was fine.

Ning Rongrong smiled charmingly, pressing her right hand against her left side, near her heart. "Here, so it's like Brother Jian is always protecting me."

Tianlin smiled slightly, not expecting this young woman to still be so alluring after becoming a wife. "Yes, I am your husband, so I will protect you no matter what. As I said before, no matter what danger you encounter, call me immediately."

"Alright, stop being so mushy. When Yanzi and I first got married, we weren't like you two, always sticking together. Let's go!" Yu Tianheng urged impatiently. He and Dugu Yan had been married for many years and had long passed the stage of being inseparable like glue. Now, even though he wasn't single, he felt like he was being fed dog food.

"Alright, let's set off then. You remember the route, right? From here, head north first, take a long detour to the Frost Forest to help Oscar hunt for his sixth spirit ring. Remember, it must be from the Mirror Beast. Then, return via the Hagen Kingdom and arrive at the Vast Ocean City. From there, set sail for Seagod Island. Understand?" Ning Fengzhi instructed again.

Most of these children are the future of the sect, and the few who aren't are the direct descendants of allied families, so he can't ignore them.

The carriages had been prepared by Ning Fengzhi beforehand. Because of the large number of people, they had prepared three of the most luxurious ones. Those who came to see them off included not only Tianlin and Ning Fengzhi, but also pillars of the sects such as Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Poison Douluo, Thunder Eagle Douluo, and Dragon Snake Douluo, as well as important department heads such as Yang Wudi, Lou Gao, and Bai He, who personally escorted the group onto the carriages. All the items that needed to be taken were packed into everyone's soul tools.

Before leaving, there was inevitably a moment of reluctant farewell. Even the usually composed Ning Fengzhi gave Ning Rongrong repeated instructions. Ning Rongrong had traveled far before, but Tianlin had always accompanied her, so he wasn't worried.

This time, however, because Tianlin wasn't going, he had long since shed the label of "wise sect leader," and was simply a father who cared for his daughter.

Parting is always sorrowful, and this trip was especially difficult, with no one knowing how long it would last. Bai Chenxiang cried for a long time in her grandfather's arms. Bai He was also worried. His granddaughter's senior brother, Tianlin, wasn't going on this mission, nor was her lover, Ma Hongjun. He could only send her to Ning Rongrong, pleading with her to protect her. Ning Rongrong, of course, wouldn't refuse. Bai Chenxiang was Tianlin's junior sister, which meant she was also her sister, and her sister was the sister of the Ice Emperor and Snow Emperor. No one could harm her.

Each of the three carriages was pulled by four strong horses. Ning Fengzhi had specially assigned one of his disciples as the driver, and the carriages headed north.

As they watched the carriage disappear into the distance, the light in Ning Fengzhi and Tian Lin's eyes dimmed slightly. Everyone's hearts seemed to have departed with these young men and women.

"Let's go back, boss. I believe that when Sister Rongrong and the others come back, they will definitely be stronger and more outstanding. We also have our own path of cultivation," Gu Ran comforted him with a smile.

Tianlin turned to the remaining people and said, "Gu Ran, Sister Lingling, everyone has gone to where they need to go and worked hard. You can't slack off either. I have something very important to ask of you, and it also concerns your future."

Upon hearing this, Gu Ran's expression became completely serious. He only knew that Tian Lin had prepared another path for him and Ye Lingling, but he had not yet told him what that path was.

Tianlin leaned close to Gu Ran and Ye Lingling's ears and whispered something in a voice only they could hear. The more he spoke, the wider their eyes opened.

"Boss, you're not kidding, are you? Do you really think someone like me can shoulder such a heavy responsibility?" Gu Ran asked in astonishment.

"Xiao Tian, ​​the path you've arranged is really overestimating me and Gu Ran, isn't it?" Even the usually confident top student Ye Lingling was a little flustered at this moment.

Tianlin nodded at the two of them, "Of course, this path cannot be completed by talent alone. Only perseverance is the most important thing. Among the Royal Fighting Team, the perseverance of the two of you is definitely the strongest. Gu Ran makes up for the lack of talent with perseverance, and Sister Lingling, you are learning all the time. I believe that only you two are qualified to reach the peak of this path."

"Gu Ran, Ye Lingling, listen up! In my capacity as the Vice Sect Master, I hereby order you two to immediately leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. For the next four years, you are not permitted to identify as disciples of the school. You may only act in your own names. Gu Ran will be responsible for punishing evil and protecting the people, while Ye Lingling will be responsible for healing the sick and saving lives, bringing blessings to the region. Make sure your names resound throughout the Douluo Continent!"

Ye Lingling and Gu Ran exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with determination. They both knelt on one knee and said, "We will obey the Vice Sect Master's command!"