DD Spiritual Sword [613-616] (Patreon)

Chapter 613: The Tyrannical Golden Dragon King, Suppressing the God of Destruction

Time was short. Chen Xin didn't give the Golden Dragon King and the God of Destruction much time to be shocked; with a flicker of his figure, he rushed at the two.

First target: the Golden Dragon King, whose colossal body was like a giant bullseye.

The Golden Dragon King wasn't some weakling like Qian Xunji. Its flesh was as hard as a super divine weapon. It immediately raised its golden dragon claw to meet Chen Xin's longsword.

Unfortunately, that incomparably powerful body was like a sheet of waste paper before Chen Xin at this moment. In an instant, his sword sliced it open, revealing the flesh beneath the golden armor.

The Golden Dragon King howled in pain. In all these years, when had it ever suffered this kind of injury? Even the Asura God could only seal it, never break through its defense.

"God of Destruction, aren't you going to act? Do you want the God Realm to disappear?"

The God of Destruction had been watching the show. He wasn't truly helping the Evil Sword Immortal, and he and the Golden Dragon King were mortal enemies—how could he possibly help it?

The anxious Evil Sword Immortal could only use the God Realm Core to transmit a threat to him. Helpless, the God of Destruction had to make a move.

Annihilating Divine Thunder—he used the same move again. Throughout this battle, he never wanted to unleash his true ultimate, World-Annihilation. This showed he still held a sliver of hope—especially seeing how Chen Xin now fought. Compared to pinning hopes on the Evil Sword Immortal showing mercy and returning the God Realm Core after leaving their world, he preferred to defeat the Evil Sword Immortal.

The not-at-full-power Annihilating Divine Thunder blasted toward Chen Xin. Chen Xin flicked his left hand: a red-hilted longsword flew out, instantly warding off all lightning. It was the former Sword God's divine weapon, the Qingjue Sword.

With the Seven Kill Sword in his right hand battling the Golden Dragon King, Chen Xin casually tapped with the fingers of his left hand, remotely controlling the Qingjue Sword. With peerlessly exquisite swordcraft, he sealed every attack route of the God of Destruction.

This was the Shu Mountain Sect's sword-controlling art.

The God of Destruction secretly marveled. As expected of the Sword God of this era—this swordcraft was far beyond the former Sword God and the Asura God.

Facing Chen Xin, the Golden Dragon King kept swinging its dragon claws and golden wings, spitting dragon waves, but Chen Xin simply used overwhelming force to crush technique. With power ten times that of a first-tier god, the Golden Dragon King's strength simply couldn't compare.

The wounds on its body numbered hundreds more than Qian Xunji's earlier. Each cut was deep to the bone. It was only thanks to its powerful physical might—any other first-tier god would have been dismembered by Chen Xin by now.

Only, Chen Xin still couldn't find the Golden Dragon King's vital point; he didn't know where its heart was. These injuries still weren't enough to settle the match.

So Chen Xin flew toward the dragon's head. That made the Golden Dragon King even more terrified: for most creatures, the head is fatal.

Panicking, the Golden Dragon King fought even more sloppily, even using its mouth to bite the oncoming Seven Kill Sword, ignoring how its lips and teeth were being shredded by sword qi.

With his sword gripped, Chen Xin had to spin-kick the Golden Dragon King's temple. The massive body crashed downward, leveling several mountain ranges before stopping—after all, Chen Xin's strength was eight times that of a first-rank god.

As the avatar of the Dragon God's evil thought, inheriting the Dragon God's mighty physique, when had the Golden Dragon King ever been this aggrieved?

The terrifying aftermath ravaged the surroundings. Ning Rongrong, the only first-rank god left, flew everywhere containing the spread of force. That was all she could do now.

At the center of the battlefield, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong fared even worse. They were merely Titled Douluo. Gu Rong's undying body could keep him alive, but shielding Ning Fengzhi from all energy made him feel like he was in the eighteenth level of hell, suffering death by a thousand cuts every moment.

"Uncle Bone, I'm sorry. Every time I make you my shield to bear such pain. Back when we traveled the continent, you were always the one who took the most hits," Ning Fengzhi said apologetically.

"Haha, think nothing of it. Compared to Chen Xin facing such a powerful foe, this little pain of mine is nothing," Gu Rong laughed heartily.

Being able to contribute in such a heaven-shaking battle, Gu Rong felt that even dying would be worth it.

…

On the mountain, Golden Crocodile Douluo, Tang Xiao, and the others had only one thought: "Seven Treasures Glazed Sword-and-Bone combo, so strong. Sword Dao Chen Xin, so fierce!"

"So these are the three who supported the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect before Jun Tianlin appeared? That so-called Golden Iron Triangle of Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Flender doesn't hold a candle. Only a combination like this deserves the title of Iron Triangle," Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed.

Pride filled Ning Rongrong's eyes. If anyone in the world could give her a sense of safety that rivaled Tianlin, it would be her loving father and her two grandpas.

Indeed, even with three god-kings as the enemy, they could still stand before her and shield her from the storm.

"God of Destruction, if you still don't use your full strength, I'll destroy the God Realm immediately." The Evil Sword Immortal grew increasingly anxious. Bibi Dong had suddenly gone out of control, Qian Xunji was killed, and the God of Destruction was paying lip service. If the Golden Dragon King died too, his lineup to reclaim the God of Lust would be wiped out.

Then he'd have to wait until he fully controlled the Core to keep the gate open and act personally—but that would take two more days. He and Tianlin were linked; he could sense Tianlin's strength was approaching his. When they fought, the outcome would be uncertain.

In fact, compared to him, who'd been hiding, the battle-hardened Tianlin had a much higher chance to win.

But this time, the God of Destruction turned a deaf ear. He had been watching Chen Xin's swordplay. Chen Xin's Qingjue Sword seemed to be fighting him, but the path of the blade obviously spelled words.

Sword God Chen Xin could actually fight the Golden Dragon King to the death while remotely controlling Qingjue Sword to deliver a message through the very act of combat.

Ning Fengzhi's stratagems were never half measures. Until the Evil Sword Immortal was completely destroyed, his planning wouldn't stop. Now, what Chen Xin conveyed to the God of Destruction was the next part of the plan.

"What a plan!" the God of Destruction thought. "What a Ning Fengzhi. When this war ends, I'll bring you to the God Realm no matter what. If I survive and finish atoning, I must share a drink with you."

Though stubborn, the God of Destruction never refused to admit fault. The Evil Sword Immortal's rise and rampage across the God and human realms were largely his fault. He would atone—ten thousand, a million years—until his sins were cleansed.

Then he could face Ning Fengzhi with a clean conscience. To talk freely with such a person would be one of life's great pleasures.

"World-Annihilation!"

At that moment, the God of Destruction finally used his strongest ultimate, targeting not only Chen Xin, but both Chen Xin and the Golden Dragon King.

In his hand appeared a massive black thunder orb, rimmed with a layer of blue-violet, containing a storm of destruction—destructive intent at its apex.

Chapter 614: Rushing to the Cosmos, True Darkness

Once the destructive power was condensed to its limit, the thunder orb finally launched.

"Heh, God of Destruction, ruthless enough," the Golden Dragon King sneered. He wasn't enraged by betrayal—he always knew the God of Destruction wanted him dead.

They were enemies—taking each other out together was only natural. If the situation were reversed, he'd certainly kill the God of Destruction as well.

"But killing me won't be that easy. Golden Dragon Tyrant Body!" The Golden Dragon King activated his strongest defensive skill, bracing to tank World-Annihilation.

At the same time, Ning Fengzhi pushed the Light of Undying to its limit. His plan was about to reach its final step.

The God of Destruction's gaze was grave. His terrifying destructive force could have turned tens of thousands of miles into ash, but he clearly didn't want a massacre. He compressed the energy as much as possible, finally causing it to explode only within the small area around Chen Xin and the Golden Dragon King.

Boom!
A pillar of annihilating light shot into the heavens. Power enough to erase all things made everyone's hearts clench.

"Grandpa Sword!" Ning Rongrong panicked, trying to rush into the beam to rescue Chen Xin.

The God of Lust immediately held her back. "Good girl, don't be rash. Chen Xin will be fine. Grandma promises."

As a key to the plan, the God of Lust also knew this step. As for Ning Rongrong, to make her emotions more genuine, Ning Fengzhi had told her nothing.

World-Annihilation's light was too powerful; it would take a long time to dissipate. Holding Bibi Dong as she flew, Qian Renxue glanced back.

She knew that battle had entered white-hot phase—so hers needed to end quickly too.

Just then, the captured Bibi Dong suddenly calmed, and the spider lances on her back stabbed at Qian Renxue's back.

Heart-Controlling Melody had only briefly affected her mind—she was controlled again.

Sensing danger, Qian Renxue used angelic wings to block the spider lances, then dragged Bibi Dong straight off the Douluo Star.

"Demon-Subduing Seal, Forbidden Seal, Binding Stasis!" Qian Renxue formed seals, sequentially casting three sealing arts Tianlin had taught her recently.

In an instant, Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor spirit, divine power, and bodily movement were entirely sealed.

Qian Renxue seized the moment, her mind leaving her body. Her soul became a sword and pointed at the space between Bibi Dong's brows, piercing directly into her sea of consciousness.

Bibi Dong's mental sea was pitch-black—nothing to be seen.

"So dark. Is this mother's heart? All these years, I never truly dispelled the darkness in her heart," Qian Renxue felt sorrow, but she didn't give up. She kept searching within.

Finally, in the deepest part of her heart, Qian Renxue saw a prison. Within it was a woman—Bibi Dong, or rather, Bibi Dong from her youth, before meeting the Grandmaster—Bibi Dong's good side.

At this moment, Bibi Dong sat on the ground, leaning against the bars, her head buried in her knees, motionless.

"Mother, I finally found you!" Qian Renxue was overjoyed. She swung the Angelic Holy Sword, cleaving open the cell, then flew to Bibi Dong. "Mother, look up at me. I'm Xue'er."

"Xue'er!" Hearing Qian Renxue's voice, Bibi Dong's body trembled, as if moved.

"Yes, mother, it's me. I've come to save you. Why are you still here? Come home with me, okay?" Qian Renxue said softly.

"Home? I have no home. It's quiet here. Xue'er, go back. This isn't a place you should come," Bibi Dong's head sank again. What truly bound her wasn't the cell, but this darkness.

"Why not go back, mother? What are you afraid of—the Evil Sword Immortal? We'll defeat him." Qian Renxue tried to influence Bibi Dong with angelic holy light, but in this darkness it was like a bull into a bog—vanishing without effect.

What the Asura God once said was true: trying to drive out this darkness with light was wishful thinking.

"I just feel this is where I belong. I am a wicked person who should dwell in darkness. This is my home." Bibi Dong had completely given up—her evil thought rampaged in the world while her good thought hid in darkness, deceiving herself.

Faced with this Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue was angry at her helplessness. She considered scolding or striking her, but knew it was useless. She could only go along and say, "You're right, mother. Your experiences destined you not to yearn for light. You should walk in darkness—but you must walk the path of true darkness."

"True darkness?" Bibi Dong was stunned. If Qian Renxue wanted to lead her to light, she neither wished to go nor to understand it. But "true darkness" stirred her curiosity.

"Yes, mother. Please, I beg you—open your eyes and take a look. Just one look—witness true darkness," Qian Renxue pleaded.

Bibi Dong was moved. However much she'd given up, she wouldn't refuse such a small request from Qian Renxue.

Thus, through her eyes, her good soul beheld a beautiful sight.

It was an incomparably vast darkness. Compared to it, her own darkness was but a drop in the ocean. The tiny points of light shining within were like gems, adorning it with breathtaking beauty.

At first glance, Bibi Dong loved it. She asked, "Xue'er, where is this?"

"Tianlin says this place is called the universe," Qian Renxue smiled. "Mother, before becoming a god, you didn't have the ability to come here. After becoming a god, you never had the chance. This is your first time seeing such beautiful darkness, isn't it?"

"The universe nurtures life—a gentle, dark world. No person or thing's darkness can surpass it. Would you consider such darkness evil?"

Qian Renxue gently embraced Bibi Dong. "Darkness doesn't mean evil. Though you possess the darkest Death Spider Emperor and Spider Emperor spirits, Grandpa told me you were once so pure and kind. Back then, you walked the path of true darkness."

"It's just that the Evil Spirit Pearl's darkness far exceeded yours, so your darkness was wrapped and devoured by it. But compared to the universe's darkness, the Evil Spirit Pearl's shadow is insignificant. Mother, feel it."

Qian Renxue released Bibi Dong's bodily bindings. Bibi Dong instinctively flew into space, sat cross-legged in the void, and began cultivating.

For Bibi Dong, it was like a natural simulated training ground—though using the universe's darkness as the medium was quite the grand gesture.

Chapter 615: Bibi Dong Awakens, Qian Renxue's Sorrowful Yet Resolute Sword

Watching Bibi Dong's spirit gradually stabilize, Qian Renxue smiled faintly. Suddenly, light flashed over her body; the golden holy radiance turned pitch black, and her eight wings grew dark.

She had transformed straight from Holy Angel to Fallen Angel.

This was Qian Renxue's new realm. With Tianlin's help, her sacred power had long reached a supreme state beyond the limit of light, and she had grasped the principle that extremes reverse. Long ago, Lucifer underwent a similar change—turning light into darkness to become a fallen angel.

Compared to Douluo World's Lucifer, Qian Renxue's realm was even higher. To save Bibi Dong, her dark power had also been cultivated to the peak. Now she could freely convert between sacred and dark power while keeping her true heart—entering godhood or demonhood with a single thought.

As a fallen angel, Qian Renxue looked more alluring. She smiled and flew to face Bibi Dong, circulating her arts to cultivate alongside her.

They were mother and daughter by blood—Qian Renxue's body was born from Bibi Dong—so their fusion was no less than that of Qian Renxue and Tianlin.

During the fusion, their hearts connected. Bibi Dong witnessed Qian Renxue's past: during her undercover years in the Heaven Dou Empire, countless girls were abused by nobles—far more tragic than Bibi Dong herself.

As the empire's crown prince in name, with the court unstable, Qian Renxue couldn't openly avenge them, so she had only one path:

Walk within darkness and use assassination to bring justice for those girls.

Bibi Dong opened her eyes and smiled. "I never thought you, the orthodox heir of the Angel God, would do assassinations."

"I had no choice then. Besides, I'm not that pedantic. I even do undercover work—why would I think only open daylight is justice? As long as justice is served, I don't mind treading the dark. That is true darkness," Qian Renxue shrugged. In her fallen angel form, she looked a bit roguish; because Bibi Dong smiled at her, her mood lifted and her expression turned even more captivating.

The Evil Spirit Pearl's darkness within Bibi Dong still tried to influence her, but aided by the universe's immense darkness, even the Pearl's power could no longer shake her.

As Qian Renxue said, any darkness is tiny compared to the universe's. That's what the Asura God once told her: to dissolve the darkness in Bibi Dong's heart, find a greater darkness.

"Mother, have you fully awakened?" Qian Renxue asked.

"Yes. Thanks to this dark universe's simulated cultivation and the extremely pure Heavenly Snow power within you," Bibi Dong nodded. "But the Evil Spirit Pearl's power remains in me. Once we return, I'll still be controlled. Now you should understand what you must do."

"I…" Qian Renxue hesitated. How could she not understand her mother's unspoken meaning?

"Xue'er, don't waver. Unlike Qian Xunji's few remaining soul fragments, my soul is complete. That Evil Sword Immortal is said to be born of the evil thoughts of me and Qian Xunji, but in truth, Qian Xunji's share is two parts and mine eight. He still hasn't fully detached from me. If I die, he'll be greatly affected."

"Moreover, now that I've recovered my mind, the Original Sin power he left in me is under my control. I will take it and perish with it. Then, when Jun Tianlin strikes, he will surely win," Bibi Dong said solemnly. "As my daughter, you must not dither. Do it. Kill!"

"Kill!" Qian Renxue nodded firmly. The Angelic Holy Sword rose high, its light extending a thousand meters—then came slashing down.

"Goodbye, mother." Qian Renxue swung her strongest sword in tears.

After the blade passed, Bibi Dong's body began to crumble bit by bit.

"Goodbye, Xue'er. To have a daughter like you in this life makes me happy. My hatred of Qian Xunji seems to have faded a lot. If there's a next life, I don't want to live with hatred. There's something I've owed you for a long time: I love you, Xue'er."

At death, words turn kind. What Bibi Dong in the original work could never let go, she released in this moment—proof that Qian Renxue's efforts over the years were not in vain.

As Bibi Dong's body turned to ash, Qian Renxue reached out and gathered Bibi Dong's final soul essence.

Looking at the soul in her hand, Qian Renxue said, "Mother, because you killed too many in this life, I can't use my first-rank god quota to revive you. But heaven never seals all roads—believe me, we mother and daughter will meet again. Until that day, a thousand years, ten thousand—I will wait."

Qian Renxue put away Bibi Dong's remnant soul and flew back toward Douluo. The battle wasn't over. There was one more thing she had to help resolve.

…

At this moment in the God Realm, the Evil Sword Immortal suddenly spat a mouthful of blood. His power fell from half-step God Emperor back to Supreme God King.

"How is this possible? Bibi Dong died—and not by an ordinary killing. She destroyed part of my origin!" he raged.

Originally, Bibi Dong's death was nothing. He was already seventy or eighty percent formed; her death wouldn't harm his origin—at most injure him slightly. But now, even his realm had dropped so much.

Only one possibility: Bibi Dong regained clarity, locked down the last two parts of his origin not yet fully detached and all the Original Sin power, and chose to die voluntarily.

"Damn it! Qian Renxue—how did she break my Evil Spirit Pearl? Besides Jun Tianlin's Holy Spirit Pearl, is there a light or darkness stronger than the Evil Spirit Pearl?"

The Evil Sword Immortal couldn't figure it out. But there was no time to ponder. With his power waning, his remaining edge was gone.

Linked with Tianlin, he knew if he fought now, he'd surely lose. Fortunately, Tianlin's power hadn't stabilized and couldn't leave seclusion lightly.

The problem: to control the God Realm Core, he also couldn't leave.

At first, he had all the advantage—he himself was half-step God Emperor, held half the Core, commanded tens of thousands of god-servants, had some surrendered first- and second-rank gods, and even four god-king-level powerhouses.

In contrast, the other side had only a few first-rank gods and some human soul masters while Tianlin was still cultivating. Yet after several rounds, his side was almost wiped out—how?

His sole hope now was the God of Destruction returning with the God of Lust—then he could turn the tide again.

Chapter 616: God of Lust Vanishes, Evil Sword Immortal Descends, Tianlin Emerges

The God of Destruction's pillar of light lasted a quarter-hour before slowly dissipating.

That far exceeded Ning Fengzhi's usual support duration. To ensure Chen Xin's safety, Ning Fengzhi ultimately gave up all other buffs, focusing solely on Undying Body, barely enduring World-Annihilation's duration. Even so, both he and Chen Xin were completely spent, with no strength to fight on.

The Golden Dragon King was in even worse shape. Its bodily defenses already shattered by Chen Xin, it took the God of Destruction's heavy blow—half its body nearly disintegrated. Where was its dragon-king dominance now? It lay like an earthworm, more air going in than out.

With Tianlin and the Evil Sword Immortal unable to appear, Chen Xin and the Golden Dragon King incapacitated, and Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji dead, the God of Destruction was now the strongest on the field.

He flashed forward. First-rank gods like Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong couldn't even track his movement. In a blink, he pinched the God of Lust's neck, sealed her divine power, and seized her.

"Well done, God of Destruction. Bring her up, and I'll spare the God Realm at once," the Evil Sword Immortal said excitedly.

The God of Destruction sneered. "Bring her up? Are you joking, Evil Sword Immortal? You think I'll hand over the God of Lust so easily? Or do you think I'm a fool who believes you'll return the God Realm?"

The Evil Sword Immortal snarled a threat. "What do you mean? Don't forget, I control half the Core. I can collapse half the God Realm at any time."

"Heh, be my guest. Try it. Don't forget: the moment you leave the Core, the gate closes. You can't get out now. And you need at least two more days to seize full control. That's two years in the human world. Our new Asura God will likely reach half-step God Emperor soon. Then, how will you fight? Or do you think you can snatch the God of Lust from him?" The God of Destruction was now confident.

What Chen Xin had drawn with his sword told him: while the Evil Sword Immortal held his weakness, he held the Evil Sword Immortal's in turn. The latter was even more pressed than Tianlin.

His own growth had stalled; Tianlin kept getting stronger. In two years, Tianlin might even reach God Emperor. Then what game could he play?

"What do you want?" The Evil Sword Immortal calmed down, knowing the God of Destruction would name terms.

"Simple. Immediately relinquish control of the Core to the Goddess of Life in the God Realm. She'll keep the gate open in your stead. When you leave the God Realm and arrive in Douluo, I'll hand over the God of Lust. I don't trust your kind at all—only a transaction," the God of Destruction said. "My only condition. If you refuse, we keep the stalemate and see who outlasts whom."

The Evil Sword Immortal ground his teeth. From the God of Destruction's position, he wouldn't trust himself either.

And he never planned to return the God Realm anyway; he wanted to use its power to counterattack the Sword-Immortal world.

But given the situation, he had to return it first—or he wouldn't get the God of Lust.

After careful thought, he deemed the deal workable. First, by mutual sensing, he estimated Tianlin needed a few more days to emerge, while he only needed a second to devour the God of Lust.

Second, in the human realm, the God of Destruction was no match for him. He needn't fear betrayal. In front of him, neither the God of Lust's suicide nor the God of Destruction killing her to ruin his plan would succeed. A Supreme God King's power dwarfed them.

Third, after devouring the God of Lust and becoming the Evil Emperor, the world's rules could no longer restrain him. Even without opening the gate, he could force his way into the God Realm. It would still be his.

All gain, no loss.

"Fine. I accept." He released the Evil Spirit Pearl's suppression on the Goddess of Life and handed Core control back to her.

The Goddess of Life didn't know his purpose, but she and the God of Destruction were husband and wife for many years, trusting each other absolutely. If he set this condition, he had his reasons.

"Keep the gate open honestly. No tricks. Destroying the God Realm or killing your husband is nothing to me," the Evil Sword Immortal said coldly.

"Rest assured. My husband and I care only for the God Realm. I'm happy to see you leave it," the Goddess of Life replied—pure truth, without a hint of falsehood.

The Evil Sword Immortal nodded and shot toward the portal. At his speed, in less than half a minute, he descended to the human world.

"God of Destruction, I've returned the Core to the Goddess of Life. Hand over the God of Lust," he said, lunging at her like a starving tiger.

He had coveted this final Original Sin for too long—not a word more.

At that moment, the God of Destruction loosened his grip on the God of Lust's neck, a meaningful smile on his face.

Just a split-second before the Evil Sword Immortal could seize her, the God of Lust vanished. Then, the God Realm gate closed.

It happened so fast the Evil Sword Immortal was stunned. The field fell silent.

After a long moment, the God of Destruction couldn't hold it in. He laughed madly. "Heh-heh-heh-heh, hahahahaha!"

Echoing him was Ning Fengzhi. Their laughter rang across the Seven Treasures Mountain, full of mockery.

"Where did she go? Where is my God of Lust? Why did she disappear?" The Evil Sword Immortal ignored the laughter. He frantically searched for the God of Lust.

Even scanning the whole continent, he found no trace.

But how? No matter how fast she was, she couldn't outpace him. She couldn't even kill herself.

And he hadn't sensed any divine power fluctuation. Otherwise, he would have used the Evil Spirit Pearl to seal her divine power.

Just then, he touched the space where she had been and felt a faint spatial ripple.

"Could it be… the God of Lust is…?"

"You guessed right. She's in the God Realm—via my Star-Shifting Talisman." A calm voice sounded. For some reason, Tianlin had emerged early from seclusion.

Smiling playfully at the Evil Sword Immortal, Tianlin said, "You're completely finished. Thanks to you, my dear father-in-law's plan went off beautifully—and my closed-door cultivation ended ahead of schedule."