"Uncle Ning succeeded!" Tianlin excitedly pulled Ning Rongrong towards the Hall.
Ning Fengzhi emerged, looking pleased, but Tianlin sensed a hint of killing intent on his face.
He hadn't expected his breakthrough to Titled Douluo to be so dramatic, even within the secret chamber.
He didn't yet want anyone to know of his breakthrough—the element of surprise would give them an advantage.
As Tianlin, Ning Rongrong, and the other Douluos approached, Ning Fengzhi said sternly, "Uncle Eagle, you should have already found the infiltrators in the sect, right?"
"Yes, Sect Master. There are spies from Spirit Hall and both empires. Spirit Hall has a Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings, plus several Soul Elders. The empires' spies are mostly Soul Masters to Soul Elders, two or three per group."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Good. Spirit Hall and Star Luo spies—kill without mercy. For Heaven Dou spies, Tianlin, use your soul reading to alter their memories and send false information. As for our people, order everyone: today's events are not to be spread."
Knowing Spirit Hall planned to destroy their sect, Ning Fengzhi felt no need for mercy. As for Star Luo, they were already enemies.
As for Heaven Dou, it wasn't time to break ties yet.
Tianlin smiled. "About time—having so many spies in the house has bothered me for a long time."
"Rongrong, stay with Uncle Ning. I'll be back soon!"
He still didn't want Ning Rongrong involved in the killings.
"Okay, Brother Sword, be careful." Ning Rongrong obediently stood by Ning Fengzhi.
Tianlin took the list from Yin Yang. Some on it were people he knew and who had always greeted him warmly—but it was all a façade.
He showed no mercy. Within half an hour, several had died by his sword.
Many disciples at first thought Tianlin had gone mad, killing his own, but when he showed them the evidence Yin Yang had collected, they realized just how many traitors lurked within.
They learned that as the sect grew stronger, so did the attention from outside forces. From now on, they would have to be more careful with their words.
After completing the task, Tianlin returned to the Hall. The sect's big names were congratulating Ning Fengzhi—after all, he was the first auxiliary-type Titled Douluo in nearly a century, just one spirit ring away from full power.
"Xiao Tian, I kept my promise—broke through to Titled Douluo in about a year. Now, tell me about the hundred-thousand-year soul beast you mentioned," Ning Fengzhi pressed.
No Titled Douluo would ignore the chance for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, especially with a top-tier spirit like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Who knows what kind of monstrous supporting skills it could produce?
"Uncle Ning, before we talk about the hundred-thousand-year beast, I must tell you something about Grandpa Eagle—please don't be angry."
Tianlin recounted Yin Yang's experience upon joining Shrek. Yin Yang couldn't speak due to his Martial Soul oath, but Tianlin had no such restriction.
After hearing him, Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and the others were furious. Chen Xin stood up, "Xiao Tian, where's Tang Hao now? Since you told us, you must know, right?"
Chen Xin was different from the sword cultivators Tianlin knew from past wuxia worlds. His sword was not heartless, nor did it mean abandoning everything else. He cared for many people—apart from Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, Tianlin, and Gu Rong, Yin Yang was one of his best friends. Now, that friend had been forced to swear an oath under threat of death by Tang Hao. Chen Xin was enraged—he wanted to cut Tang Hao down.
Tianlin nodded. "Yes, I know where he is. This time, we'll make him pay for what he's done."
"In that case, Xiao Tian will lead the way. Uncle Eagle, Uncle Sword, come with me. Uncle Bone and Uncle Dugu will guard the sect." Ning Fengzhi decided.
Though they and Tang Hao shared a common enemy for now, that didn't excuse Tang Hao's threats to their family.
Of the four, Chen Xin and Tianlin could fly on swords, Yin Yang had a flying beast martial soul, and Ning Fengzhi could ride Chen Xin's sword.
Three streaks of light soon shot toward the horizon.
At that moment, Tang Hao was training Tang San under a waterfall in a small valley. Since Tang San's body was weaker than in the original, it took him six months to master the 81 swings of the Hammer Technique, twice as long as the original, and now he was trying with a wooden hammer.
This was even harder. Even the original Tang San took eight or nine months, and now, a year might not be enough.
However, his soul power was increasing quickly—under the waterfall's pressure, he gained over five levels in a year, reaching nearly level 47.
Tang San's soul power was even increasing slightly faster than Tianlin's since Tianlin's ultimate attribute created a bottleneck until after level 70.
Sixty to seventy was the greatest hurdle for extreme attributes.
As the four approached, Chen Xin suddenly stopped. "I sense Tang Hao, just ahead in the valley."
With his strength and the element of surprise, he could detect Tang Hao, but Tang Hao could not sense him.
"Shall we go settle things with Tang Hao now?" Chen Xin's sword aura surged. If Tianlin or Ning Fengzhi agreed, his Seven Kill Sword could flatten the whole mountain.
Tianlin shook his head. "Master, let's put Tang Hao aside for now. He won't run. Instead, let's get Uncle Ning's ninth soul ring first."
The Blue Silver King's ring was perfect for Ning Fengzhi. His eighth ring skill, like Ning Rongrong's in the original, was a Godly Light Shield from a King Kong Armored Beast with invincibility—though only about 70,000 years, so less effective than Ning Rongrong's hundred-thousand-year ring, able to withstand six full Titled Douluo ninth skills, but not reflect attacks as soul power.
But usually, that was enough. To force a Titled Douluo to use their ninth skill on Ning Fengzhi six times—how exhausted would they be?
Ning Fengzhi could now protect himself, so the next skill should support others.
The Blue Silver Emperor's greatest trait was endless regeneration. Tianlin guessed that if Ning Fengzhi got its hundred-thousand-year ring, the soul skill would differ from Ning Rongrong's, but be just as terrifying—likely focused on endurance and recovery.