The enormous scroll in the sky gave everyone little time to catch their breath.
As Chen Xin and Gu Rong's tragic end played out across the image, with the two of them turning into a rain of blood, brilliant golden light gathered once more above the Golden Ranking List.
The blood-red characters that had appeared there now looked sacred and solemn once again.
A grand voice boomed beside everyone's ears like the tolling of a great bell.
[In recognition of Sword Douluo Chen Xin's admirable loyalty and bravery, and his place at nineteenth on the Golden Ranking List, a Heavenly Dao reward is hereby bestowed!]
Buzz—
A pillar of light descended from the Sky Screen, reaching from the heavens to the earth, and enveloped the one-armed old man atop Jialing Pass.
The Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul in Chen Xin's hand appeared of its own accord, beyond his control.
The silver-white blade began to crack, inch by inch.
But it wasn't being damaged.
It was being reborn.
Beneath its shattered surface, an even deeper, purer radiance flowed.
The blade grew longer, and several mysterious blood-red markings appeared on its hilt, exuding a divine aura that seemed capable of bringing slaughter to all under heaven.
[Reward One: Martial Soul Evolution—Seven Kill God Sword!]
[Quality: Proto-Super Divine Artifact. Attack power increased by 200%. Comes with the divine domain "Seven Kill Absolute Domain," which ignores 50% of physical defense.]
But that wasn't the end.
Within the pillar of light, a crystal-clear fruit about the size of a baby's fist drifted slowly down.
A faint immortal aura swirled around it. Just looking at it made the vitality within one's body seem to leap with joy.
[Reward Two: One Dao Body Immortal Fruit!]
[Effect: After consumption, it can reshape the body, regenerate severed limbs, and mend all acquired or congenital deficiencies. Even if the body is completely pulverized, as long as a breath remains, it can restore the body to its original state and forge a flawless Dao Body.]
As everyone read those two lines of text, all of Jialing Pass erupted into an uproar.
How could this be called a reward?
It was a heaven-defying treasure that could change one's fate!
The Seven Kill Sword was already a top-tier Power Attack System weapon Martial Soul. Now that it had evolved into a divine sword, Chen Xin's attack power would surely be unmatched beneath the heavens.
And the Dao Body Immortal Fruit was an even more precious treasure, one countless Soul Masters with disabilities had dreamed of obtaining.
At the Tang Sect's temporary encampment,
the atmosphere had been so heavy it felt as if the air had turned to lead.
Dai Mubai's body had already been taken away for burial. Tang San sat in the seat of honor, his face so dark it seemed ready to drip water.
Just moments ago, all he could think about was how to fight his way back to Skywater City, how to tear Shui Yue'er to pieces, and how to rescue Xiao Wu.
The savage killing intent within him had made the air around them feel scorching.
But the moment the Sky Screen announced the reward,
the red light in Tang San's eyes abruptly froze.
He jerked his head up and stared fixedly at the fruit wreathed in immortal aura on the Sky Screen.
The Dao Body Immortal Fruit.
It could repair all permanent injuries.
Those words struck his muddled mind like a thunderclap.
Without thinking, he turned toward the person sitting in the corner.
Ma Hongjun.
The once high-spirited, plump young man was now slumped dejectedly in his chair.
Ever since that accident, Ma Hongjun's lower body had been completely ruined. The permanent damage had been caused by the backlash of his Evil Fire and an enemy's attack.
No medicine could cure it.
No matter how powerful his Soul Power became, it couldn't make the dead organs grow back.
Ma Hongjun was destined to be a eunuch for the rest of his life.
It had become the pain he would carry forever, and had robbed him of any desire to keep striving on the path of cultivation.
But now, there was a chance.
"..."
Tang San's breathing quickened.
Mubai was already dead.
Of the Shrek Seven Monsters, only he, Oscar, and Fatty were brothers who had been through life and death together.
He couldn't let Fatty spend the rest of his life like this.
Not far away,
Chen Xin had just finished receiving his reward and was still overcome with excitement.
He looked down at the brand-new Seven Kill God Sword in his hand, feeling the strength that could cleave the heavens. The gloom that had settled over him after seeing his own death vanish from the image had swept away.
Even more exciting was the fruit.
Trembling, Chen Xin reached out with his remaining left hand and caught the Dao Body Immortal Fruit.
With this, he could get his right arm back!
For a swordsman, losing the hand that held his sword was an unbearable torment.
He had trained himself to wield the sword with his left hand, but it could never be as perfect as wielding it with his right.
"Congratulations, Sword Grandpa!"
Ning Rongrong rushed forward at once, tears streaking her face, yet her smile shone brighter than ever.
"That's wonderful! Your arm can be restored, Sword Grandpa. And the tragedy that was supposed to happen won't come to pass!"
Gu Rong came over too and patted his old companion on the shoulder. For once, his usually gloomy face wore a genuine smile.
"Old Sword, you're really something. I'm envious of your luck."
"Hurry up and eat it. Let this old man see whether your new arm looks right."
Chen Xin took a deep breath and nodded.
He picked up the fruit and was about to put it in his mouth.
"Senior Sword Douluo, please wait."
A voice cut abruptly into the warm scene.
It wasn't loud, but it carried a force that left no room for refusal.
Chen Xin paused.
Ning Rongrong and Gu Rong were also taken aback, and turned toward the speaker.
Tang San slowly rose from his seat and walked over one step at a time.
He wasn't looking at Chen Xin or Ning Rongrong.
His eyes were fixed on the Dao Body Immortal Fruit in Chen Xin's hand.
That look—
Ning Rongrong knew it all too well.
It was the look Tang San got whenever he came across a rare Immortal Herb.
A greed that was determined to claim its prize, carefully hidden beneath a calm expression.
Ning Rongrong's heart gave a sudden lurch.
She instinctively glanced back at Ma Hongjun in the corner.
A terrible thought exploded in her mind.
No.
Surely not?
Third Brother... Was he really going to take Sword Grandpa's life-saving treasure?
"Sect Master Tang, what do you want?"
Chen Xin frowned slightly and tightened his grip on the Immortal Fruit.
As a top Titled Douluo, he was keenly attuned to malice.
Tang San stopped three steps in front of Chen Xin, clasped his hands, and bowed with the respect due from a junior.
"Senior."
"This junior has a request to make."
"Would you be willing to part with this Dao Body Immortal Fruit and give it to me?"
The moment he said those words,
the entire place fell silent.
Gu Rong's eyes widened, as though he'd just heard the greatest joke in the world.
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
Chen Xin's expression darkened at once.
"Sect Master Tang, do you know what you're asking?"
"This arm of mine was lost protecting the sect."
"Now that I finally have a chance to get it back, you want me to give it up?"
Tang San didn't back down.
His expression was sincere, and his voice even carried a hint of sorrow.
"Please don't be angry, Senior."
"This junior isn't asking for himself."
Tang San pointed toward Ma Hongjun in the corner.
"Everyone knows Fatty was left permanently disabled while fighting for Shrek and all of us."
"He's still so young. He hasn't even married or had children. It would be too cruel to let him spend the rest of his life like this."
"Though you've lost an arm, your cultivation is profound, and you've long since grown accustomed to wielding a sword with your left hand. It doesn't affect your strength much."
"But for Fatty, this fruit would give him a new lease on life."
"This junior is willing to offer the Tang Sect Secret Arts, or even a fifty-thousand-year Soul Bone, in exchange."
"Please, Senior, grant my request!"
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