Bibi Dong returned to her bedchamber and soaked in the steaming bath, Jiang Chen's words echoing in her mind: If I weren't a monster, how could I be worthy of you, Teacher?
"Xiao Chen, I'm your teacher!" In Bibi Dong's heart, she was Jiang Chen's teacher, and she had watched him grow up. That identity could not be crossed.
A cluster of pagoda-shaped buildings stood amid the mountains, with birds chirping overhead. It was grand and imposing.
This was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.
Two Title Douluo presided over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong. Due to the limitations of his Martial Soul, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi was merely a seven-ring Soul Sage.
However, because of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's unique nature, Ning Fengzhi was in no way inferior to ordinary Title Douluo-level support Soul Masters.
Jiang Chen entered through the mountain gate, giving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect due respect. After all, he had come to find someone, not to fight.
If he had come to fight, he would have started by cutting down half the mountain gate with a single sword strike as a greeting.
Before the lavish yet elegant mountain gate, Jiang Chen slowly walked up the stairs.
"Friend, this is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please leave."
Two blue-clad guards stood on either side of the gate. Their tone was mild, without the slightest hint of using their status as one of the Upper Three Sects to oppress others.
"Brothers, I am Jiang Chen, Holy Son of Wuhun Hall. I have come to pay a visit!"
As Jiang Chen spoke, he took out the Pope's token Bibi Dong had given him, let them take a look, and then put it back into his storage pouch.
In the original anime, Jiang Chen had been deeply impressed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, especially Chen Xin, the swordsman who had ultimately been left with only one arm.
Having been reborn into this world from the anime, what harm was there in preserving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
"So it is the Holy Son of Wuhun Hall. Forgive our disrespect!"
"Holy Son, we will report to the Sect Master at once. Please wait here."
Jiang Chen smiled. "Then I'll trouble you."
One guard ran into the sect, while the other remained at the mountain gate to wait with Jiang Chen. Wuhun Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sometimes had minor conflicts, so neither guard dared to bring Jiang Chen inside without authorization. Jiang Chen understood this and said nothing.
Congratulations, Host. You have successfully triggered a choice: Choice One: A person suitable to inherit the Host's Godhood has been detected. Bestow Godhood upon them. Reward: Ten-Million-Year Soul Ring, Immortal-grade Qiluo Tulip. Choice Two: A person suitable to inherit the Host's Godhood has been detected. Do not bestow Godhood. Reward: Ten-Million-Year Soul Ring, Immortal-grade Lovesick Heartbroken Red.
Looking at the triggered choices, Jiang Chen found that the rewards were actually quite similar. However, he had come specifically to grant Sword Douluo a Godhood inheritance. Besides... wasn't the Immortal-grade Qiluo Tulip the immortal herb Ning Rongrong had consumed in the original story, allowing her Martial Soul to evolve into the Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda?
Jiang Chen had long noticed that the system's choice rewards were often related to what would happen next. For instance, if he lacked Soul Rings, it rewarded him with Soul Rings...
Could it be that after Xiao Wu beside Tang San had been replaced by Leng Ningxue, other butterfly effects had occurred as well? Either Ning Rongrong had not joined Shrek Academy, or she had not gone to Sunset Forest.
"System, I choose One."
"Congratulations, Host. You have made your choice. Reward: Ten-Million-Year Soul Ring, Immortal-grade Qiluo Tulip."
Not long afterward, a refined middle-aged man approached Jiang Chen with two people following behind him.
One was dressed in white, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, though his head was already full of silver hair. The other wore black, his steps steady and powerful.
There was no need to guess. These two were Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
"Jiang Chen, Holy Son of Wuhun Hall, greets Sect Master Ning. These two seniors must be the renowned Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled gently. "Holy Son, you have come from afar. If we have been in any way discourteous, please enter the sect for a conversation, so that our humble sect may fulfill its duties as host."
Jiang Chen replied politely, "Then I shall trouble your sect."
The group entered the sect. Sword Douluo occasionally glanced at Jiang Chen, feeling utterly puzzled.
"Why does my Seven Kill Sword feel inexplicably excited?"
"My sword intent is trembling, as though... it has encountered a sovereign."
Sword Douluo muttered to himself.
Before long, they arrived at an antique hall. They took their seats according to rank, and as the guest, Jiang Chen naturally sat to the left of the main seat.
"I have ordered someone to prepare a table of food. Please do not disdain our humble fare, Holy Son!"
"Sect Master Ning, what are you saying? I am the one imposing on you."
After the pleasantries, Ning Fengzhi asked with a trace of seriousness, "May I ask whether this visit is the Holy Son's own intention, or the intention of the Pope of Wuhun Hall?"
Jiang Chen picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and said calmly, "My teacher does not know."
The stone in Ning Fengzhi's heart finally fell. If this had been the Pope's intention, Jiang Chen had most likely come to test the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stance. If it was Jiang Chen's personal decision, then that was another matter.
"Then may I ask what brings the Holy Son here?"
"Ah..."
Jiang Chen let out a soft sigh. "Let us speak frankly. I came mainly to grant Sword Douluo a Godhood inheritance!"
"What! A Godhood inheritance?!"
The entire hall was stunned. Godhood inheritances were exceedingly rare on the continent, let alone one suited to the recipient.
Sword Douluo could no longer suppress the doubts in his heart. Ever since meeting Jiang Chen, the Seven Kill Sword had remained excited. Such a thing had never happened before.
Logically speaking, this could only happen if he encountered a sword Martial Soul whose grade far surpassed his own and had reached the standard of a divine artifact, or if its wielder possessed an extraordinarily powerful sword domain.
Now that Jiang Chen had said this, everything made sense.
Seeing Sword Douluo's intense reaction, Ning Fengzhi had already believed Jiang Chen's words. Only a Godhood inheritance suited to him could make Sword Douluo behave this way.
Ning Fengzhi calculated silently. "Holy Son, what price must the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect pay to obtain this inheritance?"
"It is free." Jiang Chen shook his head.
Everyone was shocked. Since when had there been such a good thing in the world?!
"Sect Master Ning, you are a smart man. Wuhun Hall will inevitably start a war in the future and unify the continent, but does that truly make it evil?"
"Those empires and sects are rotten to the core. Wars rage endlessly between nations, and in the end, aren't ordinary people the ones who suffer?"
"I was once an orphan as well. Without Wuhun Hall helping me awaken my Martial Soul, perhaps I would still be struggling to survive in the dirt. Wuhun Hall gives commoners a chance to become strong and change their fate, but when have those imperial nobles and great aristocratic clans ever looked at them directly, other than calling them lowborn?"
"This war cannot be avoided. Wuhun Hall's victory is assured!"
Jiang Chen summoned his Martial Soul. Ten Soul Rings appeared, and an overwhelming pressure swept outward.
No one could raise their heads. Jiang Chen withdrew his Soul Rings, and the Zhuxian Sword slowly floated at his side.
"I have already become a god and created my own Godhood. It is called the Sword God."
"I promise here that as long as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect does not interfere in the affairs between the empires, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will remain the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As for this Godhood, your sect need not pay any price. In the entire continent, only Chen Xin is qualified to inherit my Godhood!"
"Your sights should not be limited to the lower realm. There is also the God Realm, and even worlds beyond!"
"Holy Son, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will never take part in this."
Ning Fengzhi declared solemnly.
What a joke!
With the strength Jiang Chen had displayed, he could crush an army of hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect involved itself, it would simply be courting death. As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was naturally shrewd.
"Sword Douluo Chen Xin, are you willing to inherit my legacy?!" Jiang Chen transmitted his voice with divine power, making it echo throughout the entire sect.
Sword Douluo's soul shook. He could sense that this was an entirely new path of the sword, not one that required him to walk Jiang Chen's path, but one that would open the way for him.
Sword Douluo understood that this was an enormous opportunity!
"I am willing!"
"Good. I shall use the power of Godhood to grant you an inheritance called the Sword God's Nine Trials. Nine is the ultimate number, but every trial will be exceedingly difficult. Once you accept my divine trials, you may no longer accept another Godhood inheritance. Are you prepared?!"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin dropped to one knee. "Senior, I am prepared!"
A streak of divine light emerged from Jiang Chen's body and entered Sword Douluo's brow, turning into a golden sword-shaped mark. This was the Zhuxian Sword.
"The divine mark of the Zhuxian Sword will provide you with hints for your divine trials. Each time you complete a trial, you will receive a reward."
"Complete all nine trials, and you may become a god. The rest of the path depends on you."
"Thank you!" Sword Douluo cupped his hands in gratitude.
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