"I also have something to ask you, but since you have something for me, Uncle Ning, you go first."
Tianlin was curious about what could make his family argue like this.
Before Ning Fengzhi could speak, the impatient Gu Rong spoke up. "Fengzhi and Old Sword wanted to send you to a place for training—one of the continent's deadliest. Many have entered over the years, but only two made it out. So Old Poison and Old Eagle and I are against it."
Dugu Bo nodded. "With your talent, you'll reach the peak in time. No need to risk yourself there."
"Grandpa Bone, Old Monster, are you talking about Slaughter City?" Tianlin asked.
A deadly place, with only two survivors—it must be Slaughter City.
Gu Rong glared. "How did you know? Fengzhi already told you?"
So, it was. Tianlin had brought Ning Rongrong for nothing—they had already planned to send him there.
Ning Fengzhi wanted Tianlin to change his temperament. He practiced the Seven Killing Sword Technique, but never struck ruthlessly, and never went for vital points. How could he call it a killing sword?
Chen Xin knew the Seven Killing Sword was easy to learn, but the Sword Dao was not. It required killing intent—without enough, one couldn't even get started.
Tianlin learned the sword skill in months, but after a year still hadn't grasped the Sword Dao. So, Chen Xin realized Tianlin needed to be pushed to his limits in a place where they couldn't help him.
Tianlin took the opportunity. "Uncle Ning hadn't told me, but it matches my intentions—I came to ask your permission to go train at Slaughter City!"
"What, you want to go yourself? I already said, with your talent…"
Dugu Bo tried to persuade him, but Tianlin interrupted. "I know what you mean, but we don't have time. I have to get stronger fast."
He hinted about the soul hunting operation.
"And I heard Slaughter City was left behind by a rank 100 god as an inheritance. Maybe I can find my opportunity there."
Everyone understood—Tianlin's ambition was bigger than they'd thought. Ning Fengzhi just wanted to temper him; Chen Xin wanted him to learn deeper swordsmanship.
But Tianlin was aiming to find and inherit a god position and become a deity. With his talent, he had a decent chance.
Ning Fengzhi praised, "Good. Such ambition matches your talent. Uncle Poison, Uncle Bone, Uncle Eagle—anything left to say?"
Gu Rong shook his head. "What can we say? If we stopped him, we'd just be obstacles."
Yin Yang and Dugu Bo were silent. Becoming a god was the highest dream for all soul masters.
A youth now taking his first step toward that goal—even if the road was full of thorns—they couldn't stop his resolve.
With their agreement, Ning Rongrong let go of her worries. Her Sword Brother always aimed high. Becoming a god was his dream. As his future wife, she would support him. If he didn't come back, she'd just follow him to the underworld.
"Xiao Tian, spend tonight with Rongrong. I give you two years—two years to come out of Slaughter City with the Deathgod Domain," Chen Xin said, leaving without looking back, probably to avoid changing his mind out of worry.
He trained Tianlin strictly but loved him deeply—the classic tsundere.
"Yes, Master!" Tianlin understood his intentions and didn't say anything sentimental—promising to return was enough.
He left the hall with Ning Rongrong. As Chen Xin said, tonight he just needed to be with her.
They talked late into the night about their past and future, never mentioning Slaughter City. In the end, Ning Rongrong fell asleep in his arms.
Only then did Skydream Ice Silkworm finally speak up, "Xiao Tian, are you going to Slaughter City to seek a god position?"
It had been tactful, not disturbing their time.
"Yes, Brother Skydream, remember I promised to take you to become a god too? As far as I know, there are three places in the Douluo Continent for the god inheritance."
"The Angel God's inheritance at Spirit Hall, the Sea God's inheritance at Sea God Island, and the Asura God and Rakshasa God inheritances at Slaughter City. The Angel God won't choose me, I lack a crucial item for the Sea God, and the Rakshasa God inheritance is already gone. So, I can only aim for Asura God. The current Asura God's test is interrupted; if he wants to pass on his position, he must find a new inheritor."
"Don't worry, of these gods, Asura is the highest and strongest!" Tianlin smiled.
"Worry my ass!" Skydream Ice Silkworm raged inside. If it was before, he would've fully supported Tianlin seeking the god inheritance.
But now he knew the Holy Spirit Pearl held a god position far above even the god kings. Giving that up for the Asura God would be like dropping a watermelon for a sesame seed.
Just as he was about to tell the truth, a mental voice interrupted, "Fat bug, don't stop Xiao Tian. Only the Holy Spirit Pearl can bear that god position. His demon sword inheriting Asura God is fine."
"And the key to activating the Holy Spirit Pearl's god position is for Xiao Tian's strength to reach a certain level. The local god inheritance can quickly boost him!"
"Sister Nuwa descendant, you're awake?" Skydream was shocked. He had underestimated her abilities.
She could mentally transmit in Tianlin's spiritual sea while he was awake and alert—amazing.
"I've always been awake. Thanks for pushing Xiao Tian to cultivate. His progress satisfies me. Once he completes the Holy Spirit Pearl inheritance, you'll get a companion god beast position equal to a first-level god!" Nuwa's descendant chuckled.
"Really? Thank you, Big Sis!" Skydream was overjoyed. He just wanted to be a third-level god beast—now he could be first-level!
"Brother Skydream, what's wrong?" Tianlin asked. His companion's face first looked worried, then happy—what was happening?
"Haha, nothing, all small stuff! Xiao Tian, go to Slaughter City—I fully support you. With me, you'll do great there!" Skydream promised.
Tianlin shook his head. Skydream Ice Silkworm truly acted like an ancient monster—crying one moment, laughing the next—impossible to predict.