Gu Ran and Ye Lingling learned of Spirit Hall's plans from the Luo Family and found a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple to send a letter back to the sect.
As the wealthiest sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had businesses everywhere. For timely communication, they stationed sensitive disciples at key points.
Important messages could reach the sect within a day.
Ning Fengzhi received the letter. Spirit Hall's follow-up matched his predictions. He replied for Gu Ran and Ye Lingling to continue their work in Balak's vicinity, but not to interfere with Spirit Hall—they lacked the strength for that. Just focus on Tianlin's orders; he'd handle the rest.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming's wife Zhou Yan sent news: the original Five Element Academies, pressured by Spirit Hall, had left their schools. Xiangjia Academy was now under Spirit Hall; Thunderclap Academy had joined the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the other three merged into Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
This differed from the original novel—since the Heaven Dou Academy had won the tournament, others believed it to be an elite school, unaware of the truth.
The Grandmaster had visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Now the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Tutor, his status was incomparable. He intended to take Ma Hongjun, claiming to offer a treasure as precious as immortal herbs in exchange for his freedom, but as Ma Hongjun was away, he left.
Ning Fengzhi was disappointed; if that chubby kid were around, he'd have gotten the treasure first.
"So many troubles!" Ning Fengzhi sighed. Recently, he'd received more letters than in a whole year—updates from Spirit Hall and the two Empires.
The continent, once peaceful, was now in chaos.
Ning Fengzhi glanced at the secret chamber, then toward the back mountain. "Uncle Sword, Xiao Tian, hang in there. Only when you finish your seclusion can our sect move."
…
No matter what happened outside, even if the world collapsed, Tianlin was unmoved, deep in cultivation.
In the advanced realm of the Nuwa Empress Meditation, mind and spirit became one; in the deepest meditation, all distractions were abandoned, spending every hour in cultivation to break through as fast as possible.
Nutrition came from absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—a feat only possible with the Mother Earth's technique.
"Level eighty-five… In just half a year, Xiao Tian rose three levels. At this rate, he'll reach Title Douluo in under three years. What advanced meditation!" Skydream Ice Silkworm marveled.
Xiao Bai admired Tianlin. "Uncle Tianlin is amazing. He's already surpassed me."
In all its years, it had never seen someone's strength grow so fast, not even its mother.
Speeding up soul power circulation, Tianlin thought, "Everyone, I'll be out soon. Wait for me!"
…
In the Scorching Hell, deep in Hell Flame Valley, Qin Ming had completed his first black-level exam after half a year of trial by demonic flames. Though painful, his progress was rapid.
He'd already reached level seventy-six. After six months, he gained two levels from cultivation and another from passing the trial, reaching seventy-nine. But instead of moving to his next exam, he trained while waiting for Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun had reached level seventy. His seventh spirit ring, as in the original, came from the Ten-Headed Blazing Sun Serpent's inner core.
But this time, his Fire Phoenix did not mutate into a seven-headed Fire Phoenix. That was due to the serpent's demonic power in the original, but the Fire Phoenix was inherently the strongest martial soul; no need for such mutation.
The demonic flames melted all the serpent's demonic power, so Ma Hongjun only absorbed the purest fire energy.
Breaking through under demonic flames greatly increased his resistance.
But after Qin Ming left, all the flames now burdened Ma Hongjun. His negative emotions peaked.
"Ma Hongjun, stop resisting! Absorb all the demonic flames and you'll gain earth-shaking power. You can rule the world, possess all beauties! If anyone defies you, slaughter them all!" A seductive voice echoed in his heart.
Ma Hongjun knew this was the deepest temptation within him—if he yielded, he'd stop suffering, but he'd also lose himself.
Unknowingly, his Fire Phoenix was turning black.
"Damn you, if you force me to slaughter the world, I'll perish with you!" Clinging to his last shred of sanity, Ma Hongjun blasted the cave walls with his flames, causing the valley to collapse.
He wanted to bury himself alive so even if he lost control, he wouldn't harm others.
"Hongjun, stop!" Qin Ming shouted anxiously. "Are you giving up?"
But Ma Hongjun could no longer hear him. No voice from outside reached him now; the only way was from within.
For this moment, Tianlin had left a backdoor in his heart—memories implanted before he left.
That was the life story of a great being he'd told Ma Hongjun before. Now, in Ma Hongjun's mind, scenes from that person's life played out vividly.
Tianlin had only told the tale, but now Ma Hongjun experienced it as if firsthand.
Born to a happy family, with loving parents, a caring elder brother, and a sweet sister.
But tragedy struck—the family was destroyed, father and brother lost, mother imprisoned on Peach Mountain, leaving him and his sister to wander.
After learning great skills, he tried to save his mother by splitting the mountain, but failed. His mother died, and in rage he rebelled against heaven. But for the sake of all beings, he let go of hatred and became the Judge God—not for status, but because law in his hands could truly benefit all.
Sadly, this was just a temporary fix. The corrupt heavenly laws brought disaster repeatedly. So he decided to rewrite the laws and create a set that truly benefited the world.
He endured humiliation, nurtured his nephew, shouldered all sins, was betrayed by all, shattered in body and spirit, but never retreated.
"So this is the life of the great one the boss told me about? I fear sin, but he bore all the world's sins to bring peace." Ma Hongjun reached out to touch the vision, wanting to help.
But he touched nothing—it was only a vision in his heart. He felt useless; the demonic flames' evil paled before the world's suffering.
"Boss, is this why you wanted me to take him as my goal? Thank you. I understand now." Ma Hongjun sat up, recited Daoist mantras, and the black on his phoenix wings faded, replaced by an even purer red.
Moreover, the surrounding demonic flames began to change. Ma Hongjun no longer aimed to merely survive the year, but to absorb and purify all the demonic flames. Not only would he pass the Fire God's trial, but his strength would soar.