The Fire God's inheritance site was called the Scorching Hell, already extremely hot, and Sui Ren Valley at its center was even more unbearably hot.
As Ma Hongjun entered the cave, he felt the temperature rise with every step.
Anyone other than soul masters of ultimate fire or ultimate ice would have their bones melted instantly here.
After walking for over ten minutes, Ma Hongjun finally reached the cave's deepest part, where a crimson spear was thrust into the ground. This was the Fire God's divine weapon—the Divine Fire God Spear.
Though not as powerful as the super-artifact Sea God's Trident, it was still among the top divine weapons.
At this moment, a figure stood before the spear, gently caressing its shaft with a mixture of reluctance and relief. "Old friend, you've followed me for tens of thousands of years. You must be tired. It's time to find you a new master and start a new life."
"Fire God!" Ma Hongjun instantly recognized the man as the Fire God himself, who had manifested in the world once more to see his weapon one last time.
The Fire God turned and looked at Ma Hongjun. "Not bad. Though you took a bit too long on the sixth trial, you completed it in the end. Next, pull out my divine weapon. This is the seventh trial. The moment you draw it, my inheritance truly begins."
"Yes, please rest assured, Fire God. I will do it." Ma Hongjun nodded firmly and approached the spear.
With the Divine Fire Phoenix possessing him, Ma Hongjun gripped the spear tightly and channeled all his soul power, preparing to pull it out in one go.
At this moment, all the flames in the Scorching Hell boiled. Tianlin sensed the surging divine power: "The seventh trial has begun. Hongjun is gaining the divine weapon's recognition."
Qin Ming wiped his sweat. As a fire-attribute Title Douluo, he could barely endure the heat, but now the temperature had soared to his limit.
"So hot. If this keeps up and Hongjun's trial doesn't end, I'll be completely dehydrated. For a fire-attribute Title Douluo to die like this is too humiliating."
"Teacher Qin, let me help you." Tianlin smiled, taking out the Water Spirit Pearl. It had been about a year since he absorbed the Fire Spirit Pearl, and it was time to absorb the third one. This was the perfect moment.
Tianlin summoned the Holy Spirit Pearl, drawing the Water Spirit Pearl over.
Soon, the Water Spirit Pearl became a blue-gold halo, attaching to the fourth slot on the Holy Spirit Pearl.
The Spirit Pearl seemed one with Tianlin. Absorbing its power was easier than absorbing a soul beast's ring.
He only needed to ensure that the increase in his physical attributes from the Pearl didn't exceed his body's limit.
Before long, Tianlin finished absorbing the Water Spirit Pearl and gained its four immortal arts:
Wind and Snow World — a large-scale attack, able to freeze everything for thousands of miles.
Cold Realm Curse — a barrier that greatly improves the whole team's defense against energy attacks for a short time.
Water Shield — completely blocks water attacks, absorbs the energy to strengthen oneself, or reflects water attacks.
Divine Summoning Art: Snow Demon — summon a Snow Demon to assist in battle, but since the Pearl lacks a Snow Demon's spiritual imprint, this skill is temporarily unavailable.
"Incredible. I didn't think there were other Spirit Pearls in this world besides Tianlin's, and that they could be absorbed by the Holy Spirit Pearl to become special soul rings of over a million years." Qin Ming marveled.
Tianlin's four soul rings on the Holy Spirit Pearl—platinum, gold, red-gold, and blue-gold—were truly unique in this world.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Cold Realm Curse!" Tianlin activated it, and Qin Ming instantly felt much cooler and more comfortable. After all, extreme heat counted as an energy attack, and it was now completely blocked.
Now, Qin Ming would be able to last until Ma Hongjun came out. Tianlin sat cross-legged, using the Pearl's power to temper his soul bones.
His right arm had already been tempered during the Fire Spirit Pearl absorption, and thanks to the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's high-year soul bone, his right arm bone reached nearly 800,000 years.
Today, he aimed to bring the Blue Silver Emperor arm bone to 500,000 years, with extra power used for his left leg, which already had a 400,000-year soul bone. He estimated the Water Spirit Pearl would let both his left arm and leg reach 500,000 years.
Next year, he'd use the Wind Spirit Pearl for the Wind Demon Wolf right leg bone, and the final Thunder Spirit Pearl would be reserved for the torso bone.
To create the ultimate divine set, Tianlin had to ensure his skull and torso bone reached a million years, and all limbs over 500,000 years. Once he reached level 99, even without fully inheriting a god's position, he'd be able to rival gods by sheer rank alone.
This was to prepare for the race to godhood against Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.
…
Inside the cave, as Ma Hongjun pulled the divine spear, the immense divine power shattered his meridians and bones, and burned his skin. But with the Phoenix Domain activated, as long as his soul power wasn't exhausted, he could be reborn from any wounds.
Though the artifact's power was near-infinite, it wasn't being wielded by the Fire God himself. After repeated soul power surges, the spear was slowly drawn out, inch by inch.
"Death isn't scary—once you're dead, it's all over. But continuing to live, the one who stays behind suffers the most." Ma Hongjun steeled himself. "I'm selfish—I don't want to endure it alone. I want to bring Chenxiang and Dean with me. Rise!"
Flames shot to the heavens as the Fire God Spear was finally pulled free.
Seeing this, the Fire God laughed heartily. "Ha! The divine spear has found a new master. What a blessing!"
He then used divine power to create a replica long spear and demonstrated:
"Ma Hongjun, watch closely. These are the nine techniques of the Fire God Spear. I will now impart them to you."