Since the day he witnessed the Dragon God's power—vaguely surpassing even a God King—Asura had been contemplating a way to break through his current limits. He longed to leave the God Realm, to venture into other galaxies and search for a method to transcend the God King level.
But as one of the Five Great God Kings and one of the Three Law Enforcers of the God Realm, Asura couldn't simply abandon his responsibilities and walk away.
If he were to depart, he needed to properly pass down both his divine position and duties.
That was the true reason why more and more individuals had been permitted to inherit the Deathgod Domain in recent centuries. In the past fifty years alone, three Deathgods had appeared—Tang Chen, Tang Hao, and Bibi Dong.
Yet none of them met his standards.
Tang Chen fell during his eighth divine trial. Bibi Dong was chosen by the will left behind by the Rakshasa God within the Slaughter City and diverted down another path. Tang Hao initially showed promise, but after the death of his hundred-thousand-year soul beast partner, he succumbed to despair and self-indulgence—an attitude Asura deeply disdained.
Of course, he was aware of the birth of a fated child blessed by the Douluo Plane's planetary destiny—but that had nothing to do with him. Unless that chosen one entered Slaughter City and inherited the Deathgod Domain, he would at most spare a passing glance.
That is… until Xuyáng appeared.
In Asura's eyes, Xuyáng had both the mental resilience and latent potential worthy of inheriting the Asura God's divine position. His martial soul might not have been perfectly aligned with the Asura Path, but that didn't matter—after all, the martial soul was merely the vessel through which a divine artifact manifested.
If the Sun Martial Soul wasn't suitable, then he could always replace it. Even the soul bone could serve as a vessel.
That was why the Deathgod Domain mark had fused with Xuyáng's external soul bone, the Sun Sacred Blade.
"Hmm… I can observe him a while longer," Asura murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Xuyáng arrived in Dragonflame City—the largest urban center in the Dragonflame Province.
As he walked through the streets, ordinary citizens and soul masters alike gave him a wide berth. The killing intent rolling off him in waves was so tangible, it chilled those around him to the bone.
With a calm expression, Xuyáng made his way directly to the Seven Treasure Hotel. Flashing a token from his storage ring, he booked the largest suite on the top floor. After opening the skylight to let the sunlight stream in, he threw himself onto the luxurious bed—and promptly passed out.
Within moments, the sound of deep snoring filled the room.
In a secluded courtyard within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Sword Douluo Chen Xin was immersed in a quiet sword practice session.
No soul power surged. No sword aura swept the air. Just clean, precise swings, each one cutting through the silence.
He wasn't slashing at enemies—but at the emotions inside his heart.
Ever since Xuyáng had entered Slaughter City, Chen Xin had been plagued by guilt and regret. Why hadn't he knocked the boy out and dragged him home by force? Why had he let him go?
The pain of that question had festered in his heart for two whole years.
Sect Master Ning Fengzhi had noticed this as well. He ordered that no one mention Xuyáng in front of Chen Xin again. But emotions weren't so easy to control. Whenever Chen Xin saw Ning Rongrong or Dugu Yan, the guilt returned in full force.
To suppress it, he practiced. Day after day, year after year. Slashing his regrets away with every swing of his sword.
This obsessive training bore fruit. His soul power surged. He was now just one step away from reaching Rank 98—Super Douluo. And once he resolved the turmoil in his heart, he would be qualified to challenge Rank 99—Limit Douluo.
Just then—
"Sword Uncle! Sword Uncle!"
Ning Fengzhi came running into the courtyard, breathless but excited. "We just received word. Xuyáng has appeared in Dragonflame City—he's staying at the Seven Treasure Hotel!"
The sword in Chen Xin's hand halted mid-air. His figure flashed in front of Ning Fengzhi in an instant. "What did you say? That brat's out?"
"He's back," Ning Fengzhi confirmed with a nod. "As soon as he checked into the hotel, the province's officials reported it."
"Let's go!"
Chen Xin grabbed Ning Fengzhi by the arm, summoned a massive Seven Kill Sword beneath their feet, and soared into the sky. He'd walked that route to Dragonflame City so many times in the past two years, he could navigate it with his eyes closed.
One day later.
Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi arrived in the skies above Dragonflame City. Below them stood the familiar Seven Treasure Hotel.
Chen Xin's eyes locked onto a certain room—and the aura emanating from within.
Xuyáng was still asleep.
Two years of constant tension had worn his nerves thin. Now that he was free of Slaughter City, the only thing he wanted was to rest. Even in sleep, his killing intent continued to radiate outward, making the entire hotel feel like a haunted house. None of the other guests could sleep. Business dropped to an all-time low.
The hotel manager had no choice but to apologize and refund the guests' money. He then cleared out the building and ordered the staff to keep everyone far away from the young man resting inside.
Ning Fengzhi looked down from the sky and sighed. "It's clear… Xuyáng killed a lot of people in there. His killing intent is so dense it's no longer under control."
Chen Xin, however, chuckled softly.
In that instant, his aura shifted. Once domineering and peerless, it now drew inward—refined, restrained. While he hadn't yet reached the level of appearing completely ordinary, the oppressive might of "Heaven and Earth, Only I Exist" had vanished.
Ning Fengzhi immediately noticed the change.
Only one thing could alter a soul master's aura like that—when their heart and mind achieved a breakthrough.
He smiled in quiet satisfaction.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin… had finally stepped into the ranks of Super Douluo—Rank 98.
Moments later, Chen Xin peered through the hotel's glass ceiling and smiled at the sleeping youth inside. "Killing intent? Hah. What in this world could outmatch the Seven Kill Sword's own aura?"
He turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Once he wakes, I'll teach him how to properly control that killing intent. Turn it into strength—so it never affects his emotions or state of mind again."
The Seven Kill Sword was renowned for its killing aura. As its heir, Xuyáng was now ready to receive the true teachings of the sword.