Tianlin, holding the Holy Spirit Pearl, walked step by step toward Tuoba Xi. No matter how Tuoba Xi attacked, it was completely ineffective.
Perhaps the original Tuoba Xi could have put up a fight, but after activating Martial Soul True Body, all his skills gained strong earth attributes—completely countered by Tianlin.
"What… what is happening?" The dignified titled Douluo Tuoba Xi now showed an unparalleled look of fear toward Tianlin.
He suspected Tianlin had the ultimate earth attribute, but even so, he shouldn't be suppressed to such an extent.
"Since obtaining the Earth Spirit Spirit, every Earth attribute enemy must submit to me!" Tianlin said proudly.
The Holy Spirit Spirit's second soul ring lit up, and absolute attribute suppression crashed down on Tuoba Xi and Tuoba Ye.
A Soul Douluo and a Titled Douluo—instantly immobilized.
"It's over, Tuoba Xi." Tianlin's right hand transformed into the Dark Gold Terrifying Claw, grabbing Tuoba Xi's neck, about to break it.
"Wait! Lord Tianlin, please spare me! You know everything I did was under the Pope's orders. If you let me go today, I will betray Spirit Hall and serve you wholeheartedly. After all, I'm a titled Douluo, and the leader of the Sacred Dragon Sect—the first of the lower four sects. I can bring great strength to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!" Tuoba Xi begged.
It had taken so much to become a titled Douluo—he didn't want to die. He had only joined Spirit Hall for profit, not out of loyalty like the elders. Now that his life was at stake, profit was meaningless.
"You want to submit to me?" Tianlin withdrew his claw and smiled. "I don't mind accepting your surrender, but what you just offered isn't enough to buy your life. Got anything bigger? Let's hear it!"
"I do! Spirit Hall ordered Feng Tianlei and me to take over minor sects in Star Luo, but those sects didn't directly join Spirit Hall. Instead, they became affiliates of the Sacred Dragon Sect or Wind Sword Sect first, and then we two sects became affiliates of Spirit Hall. That's the relationship." Tuoba Xi answered without hesitation, desperate to survive.
"Oh, is that so?" Tianlin was interested. "So you've already amassed a powerful soul master force."
"Yes. On this continent, the three powers—sects, empires, and Spirit Hall—are divided. If Spirit Hall directly tried to absorb sects, it would cause imperial turmoil. So only sects can absorb sects. Now, I've taken in nearly twenty small and medium sects, including the Bee Sect, which has Soul Douluo. Bee Langdie is now my lover, completely loyal to me. We have over ten thousand soul masters, and five or more at Soul Douluo or above. If you give the order, I'll have them betray Spirit Hall and join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
That was indeed a huge force. Across the continent, there were only so many soul masters. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had only four to five thousand. Yet the Sacred Dragon Sect, with Spirit Hall's support, had grown this strong in secret.
Such power was enough to tempt Tianlin.
"Very well. I accept your surrender. But I don't want you to betray Spirit Hall immediately. Instead, keep helping them gather sects, and when the time is right, turn them all over to me!" Tianlin was greedy—ten thousand soul masters weren't enough. He wanted all of Spirit Hall's efforts to serve his sect.
"Yes, I obey!" Tuoba Xi said immediately.
"And you?" Tianlin looked at Tuoba Ye.
"I'll do whatever my brother says."
This guy was simple-minded—Tianlin could tell. He had talent, but no will of his own, which made him easy to control.
"Very good. Then, here is your reward—and your shackle!" The Asura Sword Mark on Tianlin's forehead flashed, sending two beams of light into their minds.
"Milord, what is this?" Tuoba Xi touched his forehead, confused.
"This is the Asura Death Mark, a skill I created based on the mark on my forehead. My mark is called the Asura Sword Mark—it's a sign of the god trial, but also a constraint. If I fail the trial or give up, the mark will explode and kill me horribly," Tianlin explained.
"The one I gave you works the same. If you break today's promise or try to betray me, the death mark will punish you. Like this—"
Tianlin activated it with his spiritual power. Tuoba Xi and Tuoba Ye's death marks exploded in their minds—they rolled on the ground in agony, feeling like their heads would burst.
"Please, milord, stop! We'll never betray you, I swear on my martial soul!" Tuoba Xi howled in pain.
Tianlin stopped. "No need to swear—the death mark is enough. Don't worry—as long as you are loyal, it won't explode. It will speed up your cultivation since it contains a trace of Asura god power—a gift from the gods! Make the most of it!"
"When you've made great contributions, I'll remove the death mark. Any objections?"
This was both a stick and a carrot—a tactic Ning Fengzhi often used on wayward disciples. Tianlin had learned a bit.
Tuoba Xi and Tuoba Ye both knelt. "Absolutely no objections! Thank you, Lord, for your gift!"
Circumstances prevailed. Tuoba Xi hadn't survived this long by being stupid. Even if he had to personally attack a Spirit Hall branch to prove loyalty, he wouldn't hesitate.
"Good. Now, find a way to withdraw your people. There's no need to keep fighting!" Tianlin ordered.
Since Tuoba Xi had surrendered, and the Bee Sect people were his, he wouldn't harm his subordinates.
"Yes!" Tuoba Xi nodded and fired a signal flare into the sky—the signal to retreat immediately.
In the city, the Wind Sword Sect and Bee Sect, who were fighting Yang Wudi and Dragon Duke, saw the signal and began to retreat.
Feng Tianlei had been waiting for this—he knew Tuoba Xi was no match for Tianlin, but he hadn't expected him to lose so quickly. Tianlin had grown even stronger.
Tianlin would have to deal with him eventually, but today Tuoba Xi had too many people with him. If he only killed Feng Tianlei and spared the others, people would suspect a secret deal with Tuoba Xi.
Tuoba Xi still needed to work under Spirit Hall's name, so he had to let Feng Tianlei go for now.