Chapter 25: Tian Lin's Killing Intent and Ye Ling Ling's Nine-Heart Begonia - Douluo's spirit bead sword
### Chapter 25: Tian Lin's Killing Intent and Ye Ling Ling's Nine-Heart Begonia "Hmph, these overestimate their own abilities." Aldo chuckled. Despite a nearly ten rank difference in soul power, Tian Lin dared to fight. Aldo eagerly anticipated seeing Tian Lin get thoroughly beaten. "Sword Technique of Mount Shu, Gale and Thunder!" Tian Lin launched straight into the most powerful move from the Mount Shu entry-level sword techniques. With a speed like a swift wind and force akin to thunder, this move was Tian Lin's most formidable attacking method, second only to his soul skill, Congealing Frost. "First Soul Skill, Ring Impact!" Chu Jie sensed the danger of the sword technique and swiftly countered. Clang! The magical sword clashed with the copper ring, pushing Tian Lin back three steps, yet sending Chu Jie's ring flying. This clash ended in a draw. To consider, there was a ten rank soul power difference between them. Chu Jie, with greater soul power, used a soul skill but failed to gain an advantage. In matching conditions, he wouldn't be a match for Tian Lin. "Damn, who would’ve thought a mere one-ring soul master could have such immense attack power? In that case, Second Soul Skill, Ring Bind!" declared Chu Jie, positioning himself as a control type soul master. Compared to the prior impact, this skill was his forte. The ring began to enlarge, hovering over Tian Lin and binding his body. Tian Lin gripped his magical sword, determined to prevent the ring from contracting further. "Ready to give up yet? With your soul power, it's impossible to break free of my bind," Chu Jie boasted confidently. "Give up? You've got to be kidding. You think such a weak bind can hold me? First Soul Skill, Congealing Frost!" Tian Lin’s soul ring lit up, deploying his first soul skill. The magical sword relentlessly sliced the edges of the copper ring, visibly cracking it. "Damn, what kind of weapon spirit is this? Its attack power is ridiculously high. Don’t just stand there, help me out, or I won’t be able to hold him much longer!" Chu Jie frantically yelled. Tian Lin hadn't anticipated that Chu Jie, despite being a top-tier student, would stoop so low. Fighting someone weaker wasn't enough; he even attempted a gang-up. Aldo was beyond thrilled, having waited for just such a chance. With Tian Lin restrained, Aldo could act freely. He summoned his Sunflower and unleashed his second soul skill, Flower Storm. In his bound state, Tian Lin couldn't defend or dodge, quickly engulfed by the storm. Sharp petals swiftly inflicted countless cuts upon him. Moreover, Aldo’s minions joined in; their wolf, dog, and whip martial spirits inflicted further strikes on Tian Lin. Watching such a scene, Aldo laughed heartily. "How do you like it? This is what happens when you cross me." "You are all so despicable," Tian Lin growled in agony, his anger fully ignited. He expended a third of his soul power, amplifying Congealing Frost to its maximum, breaking free from the bind in an instant. The magical sword sensed its master's fury, emitting an eerie blue glow. "Seven Kill Sword Technique, Spreading Killing Intent!" This time, Tian Lin truly meant to kill. Malice gathered around him. The surrounding temperature seemed to drop by several degrees, sending chills through his foes, who shivered uncontrollably. "Kill!" Tian Lin spat the word as he charged into the crowd. With his sword dancing through the air, several fell before him in seconds, each sporting long, bloody gashes across their chests. Despite holding back with them, Tian Lin had no intention of sparing instigators like Chu Jie and Aldo. First was top-tier student Chu Jie. His ring had just been destroyed by Tian Lin. With his soul power backlash rendering him immobile, Tian Lin easily cut off one of his ears, leaving him writhing in pain. Then came Aldo. Petrified, his legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, pleading desperately, "I'm sorry, please forgive me. It’s all my fault, I know I was wrong. I won’t dare again." Unfortunately, Tian Lin’s killing intent was real. Ignoring Aldo’s pleas, he swung his sword towards his head. Just then, a sweet female voice echoed from the woods, "Nine-Heart Begonia!" Out of nowhere, petals with healing effects began to fall, erasing the wounds on Tian Lin's body. Not only him, but those injured by Tian Lin found their chest wounds no longer bleeding, forming scars instead. Of course, Chu Jie’s missing ear wasn’t coming back. "Stop it now. You're only brawling at the moment, and they’re at fault. But once you spill blood, the nature of this changes entirely." The girl’s voice calmed Tian Lin down slightly, altering his sword’s path just enough to only cut off one of Aldo's ears, mirroring Chu Jie’s fate. This was deliberate. While he could refrain from killing, it didn’t mean he could overlook transgressions against him. Cutting an ear from each was a small punishment. "Why are you this impulsive," sighed a girl stepping out from the shadows. In the moonlight, Tian Lin finally saw her. She was an exceptionally beautiful girl with short silver hair, proper features, holding a begonia flower. Two yellow soul rings orbited around her. Another master soul fighter, and her martial spirit was, unexpectedly, the legendary and rare Nine-Heart Begonia. This martial spirit was said to be the world’s premier healing spirit, with just one skill – wide-area full-party healing. More soul rings meant stronger healing capabilities. It's said that with a Nine-Heart Begonia soul master around, dying is nearly impossible. "Are you Ye Ling Ling?" Tian Lin guessed. After all, in the original storyline, she was the only one with the Nine-Heart Begonia martial spirit. Ye Ling Ling nodded. It didn’t surprise her that Tian Lin recognized her, as she was also quite famous at the academy, one of the campus beauties, and possessed the Nine-Heart Begonia martial spirit. Yet, she seemed not very talkative, silently healing everyone. Turns out she was a cold-appearance, warm-hearted girl. Soon, with Ye Ling Ling’s help, all of Tian Lin's wounds vanished. He had merely sustained surface injuries. Now, with only exhausted soul power and a torn outfit remaining, he was otherwise unharmed. The world’s greatest healing spirit indeed lived up to its reputation. "On behalf of Sister Ling Ling, I'll let you off today. Get lost!" Tian Lin, holding his magical sword, barked at the group. Naturally cautious with their lives, terrified to the core, they dared not utter an empty threat, scurrying off with their unconscious leader. Seeing this, Ye Ling Ling retracted her Nine-Heart Begonia and advised Tian Lin, "They won’t let this slide quietly. They might reach out to their families. Be careful." "Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister." Tian Lin smiled warmly at her, appreciating her kindness. It seemed not everyone at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was trash. There were genuine talents among them after all.