Chapter 1948: Chapter 1945: Arranged Marriage?
The Jade Seal’s pedestal is square and upright, adorned with naturally ancient-looking patterns. Atop the pedestal is a white tiger, roaring skywards, majestic and lifelike, as if the surroundings resonate with the roar of a king.
This is the White Tiger Seal, a Heavenly Master’s magic artifact. Lin Tian has seen it before. The White Tiger is one of the legendary Four Spirits, ruling the west, masters of warfare, whose kingly roar shakes the land.
As a Heavenly Master’s magic artifact, the power of the White Tiger Seal is naturally immense. Last time Zhang Lingyu used the White Tiger Seal to unleash the "Purple Cloud Illusion," its power left a deep impression on Lin Tian.
"Step back," Zhang Lingyu said solemnly, her tone deep.
Resorting to brute force came naturally to Lin Tian. For such Taoist techniques, he was clueless, so he retreated a few meters with Zhang Ruyan.
Zhang Lingyu took out a top-grade spirit-revitalizing pill, hesitated for a moment, then swallowed it. Lin Tian noticed both women showed expressions of heartache, likely reluctant to part with the top-grade spirit-revitalizing pill.
Given their status and experience — one a former successor, the other a current one — they had seen numerous treasures, immune to the allure of most, but elixirs were an exception. In such ancient families, elixirs were rare.
As the top-grade spirit-revitalizing pill entered her stomach, Zhang Lingyu felt an overwhelming surge of energy quickly spreading, permeating her limbs, torso, even each cell.
She suddenly felt her strength multiply, as if she could do anything. Of course, she knew it was an illusion, a misconception due to the sudden surge in mana.
However, she did not hesitate further, swiftly forming seals with her hands, then thrusting forth as the White Tiger Seal above her head flew forward, hovering over the altar.
"Heaven and earth boundless, Qiankun Borrowing Technique, Thunder God Decree, White Tiger descends, unlock!" Zhang Lingyu quickly chanted an incantation, her hands shifting seals.
The White Tiger Seal suddenly shuddered, releasing streaks of purple lightning. The lightning coiled around the White Tiger Seal, spinning faster and faster. With a whoosh, a low tiger roar rang out as a purple bolt of lightning fell from the White Tiger Seal, striking toward the altar.
As it seemed about to hit the Ice Soul Coffin, almost instantly, the eyes of the Four Spirits statues around the altar flashed, a translucent light screen appeared, enveloping the entire altar, blocking the purple lightning.
The lightning did not vanish, nor did the light screen disappear. The lightning struck continuously like a divine calamity, causing countless energy turbulence where it clashed with the light screen.
Without a sound, the turbulence spread, with the surrounding cold mist engulfed in the blink of an eye, vanishing. As the mist disappeared, the view from the tower’s summit became clearer. Zhang Lingyu maintained her seal-forming stance, her gaze fixed intensely on the White Tiger Seal, her expression even more solemn.
Drops of sweat began to appear on her forehead, indicating how much she was expending. Yet she did not relent, persevering still.
"Not only must the girl suppress the White Tiger Seal to avoid backlash, but she also has to channel energy to open the seal, consuming both mana and mental strength greatly. Without your spirit-revitalizing pill, she’d last less than a minute," Zhang Ruyan’s expression tightened. Despite the spirit-revitalizing pill, concern lingered in her eyes.
"What’s the story behind the White Tiger Seal that even someone as skilled as Lingyu can’t wield it?" Lin Tian asked, seeing Zhang Lingyu struggle. However, except for providing mana-enhancing pills, he could do nothing.
"The Zhang Family has two major magic artifacts, one of which is the White Tiger Seal. The White Tiger Seal was passed down from the Ancestor Master, but was not forged by him. Its origin is a mystery."
"Though the White Tiger Seal is a magic artifact, not every Demon Exorcist can use it. It must acknowledge someone to allow them to wield some of its powers."
"Do you know why such a formidable artifact is entrusted to Lingyu by the Great Elder? Because the Great Elder was never acknowledged by the White Tiger Seal. When the White Tiger Seal recognized its master, it was quite a blow to his reputation," Zhang Ruyan said casually.
While these words seemed revealing, they still did not clarify the origin of the White Tiger Seal, only emphasizing its mystery.
"You mentioned two ancestral artifacts, one being the White Tiger Seal. What’s the other?" Lin Tian noticed her first statement, asking instinctively.
"The other?" Zhang Ruyan murmured, her gaze flickering, then said softly, "The other is the World-purifying Dragon Ball..."
"Dragon Ball?" Lin Tian was stunned. Such a thing exists?
However, he immediately considered, the reason the White Tiger Seal is named so is not that a real Divine Beast White Tiger exists, but perhaps simply due to its shape. This Dragon Ball may similarly be named for its resemblance to a ball.
Zhang Ruyan’s gaze fell on Zhang Lingyu, full of concern, saying after a pause, "The World-purifying Dragon Ball, like the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill, has long been lost. Do you know why Zhang Zhicheng, despite his lacking abilities, dares to vie for the Heavenly Master’s Successor role?"
"Besides having the Great Elder’s backing, there’s a Zhang Family rule that whoever can retrieve the World-purifying Dragon Ball can become the Heavenly Master’s Successor. It could be because the Great Elder and Zhang Heyuan are rushing down the mountain due to news regarding the World-purifying Dragon Ball."
"If the Great Elder finds the World-purifying Dragon Ball, whether he or Zhang Zhicheng ascends to the Heavenly Master position, and then arranges for Lingyu to marry Zhang Zhicheng, it’s not impossible." Zhang Ruyan expressed worry in her tone, concerned for Zhang Lingyu’s position as successor.
Lin Tian raised his brow, puzzled, "From your explanation, it seems like the World-purifying Dragon Ball is even more powerful than the White Tiger Seal. Otherwise, why would there be such a family rule?"
Zhang Ruyan shook her head slightly, "No, the White Tiger Seal’s mysterious origin means no one knows or has recorded its full power, but the full power of the World-purifying Dragon Ball is documented in family records."
"According to records, the World-purifying Dragon Ball contains World-purifying Dragon Fire, and at its peak, it possesses...the power to end the world!" Zhang Ruyan said the last four words in a peculiar tone.
"Wow, that’s quite extreme!" Lin Tian was both amazed and skeptical.
He quickly thought of another thing, nuclear weapons. Supposedly, all the nuclear weapons worldwide could obliterate Earth, a true end-the-world power.
This suggests that humanity has grasped world-ending force! An ancient artifact with such power is perhaps not impossible.
"If the Great Elder finds the World-purifying Dragon Ball, and either he or Zhang Zhicheng takes the Heavenly Master role, then arranges for Lingyu to marry Zhang Zhicheng, it’s not out of the question." Zhang Ruyan glanced at Lin Tian, deliberately provoking him.
"I’d kill him before I let Lingyu marry that guy!"
"I’d rather die than marry Zhang Zhicheng!"
The two voices sounded almost simultaneously, the first being Lin Tian’s, the second, Zhang Lingyu who was casting magic. The beautiful Heavenly Master did not turn around, but her words were filled with anger.
Of course, her ire was not directed at Lin Tian or Zhang Ruyan, but at the arranged marriage issue.
"Girl, don’t get worked up. Focus on your casting. I was only speaking hypothetically; the World-purifying Dragon Ball isn’t easily found, rest assured," Zhang Ruyan quickly comforted her, afraid the girl might interrupt her spell casting in a pique.
