Douluo Dalu: 9 Treasure Sword

When I woke up, I was on a bed in a white room. Inside I could see dad. Dad explained the result of the tournament with our win and the events that followed involving Tang Hao. He also explained to me that the winner ceremony where we would receive the prizes would be tomorrow. After explaining all he left me alone, advising me to rest.

For what dad explained, our victory was overshadowed by Tang Hao's event, so there won't be too much repercussion and the ceremony would finish quickly.

I looked at the ceiling and sighed. All my effort seems a little futile now, but how could my actions be more important than the appearance of one of the strongest people in the continent who disappeared more than a decade ago.

[The conclusion of this arc is the same. It's a little sad that we couldn't make any big change] Paul said.

I entered the Oreo mind space. Arriving at the black and white world I saw Paul standing at its center (You already knew what would happen?) I asked curiously.

[I knew what would have happened in the case that Xiao Wu would be discovered, but with the change in the final match, I thought that maybe it will be different. It seems that you don't have enough power to change what is written] Paul sighed [If only I would in control, I would make a bigger impact. The only thing that changed is Shrek lose of the three spirit bones, and I really don't remember them using them, only Tang San a little and almost any other skull bone will be good for him, with his luck he surely will find another]

(Your too full of yourself, what could have you done instead of me? We're not strong enough to make big impacts)

[We have the backing of the ric.h.e.s.t clan of the continent, 3 titles douluos to help us, you really think that you lack power? You may be right about it better to do the things for oneself and not depend on anyone, but if you have I good start you must make good use of it]

(You didn't answer my question) I said irritated.

[Hahaha. For start, I wouldn't have helped "Xue Qinghe"] Paul flexed his middle and middle fingers making a quotation mark [giving her the Golden Oreo. Who will make the final boss strongest?] Paul paused a little and said in low voice like for himself [Thinking about there's a lot of masochism in the world that like increase the difficulty in games, playing some insane games] Paul shook his head and continued like normal [This is reality, so there's nothing good in that]

(I already explained that Qinghe is my friend, I trust him)

Paul rolled his eyes [You're too naive. Even in my society you will be eaten alive, you're like to have the protection of your family and your talent]

This time I was the one rolling my eyes, Paul always with the same.

[If I were you, I would have made our clan capture Xiao Wu secretly, even before Rongrong met her. Even if Tang San at the moment would have been sad, he wouldn't resent us because it will be impossible to link it with us. You could have kept her caged until your father arrive at rank 90. I red ring of a humanized spirit is a little easier to absorb and it will be easy for Fengzhi, gaining another titled douluo with a hundred thousand ring, not only that we could have gained a hundred thousand spirit bone]

This made me angry (Xiao Wu didn't attack us in any way, why we should have killed her? Are you saying that we should kill Mayi?)

Paul snorted [You're too hot-blooded, you should try to have a cold and more objective perspective. It simply about gaining. We are compatible with Mayi, we can fuse with her and our cultivation is boosted with her. Moreover, she is in love with you, it always good to have a blindly loving spirit beast near, you'll never know when a good implosion for us, us gaining her hundred thousand ring]

I charged toward Paul and holding him from his neck I lifting him (Don't talk about Mayi like and object!) I shouted madly.

Paul grinned and disappeared, only to reappear some meter away [Calm down. I'm only speaking objectively. And don't think for even a moment that you can cause me some damage here, you will need to affect my mind, physical attacks are useless]

I cliched my tongue calming myself a little [I only accept your relation with Mayi, in your case, I would make the same thing, you can be proud of that. On the other hand, what about Xiao Wu, what are we gaining with her free and alive?] He paused a little [Nothing! Absolutely nothing! What is she to you? She is only a friend of our sister, even that we could have changed. She is not important, taking her out of the map early, even Tang San would have overcome her lose. The truth is that without her I think that Tang San will have finish with our sister, making easier for him to help us. And to be subjective for one time, I will prefer Rongrong dating him rather than the joke of the team, the food spirit master Oscar. You're only waiting for someone ripe the treasure that Xiao Wu is, in that case, why wouldn't us be the ones]

(You're not having the feeling of the people in consideration, there wasn't any negative about her, it wasn't important)

[Both, my world and in this, have something in common if you want to step at the top of the pyramid you should step in other to do so, or at least had someone who does for you. This is a savage world on only the strong rule, obtain it, without minding anything else]

I glared at him (We must differentiate between enemies, allies and others. We became monsters if we injure everyone for our gain)

[Said the one that to become stronger kill poor spirit beast that didn't make anything wrong]

(That's normal! How can you cultivate if not...)[Normal? If everyone does it, it became right. I'm with you. I will tell you one thing, everyone in that stadium, if they had the capability will have attacked the girl, to take her. Everyone kill others to be stronger you only need to follow this philosophy, balance pro, and con and decide the best direction]

I didn't know how to answer. Spirit Hall nearly capture here, in that case, it would have been much better to my clan to have her. No! I must maintain my humanity, some lines shouldn't be crossed.

Paul grinned at my indecision, then he sighed [Putting all that aside. Do you remember my request?]

(Of what I learned in this combats?) Paul nodded.

I thought about the combats, the easier one didn't really matter, but in the two difficult ones, there was something in common (I didn't win the matches) I said thoughtfully.

[Correct. All the matches were won by Mayi. It didn't mean that you didn't make an important part in them, but clearly, you can finish them]

(I am a control system, it's normal to...) [Tang San is also one. And it's very easy to see that he is the core of his team, only because of him they won the majority of the matches]

(I am also a defense system, what have it wrong protect the other teammates. Mayi is much stronger than any of Shrek, so it's normal for her to shine in attack matters. Anyway, what did it matter to you my fight style? We won at final)

[Of course, anyone is free to follow their own path, but I don't like when it will affect my own future]

(You're talking like you will control the body, I won't let you. And what it matter how I fight, in the cases of you taking control you used your own style)

Paul sighed [You're really an idiot. The spirit follows its master path. Take a look at your sword]

I looked strangely at Paul, not knowing what he is referring to. I invoked my sword at my right hand and looked attentively. It didn't seem strange to me, the same familiar sword of always.

(I don't know what are you trying to show. The sword is normal)

Paul shook his head [You're really blind. But I guess that is normal to not find so much change in something that you live every time with it. Invoke your spirit bone spirit]

Wanting to know what this conversation will go I invoked the spirit bone sword in my left hand, invoking a completely white and plain sword. Then I looked at Paul lifting my eyebrow like asking what now?.

[You really don't use that sword so it gained more influence in me, following my style even when using your own energy. Compare both sword]

(How can I compare both of them? The only thing that they have in common is that they're both swords. My Nine Sword is like made by glass, shining like a treasure it emits a strong spirit energy, while the other one seems like an ordinary sword, it only utility is that improves a little the sword intent as it flows easier in it)

[Your look is too broad, you need to analyze better the details. Let's make it easier] Paul snapped his fingers. Between us appeared two, at least seemingly identical, black trees. [Cut them both, each one with one sword. You didn't need to worry the trees are exactly the same, there's no trick]

I doubted him, but even with that, I decided to follow his command. The external bone is it linked with my left hand, as I'm much worse with my left hand it will be easier to use my usual sword.

I positioned in guard between both trees, preparing to slash both of them at the same time each one with a different sword. Looking at Paul, he nodded.

With a swift movement, I slashed both trees. I was prepared to meet some trick, resistance or counter-attack from them. But to my surprise it didn't happen any of that I cut both of them easily as if there were made of butter, even using my left hand, easily seen with less strength it didn't make any more difficult to cut it than with my right.

I cut both trees, two tree trunk falling to the ground with a loud *trump!*. I looked strangely at Paul, not knowing what he was trying to demonstrate. Paul snapped his fingers again, this time appearing two trees near him.

He then lifted his right hand invoking a sword that resembled my Nine Treasure Sword, but this one seemed like turned off, without colors or spirit energy flowing in it. [I can invoke your spirit, but I can't control it, so it's like a useless piece of metal or crystal. To tell you the truth I don't know what is the material that is made. Of course, I can't use the spirit skills in it] For him it was like a normal sword that could be bought everywhere.

Paul passed the sword to his left hand. He made a swiftly diagonal cut to one of the trees. He chopped the tree in one swing, its trunk falling to the ground with a loud *trump!*.

He withdrew the sword, he then invoked the external bone sword, in his case, it was black instead of white. I couldn't detect any intent in it, he was using it as a normal sword. He swung his sword, slashing diagonally at the other tree. This time the tree seemed intact, he seemed to not having chopped it. But it was clear that he already cut it. With Paul dexterity with the sword, it will be easy to cut that tree, he wouldn't fail.

Paul approached at the tree and blow a little of air, this caused the diagonal slash to finally appear, causing the top trunk to start sliding from it bottom part, and finally falling to the ground with a *trump!* [I used the same strength and technique, so there's no doubt about]

Looking at the tree remain, I fully opened my eyes, realizing what had happened, shocked.