Chapter 47: A Simple Victory
The invisible dark threads could deceive Bai Yu, but not Ning Fengzhi.
He turned to Bibi Dong and asked, "Those threads—are they part of young Ruo Ling's spirit ability?"
"That's Xiao Ling's first ability, Dark Weave. It allows him to manipulate intangible threads of darkness," Bibi Dong explained.
Ning Fengzhi's expression remained puzzled. If it was a spirit ability, why had no spirit rings appeared?
"Xiao Ling has the power to conceal his spirit rings," Bibi Dong added gently.
Understanding dawned on the sect master's face as his attention returned to the battle.
Countless raven feathers shimmered into existence, raining down like a storm toward Bai Yu.
At the same time, the invisible threads of darkness lashed forward, ensnaring like serpents in the air.
"First ability—Sword Lash!"
Bai Yu shouted aloud as his first ring lit up beneath his feet.
A blast of sword energy surged outward, scattering the black feathers.
But the dark threads were barely affected. They continued creeping toward him like silent snakes.
Though Bai Yu couldn't see them, he felt their danger—a swordsman's intuition sensing killing intent closing in.
"Second ability—Spirit Sword Guard!"
Another ring flared. A barrier of sword energy enveloped him, slicing through the approaching threads. He leapt backward just in time to regain distance.
"He's already used two abilities so quickly," Sword Douluo murmured from the sidelines, frowning.
Bai Yu was his personal disciple, his abilities crafted after the Seven Killing Sword's perfect ring configuration—yet even so, the young Soul Ancestor was being suppressed.
Ruo Ling pressed forward, guiding the dark threads to advance while the Crow Shadow Puppet stepped up beside him.
"Third ability—Shadow Scythe!"
In an instant, a jet-black scythe materialized in the puppet's hands, radiating suffocating darkness.
"That's a weapon-type soul skill?" Sword Douluo's eyes widened.
Weapon-type abilities were exceedingly rare—every beast spirit user dreamed of them, for they granted the same lethal advantage as weapon spirit masters.
On the platform, Ruo Ling remained composed, watching the ongoing fight as calmly as an audience member observing a play. The black top hat on his head only added to the eerie, theatrical image.
"You don't need to hold back," he said evenly. "Use your full power—otherwise, you can't win."
Bai Yu gritted his teeth, his sword aura trembling under pressure.
That black scythe's corrosive power was beyond comprehension, and the puppet bearing Ruo Ling's face was relentless—emotionless, unstoppable, immune to pain.
Each strike from his sword seemed to strike empty air—it left no real damage.
"I can't keep this up," Bai Yu muttered through clenched teeth. Finally, his fourth ring flashed.
Ruo Ling's eyes lit up with interest.
"Fourth ability—Murderous Intent Unleashed!"
A storm of killing sword energy erupted around him, forming a howling vortex that swept the Crow Shadow Puppet aside. Thousands of razor lights struck its body, forcing it back.
For the first time, Bai Yu had a brief moment to breathe. Without hesitation, he activated his third ability.
"Third ability—Flying Sword Will!"
In a single motion, his entire being seemed to transform into a sword of living light. He lunged forward at incredible speed, the air screaming in his wake.
But to Ruo Ling's refined perception, enhanced by the Autumn Water Dew, Bai Yu's speed was merely… adequate.
When Bai Yu's blade closed in, Ruo Ling raised one hand.
A scythe of complete darkness formed in his grasp.
Black energy rippled around him, cloaking him in an ethereal, ominous glow.
"Dark Severance," he said softly.
The blade cleaved forward, releasing a wave of shadow energy laced with decay. It collided violently with Bai Yu's sword light.
A thunderous impact tore through the arena. The shockwave blew Ruo Ling's hat clean off his head.
But the ultimate darkness overpowered the sword aura within seconds, slicing through it and continuing forward.
Soul Master versus Soul Ancestor—yet it was Bai Yu who lost.
His eyes widened in disbelief as the scythe descended toward him—
And at the last moment, a black silhouette flashed—Ruo Ling's puppet kicked Bai Yu aside.
The shadow wave struck the platform, exploding into darkness and splitting the stone floor with deep, jagged cracks.
Bai Yu rolled several times before coming to a breathless stop, dazed and pale.
When he finally looked up, Ruo Ling stood exactly where he had been before, his puppet beside him. Both were holding identical black scythes, their reflections of each other impossible to tell apart.
Flexing his fingers around the weapon, Ruo Ling examined his new skill in practical combat for the first time—and was quite satisfied.
Devastating attack power, with the additional feature of being dual-wielded through his puppet—though it doubled soul power consumption.
Two Shadow Scythes, plus the black threads, raven feathers, and that final Dark Severance—nearly forty percent of his power gone within minutes.
Even with his condensed energy as an Ultimate Spirit user, the cost was steep.
Still, the main drain came from conjuring two scythes at once. Wasteful—but worth it.
"Well," he said quietly, smiling, "it seems I've won."
He had, after all, ensured the puppet intervened at the end. Without that kick, Bai Yu would now be a corpse.
The weapons dissolved, fading into mist, and the puppet reverted to its raven form, landing neatly back on his shoulder.
Ruo Ling stooped to pick up his fallen top hat and placed it once more upon his head.
"I lost," Bai Yu acknowledged heavily, climbing to his feet. His pride stung far more than the bruises. "Was that… your full strength?"
Ruo Ling adjusted the brim of his hat, giving him a faint smile but no answer.
He hadn't used even a fraction of his real power—no life-draining dark threads, no hallucinogenic crow-feather toxins, no two-on-one assault with his puppet, no Desire Soul…
Not even his Martial Spirit Fusion technique.
"Let's just say… yes," he said casually, turning away.
From below, Ning Fengzhi exhaled deeply. He had only intended to gauge the strength of Spirit Hall's Holy Son.
He had not expected such a display.
A Soul Master had defeated a Soul Ancestor decisively—utterly crushing him.
It had taken nothing more than control and composure. His puppet alone had been enough to overwhelm Bai Yu completely.
"If I'm not mistaken," Ning Fengzhi said slowly, glancing at Bibi Dong, "Ruo Ling's abilities can be used both through his puppet and his true body, correct?"
Bibi Dong nodded proudly.
"No wonder he sought the Split Mind Control Technique," Ning Fengzhi murmured, understanding instantly.
Nearby, Ning Rongrong stood speechless, gazing at Ruo Ling as he descended the platform.
Bai Yu had always been the most talented of their generation—and the one she admired most.
Yet the boy she'd considered her enemy had defeated him so easily it didn't even look like a fight.
(END CHAPTER)
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