Chapter 72: Tang San's Jealousy
All the spirit masters eager to challenge the Strange Magician soon submitted their applications.
Inside the office, the manager placed a stack of documents before the shadowy figure seated at the desk.
"Mr. Strange Magician, these are all the applicants," he said respectfully.
"Who's the strongest?" the shadow asked casually, without looking up.
"This one." The manager quickly pulled out a file.
On it was the portrait of a burly man.
Name: Hua Leisi. Martial Soul: Darkgold Bear. Rank: 57, assault-type Battle Soul King.
"Darkgold Bear?" Luo Ling frowned slightly. The name sounded oddly familiar.
"The Darkgold Bear is a direct subspecies of the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear soul beast," the manager explained helpfully.
Luo Ling's eyes lit up. He knew that creature well—deep within the Star Dou Forest's core lived a terrifying beast of that kind.
"Fine. I choose him," he said instantly.
Strength never frightened Luo Ling—the only fights he dreaded were those that were too weak to be worth his time.
…
Moments later, the host stood atop the central platform, her voice amplified across the entire arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The Strange Magician has chosen his challenger!"
"He will face Hua Leisi, the reigning record-holder of Soto City's Great Spirit Arena—Gold Spirit Badge holder and Rank 57 Battle Soul King of the Darkgold Bear!"
The crowd erupted.
"Hua Leisi! Crush the Magician!"
"The Bear King is unstoppable!"
It was clear that Hua Leisi was a fan favorite in Soto City.
"Now, contestants, please take the stage!" the host announced.
Hua Leisi leapt onto the platform, muscles bulging beneath his armor. His short, darkgold hair gleamed under the lights as he waved to the roaring audience.
The cheers intensified.
Among the crowd, Ning Rongrong pouted, glancing at Luo Ling beside her.
"Brother Ling, aren't you going up?"
Luo Ling didn't answer—but the crowd did.
"Is that him? The Strange Magician?"
"He's so elegant!"
"Why hide his face though? Maybe he's ugly!"
A ripple of chatter circled the arena as a black-clad figure appeared onstage, hidden under a top hat and cloak.
Ning Rongrong froze, her words catching in her throat. She turned sharply toward the shadowed figure, then back at Luo Ling—and after a long blink, realization dawned.
"Brother Ling… that's your Crow Shadow Puppet, isn't it?"
Luo Ling nodded lightly.
Ning Rongrong frowned. "You're only sending your puppet? Can it really win?"
She knew his strength intimately—but that was when he fused his martial souls. The Crow Shadow Puppet alone seemed insufficient against a Soul King.
"Don't worry," Luo Ling said calmly. "I never act without confidence."
Truth was, the puppet was pre-empowered with Spirit Liberation and Desire's Soul Garment. Even alone, it was more than enough to handle one Soul King.
As the two opponents entered the ring, the lights focused overhead, illuminating every inch of the stage.
Luo Ling stood quietly below, invisible dark threads running from his fingers to the puppet above. The battle began.
"I've heard of you," Hua Leisi said with a cruel grin. "I hope your fame isn't exaggerated—otherwise, I'll tear you apart myself."
The silent shadow didn't respond. None realized the black figure before them was nothing more than a puppet.
In Luo Ling's control, it stood motionless, while imperceptible strands of darkness spread across the stage.
"Not much of a talker, huh? Then I'll make you scream!" Hua Leisi growled. He stomped once, cracking the floor beneath his feet.
A surge of feral power burst forth as his second and third spirit rings flared.
"Third Soul Skill—Dark Demon Frenzy!"
"Second Soul Skill—Darkgold Claws!"
Roaring, he charged forward like a savage beast, claws gleaming with deadly metallic light.
The overwhelming pressure stalled the crowd for a heartbeat.
But just as the claws were about to strike, the puppet's body twisted in a sharp, serpentine motion, evading cleanly.
Below, Tang San narrowed his eyes. He couldn't decipher what kind of footwork or technique that was—it looked like simple movement, yet far too precise, too seamless.
Every strike from the Soul King missed by mere inches, as though he were fighting a phantom who predicted his attacks.
Soon, the "Strange Magician" looked less like a fighter and more like a predator toying with its prey.
At first, everyone thought it coincidence—but after countless flawless dodges, the audience began to sense something unnatural.
The puppet wasn't fast—almost sluggish, in fact—yet Hua Leisi's attacks never landed.
"Is dodging all you can do?" Hua Leisi finally roared in frustration.
His fourth and fifth spirit rings flared at once.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Overlord Bear's Roar!"
"Fourth Soul Skill—Darkgold Rampage!"
He threw his head back and roared. A deafening shockwave blasted through the arena; even spectators had to cover their ears.
Then, his claws swelled to monstrous size, slashing wildly in a storm of metallic light.
This was his strongest combo—sonic suppression followed by lethal claw flurry.
But this time, he had miscalculated.
The puppet flickered like a mirage, unaffected by sound or motion. Its body was formed entirely of darkness and had no senses to disrupt.
A heartbeat later, it vanished.
Gasps echoed as the black figure reappeared on the opposite side of the stage.
Hua Leisi, muscles tense, tried to reposition—only to realize his limbs wouldn't move.
By the time he understood, it was too late. Invisible threads of darkness had already woven around him, forming an unbreakable cage.
He struggled, but each motion drained his spirit power further.
Luo Ling made his move.
Under his command, countless black feathers appeared from thin air, swirling into a storm before launching forward like a barrage of blades.
The scene was breathtaking—an elegant hurricane of death.
The Strange Magician stood motionless at the eye of the storm, graceful and predatory.
Hua Leisi's only defense was his first skill, Darkgold Barrier, a golden light coating his body. But when the feathers struck, that barrier shattered like glass.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Dai Mubai blinked in surprise. "Little San, doesn't this look like your hidden weapons? So small, yet powerful enough to pierce a Soul King's defense in seconds."
Everyone turned to Tang San. The resemblance was unmistakable—tiny, swift, and devastatingly precise, just like his concealed weapons.
Tang San stared blankly at the field.
The resemblance was undeniable—but what unsettled him most was the power. Each crow feather melted steel and corroded stone, far stronger than any hidden weapon he had crafted so far.
He clenched his fists tightly.
A soul skill like that… It's exactly what I need. Why don't I have it?
In that moment, envy twisted in his chest.
For the first time, Tang San realized—he was jealous.
(END CHAPTER)
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