A Simple Victory

The invisible Darkness Threads could fool Bai Yu, but not Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi spoke again. "Are those threads Luo Ling's soul skill?"

"That is Xiao Ling's First Soul Skill, Darkness Weaving. It can control invisible Darkness Threads," Bibi Dong explained.

Ning Fengzhi still looked puzzled. Since it was a soul skill, why had he not seen a Soul Ring?

"Xiao Ling has the ability to conceal his Soul Rings," Bibi Dong added.

Only then did Ning Fengzhi understand, and he continued watching the duel atop the platform.

Countless pitch-black Raven Feathers slowly appeared, shooting toward Bai Yu like raindrops.

The Darkness Threads did not remain idle either, winding toward Bai Yu.

"First Soul Skill, Longsword Unsheathed!"

Seeing this, Bai Yu shouted, and his first Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.

An invisible sword aura surged out, sweeping aside the incoming Raven Feathers.

The Darkness Threads, however, were barely affected and continued coiling toward Bai Yu.

Bai Yu could not see the Darkness Threads, but he could sense the danger, like a swordsman's instinct for crisis.

"Second Soul Skill, Spirit Sword Guard!"

He used another soul skill. A barrier of sword aura appeared before Bai Yu, severing and blocking the Darkness Threads as Bai Yu hurriedly retreated.

"To think he forced Xiao Yu to use two soul skills so quickly."

Outside the arena, Sword Douluo's expression was grave.

Bai Yu was his disciple, and his soul skills had all been chosen according to the Seven Kill Sword's configuration. Every one was a perfect Soul Ring configuration.

Yet he was being suppressed by Luo Ling, a mere Soul Elder.

Seeing Bai Yu retreat, Luo Ling continued controlling the Darkness Threads as they surged forward, while the Raven Shadow Puppet pressed in as well.

Third Soul Skill, Nether Shadow Sickle activated!

A pitch-black scythe appeared in the Raven Shadow Puppet's hand, carrying a powerful aura of darkness.

"A weapon-type soul skill?" Sword Douluo's eyes widened.

Weapon-type soul skills were something nearly every Beast Martial Soul master desired. They allowed Beast Martial Soul masters to wield weapons like Weapon Martial Soul masters.

On the platform, Luo Ling continued suppressing Bai Yu forcefully. He stood where he was, still wearing that black top hat.

Like an audience member watching a play, as though the battle not far away had nothing to do with him.

"You don't need to suppress your strength. Use everything you have, or you won't be able to defeat me."

Luo Ling spoke unhurriedly. His meaning was obvious—he wanted Bai Yu to use the power of a Soul Ancestor.

Bai Yu gritted his teeth and swung the Azure Rainbow Sword in his hand. The sword aura barrier was nearly shattered.

The power of that black scythe exceeded his imagination. Its terrifying corrosiveness was beyond belief.

And there was the thing before him that looked exactly like Luo Ling. It felt no pain and showed no emotion, like a madman who knew only how to fight.

When the Azure Rainbow Sword struck the Puppet, it was as though it could not harm it at all.

"I can't keep this up." Bai Yu clenched his teeth, and his fourth Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.

Seeing this, Luo Ling finally showed an interested expression.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Killing Intent Revealed!"

A fierce killing intent condensed with sword aura into a tornado, directly sweeping the Raven Shadow Puppet away as countless sword gleams rained down upon it.

Bai Yu finally broke free from the suppression. The next second, his third Soul Ring lit up.

"Third Soul Skill, Sword Intent Like Flight!"

In an instant, Bai Yu seemed to become a sword himself as he shot toward Luo Ling, carrying terrifying sword aura.

Bai Yu's speed was terrifying, but in Luo Ling's eyes, he was only slightly faster.

After being strengthened by the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, his Spiritual Power had nearly become tangible, greatly enhancing his perception of everything.

The instant Bai Yu reached Luo Ling, Luo Ling raised his hand, and a pitch-black scythe appeared in his grasp.

Black radiance gathered along the blade, dyeing Luo Ling's entire body in a shade of black.

"Darkness Severance!" Luo Ling's calm voice rang out across the platform.

Black ripples carrying an aura of decay collided with Bai Yu's sword aura.

Violent Soul Power fluctuations swept outward, blowing the top hat from Luo Ling's head.

The ultimate darkness did not remain blocked for long before breaking through the sword aura and slashing toward Bai Yu.

A Soul Elder against a Soul Ancestor, yet Bai Yu was the one who lost.

Disbelief appeared on Bai Yu's face. He could only watch as the scythe slowly descended.

Just before it struck, a black shadow viciously kicked Bai Yu away.

The black ripple tore through the air and landed on the platform, directly cleaving the sturdy platform apart and leaving behind a horrifying crack.

Bai Yu had yet to understand what had happened. He rolled across the ground several times before finally stopping.

Once he came to his senses, he looked up.

Luo Ling was still standing where he was. The Raven Shadow Puppet stood beside him, and both held a pitch-black scythe.

Luo Ling gripped the Nether Shadow Sickle in his hand. Since obtaining this soul skill, this was the first time he had used it in actual combat.

He was very satisfied. Its power was formidable, and both he and the Raven Shadow Puppet could equip it at the same time, though the Soul Power consumption doubled.

Two Nether Shadow Sickles, along with the Darkness Threads, Raven Feathers, and that final Darkness Severance.

In just a few short minutes, he had consumed nearly forty percent of his Soul Power.

That was with the Soul Power of an ultimate Martial Soul being denser than that of ordinary people.

Still, most of that consumption went into forming the two Nether Shadow Sickles. It was somewhat wasteful.

"Looks like I won." Luo Ling smiled.

At the final moment, he had controlled the Raven Shadow Puppet to kick Bai Yu away. Otherwise, Bai Yu would now be a corpse.

The two Nether Shadow Sickles dissipated, and the Raven Shadow Puppet returned to the form of a Crow, landing on Luo Ling's shoulder.

He walked to the side, picked up the top hat that had been blown away by the clash of sword auras, and put it back on.

"I lost." Bai Yu was somewhat shaken. He rose to his feet and stared at Luo Ling. "Was that your full strength?"

Luo Ling touched the brim of his hat and glanced at Bai Yu without answering.

Of course he had not gone all out. He had not used the Darkness Threads to absorb Bai Yu's Soul Power and Life Force, had not used the Hallucinogenic Toxin carried by the Raven Feathers, had not teamed up with the Raven Shadow Puppet to make it two against one, and had not used the Soul of Desire.

There was even the Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

"Just consider that my full strength." Luo Ling replied leisurely before turning and leaving.

Below the platform, Ning Fengzhi looked at Luo Ling and took a deep breath. He had arranged for Luo Ling to fight Bai Yu merely to see the strength of Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

But the result far exceeded his expectations. He had originally believed Bai Yu had a great chance of winning, after all, it was a Soul Ancestor fighting a Soul Elder.

Yet Luo Ling had won with overwhelming force.

He had barely even moved, relying solely on his Puppet Martial Soul to suppress Bai Yu, who was a whole major realm above him.

"If I'm not mistaken, Luo Ling's soul skills can be used through his Martial Soul Puppet, as well as through his own body, correct?" Ning Fengzhi asked Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"No wonder Luo Ling wanted the Distraction Control Method." Ning Fengzhi was a smart man and immediately understood.

Beside him, Ning Rongrong watched Luo Ling slowly walk down from the platform, and for some reason, her heart stirred.

Bai Yu had always been the most outstanding member of the younger generation in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she had admired him greatly. Yet the person she admired had been defeated so completely.