Your Darkness Isn't Dark Enough, Dark Lugiel

Over those six years, Xiao Ran had killed a two-thousand-year-old Blazing Flame Tiger upon reaching level 20, then forcibly absorbed another purple Soul Ring.

His Ultraman Ginga form unlocked the Soul Skill Galaxy Fireball, while his Dark Lugiel form unlocked Dark Star Barrage. He also obtained a Blazing Flame Tiger Replica Doll and two of the sect's secret arts: the Heart Separation Control Secret Art and the Seven Treasure Meditation Method.

"Looks like it's time to leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and get some experience out in the world."

Xiao Ran felt the power within him, then called up the system panel.

"System, check my current condition."

Name: Xiao Ran

Age: 12

Martial Soul: Dark Silver Spark

Soul Power: Level 28

Xiao Ran looked at the panel with satisfaction. "If I'm right, Tang San should have graduated from Nuoding Academy by now."

"System, there's something I've wondered about for years. Every time I absorb a Soul Ring, I gain two different skills. Since my Martial Soul contains both Ginga and Dark Lugiel, does that mean I have Twin Martial Souls?"

"System notification."

"Yes! Your Martial Soul is no ordinary Twin Martial Souls. The Ginga Spark and Dark Spark intertwined and fused, ultimately giving birth to the Dark Silver Spark."

"Current Martial Soul state: Dark Silver Spark, second stage."

Xiao Ran's two sparks had originated as separate Martial Souls. But because Ultraman Ginga and Dark Lugiel were one to begin with, they had ultimately been forged into a single Martial Soul.

Thus, each Soul Ring unlocked a matching pair of light and darkness Soul Skills. And this single Martial Soul, with its two fused forms, was even more powerful than Twin Martial Souls!

Once his Soul Power reached its limit and completed its final transformation, he would unlock the Houshan Ginga form, along with the fully fused Ginga–Dark Lugiel form.

Xiao Ran thought for a moment. "There are more opportunities in a big city. I'll go take a look around Suotuo City. Little Scumbag and Xiao Wu are bound to head there too."

After explaining the situation to Ning Fengzhi, Xiao Ran set off for Suotuo City.

By the time he reached the city's north gate, darkness had fallen.

He had intended to go straight in, but the Dark Spark's power within him tugged at him. Something nearby seemed to be answering its call.

He turned toward the woods beside the main road. Several merchants came scrambling out, while someone else was still screaming.

In a clearing at the edge of the woods, a young Soul Master wearing a Cloaked Hat had pinned a middle-aged man beneath his foot. Black energy poured into the man's body, draining his life force and meager Soul Power.

"With so little Soul Power, you dared come north?" The young Soul Master grinned viciously and pressed down harder.

Xiao Ran stared in astonishment. "Holy shit. Evil Soul Masters were around ten thousand years ago? This guy must be one of the first."

"Oi, kid! You've got some nerve, killing someone out in the open. Here, this one's for you." Xiao Ran gave the young Soul Master the middle finger.

The young Soul Master looked back, glanced him over, and laughed. "Where'd this brat come from? Get lost if you don't want to die."

Xiao Ran took a few steps forward.

"Wait. Something about this kid feels off... You're a Soul Grandmaster!"

An eerie smile spread across the young Soul Master's face. "Hahaha... Finally, someone with decent Soul Power. Kid, if you're looking for death, I'll give it to you. I'll drain every drop of your Soul Power and life force!"

"Shadow Ghost Face!"

As soon as he spoke, his Soul Ring Configuration slowly appeared.

"Two yellow and one purple. Hmph. Trash is trash." Xiao Ran rubbed his nose, openly dismissive.

"Watch and learn!" Xiao Ran revealed his own Soul Rings.

"Those are... two Thousand-Year Soul Rings!" The young Soul Master's face went pale with shock.

"You're a monster! How could anyone's First Soul Ring be purple? ... But so what? I'm a Soul Elder! A mere Soul Grandmaster can't stand against me!" His words came in fits and starts, his voice thick with unease.

Xiao Ran roared, "Then let's find out whose darkness is stronger!"

"Darkness materialization, Dark Lugiel!" He inserted the Dark Lugiel doll into the summoner.

A swirl of black and purple mist rose, and Dark Lugiel slowly took shape.

Unlike Ginga, he had a black-and-red body, scarlet X-shaped eyes, and a crimson light core in his chest.

"Yah!" Shadow Ghost Face shrieked. Black mist gathered into an enormous Ghost Claw and swept toward Xiao Ran.

The Ghost Claw struck Xiao Ran's chest. He did not dodge; he stood right where he was.

"Heh. You want to drain my power? Don't bother sending me more!"

Far from stealing Xiao Ran's Soul Power, the black mist surged into his body.

"Mmm... Delicious. Thanks for the Soul Power!"

The young Soul Master's eyes bulged. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could you absorb my Ghost Claw?"

"Damn you, arrogant brat! Second Soul Skill, Ghost Face Bite!"

Shadow Ghost Face swelled with a shriek. The black mist formed a hideous, gaping maw that lunged down at Xiao Ran.

"Hah, two can play that game! Second Soul Skill, Dark Star Barrage!"

Several scarlet orbs of destructive light fired from Dark Lugiel's chest and collided with the black maw in midair.

"Break!"

Xiao Ran clenched his fist.

The orbs exploded. Violet-black energy swept outward, and the blast hurled the Soul Master away.

The young Soul Master dropped to his knees and spat a mouthful of black blood.

"Impossible... How could my Ghost Face Bite be crushed in one move?"

"Amateur. That's what raw power looks like. You're only a few years older than me, right? Against me, you're the challenger! We're practically the same age. I wasn't even planning to crush you this badly!"

"You forced me to do this!" the young Soul Master howled as he scrambled up. He pressed his hands together, and his third Soul Ring blazed at full intensity.

"Third Soul Skill! Black Mist Ghost Domain!"

His Martial Soul burst apart, becoming a boundless black mist that spread outward. Darkness swallowed everything within a hundred meters.

Xiao Ran looked around. The mist did have something to it: his senses were completely suppressed, leaving him disoriented.

"Hahahahaha! Inside my ghost domain, your sight, hearing, and smell are useless! Your Soul Power will slowly be eaten away!" The young Soul Master's voice rang out from every corner of the mist.

As Xiao Ran surveyed his surroundings, the system sounded an alert.

"High-concentration dark-attribute energy detected. Compatibility with the host's darkness source: 99.9%."

"Absorb it?"

Xiao Ran grinned. "Do you even have to ask? Drain it dry!"

As soon as he spoke, an invisible pull erupted from his body. The black mist began spiraling into Dark Lugiel.

"Ah! That's the stuff!"

The Black Mist Ghost Domain began to tremble violently.

"What are you doing? My ghost domain! Why can't I control it?" The young Soul Master's voice was close to tears.

Xiao Ran spread his arms.

"Some domain. It can't even put up a fight. I'll take it!"

"Ding! Absorption complete.

Dark-attribute energy converted. Darkness-type Soul Skills increased in power by 20%. Darkness resistance greatly increased. Soul Power consumption slightly reduced.

Soul Power increased by one level!"

Seeing how badly things had turned, the young Soul Master spun around to flee. Xiao Ran had other ideas.

"You're not getting away, dumbass! First Soul Skill, Falling-Light Rending Blade!"

Two thick scarlet blades of light shot from his X-shaped eyes.

"What?!"

The young Soul Master desperately drew on his remaining Soul Power and raised his Martial Soul to shield himself.

Boom!

When the dust cleared, the young Soul Master had been utterly defeated. The light blades had driven him into a stone wall, knocking him unconscious.

Xiao Ran ended his transformation.

"Fine. He can hang there. When morning comes, the people of Suotuo City can see what happens when you go around draining people's Soul Power outside their walls."

Xiao Ran dusted off his hands and turned toward the city gate.