Chapter 145: Admirable Courage
Seeing Luo Ling remain as calm and indifferent as ever, both Tang San and Yu Tianheng gnashed their teeth in frustration. Yet neither dared to make the first move.
"Both sides, bow! Non-participants, step off the stage!" the announcer declared.
Reluctantly, the two teams saluted each other, then backed away to take their positions.
"Brother Ling, how should we fight this one?" asked a small-framed male Spirit Master quietly. He was the control-type Spirit Master who had once been the captain of Heaven Dou's second team.
Luo Ling waved his hand carelessly. "You all fight. I'll support from behind. If things go south, I'll step in."
The team members exchanged puzzled glances but wisely kept silent.
The match officially began. One after another, martial souls flared to life.
For Shrek, Tang San, Yu Tianheng, and Ma Hongjun stood at the front. Beneath their feet, two yellow and two purple spirit rings rose up in unison—each of them now a Soul Ancestor.
The rest of their team stood further back, displaying configurations of two yellow and one purple—the mark of Soul Elders.
Luo Ling's eyes briefly lingered on Tang San's fourth spirit ring, a deep violet hue.
A faint smile touched his lips. So Tang San no longer had that ten-thousand-year fourth ring as in the original timeline. Evidently, his spirit abilities were different now.
Without the tempering of the immortal herbs, his spirit ring configuration was clearly inferior.
Still, seeing three Soul Ancestors on Shrek's side, the members of Heaven Dou Academy hardened their expressions and readied themselves, activating their own martial souls.
Each of them showed two yellow and one purple ring—similar to their opponents.
Then it was Luo Ling's turn.
Suddenly, a dense, chilling aura radiated from his body, coating the arena in an oppressive blanket of energy. The very air felt like it had dropped a few degrees in temperature.
A black scythe shimmered into existence in his hand, and beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and one black spirit ring rose majestically.
"The Spirit King?!"
Gasps erupted throughout the stands. Even the VIP seats were thrown into astonishment.
Platinum Bishop Salas's brows lifted in disbelief. His intelligence reports from Soto City had labeled Luo Ling as a Soul Sect. And now—already a Soul King?
Fifteen years old!
The bishop couldn't help but glance discreetly toward Xue Qinghe—Qian Renxue in disguise. Even the prodigy favored by the Angel God hadn't been this outrageous at that age.
Amid the spreading shock, Luo Ling remained expressionless. On paper, he was a level 50 Spirit King. In truth, he had already reached level 59—just one step away from breaking through to Spirit Emperor.
By the end of this tournament, he would likely reach that milestone—becoming a Spirit Emperor at fifteen.
Across from him, the Shrek team could only stare at the obsidian-black fifth ring encircling Luo Ling's feet. The confidence they had so recently regained evaporated instantly.
For Ma Hongjun especially, the memory of their previous encounter was all too vivid. Back then, Luo Ling had been a Soul Sect capable of defeating a Soul King.
Now, armed with that fifth ring? It wasn't even a contest.
Tang San stood frozen, disbelief plain on his face.
He had needed the Blood Demon Ritual to barely reach the Soul Ancestor realm.
So how—how was Luo Ling advancing this fast?!
Jealousy clawed at his chest, fear smothering his anger.
"What? Referee!" Luo Ling suddenly called out. "Aren't you going to start the match?"
Snapped from his daze, the referee flinched and quickly raised his voice. "A-ah, yes! Begin! Match start!"
He leapt from the stage at once.
"Don't just stand there," Luo Ling said casually to his teammates once the battle commenced. "I'll support you."
His first and second spirit rings flared almost simultaneously.
Crimson light cascaded outward, flowing into the five non-support members of his team.
In the next moment, thin black veils of energy enveloped them like translucent armor—the Desire Soul Garments.
Power rushed through their bodies, flooding their veins and sharpening their senses until every movement felt crisp and electric.
"My Soul Liberation greatly strengthens your mental perception," Luo Ling explained evenly. "The Desire Soul Garments grant you flight and boost all attributes—especially speed."
"Those rookies on the other side… I'll leave them to you."
He smiled faintly, his tone calm but his words filled with quiet confidence.
The five fighters blushed with exhilaration, their blood surging with the newfound surge of strength. Their bodies lightened, and then—they lifted off the ground.
They could fly.
Outside of high-tier spirit masters, almost no one could achieve that without specialized spirit abilities.
"Go," Luo Ling said softly, his eyes glinting. "Show them what the Heaven Dou Royal Academy can do."
The group exhaled in excitement and launched forward like arrows.
"Proceed as planned!" Tang San commanded on the opposite side.
Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long charged ahead, their spirits blazing.
"Thunderous Fury!"
"Phoenix Fire Line!"
"Exploding Strength Smash!"
Three streaks of power cut through the air toward the Heaven Dou team, while Tang San's Blue Silver Grass snaked forward, aiming to ensnare them.
But a moment later, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy fighters broke into wide grins. Before Shrek could blink, they all soared into the sky—lifting completely out of reach.
Yu Tianheng, Ma Hongjun, and Tai Long froze mid-charge, eyes widening.
They could fly?!
Every attack fell harmlessly short. Even Tang San's vines whipped uselessly through empty air.
He stared upward, stunned. He had known Luo Ling possessed flight abilities, but to grant them to five others simultaneously was beyond comprehension.
The spectators erupted into a roar, stunned and enthralled.
Even in the VIP section, familiar faces stared wide-eyed.
Not even those closest to Luo Ling truly knew the full extent of his soul skills.
Above the arena, the Heaven Dou fighters rained attacks down with blinding speed. Empowered by their flight and enhanced attributes, their strength now rivaled even specialized agility-type Spirit Masters.
Within moments, Shrek was barely holding the line.
"Fatty!" Tang San shouted. "You can fly too! Get up there and pin them down! Tianheng, you and I will take Luo Ling—his power fuels their flight!"
"If we take him out, they'll drop out of the sky like stones!"
Ma Hongjun hesitated only a second before igniting his second and third spirit rings, summoning blazing wings from his back. He shot upward with a roar, fire trailing behind him.
Unfortunately, the five Heaven Dou fighters—drunk on their sudden advantage—immediately rushed to intercept him.
Luo Ling sighed softly from below, shaking his head.
"Nobles," he muttered. "Give them an edge and they forget their limits."
As the five surrounded Ma Hongjun, his fourth spirit ring blazed.
"Phoenix Cry of the Sky!"
Flames exploded outward, engulfing the air.
The five Heaven Dou fighters screamed as they were struck full-on, incinerated by the blast before tumbling helplessly to the ground.
From below, Tang San and Yu Tianheng seized their chance, rushing straight toward Luo Ling.
Watching them charge forward, Luo Ling couldn't help but chuckle.
Their logic was sound: take down the leader first.
"Admirable courage," he murmured softly.
And the hint of a smirk curled across his lips.
(END CHAPTER)
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