165 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 165 - Endless Days and Nights of Rebirth as the Malevolent Senior Sister The atmosphere was tense with malevolence. Ning Wan Qiu's breath caught in her throat as she swiftly scanned the crowd. As expected, in just a brief moment, the lower level demons among them began to reveal their true forms one by one. If she delayed any longer, they might all descend into madness before the competition even concluded. There was no other solution but to seek help at the Jade Spring Hall. As Ning Wan Qiu departed, an elder and a youth continued their standoff on the circular platform. Between them loomed a massive white banner, engulfed in fiery light. Fu Ling, unaware that the puppet's soul was concealed within the banner, showed little hesitation in her actions. In a short span, the pungent smell of burning malevolence blanketed the area for miles around. Witnessing the growing blaze, Dai Yuan Xi finally showed signs of anxiety. There are countless ways to counter malevolence in the world, but nothing seemed to suppress the sinister energy with the efficacy of these spiritual flames. Without hesitation, seeing an opportunity, she retracted the white banner. Fu Ling observed and silently reached for her waist, discreetly drawing her scimitar once more. She couldn’t bear to kill the puppet, but when it came to Dai Yuan Xi, she wouldn't flinch. The atmosphere turned frigid. The cool moonlight glinted coldly off the tip of the blade. The flash of silver light startled Dai Yuan Xi, causing beads of sweat to form at her temple. A puppeteer’s prowess is entirely dependent on the strength of their puppet. If the puppet is uncommanded, the puppeteer loses all their abilities. As the blade was about to fall, everyone around held their breath in anticipation. In that precarious moment, Dai Yuan Xi instinctively retreated a few steps. Her mind was reeling as she issued a new command to the puppet. This command didn't concern Fu Ling—it centered on her own safety. Thus, inadvertently, she commanded the puppet to break free from the illusion’s grasp, reverting it to the ruthless 'killing machine' of the past. Fu Ling’s crafted illusion had merely transmitted false information of her death to the puppet. Once the puppeteer changed the order, the illusion naturally lost its grip. Dai Yuan Xi, desperate, sought the puppet's aid once more, finally receiving a response. At her beckoning, the young man ceased his despairing cries and rose to his feet, transforming the anguish on his face into a menacing grimace. Before Jiu Ying could intervene, he had already scaled the arena. It was then that Dai Yuan Xi realized something was wrong. "An illusion?!" "You used an illusion to make Fu Yang believe you were dead!!" "Impossible! Fu Yang is soulless. He couldn't, wouldn't—" She didn’t finish her sentence, her eyes wide with disbelief. Hearing her, Fu Ling’s lips compressed, her expression icy. "Whether he’s soulless, you should know best." In her reckless pursuit to create the world’s most formidable puppet, Dai Yuan Xi had preserved one soul fragment within Shen Fu Yang. This very fragment left him susceptible to the illusion. After painstakingly honing her puppetry for decades, Shen Fu Yang was her most satisfying 'creation.' Yet now, Fu Ling's actions showed her— Shen Fu Yang was not perfect. The air felt frozen. On the platform, faint threads of winter snow descended from the sky, suspending everything in place. Dai Yuan Xi hesitated, her weathered face appearing all the more worn under the moonlight. The girl before her was far stronger than she’d imagined. She gazed at the shimmering scimitar, her heart racing suddenly, each beat heavy and urgent. Despite Shen Fu Yang standing defensively in front of her, the impending threat was palpable. That blade was formidable. As the blade neared, the soul-stabilizing banner began to tremble ever so slightly. Dai Yuan Xi’s face darkened. She raised her right hand and pushed Shen Fu Yang forward. "Protect me!" This command signified that unless Shen Fu Yang was slain, no one could approach her any further. Fu Ling frowned. As expected, the puppet launched another assault against her. To kill Dai Yuan Xi, she first had to deal with Shen Fu Yang. But killing a controlled puppet devoid of self-awareness? She couldn't bring herself to do it. As she deliberated, a clear, soft voice mysteriously echoed in her mind— "The puppet's soul is sealed within the white banner. Obtain it, and you can control the puppet." It was Jiu Ying’s voice. Since forming their contract, they could communicate within their consciousness. Initially startled by the familiar female voice, it took Fu Ling a moment to respond. "Sister, if I wish to release the soul, how should I proceed?" Release the soul? Jiu Ying, hearing the question, quickly grasped Fu Ling’s intent— Fu Ling intended to save the puppet, hoping to restore it to a normal human. The art of puppetry is irreversible; the soul, having been detached for so long, couldn’t simply return to its body. Especially not under these circumstances. Fu Ling’s desire was impossible. Jiu Ying hesitated, unsure how to reply. As her mind flitted, her gaze chanced upon four trembling young children nearby, prompting her decision. "The soul dwells within the banner. Destroy it, and the soul will naturally emerge." Relieved by this revelation, Fu Ling’s worries lightened somewhat. Clenching her teeth, she channeled spiritual energy from her core, concentrating it into her right palm. The energy swiftly coursed through the hilt to the blade's tip. A crystal-clear drop of water formed on the blade. As the wind swept by, the drop dispersed, each droplet vanishing into the air, gliding past the young man. The wind was eerie, layer upon layer sweeping in, yet invisible in the moonlit night. Neither Shen Fu Yang nor Dai Yuan Xi noticed. Danger stealthily approached. As the night wind grazed the skin, the faint scent of blood wafted in the air. In mere moments, the elderly woman's face and hands bore several cuts. The wind persisted, slashing continuously. The target was none other than Dai Yuan Xi alone. Shen Fu Yang attempted to halt the night wind, but infused with Fu Ling’s spiritual energy, it eluded any external control. No matter how he tried, the blades of wind slipped through to reach Dai Yuan Xi, carving wound after wound into her exposed skin. The gashes weren't deep but stung fiercely, tainted by spiritual energy. The cold wind menaced from all directions, leaving nowhere to hide. In no time, the elder’s sleeves were tattered, and if it continued, by dawn her hands would be raw and bleeding. The only defense against the wind's blades was the soul-stabilizing banner. With no other recourse, Dai Yuan Xi reluctantly brandished the white banner once more. Though the malevolent energy on it had been burned down to a thin layer, it only took a moment before the surface brimmed with it again. The moment the wind blades touched the white banner, the malevolent energy devoured them entirely. Dai Yuan Xi exhaled in relief, tightening her grip on the banner. As she believed herself safe, a figure suddenly flashed past her. Before she realized it, the soul-stabilizing banner had vanished. It was Fu Ling who had taken it. To anyone else, such a sinister object would be avoided at all costs. Yet she, undaunted and unworried, seized the eerie banner during Dai Yuan Xi’s lapse. Simply put, she hoped to restore Shen Fu Yang's clarity. Regrettably, such goodwill was destined to be futile. Author's note: Thank you to the Little Angels who cast king tickets or watered my Y-gen during the period from 2021-02-19 03:12:42 to 2021-02-21 03:18:13~ Thanks to the Little Angels who launched the rocket launchers: Seal-kun 2; Light-tilt 1; Thanks to the Little Angels who dropped landmines: Senior Martial Sister, Little Melon Seed, Mu Qing Mu, Advancing Little Four, and Everlasting Guidepost of Yan Master 1 each; Thank you to the Little Angels for nourishing my work: Little Melon Seed for 53 bottles; Huang Ting Ting's Official Girlfriend for 30 bottles; Advancing Little Four for 10 bottles; 42282380 and Little Yu for 6 bottles each; Dear Wu Xuan Yi Little Darling for 5 bottles; Only You for 2 bottles; and 42731226 for 1 bottle. I deeply appreciate everyone's support, and I will continue to work hard!