Douluo: The Blind Ascendant

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"How about this? Since you need it, why don't we help you buy it? How many gold soul coins do you need?" Korol suggested.

"Senior Korol, you're too kind. We can buy it ourselves. We can't trouble the Spirit Hall to pay for something we need. We have hands and feet; we can earn money at the Great Spirit Arena and gain combat experience at the same time. Besides, this item isn't a necessity. You'd be better off using the money for construction or helping those who truly need it," Lin Yongming quickly declined, waving his hands.

"Xiao Ming is right. How can we let the Spirit Hall pay for something we want? If that were the case, I'd rather not have it," Blue Silver Empress chimed in, supporting Lin Yongming's refusal.

Although tens of thousands of gold soul coins were nothing to the Spirit Hall in Sky Dou City, Lin Yongming naturally couldn't accept such a favor. It would create an imbalance among the other members of the Spirit Hall.

"Alright, it's up to you. Let's eat breakfast," Korol nodded, not pressing the matter further.

Korol had only made the suggestion casually and hadn't expected Lin Yongming to accept. But if he had, Korol believed that with Lin Yongming's potential, a word to Bishop Salas would have secured the funds under the guise of a loan.

"Senior Korol, can I discuss something with you? Could you stop following us? A'Yin and I are used to being alone. Having someone secretly following us feels a bit strange," Lin Yongming said after taking a sip of millet porridge.

"That's not possible. You don't understand how complex the power dynamics are in Sky Dou City. The Upper Three Sects and the Lower Four Sects all have a presence here. With your extraordinary spirit ring configuration exposed, it's even more crucial that I stay close."

"But don't worry, I won't disturb you. You can go about your business as usual," Korol assured.

Lin Yongming sighed and shook his head at Blue Silver Empress, signaling that there was nothing they could do.

After all, with his current strength, forcing a Spirit Sage to leave would be quite difficult.

Although Lin Yongming couldn't see, he could sense things, so Blue Silver Empress simply nodded calmly.

"Are you going to the Great Spirit Arena tonight?" Korol asked after a few bites, breaking the silence.

"Yes, we are. The Treasure Pavilion auction is in seven days, and we need to earn tens of thousands of gold soul coins before then," Lin Yongming replied.

"Alright, go ahead. I'll blend into the crowd. In Sky Dou City, I can guarantee your safety," Korol said confidently.

After breakfast, Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress lost interest in wandering around and returned to their hotel room.

"Xiao Ming, Korol mentioned that the local bishop has reported your situation to Spirit City. I wonder if the Pope will send someone, and what their strength will be," Blue Silver Empress said with a hint of worry.

"I don't know. If they do send someone, it wouldn't make sense to send a Spirit Douluo since Bishop Salas is already at that level. It would have to be a Title Douluo. We'll see in a few days," Lin Yongming analyzed, lowering his head slightly.

"Forget it. Let's not think about it. It's for your safety, after all. It's just a bit strange having someone follow us. Maybe we're just not used to it. Let's rest and meditate," Blue Silver Empress said, brushing it off.

"Luckily, I've entered my mature stage early after consuming the Lovesick Heart-Rending Red. I'm not afraid of encountering Title Douluos anymore," Blue Silver Empress thought to herself, feeling relieved.

"Yes, improving our strength is our priority now," Lin Yongming agreed. To avoid being disturbed, he returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate.

The day passed quickly in cultivation.

At 6:30 PM, they left the hotel, had dinner at a restaurant, and headed to the Great Spirit Arena.

By the time they arrived, it was past 8:00 PM. The sky was dark, but the area around the Great Spirit Arena was brightly lit.

"It's already 8:00 PM, and Asura still hasn't shown up. Did he stop coming to the Great Spirit Arena after his spirit rings were exposed?" Yu Xiaogang sat in the Spirit Ancestor section of the audience, anxiously waiting.

Yu Xiaogang had arrived at the Great Spirit Arena around 6:30 PM, fearing he might miss Lin Yongming.

"Next match on Arena 3: Spirit Ancestor Asura versus Spirit Ancestor Hong Ying. Both contestants, please prepare. The battle will begin in ten minutes."

The announcement brought a smile to Yu Xiaogang's face. "Finally, he's here!"

In several private boxes in the Spirit Ancestor section, many eyes turned to Arena 3.

Meanwhile, Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress went to the betting station and placed a bet of two thousand gold soul coins.

"The odds are three to one. Xiao Ming, why are your odds lower this time? And this Hong Ying… her name sounds familiar. Have I heard it before?" Blue Silver Empress wondered.

"The Great Spirit Arena is cunning. Maybe the opponent they matched me with this time has lower spirit power than the last one, so the odds changed," Lin Yongming explained.

"Well, you did easily defeat a Level 49 Spirit Ancestor last time. They probably consider you to have the combat power of a Spirit King," Blue Silver Empress said with a sigh.

"Alright, tomorrow we'll skip the Spirit Ancestor section and go straight to the Spirit King section to challenge a Spirit King," Lin Yongming decided.

"That's the only way. With these odds, it'll be hard to earn thirty thousand in seven days. I'll register and join the Spirit King matches tomorrow too," Blue Silver Empress suggested.

"That's great! Let's form a team. How about calling it the Grassroots Team?" Lin Yongming smiled, already coming up with a name.

"Ugh! What kind of name is that? Let's call it the Thunder Emperor Team," Blue Silver Empress retorted, clearly disliking the suggestion.

"Thunder Emperor? That's a bit too flashy. Let's think of something else," Lin Yongming said, surprised.

"You're right, it is a bit flashy. Then let's call it the Blue Thunder Team. But no more of this Grassroots nonsense," Blue Silver Empress amended.

"Blue Thunder… fine, we'll go with that. But I still think Grassroots sounds better," Lin Yongming conceded.

"I'll hit you! What's with this Grassroots Team? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Blue Silver Empress raised her fist threateningly.

"Let's go! I'll head to the entrance of Arena 3," Lin Yongming said, running off.

Blue Silver Empress quickly followed, and the two playfully made their way to the arena entrance, waiting for the host's announcement.

"Hong Ying, maybe we shouldn't fight. I heard from people here that Asura has a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as a Spirit Ancestor," Ning Fengzhi advised Hong Ying.

"Mind your own business! And stop following me everywhere. I've told you, I don't like you," Hong Ying snapped, clearly annoyed with Ning Fengzhi.

"Brother Ning Fengzhi, don't try to stop Hong Ying. You know how stubborn she is," Lin Yan, Hong Ying's friend, interjected.

"Yeah, Hong Ying's temper is unyielding. Even ten oxen couldn't pull her back," Song Zhu, the girl with the healing staff, added.

"You tell me, I've been chasing Hong Ying for three years. Why does she always seem so annoyed with me? Am I really that unlikeable?" Ning Fengzhi sighed, watching Hong Ying's retreating figure.

"Well… it might have something to do with Hong Ying's past," Lin Yan said hesitantly.

"Brother Ning Fengzhi, don't give up. Maybe Hong Ying has some misunderstanding about you. After all, you're the top-ranked prince charming in the academy," Song Zhu comforted.

"Ugh, don't bring that up. It's embarrassing," Ning Fengzhi said, his face darkening.

It was true. With his looks and background, even the princes of the Sky Dou Empire paled in comparison. Ning Fengzhi was the object of admiration for many noble ladies in the empire.

Yet, when Ning Fengzhi first saw Hong Ying, who was a few years younger than him, his restless heart calmed.

Ning Fengzhi sighed and walked to the window of the private box, watching Hong Ying step onto the arena.

"Ning Fengzhi, if you truly like her, don't give up. But you need to change your willful, arrogant, and prideful nature. You've graduated now, and it's time to start taking on responsibilities in the sect," Sword Douluo said, standing beside Ning Fengzhi.

"Uncle Sword, was I really that willful before?" Ning Fengzhi asked.

"Well… a little. But you were young then. You've matured a lot in the past two years," Sword Douluo replied honestly.

Ning Fengzhi fell silent, his gaze fixed on the opposite entrance of the arena.

"Huh? Asura is him?" Ning Fengzhi suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

As Hong Ying stepped onto the arena, the host announced Lin Yongming's entrance.

"Asura is here again! If you missed him last time, he's back today," the host announced.

"Oh! Big brother, it's you!" Hong Ying immediately recognized Lin Yongming as the man who had saved her.

"Huh? You are?" Lin Yongming asked, confused.

"A few days ago, you saved us from the Blazing Beast in Sunset Forest. I'm Hong Ying," Hong Ying explained with a smile.

"Ah, it's you. I remember now," Lin Yongming said, realizing why her aura felt familiar.

"I'm sorry about last time. I was absorbing a spirit ring and didn't get a chance to properly thank you. By the time I woke up, you were already gone. Thank you, Asura, and that sister too," Hong Ying said, bowing slightly.

"You're too kind. It was just a small favor. No need to take it to heart," Lin Yongming replied.

"It's her! No wonder the name sounded familiar," Blue Silver Empress muttered from the entrance.

"Uh… it seems Asura and Hong Ying know each other. Should we wait for them to finish chatting?" the host joked.

"Let's get on with the battle," Lin Yongming said.

"Alright, please guide me," Hong Ying said seriously, knowing she couldn't win but still brimming with fighting spirit.

In an instant, a fiery red spear, her spirit, appeared in her hand, accompanied by two yellow and two purple spirit rings.

"I'm not worthy of guiding you," Lin Yongming said, summoning his Thunder Blade and preparing for battle.

"Please guide me!" Hong Ying, clad in red and white armor, charged at Lin Yongming like a whirlwind.

"Sweeping Strike!" Hong Ying swung her spear horizontally as she closed in, not using a spirit skill.

"Block!" Lin Yongming shifted his stance, using a basic blocking skill to effortlessly deflect the attack.

"Thrust!" Hong Ying spun and thrust her spear with force.

Lin Yongming swung his blade, deflecting the spear's tip and redirecting the attack.

"Miss Hong Ying, there's no need for simple probes," Lin Yongming said calmly.

"Alright, first spirit skill: Blazing Wildfire!" Hong Ying activated her first spirit ring, enveloping her spear in flames. A fan-shaped wave of fire shot toward Lin Yongming.

However, Lin Yongming's body, tempered by immortal herbs, was immune to both ice and fire. The flames from Hong Ying's attack were nothing compared to the Blazing Flame Immortal Herb.

Lin Yongming simply blocked the attack without even using a spirit skill.

"Second spirit skill: Chasing Clouds!" Hong Ying, seeing her first skill fail, activated her second spirit ring. She moved with incredible speed, leaving behind afterimages as she closed in on Lin Yongming.

As she approached, she swung her spear in a wide arc, flames trailing behind it.

"Not bad! First spirit skill: Thunder Slash!" Lin Yongming's Thunder Blade crackled with electricity as it clashed with Hong Ying's spear.

"Clang!" Hong Ying was forced back several steps, while Lin Yongming remained firmly in place.

"The gap is this big?" Hong Ying exclaimed in shock.

"Big brother, please test the fourth spirit ring you helped me obtain," Hong Ying said, undeterred.

"Sure," Lin Yongming agreed.

"Fourth spirit skill: Blazing Hundred Slashes!" Hong Ying activated her purple spirit ring, transforming into a fiery deity as she unleashed a barrage of flaming slashes.

Though the skill was called "Hundred Slashes," Hong Ying's current spirit power only allowed her to release a dozen powerful attacks.

"Impressive! Second spirit skill: Wave Burst!" Lin Yongming praised as he calmly activated his second spirit skill.

In an instant, Hong Ying's flaming slashes were dispersed by Lin Yongming's overwhelming wave burst.

The residual force struck Hong Ying, causing her to stagger back, a trickle of blood escaping her lips.

"Big brother Asura, I concede," Hong Ying said, leaning on her spear.

"You did well. Don't be discouraged. You're only a Level 41 Spirit Ancestor, while I'm three levels higher with a better spirit ring configuration. You performed admirably," Lin Yongming said encouragingly.

"Hong Ying concedes. Asura wins this battle!" the host announced.

"Song Zhu, let's go to the entrance. Hong Ying is bleeding," Ning Fengzhi said urgently.

Soon, Hong Ying's friends rushed to the arena entrance to help her down.

"Hong Ying, how bad is it?" Lin Yan asked, supporting her.

"It's nothing serious. I just got hit by his burst skill."

"Healing Staff!" Song Zhu immediately activated her healing spirit skill to treat Hong Ying's injuries.

"Asura's match is over. The Great Spirit Arena only allows one match per day, so he's done. He's probably leaving. I need to catch him at the entrance."

Yu Xiaogang stood up and hurried to the main entrance of the Great Spirit Arena.

"Xiao Ming, she's just a girl, and you know her. Why did you hit her so hard?" Blue Silver Empress chided.

"Uh… I lost control a bit," Lin Yongming admitted sheepishly.

"Well, injuries are inevitable in battles. I saw her friend, the healer, was there. She should be fine. Let's go collect our winnings," Blue Silver Empress said, reassured.

"Alright," Lin Yongming agreed.

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 170 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 180 power stones I will publish the next chapter.