Soul Land: Raiden Shogun Is My Martial Soul

Chapter 224: Of All Choices, Why Choose the Strongest?

An emaciated old man stepped out of the shadows, his entire being exuding bloodlust and surrounded by black mist. He looked anything but ordinary.

"A fallen one?"

Kong muttered under his breath, momentarily stunned.

The old man's dark energy overflowed, and his crimson eyes glowed with bloodlust and a thirst for slaughter, devoid of any human emotions. Instead, he seemed more like a wild beast.

"To know the term 'fallen one' while living in such a sheltered environment… impressive!"

The old man sneered.

Thanks to Spirit Hall's extensive campaign to eradicate evil soul masters, most fallen ones were eliminated before they could even rise. It was surprising for a young soul master like Kong to recognize one at a glance.

"You, a rat from the sewers, dare to show yourself here instead of hiding? What are you after?" Kong asked, his tone puzzled. He couldn't fathom why this fallen one would appear now, courting death.

If Spirit Hall caught even a trace of his presence, their Holy Knights would descend in an instant and annihilate him.

"Hmph!"

The old man snorted coldly. "You've got a sharp tongue for a brat. Right now, the entire continent is focused on the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. Most attention is on the competition."

"Isn't this the perfect time to hunt?"

"The more talented my prey, the greater the benefits I gain from killing them!"

"Take the risk, and the path to becoming a Titled Douluo is within reach!"

Hearing this, Kong furrowed his brow. Something didn't add up. Why hadn't this fallen one appeared in the original storyline?

More importantly, why was this fallen one targeting him?

Kong hadn't even revealed his strength in the competition. No one outside his academy should know what he was capable of.

"I haven't even made a move in the tournament. How did you determine I'm a genius? Isn't the state of Heaven Dou Royal Academy common knowledge?" Kong questioned.

The old man hesitated briefly, his gaze at Kong turning contemplative.

"True. Heaven Dou Royal Academy is just a bunch of spoiled brats, and their team captain isn't much better."

"Attacking someone like that carries risks of exposure with little reward. Why would I choose him?"

The old man pondered. But since he was already here, sparing Kong wasn't an option. Doing so would lead to exposure and the inevitable wrath of Spirit Hall.

"Kid, no matter what you say, you're dead today. Any last words?"

"Did you bother to investigate my background or strength before coming here?" Kong asked quietly. This fallen one had the audacity to target him. There was no way he'd let him leave alive.

"Your background and strength?"

The old man smirked. "You're just a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As a fallen one, I'm already at odds with your kind. What's there to fear?"

"As for your strength… heh…"

"It doesn't matter!"

"Kid, you're clearly under twenty. Even if you're a Soul Ancestor or a Soul King, so what? Against absolute strength, you stand no chance!"

The old man's confidence radiated as seven soul rings—one white, one yellow, two purple, and three black—rose beneath him. He was a Soul Sage-level fallen one!

Reaching such a level as a fallen one in these times was no small feat. The fact that he had avoided detection and execution by Spirit Hall until now was even more remarkable.

Kong: "…"

A mere Soul Sage dared to seek his own death.

Indeed, intelligence was the most crucial resource on the Douluo Continent. Had this "old man" known more about him, he wouldn't have rushed into this suicidal attempt.

"With just this, you dare to challenge me?"

Kong glanced at the old man's soul rings, his lip twitching in disdain.

Just as the old man, seething with rage, prepared to teach Kong a lesson, Kong extended his hand. A purple thunderbolt descended from the heavens, striking his palm and transforming into a long blade—Raikiri, the Thunder Cutter.

The old man froze for a moment before the shock in his eyes turned into disdain.

"So what if your martial soul has a flashy entrance? Do you think your strength surpasses mine?"

Kong grasped Raikiri and stepped forward. Soul rings began to rise beneath him, one by one.

The first was… purple.

"???"

The old man froze again when Kong's first soul ring appeared, a flicker of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Purple?

That shouldn't be possible!

He glanced at Kong's soul ring, then back at his own purple soul ring, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

Something was off about Kong's soul rings—they didn't seem normal.

But no matter. Soul Sages stood above all beneath their rank! The stronger the genius, the more thrilling it would be to kill them!

And as a descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this boy's martial soul wasn't even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?

That was just perfect!

Purple. Purple. Purple. Purple…

"???"

When Kong's fifth soul ring emerged, the old man still wore a faint smile. But when the sixth soul ring appeared, his expression turned serious. His eyes widened, and his lips parted as if to speak, yet no words came out.

A Soul Emperor under the age of twenty?

Impossible!!!

When Kong stepped forward again, the seventh purple soul ring rose beneath him. The rings stopped appearing, fully unveiled.

"You…"

"You're a Soul Sage!"

The old man's voice trembled. He never would have imagined that this young man was actually a Soul Sage!

At only level seventy-two himself, facing a Soul Sage with a lightning attribute was nothing short of a nightmare.

Lightning attributes didn't counter evil energy as directly as holy or light attributes, but the destructive power of lightning was incomparable.

This young man before him—a Soul Sage—was beyond monstrous. How had he stumbled upon such a freak of nature?

This was supposed to be his first kill. Instead, he'd run straight into a wall—and not just any wall, but one made of titanium alloy!

"Hiss…"

The old man drew a sharp breath. Could he still escape if he ran now?

As for why all of Kong's soul rings were purple? He didn't want to know.

The first soul ring, identical to the seventh—was it truly only a thousand-year ring? The old man couldn't believe it.

At that moment, an enormous "soul ring" appeared behind Kong, giving him an even more divine aura.

"What is that? What kind of monster are you?"

The old man instinctively stepped back, his voice shaking.

His entire body felt numb. Was this the end for him before he even truly began?

"Of all the people you could've chosen, you went for the strongest. Sigh, even fate is playing jokes on you."

Kong sighed and spoke calmly, his expression unchanging.

A mere Soul Sage-level evil soul master wasn't even worth his attention.

The old man: "…"

(End of Chapter)

🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟

Hello, beloved readers and supporters!

I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:

📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!

💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.

👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!

Patreon.com/anish_44

https://ko-fi.com/anish_44