I dominated the game from the start with cards.

Chapter 51 Hidden Tides and Rising Tide In the days following the dissipation of the ghostly aura, a persistent unease enveloped Ye Ling. He always felt a pair of eyes watching from the shadows, like a venomous infection, cold and suffocating. Spirits came and went around him, seemingly ordinary, yet as if concealing hidden secrets. Unfamiliar faces appeared frequently, only to vanish silently when he tried to approach, as elusive as ghosts. Once, Ye Ling sensed a subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy in the market. He followed it discreetly, but the energy disappeared into thin air around a corner. Similar events occurred one after another, deepening Ye Ling's suspicions. What was the origin of these spirits? "Brother Ye Ling, what are you looking at?" Qingyue's lively voice interrupted Ye Ling's thoughts. He turned to look at Qingyue and Shuyao, a warm feeling welling up in his heart, and his determination to protect them strengthened. "Nothing," Ye Ling forced a smile, "just thinking about some things."

He couldn't let them get involved in this unknown danger. That night, Ye Ling told Elder Ling about his worries. Elder Ling stroked his long beard, his face grave: "It seems we underestimated the enemy's strength. They are well hidden, and their purpose is unclear; we must be wary." "I plan to have Shu Yao and Qing Yue leave here temporarily and go to a safe place to hide," Ye Ling said, revealing his idea. Elder Ling nodded in agreement: "That's good. The situation is too complicated right now; it's too dangerous for them to stay here." The next morning, Ye Ling took Shu Yao and Qing Yue to a secluded valley outside the city. The moment of parting finally arrived. Shu Yao hugged Ye Ling tightly, tears silently streaming down her face, soaking his clothes. "Brother Ye Ling, be careful," Shu Yao said, choking back tears, her eyes filled with reluctance. Qing Yue's eyes also reddened, and she stood silently to the side. Ye Ling gently stroked Shu Yao's hair, his heart also filled with reluctance, but he knew this was the best choice for the time being. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself." "I'll come find you as soon as I've dealt with things here." Watching Shu Yao and Qing Yue disappear into the depths of the valley, Ye Ling turned, his gaze resolute and cold. He returned to his room, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to sense the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations. A strange feeling welled up within him; he discovered that his card abilities seemed to resonate with the surrounding environment in a special way. This resonance allowed him to perceive the spiritual energy fluctuations hidden in the shadows more clearly. A cold smile flashed across Ye Ling's lips. "Found you..." He suddenly opened his eyes, a card shimmering with a ghostly blue light appearing in his hand. On the card, a black shadow flickered faintly. "Shadow Fiend..." Ye Ling's "Shadow Fiend" card trembled slightly, the black shadow on it growing clearer, as if about to burst forth. This was his newly discovered ability—card resonance. This resonance could not only sense hidden spiritual power but also guide him to its source. Following the card's guidance, Ye Ling arrived at an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city. The temple was dilapidated, covered in cobwebs, and a chilling wind blew, exuding an eerie atmosphere. "There's definitely something wrong..." Ye Ling narrowed his eyes, the card in his hand shining even brighter. He silently infiltrated the temple, the air thick with the nauseating stench of blood. In the center of the dilapidated hall, a dark figure sat cross-legged, surrounded by black mist—it was the Shadow Fiend. He seemed to be performing some kind of ritual, chanting incantations in a low, hoarse voice. Ye Ling's appearance did not escape the Shadow Fiend's notice. He suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of crimson light passing by, "You actually found this place?" Before Shadow Fiend could finish speaking, he transformed into a black shadow, his speed astonishing, aiming straight for Ye Ling's throat. Ye Ling was prepared, dodging Shadow Fiend's attack with a sidestep. Shadow Fiend's attacks were like a relentless storm, forcing Ye Ling to constantly dodge and search for an opportunity to counterattack. "All you can do is dodge?" Shadow Fiend sneered, forming hand seals, and a black mist instantly enveloped the entire hall. Ye Ling felt dizzy, his vision distorting. He saw Shu Yao and Qing Yue trapped in raging flames, desperately calling his name. "Shu Yao! Qing Yue!" Ye Ling was frantic, instinctively trying to rush over, but nearly being struck by Shadow Fiend's attack. At the critical moment, the card in Ye Ling's hand emitted a dazzling light, dispelling the surrounding black mist. The illusion vanished, and the hall returned to normal. Only then did Ye Ling realize he had fallen victim to Shadow Fiend's illusion. "A mere trick." Ye Ling snorted coldly, several cards appearing in his hand in quick succession. "Blazing Inferno!" A fiery red card transformed into a raging inferno, engulfing Shadow Fiend. "Shield of Ice!" An ice-blue card transformed into a massive ice shield, blocking Shadow Fiend's counterattack. "Golden Armor Warrior!" A golden card transformed into a burly golden-armored warrior, wielding a giant axe, engaging Shadow Fiend in fierce combat. The battle was extremely intense, with both sides exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. Ye Ling, relying on his abundant cards and skillful use, gradually gained the upper hand. Shadow Fiend's expression grew increasingly grim; he hadn't expected Ye Ling's strength to be so formidable. He let out a shriek, his body transforming into a black shadow once more, attempting to escape. "Trying to run?" Ye Ling sneered, "Spirit Binding Lock!" A black card flew out, transforming into a black chain that tightly bound Shadow Fiend. Shadow Fiend struggled, the black mist churning as he tried to break free. Ye Ling walked step by step towards Shadow Fiend, a card shimmering with golden light appearing in his hand. "This card was specially prepared for you..." The golden card shone brighter, depicting an ancient rune that radiated powerful spiritual energy. Shadow Fiend sensed this power, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "What is this?!" he asked in terror. Ye Ling didn't answer, but simply tossed the card lightly. The golden card transformed into a beam of light, instantly merging into Shadow Fiend's body. Shadow Fiend let out a piercing scream, his body trembling violently, the black mist churning like boiling water. "Ah—" Shadow Fiend's scream echoed through the abandoned temple, sending chills down everyone's spine.

His body gradually became transparent, eventually turning into starlight and disappearing into the air. Ye Ling put away the remaining cards and let out a long sigh of relief. This battle was more difficult than he had imagined; Shadow Fiend's strength was not to be underestimated. While Ye Ling was fiercely fighting Shadow Fiend, Shu Yao and Qing Yue, led by Elder Ling, anxiously awaited news of Ye Ling. "Elder Ling, Ye Ling... will he be alright?" Qing Yue clenched her hands tightly, her eyes filled with worry. She recalled the scene when she first met Ye Ling; at that time, he was still a boy who knew nothing about the supernatural world, but now he had to face such a powerful enemy alone. Elder Ling stroked his long beard and comforted her, "Don't worry, girl, Ye Ling is a lucky boy; he'll be fine." Although he said this, Elder Ling was also filled with worry. He knew how powerful Shadow Fiend was and that Ye Ling's journey was extremely dangerous. Qing Yue's heart remained in suspense; she kept asking Elder Ling about Ye Ling's condition, as if that would make him return sooner. Although outwardly calm, Elder Ling was inwardly anxious, constantly calculating, hoping to foresee Ye Ling's fate. During the battle with Shadow Fiend, Ye Ling dodged fatal attacks more than once. His mind flashed back to when he first entered the supernatural world. Back then, he was weak and helpless, at the mercy of others. Now, he could stand alone and contend with powerful enemies. This growth filled him with pride, but it also made him more acutely aware of the increasing dangers he faced. He had to be more cautious and work harder to improve his strength to survive in this perilous supernatural world. Shadow Fiend's illusionary attacks made him experience the cruelty of the supernatural world once again. He understood that in this world, a single misstep could lead to annihilation. After defeating Shadow Fiend, Ye Ling did not let his guard down. He knew this was only the beginning. He sensed a powerful force secretly targeting him, and Shadow Fiend was merely a pawn they had sent. Ye Ling returned to the agreed-upon location and saw Shu Yao and Qing Yue anxiously waiting. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. "Ye Ling, are you alright?" Shu Yao asked with concern. "I'm fine," Ye Ling smiled slightly, reassuring them. "I knew you could do it!" Qing Yue jumped up excitedly, a bright smile on her face. Ye Ling looked at them, his heart filled with gratitude. He knew that in this perilous supernatural world, they were his strongest support. However, just as they were about to leave, a cold voice came from the darkness: "Ye Ling, do you think this is the end?" A man in black emerged from the shadows, his face covered by a cold mask, obscuring his expression. "Who are you?" Ye Ling asked warily. The man in black sneered, saying, "I'm here to take your life." Ye Ling's heart sank; he knew a new crisis was approaching… The man in black paused, his tone chilling: "The person behind you will soon come looking for you…" The man in black's contemptuous smile sounded particularly jarring in the night. "The person behind you will soon come looking for you..." Before the words had even faded, Shadow Fiend pounced like a ghost, his sharp blade slicing through the night sky, aimed straight for Ye Ling's throat. Ye Ling dodged the attack, a flash of golden light appearing in his hand, and a card materialized. On the card, a ferocious fire qilin roared, its scorching flames instantly distorting the surrounding air. The fire qilin lunged at Shadow Fiend, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. "Hmph, child's play!" Shadow Fiend sneered, his blade flashing as it formed an impenetrable defense, blocking all of the fire qilin's attacks. "Why did you aid and abet evil?" Ye Ling seized the opportunity to question him. "Who exactly are they, and why do they want me dead?" Ying Sha sneered, his tone filled with disdain: "Aid and abet evil? I'm only doing it for money. As for who they are, you're not qualified to know." "For money?" Ye Ling was furious. "Can you kill people at will for money? Can you extinguish your humanity?" "Humanity? In this dog-eat-dog world, humanity is the most worthless thing." A cold glint flashed in Ying Sha's eyes. "Only power is the only truth." The two's values ​​clashed fiercely, and the battle intensified. Ye Ling continuously summoned various supernatural creatures from his cards, engaging in a life-or-death struggle with Ying Sha. Ying Sha was also extremely agile, his blade moving like a venomous snake, constantly searching for Ye Ling's weaknesses. Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, a black bracelet on Ying Sha's wrist suddenly flickered, emitting a faint buzzing sound. Ying Sha's movements abruptly stopped, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face.

"Retreat!" A cold voice came from the bracelet.

Shadow Fiend seemed somewhat unwilling, but immediately sheathed his blade and disappeared into the night. Ye Ling watched the direction Shadow Fiend vanish, his heart filled with doubt. Why did he suddenly retreat? Had something unexpected happened? He knew there must be a larger conspiracy behind this. He had to find out the truth as soon as possible to protect himself and his companions. Ye Ling didn't immediately give chase; he knew Shadow Fiend was extremely fast, and a hasty pursuit would only alert him. He carefully observed his surroundings, hoping to find some clues. Suddenly, he noticed a small black fragment on the ground, seemingly made of some kind of metal. He picked up the fragment and examined it closely, discovering a peculiar symbol engraved on it. Ye Ling carefully put the fragment away and decided to follow the direction Shadow Fiend had retreated. He took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. He was determined to find out the truth and bring the mastermind behind it all to justice! He followed the direction Shadow Fiend had disappeared. The night grew deeper, and the shadows of the surrounding trees became even more distorted and eerie. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he arrived at the entrance to a valley. A thick fog filled the valley, obscuring the view and making it impossible to see what lay within. A chilling aura emanated from the valley, sending shivers down one's spine. Ye Ling stood at the valley entrance, hesitated for a moment, and finally stepped inside… “I hope Shu Yao and Qing Yue won’t worry…” he murmured to himself, his figure gradually disappearing into the thick fog.

I've lost all motivation to continue this novel. Absolutely no one's reading it, absolutely no one's reading it, absolutely no one's reading it. It's driving me crazy, driving me crazy, driving me crazy! I'll update again when I have more traffic. I'll update again, I'll update again, I'll update again.

Actually, I'm just padding the word count right now. After all, I successfully completed today's check-in task of 4000 words.

So, are any of you still sticking with it until the end? Please give me a "request for more updates" button and look forward to it! After all, these two novels were just my first attempt at writing something new.

I'll let myself settle down for a while and then release a 10-word, explosive piece.