The Secret Realm was unusually quiet that morning.
Not silent—never truly silent—but calm in a way that only a world still learning how to breathe could be. Wind moved through the vitality forest, rustling the leaves of spirit trees that had not existed a year ago. In the distance, faint elemental spirits drifted lazily through the air like glowing fireflies.
Water spirits danced above a lake formed from condensed water veins.
Small frost spirits gathered near the cold region where Ling Luochen and Meng Hongchen often trained.
Near another section of the realm, the World Tree stood tall, its branches stretching across the artificial sky as if it were trying to touch the stars beyond the realm's boundary.
The realm had grown.
Stabilized.
Evolved.
And its creator was currently… bored.
Lin Huang sat on a wide stone platform not far from the central formation arrays.
Several worktables surrounded him.
Runic plates.
Formation cores.
Alchemy ingredients.
Soul metal ingots.
Half-finished components of battle armor and mechanical frames were scattered across the tables in organized chaos.
In front of him floated a small rune formation, rotating slowly in the air.
Lin Huang flicked his finger.
The formation shifted instantly.
Several runes moved.
Three new nodes appeared.
The entire structure stabilized.
"…Better."
He didn't even bother using a formation plate.
The structure had been assembled purely with his Spiritual Domain.
On his shoulder, Tushan Honghong lazily watched.
"…You're doing it again."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"Doing what?"
Honghong stretched slightly, her tails flicking.
"Turning entire professions into toys."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"They were always connected."
His hand moved again.
The floating formation shifted shape, shrinking until it became a small circular array.
Soul energy began gathering inside it.
A faint blue glow appeared.
Soul Power Recovery Formation.
A portable version.
Small enough to activate instantly.
Efficient enough to recover energy in battle.
Lin Huang observed it calmly.
"…Field deployment version should work."
Honghong blinked.
"You're planning to use that in combat?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Not directly."
His fingers moved again.
The formation dissolved into particles of light.
"Combat is too chaotic for most professions."
He leaned back slightly.
"But the battlefield…"
"…is a system."
Honghong tilted her head.
"Explain."
Lin Huang casually picked up a small blade from the table.
The weapon looked ordinary.
But the moment he touched it—
His spiritual perception entered the runic structure engraved inside.
He lightly tapped the blade.
A small section of the rune network collapsed.
The blade's aura dimmed instantly.
Honghong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You broke it."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Every rune structure has stress points."
"If you understand the structure…"
He tossed the blade aside.
"…you can destabilize it."
Honghong's tails swayed slowly.
"So you plan to dismantle people's equipment in the middle of battle."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"If necessary."
He reached for another item on the table.
A small pile of medicinal herbs.
Instead of using a furnace—
He simply raised his hand.
Soul power circulated.
Spiritual energy condensed.
The herbs slowly melted into a glowing liquid sphere.
Honghong blinked.
"You're not even hiding it anymore."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"I'm practicing efficiency."
The liquid sphere condensed.
Compressed.
Hardened.
A pill.
No furnace.
No cauldron.
Just precise control of energy and structure.
Lin Huang caught the pill between two fingers.
"…Still slower than a proper furnace."
He placed it aside.
"But the fluctuations are almost invisible."
Honghong understood immediately.
"Stealth alchemy."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Useful in long conflicts."
He stood up slowly.
Walking toward another table.
Several large metallic frames rested there.
Unlike ordinary armor, these structures were far more complex.
Layers of soul metal.
Runic circuits.
Formation cores.
Battle Armor.
And beside them—
More ambitious creations.
Mechanical frames.
Joint systems.
Energy conduits.
Mechas.
Lin Huang placed his hand on one of the frames.
"…Engineering."
"Alchemy."
"Formations."
"Runes."
He spoke calmly.
"They're just different expressions of the same principles."
Honghong snorted.
"…You sound like a professor."
Lin Huang chuckled slightly.
"Maybe."
He grabbed a small tool.
Adjusted a rune line.
Then embedded a new formation core into the frame.
The structure stabilized instantly.
"…There."
Honghong looked around the platform.
Half-finished armor.
Mecha parts.
Runic arrays.
Pills.
Formation prototypes.
"…You do this when you're bored?"
Lin Huang shrugged.
"What else should I do?"
Honghong smirked slightly.
"Play football."
Lin Huang paused.
Then laughed softly.
"…True."
The sport had become unexpectedly popular.
What had started as a simple game had spread across Yuelan like wildfire.
Children played it.
Cultivators played it.
Even merchants had started organizing betting pools.
And Lin Huang himself had unintentionally made the sport famous.
His control over the ball.
His impossible dribbles.
The way he could bend a free kick through defenders like the ball had its own will.
People had started calling him something ridiculous.
"The Fox of the Field."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"…I should stop playing so much."
Honghong immediately objected.
"No."
Lin Huang laughed.
"Why?"
Honghong flicked her tail.
"Because it's entertaining."
Lin Huang turned his attention back to the armor frame.
His hand moved again.
Runes stabilized.
Energy pathways aligned.
Outside the Secret Realm—
Across the continent—
Entire cities were beginning to imitate the sports Lin Huang had introduced.
New arenas were being built.
New teams formed.
New competitions organized.
But Lin Huang hadn't seen any of that yet.
For the moment—
He was still standing inside his private world.
Quietly turning boredom
into invention.
Me manda a parte II Chapter 139 — Games of the New Era Part II — The Era of Sports
Yuelan City had changed.
That much was obvious to anyone who had visited it before.
The streets were wider now.
The transportation network had grown more complex.
Soul-powered vehicles moved along the roads while underground rail lines carried people between districts.
Markets had expanded.
Workshops multiplied.
But the most unexpected transformation of all had nothing to do with cultivation, industry, or soul tools.
It had to do with sports.
The Yuelan Central Training Complex was crowded from morning to night.
What had once been a curious experiment introduced by Lin Huang had quickly evolved into something much larger.
Entire districts of the city had begun constructing their own arenas.
Training courts.
Competition fields.
Specialized tracks.
And the reason was simple.
People loved it.
At the entrance of the main sports complex, a massive board displayed the day's schedule.
Dozens of events were listed.
More than most people could even watch in a single day.
Athletics Trials
Volleyball League Matches
Table Tennis Tournament
Gymnastics Demonstration
Pole Vault Challenge
Skateboard Exhibition
Horse Jockey Racing
Pilot Circuit Trials
Hockey League
Cricket Regional Match
Football Clash Scrimmage
But one event dominated the board.
Right in the center.
FOOTBALL MATCH
The largest stadium inside the complex was already filling with spectators.
Thousands of people poured into the stands.
Cultivators.
Merchants.
Students.
Common citizens.
Even visiting nobles.
Because football had become something unexpected.
Not just a sport.
But a phenomenon.
Part of the reason was how easy the game was to understand.
Two teams.
One ball.
Score goals.
But once people started playing…
They realized how deep the strategy could become.
Passing.
Movement.
Team coordination.
Reading the opponent.
And then there was the unpredictability.
Unlike most competitive activities on the continent—
Football could produce surprises.
Even weaker teams could win.
One moment of brilliance could change an entire match.
That unpredictability made it perfect for another activity people had quickly embraced.
Betting.
In a shaded area near the stadium, merchants loudly advertised odds.
"Three to one on the East District team!"
"Five to one if the captain scores the first goal!"
"Special odds if the match ends in a draw!"
Money changed hands rapidly.
Some spectators studied team rosters carefully.
Others simply trusted their instincts.
And a few…
Just bet for fun.
Inside the stadium, two teams warmed up on the field.
Their uniforms were brightly colored, displaying the emblems of their districts.
Crowds cheered as players practiced shots.
One ball curved through the air, spinning with perfect control before slamming into the upper corner of the goal.
The crowd roared.
A young spectator leaned forward excitedly.
"Did you see that?!"
His friend nodded enthusiastically.
"Just like the Fox!"
The nickname had spread far beyond the Lin Clan territory.
Everyone knew who the Fox was.
The mysterious cultivator who had introduced the sport.
The one who played with impossible precision.
The one whose free kicks seemed to bend reality.
People told stories about him.
Some exaggerated.
Some wildly inaccurate.
But they all agreed on one thing.
Watching Lin Huang play football was unforgettable.
Elsewhere in the complex, other sports were also gaining popularity.
On the athletics track, runners launched forward as a starting signal rang out.
Speed-based competitions had quickly attracted cultivators who specialized in agility.
Near another arena, a volleyball match was underway.
Players leapt high into the air, striking the ball with explosive force.
Spiritual power was suppressed by the arena formation, forcing competitors to rely on physical ability and technique.
Nearby, a group of athletes prepared for the pole vault event.
Long flexible poles rested beside the runway.
One competitor sprinted forward before planting the pole and launching himself into the air.
The crowd applauded as he cleared the bar.
Further away, the skate arena echoed with excitement.
Cultivators balanced on specially designed boards, performing spins and jumps across curved ramps.
The sport had quickly become popular among younger cultivators who enjoyed speed and style.
At another field, a far more violent game was underway.
Players clashed aggressively as they fought for control of an oval-shaped ball.
This was Football Clash.
The Douluo version of American football.
Strength.
Strategy.
Impact.
Entire teams formed tight formations before smashing into each other in explosive bursts of motion.
A commentator shouted excitedly.
"Break through the line!"
"Push forward!"
"Ten more meters for a score!"
Unlike normal football, Football Clash rewarded brute force and coordination.
Some cultivators loved it.
Others preferred the elegance of traditional football.
And across the entire sports complex—
More games continued.
Cricket matches.
Hockey tournaments.
Table tennis competitions.
Even the newly constructed Pilot Circuit where specially designed vehicles raced at incredible speeds.
All of it traced back to one person.
Lin Huang.
In the stands of the football stadium, a group of young cultivators discussed the sport excitedly.
One of them asked,
"Do you think the Fox will play again?"
Another shook his head.
"He's too strong now."
A third one smiled confidently.
"He'll play."
The first one looked confused.
"How do you know?"
The boy pointed toward the massive statue standing outside the stadium.
A statue depicting a young man standing with a ball at his feet.
"Because he loves the game too much not to.
The noise in the stadium had already been loud.
But the moment people began recognizing who had arrived in the viewing platform—
The atmosphere changed completely.
At first it was just whispers.
Then murmurs.
Then entire sections of the crowd began standing up.
People pointed.
Others shouted.
And then someone yelled the word that spread like wildfire across the arena.
"The Fox!"
The reaction was immediate.
Cheers exploded across the stadium like thunder.
Players on the field stopped warming up.
Spectators leaned forward in their seats.
Even the announcers inside the control tower froze for a moment.
Inside the stadium's central control room, one of the technicians looked toward the supervisor.
"…Is it really him?"
The supervisor leaned closer to the observation screen.
The camera zoomed in.
The image on the display clearly showed Lin Huang standing on the viewing platform.
A slow smile spread across the supervisor's face.
"…Activate it."
The technician blinked.
"You mean—"
The supervisor nodded.
"…Mode Fox."
Across the stadium—
The massive projection arrays suddenly lit up.
Several enormous floating screens appeared above the field.
The crowd went quiet for half a second.
Then the screens changed.
Large golden letters appeared.
THE FOX WILL PLAY TODAY
For a brief moment—
The entire stadium froze.
Then the noise exploded.
The roar of the crowd became deafening.
People stood up.
Flags waved wildly.
Even the players on the field started shouting in excitement.
Up on the viewing platform, Lin Huang closed his eyes slowly.
"…Why did I come here."
On his shoulder, Honghong was laughing.
"…Because it's entertaining."
Beside him, Lin Yuxin jumped up and down excitedly.
"BIG BROTHER!"
"THEY KNOW!"
"I TOLD YOU!"
She raised both arms toward the crowd like a tiny commander rallying an army.
"I'M HIS NUMBER ONE FAN!"
Behind them, several of the girls burst into laughter.
Ma Xiaotao leaned against the railing.
"…You're a celebrity."
Wu Feng smirked.
"Should've worn a disguise."
Xiao Hongchen, who had already been seated nearby with Yuhao and the others, laughed loudly.
"…You triggered the stadium event."
Yuhao blinked.
"…Stadium event?"
Chen Zifeng nodded.
"They programmed a special announcement system."
Ji Juechen crossed his arms calmly.
"…Because whenever Lin Huang plays…"
"…attendance doubles."
Down on the field, the players from one of the teams had already started gathering.
Their uniforms bore a familiar emblem.
A silver fox surrounded by nine tails.
The Lin Clan Football Club.
The moment Lin Huang began walking toward the stairs leading down to the field—
The players erupted into cheers.
"CAPTAIN!"
One of the team members ran forward carrying something in his hands.
A band.
A simple red armband with the emblem of the nine-tailed fox.
He stopped in front of Lin Huang and held it out respectfully.
"Captain."
Lin Huang sighed quietly.
"…You're serious."
The player grinned.
"You started the club."
Lin Huang accepted the armband.
As soon as he placed it on his arm—
The stadium exploded again.
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
"THE FOX HAS ENTERED THE FIELD!"
The cheers became overwhelming.
In the stands above, Lin Yuxin screamed happily.
"GO BIG BROTHER!"
"WIN!"
Ma Xiaotao laughed.
"She's louder than the entire stadium."
Tang Ya shook her head slightly.
"…She might actually be."
Meanwhile on the field—
Lin Huang joined his teammates.
The Lin Clan players gathered around him immediately.
Their excitement was obvious.
Even experienced players looked energized.
One of them spoke first.
"Captain."
He pointed toward the opposing team.
"They've been undefeated this month."
Lin Huang glanced across the field.
The opposing team stood ready.
Focused.
Determined.
He nodded slightly.
"…Good."
The referee walked toward the center of the field.
Ball in hand.
The crowd gradually quieted.
Thousands of people leaned forward.
Waiting.
Above them, the massive screens still displayed the same message.
THE FOX WILL PLAY TODAY
Lin Huang stepped toward the center circle.
The ball rested on the grass between the two teams.
He looked toward the stands.
For a brief moment his gaze met Yuxin's excited waving.
Then he looked back at the field.
A small smile appeared.
"…Alright."
The referee raised the whistle.
And the match began.
The referee's whistle pierced the air.
The match had already begun, and the stadium pulsed with anticipation. Tens of thousands of spectators leaned forward in their seats.
Everyone was waiting for the same thing.
And it didn't take long.
The ball moved quickly through midfield.
A Lin Clan midfielder intercepted a pass and pushed the ball forward to the right wing.
The commentator's voice burst across the stadium.
"INTERCEPTION BY THE LIN CLAN!"
"THE BALL MOVES TO THE RIGHT SIDE—"
"AND THERE IT IS!"
"THE FOX RECEIVES!"
Lin Huang controlled the ball near the sideline with a single smooth touch.
Perfect.
The stadium erupted immediately.
"THE FOX HAS THE BALL!"
A defender rushed toward him.
Fast.
Aggressive.
"The defender closes in!"
"The Fox receives near the sideline—what will he do?!"
Lin Huang shifted his body slightly.
Then—
He flicked the ball between his legs.
"OH! WHAT A MOVE!"
"AN ELASTIC NUTMEG!"
"THE FOX SENDS THE DEFENDER THROUGH HIS OWN LEGS!"
The defender froze for half a second.
That was enough.
Lin Huang was already past him.
The crowd roared.
Another defender rushed from the center.
Now two markers surrounded him.
"THE FOX IS BETWEEN TWO DEFENDERS!"
"THIS COULD GET DANGEROUS!"
One defender committed fully.
Sliding tackle.
A powerful slide across the grass.
The stadium gasped.
But Lin Huang reacted instantly.
He lifted the ball upward.
The sliding defender passed completely underneath him.
"INCREDIBLE!"
"HE LIFTS THE BALL OVER THE SLIDE!"
The ball dropped again.
But the second defender had already arrived.
Trying to intercept.
Lin Huang popped the ball forward again.
A quick flick.
Then stepped around him.
"THE FOX ESCAPES AGAIN!"
Now he was free.
Running straight toward the penalty area.
The defenders chased desperately behind him.
"The Fox enters the box!"
"The goalkeeper comes out!"
The goalkeeper rushed forward.
Closing the distance quickly.
Trying to block the shot.
The ball bounced slightly in front of Lin Huang.
For a brief moment—
It looked like he had run out of space.
Then he moved.
He flicked the ball upward with his heel.
The ball rose over his head.
And in one smooth motion—
He kicked upward again.
The ball arced over both him and the goalkeeper.
"RAINBOW KICK!"
"THE FOX JUST PULLED A RAINBOW KICK OVER THE GOALKEEPER!"
The stadium exploded in disbelief.
The ball dropped behind the keeper.
Floating downward.
Right in front of the goal.
Lin Huang ran forward.
The goalkeeper turned desperately—
Too late.
The ball dropped.
Lin Huang leaned forward—
And struck it cleanly with his chest.
The ball slammed into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!"
The stadium erupted into chaos.
"UNBELIEVABLE!"
"A RAINBOW KICK OVER THE GOALKEEPER!"
"AND HE FINISHES WITH A CHEST GOAL!"
"THE FOX SCORES!"
The crowd roared like thunder.
Flags waved.
People jumped from their seats.
Up in the stands, Lin Yuxin screamed louder than everyone.
"BIG BROTHER!"
"I TOLD YOU!"
On the field, Lin Huang's teammates rushed toward him laughing and shouting.
But Lin Huang simply turned calmly.
A small smile appearing on his face.
The commentator noticed immediately.
His voice rose again with excitement.
"AND LOOK AT THAT!"
"A SMILE FROM THE FOX!"
He paused dramatically.
"NOW IT SEEMS THE FOX HAS TRULY WARMED UP!"
The crowd leaned forward again.
The excitement growing.
"ARE WE ABOUT TO SEE MANY MORE GOALS TODAY?!"
The stadium was still shaking.
People stood on their seats.
Banners waved wildly.
Even the referees had trouble restoring order after the goal.
The replay formations activated above the field, projecting the moment again across the massive floating screens.
The Rainbow Kick.
The ball arcing over the goalkeeper.
The chest finish.
The commentator nearly shouted again.
"LOOK AT THIS!"
"THE FOX WITH A RAINBOW KICK OVER THE GOALKEEPER!"
"AND HE FINISHES WITH A CHEST STRIKE!"
The replay slowed.
Lin Huang leaning forward.
The ball slamming into the net.
The stadium exploded again.
Up in the stands, Lin Yuxin jumped up and down with unstoppable energy.
"BIG BROTHER!"
"AGAIN!"
"DO IT AGAIN!"
Nearby spectators laughed at the tiny girl's enthusiasm.
But many of them were cheering just as loudly.
Especially in one section of the crowd.
A large group of young women waved banners excitedly.
Some shouted his name.
Others clapped wildly.
"FOX!"
"FOX!"
"FOX!"
One girl nearly leaned over the railing.
"THAT WAS AMAZING!"
Another grabbed her friend's arm.
"He's even more handsome up close!"
A third sighed dreamily.
"Did you see that smile?"
Because at that exact moment—
Lin Huang turned toward the crowd.
And smiled.
It wasn't a big smile.
Just a small, relaxed curve of his lips.
Confident.
Calm.
Almost playful.
But the reaction was immediate.
Several sections of the crowd erupted again.
Especially the female spectators.
"THE SMILE!"
"THE FOX SMILED!"
One of the commentators laughed loudly.
"Oh no!"
"THE FOX JUST ACTIVATED THE SMILE!"
The second commentator joined in.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we may have a problem!"
"The legendary Smile Fox has appeared!"
The stadium erupted again.
Back on the field, Lin Huang raised a hand casually toward the stands.
Acknowledging the cheers.
Which turned out to be a mistake.
Because the reaction doubled instantly.
Up in the VIP platform—
Several of his companions were watching the entire scene.
And some of them were clearly not amused.
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Did he just do that on purpose?"
Wu Feng snorted.
"…Of course he did."
Tang Ya sighed.
"…That fox is enjoying himself."
Meng Hongchen looked toward the screaming crowd of female fans.
"…There are a lot of them."
Ning Tian adjusted her glasses.
"…Statistically speaking, that reaction was predictable."
Su Mei tilted her head slightly.
"…Still annoying."
Qiu'er narrowed her eyes.
"…Very annoying."
Xu Tianzhen sighed.
"…I think the stadium just doubled its female fanbase."
Nearby, Bingdi snorted.
"…Ridiculous human."
Even Xuedi quietly watched the crowd for a moment.
Then looked back toward Lin Huang.
Her ears were slightly red.
"…Show-off."
On the platform railing, Honghong lazily flicked her tail.
"…And this is why you shouldn't smile."
Meanwhile down on the field—
Lin Huang had absolutely noticed the reaction.
But his expression remained calm.
Almost innocent.
His teammates surrounded him again.
Laughing and patting his back.
One of them grinned.
"Captain!"
"You've got half the stadium screaming!"
Lin Huang shrugged.
"…Focus on the match."
But the cheers didn't stop.
If anything—
They grew louder.
And somewhere in the stands—
Several of his fiancées were beginning to look
just a little
possessive.
The match continued for a while longer.
And as the commentator had predicted—
More goals followed.
Lin Huang didn't even appear to be trying very hard.
Yet every time the ball reached his feet, something spectacular happened.
A curved pass through three defenders.
A backheel assist.
Another goal after a quick one-two with a teammate.
By the time the referee finally blew the final whistle—
The score had become almost ridiculous.
The stadium exploded with applause.
Players from the Lin Clan Football Club rushed toward Lin Huang, laughing and shouting.
Some hugged him.
Others patted his back.
One teammate grabbed his shoulders and shook him excitedly.
"CAPTAIN!"
"That was insane!"
Lin Huang simply smiled faintly.
"…Good game."
But the moment he began walking toward the exit tunnel—
The situation changed.
Because someone else had decided to enter the field.
From the side entrance of the stadium—
A group of extremely eye-catching women walked directly onto the grass.
The crowd noticed immediately.
Gasps spread through the stands.
Even the commentators went silent for a moment.
Ma Xiaotao walked first.
Arms crossed.
Eyes fixed directly on Lin Huang.
Behind her came the others.
Tang Ya.
Ning Tian.
Wu Feng.
Meng Hongchen.
Jiang Nannan.
Ling Luochen.
Ju Zi.
Su Mei.
Xu Tianzhen.
Qiu'er.
Zhang Lexuan.
Ye Guyi.
Zi Ji.
Bi Ji.
It was a lineup so striking that even the crowd briefly forgot about the match.
One spectator whispered in shock.
"…Is that his team?"
Another shook his head.
"…No."
His friend stared at the scene.
"…Those are all with him."
The realization spread quickly.
Back on the field—
Lin Huang stopped walking.
He looked at the approaching group.
Then sighed quietly.
"…Ah."
Ma Xiaotao reached him first.
Without saying anything—
She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug.
Possessive.
Very deliberate.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"OOOOOOOOH!"
Wu Feng arrived next.
She grabbed his arm.
"Nice performance."
Her tone sounded casual.
But her grip clearly wasn't.
Meng Hongchen stepped in from the other side.
"…You attracted quite a crowd today."
She leaned slightly against his shoulder.
Also very intentional.
Tang Ya simply smiled calmly as she approached.
"…The Smile Fox, huh?"
Su Mei crossed her arms.
"…You looked like you were enjoying that attention."
Ning Tian adjusted her glasses.
"…Statistically speaking, female audience response increased significantly after the smile."
Xu Tianzhen sighed.
"…You caused chaos."
Qiu'er stepped closer as well.
Golden eyes watching him carefully.
"…Too much chaos."
Even Ye Guyi, who was usually shy around him, stepped forward this time.
Her face slightly red.
But she still grabbed his sleeve.
"…You shouldn't smile like that."
Behind them, Bingdi crossed her arms.
"…Ridiculous human."
Wu Ming, who had followed the group down as well, muttered quietly.
"…Tsundere behavior."
Bingdi immediately glared at him.
"I AM NOT TSUNDERE!"
Ji Juechen, Chen Zifeng, and Yuhao watched the entire scene from the sideline.
Chen Zifeng whispered slowly.
"…He's surrounded."
Yuhao nodded nervously.
"…Completely surrounded."
Xiao Hongchen laughed loudly.
"…Serves him right."
Meanwhile on the field—
Lin Huang looked at the group around him.
Several arms holding him.
Several eyes staring at him.
Some slightly annoyed.
Some amused.
Some clearly jealous.
He sighed.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Are you all done?"
Ma Xiaotao immediately squeezed his neck tighter.
"No."
Wu Feng nodded.
"Not even close."
Meng Hongchen added calmly,
"We're still discussing the crowd of screaming girls."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"…They were cheering for football."
The entire group stared at him.
Tang Ya smiled slowly.
"…Sure."
Lin Huang looked toward the exit tunnel.
"…Can we discuss this somewhere quieter?"
Ma Xiaotao grinned.
"Oh we will."
Wu Feng nodded.
"Definitely."
Meng Hongchen smirked slightly.
"…Very thoroughly."
From the stands above—
Lin Yuxin waved excitedly.
"BIG BROTHER WAS AMAZING!"
Lin Huang sighed again.
Because he already knew—
The match
had not been the difficult part of today.
The excitement inside the stadium took a long time to calm down.
Even after Lin Huang and the others had left the field, spectators remained in their seats, discussing what they had just witnessed.
Some argued about the best goal.
Others debated whether the Rainbow Kick had been intentional or improvised.
But one thing everyone agreed on—
The Fox playing again had turned the match into something legendary.
Outside the stadium, the evening sun cast golden light across Yuelan City.
The streets near the sports complex were still crowded.
Merchants shouted offers.
Children kicked balls through open plazas.
Small groups gathered around projection screens replaying the highlights of the match.
And the image that repeated the most—
Was the moment Lin Huang smiled.
Inside a café near the complex, several young cultivators watched the replay again.
One of them shook his head in disbelief.
"…That Rainbow Kick."
Another nodded.
"Then the chest goal."
A third leaned back.
"…The Fox is ridiculous."
Across the city, similar conversations unfolded everywhere.
Because sports had become more than entertainment.
It had become culture.
More cities had begun constructing their own stadiums.
More teams were forming.
Even distant academies had begun organizing competitions.
Some people had already begun speculating that in the future—
Sports tournaments might rival the famous cultivation competitions of the continent.
But Yuelan City remained the center of it all.
Because this was where it had begun.
And where the Fox still played.
Meanwhile—
Inside the Lin Clan territory, the atmosphere was much calmer.
Lin Huang walked through one of the gardens near the clan residence.
The others followed.
Most of the girls had finally stopped complaining about the stadium incident.
Mostly.
Ma Xiaotao still occasionally muttered things like
"…Smile Fox."
Wu Feng snorted every time someone mentioned the cheering crowd.
Meng Hongchen remained suspiciously quiet.
Which was somehow more worrying.
Lin Huang ignored it all calmly.
His attention had shifted elsewhere.
Ju Zi walked beside him.
Her expression thoughtful.
"…The newspapers have started reporting the changes."
Lin Huang glanced at her.
"…Already?"
She nodded.
"Across the continent."
Ju Zi handed him a small projection device.
A series of headlines appeared in the air.
"Sports Revolution Spreads Across the Continent."
"New Competitions Being Organized in Multiple Cities."
"Football Becomes the Most Popular Sport in Recent History."
Another headline appeared.
"Yuelan City Leads Cultural Transformation."
Lin Huang looked at the projections calmly.
"…Predictable."
Ju Zi continued.
"Academies are also reacting."
Another projection appeared.
Shrek Academy
Several elders sat around a table reviewing reports.
One of them sighed.
"…This again."
Another elder shook his head.
"…That boy never stops."
Mu En simply smiled quietly.
"…Lin Huang."
He closed the report.
"…So it was you."
Elsewhere—
Inside the Sun Moon Empire, officials examined similar information.
Several engineers discussed the potential of sports arenas as training environments.
Others debated economic impacts.
Even far from Yuelan—
The influence was spreading.
But none of that concerned Lin Huang right now.
Because Ju Zi activated another projection.
A very different one.
A map appeared.
Dark.
Marked with several hidden locations.
One of the markers pulsed faintly.
Ju Zi's expression became serious.
"…We confirmed something."
Lin Huang looked at the map.
"…Where?"
Ju Zi pointed.
"The headquarters of the Holy Spirit Church."
The air grew slightly colder.
Several of the girls nearby immediately looked toward the projection.
Ju Zi continued.
"…Inside their treasury."
"…There are several extremely valuable resources."
Another image appeared.
A strange crystal.
Dark gold in color.
Its interior seemed to swirl with faint patterns of destiny energy.
Lin Huang's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Fate Heart Crystal."
Ju Zi nodded.
"Yes."
The crystal rotated slowly in the projection.
"…One of the core materials required to create a Dragon Qi Luck Vein."
The others understood immediately.
Wu Feng crossed her arms.
"…So they have it."
Tang Ya's eyes darkened slightly.
"…Of course they do."
Lin Huang looked at the map again.
Silent.
Calm.
Calculating.
Because now—
The situation had changed.
The sports revolution was spreading.
His territory was growing stronger.
The Secret Realm had stabilized.
And the resources needed for his next project—
Had finally appeared.
Lin Huang turned slightly.
Looking toward the distant horizon beyond the Lin Clan territory.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Looks like we have a reason to visit them."
The Holy Spirit Church
had something he needed.
And the Fox
had begun hunting again.
Far from Yuelan City.
Far from the cheers of stadiums and the laughter of children kicking footballs through city plazas.
There existed a place where joy did not reach.
A place where the air itself seemed heavier.
Darker.
Deep beneath a mountain range hidden by illusion formations and corrupted spirit beasts…
The Headquarters of the Holy Spirit Church stood silently.
Or rather—
It hid.
The structure was not a single building but a sprawling underground complex carved into black stone caverns.
Ancient formations pulsed faintly across the walls.
Dark energy moved through the air like mist.
The atmosphere carried the faint scent of blood and corrupted spirit power.
Within the deepest chamber of the underground treasury—
Several powerful figures stood in quiet discussion.
Each of them radiated terrifying auras.
Evil soul masters.
Leaders of one of the most dangerous organizations on the continent.
One of them spoke first.
"…The continent is changing."
Another snorted.
"…Let it."
A third figure looked at the reports in his hand.
"The Lin Clan."
Silence filled the chamber for a moment.
"…Again."
The man continued.
"Sports arenas."
"Transportation systems."
"Industrial growth."
"Economic expansion."
He threw the report onto a table.
"…Cultural influence."
Another elder waved his hand dismissively.
"…Meaningless."
A tall figure wrapped in black robes chuckled quietly.
"Humans distracting themselves with games."
"How fitting."
Several of them nodded.
To them—
The events unfolding across the continent seemed trivial.
One of them spoke again.
"…We should focus on the true work."
He turned toward the center of the chamber.
Where a large reinforced vault stood.
Covered in dozens of protective formations.
Sealed with multiple layers of spiritual locks.
The vault door slowly opened.
Inside—
Several rare treasures floated within containment formations.
Ancient soul bones.
Forbidden artifacts.
Strange ores.
But one object stood at the center.
Suspended inside a golden containment sphere.
A crystal.
Dark gold.
Its interior swirling with faint streams of energy that seemed almost alive.
Fate Heart Crystal.
One of the elders stared at it with satisfaction.
"…A rare treasure."
Another nodded slowly.
"…Energy of destiny itself."
A third figure chuckled.
"…Perfect for ritual work."
None of them noticed something.
Something subtle.
Something far away.
The world itself had begun changing.
Laws shifting.
Destiny moving.
Fortune gathering around a single point.
And that point—
Was not here.
One of the elders turned away from the vault.
"…The ritual preparations will begin soon."
Another nodded.
"…Once the sacrifice arrays are complete."
The vault door slowly closed again.
Sealing the Fate Heart Crystal inside.
The chamber fell silent once more.
None of them realized something important.
Something extremely dangerous.
Because somewhere far away—
A fox had seen their treasure.
And when a fox notices something valuable—
It rarely stays where it was found.
The Holy Spirit Church continued their work.
Confident.
Unaware.
Because they did not yet know
that their treasury
had already been marked.