Chapter Eighty-Two: The Battle Makeup of the Painter

"The next match will begin: the Demon Envoy Team’s Painter faces off against Bai Ying from Qin Xiaochuan’s team!" As Bai Ying stepped onto the arena, Miss Ruoxi, the referee, gestured between them and announced the start of the match.

Staring at Bai Ying across from him, the Painter wore a sinister grin. Heavy makeup was applied around his eyes and lips; his eyebrows swept upward in bold strokes, radiating an overbearing aura, while the corners of his mouth were painted upwards to exaggerate his features, giving him a vicious and ruthless look. Strange runes and patterns were drawn all over his body and arms, making him appear like a demon god leaping out of a painting—someone truly difficult to deal with. No wonder the Painter adorned himself with such heavy makeup; after transforming himself, his presence and psychological pressure became terrifyingly cold and dreadful.

Looking into Bai Ying’s eyes, the Painter spoke in a chilling tone, "There is a mysterious magic hidden in makeup. Just as beautiful women use cosmetics to accentuate their inner allure, so too can makeup draw out the mystical powers within us. Priests apply ceremonial paint to awaken the forces inside them and summon the might of heaven and earth for their rituals. My current appearance, though created with just a few strokes, brings about a qualitative leap. Now, let me show you the magical power of makeup. This is a demonic cosmetic, concocted with special potions. Have you sensed the surge in my demonic energy?"

"Amazing! After painting those strange markings, the Painter’s demonic aura has soared!" Miss Ruoxi, standing in the arena, clearly sensed the Painter’s energy rising rapidly after he applied the heavy makeup. The demonic energy was now twice as concentrated as before—was this truly the power of the markings he drew? If so, it was nothing short of miraculous.

As Ruoxi explained for the audience, the Painter launched his attack, charging at Bai Ying with lightning speed—so fast it was as if he teleported, appearing before Bai Ying in an instant. Surprised by the speed, Bai Ying leapt back, and just as he did, the Painter’s right fist smashed down, pulverizing the stone floor. Not only was his speed doubled, but his attack power had increased tremendously as well.

"This guy’s strength...?" Bai Ying was shocked by the shattered stone. It seemed the Painter was a power-type demon, storing demonic energy within. If so, Bai Ying thought, there was no need to let him approach—he should use the Rose Whip to finish him off from a distance. Bai Ying reached into his hair for a rose seed, intending to infuse it with demonic energy, when the Painter closed in and struck at his chest. Bai Ying barely managed to dodge with a backward jump. Before he could land, the Painter’s next punch was already coming. With a nimble tap, Bai Ying leapt away again. The Painter’s speed was overwhelming, giving Bai Ying no breathing room or chance to retaliate. Watching their lightning-fast movements, Miss Ruoxi seized the moment to narrate for the crowd, "Their speed is unbelievable—it's hard to keep up! Painter is unleashing a relentless barrage, leaving Bai Ying no opportunity to counter!"

"Bai Ying is probing again," thought Feiyan, who was sealed by Liu Qing’s barrier and unable to move, but could still observe the match clearly. As Bai Ying’s old friend, Feiyan knew his fighting style well: "He always tests his opponent’s moves and secrets before going all out. That’s Bai Ying’s bad habit. But Painter isn’t giving him any chance to strike back—seems he’s already figured Bai Ying out. Who is orchestrating such a calculated plan against us...?"

Painter, aware that his battle makeup only temporarily heightened his demonic energy, speed, and power for less than five minutes, knew he had to finish the fight quickly. Bai Ying, a cautious demon of the Demon Fox Clan, would be tough to defeat unless his guard was breached. Painter needed to create an opening in Bai Ying’s defenses to seize victory.

With that in mind, the Painter loudly taunted, "How long do you think you can keep running? I’ve studied all your records. You can use your demonic energy to turn any plant into a weapon, but I won’t give you the chance. Surrender now!"

Bai Ying’s face remained expressionless. Still, from the Painter’s words, it was clear the Demon Envoy Team had thoroughly researched his team. No wonder the organizers had arranged consecutive matches and sealed Feiyan’s body—they had come well prepared. Even so, Bai Ying resolved to drag out the fight as long as possible, giving Qin Xiaochuan more time to recover, for the battles ahead would be even more difficult.

Just as Bai Ying pondered his counterattack, the Painter suddenly drew two brushes from his waist and swept them toward his own body. Sensing danger, Bai Ying leapt away, but the Painter’s movements were swift—although Bai Ying dodged, he discovered upon landing that his left ankle had been marked with a strange rune. It resembled the infinity symbol, two connected elliptical shapes painted onto his ankle. As Bai Ying tried to move forward, he found his left foot had grown unbearably heavy, as if shackled.

Seeing Bai Ying’s weighted left foot, the Painter closed in, laughing, "Hahaha! How does it feel, Bai Ying? Your left foot is unbearably heavy, isn’t it? You can’t escape now—this is my special Death Makeup, just for you!"

"It worked!" the burly Demon Envoy in the audience was elated. The Painter’s Death Makeup transferred the power of the rune through clothing, directly onto the opponent’s body. Once marked, escape was nearly impossible—and with the Painter’s current speed, Bai Ying was surely doomed.

"It seems the Painter can not only enhance his own power with makeup but also restrain his opponent with runes! Incredible! Bai Ying’s left foot looks extremely heavy, slowing his entire body. He’s in grave danger now!" Miss Ruoxi narrated for the audience as Bai Ying’s movements slowed.

"Fantastic, Painter! Kill him!"
"Finish off the traitor Bai Ying!"
"Yes, kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"

As Bai Ying found himself at a disadvantage, the monsters in the arena cheered wildly, burning with hatred for this traitor who sided with humans and harmed his own kind. They wished for nothing more than to see him dismembered on the spot. To them, it didn’t matter who fought Bai Ying; anyone who could bring about his miserable death would win their support. Their hatred for this traitorous demon ran bone-deep.

Now, Bai Ying—dragged down by his left foot—was much slower. After another awkward dodge, the Painter marked his right foot and both arms with the same rune. Standing still, Bai Ying faced the Painter, who grinned in triumph. "How about it, Bai Ying? This is the Death Lock Makeup I prepared especially for you. Your limbs must feel unbearably heavy now, haven’t I stripped you of your freedom? To put it simply, it’s as if you’re fighting with a hundred kilos of iron shackles on each limb..."

"What?!" Bai Ying was shocked; he hadn’t expected the runes to be so powerful. With all four limbs burdened with four hundred kilograms, his movements would be severely hindered.

Seeing his words had struck home, the Painter pressed on, "Let me put it another way—you’re fighting me while carrying four adults on your body. Now you won’t be able to use your weapon! Prepare to die, Bai Ying!" With that, he leapt toward Bai Ying at breakneck speed.

Watching Bai Ying stand motionless, Miss Ruoxi exclaimed, "Bai Ying’s hands and feet are all bound! Is he really preparing to face death without resistance?"

"So you’re just standing there, ready to die? Let me grant you that release!" The Painter, delighted, charged at Bai Ying. With such heavy shackles on his limbs, there was no way he could struggle—now was the time to finish him.

But just as the Painter reached Bai Ying, Bai Ying suddenly twisted his body. With a snap of his head, a whip intertwined with his hair—his Rose Whip, concealed at the back of his head—lashed out at the Painter with lightning speed.