Naturally, he had a yin corpse. It made sense; for an elite of the Taiyi Sect, not having a yin corpse would have been strange. The first thing Zhang Yuanqing scrutinized was not the Maoshan Daoist, but the tall figure standing behind him.
As a Night Rover, he could tell at a glance that it was a yin corpse.
It wore loose-fitting long sleeves and trousers. Segmented silver bangles were wrapped around each wrist, covering both forearms.
No telling what class it was... Zhang Yuanqing then looked over the youth. Fair-skinned, thin, and lacking masculinity, he wore black clothes and black pants, with woven rattan greaves strapped around his shins.
The frail youth looked across the arena with a polite smile.
"Yuanshi Tianzun, your great name precedes you!
"Every time I hear that name, I can't help thinking of the words 'Elder Sun is muddled!' It's become like an instinct—I've been completely brainwashed."
Laughter erupted from the stands.
Elder Sun turned his head, sweeping a cold, ruthless glare across the disciples behind him.
The Taiyi Sect members immediately fell silent, lowering their heads to stifle their laughter.
*Your name's pretty unique too—makes me subconsciously think of Uncle Nine...* Zhang Yuanqing shouted toward the elders' seating area: "Elder Sun, this punk says you're muddled! Want me to beat him up for you?"
The laughter all around grew even louder. The meme was famous far and wide, spreading widely through official circles. From the Five Elements Alliance to the Taiyi Sect, practically everyone who browsed online forums knew it. Hearing the person at the center of the joke banter like this made it all the funnier and more amusing.
Elder Sun's face darkened, but he said nothing.
Elder Hongying looked at Elder Gou in surprise. "This kid is quite lively, isn't he?"
She rarely saw anyone tease an elder with such brazen nonchalance. Even when the Maoshan boy made that remark, he hadn't dared to look back. Yet this Yuanshi Tianzun called out directly to Old Sun.
Elder Gou scoffed. "That's because you haven't seen him drop to his knees and kowtow."
In the arena, the Maoshan Daoist said, "As expected, you don't have a yin corpse. The commentary on the rankings said your overall strength is formidable, especially when it comes to clearing scenarios. As for your individual combat power, you probably rely mostly on items."
"No, I never rely on items!" Zhang Yuanqing replied solemnly. "What I rely on is an unyielding will and the conviction to achieve victory!"
While the two spoke, the spectators in the stands were also discussing the situation.
"Yuanshi Tianzun really doesn't have a yin corpse. I heard that a Night Rover without a yin corpse and spirit servants is incomplete."
"That's right. It's like a Fire Master without a fiery temper, a Wood Demon without recovery, or a Scout without insight. Yin corpses and spirit servants are vital offensive and defensive assets for a Night Rover."
"Ah, now I understand why Yuanshi Tianzun was ranked eleventh in the top twenty. I thought those Scholars were suppressing him."
"Doesn't that mean Yuanshi Tianzun has to fight two on one? Lethal trump-card items aren't allowed in the arena tournament. Damn it, things aren't looking good for us. Yuanshi is the billboard for our Five Elements Alliance. If he gets used as a stepping stone by a Taiyi Sect Night Rover, we'll lose massive face."
"He won't necessarily lose. Someone who cleared two S-rank scenarios and a high-difficulty A-rank, and even killed Li Xianzong, won't go down that easily. Just watch."
In the Taiyi Sect's section, Yuan Ting sighed. "Yuanshi has been a Spirit Realm shiftee for too short a time and lacks foundation. He probably doesn't even have a spirit servant—at least, I haven't heard of one."
Sun Miaomiao furrowed her brow. "If he can't even beat Maoshan, wouldn't that make it hard for me to face him?"
If she didn't face him, how could she defeat him and earn Little Red from her grandfather?
Sitting a few seats away, Zhao Chenghuang spoke in a cool, calm tone: "That is why he is only ranked eleventh, while Maoshan is ranked ninth."
Attending the arena tournament as a member of a friendly organization, Bill Tarantino suddenly turned to look at Annie beside him. "I remember when Demon Lord was level five, he relied purely on his own hard strength to defeat a level six Scourge above his level."
Annie nodded. "That did happen. At the time, Demon Lord had already hooked up with Betty, but he was intensely wary of the Goddess of Beauty Association. No matter how Betty enticed him, he refused to go abroad or meet the President.
"So the President tracked down an ex-lover of Betty's and had him step in under the pretext of jealousy to cause trouble for Demon Lord, intending to forcibly bring him back. In the end, that useless fool suffered a crushing defeat."
Bill Tarantino nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Yuanshi Tianzun in the arena. "Whether at the Saint stage or the Transcendent stage, fighting above one's level is extraordinarily difficult, and those capable of it are exceptional figures. Yuanshi Tianzun lacks foundation and is at a disadvantage compared to the Maoshan Daoist.
"However, this is precisely the moment to test his potential. If you see him as a second Demon Lord, this is a great chance to make the comparison."
Annie nodded slowly. "I was thinking the same thing."
Then she shook her head, correcting herself: "Not that I truly see him as a second Demon Lord. I simply believe he can take Demon Lord's place as a Night Rover controlled and invested in by the Goddess of Beauty Association. The President once said that the Sect Leader of the Taiyi Sect evaluated Demon Lord as the most promising Night Rover in thirty years. Such a peerless genius won't appear a second time in decades."
Mr. Tarantino smiled. "Then let us wait and see!"
In the southwest stands, Fu Qingyang, dressed in a white suit, watched the arena with a cold, stern expression, completely focused.
"Boss, are you nervous? Worried Yuanshi Tianzun might lose?"
The speaker was a shamate aristocrat—fluffy, permed yellow hair framing a gaunt face, with wild, arrogant eyes and an unruly demeanor that perfectly matched his 'aristocrat' persona.
In the White Tiger Guards, the only person who called Fu Qingyang 'Boss' instead of 'Guild Leader' was Qicilang.
Fu Qingyang ignored him. A ponytailed woman beside him remarked, "Yuanshi Tianzun is quite handsome. Ling Jun always calls him a pervert in the group chat, so I assumed he was some sleazy little brat."
Qicilang scoffed. "Stereotypes. Isn't Ling Jun a pervert? Does he look bad?"
The ponytailed woman was none other than Youfeng Laiyi of the White Tiger Guards. She possessed a clean, pretty oval face and wheat-colored skin, looking crisp and capable like a well-trained policewoman.
Ignoring Qicilang, Youfeng Laiyi turned to Fu Qingyang's incomparably handsome profile and said, "Guild Leader, Yuanshi Tianzun doesn't have a yin corpse, and the tournament imposes certain restrictions on powerful items. As the first member of the White Tiger Guards to fight, a loss would be an inauspicious start."
"He won't lose," Fu Qingyang said calmly. "Yuanshi is the type who rises to the occasion. The stronger the opponent, the greater the potential he unleashes. If anything, I hope the Maoshan Daoist can apply some pressure on him."
*The Guild Leader holds Yuanshi Tianzun in such high esteem?* Youfeng Laiyi raised an eyebrow and held her tongue, waiting patiently to watch the match.
Qicilang grumbled sourly, "Boss, you think so highly of him? Now I'm upset..."
Down in the arena, Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts raced. Drawing upon the intel he had extracted from Wang Tai, he quickly formulated a battle plan.
*I can't bring out the Red Dancing Shoes and the Yinyang Robe too early. If I blow all my trump cards on the Maoshan Daoist, I'll definitely be targeted in subsequent matches, making winning the championship practically impossible.*
*The Demon-Subduing Pestle's demon-banishing ability can suppress a yin corpse—no, kill it outright. But that item contains the divine power of the sun and is of too high a tier; using it directly would definitely be ruled a foul.*
*After all, there are too many second-generation shiftees in this tournament. Without such restrictions, it would just turn into a competition of who has better parents.*
*Right now, everyone thinks I don't have a spirit servant or a yin corpse. That's an opportunity I can exploit. I'll feign weakness to lull the Maoshan Daoist into complacency, use some minor items to coax out his tricks bit by bit, and once he has exhausted his moves, send out Corpse No. 1 and Little Doubi to catch him off guard.*
*The crucial part is that I must withstand his all-out onslaught using only limited items. If I fail to endure and get taken out, I'll end up losing the chicken and the bait...*
Just then, the Armored Swordsman called out loudly: "The ten minutes are up. The match begins!"
"Wait a second," Zhang Yuanqing called out, looking earnestly at the frail youth. "Elder Sun is waving at you. Seems he has something to say."
The Maoshan Daoist blinked. Remembering how audaciously he had just mocked Elder Sun, he felt a sudden jolt of panic, thinking, *That petty old elder...*
He hastily looked toward Elder Sun.
In the elders' seats, Elder Sun flew into a rage. "Idiot!"
Before his voice had even faded, the Maoshan Daoist heard the loud report of a gunshot.
*Clang! Clang!*
A tall figure flashed in front of the Maoshan Daoist, arms crossed, intercepting the bullet's trajectory. The silver bangles on its forearms burst with explosive sparks, jolting the yin corpse's entire frame.
The blast effect of the pistol!
The Maoshan Daoist whipped his head back around, a layer of cold sweat breaking across his back as he glared at Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Despicable!
"Knowing you're at a disadvantage, you throw away all shame to launch a sneak attack? Are you willing to abandon all principles just to win?"
If the yin corpse hadn't possessed sentience and acted on its own to protect its master, he would have capsized right there in the gutter.
With all eyes upon him and so many people watching, how could Zhang Yuanqing let the other throw mud on him? He retorted loudly:
"Warfare is the art of deceit! Deception is part of tactics. You're an experienced Spirit Realm shiftee—what are you playing the innocent white lotus for? You're only throwing a tantrum because you're the one who got ambushed instead of ambushing me.
"Oh, right, I forgot—flinging mud like this is a tactic of yours too, trying to paint me as shameless."
Even as he spoke, his hands weren't idle. He moved constantly, shifting angles and pulling the trigger, while slipping on the Spectacles of Insight to ensure his shots stayed on target.
Streaks of fiery red bullet trajectories poured toward the Maoshan Daoist and the yin corpse.
The Maoshan Daoist rolled across the ground and vanished from sight.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* The bullets struck the stone floor, blasting out shallow craters.
Zhang Yuanqing scanned the arena, looking for traces of the Maoshan Daoist. He fired a shot in each cardinal direction to probe for his position, but all hit empty air. The opponent hadn't used the chance to creep up for a sneak attack.
At that moment, the yin corpse gripped its left wrist with its right hand and its right wrist with its left hand, yanking them sharply apart. The silver bangles covering its arms flew off one by one, leaving only a single bangle on each arm.
*Buzz!*
A powerful magnetic resonance seemed to hum among the eighteen bangles as they floated in midair, trembling with a loud hum.
The yin corpse thrust both fists forward. Propelled by invisible magnetic force, the eighteen silver bangles rained down toward Zhang Yuanqing in an overwhelming deluge, shrieking as they tore through the air.
*Magnetism? What class does this item belong to...?* Zhang Yuanqing sprang off his feet, diving to the side and rolling repeatedly.
Muffled explosions echoed behind him, accompanied by flying shards of rock.
This destructive force was far greater than that of the Blaster Handgun.
Stopping his roll, Zhang Yuanqing had just bounded up when a sudden chill crawled down his spine. A gleaming short dagger emerged from the void, driving smoothly and swiftly toward his back.
Zhang Yuanqing tossed the Blaster Handgun into the air. At some point, gauntlets had appeared on his hands. Without evading or dodging, he slammed his fists together against his chest.
*Boom!*
A tremendous explosion detonated. A violent shockwave swept out in all directions, carrying furious flames.
Directly behind Zhang Yuanqing, a faint white light barrier sprang up in response, acting like a sturdy outer wall to block the raging fire and concussive blast.
As an elite of the Taiyi Sect at the Transcendent stage, the Maoshan Daoist naturally had no shortage of items. That breastplate mirror could monitor movements within a hundred-meter radius and double as a defensive barrier.
The short dagger pierced unimpeded into Yuanshi Tianzun's back.
At that instant, hearts leaped into throats across the stands.
Yet the anticipated spray of blood never materialized. The dagger plunged into Yuanshi Tianzun's back as if shattering a reflection on water.
It was merely an illusory phantom created through illusion.
Zhang Yuanqing's real body emerged from night roaming behind the Maoshan Daoist, catching the falling Blaster Handgun right in his grip. Depressing the muzzle, he pulled the trigger straight at the Daoist's back.
*Bang, bang, bang...* Flames spat from the barrel as he rashly emptied the magazine.
Crimson bullet paths shredded the Maoshan Daoist's figure—yet this too was an illusion.
*Impulsive. I shouldn't have emptied the magazine so quickly, but I couldn't help it—carrying two Fire Master items really lowered my IQ...* Seeing his ambush fail, Zhang Yuanqing retreated swiftly and entered night roaming.
At the same moment, the Maoshan Daoist vanished as well.
Only the yin corpse remained on the arena grounds, standing there blankly.
As the brief exchange concluded, thunderous cheers erupted from the audience.
"Brilliant!"
"The Maoshan Daoist and his yin corpse coordinated really well! The offensive tempo flowed seamlessly. For a second there, I thought Yuanshi Tianzun was done for."
"Did you see that? Was Yuanshi Tianzun's pistol toss a setup for his subsequent ambush, or was it accidental? If it was intentional, how did he predict the fiery explosion wouldn't work on the Maoshan Daoist?"
"Fights between star contenders are something else. Danger at every turn, packed with subtle details—damn exciting!"
Transcendent-stage shiftees made up the majority of the spectators. While this clash was nothing special in the eyes of Saints and elders, for these Transcendent shiftees, it was high-level gameplay.
After a protracted silence, Zhang Yuanqing, having lower experience points, was the first to fall out of night roaming.
Almost at the same moment, the yin corpse swept its arms. The bangles embedded in the craters buzzed into the air and flew toward him, chaining together mid-flight into an interlocking whip that swept at his waist.
Wind howled in his face. Zhang Yuanqing planted his feet firmly into the ground and snapped his upper body backward, demonstrating remarkable flexibility with a bridge maneuver to dodge the sweeping whip.
Just then, the previous scene repeated itself: a razor-sharp dagger appeared out of thin air right above Zhang Yuanqing's abdomen, thrusting savagely downward.
He was still held in the bridge stance, unable to dodge.
A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Yuanqing's eyes. The Blaster Handgun vanished from his hand, replaced by a willow-leaf blade gleaming with cold light.
Immediately afterward, he pushed his torso up into the dagger while driving the Bloodthirsty Blade forward.
*Squelch!*
The dagger sank into his abdomen right up to the hilt.
Meanwhile, the Bloodthirsty Blade, infused with all his might, struck the faint white light barrier. With a soft *pop*, the light screen shattered into glittering motes and dispersed.
Having landed his blow, the Maoshan Daoist yanked out the blade and retreated to avoid any dying counterattack from his wounded opponent.
*Good, the armor is broken. Step one complete. Hiss, that hurts like hell... Thank goodness that dagger isn't a Bewitching Demon item...* Clutched around his bloody abdomen, Zhang Yuanqing stumbled backward.
This had not been reckless. He had obtained intel on the top ten fighters from Wang Tai in advance, and the Maoshan Daoist possessed no weapon comparable to the Bloodthirsty Blade.
That was why he dared to trade an injury for destroying the shield. The Bloodthirsty Blade did not disappoint; against energy barriers, its armor-piercing effect struck true every time.
A clamor broke out in the stands.
In the second clash, Yuanshi Tianzun had clearly come out on the losing end—and taken a heavy blow at that. It was fortunate he was a Night Rover with formidable self-healing powers; had he been a Fire Master, Scout, or Water Ghost, this single stab would have practically decided the match.
The rankings truly had substance. The Maoshan Daoist was indeed stronger than Yuanshi Tianzun.
*Whoosh, whoosh...*
Shrill screeches rang out as the yin corpse cracked the 'whip,' lashing straight at him.
*Thud, thud, thud...* Rolling, leaping, and dodging, Zhang Yuanqing evaded the attacks by the thinnest of margins. Several times he was nearly struck, making the audience break out into a cold sweat on his behalf.
Zhang Yuanqing wasn't acting; he was truly in dire straits.
He had to dodge the yin corpse's attacks while keeping watch against ambushes by the Maoshan Daoist. It was like walking a tightrope—a single hit would cost him half his life.
*The Maoshan Daoist's fighting style is very similar to how I dealt with Ou Xiangrong: play the useless master sneaking around while letting the yin corpse take the front line... I'm already injured. If this wears on, I'll eventually get hit by the whip or succumb to a sneak attack as my condition deteriorates. The correct response is to strike the yin corpse. The Maoshan Daoist surely anticipates this as well, which is why he hasn't shown himself—he's probably waiting for me near the corpse...*
Zhang Yuanqing dove sideways to avoid the whip crashing down on his head, activating night roaming to enter invisibility.
Gripping the Bloodthirsty Blade, he darted swiftly and silently toward the yin corpse.
Circling from the flank to the front, he reversed his grip on the Bloodthirsty Blade and slashed fiercely at the yin corpse's neck. From his initial probing gunfire, he had already confirmed this yin corpse was not a defensive type.
The bangles it wielded also indicated it was not built for melee.
With the sharpness of the Bloodthirsty Blade, this strike was enough to sever its head.
*Splash!*
The Bloodthirsty Blade swept across the yin corpse's neck, producing the muffled sound of slicing through water.
The corpse's head morphed into a sphere of clear, transparent water—a sphere immune to all physical attacks.
*A Water Ghost?!*
This was the corpse of a Water Ghost!
Zhang Yuanqing's pupils shrank. He subconsciously clenched his fists, intending to trigger the Ruffian Gauntlets' skill to evaporate the head.
That was the best way to handle a Water Ghost.
*Woo, woo, woo...*
Suddenly, an eerie gale swept across the arena, accompanied by mournful weeping.
A mourning staff wound with white paper thrust out from behind at an angle, striking Zhang Yuanqing viciously across the back.
*Smack!*
His body froze instantly, his face turning deathly pale. He felt his spirit body being violently torn apart, and blood trickled from his eye sockets, nostrils, and ears.
Pain unlike anything he had ever endured in his life.
At the same time, it was the first time he had ever suffered such a severe blow on the spiritual level.
Though struck against physical flesh, the mourning staff inflicted damage directly upon the soul.
On the other side, the ambushed yin corpse swiftly retreated toward the edge of the arena and shook its hands hard. The whip disintegrated into individual silver bangles that surrounded Zhang Yuanqing, hovering all around him.
*Buzz, buzz...*
The bangles resonated and attuned to one another, forming an invisible magnetic cage that firmly trapped Zhang Yuanqing, eliminating any possibility of him using night roaming.
"You lose!"
The pale, frail youth materialized and decisively swung a second strike.
In the audience, a huge uproar erupted.
Plenty of people were cursing—all Transcendent shiftees from the Five Elements Alliance, as emotionally charged as soccer fans whose team was losing.
Guan Ya, Xie Lingxi, Bill, Annie, the members of the Taiyi Sect, various star contenders, as well as Yuanshi Tianzun's friends and foes, showed completely different expressions at this moment:
Disappointment, anxiety, sneers, gloating...
As he swung the mourning staff, the Maoshan Daoist saw Yuanshi Tianzun, trapped inside the cage, flash an unusual smile.
"Step two complete."
In the next second, the bangles clattered to the ground one after another, their power extinguished.
Freed from the trap at the critical juncture, Zhang Yuanqing entered night roaming, evading the strike of the mourning staff.
*What happened?* The Maoshan Daoist's heart sank. He followed suit by entering night roaming to evade potential counterattacks, while simultaneously looking toward his yin corpse.
Pitched atop the yin corpse's head was a chubby, adorable infant spirit with sparse downy hair.
The yin corpse seemed subject to some form of control, frozen stiff and motionless in place.
In the Taiyi Sect's seating area, Sun Miaomiao leaped to her feet, staring fixedly at the chubby, adorable infant spirit, her breathing suddenly turning ragged.
*He has a spirit servant?!* The Maoshan Daoist was shocked and furious.
In truth, Maoshan had spirit servants as well, but when facing another Night Rover, sending out a spirit servant was simply offering free food.
A Night Rover's Spirit Devouring countered all spirit bodies.
For that reason, both sides had maintained a tacit understanding not to use Astral Travel either.
At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing appeared beside the yin corpse and strapped a black mask printed with a white skull onto its face.
The ferocious light in the yin corpse's eyes died out. Like a machine unplugged from its power source, it shut down and collapsed to the ground with a thud.
The Maoshan Daoist's expression warped in shock. Quickly steadying his mind, he repeatedly contacted the brand in his sea of consciousness, but no matter how he tried to activate it, the yin corpse showed no reaction.
*It's sealed?!*
*I have to take that mask off!* Composing himself, the Maoshan Daoist quietly dashed toward the yin corpse while his night roaming remained active.
Zhang Yuanqing unhurriedly raised his fists and slammed them forcefully against his chest.
*Boom!*
A violent shockwave engulfed in flames raged across the arena.
Now, the groundwork of breaking his armor bore fruit. Lacking the defense of the breastplate mirror, the Maoshan Daoist was blasted out of concealment by the explosion's shockwave, his face blackened and his footing unsteady as he staggered back.
*Step three...* Zhang Yuanqing chanted inwardly.
"Watch your back!" someone shouted loudly from the Taiyi Sect's section.
The Maoshan Daoist jolted in fright and turned his head. A nimble black shadow was closing in silently.
*Snap!*
The attacker snapped his elbow joint forward, his right arm thrusting out like a spear.
*A helper?! Does the Five Elements Alliance have no rules? No, wait—this is a yin corpse!* Caught unprepared, the Maoshan Daoist leaned sideways, narrowly dodging the straight punch.
*Step, step, step...* His center of gravity shifted like quicksilver as he constantly adjusted his footwork, displaying a level of balance unheard of for a Night Rover and preventing him from toppling over.
The woven rattan greaves strapped to his shins were a Wood Demon item, granting the wearer extraordinary balance and excelling at rock climbing, dodging, tightrope walking, and more.
In battle, such exceptional balance was invaluable.
*Thud, thud, thud...* Corpse No. 1's eyes gleamed viciously as he closed in with a ferocious flurry of strikes, raining down punches and kicks that forced the Maoshan Daoist back step by step, struggling to parry.
*A Fire Master? A Bewitching Demon?!*
The Maoshan Daoist felt a chill in his heart. His composure was crumbling; the reversal from advantage to disadvantage had been so abrupt that he couldn't process it in time.
Yet what truly dispirited him was Yuanshi Tianzun's scheming.
Clearly possessing both a spirit servant and a yin corpse, he had deliberately held back and feigned weakness to lull him into complacency. First he broke his armor, then secretly sent a spirit servant to ambush and seal the yin corpse... Every step had been calculated down to the minute details.
The Maoshan Daoist felt the gap between them.
*Calm down, calm down... Keep your head, undo the yin corpse's seal—that's the only chance of turning this around!* Using his superior balance, he fell backward while channeling the power of Taiyin to activate night roaming.
"Aargh—!"
Suddenly, black qi engulfed the Maoshan Daoist's face, and he clutched his head in agony, screaming.
His rationality rapidly degraded as raw instincts of despair and rage seized control of his actions. He charged madly at the yin corpse, desperate to tear apart this obstacle standing in his way of victory.
*Step four complete.* Clutching a straw doll in his hand, Zhang Yuanqing watched the frenzied Maoshan Daoist with a tranquil gaze.
The straw doll was the pivotal winning move, designed to make the Maoshan Daoist 'abandon' night roaming.
No one could easily deal with a Night Rover who was determined to stall for time and play hide-and-seek.
Only by driving the Maoshan Daoist mad could Corpse No. 1 swiftly secure victory.
*Crack! Bam! Thud!*
Punches, each heavier than the last, rained down upon the Maoshan Daoist. Corpse No. 1 struck with fists and kicks, fast and vicious. How could a level three Night Rover ever defeat a Bewitching Demon in hand-to-hand combat?
The Maoshan Daoist staggered back as teeth flew, his nasal bone broke, and his ribs cracked...
Yet having lost all reason, he could only grit his teeth and charge forward, forgetting entirely to surrender.
Seeing this, the Armored Swordsman rose and proclaimed loudly:
"The match is over! Yuanshi Tianzun wins!"
Zhang Yuanqing snapped his fingers. Corpse No. 1 kicked the Maoshan Daoist down, planted a foot upon his chest, and stood tall and proud in the center of the arena.
Zhang Yuanqing looked toward the Taiyi Sect's stands and called out loudly:
"Who shouted that warning just now? Can't the Taiyi Sect afford to lose?"
Chapter 183