“Whoa!”
A deafening roar erupted like an ocean wave, rolling through the arena layer upon layer.
A clash between star contenders, a fight filled with dazzling brilliance, and an underdog turning the tables from the brink of defeat.
From the colosseums of antiquity to modern concerts and sports stadiums, spectacles like this were always boisterous, roaring, and blood-pumping.
This battle had detonated the audience's emotions, and the catalyst was Yuanshi Tianzun’s subsequent sequence of maneuvers. Every step had defied expectations—first neutralizing a guaranteed defeat out of nowhere, and then slapping a face mask onto the Maoshan Daoist’s yin corpse.
With just a few quick moves, the tides were turned. And when that vicious, melee-focused yin corpse entered the arena, only a single thought remained in the spectators' minds:
*He has a yin corpse too?!*
This kind of thunderous cheering and applause could only be sparked by a thrilling, upset victory of the weak overcoming the strong.
A plain, predictable outcome would never have sent the crowd into such an uproar.
“So Yuanshi Tianzun was feigning weakness the entire time, right? He kept his yin corpse outside the ring and waited for the Maoshan Daoist to drop his guard before striking the decisive blow!”
“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! From sealing the Maoshan Daoist’s yin corpse to summoning his own to take down the enemy, I feel like every move was calculated, but I can't even piece it all together right now.”
“He truly lives up to his reputation as the genius who cleared two S-rank dungeons! Has that Maoshan Daoist ever cleared an S-rank? Has he even cleared an A-rank? What right did he have to challenge our Yuanshi Tianzun?”
“I don't fully get what happened, but I'm completely blown away. Once we're back in reality, let's go check the official analysis post!”
“Huh? Aren't details kept confidential?”
“The officials put out analysis posts every year. They won't disclose specific item stats or proprietary details, but they'll let you know exactly how Yuanshi Tianzun won.”
While the Five Elements Alliance shiftees cheered in sheer exhilaration, the atmosphere on the Taiyi Sect’s side was considerably stiffer.
As the combat class that stood at the peak of power, the Night Rovers of the Taiyi Sect carried an inherent pride.
Hearing the young man’s reprimand from the arena floor, quite a few Night Rovers raised their brows, feeling thoroughly provoked.
Yet they were undeniably in the wrong on this matter and had no ground to argue back, so they could only glare darkly at Yuanshi Tianzun.
Among the Transcendent stage, the Maoshan Daoist was considered an upper-tier expert, yet he had unexpectedly ended up as a stepping stone for Yuanshi Tianzun’s fame.
Zhao Chenghuang let out a cold snort. “Useless trash! Outcalculated from beginning to end.”
He then looked toward the young sect brother not far off who had shouted the warning and said coldly, “Humiliating. Return!”
Zhao Chenghuang’s figure vanished into thin air.
“Return.”
“Return.”
The Taiyi Sect’s Saints and Transcendents departed one after another, returning to reality.
Only Sun Miaomiao remained, staring infatuatedly at Little Doubi, her eyes glued to the spirit, entirely unwilling to leave.
“He’s an unpolished jade…” Elder Red Tassel murmured with deep feeling.
A Night Rover of such extraordinary wit truly commanded heartfelt admiration and fondness. It was such a pity he was not a disciple of the Taiyi Sect.
Elder Sun, meanwhile, bristled with fury, his beard twitching as if the taunt “Elder Sun is muddled!” were echoing repeatedly in his ears.
Youfeng Laiyi gazed at Yuanshi Tianzun in the arena, marveling, “Knowing the enemy’s strength and recognizing his own weaknesses, he laid out a strategy from the very beginning. Every link was interwoven, taking down his opponent through sheer cunning… Guild Leader, now I finally see why you value Yuanshi Tianzun so highly. He truly possesses exceptional intellect.”
As a Saint, she could see through Yuanshi Tianzun’s tactics. She asked herself honestly whether she could have pulled off such an audacious and meticulous scheme back when she was in the Transcendent stage, and the answer was no.
Among the Transcendent shiftees shouting their lungs out, very few actually understood the intricacies. Once they learned the full truth of Yuanshi Tianzun’s maneuvers, they would only be more stunned and awestruck.
After Youfeng Laiyi finished sharing her thoughts, Fu Qingyang turned his head. His eyes, cold and still as an icy pond, rested upon her as he said impassively, “You are too naive. Return.”
With that, he vanished from his seat.
Youfeng Laiyi stared blankly across two empty seats at Seventh Bro, asking in bewilderment, “Was my analysis wrong?”
“I think you're spot on!” Seventh Bro replied with certainty. “Yuanshi Tianzun overcame a stronger opponent. Knowing he was outmatched, he relied sixty percent on combat power and forty percent on wits. Sounds completely right to me.”
On the other side, Mr. Bill smiled and remarked, “What a splendid match.”
With that, he glanced at Annie, whose cheeks were flushed, eyes hazy, and breathing ragged. He shook his head helplessly. “Time to go. This is no place for you to go into heat.”
When a shiftee of the Desire class encountered a prey that caught their fancy and felt their heart stirred, an intense lust would erupt within them, compelling them to pursue, conquer, and drown together in love and desire.
Desire was always a two-way street.
Bill knew that Annie had found the prey she desired.
“Return!”
Annie took a deep breath. “Return!”
Zhu Rong licked her red lips, fixing an intensely predatory gaze on the young man in the arena. She drew a deep breath, the corners of her mouth curling upward. “Return!”
“Return!”
“Return!”
“Return!”
More and more people disconnected from the Spirit Realm and returned to reality.
Standing in the ring, Zhang Yuanqing watched the spectators on the stands vanish one by one. He waved toward Guan Ya, Queen, Little Green Tea, and Jiang Jingwei—oh, Jiang Jingwei had already returned to reality in a hurry, eager to go grab some food.
He recalled Little Doubi, pressed a hand onto Corpse No. 1’s shoulder, and whispered, “Return!”
In the next second, the ancient, rustic colosseum dissolved. What greeted his eyes was his familiar bedroom.
“Phew… it’s finally over.”
Zhang Yuanqing spread his arms, leaned backward, and collapsed heavily onto his bed.
“Hss—”
His face twisted as he sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. He suddenly remembered the stab wound in his abdomen—one that had punctured his internal organs.
The bleeding had already been brought under control, and the injury should heal on its own within two hours.
It was the perfect time for a nap.
He sent a text message to Xiao Yuan: *Won my first match. My opponent was the Maoshan Daoist, ranked ninth among the top twenty.*
Too bad he didn't have the phone number of the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, or he would have sent a message over to show off a little.
***
As night fell, neon lights enveloped the bar street.
In a bar at the street corner, soft lighting filled the space without any chaotic, flashing colored lights. Men and women in varied attire were either whispering intelligence, bargaining over materials and items, or venting their carnal desires in dark corners.
In a private lounge inside the establishment, an emaciated middle-aged man draped in a bathrobe sat at the edge of a bed, listening to a subordinate’s report.
On the bed behind him lay two curvaceous, naked women. Their delicate skin was covered in bruises, and with dry tear stains at the corners of their eyes, they were lost in deep, exhausted sleep.
“So you’re saying he went missing while hunting down the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter? I know Demonic Eye’s strength very well; the Palace Master is no match for him. Yet he truly disappeared,” the Lust Divine General said, furrowing his brows.
“Yes,” the subordinate answered in a low voice.
The Lust Divine General fell into contemplative silence. He had gained a decent grasp of Demonic Eye’s actions since arriving in Songhai: slaughtering gangs, executing corrupt officials, and focusing entirely on tracking down Yuanshi Tianzun while caring very little about the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter.
One could only say: *Truly classic Demonic Eye. What a righteous crusader. Being a Bewitching Demon really is a waste of your talents.*
The Lust Divine General raised a hand, caressing the smooth, fair back of the woman behind him, and said, “The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter lacks the power to do it, but the Elders of the Songhai Branch certainly do. Demonic Eye targeted Yuanshi Tianzun, and the higher-ups of the Songhai Branch would never let that slide. Still, ambushing Demonic Eye should have been impossible…”
The Lust Divine General had essentially concluded that Demonic Eye had been imprisoned by the top brass of the Songhai Branch.
What he couldn't comprehend was how those few Dominators from the orthodox faction had managed to catch Demonic Eye off guard.
“Divine General, perhaps finding Yuanshi Tianzun will reveal the truth. Heavenly King Demonic Eye already discovered that Yuanshi Tianzun is a student at Songhai University.”
A student at Songhai University… The first thing that crossed the Lust Divine General’s mind was an endless parade of pure, lovely college girls.
“Understood. No need to rush this.” The Lust Divine General slipped on his robe and headed outside.
Leaving the private lounge, he stepped into the main hall. Bathed in the soft lighting, he announced loudly, “Fellow travelers, I have a mission: collect the latest intelligence on Yuanshi Tianzun and the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, as well as their hiding spots. A piece of intelligence pays a hundred thousand. A residential address pays five hundred thousand.”
In truth, the Lust Divine General had no desire to look for Yuanshi Tianzun or the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, much less investigate the whereabouts of Heavenly King Demonic Eye.
None of that concerned him. He would have been delighted if Demonic Eye disappeared forever under permanent suppression.
However, the Fear Heavenly King had personally handed down the order, so he had to at least put on a show and display proper work ethic. As for whether the job got done, that was a matter of ability.
Once he coasted through this period, he could thoroughly enjoy Songhai’s bustling prosperity and its boundless beauties.
“I have news regarding Yuanshi Tianzun. Concerning the arena tournament.”
A clear, cold voice rang out.
The moment he heard that voice, the Lust Divine General’s eyes lit up. Having toyed with countless women and heard the cries of innumerable beauties, he had developed a knack for recognizing a beauty by sound alone.
This voice was as crisp and pure as an icy spring, yet possessed the magnetic resonance of a mature woman, pleasing to the ear in the extreme.
Turning toward the sound, the Lust Divine General was overjoyed.
Sitting in a corner of the bar was a woman in a white dress shirt. Her voice was cool and aloof, yet her features were exceptionally striking. Her eyes were round, alluring, and brimming with autumn-water ripples.
The contours of her face flowed smoothly, tapering toward a delicate chin. Her nose was high-bridged and dainty, and her plump, rosy lips were habitually pressed together, projecting an aura of dominance and icy pride.
Lower down, an elongated, snow-white neck gave way to a full bust that filled out her white shirt.
A top-tier beauty, oozing mature charm.
The Lust Divine General smiled. “What intelligence?”
The stunning, cold woman said flatly, “Yuanshi Tianzun won his first match. His opponent was the Night Rover ranked ninth among the top twenty contenders—the Maoshan Daoist.”
This piece of news was not actually worth much.
The Lust Divine General snapped his fingers. “Present this beauty with her reward.”
Immediately, a subordinate carried over a thick stack of banknotes and placed it before Xiao Yuan.
Having successfully collected easy cash for zero effort, Xiao Yuan pocketed the money with satisfaction, finished the drink in her glass, and rose to leave.
The Lust Divine General watched her retreating figure with lingering longing. Only after she pushed open the bar’s doors and vanished into the night did he summon his subordinate and instruct, “I want her dossier. The more detailed, the better.”
The Lust Divine General craved lust like his very life, but he was never reckless. Before making a move, he preferred to uncover every piece of information to ensure absolute control.
Rash and impulsive members of evil classes never lived to reach the Saint stage. Everyone here was a smart person; it wasn't as if they were Fire Masters.
***
After finishing dinner, Zhang Yuanqing opened the official forum with immense delight.
*The forum ought to be packed with posts praising me to high heaven,* he thought.
The post pinned at the very top in red was:
#Tactical Analysis of Yuanshi Tianzun's Victory Over the Maoshan Daoist#
Chapter 184