"He won? Just like that?"
"How were there two Yuanshi Tianzuns? What kind of move was that? I didn't understand it at all—someone explain!"
"You couldn't even follow that? Yuanshi Tianzun used a clone right from the start. His real body was lurking nearby the entire time, waiting for an opening to ambush. That move was genuinely vicious. I kept wondering how he'd counter Crossing-River Pawn's Insight, but creating an illusionary body right off the bat was something I never saw coming."
"It was a bit opportunistic, but Crossing-River Pawn borrowed props specifically to counter Yuanshi Tianzun too. Everyone played by the rules; a loss is a loss."
"Even though it lasted less than a minute, it was brilliant! Yuanshi Tianzun is just like he was in his last match—he loves laying traps and calculating ahead. He's not the type who enjoys an all-out, head-on slugfest."
"Crossing-River Pawn wasn't bad either. His strategy was sound: seize the chance to close the distance and end it quickly. He couldn't afford to drag things out; stalling meant losing. But it feels like Yuanshi Tianzun had anticipated even that. Ah, in just one minute, there were so many unseen contests taking place."
Compared to the thunderous applause when Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang's battle concluded, the spectators along the crater rim were far calmer now, devoid of earth-shaking cheers.
Yet the volume of discussion was exceptionally high. They were like esports fans who had just watched a match, spitting furiously as they dissected both sides' tactics, pointing out who had made what mistake, where a response had gone wrong, and which team fight had been foolishly rushed.
That lively enthusiasm was palpable.
In contrast, during Zhao Chenghuang and Jiang Jingwei's fight, all they could manage to say was: *Holy crap!*
At most, they might add, "Badass!" But there had been none of this grandstand analysis or feeling of participatory engagement.
Yuanshi Tianzun's match against Crossing-River Pawn was something they could actually follow, and they could voice their own opinions.
Medical personnel outside the ring hurried down into the magma, carrying away the heavily bleeding Crossing-River Pawn.
Although the stab hadn't struck a vital organ, if the bleeding wasn't stopped quickly, the contestant's life could be in danger.
Zhang Yuanqing bathed in the cheers of the outside crowd and listened to their endless, clamorous debates, preparing to leave the magma pool.
Yet the moment he stepped forward with his left foot, his right leg moved ahead of its own accord, completely out of control. His brain's command conflicted with his body's execution, and he stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face.
*Fuck, the price of Mirror Water Moon has arrived...* Zhang Yuanqing froze in place, not daring to move another muscle.
Standing on the crater rim and looking down at Yuanshi Tianzun, who stood proudly in the center of the ring basking in the crowd's acclaim, the red-haired elder said impatiently, "If you're not coming up, do you want to fight another round?"
Zhang Yuanqing turned to look at him and said earnestly, "Elder, something has gone wrong with my body and I can't move. Could you give me a lift?"
The red-haired young elder's face darkened. "Giving you a lift is no problem, but could you not talk to me with your back turned? That's basic respect."
"Oh, right! My apologies!" Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly turned around.
Veins bulged on the red-haired young elder's forehead. "Facing me sideways counts as respect?"
"..."
With a cold snort, the red-haired youth flicked his wrist and lashed out a whip forged of flame, wrapping it around Yuanshi Tianzun's waist. He hoisted him up and flung him onto the shore like a dead fish.
Squatting beside Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miaomiao smiled and asked, "Well? Do you still think Yuanshi Tianzun is nothing special?"
As seeded contestants of the Taiyi Sect, the elders had gathered them before the top sixteen began to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the top ten participants and devise targeted tactics.
Back then, Zhao Chenghuang's assessment of Yuanshi Tianzun had been that he would most likely stop at the top sixteen, that top eight was his absolute limit, and that top four was hopeless.
Zhao Chenghuang looked into her dark, lively eyes. After a moment's contemplation, he said, "He is someone exceptionally skilled at utilizing props and his environment. The more chaotic and complex the scenario, the greater the strength such a person can exert. If the arena for the top eight turns out to be a high-difficulty instance type, he might very well become a formidable rival for us."
Sun Miaomiao nodded slightly.
On the other side, in an inconspicuous spot, Annie gave a soft laugh. "Interesting. Yuanshi Tianzun's combat style is somewhat similar to the Demon Lord's, yet far too restrained. Of course, all the other contestants are quite restrained as well."
She was very pleased with Yuanshi Tianzun's performance; with every match he won, her opinion of him rose another notch.
Mr. Bill asked, "Restrained?"
Annie nodded. "The Demon Lord's fighting style was meticulous yet wild. Before battle, he loved insulting the female members of his enemy's family to enrage them. He even developed a set of catchphrases for it. These youngsters from the Five Elements Alliance are all so proper and well-behaved before a fight. That's no good."
Mr. Bill had only asked casually, but his interest was piqued. "Catchphrases developed by the Demon Lord? If it's not confidential, I'd like to hear them."
Annie shrugged. "Just crude vulgarities, nothing worth repeating. Well, there were some that didn't sound vulgar, only we couldn't understand them."
Recalling, she said, "'Your father and I walk the same path, and with your mother I have a Guan-Bao friendship.'"
Mr. Bill repeated the sentence under his breath and shook his head helplessly. "I don't get what that means. That can provoke someone?"
Annie smiled. "You could try shouting it out loud and see."
Mr. Bill fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head. "Never mind. I don't want to return to the Spirit Realm this early."
Elsewhere, just like the alluring Annie, another beautiful mature woman was exceedingly pleased with Yuanshi Tianzun.
Zhu Rong narrowed her gorgeous eyes, gazing at the distant, hazy silhouette of Yuanshi Tianzun, a dazzling yet dangerous smile gracing her face.
"What an exciting little toy."
The next few matches proceeded in an orderly fashion. By dusk, the roster for the top eight had been finalized:
Zhao Chenghuang, Earth God, Sun Miaomiao, Tone-Deaf, Yuanshi Tianzun, Qingsongzi, Yuan Ting, and World Returns to Fire.
The red-haired young elder presiding over the tournament announced loudly:
"The matches have concluded!"
***
Zhang Yuanqing returned to his little nest. The window stood open, and the evening breeze blew in with a whoosh, fluttering a corner of the curtain.
Outside his room came the clattering sounds of his grandmother stir-frying dinner. Commuters returning from work carried their backpacks, walking in and out of the residential complex and through the streets.
Everyone walked briskly, dragging weary bodies home just in time for dinner. After eating, they would have to rest to prepare for tomorrow's commute.
Songhai's dusk was bustling and noisy, brimming with people, yet it lacked a certain warmth of everyday life. Unless one was in an older neighborhood packed with locals, it was hard to see aunties cooling off under the trees or old men gathered to play Chinese chess.
"Grandma, is dinner ready? I'm starving!" Zhang Yuanqing opened his bedroom door, poked his head out, and shouted.
"When did you get back?" his grandmother's voice called from the kitchen. "Wait another half hour!"
"Got it!"
Zhang Yuanqing pulled his head back in, picked up his phone, and routinely sent Xiao Yuan a victory message to boast.
"Not bad!" Xiao Yuan replied.
A few seconds later, another message came: "Don't come looking for me these next few days. I might be being followed."
*Being followed...* Zhang Yuanqing's heart clenched, and he texted back:
"Is it people from the official organization?"
Xiao Yuan: "I don't know. They're very cautious, and their level shouldn't be low. They haven't made any aggressive moves yet. I plan to use myself as bait a bit longer."
*If I remember correctly, Xiao Yuan is a Saint-stage Witch Doctor. Someone of that caliber should have the ability to protect herself, even against the authorities...* Zhang Yuanqing sent:
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Although Yuanshi Tianzun at the Transcendent stage wouldn't be of much help if things truly came to that, if the other party was indeed from the official organization, his identity would be useful. Besides, with Master Wuhen looking out for Xiao Yuan, ordinary factions would find it hard to threaten her.
Thus, Zhang Yuanqing wasn't overly worried.
Xiao Yuan: "Okay."
Zhang Yuanqing said nothing more. Who knew that a few minutes later, Aunt Xiao Yuan would send a [Smile] emoji.
Zhang Yuanqing replied with a question mark, but she didn't respond.
*What does that mean?* He was somewhat bewildered.
Just then, Zhang Yuanqing saw someone mention him in the White Tiger Guards group chat. He tapped to open it:
[Youfeng Laiyi: @Yuanshi Tianzun, the clone you used today was the 'Mirror Water Moon' from our guild warehouse, wasn't it? Interference methods rarely affect a Scout specialized in Insight, so using a clone was very clever. You're an expert at utilizing props.]
[Youfeng Laiyi: I've compiled the strengths and weaknesses of the top eight contestants for you, along with the props needed to counter them. Aside from the top three, you can find suitable props in the White Tiger Guards' warehouse for all of them. But for Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miaomiao, and Earth God, the warehouse doesn't have corresponding props—unless you use Saint-grade ones, but I wouldn't recommend that.]
When it came to Saint-grade props, the line between legal and illegal in tournament play was somewhat blurry.
So far, no one had used a Saint-grade prop. Zhang Yuanqing's straw doll had reached that tier, but it was purely a support item.
[Xiaonaohu: It's easy to get disqualified, and people will criticize you for taking an unfair victory. At your level of fame, you should care about your reputation.]
[Lingjun: Looking at the current situation, it's still going to be tough for Yuanshi to make the top three. I used to think you had a shot, but after watching the matches over the past few days, the strength of the top three contestants has exceeded my expectations. Even if you use that prop, winning still feels unlikely.]
He was referring to the Red Dancing Shoes.
[Qicilang: If Yuanshi Tianzun's luck is bad and he gets matched with one of the top three tomorrow, his run ends in the top eight. Boss, what do you think? @Fu Qingyang]
[Fu Qingyang: The rules for tomorrow's matches might change. I just received word from the elders that headquarters is considering throwing the top eight contestants into a high-difficulty instance to determine the top three through a battle-royale mode. A meeting is currently being held to discuss it.]
The more active members of the group were instantly stunned.
[Qicilang: Doesn't that mean the arena tournament for the Transcendent stage ended today?]
[Youfeng Laiyi: Heh, knowing headquarters, that meeting will last at least three days. Tomorrow won't have any arena matches—it'll be turned into a rest day.]
[Xiaonaohu: I think that's pretty good. Large-scale killing trials operate on a battle-royale format anyway. Headquarters probably wants to make this competition closer to a killing trial so the top eight can adapt as early as possible. From another angle, it shows headquarters intends to focus on nurturing the top eight.]
[Fu Qingyang: Let's wait for headquarters to announce the decision. If they throw you all into an instance, Yuanshi might actually have a shot at pushing for the championship. However, you saw Zhao Chenghuang's performance today. Against that single move of his, your win rate drops straight below thirty percent. @Yuanshi Tianzun]
[Yuanshi Tianzun: Got it!]
*If it switches to an instance, the external factors increase, which would indeed raise my win rate. But an expert like Zhao Chenghuang isn't a novice in instances either. We're both Night Walkers, so factors disadvantageous to him will definitely be disadvantageous to me as well. It's still going to be tough...*
*Still, for the sake of the Houtu Boots, I can't give up.*
Not wanting to dwell on these unpleasant matters, Zhang Yuanqing opened a private chat with Lingjun:
"I want to ask you something. An older woman suddenly stopped talking to me. You have plenty of experience with women—help me analyze this."
Lingjun: "???"
Lingjun: "That's illegal, kid! You've got quite the heavy taste."
Zhang Yuanqing: "She's got a great figure and a pretty face."
Lingjun: "Alright, kid, you've got a bright future ahead of you."
Yuanshi Tianzun: "It goes like this. She ran into a bit of trouble recently—probably minor danger—and went out of her way to tell me. It only hit me just now that, with her personality, if she were in real danger, she'd ask for help directly. If it were a trivial matter, she wouldn't bother mentioning it. So she deliberately brought it up to me."
Lingjun: "So how did you reply?"
Yuanshi Tianzun: "'If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.' Then she sent a smiling emoji and ignored me after that."
Lingjun: "Tell me about her personality. I'll break it down for you."
Zhang Yuanqing described Xiao Yuan's temperament to Lingjun in considerable detail.
After reading it, Lingjun felt the sheer heartbreak of a grandmaster watching a bronze amateur blunder through basic moves. He sent a string of sweating emojis:
"This kind of woman has very high psychological defenses. She's cold toward everyone, but deep down, she actually craves warmth, which is why she values her companions so much. As for suitors, she instinctively rejects and distances herself from them, knocking them all down with one blow regardless of good or bad to eliminate any possibilities.
"To handle this kind of woman, you first have to be persistently attentive, but mind your boundaries—make her feel helpless, not disgusted. Next, you need to understand her, observe her, find the soft spot in her heart, and strike swiftly to land a fatal blow, just like how you dealt with Crossing-River Pawn today."
Yuanshi Tianzun: "That analogy feels a bit weird. What next?"
Lingjun: "Next, she'll start developing a favorable impression of you. She'll observe you, test you, and subtly probe you through little things, but she will never say it outright—she'll be very fussy and prideful. At this stage, if you do something poorly or handle it wrong, she'll instantly withdraw back into her shell."
Zhang Yuanqing had an epiphany and hurriedly texted: "How do I fix it?"
Lingjun: "Didn't she tell you not to go looking for her? Then you do the exact opposite. It's best to go quietly. On one hand, it shows you respect her wishes, and on the other, it shows how much you care about her. Always remember: women like this are very contradictory, yet they yearn for warmth and care. That's why being 'persistently attentive' works wonders on them. If she tells you no and you actually take it literally, you're an idiot."
"Makes sense, makes total sense."
Zhang Yuanqing sent a flurry of [Grandmaster, accept my worship] stickers.
He then sent another message asking:
"My relationship with an older girl has been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time. She's very tolerant of me and very close, but it always feels like one step is missing—more than friends, but not quite lovers."
Lingjun: "You're talking about Guan Ya, aren't you?"
Zhang Yuanqing sent another [Grandmaster, accept my worship] sticker to cover his embarrassment.
Lingjun: "Nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was younger, I dreamed of having two soulmates—one named Sister Lin and one named Sister Bao—with a bed-warming maid like Qingwen by my side, and ideally a mature beauty like Qin Keqing to teach me how to become a man. Young boys always have these thoughts. Any young guy in his early twenties who claims he isn't infatuated with women is full of crap."
In Lingjun's eyes, Yuanshi Tianzun was the textbook straight-laced guy who liked lots of pretty older women but had never actually dated a girlfriend in his life.
Though Yuanshi Tianzun was great at socializing and smooth with people, interpersonal networking and dating were two entirely different things. The latter relied on romance experience, and lacking experience was lacking experience.
Being a social butterfly and being a seasoned player were two separate concepts.
Lingjun: "Honestly though, I wouldn't recommend you pursue Guan Ya. She's a Scout! If your heart wavers or you cheat, you'll never fool her sharp eyes. More importantly, you can't beat her in a fight. When the relationship falls apart, you'll be on the receiving end of domestic violence."
Yuanshi Tianzun: "..."
Lingjun: "Still, since you asked, I'll teach you. Guan Ya comes from a Spirit Realm clan and has very high standards; she looks down on ordinary men. You don't have to worry about that—the name Yuanshi Tianzun carries enough weight.
"Her personality is a bit quirky. When she starts talking dirty, even I turn red and can't handle it. But you're fine with it, and that's an important factor in earning her favor. Based on my analysis, there are three reasons your relationship has hit a bottleneck:
"One: you haven't known each other that long after all. A woman from her family background won't confirm a romantic relationship with a man in a short span of time.
"Two: family reasons again. Rebellious as she is, she knows her identity. When it comes to choosing a husband, her family will definitely interfere. She probably feels you aren't ready to meet her parents yet, so she's keeping her distance.
"Three: you're missing a catalyst—something like a romantic confession, a life-and-death crisis, or a night of drunken indulgence."
"Understood, totally understood..." Zhang Yuanqing stared, completely dazed.
Lingjun: "Anything else? If not, I'm having dinner."
*There is! There's also the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter...* Yuanshi Tianzun: "Nothing else. Thank you, Grandmaster."
Zhang Yuanqing tapped Lingjun's profile picture and changed his contact note to: *Life Mentor!*
***
Fujia Bay Villa.
In the dining room, Fu Qingyang held a knife and fork, enjoying a sumptuous dinner. His gaze shifted across the table to Lingjun, who was holding his phone with a face full of grins.
Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows and remarked indifferently, "Dating a new girlfriend? No, your expression carries satisfaction, pride, and a hint of dark gloating. A girlfriend couldn't make your expression that complex."
Lingjun set down his phone and said, "Being able to carry forward and promote my philosophy and scholarship naturally makes me proud and satisfied."
He forked a piece of roast meat into his mouth, chewed, and said, "Yuanshi Tianzun sent me a message asking for advice on a few matters."
Fu Qingyang's expression remained placid. "Asking advice on how to pick up girls?"
"No!" Lingjun adopted a grave expression. "Asking advice on how to become your cousin's husband."
***
After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing lay on his bed browsing posts on the official forum, idly chatting with Guan Ya.
Occasionally, he replied to Xie Lingxi and Queen.
His mind revolved around what Fu Qingyang had told him before dinner.
If headquarters truly adjusted the competition mode, it wouldn't just be a contest of combat prowess; environmental factors, contestants' personality traits, and more would all have to be taken into account.
His next goal was crystal clear: gather the personalities and profiles of the top eight contestants and construct behavioral profiles for them.
"Guan Ya and the Decurion are Scouts. Tomorrow I'll ask for their help to compile a personality analysis of the top eight contestants."
Having made up his mind, he turned off his phone and curled beneath the air-conditioned quilt.
A piercing ringtone suddenly sounded.
The caller was Fu Qingyang.
"Hello, Centurion?" Zhang Yuanqing answered the phone.
"Come over to Fujia Bay. Elder Dog wants to see you," Fu Qingyang's voice said, cold as December frost.
"Elder Dog wants to see me?" Zhang Yuanqing asked in bewilderment. "What for?"
Given an elder's status, they rarely met people casually. Besides, if there were something important, why hadn't he mentioned it during the daytime arena tournament?
"To take you to see Heavenly King Demonic Eye!" Fu Qingyang said.
Chapter 190