A sea of heads maintained a breathless silence, countless eyes glued to the projection, staring at the back of the figure urinating in broad daylight. Faces were frozen, bewildered, or utterly dumbfounded.
At first, when Yuanshi Tianzun stripped down the yin corpse’s trousers, the entire crowd had erupted in an uproar, throwing the arena into pandemonium.
Yet before anyone could settle down, he had actually unburdened himself in public.
How could he do such a thing?
You're Yuanshi Tianzun! You're the poster boy for the official Transcendent stage! With so many people watching, how do you manage to answer nature's call with zero psychological pressure?
Do you have no shame? Does the official faction have no shame?
Yet when Yuanshi Tianzun reported himself and the heroic spirit in the sky struck down with a penalty, everyone’s overwhelming thought was—talk about an eye-opener!
"Holy crap, you can do that?!"
No one knew who yelled first, but the silence shattered instantly, and a tidal wave of clamor swept across the spectator stands.
"If I saw right, Yuanshi Tianzun just tested out several rules: reporting the yin corpse failed, reporting himself succeeded, and entrapment reporting works! Too impressive—this is the sheer efficiency and thought process of a top-tier genius."
"Incredible, truly fucking incredible! Out of all eight finalists, only Yuanshi Tianzun managed to figure out the reporting mechanics. That's the difference right there. Someone who clears S-rank dungeons really is cut from a different cloth."
"Looking at it like this, the gap between World Returns to Fire and Yuanshi Tianzun is immediate and obvious. World Returns to Fire might be a powerhouse among ordinary Spirit Realm walkers, but before a truly apex talent, the disparity is glaring."
"To test the rules using this method... his brain works in mysterious ways. I—I honestly don't know what to say. As expected of Yuanshi Tianzun."
World Returns to Fire was reasonably well-known for conquering dungeons, and being a Fire Master made him stand out even more.
Before this, everyone assumed Yuanshi Tianzun was stronger than World Returns to Fire, but by how much and in what aspects, they had no real concept.
The first trial had been the suspect's solo showcase, leaving World Returns to Fire no opportunity to display his talents. Only when the second trial began did everyone stand on the same starting line, facing the same rules and the same circumstances.
Yet in just a few short minutes, Yuanshi Tianzun had probed out several rules.
"Bah! If he's got the guts, he shouldn't hide! Pee right out in the open! If I blink even once, I lose!"
"What a shame! Elders, Elders, can you adjust the camera angle? We want three hundred and sixty degrees!"
"Yeah, yeah! We're very curious about Yuanshi Tianzun's measurements!"
While modest girls blushed with embarrassed discomfort, the experienced women flushed with excitement, clamoring for a better view.
This was Yuanshi Tianzun, after all.
"Mom, Mom, if you cover my eyes again, I'm going to get mad at you!"
Xie Lingxi was furious, struggling desperately in her mother's embrace.
Her mother maintained an ironclad bearhug on her daughter while craning her own neck to stare intently at the screen, a look of disappointment on her face.
"You can't see anything at all. How boring... Baby, you're not an adult yet. Mommy is protecting you."
Xie Lingxi felt both disappointed and relieved—disappointed that she had missed the chance to catch a glimpse of Brother Yuanshi's size, but relieved that seductive vixens like her mother, and many more besides, hadn't gotten to take advantage of him.
On the other side, Queen leaned in close to Guan Ya's ear and whispered, "I suddenly remembered what I saw back in Yinyang Town. Quite memorable."
Guan Ya gave a soft snort. "Yeah, yeah. Out of all those little caterpillars, his had the most weight."
Queen said regretfully, "Too bad he hid it so well this time. Can't see a thing."
Guan Ya remarked, "Seeing it once was plenty. How many times do you want to look? Do you want to sleep with him or something?"
*She saw it once already?* Listening to the two women whispering, Fu Qingyang's mouth twitched.
At the same time, he began seriously contemplating whether to expel Yuanshi Tianzun from the White Tiger Guards.
The Spirit Realm walkers present accounted for nearly eighty percent of the official faction's members. The buzz and reach of this spectacle were beyond doubt. After Yuanshi pulled a stunt like that, it was easy to imagine that by tomorrow, his indecorous antics would spread throughout the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect.
The White Tiger Guards could not harbor someone of dubious reputation!
In another corner of the stands, Bill Tarantino glanced at Annie. The woman's azure eyes were wide, filled with deep regret.
Just now, when Yuanshi Tianzun unzipped, her eyes had nearly popped out of her skull as she stared unblinkingly at the projection.
Equally disappointed was Zhu Rong. When picking male favorites, she didn't just look at faces; she conducted multifaceted evaluations. With Yuanshi Tianzun as her prospective prey, she naturally wanted to assess other aspects.
Her expression did not escape the notice of her young favorite. The handsome young man sneered inwardly: *Most likely just a little earthworm.*
At the Elders' bench, the elders fell into a collective silence.
After a long while, an elder from the White Tiger Guards clad in armor forced out a compliment:
"Unburdened by his public image, novel in his thinking, and willing to make tremendous sacrifices just to suss out the rules. Yuanshi Tianzun's actions are commendable."
"This kid really is..."
"That may be true, but this is an arena tournament. One must consider the impact."
"He still showed some discretion, knowing to shield himself. Then again, the projection was designed by the Alliance Leaders. We have no control over it. If Yuanshi Tianzun pulls that trick again..."
"Well... among the outstanding youths of our official faction, individuals like Fu Qingyang, Jiang Ju, and the Ghost King of Fengdu all care deeply about their public image. Yuanshi Tianzun is a bit different."
"That's nothing. You haven't seen him drop to his knees and kowtow on the spot," remarked a teddy dog.
Elder Sun interrupted them irritably, "As long as he wins, that's what matters! Why be so fussy? The brat Yuanshi actually has some tricks up his sleeve."
"So you admit you were confused?" a Water God Palace elder sneered.
"You—" Elder Sun was struck dumb, suddenly feeling a twinge of bitterness.
*Has that meme already spread to the elder level?*
***
Inside the ancient city ruins.
*These rules are fairly simple and straightforward. Once used, the other contestants will figure them out, so they have to be deployed at critical moments...* Zhang Yuanqing pondered the pros and cons of the rules.
*If I parade myself out in the open, while I can report my opponents, they can report me right back.*
*That's a mutually assured destruction tactic. Still, since I have plenty of points, trading damage is viable.*
*However, the match is being broadcast live to an enormous audience. Having grown up accustomed to society's quirks—like being dragged into public flash mobs with my uncle—I certainly wouldn't die of embarrassment, but I still have to consider my image.*
*I can let the yin corpse handle such chores. I'll only step up myself if pushed into a corner.*
*Besides, if public urination counts as a violation, spitting on the ground should fall within the reportable scope as well.*
*The core logic of the Great Whistleblowing Era comes down to unsubstantiated claims and bleeding-heart moralizing.*
*There's no need to bait opponents. All I need to do is observe. No human can be a pure saint who never slips up. Whoever curses, or steps even slightly out of line, report them like mad, and it's guaranteed to stick.*
Ending his train of thought, Zhang Yuanqing led his yin corpse and began aimlessly searching for opponents.
With his current strength, if he played all his cards, he could finish off any contender outside the top three within three minutes.
For the other contestants, the strategy for this battle was quite clear: first, find allies to form a team; second, locate pieces of the general's armor; third, devise ways to bait others into infractions and report them.
For Zhang Yuanqing, forming alliances could be skipped—at least it wasn't a top priority. Since the player with the highest score was public enemy number one, the most advantageous move for him was to eliminate enemies as quickly as possible to reduce potential threats.
The sky hung low and grim, cloaked in leaden clouds.
The wind howling through the ruins carried a biting chill, rustling the green weeds scattered among the rubble.
This city had been abandoned for a long time. The stone slabs flanking the main road were buried beneath layers of black soil; only the slight ridge along the center stubbornly exposed the cracked seams between the paving stones.
Zhang Yuanqing kept a distance of fifty meters from his yin corpse, having Corpse No. 1 march openly ahead while he slipped between shattered walls and collapsed rubble, concealing himself as he shadowed quietly behind.
After walking for more than ten minutes, not a single intact building was in sight—only crumbling walls, cobwebs, and dust, a scene of bleak decay.
Structures made of blue brick and timber were the least capable of enduring the ravages of time.
*Checking the time, thirty minutes is almost up.*
Zhang Yuanqing simply had the yin corpse halt, stationing it inside an abandoned manor while he waited quietly.
Five or six minutes later, a brilliant beam of light suddenly erupted skyward, piercing the clouds and churning the overcast sky.
*Not far, maybe two hundred meters from me...*
Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. He immediately directed the yin corpse toward the location of the glow while following at a distance.
Before long, through the yin corpse's field of vision, he spotted a long, collapsed section of the inner city wall. Hovering above the ruins of the gatehouse was a pitch-black cuirass.
The soaring light came directly from this piece of armor.
Zhang Yuanqing maneuvered the yin corpse toward the ruins to snatch the cuirass.
*Whoosh!*
When the yin corpse was less than ten meters from the armor, a tightly compressed fireball slammed in from an angle.
Unable to dodge mid-sprint, the yin corpse crossed its arms. The fireball detonated against its chest, sending undulating waves of fire rolling outward and kicking up billowing dust.
Amidst the scattering flames, a tall, athletic young man with the sharp demeanor of an enforcer materialized.
Fire Travel!
Suspended mid-air, World Returns to Fire opened his palm. The surrounding flames gathered toward him as if alive, rapidly condensing into a searing fireball.
Dropping downward, World Returns to Fire pressed a palm against the yin corpse's chest. Another thunderous explosion erupted, the violent blast pushing both combatants apart. World Returns to Fire used the concussive force to glide toward the cuirass.
*Bang! Bang!*
Gunfire rang out, two dark red lines of fire flashing past in an instant.
World Returns to Fire did not bother dodging. As a Level 3 Fire Master, he possessed immense fire resistance; Yuanshi Tianzun's explosive pistol could at most inflict minor wounds on him.
As long as he secured the cuirass, what did minor injuries matter?
*Clang! Clang!*
Two sharp cracks accompanied by dazzling sparks sent the floating cuirass flying through the air.
Zhang Yuanqing's target had not been his opponent, but the item itself.
After knocking the armor away, he instantly slipped into Night Roam, dashing toward the dropped gear while issuing an attack command to his yin corpse.
"*Rrrgh...*"
A beast-like growl tore from Corpse No. 1's damaged vocal cords. Crouching low after a brief sprint, it leaped thirty feet into the air, hurtling its massive frame directly toward World Returns to Fire.
As the shadow engulfed him, World Returns to Fire's muscles swelled violently, flames erupting across his skin. Lowering his upper body, he braced one hand against the ground and kicked savagely upward.
Corpse No. 1 absorbed the kick head-on without flinching. Feeling no pain, its hands clamped onto the kicking leg, its fist hammering down toward the knee.
While the two clashed in close-quarters combat, Zhang Yuanqing had already reached the cuirass lying among the rubble. Just as he bent down to pick it up, a melodious voice suddenly drifted over:
*"Look over here, handsome boy, look over here, look over here~ The show right here is so magnificent~"*
As if under a spell, Zhang Yuanqing found himself seized by an overwhelming fascination with the singing woman; the armor beneath his feet instantly lost its appeal.
Following his body's instincts, he turned his head to look.
A dozen meters away, a hazy, voluptuous silhouette was performing a sultry dance while trilling a sweet melody.
It was a female spirit body, yet her aura was tainted by other classes, lacking purity.
On the other side, World Returns to Fire had similarly failed to resist the temptation. He glanced over and was promptly pummeled by Corpse No. 1.
*A Music Thrall? Tone-Deaf's item?* Zhang Yuanqing bit down lightly on the tip of his tongue, letting the sharp pain jolt his senses and forcibly shake off the Musician's mental influence.
When he looked down, the cuirass had vanished.
A hazy figure was holding the armor aloft, drifting swiftly toward a half-crumbled wall in the distance.
From behind the wall stepped an effeminate young man. In his left hand, adorned with various colorful bracelets, he gripped a jet-black bamboo flute.
Taking the cuirass offered by the Music Thrall with his other hand, he shouted toward World Returns to Fire, "Got it!"
World Returns to Fire gave a hearty laugh. "Excellent! Stick to the plan—pin down Yuanshi Tianzun!"
With that, he vaulted backward to evade Corpse No. 1's assault, sank his breath into his dantian, and bellowed:
"Yuanshi Tianzun is right here!"
The roar echoed far across the ruins.
"Fuck!" Zhang Yuanqing cursed under his breath.
Right now, the other contestants were bound to be drawn by the pillar of light and had to be nearby. Rushing to claim the armor, they would be sprinting at full speed. But World Returns to Fire's shout was likely to make them change tactics and lay an ambush in the vicinity.
That meant his retreat route was very likely compromised.
*I need to leave immediately...*
The thought flashed through his mind, and he promptly recalled Corpse No. 1, intending to take it along through Night Roam.
Seeing this, flames roared around World Returns to Fire, turning him into a streak of fire as he lunged toward the yin corpse, desperate to stall them.
Meanwhile, the shapely female Music Thrall undulated her hips again, launching into another sultry dance while singing in her sweet voice:
*"Look over here, handsome boy, look over here, look over here~"*
Zhang Yuanqing's head buzzed as the singing pulled at his attention once more. This time, however, he had prepared in advance and bit down hard on his tongue. The sharp pain helped him resist most of the charm.
Lifting his gun, Zhang Yuanqing pulled the trigger at Tone-Deaf.
Tone-Deaf ducked behind the wall. *Bang! Bang!* The bullets blasted deep craters into the masonry, sending fragments flying.
*Support crowd control is such a nuisance. If only I could use the Demon-Subduing Pestle to purify it...* Zhang Yuanqing altered his plan, ignoring Tone-Deaf and entering Night Roam to charge at World Returns to Fire.
He couldn't afford a prolonged battle. He had to team up with the yin corpse to beat back this intelligent Fire Master first, then take the corpse and slip away.
Seeing Zhang Yuanqing vanish, Tone-Deaf instinctively went on guard, while World Returns to Fire yelled, "Play the flute! His target is me!"
As he shouted, he took a straight punch from Corpse No. 1, using the momentum to leap backward.
Hearing the call, Tone-Deaf brought the flute to his lips without hesitation.
*Whee-ooo...*
A mournful, low flute melody arose, piercing like steel needles into the soul and triggering a splitting headache.
*Hmph, what good is a mutually destructive play?* Forced out of Night Roam, Zhang Yuanqing clutched his head while transmitting a retreat order to his yin corpse.
Corpse No. 1 obediently broke off its pursuit of the Fire Master, wheeling around into a dead sprint.
Suddenly, along the yin corpse's path, a lush emerald-green vine whipped out, coiling around its ankle like a tentacle.
Corpse No. 1 tore free with brute strength.
Yet more and more green vines erupted from the ground, lashing around its ankles, legs, neck, and wrists. Dozens of vines pulled taut, locked in a brutal tug-of-war with the yin corpse.
Amidst the wildly sprawling thicket of vines stood Qingsongzi, hands clasped behind his back.
Simultaneously, several other figures converged on the scene: Zhao Chenghuang accompanied by his yin corpse, Yuan Ting, and Earth God clad in a leather jacket and trousers.
Except for Sun Miaomiao, who had spawned the farthest away, six contestants had successfully arrived, completely surrounding Yuanshi Tianzun.
Chapter 201