Chapter 190: Life Mentor

Chapter 190: Life Mentor

"Won? Just like that?"

"How come there are two Yuanshi Tianzuns? What kind of play was that? I didn't understand a thing. Someone explain it."

"Didn't get it? Yuanshi Tianzun used a clone from the start. His true body was lurking nearby the whole time, waiting for a sneak attack. That move was truly vicious. I kept wondering how he'd deal with Guohé Zú's Insight ability. Creating a clone directly wasn't something I expected."

"A bit tricky, but Guohé Zú also borrowed a corresponding artifact to counter Yuanshi Tianzun. Everyone competed by the rules. He lost, no complaints."

"Less than a minute... though brief, it was spectacular. Yuanshi Tianzun is still like the last match—he likes setting up layouts, likes scheming. He's not the type who enjoys a hearty, straightforward brawl."

"Guohé Zú wasn't bad either. His strategy was sound—seizing the chance to close in, aiming for a quick decision. He couldn't drag it out; dragging meant losing. But it seems Yuanshi Tianzun calculated that very point. Sigh, in just one short minute, so much invisible contention was contained."

Compared to the thunderous applause when Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenghuang's fight ended, the audience at the volcano crater was much calmer now. There were no earth-shattering cheers.

But the discussion volume was high, like fans after an esports match, spitting saliva as they debated tactics afterward, criticizing this one's shortcomings, that one's flawed response, which team fight shouldn't have been engaged impulsively.

That relish, vivid on the page.

As for Zhao Chenghuang and Jiang Jingwei's battle, they could only say one thing: "Holy shit!"

At most add a "Badass," but there wasn't this level of backseat-driving discussion and participation.

Yuanshi Tianzun and Guohé Zú's match—they could understand it, and could even offer an opinion.

Medical staff outside the arena hurriedly leaped into the magma, carrying away the bleeding Guohé Zú.

Although this slash hadn't hit a vital point, if the bleeding wasn't stopped soon, the contestant's life would be in danger.

Zhang Yuanqing basked in the cheers from the audience outside, listening to their incessant clamor, and was just about to leave the magma pool.

But the moment he stepped out with his left foot, his right leg moved a step ahead, uncontrolled. The brain's commands and the body's execution contradicted each other. His figure stumbled, nearly falling.

Fuck, the price of Mirror Flower Water Moon has come due... Zhang Yuanqing froze in place, daring not to move again.

The Red-Haired Elder stood at the volcano's mouth, gazing at Yuanshi Tianzun standing proudly in the field, basking in the crowd's adoration, and said impatiently:

"You're not coming up yet? Want to fight another round?"

Zhang Yuanqing turned to look, speaking sincerely: "Elder, my body has developed a problem. I cannot move. Could you give me a lift?"

The Red-Haired Youth's face darkened. He said:

"Giving you a lift is no problem, but can you not speak with your back to me? That's basic respect."

"Oh, oh, sorry!" Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly turned around.

The Red-Haired Youth's forehead veins bulged: "Facing me with your profile counts as respect?"

"..."

The Red-Haired Youth snorted coldly, flicked his hand, and threw out a whip condensed from flames. It hooked around Yuanshi Tianzun's waist, and like tossing a dead fish, he flung him onto the shore.

...

Sun Miaomiao squatted beside Zhao Chenghuang, smiling:

"How is it? Still think Yuanshi Tianzun is nothing special?"

As a seeded contestant of the Taiyi Sect, the sect elders had convened a meeting of the seeds prior to the Round of Sixteen to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the top ten contenders and devise targeted strategies.

Zhao Chenghuang’s assessment of Yuanshi Tianzun at the time was that he would most likely bow out at the Round of Sixteen; his ceiling was the Top Eight, the Top Four was a pipe dream.

Zhao Chenghuang gazed into the other’s pitch-black, rolling eyes, pondered for a moment, and said:

"He is a man exceptionally skilled at utilizing props and the environment; the more chaotic and complex the scenario, the greater the strength he can unleash. If the Quarterfinal arena is a high-difficulty dungeon type, he could very well become our most formidable rival."

Sun Miaomiao gave a slight nod.

Elsewhere, in an inconspicuous spot, Annie chuckled softly: "Interesting. Yuanshi Tianzun’s combat style bears some resemblance to the Demon Lord’s, yet it is far too reserved. Then again, all the other contestants are rather reserved."

She was quite pleased with Yuanshi Tianzun’s performance; with every match he won, her estimation of him rose a notch.

Mr. Bill asked, "Reserved?"

Annie nodded: "The Demon Lord’s fighting style is meticulous yet savage. He enjoys insulting the women of his enemy’s family before battle to provoke them. To this end, he even developed a set of catchphrases. These little brats of the Five Elements Alliance, on the other hand, are all prim and proper before a fight, which is dreadfully dull."

Mr. Bill had only asked casually, but now his interest was piqued: "The Demon Lord’s catchphrases? If it’s not classified, I’d love to hear them."

Annie shrugged: "Just some vulgarities, nothing to speak of. Hmm, there are some that aren't vulgar, only we can't understand them."

She recalled for a moment, then said: "I and thy father are fellow travelers of the Way; I and thy mother share a friendship like Guan and Bao."

Mr. Bill repeated the phrase in a low voice, shaking his head helplessly: "Don't understand what it means. Can that really provoke someone?"

Annie smiled: "You can try shouting it out."

...Mr. Bill fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head: "Forget it. I don't want to return to the Spirit Realm this early."

On the other side, much like the enchantress Annie, there was another beautiful young matron who was extremely satisfied with Yuanshi Tianzun.

Zhu Rong narrowed her beautiful eyes, staring at the blurred silhouette of Yuanshi Tianzun in the distance, her smile gorgeous and dangerous:

"Truly a toy that stirs the blood."

The next few battles proceeded in an orderly fashion, and by dusk, the list of the Top Eight was released.

Zhao Chenghuang, Tudi Gong, Sun Miaomiao, Yin Chi, Yuanshi Tianzun, Qingsong Zi, Yuan Ting, Tianxia Guihuo.

The red-haired young elder presiding over the matches announced in a loud voice:

"The competition is over!"

...

Zhang Yuanqing returned to his little nest; the window was wide open, the evening wind howling in, lifting a corner of the curtain.

Outside the room came the clatter of Grandma stir-frying vegetables; people off work, backpacks slung over shoulders, moved in and out of the residential compound, to and fro on the streets.

Everyone hurried along, dragging weary bodies home, just in time for dinner; after eating, they had to rest to face tomorrow’s commute.

Songhai’s evenings were bustling and clamorous; clearly teeming with people, yet they lacked a certain vitality, unless in the old neighborhoods where natives clustered, one would be hard-pressed to see aunties cooling off under trees or old grandpas huddled around chessboards.

"Grandma, is dinner ready? I'm starving." Zhang Yuanqing pushed open his door, poked his head out, and shouted.

"When did you get back?" Grandma’s voice drifted from the kitchen: "Wait another half hour."

"Oh!"

Zhang Yuanqing withdrew his head, picked up his phone, and, as per usual, sent Xiaoyuan a victory message to show off.

"Not bad!" Xiaoyuan replied with a text.

A few seconds later, another one came: "Don't come looking for me these few days. I might be being tailed."

Tailed... Zhang Yuanqing's heart skipped a beat. He sent a message: "Is it people from the official organization?"

Xiaoyuan: "Don't know. The other party is very cautious; their rank shouldn't be low. They haven't made any radical moves yet. I plan to keep fishing a bit longer."

If he remembered correctly, Xiaoyuan was a Saint-stage Witch-Guu Master. A figure of that caliber, even facing the officials, still had the means to protect herself... Zhang Yuanqing messaged: "If you need anything, just say the word."

Although when push came to shove, the Transcendent-stage Yuanshi Tianzun might be a bit insufficient, if the other party was the official organization, then the identity of Yuanshi Tianzun would be useful. Besides, with Master Wuhen shielding Xiaoyuan, ordinary forces would find it hard to threaten her.

So Zhang Yuanqing wasn't too worried.

Xiaoyuan: "Okay."

Zhang Yuanqing didn't speak further. Who knew, a few minutes later, Auntie Xiaoyuan sent a [Smile] emoji.

Zhang Yuanqing replied with a question mark, but the other party didn't respond.

What did that mean? He was a bit puzzled.

At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing saw someone @ him in the White Tiger Guard group chat. He clicked to open it:

[Phoenix Comes to Court: @Yuanshi Tianzun, the avatar you used today, was it the "Mirror Flower Water Moon" from our guild warehouse, right? Using interference methods makes it hard to affect a Scout with Insight Specialization. Choosing to use an avatar was very smart. You are a player skilled at utilizing props.]

[Phoenix Comes to Court: I've listed the pros and cons of the top eight contestants for you, and what props to use to counter them. Aside from the top three, you can find suitable props for all of them in the White Tiger Guard guild warehouse. But for Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miaomiao, and the Earth God, the guild warehouse lacks corresponding props, unless they are Saint-grade, but I don't recommend you use them.]

The line between violation and non-violation is a bit blurry when it comes to using Saint-grade props.

So far, no one has used Saint-grade props. Zhang Yuanqing's Scarecrow has reached that level, but it belongs to the support category.

[Little Axe: Easy to be ruled a violation, and people will criticize you, saying you won without merit. At your level of fame, you should pay attention to your reputation.]

[Ling Jun: Judging by the current situation, it's still a bit difficult for Yuanshi to break into the top three. I thought you could make the top three, but after watching the matches these past few days, the strength of the top three contestants exceeds my imagination. I feel even if you use that prop, it's hard to win.]

He was referring to the Red Dancing Shoes.

[Seventh Brother: If Yuanshi Tianzun has bad luck and gets matched against the top three tomorrow, he'll stop at the top eight. Boss, what do you think? @Fu Qingyang]

[Fu Qingyang: Tomorrow's match rules might change. I just got news from the Elder; Headquarters seems to want to throw the top eight contestants into a high-difficulty dungeon, using a Gu-raising mode to decide the top three. Currently in a meeting discussing it.]

The few active people in the group were instantly shocked.

[Seventh Brother: Then doesn't that mean today's Transcendent-stage arena matches are over?]

[Phoenix Comes to Court: Heh, knowing Headquarters as I do, meetings last at least three days. No arena matches tomorrow, changed to rest.]

[Little Axe: I think that's pretty good. Large-scale killing dungeons are just Gu-raising mode. Headquarters probably wants this competition to be closer to a killing dungeon, letting the top eight contestants adapt early. On the flip side, it shows Headquarters intends to focus on cultivating the top eight.]

[Fu Qingyang: Let's wait for Headquarters' result. If they are thrown into a dungeon, Yuanshi might have a shot at the championship. However, you saw Zhao Chenghuang's performance today. Just that one move, and your win rate against him drops directly below thirty percent. @Yuanshi Tianzun]

[Yuanshi Tianzun: Mhm!]

Speaking of instances, if external factors are elevated, my win rate would indeed improve, but a master like Zhao Chenghuang isn't some instance novice either. And we're both Night Wanderers; factors unfavorable to him are bound to be unfavorable to me as well. It's still going to be a tough nut to crack...

But for the Houtu Boots, I still can't give up.

Zhang Yuanqing didn't want to dwell on these unpleasantries. He sent a private message to Lingjun:

"I have a question. There's an 'auntie' who suddenly started giving me the cold shoulder. You've got experience dealing with women; analyze it for me."

Lingjun: "???"

Lingjun: "You're a criminal, kid. Heavy taste, huh."

Zhang Yuanqing: "That auntie's got a killer figure and a pretty face."

Lingjun: "Not bad, kid. You've got a future."

Yuanshi Tianzun: "Here's the thing. She ran into a bit of danger recently, should be minor danger. She told me about it deliberately. I've reacted now—given her personality, if it were real danger, she'd ask for help directly. If it's a small matter, she can't be bothered to mention it. So it must have been deliberate on her part."

Lingjun: "So how did you reply?"

Yuanshi Tianzun: "Just speak up if you have a request. Then she sent a smiling emoji and ignored me after that."

Lingjun: "Tell me about her personality. I'll analyze it for you."

Zhang Yuanqing described Xiaoyuan's personality to Lingjun in considerable detail.

Upon hearing it, Lingjun instantly felt the anguish of a King-tier player watching a Bronze noob fumble blindly. He sent a string of "sweat" emojis:

"Women like this have strong psychological defenses. Cold to everyone. But in truth, they crave warmth desperately. So they value their companions highly. As for suitors, they instinctively reject and distance them, striking them all dead with one stick regardless of merit, cutting off all possibility."

"To handle this type of woman, first you must pester her relentlessly, but watch your measure. Make her helpless, not disgusted. Then, get to know her, observe her, find the soft spot in her heart, and strike swiftly for a killing blow—just like you dealt with that Cross-River Pawn today."

Yuanshi Tianzun: "That analogy of yours feels weird. Then what?"

Lingjun: "Then she'll develop a favorable impression of you. She'll observe you, test you, covertly probe you with trivial things, but she'll absolutely never say it outright. Very prickly. At this stage, if you slip up anywhere, if you respond wrong, she'll instantly withdraw into her shell."

Zhang Yuanqing had a sudden realization. He hurriedly messaged: "How do I salvage this?"

Lingjun: "Didn't she say not to come looking for her? You go against the grain. Best to go quietly. On one hand, it shows respect for her choice; on the other, it shows your concern for her. You must always remember: this type of woman is prickly, yet yearns for warmth and care. So 'relentless pestering' works on them absolutely. You think 'no' means 'no'? Then you're a damn fool."

"Makes sense. Makes sense."

Zhang Yuanqing sent a string of [Big Shot, Accept My Worship] emoji packs.

He then sent another message:

"I've been stuck at a bottleneck with a 'big sister' for a long time. She has high tolerance for me, very close, but it always feels like we're missing that one step. More than friends, less than lovers."

Lingjun: "You're talking about Guan Ya, right."

Zhang Yuanqing sent the [Big Shot, Accept My Worship] emoji pack, masking his inner embarrassment.

Lingjun: "Nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was young, I yearned for two female confidantes. One named Lin Meimei, one named Bao Jiejie. By my side, a warm-bed maid like Qingwen would be best. And ideally a married woman like Qin Keqing to teach me to become a man. Young guys, they all have these thoughts. Any guy in his early twenties who says he doesn't yearn for love is blowing smoke."

In Lingjun's view, Yuanshi Tianzun was the typical type who liked many beautiful sisters but had actually never had a girlfriend—a straight man through and through.

Although Yuanshi Tianzun knew how to handle himself and was good at socializing, interpersonal relationships and dating a girlfriend are two different concepts. The latter emphasizes experience. No experience means no experience.

Being a social butterfly and a veteran of the love field are two entirely different concepts.

Lingjun: "But honestly, I don't recommend you pursue Guanya. She's a Scout, you know. If you change your heart, if you cheat, you won't get past her piercing gaze. Key point: you can't beat her either. When the relationship falls apart, you'll be the one suffering domestic abuse."

Yuanshi Tianzun: "..."

Lingjun: "But since you asked, I'll teach you. Guanya comes from a Spirit Realm aristocratic family; her standards are high. Ordinary mortals don't catch her eye. On that front, you're fine—the name Yuanshi Tianzun carries enough weight."

"Her personality is a bit... odd. When she talks dirty, even I blush and squirm, unable to handle it. But you're fine with that—and that's a crucial factor in winning her favor. By my analysis, there are three reasons your relationship has hit a bottleneck."

"One: you haven't known each other long. A woman of her background won't confirm a romantic relationship with a man in a short time."

"Two: still the family factor. Though she's rebellious, she knows her station. Regarding marriage, the family will definitely meddle. She probably feels you're not yet suitable to meet the parents, so she keeps her distance."

"Three: you lack a catalyst. A romantic confession, a life-or-death crisis, a drunken night of reckless abandon."

"Got it, got it..." Zhang Yuanqing stared, dumbfounded.

Lingjun: "Anything else? If not, I'm off to eat."

There's more, the Palace Lord of Stopping Killing... Yuanshi Tianzun: "No more. Thanks, Big Shot."

Zhang Yuanqing tapped Lingjun's avatar, changing his contact note to: Life Mentor!

...

Fu Family Bay Villa.

In the dining room, Fu Qingyang held knife and fork, enjoying a sumptuous dinner, his gaze fixed on Lingjun across the table, who cradled his phone, a smile plastered on his face.

He frowned slightly, tone flat:

"Got a new girlfriend? No... your expression holds satisfaction, smugness, and a hint of dark, secret glee. A girlfriend wouldn't make your face this complex."

Lingjun set down his phone. "Spreading my philosophy, my scholarship, watching them flourish—of course I'm smug. Of course I'm satisfied."

He speared a piece of roasted meat, chewed, and said: "It was Yuanshi Tianzun messaging me, asking for pointers on a few things."

Fu Qingyang's expression was indifferent: "Asking how to pick up chicks?"

"No!" Lingjun's face turned grave: "Asking how to become your brother-in-law."

...

After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing lay in bed scrolling through the official forum posts, chatting sporadically with Guanya.

Occasionally replying to Xie Lingxi and the Queen.

His mind churned over Fu Qingyang's words from before dinner.

If Headquarters truly adjusted the competition format, it wouldn't just be a contest of martial strength anymore—environmental factors, contestant personalities, and the like would all come into play.

The next objective was clear: gather the personalities and dossiers of the top eight, construct a behavioral profile for each.

"Guanya and the Squad Leader are Scouts. Tomorrow I'll ask them for help compiling a personality analysis of the top eight."

Decision made, he locked his phone and burrowed into the AC quilt.

A shrill ringtone shattered the silence.

Caller ID: Fu Qingyang.

"Hey, Centurion?" Zhang Yuanqing answered the phone.

"Come to Fujiawan. Elder Dog wants to see you." Fu Qingyang's voice was cold as December frost.

"Elder Dog wants to see me?" Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "What for?"

Given an Elder's status, they rarely received anyone. Besides, if there was business, why hadn't he mentioned it during the day's arena matches?

"I'm taking you to see the Demon-Eye Heavenly King!" Fu Qingyang said.

...