Chapter 185: Loathing

【#Strategic Analysis of Yuanshi Tianzun's Defeat of the Maoshan Warlock#】

Zhang Yuanqing stared at the pinned post, momentarily stunned. I thought nobody was supposed to reveal combat details?

He'd come to bask in the flattery and indulge his vanity a little, not to find some analysis post exposing all his items and skills. Well, there had been an incredible number of spectators at the arena. Secrecy was a lost cause.

The moment a tournament was organized, information on the contestants was never going to stay private. What the officials were really guarding against was contestant data being sold wholesale, especially to Evil classes. In hindsight, the rule forbidding trump cards and items two tiers above one's level suddenly made more sense. It was, in part, a way to let contestants keep their true aces hidden. As for the ordinary items used in regular combat, information on those would leak eventually anyway, unless one simply never fought anyone at all.

With these thoughts swirling about his mind, he tapped his phone to open up the post.

【Thank you to all eighty contestants for delivering fierce and spectacular battles on opening day, and for showing us the energy and spirit of our official Walkers.

【Among these, the bout between Yuanshi Tianzun and Maoshan Warlock was nothing short of brilliant, and easily the marquee matchup of the day. Colleagues have been discussing it enthusiastically across the forum ever since it ended, and the buzz around it has lingered long after the final blow.

【Per tradition, let's break down the highlights of this duel. After thorough discussion, we've divided this fight into six phases.】

【Phase One. Yuanshi Tianzun opened with a deception tactic, catching Maoshan Warlock completely off guard. This was an extremely intelligent play. Whether you're outmatched or dominant, you should always strive to neutralize your opponent at the lowest possible cost. Unfortunately, Maoshan Warlock's yin corpse nullified the attempt.】

Not bad. There's no mention of specific items or detailed techniques. An analysis post like this is actually fine. Zhang Yuanqing nodded with satisfaction and scrolled on.

【Phase Two. Maoshan Warlock launched his counterattack, using his yin corpse as the primary combatant while his true body went invisible for ambushes. Anyone familiar with the Nocturnal Specter class knows this is the profession's most classic fighting style. With the yin corpse's assistance, he successfully suppressed Yuanshi Tianzun...

【Pay close attention to the gun toss. When Yuanshi Tianzun made that move, he had already anticipated that his attack would be ineffective against Warlock. So when Warlock struck, he created an illusion, went invisible, circled behind Warlock, caught the gun, and fired. The entire sequence was seamless.】

The Nocturnal Specter's skills weren't classified, and Maoshan Warlock's possession of a yin corpse was no secret either. Zhang Yuanqing's firearm was the more sensitive detail since it involved an item, but official Walkers were generally armed with guns anyway.

【Phase Three. The two exchanged blade strikes. Maoshan Warlock emerged unscathed, while Yuanshi Tianzun took a wound to the abdomen. At the time, many viewers must have been sweating for Yuanshi Tianzun, though thankfully Nocturnal Specters possess formidable vitality, and an injury of that level was hardly fatal. However, this moment was critically important. We'll return to it shortly.】

【Phase Four. This was one of the match's climactic moments. Maoshan Warlock correctly predicted that Yuanshi Tianzun would prioritize eliminating the yin corpse under pressure, and set an ambush in advance, waiting like a patient hunter. The strategy was genuinely brilliant, and he ended up trapping Yuanshi Tianzun in what appeared to be a hopeless situation.】

【Phase Five. Yuanshi Tianzun played his trump card, broke the death trap, and subdued the yin corpse.】

【Phase Six. The Maoshan Warlock fell.】

【Those who watched today's match will recall that from Phase Four through Phase Six, the reversal was sudden yet impossibly smooth. So smooth that Maoshan Warlock had virtually no room to resist and went down fairly quickly.

【Many viewers couldn't process what had happened at that moment. How did the fight unfold like that? Some likely still haven't grasped the key elements behind it. Let's analyze why Yuanshi Tianzun's victory was so seamless.】

【The turning point of this fight begins in Phase Three. As mentioned, that blade exchange was critically important. While it appeared Yuanshi Tianzun was badly wounded, the one who truly suffered was Maoshan Warlock. What did he lose? Those who know, know.

【Moving to Phase Four, Yuanshi Tianzun fell into what seemed like a hopeless trap. At first glance, he looked finished. But everyone should have noticed that he was only trapped for one or two seconds before Warlock's yin corpse malfunctioned. Clearly, this was deliberate. He threw himself into danger specifically to keep Warlock's attention entirely on himself, and away from what was coming next...】

That's pretty solid analysis. Whoever wrote this post is not a low-ranking Walker. Zhang Yuanqing pursed his lips. He had indeed fallen into the trap on purpose. It was the only way to ensure Maoshan Warlock wouldn't notice Little Goofball.

Under normal circumstances, a spirit servant's appearance would never escape a Nocturnal Specter's detection. To achieve a surprise attack on the yin corpse, he'd had to divert the Warlock's attention completely.

【Maoshan Warlock fell for it, and the cost was devastating. His death trap was broken, and he'd 'lost' the yin corpse, his most critical asset. He then attempted to use Night Wandering to stall, buying time and looking for openings. But Yuanshi Tianzun played his final card, cutting off his ability to enter Night Wandering entirely.

【At that point, you'll realize that every one of Maoshan Warlock's tools—his skills, his items, and his yin corpse—had been countered. How could he possibly win? Yuanshi Tianzun played us all like a chess game. Phases One and Two were just him probing. Phase Three was when he began the setup. And then, in one decisive push, he toppled a formidable opponent.

【All we can say is: it is just what we expected of the genius who's cleared two S-rank dungeons and one high-difficulty A-rank dungeon. Someone like him simply cannot be measured by a few lines of data on paper. We look forward to his performance in the rounds ahead.】

Thousands of comments filled the section below. The comments from several star-level contestants had exploded in terms of upvotes, and were at the top.

⤷ Earth God: Not bad at all, kid. He knows how to use his head. The more young people like this, the better.

⤷ World Ablaze: After watching that fight, I'm convinced. He didn't clear those S-rank dungeons through sheer luck alone. The guy's got real chops. I'm looking forward to fighting Yuanshi Tianzun myself. Preferably in a dungeon.

⤷ Green Pine: Beating Yuanshi Tianzun is actually simple. Just run. Run for your life...

⤷ Jiang Jingwei: What is this gibberish? I can't even understand the analysis. Fighting is the simplest thing in the world. Yuanshi and all his fancy tricks... Give me two or three moves and I'd have put Maoshan Warlock down myself.

⤷ Passionate Jenny: Holy crap, there were that many layers to it? I was completely lost the whole evening, okay? That Maoshan Warlock looked so dominant, and then he just... lost out of nowhere. The reversal caught me totally off guard. Now I finally get it. So this is what a top-tier combatant looks like!

⤷ Princess Consort: Wait, my brain literally can't keep up. I can think one move ahead at most, but it feels like Yuanshi Tianzun calculated everything from the opening to the finale. Is he even human? Does the Nocturnal Specter class have some kind of intellectual buff?

⤷ Long Road Ahead: Every phase was linked into the next. He'd already figured out his entire game plan before the fight started. I always knew the man had talent, but now that feeling is almost visceral.

⤷ Bitter Days Past: Holding back his trump cards, slowly teasing out Maoshan Warlock's every move... That was risky as hell. During Phase Three, I was shocked at how quickly Yuanshi Tianzun got wounded. Turns out he was setting the board the whole time.

⤷ Big Muscle: My brain literally can't keep up. How does he think ten moves ahead while making one? How did I never notice this kid was this strong? I remember him looking like a total goofball when he fought Rampaging Recklessly.

⤷ Call Me Queen: He's improved fast. Back when he fought Li Xianzong in that dungeon, he didn't have skills like this. There were signs of his tactical ability even then, and he was good at formulating strategy, but it wasn't polished. This match against Maoshan Warlock completely changed my opinion. Next year I'm applying for a transfer to Songhai to serve under Yuanshi Tianzun.

⤷ Li Dongze: Yuanshi fought well. My careful mentorship these past months wasn't wasted. @Queen, don't bother coming. Squad Two is full.

⤷ Call Me Queen: Who the hell is this clown? Mind your own business.

⤷ Grand Scholar of Wenyuan Hall: @Princess Consort, the intellect buff belongs to us Scholars, thank you very much. Yuanshi Tianzun is purely talented in combat. The post is right, someone like him really can't be evaluated by data alone. I'll be revising my assessment of him. That said, and I'm not trying to pour cold water here, based on the combat power and items he's demonstrated so far, cracking the top five will be tough. Top three is basically out of the question. Happy to be proven wrong.

⤷ Call Me Queen: Another clown! Let me tag this one. I'll come find you in real life and slap your face personally.

Zhang Yuanqing lost himself in the praise, forgetting the time entirely. As expected, showing off is humanity's most fundamental source of pleasure. I should keep flattering Fu Qingyang more often. I can't lose out on that investment...

***

Beneath a scholar tree in a Beijing courtyard, Sun Miaomiao stood beside a rocking chair in her little black dress, murmuring like she was chanting an incantation.

"I want Yuanshi Tianzun's baby ghost. I want Yuanshi Tianzun's baby ghost. I want Yuanshi Tianzun's baby ghost..."

She had been at it since evening, straight through to the dead of night.

After leaving the venue, Sun Miaomiao's mind had been consumed by the image of the little infant spirit. That round little body, so smooth and bare and impossibly adorable. Those dark, glistening eyes, pure as gemstones, without a single trace of a vengeful spirit's malice or hatred. That wispy tuft of baby hair was the very emblem of its precious age.

How could something so small exist in this world? How could anything be that cute?

"I don't care! I want him! Without him I won't be able to sleep tonight!" Sun Miaomiao shrieked.

"No means no!" Elder Sun replied, his patience worn thin. "I'll say it again. Beat Yuanshi Tianzun, and I'll let Little Red play with you."

"Little Red is wonderful too, but... but..."

Sun Miaomiao had already fallen for someone new. She just couldn't say it in front of Little Red. The girl was a sensitive child. It would hurt her feelings.

"But I still want Yuanshi Tianzun's little spirit servant! If you won't give me one, I'll just go assassinate Yuanshi Tianzun!" she fumed.

"Who would refine a newborn baby into a spirit servant?" Elder Sun snapped.

Grandfather and granddaughter both froze at the same moment, their brows furrowing in unison.

***

A woman in a silk nightgown lay draped across a chaise longue in the study room of a villa. The room was bathed in gentle, suggestive light. The hem of her skirt fell to her knees, exposing calves as smooth and luminous as jade, while the plunging neckline revealed a soft expanse of snowy white.

She propped up her delicate head on one hand, her gaze languid and seductive, and smiled. "Am I beautiful?"

Heavy breathing filled the darkened study, and a figure hidden in the shadows answered in a hoarse voice, "You are beautiful. Devastatingly so."

Zhu Rong's smile deepened, growing more alluring, more intoxicating. She bit her lower lip gently. "Do you want me?"

The voice let out a strangled cry. "Yes. God, yes!"

She laughed, all silk and honey. "Agree to one thing for me, and I'll take you as my consort. You can have me however you like."

"What is it?" the man in the shadows pressed.

Zhu Rong's lips curled upward. "If you face Yuanshi Tianzun in the tournament, bring me his blood, his hair, his fingernails, his flesh... Any one of them will do."

The shadows fell silent. After a long pause, the man's voice returned, having regained a measure of composure.

"What are you planning? Yuanshi Tianzun holds A-rank merit. He's not like an ordinary Transcendent. Even most stewards don't outrank him when it comes to merit. And in terms of talent... You saw his performance today. The Alliance leadership is only going to value him more from here on. I'd advise you not to play with fire."

Zhu Rong giggled. "You think I need you to tell me how to handle my affairs? There are many ways to destroy a person. You can control him, break him in, make him kneel at your feet like a dog you summon and dismiss at will. If he can't resist temptation, who's to blame? Even the Alliance leadership can't fault me for that."

"You're going after Yuanshi Tianzun because of what happened with Chi Yue'an?" the man asked.

"Not entirely."

The smile vanished from Zhu Rong's face. Something complex flickered through those seductive eyes, loathing, fear, obsession, and something else that defied words. She ground her teeth.

"I despise every last one of them," she spat. "Every young, gifted Nocturnal Specter. I want to crush them all beneath my heel, break them, enslave them, strip them of every shred of dignity, and make them fall so desperately in love with me that they can never crawl free."

What a twisted creature, the man in the shadows realized as he fell silent. After a long time, he yielded to the desire coiled inside his chest.

"Fine," he said softly. "I'll do it."

***

It was late at night. Having slept through the day, Zhang Yuanqing sat before the television in high spirits, controller in hand. Beside him sat Little Goofball, still and well behaved, so tiny that Zhang Yuanqing only had to turn his head to see the tuft of wispy baby hair atop his crown.

The infant spirit had already learned to manipulate objects. With his eyes locked on the screen with intense focus, Little Goofball's small fingers mashed away at a controller, while on screen a character tore through waves of enemies, cutting them down like weeds. Those wide, innocent eyes shone with the purest form of joy.

While his intelligence had reached roughly that of a two-year-old, in truth, the controller in Little Goofball's hands wasn't connected at all. The other end of the cable hung loose. The one actually playing was Zhang Yuanqing.

Little Goofball didn't know that. In his mind, he was conquering the world. He was still just a child, after all.

Gaming was Zhang Yuanqing's reward for him, the same way a father rewarded his son for bringing home a perfect score. Little Goofball had performed brilliantly earlier that day and thoroughly deserved it.

Zhang Yuanqing was genuinely enjoying this dynamic. It felt like raising a son, even if the boy's mother had nothing to do with him.

Taking Little Goofball in had been the right call. The child deserved a second life, a chance to experience this vivid, colorful world, rather than wandering the mortal realm alone for a few bewildered days as a stillborn infant spirit before fading into nothing.

Suddenly, the crackle of static came from the desk behind him. Another one of the Demon Lord's filthy recordings...

Zhang Yuanqing dropped his controller without a word and sprinted for the desk.

Little Goofball blinked. He stared at the screen, where the action had suddenly frozen, then looked down at the controller in his tiny hands, his fingers still clicking away furiously. A look of pure confusion crossed his little face.

Zhang Yuanqing yanked open the drawer, gripped the Cat King Speaker, and entered Night Wandering.

The instant his material form faded, a woman's scream flooded his ears, accompanied by the loud, rhythmic slap of flesh against flesh. Through the ragged breathing, he heard a cold laugh, then the Demon Lord's distinctively hoarse voice.

"Didn't you say this morning you'd kill me and claim the merit for it? Didn't you say you'd rather die than submit? I thought you were some virtuous, unyielding warrior. Turns out your moans are sweeter than a Wood Demon's."

There was a pause.

"Zhu Rong. You're the sister of the Zhu family head, aren't you?"