"The match officially begins at 11 a.m., with random pairings. Please adjust your game states and prepare thoroughly." The number of comments instantly surged. Oh, the soldier who crosses the river! Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the quarter-final matchups and winced. A few days ago, he had heard that this player was particularly strong in observation—a tough opponent indeed. Now, he found himself facing him in the quarter-finals. Yet, when he saw Jiang Jingwei versus Zhao Chenguang, he felt a sense of good fortune. While Xiao Qingyang was challenging, at least he had a strategy to counter her. It was better than being matched against one of the top three—those extreme cases. How pitiful Jiang Jingwei was—Zhang Yuanqing silently mourned her for a few seconds before scrolling down to check the comments beneath the post, reviewing the official travelers' opinions and sentiments. [Princess: Making a prediction, only two pairs matched within the top ten. Jiang Jingwei is definitely no match for Zhao Chenghuang; I suspect he'll miss the quarterfinals. Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn has a stronger edge against the Over-the-River Soldier, though the others in the top ten face opponents from outside the top ten—so their challenges should be manageable.] [Looking Ahead: The highlight of today's match is undoubtedly these two duels. Jiang Jingwei indeed proves difficult against Zhao Chenghuang, with a significant gap between them. However, the prediction about Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn versus the Over-the-River Soldier was made too early. The match doesn't start until eleven o'clock, with three hours still to go—this is clearly signaling to the players to prepare their countermeasures and tools.] [Areca Nut and Smoke: Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn's strategies have been nearly exhausted since his last encounter with the Mountain Sect Master. In contrast, the Over-the-River Soldier has won several matches with ease. Thus, Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn is at a disadvantage. If I were the Over-the-River Soldier, I'd have already gone to borrow equipment right now Anyway, as long as the rank is no higher than two levels above my own, there's no limit on the number of items.】 【Call me Queen: but using items comes at a cost—we can't borrow too many. If I were a pawn advancing across the river, I'd borrow either a powerful ranged item with strong output capability, or an item specifically supporting Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn @Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn.] The Queen makes sense... Zhang Yuanqing sat down at his desk, opened his notebook, and began formulating a strategy against Xiao Qingyang. He first listed out his own strengths and weaknesses, then shifted his perspective to think from the standpoint of a scout. "With my specialization in insight, both combat and marksmanship are strong points—so I'm not afraid of Xiao Qingyang's Night-Wandering God sneaking in for a surprise attack. In fact, that's exactly what I'd like. However, the issue is that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn has a handgun item with power far exceeding ordinary bullets. "As a scout, my defensive capabilities are relatively weak. If he uses the Yin-Shi to encircle me, maintaining his Night-Wandering state while firing cold shots from a distance So I need to strengthen my defense or healing capabilities." "The Yin尸 of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn has strong close-range combat skills, but poses little threat to me—what's more challenging is the Spirit Servant, which I need to counter." Zhang Yuanqing wrote down: healing or defensive items, items to counter the Spirit Servant. He then switched back to his own perspective: "Facing opponents like the Over-the-River Soldier, close combat is a disadvantage—easy to falter even in the midst of success. If he has defensive items, the threat of my explosive rifle is significantly reduced. There's a solid winning strategy: deploy the Red Dance Shoes. The downside is twofold—first, I'll have to perform awkwardly on stage in front of countless spectators; second, I'll be exposing this key asset too early." Zhang Yuanqing paused, then had a sudden idea: "I can request the use of items from the Bai Hui Wei. It's a guild benefit—why not make good use of it?" He didn't see anything wrong with relying on items; throughout human history, warfare has always been a story of technological and weapon evolution. From stone tools to bronze, from bronze to iron, and then to the development and application of thermal weapons—humankind has continuously used tools to strengthen its own capabilities. The Wayfarers of the Spiritual Realm are no different. Their professions remain singular, and even the strongest have inherent limits; yet their equipment is abundant, allowing for numerous tactical combinations. At least during the Transcendent Stage, equipment plays a crucial role. By the time one reaches the Sage Realm, however, the number of available tools diminishes sharply, and the cost increases—except for a few particularly generous Wayfarers, most Sages can only command no more than three pieces of equipment. "In fact, even at the Transcendent Stage, equipment is quite valuable. The official bodies are simply too generous. With a little borrowing from superiors and colleagues, one can easily gather several tools. Ordinary organizations and independent practitioners simply don't enjoy such privileges." Thinking thus, Zhang Yuanqing opened the White Guard's guild warehouse and submitted a request to the guild master for access to equipment attributes. 【Ping! Fu Qingyang has granted you partial permissions. Part of the permissions grants access only to extraordinary境 items? Zhang Yuanqing eagerly browsed through the warehouse items. After fifteen minutes, Zhang Yuanqing selected one item and submitted a request to the master. 【Ping! Request approved. Please check the item details in your inventory.】 Zhang Yuanqing opened the inventory and retrieved the item. It was a mirror crafted from blue crystal, compact and cool to the touch, with flowing wave-like patterns shimmering across its surface. 【Name: Mirror of Flowers and Moonlight】 【Type: Mirror】 【Function: Creates a duplicate, purifies water quality】 【Description: A mirror carved from the essence of water. It purifies water and, when gazed upon for more than three seconds, summons a mirror-image duplicate. The duplicate replicates all of the user's skills and remains active for ten minutes.】 【Note: Lacks spatial awareness and coordination in movements—doesn’t that sound endearing?】 In fact, Zhang Yuanqing had originally intended to choose a prop that could generate mist, thereby obscuring the observation of the troops crossing the river. However, since scouts are known as the true eyes, extraordinary-level mist might not be sufficient to block their sight. Thus, he opted for a prop capable of creating duplicates, thereby increasing the burden on the crossing troops. The difficulty of focusing on one person versus three is entirely different. Time swiftly passed, and by eleven o'clock, a chime sounded in his ears: 【30 seconds after entering the spiritual realm, your current spiritual realm is "Lava Pool," ID: 1233】 【Difficulty Level: B】 【Type: Multiplayer】 【Main Objective: Endure the trials of intense heat and defeat the lava monsters.】 【Note: Non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in.】 ... Zhang Yuanqing entered the scenario with the Yin尸. Above him, the sky was clear and blue, with clouds remaining still. He found himself at the mouth of a volcano, the air scorching and laced with a strong sulfur scent; with the mountain breeze coming, waves of heat pressed upon him. Two meters below, the molten lava churns and gurgles, bubbling continuously. Rising from the lava like slender pillars, stone columns with a diameter of half a meter extend approximately one meter above the surface. This must be the Fire Master's special spiritual realm. The quest is surprisingly simple—just endure the heat, defeat the monsters beneath the lava, and indeed, it's a straightforward, unchallenging experience for a Fire Master's realm. Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze and surveyed the surroundings. This time, he didn't seek out Guan Ya's presence, as the space was too open—the volcanic crater spans nearly a hundred meters and could comfortably accommodate several thousand people. The official team members were scattered throughout the crater in small groups. If my scouts have better sight than I do, Guan Ya would surely come to find me. If she doesn't, then I shall officially sever our ties. While thinking this, he saw a young man with red hair leap into the lava pool, land firmly on one of the stone pillars, and then announce the rules aloud. "The flames will erupt every twenty seconds, and the monsters beneath the lava will appear once every minute." "Now, please welcome the first group of contestants." The voice echoed through the arena as the audience watched, Land God and Changjiang PaoLang leap into the molten pool. Changjiang PaoLang was a young man with a delicate, gentle demeanor—his features refined, his eyes soft, at first glance resembling a gay man. Gazing at his counterpart, Land God, he sighed, "Grandfather, I've already had bad luck matching with you. I never expected to be randomly assigned to the Fire Master's arena. What a pity—let's just say I'm here to enjoy myself." As a water spirit, this setting was particularly unfavorable; his ability to control water was nearly useless, and his combat relied solely on physical strength. Still, the random nature of the scenario was beyond his control—only his luck could be blamed. "What's so bad about the Fire Master's arena? Has the Fire Master been eating your rice?" someone above shouted. Holding a cigar, Land God smiled, "Actually, the Fire Master's arena is quite comfortable." In the Five Elements, fire generates earth—so in this setting, earth-based monsters could truly shine. The red-haired young man in the corner shouted, "The match begins!" This one was a foregone conclusion—Changjiang Poled only managed twenty seconds before the first lava eruption. While desperately defending against the scorching lava, he was ignored by the land deity, whose high temperature reached him directly. The deity's fist pressed firmly against his forehead, and Changjiang accepted defeat. Ten minutes later, the red-haired young man announced, "It's time for the second group." As soon as he spoke, a flame surged from a broken bubble in the lava pool, gradually solidifying into the form of a red-haired young woman. Standing on a stone pillar, she crossed her arms, held her chin high, grinned with teeth, and radiated a mixture of confidence and carefree enthusiasm. This girl clearly didn't feel any pressure from being ranked first—Zhang Yuan thought to himself. At the same time, he heard footsteps. He turned his head and saw Guan Ya. The elder magistrate had once again donned her black stockings, a tailored skirt suit, and a white blouse—her workplace elegance. Notably, during her battle for the top sixteen, she had lost to the "Golden Armor" contender. Guan Ya's rifle was a game-changing weapon in the Transcendent Realm, but due to its limited power, it couldn't be effectively utilized. Her combat skills were strong, yet she found it difficult to overcome the earth-based monster, the Golden Armor. "Have you come?" Zhang Yuanqing smiled satisfactorily. Guan Ya regarded him with a warm, thoughtful expression. "Are you satisfied?" She didn't wait for Zhang Yuanqing's response, lightly shifting the topic. "This round will be exciting—the lava pool is the fire master's stronghold. Jingwei will be able to unleash the fire master's full combat potential, though Zhao Chenghuang will find it tough." Zhang Yuanqing raised an eyebrow. "You're optimistic about Jingwei?" If Jingwei wins, it will surely be a major surprise of the season. Guan Ya shook her head. "It's hard to say, but one thing is certain: Zhao Chenghuang will need to deploy his Yin Shi to secure a victory against Jingwei. Pay close attention—observe Zhao's fighting style. As for his reserve strength, it will depend on how much pressure Jingwei can exert." In the earlier rounds of elimination matches, Zhao Cheng Zhang Yuanqing nodded, gazing at Jiang Jingwei, who was so carefree and full of energy, and sighed, "Sometimes I truly envy Fire Master—so pure in intent, so free from pressure." As he spoke, two figures leapt into the volcanic crater. Zhao Chenguang wore a black robe and black trousers, his expression cold and his demeanor marked by lofty pride. The other figure was bare-chested, clad in black long pants, his muscles as solid and firm as molten steel, his gaze fierce and brutal, lacking any sense of wisdom. The surrounding area of the crater immediately buzzed with lively chatter, growing increasingly noisy. The highlight of today's match for the final eight was undoubtedly the duel between Jiang Jingwei and Zhao Chenguang, and the encounter between Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn and the lone soldier crossing the river. "The match begins!" Jiang Jingwei, eager to start, immediately spread his arms and raised them upward. Instantly, clusters of molten lava coalesced into fiery spheres, rising from the pool and gently hovering around Zhao Chenguang. "Crack!" With a graceful snap of his fingers, Jiang Jingwei sent one fiery sphere hurtling toward Zhao Chenguang. Zhao Chenghuang remained motionless, and the spectral corpse automatically protected its master, stepping forward to block the path of the fire ball. With a single palm extended, he gently pressed. "Pop!" The fire ball exploded, molten lava dripping down the corpse's palm, untouched by the intense heat. Within the expanding flames, Jiang Jingwei's figure emerged, shouting in exultation, and with fists wrapped in fire, she struck hard at the spectral corpse. The spectral corpse's fists also ignited, and the two met in a powerful punch. A tremendous roar, like an explosion of C4 explosives, echoed through the air—the molten lava beneath them sank sharply, then surged upward in a brilliant wave. The spectral corpse staggered back a step, while Jiang Jingwei gritted her teeth and retreated. Noticing this, Zhao Chenghuang raised an eyebrow. This spectral corpse had been refined to Level 4 Fire Master status—this young girl clearly possessed extraordinary strength. "Remarkable! I can't match it," Jiang Jingwei said, shaking her arms and turning to Zhao Chenghuang. "Then I'll fight you!" As soon as the words fell, a fire ball several meters behind Zhao Chenghuang exploded. Jiang Jingwei, wielding the element of fire, surged forward, her waist generating immense power as she launched a sweeping leg kick into the air. "Crack!" Zhao Chenghuang raised his arm to block, but the force sent him soaring upward, landing against a nearby stone pillar. Immediately, the shadow spirit turned to rescue him, charging toward Jiang Jingwei. "Boom!" A fire ball erupted two meters to Zhao Chenghuang's side. Jiang Jingwei materialized, reached into the molten pool, and retrieved a long whip streaming with molten lava, then forcefully drew it out. Zhao Chenghuang, hurriedly leaping to the stone pillar on his left, felt the whip strike the molten pool, splashing bright lava in all directions. "Sizzle... sizzle..." The molten lava splashed onto his body, melting holes through his garments, leaving him somewhat disheveled. Without giving him a chance to recover, Jiang Jingwei's third wave of attacks arrived instantly. At the volcanic crater, Zhang Yuanqing watched as Jiang Jingwei, using the floating fire balls, repeatedly executed fiery maneuvers, forcing Zhao Chenghuang into a state Yet each time Yin Shi tried to strike down her enemies, she could only watch helplessly as they turned into flames and vanished. He remarked, "A very smart strategy—this effectively avoids being engaged in a one-on-two battle, though it comes at a great physical cost. In contrast, Zhao Chenghuang appears disheveled, yet manages to evade each attack with minimal exhaustion. He is deliberately sapping Jing Wei's strength, and soon he will launch a counteroffensive." At this moment, Jiang Jingwei, having failed to make progress after prolonged assaults, no longer pursued Zhao Chenghuang with fiery attacks. Instead, she moved like a small leopard toward Yin Shi, sidestepping her direct punches, grasping her arm, and suddenly pulling with strength, attempting to drag her out of the molten pool. Her strategy was clear: divide the enemies and defeat them one by one. Since Zhao Chenghuang remained out of reach, she focused on eliminating Yin Shi. Though Yin Shi had once been a master of fire magic and possessed strong fire resistance, she had lost much of her original abilities. Jiang Jingwei was confident she could defeat her in the molten pool, while Zhao Chenghuang, as a night-wandering deity, could never dive At that moment, Jiang Jingwei's shoulders suddenly grew heavy, her breathing grew irregular, and her limbs soon grew weak and limp. Seizing the opportunity, the shadow corpse cracked the stone pillar and launched itself like a projectile. Thump, thump, thump... fists blazing with flame struck again and again, sending out a steady wave of rumbling air. Jiang Jingwei resembled a boxer on the podium, struggling under the onslaught, raising her arms to block one fierce blow after another. On several occasions, she tried to use her fire-based technique to escape, but each time the flame surged, it was abruptly interrupted. Her face grew visibly paler, yet her eyes grew fiercer and more agitated, her rage steadily building. Outside the arena, only the Night-Wanderer God could see that a white-eyed, black-lipped spirit was resting on Jiang Jingwei's shoulders, steadily siphoning her vital essence. The non-Night-Wanderer cultivators could only speculate that Zhao Chenghuang had summoned a spiritual attendant. This spiritual servant's ability is akin to the mountain deity temple's version of the shoulder-pressing spirit, but an upgraded one. Zhao Chenghuang should have more than one spiritual attendant—let's see if Jing Wei can compel him to reveal more of his reserves... Zhang Yuanqing watched intently. At the same time, Jiang Jingwei's anger reached its peak, erupting in a surge of molten lava. Her slender body unleashed a force even more violent than the lava flow, her red hair standing upright like flames, and deep within her eyes, flames seemed to burn. Zhang Yuanqing heard Guan Ya beside him exclaim in astonishment, "A raging fury?" Similar gasps echoed throughout the audience, near and far. Wasn't that the hallmark skill of a Saint Realm fire master—Raging Fury? He paused, then felt a surge of excitement. This should finally force out Zhao Chenguang's reserve move.