"Won? Is that really it?" "How can there be two Prime Immortals? What's going on here? I completely don't get it—someone please explain." "Didn't we get it at all? The Prime Immortal began using a duplicate from the very start, with his true form hidden nearby, ready to strike at any moment. This move is truly clever—ever since I've been wondering how he'd counter the Over-the-River Soldier's keen observation, I never expected him to create a duplicate right away." "A bit of a trick, yes, but the Over-the-River Soldier has also used appropriate tools to counter the Prime Immortal. Everyone plays by the rules, so there's nothing to say if they lose." "Less than a minute—though brief, it was absolutely thrilling. The Prime Immortal still shows the same love for strategy and calculation as before. He's not the type who thrives on intense, direct combat." "The Over-the-River Soldier is also quite solid—his strategy is sound: he capitalizes on opportunities, closes the distance, and wins swiftly. He can't afford to linger; any delay means defeat. Yet it seems as though Yuan Shi Tian Zun anticipated this very point. Ah, in just one minute, there are countless unseen battles unfolding." Emergency staff rushed into the lava, lifting the wounded river soldier who was bleeding profusely. Though the wound missed the vital area, timely hemostasis would be crucial—without it, the player might not survive. Zhang Yuanqing enjoyed the cheers from the crowd and listened to their lively, continuous discussions, preparing to step out of the lava pool. But as he took a step with his left foot, his right leg moved independently, creating a conflict between his brain's commands and the body's response. He stumbled, nearly falling. Oh dear—the price of mirage and illusion has finally come to bear. Zhang Yuanqing froze in place, unable to move. The red-haired elder stood at the volcano's mouth, gazing at the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, who stood proudly in the center, receiving the crowd's admiration, and grew impatient. "You still haven't come up," he said, "are you planning to continue the match?" Zhang Yuanqing turned to face him, sincerely asking, "Elder, I'm experiencing a physical issue that's preventing me from moving. Could you please carry me a little way?" The red-haired elder frowned, saying, "I'll take you along for the journey—just please don't speak to me with your back turned. That's basic respect." "Oh, sorry!" Zhang Yuanqing quickly turned around. The red-haired elder's temples bulged with anger, "Even facing me sideways counts as respect?" "...?" With a cold snort, the red-haired elder waved his hand and sent out a whip formed of flame, hooking the waist of Yuan Shi Tian Zun and tossing him onto the shore like a dead fish. ... Sun Miao Miao knelt beside Zhao Chenghuang, smiling, "How about now? Still think Yuan Shi Tian Zun isn't much to write home about?" As a top seed of Taiyuan Sect, the senior elders had convened the seed candidates before the 16-strong round began, gathering to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the top ten contenders and to develop targeted strategies. At that time, Zhao Chenghuang had rated Yuan Shi Tian Zun as likely to exit at the 16-strong stage, with a best-case scenario reaching the top eight—top four was out of reach. Zhao Chenguang gazed into the other person's dark, luminous eyes, paused, and said, "He is exceptionally skilled at utilizing props and the surrounding environment. The more chaotic and complex the situation, the stronger his performance becomes. If the venue of the semifinal matches features a high-difficulty dungeon-style setting, he very well might emerge as our strongest opponent." Sun Miao-miao nodded slightly. For this, he has also developed a set of catchphrases. The five little ones are always well-mannered before battle—this is quite problematic. Mr. Bill had only casually asked this, but now he's genuinely interested: "The Magus's catchphrases? If they're not confidential, I'd love to hear them." Anne shrugged: "Some rough expressions—what's there to say? Well, there are a few that aren't rough, though we simply don't understand them." Recalling, she added: "I and your father are of the same path; I and your mother are close friends, like the ancient associates of Guan and Pai." Mr. Bill repeated this softly, shaking his head in bewilderment: "I don't see how this could be anything but confusing—how could it possibly offend someone?" Anne smiled: "Just try shouting it out loud." ...Mr. Bill paused for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head: "Well, I suppose I don't want to return to the spiritual realm so soon." On the other side, just as with the beautiful Anne, another young lady is also extremely satisfied with the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. Zhu Rong narrowed her beautiful eyes, fixing them on the indistinct silhouette of the Yuan Shi Tian Zun in the distance, her smile both radiant and dangerous. "Such an exciting toy indeed." The following battles unfolded smoothly, and by dusk, the eight finalists were announced. Zhao Chenghuang, the Earth Deity, Sun Miao Miao, the one with no sense of music, the Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Qing Songzi, Yuan Ting, and Tian Xia Gui Huo. The red-haired young elder in charge of the tournament declared loudly, "The competition is over!" ... Zhang Yuanqing returned to his small apartment, the window open, the evening breeze rushing in, lifting a corner of the curtain. Outside, the sounds of his grandmother's cooking filled the air, while students and office workers carried schoolbags, entering and exiting the residential complex, moving along the streets. Everyone hurried on, weary from the day's activities, just in time to catch dinner. After dinner, they needed to rest in preparation for the next day's commute. The evenings in Songhai are lively and bustling, yet despite the dense population, there's a noticeable absence of a warm, everyday atmosphere—unless in the older residential neighborhoods where locals gather. It's hard to see elderly women lounging under trees with cups of tea, or older men clustering around chessboards. "If I'm not mistaken, Xiao Yuan is a wizard-herbalist at the Saint level. Someone of that caliber still has solid self-defense capabilities even when facing official authorities... Zhang Yuanqing sent a message: 'Just let me know if you have any needs.' While a true transcendental-level Yuanshizhun might fall short when the situation truly arises, Yuanshizhun's status would be invaluable if the opponent were an official organization. Moreover, with Wu-Hen Master supporting Xiao Yuan, ordinary power groups would find it difficult to pose a real threat to her. Thus, Zhang Yuanqing wasn't overly concerned. At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing saw someone @ him in Baihuiwu's group chat. Upon opening it: 【You Feng Lai Yi: @ Yuan Shǐ Tiān Zūn, the duplicate you used today is indeed "Jing Hua Shui Yue" from our faction's warehouse. It's hard to disrupt scouts with the Insight specialization using interference tactics—your choice to deploy a duplicate is very astute. You're clearly a player who excels at leveraging props.】 【You Feng Lai Yi: I've compiled the strengths and weaknesses of the top eight players, along with the props that can counter each of them. For all except the top three, you'll find suitable props in Baihuiwu's warehouse. However, Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miao Miao, and the Earth God don't have corresponding props in the warehouse. Unless you opt for the Saint-level props, which I wouldn't recommend.】 Props at the Saint level have a somewhat blurred boundary between compliant and non-compliant usage. So far, no one has used Saint-level props—Zhang Yuanqing's scarecrow is the only one reaching this level, though it falls under the auxiliary category. [The Small Axe: It's easy to get penalized, and people often criticize you, feeling that your victory isn't truly earned—especially given your reputation; now you need to be more mindful of your standing.] [Lin Jun: Given the current situation, it seems Yuan Shi will have a tough time making it into the top three. I originally thought you would, but after watching so many days of matches, I'm amazed at the strength of the top three players. Even if you use that item—your red dancing shoes—it might still be difficult to win.] He is referring to the red dancing shoes. [Qī Cì Láng: If Yuan Shi Tian Zun is unlucky and is matched against one of the top three players tomorrow, he'll likely only reach the quarterfinals. What do you think, @Fu Qingyang?] [Fu Qingyang: The match rules tomorrow might change. I just received the news from the elders—the headquarters seems to plan to send the quarterfinalists into high-difficulty dungeons, using a "fostering" mode to determine the top three. They're still in discussion.] Several active members in the group were instantly stunned. [Qī Cì Láng: Then wouldn 】 【The Phoenix Comes to Pay a Visit: Hmm, based on my understanding of the headquarters, a meeting lasting at least three days—tomorrow without the arena match, instead scheduled for rest.】 【Little Axe: I think that’s a great idea. Large-scale combat instances follow a kind of "nurturing the venom" model. Headquarters probably wants this match to feel more like those instances, helping the top eight contestants adapt early on. This also suggests that headquarters has a clear intention to cultivate the top eight specifically.】 【Fu Qingyang: We’ll just have to wait for the headquarters’ final decision. If they’re dropped into the instances, Yuan Shiyuan might have a chance at the championship. But you’ve seen Zhao Chenghuang’s performance today—just that one move, and my win rate against him has dropped below 30%. @Yuan Shiyuan】 【Yuan Shiyuan: Agreed!】 If we switch to the instance format, external factors will improve my win rate—indeed, that helps. But Zhao Chenghuang is no rookie in the instance arena. And since I’m also a Night-Wanderer, the factors that disadvantage him are also disadvantageous to me. Zhang Yuanqing didn’t want to talk about these uncomfortable things, so he privately reached out to Ling Jun: "I have a question. There’s an aunt who suddenly stopped responding to me. You’ve got experience dealing with women—could you analyze what’s going on?" Ling Jun: "???" Ling Jun: "Hey, Zhang, you’re quite picky!" Zhang Yuanqing: "That aunt is well-dressed and has a lovely face." Ling Jun: "Good boy, you’ve got potential." Yuan Shi Tian Zun: "Yes, she’s recently encountered a minor issue—something that she specifically mentioned to me. Now that I’ve reflected on it, given her personality, she’d only reach out directly if there were real risks. For smaller matters, she’d simply not bother to mention them. So this was intentional." Ling Jun: "So how did you respond to her?" Yuan Shi Tian Zun: "I told her, 'Just let me know when you need anything.' Then she sent a smile and stopped responding." Ling Jun: "Could you tell me more about her personality? I’ll analyze it for you." Zhang Yuanqing carefully described Xiao Yuan's personality to Ling Jun. After listening, Ling Jun felt a deep sense of frustration—like a world-class player watching a bronze-level rookie making clumsy moves—and sent a series of "sweating" emojis: "Such women have a strong psychological barrier; they appear cold and distant to everyone. Yet, in reality, they deeply long for warmth and value their teammates highly. With regard to potential suitors, however, they tend to instinctively reject and distance themselves—often dismissing them outright, regardless of their merits, to eliminate any possibility." "To handle such women, you must first persistently pursue them, but maintain the right balance so that they feel overwhelmed without becoming annoyed. Then, gradually learn about them, observe their behavior, and identify their inner soft spots—once you've found them, act swiftly and decisively, just as you did with the overland infantry unit today." Yuanshi Tianzun: "That analogy feels a bit off. What happens then?" Ling Jun: "Then she will develop a favorable impression of you, begin to observe you, test you subtly through small, quiet actions—yet never explicitly state her interest. She will remain rather pretentious." At this point, if you make a mistake or respond poorly, she will quickly retreat. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood and immediately sent a message: "What should I do to remedy the situation?" Ling Jun: "She hasn't asked you to go, has she? Then go against her expectations—preferably quietly. This way, you show respect for her choices while also demonstrating your care for her. You must always remember that women like this are often dramatic yet deeply yearn for warmth and attention. Being persistent and relentless is absolutely effective for them. If you say you don't want it, and then truly believe that, you're simply a fool." "That makes perfect sense." Zhang Yuanqing sent a series of [Master, I bow to you] emoji. He then sent another message: "I've been stuck in a relationship with a sister of mine for a long time. She's been very patient and close to me, yet I still feel there's a gap—like we're friends, but not quite lovers yet." Ling Jun: "You're referring to Guan Ya, aren't you?" Zhang Yuanqing sent a [distinguished elder receiving my homage] emoji, masking his inner awkwardness. Ling Jun: "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was young, I dreamed of having two close female companions—one named Lin Sister, another named Ba Sister—and someone like Qingwen to warm my bed. Ideally, I'd also have a young wife named Qin Keqing to guide me through life. That's just what young men naturally think about. If a twenty-something boy claims he doesn't admire beautiful women, he's simply exaggerating." In Ling Jun's view, Yuan Shi Tian Zun is a classic example of a man who loves many beautiful women but has never actually settled on a girlfriend—purely a straight man. Yuan Shi Tian Zun is very good at knowing how to act and excels at socializing, but interpersonal relationships and dating are two very different things. The latter requires experience, and without it, there simply is none. Being a social butterfly and being a seasoned romantic are two distinct qualities. Lingjun: "Honestly, I don't think you should pursue Guan Ya. She's a scout after all—she has sharp eyes. If you change your mind or cheat on her, she'll catch it right away. More importantly, you simply can't keep up with her. When your relationship hits a breaking point, she'll literally beat you senseless." Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn: "...” Lingjun: "But since you've asked, I'm definitely going to teach you. Guan Ya comes from a noble family in the Spiritual Realm, and she has very high standards—she simply doesn't look down on ordinary people. On this point, you're well-positioned, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn's reputation is sufficient. She has a rather unusual personality—she's quite talkative about things that are more intimate, even making me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. But you're fine on that front; this is actually a key factor in winning her over. Based on my analysis, there are three main reasons why your relationship with her has hit a plateau." "First, you've only known each other for a relatively short time. A woman of her background and upbringing won't quickly settle on a romantic relationship "Second, due to her family background—though she's rebellious, she's aware of her status, and her family will certainly be involved in her choice of a spouse. She might feel that you're not yet suitable to meet her parents, so she's maintaining a distance." "Third, you still need a catalyst—something like a romantic confession, a crisis involving separation or even death, or a passionate, spontaneous moment of wildness after a night of drinking." "I see, I see..." Zhang Yuanqing was left stunned. Ling Jun: "Are there any more? If not, I'll head to dinner." Ah, yes—there's also the Master of Zhishi Palace... Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn: "That's all, thank you, great one." Zhang Yuanqing clicked on Ling Jun's profile and updated his note to: Life Mentor! No. Your expression carries satisfaction, pride, and a subtle, almost secretive delight. A girlfriend shouldn't make your face so complex. Ling Jun set down his phone and said, "Of course I'm proud and satisfied to see my ideas and academic work carried forward and celebrated. I've been invited by Yuanshǐ Tianzun to attend some matters." Fu Qingyang responded with a calm demeanor. "So, how do I charm a woman?" "No!" Ling Jun's expression grew serious. "How do I become your brother-in-law?" ... After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing lay in bed, scrolling through official forum posts, occasionally chatting casually with Guan Ya. He gave brief attention to Xie Lingxi and the Queen. In his mind, he was reflecting on Fu Qingyang's words before the meal. If the headquarters truly adjusts the competition format, it won't be merely a test of strength anymore—it will also have to take into account environmental factors, the contestants' personalities, and other such considerations. The next objective is clear: gather information on the personalities and backgrounds of the eight finalists, and develop behavioral profiles for each. "Guan Ya and the squad leader are scouts. Tomorrow, I'll ask them to assist, and compile a profile analysis of the finalists' personalities." After making this decision, he turned off his phone and settled into the air-conditioned blanket.