"The third stage's final battle will be a stage match, huh. Although a direct duel on the stage is the most logical setup, this means Yuan Shi Tian Zun won't have a clear advantage." "I still hoped for another instance of a raid battle—more thrilling, more dynamic, and more favorable to Yuan Shi Tian Zun. I checked the forum posts by Wen Yuan Ge's scholar; if the final battle begins with a high-difficulty raid, Yuan Shi Tian Zun might very well emerge as an underdog." "But that's not feasible at all. Yuan Shi Tian Zun has already secured powerful equipment, so starting with a high-difficulty raid would be unfair to Zhao Chenguang." "Looking forward to the final battle—it's sure to be spectacular." "It might conclude swiftly, haven't you read the scholar's analysis posts? Zhao Chenguang's overall configuration—from level and gear to the spectral corpses and spiritual servants—completely outclasses Yuan Shi Tian Zun's." "Zhao Chenguang's 'spiritual transformation' unleashes combat power comparable to a Junior Saint, plus he has a Level 4 spectral corpse. What can Yuan Shi Tian Zun possibly offer to overcome that?" Yuan Shishen shone so brightly in yesterday's replica match that I almost thought Zhao Chenghuang wasn't much to write home about—it only hit me after reading the forum analyses. "The audience is already chatting excitedly before the match even starts," said Xie Mom. "Baby, they don't think much of Yuan Shishen, do they?" Xie Mom asked, recalling yesterday's request. "Did you ask him?" Xie Lingxi shook her head. "Yuan Shishen doesn't want any of our sponsored equipment—he insists on losing rather than using it." Xie Mom had contacted the Xie family elders the day before, hoping to borrow a few items for Yuan Shishen. Upon hearing that Lingxi had developed a connection with Yuan Shishen, the elders were delighted and assured there would be no problem. So the family elders provided three pieces of equipment for Yuan Shishen to choose from. The first one is the "Love Red Thread"—when the user ties the thread to the target, the target will develop a favorable impression and fall in love with the user within half an hour. This thread can only be undone by a musician at the Saint level; others cannot. The cost of the props: love is mutual. When your target falls for you, you too will become utterly captivated by them. The second item is "The Mother's Skirt"—as the name suggests, a woman's dress. Once worn, no matter what you say, it will transform your words into a lullaby, gently entrancing your target. The cost of this prop: within 36 hours, you will be irrevocably transformed into a male mother. The third item is "The Inspirational Horn." When blown, it awakens your own vitality and boosts your combat power by 20%. The cost of this prop: after half an hour, you will fall into a state of mental exhaustion. "Xie Lingxi paused: 'Of course I have full confidence in Yuanshi Brother, but Zhao Chenguang isn't someone to be taken lightly.' Confidence doesn't guarantee victory, she added mentally. 'I bought Yuanshi Tianzun as a winner at the black market; his odds are 1:6. If Yuanshi Tianzun wins, this will be the most profitable venture of mine this year,' Mr. Bill said. "Mr. Bill said, 'The Prime Heavenly Sovereign told me he's certain to win. If he wins, the medication costs will be fully waived; if he loses, he'll cover the stake and pay for the medicine himself. I agreed—this is risk hedging.' 'Excellent risk hedging!' said You Feng Lai Yi, turning to Ling Jun beside her. 'If the Prime Heavenly Sovereign wins, you'll earn three million. If Zhao the City Spirit wins, you'll earn one million. Either way, you're guaranteed a profit.' She then looked at Fu Qingyang's back. 'Master, who did you buy?' Fu Qingyang replied calmly, 'I didn't buy anyone.' You Feng Lai Yi smiled warmly. 'Master truly lives up to his title—committed to avoiding the yellow, gambling, and drugs, always bringing positive energy.' Fu Qingyang added calmly, 'I'm the house bank. I've opened the betting market within the council group.' '...' Ling Jun's eyes brightened. 'How did the elders place their bets?' The elders occasionally engage in betting, usually without the younger members joining. But Fu Qingyang is a designated elder—his promotion is only a matter of time—and he's also well So, the elders convened and placed their bets. Fu Qingyang casually sold off the elders' shares: "Everyone from the Taiyuan Sect bought Zhao Chenghuang. Most of the elders from the Five Elements Alliance bought symbolic shares in Yuanshizhen, but invested heavily in Zhao Chenghuang. If Yuanshizhen wins, I'll earn five years of Baihuiwei's operational funding." "Yuanshizhen will definitely win!" the group of Baihuiwei elders behind him chorused in unison. Wearers can transform into pile drivers, effectively preventing being knocked off their feet by a single punch. The helmet defends against spiritual entities, the arm armor enhances arm strength, and the battle axe boosts offensive power. "With this armor on, I should be able to engage Zhao Chenguang in a physical fight even after he's turned into a ghost—without falling behind," Zhang Yuanqing thought, then began donning the armor on Wandering One. The armor must be worn by a yin corpse—this was already part of the battle plan drafted yesterday. If Wandering One lacked armor, the outcome would be crushed by a Level 4 yin corpse, leaving Zhang Yuanqing under siege from both Zhao Chenguang and the shengzhe-level yin corpses. He would inevitably be overwhelmed. By sacrificing one armor set and one yin corpse to neutralize one of Zhao Chenguang's key strengths, it's a sound trade. As for the battle axe, Zhang Yuanqing decided to use it himself, thus freeing up a slot for the Blood-Drinking Blade. "Hm, the Yuanshishen has assigned the armor to the yin corpse." "Very astute choice—this way, his yin corpse can counter Zhao Chenguang's yin corpse." "Indeed, but how will he himself face off against Zhao Chenguang? Once ghostified, Zhao Chenguang's combat prowess rivals that of a Sage-level cultivator." "Master Yuan Shi is a night-wanderer deity—perhaps he can use his 'night-wandering' ability to hold his ground." As the audience exchanged opinions, a knight clad in armor strode confidently toward the arena, raising his voice: "Order! Silence!" The previously chaotic crowd instantly fell quiet. The armored knight then declared: "Final match: Master Yuan Shi versus Zhao Chenguang—begin!" With those words, the audience felt their hearts pounding. Everyone was filled with anticipation—some hoping Yuan Shi would triumph over Zhao Chenguang to emerge as the surprise champion of this tournament, others eager for Yuan Shi to hold strong and avoid a swift defeat, while many wished for Zhao Chenguang to dominate Yuan Shi decisively, ending the battle and securing a big win for themselves. Zhao, the City God dressed in black, with a stern and noble bearing, glanced at the shadowy corpse clad in armor, raised his hand, and snapped his fingers. "Go!" The 4th-level shadow corpse, dressed in black robe and pants, had its eyes blazing crimson, charging toward Yuan Shi Tian Zun with speed so swift that only a streak of black was visible. Zhang Yuanqing remained motionless, and snapped his fingers as well. "Let's take him!" With the clashing of scales, the first deceased burst forth like a wild dog, heading straight toward the enemy. The two shadow corpses closed in swiftly, drawing back their fists to deliver straight punches. Crack! The fists collided, producing a sharp, crisp sound, and a ripple of air surged outward. Ding-ding-ding... The 4th-level shadow corpse staggered backward, its right arm going rigid as though an invisible force were pushing it, then pulling the entire body back. Meanwhile, the first deceased's upper body suddenly recoiled, yet his lower half remained firm and stable—his base as solid as a rock. Wu No. 1 drove power from waist and back, pulling her upper body forward. The arm plates emitted a resonant "hum," gathering energy. Then, with a spring in her legs, she surged forward, charging at the retreating yin corpse. Thud! Thud! Thud! A relentless rain of thunderous punches struck with precise force, each impact echoing in succession, forcing the Level 4 yin corpse to raise both arms and desperately fend them off. With her battle armor on, the enchanting spirit's close-range capabilities fully unfolded, demonstrating the peak qualities expected of a top-tier professional. The Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn immediately gained the upper hand, and the audience erupted in cheers. Zhao Chenghuang glanced at the yin corpse being passively battered, showing little concern, and instead smiled lightly: "As I anticipated, you've indeed used your armor against the yin corpses. So, you're planning to use your night-wandering ability to outmaneuver me?" The two spoke from over a dozen meters apart. Zhang Yuancheng raised an eyebrow, counter-questioning: "What's the issue?" Zhao Chenghuang's "ghostly transformation" couldn This is the most cost-effective approach. Zhao Chenghuang spoke calmly, "There's no issue. I simply wanted to inform you that I anticipated this development, and thus have already made the necessary arrangements." As he spoke, he opened his palm and produced the first item. A misty, gray glow rose from his palm, coalescing into a small, faceless clay figure with indistinct features. The figure had vague facial contours and rough limbs, resembling a simple clay doll shaped by a child's hand. Yet it exuded an unspoken sense of weight and solidity—like a towering mountain come to life. Gentle, earthy yellow ripples spread from the figure, and wherever they passed, the hard, green stone floor swiftly turned to soft sand, forming a yielding beach. Zhang Yuancheng stepped back two paces, looking down at the footprints he had made, and felt a sudden sense of alarm. Night-walking could no longer conceal his footprints; fighting on "sand" rendered invisibility meaningless. "There are many ways to counteract night-walking." Zhao Chenghuang said calmly, "Original Heavenly Sovereign, I don't intend to give you the chance. Since you've given your armor to the Yin corpse, I shall move swiftly and decisively." His tone was composed, yet his expression radiated unwavering confidence and pride. Gently holding the small clay figure in his palm, he slightly bowed, his muscles bulging as a painful roar rose from his throat. After a brief buildup, his body suddenly grew tall and imposing, his skin swiftly turning dark blue and gleaming with a metallic sheen. Veins of black wound through his thick, knotted muscles, and his fingernails rapidly elongated, transforming into dark, sharp ghost claws. The "sand" beneath his feet quickly coated itself with a layer of white frost, spreading outward in all directions, casting an atmosphere of cold and stillness over the entire arena. As the changes unfolded on the field, the audience erupted in murmurs: "Wait—has he committed a foul? That clay figure is a saint-level prop; a transcendental realm practitioner shouldn't exhibit such dramatic earth-control abilities." "Senior, he's committed a foul!" On the senior council seats, nearly twenty masters remained silent, offering no response. Zhao Chenghuang did not commit a foul. The key criterion for judging whether an item is in violation lies in its function. For instance, if an item from the Saint phase is used directly to defeat the opponent, that would certainly constitute a foul. However, for auxiliary functions, one must assess the strength of the effect. The sandification ability is indeed stronger than that of ordinary transcendent earth monsters, but Zhao Chenghuang has not yet reached the Saint level, and this is an auxiliary function—not a direct attack on the opponent. Compared to Yuan Shi Tianzun’s "contamination" technique, it is considerably less intense in nature. When the protest proved ineffective, several practitioners from the Five Elements Alliance grew increasingly agitated: "Well, Yuan Shi Tianzun’s night-wandering strategy has now been neutralized." "This is the clay figure I used during our last encounter with Jiang Jingwei—I remember it has solid defensive capabilities. By enhancing combat power through ghostification and maintaining the clay figure’s defense, Zhao Chenghuang has clearly been giving his full strength right from the start. He intends to secure a swift victory over Yuan Shi Tianzun." "Damn it—he’s aiming to humiliate us, the Five Elements Alliance." The audience turned their attention toward Yuanshishen, wondering how he would handle such a formidable opponent. Indeed, it wouldn't be easy... Zhang Yuanqing sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. To counter Zhao Chenguang's "ghostification," he had outlined three strategies, with the most cost-effective being the Night Wandering Maneuver—though this tactic was also the most vulnerable to counterattack. True to form, Zhao Chenguang didn't give him the chance to find a gap. Then, he would implement the second plan. Zhang Yuanqing opened his inventory and summoned the Yin-Yang Robe. "Swish!" The Yin-Yang Robe unfurled in the air, its lower pattern adorned with flames and its upper with waves, bearing the symbols of Yin and Yang. Ethereal streams of water surged from the black regions of the Taiji fish, while streams of crimson flames erupted from the white regions. The flames and water intertwined as they descended, forming a Taiji array that spanned a thirty-meter radius, fully enclosing Zhao Chenguang and the two Yin corpses. This was the first time Zhang Yuanqing had deployed this robe's array under such widespread attention—it was one of his signature moves.