Chapter 1 Surrounded

Surrounded… Zhang Yuanqing felt a chill in his heart, but maintained a calm facade, his deep gaze sweeping across the six contestants surrounding him.

Tianxia Guihu slowly exhaled, rubbed his throbbing temples, and smiled, "Everyone, let's work together to eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun. Fifty points, may the best man win!"

The Yinchi, who had already formed a secret alliance, twirled a dark bamboo flute with his fingers and echoed, "I have no objections!"

Qingsongzi, standing amidst the verdant vines, smiled brightly, "In this instance, points are king! Whoever has the most points gets eliminated. I agree."

Yuan Ting and Zhao Chenghuang remained silent, but they both focused their gaze on Yuanshi Tianzun, clearly thinking the same thing.

The Land God puffed on his cigar, smiling without a word.

"Oh, so you think of me as a fish on a chopping board, ready to be divided at will?" Zhang Yuanqing scoffed.

"Isn't that the case?" Qingsongzi retorted.

As they spoke, Zhao Chenghuang and the others tacitly reduced the encirclement, and a battle was about to break out.

If I use all my trump cards, I should be able to escape, but there's no way the Yin corpse can. Destroying the Yin corpse isn't against the rules. Among this group, apart from Yuan Ting and the Land God, the others aren't exactly friendly towards me… Out of secret jealousy, they would definitely destroy my Yin corpse if they got the chance… I can't force my way out, I need to use my brain and think of a way…

Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, and he quickly came up with a plan!

This group isn't a team, and even within the small teams, the Five Elements Alliance contestants and the Taiyi Sect contestants can't trust each other.

The only reason they reached a consensus to deal with me is because they don't feel threatened. I must create a sense of crisis that makes them wary of each other, afraid of friendly fire…

With this analysis, the solution becomes clear: deduct their points… Zhang Yuanqing didn't panic at all. He turned his gaze to the Land God, a smile on his face.

"Old man, you have to help me."

The Land God, with his cigar in his mouth, asked, "Why?"

Zhang Yuanqing quietly released Xiao Doubi, ordering it to take off the Yin corpse's pants. On the surface, he remained calm and said, "Look, the strongest one here is Zhao Chenghuang. If a real fight breaks out, I'll definitely be taken down by him. Then the fifty points will be snatched away by the Taiyi Sect. That won't do. Even if I die at the hands of my own people, I can't die at his hands."

The Land God thought the same way, so he went along with the flow and chuckled, "That makes sense!"

With that, he took a step sideways, blocking Zhao Chenghuang and Yuan Ting.

Seeing this, Tianxia Guihu immediately said, "Old man, hold them back. We'll take care of Yuanshi Tianzun as soon as possible."

Actually, the development that best suited his intentions was for Zhao Chenghuang to act as the main force, heavily injuring Yuanshi Tianzun, and then for the Land God to join forces with them to repel Zhao Chenghuang and eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun.

This kind of mixed battle between different factions was meant to be a strategy of using one force against another, with each side using the other. But reality never goes exactly as planned.

Having the Land God block Zhao Chenghuang was also a good thing.

Immediately, the Yinchi raised the bamboo flute to his lips, Qingsongzi grabbed a wooden stick from his inventory, and Tianxia Guihu took out a half-meter-long spray gun, with a small canister of gas as the gun stock.

Just as the "horn" of battle sounded, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly turned around, looked at the Yin corpse bound by vines, and exclaimed in anger, "How dare you treat my Yin corpse like this? It's simply morally depraved!"

His voice was urgent and high-pitched, as if something unspeakable had happened to the Yin corpse.

Huh? Instinctively, everyone turned their attention to the Yin corpse, or glanced at it out of the corner of their eyes.

The Land God also turned his head back.

At that moment, Xiao Doubi, following his master's orders, pulled down the Yin corpse's pants.

What's going on? As the six contestants were still confused, Zhang Yuanqing, who had moved his gaze away beforehand, raised his head and shouted, "I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Tianxia Guihu for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Qingsongzi for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Yinchi for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Yuan Ting for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Zhao Chenghuang for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

In the midst of a series of reports, under the dome of the sky, the hundred-zhang-tall heroic spirit slowly drew his bow and fired five arrows in succession at the people on the ground.

Five dark arrows streaked across the sky like meteors.

[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun. The report is successful. Three points have been deducted.]

[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun…]

[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun…]

"???"

Listening to the notification sound in their ears, the five contestants, except for the Land God, had a string of question marks floating in their minds.

What happened? I've been reported?

Three points just disappeared like that?

The previous punishments were because Yuanshi Tianzun was exploring the reporting rules. This is the rule he figured out? Zhao Chenghuang's eyes flashed, and he instantly understood. He grabbed Yuan Ting's Yin corpse and threw it hard at the crowd.

During this process, Zhao Chenghuang violently tore off the Yin corpse's pants.

What Yuanshi Tianzun can do, I can do too.

Zhao Chenghuang was smart, and he immediately realized that this was an opportunity to severely damage the Five Elements Alliance contestants in one fell swoop.

"Thud!"

The naked Yin corpse landed among the dazed crowd.

Damn it… Everyone turned their heads away in unison.

But it was too late.

Zhao Chenghuang looked up at the sky, his tone calm, and shouted, "I, Zhao Chenghuang, hereby report Yuanshi Tianzun for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: Illegal!"

"I, Zhao Chenghuang, hereby report Tianxia Guihu…"

In the midst of one report after another, the heroic spirit under the sky drew his bow and fired five arrows at the ground.

Immediately afterward, apart from Yuan Ting, Zhang Yuanqing and the others received Lingjing notification sounds at the same time.

So you're learning and applying it on the spot, huh… Zhang Yuanqing's expression changed slightly.

"…" Tianxia Guihu was, after all, a fire master, and he finally couldn't hold back. He cursed, but then, his face twitched as he added, "Damn green…"

Because Tianxia Guihu suddenly realized that if seeing someone's private parts could be reported, then swearing would very likely be reported as well.

Qingsongzi and Yinchi retreated repeatedly, their faces pale, losing their sense of security.

In just one minute, they had lost six points, leaving them with only four now, and Zhao Chenghuang still had a Yin corpse by his side.

Zhao Chenghuang pressed down on the level 4 Yin corpse's shoulder and said calmly, "A good method, Yuanshi Tianzun. I have to thank you!"

"It's not too late to thank me after I've finished reporting you," Zhang Yuanqing chuckled, raised his head, and shouted, "I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Zhao Chenghuang for stripping the Yin corpse's pants. Reason for the report: Gross indecency!"

As Zhang Yuanqing shouted the report, Tianxia Guihu, Qingsongzi, and the others all lowered their heads and retreated like frightened birds.

[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun…]

Hearing the successful report notification, Zhao Chenghuang's expression instantly darkened.

He immediately retaliated in kind, reporting Yuanshi Tianzun for the same crime. The report was successful, but Zhao Chenghuang wasn't happy at all, because he only had four points left.

And Yuanshi Tianzun's total score was fifty points. If nothing unexpected happened, he still had forty-one points.

They panicked, no longer trusting each other… Seeing the wary and insecure expressions on the faces of his would-be attackers, Zhang Yuanqing knew that the time was ripe. He pressed down on his waistband with both hands and shouted, "I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report…"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly pulled his hands down.

The six contestants present all lowered their heads, averted their gazes, and quickly retreated.

After making the gesture of feigning to pull down his pants, Zhang Yuanqing disappeared. Then, he appeared next to Undead No. 1, wielding the Bloodthirsty Blade and easily cutting through the tough vines one by one.

Seeing that they had fallen for the trap, Yinchi immediately played the bamboo flute, and the shrill and mournful sound waves pierced into their minds like steel needles, wounding their souls.

Under the indiscriminate attack, everyone present covered their heads, revealing expressions of pain.

Zhang Yuanqing's movements of wielding the Bloodthirsty Blade slowed down.

Almost at the same time, Qingsongzi, who was closest, grimaced in pain and swung the wooden stick in his hand.

"Snap!"

The wooden stick transformed into a vine covered in barbs, striking Yuanshi Tianzun's back, tearing his clothes and leaving a blurry bloodstain.

This item was called the "Ruyi Stick," and it could change its form at will. Different forms came with different effects. As a wooden stick, it inflicted dizziness upon hitting the enemy, while as a whip, it caused bleeding, suitable for both long-range and close-range attacks, making it very suitable for nimble wood spirits to use.

Among transcendent-level items, it was considered to be of exquisite quality.

The sharp pain made Zhang Yuanqing's scalp tingle, but instead it freed him from the influence of the flute sound, clearing his mind. Without hesitation, he quickly cut the last few vines, grabbed the Yin corpse, entered night tour, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Without scouts providing true sight (insight), it was difficult for other classes to determine the direction of a night wanderer from subtle clues.

Zhao Chenghuang and the others, who wanted to encircle him, could only helplessly watch Yuanshi Tianzun escape.

Yinchi was both surprised and angry, glaring at Qingsongzi from afar.

He didn't expect this guy to be so reckless. This whip, apart from inflicting a minor injury on Yuanshi Tianzun, was meaningless and instead woke him up.

If it were a different opponent, Yinchi would have already taken action himself, driving the moon slave to attack.

But Yuanshi Tianzun was a night wanderer. His moon slave could suppress from a distance with singing, but if it got close, it would likely be swallowed by the night wanderer in one gulp, never to return.

Therefore, playing the flute was to delay Yuanshi Tianzun's speed of rescuing the Yin corpse, so that the allies could block him.

In the end, Qingsongzi's whip ruined the plan.

The prey had broken free from the trap and escaped into the mountains. The hunters looked at each other, with hostility and vigilance secretly brewing.

Who would be the next prey?

After a silence of about two or three seconds, everyone, at the same time and tacitly, made a move—

They pressed down on their waistbands.

They looked at each other, their gazes sharp, their expressions resolute, with a hint of determination to perish together.

"Scatter, scatter, there are no points left. There won't be any fighting." The Land God waved his hand like shooing away flies. "Scatter, scatter."

Tianxia Guihu, Qingsongzi, Yinchi, and Yuan Ting retreated slowly, pressing down on their waistbands, like ancient warriors pressing on their sword hilts.

Zhao Chenghuang retreated, covering the Yin corpse's shoulders.

After creating enough distance, each side turned around and left as quickly as possible.

…Yuan Ting was followed by a Yin corpse without pants.

In the arena, the atmosphere was a bit stiff.

The audience looked at the star-level contestants retreating slowly while pressing on their waistbands, their minds buzzing. Stripping Yin corpse crotches? Threatening with waistbands?

How could the contestants do such things? Aren't they stars? Don't they care about their reputation?

This wasn't the battle everyone wanted to see. Why did the style of painting deviate so ridiculously?

It couldn't help but remind people of an old meme: is this a distortion of human nature or a decline of morality? The meme is a bit old, but it's very fitting here.

At the elder's seat, the seven or eight elders present were all silent at this time.

Among them, a Taiyi Sect elder with the surname Zhao twitched his eyes repeatedly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

In the twenty years since the interlude competition was established, there had never been a battle that insulted the sect's reputation like today. If this gets out, where will the official face be?

"This Yuanshi Tianzun…"

An elder sighed deeply.

"Zhao Chenghuang, Tianxia Guihu, Yinchi, Qingsongzi, they all have four points left. The Land God and Yuan Ting have seven points left, and Sun Miaomiao has ten points left…"

Somewhere in the ruins, Zhang Yuanqing sat against the wall, calculating the enemies' points.

"According to the current situation, there are two possible developments. One: Those with fewer points will target those with more points. Those with more points won't trust those with fewer points. At the same time, because the points have dropped below the safety line, everyone is on guard. Their alliance is no longer solid, and there will be cases of mutual assassination in order to plunder points. This development is most beneficial to me."

"Two: In order to deal with the lack of trust, those with a sense of the big picture will try their best to consolidate the alliance. The most suitable and effective method is to use off-site interests."

After all, this is a competition, not a real Lingjing mission. Losing won't result in death; at most, the ranking will be lowered, and the rewards will be reduced.

Then, in order to restore trust between allies, offering off-site benefits is an effective method.

"Alliance and division have always been one of the gameplay methods of instances. This isn't considered cheating, so I also have to make reasonable use of off-site benefits to divide and win over allies. The ones who are close to me are the Land God and Yuan Ting, but I'm not familiar with the old man's personality and preferences. Compared to that, I know Yuan Ting's preferences."

Zhang Yuanqing immediately had an idea: use some private gossip to exchange for Yuan Ting's support.

For example, the dog elder's little female dog in the zoo mysteriously became pregnant; for example, when Chiyue An was in the Zhu family, how he witnessed his wife's joyous bed-sharing with numerous male concubines; for example, the secrets behind the Chu family's extermination case; for example, those women the demon lord slept with in those years; for example, when Flower was young, he was repeatedly abused by the Fu family sisters.

He knew too many secrets.

In a relatively intact dilapidated small building, Yinchi, Qingsongzi, and Tianxia Guihu each stood in a corner of the room.

They didn't trust each other, they were secretly vigilant, and they also craved alliance.

Tianxia Guihu said in a deep voice, "We all have 4 points left, which can withstand two reports. If Yuanshi Tianzun and Zhao Chenghuang use that despicable and inferior trick again, we will definitely lose. Therefore, we must unite."

Qingsongzi said indifferently, "How can we unite? What is the basis of our trust?"

Tianxia Guihu smiled, "Don't be so vigilant. This is just a competition, not a life-and-death arena. Our conversation is being watched by elders, deacons, and so many colleagues. They are the witnesses.

"Everyone is a respectable figure, right? I can solemnly promise that after the competition, regardless of our three's ranking, the rewards will be divided equally. The elders and colleagues outside can testify."

This was different from the scheming in the competition. Since Tianxia Guihu brought up his reputation and brought up the elders, deacons, and colleagues as witnesses, he couldn't go back on his word.

Qingsongzi's attitude suddenly eased:

"What do you want to do?"

Tianxia Guihu said:

"Now we have to consider who to deal with.

"My idea is, if Yuanshi Tianzun is still a lone wolf, then let's try to win him over and focus on dealing with the three of the Taiyi Sect. If the Land God and Yuanshi Tianzun ally, then we will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

"The tactics have to be a bit despicable. Everyone doesn't have many points, so we can't be wasteful anymore."

When the two companions nodded, Tianxia Guihu said:

"In addition, Yuan Ting also saw the private parts of his own Yin corpse, but Zhao Chenghuang didn't report him. I think we need to verify a rule, that is, whether reporting can be delayed.

"If it can be delayed, then we will report Yuan Ting now, and then report Yuanshi Tianzun, because he swore when he was snatching the chest armor from us."

Yinchi nodded:

"I heard it too, but we don't have extra points to test the rules."

If the report fails, the reporting function will be sealed for half an hour, and one point will be deducted.

Everyone now has four points, so theoretically speaking, they can withstand two reports, but if one point is deducted due to a failed report, then as long as there is another report, they are screwed.

Tianxia Guihu thought for a while and sighed: "I'll do it!"

If he wanted to be the leader of the team, he had to make sacrifices.

Immediately, Tianxia Guihu raised his head and shouted: "I, Tianxia Guihu, hereby report…"

[Ding! Report successful.]

Tianxia Guihu was overjoyed: "Success."

"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby report Yuanshi Tianzun for swearing. Reason for the report: Harmful to morality."

In the ruins, Zhang Yuanqing raised his head and shouted the content of the report.

[Ding, report successful.]

[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun. The report is successful. Three points have been deducted.]

"As expected, it can be delayed. As long as it's done in the instance, it can be reported at any time… This rule is good. I'm going to report the Land God for swearing now, and I'm sure it will be accurate with one report."

Zhang Yuanqing had figured out another rule.

Dilapidated small building.

Hearing this, Qingsongzi urged:

"Then what are you waiting for? Report Yuanshi Tianzun immediately."