Surrounded... Zhang Yuanqing felt a chill in his heart, but remained calm on the surface, his deep gaze sweeping across the six competitors in front, behind, left, and right.
Tianxiaguihuo slowly exhaled, massaged his throbbing temples, and said with a smile:
"Everyone, let's work together to eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun. Fifty points, may the best man win!"
The Tone Deaf, who had secretly formed an alliance, twirled a dark bamboo flute between her fingers and echoed:
"I have no objections!"
Qing Songzi stood amidst the verdant vines, smiling brightly:
"In this instance, points are king! Whoever has the most points gets eliminated, I agree."
Yuan Ting and Zhao Chenghuang didn't speak, but both turned their gazes to Yuanshi Tianzun, clearly thinking the same thing.
The Land Lord puffed on his cigar, chuckling without a word.
"Oh, so you think of me as fish on a chopping block, to be carved up at will?" Zhang Yuanqing scoffed.
"Isn't that the case?" Qing Songzi retorted.
As they spoke, Zhao Chenghuang and the others tacitly reduced the encirclement, and a battle was about to erupt.
If I use all my trump cards, I should be able to escape, but there's no way to save the Yin corpse. Destroying the Yin corpse isn't against the rules. Among this group, apart from Yuan Ting and the Land Lord, the others' attitudes towards me can't be considered friendly... Motivated by secret jealousy, they would definitely destroy my Yin corpse if they got the chance... I can't force my way through, I need to use my brain, think of a way...
Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, and he quickly came up with a plan!
This group isn't a team. Not to mention the small groups within, it's impossible for the Five Elements Alliance players and the Taiyi Sect players to trust each other.
They can reach a consensus to deal with me because they don't feel any pressure or a sense of crisis. I have to create a crisis that makes them wary of each other, afraid of friendly fire...
With this analysis, the solution emerges. Deduct their points... Zhang Yuanqing didn't panic at all. He turned his gaze to the Land Lord and smiled:
"Old man, you have to help me."
The Land Lord, still puffing on his cigar, said: "How come?"
Zhang Yuanqing quietly released Little Rascal, ordering him to take off the Yin corpse's pants, while remaining outwardly calm, he said:
"Look, the strongest one here is Zhao Chenghuang. If a real fight breaks out, I'll definitely be killed by him. Then the fifty points will be snatched away by the Taiyi Sect. That won't do. I'd rather die at the hands of my own people than die at his hands."
The Land Lord thought the same thing, and followed along with a chuckle:
"Makes sense!"
As he spoke, he took a step forward, blocking Zhao Chenghuang and Yuan Ting.
Seeing this, Tianxiaguihuo immediately said: "Old man, hold them off, we'll eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun as quickly as possible."
The most desirable development for him would be for Zhao Chenghuang to act as the main force, severely injuring Yuanshi Tianzun, and then the Land Lord and them would join forces to repel Zhao Chenghuang and eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun.
This kind of free-for-all situation is inherently using one to destroy the other, you use me, I use you, but reality never goes as planned.
Having the Land Lord block Zhao Chenghuang wasn't bad either.
Immediately, the Tone Deaf raised her bamboo flute to her lips, Qing Songzi grabbed a wooden stick from his inventory, and Tianxiaguihuo took out a half-meter-long spray gun, the handle of which was a small gas canister.
Just as the "horn" of battle sounded, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly turned around, looked at the Yin corpse bound by vines, and said with great anger:
"How dare you treat my Yin corpse like this, you're simply morally bankrupt!"
His voice was urgent and high-pitched, as if something unspeakable had happened to the Yin corpse.
Huh? Instinctively, everyone at that moment turned their gazes to the Yin corpse, or glanced at it out of the corner of their eyes.
The Land Lord also turned his head back.
It was at this moment that Little Rascal, following his master's orders, pulled down the Yin corpse's pants.
What's going on? As the six contestants were puzzled, Zhang Yuanqing, who had moved his gaze away in advance, raised his head and shouted loudly: "I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Tianxiaguihuo for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Qing Songzi for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report the Tone Deaf for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Yuan Ting for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Zhao Chenghuang for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
Amidst a series of reports, beneath the firmament, the hundred-zhang-tall heroic spirit slowly drew his bow and fired five arrows in a row at the people on the ground.
Five dark, heavy arrows streaked across the sky like shooting stars.
[Confirmed! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun. Report successful. Three points deducted.]
[Confirmed! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun...] [Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun...]
"???"
Hearing the notification in their ears, except for the Land Lord, a string of question marks floated through the minds of the five contestants.
What happened? I was reported?
Three points gone just like that?
The penalty that was issued before was Yuanshi Tianzun exploring the rules of reporting. This is the rule he discovered? Zhao Chenghuang's eyes flashed, and he instantly understood. He grabbed Yuan Ting's Yin corpse and slammed it hard between the group.
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 very clever, and immediately realized that this was an opportunity to severely injure the Five Elements Alliance players in one fell swoop.
"Thud!"
The Yin corpse with its bare lower half landed among the stunned crowd.
Damn it... Everyone turned their heads away at the same time.
But it was too late.
Zhao Chenghuang looked up at the sky, and said in a calm tone, raising his voice:
"I, Zhao Chenghuang, hereby formally report Yuanshi Tianzun for peeping at the Yin corpse's private parts! Reason for the report: it's against the law!"
"I, Zhao Chenghuang, hereby formally report Tianxiaguihuo..."
Amidst the sound of formal reports, the heroic spirit beneath the firmament drew his bow and fired five arrows at the ground.
Immediately afterwards, except for Yuan Ting, Zhang Yuanqing and the others received the Spirit Realm notification at the same time.
Learning on the fly, huh... Zhang Yuanqing's expression changed slightly.
"..." Tianxiaguihuo, being a Fire Master after all, finally couldn't hold back and let out a curse, but immediately after, he twitched his face and added:
"Damn it, it's so green..."
Because Tianxiaguihuo suddenly thought that if seeing someone's private parts could be reported, then saying dirty words would very likely also be reported.
Qing Songzi and the Tone Deaf retreated repeatedly, their faces pale, and they lost their sense of security.
In just one minute, they lost six points, and now they only had four points left, while Zhao Chenghuang still had a Yin corpse by his side.
Zhao Chenghuang held down the shoulder of the Level 4 Yin corpse, and said calmly:
"Not a bad method, Yuanshi Tianzun, I have to thank you!"
"It's not too late to thank me after I report you," Zhang Yuanqing said with a grin, and raised his head high: "I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Zhao Chenghuang for pulling down the Yin corpse's pants. Reason for the report: outrageous profanity!"
As Zhang Yuanqing shouted out the formal report, Tianxiaguihuo, Qing Songzi and the others all lowered their heads and retreated, like startled birds.
[Ding! You have been reported by Yuanshi Tianzun...]
Hearing the notification sound of the successful report, Zhao Chenghuang's expression instantly sank.
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, and no longer trusted each other... Seeing the besiegers looking wary and lacking a sense of security, Zhang Yuanqing knew that the time had come. He pressed his hands on his waistband and shouted loudly:
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally 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 motion of feigning to pull down his pants, Zhang Yuanqing's figure disappeared. Immediately afterwards, he appeared beside Undead One, wielding the Bloodthirsty Blade, and easily cut through the tough vines.
Seeing that they had fallen for the trap, the Tone Deaf immediately played her bamboo flute, the mournful and sorrowful sound waves piercing 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, Qing Songzi, who was closest, with a ferocious expression, endured the headache and swung the wooden stick in his hand.
"Bang!"
The wooden stick transformed into a vine full of barbs as it moved through the air, hitting Yuanshi Tianzun's back, tearing his clothes, and drawing out blurred bloodstains.
This prop was called "Ruyi Staff". It could arbitrarily change its form, and different forms came with different effects. The wooden stick, when it hit an enemy, would inflict dizziness, while the whip would inflict bleeding. It could attack from afar or fight up close. It was very suitable for agile Wood Demons.
Among the Extraordinary realm props, it was also a top-quality item.
The intense pain made Zhang Yuanqing's scalp tingle. On the contrary, he broke free from the influence of the flute and his mind was clear. Without hesitation, he quickly cut off the last few vines, pulled the Yin corpse, and entered Night Tour, disappearing from everyone's sight.
Without a Sentinel providing a True Sight (Insight) field of vision, it was difficult for other classes to judge the direction of the Night Wanderer's movements from subtle clues.
Zhao Chenghuang and the others, who wanted to surround him, could only helplessly watch Yuanshi Tianzun escape.
The Tone Deaf was both surprised and angry, glaring at Qing Songzi from afar.
She didn't expect this guy to be so impulsive. This lash didn't bring any meaning other than a minor injury to Yuanshi Tianzun, but instead woke him up.
If it were any other opponent, the Tone Deaf would have already taken action herself, using her Moon Slave to attack.
But Yuanshi Tianzun was a Night Wanderer. Her Moon Slave could suppress him from afar with her singing, but if she got close, she would most likely be swallowed by the Night Wanderer in one gulp, never to return.
Therefore, playing the flute was to delay Yuanshi Tianzun's speed in rescuing the Yin corpse, so that his allies could stop him.
As a result, Qing Songzi ruined the situation with one lash.
The prey had broken free of the trap and escaped into the deep mountains. Several hunters looked at each other, and hostility and vigilance were secretly brewing.
Who would be the next prey?
After a silence of about two or three seconds, everyone, at the same time, made a tacit move—
They pressed on their waistbands.
They looked at each other, their eyes sharp, their expressions firm, with a hint of the resolve to burn jade and stone together and die a heroic death.
"Disperse, disperse, no one has many points left, there's no point in fighting anymore." The Land Lord waved his hand like he was swatting flies, "Disperse, disperse."
Tianxiaguihuo, Qing Songzi, the Tone Deaf, and Yuan Ting retreated slowly, pressing on their waistbands, like ancient warriors pressing on the hilts of their swords.
Zhao Chenghuang retreated while covering the Yin corpse's shoulder.
After pulling a sufficiently far distance, each party turned around and left as quickly as possible.
.....Yuan Ting was followed by a Yin corpse without pants.
The atmosphere in the arena was somewhat stiff.
The audience looked at the star-level players who were slowly retreating while holding their waistbands, their minds buzzing. Pulling down a Yin corpse's crotch, peeking at private parts? Threatening by holding your waistband?
How could the players do such a thing? Aren't they stars? Don't they care about their reputation?
This isn't the battle everyone wanted to see. Why did the style deviate so ridiculously?
It couldn't help but bring to mind an old joke: Is this a distortion of human nature or a decline in morality? The joke is a bit old, but it's very appropriate here.
At the elder's seats, the seven or eight elders present were all silent at this time.
One of the Taiyi Sect elders, whose surname was Zhao, twitched his eyes repeatedly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
The inter-school competition had been established for twenty years, and a battle that humiliated the sect like today's had never occurred. If this spread, where would the official's face go?
"This Yuanshi Tianzun..."
An elder sighed deeply.
"Zhao Chenghuang, Tianxiaguihuo, the Tone Deaf, Qing Songzi, they all have four points left. The Land Lord and Yuan Ting have seven points left, and Sun Miaomiao has ten points..."
In some ruins, Zhang Yuanqing sat against a wall, calculating the enemy's points.
"According to the current situation, there are two possible developments. One: those with fewer points will gang up on those with more points, and those with more points will not 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 the most beneficial for me."
"Two: In order to cope with the situation of lack of trust, those with a strong sense of overall situation will try their best to consolidate the alliance relationship. The most suitable and effective method is to use off-field interests."
After all, this is a competition, not a real Spirit Realm mission. Losing doesn't mean death, at most the ranking is lowered and the rewards are reduced.
Then, in order to restore trust between allies, promising off-field benefits is an effective method.
"Vertical and horizontal alliances are one of the gameplay methods of the instance. This is not considered a violation of the rules, so I also have to make reasonable use of off-field interests to divide and win over allies. The people who are close to me are the Land Lord and Yuan Ting, but I am not familiar with the old man's character and preferences. Compared to that, I know Yuan Ting's preferences."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately had an idea, exchanging some private gossip for Yuan Ting's support.
For example, the strange pregnancy of the dog elder's little bitch in the zoo; for example, how Chiyue An witnessed his wife and concubines joyfully in bed when he was in the Zhu family; for example, the secrets behind the Chu family's massacre; for example, the women the Demon King slept with in those years; for example, the abuse of Young Master Hua by the Fu family sisters when he was young.
He knew too many secrets.
In a relatively intact dilapidated small building, the Tone Deaf, Qing Songzi, and Tianxiaguihuo each stood in a corner of the room.
They didn't trust each other, they were secretly vigilant, and they longed to form an alliance.
Tianxiaguihuo 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 trick again, we will definitely lose. Therefore, we must unite."
Qing Songzi said calmly: "How to unite? What is the basis of our trust?"
Tianxiaguihuo smiled:
"Don't be so vigilant. This is just a competition, not a life-and-death arena. Our conversations are being watched by elders, deacons, and so many colleagues. They are the witnesses.
"Everyone is a well-known figure, right? I can solemnly promise that after the competition, no matter what our three people's rankings are, the rewards will be split equally. The elders and colleagues outside the field can testify."
This is different from the intrigue in the competition. Since Tianxiaguihuo has raised his reputation and raised the elders, deacons, and colleagues to testify, he cannot go back on his word.
Qing Songzi's attitude immediately eased:
"What do you want to do?"
Tianxiaguihuo 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 from the Taiyi Sect. If the Land Lord and Yuanshi Tianzun form an alliance, we will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
"The tactics should be a little despicable. Everyone doesn't have many points left, so we can't be wasteful anymore."
After the two companions nodded, Tianxiaguihuo said:
"In addition, Yuan Ting also looked at his Yin corpse's private parts, but Zhao Chenghuang didn't report him. I think we need to verify a rule, that is, whether the report can be delayed.
"If it can be delayed, then we will report Yuan Ting now, and then report Yuanshi Tianzun, because he cursed when he was fighting with us for the breastplate."
The Tone Deaf nodded:
"I heard it too, but we don't have any 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's points are four now. Theoretically speaking, they can withstand two reports, but if one point is deducted due to a failed report, then as long as there is one more report, it's game over.
Tianxiaguihuo thought for a while and sighed: "I'll do it!"
If he wants to be the leader of the team, he must make sacrifices.
Immediately, Tianxiaguihuo raised his head and shouted: "I, Tianxiaguihuo, hereby formally report..."
[Ding! Report successful.]
Tianxiaguihuo was overjoyed: "Success!"
"I, Yuanshi Tianzun, hereby formally report Yuanshi Tianzun for cursing. Reason for the report: morally damaging."
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. Report successful. Three points deducted.]
"So it can be delayed! As long as you have done something in the instance, you can report it at any time... This rule is good. I will now report the Land Lord for cursing. I will definitely get a successful report every time."
Zhang Yuanqing had figured out another rule.
Dilapidated small building.
Qing Songzi heard the words and urged:
"Then what are you waiting for? Report Yuanshi Tianzun immediately."