Location: Lotus Sun Sect – Main Combat Arena
Time: Tournament Round Three
Crowd Mood: Bloodthirsty and slightly confused
---
When I walked into the arena, my hair glowed like a lantern.
Someone in the audience gasped, "He dyed it?!"
Someone else shouted, "Cult fashion victim!"
Someone threw a steamed bun. I caught it. Ate it. Walked to the center.
---
> [System Alert:]
Opponent: Mu Ren
Rank: Peak Foundation Stage
Weapon: Spirit Fang Blade
Bloodline: Golden Ridge Tiger – Spirit Beast Companion
Favorite Quote: "Roar, little brother."
Status: Annoyed by your existence
---
Mu Ren was huge.
Shirtless. Abs that could cut jade. Flowing hair. Glowing tiger stripes.
Standing beside him: a mini tiger spirit the size of a couch.
I turned to the referee.
"Are pets allowed?"
The referee shrugged. "As long as they don't kill you."
"Comforting."
---
Mu Ren sneered. "I asked to fight the so-called 'ghost boy.' And I get you."
"Technically, I am ghost-adjacent," I said.
"You mock me?"
"Constantly."
---
> [System Boost Activated:]
Passive: Trash Dodge +30%
Condition: Must maintain running commentary during battle
---
The match began.
He charged.
I ran.
He slashed.
I dodged — barely. My glowing hair acted like a beacon. The tiger chased it.
I tripped over my own foot.
And somehow spun into a weird cartwheel kick that hit the tiger cub in the nose.
It blinked, whined… and sat down.
"…Did I just defeat the beast… with clumsiness?"
---
Mu Ren's eye twitched.
"Now you've insulted my ancestor."
"Look, bro. I just tripped. Your tiger gave up. That's not my fault."
"RAAAH!"
He launched a tiger-shaped qi wave straight at me.
---
And then…
Lin Xue appeared.
Only I could see her.
She whispered: "Duck."
I ducked.
She flicked her ghost fingers.
The qi wave curved midair… and struck the referee's podium.
---
> [System Reaction:]
Ghost Interference Detected
Reward Penalty: +100%
Public Image: -10
Hidden Buff: You live
---
The crowd went wild.
Some booed.
Some cheered.
One girl fainted. (Apparently I smiled after surviving.)
---
Mu Ren charged again.
I raised my broom spear—and accidentally dropped it.
As he raised his blade to strike, my system finally activated a skill:
> Skill: Awkward Counter
Redirects opponent's momentum using pure dumb luck.
Mu Ren slipped, tripped over the tiger cub, and landed flat on his face.
---
Referee's Flag Raised:
"Winner: Arin!"
I blinked.
Yue Lan blinked.
Lin Yumei facepalmed.
Yura screamed, "I KNEW IT! BLUE HAIR IS LUCKY!"
---
📌 Character Spotlight: Mu Ren
Disciple Rank: Peak Foundation
Spirit Companion: Golden Ridge Tiger Cub
Personality: Arrogant big bro
Motivation: To be recognized as "next generation's number one"
Outcome: Defeated by trash-tier counterluck
---
Later that night—
I stood on my roof, eating leftover steamed buns.
Lin Xue sat floating nearby.
"You owe me," she said.
"I'll name a sock after you."
"I hate you."
"Too late. You're Sock Xue now."
She floated off in disgust.
---
Meanwhile, deep in a hidden cave—
The Cult of Twilight Claw prepared another move.
"The pill stabilized. His soul is adapting," the masked figure said.
"Should we act?"
"Soon," the leader replied. "But let the systems fight each other first."