Volume Two: Travels in the State of Qi, Chapter 142: Provocation

"Big Brother System, then tell me, what are they discussing?"

*Ping. I will not tell you.*

"Oh, so you've developed an attitude, have you? Fine, keep it to yourself. I didn't care to know anyway."

Returning to his quarters, Zhang Heng managed to calm down. So many things had happened that he felt completely lost, but since this "Super Thigh System" was so powerful, it surely had a way. He decided to follow the system’s arrangements and take things one step at a time.

With a relieved smile, Zhang Heng slowly closed his eyes.

The next day, Zhang Heng arrived at the martial arts arena. Everyone present was exceptionally excited and filled with anticipation, for today was the quarterfinals of the Imperial City Tournament. According to the rules established yesterday, the sixteen geniuses who had advanced were to face off in pairs to determine the final eight.

Having made it this far, all sixteen were undoubtedly top-tier talents. Except for Zhang Heng, the weakest among them was at the eighth stage of the Yuan Dan realm. The duels between such individuals were bound to be spectacular.

People were busy debating who would emerge victorious.

Without question, the five geniuses at the ninth stage of the Yuan Dan realm were the favorites. Barring any accidents—and provided they didn't face each other—they were certain to win. Then there was Huang Yan, the second-greatest talent of the Spirit Feather Palace, and Wang Ying of the Joyous Union Sect. They were peerless geniuses as well; despite being only at the eighth stage of the Yuan Dan realm, their combat prowess exceeded others at the same level. They, too, were expected to prevail.

As for Zhang Heng, opinions were divided.

Some believed that since Zhang Heng’s own cultivation was only at the third stage of the Qi Sea realm, no matter how heaven-defying he might be, he could not compete with these true geniuses. They argued his victory over Wu Ba yesterday was pure luck; had Wu Ba not been careless, Zhang Heng would never have won. Thus, his journey had to end here.

Others felt that Zhang Heng was full of variables. Every time they assumed he was doomed to fail, he would pull off the unexpected. Moreover, his talent for martial techniques was so monstrous that it surpassed everyone else present, so perhaps he could create another miracle today.

Before long, Wu Hong arrived, and everyone bowed respectfully. He flew to the center of the arena and began to announce the rules. As expected, they were simple and brutal: the sixteen participants would draw lots at random. Those who drew the same number would fight; the loser would be eliminated, and the winner would advance.

Zhang Heng understood this approach. While a cultivator’s talent was important, fate was equally so. If one was unlucky enough to encounter a powerhouse, there was no one to blame but oneself.

Wu Hong finished his brief explanation and departed. The geniuses began to draw their lots one by one. Zhang Heng, however, was in no rush—as if drawing early would exempt him from fighting. When he finally stepped up, only one slip of paper remained. He drew it and saw "Number Three."

He strolled lazily toward the third arena, where his opponent was already waiting.

Zhang Heng’s opponent today was Huang Yan, the other genius from the Spirit Feather Palace. He was tall, carried himself with a certain grace, and stood expressionless with his sword in hand. Although Huang Yan was only at the eighth stage of the Yuan Dan realm, many had witnessed him defeat opponents at the ninth stage.

The crowd whispered that they were in for a treat. While the other true geniuses had not yet been paired against one another, the third arena saw the strongest member of the Spirit Feather Palace’s younger generation—aside from Mu Wanqing—pitted against the unpredictable Zhang Heng. This sent the crowd’s enthusiasm soaring.

Would Zhang Heng be able to create another miracle against Huang Yan?

"My name is Zhang Heng. Please enlighten me, Brother Huang." Zhang Heng knew who he was. Since the man was from the Spirit Feather Palace, he decided to be polite; after all, Ling Tian and Mu Wanqing were also from there, and Zhang Heng had a decent impression of the sect.

However, Huang Yan ignored him. He had been staring at Zhang Heng coldly ever since he stepped onto the stage.

*That look isn't quite right,* Zhang Heng thought to himself.

Confused, Zhang Heng asked, "Hey, Brother Huang, why are you looking at me like that? Did I steal your daoist partner, or what?"

"You..." Huang Yan finally spoke, his single word filled with boundless rage.

The onlookers naturally noticed the scene and began to whisper.

"Is that kid tired of living?"

"He's courting death."

Everyone knew Huang Yan liked Mu Wanqing, and Zhang Heng had been spending so much time near her, which had naturally displeased him. Now that he was facing Huang Yan, not only did he fail to beg for mercy, but he dared to provoke him.

"I bet he’ll die a miserable death."

"No need to guess. He'll have at least three broken ribs."

"Senior Brother Huang will cripple his meridians and make him a廢人 (useless person)."

The crowd was certain Zhang Heng was no match for Huang Yan.

Hearing the commotion below, Zhang Heng suddenly realized, "Oh, so I really did steal your partner? But look, Wanqing and I are in this by mutual consent; we like each other."

Mu Wanqing heard this, but she did not refute it or even acknowledge it, merely looking at her own opponent with a calm expression. This prompted thousands of male cultivators to speculate. "Could that kid be telling the truth? Is he really... with Fairy Mu?"

"No, how could Fairy Mu fall for him? She must just find him beneath her notice."

"I can't take it anymore! That kid dares to slander Fairy Mu!"

"Senior Brother Huang, teach him a lesson for us!"

Zhang Heng seemed not to notice Huang Yan’s livid face and continued, "Wait, you and Wanqing aren't even daoist partners. Why are you so angry?"

Huang Yan said nothing more. He simply released his spiritual energy, as if waiting for Wu Hong to signal the start of the match so he could strike Zhang Heng down.

"It's fine, Brother Huang. There are plenty of fish in the sea. You may not look like much, and you can't even talk properly, which is why Wanqing doesn't like you. But don't worry. There will surely be some blind female cultivator who will take a liking to you. You won't have to worry about dying alone."

Huang Yan’s eyes blazed with fury. From across the stage, Zhang Heng could feel his desire to tear him to shreds.

Finally, Wu Hong gave the command: "The match begins!"

As expected, the moment the words left Wu Hong's mouth, Huang Yan lunged at Zhang Heng with his sword, his strikes sharp and lethal. Zhang Heng hurriedly used his *Small Aurora Phantom* footwork to dodge.

Huang Yan was truly a top-tier genius, far more formidable than Wu Ba. If Zhang Heng were to clash with him head-on, he would likely suffer. As Huang Yan pressed his attack, Zhang Heng continued to dodge nimbly, taunting him as he moved.

"Brother Huang, aren't you tired? Do you want to take a break?"

"Come on, keep trying! My spiritual energy is almost out. Just another few hundred moves and you might actually hit me."

"Hey, your sword is pretty decent. Would you be willing to sell it? I’m willing to pay one—no, half a low-grade spirit stone for it."

At this point, the onlookers finally understood what Zhang Heng was doing. He was deliberately enraging Huang Yan. Huang Yan realized this too, but he was so consumed by anger that he couldn't help himself.

The crowd began to curse Zhang Heng for being shameless, but he couldn't have cared less. "This is called a strategy, you idiots. It’s not 'shameless,' understand?"

Huang Yan was indeed a genius with combat prowess exceeding the average ninth-stage Yuan Dan cultivator. Under normal circumstances, Zhang Heng had no certainty of victory, so he had to use his words to provoke him. Once Huang Yan became angry, he would become impatient. Once he became impatient, he would act recklessly. And once he acted recklessly, there would be openings.

Only then would Zhang Heng have a chance.