Chapter 89: The First Round Begins!

Chapter 89: The First Round Begins! The sun rose bright and golden above Ocean City, casting its light over the shimmering arena. Waves crashed in the distance as cultivators from every corner of the continent gathered in the colossal coliseum. Today marked the beginning of the Ocean City Tournament. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Vendors sold spirit-infused snacks, children clung to spirit-beasts on leashes, and nobles filled the VIP balconies in glittering robes. At the Sect’s seating area, Hei Long yawned and stretched. "Another day, another crushed opponent," he muttered. Mu Qianxue, now completely sober and wearing her dignified Elder’s robes, looked down at the schedule. "Looks like one of us is first." Match 1: Lin Fan vs Iron Boulder Sect’s Grunt #12 A gong rang through the stadium. "First Round: Lin Fan... no one cares... vs Gou Da of Iron Boulder Sect!" The crowd went silent. Then a wave of confusion followed. "...Who’s Lin Fan again?" "Isn’t that the guy who tripped on his robe?" "Poor guy." Lin Fan stepped into the arena, chest puffed out, his new robes flapping dramatically. "This is it," he whispered. "My moment... My rise... My path to destiny!" Across from him stood Gou Da, a hulking brute with no neck and a massive stone hammer. He grinned, cracked his knuckles, and sneezed into his own shirt. The gong sounded. BOOM. Gou Da ran at him like a boulder on legs. Lin Fan screamed and immediately tried to activate his newest "super move"—the Twin Phoenix Piercing Palm. He tripped. Again. The entire coliseum facepalmed in unison. A second later, Lin Fan was buried halfway into the arena wall. Even Gou Da blinked in confusion. "...Did I win?" VIP Balcony – Lan Yinyin Lan Yinyin stared at the match in disgust. "This... this is the guy who tried to flirt with me yesterday?" she muttered, pinching her nose. "He looks like a malfunctioning chicken." She turned to her brother, Prince Lan Yu, and said flatly, "You were going to use him as a pawn?" "...I may have overestimated him." Match 2: Hei Long vs... unlucky soul Next was Hei Long’s turn. The opponent? A proud young heir from the Mountain Wind Clan. He strutted into the arena, sword drawn, yelling, "You may be famous, but you’ll find no mercy here!" Hei Long stepped in casually, hands behind his back. The gong rang. One second later... BOOM. The opponent was on the floor, his weapon shattered, and a small crater formed beneath him. Hei Long hadn’t moved a step. The audience: "Holy shit." Backstage Lin Fan groaned in a stretcher made of bamboo sticks. "I—I meant to do that..." Mu Qianxue, Bai Luoluo, the Saintess, even Zhao Chun — all looked away in shame. Bai Luoluo muttered, "It’s like watching someone drown in a puddle." Zhao Chun patted Lin Fan’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, Brother Lin. There’s always a next time..." "...This is a single elimination tournament," Bai Luoluo said. "...Oh." Meanwhile... Lan Yinyin Back in her garden villa, Lan Yinyin stared at the auction item Hei Long had stolen: a glowing lotus crystal wrapped in divine flame. Clutched in her hands was the note he left behind. "Thanks for keeping it warm. —H.L." She gritted her teeth, cheeks flushed with anger... and something else. "Hmph! I’ll make him pay! But also..." She curled the note like a precious love letter and placed it in a jade box. "...He’s very bold." End of Day One As the day came to a close, the Azure Sky Sect was the talk of the city. Lin Fan... as a comedic meme. Hei Long... as a rising storm. Girls swooned. Enemies panicked. And Lan Yinyin? She paced in her room. "Tomorrow, I’m inviting him to dinner," she said to herself, steeling her heart. "Let’s see how bold he really is when we’re face-to-face." . . . That evening, Ocean City glittered with floating spirit-lamps, illuminating the luxurious skies and the noble mansions dotting the coastline. Waves lapped softly at the marble docks near the royal sector, where the Lan Royal Family made their home. Inside one of the palace gardens, the young princess Lan Yinyin, dressed in a flowing silver-blue robe embroidered with ocean waves, stood in front of a small jade table, fidgeting with a fan in her hands. She had spent the last hour preparing the perfect dinner setup — exotic dishes, gentle music played by spirit-string instruments, even a tame phoenix feather fan wafting chilled breeze into the air. But her face was annoyed. "Where is he?" she murmured. A servant returned, bowing deeply. "We’ve confirmed... he received the invitation." Yinyin bit her lip. "And?" "...He said he might show up. And then walked off." "Might!?" she slammed her fan on the table, flustering the attendants. "Does he not know who I am?!" And yet... her heart skipped slightly. He’s playing hard to get... Bold. Meanwhile – Hei Long’s POV Back at the sect guest quarters... Hei Long was lying on a padded bench, flipping through an old cultivation scroll. Zhao Chun was sitting next to him, eating steamed dumplings by the dozen. "You know... Brother Long," Zhao said between bites, "you really gonna ignore a personal invite from the princess of Ocean City?" Hei Long smirked. "That’s why I’m ignoring it." "...You’re crazy." "No. I’m just good at making heroines come to me." He stood, brushing off his robes. "But I’ll show up now. Fashionably late, of course." Lan Yinyin’s Garden – That Moment Just as the servants were about to start cleaning up the dishes, a shadow appeared at the gate. The girls gasped. Lan Yinyin turned, annoyed, but then blinked — Hei Long stood there, arms folded, moonlight casting a glow behind him. "You’re late," she said. "You said dinner, not ’prompt’ dinner." He walked in casually and took a seat uninvited. Lan Yinyin narrowed her eyes. "You act like you’re royalty." Hei Long picked up a piece of spirit lotus root and said, "I am. Just not from this kingdom." A pause. Her heart skipped again. "Do you talk this shamelessly to all women?" "Only to those who intrigue me." Lan Yinyin nearly choked on her wine. Meanwhile – Lin Fan’s POV Elsewhere in Ocean City... Lin Fan was tailing the princess from a distance, hiding behind barrels and walls, watching as she and Hei Long ate dinner. His jaw clenched. "Him!? Again!? How!? Why!?" Inside his head, the old man sighed. ’Boy, focus on cultivation. You’re wasting energy stalking women who don’t know you exist.’ "I swear... One day I’ll show her I’m better!" He gripped his fists... and accidentally punched a wall, breaking a single finger. "...Ow." Back at the Garden Lan Yinyin leaned forward, peering into Hei Long’s eyes. "Why did you steal from me?" she asked at last, voice low. Hei Long wiped his mouth with a silk cloth. "Because you didn’t deserve to have it yet." "...Excuse me?" "I know what that artifact does. And you’re not ready. But I’ll give it back one day... when you are." Lan Yinyin stared at him, cheeks warming despite herself. "You’re such a bastard," she muttered. Hei Long leaned closer. "But you’re still eating dinner with me." Their eyes locked. Yinyin snorted and looked away. "Hmph." She didn’t deny it. Back in the Prince’s Room – That Night Prince Lan Yu smashed a vase. "She smiled at him!? She’s never smiled at me like that!" He paced angrily. "I told Lin Fan to be my counter... And the guy couldn’t even make it through one round!" A servant came in. "Your Highness, Lin Fan is outside." "...Why?" "He said... he has a new plan to win your sister’s heart." Lan Yu groaned. "Tell him if he shows up again without power, I’ll throw him in the ocean!" The Next Morning – Tournament Round Two Begins As the sun rose and mist drifted off the water, the second day of matches began. Hei Long showed up refreshed. Lin Fan showed up with a swollen hand, two new bruises, and puffy eyes from crying all night. "Today’s my comeback!" Lin Fan shouted. A pigeon pooped on his shoulder. "...Today sucks already."