Back at the Dueling Stage, with Hai Tuo as the instigator, Shi Long had already been cursed more times than anyone could count. The whole crowd had been riled up so much that they were already demanding for Shi Long to show up.
For others unaffected by what Hai Tuo was doing, they found it funny that the twerp had to be that obnoxious when he's the stronger one and the predicted winner whether Shi Long arrived or not. It's totally unbefitting of a senior he lauded himself to be.
Truthfully, even though he's called trash or a Comatose Dragon, Shi Long's name had long resounded in the entirety of the Outer Court of the Mighty Dragon Sect.
He's someone who many had surpassed in the past two years. In fact, before he was recognized as trash, most of the names in the Human Roll and some of those in his batch that got promoted at the Inner Court had once looked up to him as their Senior Brother.
Alas, once they broke through to the 4th Stage Spirit Gathering Realm, they started drifting away from him. Or even if someone still tried to maintain their friendly relationship, Shi Long himself spiraled down to his current state.
He was a very amiable person. It was easy for other disciples to like him. However, no matter how hard he worked himself, Shi Long's cultivation never moved after reaching the 3rd Stage.
Truthfully, because he regressed back to five years before his death, Shi Long's infamy wasn't that pronounced in the current timeline yet. True, some disciples had already started treating him trash like Hai Tuo but they were still small in number. Moreover, his title of Comatose Dragon had only been brought up a year ago.
Two such disciples were among the crowd, they were his former friends who entered the sect in the same year as him. They placed themselves outside the delirious crowd chanting for Shi Long to show up, disappointment could be seen in their eyes. But that disappointment was directed at Hai Tuo.
"Do you think Shi Long will show up?" One of them, a young woman, raised a question. She's wearing a shawl on top of her head, covering half of her face.
"He has to or he will be punished more severely. What happened to him, anyway? How did he become so gloomy that someone like that bastard can humiliate him?" Answered the other one, although he's wearing the same Outer Court uniform, the sleeves of the uniform were torn, showcasing his bulky arms reminiscent of those bodybuilders.
"If you failed to make progress like him even with all his hard work, what would you do?"
"… You're right. It's unacceptable. Anyway, what do you plan to do? Didn't he push you away when you extended your hand?"
"I'm going to put that arrogant bastard in his place." The young woman instantly answered as she threw a murderous gaze toward Hai Tuo. However, she retracted it moments after. "Anyway, I can say the same to you. Shouldn't you be preparing for the Inner Court Exams? There are a few months left."
"I'm just passing by. I overheard the news so I thought why not check it out?"
"Stop lying through your teeth, Luo Bai. If you're worried, just say so." The young woman scoffed.
"Don't lump me with you who idolized him, Yang Mei. But isn't he late? How much time does he have left?" The burly man did the same before looking outside the Dueling Stage.
"Two minutes left… No, wait. He's here. There!"
Yang Mei pointed her delicate finger in a certain direction. And there he was, Shi Long, while ignoring the jeers and laughter thrown at him, was confidently walking towards the Dueling Stage with Zhan Jun following behind him.
Halfway through, Zhan Jun separated from him, disappearing into the crowd.
"Something's different." Luo Bai muttered as he put a hand on his chin.
"You think so too? He looks… confident. His presence too. It's not of someone who had surrendered to his fate. He's not like that the last time I saw him." Yang Mei was shocked. But more than that, she's pleasantly surprised.
Meanwhile, unaware of his previous friends watching from somewhere among the crowd, Shi Long's eyes focused on the stage.
Up there, he saw Hai Tuo was conceitedly looking down at him. The twerp still thought he was going to emerge victorious and he could humiliate Shi Long through this duel.
But does he care about being humiliated? The answer is no. He received far more humiliation during his previous life that he already became numb to it.
For Shi Long, Hai Tuo was nothing more than a barking dog.
Zhan Jun pointed out the change in him. Suddenly becoming confident when he had just tasted the first fruit born from his system was clearly out of character for him.
In truth, Shi Long was putting out an act. He, himself, was aware that even with everything that happened, his mindset wouldn't so easily evolve to someone filled with confidence and unbothered by challenges.
He shrouded himself with an act for his little Minor Protagonist to slowly put his trust in him.
The duel against Hai Tuo and the mission to re-establish himself was a convenient bonus to cement that trust.
"Senior brother, I'm impressed. To even call for a duel just because of the slip of my tongue." Shi Long smiled shamelessly as he stepped onto the stage. "Aren't you bullying us juniors?"
"Slip of the tongue my ass! You've been a disrespectful trash. Look, if you kneel down and apologize, I will not hit you too hard" By acting like that, Hai Tuo was instantly provoked. His ugly mug became even uglier, thinking that he was even doing Shi Long a favor.
Hai Tuo was actually expecting Shi Long to show up while quivering in fear. He ran to escape being hit, after all. However, that's not the Shi Long who appeared. He even dared to make an excuse and throw back an accusation.
"Kneel down? Senior brother, you're not my master nor an Elder. Isn't that going to be more disrespectful? Are you trying to put yourself as someone at their level?"
"You… I never…" Hai Tuo was taken aback. His eyes quickly darted to the presiding Elder standing at the side as cold sweat started to run down his head.
Hai Tuo didn't expect Shi Long to use those words when he did that just a few days ago to be forgiven by him.
"You never what?" Shi Long continued. At this point, his smile felt like swords stabbing Hai Tuo.
Understanding that Shi Long was trying to play him using it, rage quickly settled on his head. He ignored the noisy crowd below the stage and turned to the Elder.
"Elder Xu. Have you seen this? He's still being disrespectful!"
"Yes, I can see that." The Elder simply answered without any change in expression. It's as if what's happening in front of him was insignificant.
Shi Long also turned to the Elder, carefully assessing his next move. When he saw that indifference to Hai Tuo's blabbering, he was convinced that the Elder isn't someone who will favor the twerp.
With that, he stepped forward and continued, "Senior brother, if I said anything disrespectful, I apologize. But isn't it shameful to ask for an Elder's help if you can't think of a counter to my words?"
Shi Long smirked, agitating Hai Tuo further. At this point, the ones on the stage had started laughing secretly. And those laughs were directed at Hai Tuo.
"You shut up! Elder, please start the duel. Let me teach this disrespectful junior how to respect his senior with my fist!" Guided by his rage, Hai Tuo's spiritual qi swelled up and directed his stabbing gaze to Shi Long.
He couldn't wait any longer to pummel Shi Long on the ground.
"Very well." The Elder curtly said before stepping into the middle of the stage.
He first looked at the two duelists before raising his arm. Without giving any opening speech, the Elder shouted at the same time as his arm dropped down. "Fight!"
Swoosh!
As soon as the Elder's words reached everyone's ears, Shi Long watched Hai Tuo kick the ground, mightily charging toward him.
"Say your prayers, you trash!" With his whole body clad in spiritual qi, Hai Tuo screamed at top of his lungs as he aimed his fist at Shi Long.
"I apologize. I'm not a fan of that." Despite the rage directed at him, Shi Long felt not an ounce of pressure. He slid to the side, effortlessly dodging Hai Tuo's fist. Not missing that chance, he countered with a normal, spiritual qi-less kick, sending the twerp rolling to the other side of the stage.
As soon as that happened, the noisy crowd below gaped in shock. "A-am I seeing things clearly?"