Eddie's turn to compete arrived after the grand opening ceremony of the Yew family's New Year's tournament, where Emperor Junsion and the family patriarch, Old Master Haye Yew, delivered brief speeches.
Representatives from various families also conveyed symbolic congratulations.
Given Eddie's reputation as a troublemaker, even Uncle Daniel and Mother Grace were wary of him causing a scene during the ceremony, so they intentionally left him and Sophia waiting in the rest room.
Bored, Eddie dozed off, teasing a dreamy giant Lolita.
When he woke up, the first round of preliminaries had already concluded. Sophia had her turn but chose not to summon her Centennial Tree Guardian.
Instead, she employed the shameless tactics Eddie taught her, charging at her opponent during their summoning and delivering a kick to the face.
This surprise attack, while dangerous against skilled summoners, worked flawlessly against novices, earning Sophia an easy victory.
While Sophia wasn't blamed, Eddie, known as the 'Abnormal Wastrel', was criticized for teaching her such tactics. Facing an opponent drawn from another family in the next round, Eddie's competitor forfeited, not daring to challenge the devilish freak.
Uncle didn't bother to wake Eddie, and the family agreed to advance him to the next round by default.
In the subsequent draw, a coincidence pitted Eddie against Little Nine, the prodigy child.
The showdown between the super talent and the abnormal wastrel was highly anticipated.
Despite being only seven years old, Phonh Yew had an astonishing success rate in beast summoning and was rumored to have contracted eight powerful beasts in less than six months. He was now a key trainee of the Southern MysticWind Sect, one of the four major factions. In contrast, the original Eddie, whom our Eddie replaced, was a certified wastrel. If not for the transmigration, the original Eddie wouldn't stand a chance against Yew Feng even after a decade of training.
Emerging into the vast square of the Yew family castle, larger than a football field and surrounded by the clan's members, Eddie noticed the distinct attire of the Feng, Xue, and Yan families' disciples. The most striking figure in the northern high seat, aside from Old Master Haye Yew, Shawn Yew, Ling Yew, and other strong family members, was a refined-looking middle-aged man dressed in white warrior robes, with a jade headband. Despite his gentle smile, his demeanor exuded an unspoken authority. Eddie recognized him as Emperor Junsion of the Daxia Kingdom, who, despite looking in his forties, was actually 180 years old and a renowned seven-level 'Overlord' powerhouse.
Seated beside the Emperor was Old Master Haye Yew.
Old Master Haye Yew, slightly older than Emperor Junsion, appeared significantly aged due to years of warfare. His white hair and aged features starkly contrasted with Junsion's refined appearance. Behind the Emperor stood a towering general, concealed in golden armor, exuding the aura of a fierce tiger. This was Wind Frenzy, the commander of the Imperial Guard, known as the "Bone Dryer."
On Junsion's left were representatives from the Feng and Xue families, appearing to be around Yew Shan's age and likely the acting heads of their respective families. Eddie, being a transmigrator, did not recognize them. Next to Yew Shan sat a robust man in fiery red clothes, resembling the famous warrior Porking, presumably his father.
Eddie noticed Ice Wolf, the stoic man from the Xue family, among the audience, glaring coldly at him. Porking and Qeathon were absent, much to his relief, especially since the formidable Swordswoman was also not present. Eddie wondered whether his upgraded disguise talent could fool her; if it could, he looked forward to teasing her.
When Yew Feng, known as Little Nine, entered the arena, the crowd, especially the women, erupted in cheers for the polite young prodigy. As he respectfully greeted the slowly approaching Eddie, his underlying arrogance was evident: "Big Brother Eddie, please kindly guide Little Nine. My master and father both thank you for transferring the spirit elixir to me."
His manner suggested an unspoken jab: "Even if you had the elixir, you're still a recognized wastrel, a waste on you!" Summoning his tome, Yew Feng drew further cheers for possessing a silver-grade tome, surprising Eddie. He realized it was unlikely Yew Feng upgraded his tome solely through skill; more plausible was the Nanling MysticWind Sect boosting his points through arranged defeats.
It was a common practice among major families to accelerate the development of promising descendants by artificially inflating their battle points, allowing them to gain an early advantage with higher-grade tomes.
As the match between the acclaimed prodigy and the "Abnormal Wastrel" Eddie was about to begin, the anticipation was palpable.
The only downside to artificially boosting points is that the bestowed ancient laws during tome upgrades are often inferior, or even non-existent. Eddie is unique in this regard, receiving exceptional gifts every time. Most summoners receive blank pages or weak beasts, but the most coveted gift is a level upgrade for their beasts.
Amidst applause for Little Nine's silver tome, the audience also hurled curses at Eddie, calling him a "wastrel" and wishing for his defeat. Eddie, restricted from bringing Grey Wolf to the arena due to a rule preventing uncontracted beasts, wasn't bothered. He believed in handling his opponents personally.
Kicking Grey Wolf away, Eddie drew his Moon Blade and yawned at the confident Yew Feng: "Little Nine, go easy on me, the wastrel. Let's not bully too much, okay?" The crowd glared at him, wishing they could annihilate him with their eyes.
Yew Feng, though polite, was composed. He knew Eddie's Moon Blade was no threat due to the protective barrier. Concentrating, Yew Feng summoned a Bronze Level 3 Gold-Striped Tiger Puppet Beast, exhausting himself in the process. The arena erupted in applause for this remarkable feat by a seven-year-old.
Emperor Junsion and other dignitaries praised Yew Feng. His father, Yew Ling from the second branch, beamed with pride, almost flaunting a sign proclaiming himself the father of a prodigy. The crowd congratulated Yew Ling, lavishing him with compliments.
The representatives from the Nanling Floating Sect, including a powerful sixth-level master and two fifth-level masters, responded humbly to the accolades for Yew Feng's performance. They stated that Yew Feng was hardworking but still had a long way to go, aiming to contract silver and gold level beasts in the future. The crowd was in awe of Yew Feng's potential, especially with the sect's commitment to nurturing him.
Amid cheers for Yew Feng and his silver tome, the crowd also jeered at Eddie, the "wastrel," eagerly anticipating his defeat. The tiger puppet beast, a bronze level 3 Gold-Striped Tiger, was summoned by Yew Feng, causing a sensation. However, Eddie, unimpressed, saw through the charade, understanding the political machinations behind Yew Feng's rapid advancement.
Sophia was outraged at the obvious favoritism shown to Yew Feng, feeling that the inferior puppet rats given to Eddie were a deliberate slight. She was convinced that even a second-level Iron Bull puppet would have been a fairer choice.
As the tiger charged, Eddie feigned terror, but swiftly raised his Moon Blade and struck with lightning speed. The bronze tiger was sent flying, crashing onto the platform amidst sparks and sputtering electricity. With a dramatic kick, Eddie sent the faltering tiger puppet beast tumbling, its eyes dimming as its power faded.
Eddie approached the shocked Yew Feng, smiling innocently and playfully chided him, "Little Nine, you shouldn't bully a wastrel like me too much. I might cry, you know!" The audience was stunned by the swift defeat of the formidable tiger puppet beast, and Eddie's nonchalant demeanor only added to their amazement.
The representatives from the Nanling Floating Sect, including a powerful sixth-level master and two fifth-level masters, responded humbly to the accolades for Yew Feng's performance. They stated that Yew Feng was hardworking but still had a long way to go, aiming to contract silver and gold level beasts in the future. The crowd was in awe of Yew Feng's potential, especially with the sect's commitment to nurturing him.
Amid cheers for Yew Feng and his silver tome, the crowd also jeered at Eddie, the "wastrel," eagerly anticipating his defeat. The tiger puppet beast, a bronze level 3 Gold-Striped Tiger, was summoned by Yew Feng, causing a sensation. However, Eddie, unimpressed, saw through the charade, understanding the political machinations behind Yew Feng's rapid advancement.
Sophia was outraged at the obvious favoritism shown to Yew Feng, feeling that the inferior puppet rats given to Eddie were a deliberate slight. She was convinced that even a second-level Iron Bull puppet would have been a fairer choice.
As the tiger charged, Eddie feigned terror, but swiftly raised his Moon Blade and struck with lightning speed. The bronze tiger was sent flying, crashing onto the platform amidst sparks and sputtering electricity. With a dramatic kick, Eddie sent the faltering tiger puppet beast tumbling, its eyes dimming as its power faded.
Eddie approached the shocked Yew Feng, smiling innocently and playfully chided him, "Little Nine, you shouldn't bully a wastrel like me too much. I might cry, you know!" The audience was stunned by the swift defeat of the formidable tiger puppet beast, and Eddie's nonchalant demeanor only added to their amazement.
Upon Eddie's victory over Yew Feng's puppet beast, the audience was filled with anger and disbelief. Yew Feng, feeling humiliated and defeated, burst into tears, questioning how his powerful Gold-Striped Tiger could be beaten by Eddie without the use of a beast. Emperor Jun Wuyou, the ruler of the Daya Empire, admired Eddie's skill, noting its resemblance to the legendary "Yew's Splitting Mountain and River Strike" but acknowledged it was merely a similar sword intent. Haye Yew, the Yew family patriarch, also expressed surprise at Eddie's hidden strength.
The representatives of the four great families were visibly concerned, recognizing the potential threat of another Yew Qiu emerging in Eddie. Snow Greedy Wolf, observing quietly, suspected that Eddie's abilities extended beyond mere combat skills, recalling how Eddie had previously survived a battle with a demon general.
Eddie, unfazed by the crowd's reaction, focused on his goal of avenging the injustices faced by his family. With a nonchalant remark, "Little Nine, your mom is calling you home for dinner," he effortlessly kicked Yew Feng off the stage, further stunning the onlookers with his unexpected prowess.
Eddie's audacious move infuriated the two beast instructors from the MysticWind Sect who were assigned to Yew Feng. One of them caught Yew Feng mid-air, while the other, enraged, leaped onto the stage and furiously confronted Eddie: "You wretched Eddie, how dare you harm Yew Feng, our key disciple in the MysticWind Sect?"
Without hesitation, the instructor summoned his beast, merging with it to transform into a ferocious werewolf. The werewolf's claws ripped through the air, aiming directly at Eddie's head. Eddie quickly responded with "Second Strike: Heaven and Earth Collapse," hurling his Moon Blade in a spiral towards the attacker. As the werewolf master swatted away the blade, Eddie drew his Ashen Demon Blade and unleashed a dark golden sunburst of energy straight into the werewolf's chest. The instructor's claws nearly grazed Eddie's head but were stopped inches away, followed by a blood-curdling scream as he was thrown backward.
Despite being a fifth-level master, the werewolf instructor rebounded quickly, intending to evade Eddie's onslaught and wait for backup. However, Eddie was relentless. A foot stamped heavily on the instructor's back, pressing him into the stone surface of the arena. Standing triumphantly atop the instructor, Eddie looked down scornfully, his gaze like the Grim Reaper's: "MysticWind Sect? You scare me to death. You know I'm just a weakling, yet you dare to intimidate me like this? I might just die of fright! Look, Sophia, a fifth-level master! Oh, heavens, a fifth-level master blatantly ambushing a weakling like me in front of everyone. Are you trying to kill someone?"