Chapter 6: The Unpredictable Path
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After the Duel
Xu Tian lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling of his dormitory. The afternoon sun filtered through the window, casting lazy beams across the room. His body ached from the duel with Zhao Kun, but a strange sense of accomplishment lingered. He had won, against all odds.
Yet, despite the victory, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated from here. The System's cryptic messages were never far from his mind.
[(Host has completed task. Reward granted: Moderate Spiritual Energy Boost and Enhanced Luck for 72 hours. Current progress toward Fool's Ascension: 1%.)]
"Well, that's something," Xu Tian murmured, staring at the System's notification.
[(Host's current power level: Early-stage Qi Condensation. Luck boost is effective for 72 hours. Recommendations: Engage in activities with high stakes during this period for maximum benefit.)]
"Right," Xu Tian snorted. "Like I needed your advice. I've already got a dangerous, vengeful senior brother after me. What's next? A horde of wild beasts?"
[(Host is encouraged to use newfound abilities wisely. Consider exploring nearby dungeons or accepting high-stakes challenges.)]
Xu Tian groaned. The last thing he wanted was more problems. Still, a moderate luck boost didn't sound like something to waste.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll take a look at what's going on around here. Maybe I can get some free food or something."
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Guo Fan barged into the room, looking overly excited. His usual awkward demeanor had been replaced with an energy Xu Tian couldn't help but find both irritating and mildly entertaining.
"Xu Tian! Guess what!" Guo Fan's voice was nearly a shout.
"I'm guessing you're about to make my day worse," Xu Tian sighed, not bothering to sit up.
"Well, you're not wrong," Guo Fan admitted, his face falling slightly. "But hear me out! There's this new high-stakes tournament happening in the sect today. It's a rare event, and the winner gets a priceless artifact!"
"An artifact, huh?" Xu Tian sat up, intrigued despite himself. "Tell me more."
"Right! The tournament is basically a series of challenges set in a mystical arena. The last one standing gets the artifact! And it's open to all disciples—so you could totally join!"
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed. "High-stakes tournament, mysterious artifact, and I could totally join... You're not thinking of me as a walking punching bag again, are you?"
Guo Fan's face brightened. "No, no, of course not! I just thought it might be a great way for you to capitalize on that luck boost you just got!"
Xu Tian groaned, rubbing his temples. "You mean to tell me you're dragging me into this because the System said I've got better odds now?"
Guo Fan nodded vigorously. "Exactly! It's a perfect opportunity. You've got a 72-hour luck boost! You could actually win something useful!"
"Fine," Xu Tian said, standing up with a resigned sigh. "Let's go. I'll join your stupid tournament. But if I end up covered in dirt again, I'll personally send a letter of complaint to the System."
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The Tournament
The arena was located at the heart of the sect, surrounded by towering stone walls engraved with ancient symbols. As Xu Tian and Guo Fan arrived, they were greeted by a bustling crowd of disciples, each one eager to prove themselves in the upcoming challenges.
A large banner hung overhead, proclaiming: The Sect's Annual High-Stakes Tournament: Conquer the Arena, Claim the Prize!
"Look at all these people," Guo Fan whispered in awe. "It's not every day we get to see the best of the best compete."
Xu Tian scanned the crowd, his eyes landing on several familiar faces. He recognized a few senior disciples, including some from rival factions. There were whispers of excitement and bets being placed on who would win.
"This is going to be a disaster," Xu Tian muttered under his breath, feeling the familiar twinge of anxiety.
Just then, a loud voice boomed from the center of the arena.
"Welcome, disciples!" The voice belonged to the tournament's overseer, a tall man with an intimidating presence. "This is a no-holds-barred competition. The winner claims the prize, a priceless artifact, and gains the respect of the entire sect! The challenges will test your strength, speed, and wit—so be prepared!"
Xu Tian smirked. "Wit, huh? Guess I've got that in spades."
Guo Fan gave him an uncertain look. "I don't know if wit is going to get you through this."
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The tournament began with a series of physical challenges, each more difficult than the last. Xu Tian's luck boost seemed to be in full effect, as he narrowly avoided disaster at every turn.
During one challenge, he had to leap across a series of platforms suspended over a pit of flames. As Xu Tian took a running jump, his foot caught on the edge of a platform, sending him plummeting toward the flames.
But just as he was about to fall, the air seemed to shift. His body jerked to the side, as though an invisible force had pushed him back onto the platform.
[(Host's luck boost activated: Lucky Landing. Host has narrowly avoided certain defeat.)]
Xu Tian blinked, his heart pounding. "What the hell was that?"
Guo Fan, watching from the sidelines, shouted, "You did it! You made it!"
Xu Tian didn't have time to process the strange incident, as the next challenge was already starting: an obstacle course filled with magical traps and illusions. Xu Tian had no idea how he was surviving each challenge, but it seemed like every misstep was somehow miraculously avoided.
"Maybe I should stop questioning it," Xu Tian muttered, grinning despite himself. "This luck boost is working wonders."
The final challenge arrived. It was a battle against a powerful opponent—one of the senior disciples known for his ferocity in combat. Xu Tian faced off against him, his heart pounding in his chest.
[(Task initiated: Defeat Senior Disciple Lu in combat. Task rewards: Rare Artifact and Reputation Increase.)]
"Ready to lose?" Senior Disciple Lu sneered.
"I'm ready to win," Xu Tian said, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him.
The duel began with a flurry of sword strikes. Xu Tian found himself on the defensive, dodging and parrying as best he could. Senior Disciple Lu was a skilled opponent, but Xu Tian had something on his side—his luck boost.
As the battle wore on, Xu Tian's strikes grew bolder, landing in unexpected places. At one point, Lu's sword swung down toward Xu Tian's head—but at the last moment, Xu Tian sidestepped with uncanny precision, causing Lu to stumble forward and lose his balance.
"Gotcha," Xu Tian muttered, bringing his wooden sword down onto Lu's shoulder, signaling the end of the duel.
---
Xu Tian stood over Senior Disciple Lu, panting heavily. The crowd erupted into applause, but Xu Tian's mind was racing.
[(Host has completed task. Rewards granted: Rare Artifact and Reputation Increase. Current progress toward Fool's Ascension: 2%.)]
"I can't believe it," Guo Fan said, rushing up to Xu Tian. "You actually won the whole thing!"
Xu Tian held up the artifact—a small crystal orb that glowed faintly with mystical energy. "I can't believe it either."
[(Artifact detected: Orb of Uncertainty. Use: Enhances the wielder's luck and grants minor fortune-based powers. A perfect fit for the Cosmic Fool.)]
"Great," Xu Tian muttered. "Just what I need. More good luck."
As he stared at the glowing orb, he couldn't help but feel that his journey was only beginning. And with the System's mysterious guidance, who knew what absurdities lay ahead?
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To Be Continued...
With each victory, Xu Tian's luck—and notoriety—grows. As he faces new challenges, both familiar and strange, his path becomes more unpredictable. The Fool's Ascension continues, one strange task at a time.