The old soul floated a little higher above Wei Jin, peering down at him with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. "Why are you acting so arrogant, kid?" he finally asked, his ethereal voice echoing faintly in the air.
Wei Jin smirked, casually leaning against a nearby pillar with his arms crossed.
"Old man, think about it. Before I got the system, I was just an ordinary cultivator, scraping by, staying humble, and trying not to attract trouble. But now?
"Now, I've got the system backing me. Why not enjoy it? I mean, really, if life gives you the tools to stand above the crowd, are you going to waste them pretending you're still at the bottom?"
The old soul tilted his head, looking unconvinced. "Hmm. That kind of thinking… You're trusting the system too much. What if it disappears one day?"
Without missing a beat, Wei Jin shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I die."
The old soul floated back a little, as if physically staggered by the sheer audacity of Wei Jin's reply. "You'd die? Just like that?"
"What else would I do?" Wei Jin replied coolly. "If I didn't have the system, I'd just be another mediocre cultivator in the Wei Family. I'd die in obscurity anyway. So, while I have it, I'm going to use it all out. Only idiots shy away from their advantages. Why bother with humility when I can crush my competition and make some cash while I'm at it?"
The old soul sighed in defeat, shaking his spectral head. "Kid, I was going to teach you the art of being shameless and provoking your enemies, but it seems you're already a natural. There's nothing left for me to teach you in that regard."
Suddenly, a holographic projection shimmered into view in the arena, displaying information about the Crimson Thunder Basilisk, the beast Zhuxan would face.
---
Crimson Thunder Basilisk – Information
Species: Basilisk Subspecies
Attributes: Speed, Precision, Thunder Element
Bloodline: Pin-drop lineage of a True Basilisk. Though diluted, it retains exceptional reflexes, a deadly venomous bite, and the ability to generate electric currents within its scales.
Characteristics: Known for its explosive agility and precision strikes, the Crimson Thunder Basilisk excels in close combat, overwhelming its prey with swift, unpredictable movements. Despite its diluted bloodline, its thunder element allows it to paralyze opponents with a single strike.
Weakness: Its diluted bloodline makes it weaker than true Basilisks. Overconfidence and reliance on speed leave openings for skilled combatants who can match its reflexes.
---
The crowd erupted into excited murmurs, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of awe and speculation.
"A Crimson Thunder Basilisk? This is insane!"
"That's no random beast! The selection must have glitched or been rigged to give him a challenge!"
"How will Wei Zhuxan deal with it? It's so fast and deadly!"
Amid the noise, Wei Jin snorted loudly, drawing attention to himself. "What's the big deal? If he can't handle that, he's a noob. It's not even a real Basilisk—just a cheap knockoff with a trace of bloodline. What's so impressive about that?"
The crowd around him froze, staring at him in stunned silence. Even the old soul looked down at him, raising a brow.
"Kid," the old soul muttered, "you might just be the most shameless brat I've ever met."
Wei Jin ignored him, stretching lazily and continuing, "Seriously, what's the hype? If he's going to take his time, at least make it interesting. Watching this is like watching a scared rabbit trying not to get eaten."
Meanwhile, in the arena, the fight began as the projection flickered to life. The Crimson Thunder Basilisk uncoiled itself, its scales shimmering with electric energy. It hissed menacingly, its eyes locked onto Zhuxan as it began circling him, its movements too fast for the untrained eye to follow.
Zhuxan stood calmly, his stance firm as he tracked the beast's movements. He didn't rush in, carefully observing every twitch of the creature's body. When the Basilisk lunged, Zhuxan sidestepped gracefully, narrowly avoiding its venomous fangs. He continued to dodge and weave, never striking back.
The crowd watched in awe, their admiration growing with every evasion.
"Look at that! He hasn't even attacked yet—he's analyzing its movements!"
"Such composure! Truly a descendant of the Wei Family!"
"He's saving his energy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Brilliant!"
Wei Jin sneered, his voice cutting through the crowd's praises. "What a pussy. What's he so scared of? Is this really what the Wei Family has become? Dodging around like a scared cat instead of taking action? Pathetic."
The crowd gasped at the audacity of his words, but Wei Jin wasn't finished.
"I mean, come on. A 'genius' like him, wasting time dodging a fake Basilisk? If that's the best the Wei Family has to offer, I'm embarrassed to be part of it."
The old soul chuckled quietly above him, shaking his head. "Kid, I'm starting to think you don't need my help to provoke people. You're a one-man chaos machine."
The crowd around Wei Jin was left speechless, unsure whether to be impressed by his boldness or appalled by his arrogance.
For a moment, all eyes were on him, even as the fight in the arena raged on.
Suddenly, a loud voice erupted from the crowd. "Look! Wei Zhuxan is going for it!" All eyes shifted back to the spiritual projection as Wei Zhuxan made his move.
The Crimson Thunder Basilisk lunged at him again, its lightning-charged fangs aimed straight for his neck. But this time, Zhuxan didn't dodge.
Instead, he sidestepped slightly and slammed his palm against the Basilisk's head, forcing it to the ground with such precision that it seemed like he had rehearsed the maneuver a thousand times.
Before the beast could recover, Zhuxan unleashed a flurry of strikes—a combination of rapid punches and kicks.
The first blow landed on the Basilisk's vulnerable jawline, stunning it briefly.
The second strike shattered one of its fangs, sending a spark of electric energy into the air.
Zhuxan then leapt into the air, spinning mid-flight, and delivered a crushing heel kick directly to its skull.
The Basilisk, though incredibly fast, couldn't keep up with the relentless barrage.
Its movements became sluggish, its once-brilliant lightning dimming as it tried to retreat. But Zhuxan didn't give it a chance.
With a final, resounding punch, he struck the beast's head with enough force to leave it lifeless on the ground.
The entire sequence had lasted no more than a few seconds, but it felt like a meticulously choreographed performance.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their disbelief and excitement palpable.
"He did it in one go! It's over just like that!"
"I've never seen such skill! His control and power are unreal!"
"Wei Zhuxan truly deserves his reputation! That was incredible!"
As Zhuxan exited the arena, the crowd parted for him, their admiration evident in their eyes. He walked with a smug grin, his confidence radiating as he approached Wei Jin.
Stopping in front of him, he sneered. "It's your turn, trash. Try not to embarrass yourself too much."
His expression carried an air of superiority, as if demanding praise for his performance. But Wei Jin merely rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Why not just use your inverse eyes from the start?" Wei Jin said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You looked like a scared lady at the beginning of that fight."
Zhuxan's smugness evaporated, replaced by fury. His fists clenched, and his face turned red as he took a step toward Wei Jin.
Before anything could escalate, Wei Rutong intervened, placing a hand on Zhuxan's shoulder. "Calm down," Rutong said with a smirk. "Don't waste your energy on him. Let's see if he can even make it out of the arena alive."
Zhuxan sneered but stepped back, his eyes still burning with rage. "Fine. Let's see how the 'genius' fares."
Soon, it's Wei Jin's turn.
The attendant called out Wei Jin's name, and the crowd shifted their focus. As Wei Jin stepped into the arena, the old soul floated beside him, his tone both curious and concerned.
"You look awfully confident, kid. Did you get some special gift from the system? But tell me—why use it right away? Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Wei Jin grinned and shrugged casually.
"Afraid? Nah. I don't have the luxury of time to waste. Besides…" He paused, glancing at the family members watching from the sidelines.
"…I'm more afraid of the family coming after me. If I fail here, they'll just write me off my life. We both know what happens to useless descendants.
"Those who don't awaken their special eyes? They won't be just thrown aside like trash. They would be tortured to death physically and spiritually. I'm not about to let that happen."
The old soul nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "I see. Well, kid, I hope you know what you're doing."
Just then, a loud metallic clang echoed through the arena as the massive cage at the far end began to open.
The air grew heavy with tension as a large shadow emerged from the darkness within.
The creature stepped into the light, and gasps rippled through the crowd. It was a monstrous hippopotamus, standing over ten feet tall at the shoulder.
Its gray skin was covered in jagged scars, and its wide mouth revealed rows of jagged, yellowed teeth.
The beast's small, beady eyes glimmered with malice as it stomped its massive feet, each step causing the ground to tremble.
Thick streams of saliva dripped from its mouth, and its nostrils flared as it released a guttural snort that sent shivers through the spectators.
The crowd murmured nervously.
"A hippostal? That's no ordinary beast—it's huge!"
"Look at those teeth! It could crush someone in a single bite!"
"How is he supposed to fight that thing barehanded?"
The old soul raised an ethereal brow. "Well, kid, I have to admit—that's one ugly creature. Think you've got a plan?"
Wei Jin smirked, his voice dripping with confidence. "What's the matter? Looks like lunch to me."
The cage creaked open fully, and the monstrous hippopotamus roared, shaking the very ground beneath its feet.
The beast charged forward with terrifying speed, its eyes locked on Wei Jin.
The crowd held their breath as the creature was released into the arena.