Martial Immortality: Starting with the Spirit Beast Scroll

Chapter 249: Chapter 238: Plotting

By high noon, the second round of the group stage battles had concluded, and the first day of the Martial Arts Assembly was over.

The disciples on the field gradually returned to the viewing stands and headed back to their residences with the elders and other disciples from their respective nations.

"Brother Zhao, thank you so much! You helped me win a match!"

Xiang Shaofeng said gratefully to Zhao Lin on the way back.

"How did I help you?"

Zhao Lin was curious, and upon asking, he learned what had happened. It turned out that because he had severely injured Yi Rihao, the man was too weak to fight by the second round and had been forced to withdraw.

Xiang Shaofeng, who happened to be in the same group as Yi Rihao, received a win by default. Although he didn’t advance from the group, he still fulfilled his wish of winning one match in the second round. Thus, Zhao Lin had unintentionally helped one of his own.

Back at the courtyard residence, the three Sect Leaders and a group of elders summoned the disciples competing the next day to the main hall to help them analyze their opponents and formulate strategies.

Zhao Lin’s opponent in the round of 32 was of average strength, with no particularly outstanding skills. As long as Zhao Lin performed as usual, advancing wouldn’t be difficult.

Yang Lin only made a couple of brief comments before shifting the focus to the potential opponents in the round of 16.

Zhao Lin’s opponent in the second round of the elimination stage would be the winner of the match between Jiang Pu, ranked fifteenth in fist power, and Helian, ranked eighteenth.

Jiang Pu came from a martial arts family in Xiuzhao. He was said to be naturally gifted, able to learn any Fist Skill instantly and master it quickly. He had already mastered over a hundred different Fist Skills.

Helian was of the Wuzhu people. He cultivated a technique called Iron Armor Vigor, excelled at defense, and was rumored to be able to withstand three punches from Bolta.

However, his offensive capabilities were limited. So far, all his matches had been long and drawn-out. He was a classic example of a warrior with weak offense and strong defense.

Yang Lin asked in a testing tone, "If you were to face Helian, how would you plan to fight him?"

Zhao Lin thought for a moment and replied, "Patiently and steadily, aiming for a stable victory. I suspect a warrior with a ’turtle shell’ strategy like his must have a hidden trump card that he’s just keeping secret."

"If I let my guard down, he might just stick his head out of his shell and take a vicious bite."

Finding his response amusing, Yang Lin laughed heartily. "Excellent. You’re showing a knack for martial strategy."

He then asked, "And what do you think of Jiang Pu as an opponent?"

Zhao Lin had watched Jiang Pu during the group stage and replied without hesitation, "I do not fear the man who knows ten thousand moves, but the man who has practiced one move ten thousand times."

Yang Lin raised an eyebrow in approval. "A clear-sighted perspective!"

"No matter how many Fist Skills he knows, they’re useless if they can’t defeat anyone. You just need to stay true to your own style and not be dazzled by his confusing array of moves."

"These two are close in strength, so their match tomorrow is sure to be an evenly fought battle. It will be a good opportunity to study them carefully."

With that, he handed Zhao Lin a match bracket. "I have nothing more to add. Go back and get some rest."

"Yes!"

Zhao Lin took the bracket and glanced at it, noticing a very interesting matchup: Liu Feiyang versus Bu Kan.

After half a year of arduous training, Liu Feiyang’s strength had greatly improved, and he had specifically focused on shoring up his weakness in raw power.

In the second round of the group stage, he had scored an upset victory against the disciple ranked seventeenth in fist power, taking his opponent’s rank.

And Liu Feiyang’s opponent was none other than the man suspected of having severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, Bu Kan of Weizi’s Flame Sect.

An idea sparked in Zhao Lin’s mind. ’Maybe I can help Liu Feiyang.’

Liu Feiyang was currently speaking with an elder from his own sect, so Zhao Lin didn’t interrupt, waiting for him outside the main hall instead.

A short while later, Liu Feiyang strode out and saw Zhao Lin standing by the door. He greeted him with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhao, congratulations on your success on the first day."

Zhao Lin returned the smile and replied, "Congratulations to you as well. Brother Liu, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about."

Liu Feiyang paused, clearly surprised, then nodded. "Alright. Let’s talk over there."

After they walked into a pavilion, Zhao Lin turned and cupped his fists. "Brother Liu, I must thank you for your guidance. Every word on those two pages of cultivation insights was a gem. I benefited greatly from reading them, and I wanted to thank you properly."

Liu Feiyang waved it off. "Think nothing of it. There are few who cultivate Wind Attribute Cultivation Techniques to begin with. If we all hide what we know, how can we ever hope for it to flourish?"

"Besides, if Senior Brother Zhao hadn’t enlightened me, I never would have trained so hard for the past six months, let alone made it to the elimination stage."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhao Lin got to the point. "Brother Liu, you’re facing Bu Kan from Weizi tomorrow. Are you confident you can defeat him?"

Hearing this, Liu Feiyang’s smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "To be honest with you, Senior Brother Zhao, my upset victory against the seventeenth-ranked opponent was partly because he underestimated me."

"As for Bu Kan, not only is he stronger, but he’s also naturally cautious. His mastery of the Fiery Flame Saber is profound, and even his speed isn’t much inferior to mine."

"To defeat him... in a word: difficult!"

Zhao Lin agreed, "If it’s purely a contest of strength, I agree your chances are slim."

But then he changed his tone. "However, I’ve noticed a weakness in Bu Kan that might be worth exploiting."

"A weakness?"

Liu Feiyang’s eyes lit up. "Please, tell me, Senior Brother Zhao."

Zhao Lin said thoughtfully, "Have you noticed? Bu Kan likes to talk to himself, and he does everything by the book. Every single one of his actions and movements must follow a strict standard."

Liu Feiyang chuckled at this. "Yes, I’ve noticed that too."

"During the fist power test, he kept pacing back and forth, refusing to be off by even a single step. But... is that really a weakness?"

"I would think that people who are so strict with themselves would be even more formidable in martial arts."

Zhao Lin shook his head gently. "Brother Liu, you misunderstand me. I’m not talking about finding a weakness in his martial arts, but rather exploiting his personality, which seems to have some kind of compulsive disorder, to provoke him and make him lose his composure."

"Com... what disorder?"

Liu Feiyang was completely baffled and asked in astonishment.

Zhao Lin chose his words carefully, trying to explain in terms Liu Feiyang would understand. "Let me put it this way. Bu Kan is a very superstitious person. He has to do everything according to a fixed procedure, and the placement of objects must follow a certain pattern."

At this point, seeing that Liu Feiyang still looked only half-convinced, Zhao Lin unbuttoned his training uniform and buttoned it up again, but completely misaligned.

"Brother Liu, if someone wore their clothes like this, what would you think when you saw them?"

Liu Feiyang frowned. "I’d think it looks wrong. A bit awkward."

"Would you force that person to button their clothes properly?"

"Of course not. It’s none of my business."

Zhao Lin nodded emphatically and said, "Exactly. For you, it’s just a bit awkward to look at. But for someone like Bu Kan, it’s much more than just awkward."

"He would feel a strong urge, a compulsion, to make the other person fix their buttons. If he can’t, he’ll become extremely uncomfortable."

"If the problem is magnified, it could throw him into chaos and affect his performance!"

"Do you understand?"

Zhao Lin knew this method wasn’t exactly honorable, but the Martial Arts Assembly was too important. Both sides were fighting for their own sects, so there was no need to feel guilty. Besides, the Flame Sect had committed countless despicable acts themselves.

Liu Feiyang found the idea novel and became fascinated. He said with a flash of understanding, "I get it! So I just have to do whatever looks awkward and uncomfortable, right?"

Zhao Lin gave him a thumbs-up. "That’s the idea."

Liu Feiyang gave a deep bow. "Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao. If I can win this time, I will be eternally grateful."

Zhao Lin waved his hand. "Don’t thank me just yet. It’s still up in the air whether this will work. Besides, even if it is effective, it will still come down to your strength."

Liu Feiyang smiled. "I understand that..."

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