I nodded. This will be my biggest test so far. Fighting a sword genius who cannot be confused. I have to think of something very, very strange.
That night, after the meeting with Grand Elder Lin, I returned to my residence with mixed feelings. There was excitement about reaching the quarterfinals, an achievement I had never imagined, but also a gnawing apprehension about facing Xiao Feng, the 'Shadowless Sword'. His name alone sent shivers down my spine. I heard he could slice a falling leaf into a hundred pieces before it touched the ground. That wasn't just a cultivator, that was a precise destruction machine!
Long'er was sitting in the small living room, her golden eyes fixed on me as I entered. She could sense my unease, my usually cheerful strange aura now slightly dimmed by worry.
"Xiao Feng is a different kind of opponent, Chen Ming," she said, her voice calm yet serious, like deep water. "He is a true genius who has trained with the sword since birth. His heart is as calm as water, his mind as sharp as a blade. Your tricks that rely on confusion... might not work on him. He has no emotions you can exploit to collect Strangeness Points."
That's the problem! My Dao of Strangeness relies on confusing the enemy! If he can't be confused, how can I get Strangeness Points? This is like trying to make a clown tell jokes to a stone statue! I'm going to run out of point fuel! This is an existential crisis for my Dao!
[Detection: User faces a challenge that threatens their cultivation method. Collecting Strangeness Points from an absurd existential crisis...]
[+15 Strangeness Points.]
My Strangeness Points soared to 369. Even an existential crisis generates points! This System really knows how to squeeze my emotions dry.
I let out a long sigh, then flopped onto the chair with a dramatic 'thud'. "Then what should I do, Long'er? I can't fight him with pure strength. He's definitely much stronger than me. My Half-Dragon Meridians are strong, but I've only mastered them for ten years. He's probably been cultivating for hundreds of years!"
Long'er closed her scroll, an ancient scroll that emitted a faint aura, then looked at me with a serious gaze. "Your strength is indeed not comparable to his yet in terms of pure cultivation. But you have something he doesn't. Your Half-Dragon Meridians and... your Dao of Strangeness. They are anomalies. Xiao Feng might not be confused in the usual way, but he also won't be able to comprehend your power. That is his greatest weakness."
She paused, her eyes gazing far away, as if seeing something invisible. "Focus on unpredictability. Make him unable to predict your movements. Don't fight like an ordinary cultivator. Fight like... Chen Ming. Fight in a way that is illogical, that violates every logic and cultivation law he knows. That will shake him."
Fight like Chen Ming? That means fighting in the most ridiculous and illogical way I can imagine. But how? I need something that can truly make him step out of his comfort zone. Something that will make him think, 'What the hell is this?!'
That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about Xiao Feng. How to defeat someone who couldn't be confused? I opened the System Shop, looking for something that could help me. I had 369 Strangeness Points. This was my savings for months in this sect. I had to use them wisely.
I scrolled through the item list, looking for something truly strange and unexpected. My eyes scanned various absurd pills, talismans, and techniques.
[Instant Confusion Pill (Low Grade)]
Price: 100 Strangeness Points
Description: A pill that, when thrown, will emit a gas that causes mild confusion in the target for a few seconds. Not very strong, but enough to disrupt concentration. Side effect: may cause the target to dance strangely.
Hmm, this could be useful, but 'strange dancing side effect' sounds too random. And 'mild confusion' might not be enough for Xiao Feng.
[Random Transmission Robe (Disposable)]
Price: 150 Strangeness Points
Description: A robe that allows the User to teleport randomly within a short distance. Direction and destination cannot be fully controlled. Very unpredictable, even by the User themselves. Risk: may land in a very awkward place.
Random teleportation? This is it! This is the essence of unpredictability! I can appear anywhere, anytime, even in the most unexpected places. This will drive Xiao Feng crazy! Risk of landing in an awkward place? Ah, that will only give me more Strangeness Points!
[Dragon Butt Punch Technique (Basic)]
Price: 200 Strangeness Points
Description: A martial arts technique that involves attacking the enemy's weak point in an embarrassing way. The effect is not lethal, but very effective for demoralizing and causing deep shame. Requires direct physical contact.
Dragon Butt Punch! This is the pinnacle of absurdity! This won't hurt him physically, but it will shatter his pride! And it will surely generate a large amount of Strangeness Points! This is an attack he would never expect, especially from a cultivator!
My eyes lit up when I saw the 'Random Transmission Robe' and the 'Dragon Butt Punch Technique'. This is it! This is the core of my Dao of Strangeness! I will become unpredictable, even to myself! And the Dragon Butt Punch? That will surely generate a lot of points!
I swallowed. My Strangeness Points were enough to buy both. This would drain almost all my points, leaving only 19 Strangeness Points. This was a big gamble. But this was for the tournament! For the honor of the Sky Cloud Sect! And for the Ancient Continent Map! And of course, for more Strangeness Points in the future!
"I'll buy Random Transmission Robe and Dragon Butt Punch Technique!" I said inwardly, with crazy, firm determination.
My Strangeness Points drastically decreased to 19. Instantly, a plain black robe that felt very light, almost weightless, appeared in my hand. It felt like it was made of clouds. And information about the 'Dragon Butt Punch' instantly entered my brain, a strange sensation that made me feel a little amused.
Alright, Chen Ming. This is a big gamble. I will become unpredictable. Even to myself. This is going to be a very, very strange fight.
The next morning, the atmosphere in the Sky Battle Arena was much tenser than before. The quarterfinals. Only eight of the best cultivators remained. The crowd was much denser, filling every corner of the stands, and strong Qi auras pulsed everywhere, creating a tangible pressure in the air.
I walked to the participant area, wearing the Random Transmission Robe under my sect robe. It felt strange, as if I could disappear at any moment. Long'er walked beside me, her face calm, but I could feel a slight tension from her. Her golden eyes occasionally glanced towards Xiao Feng, who stood across the field. Li Hua looked at me with a worried expression clearly plastered on his face.
"Senior Brother Chen Ming," Li Hua whispered, his voice slightly trembling. "Be careful. Xiao Feng is very strong. Don't do any unnecessary strange things. He... he won't be affected."
I smiled at him, a smile that surely looked a little crazy. "Don't worry, Senior Brother Li Hua. I'll fight in my own way. And I will make Xiao Feng... impressed."
Wang Lei, from the Sky Sword Sect, looked at me from a distance. He no longer scoffed. Now, there was a hint of deep curiosity in his eyes, mixed with a strange caution. He must have heard rumors about my strange techniques, and perhaps he was curious how I would face Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng, the 'Shadowless Sword', stood in the middle of the participant area. He was a young man with a cold face, eyes as sharp as a sword, and a stable, unwavering Qi aura. He held a long sword that emitted a cold light, as if the sword was an extension of his soul. He looked like a perfect ice sculpture, without emotion, without expression, without any sign of life.
He really can't be confused! This is going to be a big problem! How can I get points from him if he shows no emotion?!
[Detection: User faces an unconfusable opponent. Collecting Strangeness Points from a very big challenge...]
[+20 Strangeness Points.]
My Strangeness Points soared to 39. Alright, at least he's stressing me out, and stress generates points!
The referee ascended the stage. After a few announcements and a brief speech about honor and the spirit of cultivation, my name was finally called.
"Next match! Chen Ming, from the Sky Cloud Sect, against... Xiao Feng, from the Immortal Sword Sect!"
A roar of cheers erupted throughout the arena, louder than any previous fight. This was one of the most anticipated fights. A battle between a perfect sword genius and an unpredictable strange cultivator.
I stepped onto the stage. Xiao Feng was already standing there, his sword in hand, his eyes fixed on me with a blank, emotionless stare. He showed no signs of underestimating me, or finding me strange. He just... existed. Like a towering iceberg, unshakeable.
I took my stance, focusing Qi into my Half-Dragon Meridians. I felt the Random Transmission Robe under my robe pulse faintly. I had the Random Transmission Robe. I had the Dragon Butt Punch Technique. I had the Dao of Strangeness.
This was going to be a fight no one would ever forget. I, Chen Ming, the strange jade-faced cultivator, would face the 'Shadowless Sword'. And I would defeat him in the most absurd way I could imagine. Get ready, Xiao Feng. You're about to meet the true Dao of Strangeness!