Chapter 2: Martial Arts Competition for a Spouse? I Concede the Moment I Get On Stage!

The commotion at the City Lord’s Mansion spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Qingyun City before nightfall.

"Have you heard? That good-for-nothing Lin Xuan from the Lin family knelt before an outsider at the City Lord’s Mansion today!"

"It wasn't just kneeling! He hugged the man's leg and wailed like a child; it was pathetic. He’s brought total shame upon the Lin family!"

"The strange thing is, they say that after he knelt, he actually broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm on the spot! It’s absolutely haunted!"

"Must have been pure dumb luck, right? Young Hero Ye must have been merciful and spared his life, and he had some kind of epiphany that led to the breakthrough..."

In teahouses, taverns, and on every street corner, discussions about Lin Xuan were everywhere. Contempt, mockery, and schadenfreude were the main themes, while that bizarre breakthrough became a topic of conversation no one could fathom.

At the Lin family estate, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

The family head, Lin Batian—Lin Xuan’s father in name only—sat in the main seat with a face as dark as iron, while the elders below him also wore grim expressions.

"You unfilial son! Kneel down!" Lin Batian roared, his voice shaking the roof tiles.

If it were the original owner of this body, he would likely be trembling with fear by now. But the current Lin Xuan simply picked at his ear, standing in the center of the hall with an utterly indifferent expression.

"Father, Elders, don't get so worked up; it’s bad for your health," Lin Xuan said lazily. "Didn't I come back alive? Plus, I turned a misfortune into a blessing and broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm. This is a joyous occasion!"

"A joyous occasion?!" An elder with triangular eyes slammed the table, his beard quivering with rage. "You’ve dragged the Lin family’s reputation through the mud! Kneeling in public, begging for mercy—when has the Lin family ever produced a coward who values his life over his dignity? Your Foundation Establishment realm was bought with shamelessness!"

[Ding! Detected intense anger and contempt from Elder Lin Zhen. Emotion points +555!]

Lin Xuan felt a secret thrill, but he put on a wronged expression, as if to say, "You don't understand me." "Third Elder, you can't say it like that. As the saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there’s no need to worry about firewood. My surrender was strategic; it was wisdom! Look, I’m perfectly fine now, aren't I? And I’ve even become stronger. If I had fought back, you’d only be crying over my corpse right now."

"Sophistry!" another fat elder scolded. "Do you know that the whole city is laughing at the Lin family right now?"

[Ding! Detected fury from Elder Lin Yong. Emotion points +444!]

Lin Xuan blinked, looking "innocent." "Let them laugh; it’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh. They can laugh, and I can go about my business. Isn't that fine?"

"You... you..." Lin Batian pointed at Lin Xuan, his finger trembling. He realized that this son of his not only had a bizarre cultivation base but had also reached an unprecedented level of thick-skinnedness. He finally waved his hand powerlessly. "Get out! Get back to your courtyard and reflect on your mistakes! You are not allowed to leave without my order!"

"Alright, Father, calm your anger. I’ll go back and 'reflect' right now." Lin Xuan complied readily and turned to leave with nimble steps, leaving behind a hall full of elders whose blood pressure was skyrocketing.

Returning to his luxurious yet slightly tacky courtyard, Lin Xuan dismissed the trembling maids and lay comfortably in a grand armchair.

"System, open the panel."

[Slacking Off to Become Stronger System]

Host: Lin Xuan

Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage 1 (30/5000)

Techniques: None

Skills: None

Slacking Points: 30

Items: None

"Tsk, these few slacking points can't do anything," Lin Xuan muttered, rubbing his chin. "I need to find a way to stir up some trouble."

In his mind, the "good place" he had thought of while leaving the City Lord’s Mansion yesterday immediately surfaced—the martial arts competition for the hand of the Li family’s eldest young lady!

The Li family was another major clan in Qingyun City, always at odds with the Lin family. The Li family’s eldest young lady, Li Yanran, was sixteen, said to be beautiful as a flower and gifted in talent; she was the dream lover of countless young men in Qingyun City. This martial arts competition was bound to be a grand event.

"More people means more sources of emotion points," Lin Xuan’s eyes lit up. "And with my current 'reputation,' crashing the party will definitely have an explosive effect!"

[Ding! New mission issued: At the Li family’s martial arts competition, perform an act of 'surrender without a fight.']

[Mission Requirements: Step onto the ring and, before the opponent makes a move, proactively, loudly, and creatively admit defeat.]

[Mission Reward: Slacking points calculated based on the sensation caused.]

"Haha, the system understands me!" Lin Xuan slapped his thigh. "It’s decided!"

The next day, the Li family’s training grounds were bustling with noise.

A high ring was set up in the center, surrounded by colorful flags fluttering in the wind. On the viewing platform, the Li family head, Li Wanshan, was beaming. Beside him sat a young lady in red, beautiful but with a hint of arrogance—the protagonist of the day, Li Yanran.

Below the stage, young talents from Qingyun City and surrounding towns were eager and ready to fight. Of course, there was also a large crowd of commoners there to watch the spectacle.

"Look! The Lin family is here!"

"It’s Lin Xuan! He actually dares to come out?"

"What is he doing here? Does he want to participate in the competition too? Isn't he afraid of being beaten to death by Young Lady Li?"

Lin Xuan’s appearance immediately caused a stir. Today, he had deliberately worn an even more flashy bright purple silk robe, waving a folding fan. Surrounded by a group of Lin family guards (who were actually there to monitor him), he swaggered to the very front of the crowd and found a good spot; he might as well have brought some melon seeds.

When Li Yanran saw Lin Xuan, a flash of undisguised disgust crossed her beautiful eyes, and she snorted, turning her head away. Li Wanshan’s expression also darkened slightly, but for the sake of the occasion, he did not flare up.

The martial arts competition soon began.

Young talents took the stage one after another, trading blows and clashing with spiritual power, drawing cheers from the crowd. The atmosphere grew increasingly heated.

Lin Xuan watched with great interest, occasionally offering commentary: "That move is useless, it’s as soft as if you haven't eaten!" "Oh, this guy’s stance is unstable, he’s going to lose, he’s going to lose!"

His detached, spectator-like demeanor left the people around him and Li Yanran on the stage even more speechless. Are you here to participate or to watch a show?

Finally, after several rounds of competition, a burly man with a rugged face defeated the last opponent and stood proudly on the ring. His name was Lei Bao, the young master of the Lei Family Fortress outside the city, with a cultivation base of Foundation Establishment Stage 2—a standout among these young people.

Lei Bao cupped his hands toward the viewing platform, his voice booming like a bell: "Uncle Li, Sister Yanran, it seems the title of champion today belongs to me! Is there any other brother willing to come up and offer some pointers?"

He scanned the crowd below with a look of disdain. Having fought several rounds, his momentum was at its peak, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward.

Li Wanshan stroked his beard and smiled, clearly quite satisfied with Lei Bao. Although Li Yanran remained haughty, her expression softened significantly.

Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided—

"Wait!"

A clear, slightly lazy voice rang out.

Swish!

Everyone’s gaze instantly converged on the source of the voice—Lin Xuan, who was slowly closing his folding fan and smoothing his robes.

What is he doing? Is he really going to get on stage? A Foundation Establishment Stage 1 cultivator who only broke through by begging for mercy, daring to challenge Lei Bao at Stage 2? Isn't that suicide?

Under the gaze of countless eyes filled with suspicion, disdain, and the look one gives a fool, Lin Xuan paced unhurriedly and stepped onto the ring.

Lei Bao looked at Lin Xuan, who had walked to the opposite side, his brows knitting into a knot. He said in a muffled voice, "Lin Xuan? What are you doing up here? This is no place for your nonsense!"

Li Yanran on the viewing platform even shouted directly: "Lin Xuan, get down! You are not welcome here!"

Lin Xuan turned a deaf ear to it all. He first flashed a smile at Li Wanshan and Li Yanran on the platform that he thought was dashing (but was actually infuriating), then turned to Lei Bao and cleared his throat.

The next moment, he performed an action that left the entire venue in dead silence.

He took half a step back, cupped his hands toward Lei Bao, and then, using all the strength he could muster, shouted clearly and resonantly:

"Brother Lei’s divine might is peerless, his wisdom and martial prowess are profound; I, Lin Xuan, am ashamed to compare myself to you, and I concede!"

"There’s no need to fight this match!"

"I admit defeat!!"

The voice was loud and clear, reaching every corner of the training grounds.

"..."

The entire training ground fell into a silence even more absolute than at the City Lord’s Mansion yesterday.

Admitting defeat the moment he got on stage?! Without even moving a finger, he just shouted that he surrendered?! And he shouted it so righteously, so... eloquently?

What the hell kind of move is this?!

Lei Bao was completely stunned, his raised fist frozen in mid-air; he didn't know whether to strike or lower it. He had prepared for a fierce battle, only for his opponent to just lie flat? The feeling was like throwing a punch with all his might only to hit empty air; it was so frustrating he wanted to vomit blood.

On the viewing platform, Li Yanran’s pretty face turned from white to red, then from red to green, and finally to a dark, angry black. She felt that her martial arts competition had been thoroughly defiled by this shameless scoundrel! It was a form of mental nausea!

The smile on Li Wanshan’s face vanished completely, his mouth twitching; he wanted nothing more than to jump down and slap this bastard away himself.

After a brief moment of petrification, the audience below erupted into a sky-shaking uproar and laughter!

"Hahahaha! Oh my god! He just admitted defeat!"

"Is this Young Master Lin here just to be a comedian?"

"Incredible! Truly incredible! I have never seen such a shameless person!"

"Does he think this is funny?"

[Ding! Detected extreme confusion and frustration from Lei Bao. Emotion points +999!]

[Ding! Detected rage and extreme disgust from Li Yanran. Emotion points +888!]

[Ding! Detected burning fury from Li Wanshan. Emotion points +777!]

[Ding! Detected the audience’s worldview suffering a nuclear-level impact, collective emotional breakdown. Emotion points +!]

[Congratulations to the host for completing the 'surrender without a fight' mission. Obtained slacking points: !]

A massive amount of slacking points arrived! Lin Xuan was overjoyed, but his face remained sincere, as if to say, "I know my own limits." He nodded at the still-stunned Lei Bao: "Brother Lei, congratulations, congratulations! I wish you and Young Lady Li a hundred years of harmony and early offspring! I shall take my leave!"

With that, he turned to walk off the stage with a flourish.

"Lin Xuan!! You stop right there!!"

A shrill cry filled with towering rage came from the viewing platform. Li Yanran could no longer hold back; she stood up abruptly, pointing at Lin Xuan, her whole body trembling. "What do you take my Li family’s martial arts competition for?! You come and go as you please?! To humiliate me and my Li family like this—if you don't give me an explanation today, I’m not finished with you!"

Instantly, several powerful auras belonging to the Li family elders locked onto Lin Xuan, and the atmosphere in the arena suddenly became tense!

Everyone held their breath, watching Lin Xuan on the ring. You’ve gone too far this time, haven't you? Let’s see how you get out of this!

Lin Xuan stopped and slowly turned around. Facing Li Yanran’s murderous gaze and the pressure of the entire crowd, he showed no panic, but rather a hint of confusion:

"An explanation? Young Lady Li, what kind of explanation do you want?"

"I followed the rules of the competition to get on stage, and I followed the rules to admit defeat. The rules don't say I can't admit defeat, do they?"

He spread his hands, his expression incredibly innocent. "I know I’m no match for Brother Lei, so to avoid unnecessary casualties and to save everyone time, I chose to admit defeat. What’s wrong with that? Do I have to be beaten until I vomit blood, break my bones, and collapse before it counts as respecting this competition? Before it counts as respecting you, Young Lady Li?"

"You... you are using sophistry!" Li Yanran’s chest heaved with anger at this twisted logic, but she couldn't find the words to refute him.

"I am merely stating facts." Lin Xuan sighed, his eyes suddenly becoming somewhat "profound." "Perhaps, my way is the greatest respect for life and for this competition."

His sudden "philosophical" stance left everyone stunned once more.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

"Boom!"

A loud boom came from outside the city, followed immediately by a shrill alarm piercing the sky!

"Enemy attack! Beast tide! The demonic beasts have breached the Xicheng gate!!"

"Run! It's a pack of Tier 2 Iron-Backed Demonic Wolves!!"

"Help!!"

Chaotic screams and panic spread through the crowd like a plague! The martial arts arena, which had been orderly just a moment ago, instantly descended into chaos as people fled in a panic.

Li Wanshan and Li Yanran on the viewing platform, and Lei Bao on the arena, all saw their expressions change drastically!

Tier 2 demonic beasts were equivalent to human Foundation Establishment cultivators, and in packs, they were an absolutely fatal disaster for Qingyun City!

"Protect the Young Lady! All Li family guards, follow me to the west gate to defend against the enemy!" Li Wanshan made a prompt decision and shouted sternly, no longer caring about Lin Xuan below.

Lei Bao also let out a roar, leaped down from the arena, and charged toward the west gate.

In the chaos, no one paid any more attention to Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan stood on the gradually emptying arena, watching the faint smoke and roars coming from the direction of the west gate, the cynical expression on his face slowly fading.

He touched his nose and muttered to himself:

"Tsk, it seems this 'slacking off' daily routine will have to be interrupted by a 'save the world' episode."

"System, use all my slacking points to upgrade my cultivation base!"

Boom!

An even more massive surge of spiritual power rushed and surged within his body!

(End of Chapter Two)