I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly

"Is Demon King Xue indicating he wants to hurry up and finish the fight so he can go fishing? I didn't expect him to be a hardcore fisherman... He's just missing a helmet to look the part."

"I see it as a weapon. Didn't Dugu Qiubai make a sword from every plant and object? Maybe he can do it too, using a fishing rod as a spear? It looks similar enough to a spear anyway!"

"You think this is a novel? Come on, use your brain. The impact of a weapon on one's fighting ability is much more significant than you imagine. That fishing rod is clearly just an ordinary rod, not specially made. It would break with just a slight clash in a high-level martial arts competition. At most, it's good for showing off against an opponent who's far below his own level.

If Demon King Xue really intends to play this game, he's likely to suffer a big loss. The gap between him and Zhou Yinglin isn't that small!"

"Well, what else could it be? It's not a fishing contest. The thing he brought to a martial arts competition must be a weapon. He's clearly trying to show off."

"Deserving of the name Demon King Xue - seeing that he's still so arrogant puts my mind at ease."

"Isn't he going to crash and burn?"

"Hard to say, though the last bout seemed to show a big difference in strength, Zhou Yinglin wouldn't be standing on the stage again without something to rely on. If Demon King Xue is too arrogant, it could indeed be risky..."

"Fortune favors the bold! I had the same thought. Since Zhou Yinglin dares to step back on the stage, the outcome is still uncertain! The odds are 5 to 1, I'm going all in on his victory!"

"...It's you, the gambler again. Last time you went all in and won twelve times your bet on Xue Jing, and it's still not enough, playing big again? Truly hopeless."

...

In the midst of the spectators' discussions, Xue Jing stepped onto the stage.

He rested the fishing rod on his shoulder with one hand, and glanced at Zhou Yinglin, who had also taken his position on the opposite side.

Ignoring the cameramen who began to circle around him for a 360-degree panoramic shot, Xue Jing spoke softly:

"Zhou Yinglin, you idiot, how dare you stand before me again? Who gave you the guts?"

This time, his voice didn't carry across the venue but was only heard by Zhou Yinglin and the nearby referee.

For the sake of publicity during the last U19 competition, the officials added a sound-amplifying device to the match between Xue Jing and Zhou Yinglin, broadcasting their conversation not just throughout the venue but also on live streams.

However, Xue Jing's trash talk... was a bit too much.

Calling someone an idiot and using all kinds of variations, as the match ended spectacularly, these phrases started trending online.

Many children also saw it and picked it up quickly, dropping their personal quality several levels, leading to numerous complaints from parents to the U19 organization. The organizers had no choice but to regretfully scrap this feature.

Zhou Yinglin, holding the 'Embroidered Needle', seemed to have possibly become infuriated by Xue Jing. His complexion turned somewhat red.

His lips twitched slightly as he raised the Embroidered Needle, the spear tip pointing at Xue Jing, and said forcefully, "Xue Jing, don't be arrogant. Martial arts are not fought with the mouth, I'll soon shut you up."

Since that match, he had earned the disparaging nickname 'idiot' online, and hearing the instigator use the term again made it hard for him to contain himself.

Xue Jing was amused, chuckled twice, and replied, "After being beaten up like that last time, you can still say such things. Indeed, you leave me speechless."

"If the skills in your hands were half as tough as your mouth, I would be pleading for my life by now."

As he spoke, Xue Jing swung the fishing rod in his hands a couple of times, testing the feel.

Zhou Yinglin frowned and asked, "What's the meaning of bringing a fishing rod?"

Xue Jing held the rod with his right hand and tapped his left palm, smiling and saying, "No particular meaning... I just picked it up on the way here, do you think it suits you?"

"What are you talking about?" Zhou Yinglin replied, somewhat puzzled.

Xue Jing didn't explain, as the commentator's voice already filled the air.

"...Here it comes, finally! Zhou Yinglin, the player who narrowly lost in the quarterfinals, has fought his way back up from the loser's bracket, made it to the top four, and is once again facing Competitor Xue Jing!"

"A stunningly talented youth, a will that never admits defeat, like an indomitable hero!"

"Will he be able to avenge his loss to the Great Demon King who once defeated him? Let's all witness the second battle between the hero and the Demon King!"

"Now, let the match... begin!"

The referee stepped forward, waved his hand between the two, and then quickly ran off the stage.

Zhou Yinglin took a step forward, circling around Xue Jing in a slow walk.

He twirled the Embroidered Needle with one hand, creating flowing movements, and said indifferently as he walked, "Xue Jing, this time it's different from the last."

"I have completely seen through your tricks... You really think just relying on a few God-Given Secret Arts makes you invincible under heaven?"

Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Is that what you think? So, what do you plan to do?"

Zhou Yinglin snorted and reached into his chest to pull out a... wind talisman?

It was a pale blue sphere of air, tightly wound and visibly fluctuating and spinning.

Xue Jing, who had originally appeared indifferent to the match, suddenly took on a serious expression, narrowing his eyes slightly at the sight of the swirling air.

It was...

Zhou Yinglin, seeing Xue Jing's expression turn much more serious, felt as if confirming something; he couldn't help but laugh out loud, his laughter filled with a sense of release.

"You recognize this thing, right? Afraid, aren't you!"

"A mere Blessed One, daring to step onto the stage, defiling the glory of Old Martial Arts with your filthy means, today I will make sure you have nowhere to bury the dead!"

Zhou Yinglin seemed to have been holding back for too long, and as he shouted this out, his voice was so excited it was hoarse and nearly hysterical.