As the other competitors gradually dispersed, Lu Jing, the Heavenly Teacher, and Tian Jinzhong approached Su Xiaoqi and his group.
"Linglong," Lu Jing said, "why don't you take your friends for a walk? We'd like to have a word with Xiaoqi in private."
Lu Linglong eyed her great-grandfather suspiciously. "Great-grandpa, I *strongly advise* you not to try anything funny. You *know* what'll happen if you do. Don't make me—"
"Enough, enough!" Lu Jing waved her off irritably. "I've heard this spiel *eight hundred times* already!" He turned to Su Xiaoqi with a grin. "Xiaoqi, how about a drink, just us bros?"
The Heavenly Teacher and Tian Jinzhong gaped at him. *How shameless could this old man be?!*
Su Xiaoqi chuckled. "Maybe not alcohol—we've got matches tomorrow. But tea sounds good."
Lu Jing laughed heartily. "Not many youngsters enjoy tea these days! The Heavenly Teacher's stash is top-notch, though he's usually *stingy* with it. Let's savor it slowly."
"Deal." Su Xiaoqi nodded, informed Zhu Zhuqing, and followed the elders into the Heavenly Teacher's residence.
---
**Evening, Lodgings**
Su Xiaoqi returned, tea-logged, and found Lu Linglong and the others waiting anxiously.
"Su Xiaoqi!" Lu Linglong blurted. "You *didn't* let those old men bribe you, did you?!"
Su Xiaoqi smirked. "They *did* offer me *all* of Tian Shi Fu's techniques to sell for points if I let Zhāng Chǔlán win…"
Lu Linglong's face fell.
*"But!"* Su Xiaoqi raised a finger. "*Our revolutionary friendship* and my promise to you? *Priceless.* So I *painfully* refused."
"Linglong, *don't* betray me again, okay?"
Lu Linglong nodded furiously, patting the bear emblem on her chest. "I swear! From now on, you point, I punch! If I break this vow, may I get struck by Zhāng Língyù's *Yīn Five Thunders* again!"
Zhu Zhuqing raised a brow. "What *exactly* did they offer?"
Su Xiaoqi grinned. "*Every* technique in Tian Shi Fu—copied and sold for points."
***Collective gasp.***
That could easily net *tens of thousands* of points!
Lu Linglong's eyes welled up. "*Sniff*… Su Xiaoqi, you're *too* good! If I ever pull something you need, I'll sell it to you *dirt-cheap*!"
Then her expression darkened. "*That bastard great-grandpa! Helping *outsiders* over his own granddaughter?!* I'm gonna *beat him up*!"
Su Xiaoqi grabbed her collar. "Chill. It wasn't his idea."
"I told them—skip the theatrics. If anyone complains? *Punch them silent.*"
"*You*, though—what happened to your cute, airheaded self? Why imitate *Nami*?"
Lu Linglong beamed. "Then I'll go back to being *adorably dumb*!"
Su Xiaoqi laughed. "Where's Gintoki?"
Zhu Zhuqing scoffed. "*Took money from Linglong to visit brothels.* Said he's '*not coming back tonight*.' Want to join him?"
Su Xiaoqi *flinched*. "N-No! I'm a *cultivation* man!"
"I'll go train. Rest well—tomorrow, we scout for Quánxìng members. *Eliminate a few for points.*"
---
**Next Morning**
As the group prepared to leave, Gintoki stumbled in—*dark circles*, disheveled, reeking of alcohol.
*"Buurp—"* He slung an arm around Su Xiaoqi. "Xiaoqi… *this place is wild.* Next time, *we go together.* Gin-san can't handle it *solo*…"
"The booze here's *strong* too… *Zzz…*"
He collapsed, *snoring*.
***First disqualification of Luótiān Dàjì: Sakata Gintoki – Reason: Hangover.***
Lu Linglong *seethed*. "*I swear*—if I *ever* let this trash into my world again, may *both* Huā'er and I get *struck by lightning*!"
Zhǐ Jǐn Huā: *"??? Why me?! And *change your curse already*!"*
---
**Tournament Grounds**
By the time they arrived, the arena was *packed*. Today's preliminaries would all take place here.
Lu Linglong scanned the crowd. "Too many people. Can't spot any Quánxìng imposters."
Su Xiaoqi shrugged. "No worries. We'll *ask* their acting leader tonight. Let's watch the matches."
**Match 1: Zhāng Chǔlán**
True to the original plot, Zhāng Chǔlán put on a *flamboyant* show. Even Su Xiaoqi had to admit—*this guy knew how to perform.*
But alas, his spotlight was about to be *stolen*.
**"Competitors for Match 2, enter the arena!"**
Su Xiaoqi smirked at Lu Linglong. "My turn. *Don't disappoint me* later."
Lu Linglong nodded firmly. *For points—she'd go all out!*
---
**Match 2: Su Xiaoqi vs. Three Nobodies**
The moment the match began, Su Xiaoqi *ignored* his opponents and *flew straight up*.
The crowd *buzzed* in confusion.
*"This height should work… Gotta hold back, though."*
Cupping his hands at his waist, he began chanting:
*"Kaaa… Meee… Haaa… Meee…"*
Zhāng Chǔlán blinked. "Baobao-jie, what's that *glowy thing* in his hands?"
Féng Bǎobǎo shook her head. "Dunno. But he *lied*—no tails like his on *Pinduoduo*. I'mma *bury him* later."
As the blue-white energy ball grew, **Lu Jing *shot up* from his seat, trembling.**
He'd *seen* this move yesterday. The *memory* alone made his bones rattle.
The Heavenly Teacher frowned. "Old Lu? You alright?"
Lu Jing's voice shook. "Remember that *mountain* he blew up yesterday? *This is that technique.* And he claimed he *only used 10% power*."
***"WHAT?!"***
The Heavenly Teacher *leaped* to his feet. Tian Jinzhong nearly *fell out of his wheelchair*.
Lu Jing added, "But he won't go *too* far—his girlfriend's here. *The arena's doomed, though.*"
The Heavenly Teacher scowled. "*Next time, lead with that!*"
Suddenly—
**"EVERYONE IN THE ARENA—*GET OUT NOW*! FRONT ROWS TOO—*MOVE BACK*!"**
Lu Linglong's warning was met with *jeers*.
Then—
*"LOOK! THE SKY!"*
A *meteor-like* projectile hurtled toward the arena's center.
***Panic.***
Competitors and spectators *scrambled*. The referee? *Already fled*—he'd seen Su Xiaoqi's group with the Heavenly Teacher yesterday. *No way was he sticking around!*
***BOOOOOOM!***
The explosion *rocked* the stadium. A *mushroom cloud* erupted, leaving a *bottomless crater*.
Zhāng Chǔlán *quaked*. "B-Baobao-jie… *Let's rethink that burying plan…*"
Féng Bǎobǎo nodded. "*Gotta strategize.* This one's *tough*."
**"SILENCE!"** Su Xiaoqi's voice *boomed*.
The crowd *froze*.
*"I hereby declare—*Lu Linglong* will win Luótiān Dàjì. Any *objections*?"*
***Dead silence.***
Even Wáng Yě, Zhūgě Qīng, and Zhāng Língyù—*speechless*.
Su Xiaoqi waved. "Linglong. *Your turn.*"
Lu Linglong grinned, donned her *bamboo-copter*, and flew to his side.
*"Chairman of *Tiānxià Huì*?"*
*"The *Shí Lǎo*?"*
*"The so-called 'strongest' under heaven?"*
*"Even *the heavens themselves*—are *NOTHING* to me, *Lǘ Línglóng*!"*
*"What I seek to *overthrow*—is the *COSMOS*! The *MULTIVERSE*!"*
*"To all who *dare* defy me—"*
She took a deep breath, then roared:
"COME AT ME, *FRONTALLY*!"