The midday sun glared down on the Azure Cloud Sect tournament arena, reflecting off banners and polished rooftops. Lin Feng wiped mud from his face for the fourth time, his arms buzzing from repeated practice swings and his heart hammering like a war drum.
Today, he wasn't just facing another random opponent. The system had highlighted someone new, someone dangerous. A disciple known as Shadow Tiger, famed for speed, precision, and ruthlessness.
[SYSTEM ALERT – HIGH THREAT]
Name: Shadow Tiger
Level: Martial Adept Stage 2
Strength: 24
Speed: 27
Endurance: 23
Technique Mastery: 21
Combat Rating: 180 (Extreme danger)
Probability of humiliation for Lin Feng: 89%
Lin Feng groaned audibly. "System… remind me again why I didn't stay in the kitchen sweeping floors?"
"Efficiency of learning through embarrassment: 97%. Probability of survival: 53% if mud is used creatively. Suggested tactics: spin, dodge, improvise, pray."
He sighed, brushing dried mud from his shoulders. "Fine. Let's improvise violently."
Entering the Arena
The crowd went silent as Shadow Tiger stepped into the center. He moved like a shadow, light on his feet, eyes gleaming with intent. Every muscle was coiled like a spring, and even the sun seemed to hesitate at the edge of the mountains, as if anticipating the clash.
Elder Bai Long's voice cut through the silence. "This match is sanctioned. No interference. Let's see how the Mud Hero fares against Shadow Tiger."
Lin Feng swallowed hard, tightening his fists. The system popped up next to him, displaying his stats and recommended combos.
[SYSTEM STATUS – LIN FENG]
Level: Martial Adept Stage 1 → Novice Fist God Tier
XP: 550 / 600
Fist Points: 520
Skills Active: Iron Fist Beginner (Lv1), Clumsy Hero (Lv1), Slapstick Resilience (Lv2), Spinning Mudstrike (Lv3), Mud-Enhanced Momentum (Lv1), Chaos Momentum (Lv1), Adaptive Defense (Lv1)
"Lin Feng, probability of survival against Shadow Tiger: 47%. Humor factor: 100%. Suggested action: flail artistically while dodging masterfully."
Lin Feng rolled his eyes. "Flailing artistically… got it. Easy."
The Battle Begins
The gong rang. Shadow Tiger dashed forward, a blur of motion. Lin Feng barely had time to register him before a fist whipped past his shoulder, sending a gust of wind that nearly knocked him off his feet.
He stumbled—then tripped on a loose stone, landing squarely in mud. The crowd gasped, some covering their mouths in anticipation of a humiliating defeat.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
"Slapstick Resilience activated! +20 Stamina restored. Probability of accidental critical hit: 33%."
Lin Feng blinked in surprise as his hands connected unexpectedly with Shadow Tiger's side, spinning him off balance. The crowd erupted, and the system flashed:
Critical Hit! Fist Points: +80
Skill Progress: Chaos Momentum Lv1 → Lv2
Lin Feng rolled back to his feet, heart pounding. Mud streaked across his robes, his hair plastered to his forehead, but he grinned. "See that? That's talent."
Shadow Tiger smirked, narrowing his eyes. "Not bad… for a weakling."
"Lin Feng, sarcasm detected. Suggested action: respond with a spinning punch. Probability of audience admiration: 92%."
He lunged, spinning awkwardly, and landed a punch to Shadow Tiger's shoulder. The blow was more awkward than powerful, but the system's analysis flashed:
"Improvised attack effective. +50 Fist Points. Audience impressed by creativity. Probability of humiliation: decreased to 65%."
Using the System Strategically
Lin Feng realized that the system wasn't just tracking stats; it was guiding him. Every spin, trip, and clumsy fall could become a tactical advantage. He started using his slipping momentum to move unpredictably, dodging Shadow Tiger's precise strikes while landing accidental counters.
[SYSTEM SUGGESTION]
"Combine Spinning Mudstrike → Chaos Momentum → Adaptive Defense for maximum confusion. Probability of victory: 38%. Humor factor: 99%."
Lin Feng followed the guidance, rolling under a sweeping kick, spinning midair, and landing a punch squarely on Shadow Tiger's ribs. The opponent staggered, clearly impressed.
"Lin Feng, this is… surprisingly effective," the system admitted.
Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh, dodging another strike. "Surprisingly? I'm mud-covered and bruised. But okay, I'll take it."
Climactic Finish
The battle intensified. Shadow Tiger's strikes became faster, more precise, yet Lin Feng's improvised chaos matched them unpredictably. Every stumble became an attack, every roll a dodge.
Finally, Lin Feng tripped—hard—but instead of falling, he used the momentum to flip backward, spinning into a perfect Chaos Momentum strike, landing squarely on Shadow Tiger's chest. The blow sent him staggering, and Lin Feng barely held his balance.
Critical Strike! Fist Points: +100. Skill Unlock: Adaptive Counter Lv1 (automatically redirects opponent attacks when momentum is applied)
The crowd erupted in awe and laughter. Even Shadow Tiger gave a rare smile, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Lin Feng," the system chirped, "you have officially redefined clumsy combat. Probability of Fist God ascension: +5%."
Panting, mud-covered, and laughing at his own ridiculous victory, Lin Feng checked the system one last time.
[SYSTEM STATUS – POST-BATTLE]
Level: Martial Adept Stage 1 → Novice Fist God Tier
XP: 620 / 600 → Level Up!
Fist Points: 700
Skills Active: Iron Fist Beginner (Lv1), Clumsy Hero (Lv1), Slapstick Resilience (Lv2), Spinning Mudstrike (Lv3), Mud-Enhanced Momentum (Lv1), Chaos Momentum (Lv2), Adaptive Defense (Lv1), Adaptive Counter (Lv1)
"Lin Feng, congratulations. Probability of eventual Fist God ascension: steadily increasing. Suggested action: continue improvising, laughing, and tripping gloriously."
Lin Feng wiped mud from his eyes, fists still crackling faintly with energy, and grinned. He had faced a true challenge today, survived, grown stronger, and learned that even chaos could be mastered.
Elder Bai Long approached, nodding with approval. "Lin Feng, your growth is impressive. But remember, the Xianwu Era will throw challenges far beyond mud and spins. True strength lies in persistence, creativity, and courage."
Lin Feng laughed, looking toward the horizon. "I'm ready. Bring it on."
And somewhere in the distant mountains, the wind whispered once more: the Mud Hero of the Azure Cloud Sect was rising, his fists destined to shake the martial world, one chaotic, mud-splattered punch at a time.