Su Yuan: Can't it be a traditional trope?

Su Yuan couldn't discern any emotion from Taihua Tianji, who sat regally in his seat.

He remained as if nothing had happened, his expression calm.

But this was an illusion!

The System's task progress wouldn't lie to him; Taihua Tianji's attention towards him had instantly surged from 0 to 100.

It would be a ghost if the man had no thoughts about it.

Don't even mention that Taihua Yu Xi was young; it was precisely because she was young that the old father was even more furious!

To deceive and bribe even a child, what kind of beastly behavior was this?

Even if the System's task progress was unreliable, Su Yuan's spontaneously activated Fury Heart Attack, which was greedily absorbing the surrounding negative emotions, couldn't be faked.

Where did these negative emotions come from?

It was self-evident.

Taihua Yu Xi, Taihua Yu Xi, you've truly brought disaster upon me!

I could clearly win this Martial Arts Competition with my own true abilities.

Su Yuan felt a chill run down his spine as if cold wind was pouring in. The gazes of everyone from the school leaders to the students swept over him like knives, making his back feel like it was covered in thorns.

But now that things had come to this, what could Su Yuan do?

In any case, he should first see what the System had rewarded him with.

[Task: Borrowing Power (Completed)]

[Task Reward: Devilish Art · Finger Artifact (Issued)]

Instantly, Su Yuan felt a vast amount of knowledge flood his mind.

[Devilish Art · Finger Artifact: Effect 1: After using it on a designated Magic Treasure, one can sense the Magic Treasure's emotions and gain an initial favorability of 100 points from it.]

[Effect 2: After sensing the Magic Treasure's emotions, one can attempt to communicate with it. When the Magic Treasure's favorability towards the user reaches 120 or above, there is a 99% chance of triggering the Spirit Joy characteristic.]

[Spirit Joy: The Magic Treasure will perform at a level exceeding its theoretical limit for a certain period. Conversely, if it experiences Spirit Displeasure, its performance will significantly drop for a period, or it might even malfunction directly.]

Holy crap! This Devilish Art is amazing!

Sensing and inciting the emotions of a Magic Treasure, making it resonate with the user, thereby achieving a state of unity between human and treasure? This is how it can be understood, right?

But the problem arises: why would such a method, which by no means seems like a Devilish Art, be listed alongside Finger Command and Finger Spirit?

As he was pondering, a line of text slowly appeared on the System panel.

[Note: When the host uses the Devilish Art · Finger Artifact, broaden your perspective. Inciting Spirit Displeasure in the enemy's Magic Treasure or even causing it to directly betray them is highly feasible.]

Alright, so this was the correct way to use the Devilish Art · Finger Artifact?

Su Yuan suddenly understood.

In that case, this Devilish Art · Finger Artifact is indeed incredibly sinister!

Imagine this: you are a Righteous Path Sword Cultivator from ancient times, filled with righteous indignation, pursuing a Devilish Cultivator with your beloved Treasure Sword.

Just as victory is within reach, you unleash a crucial strike, only to discover that your Treasure Sword has somehow been turned by the Devilish Cultivator, greatly diminishing the power of your attack.

The tides of battle change in an instant, and your fate is predictable.

Just thinking about it is terrifying.

However... although the Devilish Art · Finger Artifact is a super insidious Devilish Art, the problem is, where can a pauper like him find Magic Treasures?

Go and incite other people's Magic Treasures?

Stealing other people's property is a crime! A sentence of less than three years, you know!

Use this method to trick a fellow Prodigy during a competition?

Heh, isn't he participating in a Martial Arts Competition? Where are the Magic Treasures?

High school Martial Arts Competitions prohibit the use of weapons and Magic Treasures, alright! How can he trick anyone?

After much thought, Su Yuan reluctantly discovered that the Devilish Art · Finger Artifact seemed impressive but impractical, and it couldn't help him much for now.

Shaking his head, Su Yuan closed the System panel and refocused his attention on the Martial Arts Competition.

He now desperately hoped that Taihua Tianji would take that little brat Yu Xi away and let the Martial Arts Competition proceed normally, so he could prove himself with his strength.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Taihua Tianji remained silent, and the atmosphere froze.

Taihua Yu Xi, however, seemed to enjoy the chaos. She tilted her small head and said:

"I said Su Yuan is the champion, why aren't you speaking? Does anyone object?"

As soon as she said this, someone in the crowd finally couldn't hold back!

"I object! This Martial Arts Competition is a farce! I demand new judges and a rematch!"

The speaker was a tall, mature-looking young man who strode out from the crowd as he spoke.

Su Yuan looked back and recognized him.

He was a participant from Class Four in this Martial Arts Competition, Huang Sheng.

His family were local tycoons, and they spent a fortune to ensure his physical fitness far surpassed that of his peers, making him the sports prodigy of the class.

Relying on his powerful physique, even though Huang Sheng's martial arts techniques were somewhat lacking, his strength could never be underestimated.

Su Yuan could understand why this person was the first to step forward in opposition.

It was because his grades were truly abysmal in everything except sports and cultivation.

If he couldn't secure a good ranking in the Martial Arts Competition, he would almost certainly not be able to get into the Special Class.

Originally, Huang Sheng's strength had him on track to advance to the top two, but Taihua Yu Xi's meddling meant he was eliminated before even getting a chance to compete. He definitely wouldn't stand for it.

Su Yuan felt it was necessary to chime in and quickly get the competition back on track.

But before he could speak, Huang Sheng shifted his target and strode up to Su Yuan, looking down at him as he said:

"You're Su Yuan, right! I heard you've been acting pretty cocky lately, often seen with the school beauty. But I didn't expect you to be so arrogant even under True Man Tai Bai's watchful eye!"

"I don't care how you seduced True Man Tai Bai's daughter, but now I'm giving you only one choice: apologize to True Man Tai Bai and then fight us, the contestants, fair and square!"

Su Yuan: "..."

Alright, alright, is the traditional trope finally kicking in?

Judging by Huang Sheng's tone, he seems quite jealous of me hanging out with Chen Nuoyi.

This kind of brainless villain who actively picks fights is just perfect!

Su Yuan was delighted rather than alarmed, already eager to start fighting.

But just then, Taihua Yu Xi wouldn't have it, her face filled with disdain as she mocked:

"Who do you think you are? A bunch of losers like you are even worthy of competing with Brother Su Yuan? Even if you all teamed up, you wouldn't be enough for Brother Su Yuan to handle with one hand."

Huang Sheng's face instantly turned beet red, a torrent of negative emotions surging towards Su Yuan like a tidal wave.

Su Yuan: "..."

Setting me up for a fall, huh! You little white-haired brat are seriously wicked!

Su Yuan vaguely understood Taihua Yu Xi's tactic. Her declaring him the winner earlier wasn't favoritism at all; it was just drawing hatred towards him!

But I might not be able to handle fighting seven people at once!

And as the situation grew increasingly chaotic, finally, Taihua Tianji cleared his throat:

"Yu Xi, I'll be in charge of this competition."

Upon hearing this, Principal Zhang Youde and all the teachers and students collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

True Man Tai Bai indeed knew when to draw the line and wouldn't let his daughter continue her antics indefinitely.

The Martial Arts Competition can finally proceed as planned.

Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation, the next second, Taihua Tianji said calmly:

"We've already wasted quite a bit of time. I don't think this Martial Arts Competition is necessary anymore."

"How about this: all contestants, join my group chat. I'll send out a red envelope, and whoever grabs it first will be the winner and can enter the Special Class."

School leaders, teachers, students, contestants: "???"