The Invincible Loser's Counterattack System: The Invincible Loser's Counterattack System, #5

By Hou Ji Xian Ren

Zhou Fei, known as "the number one failure of Chang'an" at the academy in the great Tang Dynasty's Chang'an, is actually a young man with a special identity and background. After accidentally acquiring a "failure system," he miraculously embarked on the path to becoming a top master, despite originally being unable to cultivate.

Facing challenges from academy teachers and ridicule from the nobility's children, Zhou Fei handles them with ease, demonstrating his extraordinary strength. An unexpected lodging crisis further allowed him to reveal his unique treasures and extraordinary methods, making his image of a failure even more mysterious.

How will Zhou Fei, with the failure system, rise against the odds to become a top master among the elites in the academy, continuing his legendary journey?

I refuse the path through the mountain of books, and I won't sail the endless sea of learning. Being such a failure already, why must I be transformed into a supreme master?
 

 

 

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 Zhou Fei hardly slept all night.

 Every time he closed his eyes, it wasn't long before he was jolted awake.

 He was terrified of falling back into that dreadful illusion.

 Light had started to creep through the window; dawn was upon them.

 Zhou Fei sat up, his left leg bent with his left hand resting on his knee, his right leg extended flat as his right hand supported his body's weight. He sat askew, gazing out the window.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zhou Yan
• Release date: May 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224971145

Book preview

Chapter 241: The World Within the Chessboard

Zhou Fei hardly slept all night.

Every time he closed his eyes, it wasn’t long before he was jolted awake.

He was terrified of falling back into that dreadful illusion.

Light had started to creep through the window; dawn was upon them.

Zhou Fei sat up, his left leg bent with his left hand resting on his knee, his right leg extended flat as his right hand supported his body’s weight. He sat askew, gazing out the window.

A stream of sunlight pierced through the window, casting a cylindrical beam onto the floor, around which many specks of dust danced. It was somewhat enchanting.

Zhou Fei remembered his childhood in the countryside, where his family’s house had those transparent tiles. During the summer, sunlight streaming through the tiles would create such scenes, and he would often stare at the dust particles, lost in thought for an entire afternoon.

His grandmother would fan him, humming an unknown tune while time quietly slipped by.

Zhou Fei hastily shook his head, pushing these thoughts away.

The power of that chessboard was indeed terrifying. Even though he had managed to escape, the aftereffects seemed to linger.

Or perhaps, the real test was just beginning.

Besides the power of the chessboard, something else made Zhou Fei feel uneasy, even a bit fearful.

Why would Zhongling Zen Temple, this almost forgotten sacred Buddhist site, suddenly send an important figure to attend the Flower Food Festival?

The abbot of the Bodhi Institute is an extremely significant person in any monastery.

Subconsciously, Zhou Fei felt he should keep his distance from that person.

Before his illness was cured, it would be better not to have any conflicts with the monk from Zhongling Zen Temple.

Previously, before First Line Sky, Zhou Fei had been a bit impulsive.

And at that time, he felt a strong sense of caution, but later could not pinpoint the source of that caution.

This was why Zhou Fei felt some apprehension towards the abbot of the Bodhi Institute.

Zhou Fei put on his coat and left the cabin. The mornings at Great Void Mountain were still quite cold. Although Zhou Fei’s current physical condition could be described as impervious to the cold, he still habitually put on his coat.

On the lawn, Master Xinpan was sitting on a stone stool facing a Buddha statue not far away, reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Hearing the footsteps, Master Xinpan paused and said, Call Miss Ling. You can descend the mountain today.

Zhou Fei was stunned. Descend the mountain?

Yes, you will need to seek medical attention at the foot of the mountain, Master Xinpan said. This is not a suitable place to treat your illness.

Zhou Fei said, Master, you have not descended the mountain in many years, yet for my sake today, you break your rule. This junior truly does not know how to express my gratitude.

Ha, Master Xinpan laughed and said, While my descending the mountain is related to you, it is not entirely because of you. Do not overthink it.

Zhou Fei scratched his head and said, Looks like I misunderstood, but no matter what, I still have to thank Master.

Master Xinpan shook his head and said, I will descend the mountain first. You and Miss Ling, follow.

Ling Zhaoyan’s voice came from behind them, I am already awake, Master.

Then let’s go. Master Xinpan finished speaking, tightened his monk’s robe, and slowly walked towards the foot of the mountain.

Zhou Fei and Ling Zhaoyan followed closely behind.

Behind the two of them was the monk Lie Chen.

He always seemed to have a temperament that made people forget about him very quickly.

...

After reaching the foot of the mountain, they entered Suspended Temple. Looking at the temple, which he had not seen for decades, Master Xinpan’s first words were: It’s still so dilapidated.

Lie Chen, at the end of the line, ground his teeth upon hearing this.

Zhou Fei and Ling Zhaoyan tried their best to stifle their laughter.

It seemed Master Xinpan also had an unexpected side.

When the presiding master came down from his secluded meditation, it was naturally a major event for Suspended Temple. Therefore, the heads of all the courtyards came to meet and exchange ideas with the presiding master.

Master Xinpan found this most annoying. He directly pushed forward his disciple and brought along Zhou Fei and Ling Zhaoyan to another secluded meditation room.

In principle, women are not allowed inside the Suspended Temple, but when accompanied by the presiding master, they are exceptions to this rule. Aside from a few core areas, they can go anywhere.

Ling Zhaoyan knew Master Xinpan had something to discuss with Zhou Fei, so she consciously stepped aside and turned her back, signaling she would not eavesdrop.

Master Xinpan was quite pleased with this and nodded slightly, Mr. Zhou is indeed fortunate.

Zhou Fei had gotten used to people teasing him about Ling Zhaoyan, so he didn’t react unusually. He asked, Master, the things I encountered in the chessboard world yesterday, will they come true?

Master Xinpan was taken aback by Zhou Fei’s question, something he hadn’t anticipated. He looked into Zhou Fei’s eyes, trying to discern if he was lying or sincerely asking.

The world of the chessboard is not real, yet it can be said to be real, for it is said to be derived from the Buddha’s supreme wisdom, Master Xinpan chose his words carefully. It could also be seen as a manifestation of destiny, a result of fate.

Zhou Fei fell silent for a moment, then said, So, the end of the chessboard world is my destiny?

Destiny is unpredictable. Since you could see it, it can’t be considered as destiny anymore. Because you have the power to change it! What you saw is merely what you fear in your heart, Master Xinpan explained.

Zhou Fei murmured to himself, Can destiny really be changed?

Everything can be changed, Master Xinpan stated.

The outside world says the master can foresee the future, is that related to the chessboard? Zhou Fei asked.

Foreseeing the future is an ability, but this ability comes with an equivalent price, Master Xinpan explained. The National Master of the Tang Dynasty, Yin Yang, glimpsed into the future before the current Emperor ascended the throne. As a result, he paid the price of ten years of stagnation in his cultivation. A few months ago, the Lian Zhen Priest, Huayue, came to Chang’an, glanced at you, and upon returning to the temple, she fought a fierce battle with the previous Seven Kills Priest, resulting in a drop of two levels in her realm, and she has not recovered yet.

Zhou Fei blinked, Looked at me? Why would she look at me?

Because someone said you are the Son of the Demon King, Master Xinpan said indifferently.

Zhou Fei asked, Do you believe it, Master?

Master Xinpan laughed, Whether I believe it or not, is that very important to you?

If the Master believes it, then I wouldn’t dare let you treat me, Zhou Fei said seriously. Because I’m afraid of turning into a monkey, suppressed under Mount Wuzhi.

Master Xinpan didn’t understand the reference but could guess the gist.

Those who, with mortal capabilities, foolishly attempt to pry into the secrets of heaven, never end well. My time is limited, and rather than spending my finite life on such things, I’d rather do something truly beneficial, Master Xinpan stated. Moreover, I believe in Fu Zi.

Zhou Fei’s hanging heart finally settled.

Having a good teacher is indeed a blissful thing.

Chapter 242: Winter is Coming

For the common folk, the Flower Feast Festival is a grand celebration.

But for the Seven Kingdoms of the Great Wilderness, it’s a time for discussion.

This became particularly necessary after the barbarians returned to the south the year before last.

The barbarians are highly adaptable; within just a year, they had firmly established themselves on the grasslands. Moreover, as the grasslands are areas not blessed by the Divine Maiden’s light, the Demonic Sect’s expansion there has been remarkably fast.

Feng Jianche, the young master of the Demonic Sect, led his followers in battles across the region, securing a vast territory for the barbarians.

The former overlord of the grasslands, Jin Zuowang, was chased around like a dog that had lost its home.

However, after suffering a great loss, Jin Zuowang became very cunning, trusting no one but himself.

At the same time, Jin Zuowang also secretly reached out to another nearly forgotten entity, Xinggong Pavilion.

Originally a branch of the Demonic Sect, Xinggong Pavilion became independent due to certain historical events and established its own faction. They reside in an unknown place, with very few of their members walking among the Central Plains. The last disciple of Xinggong Pavilion known to have walked in the Central Plains was Zhou Fei’s mother.

However, her fate was quite tragic.

The situation on the grasslands is changing rapidly, with Jin Zuowang, Xinggong Pavilion, and the barbarians forming a complex triangle of power. Although there are conflicts among them, most of their efforts are focused on confronting the Seven Kingdoms of the Central Plains, especially the Tang Kingdom.

For the three powers of the grasslands, defeating the strongest among the Central Plains’ Seven Kingdoms, even if just in one battle, would greatly boost their morale and potentially lead to more conquests.

Although the Tang Kingdom does not directly border the grasslands, separated by the Yan Kingdom, once Yan falls, Tang’s heartland will be directly exposed to the barbarians and the avenger, Jin Zuowang. The natural barrier of Qingfeng Gorge alone cannot stop the onslaught of the crazed barbarians and Jin Zuowang seeking revenge.

Of course, should Tang fall, the other kingdoms would not fare much better.

Thus, representatives from all kingdoms gathered in the Qin Kingdom, in Xianyang.

They had to come up with a practical solution.

Not only were representatives from the Seven Kingdoms present, but the Divine Treasury also sent emissaries.

Chai Guangxuan, the high priest of Lianzhen Hall, represented the Divine Treasury.

His first meeting was not with a monk from the Suspended Temple, but with Zhou Fei.

Upon seeing Zhou Fei, Chai Guangxuan was filled with emotion, The last time I saw Mr. Zhou, he was at the Seven-Star Realm. Now, he has already entered the Divine Treasury. Considering he started his cultivation journey just over two years ago, such speed in advancement is truly breathtaking and enviable.

Zhou Fei asked, Did you come here just to express your envy in front of me?

Chai Guangxuan: Ah?

You’re jealous. Zhou Fei said with a chuckle.

Chai Guangxuan choked on his own breath, nearly suffocating himself.

Then, he said with both laughter and exasperation, I am indeed overbearing, to have forgotten Mr. Zhou’s outstanding eloquence.

As he spoke, he took out a letter from his loose robe and handed it to Zhou Fei, This was entrusted to me by the Seven Kills Priest.

Zhou Fei’s eyes lit up.

A letter from Chu Weirui, it should be good news.

Yong Yan might have been killed by her.

However, after Zhou Fei had read through the entire letter, his expression had become very solemn.

Yong Yan is still alive.

Even Chu Weirui couldn’t kill him.

Is that guy like a cockroach? Is it impossible to kill him? Is there no justice in this world?

In the letter, Chu Weirui did not explain in detail why Yong Yan did not die, only glossed over it.

It seems there are other hidden details.

At the end of the letter, Chu Weirui had drawn a circle.

Zhou Fei stared at the circle for a long time. Finally, he let out a long sigh, I know you’re very capable, but there is no need to insult me like this.

This circle is a Qian Qiu Rune.

To be precise, it is a representation of the Qian Qiu Rune.

After all, the Qian Qiu Rune embraces all things. Anything can be summarized using the two characters Qian Qiu.

Chu Weirui was not showing off, but used this way to tell Zhou Fei that if he didn’t continue working hard, he wouldn’t even be able to defeat Yong Yan.

Yong Yan really is a troublesome guy.

Zhou Fei narrowed his eyes, as if the bloody pear blossom had reappeared before him.

What a persistent, haunting guy.

Brother Six, Divine Official Chai, the discussion is about to start, please come in. Lie Chen approached them, his hands clasped together.

Zhou Fei put away the letter and entered the not-so-spacious wing room with Chai Guangxuan.

Including the two of them, there were exactly thirteen people in the room.

The conversation of these thirteen people would decide many things, one could even say it would decide the fate of the entire Great Wilderness.

Master Xinpan was the moderator of the entire conversation, he spoke first, Winter is coming.

Everyone fell silent.

This is no exaggeration. Seeing that everyone was silent, Master Xinpan continued, Everyone should have noticed the changes in the weather. At the beginning of the year, the Tang Dynasty experienced a snowstorm that hadn’t been seen in a century. Nearly one-third of the country was covered in ice and snow, and mind you, that was in the spring. Such a terrifying blizzard happening in the wrong season is truly frightening.

Chai Guangxuan also spoke up, Lord Huayue also dreamed of the world being frozen several months ago.

Although it was just a dream, the duty of the Lian Zhen Priest in the Divine Treasury is to predict the future, so her dreams can also serve as a reference, and no one would doubt them.

Master Yanhui from Zhongling Zen Temple stepped forward and spoke, There is no longer any need to discuss the changes in the weather. Everyone present understands what ‘winter is coming’ means. We should discuss something more practical, which is how the Seven Kingdoms of the Great Wilderness, the Divine Treasury, and Buddhism should conduct ourselves when winter comes?

Zhongling Zen Temple has a special status, and the position of the Bodhi Academy’s First Seat is also very important, so when Master Yanhui spoke, everyone else fell silent.

Before this, the phrase ‘winter is coming’ was only used to scare children; many cultivators did not believe in the existence of winter at all.

Because the last winter had indeed passed a very long time ago. For short-lived beings, a hundred-odd years is enough time to make the entire group forget about sadness.

Master Yanhui slowly swept his gaze across the faces of everyone present, lingering on Zhou Fei’s for a second or two longer, and then said in an indifferent tone, Winter is terrifying, and many people will die. But that does not mean that there is nothing we can do; there is still a lot we can do before winter arrives.

Saying this was the same as saying nothing at all.

Everyone present knew that there was a lot that could be done.

But what exactly were all those things?

Yanhui couldn’t say either.

Or perhaps, he hadn’t thought that much about it at all.

Zhou Fei felt a bit thirsty. There happened to be a cup of tea at hand, and without giving it much thought, he picked it up and drank.

As the tea was about to reach his lips, a small bug suddenly jumped out of the tea and drilled straight into Zhou Fei’s nostrils.

Everything happened too quickly. Zhou Fei didn’t even have time to react!

Chapter 243: The Roar of the Galaxy

In the blink of an eye, a beam of light was released from Zhou Fei’s sleeve.

Under the illumination of this light, the little bug instantly evaporated.

At the same time, with Zhou Fei’s body as the center, a powerful Rune force began to spread outwards.

Everyone present instinctively started to resist it.

Only one person was unable to react in time.

She was the controller of the little bug.

The lovestruck, Ge Qingfei.

The Rune force followed the bug’s scent to find Ge Qingfei, then dealt her a heavy blow.

Ge Qingfei clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Although Qiu Qiaozhen rushed over to help as quickly as she could, the Rune force was incredibly domineering. With Qiu Qiaozhen’s strength, she couldn’t stop it and could only watch as Ge Qingfei was hurt.

Finally, it was Master Yanhui from Zhongling Zen Temple who stepped forward and completely cleansed the remaining Rune force.

Zhou Fei slowly put down his tea cup.

While he was holding it, the tea cup was intact, but as soon as it was placed on the table, the cup shattered into pieces, with all the tea spilling out.

Zhou Fei dusted off his sleeves and stood up leisurely.

His gaze landed on Ge Qingfei’s face.

Qiu Qiaozhen immediately protected Ge Qingfei behind her, glaring at Zhou Fei with venom.

Zhou Fei was well aware of why Ge Qingfei had attacked him.

For her fiancé, Yong Yan, who had hidden himself in the grasslands like a stray dog.

Zhou Fei just hadn’t expected Ge Qingfei to be so bold, daring to make a move against him in such a setting.

If you think about it carefully, you can understand why Ge Qingfei chose to make a move on such an occasion. The reason is simple: on such an occasion, Zhou Fei’s guard would be at its lowest.

Zhou Fei was now most grateful to his Fourth Senior Sister, Tu Wanyue.

The light that had protected him just now came from a talisman from his Fourth Senior Sister.

Galaxy’s Roaring Waves.

Zhou Fei noticed the look in Ge Qingfei’s eyes, a look that only appears when one is extremely crazy and out of control. He thought for a moment and said, I can understand your actions, and I can even accept the way you’ve attacked me, but I never take a loss, and the people from the Academy never take a loss. Respect me a foot, and I’ll repay you three, it’s only fair.

Ge Qingfei wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth and continued to stare at Zhou Fei. Come on, torture me the way you tortured Yong Yan.

Zhou Fei said, Your infatuation is misplaced. Yong Yan is no longer the same glorious and great prince of the Wei Kingdom from before. He has debased himself and become an ally of the demons.

Don’t you dare insult Yong Yan! You are the real Son of the Demon King. Yong Yan has fallen to this state because of you, the Demon King. Today, I will eradicate you, the Demon King, for all the people in the world. Ge Qingfei roared.

Zhou Fei took two steps forward and said, Everyone finds a reason for themselves when they act. This reason must be strong enough to deceive themselves. As for whether or not they can deceive others, that is not so important. You hate me, but you can’t beat me, so you can only slander me, so that even if you lose, it won’t have much to do with you.

Ge Qingfei smiled grimly and said, I’m no match for your glib tongue, but you killed the person I loved most and completely destroyed me. The more wonderful those past memories are, the more cruel they seem now. I used to love everything about the Great Wilderness, but now I just want to see them all destroyed. Zhou Fei, you ruined me, you ruined my world.

Zhou Fei said, What you call the world is nothing more than a virtual illusion constructed by your brain. Whatever you want, your brain can simulate for you, including the perception of cold and heat from the outside world. If you want a perfect world, you can go and imagine it, or you can go out and see it with your own eyes. Those beautiful things will be transmitted to your brain, and then the world will be perfect.

But you are lost in the sorrow of the past, and you see no colors in the world. You have created all this yourself, but you shamelessly claim that I have ruined you. Ge Qingfei, considering that you are a woman, I don’t want to scold you for being mean. Yong Yan is still alive, but you only want to kill me?

Ge Qingfei roared in a great rage, You don’t understand anything at all. You are a person with no dignity, no pride, and nothing at all. Do you understand Yong Yan? Do you understand his perseverance? He used to be the arrogant Son of Heaven, but now he has become a street rat. Even the entire Central Plains cannot accommodate him, and he can only go to the grasslands and live with the savages. Do you know how cruel this torment is for Yong Yan?

Zhou Fei said, As long as you are alive, it is not torment.

I would rather he were dead, Ge Qingfei said.

Zhou Fei said, Then I don’t understand. Do you love a false image, or the real person Yong Yan? If you love him, then no matter if he is poor or rich, healthy or sick, noble or humble, his position in your heart will never change. But if you only love that empty shell, then I can only say that you are too good at self-deception.

Ge Qingfei was stunned.

No one had ever said such things to her before.

Everyone around her had been instilling the same idea into her.

That was revenge.

Revenge for Yong Yan.

Ge Qingfei, by nature, was pure and innocent. Before she met Zhou Fei, she had never faced any setbacks. She was like a blank piece of paper, on which others could paint whatever colors they wished. Ge Qingfei didn’t even engage in independent thought; she was like a beautiful marionette, always being pulled along by someone else.

Being with Yong Yan was also orchestrated by others.

Ge Qingfei didn’t see anything wrong with that.

A prince was certainly a match for her.

Then something happened to Yong Yan.

Ge Qingfei felt that as his fiancée, she should be sad, so she was sad. She felt she should avenge Yong Yan, so she set out to do so.

Later, with countless people whispering in her ear and her own relentless psychological suggestions, Ge Qingfei became a princess set on avenging her fiancé.

All of this sounds so wonderful.

But no one ever asked Ge Qingfei if this was truly what she wanted.

Now, Zhou Fei has pierced through this facade. While it might not have led to an epiphany for Ge Qingfei, it did make her realize that life is not about living for others.

Zhou Fei let out a breath and suddenly drew his sword.

Although you are pitiful, I’ve said before, the people of the Academy never take a loss.

With those words, he swung his sword down.

Everyone present didn’t expect Zhou Fei to act so decisively, striking without any hesitation.

The strike from a Divine Treasury Realm expert, naturally, was not to be underestimated in its power.

Ge Qingfei didn’t dodge.

She closed her eyes, waiting for death to come.

Chapter 244: Imperfection

Ge Qingfei wanted to die, but someone else didn’t want her to.

Qiu Qiaozhen let out a piercing cry of rage and used her flesh and blood as a shield, blocking Ge Qingfei’s body. She clasped her hands together, and divine light burst forth.

Zhou Fei turned his blade and slashed down along the right side of the divine light.

Qiu Qiaozhen danced around, allowing the divine light to follow Zhou Fei’s blade. In the end, she barely managed to block Zhou Fei’s powerful slash.

However, she herself was sent flying back.

After she managed to steady herself, Qiu Qiaozhen’s complexion became extremely pale, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to have deepened.

Zhou Fei snorted and continued forward with his sword.

Qiu Qiaozhen knew that she couldn’t stop Zhou Fei, and there was no way to convince Ge Qingfei to live. Therefore, she could only place her hopes on someone else.

How much longer are you going to wait? Qiu Qiaozhen shouted with all her might.

The people in the room looked at each other and didn’t know who she was asking for help from.

With a soft sigh, Master Yanghui took action.

He clasped his left hand into a Buddhist seal and gently pinched his right hand into a lotus shape, pointing it towards the sky.

Om!

Following this short Buddhist sound, an aura filled with compassion yet also with an incomparably stern killing intent enveloped Zhou Fei.

Everyone in the world knew that the monks of Zhongling Zen Temple