The news of Zhou Hong defeating Zhong Jianren not only caused a stir in Jinzhou City but also spread to Jiangnan Province within half an hour.
The Jiangnan Province Martial Cultivator Channel immediately reported this news.
The initial news of Zhou Hong defeating Yan Fengcheng and becoming the sixth among the provincial young geniuses had already spread throughout Jiangnan Province. Now, with the addition that even Zhong Jianren, the fourth genius, was defeated by Zhou Hong, the entire Jiangnan Province was in shock.
Meanwhile, Zhou Hong had returned to Tianhe Community, paying no mind to external affairs, focusing solely on his playful interactions with Xiao Yu.
Thus, the night passed without incident.
As the next day dawned, countless people across Jiangnan Province were already aware that Zhou Hong's strength had improved once again, replacing Zhong Jianren to become the fourth among the provincial young geniuses.
Instantly, Zhou Hong became a prominent figure in Jiangnan Province.
After breakfast that morning, Zhou Hong headed to Jinzhou University as usual.
However, as Zhou Hong arrived at the university's main gate, a group of reporters rushed towards him.
"Senior Zhou Hong!" the reporters shouted upon seeing Zhou Hong.
Zhou Hong initially wanted to flee but was already surrounded, so he was compelled to accept the interview.
"Senior Zhou Hong, we are reporters from the Provincial Television Station. You defeated Zhong Jianren last night and became the fourth among the provincial young geniuses. What are your thoughts on this?" the leading reporter asked, holding out a microphone.
"No particular thoughts. To me, it was just like going to the toilet to relieve myself. What thoughts do you expect me to have when I urinate?" Zhou Hong replied indifferently, believing his analogy to be apt and his words, though crude, to be true.
The reporters, however, were inwardly shocked. Zhou Hong had equated defeating Zhong Jianren to urinating, and they wondered how Zhong Jianren would feel upon hearing this.
"Senior Zhou Hong, are you aware that you are now officially recognized as the fourth young genius in Jiangnan Province?" another reporter inquired.
"Oh, I know now," Zhou Hong chuckled.
"Right, Senior Zhou Hong, the third provincial young genius, Zhou Li, is also at Rank 90 of the Martial Path, and you are also at Rank 90. Do you have anything to say about this? Do you think you could challenge her again? If successful, you wouldn't just be the fourth genius; you would truly enter the top three."
"Is that so? I'm not interested," Zhou Hong shook his head.
"You are also at Rank 90 of the Martial Path, and Zhou Li, who is currently ranked third, is also at Rank 90. Don't you really want to have a match with her?"
"I don't want to waste my time."
"Then you must have a deep understanding of Zhou Li." One reporter asked, assuming Zhou Hong's reluctance to fight Zhou Li stemmed from his knowledge of her strength and his fear. After all, who wouldn't want to be in the top three if given the chance? The difference between fourth and third was immense.
"I don't know her. I've never heard of this person before," Zhou Hong replied, shaking his head. Why would he bother learning about some Zhou Li?
"Really? She is the third provincial young genius! By the way, you must be very familiar with the first and second-ranked geniuses then." Another reporter asked.
"Don't know them, haven't heard of them, and don't wish to know," Zhou Hong said with a hint of impatience. He had no interest in knowing the top one, two, or three provincial young geniuses. Seeing the reporters' incessant questions, he grew somewhat annoyed.
"Senior Zhou Hong…!"
"Alright, I have some things to attend to. That's all." Zhou Hong stopped talking and walked into the campus.
The group of reporters watched Zhou Hong's retreating figure, feeling quite displeased.
"This Zhou Hong is far too arrogant."
"Yes, he even claims to have never heard of the top three provincial young geniuses. As someone in the martial cultivation world, how could he not have heard of them? I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death. He's pretending too disgustingly."
"Pride comes before a fall. I used to admire him, but from this moment on, I am filled with contempt for him. Just you wait and see; he won't last long."
Although Zhou Hong was already dozens of meters away, he could still hear the reporters' remarks at the entrance.
Zhou Hong was speechless, surprised that the reporters were badmouthing him behind his back, accusing him of pretending.
But Zhou Hong truly wasn't pretending; he genuinely didn't know who the top three provincial young geniuses were. Furthermore, Zhou Hong truly had no interest in knowing who they were. He hadn't expected to be perceived as arrogant and deliberately feigning ignorance by these reporters.
Zhou Hong could only sigh in resignation.
The group of reporters soon left Jinzhou University and returned to Jiangnan Province. As expected, the day's interviews would be broadcast by the Provincial Television Station. Moreover, the reporters' displeasure with Zhou Hong's arrogant attitude would surely lead to biased reporting, exaggeration, and malicious editing, which was likely unavoidable.
Indeed, during the noon and evening news that day, Jiangnan Province Television broadcast the report. The segment highlighting Zhou Hong's arrogant attitude was played repeatedly.
Everyone who saw the news believed Zhou Hong to be a talented individual who had become conceited and no longer respected even the top three provincial young geniuses.
Following this report, the positive impression many in Jiangnan Province had of Zhou Hong plummeted. Many fans who had previously admired Zhou Hong suddenly turned against him.
Furthermore, the fans of the original top three geniuses, upon seeing Zhou Hong's arrogant attitude and his claim of never having heard of them, were enraged and vented their dissatisfaction in their respective groups, forums, and other online spaces.
In the evening, when Zhou Hong returned home, negative news about him had reached its peak.
"Zhou Hong, how could you answer the reporters from Jiangnan Province Television like that this morning?" Qiao Wanli asked anxiously upon seeing Zhou Hong return.
"I was just speaking the truth. What's wrong, Grandpa?"
"The entire Jiangnan Province probably knows now that you have an arrogant attitude and don't even respect the top three provincial young geniuses. Many people who were admiring you before are now criticizing you behind your back. Go and check online."
"Heh!" Zhou Hong chuckled indifferently. It was better if no one liked him; he didn't need fans.
"You can still laugh? You told the reporters this morning that defeating Zhong Jianren last night was like going to the toilet. That statement has displeased many people who feel you were disrespectful to Zhong Jianren. After all, he is a provincial young genius. Zhou Hong, you should be more humble in the future. Even if you don't care, public opinion is very important to a person," Qiao Wanli advised.
"Alright, I understand," Zhou Hong said, resigned.
Qiao Wanli didn't say any more, lest he make Zhou Hong uncomfortable.
At this very moment, in a conference hall in Jiangnan Province City, four or five young men were gathered.
These young men were none other than the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh ranked provincial young geniuses of Jiangnan Province.
They seemed to be discussing topics related to Zhou Hong, and each time Zhou Hong's name was mentioned, several of them clenched their fists tightly.