Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

There have been several instances in history where disasters arose from different decisions between the Peak Master and the Sect Master. These are considered family scandals and are seldom mentioned, but as the peak master, Liu Tangxi is well aware and has even taught his junior brother a lesson about it.

Despite its weakened status, even thousands of years later, Swordmaster Peak remains unrivaled in its position within the mountain gate.

For example, Jiang Feng, who is the second best of Swordmaster Peak.

Standing with a straightened back, ignoring cultivation, Jiang Feng in the front row with chiefs of other mountain gates together actually fits the picture.

Tall, handsome, strong, with superb temperament, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, he looks like a wealthy fool of a young master one can spot at a glance, but at least this kid representing Swordmaster Peak's image is not embarrassing.

Except the realm is a bit embarrassing.

Standing at the front of the line, following him are Miss Lin and Liang Yu, different from the noble aura upon first entering the mountain, the little princess trained by Liu Xianzi shows much more agility and vitality, originally Jiang Feng thought little junior sister wouldn't compete, after all, she just entered and hasn't even registered.

It turns out after checking that senior sister directly secured a spot for little junior sister.

A bye spot.

Well, what's wrong with abusing authority for personal gain?

"Senior brother, there are so many people around..."

The girl's somewhat timid appearance hasn't changed, she's relatively relaxed around other girls in the mountain gate, but becomes shy and timid when surrounded by many people, a consequence of her years of wandering.

Miss Lin easily performs the ability to produce sound thread, one's talent isn't only evident through cultivation but also through mastering techniques rapidly, even Liu Tangxi envies Miss Lin's gift of memorization, let alone others.

"Don't worry, we'll be back to the mountain gate soon. By the way, girl, help me pay attention to groupings, I'm really too sleepy."

Suppressing the urge to yawn, glancing around to find inner sect disciples from other peaks bustling with five to sixty people at most, even few have tens of them, their Swordmaster Peak is just three people.

Showing some helpless expression, quickly gazing afar, first noticing the elder reciting the rolls in front of Yuqing Hall, then looking at Liu Tangxi standing not far in proper sect attire, the two exchanged glances.

Jiang Feng rarely sees a hint of helplessness in his senior sister's calm eyes, seemingly she also dislikes such occasions, much like joining a sports meet during school where they could've started directly but insisted on having some ceremony, with unknown leaders chanting some incantation which could take hours.

These are the rules of the jianghu.

"Inner sect disciples are divided into ten groups: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, each with forty-five people. Jade tokens are drawn by the Nine Peaks and will be sent to each participant, please keep your jade token safe and avoid having it stolen."

"To ensure fairness and justice, the first four rounds must be supervised by inner sect stewards and protectors..."

"Outer sect disciples are divided into twelve groups: Z, C, E, M, C, X, W, W, S, Y, H, I, each group..."

In front of the Jade Stairs, the elder's resonant voice continues.

These rules are not harsh, grouping doesn't require much effort, at first glance the restrictions seem numerous, with this limit and that one, but in reality, the rules don't strictly forbid any weapon in the tournament.

In other words, you can use anything you can bring out.

The overall rule is simply as long as no life is lost, as long as you're not deliberately killing, as long as you don't refuse to admit defeat, feel free to flex, and hearing this draw rule even more invigorated someone.

"Interesting."

"The rules are indeed relaxed, with many loopholes, yet sound like intentionally left gaps for us to exploit."

"Jade tokens don't publicize names, only numbers, adjacent groups battle, the extra odd ones get byes, and these significant items aren't managed by them but left for participants to keep themselves."

"Upon facing an opponent just remember your number, take out your jade token to compete, good lord, this openly supports cheating..."

The eyebrows raised slightly.

Rules like this aren't exactly fair and just, instead, they provide opportunities for slackers, if one can trade enough chips with others for drawing slots, easily they can pass quite a few rounds.

Could it be the rule-makers are foolish for not realizing these obvious loopholes?

"Probably preparing for two years later's Phoenix Heavenly Cave indeed."

Thinking slightly leads to understanding the underlying intention.

"Once inside Phoenix Heavenly Cave, not just strength counts, brains equally matter. Knowing to utilize rules, leverage advantages, and trade them, such individuals will be more useful than those who only know fighting."

"Even the rules protect these so-called fraudulent ones, only knowing their own token number, doesn't this offer room to operate? Estimated those at Nascent Soul Stage all receive empty slots, otherwise it's unfair to regular contestants."

"Seems the sect values this Cave Heaven Secret Realm highly…"

Thinking this while watching the elder announcing rules on stage.

Stealthily glancing behind and aside, Lin Jiangxian still exhibits naivety despite years of wandering, she truly doesn't understand scheming, but that newly enrolled junior sister appears intrigued even meeting eyes with Jiang Feng.

Revealing a smile.

Without sound threading, just mutual gaze conveys the general meaning, truly this little princess is frighteningly smart, immediately noticing the loophole.

Secretly glancing beside, indeed since rules' announcement one can judge who uses brains well, who's rigidly persistent, among many disciples some are confident enthusiastic, others silent, saying nothing, and some...

"Hey, this kid."

Turning head, spotting a brat in the crowd also looking at him, raising corners of his mouth with a bright smile.

It's Yan Fengchun.

Rolled eyes, descendants like him, especially tied to heirs have quite the minds, seeing his expression obviously moved a crooked idea.

Continuing stealthy observation to side and nearby, encircled by outer disciples different from inner disciples, these outer disciples each with solemn serious expressions, for them these rules and info had long reached their ears.

Inner disciples reach different crowds compared to outer, some senior disciples attended previous Nine Peaks tournaments including each peak master, they certainly attend each time, with small inquiries you can roughly guess, mostly mere details vary.

The daily tournament hours from dawn to dusk, every hour starts a match, adding main peak and various built places, nearly twenty martial arts arenas run simultaneously, inner disciples typically finish the first round within two days.

However, outer disciples have more to absorb, most lack reliable info, only speculating or exchanging mutually, attempting to spot several familiar figures amid dense crowds, White Yu and Su Yi chose to register this time too, but with the crowd being too vast glanced barely...

Bang!

A sudden forehead pain!

Neck shrunk immediately, realizing it's senior sister on stage watching him, none around showed reactions, including elders and peak masters, just Master Gu smiling kindly, glanced gently without reproach but encouragement and hope for juniors.

The following moment he understood why senior sister awoken him suddenly, as next was Second Elder's booming voice instantly stirring the entire Purple Cloud Palace inside.

"Finally, for the winners after this Nine Peaks tournament, the rewards are as follows."

"A magic treasure, middle-grade Earth Rank Mysterious Moon Pipa!"