Regarding the Sect Tournament, Zhang Xuan had indeed heard about it.
Many newly recruited disciples were discussing it.
This so-called Sect Tournament was essentially an arms race of a different sort.
Every notable sect in the Southern Region would bring out all the disciples they had recruited over the past century, comparing whose disciples had greater potential.
The results would determine each sect’s voice and influence in the Southern Region.
Of course, the tournament wasn’t simply a matter of declaring one’s talent.
If that were the case, those with inferior aptitude would have no reason to cultivate—they might as well give all the resources to those with stronger spirit roots.
So, the Sect Tournament tested the comprehensive strength of each sect’s disciples.
It was understood that at every tournament, all the sects in the Southern Region would each select a group of disciples they believed to have the greatest potential, and send them together into a secret realm for exploration and survival.
In the end, whichever sect had the most surviving disciples and brought back the most resources would determine the rankings.
It was brutally straightforward.
As a result, each sect could send a fixed quota of one hundred disciples.
Azure Cloud Sect already had many disciples secretly competing for these slots.
This was quite unfair to the smaller sects, as they might not even be able to muster a hundred disciples.
They were already at a massive disadvantage right from the starting line.
Some smaller sects might barely scrape together a few disciples to send in, only for them to not necessarily make it out alive.
But there was nothing to be done about it.
The cultivation world was inherently a place where the strong grew stronger.
Absolute suppression in martial power meant that stories of underdogs rising to triumph were nearly nonexistent.
Using a saying from before Zhang Xuan’s transmigration: You spent one lifetime reaching Tribulation Transcendence—what makes you think you can compare to someone with three generations of immortals?
Of course, this wasn’t absolute.
In his previous ninety-nine lives, forget three generations—even thirty generations of immortals might not have been enough in front of him.
But on the whole, the weak still had to follow the rules.
Only the strong could make them.
That said, most of the time, the rules still protected the weak.
After all, the strong had descendants too, and they too had to start from the bottom.
But that was going off on a tangent.
Returning to the Sect Tournament—the participating disciples from each sect generally ranged from Qi Refining to Golden Core in cultivation.
They were almost all outer sect disciples from major sects or highly talented direct disciples, since this was a competition among the new generation.
But there was still the same problem.
Some smaller sects might not have many Foundation Building disciples, let alone Golden Core.
The major sects, on the other hand, sent disciples who were almost all at Foundation Building at minimum.
Some might say: if things are like this, what’s the point of the smaller sects competing?
Why even bother participating?
This was where the resources within the secret realm came into play.
Those resources might mean nothing to the major sects, but for the smaller sects, they were rare and precious.
Every time the Sect Tournament concluded, the resources brought back by the disciples would belong to their respective sects.
That was the reason the smaller sects kept coming back for more.
In summary, the Sect Tournament was a playground for the major sects and a glimmer of hope for the smaller sects to rise.
The major sects used it to settle old grudges and crush their rivals as hard as possible.
The smaller sects, meanwhile, went all out to milk the opportunity for all it was worth.
In the previous tournament, Azure Cloud Sect had ranked in the upper echelons, but barely scraping into the top ten.
Azure Cloud Sect had only been established for a little over twenty thousand years.
Compared to sects with histories spanning hundreds of thousands of years, they were still lacking in heritage.
Tenth place was already an impressive showing.
As for this year’s tournament, as a new-generation disciple, Zhang Xuan naturally qualified to participate.
“Whether I’ll participate or not—we’ll see!” Zhang Xuan answered noncommittally.
When he had first heard about the Sect Tournament, he had been quite excited.
This was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for!
But the system had explained that if Zhang Xuan died during the Sect Tournament, it would not count as completing the mission.
The mission required him to protect the sect.
The Sect Tournament was merely a competition.
Even if he died for it, it would only count as defending the sect’s interests—not protecting it.
The wordplay made Zhang Xuan curse out loud, privately noting that his final mission really wasn’t going to be simple.
He understood now.
Only when the sect faced a great enemy and he stepped forward and died would the mission count.
Other things that didn’t significantly impact the sect didn’t count.
But Zhang Xuan hadn’t given up.
This was still a rare opportunity to stir up trouble.
If there was no enmity, he would create it.
If the enemy didn’t come, he could just lure them in.
Of course, he couldn’t let Azure Cloud Sect actually be destroyed.
After all, it was the sect Little Yao had established.
So he still needed to think about how to handle the aftermath.
Hearing Zhang Xuan’s response, Guyue Fangzheng said, “If Brother Zhang wishes to participate, you should probably hurry up and raise your cultivation level.” “The Sect Tournament will begin in just ten years.” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
What was that supposed to mean?
Looking down on his cultivation level?
“Cultivation level is a small matter.
If I want, I could reach Foundation Building tomorrow and Golden Core the day after!” Zhang Xuan said dismissively.
Guyue Fangzheng simply smiled and shook his head, apparently used to his behavior.
Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow and said, “Judging by the way you look, you seem quite interested in the Sect Tournament?” Guyue Fangzheng didn’t hide it.
A fighting spirit gleamed in his eyes as he nodded.
“Indeed, I am quite interested!” “Brother Zhang probably already knows—I come from the Central Region and traveled to the Southern Region.” “I’ve been traveling the Southern Region for several years now, but I have yet to see the true prodigies of the South.” “If there’s such a grand event, of course I’d like to see it if I could.” “Unfortunately, I’m not a disciple of any Southern Sect, and I can’t leave Azure Cloud Sect…” In the end, Guyue Fangzheng’s eyes were filled with regret.
Zhang Xuan nodded in understanding.
The other party was a genius of the Guyue Family, so naturally he wanted to compete with his peers.
He wasn’t like Zhang Xuan, who had only the system mission on his mind.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Xuan said, “How about I help you figure something out so you can participate?” Guyue Fangzheng’s eyes lit up.
“Brother Zhang, really?” “Of course, little brother!
I’ll just go talk to my master!” Zhang Xuan threw an arm around Guyue Fangzheng’s shoulder and patted his chest in assurance.
Although Little Yao still refused to see him, for something this minor, all he had to do was say the word.
It was nothing.
“But listen, little brother—helping you is no problem, but I have one condition,” Zhang Xuan suddenly said.
Guyue Fangzheng didn’t hesitate and agreed immediately.
“Just say the word, Brother Zhang.
If it’s something I can do, I’ll absolutely do it without hesitation!” In his view, he had already offended an immortal.
Zhang Xuan was ostensibly helping him find a way to join the Sect Tournament, but in reality, he was helping reduce his guilt.
So he agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
Zhang Xuan nodded with satisfaction.
The little brother was sensible.
“Don’t worry, little brother.
It’s nothing difficult.
When the time comes and we’re at the tournament, just follow my lead.” “Of course, when you face off against those geniuses, I won’t stop you.
I’ll even help you create opportunities.” Zhang Xuan’s eyes narrowed into a smile, looking utterly harmless.
With Guyue Fangzheng joining in, he would have even more room to maneuver when the time came to cause trouble.
Guyue Fangzheng didn’t pay much attention to that part and said instead, “Has Brother Zhang also decided to participate?” Zhang Xuan nodded.
“Of course!
You’re joining, little brother.
How could I let you fight alone?” Guyue Fangzheng couldn’t help but be moved.
“Brother Zhang, you’re truly loyal!
I absolutely won’t let you face any danger!” “Little brother, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!” “Brother Zhang!” … The two shared a heartfelt moment of brotherhood, nearly swearing an oath of brotherhood on the spot.
Zhang Xuan couldn’t help but sigh to himself.
Young people were so easy to fool.
He had his first little brother of this life.
Just as the two were enjoying their conversation, the figure of an old man appeared without warning, descending upon their location.
The moment the old man appeared, Guyue Fangzheng stiffened.
He sensed a bloodline connection.
“Guyue Fangzheng?” the old man said calmly.
Guyue Fangzheng’s expression turned solemn, and he quickly rose to bow.
“That is this junior.
May I ask who the senior is?” “Guyue Shanyin!” Guyue Fangzheng’s face went blank with shock.
The Thirteenth Ancestor?
He knew that name well—it was his family’s immortal.
The family’s immortal had personally arrived.
What was going on?
But before he could think further, Zhang Xuan suddenly jumped out.
“How dare you!” “Intruding on our Azure Cloud Sect without cause—where do you think you’re from, old man?!” Guyue Fangzheng’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.