The Tournament Begins

Half a month had passed, and the day of the Inter-Disciple Tournament had finally arrived. The outer disciples were buzzing with excitement, gathered at the tournament grounds, a vast open area near the center of the sect that had been prepared for the event. The sun shone brightly overhead, and the tension in the air was palpable. This was the moment they had all been waiting for—a chance to prove themselves and perhaps even join the ranks of the inner disciples.

Far above the tournament grounds, the peaks of the five mountains loomed like silent sentinels. The elders, whose powers were beyond the comprehension of ordinary disciples, remained within their abodes, watching the tournament from afar. Their inhuman senses allowed them to observe everything from the comforts of their lofty homes. Among these elders were two who had previously discussed Xing Wuye—Elder Shen, the reserved and scholarly elder, and Elder Wu, the elder with a more direct and pragmatic approach to his disciples.

Bai Feng, Mei Ling, and Xing Wuye stood among the sea of disciples, waiting anxiously for the tournament to begin. The platform in front of them would host the first round, a chaotic free-for-all in which only the last ten standing would advance. The sect had devised this tournament to be grueling and merciless, designed to separate the truly exceptional from the merely competent.

The sect master's disciples arrived first, a group of nine. Leading them was the charismatic and boisterous disciple of the sect master himself, Yu Feng. His long, flaming red hair flowed behind him, and his powerful muscles were visible even beneath his sect robes. His handsome face radiated confidence, and there was an undeniable charisma about him. He exuded a sense of dominance, his very presence commanding the attention of all the outer disciples below.

Behind Yu Feng, the disciples of the elders made their entrance, each representing their respective masters.

Elder Wei's single disciple was a beautiful young woman named Lin Caiyun. She was known throughout the sect for her elegance and reserved demeanor, traits inherited from her master. Lin Caiyun's robes were a pristine white woth red patternson it, contrasting with her long, black hair, which flowed gently down her back like a river of ink. Despite her beauty, there was an air of cold detachment about her, as if the concerns of the mundane world were beneath her.

The next group to arrive were the disciples of Elder Wu. Elder Wu's three disciples were all brothers, the Zhang brothers—Zhang Jian, Zhang Ming, and Zhang Lei. They had a sinister air about them, their eyes constantly darting around as if looking for an opportunity to exploit someone's weakness. Their robes were red darker than the others, with subtle hints of red that hinted at their aggressive natures. Despite their identical features, each brother had a distinct personality—Zhang Jian was the leader, cunning and ruthless; Zhang Ming was quieter, but no less dangerous; and Zhang Lei, the youngest, was impulsive and often the one to act first.

Elder Yan, the elder known for his expertise in pill refinement, was represented by two disciples—Liu Wen and Fan Zhi. Liu Wen was a middle-aged man with a calm and composed demeanor, while Fan Zhi was a young woman with sharp, inquisitive eyes. Both wore the signature light blue arm bands of Elder Huang's faction, and their conversation was entirely focused on their recent pill refinement efforts.

"I finally perfected the Rejuvenation Pill," Liu Wen said quietly to Fan Zhi as they approached the platform.

Fan Zhi's eyes sparkled with interest. "Really? I had trouble stabilizing the ingredients for that one. I'd like to compare notes later."

"Of course," Liu Wen responded with a nod. "We'll discuss it after the tournament. But for now, let's observe the competition. Perhaps some of these outer disciples will surprise us."

As the disciples gathered, Yu Feng stood at the front of the group, addressing the gathered outer disciples with his booming voice. "Welcome, disciples of the outer sect, to the Inter-Disciple Tournament! Today, you will have the chance to prove yourselves worthy of joining the inner sect. This tournament will begin with three free-for-all matches, and the last ten standing in each match will advance to the next round."

The crowd murmured in anticipation.

"In addition," Yu Feng continued, "we will select two more exceptional performers from each round to fill out the final bracket. After that, the tournament will proceed with one-on-one matches until we have a champion. The top winners will be rewarded with Qi Condensation Pills, which will help open the twelve major meridians. These are not to be confused with the minor meridians that you may have already opened in your body refinement stages."

The mention of Qi Condensation Pills sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd. For many, these pills were the key to advancing to the next stage of cultivation, and the chance to receive such a prize was enough to motivate even the most cautious disciples.

Yu Feng smiled as he saw the eagerness in the faces of the disciples. "Now, let the tournament begin!"

As the announcement was made, the disciples began to gather onto the platforms for the first round. The tension in the air thickened as the participants sized each other up, some quietly strategizing while others exuded confidence.

On one platform, the Zhang brothers whispered among themselves, their voices filled with malicious intent.

"That Lin Caiyun..." Zhang Jian muttered, his eyes locked onto the elegant disciple of Elder Shen. "We should teach her a lesson. She's been acting untouchable for too long."

Zhang Ming chuckled darkly. "A lesson, indeed. It's time she learned what happens when she looks down on others."

Zhang Lei grinned. "She'll regret crossing paths with us."

On another platform, Yu Feng was making his way toward Lin Caiyun, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Lin Caiyun, why don't you join me after the tournament? We could discuss... your future. You know, a beauty like you shouldn't be wasting your time with those cold mountains."

Lin Caiyun's expression remained unreadable, but the sharpness in her eyes showed her disdain. "I am not interested in such discussions, Yu Feng."

Yu Feng laughed, undeterred by her cold rejection. "Ah, come now. Don't be so serious. You might find I'm more charming than you think."

Meanwhile, on yet another platform, Liu Wen and Fan Zhi stood at the edge, observing the participants with detached interest. "Look at them," Liu Wen said. "So eager to fight and prove themselves."

Fan Zhi nodded. "It's amusing, isn't it? But I'm more interested in seeing if any of them have potential in alchemy. Fighting is one thing, but true mastery comes from the mind."

As the disciples settled into their places on the platforms, the stage was set. The tournament was about to begin in earnest, and all eyes were on the outer sect disciples as they prepared for the first round of combat. The elders, though distant, watched with keen interest, sensing the potential of each competitor.

Xing Wuye stood among the crowd, feeling the weight of the moment as he prepared himself for the challenges ahead.