Peace at the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect lasted exactly two days.
This time, it wasn't a goose, a young master, or demonic bandits.
It was a letter.
A very official-looking scroll, sealed with the insignia of the Seven Peaks Tournament Association.
Li Qingyu opened it under the watchful eyes of the disciples.
> "Congratulations, Esteemed Sect Leader Li Qingyu!
Your sect has been selected by random draw to participate in the upcoming Rising Blossom Junior Cultivation Tournament!
This is a valuable opportunity for young sects to demonstrate potential, recruit disciples, and gain prestige.
Venue: Starveil City Arena
Date: Three days from now
Entry Fee: Already paid by your sponsor.
Good luck! Don't die!"**
Ziyan squinted. "Wait… sponsor?"
Tian Feng pointed at the scroll. "There's a PS."
> P.S. Thanks for the entertainment last time. Let's see if your weirdos can survive the real thing. – Bai Yuntian
(P.P.S. I'm rooting for the violent girl.)
---
Li Qingyu sipped his tea slowly. "So. He enrolled us in a city-wide, multiregional cultivation tournament."
"We're not ready," Yanyu said. "Our strongest technique is Ziyan Punches Stuff."
Ziyan raised a thumb. "It's a good technique."
Su Jian glanced at his explosive pill pouch. "I've got three recipes I've mostly stabilized."
"I have numbers," Tian Feng offered weakly.
Li Qingyu folded the letter.
"Then let's go. We'll make a statement."
"What statement?" asked Daniu.
"That the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect is gloriously unhinged and hard to predict."
---
Three Days Later – Starveil City
The arena was massive, surrounded by hovering platforms and packed with tens of thousands of spectators, sect elders, talent scouts, and spirit beasts with popcorn.
Banners flapped in the wind, displaying famous sects:
Skyfire Pavilion
Thousand Petal Sword Sect
Silver Crane Clan
Golden Fang Brotherhood
And then, with a slightly crooked banner…
Eternal Radiance Divine Sect
Slogan (in shaky brushwork): "We're Probably a Real Sect."
"Great branding," Su Jian mumbled.
A gong sounded.
The announcer's voice boomed from a floating jade loudspeaker:
"Welcome to the Rising Blossom Tournament! Today, 64 sects will compete! Round one: team survival trials! Survive the beast forest for three hours. Top 32 teams advance!"
Ziyan cracked her knuckles. "I was born for survival trials."
---
The Beast Forest – Trial Begins
Thirty teams teleported into the forest.
Spirit fog hung heavy over twisted trees. The roars of spirit beasts echoed in the distance.
Su Jian immediately dropped a smoke bomb.
Everyone choked.
"I panicked, okay?!"
Daniu pulled out his broom. "Let's go beat some trees."
"No," Li Qingyu said. "Let's win smart."
---
As the other sects charged in looking for beasts to slay or traps to dodge, the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect…
…set up camp.
Tian Feng activated a low-tier formation that masked their presence.
Yanyu set out snare lines and alarm talismans.
Su Jian buried explosive pills in a neat perimeter.
Ziyan patrolled with a boulder strapped to her back "for resistance training."
And Daniu built a soup fire.
Other sects stumbled into nightmare vines, lightning frogs, and teleporting bears.
The Eternal Radiance Divine Sect? They napped, drank soup, and looted the careless.
---
At hour two, a team from the Iron Wind Sect found their hiding spot.
"Your sect is disgracefully lazy!" their leader yelled.
Ziyan stepped forward, holding a steaming bowl.
"You want soup or fists?"
They chose fists.
Five minutes later, the Iron Wind Sect fled, pantsless and covered in soot.
---
[Ding! Tournament Round 1: Passed]
[Bonus Reputation: +5 (for creative survival tactics)]
[Loot Gained: Spirit Coins, Exploding Acorn Pouch, Iron Wind Sash]
Back in the stands, Bai Yuntian stood in his private booth, holding a fan and smirking.
He sipped his juice. "They're actually doing it. This is hilarious."
Beside him, a dozen sect elders frowned in confusion.
"Who are those people?"
"Is that… a goose statue on their flag?"
---
That night, Li Qingyu and his disciples celebrated with grilled root vegetables and the tears of defeated enemies.
"This is fun," Daniu said. "Can we do more survival trials?"
"Next round is a duel match," Li Qingyu replied.
Ziyan grinned. "Perfect."
Yanyu tied her hair tighter. "They won't see us coming."
Su Jian tinkered with his bombs. "Especially if they stand near flammable plants."
Tian Feng read the rulebook by moonlight. "Technically, we can win with economic sabotage."
Li Qingyu looked up at the stars.
Their path was strange, crooked, and ridiculous.
And it was working.
---