A max-level player in Jade Dynasty: Awakening the Innate Dao at the start.

After the Spirit Lord retreated back into the pool, the atmosphere in the square gradually relaxed.

Some disciples began to discuss that the Spirit Lord had come out to cheer on the Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament and to show off the might of the Qingyun Sect's guardian beast.

This rumor spread quickly, and everyone nodded in agreement.

That makes sense—otherwise, how do you explain the mythical beast suddenly appearing and then suddenly returning?

Zeng Shushu touched his chin and frowned.

"Something's not right," he said to Zhang Xiaofan in a low voice.

"The Spirit Lord has been guarding Tongtian Peak for over a thousand years, except for that great battle a hundred years ago."

He has never run away on his own during the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.

There must be a reason for this sudden outburst.

Zhang Xiaofan looked towards the pool.

The water was as calm as if nothing had happened.

It seems that the towering wave just now was just everyone's illusion.

"I know why," he said.

Zeng Shushu turned to look at him.

"The Spirit Lord is coming for me."

Zeng Shushu paused for two seconds, then burst out laughing and patted Zhang Xiaofan's shoulder forcefully.

"Senior Brother Zhang, I thought I was narcissistic enough, but I didn't expect you to be even more daring than me!"

"The spirit is coming after you? Who does it even know about you?"

Zhang Xiaofan didn't explain, he just smiled.

Some truths, when spoken aloud, are often disbelieved.

Zeng Shushu was still laughing when he suddenly stopped, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He scrutinized Zhang Xiaofan closely, looking from his face to his hands, and then at the dark, heavy fire poker at his waist.

"You wouldn't..." he lowered his voice even further, "you really think the Spirit Lord came out for you, would you?"

"If I told you, would you believe me?"

"That depends on what you say."

Zhang Xiaofan met his gaze and calmly said, "That's exactly what I said."

Zeng Shushu stared at him for a long time, then shook his head and smiled:

"Fine, fine, whatever you say."

But don't go around telling everyone this, or you'll get beaten up.

Zhang Xiaofan shrugged and didn't continue the conversation.

On the high platform, Master Cangsong took a step forward.

His expression was quite serious, and as his gaze swept across the square, the noisy sounds immediately subsided.

This head of Dragon Head Peak, who oversees the punishments of the Azure Cloud Sect, already commands considerable authority.

A single glance from him was enough to make the young disciples dare not even breathe.

"quiet."

Two words, and the square fell completely silent.

"The prize for first place in this year's Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament is—"

Cangsong deliberately paused, waiting until everyone's attention was focused.

He slowly uttered three words: "Six Harmony Mirror".

A collective gasp rippled through the audience.

Zeng Shushu's eyes widened, and he tugged at Zhang Xiaofan's sleeve:

"The Six Harmony Mirror! A defensive treasure passed down from the tenth generation patriarch, Wu Fangzi!"

I heard it can reflect most magical attacks, and its defensive power is ridiculously strong.

It's just... completely devoid of offensive capabilities.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded. He knew about the Six Harmony Mirror; in his previous life, this magical artifact had been quite the sensation in the books.

"Do you want it?" Zeng Shushu asked.

"want to."

"What a pity," Zeng Shushu sighed.

"Qi Hao will definitely be the champion this year."

He came in second place in the previous competition, and his cultivation has improved dramatically in recent years. I heard that he has already reached the threshold of the Upper Clarity Realm.

I'm at the seventh level of the Jade Purity Realm, and I couldn't last more than twenty moves against him.

Zhang Xiaofan turned to look at him: "You think Qi Hao will be the champion?"

"Otherwise what?" Zeng Shushu said matter-of-factly. "It can't be you, can it?"

"Why can't it be me?"

Zeng Shushu was stumped by the question.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, and finally patted Zhang Xiaofan on the shoulder:

"Senior Brother Zhang, having confidence is a good thing, but..."

Everyone knows that you suffered a qi deviation two years ago and your cultivation was damaged.

Qi Hao is widely recognized as the top favorite in this year's competition.

"Didn't you say 'barring any unforeseen circumstances'?"

Zhang Xiaofan said calmly, "Then something unexpected is most likely to happen."

"What do you mean?"

"It means that the Six Harmonies Mirror will be mine."

Zeng Shushu stared at him, her gaze complex.

For a fleeting moment, he almost believed what the person in front of him was saying.

But reason immediately jumped out to refute it—how could one's cultivation not be damaged if one has gone mad and needs the sect leader to personally save them?

It's a miracle he survived; how could he possibly win a championship?

He shook his head, suppressing the absurd thought.

The lottery has begun.

The sixty-three participating disciples were arranged in seven rows, with nine people in each row.

The eight people from Dazhu Peak stood at the end of the line, with Zhang Xiaofan at the very back.

As he watched the people in front of him walk up one by one, he took out a crumpled piece of paper from the wooden box in front of Master Cangsong.

When Tian Ling'er came back after drawing her number, she unfolded the paper ball, glanced at it, and muttered, "Number 23."

Song Daren is number thirty-seven, and He Dazhi is number fifty-two.

Du Bishu was the unluckiest, drawing number sixty-three—the last number.

When it was Zhang Xiaofan's turn, there was only one last crumpled piece of paper left in the box.

He didn't rush to take it; he waited until Master Cangsong announced that all the participants had drawn their lots.

Only then did he bend down and pick up the lone crumpled piece of paper from the ground.

The crumpled paper had been stepped on by the person in front of him and was covered in dust. He patted it off and unfolded it to look at it.

There was a single word written on the paper: One

Zhang Xiaofan stared at that word for two seconds, and three words popped into his mind: What bad luck.

At this moment, Master Cangsong on the stage spoke up: "Those who got the number one lot, come forward."

Zhang Xiaofan raised his hand: "Me."

Thousands of gazes suddenly focused on him.

Master Cangsong looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he regained his composure:

"Number one pick, bye, direct advancement."

The moment the words were spoken, the square erupted in chaos.

"Direct advancement?!"

"What incredible luck!"

"That disciple from Dazhu Peak who went mad with his cultivation? He must have stepped in dog poop!"

Envious, jealous, and incredulous gazes shot over like arrows.

Zhang Xiaofan remained expressionless, tucked the crumpled paper into his sleeve, and retreated back to the Dazhu Peak group.

Tian Ling'er leaned closer, her eyes sparkling: "Xiao Fan, you're so lucky!"

Song Daren also smiled: "Saving a competition is a good thing."

Only Zeng Shushu had a strange expression, glancing at Zhang Xiaofan and then at the high platform.

Muttering to himself, "Was it just luck?"

On the high platform, Tian Buyi stroked his beard, a smile on his face.

He stood at the back of the group of the seven sect leaders.

But now his back was ramrod straight, and the smugness on his dark face was impossible to hide.

Shuiyue Zhenren glanced at him and said indifferently:

"Junior Brother Tian's disciple is quite lucky."

Tian Buyi hummed in response, his tone quite casual:

"With his abilities, it doesn't matter what number he draws."

Master Shuiyue turned to look at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her cool eyes:

"His cultivation level wasn't damaged after he went into a state of demonic possession?"

"Who says that going into qi deviation necessarily damages one's cultivation?" Tian Buyi retorted.

The two people weren't speaking loudly, but the surrounding leaders could all hear them.

Dao Xuan Zhenren's lips curled up slightly, while Cang Song Zhenren's expression darkened.

The others exchanged glances, as if they were pondering something.

Master Shuiyue was silent for a while, then suddenly said:

"My disciple Lu Xueqi has made rapid progress in her cultivation over the past two years and has already broken through to the ninth level of the Jade Purity Realm."

These words were spoken lightly, but they struck the ears of the leaders like a thunderclap.

Jade Purity Ninth Level! Lu Xueqi has only been a beginner for a few years?

This cultivation speed has already matched the fastest record in the history of the Qingyun Sect!

Tian Buyi was also taken aback, but then smiled and said, "Junior Sister Shuiyue teaches well."

"So this time, the champion..."

Master Shuiyue said, slowly and deliberately, "It has to be my beloved disciple, Lu Xueqi."

The two stared at each other, and it felt like sparks were about to fly out of the air.

At this moment, Master Cangsong interjected, his voice cold:

"Have you two forgotten me, Qi Hao from Dragon Head Peak?"

He was second in the last martial arts competition. Over the past five years, he has diligently trained and his cultivation has reached the peak of the Jade Purity Realm.

It's still hard to say who will ultimately win the championship this year.

Tian Buyi looked at him and smiled: "Then let's wait and see."

Three chief disciples and three apprentices.

Zhang Xiaofan, Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao.

Who truly deserves the championship is now clear to everyone.

The results of the draw have already been announced.

The list of sixty-three participants and thirty-two matches was displayed on both sides of the arena.

Zhang Xiaofan's name was left blank, marked with the words "bye," which stood out among a bunch of opponents' names.

He looked up at the platform and met Tian Buyi's gaze.

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance, and Tian Buyi nodded slightly.

Zhang Xiaofan looked away and placed his hand on the fire poker at his waist.

The stick felt warm to the touch, and the dormant malevolent energy beneath the seal flowed quietly.

luck?

He smiled.

They will soon learn that some things are far more terrifying than luck.