He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

Zhang Bufan, Yue Ling'er, and Xie Ding stood beside the Foundation Establishment group's main arena, their eyes fixed on the stage, intently observing the first nine matches. Unlike the other sect disciples who merely watched the spectacle, the three were more focused on scrutiny and analysis, paying particular attention to the team fighting styles and techniques of the other seventeen top-tier sects. Occasionally, they would lightly tap their palms together, exchanging their insights in hushed tones.

"The White Cloud Sect's tactics are too aggressive. All three of them take a strong offensive approach, relying on high-level magic weapons for suppression. Although they have strong explosive power, their spiritual energy is consumed too quickly. They will definitely lose if they encounter a prolonged battle." Xie Ding stared at the Green Cloud Sect team fighting fiercely on the stage and analyzed in a deep voice, unconsciously stroking the hilt of his flying sword. "We need to be careful of their Xuan-level flying sword formation. Their offense and defense are extremely fast." Yue Ling'er nodded in agreement, her gaze falling on the disciples on the other side who were using movement techniques: "The Danxia Valley's coordination is even more exquisite. They are good at alternating cover. Their flank harassment tactics can easily disrupt the opponent's rhythm. If we encounter them in the future, we need to set up a defensive formation in advance to restrain them."

While listening to their insights, Zhang Bufan memorized the combat characteristics and weaknesses of each sect's techniques. He added, "While top-tier sects possess formidable individual strength, they often lack complementarity. They either focus entirely on offense and defense or prioritize offense over defense. The three of us can balance offense and defense, containment and burst damage. Once we get our rhythm right, we can handle most opponents." The three observed and discussed, combining the gains and losses of other sects' battles, constantly adjusting tactical details, and compensating for their team's weaknesses in coordination, becoming increasingly tacit in their teamwork.

The first nine matches were spectacular and varied in style. Two of the duels were evenly matched, with both sides exchanging blows, spells intertwining, magical artifacts clashing, and spiritual energy fluctuations sweeping across the entire arena. The fierce battle lasted for more than an hour before a winner was decided, with both sides ultimately winning by a narrow margin due to a slight advantage in teamwork. There were also some matches that were one-sided crushing victories, with powerful sects defeating their opponents in just a few dozen seconds, decisively and cleanly, showcasing their top-notch combat power.

The most astonishing match was between the Bull Demon Sect of the Flaming Mountain Secret Realm and the Jade Maiden Sect of the Emei Secret Realm. Although the Flaming Mountain Secret Realm was a second-rate demon cultivation sect, its disciples were all fire-attribute demon cultivators with strong physiques, burly bodies, and thick skin, resembling a group of untamed bulls who knew nothing of romance. On the other hand, the Jade Maiden Sect, as a first-rate sect, focused on seductive arts and illusions, specializing in mental control and ranged magical attacks. These techniques were usually effective against ordinary cultivators, but they were unfortunately matched against this group of demon cultivators who were mentally resilient and immune to seductive arts.

At the start of the battle, three female disciples from the Jade Maiden Sect unleashed their alluring arts, their skirts fluttering and shimmering with spiritual light, attempting to restrain their opponents. However, the demon cultivators from the Bull Demon Sect showed no reaction, roaring as they broke through the magical barrier and engaged in close combat. The demon cultivators, relying on their superior physical abilities, rained down blows with each punch and kick, their spiritual energy surging. The Jade Maiden Sect disciples, skilled in ranged combat, were inherently weak in close-quarters defense, and their formation was quickly disrupted. Ultimately, the three alluring female disciples were knocked off the stage one by one by the demon cultivators, collapsing to the ground, unable to fight. The Jade Maiden Sect became the first first-rate sect to suffer a defeat in this competition, a significant upset that alerted other sects to the close-combat power of demon cultivator sects.

As the nine matches concluded before sunset, the Wanfa Sect's deacon announced that the tenth match—the Huashan Secret Realm Immortal Sword Sect versus the Yingzhou Secret Realm Azure Sea Sect—originally scheduled for the following day, would be moved to the last match of the day. Zhang Bufan and his two companions exchanged glances, all seeing the composure in each other's eyes. They had already agreed beforehand that the Azure Sea Sect, being a second-rate sect, had relatively limited strength, and this was a good opportunity to hone their teamwork and coordination; there was no need to rush for victory.

The two stepped onto the arena side by side, where they were quickly met by disciples from the Azure Sea Sect—two men and one woman, all dressed in azure robes, surrounded by a faint mist of water, clearly cultivators skilled in water-attribute techniques. The woman was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, while the two men were at the height of it; judging by their cultivation levels alone, they were on par with the three from the Immortal Sword Sect. The Azure Sea Sect disciples glanced at Zhang Bufan, seeing that he was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and a hint of disdain flashed in their eyes. They clearly saw him as a weak point, planning to eliminate the weakest first and then win in a three-on-two battle. Little did they know that this late Foundation Establishment cultivator was actually a "cheater" with an ancient inheritance and heaven-defying combat power.

"The match begins!" With a command from the Wanfa Sect's deacon, the three from the Bihai Sect launched the first attack. The woman, who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, raised her hand and summoned a palm-sized conch shell artifact. The conch shell hovered in mid-air, emitting a piercing shriek. The pale blue sound waves carried the power of a soul-shaking impact, heading straight for Zhang Bufan—it was a targeted soul attack, intended to first defeat Zhang Bufan, who seemed to be the weakest.

Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Bufan had been empowered by the Xuanqing Daoist, his soul already nourished by the remnant soul of an immortal, making him incredibly powerful, far exceeding the limits of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Facing the sonic attack, Zhang Bufan remained calm, merely channeling a wisp of spiritual energy to protect his sea of ​​consciousness, completely isolating the shrill sonic waves without any effect. At the same time, Xie Ding activated his mid-grade Xuan-rank flying sword, transforming it into two streaks of cold light to block the water blade attacks from the two male cultivators; Yue Ling'er, meanwhile, used her movement technique, her figure flickering as she set up a simple defensive array, enveloping the three of them and calmly resolving the opponent's continuous attacks.

The three members of the Immortal Sword Sect did not rush to retaliate, but instead cooperated tacitly. Xie Ding provided ranged support, Yue Ling'er covered their defensive positions, and Zhang Bufan orchestrated the attack from the center, occasionally intervening to deflect any stray attacks. During the battle, their teamwork became increasingly refined, evolving from initial minor stumbles into a fluid, seamless flow of energy, with their offense and defense perfectly coordinated. Although the attacks from the three members of the Azure Sea Sect were fierce, they were unable to break through the Immortal Sword Sect's defensive perimeter, and could only continue their relentless assault, attempting to deplete the opponent's spiritual energy.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Due to the prolonged offensive, the three members of the Azure Sea Sect had severely depleted their spiritual energy, significantly weakening their attack power. The power of their water blades and the intensity of their sound waves were no longer what they used to be, posing no real threat to Zhang Bufan and his companions, thus rendering their efforts meaningless for honing their teamwork. Zhang Bufan's eyes narrowed, and he gave the two Xie Ding and Yue Ling'er a look. Xie Ding and Yue Ling'er understood immediately and instantly adjusted their tactics.

Xie Ding unleashed a flurry of flying swords, their sword energy crisscrossing, restraining the two male cultivators. Yue Ling'er activated the spiritual power of her Heavenly Spiritual Root, unleashing a secret technique from the Immortal Sword Sect, a dazzling sword light hurtling towards the woman from the Azure Sea Sect. Zhang Bufan, meanwhile, moved swiftly, seemingly slowing as he struck out with a palm, the immense spiritual power contained within transforming into an invisible pressure that directly slammed into the woman. The woman was terrified, trying to activate her conch shell for defense, but it was too late. She was struck simultaneously by the sword light and the pressure of spiritual power, flying backward and landing on the edge of the arena, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and losing her ability to fight.

Seeing this, the two male cultivators were thrown into disarray, their moves faltering. Xie Ding seized the opportunity, his flying sword piercing one of them's shoulder. Yue Ling'er followed up with a strike, knocking him down onto the stage. The entire exchange was clean and efficient, without any unnecessary delays. The last man, seeing this, hastily conceded defeat.

"The Immortal Sword Sect wins!" the Wanfa Sect deacon announced loudly. Zhang Bufan and his two companions stood still, their breathing steady, exchanging smiles. The first match had been a complete success. Not only had they secured victory, but they had also honed their teamwork, laying a solid foundation for future battles against stronger sects. Below the arena, Yue Buwei and several elders showed their approval, while Liu Yan'er smiled and applauded the trio, her eyes full of anticipation.