Inside the guest hall, the air grew heavy with secrets.

Qin Lu’s hand froze mid-motion, the teacup hovering halfway to his lips. He lowered it slowly to the table, his brow furrowing as he looked up at his guest.

“Are you saying there is a problem with Yang Zhen’s identity?”

“Exactly!” Lu Xian’s face was flushed with agitation. “I overheard it at the auction yesterday. The source is solid. Absolutely authentic.”

Qin Lu tapped a finger against the porcelain cup. “Isn’t Yang Zhen just an inner disciple of the Immortal Crane Sect? What could possibly be wrong with that?”

As far as Qin Lu knew, the Immortal Crane Sect was a respectable Foundation Establishment faction. Their sect leader was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert, and they boasted several Elders of the same realm. Among the participants in this tournament, they were considered heavyweights.

“Hmph, his identity as a disciple isn’t fake…” Lu Xian leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But did you know that the Immortal Crane Sect isn’t actually a vassal of the Wuji Sect?”

Qin Lu nodded. “I’ve heard rumors.”

“Of the twenty-eight Foundation Establishment sects attending, six are independent powers invited strictly for the competition. Immortal Crane is one of them.”

“So what?” Qin Lu asked, genuinely confused.

“Hehe!” A strange, excited glint appeared in Lu Xian’s eyes. “On the surface, they are independent. But in the shadows? They pledged allegiance to the Dragon Tiger Sect long ago! They’re here for one reason only: to humiliate the Wuji Sect.”

“The Dragon Tiger Sect?!” Qin Lu started, his eyes widening.

Anyone who read The Immortal Sects Monthly or the Nine Truths Langya List knew the weight of that name.

The Dragon Tiger Sect was a Golden Core powerhouse. Their territory bordered the Wuji Sect’s lands, separated only by a river. In terms of military might and resources, they were the Wuji Sect’s equal and bitter rival.

Their patriarch, Ancestor Zhu Lian, was a Golden Core legend who had dominated Flowing Cloud Prefecture for centuries. More importantly, he and the Wuji Sect’s ancestor, Zhang Zhenyuan, were sworn enemies.

The bad blood went back hundreds of years to when both men were merely in the Foundation Establishment realm. The grudge had only festered as they ascended to the Golden Core.

Because the ancestors hated each other, the feud trickled down. Vassal sects clashed over borders, and disciples from both sides were known to kill each other on sight when venturing outside their gates.

“You mean the Dragon Tiger Sect sent Yang Zhen as a sleeper agent?” Qin Lu surmised, piecing it together. “They want him to snatch the championship title right out of the Wuji Sect’s hands to shame them?”

“Precisely! The two giants have been at each other’s throats for ages. This tournament is just their latest battlefield,” Lu Xian said, slapping his thigh.

“But…” Qin Lu frowned. “How can they be so sure Yang Zhen will take first place? The Wuji Sect has Wei Zimo. He’s also at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“Tsk! Wei Zimo is a genius, sure, but he’s only seventeen. He just broke through recently,” Lu Xian scoffed. “He lacks the accumulation of a veteran. Unless a miracle happens, Yang Zhen will crush him.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly. “If an outsider—especially a proxy for their greatest rival—takes the crown, the Wuji Sect will lose massive face.”

“And that is why this is your chance, Old Qin!” Lu Xian exclaimed, pointing a finger at him.

“Ah?” Qin Lu blinked. “My chance for what?”

“I’ve been analyzing the bracket. Of the ten finalists in the Late-Stage division, you are the only one with a realistic shot at stopping Yang Zhen!”

Lu Xian waved his arms excitedly. “Think about it! If you defeat him, you’ll be the hero who saved the sect’s honor. Ancestor Zhang Zhenyuan will definitely take notice. You’ll be invited to cultivate on Mount Cangwu! This is your ticket to the big leagues!”

Qin Lu’s heart skipped a beat.

Mount Cangwu. The headquarters of the Wuji Sect. It was a true paradise, a top-grade spiritual vein where Qi was so thick it practically condensed into mist. Cultivating there would increase his speed exponentially.

However, Qin Lu’s expression twisted into a grimace. “But… I’ve already made a plan. I’m going to withdraw from tomorrow’s match.”

“Withdraw?!”

Lu Xian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Why in the world would you do that?”

“I just don’t want to fight anymore,” Qin Lu said evasively. “It’s boring.”

“Hah?” Lu Xian looked dumbfounded. “What kind of reason is that? There’s no risk to your life in the arena. Just go up there, unleash your power, and beat Yang Zhen. You’ll become famous overnight! Joining the Wuji Sect would be a formality!”

“Sigh…” Qin Lu let out a long, weary breath. “Old Lu, I’ll be honest with you. I’ve been too flashy lately. I don’t want the spotlight. You know me—I hate going out, I hate trouble. Recently, I let a little success go to my head.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Besides, this is a proxy war between two Golden Core sects. I’m just a little Qi Refining shrimp. Getting mixed up in their grinder is a good way to die.”

“But…” Lu Xian hesitated, unwilling to give up. “It’s such a golden opportunity. Countless cultivators would kill for a shot at the inner sect…”

Qin Lu smiled faintly. “I’m good. I like this courtyard. I like my quiet life.”

He wasn’t in a rush. He had his proficiency panel. As long as he had time, his cultivation would grow. He didn’t need to gamble his life for resources.

“Fine.” Lu Xian threw up his hands in defeat.

After a moment of thought, Lu Xian spoke again. “However, I’d advise against a total no-show. If you’re matched against Yang Zhen and you just don’t turn up, Li Qingdu might take it as a personal insult. You know how petty he can be.”

Qin Lu’s expression tightened. He nodded. With Li Qingdu’s temperament, a no-show would be seen as disrespecting the Wuji Sect’s authority.

“So, what should I do?”

“If you really want to stay out of the mess,” Lu Xian suggested, “go up there tomorrow, pretend to fight for a bit, and then take a dive. Lose deliberately. That way, you fulfill your duty but drop out of the spotlight.”

“Fake a loss…” Qin Lu mused. “That makes sense.”

“Think it over. I need to go find that kid Lu Anchen. He’s probably still drinking!” Lu Xian stood up to leave.

Qin Lu rose immediately to see him out.

They walked to the gate together. Just as Lu Xian was about to step into the street, he stopped abruptly, as if remembering a minor detail. He turned back.

“Oh, right. I heard another rumor today. A terrifying one. No idea if it’s true, though.”

“What rumor?” Qin Lu asked.

Lu Xian scanned the street left and right, then leaned in close to Qin Lu’s ear.

“You know how the Wuji Sect’s grain transport caravan was robbed a while back? One Foundation Establishment expert dead, another heavily injured?”

Lu Xian’s voice dropped to a hiss. “Word is… Yang Zhen and his Sect Leader were the ones who did it.”

Qin Lu stood thunderstruck. “Are you serious?! That’s insane! They robbed the supply lines and then had the gall to walk right into the Wuji Sect’s tournament?”

“Who knows!” Lu Xian shrugged, turning to walk away into the night. “That’s just what the streets are saying.”

Qin Lu stood at the gate, watching Lu Xian’s figure disappear into the gloom, his mind racing.