As the Black Dragon Elder’s voice echoed, the crowd immediately ceased their scramble for the pearl.

According to the rules of the Seven Peaks competition, once the pearl was placed, any further physical contact or snatching would result in immediate disqualification.

“Using all your strength on just the first pearl, what will you do for the remaining six, Qingxiao?” Yan Bing, hovering on his sword, smiled at Senior Brother Qingxiao.

Yan Bing and Qingxiao had been rivals since they joined the Qingxuan Sect. Although their rivalry wasn’t as intense as Jin Hezhi’s hatred for the Seventh Peak, Yan Bing always sought to outdo Qingxiao wherever he was present.

“How the Seventh Peak proceeds is none of your concern,” Qingxiao shot a cold glance at Yan Bing before turning to Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi behind him, “Keep your junior brothers in line.”

With that, he flew down on his sword to catch the falling Senior Sister and third junior brother.

Yan Bing frowned at these words.

He glanced at Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi, his eyes revealing a hint of disgust, and muttered with displeasure, “Useless.”

He had not planned for Qingxiao to win any pearls according to the original strategy.

…

At the Cloud Pavilion stands.

Zhao Linglong was dancing with joy at Qingxiao’s victory in the first round, but Xu Taiping’s face betrayed a hint of worry.

He could sense that besides Senior Brother Qingxiao, both Senior Sister Jiang Zhi and third Senior Brother Zhang Qian’s energy seemed weakened, their movements with the sword and objects no longer as smooth as before.

Wait, how could I discern all this?

As this thought flashed through his mind, Xu Taiping suddenly realized something.

Could it be because I’ve started practicing the sword?

He then thought of a possibility.

Indeed, the sword technique taught by Elder Sansan was extraordinary; otherwise, how could I so easily discern the condition of the cultivators below?

After observing the other sword-wielding cultivators, Xu Taiping became even more convinced of this.

As he feared, during the next six rounds of the pearl contest, both the Senior Sister and third Senior Brother made mistakes. Even with Senior Brother Qingxiao’s utmost effort, they failed to secure another pearl.

“Senior Sister, Senior Brothers, securing one pearl in this competition is already an achievement. Don’t be discouraged!” Zhao Linglong suddenly rushed to the railing and shouted to the three on the sword platform, who looked somewhat dejected.

Seeing this, Xu Taiping felt a pang of sourness, as he had clearly seen the same unwillingness and dejection in Senior Sister Linglong’s eyes.

“The Seven Peaks selection is a battle for oneself, but the Seven Peaks competition is a battle for our fellow sect members. The vision of the Qingxuan Sect’s founding ancestors far surpasses that of the current sect leaders, no wonder Qingxuan has declined,” Fairy Lingyue’s voice suddenly echoed in Xu Taiping’s mind, filled with emotion.

Her words resolved the confusion in Xu Taiping’s heart—

Why he felt more nervous watching Senior Brother Qingxiao and the others compete than during his own Seven Peaks selection, and why their defeat left him with more regret and loss than his own.

“Six years is not long; by the next Seven Peaks competition, Taiping, you’ll be able to fight for your senior brothers and sisters,” Fairy Lingyue said softly, sensing the change in Xu Taiping’s mood.

The Xu Taiping she acknowledged was not a selfish cultivator but one who could fight for himself and his fellow sect members.

“Mhm,” Xu Taiping nodded silently in agreement.

“At least we’re not last this time.”

After the rankings were confirmed, Xu Ziyan patted Zhao Linglong’s shoulder, offering her comfort.

Although they had only won one pearl, with the Fifth Peak at the bottom having none, the Seventh Peak’s performance wasn’t too shabby.

“Senior Sister Ziyan, what’s going on with the Fifth Peak? I remember they ranked third last time,” Zhao Linglong suddenly asked, puzzled.

“The Fifth Peak has been troubled lately. The highly anticipated disciple Lu Chen and the newly admitted Liu Zijin, one was exiled from the mountain, and the other sent to the Cliff of Reflection. The Peak Master is at odds with Elder Lu Zimu, leaving the disciples with little heart to participate in the Seven Peaks competition,” Xu Ziyan sighed.

Hearing this, Xu Taiping was taken aback; he hadn’t expected the issues with Lu Chen and Liu Zijin to affect the Seven Peaks competition.

Senior Sister Zijin should have shone in this competition; it was all because of that Lu Chen.

Xu Taiping naturally didn’t sympathize with the Fifth Peak or Lu Chen; he only felt sorry for Senior Sister Liu Zijin.

Despite being busy with sword practice and cultivation, he had not ceased his surveillance of Lu Chen’s Fengxiao Villa.

Through Baiyu’s observations, he had mapped out the villa’s population, all entrances and secret passages, and even Lu Chen’s daily routine.

“Now I just need the right opportunity to act.”

Xu Taiping gazed at the Fifth Peak’s flag below, murmuring to himself.

He was confident in his ability to kill Lu Chen, but the challenge was to do so without leaving any trace leading back to him, and timing was crucial.

“Taiping, the competition we’re participating in should be in half a month if all goes well. By tomorrow, the competition topics should be out, and we’ll help you practice,” Zhao Linglong turned to Xu Taiping.

After watching today’s competition, she was eager to try.

“Okay,” Xu Taiping nodded.

Not just Zhao Linglong, but he too was eager to try.

“Competing with the help of fellow sect members is quite interesting,” he thought to himself.

“By the way, Taiping, the fourth round also requires sword or object control; how are you doing with that?” Xu Ziyan asked curiously.

Hearing this, Lin Buyu, who had been engrossed in her book, also looked up with curiosity at Xu Taiping.

“Oh right, junior brother, I heard Father found an Elder to teach you swordsmanship?” Zhao Linglong suddenly remembered and asked Xu Taiping.

“Yes,” Xu Taiping nodded, “The Peak Master found an Elder named Sansan to teach me.”

“Do we have a sword cultivator Elder by that name in our sect?” Xu Ziyan found the name unfamiliar.

“What does he look like?” she immediately asked Xu Taiping.

“Well, I haven’t met him in person yet,” Xu Taiping admitted somewhat sheepishly.

“You’ve started practicing the sword with him and haven’t met him in person?” Xu Ziyan was surprised.