The Crimson Leaf Exchange wasn't just one tournament.
It was a festival of power, politics, and pretense.
Every participating sect sent their finest heirs. Their genius alchemists, their sword prodigies, their formation masters. They came not only to compete—but to establish dominance.
And this year, the gathering was fiercer than ever.
In the floating arena known as the Sky Vine Court, the first night's introductions began. An elder from the host sect stood atop the platform, his robe changing colors with his Qi flow.
"Each sect may announce one representative for the main competition. Others may join side events. All titles, techniques, and rivalries are now void. This place is neutral ground."
But the tension in the air was anything but neutral.
Across the platform, a disciple with violet hair from the Skyblade Pavilion stepped forward.
"Ren Tian. Seventh-layer Qi Manifestation. Personal disciple of Elder Blade-Reverence."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
He was a known genius. Fast, ruthless, and with a sword style that had killed two core disciples in last year's trials.
Others followed.
Bai Ming of the Cloud Stone Sect.
Huo Lian of the Emberfire Palace.
Yu Manqing of the Frozen Echo Valley.
Then came Li Fan.
He stepped forward calmly, hands at his side, robes fluttering slightly from the arena's wind arrays.
"Li Fan. Li Clan. I cultivate the Nine Cauldron Hegemon Body Arts."
The platform went silent.
Someone scoffed.
"No realm level?"
"Qi-less body cultivator?"
"Is this a joke?"
Yue Xin, standing in the Moon Sect delegation, said nothing—but a ghost of a smile touched her lips.
The host elder frowned. "And your current cultivation stage?"
Li Fan lifted his chin.
"Fourth Cauldron. Preparing for the Fifth."
A breath passed. Then another. And then—
Laughter.
A disciple from the Golden Claw Sect doubled over. "A Fourth Cauldron? He dares stand among us with only four? What is this, a village brawl?"
Li Fan didn't flinch. Instead, he cracked his neck with a single tilt of his head, then smiled.
"I don't need five cauldrons to break your bones. Four will do."
That shut the laughter down.
The host elder's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. He simply gestured.
"All names have been recorded. Tomorrow, the Trials begin."
That night, inside a quiet chamber granted to the Li Clan delegation, Mu Qiu pounded fresh herbs into a bitter salve and handed it over.
"You poked the nest," he said gruffly. "They'll be gunning for you first."
"They were already aiming for my throat," Li Fan replied, stripping off his robe. "I just gave them a clearer target."
Mu Qiu looked up. "Don't die before the Fifth Cauldron awakens. The tribulation will come soon—maybe even during the Trials."
Li Fan nodded. "Let it come."
Outside, the sky turned dark and clouds rolled in—unnatural, oppressive. Heaven had begun to watch again.