At this moment, the North Peak Grand Competition had officially commenced.

The North Peak’s Six Sword Immortals—Venerable Yuan Yuan, Sun-in-the-Robe Sword Sima Changbai, Twilight Sword Li Yuanbai, Seamless Sword Ye Rongyang, Gentleman Sword Fang Ru, and Solitary Heart Sword Dugu Ye—were all present, as were the ten true disciples.

In truth, the North Peak Grand Competition was truly about the ten true disciples.

After all, these ten were the central focus of the North Peak's cultivation efforts.

The competition essentially served as a ranking mechanism for them.

The main event of the North Peak Grand Competition was the combat between these ten true disciples.

Naturally, the crowd's anticipation was focused on the fight between the Eldest Disciple, Yun Yi, and the Second Disciple, Yun Ping. Guests from the other four peaks of the Mount Hua Immortal Sect were mostly turning their attention to Yun Yi and Yun Ping, pointing them out and debating which of the North Peak's two rising stars would become the future Venerable Yuan Yuan.

Of course, someone like Lu Yuan, perpetually ranked at the bottom of the ten true disciples, naturally drew no attention whatsoever.

However, the main events were always staged for the later slots; this was the standard procedure for the Peak’s competition.

The protagonist must appear last; the grand play must begin last. It was the same principle.

The North Peak Grand Competition began with the contests among the ordinary disciples. This initial phase was invariably the most tedious. Most ordinary disciples were only at the first or second levels of Qi Condensation. Without powerful foundational techniques or long practice, their strength was naturally limited; they certainly didn't have access to arts as potent as the Cloud Dragon Heart Method or the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud.

The second phase involved the ten true disciples offering guidance to the ordinary disciples. Typically, each of the ten was required to mentor five ordinary disciples. This segment was designed to hone the true disciples’ perceptive abilities, as every one of them would eventually need to shoulder significant responsibilities alone.

In the cultivation world, inheritance was paramount.

The ten true disciples, destined to take on major roles in the future, needed to know how to teach, how to pinpoint flaws in others' swordsmanship, thereby aiding the sect's continuity.

The third phase was the true highlight: the battles among the ten true disciples themselves.

After the dull first stage of ordinary disciples squaring off against each other.

Finally, the second stage arrived.

In reality, the second stage was also quite tedious.

Everyone was yawning; even the spectators showed little interest.

It began with the Tenth True Disciple, Ye Yuan, instructing five ordinary disciples. In this stage, the ordinary disciples chose whom they wished to learn from: whichever senior brother they admired, or whose mastery they believed could resolve their long-standing doubts, they could pick that true brother for guidance.

Each time, the greatest number of disciples sought instruction from the Eldest Senior Brother Yun Yi and the Second Senior Brother Yun Ping, given their immense popularity.

Naturally, quite a few also wanted to consult the Third Senior Sister, Ling Yuzhu—after all, who wasn't captivated by a beautiful senior sister?

The Tenth, Ye Yuan, was plump and portly, naturally lacking in popularity, but as one of the ten true disciples, he easily gathered the five required to seek his guidance. This "guidance" was essentially a duel where defects were pointed out during the exchange, thus training the true disciples’ observational skills.

The ten true disciples needed not only personal strength but also keen insight.

Of course, this stage proceeded uneventfully.

Until... it was the Sixth Disciple, Lu Yuan's turn.

The list of five who requested instruction from Lu Yuan had been posted.

Situ Zuo, Situ You, Sima Wen, Sima Huo, and Sima Hao.

When the names of these five appeared, everyone was astonished.

It was precisely these five who sought guidance from Lu Yuan.

The ranks of ordinary disciples were not without experts; expertise wasn't limited only to the ten true disciples. For instance, among the Six Sword Immortals of the North Peak, several had cultivated powerful subordinates, particularly Sun-in-the-Robe Sword Sima Changbai, whose influence was expanding rapidly; ambitious, he had nurtured several masters among the common disciples.

Situ Zuo and Situ You were allegedly rogue cultivators from the Jin State's cultivation world; one specialized in left-hand swordplay, the other in right-hand swordplay. Both possessed the formidable cultivation level of the fourth layer of Qi Condensation and had been successfully recruited by Sima Changbai.

Sima Wen and Sima Huo were directly trained by Sima Changbai himself, both at the third layer of Qi Condensation, having been taught Sima Changbai's own Great Sun Sword Style. Though the One Hundred and Eight Swords of Wind and Cloud were profound, North Peak rules dictated that only the ten true disciples could learn them, so he dared not teach his disciples.

As for Sima Hao, he was his favored, specially cultivated grandson, possessing the cultivation base of the fourth layer of Qi Condensation, rumored to have mastered Sima Changbai’s Great Sun Sword Style.

That these five specific individuals requested Lu Yuan's instruction—

In a normal instruction session, it was merely guidance. Ordinary disciples usually regarded the ten true disciples with admiration and awe; receiving any form of guidance was a great honor.

But here, the petitioners were Situ Zuo, Situ You, Sima Wen, Sima Huo, and Sima Hao. This was not guidance; it was a challenge, a naked provocation. Recalling the prevailing rumors on the North Peak—that Sima Changbai intended to seize Li Yuanbai's assets, and Sima Hao aimed to usurp Lu Yuan’s position among the ten true disciples—those aware of the underlying situation understood the true intent behind this pairing.

Sima Hao had indeed made his move; Sima Changbai had made his move.

Now, the cultivators of the North Peak, whether elders of the ninth generation or disciples of the tenth, largely turned their gaze toward the Six Sword Immortals. Some ordinary disciples, too low in status to grasp the hidden currents, remained bewildered, entirely unaware of what was transpiring.

These cultivators watched as, among the Six Sword Immortals, Venerable Yuan Yuan, Gentleman Sword Fang Ru, and Seamless Sword Ye Rongyang maintained a facade of total detachment, eyes on their noses, noses on their hearts, pretending ignorance. Solitary Heart Sword Dugu Ye, that woman as striking as a lonely orchid in a deep valley, merely offered a cold smile without uttering a word.

Naturally, all eyes settled upon the two central figures in this unfolding drama: Twilight Sword Li Yuanbai and Sun-in-the-Robe Sword Sima Changbai. Li Yuanbai finally spoke: "What skill, what skill. Martial Brother Sima certainly has a potent strategy."

Sima Changbai laughed heartily: "What strategy? Martial Brother Li truly seems unaware. Please enlighten me, Martial Brother Li." He was feigning ignorance while fully comprehending the situation.

"No need to play the fool who doesn't know," Li Yuanbai retorted with a cold sneer.

While these two exchanged veiled barbs, Situ Zuo, Situ You, Sima Wen, Sima Huo, and Sima Hao were already smiling toward Lu Yuan—smiles chillingly devoid of warmth, intended as mockery. A flash of triumph crossed Sima Hao's eyes: "Sixth Senior Brother, I gave you fair warning six months ago."

Sima Hao’s heart swelled with elation.

This time, Lu Yuan's position among the ten true disciples was surely forfeit.

Soon, he would claim that spot. The mere thought of taking a true disciple position made Sima Hao’s eyes burn; his time had finally come.

At this moment, across the competition arena, though silence reigned, virtually everyone believed that Lu Yuan was destined to lose this encounter.

Situ Zuo, Situ You, Sima Wen, Sima Huo, and Sima Hao.

This quintet effectively constituted the strongest squad that could be assembled from the ordinary disciples. Even if Lu Yuan was powerful, he would surely fall under the sustained challenge of such a group, especially considering he perpetually ranked at the bottom of the ten true disciples, implying he couldn't be all that strong.

(First update is served.)