Chapter 226: On a Whim?
The opening ceremony officially began.
Presiding over the event was a Cardinal from the Spirit Hall; he ascended the main podium clad in a long red robe, his demeanor commanding and majestic.
His voice, amplified by his spirit power, resonated throughout the entire venue: "The Seven Great Sects Tournament—held once every twenty years—now begins!"
Thunderous applause erupted across the entire arena.
"This tournament is divided into three distinct stages."
The Cardinal’s voice echoed through the venue:
"Stage One: The Rookie Battles. Young disciples under the age of thirty will engage in one-on-one arena challenges."
"Stage Two: The Main Team Battles. Teams consisting of two or more core members will face off against one another, testing the comprehensive strength of each sect."
"Stage Three: The Battle of Champions. The Elders or Sect Masters from each sect will engage in a grand duel of the strongest!"
He paused briefly before continuing: "Any sect that fails to earn points during the first two stages will be immediately eliminated and will not qualify for the final Battle of Champions. The final rankings will be determined by the combined results across all three stages."
"Now, I invite the representatives from each sect to come forward and draw lots."
Jiang Bai rose from his seat, preparing to head to the stage to draw the lots.
"I’ll go draw the lots."
He stated calmly.
Jiang Li’er immediately chimed in: "I’ll go! Let me do it!"
Her eyes sparkled brightly, brimming with anticipation.
Jiang Bai cast a glance at her: "You’re not the Sect Master, so why would you go?"
Jiang Li’er pouted: "But I’m a Sect Elder! Since there’s a competition for the Elders, I have to participate too!"
She paused, then added: "Besides, I have good luck! If you let me draw, I’m bound to pull a lucky lot!"
Jiang Bai chuckled softly: "Alright, alright—go ahead, you go."
Jiang Li’er grinned playfully, then—without a second thought—she soared directly up from her seat!
Her figure resembled a streak of golden flowing light; in an instant, she traversed half the venue and landed upon the lot-drawing platform!
Her movements were crisp and decisive, her bearing graceful and dashing.
The various Sect Masters and Elders who were making their way up the stairs on foot were left speechless.
My dear lady, you’re making the rest of us look rather undignified!
Ning Fengzhi was currently leaning on his staff, ascending the steps one by one. Upon seeing Jiang Li’er descend from the heavens, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
Damn it—so what if you can fly? Do you really have to be so arrogant?
He cursed inwardly.
Don’t you have any concept of being low-profile or humble?
Yet, on the surface, he maintained his refined and gentle smile, continuing his ascent to the platform in an unhurried manner.
Jiang Li’er, however, paid no mind to such things.
She didn’t understand these convoluted social nuances, nor did she wish to.
In any case, with Jiang Bai and Bi Ji by her side, she feared absolutely nothing!
The drawing of lots began.
Jiang Li’er reached out and plucked a slip of paper from the box.
She unfolded it and took a look!
Match Number Three.
Opponent: The Wind Sword Sect.
The corners of Jiang Li’er’s lips curled upward slightly.
She had drawn one of the "Lower Four Sects."
That’s my luck for you—truly excellent!
Delighted, she flew back to Jiang Bai’s side and boasted triumphantly, "See? It really does take me to get the job done!"
Jiang Bai smiled gently, providing an abundance of emotional affirmation: "Mm, that’s my Li’er—simply amazing! I’ll be sure to give you a proper reward tonight!"
Jiang Li’er’s cheeks flushed faintly as she chided him coquettishly, "You’re being naughty!"
After sitting down, she whispered in a low voice, "Just make sure you don’t forget!"
Bi Ji, seated nearby, was left speechless.
The corners of her mouth twitched slightly; she was about to say something, but upon noticing someone approaching, she decided to hold her tongue.
Jiang Bai looked toward the newcomer and smiled, "Sect Master Ning? It has been quite a while since we last met!"
He paused for a moment, a glint of playfulness flashing through his eyes: "I wonder, Sect Master Ning—why did you depart so hastily last time?"
Ning Fengzhi’s footsteps faltered ever so slightly.
He knew, of course, exactly what Jiang Bai was referring to.
He was speaking of the incident at the finals of the Soul Master Tournament, when Ning Fengzhi had forcibly spirited Tang San away from the clutches of the Spirit Hall’s Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo.
The corner of Ning Fengzhi’s mouth twitched slightly. Suppressing his rising anger, he offered a faint smile: "Heh heh, Sect Master Jiang, you’ve misunderstood—it’s all just a misunderstanding..."
Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow: "A misunderstanding? Sect Master Ning, this is quite a significant misunderstanding. It puts my Spirit Hall in a rather difficult position!"
Seizing the opportunity to change the subject, Ning Fengzhi interjected: "Oh? Sect Master Jiang, I must disagree. What does the internal business of Spirit Hall have to do with you?"
Jiang Bai chuckled: "Heh heh, humble as I am, I also happen to hold the concurrent title of Adjudication Elder within Spirit Hall."
Ning Fengzhi: "..."
His expression froze for a brief instant.
He had originally intended to probe Jiang Bai to see if he still maintained ties with Spirit Hall; he certainly hadn’t expected Jiang Bai to simply lay it all out in the open.
How was he supposed to probe him now?
Yet, he was Ning Fengzhi after all—the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. What manner of storms and upheavals hadn’t he weathered?
He quickly regained his composure and asked: "In that case, Elder Jiang, why have you chosen to establish a sect?"
His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried clearly enough for the sect masters and elders of the surrounding sects to hear: "Could it be that Spirit Hall intends to extend its reach into the affairs of the various sects?"
Nearby—the sect masters and elders from factions such as the Wind Sword Sect—all craned their necks and pricked up their ears to listen.
Given their level of power, as long as Ning Fengzhi and Jiang Bai weren’t deliberately concealing their conversation, they could hear every word.
This was massive news!
An Adjudication Elder of Spirit Hall establishing a sect to participate in the Sect Hegemony Tournament—was this merely his own personal whim, or was it a directive from Spirit Hall itself?
If it was indeed a directive from Spirit Hall, did that imply Spirit Hall was attempting to use this method to meddle in the internal affairs of the various sects?
This was a question that bore directly upon the interests of every single sect.
Jiang Bai smiled, his tone utterly nonchalant: "I have no insight into the decisions Spirit Hall chooses to make; such matters fall under the purview of the Papal Palace."
He paused for a moment. "As for my decision to establish a sect..."
He smiled again. "Well, it was purely on a whim."
On a whim?
The sect masters and elders of the surrounding factions exchanged bewildered glances.
You—a Titled Douluo—established an entire sect merely on a whim?
Who on earth would believe that?
The corner of Ning Fengzhi’s mouth twitched once more.
He had finally come to a realization: not a single word that came out of this man, Jiang Bai, was to be trusted. He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the women standing beside Jiang Bai.
A surge of complex emotions rose within Ning Fengzhi.
Although the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was small in number, he sensed that every single one of its members was extraordinary.
He could not see through the aura of a single one of them!
Suppressing the turbulent waves raging within his heart, he voiced the question he most wanted to ask: "Since Elder Jiang chose this on a whim, why did you decide on this particular name?"
His voice remained gentle and refined.
Yet, his eyes were fixed unblinkingly upon Jiang Bai.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
That name was the deepest thorn in his heart.
Jiang Bai looked at him and smiled.
It was a smile as light as drifting clouds and gentle breezes—one that gave away nothing of his true depth.
"Does Sect Master Ning feel there is something wrong with this name?"
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. "The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect differs from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect by only a single word. I wonder, did Elder Jiang have any deeper significance in mind when choosing it?"
Jiang Bai picked up his teacup and took a delicate sip.
Then, he raised his head and looked at Ning Fengzhi.
A flicker of amusement danced in his deep-set eyes. "Deeper significance?"
He smiled. "Sect Master Ning is overthinking it. I simply felt that ’Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Tower’ sounded better than ’Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower.’"
Ning Fengzhi’s expression instantly became a sight to behold.
It just sounded better?!
That was the only reason?!
The corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
But he was, after all, Ning Fengzhi—the Sect Master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger rising within him, and forced out a smile. "I see."
He paused for a moment. "In that case, Elder Jiang’s Spirit, presumably, is the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Tower?"
Jiang Bai nodded. "Indeed."
Indeed...?!
Ning Fengzhi’s hand tightened its grip on his staff.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Tower!
That was a legend within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!
It was the ultimate, evolved form of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower!
An existence that every Sect Master throughout history had dreamed of attaining!
And now, it was in the hands of an outsider!
A maelstrom of complex emotions churned within his heart. There was anger, resentment, envy—and also... a deep sense of powerlessness.
Yet, on his face, he maintained his usual refined smile: "That Elder Jiang’s Martial Soul... it truly does align with that name."
He paused.
"However... the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda share a common origin. Does Elder Jiang happen to know the history behind this connection?"
Jiang Bai looked at him, a faint glint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Here it comes.
He thought to himself.
Ning Fengzhi was clearly trying to establish a connection.
He replied indifferently, "Naturally, I do."
He paused again. "My father was once a disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi’s pupils constricted ever so slightly.
What?!
Jiang Bai’s father was once a disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?!
His mind raced furiously.
Jiang Bai’s father... who could he be?
The surname is Jiang... did the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect ever have a disciple named Jiang?
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