Chapter 130: Reforming the System

Ji Jiuxuan leaned anxiously against the railing, staring blankly at the fairy-like dance unfolding in the atrium.

"Don't worry, Junior Sister, it will be fine," Meng Jiao said, walking over to sit beside her and offering a gentle comfort. Although the younger girl looked composed, Meng Jiao could sense her underlying unease.

Ji Jiuxuan offered a faint smile, though it lacked its usual radiance. "I know, Senior Sister. I just need a moment to settle my thoughts." She understood the situation, but she couldn't help but worry; it was her nature to fret all the more when something mattered deeply to her.

A roar of cheers erupted from the crowd. Ji Jiuxuan looked over to see Sikong Chanyan appearing in the center of the dance floor. Her attire was enchanting, her dance robes fluttering with ethereal grace. She was alluring yet not the least bit frivolous, her every glance brimming with charm. The music was captivating, drawing both men and women from the surrounding rooms out to the corridors, where they stood, mesmerized and cheering for the performance.

Witnessing such beauty, Ji Jiuxuan felt her mood lift instantly. "Auntie Yan’s dancing has always been extraordinary." Without relying on any cultivation techniques, her every movement commanded the attention of everyone present—captivating men, women, young and old alike. Ji Jiuxuan had carefully observed the gazes directed at Sikong Chanyan; it was not the raw desire for beauty, but a genuine sense of appreciation. It was effortless and innate. To reach such a realm required profound strength.

"In our Imperial Capital, Sikong Chanyan is ranked in the top five among beauties," Meng Jiao said with a smile. "Across all the realms, she is undoubtedly one of the best. It is rare to find someone whose beauty can outshine the entire world of cultivation." So, when Auntie Yan had told her to use her name, it hadn't been an empty boast. In a world where there were no ugly people, to stand out like this meant she was truly, breathtakingly beautiful. A beauty was a beauty, after all; every gesture she made carried an inherent charm.

Seeing the worry fade from her junior sister's face, Meng Jiao felt a sense of relief.

Before long, Min Chengjun and the others returned. As Min Chengjun appeared, Sikong Chanyan descended from the air, landing gracefully in his arms. The sight drew gasps from the onlookers, and even Ji Jiuxuan was surprised by Sikong Chanyan’s boldness. Her Second Martial Uncle always appeared the perfect gentleman in front of them, gentle and accommodating, but she had heard rumors of his reputation in the outside world. It was said to be on par with her Junior Martial Uncle’s "King of Hell" moniker within the sect; his reputation alone was enough to terrify those who dared to offend him.

However, after just a moment, Sikong Chanyan turned and sat on a nearby chair with a seductive grace. A heartbeat later, she tapped her toes and soared back onto the stage. Fragrant breezes, mesmerizing dance steps, and a woman of incomparable beauty—it was a sight to behold.

***

Ji Jiuxuan quickly descended the stairs and met her Second Martial Uncle, whose expression remained unreadable. "Martial Uncle, how did it go?"

Min Chengjun leaned down and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Rest easy, A-Jiu." With just those words, Ji Jiuxuan’s heart settled.

"Your Junior Martial Uncle and your Senior Sister have urgent matters to attend to, so they have already departed," he said, taking the young girl’s hand and leading her toward the upper floors. "I will take you to explore Liangzhou City for a few days before we return."

Ji Jiuxuan was instantly delighted. Seeing her junior sister’s spirits lift, Meng Jiao felt completely reassured.

However, things did not go as planned. The very next day, just as they were ready to explore the city, a figure in the robes of the Xuantian Sect appeared, bowed to Min Chengjun, and handed over a scroll. Upon reading it, Min Chengjun instinctively looked at Ji Jiuxuan.

"Martial Uncle, what is it?" she asked, puzzled.

"We may not be able to stay. You need to return to the sect to prepare for the Sect Grand Tournament."

This confused her even more. Did the Grand Tournament require preparation? Couldn't one just show up and compete? She had studied the relevant documents and was familiar with the tournament's format; why the sudden need to return early?

"The format of the tournament has changed." Min Chengjun nodded to the disciple, who bowed and left. Since they were out in public, Meng Jiao remained silent.

"Did you leave anything behind?" At Min Chengjun’s inquiry, Ji Jiuxuan shook her head. She was in the habit of keeping all her belongings in her storage space, and the hotel was so comfortable that she had nothing to pack. Meng Jiao also shook her head.

Min Chengjun nodded and produced a teleportation talisman. The moment it was activated, the three of them vanished from the spot. They reappeared at the city gates. Meng Jiao looked on with pure admiration; her Second Martial Uncle was indeed worthy of his title. He used teleportation talismans as if they were nothing. If she could ever afford to be that wealthy, she would wake up smiling in her sleep.

Noticing his grand-niece’s shining eyes, Min Chengjun took two boxes from his storage space and handed one to Meng Jiao and one to Ji Jiuxuan. "Take these to play with. If you run out, just come ask me for more." He then led them out through the city gates.

***

They had not walked far before leaving the city. As their flying ship ascended, Ji Jiuxuan noticed it was different from the one they had taken to the Beast Taming Sect. The defensive capabilities were clearly much stronger.

"Martial Uncle, this new flying artifact is truly impressive," Meng Jiao remarked after walking around to inspect it. She had a natural talent for artifact crafting and a great passion for it. Although she couldn't forge something like this yet, she could certainly appreciate the craftsmanship.

"Ask your master when we return; he is the one who forged it," Min Chengjun said with a warm, gentle smile.

Realizing her master was behind it, Meng Jiao felt a mix of surprise and a sense of "of course it was him." "I will certainly ask him about it when we get back." She knew that to get her hands on the blueprints, she might be put through the wringer by her master, but she was willing. Her master was always like that—talking about punishment while actually acting with her cultivation progress in mind.

"Martial Uncle, you mentioned the tournament format has changed. In what way?" Ji Jiuxuan was puzzled. The competition was soon; why change the rules at the eleventh hour? What would it be like now?

Min Chengjun’s expression turned serious. "The Council of Elders has decided that this tournament will be conducted in a team-based format."

Seeing the young girl’s confusion, he explained, "Registration is free-form. Teams must have at least two members and at most five. Once registered, duels will be arranged based on the number of members in each team."

This meant that the "lone wolves" would all have to find a partner, or they wouldn't be able to compete at all! She had originally thought that, given the old format, she would eventually cross paths with Jiyue, but now it would depend on the luck of the draw.

"The old format was fine, so why change it?" Meng Jiao was bewildered. Team competitions relied on luck; if your teammates were amazing, advancing was easy, but if you were stuck with incompetence, you were lucky not to be dragged down. Even in individual duels, some people could be their own worst enemies, let alone in a team setting. Under these rules, some of the strongest cultivators might be eliminated early.

"Luck is also a form of advantage. Furthermore, many of our sect’s formations require multiple people to operate. The Elders’ suggestion is to make them realize this early on to prepare them for the future."

Hearing her martial uncle’s explanation, Meng Jiao thought of the Imperial Capital Tournament five years away. "If good talents are eliminated in this tournament, won't we fall behind other sects during the Imperial Capital Tournament?" The Imperial Capital Tournament was tied to the distribution of hidden resources; losing there would be a heavy price to pay.