I Truly Am The Villian

Dawn broke, the azure sky adorned with drifting white clouds, like a beautifully rendered painting.

The morning air felt exceptionally fresh.

Disciples of the True Martial Holy Sect dressed neatly and, full of energy, headed early to the gates of the Heavenly Domain to gather.

Some were eager to watch the day’s exciting matches.

After all, it was not every day that such talented disciples gathered together.

Others aimed for higher rankings.

Their long efforts were finally granted a chance to be showcased today.

The disciples filed in one after another; the Heavenly Domain was so vast that it never felt crowded, even when the entire sect’s disciples entered at once.

In the very center, a hundred arenas made of Black Tortoise True Iron stood like warriors at the edge of heaven and earth, firmly rooted to the ground.

The competition was not just about fighting; it also included alchemy, formation mastery, and various other professional contests.

Of course, the main event was still the fighting.

This was also the first grand competition ceremony presided over by Sect Master Xiao since his return to the sect.

Clad in a golden robe, his presence was majestic as he stood at the forefront of the arena.

The might of the Divine Vein Realm roared within him.

Storms of spiritual energy churned in the firmament above.

His power was awe-inspiring, shaking heaven and earth.

This was also a symbol of his breakthrough into the Divine Vein Realm.

At the head of the arena, there were more than a dozen seats.

Besides Sect Master Xiao, Deputy Sect Master Xu Qingshan, in a green robe, slowly approached from the distance.

His aura, that of the Saint Vein Realm, was also amazing.

This strength grew stronger and stronger, clearly on the cusp of the Saint Vein Realm.

It wouldn’t be long before he could break through to the Divine Vein Realm.

As for the so-called seven Great Elders, with the Sixth Elder under confinement, there were now only six.

The six Great Elders, all in white robes, made their way from the arena to the seats at the head.

The mad wind howled as the five Elders’ steps were forceful and resolute, each movement possessing the power to change the weather.

Some disciples in the distance began beating the war drums.

The sound of "bang, bang, bang" echoed in the world.

Each strike of the red drum mallet, accompanied by the fluttering red cloth tied to it,

Conveyed the urgency and pressure of the imminent storm.

The war drums surged the atmosphere to a fever pitch.

It seemed to invoke the fighting spirit within everyone’s heart.

With the arrival of several direct disciples, the atmosphere at the scene became even more explosive and intense.

It was as if the whole place was about to burst.

The Overlord King Xiang Qianheng,

The Heartless Fairy Jiang Xier,

The Surging Wave Sword wielder Xia Zihe,

The Son of the Trapping Array Jue Ming,

The Undefeated King Sword Twenty-One.

...

When these legendary direct disciples congregated, one could imagine just how fervent the mood became.

Xu Zimei looked at the disciples below, full of fighting spirit, and chuckled softly.

As a Saint Heir, he did not need to participate in such competitions.

Like the six Great Elders, the Saint Heir had a designated seat at the head.

To the ordinary disciples of the True Martial Holy Sect, these direct disciples were the targets of their pursuit,

The true prodigies.

But to Xu Zimei, their battles were child’s play.

After the end of this competition, Xu Zimei planned to leave the True Martial Holy Sect.

Then, it would be time to consider his own advancement to the Saint Vein Realm.

He still had to fulfill his promise with Ancient Nether; a visit to the Burial Buddha Temple was inevitable.

...…

Sect Master Xiao stood at the forefront of the arena, his piercing gaze surveying the disciples below, whether they had come to participate or to watch the battles.

"You all are the future hope of our Sect Gate!"

He proclaimed with a resounding voice.

"It is undeniable that high-level combat power is the foundation of any sect’s existence.

Some of you young ones may still be weak now.

But I believe, there will come a day when you will become the future of the sect, determining the limits of our sect’s power.

I am delighted that you have become part of this large family.

As your Sect Master, I am very proud and honored."

Sect Master Xiao paused at this point, then slowly exhaled, raising his voice again.

"I hope that in this grand ceremony, everyone will do their utmost to strive for a good ranking.

Because this will mean the sect’s future cultivation effort and a portion of resources will be inclined toward you.

Every one of you is eligible to participate, and the grand ceremony will commence with absolute fairness."

As Sect Master Xiao announced the start of the martial arts tournament, the entire Heavenly Domain along with everyone’s cheers, began to resonate tumultuously.

The rules of the ceremony are relatively simple.

Outer Sect Disciples fight against Outer Sect Disciples.

Inner Sect Disciples fight amongst themselves.

And finally, the main event is the battle among Direct Disciples.

Of course, the top three of the victorious Inner and Outer Sect Disciples are also qualified to challenge Direct Disciples.

This is also the most exciting part of the annual martial arts tournament.

The battles between Inner Sect Disciples and Direct Disciples, though mostly ending in defeat, occasionally produce some dark horses.

Direct Disciples have trained for much longer, with the additional cultivation from the seven Great Elders.

The ones with good aptitude are almost all at the peak of Emperor Pulse Realm, and even the lesser gifted have at least entered the Emperor Pulse Realm.

Among the Inner Sect Disciples, the highest level of cultivation isn’t past the peak of Esteem Vein Realm.

And progressing in realms gets increasingly harder in the later stages.

...

Wu Feng against Shao Xin, Zhuo Yan against Cheng Yu....

As the Great Elder announced the names for the battles, one disciple after another stepped onto the stage.

Essentially, a hundred stages were conducting battles simultaneously.

This way, the pace could be much faster.

The confrontations between Outer Sect Disciples weren’t much to watch— their cultivation levels were too low and they lacked experience in fighting.

However, some high-ranking members watched very carefully, evidently scouting for talented individuals among them.

Compared to the fights of Outer Sect Disciples, those between Inner Sect Disciples were undoubtedly more spectacular.

The one worth Xu Zimei’s attention was Ji Baiyu.

She received the inheritance of Emperor Feiyu and was ahead in both resources and cultivation.

Her peak Esteem Vein Realm strength allowed her to easily defeat her opponent.

There was also a youth named Gao Xiong, who, though not possessing top-tier cultivation—merely at the peak of Empty Vein Realm—bore the bloodline of Ancient Power Bear, with strength that didn’t correspond to his realm level.

Even those strong in the Esteem Vein Realm might not withstand a direct confrontation with him.

There weren’t too many outstanding Inner Sect Disciples; by Xu Zimei’s standards, there was only one who truly caught his eye.

He was a short-haired youth wearing a light blue robe.

The youth’s eyes were cold, brandishing a halberd forged from Black Tortoise True Iron.

His moves were grand and sweeping, embodying a sort of commanding presence.

The halberd, three meters long and ink-black in color, was inlaid with several golden dragons, clearly no ordinary weapon.

With each swing of the youth, the Black Tortoise True Iron arena would crack under the impact of his halberd.

Not only was the youth at the peak of the Esteem Vein Realm, but his combat experience and mastery of Vein Skills were also exceptional.

It was evident he had been honed through battle and strife.

"What’s that guy’s name?" Xu Zimei asked, turning to an Elder beside him.