The Palace of Duels and Battles wasn't some glorious arena where countless cultivators gathered.
Instead, it was a simple training ground consisting of six marked areas designated for combat.
The so called "palace" was nothing more than these battlefields outlined by crude lines on the ground.
Its grandiose name was misleading. The place wasn't called a palace because of its appearance, but rather because of its purpose.
Here, disciples fought to improve their social standing within the sect. It was a place where reputations were forged or shattered,a battleground of ambition and pride.
The Howling Wind Sect named it The Palace of Duels and Battles for this very reason.
There was also a crucial distinction between Duels and Battles.
Duels were considered honorable engagements within the sect.
In a Duel, no one was meant to die. It was a test of skill between fellow disciples, where they fought to sharpen their techniques and gauge each other's progress.
Betting or gambling on the outcome of a Duel was strictly prohibited, as it was meant to be a pure, honorable competition. The Inner Sect Ranking Tournament itself was classified as a Duel.
Battles, however, were the exact opposite.
A Battle was a ruthless clash where combatants fought with the intent to kill, humiliate, or claim something valuable.
It could be over a treasure, a personal grudge, or simply differing opinions.
In a Battle, mercy was not expected. The only rules were those enforced by strength.
As Yuan arrived at The Palace of Duels and Battles, he saw a crowd of inner sect disciples,far more than he had encountered at the registration three days ago. But he wasn't particularly surprised.
After all, disciples only needed to register once to participate in the Inner Sect Ranking Tournament. Once registered, they were free to join the competition whenever they wished.
This convenience naturally attracted a massive turnout.
Yuan's eyes swept over the gathering crowd, his mind already calculating and planning his next move.
The Inner Sect Ranking Tournaments were divided into multiple levels, each catering to disciples of varying strengths and statuses.
The structure ensured that cultivators could only advance through skill, perseverance, and strategic effort.
Level 1 Tournament This was the most basic level,where Yuan would be competing. It was meant for the lowest ranked disciples. Only those who reached the top 100 in this level could advance to the Level 2 Tournament.
Level 2 Tournament Once a disciple entered the top 100, they gained eligibility to compete in the Level 2 Tournament. From here, only the top 20 could qualify for the Level 3 Tournament.
Level 3 Tournament This level was where the competition truly began to heat up. The top 20 of the Ashes fought against the lowest ranked Rising Flames.
It was considered the fastest way for ambitious disciples to break into the top 10 of the Rising Flames and secure a higher status.
These Level 1 to Level 3 tournaments were held every month, providing frequent opportunities for disciples to improve their rank.
After that, things became more exclusive.
The Level 4 and 5 Tournaments were held twice a year, these tournaments were reserved for the top 50 Rising Flames and the lowest ranked Young Phoenixes. It was a brutal test of skill where only the strongest participants would rise.
Then the Level 6 Tournament this was the pinnacle of the inner sect competition, held once a year. It was open only to the Young Phoenixes and the top 10 Rising Flames who sought to challenge them.
The top ranked Young Phoenix also had the right to challenge one of the Ten True Phoenixes.
However, the Level 6 Tournament didn't end there.
After the Young Phoenixes' battles, the Ten True Phoenixes themselves could issue challenges to one another,fighting for higher rankings within their exclusive group.
This system was still relatively new, having only been established for about two years. Because of that, the rankings were not yet accurate and remained somewhat chaotic.
During the initial implementation, ranks were largely determined by cultivation stage rather than skill.
For example, someone who had just advanced to the Meridian Awakening Stage at that time was automatically granted the rank of a Rising Flame.
Additionally, due to the brief history of the system, the higher-ranked Young Phoenixes had only experienced two opportunities to challenge the Ten True Phoenixes.
This limitation created a backlog of talented disciples eager to climb the ranks.
The sect's new ranking structure was ambitious, but far from perfect. And Yuan intended to exploit every flaw he could find.
This ranking system had faced numerous problems during its initial implementation.
Even now, the top 50 Young Phoenixes were nearly the same as when the system was first created.
Naturally, this made it unfair to many new disciples.
However, the elders had dismissed their complaints, telling them to "shut up and prove themselves." With no real power to change things, most disciples simply swallowed their frustration and moved on.
The new inner sect disciples were clearly at a disadvantage from the start.
But the system wasn't without its benefits. Those who managed to rise through the ranks quickly, like Julian, would draw the attention of the elders and grand elders.
Ming Ze had also experienced this phenomenon,his rapid progress and talent in spiritual tea making had earned him the notice of a powerful elder.
But as Yuan continued analyzing the flaws of the inner sect ranking system, the tournament had already begun.
Two females and three males walked onto the five battle stages. One of the male judges stepped forward and shouted, his voice carrying across the grounds.
"The Level 1 Tournament will now begin! All inner sect disciples who wish to fight, come to the stage!"
At his command, the other inner sect disciples began stepping onto the battle stages one by one. They presented their identity slates to the judges before starting their matches.
After each fight, the judges recorded the results in a small book, noting the names of the competitors, who won, and who lost.
As the matches continued, the crowd began to thin. Some disciples couldn't participate in more than one fight, having exhausted themselves entirely in their first battle.
Yuan stood off to the side, simply observing the process.
It didn't take long for him to realize something important.
This Level 1 Ranking Tournament wasn't truly a tournament at all.
It was more like a series of individual battles.
Winning matches improved a disciple's ranking, but luck played a significant role.
If someone fought weaker opponents, they could advance quickly. But if they encountered stronger opponents early on, their chances of progressing plummeted.
It was a flawed system, one that required a mixture of skill, endurance, and sheer luck to reach the top 100 of the Ashes. Only then could a disciple qualify for the Level 2 Tournament.
Yuan's eyes narrowed as he continued to watch. His mind was already working on how to manipulate the system to his advantage.
But once Yuan had seen enough, he walked onto one of the empty battle stages and waited for someone to challenge him.
He didn't have to wait long,just a few seconds passed before his opponent stepped onto the stage.
The man wore the same inner sect green robe as Yuan. He had long brown hair and an aged face, making him appear like a middle aged man.
Yuan gave him a polite nod before glancing at the blonde haired female judge overseeing their match.
Without hesitation, he tossed his identification slate to her, and the brown haired man did the same.
The judge caught their identification slates effortlessly and gave a slight nod. Her voice was indifferent and cold as she asked, "Weapon?"
"Sword," Yuan replied.
"Sword," the brown haired man echoed.
Since both of them requested swords, the judge tossed identical weapons to each of them.
Personal weapons were forbidden until the Level 3 Ranking Tournament.
Until then, all participants were required to use the standard issue swords provided by the sect.
They both caught their swords easily.
Yuan gave his weapon a few experimental swings, testing its weight and balance.
It was a standard, low quality sword, the type most swordsmen had wielded at some point in their training.
After a few more practice slashes, Yuan felt familiar enough with the weapon.
He gave a brief nod to the female judge, signaling that he was ready.
The judge looked toward the brown-haired man, who also nodded in acknowledgment.
Raising her arm high, she held it there for a moment before letting it fall sharply.
With the judge's signal, both Yuan and the brown haired, middle aged man took their fighting stances.
As the judge's arm fell completely, they exchanged cold, wordless glances before dashing toward each other.
Knowing he couldn't reveal his true strength by ending the fight too quickly, Yuan decided to rely on his Howling Gale Step, aiming to win with pure speed and precision.
He allowed a small amount of spiritual blood to flow around his toes and foot soles, enhancing his agility.
With this technique, his ankles gained more strength, allowing him to move three times faster than before.
The middle aged man's eyes widened as Yuan's speed suddenly increased, his body blurring as he outpaced him effortlessly.
Realizing he couldn't keep up, the man attempted to abort his slash and dodge to the right, hoping to avoid Yuan's attack.
But Yuan anticipated his move.
Adjusting his steps mid dash, Yuan shifted to the right with fluid precision.
He reached the man before he could fully dodge, sweeping his leg forward and tripping him.
The middle aged man lost his balance, his feet slipping from beneath him.
Before he could comprehend what had happened, he collapsed to the ground, his sword clattering uselessly beside him.
And there, pressed firmly against his neck, was Yuan's sword.
"Stop." The female judge's voice rang out sharply, her tone firm and commanding.
Yuan halted immediately, standing still on the battle stage as he looked toward the judge.
She tossed his identification slate back to him with a casual flick of her wrist and waved her hand dismissively.
Understanding her gesture, Yuan calmly tossed the sword back to her before leaving the battle stage.
Meanwhile, the middle aged man remained on the ground, his expression dazed and confused.
Everything had happened far too quickly.
Only now did he fully realize what had transpired. With a heavy sigh, he acknowledged his defeat.
But before he could gather himself, the female judge's slightly annoyed voice cut through his thoughts.
"Don't daydream in the middle of the battle stage."
The middle aged man flinched at her words, a tremor running through his body.
Hastily, he threw the sword back to the judge, who caught it effortlessly.
When she tossed his identification slate to him, he snatched it out of the air and tucked it back into his sleeve.
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping with defeat as he walked off the battle stage, muttering under his breath with a tone heavy with frustration.
"Lost another fight..."
But while the middle aged man was left feeling dejected, Yuan felt satisfied.
He had won the fight efficiently without revealing too much of his strength.
Better yet, he still had enough spiritual blood to continue his act.
Deciding to keep his momentum going, Yuan rested for about ten minutes before making his way toward another battle stage.