Everyone was currently celebrating.

"Cheers! We did it! We've passed the greatest hurdle!"

Aies happily spoke.

"True. We're currently placed at 13th for now... The other twelve teams have also claimed only victories... However, their opponents were stronger than the foes we faced. Thus, they've been placed at a higher rank than ours."

Luisa spoke sternly.

"That's correct. In the other teams, we're called the lucky team. We do have some ability... but our true strength wasn't brought out in any of our previous battles. And that's all thanks to our great lucky captain!"

Seileen said happily while gazing at Lilia's direction.

The rest also turned towards her.

"W-what?"

She stammered.

She was feeling slightly shy at all the attention that was directed towards her.

"You're really a lucky girl, aren't you?"

Serra spoke.

The rest nodded in unison.

"Eh... It's not that great of a skill..."

Luck was something that couldn't be seen or sensed.

It's something a person is born with and can't be changed or improved so they could only envy her.

Even Lilia herself understood that she's more fortunate than others.

"What are you talking about, Captain? It's thanks to that luck of yours that you're the captain and we managed to get here smoothly."

Seileen retorted.

"That's true. While effort is indeed required, luck allows one to gain opportunities. And those opportunities are greatly beneficial for cultivators."

Serra quietly commented.

"Speaking of which, just how useful is luck anyways?"

Aies asked.

"It's actually a critical factor and is useful in many things... Be it serious matters or everyday life, luck is something many would love to acquire."

Serra said knowingly.

"Eh... Really?"

Aies asked unconvinced.

"Well, if you're lucky, you could go gambling and you could earn easy money. Gambling is basically 9/10 luck and 1.10 skill after all."

Seileen gave an example.

"I'm not too sure of that figure and why gambling? Here's a more proper example."

Luisa retorted.

"As you know, I'm well-known to be quite unlucky. Due to my misfortune, I often encounter a lot of magical beasts when exploring. You know how my weapon was damaged before right?"

Luisa hinted on her fan.

"Ah, it was damaged during a fierce battle with a certain magical beast."

Seileen remembered.

"That's right. It was a Sea Serpent King. It was known to rarely appear in that area and was the overlord of the region. It rarely attacked travelers since it's known to be docile and lurks only in the deepest areas of the sea. That same creature happened to be on a stroll when I was leaving the area carrying a certain valuable treasure that would be greatly beneficial for it."

"Treasure?"

"It was a certain item known as Water God's Orb. It was a very rare herb I bought from a friend and I would use to craft my armor. It was something that could also aid many water magical beasts in advancing to the Emperor Stage."

Luisa sighed at this point.

"The other regions... housed far too many water magical beasts quite strong and some had many magical beasts on the same level as the Sea Serpent King. That same magical beast detected it during its stroll and it couldn't resist and was determined to get it from me. Thus, we fought. I managed to escape with the orb but due to its relentless pursuit, my weapon was damaged quite severely and I was injured."

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The rest stared at her in pity.

If things worked out fine, she would have been in perfect condition for the tournament in their sect to determine who would be the combatants.

If things truly went as planned, than even if she ended up facing all those disciples, she would have still have enough power to deal with Lilia and would have difficulty against her, allowing her to display her full prowess and giving the elders the decision to make her captain.

"But, I'm glad it happened."

Aies spoke at the end of the story.

Interrupting her slightly.

"What? Why would you be happy?"

Luisa stared at her.

If she didn't give a good explanation, there would be a severe punishmen for her.

Noticing her gaze, Aies playfully stuck out her tongue and said.

"If you were the captain, you would be the one drawing lots. If that happened, we'd probably have all the strong teams as our opponents. By then, we would have been eliminated by the first round!"

She spoke with a legitimate and convincing reason.

At those words, Luisa was dumbfounded.

"You brat..."

She was infuriated at such words but lacked the means of retort.

Recent events proved that she was right.

And despite being unwilling to accept such a truth, she can't say anything against it.

That event with the Sea Serpent King wasn't the only event to prove Luisa's misfortune and ill-luck after all.

"Well, enough of that. Let's move on to our next plans."

Lilia knocked on Aies head and changed the topic.

Aies rubbed her head and stared at Lilia while feeling wronged.

"...Why must you hit me...Big Sis...?"

"You yourself know the reason why."

Seileen retorted.

"Given the current rules, we can only engage in two battles. We can either challenge the rank 12th team then face the rank 11th team but that's too reckless. We should gather detailed intel on the teams ranked 10-20."

Luisa ignored the banter and proceeded straight to the topic at hand.

"Wait. Why only those teams?"

Seileen asked.

"Simple. We're ranked given our performances and the powers we showed. Therefore, the teams ranked 10th-20th have varying levels of power roughly on the same level. It's unlikely that teams ranked 20th-50th would be our opponents."

Luisa explained.

"Thus, I find it unlikely that teams 1st-9th would be our opponents. They don't the right to challenge those beneath them. Thus, they're not our concerns. It's unrealistic to consider them as our oponents as they are far stronger than us. It's more realistic to face those around the same area."

She explained things in a logical manner.

Indeed, like how dragons would never deign to attack wolves or those beneath it. Such a mighty beast would only consider foes like it's kind. Never those creatures far beneath it.

"Each team defeated once would have to wait a week until they can do battle once more. Therefore, each team can only be defeated thrice. Once they taste a fourth defeat, they'll be unable to challenge anyone again. The best they could do is hold their place. Now... Here's our situation.

Our target is to be in the top 10. Thus, our final opponent is the tenth team. It's far better to be cautious... Therefore, we won't be challenging any teams for the moment. There's no rule forbidding teams to challenge the team who just lost a match. It's very likely that the ranked 14th team would challenge us if we lost the match with the ranked 12th team. When we're tired from our battle. Using the rules to our advantage, we'll wait for the ranked 14th and 15th team to challenge us. Once we've rested, we challenge the 12th team."

Luisa proposed her strategy.

If they battle the 12th team. The two teams below them would surely challenge them in their tired states. Thus, they'll wait for the two teams to challenge them then rest. During the time when the two teams are still suffering from the penalty of their loss, they'll challenge the 12th team, claim victory and rest up.

Even if the other teams challenge them, they would have been rested and have enough power to protect their place.

"We'll use this cautious tactic to claim victory. Slow but steady... However, suffering a single loss would threaten our plan. So, we can't afford to be careless."

Luisa warned them.

The rest seriously nodded.

"So, we're going for a defensive approach...? What if those two teams don't challenge us?"

Seileen asked.

"We'll wait until the second week. If they still don't challenge us and remain content in their place, we have no choice but to go on the offensive."

Lilia declared.

"However, that's unlikely. We've never fought either of those two teams and they're quite ambitious. I believe that in the first week, they'll send out their challenge."

Luisa added.

"Well then... let's continue to party until it's time to sleep!"

Aies said.

And so, they continued their merrymaking until it was time to sleep.

They did want to continue but they have important tasks to do tomorrow.

--------

In a corner of the city, inside a private mansion.

There was a certain room that was very lively.

There were handsome waiters bringing delicious food, beautiful dancers moving their voluptuous bodies and skilled musicians playing music.

In the center of the room were 14 youths drinking fine wine and enjoying the food.

Seven of them wore green robes while the other group wore violet robes.

There were no other guests.

This was a party made and prepared only for their sake.

"Little brother Grey, we'll be counting on you for tomorrow to deal with the Sky Blossom sect."

One of the violet robed youths spoke.

"Please, elder brother Yun, leave it to us. We'll surely let those girls know our prowess. It'll be no problem for us. Just remember to give us the gifts we've been expecting at our sect once the tournament concludes."

One of the green robed figures replied.

The youth that addressed him earlier smiled.

"But of course. Our sects are like brothers. We would naturally take good care of those who belong to our side."

Both groups then raised their glasses together as they celebrated.

"Then there's nothing left to discuss. We'll tire those girls out while you deal the final blow. Hmph, merely a Sky Blossom sect that managed to earn a higher position purely out of sheer luck. They'll know the misfortune of being in a higher ranking that doesn't belong to them!"

One of the youths called out with a wild laugh.

"But of course! It was purely our bad luck that drew us the 1st ranked team as our opponent that round!"

Another called out.

They all knew that they fell simply because they faced off against one of the strong ones as their foes.

Their sect didn't hold any wild ambitions to get the highest rank. They clearly knew and understood their limits.

Thus, they didn't dare offend them or face them.

They're aiming for the 10th ranked seat just like the Sky Blossom sect is.

While the ones above are quite peaceful, it's the lower rankings that are the most chaotic.