Back in their base, the entire team was celebrating their success.
"It was a splendid match! We won the fight!"
Seileen called out.
The rest cheered in response.
"We had some setbacks but in the end, our plan is coming to fruition."
Luisa spoke.
"Yes... We should also try to help out the 18th ranked team sometime. If we can, we should."
Lilia said.
"Indeed, favors should be repaid. Our sect should foster some friendly ties with them in the future."
Luisa agreed.
There was no harm in forming friendship with another sect.
Their relations with the Green Ghosts and Violet Ghosts from the Venomous Spirit Sect, the name of their sect, would worsen as a result though.
But their relation was already bad to start with.
Furthermore, they already knew of their reputation and held them in comtempt.
"So... Our next priority should be to rest up and begin the next step of our plan."
Lilia said.
The rest nodded.
"So, Aies, Luisa and Serra, how are you two holding up? My injuries are light and I should be at top performance tomorrow."
Lilia asked.
"I'm fine. I can fight well."
"I'm alright."
"I didn't suffer any serious injuries so I should be able to fight well."
They replied.
"That's good... Then, our next battle shall be tomorrow!"
Lilia said resolutely.
Their morale was at all-time high.
This was so after claiming victory after a hard fought battle against a despicable foe.
......................
Tomorrow, they challenged the 12th team.
It was a difficult battle but they managed to clinch victory.
Henceforth, their rank was 12th.
They needed to rest up for the next battle.
They didn't need to worry though.
The 14th ranked team needed 6 more days until they can challenge someone again.
The former 12th team now ranked 13th already knew of their tactic so they won't be easily fooled.
As they say, the same trick doesn't work twice.
And so, they rested.
Days passed as the city was still restless as numerous teams continued to struggle for the highest rank they could possibly attain.
On the seventh day, Serra's team challenged the 11th team and claimed victory as well.
On the 8th day, they rested and received word that the Green Ghosts and Violet Ghosts dropped by a rank.
They became the 16th and 17th team respectively.
The one that defeated them was the former 18th team who swiftly rose through the rankings.
They went to express their congratulations and Lilia stepped forward to discuss future dealings with them.
They also expressed their gratitude towards their aid before.
The two teams made merry and the dealings went smooth and pleasant.
On the 11th day, they received some important intel that could be considered critical information.
The 10th ranked team fought the 9th team and suffered a horrendous defeat.
Their weakened team was ripe for the taking for either the 11th or 12th team.
Fortunately, the 12th team was still facing the penalty of their loss.
Thus, they had the opportunity.
It might not be fair but it's simply the way competitions work.
They have no one to blame but themselves for their reckless decision to challenge a higher team.
"Luisa, is this intel accurate??"
Lilia asked Luisa seriously.
"It is. Apparently, the 10th team had a particularly troublesome member that fell in love for a female member in the 9th team and thus issued a challenge without the other's consent."
Lilia wore a strange look.
"Really? I can't easily believe one of the top 10 have members that are idiots."
But Luisa assured her.
"It's true. That girl refused his advances and outright insulted him and kicked him aside. He became furious and wanted to get payback. The leader wanted to back out but they had to save face for their sect thus they had no choice but to proceed forward. Alas... The first match was participated by one of the girl's teammates who happened to be her brother. Furious, he severely injured his foe which infuriated the rest which resulted in an all-out brawl." The main reason is that the one injured happened to be the leader's brother."
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Luisa explained.
"This... Is a great chance for us!"
Lilia laughed as she felt excited. If they can take out the 10th team easily without taking too much damage they can fight the 9th ranked team and perhaps gain a higher position than what they were aiming for.
"Still... Those two people were idiots. It's hard to believe how lacking the leaders of both teams are and that there were idiots who didn't know better."
Luisa commented on them.
The leaders who failed to settle things amicably and ended up letting the situation worsen further... The idiot who started a fight and the other idiot who severely injured the leader's brother which started an all-out brawl.
It's also hard to believe that they didn't have a person who kept a cool head and salvaged the situation to let both sides won't take too much losses...
This is a situation that could show why there's a need for people who can look at the bigger picture and maintain their composure.
Because there was no one to hold both sides down, the worst situation unfolded.
Which happened to be the best and most favorable situation for their team.
After all, when two forces clash leading to the worst situation where both sides are grievously injured, it's the perfect time for a third party to attack both sides and reap the most rewards.
"Don't blame us for this. You brought this upon yourselves. Even if we didn't act, the 12th team would act once they recover their injuries."
Lilia said with a look of excitement.
Lilia made an announcement to her companions the moment they all gathered to eat late at night.
"Everyone, we received some critical information."
She spoke.
Everyone seemed serious.
"Originally, we planned to fight the 1-th team during the final week so that when we do win, we would merely need to defend it from the 12th team."
All present nodded.
"I'm unsure if some of you heard the recent news but the 10th and 9th team are both severely injured."
Everyone was surprised.
"What happened? Was there some accident?"
"No... In this city, if there were some serious accident hence we would already know and there wouldn't be a need for this discussion."
Aies asked but Seileen refuted it.
"The 10th and 9th team had a conflict with each other that resulted in both teams fighting against each other. The conflict escalated resulting in both sides going all out. As you all know, the strength of the top 10 teams have minor differences and they could easily change. However, due to the relationships between their sects, they stay their hand for fear of gravely injuring any member and causing a rift in their relations."
Lilia spoke.
"Thus, the top 10 sects are usually predetermined. However, one of the sects was forced not to participate due to majority of their disciples facing grave injuries during a grave accident. Thus, the 10th rank has an outsider from those sects. That team picked a fight with the 9th team and the escalation resulted in grievous injuries for both sides. This information might be interesting to some but it only holds true value to us and those near those ranks. Specifically us, the 11th team, the 12th team and the other teams near us. The 8th to 1st teams are unaffected. Though they may be surprised, they ultimately won't act because of their prestige and the rules of the tournament."
As Lilia went on, the eyes of everyone involved began to shine.
They knew what they had to do.
"Thus, we will challenge the 10th team today. We can't miss this opportunity."
Lilia concluded.
Seileen raised her hand.
"Wait. If this happens, won't the various sects hold us in contempt? We might offend them and our sect would be in dire straits if that happens."
Seileen's concern was a valid point.
"That's not a problem. The 10th team lost in their fight so they're not part of the original top 10. If we do beat them, the other sects would probably hold us in a friendlier light."
Luisa stepped forward to assure her.
"I see. Very well."
Seileen let out a sigh of relief.
"Any objections?"
Lilia asked as she swept her gaze towards them.
"You said their fighting ability was severely reduced... But to what extent?"
Serra asked.
"That's a valid question. Luisa, what's their status?"
Luisa took out a few scrolls and read.
"According to the intel, of their 10 members, 7 have been severely injured while the rest have faced significant injuries. Thanks to the intervention of the elders, there were no cripples or those who lost their lives. For the 9th team... Despite their victory, they still have 9 members injured."
Luisa stated.
"Wait. Didn't the 9th team claim victory? Why did they sustain even heavier injuries than the other team?"
Aies asked.
"Hm... It's a bit complex but the reason for the strange difference in number is plainly because the 9th team resorted to drastic measures to keep their rank. They used some forbidden techniques or those above their cultivation that drastically increased their power or unleashed attacks beyond their current cultivation to claim victory. Frankly, they're in an even worse state despite their victory."
Luisa explained further.
"I see... It wouldn't do to harm our relations with other sects by taking advantage of such an event. We'll only take on the 10th team."
Seileen said.
"Well then... Any more issues you'd like to address?"
Lilia swept her gazed towards them again.
No one spoke anymore words.
"If none, then we will issue our challenge."
Lilia concluded the meeting as she asked Luisa and Seileen to accompany her to issue the challenge.
............................................
The residence of the 10th team.
It was a rather luxurious mansion.
Quite different from the base they were staying at.
"...Our base could have been quite better if we actually spent money for it instead of just borrowing someone's house."
Seileen muttered.
"Nothing we can do. We have to follow our customs and besides... We need to assure our own safety and other considerations."
Lilia assured her.
"Still... Wouldn't it be better if we had the elders issue the challenge as per normal?"
Seileen muttered another complaint.
When issuing a challenge, it was fine to have an elder do it but it was also fine for them to issue the challenge themselves.
"There's the benefit of seeing their state ourselves and confirming our information."
Luisa spoke behind her.
"I guess so... Well then, shall we go?"
Seileen spoke as she entered the mansion to speak with the team captain.
"Indeed... Let's greet our opponent. We decided to give our challenge ourselves. This might be the first and only time we do so. Thus, let's give it properly."
With that, they knocked on the door to.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
They soon heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them.
The door opened slowly to reveal a young woman wearing a servant's clothing.
"Yes?"
She addressed them respectfully.
"We're here to challenge the 10th team."
Lilia stepped forward to announce their reason to visit.
The maid was alarmed.
"Please come with me."
She spoke.
As a servant, she knew of her master's affairs and thus knew that they're here to speak with her masters.
They were led to the garden where a stern young man was waiting.
"I'm the captain of the 10th team."
He spoke as he eyed them sternly.
"You are the captain of the 10th team?"
Lilia asked.
The man nodded.
"I'm the captain of the 11th team. I'm here to challenge your team."
Upon hearing her, the man nodded but looked quite bitter as well.
"I heard you defeated the 12th team so they won't be coming after us anytime soon so I expected you to come after us next. Not satisfied with the 11th rank and now you're after our rank?"
He asked.
"That's right. Our end goal has been the 10th rank all along. We would have issued our challenge eventually but this opportunity came so we simply miss it out."
Lilia answered.
The man let out a sigh.
"Very well. We will accept your challenge. That battle was initiated by our side. It was our fault for this. Sigh.... If only that reckless fool didn't start this mess in the first place then we wouldn't be in this unfavorable position."
The man spoke in anger.
He knows that these people aren't to blame.
They cannot avoid this fight.
"One question before we leave though. I can see you're a calm and sensible man. So, how could you lose your calm and continue a reckless battle?"
Lilia asked.
The man looked surprised.
"In this world, there are some things I can't back down on. To see my blood-related brother severely injured before my eyes and the opportunity to attain revenge before me? It's natural that I would feel enraged. After a few minutes, I regained my calm but seeing their arrogance and that there was a chance of victory, I was tempted to fight."
Lilia nodded in understanding.
"I see... Then, we'll take our leave."
She spoke in sympathy.
In such a position where she saw that there was a clear chance of victory so long as they go all out, it was natural to feel tempted to attain victory.
The man let out another sigh as he saw them leave.
"Hmph... The 9th rank team... We might've lost but our injuries would soon heal. Beware our might. Soon, we'll issue another challenge. But... will your injuries heal faster than ours? Just wait. The price of victory you paid today is far too grave... And it will cost you dearly soon..."
He spoke menacingly.