One Wish to Own the World

After the sects agreed on a rematch with full teams the day after, everyone went back to their tents, except for Jabari. The muscular man visited Layla's tent again, seeking an explanation for Ravi's shift of stance.

"What is the meaning of this? Didn't the Serene Lotus Sect promise to support us?" Jabari asked Layla in a tone that was borderline shouting. His fingers twitched, clenching and unclenching into a fist as if undecided about whether to punch the woman before him.

"Relax, it will be fine. I'm sure you can beat them tomorrow," Layla shrugged, angering the big elder further.

"Fine, you say? By whose assurance? Should we summon the elders starring on the continent's wanted list for the competition's aid? How can you claim we will be fine?" Jabari rained questions, frustrated at the nonchalant attitude of their supposed ally.

"You better watch your tone. I'm being lenient because I know you're nervous, but I only have so much patience. If you cannot even win the match tomorrow, our sect will have to revise our alliance."

"You…! You are going back on your words! I warn you- Argh!"

Jabari was amidst his shouting when he was suddenly sent flying out of Layla's tent into the sky. Her strike pulled everyone's attention; a strike of a top-tier ninth-stage cultivator, uncontained by any barrier. 

The wind swept through the mountains surrounding the valley, awakening everyone from their sleep and pulling their attention from their current undertaking.

"Do you dare threaten us? Know your place!"

Layla's calm voice lacked any ill intentions, yet it filled Jabari with trepidation from the possibility he had invited calamity upon himself. He desperately positioned his broadsword before him in defense, but to no avail — an incomprehensible strike hurled him kilometers away from the mountain.

Behind them lay chaos: tents were ravaged by shockwaves, disciples scarcely shielded themselves, with some wounded so severely they spat blood.

Elders, grand elders, and supreme elders followed the fighting duo in curiosity. None of them intended to stop the battle; they were just curious to see the results of it. Everyone thought the two sides were on the same side, and they were all excited to watch the fallout. 

A few kilometers into the Peaceful Demon Sect's territory, aloft in the sky, dozens of elders circled Layla and Jabari, eager for the impending fight.

Jabari looked around him, his eyes squinted. Earlier, it was a private meeting, thus, he could say whatever he wanted. But now they were in front of hundreds of elders of the great 20 sects.

"What happened here, Elder Layla? Did this man attack you?" An elder from the Divine Sword Sect called Linley asked. 

"No, I'm only reminding him of the difference between the first-ranked sect and his," Layla replied indifferently. She struck again, and her opponent swung down his broadsword in an attempt to cleave her attack. Yet his technique broke instantly, and he was injured again.

"Jabari! What happened? Serene Lotus Sect, what is the meaning of this?" A newcomer stepped into the battle. Corey's face showed slight hesitation, exposing the fact they did not want to join the fray after seeing how easily Layla overpowered their partner.

Their eyes shone for a second when the charmer tried to execute an illusion technique, but Layla pinpointed their true location in a moment before sending them both crashing into the ground below.

'She is at the peak of the ninth stage, and her foundation is too deep!' the two elders thought in panic. 

"Do you still want to complain?" The woman's smaller frame seemed towering to the two as they got up on their legs. 

They looked at her worriedly before exchanging a quick glance and agreeing on their next course of action silently.

"No. We apologize for bothering Elder Layla during her free time," the two answered together and bowed down with their fists cupped. Once they saw it was a hopeless fight, they could only retreat with gritted teeth. 

"Good. Everyone, are you here because you also want to spar with me? You're welcome to step forward; I've already done my warm-up," Layla's mocking smile irked the spectators, yet nobody dared accept the challenge.

"We were just worried that your battle would affect the low-stage disciples and came to help suppress its shockwaves and collateral damage. Since the three of you have come to an understanding, we will take our leave," someone said awkwardly before turning to leave.

The gathering scattered quickly with everyone going back to their respective tents, and the rest of the night passed without any further incidents.

Ken and his companions remained unaware of the specifics of the events unfolding in the valley among the high-stage cultivators. They only noticed the tent being unrooted and barely managed to defend against the shockwaves with combined efforts, being injured lightly in the process.

The night passed, and the team met again. "Let's go see today's drama," Ken said, and they sat down in their usual watching spot. 

"Do you think that the Mysterious Mountain Sect will win the rematch as well?" Alaric asked his friends. He could see that the real politics were veiled behind the external words of the elders, but he did not know how to interpret them.

"I think they can't unless something unpredictable happens. If they're truly evil cultivators, it means that they cannot mobilize their full sect since many of them would be recognized," Tiara shared her own opinion.

The four turned their eyes back to the valley. The platform was still destroyed, and its condition was only slightly restored by the formations. When the Infinite Wisdom Sect heard there would be a rematch the following day, they did not bother fixing it.

"Where is the Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Soon, everyone noticed the absence of the competing sect. They were wondering what was going on when a representative of the said sect came, a regular elder of the seventh stage.

"I was sent to announce that the Myriad Beasts Sect forfeits today's match. We will work hard to improve ourselves and reclaim our rank in the next Martial Arts Summit."

He turned around and departed, leaving everyone to look at him in surprise. An awkward silence remained behind as nobody knew how to react to the unexpected development.

"Haha, I didn't see that one coming!" Ravi laughed, pulling everyone's attention. "I guess that means the Mysterious Mountain Sect wins the challenge by default!"

Seeing his grin, the cultivators finally understood.

'The Serene Lotus Sect did something.'