Following Bai Xuengen's announcement, both Bai Fulong and Lan Hui perked their ears.

"The lineup for the Cross Branch Arena is decided?! The six fighters for the Cloud-Formation, Star-Sword and Light-Breaker Pavilion..."

Bai Xuengen took out a small jade and started reading with his divine sense.

Upon hearing the names of the eighteen disciples from their generation, Shin Sumi sometimes nodded knowingly, sometimes an expression of surprise plastered on her face.

"Tai Bu has beaten Ken Duang?!" she realized when his name completed the Star-Sword Pavilion ranking, "What an interesting surprise... I'm looking forward to seeing him fight alongside me."

Due to her presence in two of the three Pavilions, Shin Sumi naturally knew all their fighters, at least by name if not personally. She was, however, unaware of most of the Light-Breaker disciples.

"Brother Xuengen, who is Master Breaker's direct disciple from the Light-Breaker Pavilion?" she asked. Since she, as Bai Fulong, could eventually end up fighting them, she wanted to know to do some preparation if needed. There was only a week left before the beginning of the Cross Branch Arena after all.

"You don't know? Master Breaker's direct disciple is not from our generation but the one above us. He hasn't chosen one this year. With Jun Qian and the Black Devil Maiden Xiao Yue, that's one less monster to worry about."

The three talked for a while longer, conjecturing on the format the fighting will take in the upcoming tournament and on who will win according to their insider information.

They were about to part and leave Lan Hui to do his medicinal work when Bai Xuengen turned to Shin Sumi.

"You know, Brother Fulong, even if we are not in the same Pavilion, since I won't be fighting this time we will be rooting for you, right Brother Hui? You finally have the opportunity to kick Chu Erlong's ass for the time she assaulted us and nearly melted us with a fireball."

Behind Bai Xuengen's awkward encouragement, Shin Sumi could tell that his resentment was real.

"Eh. Why don't you do that yourself? I heard you were pretty strong during your Pavilion's ranking."

"Well..." Bai Xuengen looked to the side briefly, blushing like an excited little girl for a second, "I would, but my new master has forbidden me from fighting for the time being, so..."

Lan Hui jumped on the occasion, his face excited by the revelation.

"A new master?!! Xuengen you've found an Elder to teach you incredible techniques?! You're sure to enter the Inner Sect very soon then! Who is he?"

Shin Sumi suddenly realized she knew the answer already. She hadn't paid attention to it before but now it was clear, from Bai Xuengen's fights during the Cloud-Formation Pavilion tournament.

"My new master is Elder Purple Cloud. Turns out the techniques I've found in the floating continent are very close to his Wind Arts and as such I am the Liquid Realm disciple he was looking for, so..."

Shin Sumi and Lan Hui congratulated their friend. Even if he hadn't made it into the top ranks and the lineup for the Cross Branch Arena, things were looking up for Bai Xuengen.

As for Shin Sumi, now she had the names of her potential opponents and a week left before the beginning of the tournament. She promptly bid farewell to her friends and soon she was walking the paths of the Dark Sky Starry Sect's upper valley as herself, gathering information.

***

"Is that the way in?" Mei Yunei asked Bai Fulong, following him through the entrance of a large building. The building had six stone columns at the front, engraved with the name 'Dark Sky Starry Sect'. The tiled roof was slanted, making the building look like a giant beast emerging from the earth from the outside.

"According to the information we have, I'm pretty sure" replied Shin Sumi, "The Cross Branch Arena is taking place in the Underground of the upper valley. Usually this entrance is closed off but for today's big event the gates have been opened."

Shin Sumi was sounding smug but she was in fact only repeating the information Lan Hui had given her after she went to him for help. The tournament was something every disciple of the upper valley looked forward to for months and yet not many people knew that the location the event took place in existed.

She had seen the strange building a few times, it was after all located near the middle of the upper valley, nevertheless she previously had no idea it was the entrance to a large system of underground paths.

"According to my source of information, this used to be a special training area for the sect. Eventually all the creatures and resources that filled the earth ran out and the sect decided to close it off."

Mei Yunei pouted "Why didn't they set up a transportation formation? That would have been much easier to find above ground. Or even better, why not make us fight somewhere else?"

Bai Fulong laughed at the girl's angry face, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know, I think they've chosen this place because it's the only arena capable of housing all of the upper valley."

The rest of the disciples would come a bit later, according to the information Xiao Yue had relayed them. First the disciples who were to fight had to gather and prepare.

Thinking about the fact that thousands of disciples from all ages and Pavilion would watch them fight on a large stage, Shin Sumi felt a shiver down her spine.

"To think that I only wanted to avoid attention to myself..."

"What did you say, Brother Bai?"

"Oh nothing... I'm a little bit apprehensive of having all the people's eyes on me, that's all. What about you Sister Mei?"

Mei Yunei's pupils dilated slightly and her face turned a deep red. Her hands started trembling before she hid them quickly in her sleeves. Before Shin Sumi's comment, she hadn't even thought for a second about the large crowd that would come to see them.

"Sister Mei, over here! Ah, and Bai Fulong too..." a voice called out in front of them.

Tai Bu's eyes turned from brilliant and passionate to dark and dispirited as he looked respectively at the newcomers.

"Tai Bu! Is this where we're supposed to gather?" asked Mei Yunei.

Shin Sumi paused for a second, slightly taken aback. Her mind suddenly started spinning as memories flooded in.

"Wait... He is Tai Bu?!!"

Shin Sumi never had the occasion of meeting the last member of the Big Three from the Shinsoo Gathering Realm. Despite being in the same Star-Sword Pavilion, Tai Bu most often trained on his own, like Sui Lin. Because of his master, Elder Peng, the Master Sword had allowed his absence from the Pavilion training sessions.

Shin Sumi was a bit excited at the prospect of meeting him for the first time, especially since she heard that Tai Bu had defeated Ken Duang and taken his place in the ranking. In her mind he was definitely a mighty opponent, and a pillar of the Star-Sword Pavilion in the upcoming Cross Branch Arena.

And yet the young man in front of her...

"You're Tai Bu?! You're the one who tried to ambush me on the floating continent! You had that strange Flaming Whip with you. And we met again in single combat near the end of the trial!"

Shin Sumi had blurted these words out, incapable of holding back her shock. Who could have guessed that the man she had ridiculed twice was actually the famous Tai Bu?!

The latter gnashed his teeth, trying his hardest to remain calm. "Bai Fulong didn't even know my name before today... I've been trying to surpass him for years and get my Flaming Whip back and he didn't even know me..."

Plastering a fake smile on his face, Tai Bu focused on something else. His grudge against Bai Fulong could wait, there was a more important matter at hand.

"We meet again, Bai Fulong. I guess I never properly introduced myself before. You wiped the floor with me at the time but I'll let you know that I've trained hard for that to never happen again. We will settle this and I will get my whip back later. For now follow me, Xiao Yue is waiting."

Shin Sumi thought for a brief second, "uh? If you want your whip so badly, just ask me and I'll give it to you. I can't even use it."

Because of Elder Peng's magic and link to the whip, Shin Sumi had never been able to properly use it. Even after reaching the Liquid Realm she had been unable to form even a slight connection with it.

A familiar voice suddenly cut her thoughts short as the three of them entered a large room brightly lit by spirit jades and colored crystals.

"All of us are here now "said Xiao Yue, "As you know this Cross Branch Arena's goal is to show the might of our Star-Sword Pavilion against the other branches of the sect, namely the Cloud-Formation Pavilion and the Light-Breaker Pavilion."

In front of her, Sui Lin and Mua Lin were listening, barely sparing a glance in Tai Bu, Mei Yunei and Bai Fulong's direction.

"We have one hour before the start of the event, I'll explain to you the rules set up by the Pavilion Masters as well as the strategy I've come up with. Then we'll rest for a bit to make sure we are in peak condition."

Shin Sumi smiled internally as her sworn sister talked and explained. Who could have guessed that her little Xiao Yue, with her short temperament, would be such an adept strategist? The sweet Xiao Yue who was known by all as the terrifying Black Devil Maiden was actually born to lead, apparently.

"This is how we should proceed..." the flames of her fighting spirit shone in Xiao Yue's eyes, soon reverberated by all five other fighters. Xiao Yue, Sui Lin, Bai Fulong, Mua Lin, Mei Yunei, Tai Bu. The Star-Sword Pavilion line-up was strong. They would show the Dark Sky Starry Sect why their branch was called the strongest.

***

The silence that pervaded the Underground of the upper valley slowly turned into a low hum, progressively echoing louder and louder as the disciples entered the arena. After the full hour had passed, it sounded like roaring thunder, until a figure dressed in white appeared from nowhere.

The old man was floating in the air above the huge arena. From the disciple's seats on the ground, the Patriarch looked like a transcendent Immortal, instantly imposing respect and silence.

The crowd stood up then bowed down as one, forced by an invisible pressure.

"The Cross Branch Arena is a tradition that spans generations in our Dark Sky Starry Sect" began Patriarch Sen, "Three of our five branches will clash before your eyes. The eighteen chosen disciples will show you their prowess, and hopefully inspire you to great things. Training is what pushed these eighteen individuals to what they are today, the peak of their respective Pavilions."

"So open your eyes wide and focus your divine sense, for this competition is not about finding out what branch is stronger. Before all, the Cross Branch Arena stands to show you what can be achieved along the path of cultivation. Each branch is part of the same tree that is the Dark Sky Starry Sect. Without one of its branches, the Dark Sky Starry Sect wouldn't be what it is."

Patriarch Sen smiled internally. He could sense the fervor in the eyes of the thousands of disciples standing before him. Turning his deep gaze to the first circle of seats, he nodded to the man seated in the leftmost of the five high seats, comparable to thrones.

At a point unknown, the first rows of seats had been filled by the Pavilion Masters, the Pavilion Elders and the Sect Elders as well.

Master Sword was the first to stand. He was a middle aged man with long dark hair and eyebrows in the shape of a sword. Looking like a weapon himself, his sharpness only equaled his hidden might.

"My Star-Sword Pavilion is here to answer the Patriarch's call and show the young generation what their peers are capable of."

Master Cloud followed suit from the next seat, clad in his eerie grey robes. The clouds on his person still obscured his face as they were dancing without wind.

"The disciples of my Cloud-Formation Pavilion have been honing their skills for this moment. Allow them to demonstrate my teachings with pride."

The third seat, placed in the center of the five, was a bit different from the others. It was almost twice as large but much lower so that its occupant was still seated at the same height as the others.

Master Breaker was by far the tallest of the Masters. In fact he looked like a living mountain, towering above everyone. He was a burly man with muscles stronger than that of a bull. His naked torso and back were broad as Wild Cavern Bear's and both his legs looked like tree trunks.

"This one's Light-Breaker Pavilion is ready to step in the arena and enlighten the youth as to what peak body cultivation looks like."

Master Breaker then sat down awkwardly in a large booming sound. His stone throne looked on the verge of collapse under his weight, barely holding in the end.

Next to him, an old man Shin Sumi would have immediately recognized cleared his throat. He was the same old man who had instructed her about the Beasts selection process all these months ago.

"My Divine-Beast Pavilion will not be participating today, on the account that Beasts must grow before they show their true splender. Nevertheless I hope my disciples will get to learn a thing or two by watching their peers."

The last Master to stand up was obviously Master Furnace. Unlike the others, the young looking woman who was the head of the Shinsoo-Medicine Pavilion didn't take her daoist name from her branch's.

"The disciples of my Pavilion have already prepared dozens of pills and medicinal products for the youth that will fight today. As always we will ensure the treatment of your injuries, at an affordable price."

Patriarch Sen smiled wryly. Even in moments like these, that greedy crow, Master Furnace, was asking for spirit stones. Her true nature couldn't be hidden after all.

"The Elders of our Dark Sky Starry Sect will be overseeing today's combat. Here are the rules that the eighteen fighters will follow."

The Cross Branch Arena, as known by everyone, was a brawl type fighting tournament.

One person from a Pavilion drawn at random would be standing first in the middle of the arena. The other two Pavilions would then send their fighters one at a time to beat the standing disciple and take their place.

At any chosen time the winning disciple could trade places with another from their Pavilion but in doing so forfeited their chance to come back to the arena.

The last disciple to stand their grounds would win the tournament.

Even though the rules of the Cross Branch Arena resembled a simple brawl, strategy was a key point of it. Because the participants were from three different branches, their fighting styles greatly differed. Also depending on who was standing up, the flow of the fight would be greatly influenced by whom the other entities would send to fight.

"The last Cross Branch Arena, three years ago, was won by the disciples from the Star-Sword Pavilion so we will be welcoming them first. Fighters, come into the arena."

Following the Patriarch's call, Xiao Yue looked for a brief second into Shin Sumi's eyes before turning to the opening of the arena.

Shoulders relaxed, head high, Xiao Yue entered the light under the acclamation of all the disciples from the Star-Sword Pavilion. Behind her stood the five other fighters.

Because the Star-Sword Pavilion was a very selective branch, the number of their disciples in the assembly was considerably lower than that of the other branches.

The clamor from the other Pavilions instantly overtook them, especially coming from the Light-Breaker Pavilion who as always, was large and loud, as if it were their motto.

"Look at this sorry bunch! This year the Cross Branch Arena will be for us!" exclaimed a large and powerful looking woman. Her fellow branch members followed suit, "Big Brother Daoju will only take one bite out of them. Four women and only two men, looks like the Star-Sword Pavilion is trying to appeal to the crowd rather than win the fight this year!"

Unperturbed despite the loud shouts, Xiao Yue walked patiently to the middle of the arena.

"I, Xiao Yue, will be the one in charge of the Star-Sword Pavilion. I wish for a fair fight with my fellow sect disciples."

Her announcement was very tame. "Another ploy of hers to better surprise the crowd later" thought Shin Sumi amused, "The Black Devil Maiden hasn't awoken yet it seems."

The next group of six fighters to come out in the light was of course the Cloud-Formation Pavilion. Jun Qian, Chu Erlong and Fu Xue were accompanied by Ye Tezhu, Po Xuan and Rai Linxi.

Their line-up really was as Bai Xuengen had informed Shin Sumi, as well as what she and Fu Xue had predicted weeks prior, except the absence of Yan Yan.

"This humble one's name is Jun Qian. Me and the Cloud-Formation Pavilion's elite will be entertaining you, so please be lenient on us, brothers and sisters."

Contrasting sharply with his words, Jun Qian's tone was nothing but smug sarcasm. He simply couldn't wait to fight.

He even took a quick glance in Bai Fulong's direction. It seemed like he had a big added motivation for this fight. Would it finally be the time to repay ten folds what Bai Fulong had done to him in the last step of the Rising Star Tournament as he hoped?

The third and last group of six to come out was the Light-Breaker Pavilion. Under the lead of Daoju Kai, the rank of bodily cultivators looked impressive.

Imposing silence for the last time, Patriarch Sen's voice extended over the entire arena once again.

"I will now choose which branch gets the privilege of standing first on the defensive size... Unless you have some further opinions?"

It was unusual but not unheard of for the Patriarch to ask for the fighter's opinion. He had an idea of the strategies developed by each side and the first instants were crucial.

"If I may," Xiao Yue took the initiative, "my Star-Sword branch would like to give up the starting position to the other branches."

"If the brothers in the Light-Breaker Pavilion are not against it, my branch would also like to let them have it first," followed Jun Qian.

Daoju Kai laughed a hearty laugh, "Well if everybody agrees then it's settled. Senior Patriarch, we the Light-Breaker Pavilion will start in the middle. Chen Long, you go first!"

And just like that, the Cross Branch Arena began.