Xu Mu nodded, then suddenly asked, "Can you make your grandpa rig the contest a little?"
"Forget it. That old man doesn't want anyone gossiping about favoritism—he even brought in two independent referees. His word alone won't count this time."
Jiang Huihui explained patiently.
"You misunderstood," Xu Mu said with a grin. "I want Old Chen to enter the Marriage Tournament too. He's strong. If he can knock out a few top contenders early, my odds will be way better."
He glanced at Chen Xuan. "But if we fight each other too soon, that would ruin the plan."
"I get it," Jiang Huihui replied. "You mean you and Chen Xuan shouldn't meet until later rounds? Easy. I'll secretly separate your names—put you in Box 1, and him in Box 4."
"Box 4? Wait, Sister Jiang—how many contestants are we talking about?" Xu Mu asked in disbelief.
Jiang Huihui thought for a moment. "About a hundred or so."
"Damn, that's insane."
Xu Mu gave her a thumbs-up through the phone.
Then again, it made sense. Jiang Huihui was a Mid-level Cleaner, and her family possessed a Heaven-Grade martial art. She was an only child too. For many cultivators, that made her a walking treasure.
"Alright, I'll send you the address. Come this afternoon," Jiang Huihui said, ending the call.
Xu Mu pocketed his phone and turned to Chen Xuan. "How about we go after lunch? We can scope out the competition early."
Chen Xuan took a bite of his meat bun and nodded. "Sounds good."
After eating, they followed the address Jiang Huihui sent.
Her hometown was west of Yang City, and the event site was roughly twenty kilometers from there.
According to her, for better combat conditions, her grandfather Jiang Sheng had officially requested use of an ancient ruin—so that must be the location.
While driving, Xu Mu messaged Ye Tong, letting her know he wouldn't be home tonight.
By the time they arrived, it was already past four in the afternoon.
It was a small county town.
After checking in at a nearby hotel for the night, Xu Mu and Chen Xuan headed to the back mountain, where the ruins were located.
When they approached, they saw many people gathered around the site. At the entrance was a massive pit, surrounded by a dozen men.
At the forefront stood a man with long flowing hair, dressed sharply in a black suit. He was handsome enough, though rather short—barely one-seventy.
"Idlers, get lost," he said coldly. "This tournament isn't child's play. If you don't want to die, go home now. Miss Jiang is already the bride of our Lingxiao Sect—no one will take her away."
The crowd erupted in murmurs, but no one dared to step forward.
"Brother Mu," Chen Xuan whispered. "That's Lingxiao Sect—one of the top sects in the Dragon Nation."
Xu Mu nodded inwardly. He remembered them from the novel's story—they were indeed part of the top-tier sects.
Activating his Divine Eye, he scanned the long-haired man.
Name: Xue Kaixuan
Affiliation: Lingxiao Sect, grandson of the Third Elder
Favorability: 0
Fate Level: 2 (max 10)
Xu Mu wasn't surprised. In such a sect, the main disciples and direct heirs wouldn't attend, but being a Third Elder's grandson still carried weight.
The way everyone stayed quiet showed how intimidating he was.
Then, a voice rang out from the distance:
"Who the hell do you think you are? 'Your Lingxiao Sect's bride'? What are you, exactly?"
Heads turned immediately. Lingxiao Sect was one of the strongest factions—who would dare speak to them like that?
A man in his early thirties strode forward. His long hair was tied loosely into a braid behind his back. He had a lean face and sharp, arrogant eyes that exuded superiority.
Xu Mu narrowed his gaze. Lu Pinlong.
He hadn't checked his details last time they met, so he activated his Divine Eye again.
Name: Lu Pinlong
Affiliation: Cleaner, grandson of the Grand Elder of Golden Light Hall
Favorability: –9
Fate Level: 4 (max 10)
Xu Mu nodded slightly. So he was from Golden Light Hall—a sect slightly below Lingxiao Sect in ranking.
Still, his status was higher: not only was he the Grand Elder's grandson, he was also a Cleaner, an official under the Dragon Nation's jurisdiction.
"Lu Pinlong—it's you!"
Xue Kaixuan's face darkened instantly.
"Xue Kaixuan, you'd better head home. Huihui and I were fated from birth," Lu Pinlong said coolly, walking toward the pit entrance.
"Fated? You? Don't make me laugh. A mere Golden Light Hall dog—I don't even take you seriously."
"But the one speaking to you now," Lu Pinlong countered, raising his chin, "is Captain of the Dragon Nation's 10th Sanitation Division. Dare you show me disrespect?"
"You—!"
"Let it go, Young Master Xue," one of the middle-aged men behind him said quickly, grabbing his arm.
"Your subordinate's smarter than you," Lu Pinlong sneered. "Attack me here, at the ruins, and you're slapping the Dragon Nation's face. What's Lingxiao Sect compared to that?"
With that, he jumped straight into the pit.
"Damn it! We'll see who's laughing tomorrow!"
Xue Kaixuan snorted coldly and stormed off.
His plan had been to block everyone from entering, but now that Lu Pinlong had gone in, he couldn't stay without losing face.
As soon as he left, the spectators rushed forward, pouring into the pit one after another.
"Brother Mu, the competition hasn't even started, and it's already getting intense," Chen Xuan whispered.
"Yeah," Xu Mu smiled. "Looks like things are going to get interesting."
They followed the others in.
Inside the pit was a steep downward slope leading into a wide basin—the ruin itself.
The terrain looked mountainous, like a sealed valley. Xu Mu understood now—ruins like these were often hidden under massive formations covering natural basins, with only one small entrance left open.
"The view's nothing special," he muttered, scanning the vast open area ahead—clearly the battlefield.
Some workers were still setting up viewing platforms and digital screens. Nothing else stood out yet.
"Let's go, Old Chen," Xu Mu said, patting Chen Xuan's shoulder.
He nodded, and the two left the ruins, descending the mountain trail.
"Xu Mu, fancy seeing you here."
A man in a suit approached from the distance.
Xu Mu blinked in shock when he saw the one-armed man.
"Holy crap—Senior! Don't tell me you're here to join the Marriage Tournament too?!"