Morning dawned with ceremonial drums, thunderclouds of ego, and one banner that said:
> "Exchange Tournament — Victory Brings Honor, Defeat Brings Existential Crisis!"
The Academy of Elegant Malevolence had converted its entire courtyard into a grand arena.
Azure Sky elders sat in nervous rows, clutching incense and paperwork.
Evil Path instructors leaned forward with smiles that said "We bet souls on this."
Headmaster Yan Luo stood on a hovering platform, voice booming across the valley:
"Disciples! Today, righteousness and wickedness shall exchange not insults, but techniques!"
He paused, then muttered, "Probably insults too."
---
Li Ming watched from the judging platform, sipping tea as if none of this concerned him.
He wore the black-and-blue robes of both sects — the official symbol of "please don't start another cosmological merger."
Beside him sat Yin Qing, arms folded, looking simultaneously beautiful and deeply done with everyone.
