"Anyway, let's skip the red tape. Once everyone's here, we can get started."
Atop the tower, Xuan Haoran scratched his head, looking like an unemployed young man who spent all day at home, and spoke in a lazy drawl.
He looked so relaxed and carefree, as if he hadn't come to the Sword Trial Tournament, which had brought together the Blue Star Federation's top geniuses, but had instead gone to a market to shop.
Even though the members of the Ten Great School Teams all knew Xuan Haoran was powerful, his attitude still left many of them displeased.
And what Xuan Haoran said next was like a thunderclap, shocking almost everyone present.
"Since the opponents in this Sword Trial Tournament are a little weak, a straight-up arena match wouldn't be much of a challenge. So I've come up with a set of rules."
Xuan Haoran said mildly:
"See the Nine-Story Pagoda beneath my feet?"
"I'll give you all fifteen days to prepare the battlefield inside the tower."
"Whether you want to lay traps or create an environment that favors you, you can use any magical treasures you're capable of handling. I won't impose any restrictions."
"However, the tower has a limited number of floors, and I can't be bothered to fight every one of you."
"There are two hundred members in the Ten Great School Teams combined, right? When you enter the tower, you can choose whichever floor you like. Once you've chosen, you'll have to defeat every opponent on that floor within fifteen days to become its gatekeeper."
"The winner can claim all the battlefield preparations made by their opponents and use them as their own, until you've built a war fortress that makes you the strongest."
"As for me, I'll officially begin climbing the tower in fifteen days.