In the end, either my plan worked or the sect that was soo keen on silencing all the witnesses that could testify against them simply couldn't be bothered to deal with me.

But it couldn't be said that I did not prepare myself. As the grand day was approaching fast I went back to my chamber and did the same trick with the illusion as I did whenever I wanted to leave this place, with the only difference being that I actually remained in the room, comfortably napping on top of one of the beams supporting the ceiling.

After making sure that Pengu had everything it could possibly need from something to snack on from time to time to easy access to a small pouch filled with water if he ever turned thirsty, I waited for this silent opponent to make the move all the way to when the ringing of the grand city bell announced the start of the preparations for the inter-sect challenges.

Or rather, grand parade, as was the real name of this entire event. According to what I read about it in my library database, it was originally aimed to be a celebration of their escape from the so-called tyranny of the barbarians that took over the continent, but just like most of the things, time twisted its real purpose.

Finally able to move out of this silly chamber, I sucked the energy supplying my illusionary body back to my core and pushed the doors open… Or rather, pushed them out of their frame, as no one came to fix them after I accidentally broke through them.

Yet there was no welcoming committee awaiting my arrival, as almost all the resources that the entire city had were poured towards the organisation of said grand parade. But rather than blaming someone for lack of welcome, I was actually happy with the fact that no one would bother me on my way towards the challenging grounds.

After descending from the mountain, I didn't bother myself with avoiding the crowd gathered in the vast area of the relatively flat grounds between the peaks. Thanks to the power of my body alone squeezing through the huge number of people proved to be no challenge at all, allowing me to reach the foothold of the main peak of the entire city, where all the upper elders and the seniors of the entire city resided.

Yet rather than moving up and reaching for the higher grounds, I actually had to wait for the official conduct carrying all sorts of mementoes and taking part in all sorts of stupid traditional acts to reach this place before I could actually move up to the challenging grounds.

But even before the conduct itself could appear in front of my eyes, the noise of the great commotion already reached my ears. Considering what Monica told me about the Penguin sect, they would be the only ones failing to showcase their sect protector, putting themselves in the precarious position when literally everyone would do their best to swallow as much of their still remaining strength as they would be possible.

That was the entire reason why Monica wanted me to challenge and take down the top disciples from the other sects, as by putting them out of the picture, the burden on the Penguin sect would be far smaller.

Yet I wasn't going to just follow her advice or rather - a request! Thinking about how much time I have wasted on this place was enough to make my blood boil. If this event wouldn't be enough for me to take over this entire city, I would simply force my way through the library defences, get all the books that could prove beneficial to my growth and raze this entire place to the ground!

But as for now, I was still subjected to the boring wait as the shouting of desperation, joy and all the other ends of human emotional plateau resounded through the crowd. After all, for those who wanted their sects to grow in strength, the downfall of their competition was only to be praised, while those who wanted the entirety of the city to remain as strong as before, any internal struggle was a pain!

"Welcome to all the challengers!"

Only when this slow procession of elders, teachers and skimpily dressed cultivators of both sexes finally reached the place where I was wasting my time waiting for them, did the events started to speed up.

From the official opening through the traditional ceremony, all the way to the welcoming of everyone who wanted to try his best in trials, all the steps outlined by the data in my library went past.

"I challenge the first disciple of the gorilla sect to a duel of supremacy!"

Completely disregarding all the instructions that I was receiving from Monica directly to my mind, I stepped forward before the host of the ceremony could even have the chance to announce its rules or remind everyone of fair play.

According to the data I reviewed several times to avoid any mistakes, with the welcoming done, the trials would officially begin. Even if it would be considered rude behaviour, butting in while the host was still speaking had to be recognised as an official challenge.

Especially because of the last word I used in the phrase I shouted loud enough to make sure everyone would hear it. Rather than a challenge for honour and wealth as most of the people in the entire area were going to use, I went with a fight for supremacy!

In short words, if I were to win the fight, I could either keep challenging stronger opponents of higher levels of the sect or hold my fists and impose any random law I would like to come up with that everyone in said sect below the level of the first disciple would have to obey!

But why would I waste such a great opportunity only to impose some kind of stupid rule if I never considered myself a part of this city in the first place? For me, this challenge was a way to keep tackling everyone who that sect would dare to throw at me, all the way to its patriarch. As long as I were to defeat him, not only the entire sect would be now under my absolute leadership, but I would also gain the right to challenge the ancestors of the city, in hopes of obtaining the golden status, granting me the right to take part in the ancestry council, that was the highest and the last instance of the law in this entire place!

"Gorilla sect refuses the challenge, as you are not qualified to be considered a cultivator of our city in the first place!"

Just like I thought, my request for a fight was denied. Contrary to the challenge for honour and wealth, the proposing side didn't risk anything but their life. For the entire sect, risking an intruder messing up with their inner structure for no possible return was something only an idiot would agree too!

But with their refusal, they also gave me a way to force them into accepting my challenge.

"As the direct disciple of the elder Monica of the Goose sect, your words have no meaning at all. If you dare to disrespect me by denying me my right, I hereby challenge your entire sect for the fight of supremacy in my own name!"