Gabriel left the Dark Dragon National Forest and returned to Sky City. Fortunately, he didn't encounter any real danger along the way. A lone wolf at the second layer of Qi Condensation had appeared, but it was dealt with effortlessly.
He had no plans to return to the sect just yet. Before that, he wanted to see if there were any opportunities to squeeze out a few more power boost points.
…
Sky City had a far better standard of living compared to most other places.
No matter how poor someone was, they at least had food to eat. The Immortal Sect, the Martial Arts Hall, and the city government all operated free food distribution centers for those in need. As a result, while money still dictated social status and greatly influenced quality of life, it was rare for anyone in the city to suffer from hunger.
The city government was led by the mayor, a Nascent Soul cultivator. Other major departments were also controlled by powerful cultivators. There was no trace of democracy at the highest level of governance.
Or rather, there was a restricted form of democracy.
Aside from the mayor, other city positions were filled through elections—but only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm or higher were allowed to run for office, and only those at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation or above were allowed to vote.
To the powerful, it was a democracy.
To the weak, it was an autocracy.
Yet, few complained. It was an accepted truth that the strong ruled over the weak. From the perspective of most mortals, being governed by immortals was a blessing, not a curse.
The only true democracy in the city was the election of the Advisory Council. This council consisted of 130 members, each elected by the people—mortal and immortal alike—from their respective districts. The districts were drawn based on population, ensuring fair representation.
However, the council's role was limited.
Their sole duty was to voice the concerns of the mortal population to the ruling cultivators. Whether those concerns were actually addressed… depended entirely on the city's leadership.
Fortunately, Sky City's government—like its sect—was considered righteous. More often than not, they listened to the Advisory Council and took action when necessary.
Compared to the horrors of other cities ruled by evil sects, where mortals were used as test subjects or food, life in Sky City was a privilege.
...
Among the city's many facilities, the stadium was the most famous.
It was the pride of Sky City, hosting grand sporting events that drew hundreds of thousands of spectators. Whenever the city's teams played, the streets came alive with excitement.
"Here we go—the stadium!"
Gabriel gazed up at the massive structure towering before him. It was said that the mayor himself had personally overseen its rapid construction.
"Tonight's match is between the Sky Wolves and the Sky Tigers. There should be tens of thousands—maybe even a hundred thousand people watching! If I can milk them for power boost points, I could get rich overnight… maybe even break through to Core Formation-level physical power!"
Excitement surged through him at the thought.
But then, a problem arose.
"How do I attract everyone's attention?"
That was the real issue. As a cultivator, he wasn't allowed to participate in mortal sports events.
There were specialized leagues for cultivators and martial artists, but those matches were far more expensive to watch, and far fewer people attended them. The stadium matches were exclusively between mortals—cultivators and martial artists could spectate, but never participate.
"This is a headache!"
Shaking his head, Gabriel stepped forward, paid a few silver, and entered the stadium. For him, the cost was insignificant.
A single spirit stone was worth ten gold, and a single gold was worth ten silver.
Compared to the power he could potentially gain, this was nothing.
"I need a plan!"
His mind began working furiously, searching for a way to steal the spotlight.
...
As time passed, more and more people poured into the stadium. The overwhelming majority of the spectators were mortals, with only a handful of martial artists and cultivators scattered among them.
Professional, full-time martial artists were usually too busy training to indulge in hobbies like attending sporting events. The same applied to cultivators—most were entirely focused on their path to immortality, leaving little time for leisure.
Only part-time martial artists and lower-level cultivators had the luxury of enjoying such pastimes.
...
Gabriel observed as the stadium gradually filled with spectators. Since he had purchased an ordinary seat, he was positioned far from the action. If he were an ordinary person, he wouldn't have been able to clearly see the players and would have had to rely on the massive enchanted monitor in the center of the stadium. Fortunately, his eyesight was excellent, allowing him to follow the match without needing the screen.
The sport being played was unlike anything that existed on Earth. Each team had 12 players, each carrying one of three flags: red, yellow, or blue.
The game followed a unique set of rules:
Blue flags eliminate yellow flags.
Red flags convert blue flags into red.
Yellow flags eliminate red flags.
If a player's flag was eliminated, they had to leave the field for the remainder of that round.
There were two ways for a team to lose:
If all of its players ended up with the same color flag.
If all of its players were eliminated from the game.
The playing arena was divided into two sides, and each team's strategy revolved around how they positioned their players, assigned flag colors, and executed their tactics. The team's coach played a crucial role in deciding these strategies.
Each flag was attached to a long pole, and the game's mechanics revolved around these poles colliding. Whenever two poles made contact, the corresponding rule would take effect. For example, if a red-flagged pole struck a blue-flagged pole, the blue flag would be converted to red.
Several additional rules were in place to ensure fairness and player safety. Players were required to keep their flagpoles raised at all times—they could not hide them or intentionally drop them. The flagpoles were made of soft, flexible materials that bent upon impact to prevent injuries. Since all players were mortals—albeit healthy and athletic—physical violence was strictly prohibited. Any indirect forms of aggression, such as threats, spitting, or psychological intimidation, were also banned. Only the collision of flagpoles from opposing teams can trigger the corresponding rules. Etc...
Each match lasted 10 minutes. At the end of that time, the team with fewer players remaining would lose. If both teams had an equal number of players standing, the next team to lose a player would automatically be declared the loser. However, if both teams were overly cautious and avoided losing any players for a full 20 minutes, the match would be considered a tie.
...
"What a weird game," Gabriel thought.
"How do I make everyone look at me? Hmm..." He thought hard, but no brilliant ideas came to him.
"I really can't think of anything! Am I dumber than I thought?" He sighed, feeling disappointed in himself. His Powerboost ability only strengthened his body, not his mind, so his intelligence wasn't much different from when he was back on Earth.
"I obviously can't play the game since I'm both a martial artist and a cultivator. Without being a player, I have no reason to just jump into the field… wait… I don't need a reason!" Gabriel suddenly froze.
Then, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"I'm an idiot! That's exactly how I can grab attention!" He nearly slapped himself for not realizing it sooner.
He had been thinking too much like an ordinary, law-abiding citizen. But in this world, he wasn't just some random mortal. He was a well-known and influential martial artist and a member of the Sky City Immortal Sect! Even if he disrupted a mere sports match, the worst that could happen to him would be a minor fine.
"As long as cultivators don't kill anyone, they can get away with almost anything! Even if they do kill, they usually only get a light prison sentence—twenty years at most. And even during those twenty years of 'imprisonment,' they can still cultivate in custody!" He smirked.
Of course, there were exceptions. If an unlucky cultivator accidentally killed a noble, that would be an entirely different matter. In that case, even the death penalty was possible.
No one ever claimed Sky City was an equal and just society. While it was better than many other places, the social hierarchy was clear: Cultivators were first-class citizens. Martial artists were second-class. And ordinary mortals? They were third-class at best.
Gabriel knew he needed an excuse for what he was about to do.
"Let's say I encountered a problem during cultivation that caused me to temporarily lose my mind. That should work!"
With his justification set, he stood up and moved toward the front row, waiting for the perfect moment. He just needed a critical point in the match—then, he would jump in, create absolute chaos, and milk as many Powerboost points as possible!
...
The loudspeaker blared, "This is the championship match between the Sky Skywolves and the Sky Tigers!"
The roar of a hundred thousand spectators in the stadium filled the air, their excitement palpable.
The loudspeaker continued, "All players are now in position. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one—Start!"
The voice rang out, urging the match into its frenzied beginning.