My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 21: Please, Sect Leader, Step into the Game

People often enjoy complicating simple matters, so conspiracy theories never go out of style.

Gongsun Jie’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a surge of relief that he hadn’t rushed into Wolf Valley and started a massacre. After all, the most terrifying enemies were those hiding in the shadows.

Who was behind Li Ye?

The Scarlet Flame Sect? Or some new organization?

What were they plotting?

Besides Cao Bin, who else in the Xuanguang Sect was an undercover agent?

When exactly had Cao Bin been turned?

A torrent of questions flooded Gongsun Jie’s mind. Forcing himself to stay calm, he demanded, “Who exactly are you people?”

“Do you want to know the truth behind all this?” Li Ye asked with a deep, meaningful smile. He turned to glance in the direction of Wolf Valley. “Sect Leader Gongsun, help us finish this match. If you win, I’ll tell you everything.”

“…” Gongsun Jie scanned the bystanders watching him like a circus monkey, then listened to the cheers from within Wolf Valley. A dark line crept across his forehead. “You’re just trying to trick me into joining your stupid match. I won’t fall for it!”

“Sect Leader Gongsun, the match is part of the conspiracy,” Li Ye said in a calm, authoritative tone. “If you don’t dare step into the game, how can you unravel the mystery before you?”

Gongsun Jie shot him a cold glare and turned to leave. To knowingly walk into a trap was pure folly. The correct course of action was to leave immediately and rally other sects to secretly investigate this so-called Fun Seekers Club.

“If the Sect Leader leaves, by tomorrow, all of Weining City will hear about Gongsun Jie fleeing the gates of Wolf Valley like a coward,” Li Ye said, not even bothering to follow. His tone was slow and deliberate. “Sect Leader Gongsun should be well aware of my knack for spreading word. The merchants, the desperate gamblers—they all have loose tongues. Sect Leader, do you really care so little for your reputation?”

It was as if Gongsun Jie had been struck by a paralyzing spell. He stopped abruptly, and when he turned back, his bloodshot eyes glared daggers. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “Scoundrel! How dare you go this far!”

“Sect Leader Gongsun, our plan is ambitious, and every detail must be flawless. Our think tank has accounted for everything,” Li Ye said, his gaze drifting toward the now-seated crowd in Wolf Valley. “Sect Leader, please, even if you want reinforcements, don’t you need to know what we’re up to first? Or are you unsure you can even leave Wolf Valley alive?”

“No one can stop me from leaving,” Gongsun Jie snapped, glaring at Li Ye with unrestrained hostility.

“Sect Leader Gongsun, we only care about the match itself. If we detained the leader of the Xuanguang Sect in front of all of Weining City, no one would dare join future matches. It wouldn’t be worth it,” Li Ye said with a faint smile. “So don’t overthink it. If you can win this match, we’ll make sure your name resounds across the land.”

Fame?

As the revered leader of the Xuanguang Sect, does he need you to make his name known?

But Li Ye had a point. As the leader of a major sect, fleeing from the taunts of a nobody would be a disgrace he couldn’t afford.

Taking a deep breath to calm his fury, Gongsun Jie asked, “And if I injure you during the match, what then?”

He refused to address Li Ye as “Master Li” out of principle. After deliberating, he simply gave Li Ye the title of “Sect Leader.”

“As long as you join the match, everything else is negotiable,” Li Ye said, flashing a subtle smile. “Sect Leader Gongsun, a match is like a duel. Life and death are left to fate. If you can kill every member of our team, that counts as your victory.”

A murderous glint flashed in Gongsun Jie’s eyes. “Fine. I’ll take part in your match. Let’s see what tricks you have up your sleeve!”

No one truly understood the nature of demonic energy. Watching Gongsun Jie take the bait, Li Ye broke into a genuine smile and stepped aside. “After you, Sect Leader Gongsun.”

“Hmph!”

With a cold snort, Gongsun Jie strode into Wolf Valley.

---

When Gongsun Jie and Li Ye entered together, Tong Yi from the Publicity Department infused his voice with inner strength and shouted, “Welcome Sect Leader Gongsun of the Xuanguang Sect!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

On the hillsides, the deafening sound of drums erupted as over ten massive drums were pounded in unison.

At the same time, thunderous applause, cheers, piercing horns, and wailing suonas erupted from the stands. It didn’t matter what tune they played—just making noise was enough.

Banners that had been prepared earlier were hoisted and waved. They bore messages like “Gongsun Jie Must Win.”

On the opposite slope, banners reading “Fun Seekers for Victory,” “I Love You, Shi Xiang,” and even “Kick His B***s Off” were waved enthusiastically. Some spectators waved Fun Seekers Club flags, screaming while they danced.

Li Ye had anticipated this world’s lack of football matches, so he had planted people in the crowd to guide the audience in how to enjoy a proper football game.

By setting the atmosphere, the crowd’s emotions were naturally infected, and they couldn’t help but immerse themselves.

---

Wolf Valley wasn’t fully renovated, but it already resembled a football field. A vast, level ground had been marked with lime lines, and Li Ye had even crafted makeshift goals.

Around the pitch, numerous advertising boards were set up, bearing slogans like “Hongfu Tea House—Making the Best Tea for You,” “Phoenix Pavilion Silks—Smoother Than Baby’s Skin,” and “Century-Old Liquor—Mountain Bamboo Green.”

The hills were lined with benches and naturally shaped rocks that served as seats.

The spectators on the hillside were a mixed crowd of men, women, and children. Their eyes were brimming with curiosity.

When the cheering erupted, they seemed a bit unsure of how to react. Most of their entertainment consisted of storytelling, operas, and acrobatics. They weren’t used to such explosive energy.

But gamblers among the crowd quickly adapted. Having placed heavy bets, they were infected by the surrounding excitement, joining the shouting with wild enthusiasm, waving their arms, and cheering for their favored team.

The cheers reached a fever pitch when a group of scantily clad brothel girls danced provocatively in the center of the field.

---

Across the valley, the VIP seating area was reserved for Weining City’s officials and wealthy merchants. They sat quietly, sipping wine and nibbling on fruits. Unlike the raucous commoners, they maintained their composure but seemed out of place in the joyous chaos.

Governor Wei Mingze of Weining City sat at the highest position among them.

He had accepted Li Ye’s invitation purely out of curiosity about this Fun Seekers Club.

As the governor of Weining Prefecture, it was his responsibility to keep tabs on anything that might disrupt order. The Fun Seekers Club’s actions—challenging every sect around Weining and targeting the Xuanguang Sect—clearly signaled a major event.

If he failed to understand the situation and things spiraled out of control, he would undoubtedly face consequences from his superiors.

What surprised Wei Mingze was that Gongsun Jie actually responded to the challenge and came to play their game.

In the midst of the revelry, Governor Wei furrowed his brow, his face dark. The involvement of both the Scarlet Flame Sect’s Shi Xiang and the Xuanguang Sect’s Gongsun Jie—two opposing factions—signaled that a significant incident was brewing.

But why were they using such an exaggerated competition? No matter how hard he thought, Governor Wei couldn’t make sense of it.