Chen Wei began his campaign subtly. He approached Zhang Hua, a talented disciple who'd lost to Liu Yan in last year's championship.
"Senior Brother Zhang," Chen Wei said with perfect deference. "This junior has been studying sword formations and noticed an interesting pattern in Liu Yan's technique..."
He shared just enough—a genuine flaw in Liu Yan's Crimson Phoenix Sword style, exposed for exactly 0.3 seconds during the seventh form transition. Not enough time for normal perception, but a skilled fighter who knew exactly when and where to strike could exploit it.
Zhang Hua's eyes lit with competitive fire. "You're sure?"
"This junior merely observed during training sessions. Senior Brother Liu Yan is formidable, but every technique has weaknesses."
Zhang Hua nodded slowly. "Thank you, Junior Brother Chen. If this works, I won't forget this favor."
Favor acknowledged, Chen Wei thought. Asset acquired.
He repeated this process with three other top disciples, sharing different flaws and strategies tailored to their fighting styles. Each one now had a slightly better chance against Liu Yan.
But that alone wouldn't guarantee victory. Chen Wei needed insurance.