The white tiger flashed with light, its enormous form gradually vanishing amid a golden glow. Then Elder Dai's figure emerged from within.
Elder Dai's eyes were half-lowered, his gaze dim and unfocused, as though he had yet to recover from his crushing defeat. The thunder that had filled the sky and the deafening booms seemed to still ring in his ears, while that apocalyptic scene remained vivid in his mind.
"The younger generation is truly formidable..."
After a long while, he let out a faint sigh, then raised his head to look at the young man before him, his expression complicated.
"You flatter me, Elder Dai."
A faint smile rested on Zhao Xuan's face as he cupped his hands toward him.
The sparring match had been Elder Dai's own idea. If he lost and lost face, Zhao Xuan could hardly be blamed for it.
Still, the White Tiger martial soul was indeed formidable. Its Soul Power possessed extraordinary qualities, filled with masculine vigor and righteous energy. If Purple Heaven Divine Lightning had not surpassed it by a level in essence, it would have been difficult to overcome it in sheer power.
Looking dejected and bitter, Elder Dai called to Zhao Xuan, "Let's go back. A guest is a guest, and I was presumptuous this time."
Zhao Xuan nodded and silently followed Elder Dai back to the Star Luo Imperial Palace. He did not say anything, afraid of provoking Elder Dai further.
When Zhao Xuan returned to the palace Dai Mubai had arranged for him, no one had left. The atmosphere was somewhat silent. The tea in the cups beside them had long gone cold, yet no one refilled them, because no one was in the mood to drink tea.
Although they had believed Zhao Xuan would be fine, they