Cao Zhen wore a faint smile as his gentle gaze swept over the crowd. He nodded to everyone who had risen to salute him, his voice steady and clear. "There is no need for such ceremony. Please, sit."
As his words fell, he took the lead, walking with Xiao Chen toward the two broad principal chairs at the center of the viewing platform before slowly taking his seat.
Cao Zhen occupied the central seat of honor. To his right sat Swiftwind Sword Qi Fengnian, one of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Seven Swords, while to his left sat Xiao Chen, hall master of the Vajra Order's White Tiger Hall. The arrangement made the exalted status of the Profound Truth Sect's sect master plain.
Once Cao Zhen and Xiao Chen were seated, the leaders of the various factions, along with the peak masters and senior figures of the Profound Truth Sect's Seven Branches, were all in place.
Thousands of gazes across the square converged on the arena, and the atmosphere instantly tightened to the breaking point.
Everyone had arrived. Next came the centerpiece that all had eagerly awaited-the Vajra Order's Mountain-Visiting Challenge!
Xiao Chen slowly turned toward Cao Zhen beside him and cupped his hands. His tone seemed courteous, yet concealed an unmistakable arrogance. "Sect Master Cao, now that everyone is here and settled, may we begin the matches?"
As he spoke, a smile of certain victory lingered at his lips. His chest was slightly thrust out, his chin raised, and an air of absolute confidence radiated from him.
Clearly, he had already decided that no one among the Profound Truth Sect's younger generation could rival the Vajra Order's Three Heroes. Victory today was unquestionably theirs.
Xiao Chen was arrogant by nature, but on this visit to the Profound Truth Sect, he