At least a stone had dropped from their hearts. No one within the sect had harmed Niu Youdao; otherwise, who knew how far this matter might have escalated? It would likely have been difficult to get to the bottom of it, and it also concerned the choice of candidates going to the Sacred Realm—how could that be delayed? Letting things blow up would truly do no one any good.
Yan Li secretly found it amusing. Niu Youdao, Niu Youdao, you've been so arrogant. This time, you'll suffer for it!
Whether by some strange mutual understanding or something else, Niu Youdao happened to cast him a seemingly casual glance. Their gazes met just so. Niu Youdao's brows lifted slightly, as though he had read Yan Li's gloating thoughts.
Yan Li also caught the faint, almost imperceptible sneer at the corner of Niu Youdao's mouth. Based on his understanding of Niu Youdao, and on his own instincts, his heart gave a thump as a vague sense of foreboding rose within him.
"Alas!" Chun Xinliang sighed, though no one knew what he was sighing over. Turning back to the people seated in a row, he asked, "Sect Master, is the situation regarding the Elders sent by each sect truly as Niu Youdao said? Are they really among the foremost figures of their respective sects' Elder ranks?"
He knew some of them, but there were others he truly knew nothing about. After all, he had retired from active affairs and rarely concerned himself with external matters. He was no longer particularly clear on the circumstances of the various sects, hence the question.
Gong Lince nodded and replied respectfully, "Junior Brother Niu was not wrong. It is indeed as he said. We also find it somewhat strange and do not know why the Sacred Realm