The rising sun emerged from the nine heavens, and dawn opened upon a new morning.
Tiansang Spirit Palace.
Discussion Hall.
Unlike the quiet, peaceful dawn outside, everyone seated in the hall wore grave expressions, waiting solemnly.
"Has Xu Xiaoshou not returned yet?"
Ye Xiaotian looked toward Qiao Qianzhi in the side seat. His fingers lightly tapped the tabletop while his little feet swung unconsciously in midair beneath the chair.
"Not yet." Qiao Qianzhi shook his head.
"But Elder Sang said that before the battle began, he should be able to make it back."
"I heard that fellow even went to the City Lord's Manor banquet hall to attend the gathering."
"And then he took eighteen White Cavern slots."
Ye Xiaotian's expression froze.
The words he had been about to say seemed to catch in his throat, utterly unable to come out.
"Eighteen?"
The ten young men and women below cried out in shock as well.
Rao Yinyin lifted her beautiful eyes, surprise flickering across her face.
How long had it been since they last met? That fellow who had barged into her Spirit Ruins by mistake and peeked at her bathing had already grown to such a degree.
"Eighteen slots?"
A tall, burly man with wild features rose to his feet and said with a teasing smile, "Then this Xu Xiaoshou must be one of the two team leaders in the Headmaster's mind, right?"
"I've been away for so long that I didn't know the Inner Academy had produced such a figure."
No one thought those who attended the City Lord's Manor banquet were low-caliber.
On the contrary, with the White Cavern about to open, everyone who had gone there had surely been a formidable expert.
For Xu Xiaoshou to stand out among so many young talents to such an