Qingchuanzi's provocation was like a boulder hurled into a cauldron of boiling oil. The entire arena fell silent. Every cheer, shout, and murmur stopped dead.
More than ten thousand gazes snapped toward China's contingent. Some held the teasing amusement of spectators eager for a spectacle, others the anticipation of people waiting to laugh at China's expense. The factions from beyond Blue Star could barely hide their glee. Everyone wanted to see how China's Martial Dao world would respond.
The faint smile on Xiao Dingtian's face faded. His eyes cooled as he turned toward the ranks beside him.
A tall, stern-faced middle-aged man stepped out. He wore fitted black clothes, with a long, narrow Battle Blade at his waist. His aura was restrained, yet a chilling Killing Intent hung about him.
He was Zhang Shenwei, Vice Academy Head of the White Tiger War Academy, one of the Four Great War Academies under the True Martial Platform.
Years ago, he had reached the sixty-first step of the Martial Dao Ladder through his own cultivation. A veteran Martial Emperor among the best of the White Tiger War Academy, he had shaken China's Martial Dao world with his fierce and domineering White Tiger Heaven-Slaying Blade.
A month of guidance from Li Yun's lectures had shattered the bottleneck in his Martial Dao. His cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he now possessed the formidable strength to reach the seventieth step of the Martial Dao Ladder.
"Zhang Shenwei, since our friends from Sakura Hall want to see the strength of a Chinese Martial Emperor, go show them."
Xiao Dingtian spoke softly, his tone calm but full of trust.
"Yes. As you command, Platform Master!"
Zhang Shenwei answered in a deep voice. He pushed off the ground and shot through the air toward the Number