August 15, the Mid-Autumn Festival!
The heavens were kind today. Sunlight spilled over the western shore of West Lake, and the glittering surface reflected the fluttering banners along the western bank. They looked especially striking in a riot of colors, adding a touch of bustling splendor to the lake and mountains of the Mid-Autumn Festival and making people stop to gaze in wonder, their minds soothed and spirits refreshed.
Wasn't this something?
From early morning, tens of thousands of righteous martial artists had begun converging from all directions. As a result, the western shore of West Lake, which had originally been desolate save for a few farms, tea plantations, and a single residence, was now packed with people and buzzing with activity.
Anyone who didn't know better might have thought a grand temple fair was being held here today!
But this was no temple fair, and ordinary people wouldn't dare come near.
It only took a glance at the people dressed in various tight-fitting outfits, carrying weapons, wearing fierce expressions, and gathering in factions to know that they were all martial artists no one should trifle with!
That's right!
These were all martial artists, and nearly half of them were members of the righteous martial world. They had gathered here to await the opening of the Martial Arts Conference and discuss major affairs of the jianghu.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As three deafening ceremonial cannons exploded, their loud, distant sound echoing over West Lake, and the auspicious hour of noon arrived, the opening horn of the Martial Arts Conference was officially sounded.
Woo—!
Woo woo—!
Very soon!
Once the ceremonial cannons and horns fell silent, the head of the Mount Song Sect and alliance leader of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, Zuo Lengchan, walked to the very center of the elevated