"..." After the sect leaders, gang chiefs, and elders from the various sects across the two capitals and thirteen provinces, as well as the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, and the Four Seas and Five Lakes, began taking the stage one by one and sitting in the "Distinguished Guests' Voting Seats" according to their affiliations, Zuo Lengchan, standing on the raised platform, first shot a sinister glance at Yue Buqun, who had taken his seat as well. Then he surveyed the noisy, excited rabble below before slowly stepping aside.
Though his exchange with Yue Buqun moments ago had been a misstep, and he was seething with resentment that he had failed to brand the Huashan Sect as part of the Devil Dao, everything was still under his control for now, and events were still unfolding according to his plan.
So he did not mind too much.
"..."
Before long, once the sect leaders, gang chiefs, and elders from the various sects across the two capitals and thirteen provinces, as well as the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, and the Four Seas and Five Lakes, had all taken the stage and settled into their seats, Zuo Lengchan looked around. Seeing that no one was speaking up, he walked to the front again.
"Ahem!"
"Fellow martial artists!"
He walked to the center of the raised platform, first cupping his hands in greeting to the sect leaders, gang chiefs, and elders, then saluting the crowd all around. Only then did he stand with his hands behind his back and speak loudly:
"As everyone knows!"
"The martial world may seem peaceful today, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging!"
"Not only are the remnants of the Devil Cult stirring, but certain sects are acting as their accomplices. There are also frequent disputes