The man chimed in, "Hiss... So that's how it is! Senior Brother, you're brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Amid the uproar and endless speculation...
"Whoosh—!!!"
A shrill, terrifying boom that seemed to tear the air apart suddenly rang across the sky!
A blazing white streak of light, swift as lightning, shot through the distant sky like an enraged dragon tearing through the heavens, carrying an unmatched edge and unstoppable momentum!
It moved so fast that it left behind only a fleeting afterimage!
Without slowing in the slightest, it hurtled down with the force of thunder, landing squarely in the center of the Duel Platform!
The platform's impossibly hard bluestone surface shuddered under the violent impact, and fine dust billowed from between the paving stones!
The white light faded, revealing a tall, straight figure, sharp as a drawn blade, standing proudly on the platform!
It was Jiang Tian!
The clamor below was abruptly choked off, as if an invisible hand had seized it by the throat. Countless gazes were drawn as if by a magnet, all fixing on Jiang Tian atop the Duel Platform.
Most people knew full well that this contest, supposedly a "punishment," was probably just a performance everyone had agreed to keep up. Even so, a secret hope for a miracle still stirred in their hearts, drawing them here to watch with bated breath.
Just then!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A brilliant streak tore through the sky!
A dark beam of light, deep as night and carrying a surging aura of water, silently came to a halt above one side of the Duel Platform.
The light faded, revealing the imposing figure of the True Monarch Profound Water Heavy Cloud, Zhu Tiangang!
Almost at the same time, a blood-red blaze roared down on the other side, bringing with it a force that seemed