The Tang Sect's spot was at the far left of the awning. Beyond it stretched a vast open-air rest area.
A group of burly men sat there, looking toward the neighboring awning. None of them looked pleased.
"Damn it! Is the Sun Moon Empire targeting us? Why does the Tang Sect get to sit inside?"
A bearded man watched the Tang Sect Team laughing and chatting nearby, resentment showing on his weathered face.
The Body Sect was a top-tier sect, yet they hadn't even been given a lousy awning. The Tang Sect was competing for the first time too.
"They were last tournament's champions! It's only natural they'd get this treatment. Enough talk. The opening ceremony is about to begin."
A melodious voice rang out, clear and lovely, utterly out of place among the hulking men.
It belonged to a delicate woman in a pale yellow dress. She was slender, but her soft features carried a hint of authority.
The Heaven Soul Princess, Vina!
She glanced at the Tang Sect next door and shook her head slightly, sighing inwardly.
The Tang Sect owed its standing to that man, of course. Anyone with eyes could see its connection to Shrek, too.
As for why the Body Sect had been seated here... they only had themselves to ask what they'd done a few years ago.
The Body Sect and Virtue Hall had spent years hurling insults at each other in public. They were lucky to be allowed into the tournament at all.
Putting them near the Tang Sect was a scheme to set two tigers against each other, stirring up bad blood between them.
"But..."
The bearded man had just opened his mouth to argue when a sturdy young man beside him shot him a threatening glare.
"Hmm?"
Long Aotian gave a