"True Person Song, Fellow Daoist Xuanjin, allow this old man to take the third match."
A slightly hoarse yet powerful voice rang out.
An elderly Daoist stepped out from the Daoist Sect Alliance's ranks, wearing deep-blue Daoist robes and a jade crown. His face was lean and refined, with three long strands of beard beneath his chin.
His aura was deep and steady, mist faintly swirling around him. Every movement seemed to merge with the water-aspect spiritual energy of the surrounding world. He was Xuan Mingzi, an elder of Bibo Pool renowned for his exquisite water-aspect Daoist arts, whose cultivation had reached the middle Golden Core realm.
Bibo Pool lay in the southeastern Nanzhao Kingdom. Its disciples specialized in water- and ice-aspect spells and maintained friendly relations with Qingyun Temple. They too had been invited to join the alliance and resist the Buddhist Sect.
"Take extra care, Fellow Daoist Xuanming."
Song Zifeng nodded slightly, his expression solemn.
Bibo Pool's Daoist arts were renowned for their endless variations and unbroken endurance. They were not necessarily without a chance against the Buddhist Sect's fierce or uncanny divine abilities, but Monk Huiming's earlier methods had been truly alarming. No one knew how many more bizarre arts the Buddhist Sect possessed.
Xuan Mingzi bowed with clasped hands and said no more. His figure flickered, transforming into a streak of azure water-light that floated gracefully onto the arena.
His gaze flashed like lightning as he looked toward the western Buddhist Sect ranks and declared, "Xuan Mingzi of Bibo Pool has come to learn from the Buddhist Sect's finest!"
As his words fell, mist immediately filled the arena, and even the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
Xuan Mingzi's long sleeves stirred without wind. Phantom jade waves faintly encircled him, his bearing as profound as