"He actually defeated Di Long!"
"That's a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect—his strength is no weaker than ours!"
"No, that's not right!"
"What? He's actually in the Aperture-Condensing Realm!"
"..."
On the arena stage of Shuiyang Prefecture's Prodigy Martial Banquet, the true disciples seated in the sections reserved for the various sects of the Southern Six Sects had all worn looks of disdain when they saw Zhao Lie publicly challenge Di Long, a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect.
As true disciples of the six great sects, they themselves understood just how rare and precious it was to earn a seat among the true disciples.
It required immense effort and resources, outstanding talent and comprehension, as well as enduring all manner of challenges and selection.
Without passing through such layer upon layer of trials, how could one possibly become a sect's true disciple?
In this era, a true disciple was, to a certain extent, treated as though he were the sect's own son.
Thus, no sect that wished to prosper in the long term would casually bestow the title of true disciple upon just any other disciple.
What was more, the Southern Six Sects were six renowned orthodox sects throughout the southern provinces of the Great Qing Dynasty. They would be even less likely to grant their disciples the title of true disciple lightly.
Therefore, anyone who had attained the status of true disciple within the six sects was without exception an outstanding powerhouse.
So when they saw Zhao Lie intending to challenge Di Long, they merely smiled faintly in contempt and paid it no mind. Even knowing that the two were among the foremost prodigies of all Shuiyang Prefecture, they only thought Zhao Lie was overestimating himself.
Defeating a top inner disciple was already enough to