Whisperwind Island.
The central square was growing crowded.
Seats and tables had been arranged for the ceremony, with fragrant spirit fruits and fine wine set upon them.
But the guests had no mind for the feast.
Nearly everyone from the six islands and thirteen branches had arrived.
The six islands were the strongest; the thirteen branches lagged well behind.
Zhenhai Island, foremost among the six, had He Ming, a True Person who had survived the Second Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Sea Withered Island, Sea's End Island, Divine Wind Island, and the other islands each had a cultivator who had survived the First Nine Heavenly Tribulation.
Among the thirteen branches, only Cloud Dream Marsh had such a cultivator.
Even this lineup could not compare to Mount Fangcun.
Even Little Green Peak, diminished as it was, still had at least one Great Dao Golden Core cultivator guarding it.
In Taihua Sect's heyday, when the Pure Yang True Person was still there, every one of the six islands and thirteen branches had been led by a cultivator who had survived the Second Nine Heavenly Tribulation. How magnificent it had been!
They had called it "Three Thousand Dragon Courts, Nineteen True Lords, and One Pure Yang."
Now, however, the people in the square stood divided into two distinct camps.
One camp, led by He Ming of Zhenhai Island, brought together four islands and nine branches. Its numbers were great, and its voice rang loud.
It had four Great Dao Golden Core cultivators and more than forty cultivators at the Perfected Dragon Court Stage.
The other camp followed Sea Withered Island's lead. With only one Great Dao Golden Core cultivator and a dozen or so at the Perfected Dragon Court Stage, it looked sorely outmatched.
Since Ma Daoliang had entered seclusion and He Ming had taken