Zhang Zhen's arrival instantly silenced everyone present.
He merely stood there, releasing no earth-shaking aura, yet he weighed on everyone's hearts like a massive mountain.
Luo Yun and Gu Chenfeng followed close behind him.
Lu Chen released the hilt of the Ember Sun Blade and cupped his fists in salute to Zhang Zhen.
"Greetings, Lord Zhang."
Xiao Jinghong, Bai Xiuwu, and the other young martial artists from Cloud Prefecture also reined in their auras, bowed, and cupped their fists.
"Greetings, Lord Zhang."
Zhang Zhen walked slowly into the center of the crowd, his Dark-Gold Dragon-Pattern Armor making faint scraping sounds with each step. The pressure of the Dragon-Manifestation Realm hovered over everyone, like a sleeping True Dragon slowly opening its eyes, making them involuntarily hold their breath.
His gaze swept over the crowd before settling on Xiao Jinghong. He gave a cold snort and said:
"I summoned you here, not to strut around flaunting your strength."
"Save your energy for the Demon Wraiths."
Xiao Jinghong put away his longsword and cupped his fists toward Zhang Zhen. "You misunderstand, Lord Zhang."
"I wasn't deliberately trying to cause trouble. I merely wanted to test what these natives were worth."
At this point, Xiao Jinghong glanced at Lu Chen. "After all, we'll be entering Scarlet Cloud Mountain together, facing Organ-Nourishing Realm Ghost Generals and Dragon-Manifestation Realm Ghost Kings. I need to know beforehand just how capable the people beside me are."
"I don't want a few pieces of trash dragging me down at a critical moment in battle."
As his words fell, the expressions of the surrounding Qu River martial artists, which had just softened, immediately turned ugly again.
Zhang Zhen watched Xiao Jinghong, his eyes gradually growing cold.
These prodigies from powerful clans were unruly and had formidable backing. Even as a