On the stone platform, Nalan Yanran slowly opened her bright eyes as well. Her gaze settled on that spot, and for some reason, her heart, which had long been calm, suddenly beat erratically a few times.
The stunning woman seated at the highest position slowly opened her beautiful eyes too, looking down beneath the stone steps as she murmured, "What is meant to come will always come. I hope Yanran wins. And you... will you come along as well..."
The footsteps drew closer and louder, until even the dozen or so white-robed elders on the stone platform opened their eyes and turned their gazes toward the same place.
Far up in the sky, sunlight suddenly spilled down through the veiling clouds, falling precisely upon the end of the stone stairway. There, a tall yet slender figure finally slowly appeared before countless eyes.
At that moment, a melodious, lingering flute melody suddenly rose throughout the Misty Cloud Sect, accompanying the footsteps on the stone stairs.
The flute sounded like fine threads drifting through the air, as though recounting the rise of a mighty expert, yet also as though depicting that expert's solitary battles against desperate odds.
The flowing melody drifted through every corner of the Misty Cloud Sect, like invisible threads tugging at everyone's heartstrings.
"What... what kind of flute music is this? Why can it even stir my emotions? Where is this flute music coming from? Who dares to play here?"
A white-haired elder on the high stone steps heard the melody and felt his inexplicable emotions changing along with it. Shock filled his face, and he could not help but rise to his feet.
The white-robed elder seated at the center, Yun Leng, had a slight change of expression. His eyes narrowed as he muttered, "Where is this flute