The Heart-of-the-Lake Pavilion had returned to its usual arrangement. Apart from two willow-branch meditation cushions, there was nothing else.
Qinglü, High Cultivator, sat cross-legged on a cushion, the corners of her lips slightly raised and her eyes half-closed.
A moment later, a white-clad figure sped across the lake, cicadas chirring ceaselessly beneath his feet. It was Liu Yunche.
"Master, I've reached Flood Dragon Tendon Completion. I came to pay my respects." Once he had steadied himself, Liu Yunche bowed and spoke solemnly.
"Good. Five days ahead of schedule." Qinglü, High Cultivator, nodded in approval, then said, "Sit."
Liu Yunche sat down quietly. He asked no questions, merely sorted through everything he had gained over the past few days.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the sound of figures cutting through the air spread across the lake.
Liu Yunche opened his eyes and saw more than a dozen figures arriving one after another. Each carried an immensely powerful aura, blood-qi surging around them.
They were like walking furnaces, radiating scorching heat.
The group stood on the lake, bowed, and called out in unison, "We pay our respects to Qinglü, High Cultivator!"
Their voices rang firm and mighty.
Outside this place, every one of them was a renowned figure, a powerhouse who held sway over a region.
Yet at this little pavilion, they could only stand on the lake. They were not qualified to enter.
Wei Zhengxiong and the other two, Liu Zhiming and the other two lineage heads, Wei Zheng and Hong Tao, Gu Zhao, Wei Tianhui, and First Elder Qin Anming.
All of them had come.
Nearly every Blood-Qi Warrior in Verdant Grain County who had undergone Two Blood Exchanges or more was here.
Only after rising from their bows did they notice a white-clad youth