On the high platform (3)

True Person Yuanji set down his teacup, his customary smile returning, genial yet meaningful. His gaze swept over everyone on the floating platform, as though he had noticed none of the undercurrents a moment ago.

"Speaking of which, I imagine every family has put considerable thought into the rewards for this tournament's winners. Why not take this opportunity to show them off and broaden this old man's horizons? Then I can go back and give those good-for-nothing lads of mine a little encouragement, stir up some ambition in them."

His tone was relaxed and half joking, but he deftly broke the silence with a safe topic that allowed each family to display its resources, drawing everyone's attention away from the unpleasantness.

Sure enough, at the mention of the prizes prepared for the winners, several family heads visibly relaxed. Everyone had some competitive pride and vanity, and this was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their family's strength and generosity.

The first to speak was Chu Lie, the bluntest and most stubborn of them. His voice carried undisguised pride. "The Chu Clan doesn't bother with fancy trinkets. Since this prize is meant for a nascent soul cultivator, practicality should come first. I have prepared a bow named 'Nine Suns,' along with nine Sun-Chasing Arrows."

As soon as he finished, the eyes of several family heads on the floating platform flickered.

"The bow was forged from the heartwood of thousand-year-old golden-flame wood, blended with refined cold iron from the Northern Sea, then repeatedly tempered with spiritual fire from deep within the earth. The arrows have specially crafted barrier-breaking meteoric iron heads and shafts made from phoenix-roost parasol wood found only in the Flame Domain," Chu Lie continued, pride in his voice.

"The bow and arrow shafts are engraved with layer upon layer of