Night fell. The moon rose high, casting its light in every direction. The Sacred City blazed with lamps, no less bustling than it had been by day.
But tonight's main attraction was neither a person nor a faction in the Sacred City. It was Ye Fan, the Sacred Body.
Countless people waited with their necks craned, eager to see whether Ye Fan would break through.
Much hinged on it: the Immortal Materials in Ye Fan's possession, and the balance of power to come.
Many had arrived in the Sacred City early, claiming good vantage points from which to watch his tribulation.
"The Sacred Body is here!" someone shouted as Ye Fan, dressed in white, walked into the Sacred City.
Ye Fan showed none of the panic one might expect from a man about to face a tribulation. He was calm, his expression unreadable, with an air all his own.
People greeted him along the way. Whatever they truly thought, they showed him goodwill on the surface.
Some had already placed their bets on Ye Fan and offered him support. They believed he could reach Great Accomplishment and hoped their investment now would win them the friendship of a Great Accomplishment Sacred Body later.
Others watched coldly, certain he could never survive his tribulation. They waited for him to die so they could fight over his treasures.
Ye Fan let none of it trouble him. When people offered support, he accepted without turning anyone away, having them send everything to him through the Dao Realm.
Refusing them now would only turn them into enemies and draw hostility from every side.
As for the covetous looks, he paid them no mind.
"You've drawn too much attention. Even if you succeed, disaster may still find you." A young man brushed past Ye Fan,