After crossing the stone terraces winding around the mountain, navigating rugged corridors, and passing through several squares, the group finally reached the Council Hall halfway up the mountainside.
Before he had even fully entered the hall, Chen Hao saw that it was packed with people.
Once inside, Chen Hao was immediately stunned by the lineup awaiting them.
An elderly man with graying hair sat in the seat of honor. At first glance, he was clearly past sixty, but strangely, his face had very few wrinkles and looked much like that of a middle-aged man.
On closer inspection, jet-black hair had even begun growing at the roots of his gray hair, suggesting that he was regaining his youth.
A giant tortoise rested beneath his right foot. Its entire body was tucked inside its shell, making it difficult to see clearly.
With just one glance, Chen Hao could tell that the old man was no weakling and that the tortoise beneath his foot was a spirit beast.
In the seat beside him sat a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to the elder. Spiritual energy surged around him as well, marking him as a formidable Qi Refiner.
What truly caught Chen Hao's attention, however, was the white tiger crouching beside him.
Even setting aside whether the tiger was a spirit beast, a wild animal like that already made a powerful visual impression and exerted tremendous pressure.
With spiritual energy added to the mix, the pressure this White Tiger gave off was unlike anything he had felt before.
Eight other important members of Ancient Dragon occupied the remaining seats, each accompanied by a spirit beast. It was an extraordinary gathering.
Gui Jianchou and Yin Buzhou stepped forward, cupped their hands, and smiled at the elder in the seat of honor. "Patriarch Long, it's