When dawn broke in the Western Extremity, the Victory Spirit Continent Royal Capital was enjoying its most leisurely hours after nightfall. This was also the busiest time atop the Tournament Grounds hill, as nobles came to amuse themselves, many still carrying the scent of wine.
"The saber, that saber!"
"That's right, that big saber!"
"It's Wu Jinliang's saber!"
"No, I don't see anything!"
A sudden burst of shouting erupted within the Tournament Grounds.
Having avoided the daytime sun, Elder Ke had only recently returned from outside and sat down. He was staring distractedly at the projection when he suddenly heard his wretched disciple's name. Jolted awake, he scrutinized the image. Where? Where?
Neither Wu Jinliang nor his saber appeared in the projection. There was only a group of people facing the same direction, watching something unknown.
This was merely the image that happened to come up when a sect from Mystic Continent requested a look at its participating disciples.
Most people in the Tournament Grounds had not seen whatever had prompted those cries.
Shrouded in a cloak, Feng Chi stared wide-eyed, but saw nothing.
Elder Jian Lingzhen of Falling Moon Valley also widened her eyes to look, but saw nothing.
Elder Fei Zhengong of the Jade Spirit Sect studied it intently as well, and likewise saw nothing.
Young Master Nan in the stands, along with Lan Qiaoyan and her daughter, who had only recently arrived and were chatting with the other ladies, were also startled by the shouts. None had been watching the previous image closely, and now that the cries had drawn their attention, they could no longer make anything out.
Some things were uncanny: when you wanted to see them, they were nowhere to be found, yet when you did not, they appeared when you least expected them.