"Mm." The old woman opened her eyes at his words, nodded to Du Chengfeng, and rose. Looking frail and bent with age, she headed out, walking beside him.
The others wasted no words. They rose one after another and followed Du Chengfeng and the old woman outside. The two had already told them everything they needed to know, so there was nothing more to say.
Outside the main hall lay a long passage sloping upward toward the square of the Dueling Arena. Even from a distance, waves of cheers and noisy chatter kept drifting down from the far end.
"City Lord!" A disciple dressed in blue stood at the end of the passage. Seeing them approach, he hurriedly greeted Du Chengfeng with respect.
"Mm. We're ready. You may begin," Du Chengfeng said calmly, nodding.
"Yes!" The disciple answered without delay and hurried outside. He took out a small red flag, waved it several times with a whoosh, whoosh, then beckoned to them.
"Let's go!" Du Chengfeng called to the others and patted his Storage Pouch. A fist-sized golden jade seal appeared on a jade tray. Holding it up with both hands, he led the way outside.
The others hurried after him.
Suddenly-
"Ladies and gentlemen, entering the arena now is the Du Household, led by the incumbent city lord!" A booming voice came from the end of the passage. Clearly, the speaker was a cultivator with profound cultivation, for his voice instantly drowned out the noise in the square.
"City Lord Du! City Lord Du! City Lord Du! City Lord Du! City Lord Du!" An overwhelming tide of cheers erupted throughout the arena.
Whoa! With cheers this loud, just how many people are out there? Li Xiaoya marveled inwardly.
With a whoosh, Du Chengfeng raised the jade tray, his expression