Even the wind in Meteor City seemed to have fallen silent.
Twelve figures shot in from every direction like phantoms, finally landing soundlessly atop Metal Mountain.
They were Meteor City's twelve most powerful elders aside from Hài. Every one of them was a battle-hardened, elite Nen user who could strike terror into the hearts of mafia families in the outside world. Some were burly men with knotted muscles; others were gaunt and sinister. All exuded a thick air of bloodshed and malice.
Yet the moment they stepped onto the platform and saw the young man standing with his hands behind his back, his robes whiter than snow, every trace of their menace vanished. The bald elder whose face still bore a fresh bloody cut instinctively drew his neck back, his eyes darting away. He did not dare meet Lin Yan's gaze.
The terror of that sword strike had been carved deep into his soul.
They cast an awed glance at Grand Elder Hài, who stood respectfully before Lin Yan, then silently took their places behind him without a word.
The atmosphere grew unbearably oppressive.
Lin Yan swept his gaze over the twelve of them. Through his Qi Observation Technique, he saw that every one of them was entangled in karmic debt, shrouded in dense gray-black energy-the sins accumulated through countless years of slaughter and plunder.
"It seems everyone is here," Lin Yan said calmly, breaking the silence.
"Sir, we are all here," Hài replied respectfully. "Please give us your instructions."
"Good." Lin Yan nodded and pointed at the ground beneath their feet. "As I said, place your hands on the ground."
This time, however, no one moved immediately.
The air froze for several seconds. Grand Elder Hài did not obey as readily as before. His grip tightened on his cane,