Boom-
The purple thunderbird folded its wings. Before the fierce winds it had stirred up had fully subsided, Mu Chen stepped off its back with Nine Nether and landed in the center of the ancient, expansive bluestone plaza.
His robes were black as ink, his figure straight and tall!
Countless gazes converged on him from every direction.
Those gazes held curiosity, scrutiny, doubt, anticipation... and even a veiled hostility.
Mountain winds swept through the towering cliffs, carrying the lingering reverberations of distant bells and drums and lending the scene an even greater solemnity.
Mu Chen raised his eyes and calmly surveyed the densely packed figures around him before finally looking toward the imposing figures seated on the tiers of stone seats opposite him.
His gaze paused briefly on the central figure, whose aura was the most profound and vast. Then he cupped his hands and spoke in a clear voice:
"Mu Chen of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain pays his respects to you all."
His voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly through the space shrouded in the clear cries of countless birds and the lingering echoes of bells and drums, almost suppressing those other sounds.
"I hope we can work well together."
With that, he smiled faintly, appearing courteous and modest.
Yet the instant that smile spread-
Hum...
A wisp of aura quietly spread from Mu Chen, enveloping the entire plaza in an instant!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Around the plaza, the members of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan who had merely been watching him with appraising eyes all underwent a drastic change of expression, regardless of their strength!
Those with weaker cultivation felt as though an invisible hand had seized their hearts, abruptly stopping them from beating. Their breathing seized, their vision darkened, and their legs buckled, nearly