The Duke's Mansion blazed with lights and buzzed with voices.
Guests arrived one after another in an unbroken stream.
Most represented forces friendly with the Chen Clan, along with the various academies on good terms with the two host academies.
Representatives from all eight academies that had qualified were present. After all, how should one put it?
Everyone lent a hand to lift the flower-decked sedan chair. Unless they were sworn enemies, the academies took turns hosting these appreciation banquets and honored one another by attending.
Some neutral organizations had also sent representatives to observe, including Tianshi City, the Gourmet Hall, Qushui Liujie,
and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
More significant still were the continent's four foremost super organizations-the Xuan Ye Pavilion, the Plant Association, Soul Fighting City, and Spirit Hall.
Sea God Island was also in attendance.
Hundreds gathered beneath one roof, their noble bearing mingling with ripples of soul power.
First, Zhu Yanfeng delivered an opening address on behalf of the hosts. Then Zhuo Qianren and Xia Yun took the stage in turn as the leaders of the two academies.
Their speeches were concise and well structured, reviewing the tournament's exciting course from a commanding perspective, praising the competing teams' fighting spirit, and once again emphasizing the importance of exchange and cooperation in soul master education. They established a grand, dignified tone for the entire banquet.
Afterward, the atmosphere grew a little livelier.
Yan Nanfei and Zhu Shiyuan took the stage in succession as representatives of the coaches.
Each brought his academy's distinctive style to his speech, deftly slipping in a little "personal agenda" at just the right moments-promoting the academy's strengths, admission policies, and specialized courses, even discreetly displaying merchandise bearing its emblem. Their audience smiled knowingly, while the new images of both academies, especially the Five Mountains