But when Zuo Sheng appeared in fifth place, they frowned in bewilderment. Anger and confusion began to surface among the crowd, and unrest spread like a rising tide. Many thought this was a fix, that the court was forcibly shoving its own people in, making a mockery of the Sword Selection Meet!
When Su Xingke's and Cui Zijie's names were called next, the crowd nearly erupted into an uncontrollable uproar. Even the calmest among them knitted their brows.
But when Xiang Zongyuan settled into second place, everything instead fell silent.
There could be no fix like this.
If there were, it would be the most absurd provocation.
Everyone listened in bewilderment as that utterly unfamiliar name descended upon the top of the Sword Manual's rankings with such unquestionable authority.
The Register Compilation Assembly had surveyed all the outstanding talents and reached its decision without reservation: the foremost sword talent of Shaolong was seventeen years old, and his name was Pei Ye.
After an almost unimaginable silence, the fiercest clamor rose from the crowd: astonishment, bewilderment, but above all, urgent questions bursting out in an instant.
On the Crane-Retaining Terrace, however, silence still covered the entire gathering.
Su Xingke stood expressionlessly before the railing. His fingers had pressed indentations into the wood.
No one spoke. Two months ago, they had already known who their opponents would be, because across all of Shaolong, only this handful stood at their height. Two or three days ago, they had come here brimming with confidence, and until just now, they had still been locking horns with one another.
Precisely because every one of them was outstanding enough, they never feared direct competition, nor would they ever bow their heads to anyone else.
Yet this name was not even on the Crane-Retaining Terrace.
In the end,