For some reason, the silence had lasted a long time, but by noon, the Shaolong Sword Dao Golden Register was finally complete.
A golden banner unfurled from the Jade Sword Pavilion, bearing the final list of seventy-two names, arranged one by one.
Xiang Zongyuan stood first.
In the end, the young hero Pei Ye remained a figure out of legend. He had not come down to compete on the sword platform. It was said that he had defeated everyone inside the Jade Sword Pavilion, only to relinquish first place himself and depart without a backward glance.
His place was filled by a Fifth Growth girl from Bowang. Apparently, she too had received a Sword Case earlier, but had refused it for reasons unknown. The Register Compilation Assembly ultimately awarded her thirty-third place, which also became a subject of considerable discussion.
Somewhat strangely, none of those inside the Jade Sword Pavilion came down from the Jade Sword Platform until dusk the following day. No news emerged in the meantime.
They left quietly in separate groups by different routes. The crowds still watching barely caught sight of anyone. Only familiar faces such as Xiang, Cui, Qi, and Nan were glimpsed a few times, but all wore silent, taciturn expressions and soon boarded carriages and left.
Su Xingke should have been more likely to say something, but the youth who had claimed third place on his very first appearance was nothing like he had been when he defeated Chi Longyun two days earlier. Facing the cheering crowd, he looked almost dazed and lost. Only after Qi Mengchen took him by the hand did he board a carriage with his senior brothers and sisters.
The celebrations naturally proceeded as planned. The finalized Sword Dao Golden Register began circulating through the fifty prefectures, while in