After three months of public discussion, word of this duel between Saint experts of the old and new generations had long since spread throughout the surrounding nations, making it the most closely watched event in the northern Yulan Continent. By now, crowds arriving from every direction had packed the entire mountain range solid. People thronged the slopes, shoulder to shoulder; from the foot of the mountains to halfway up, every patch of level ground and every boulder was crammed with spectators. Among them were the civil and military officials of the Principality of Klan and relatives of its royal family, Saint experts from various regions who had made special journeys after hearing the news, mercenary commanders, sect elders, ordinary residents of nearby cities, and warriors devoted to cultivation. They gathered in dense crowds yet consciously kept quiet, holding their breath and concentrating, their eyes fixed on the two figures at the summit, afraid of missing this once-in-a-century clash at the pinnacle that deserved a place in history.
"There are so many people! Even the Saint lords from the neighboring principalities have come. Getting to see something like this just once makes my whole life worthwhile!"
"That's Debangsen, the Earth Sword Saint! He's a veteran Saint who made his name centuries ago. His mastery of the Laws of the Earth is consummate, and his defense is practically unrivaled among his peers. He's known as the strongest Saint! And Lord Shiheng could already kill Saint experts above his own rank four years ago. After another four years, his strength must be unfathomable!"
"Who do you think will come out on top? Lord Shiheng may be young, but his battle record is extraordinary. Still, Senior Debangsen has such deep reserves that it's really hard to predict!"
Murmurs rose and fell throughout the crowd,