"You're being too modest, Brother Pang," Mo Pozheng said with a soft chuckle. "It's true that everyone was in the Dao Realm, but your cultivation back then was at its peak, wasn't it? Those two haven't reached your level yet."
"Even so, taking age into account, we still fall short of them," Pang Ji sighed.
"That's true." Mo Pozheng nodded. "It's about time, isn't it?"
"It's already noon," Pang Ji said.
"Then the time has come," Mo Pozheng said.
One of the Demon Hall experts below saw Pang Ji give him a slight nod and announced loudly, "The first round of the Hall Master Contest now officially begins."
At those words, the Demon Hall experts watching from all around fell silent, not making the slightest sound.
"There are two rounds in total. The first eliminates one person, and in the second, the remaining two truly compete for the Hall Master's Seat. Younger Brother Pozheng, what form will the first round take this time?" Pang Ji asked.
The method of eliminating one person in the first round differed each year, so Pang Ji had to ask Mo Pozheng.
"It's very simple," Mo Pozheng said with a smile.
He turned his palm over, and four small, palm-sized black flags appeared in his hand.
Then he tossed the four flags toward the arena. They settled steadily at its four corners, hovering three feet above the ground.
Huang Xiao turned to look at one of the flags. Wondrous patterns were embroidered on it, inlaid with gold and jade threads, making the entire flag radiate an aura that set his heart trembling.
"A formation?" Pang Ji asked.
"That's right, a formation," Mo Pozheng said. "The first round can be considered a noncombat contest. There's no need for it to be so intense. The second round