Because of the arrangement of the Pill Origin Ceremony venue, only cultivators within the topmost space could see and sense one another's presence. All other cultivators outside were unable to glimpse the situation on the top level.
This was partly to highlight the exalted status of those top great clans, and partly to prevent the visiting high-level Cave Profound cultivators from gathering in one place and affecting the Dao Hearts of cultivators of lower realms.
Below the top level, cultivators of every faction were seated in order according to their backgrounds, strength, and status, from high to low, near to far.
Cultivators such as Yang Yuanzhao, He Xinxian, Yi An, and the four members of the Five Heroes of Meng River, who had earned their places in the ceremony through assessments and trials, could only wait for the opening within pavilions on several distant mountain peaks.
At the edge of a cloud platform beside the pavilion, Kang An gazed at the ceremony venue shrouded in rosy clouds. Yet he did not look particularly happy; instead, there was a hint of despondency on his face.
"Fourth Brother, why the long face? The ceremony is about to begin. You ought to be happy."
Seeing his eldest brother Fan Ting approach, Kang An forced a smile. "You're right, Big Brother. Sigh... I'm just worried about Third Sister. She could have passed the trial herself, but she gave that crystal to Kang Chen and me."
"I had thought Third Sister might still have some hidden trump card and would pass the trial with us. But after leaving the grotto-heaven, I asked the guide and only then learned that she hadn't held on until the end."
"Big Brother, you know I've never been a pessimistic person, but now Third Sister's whereabouts are unknown. I really