Stationed in a corner, Liu Shiqian turned his gaze towards Elder Chi Yang, and the two exchanged smiles.
From the beginning, he had no confidence and was merely fulfilling the obligations of the Alliance Sect. However, as he came to interact more with Sect Master Shen, a bit of anticipation couldn’t help but grow within him, hoping that one day he might see the other stabilize his position in this treasured land.
Yet, he hadn’t expected this anticipation to be fulfilled so quickly, so startlingly fast that it amazed onlookers!
"I thought I would be embarrassed initially," said the Baiyu Capital Cultivators from Yunxiao Pavilion and Xuanhai Hall, belonging to Nanyang’s vassals. This was their first time seeing Sect Master Shen, and his performance far exceeded their prior expectations.
It made them straighten their backs unconsciously, appearing proud by association.
On the contrary, Yan Xianqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Since the Sect Master had returned safely, there would be no need for Elder Xuan Qing to take the lead in troubling the Southern Dragon Palace. The Nanyang Sect could catch a slight break, which naturally was a good thing for these vassals.
With this thought, along with all other cultivators, he looked up, his gaze sweeping over the figure in black robes, towards the sky behind him.
There, six majestic shadows stood aloft, albeit with a notion of circling and protecting Shen Yi within them.
Today’s Seven Sons Grand Assembly was convened for the sake of the Nanyang Sect; the primary and secondary purposes were extremely clear.
Now, they only needed to wait for the six Sect Masters to issue the Imperial Edict, the golden words that would settle this matter definitively, leaving no room for changes.
The six shadows exchanged glances, each observing the complexity in the others’ eyes.
But they said nothing more.
Moments later, Sect Master Ji of the Qing Yue Sect looked down at Shen Yi and whispered a reminder, "Change into the Sect Master’s robe."
This young man might lack experience and hadn’t considered many things; what he wore on any given day didn’t matter, but today was different. At least, the cultivators of Southern Hong needed to know which Sect’s Sect Master he was.
Everyone was focused and quietly watched the long staircase.
The other only needed to don that white robe, and from today onward, he would truly be the Sect Master of Nanyang.
However, at this tense moment,
Shen Yi did not take out that robe; instead, he looked up into the sky.
The next moment, a calm yet shocking phrase slowly resounded across the horizon.
"Am I the Sect Master?"
Shen Yi’s expression was serious, seemingly not in challenge or questioning, but simply out of genuine curiosity about this issue.
Everyone else was stunned.
Even the Nanyang Sect vassals, along with the many stewards under Li Qingfeng’s command from various Immortal Sects, showed confusion in their eyes.
At such a time, why would he suddenly ask such a meaningless question?
If the Seven Sons Grand Assembly’s proceedings are completed, wouldn’t he truly be the Sect Master? Could there be any other interpretation?
The six Daozi also froze, unclear about what Shen Yi intended to do.
Only the shadows in the heavens grew silent, pondering the profound implications of this question.
Soon, the Heavenly Sword Sect Master nodded, "You naturally are."
With the confirmed response, Shen Yi nodded slightly and averted his gaze.
He was not a fool; he had long understood that, in many cases, reasoning needed to be backed by force.
For example, the rightful ownership of the Nanyang Treasure Land should belong to the disciples of the Nanyang Sect.
But this reasoning had not been enforced by force.
Elder Xuan Qing might be considered as a half measure, but it was clearly insufficient.
That is to say, as long as these Union Dao Realm giants wished, they could take away this treasured land at any time, or at the very least, keep him forever sealed within it.
But no matter what he planned in his heart,
On the surface, the Alliance Sect had still left a challenging path of survival for the Nanyang Sect.
This was already considered a relatively good attitude.
Hence, Shen Yi was also willing to cooperate with them and accept those so-called trials.
But the trial was reciprocal.
Now it was time for the Alliance Sect to fulfill their promises.
Shen Yi remained seated, slowly pulling a letter from his sleeve, and then, under all eyes, flicked his fingertip. The letter burst out and stabbed into the long table below like a blade.
His fair and handsome face suddenly turned indifferent.
His deep, dark eyes, placid as ancient wells, ensnared the figure behind the table.
His voice, carrying an undeniable tone, softly uttered two words.
As his voice spread, everyone’s gaze converged behind the long table.
Liu Xingshan, who had been well-behaved in his spot after a scolding from Su Hongxiu, stared at the letter so close by, his eyes twitching slightly before finally lifting his head.
The aura emanating from the letter caused the surrounding Heavenly Sword Sect Elders to unconsciously knit their brows.
"What is this?" someone reached out to grab it, but Liu Xingshan fiercely grabbed the wrist.
"What do you mean?" The Elder looked back in shock, only to see Liu Elder’s face twisted in rage as he growled, "Do not meddle in matters that are not your concern!"
"..." At his words, whether on the plaza or between the skies, everyone sensed the peculiar shift in the atmosphere.
In the Daozi lineup, the others had yet to make a move.
Su Hongxiu, as if guessing something, also swept over with indifference, a sigh flickering through her heart; her intuition was as accurate as ever.
Liu Xingshan had no intention of destroying that letter.