As the final disciple returned to formation while holding their jade card, the air within the Grand Competition Grounds shimmered faintly with qi. Under the bright morning sun, fifty young cultivators—ten from each of the five clans—stood in flawless lines, their heartbeats matching the eager anticipation of the surrounding crowd.
Above them, a thousand banners swayed like flames in the wind, their colours a vibrant reflection of generations' heritage. The air was thick with a sense of spirit energy, tinged with the electric scent of an imminent battle.
A Grey Shadow Hall elder hovered with unshakeable poise above the ten stages. His robes flowed through the air like liquid ink, every fold buzzing with a soft, vibrant energy. He cast a calm gaze over the gathered disciples, and the light from his aura stretched long shadows across the stone arena beneath him.
