The tense atmosphere on the marble terrace instantly thickened as the group of male saboteurs hesitated, their eyes locked onto the gleaming Spiritual Gold needle vibrating between Ethan's fingers. The raw, mocking coldness in his baritone voice had sliced directly through their manufactured bravado, leaving them exposed in front of the massive crowd.
"Impudent brat! You think a few parlor tricks with needles give you the right to dictate terms to the elite of this sect?!"
A powerful, booming voice rolled down from the raised VIP pavilion across the square. The crowd instantly went dead silent as a senior figure slowly stood up, stepping out from the contingent of the Central Sect Headquarters. It was Elder Victor, a man whose silver-trimmed robes signified immense administrative authority back at the capital, and whose aura radiated the absolute, suffocating density of the Peak of the Golden Core Realm.
