He’s ready, Jian thought, a cold satisfaction blooming in his chest. Or so he believes.
"Silence! Silence, I say!" The Head Announcer’s voice, amplified by spiritual arrays, boomed across the arena, cutting through the din. He was visibly shaken, his face pale, but he forced himself to maintain a semblance of authority. "Welcome, esteemed guests, valiant Elders, and dedicated disciples! Today, at high noon, we bear witness to a duel sanctioned by ancient law! A duel to the death!"
A collective intake of breath from the crowd. The sheer gravity of the moment settled upon them, heavy and absolute.
"Representing the Sky Cloud Sect, its foremost disciple, a true genius, Senior Brother Ling Tian!" the Announcer bellowed, his voice rising in desperation to inject enthusiasm.
A thunderous roa
