Not long after, a group of prominent figures from the Lanlan Empire took their seats on the main platform.
The seats on the main platform were somewhat special, each primary seat had two accompanying seats behind it.
In other words, each faction could seat three people, the leader took the front position, while the other two, key figures of the faction, sat behind.
As the faction with the most spirit controllers and the host of the alchemy contest, the Spirit Controller Alliance’s leader, Ye Fenghua, naturally took the central seat without question, with Le Zheng Hongmao and Situ Guang seated behind him. To Ye Fenghua’s right was Emperor Meng, followed by Meng Ying and a guard.
To Meng Xi’s right sat Zhou Morui, Zhou Xiong, and an elder from the Zhou family.
On Ye Fenghua’s left, three faction seats remained empty, clearly indicating that those factions had yet to arrive.
“Haha, we’re not late, are we?” Shortly after they settled in, a booming laugh rolled through, and the crowd saw a large group approaching the entrance.
Leading them were several elders, each exuding an intangible air of authority, accompanied by a pair of stunning women.
One was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, with extraordinary grace, the other was valiant and spirited, moving with elegance, both radiating an impressive presence.
Their arrival instantly sparked a flurry of discussion among the crowd.
“The Feng and Chen families have arrived, that’s Chen Wendao, the Chen family patriarch, one of the Lanlan Empire’s few Martial Venerables!”
“The one beside him is the prodigy Feng Lanyue, and the Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect. I didn’t expect all three factions to arrive together.”
“With the Chen and Zhou family patriarchs here, why hasn’t the Feng family patriarch shown up?”
“I heard he’s in seclusion. Even without him, beside Feng Lanyue is Feng Ziyang, the Feng family’s Grand Elder, a peak Martial King powerhouse. Though he lacks the presence of a Martial Venerable, it’s still enough.”
“Feng Lanyue is like a goddess descended to earth, a dragon among men. It’s such a pity she’s to be married off so young…”
“Keep dreaming, even if she doesn’t marry, you’d never have a chance. In the entire Lanlan Empire, who besides Chen Yan could match her?”
“Chen Yan may be exceptionally talented, but he’s already twenty. In my opinion, that Hei Mu is the best match, alas, they met too late!”
“You could go after Chen Qing’er!”
“That’s just asking for death, I’m not Hei Mu!”
“Feng Huo’s not bad either, full of charm!”
Waves of excited chatter filled the plaza, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue undeniably the most eye-catching figures, stirring endless speculation and regret among the onlookers.
Naturally, beauties like Chen Qing’er and Feng Huo drew plenty of covetous gazes as well.
But when Lin Xiao saw that strikingly handsome face and breathtaking beauty, a chilling murderous intent surged within him.
It was that handsome face that had personally crippled his dantian, leading the elders to expel him from the Tianxuan Sect, and together with Feng Lanyue, they had stolen his sixth-grade spirit stone, nearly costing him his life.
Beyond them, there were also the three elders present at the time who, under the sect’s honour, had banished him— one inner sect elder and two outer sect elders, all now walking within the Tianxuan Sect’s group.
Even the disciples who had driven him out were among the crowd.
Now, all his enemies stood before him, and Lin Xiao’s emotions surged forth, his fists clenched tightly, nails digging deep into his palms.
“Chen Yan, Feng Lanyue, and those three elders!” Lin Xiao’s eyes flashed with cold light, his icy gaze locking onto the approaching figures.
Today, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue basked in glory, admired by thousands, much of it built upon the sixth-grade spirit stone they’d taken from him, while he had nearly perished, only to witness this day as if “from the spirit in the heavens.”
“Hei Mu, are you alright?” While everyone’s attention was on the three arriving factions, Wu Sha, standing nearby, noticed Lin Xiao’s odd behaviour and asked with slight surprise.
Hearing Wu Sha’s words, Lin Xiao snapped back to reality, slowly suppressing his emotions, then took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “I’m fine.”
At that moment, after the large group entered, they split into two streams, a smaller group led by Chen Wendao headed forward, while the majority dispersed towards the surrounding seats.
As they parted, Chen Qing’er, Feng Lanyue, Chen Yan, and Feng Huo’s gazes turned towards Lin Xiao.
Catching the sombre look in Lin Xiao’s eyes from afar, Chen Qing’er’s crystalline eyes flickered, her heart wondering in surprise, “Why do I see such deep hatred in his gaze?”
“This guy looks a bit cold, doesn’t he?” Feng Huo licked her lips, casting a flirtatious glance and smiling at Lin Xiao from a distance.
“So this is the one who defeated Zhou Xiong?” Chen Yan’s eyes shifted towards Lin Xiao.
Upon seeing the pupils Lin Xiao revealed, a vague sense of familiarity stirred in Chen Yan’s heart, though he couldn’t place where he’d seen them before, nor understand why he felt this way.
“That guy’s not simple, possessing spirit energy and defeating Zhou Xiong. He’s likely to make a big splash in this alchemy contest, the patriarch even told me to befriend him if possible,” Feng Lanyue muttered softly to Chen Yan, pursing her lips.
“That depends on Qing’er. It’d be best to win him over, if he joins another faction, he could become a threat,” Chen Yan’s gaze sharpened, exchanging quiet words with Feng Lanyue as they walked.
Watching them slowly approach the main platform, Lin Xiao’s mood gradually calmed.
His great vengeance would be exacted, but not today, the time wasn’t right yet. In a few days, he’d give them a proper shock.
Chen Yan, Feng Lanyue, and several key figures entered the main seats under everyone’s watchful eyes, exchanging pleasantries with Ye Fenghua, Emperor Meng, Zhou Morui, and the others, before Chen Wendao and his group took their places.
The Tianxuan Sect’s Grand Elder sat at the outermost position to Ye Fenghua’s left, with two elders behind him.
Next to the Tianxuan Sect’s spot was the Chen family’s.
Chen Wendao took the primary seat, with Chen Yan and an elder seated behind him.
To everyone’s astonishment, on the Chen family’s right, at Ye Fenghua’s immediate left, within the Feng family’s section, Grand Elder Feng Ziyang sat in an accompanying seat, while Feng Lanyue took the primary position.
This caused an uproar among the crowd, sitting in that spot was tantamount to acting as the family head’s proxy.
It seemed the Feng family placed immense value on Feng Lanyue, intent on letting her take the lead.
“Let’s take our seats too!” Wu Meng sighed, addressing Lin Xiao and the group.
Nodding slightly, Lin Xiao turned slowly and sat temporarily in the Spirit Controller Alliance’s regular seating area.
