“The Grand Marshal now opens the floor to questions,” Bai Huizhong declared in an admirably firm voice. Bai Huizhong, supported by Bao Wen, looked utterly exhausted in his new robes. None of the cultivators blamed the man for his… incident. Mortals had fragile constitutions. That he hadn’t keeled over from a heart attack and was instead back at his post was a mark in his favour. Xi Kong caught several concerned glances for the man from the other Elders, and while nobody wanted the chaos that came with the appointment of a new Director of Spiritual Ascension Affairs, there was some concern for the man himself as well. To be frank, he was not the only one still affected by the news of the demonic attack. The hour’s break had felt to Xi Kong as though it had passed in a heartbeat. He was himself not yet fully calm, but the time had come to gather again. He knew that the others were still unsettled. On Gang of the Rumbling Earth’s eyes were still unfocused, and Sheng of the Azure Horizon was unconsciously bouncing his knee. Even Ulagan Baatar was still deep in thought, solid though his bearing might be on the surface. Still, the arena filled swiftly. Even those with their cultivation shattering under the pressure of the revelation, not a soul of those assembled would dare miss the rest of this. “The Grand Marshal recognises Xong Yun Ren, disciple of Master Jin, to assist by showing his recorded images, should they be relevant,” Xiulan began. Yun Ren was recognisable, and at the same time not. Xi Kong remembered the fox-faced young man, for he had hosted him in their Sect’s manor in the town. Another of Master Jin’s disciples, and like all of them he was a credit to his master. He had changed greatly since (...)