Silence lingered a moment longer, as if the entire Bai Clan needed time to digest what had just happened.
Then, the elders stirred.
A few exchanged glances, still stunned by what they had just witnessed.
"Truly… astonishing!"
Elder Bai Wei said, his voice carrying across the courtyard.
"I can't believe Zihan was hiding something like this. Looks like heaven has truly blessed our Bai Clan."
He had been the first to object to Bai Zihan's inclusion as a participant earlier, but now, he'd been proven wrong on every level.
He had no choice but to admit that Bai Zihan wasn't just qualified—he was the one who would lead the Bai Clan forward.
His words seemed to unfreeze the rest of the elders.
"To display such overwhelming strength, control, and restraint at the Nascent Soul Realm—at sixteen—isn't just rare. It's unheard of. That level of swordsmanship… it's beyond what most of us achieved even in our prime."
"Indeed," said another elder, nodding gravely.
