"These people are here to find Ethan!"
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Ripples spread through the Holy Hall.
"How on earth did Ethan provoke so many terrifying figures?!" a peak master hissed, his voice trembling despite himself.
"Who knows…" another elder said bitterly.
"I only know that if this continues, we won't even last a day."
A sharp voice cut in immediately.
"You mean to blame Ethan?"
Everyone turned.
Mr. Stone's eyes were cold, his back straight despite the pressure crushing down on the formation.
"Have you ever thought," he continued slowly, "that if you had been kinder to Ethan back then, he wouldn't have left?"
Silence followed.
"If Ethan were still here," Mr. Stone said, his tone heavy, "Azure Origin Dao Sect would already be the undisputed leader among the four major sects. With him here, why would we fear these people at all?"
No one answered.
The silence was thick, suffocating.
