Chapter 687: Suspicion of Elder Heng
"Elder Heng, asking about personal abilities of someone isn’t nice. You should stop that," Elder Drew said in a commanding tone, his voice slicing through the air with a rare sharpness. He stood firmly in front of Max, his eyes locked on the serene yet unsettling figure of the Bright Buddha Palace elder.
There was no trace of his earlier relaxed demeanor. His stance, his expression, even the subtle pressure in his voice made it clear—he was no longer speaking as a bystander, but as a protector.
After all, the people of the Bright Buddha Palace were not just respected for their strength across the Middle Domain, but revered for their reputation—gentle, kind, and magnanimous. That was their image, the one they had cultivated for countless generations.
But now, one of their very elders stood interrogating a junior—his eyes intense, his tone pressing, his presence overbearing. Elder Drew couldn’t help but be suspicious. Why such fixation? Why now?
"Elder Drew... I said I want to know what ability Max used to defeat Noah." Elder Heng’s voice came again, calm but rigid, his gaze now locked directly with Drew’s like two ancient swords crossing in stillness before the inevitable clash.
There was no smile, no serenity—just raw focus, as if the answer to that question mattered more than the entire battle itself.
"Heng Preacher!" Elder Drew’s expression finally cracked with fury. His voice thundered, startling even the air. "You are an elder of the Bright Buddha Palace—then act like one! This behavior, this tone, this pressure upon a junior... it is beneath someone of your stature. I am warning you, not as an equal, but as the representative of the Great Ruler Empire—if you dare cross that line again, I will not be this polite next time."
The ground beneath them seemed to still. Even Lyra, Max and Noah who had remained silent found themselves holding their breath. Tension sparked in the air like flint ready to ignite.
One word from either side... and things would spiral out of control.
"Alright, before this matter escalates any further, I’ll just answer Elder Heng’s question," Max’s calm and steady voice rang out, cutting through the heavy atmosphere like a breeze slicing through smoke.
His tone held no fear, no arrogance—just clarity. Everyone turned to look at him, surprised by the composure in his voice despite standing between two titans on the verge of clashing.
"You don’t have to," Elder Drew said immediately, his eyes still fixed on Elder Heng. His voice held a quiet but firm assurance, the kind that left no room for doubt.