Chapter 8: Entering the game
Wang Ming stepped into the grand entrance of the clan hall. At the gate, he crossed paths with two other youths, both of similar rank, each flanked by their personal guards. The three locked eyes for a brief moment, their gazes cold and unreadable. Not a single word was exchanged. Their expressions remained calm, each unwilling to break the silence first.
Moments later, a clan representative approached, his face impassive, and silently gestured for them to follow. Their guards remained behind, shadows cast against the flickering torchlight, as the three stepped into the imposing hall.
Inside, the air was thick with the solemn aura of power. The clan leader sat upon the central throne, his eyes sharp, his aura oppressive. Around him, the clan elders occupied their positions, their faces masked with indifferent calm, yet their eyes brimming with silent scrutiny.
As the three entered, they bowed deeply to the clan leader and the assembled elders before standing straight, their backs stiff, their gazes forward.
The clan leader's gaze swept over the trio, his sharp eyes lingering on Wang Ming for a heartbeat longer than the others. His deep, gravelly voice echoed through the hall,
"You three performed well in the test. It has been seven years since a Rank Three talent emerged in our clan, and now, three appear at once. It is a stroke of fortune for our clan."
He stroked his long, graying beard, his eyes narrowing slightly as if contemplating their worth.
"As a reward, you may each choose a free formation from the clan storage. The Sixth Elder will escort you. Remember, do not disappoint me in the future."