The entire hall seemed to freeze in time, the silence so thick that every breath could be heard echoing through the room. However, not everyone wore a shocked expression. The vice sect master clenched his fists, his face hardening. To him, this was a humiliation he could not endure. Now, he finally understood why the sect master had taken such an interest in this boy.
His eyes narrowed, and a deep hatred began to fester within him. It wasn't just jealousy—he recognized the admiration in the girl's eyes. She was a talent he had hoped to guide, to claim as his own accomplishment. Yet now, he saw the pure admiration in her gaze. Her eyes shone like gems, revealing clearly that she had feelings for Wen Ran. That realization was a blow to him, something that would make everything much more difficult.