The stands erupted. Shouts of admiration, disbelief, even jealousy filled the air, but none of it reached the six finalists directly. For them, the world had shrunk to this one shining platform.
Principal Feng stepped forward first, his forest-green robes flowing in the wind, his gaze sharp as ever. The coliseum hushed at once. His voice, deep and steady, rang out across the arena.
"The Imperial Examination is concluded. Eight trials were set before you—swordsmanship, archery, meditation, elemental mastery, alchemy, endurance, strategy, and finally, the dungeon trial." His hand lifted toward Wuxie. "Of all one thousand two hundred contenders, only six remained. And now, only one has claimed the relic of the ancients. Wuxie of Lushan Academy has triumphed."
The roar that followed nearly shook the coliseum apart.
