Opposite Yun Lintian stood Yun Long, a figure of arrogance and barely contained rage. His ornate armor gleamed in the sunlight, a testament to his privileged upbringing and the resources lavished upon him by his father.
A sneer curled his lips as he met Yun Lintian's gaze, his eyes burning with a mix of contempt and thinly veiled fear.
Yun Wuhan watched from the high balcony reserved for the patriarch and elders, his heart a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Pride for his son's unwavering spirit warred with the cold dread of potential failure.
Beside him, Yun Qinghong radiated smug confidence, his every gesture a taunt to the patriarch's unspoken fears.
"Let's start."
A hush fell over the arena as a wizened elder, his voice amplified by the acoustics of the ancient structure, announced the commencement of the trial.
