Participants fanned out across the plaza while second-tier forces began assembling their spiritual arrays.0

The Four Great Clans, meanwhile, unveiled their spiritual array compasses, each varying in strength and complexity.0

An hour passed swiftly, and most participants had completed their preparations. The judges would evaluate this final segment purely based on the strength of each spiritual array.0

Lan Yu, however, remained in a far corner of the plaza. He had already placed his spiritual array compass on the ground with a casual motion, not bothering with dramatic gestures like the others.0

"Let the final assessment begin!" Long Chen's voice echoed across the plaza, signaling the end of the setup phase.0

The second-tier sects and clans took the lead. As each activated their spiritual array, mystical patterns lit up, expanding across the plaza.0

"The Seven Dipper Destruction Array. Such solid work!"0

"The Aquatic Prison Array has decent control!"0

"The Terranean Suppression Array… powerful indeed!"0

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they judged the strengths and weaknesses of each formation. Most spectators were seasoned cultivators, and flaws were impossible to escape their notice.0

Ten minutes passed. Everyone had evaluated nearly half the arrays, but none had truly impressed them. They were competent, but not original and creative.0

All eyes were on three contenders: the Scarlet Dragon Cult, the Liao Clan, and the Heavenly...0