In a dark room somewhere, three people stood facing each other in a triangle.

On the left was Dai Zhi. He looked like his usual picture-perfect handsome and gentle self, just like any ordinary young master. His expression was kind of cold at the moment and it was clear he did not want to be here.

In the middle was a bald teenager in a gold robe, smiling wide like a child that was invited to a birthday party last minute. If Hao Xuan was here he would recognize him instantly, this was the same guy that stopped Stasa at the ball earlier.

On the right side was a tall and muscular man. He had short black hair that were standing straight up, a high nose bridge and dark eyes. He was wearing a jacket without a shirt underneath, exposing his well-built abs that seemed to be chiseled out of marble. He wasn't as handsome as Dai Zhi but still very good looking, more in the conventional sense than anything else.

With a nonchalant smile on his face, he was looking right at Dai Zhi.

"Dima, why was this meeting necessary?

" Dai Zhi was the first one to speak up. He was looking at the bald teen but everyone knew he was talking to the muscular man.

"It's already been worked out, we should get going already.

"

The bald teen who was called Dima (probably a nickname) chuckled lightly.

"Senior brother Dai Zhi, it was senior brother Tian Zheng that called the meeting, not me.

"

Obviously Dai Zhi knew this but he didn't want to talk to Tian Zheng himself. But now he didn't have a choice. He looked over the muscular Tian Zheng who was grinning ear to ear.

"Dai Zhi, why are you so mad? It was just a few nobodies. I told you I would take any heat that came from this matter,

" he said earnestly.

Dai Zhi's expression turned a little ugly hearing that. He took a step forward and a red hue appeared in his pupils.

"You killed an entire team! We had an understanding that neither of us would join the fights themselves and even if we did, killing like this was not allowed. You broke the rules and now ask why I am mad? You filthy inc-

" when he reached to this point, Dai Zhi forcefully stopped himself.

But Tian Zheng who was relatively relaxed until now suddenly became serious. His expression turned cold. Dai Zhi didn't need to finish the sentence for him to know what he wanted to say. He was well aware of what people said behind his back.

A formless pressure fell on the room as both of them glared at each other in silence.

It was Dima who seemed even more out of place standing innocently between these two. After a few minutes of intense silence, he finally spoke up.

"S-Senior brothers, why don't we take a little break?

" he suggested meekly. In front of these two monsters, he really didn't know what to say or do.

Even though he wasn't weak, both of them were much stronger than him. They had been staying in the Spirit Realm on purpose to refine all of their energies into laws before advancing, something even he didn't have the willpower to do.

And who could blame him? It took years upon years to refine laws even for someone with really high talents. How many of these arrogant young masters and holy sons could force themselves to stay in the spirit Realm for what could be decades? Seeing all their peers pass them, stepping onto the main stage of the cultivation world and connect with the world while they teetered on the outskirts?

If a person didn't have a strong heart and the willpower to go along with it, they could give birth to inner demons that would one day destroy them if given the opportunity.

Both these guys would have stepped into the profound realm more than a decade ago if they so desired. Under normal circumstances, they would be locked up in different places trying to refine laws but now because of the tournament, they were forced to come out.

If not for Dima's father ordering him last minute to join, he would have never come here willingly, he didn't need to.

Tian Zheng snorted and turned around, his body disappearing into the darkness with every step.

Dai Zhi looked at the place he had disappeared to with obvious disgust.

"He's a disgrace to our institutions. How bad does the hall want this victory that they were willing to send someone like him here?

" he mumbled.

Dima could only smile weekly at the side, not willing to incriminate himself in any way.

Dai Zhi also turned around and took a step before pausing to look at Dima,

"I can count on your help this time around?

"

He asked a question but it sounded more like a statement of fact. He both asked and answered it at the same time.

Dima bobbed his head up and down,

"Of course senior brother, whatever you need!

"

"Good...

"

Dai Zhi's body also became transparent before vanishing from the room. Dima sighed and snapped his fingers.

A light had been turned on.. He was standing in a white spherical room with many runes on the surrounding walls.