Before the domestic banter could escalate further, a sound like a thunderclap split the heavens.
GONG.
The Head Elder of the Discipline Hall struck the massive, ancient bronze gong suspended above the main hall.
The sonic wave washed over the plaza, instantly silencing the screaming crowd and forcing the unruly atmosphere back into rigid, martial discipline.
The Head Elder stood at the edge of the high jade terrace, his expression dark and utterly exasperated.
He looked down at the four Inner Sect elites who had abandoned their posts to swarm an Outer Sect cook, shaking his head in profound disappointment at the youth of today.
"Disciples!" The Elder's Qi-amplified voice boomed across the mountains. "Order! Restore order immediately!"
The crowd shuffled nervously, straightening their robes. Gu Zhiwei, Wen Shiru, and Lu Jianheng visibly stiffened, remembering their status and the thousands of eyes upon them.
