A massive amphitheater stretched all around them. Cultivators from all over the realm crowded into the seats, all facing the stage below. Demonic cultivators, righteous cultivators, beast cultivators and plant cultivators, demons and exorcists, all of them crowded into the huge space, all focused on the small stage. A single beam of light poured down, illuminating a podium.

Standing in the shadows, Hui licked his lips. What if I just… play dead? Yes, yes. I’m sure someone else will take over if I—

Bai Xue gave him a good thump at the small of the back. “Go on.”

Hui staggered forward into the light. He caught himself on the podium and clung on for dear life, looking around wide-eyed like a deer in the headlights. No one? There’s really no one else here to take the lead role? No, no, no! I—

He took a deep breath. It’s alright. I can handle this. It’s just like giving an enemy a heart demon! It’s just… I’m not giving anyone a heart demon, and they aren’t enemies. Most of them… aren’t enemies, anyways.

Standing up straight, he swept his eyes over the crowd. Familiar faces loomed out at him. Starbound Sect’s Sect Master Li, and the sect masters of the forest, beast, and merchant sect who’d come to the sect tournament, all those years ago. Fang Hua, smiling faintly, surrounded by pale-skinned ghouls and jiangshi. Bai Bing, Bai Xue’s mother and the Clan Leader of the Bai Clan, with her husband by her side. Gui Yutong, with Bai Jingwen squinting murderously from beside her and a child about Li Weiqi and Bai Xingxue’s age along with them.

It's people I know. People who know me. They aren’t going to think I’m some great hero. They understand. I’m just the man who knows things, not someone special.

Hui nodded, resolute at last. He stood up straight, releasing the podium, and turned slowly, gazing the watchers back, right in their eyes. Right. This is my chance. My one chance to inform everyone of the impending danger. If I want to survive, if I want the entire region to survive… this is the one chance I have to keep as many people alive as possible.

To survive… to not die… yes. This is my goal. My ultimate goal! And if I can share it with others, then all the better!

“Recently, the Eastern Alliance—that is, the Eight Tiers Palace—attempted to kidnap my children, with the sole goal of oppressing this region,” Hui said severely. “Search your memories. Is there a day, recently, when you suddenly forgot about Bai Xue and Li Xiang, despite their renown? A day when you couldn’t recall their existence at all?”

Muttering filled the sect hall. A few cultivators muttered to themselves.

“That was the doing of Eight Tiers Palace. They pose a threat to this region greater than any threat that has come before. A single tier holds more power than the entirety of the Southern Sect Conference. They have myriad experts beyond our comprehension. We are but an ant before their might.”

“Why haven’t they attacked us outright already? If they’re so powerful,” a voice called from somewhere among the sects.

Hui turned, nodding. “Indeed. For many years, we have been protected by a barrier. A barrier created by the Patriarch of All-Heavens Sect himself, Fen Long. However, the barrier wanes. Before long, nothing will protect us from the Eight Tiers Palace.

“If they consider Li Xiang and Bai Xue enough of a threat to attempt to kidnap their children, what will they do to all of our Sect Masters, Patriarchs, leaders? Eight Tiers Palace is a threat not to me, not to you, but to all of us together. All of the Southern Sect Conference faces grave danger. Danger… that we must face together, if we are to survive.”

Across the hall, a man stood. Older, with long white hair and an equally long beard, he looked down on Hui. His brows furrowed in disbelief. “Where is your proof? You’ve offered us a great number of wild claims, but no proof. We all forgot about Bai Xue and Li Xiang? Who are they? I’ve never heard of them in the first place.

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“The barrier remains, as strong as ever. No one has been attacked by this Eight Tiers Palace of yours. Even these children of yours are still safe, here in All-Heavens Sect. Aside from your own evidence, do you have any proof?”

Hui bowed. “I’m afraid I do not, Senior.”

“Hmph! Then why are we here?” the man asked, tossing his beard.

“You are free to go. But… anyone who leaves today… when the time comes, and Eight Tiers Palace lays siege to your sect and kidnaps your disciples for its own nefarious ends, remember that I warned you. Remember my words… and when you find yourself wishing you had prepared, remember that it is far too late for any of us to help you,” Hui said, finishing quietly, so quietly that his words almost faded into the silence. He stared down the man, his eyes shining from the challenge. Ha! You test me? On a duel of words, you test me? One of my mediocre and lowly skills is sowing heart-demons. Senior, I understand that my skills are not great… but Senior, everyone in this world is so terribly weak to heart-demons. Are you any different?

The man laughed. “Who are you, to threaten me?”

Hui tipped his head. “Threatening you? Senior, I’m merely trying to warn you.”

“And I’m asking you, who are you? I’ve never seen your face before,” the man challenged him.

Hui took a deep breath. He bowed. “Lowly cultivator is Weiheng Hui.”

“Weiheng…? Ah, I heard Weiheng Wu took a disciple. A disciple who died ten years ago,” the man scoffed. “A liar and a charlatan. I’m not listening to another word.”

“Senior, I am Weiheng Hui.”

“Then, are you dead?” the man asked, chuckling.

“Mmm. I was. I came back to life,” Hui said.

Across the room, another man stood up. “Impossible. His soul dissipated, and he knew no reincarnation techniques.”

“Ah, yes. My soul was unstable… and no, I didn’t know any reincarnation techniques. I, er, came up with one after I died,” Hui said, scratching the back of his head.

“This is ridiculous,” the first man scoffed.

Hui waved his hand. “It does not matter who I am. If you don’t want to listen, then you are free to leave. But as I said, Seniors… we will not come to your aid, and we will not listen to your cries, when you face danger later.”

Crossing his arms and looking down on Hui, the first heckler released his pressure. All across the room, cultivators winced or dropped from their seats, while the higher-realm cultivators exerted their pressure to assist those around them.

The pressure reached Hui. The first heckler smirked slightly. Drop to your knees. A low-realm cultivator like yourself might quaver, but this threat is nothing before my might!

The wave washed over him. Unperturbed, he continued to stand there without twitching an inch, as if he hadn’t even noticed.

Eh…? The heckler frowned. He exerted more pressure.

Around him, cultivators slumped. One or two of the ones who had dropped passed out directly. The heckler grinned. Take this. The full force of my cultivation!

Hui twitched. He glanced around, then frowned and made a short gesture.

All across the room, everyone who’d crumpled sat up again, taking deep breaths. The heckler had enough time to sense a wave of overwhelming force flying his direction before it slammed into him. His vision flickered. His back bent. He dropped to his knees, then to all fours.

Ah, it’s him. Hui nodded to himself. Phew. I thought it was an attack of some kind. I didn’t expect to suddenly get hit by someone’s pressure while I was merely giving a speech!

“How bold, Hui, forcing the Grand Elder of the Fire Heart Sect to kowtow on his knees at your first meeting,” Bai Xue said loudly, smirking.

“Eh? My apologies, Senior!” Hui quickly retracted his pressure from the man and bowed as respectfully as he could. I didn’t know Senior was so important! Ah, Hui, you’ve done it now! Never pressure someone you don’t know! Oh no, oh dear. To think, I’ve offended an entire sect without meaning to!

The heckler took a short breath. Face pale, he stared at Hui in horror. Snatching up his gear, he turned and fled. A small group of cultivators in similar robes to him glanced around, then jumped up and ran after him, escaping through the window.

Hui tilted his head, confused. Eh? Why did they run away from me? Lost, he looked at Bai Xue.

Bai Xue spread his hands, grinning. Teasingly, he said, “Weiheng Hui, you tyrant.”

“I’m not a tyrant,” Hui protested, still lost.

“Eh? Exerting your pressure like that? Using your strength to one-sidedly silence your opposition? What part of that isn’t tyrannical?” Bai Xue asked, shrugging.

Hui opened his mouth, then shut it. He pursed his lips. When you put it like that… er… hopefully everyone hasn’t misunderstood small cultivator? Quickly, he scanned the room.

All the attendees sat up, neat and prim. The other hecklers stood silently, arms crossed, no longer the slightest hint of dissent on their faces.

Er, Seniors, please! I didn’t mean it like that!