The central pavilion of the Sword Pavilion was incredibly crowded. Hundreds of gray-uniformed novices, seasoned senior disciples, blue-robed instructors, and respected elders packed the massive stone courtyard.
Pavilion Master Wu was also present, seated on his elevated stone balcony overlooking the gathering, while Pavilion Leader Jin managed the proceedings down on the ground level.
Solomon slipped through the outer gates entirely unnoticed. He quickly ducked into his assigned VIP dormitory, unbuckling Eden's Penance and tossing it onto his mattress. He emptied his pockets, leaving the two glowing winter serpent rubies, the divine gemstone, and the Heavenly Demon's leather diary hidden beneath his pillow.
Without the heavy gear weighing him down, he rushed back toward the central pavilion, blending seamlessly into the massive crowd of novices standing near the back of the courtyard.
