The procession lasted nearly three hours.
By the time both sects finished their displays and settled into the city, Three Union City felt fundamentally changed. The air itself seemed heavier, infused with the presence of so many powerful cultivators gathered in one place.
The sects were escorted to massive palace complexes near the city center. These were old noble estates from the Butterfly Kingdom era, long since seized and repurposed by the three kingdoms. Entire districts were cleared and sealed off for their use.
From that moment on, activity in the city surged.
Competitions began almost immediately.
Martial competitions drew crowds, though Lin Mu kept Cattaleya firmly away from participating.
"No," he said flatly when she expressed interest.
She crossed her arms. "Why not?"
"Because you would end it in ten seconds," Lin Mu replied. "And then we would have every eye in the city on us."
