The Vice Sect Leader was standing directly next to John, staring at the distant Elder Thame. She was a head shorter than John, but exuded an aura that made no one dare to look down on her. John was unable to tell what her cultivation was, since it was drawn inwards and hidden, but he could tell it was far beyond Elder Thame's peak Meridian Forging cultivation.
Elder Thame struggled to his feet and hurriedly dashed over to the Vice Sect Leader.
"Vice Sect Leader, I apologize for not consulting you first, but I did not want to disturb your cultivation," Elder Thame spoke out in a reserved tone.
John was slightly surprised. Even the brash and vicious looking Elder Thame, who exuded a battle aura of a veteran, was cowed by the Vice Sect Leader.
The Vice Sect Leader looked at Elder Thame with a cold expression and said nothing. The silence caused Elder Thame to panic even more.
"V-Vice Sect Leader, although we have that rule, this boy is far too talented to pass up on. I figured you wouldn't mind breaking the rules just once," Elder Thame spoke up.
"Oh? You're making decisions for me now? It seems I have been too easy on you all lately," the Vice Sect Leader replied. The calm tone in which she spoke sent a shiver down Elder Thame's spine, and he began to panic even more.
Just as he was about to speak out, John spoke up instead.
"Vice Sect Leader. Don't blame Elder Thame. I was the one who requested to join the War Hall in the first place."
The Vice Sect Leader glanced at John at her side and stared at him. Elder Thame heaved a sigh of relief, having the pressure taken off of him. However, he felt bad for John, having to face the Vice Sect Leader himself.
The Vice Sect Leader inspected John for a moment before speaking up.
"Do you think just because you requested it, you can disobey the sect's rules?" she asked in a cold tone. Her intimidating aura pressed down on John. Most who felt his aura were scared stiff, and were barely able to talk, as it was the most intimidating aura they had ever felt in their lives.
Even Elder Thame, an expert of many battles, still felt intimidated by the aura. He had experienced many hardships at the hands of the Vice Sect Leader.
However, John was unaffected by such an aura.
Having experienced the unreal power and auras of Celestial Soulrend, the holy entity, the sinister gate and especially the dreadful creature in the lightning world illusion formation, John had become accustomed to being under such auras. His tempered will was unable to be shaken by something as flimsy as a passive aura.
In fact, the Vice Sect Leaders aura felt refreshing compared to those, as it was just an intense battle aura and nothing more sinister.
John stared at the Vice Sect Leader unaffected, causing her to narrow her eyes slightly. Almost all those who she came across would never dare to look at her directly in her eyes, and most were scared stiff to the point of barely being able to talk.
However, John stood there as if nothing was going on, acting if he was completely unaffected. The Vice Sect Leader didn't know if John was truly unaffected or if he was bluffing to act tough, while actually barely holding on.
While her aura that pressed down on John before was a natural one, the Vice Sect Leader decided to increase the pressure of the aura on him. Although it still contained no cultivation power, the intensity of what he was feeling was far greater than before.
However, John continued to look back towards the Vice Sect Leader, completely unaffected. He knew what she was trying to do, and he wouldn't let her intimidate her. His will was unshakable, and something like this was unable to rock it.
"While I don't know why there's such a rule in place, I don't think it's a good one. Only through true life and death battles can a cultivator truly ascend, so I don't know why you deprive the first years of such things," John replied casually.
An amused look appeared on the face of the Vice Sect Leader. "Oh? It's easy to spout such words, but what would a little newborn like you know about life and death battles?" she asked in a slightly mocking tone.
John frowned, but remained calm upon hearing her tone.
"I know more than most in this sect, at least more than any of the other disciples," John replied in a calm tone.
"Is that so?"
The amused smile still hung on the Vice Sect Leader's face as she inspected John.
Since she was part of the entrance exam ceremony, she recognized John as the number one disciple of the first years. However, what he had done inside the trials was beneath her notice, and she never paid attention to such things.
She inspected John a bit more, before turning around and proceeding to walk towards the building's exit. Her voice trailed out behind her as she walked away.
"Nonetheless, you're far too much of a greenhorn. No first years may join the War Hall. Leave the way you came… and Elder Thame, be sure to stop by my War Palace later for a talk..."
Elder Thame paled and was just about to respond, when his face became filled with shock. He rushed forward in an attempt to stop what he was witnessing, but he was just a hair too late.
Boom!
A simple yet powerful Qi attack exploded on the back of the Vice Sect Leader, resonating throughout the hall. All of the eyes within the large atrium looked towards the source of the sound, their eyes opening with disbelief.
The Vice Sect Leader's footsteps halted. She paused for a moment, before turning around. Her eyes locked directly with John's, who was still holding his scythe in his hand.
"You dare attack me?"