The silence in the arena was broken by the senior disciple, who was the first to speak after Aurora's stunning display of power. He was clearly in awe of her beast, the Ice Alpha Wolf, and he approached her and her partner with a look of admiration in his eyes.
"Well done," he said, his voice filled with respect. "You have truly demonstrated the power of a strong bond between a cultivator and their beast."
The other participants, who had been stunned into silence, began to murmur amongst themselves. They couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. Aurora had not only contracted a First-Stage Warrior Realm beast, but she had also managed to control it effortlessly, demonstrating an incredible level of skill and strength.
However, the mood quickly shifted as the senior disciple turned his attention to Dave, who had ordered his Russet Striped Tiger to attack Aurora directly, even before the match had officially begun.
"How dare you fight unfairly," the senior disciple admonished, his voice cold and firm. "I haven't even started the match yet, and you've already broken the rules. This is not how we conduct ourselves in the Celestial Harmony Sect."
Dave scowled, clearly still annoyed at his defeat. "How dare you scold me? Do you even know who I am?" he retorted, his tone laced with arrogance.
The senior disciple's expression darkened at Dave's response. "It doesn't matter who you are. You have shown a lack of respect for the rules and for your fellow cultivators. You are not worthy of being a part of the Celestial Harmony Sect."
With a nod to one of the other disciples, he ordered, "Please take him out. We cannot tolerate such behavior here."
The disciple nodded, approaching Dave and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but you must leave. Your actions have consequences."
Dave struggled against the disciple's grip. His face contorted with anger and disbelief. "You can't do this to me! I'll make sure you regret it!" he shouted, but the disciple remained firm, guiding him out of the arena.
The rest of the participants watched in silence as Dave was escorted away, their expressions a mix of shock and apprehension. They knew that the Celestial Harmony Sect was a strict and disciplined place, but they had never seen such swift and decisive action taken against one of their own.
As the commotion died down, the senior disciple turned his attention back to Aurora and her partner. "You have proven yourselves worthy," he said, his voice once again filled with respect. "Your bond is strong, and your skills are impressive. You are both welcome to join the Celestial Harmony Sect."
Aurora bowed respectfully, her expression calm and composed. "Thank you, senior disciple," she said, her voice steady. "It is an honor to be a part of such a prestigious sect."
The senior disciple smiled, his eyes glinting with pride. "The honor is ours," he replied. "May you continue to grow and prosper here in the Celestial Harmony Sect."
In the midst of the crowded arena, Orion stood silently, his eyes fixed on Aurora as she effortlessly defeated her opponent. He watched as her Ice Alpha Wolf emerged from its beast space, radiating power and grace that left the crowd in awe.
But what caught Orion's attention more than anything was the change in Aurora's demeanor. She had shed the cheerful and bubbly persona that she had displayed around him and replaced it with a cold and icy aura.
"It seems that her real personality is back when she's not with me," Orion muttered to himself, his eyes never leaving Aurora's figure in the arena.
[Host. It seems like she didn't care about other people except you, so that is why she uses her real personality.]
Orion chuckled at the thought. He had noticed the change in Aurora's demeanor as well. Around him, she was bubbly and cheerful, but in the arena, she was cold and calculating. He couldn't help but find this side of her intriguing.
"I think I like this personality better," he murmured to himself. "The happy personality is not really my type after all."
As he watched Aurora and her beast exit the arena, he couldn't help but wonder what other sides of her she kept hidden.
As the crowd began to disperse, the senior disciple's voice rang out once again, calling out the next pair for the arena. Everyone's attention was drawn to the center of the arena, eager to see who would be the next to face off in the final test.
To their surprise, the name that was called out was none other than Orion, one of the strongest cultivators in the group. Despite having a D-tier talent, his power was no joke, as proven by his performance in the previous test.
Orion stepped forward confidently, his eyes scanning the arena for his opponent. The crowd murmured with excitement, anticipating a thrilling battle between two of the most powerful cultivators in the group.
Aurora, who had been watching the events unfold from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity as she heard Orion's name called out. She had been impressed by his strength and abilities.
As Orion took his place on one side of the arena, his opponent was called forward. It was a young woman with dark hair and a serious expression. Her eyes locked firmly on Orion as she made her way to her spot on the opposite side of the arena.
Meanwhile, the elders of the Celestial Harmony Sect watched intently from the screens, their eyes fixed on Orion. They had heard of his exploits in the forest and were intrigued by this young man's potential. They knew that he could be a valuable asset to the sect, and they were eager to see what he could do.
The spectators' attention was immediately drawn to the two cultivators as they prepared for battle. The participants were curious about what beasts each of them had contracted and would use in this battle.