"Dong—"
Seated on the high platform, Yuan Chu of Dragon Tiger Mountain tapped the small bell beside him with a tiny hammer, marking the beginning of the Debating Conference.
"All fellow Daoists, it has been four hundred years since the last Debating Conference was convened. I, Yuan Chu, by the decree of the Heavenly Master of our school, call this meeting to order on the occasion of the Double Ninth Festival."
"The purpose of convening this Debating Conference is twofold. First, to unite fellow Daoists to discuss important matters and respond to the rampant acts of the Demon Path. Second, to determine the hierarchy among us by comparing our relative strengths and standings."
"If we are to debate, let's begin now. It's better to establish the pecking order earlier, so no one later claims that our positions do not match our virtues." From Luo Fu Palace, a middle-aged Taoist dressed in blue, Lin Jianfeng, spoke out.
