The appearance of the airship left every player in Azure City momentarily stunned. Even the major powers that had been invited to witness the Azure Chamber of Commerce's family competition were thoroughly astonished.
Setting aside just how rare airships were in the Divine Realm, the sheer scale of the thing was breathtaking. Those massive flying mounts looked like children's toys by comparison — there was simply no contest.
"What faction does that airship belong to? That's absolutely insane!"
"Could it be some super guild coming to watch the competition in Azure City?"
Players throughout Azure City buzzed with speculation as the airship streaked across the sky. The members of the various powers who had come to observe were especially curious about whoever was piloting the vessel.
Flying mounts did exist in the Divine Realm at this point, but in terms of aerial combat capability, they were no match for an airship — to say nothing of every other advantage it offered.
If any ordinary guild somehow got their hands on an airship right now, they could instantly elevate themselves, allowing their main force to rival those of first-rate guilds in leveling and development.
While everyone whispered among themselves, the airship slowly descended and came to a stop above the Azure Chamber of Commerce's headquarters plaza.
Once the airship had fully landed, every pair of eyes in the crowd fixed on its opening hatch. Everyone was burning with curiosity — who on earth had arrived in an airship?
Before long, several players draped in black cloaks with their information concealed stepped out from the airship. Among these cloaked figures, one woman in a deep blue, lavishly embroidered mage's robe became the immediate center of attention.
Not only did she radiate a formidable aura, but her level — a staggering 113 — was the highest anyone present had ever seen.
The legendary elder of the Sword of Violet was only level 112, and this woman was a full level above that. It spoke volumes about just how extraordinary she was.
"Miao Wuyin? Isn't that the Pang Family's woman?" A level-110 Tier 3 Ranger who had come to watch the competition pulled up Miao Wuyin's data and nearly choked on his own surprise. "When did the Pang Family come into contact with a power this formidable?"
"The Pang Family — beyond the Zeus Financial Group, they actually have another powerful faction backing them? No wonder they've been so defiant toward Zeus." The major powers all stared at Miao Wuyin with shock, never having expected the Pang Family to possess this kind of hidden strength.
In an instant, the way the various factions regarded the Pang Family shifted noticeably.
"What a show. They even flew in on an airship!" Back at the Azure Chamber of Commerce's compound, Pang Wushang watched the Crimson Dragon Airship slowly descend through the sky and couldn't help but curl his lip.
The Crimson Dragon Airship was essentially Zero Wing's signature in the Eastern Continent — much like the Sword of Violet's Phantom Dark Eagle over on the Western Continent. But with communication between the two continents completely severed, very few forces on the Western side knew about it. The ones who did could practically be counted on one hand.
"Uncle Fifth, this isn't a bad thing at all. At least our side's presence won't be outshone." Fen Xiao, standing nearby, smiled.
The Sword of Violet's reputation was simply too overwhelming. Even though they had only come to pick up Gu Han and the others, it was enough to make the non-family elders and senior members of the guild start reconsidering their loyalties — leaning toward those major families backed by Zeus. Some had even gone so far as to approach and curry favor on their own initiative, something you would never see under normal circumstances.
Even the non-family elders and senior members who knew full well that Zeus was putting on a deliberate show for everyone still couldn't help but feel drawn to the families Zeus had chosen to support, especially after witnessing the overwhelming presence of the Phantom Dark Eagle and that legendary Sword of Violet elder.
And the invited powers were even more eager to see just how far the Pang Family — without Zeus Financial Group's backing — could ultimately go in this competition.