Imperial Palace of Heaven Worship!
The jet-black, polished floor was like a vast mirror, reflecting the gilded decorations on the ceiling of the great hall.
The floor tiles had been fired with extraordinary care. They looked cold, yet were actually warm and smooth; even barefoot, one would neither freeze nor slip upon them.
The craftsmen's skill in fitting the tiles together had been superb. There was not the slightest seam in the floor, as though it had been fired in a single piece.
A figure was reflected upon the floor as he slowly walked forward, his footsteps echoing between the towering pillars.
"Imperial Palace of Heaven Worship—the residence of the sovereign of mankind, the common ruler of all under heaven—has been steeped in the lifeblood of more than ten Martial Saints."
"Who could have imagined that one day, someone would go utterly mad and murder a Sealed Lord within this palace?"
"Though he made one wrong decision and committed a grave mistake, he remained in office. To murder him without first stripping him of his rank is a sin that Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate."
The voice belonged to Zhou Nanwang. No one had expected him to suddenly travel from the distant Southern Border to the capital. While the outside world was locked in a battle raging like wildfire, he had entered the Imperial Palace of Heaven Worship alone.
He appeared to be speaking to the empty great hall, but he had a target—and that target answered him.
"Hehe, the assassin of the Sealed Lord was named Mu Sigui. He was a mixed-blood shaman, and also the ally of your adopted son, Zhou Daqian."
"Zhou Daqian was originally named Zhou You. He was a common-born youth from the north who rose to prominence while resisting the shaman invasion. You took