As turmoil raged in the Extreme North, Dragon City—the ancestral land of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan deep within the Heaven Dou Empire—was shrouded in a heavy, oppressive atmosphere of grief.
The wounds from the Battle of Dragon City had yet to heal. The collapsed city walls had not been fully repaired, and the scorched earth bore witness to the carnage of that day. The air still seemed to carry a faint scent of blood and lingering sorrow. The clan's numbers had dwindled drastically. Many once-familiar courtyards now stood empty, while the survivors wore lingering grief, the exhaustion of having survived disaster, and a hatred carved into their bones.
Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen stood before the ancestral hall. The Thunder Douluo, once so commanding and formidable, now appeared far more stooped from behind. His once-sharp eyes were bloodshot and filled with profound sorrow. He gazed at the densely packed new spirit tablets within the hall. Many belonged to nephews and juniors he had watched grow up, while others belonged to old brothers who had fought at his side for years. Nearly half the clan elders had fallen in that battle, and fewer than one in ten elite disciples remained. The clan had suffered grievously, its foundations badly damaged. The pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had nearly been shattered by force.
"Father, the wind is cold. You must take care of yourself," Yu Tianheng said softly as he walked up behind Yu Yuanzhen. The youthful innocence had faded from his face, replaced by a maturity and resolve beyond his years. The Battle of Dragon City had forced him to grow quickly and shoulder far greater responsibilities.
Yu Yuanzhen turned around and looked at his outstanding son. A trace of gratification flashed through his eyes, but there was