Almost a year drifted by, and the Central Plains gradually came back to life.
The cities Hun Tiandi had sacrificed in blood had only been the densely populated ones. Many people in smaller cities, towns, and villages had survived.
After the catastrophe, life still had to move forward.
In small cities, towns, and mountain villages, young people unwilling to settle for ordinary lives set off on journeys of their own, hearts full of adventure.
They headed toward the ruins of the great cities, hoping to find opportunities within them.
Chance encounters happened every day. Of course, fighting and bloodshed were unavoidable too, but everything was moving toward a better future.
Time would smooth everything over. One day, those great cities reduced to ruins would be filled with people again.
Inside a newly opened tavern outside the ruins of a great city, a group of mercenaries who had come to explore gulped down drinks and boasted loudly.
"Have you heard? The emperor's getting married in a few days. He's marrying more than ten women-enough brides to fill two tables!"
"Huh? Which emperor are you talking about?"
"Who in the Central Plains dares call himself emperor these days besides the Great Love Emperor?"
"Don't talk nonsense. What do you mean, two tables? Do you think the emperor's wedding is like dinner at your house? I heard he's holding it at the newly rebuilt Great Love Alliance Headquarters. Every faction on the Dou Qi Continent will send people with wedding gifts. Dozens of Dou Sheng, over a hundred Venerables, more than a thousand Dou Zong, ten thousand sects paying homage-now that's a grand occasion!"
"Then shouldn't we go join the fun at the Great Love Alliance Headquarters?"
"Pfft, you? Only big shots who dominate their own territories can attend the wedding at the