Lishui Imperial Palace.
Above the Water Pavilion.
As time passed, the setting sun's golden radiance gradually turned orange-red, then slowly dimmed, finally sinking completely beneath the horizon.
After that, night fell, and a crescent moon rose, its silvery-white moonlight spilling over the lake.
As gusts of light wind blew past, silver scales kept rippling across the surface of the lake.
Above the Water Pavilion, Jiang Ning sat motionless as a boulder, only a hazy faint glow radiating around him, especially conspicuous in the dark night.
The entire island was utterly silent, without the cry of insects or birds.
Outside the island, the palace maids and guards on duty and patrol nearby would occasionally look toward Central Island, instinctive awe rising in their hearts.
In the blink of an eye.
The bright moon hung high, its cold, clear moonlight falling over the earth, shrouding Lishui Imperial Palace in a layer of gauze-like radiance.
Within the imperial palace, greenery flourished, and flowers and trees vied to bloom.
Throughout the imperial palace, specks of green fluorescence dotted every direction; they were fireflies fluttering about.
Under the reflection of the moonlight, they added a somewhat dreamlike beauty.
Time still flowed by slowly.
Outside the imperial palace, the Royal Capital gradually sank into sleep as well.
When the moon passed the zenith, Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.
Whoosh—
He exhaled a breath of stale air, the wave of air like a sword, shooting several zhang away and stirring up ripples across the water.
Afterward, he raised his head and looked at the sky.
"It's about time to go back!" he murmured, then rose to his feet.
Crackle—
As he stretched his bones and muscles, his whole body rang in unison, his Blood Qi surging.
The next instant.
His figure vanished from that place.