The ground trembled.
The entire fortress rumbled.
The snake patterns on the Stone Platform began to writhe. The twisted snakes seemed to come alive, slithering across the platform's surface with soft rustling sounds.
An eerie, chilling aura surged up from deep within the Stone Platform, like a Vicious Ghost that had been in deep sleep for years was awakening.
Withered Elder leaned on his cane.
A trace of laughter lingered in his aged voice.
"Your Excellency."
"The moment I entered this hall, this game was already over."
"Do you know?"
"This fortress was built a hundred years ago."
He no longer seemed hurried. He began muttering to himself, yet it also seemed as though he were speaking to that blurry figure.
"Back then, the north was not yet ruled by aristocratic families."
"The Imperial Court had the final say."
"Not every major city had a fortress then."
"There were only seven at first, and the one in Ninggu City was among those first seven."
"The world knows how terrifying fortresses are."
"They are a major city's greatest trump card."
"I imagine you felt its power when you attacked the fortress back then."
"What a pity."
"Tianquan was not strong enough."
"He had no way to fully unleash its terrifying might."
"Moreover, we never expected Secret Organizations like yours to dispatch several Great Sirs at once."
"That was why you managed to take advantage."
"Otherwise, how could the likes of you have captured Ninggu City?"
There was a trace of bitter resentment in his voice.
Wang Tianquan was not only the lord of Ninggu City, but also his beloved adopted son. Otherwise, why would he, already enjoying his retirement, have needed to come to Ninggu City in person?
"Today, I'll show you the fortress's true power."
"I'll avenge my son!"
As