A gale swept snowflakes across the sky as a hundred-man force broke through the clouds and advanced.
The mounts in the formation came in every strange variety: Azure Luans spread their shimmering wings, pale cyan whirlwinds condensing beneath their claws.
Mystic Tigers trod upon currents of air frozen into ice crystals. Hu Xiao's roars shook the surrounding snow grains until they trembled and scattered aside.
There were also Goshawks carrying guards in fitted battle garb, their iron beaks glinting coldly.
Every rider wore dark fitted attire, curved blades at their waists and longbows across their backs. The muscles on their bare arms were as solid as cast bronze. Though the biting wind lashed their faces, their gazes did not waver in the slightest.
The murderous aura radiating from them was so intense that even the Snow Eagles circling overhead did not dare approach.
At the center of the formation, two enormous dragons slowly beat their wings.
The Black Dragon on the left had scales that gleamed dimly like obsidian, and every breath it exhaled carried wisps of white mist.
The White Dragon on the right was covered head to toe in snowy scales, its horns crystalline as ice diamonds. Whenever it spread its wings, a fleeting rainbow trailed behind it.
Gilded chains were fastened around the dragons' necks, their other ends connected to a luxurious carriage.
The carriage was framed with Thousand-year Snow Pine Wood, with White Fox Fur Curtains embroidered in cloud patterns hanging on every side. Pearls dangling from the curtain corners swayed gently with the dragons' flight, chiming in soft, fragmented notes.
The carriage was pleasantly warm, Silver Thread Charcoal glowing faintly inside a silver brazier.
Two breathtakingly beautiful maidservants knelt upon soft cushions. The maid on the left wore a pink dress, her slender fingers gently