Within the Purple Gold Hall, the glazed dome refracted a dark-golden glow, while the black patterns coiled around the dragon pillars seemed to writhe faintly like living things.
Wutian sat upright upon a throne forged from the Nine-layered Lotus Platform. His black imperial robe trailed across the golden brick floor, the golden You Ming Brahma Patterns embroidered on its hem rising and falling gently with his breathing.
On either side below the throne stood the Civil and Military Officials. To the left were generals clad in dark armor, their auras grave and condensed; to the right were civil officials holding jade tablets, their faces veiled in thin gauze, quietly discussing the reinforcement of the Three Realms' barrier.
"Your Majesty!"
"Disaster has struck!"
A frantic cry abruptly shattered the hall's solemnity. A black-robed general stumbled into the Purple Gold Hall, his armor still stained with fresh black blood. His knees slammed heavily into the golden bricks, shaking fine cracks across the floor.
Supporting himself with both hands, he said in a voice trembling beyond control, "The Holy Land barrier has been attacked by an unknown force! They used a powerful light to breach the barrier. The border guards fought to the death to stop them, but... but they could not hold them back!
"In barely half an hour, three thousand brothers have already died, and the defensive line is about to collapse!"
"Presumptuous!"
Wutian slammed his palm against the throne's armrest. Several cracks instantly split across the lotus platform, the temperature in the hall plunged, and specks of black mist emerged within the dark-golden glow.
Scarlet killing intent flashed through his eyes, dark elemental spiritual power surging around him like raging waves. "The Holy Land is the source of dark power in the Three Realms. Its barrier was forged with the