Water stretched endlessly, with no shore in sight.
High in the sky.
A mass of white cloud hung in place, with several officials in tall hats and flowing robes standing atop it.
Though fierce winds howled, they could not so much as stir the hems of their robes.
The officials included both men and women. A few were clearly from other races: one had antlers sprouting from his forehead, another's robe trailed a scaled tail.
At that moment, they all stood with dignified bearing and solemn expressions, gazing into the distance as they exchanged messages. "The Chongming Sect has always been greedy and faithless, selfish and self-serving. This generation's Holy Son, Pei Ling, dares to challenge His Majesty. Though he is arrogant and reckless, his boldness is quite unlike the sect's usual ways."
"Boldness? Not necessarily!" An official of another race shook his head slightly. His face was no different from that of a member of the Human Race, but a pair of crystalline antlers branched from his forehead. They looked less strange than elegant. His voice was melodious as he said, "The Sacred Sect's Holy Son openly provoked His Majesty. Do you think he would set out without a host of sect elders escorting him?"
"Even if he challenges His Majesty, Old Devils will surely be lurking nearby, ready to save him at the critical moment."
"From the very beginning, he had no need to fear for his life. What boldness is there in that?"
At this, a female official in a purple robe and jade belt, her long hair coiled beneath a black gauze hat, spoke up. "Even so, it still takes courage."
"Su Lijing, the former Sect Master of the Chongming Sect, never dared challenge our dynasty when he was the Holy Son."
The official whose robe