The sky was blue, the wind fragrant. After Lin Qi ascended the throne of the Dragon Mountain Empire, Yun, as imperial prime minister, carried out sweeping reforms on the formerly gaudy, vulgar palace. Ancient Eastern pavilions and Western court architecture were organically blended together, forming a peculiar style that was dignified and grand, majestic and solemn.
Dark-gold palaces stood upon snow-white jade foundations, linked by Rainbow Bridges. Several rushing streams wound between the palaces. Within those deep, living rivers, fish and dragons truly danced in wondrous profusion—vast numbers of carnivorous fish-beasts bearing dragon bloodlines lurked beneath the currents, waiting for unfortunate invaders to arrive.
Beside these rivers, where killing intent lay hidden, vast numbers of flowers had been planted according to Yun and Princess Qingli's preferences. Both women had quiet, tranquil temperaments and favored flowers in elegant, pale shades. Lilies and orchids of every variety thus adorned the entire imperial palace. When the breeze blew, floral fragrance spilled everywhere, wrapping the whole palace in its scent.
As for Elysian Heaven, she greatly admired the Miro Divine Cult's sacred Bodhi trees. Thus, large numbers of towering Bodhi trees had now been planted throughout the Dragon Mountain Empire's imperial palace. The lush Bodhi trees, purchased at great cost from the Eastern Subcontinent, soared into the clouds, making the surrounding palaces appear ever taller and more magnificent.
Barrel swayed his burly body as he walked ahead, while thirteen Sovereign Council envoys followed behind him with dark expressions. These thirteen immensely powerful envoys looked so grim and ugly that they resembled misers who had saved wealth for thousands of years, only to have it all snatched clean away by a single brick on the street. The grievance choked them so badly that they wished they could slap Barrel to death.
Along both sides of