Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.
This greatest city of the Heaven Dou Empire was unnaturally quiet.
There were no pedestrians on the streets, and the doors and windows of the shops were tightly shut. Even the wind seemed to have had its throat seized, unable to stir even a speck of dust.
The city guards who should have been stationed at the gates were nowhere to be seen. Only a few flags hung listlessly from the empty gate tower like faded scraps of cloth.
Everything resembled the calm before a storm.
Tang Sect Inner Court.
Tang Wen, the sect master, sat beside the bed with a yellowed picture book in hand, turning its pages one by one for his daughter.
Tang Ya was curled beneath the covers, with only her little face exposed. Her large eyes blinked restlessly, without the slightest hint of sleepiness.
"Daddy, when Ya'er grows up, I'll definitely make the Tang Sect even more powerful than it was ten thousand years ago. I'll make everyone know the Tang Sect's name."
Tang Wen chuckled and reached out to tuck in her blanket.
"Your most important task right now is to sleep properly for Daddy."
Tang Ya pouted, about to say something.
"Boom—"
The entire room shook violently. The teacup at the bedside rolled to the floor and shattered into pieces.
The picture book on the table slid to the ground. Several candles went out, while the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls swayed crookedly before finally settling.
Tang Wen sprang to his feet. The gentleness on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by almost instinctive vigilance.
Tang Ya's little face turned pale from fright, and even her voice changed pitch. "Daddy, what happened?"
Tang Wen took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions