Amid the cheers, more than a dozen streaks of wind-cutting sounds came from afar. Eighteen Soul Masters from Spirit Hall's aerial combat squad soared into the sky. Each had reached at least the Soul Saint level. They spread their Martial Soul wings and carried the enormous imperial banner of the Spirit Hall Empire, flying directly past the grandstand.
The banner was crimson, with a Six-Winged Angel embroidered at its center and Martial Soul designs in the background: the Demonic Flame Heavenly Dragon, the Clear Sky Hammer, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the White Tiger, the Phoenix, and others. The enormous banner, three zhang on each side, unfurled in the wind, its bright red fabric burning like flame beneath the sun. Guarding the banner, the eighteen flying Soul Masters circled steadily above the square three times.
From the square's northernmost end to its southernmost, people in every corner could see the banner clearly. Cheers rang out again, and countless people bowed toward it in the sky. It was the symbol of their new empire, a promise of peaceful days to come.
The common folk outside the city couldn't enter, but Murong Huai had taken that into account. He had prepared two banners, one inside Spirit City and one outside. Every half li, Murong Huai had men install amplifying devices, so Qian Xunji's voice could reach beyond the city walls as well.
After circling three times, the aerial squad secured the banner firmly to the flagpole in the center of the square. The crimson banner climbed slowly up the pole, finally reaching its peak, where it spread freely in the autumn wind and fluttered above all of Spirit City.
"The military review begins!" At the ceremonial elder's clear call, the parade officially began.
The first to enter was the Spirit Hall Empire's