The atmosphere by the riverbank was quiet and gentle.
Lan Tian and Ah Yin stood side by side on the stone-paved road by the river, watching the Lotus Lanterns slowly drift away with the current.
Ah Yin's lantern had already blended into the flowing river of stars in the distance, impossible to distinguish from the others.
The river breeze blew across the water, carrying moisture and the faint smoky scent left behind by burning candles. It stirred Ah Yin's blue hair slightly.
Lan Tian reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The two stood by the river for a while, and the surrounding clamor seemed to have been carried farther away by the night wind.
A dull explosion suddenly sounded from the direction of the city center.
The sound was not loud, but it was heavy, like some massive object striking a stone wall.
Immediately afterward, a burst of dense commotion and cries of battle surged over from that direction. The crowd along the riverbank turned to look toward the city center. Some began backing away in panic, while others grabbed their children and hurried away from the riverbank.
Lan Tian frowned as the perception of the Blue Silver God Domain instantly spread toward the city center.
He sensed several streams of Soul Power clashing violently in the direction of the City Lord's Mansion. Mixed among them were the orderly, oppressive presence of military-standard Soul Power and several cold, vicious unfamiliar auras.
Someone was attacking the City Lord's Mansion.
Just as he swiftly assessed the situation, a thick stench of blood and a violent Soul Power fluctuation rapidly approached from the eastern part of the city.
That Soul Power fluctuation was extraordinarily unstable, carrying a mad frenzy that had lost all reason. Along with it came the thunderous