The grand carriage slowly drew to a halt, and the ceremonial escort gradually stopped in formation beside the road.
Seeing this, most of the demons who had followed dispersed, thinning the surrounding crowds considerably. Those who remained to watch could already guess where Gu Rui, the Holy Maiden, and their party were headed from the route they had taken.
The Demon Fighting Arena at Azure Sea Lake's Northern Sky Prison!
The prison's Demon Fighting Arena had always maintained strict rules. Any demon wishing to enter and watch had to spend spirit stones on a spectator pass before being admitted.
Gu Rui had made all the arrangements well in advance today. With the Saintess of the Thousand Mechanisms Demon Sect attending in person and the Third Prince accompanying her, everyone knew that spectator passes for this event would probably be driven to astronomical prices in an instant.
However, this gathering at the Demon Fighting Arena was a private banquet arranged by the Second Prince, not a public event. Ordinary outsiders were forbidden entry, much to the regret of the many princes and nobles of the Nine Great Demon Clans.
On reflection, it was only reasonable. The Holy Maiden had come from afar as an honored guest of Azure Sea Lake, so there was nothing unusual about the Second Prince arranging a private event at the Demon Fighting Arena.
Ranks upon ranks of demon soldiers already stood solemnly outside the prison entrance, their armor reflecting the watery light with a chilling severity.
Before their ranks stood a tall, powerfully built commander. Spiritual power lay dense and steady around him, and the formidable cultivation of a sixth-tier demon cultivator radiated from him in an intimidating pressure.
He was Shui Xu, warden of Northern Sky Prison, who hailed from the Arrowfish Tribe, one of