Dragon City's thousand-zhang walls rose straight into the hazy dusk clouds. Golden evening light spilled down, setting the city walls aglow like a palace of golden immortals, dazzling beyond compare.
The enormous black banner bearing the character "Yin" atop the walls was the most eye-catching sight.
The area before Dragon City's gates had already been cleared.
Numerous cultivators watched from within the city and atop the walls, discussing animatedly among themselves. Clearly, they were all exceedingly curious about the people of Zhuxi Kingdom.
Xu Yan and Gongsun Ye had also climbed the undulating Beacon-Fire Pavilion along the city wall, looking down below.
Qin Nishang wore a splendid princess gown, her face solemn and dignified, radiating noble grace. Had Xu Yan not seen how she acted in private, he would certainly have been fooled by her current bearing.
She was leading a group of royal descendants and ceremonial guards in welcome.
The Fifth Prince, Qin Longxiang, was among them as well. He looked utterly improper, scratching at his ears and cheeks, clearly reluctant to be there.
Qin Nishang shot him a blade-sharp glance. He immediately behaved himself, like a startled little rabbit.
The Zhuxi delegation drew closer and closer. Several dozen enormous elephants halted before the gates, their presence immensely oppressive.
There was not the slightest fear in Qin Nishang's eyes as she stood firm and valiant in place. The Fifth Prince, however, stared at those giant elephants and black-armored soldiers with a somewhat panicked expression.
A group of Zhuxi Kingdom's royal nobles descended from the elephants.
Leading them were several youths. They held their chins slightly high, their gazes sweeping down with disdain, wearing the air of those who looked down upon all beneath heaven.
"That youth is Zhuxi Kingdom's Ninth Prince, isn't he? He has come to observe the