The team moved through the morning light, passing through the last stretch of woods, and the outline of Heaven Dou City finally appeared at the edge of their vision. Flags on the city wall drifted slowly in the breeze, and outside the gate, early-rising merchants had already formed a long line, waiting to enter. Everything seemed so peaceful, as ordinary as the early morning three days ago when they had set out.
But every one of them bore the marks left by those three days. Su Chen's arms hung limply at his sides, the sharp pain of his cracked bones reminding him with every step how terrifying that black beam of energy in the underground cavern had been. Li Yang carried the unconscious Chen Hao on his shoulder, thick earthy-yellow Soul Power forming a thin film of light between the two of them, both to hold Chen Hao's posture in place and to block any possible probing from the outside. Zhang Wan walked beside Lin Xue, her steps unsteady; repeatedly setting up formations had nearly drained all her Soul Power. Qian Renxue walked at the very front. Though her long hair had been tied up again, the disheveled strands and the blood still not wiped clean from the corner of her mouth revealed what kind of battle she had been through.
The guards at the city gate recognized Qian Renxue and immediately stood at attention, saluting her. Qian Renxue only gave a slight nod. Without saying another word, she led the team straight through the gate. Heaven Dou City had already awakened in the early morning. Breakfast stalls on both sides of the street steamed with heat; when bamboo steamers were lifted, white mist billowed up, carrying the scents of dough and meat through the air. A vendor selling candied