"Boom..."
Sure enough, before Xiao Ying's roar had finished echoing, while everyone still stood stunned, a powerful aura surged from within the city. Like towering waves and raging surf, it swept toward the gate and enveloped everyone present.
Dazzling blue waves, layered distinctly like fish scales, surged endlessly out of the city and spread above the gate, as though water had flooded the sky.
Amid those rolling blue waves, the figure of a beautiful middle-aged woman in flowing blue robes flickered into view. Gentle and dignified in bearing, she looked down and demanded angrily:
"Who... dares roar inside the imperial city? Who dares slander Blackwater?"
As her stern, angry challenge rang out, a tremendous aura swiftly locked onto Xiao Ying, though outwardly she ignored him altogether.
"Immortal King Jinmian?!"
"Greetings, Immortal King!"
"Greetings, Immortal King Jinmian!"
A stir immediately swept through the thousands gathered at the gate. More than half swiftly knelt in greeting, revealing the newcomer's identity to Xiao Ying and his companions.
I deliberately used Heaven-and-Earth Transformation, manifested a thousand-zhang shaman body, and roared in public just to draw your attention! Can't you see me? Asking when you already know...
Xiao Ying grumbled inwardly, but swiftly put on an expression of indignant bewilderment and injured innocence as he answered loudly:
"Fang, High Priest of the Heaven-Grade Sky-Supporting Tribe, greets you, Senior! On Black Rock Island, I was fortunate enough to have the Immortal Emperor intervene on my behalf, and I deeply admire his wisdom and impartiality. I came expressly to pay my respects this time, only to suffer insults from colluding scoundrels who openly disrupted order and tarnished Blackwater's reputation. As High Priest of the Sky-Supporting Tribe, I may be killed, but I cannot be lightly humiliated. In my grief and indignation, I lost my composure. Everyone here