Infernal Affairs (Second Update)

Hidden Dragon City was only a mid-sized city, so it was never very large. Both the City Lord's Manor and the Heaven-Sacrificing Altar stood near its center.

For all the grandeur of King Wuhuan's royal procession, it did not have far to travel.

The procession moved slowly—very slowly—from the moment it left the palace, yet it still reached the altar square in less than the time it took to eat a meal.

By then, dense ranks of Yellow Turban Strongmen surrounded the square. They formed a formidable wall of flesh around the altar, making the assembled guests think twice about causing trouble.

The famed Ravenous Wolf Guards poured into the square behind the royal carriage. King Wuhuan stepped down and slowly climbed the altar stairs, one step at a time...

Atop the altar stood a jade table half as tall as a man, complete with incense and offerings. Yu Qing, temporarily serving as master of ceremonies, waited with four dignified elders for his lord to arrive and the founding ceremony to begin.

"Hah..."

Under countless watching eyes, King Wuhuan climbed the last stair and took his place at the altar's summit.

"Dong, dong, dong..."

As Jian Shang came to a halt, bells rang across Hidden Dragon City and echoed between heaven and earth. Nine tolls sounded in succession, representing the ultimate number.

Of course, King Wuhuan was declaring himself a king, not an emperor. There were only nine tolls, unlike the endless, earth-shaking bells that had rung when Qin Shi Huang proclaimed himself the emperor for all ages.

"The ceremony to honor Heaven... begins!"

The bells fell silent, though their echoes lingered. Yu Qing raised his voice, sending his call for miles...

"The ceremony to honor Heaven... begins!"

Voices answered Yu Qing from every direction around Hidden Dragon City. Their