Zhangchu State's Sorrow

It was two in the morning, and what a delight to see Lone Battle at the Ends of the Earth pop up despite his busy schedule. Better post the update first!

Thanks to Tianya for the generous support!

Only two monthly votes yesterday, the sixth... Please, I'm begging for monthly votes!!! Recommendation votes too!!!

The night was black as ink, and the wind carried a chill.

War drums rolled without end like thunder, while torches dotted the vast expanse of Chen City like stars, turning night into day.

War drums thundered and battle cries shook the sky, yet the blood-soaked barracks of the South Urban District lay silent. Only the faint footsteps of patrols moved through them.

Jian Shang sat cross-legged in the rear courtyard of the barracks' main hall, wholly absorbed in cultivation.

"Awooo..."

In the still of night, an eerie dragon's cry arose...

In an instant, an immense, majestic aura burst forth. It bore down on the South Urban District with such noble authority that people trembled and felt compelled to submit from the depths of their hearts.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

Wind and clouds surged through the overcast sky above the sprawling South Urban District. A huge, visible vortex hung over the Huan Kingdom barracks, drawing countless eyes.

Clouds followed the dragon; wind followed the tiger!

Within the enormous vortex, a creature could be faintly seen riding clouds and driving mist. Its horns resembled a deer's, its head a camel's, its mouth a donkey's, its eyes a turtle's, its ears an ox's, its scales a fish's, its whiskers a shrimp's, its belly a snake's, and its talons an eagle's.

This was unmistakably the divine beast of Chinese myth and legend—a dragon. A true Chinese dragon, not the "giant lizard" of Western tales!

Boom...

A blast shattered the