The Golden Crow sank in the west, while a green moon hung high in the middle of the sky. As the sun set and the moon rose, night had already deepened.
The autumn moon shone bright, frost lingered unseen, and it was another cool autumn night.
The only flaw was that a strange azure cloud drifted above Jiankang City, drawing in Moonlight Essence and snatching away seven or eight parts of the Lunar Essence that should have spread across heaven and earth, leaving only a scant remnant of moonlight to scatter over the mortal world.
If ordinary people raised their heads to admire the moon, they would not notice any change in its light. But if cultivators happened to be within Jiankang City, they would probably curse their mothers outright. And the various offices of the Great Liang Dynasty would likely have long since sent officials rushing over to demand an explanation.
Unfortunately, now...
The Capital City God had tightly shut its gates, the Censorate played deaf and mute, Wei Huaiwen drilled troops in the army, and the Imperial Demon Hunters paid no heed at all.
There was no one left to step forward and meddle in this business.
In a private garden somewhere within Jiankang City, milky-white broth bubbled in a bronze stove, sliced lamb rolled within it, and several scholar-officials raised cups and traded toasts. They spoke a few words of Ancient Buddha Zen and discussed the mysteries of heaven and earth for a while, enjoying themselves in easy comfort.
In terms of cultivation, the strongest among them had formed a Reverted Elixir, while even the weakest had succeeded in Qi Refinement. All of them could abstain from mortal grain.
Yet the clear wine in their cups, the rich meat in the pot, the river delicacies on their