Pei Yanlai blew on the steam rising from his black tea, a cold smile curling his lips. "With Lu Zaizhou dead, the Anti-Western Faction has lost an entire generation of young talent."
"Once the Commander-in-Chief heads south and the new dynasty is established, our Pro-Western Faction will use the Westerners' mechanical ascension technology to take complete control of the City God Headquarters."
A trusted aide standing beside him hurriedly chimed in with flattery. "Elder Pei, your calculations are truly divine. How could Lu Zaizhou and that country bumpkin called Li Xiang possibly stand against your death soldiers? By now, the fish in the river have probably picked their bones clean."
"Hmph. An ignorant brat from a martial arts hall dared take the Nine Nether Force I had my eye on." Pei Yanlai snorted, disdain flashing in his eyes.
Just as he raised his cup to savor another sip of victory—
Clang!!!
Without warning, a deep, lingering bell toll exploded above the entire City God Headquarters—and even above all of Demon City—with a terrifying force that seemed capable of shattering souls.
This was no sound an ordinary bronze bell could make.
It carried fluctuations of laws that pierced space and crossed dimensions. The instant it rang out, the sandalwood incense burner in the quiet chamber exploded into powder. The bone china cup in Pei Yanlai's hand cracked into countless fragments, spilling scalding black tea all over him.
"This... what is this?!"
Pei Yanlai shot up from his grand tutor chair. His ruddy face turned deathly pale, and unprecedented terror flashed in his eyes.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
The tolling did not stop. Instead, it echoed wildly over Demon City, its rhythm growing ever more urgent and shrill.
One toll, two, ten...
Until it had sounded a full eighty-one times.
"The Heaven-Shaking Bell... nine