The Imperial Capital.
Farmland on the outskirts.
Two figures appeared without a sound.
They wore bamboo hats. One was tall and powerfully built; the other was short and petite.
"How did it go?"
The taller one asked.
"Smoothly enough. Our people are in position at all eight points around the Imperial Capital. Cultivators spotted only one group, and they've been silenced," the shorter one said.
"Pass on my order. Begin immediately," the taller one said.
"Yes!"
The shorter one took out a diamond-shaped communicator and began speaking rapidly.
The taller one raised both hands and swiftly formed a Mystic Seal.
Unlike ordinary Mystic Arts, it was also distinct from a normal Imago—
Each time his Hand Seal changed, waves of resonance sounded through the Void.
It sounded as though many people were casting the same art at once.
A full two minutes passed.
Then he shouted, "Rise!"
A black wall rose from the ground.
It shot into the sky and spread toward the ends of Heaven and Earth.
At the same time,
black walls rose and spread in the other directions too.
They drew together, joining without the slightest seam, and swiftly enclosed the entire Imperial Capital.
"Every time I see it, I tremble at the greatness of Truth,"
the short woman said with feeling.
"Yes. This is a true Imago. An Imago blessed by Truth is invincible," the tall man said.
He opened his hand.
A broken shard of metal lay in his palm, releasing wisps of an inexplicable power.
"The cage is ready. The lords should be moving to deal with humanity's government now."
"We only need to guard this position."
"Yes!"
Half an hour earlier.
The Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace Back Garden.
The Human Emperor, Lu Chaowu, sat on a folding stool with a fishing