Travel several hundred li south from the northernmost reaches of the Star Luo Empire near the Star Dou Great Forest, and a sprawling city would come into view.
Star Shield City-the shield of the Star Luo Empire, as its name proclaimed.
This was the Star Luo Empire's military fortress against the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, with a standing army of a hundred thousand. At the same time, Star Shield City served as the empire's training ground, sending a steady stream of excellent soldiers to the borders.
Yet in peacetime, this grim fortress of steel was no different from an ordinary city. Its proximity to the Star Dou Great Forest meant that its Soul Master industry flourished, and its hotels were fully booked every day. Since these lofty Soul Masters never lacked money, Star Shield City's revenue far outstripped that of other cities.
Self-sufficient in every respect, Star Shield City was the empire's showpiece.
But this city, with its ten-thousand-year history, was steeped in a stagnant, senile air that even the staggering daily flow of people could not wash away.
Bureaucracy ran rampant in Star Shield City, and nobles held sway. The common people lived in utter misery. Here, only Soul Masters could live like normal human beings, and the vile customs passed down in Star Shield City for tens of thousands of years were likewise scorned by the continent's other powers.
The Star Luo Empire had always been an empire of iron and blood. Its imperial family was ruthless, and its nobles were no less cruel.
Every year, children in Star Shield City who naturally awakened evil Martial Souls were burned to death at the stake.
Yet no one on the continent intervened in this barbaric custom, nor could anyone do so.
After all, they were