Southern Capital.
It was high summer, and li radiance scorched the sky.
A hush hung over the Imperial Palace and its surroundings. Only the occasional rumble of Divine Abilities operating in the Great Void could be heard, dull as drums, their echoes lingering.
The entire city resembled a tightly sealed furnace cauldron, its oppressive atmosphere enough to set hearts trembling. The Imperial House's prolonged absence lent this grand feast an even stronger sense of wind and rain gathering before a storm.
A new side hall stood beside the palace, its body fashioned from mystic gold and its roof capped with a disk of lightning. Heavenly soldiers stood solemnly on either side of the long white-jade steps. A bright gold plaque hung high beneath the eaves, bearing the words: [Mystic Thunder Hall].
The Purple Mansion cultivators took their seats inside. All were True Persons of the Thunder Department, and their circulating auras drew an ever-shifting layer of lightning across the hall's ceiling. Weihua's injuries had already healed. Seated at the head, he personally presided over this private feast, inviting only the Thunder Department's Divine Ability cultivators and excluding the other Purple Mansion cultivators.
For once, this elder of the Song Clan had shed his golden divine-thunder armor and changed into a plain apricot-yellow Robe of Law. His face looked much older, stripped of its former imposing majesty.
In high spirits, he raised his cup and smiled.
"In the recent battle against the White Lotus, my injuries had yet to heal. To my shame, I could not take the field beside you all, and I deeply regret it. Today, I must drink a few extra cups to celebrate your triumphant return."
Four people sat on either side below him.
Xu Xuan and Yin Guang sat nearest the front, followed by Xi Wuya