The Capital of Liao.
This mighty city, which had stood in the northern reaches for a thousand years, was now collapsing amid raging flames. The once-impenetrable iron-gray cloud qi that shrouded it rapidly dispersed. Sky Wolf's breath no longer showed mercy to this bitterly cold land.
A fiercer beast had descended.
The origin net hung low in the firmament like a vast, indifferent eye, mercilessly scattering Li fire woven from vermilion and apricot yellow. Its radiance poured down in intermingling streams, dyeing the entire Capital a heart-stopping blood-red.
Long ago, the Shulü and Yelü clans had declined and been forced to seek refuge in the bitter cold of the far north.
Their forebears had cleaved mountains and broken seas, exhausting their lifeblood to build the northern reaches' sole mighty capital. Now, this city cast from cold iron melted beneath the scorching Li fire.
The tribespeople scattered in panic, seeking only to escape that brutal blaze.
In mere moments, the bustling metropolis stood deserted. Only a few traces of Divine Ability auras lurked within the great void, and even they were ready to withdraw at any moment.
Heavenly soldiers and divine generals arrayed themselves across the sky, encircling the Capital so tightly that not a drop could escape.
Above the great void, evil clouds churned.
A phantom kingdom rose and fell within them. Yelü Tan stood inside it, looking down at the burning former capital with an unreadable gaze.
When he first attained a Divine Ability, he had laid a brick in this city with his own hands. Now he watched that iron brick melt and vanish into Li fire. Behind him stood two men: Prince Lingchi, Xiao Jun, and the Crown Prince of Great Liao, Xiao She.
Xiao Jun clenched his silver saber. Threads of black blood flowed from the