The Liao Capital.
The city was a vision of hell. Apricot-yellow Li fire burned everywhere, coating every brick and tile like gilding. Some people failed to escape and turned to drifting ash in an instant, without even time to scream.
The Purple Mansion True Persons present wore varied expressions as they watched the phenomenon. Most were already thinking of fleeing.
Weihua emerged from the Thunder Department. His golden armor reflected the burning Capital, the Song Clan descendants trapped within it, and the panicked soldiers around him.
His steps were heavy and his expression bitter, as though he had aged decades. In a strained voice, he said:
"Xing You, Bai Jun, you shall stay. Everyone else, leave the Divine Department from this moment onward. Depart at once!"
Chan Wei, Xi Wuya, Yin Guang, and True Person Qu Ling, who had come from overseas, all took their leave. None dared linger here.
Even the greatest fool understood that a tremendous upheaval was coming. It involved Golden Cores, something these Purple Mansion cultivators could never afford to become entangled in.
Xing You slowly stepped forward. Li radiance lit her face with a dazzling glow, and bloodfire gradually began streaming from her eyes.
She walked through the void toward the Song Clan kinsmen deep within the Liao Capital. Casting one final glance at Weihua, she declared fervently:
"Li fire shall descend upon the world."
Within the sole remaining Mountain Department, Bai Jun stood with his arms folded, clad in divine armor bearing a pure-white qilin pattern. Excitement filled his brown divine eyes. "Weihua, your Song Clan promised me that once I helped your clan unite the Liao Territory, you would grant me freedom!"
He had been brought into being through a Dharma method of "Heavenly Inquiry." He cultivated swiftly, had an affinity for the