The waterfall-like chandelier glittered overhead, each diamond seeming to reflect the colorful expressions of everyone present.
Some people quietly backed away.
Fuck, this was way too intense. They had only just survived an aberration, and now someone was about to challenge the Chief Captain of the Dawn Blade.
Cheng Tianming didn't even give the Council Chairs face.
"Why bother..."
Cheng Tianming shook his head again. A trace of helplessness, disappointment, and regret flickered through his deep eyes.
Meng Chengfei keenly caught it. He stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched, his entire body trembling.
It seemed to him that the man before him no longer possessed the spirited confidence and battlefield valor of his younger days.
His frame was still imposing, his presence still formidable, but Meng Chengfei discovered, to his shock, that the Chief Captain's soul had grown old.
The man had yet to age, but his heart had already withered.
Back then, the Chief Captain had dared to swing the Great Axe and smash the Supreme Council Gate for the sake of a single squad member.
He had dared to venture deep into the Restricted Zone on the Front Lines, where Heavenly Dao Distortion exceeded 50%, to recover a squad member's remains.
But seeing him again ten years later, Meng Chengfei felt boundless sorrow and a profound sense of powerlessness.
In the past, even if Duke Han Xi had been his friend, he would have put justice above personal ties.
Rules were rules.
Principles were principles.
But now, one of Sky City's greatest fighters had compromised with the nobles.
"Xiao Meng, you've been through a great deal over the years. You should understand that things are chaotic now. For the greater good, some matters must be kept under control first. Sky City faces threats from within and