The Central Heavenly Palace stood majestic, a lustrous sheen flowing over it. Built from imperishable crimson stone, this place had borne witness to who knew how many Human Emperors of the Fire Kingdom since ancient times.
Before the main hall, along the dragon walkway, numerous pillars came into view. Thick and archaic, they stood in an orderly arrangement, giving the impression that they anchored the earth.
"These carvings..." Di Yi walked slowly, studying the reliefs on those pillars.
Most depicted the Ten Fiends, supplemented by other Primordial Ferocious Beasts. Yet the Ten Fiends were not all present. The Thunder Emperor, Nine-Nether Ao, and God-Striking Stone, whom he had heard about from Heavenly Desolate, were all absent.
Clearly, his earlier conjecture had been correct. The so-called Ten Fiends were subjectively bestowed titles, and not all living beings acknowledged this ranking.
Moreover, judging by the arrangement of these pillars, the most prominently featured was the Vermilion Bird, not the True Dragon, True Phoenix, or the like, whose positions were secondary to it.
"Fire Emperor, your younger clansman once gave us his word, yet now he keeps looking left and right and talking about everything else. Does he intend to break his promise?"
The main hall's doors stood open, not closed. Di Yi was still climbing the steps and had yet to enter the palace when he heard the argument within.
"I will not repeat myself. Either wait or leave on your own."
This was the Fire Emperor's voice.
"But we cannot wait, nor will we leave. If your Fire Kingdom goes back on its word, you will bear the consequences."
"Rules are rules. I will make no exception for any individual or power. If you truly wish to cause trouble, you will be the ones to bear the consequences."
"Is that so?