On the western side of the Dragon Palace, morning light seeped through the golden barrier, casting a pale golden glow over the white jade paving.
Zi Yuner had changed into dark purple everyday robes instead of the Dragon King's ceremonial attire she had worn that morning.
She wore only a silver-thread belt, her long hair casually pinned up with a purple jade hairpin.
She stood before the mountain gate of Dragon Snow Mountain, looking up at the winding stone steps, her gaze calm and distant.
Dragon Snow Mountain was the seat of the Dragon Palace's Elder Council.
Three Grand Elders lived there year-round.
As in an ordinary sect, the Dragon King of the Purple Sky Dragon Palace was equivalent to the sect master, responsible for the Dragon Palace's daily operations.
But the ones who truly carried weight and influence were the Elder Council behind the throne.
The three Grand Elders-now there should only be two-were the pillars of the Dragon Palace, the spiritual symbols of the Purple Sky Dragon Palace.
Even the Purple Sky Dragon King bowed respectfully and spoke courteously when meeting the three of them.
Tiny pieces of luminous ore were embedded among the coral thickets on either side of the stone steps.
They shimmered with a Netherblue Light in the morning sun, shrouding the entire mountain ridge in a solemn, ancient atmosphere.
When the Dragon Scale Guards at the gate saw Zi Yuner, they dropped to one knee in salute, but did not immediately clear the way.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Supreme Elder is performing his morning exercises. He instructed us that he would receive no visitors today."
Zi Yuner showed no anger.
This was normal. Her status as Dragon King was exalted, but it carried little weight at the elders' residence.
She merely took a palm-sized