In the Imperial Capital, west of the Imperial Palace and next to Profound Heaven Abbey, stood a great hall.
It was called "Dragon Ascension Hall."
Legend had it that the Founding Emperor had discovered a dragon vein here long ago.
He had thus ordered the palace and capital built here to imprison the dragon vein.
Beneath Dragon Ascension Hall lay an underground palace.
Although the bodies of the Founding Emperor and the Late Emperor were buried in the imperial mausoleum in the Outskirts of the Capital,
their spirit tablets were enshrined in the underground palace, nourished by the dragon vein's energy.
Not only that, the underground palace also held many rare treasures, which complemented the dragon vein's energy.
Thus, Dragon Ascension Hall had become the Imperial Clan Ancestral Land, and no one was ordinarily permitted to approach.
The hall was opened only for major ceremonies and sacrificial rites involving the Imperial Household.
Today was the Late Emperor's memorial ceremony.
Emperor Xuan and several imperial consorts attended with the princes, princesses, and imperial relatives.
The civil and military officials were also gathered there, along with many powerful experts from the Imperial Capital.
A magnificent pale-gold barrier, radiating tremendous energy, sealed off all of Dragon Ascension Hall.
Inside, the sacrificial ceremony was underway.
The imperial ceremony was exceptionally grand, all the more so because this ceremony also commemorated the victory over the Barbarian Tribe and celebrated the Late Emperor's achievements.
After Emperor Xuan led the imperial clansmen in burning incense and paying their respects,
the civil and military officials began to pay theirs.
They performed all manner of elaborate sacrificial rites.
This was not the first such ceremony, and the officials were already familiar with the proceedings.
Yet today's ceremony felt strange at every turn.
At the beginning of the ceremony,
the