The bell rang out, its lingering notes echoing over the square.
Solemn and majestic, they reverberated like thunder, shaking hearts and minds.
Everyone's gaze, from the Fusion Cultivators leading the various sects to the Heaven's Chosen disciples below, involuntarily turned upward.
Their gazes turned toward the magnificent, towering palace gates beyond the nine jade steps, shimmering with flowing light.
Creeeeak-
As the palace gates slowly swung open, two files of Imperial Guards emerged, clad in gleaming silver spirit armor, their auras formidable and steady.
Their steps were perfectly synchronized as they silently took their places on either side of the jade steps and stood at solemn attention.
Judging by their auras alone, every one of these guards was at the Golden Core Late Stage, while the two at their head possessed Nascent Soul auras.
Although such cultivation was not particularly high compared with those present, it still offered a glimpse of the imperial family's strength.
Immediately afterward, a procession of richly dressed imperial family members and high ministers of extraordinary bearing slowly appeared, led by two men and one woman.
There were around a hundred of them, most at the Nascent Soul realm.
Only the three at their head surpassed the others behind them in cultivation; they were mighty Fusion Cultivators.
Judging by their clothing, the three were probably members of the imperial family.
The group arrived below the jade steps and stood at their respective places, but no one ascended to the supreme purple-and-gold imperial seat.
They simply stood there in solemn silence, not one of them speaking.
The disciples of the various sects below watched in confusion and could not help murmuring among themselves.
"Where's the Imperial Sovereign? The imperial family has appeared, so why hasn't the Imperial Sovereign shown himself yet?"
"Exactly. We've waited so long, and