Sky Island, Upper Yard, the ruins of the Shrine of God.
As the last wisps of dust slowly settled beneath sunlight piercing the clouds, a deathly silence fell ten thousand meters above the ground. Elderly Skypieans slumped beside the cloud streets, Shandia warriors' hands trembled slightly around their weapons, and children huddled in their mothers' arms-every gaze focused on the towering figure standing before the ruins, his green robe billowing.
Guan Yu sheathed his blade, the metallic rasp ringing especially clearly in the silence. He turned, his molten-gold Dragon Eyes sweeping over the frightened or bewildered faces bowed to the ground. Rayquaza's pressure slowly receded, but that majesty transcending the hierarchy of life remained almost tangible, making everyone who met his gaze instinctively lower their heads.
"The false god has been executed, and disorder has been quelled." Guan Yu's voice rang out, deep as a bell, echoing across Upper Yard. "From this moment onward, this realm beyond the heavens shall fall under the rule of the Kaiyuan Empire. All who abide by the Huaxia Code and uphold imperial order shall be His Majesty's subjects and enjoy the Empire's protection."
He raised a hand and pointed toward the outline of the Golden Bell, faintly visible in the sky deep within the distant forest. "The bell silenced four hundred years ago shall ring for today's new order."
As his words fell, Guan Yu shifted slightly, and auspicious clouds formed beneath his feet. He did not fly, but walked upon the clouds, each step seeming to land on an invisible stair as he headed toward the enormous vine structure deep within Upper Yard's forest. His green robe rose in the wind, and his dragon horns gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Deep within the forest, atop the tangle of enormous vines.
After four hundred