The nine White Tiger Captains behind him exchanged glances and followed suit. The metallic clatter of their armor rubbing together sounded especially clear in the silent courtyard.
Yet only a few steps after entering the mansion gates, Chong Changming and the others stopped in unison, their gazes turning toward the rear courtyard.
High above the back mountain, Emperor Fire surged into the sky. Seven-colored streams of light intertwined like a burning nebula. Though the scorching pressure of the Fire Dao Origin was blocked layer upon layer by the mansion's restrictions, faint traces still leaked out, allowing every Emperor Realm cultivator present to clearly sense the immense power contained within.
"Brother Zhao, what is that?" Chong Changming raised a brow slightly and pointed at the seven-colored flames above the back mountain, his tone carrying some surprise.
Such an intense Emperor Fire phenomenon was far beyond anything ordinary artifact forging could produce. Could this new steward also be proficient in the Artifact Dao?
Having received Lin Yi's instructions beforehand, Zhao Honglie was well prepared. With a smile, he gave a brief explanation. "Captain Chong, you may not know this, but Steward Lin learned as soon as he took office that many of the brothers' Emperor Artifacts were damaged, with nowhere to replace or repair them. He kept the matter close to heart. On the day he assumed office, he personally went to the Armor and Weapon Pavilion and brought all the damaged Emperor Artifacts piled up in the storeroom back to the mansion. He has been repairing them day and night without rest. Those seven-colored flames in the sky are the lingering glow of Emperor Fire from the Artifact Forging Room behind the mansion."
"I see."
Chong Changming froze for a moment, muttering to himself inwardly.
Repairing Emperor Artifacts was already time-consuming