A year had passed since the Zhongzhou Sect attacked Chaoge City. Repairs to the Imperial Palace were finally nearing their initial completion, and with help from One-Thatch Studio and other sects, the Imperial City Grand Formation had grown even stronger. After ascending the throne, the New Emperor had implemented many benevolent policies. The residents of Chaoge City no longer worried every day that lightning and fire might fall from the sky and kill them. Everything was slowly recovering.
In the Great Hall, the Divine Emperor was discussing affairs with his ministers.
In the Side Hall, Gu Qing sat at a desk reading memorials, while Consort Hu watched him from nearby.
A Piao floated among the rafters, and Ping Yongjia lay flat on a couch.
A chill came from the deepest part of the hall. Though they were indoors, wind and snow kept falling, scattering toward a spot on the floor.
Yuan Qijing sat there. All the wind and snow that fell on him sank into his body, without the slightest trace spilling out.
A breeze swept past, and Jing Jiu appeared in the Side Hall.
Delight appeared on Ping Yongjia's and A Piao's faces, and they hurried over to bow. Then they remembered the strange phenomenon last night and did not know what to say to console him.
Jing Jiu walked up to Yuan Qijing and bowed deeply, with the utmost solemnity.
Yuan Qijing kept his eyes closed and ignored him.
By rights, such a breach of courtesy should never have come from the holder of the Green Mountain Sword Law.
Only then did Gu Qing react. He hurried to his master's side, ready to report everything that had happened over the past year as quickly as possible, but Jing Jiu stopped him with a wave.
He walked into the