Not far from the city gate of Huiyue City, there was a teahouse.
The location was ideal — it offered a clear view of the warriors entering and leaving through the gate.
On this particular day, just as he sat there in idle boredom, sipping fragrant tea, a sudden commotion erupted from the direction of the city gate.
The warriors who had been queuing to enter the city were suddenly parting to either side of the road, as though clearing the way for some distinguished figure. Amid the crowd, scattered shouts could be heard —
A maid from the palace?
The commotion at the gate soon rippled over to the teahouse. The warriors drinking inside filed out one after another, converging on the street. In a short while, both sides of the wide avenue were packed with people, every gaze fixed on the city gate.
Though the crowd was large, not a sound could be heard — the scene was eerily silent.
The ground trembled faintly. The solid earth transmitted vibrations from the distance, as though thousands of troops were rushing toward this very spot.
Moreover, since the maidservants came out once every month, the residents and warriors of Huiyue City should have been long accustomed to it — there was no way they would gather to gawk like this.
Realizing this, he felt a pang of disappointment. It seemed the palace maidservants were not coming after all.
Still, he was curious. Who had come to Huiyue City to captivate so many warriors?
Before long, a majestic wolf-like demon beast suddenly leapt into view from outside the gate. Riding atop the beast was a demon warrior whom
"Make way, make way, all of you make way!" the demon warrior bellowed the moment he entered Huiyue City. He cracked a long whip in his hand, driving the onlooking warriors further back to widen the street.
Close behind him, a dozen more wolf-type demon beasts of similar size appeared, each carrying a demon warrior on its back. They fanned out to both sides of the street, lining up in formation to stand at attention.
Wasn't this the same demon patrol he had questioned a few days ago?
"Excuse me, friend — which big shot has arrived at Huiyue City to warrant such a grand reception?" A voice came from nearby, clearly belonging to someone just as puzzled, seeking answers from those around him.
"No idea." The person being asked craned his neck to peer outward, just as curious.
"If you don't know, why are you here watching?"
"Well, I'm here *because* I don't know. Aren't you?"
"Ahem…"
Just as the crowd murmured in confusion, debating what was really going on, two enormous heads suddenly poked through the city gate. Each head bore a single horn, pitch-black in color, the skull covered in hard, gleaming scales. Their eyes, slitted like a serpent's, radiated a cold light that sent chills down the spine.
"That's…" A knowledgeable warrior in the crowd gasped. He had already recognized exactly what these two demon beasts were.
The full forms of the beasts soon came into view. Beyond those massive heads, both creatures had a pair of wings sprouting from their backs. Their bodies were covered in something resembling dragon scales, and long tails swished lazily behind them, radiating an explosive sense of power.
"Thunderfire Winged Lizards — Rank Nine demon beasts!"
Not all demon beasts possessed the ability to take human form. Some would remain in their beastly shapes for their entire lives, and the Thunderfire Winged Lizard was clearly one such species. Even among Rank Nine demon beasts, it was a fearsome existence — innately commanding thunder and lightning fire, with a violent and ruthless temperament. Even a warrior at the second level of the Void Return Realm would be forced to flee at the mere sight of one.
The number of powerhouses capable of subduing such a beast was exceedingly small.
Yet here, two Thunderfire Winged Lizards had been reduced to beasts of burden, harnessed by reins looped around their necks. Trailing behind them, an extravagantly decorated carriage rolled slowly into Huiyue City.
The carriage was the very epitome of luxury, adorned with exquisite ornamentation. As the wheels turned, a delicate tinkling sound drifted from within — crisp, melodious, and utterly enchanting.
The carriage was wide open, with no doors or windows, only sheer pink curtains fluttering loosely on all sides. It seemed the owner of this beast-drawn carriage rather enjoyed being the center of attention.
Three people sat inside the carriage, but almost every pair of eyes in the crowd locked onto one of them in an instant.
He was a man dressed in a pristine white robe, lounging casually against a cushioned couch. He was strikingly handsome — the kind of man who turned heads wherever he went. He simply sat there in a relaxed, almost lazy posture, yet an air of noble grandeur radiated from his very being, making everyone around him feel suddenly insignificant.
The first time one looked at him, the thought that came to mind was simply: *What an elegant man.* But the second time one gazed upon him, one found themselves sinking into those eyes of his.
His eyes were bright, full of spirit, and seemed to emanate a peculiar, irresistible power. Any woman who met his gaze would find herself losing control without even realizing it — like a moth drawn to a flickering flame, compelled to throw herself toward it regardless of all else.