Five hundred miles southwest of Azure Fall City, at the heart of the Celestial Dragon Empire's capital, the towering golden roofs of the Inner Imperial Palace gleamed beneath a cold afternoon sun.
Inside the private imperial study behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the air smelled of ancient sandalwood and black ink.
Seated upon a wide dragon-carved couch of yellow imperial silk was Emperor Huang Long. Though he had ruled the Empire for centuries as a True Martial Emperor, his outward appearance was that of a tall, handsome man in his prime with long black hair, sharp golden eyes, and a terrifying, oppressive aura that made the air around him feel heavy as lead.
In front of the couch knelt Second Prince Huang Xuan, his forehead pressed respectfully toward the golden carpet, while Chief Eunuch Gao held open the silk-lined lockbox containing the five Dragon-Nourishing Jade Talismans brought back from the Royal Nine-Dragon Hot Springs Villa.
