The Taichu Golden Sky-Cruiser pierced through the sea of purple spirit-clouds, its five-hundred-meter hull gleaming with radiant amber light.
Below the clouds lay Central Sky-Jade City, the beating commercial heart of the Nine Prefectures.
It was a staggering metropolis of floating sky-islands connected by arched bridges of translucent white jade. Hovering crystal palaces, gold-domed pagodas, and soaring spires stretched across the horizon. Fragrant clouds of powdered ambergris incense drifted from the terraces of high-end teahouses.
In the exact center of the floating city rose the Continental Headquarters of the Immortal Merchant Pavilion.
The structure was shaped like an eight-thousand-foot pyramid of solid, polished gold. Cascades of liquid spirit-water fell from its tiered terraces, feeding hanging gardens filled with rare celestial blossoms. Flying carriages drawn by winged white stags darted between the golden tiers.
The sky-cruiser docked smoothly against the white marble platform of VIP Cloud-Pier Number One.
The boarding ramp extended with a soft mechanical hiss.
Lin Mo walked down the ramp, his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets. He wore his simple dark tunic, looking more like an unhurried scholar on vacation than a tycoon controlling fifty-two trillion stones.
