The evening wind howled softly across the battlements of Taichu Sanctuary City.
Patriarch Shi stood on the fortress wall, his weathered hands trembling as he reached deep into his spatial ring.
Beside him, the eleven other patriarchs of the Righteous Ancient Guardian Clans moved in solemn unison.
From their storage rings, each patriarch retrieved a heavy, cylindrical scroll case forged from celestial dragon-bronze. The cases were weathered with three centuries of age, covered in dents, rust, and faint scorch marks from ancient battles.
With deep reverence, Patriarch Shi unlatched the bronze seals.
Twelve ancient golden scrolls rolled open on the stone parapet, glowing with faint, fading imperial dragon runes.
The parchment was woven from celestial golden silk, inscribed in the shimmering blood-ink of the Central Heavenly Capital’s Ministry of Revenue.
Every single character radiated the weight of three hundred years of unfulfilled promises and bitter ancestral tears.
