Never in the recorded chronicles of the heavens had such an assembly gathered on mortal soil.
The foothills of Mount Cangxuan, once a quiet wilderness of ancient pines, mossy boulders, and wandering spirit badgers, were now blanketed by an amazing sea of living beings stretching as far as the eye could see. Across the emerald meadows and terraced plateaus stood delegations from every sovereign kingdom, hidden beast realm, and sky dynasty in existence.
In the front ranks knelt the mortal emperors of the Central Continent, their golden dragon robes trailing in the sweet, damp grass as they laid aside their royal jade seals. Beside them knelt the fierce Beast Kings of the Grand Lonely Forest—huge thunder-bears, armored iron-rhinos, and nine-striped storm tigers—their massive heads lowered to the earth in humble, adoring submission.
From the Eastern Oceans, the ancient Dragon Clan had sent three thousand azure and gold flood dragons. They rested their snake-like bodies along the river valleys. Their golden antlers glowed with quiet respect. And behind them, floating on cloud platforms that hovered barely three feet above the grass so as not to place themselves above the earth, were the surviving Grand Elders, Judges, and Sovereigns of the Upper Realm.
