The Floating Jade Pavilion hovered three hundred feet above the mirror-like waters of the Imperial Dragon Lake.
Anchored to the lakebed by eight massive chains of enchanted cold-iron, the multi-tiered palace of carved white mutton-fat jade drifted on an artificial anti-gravity vortex. Lanterns of glowing dragon-pearl lit up the open banquet terrace, casting amber light across two hundred banquet tables laden with roasted spirit-beasts, thousand-year ginseng broth, and carafes of immortal peach wine.
Gathered on the terrace were the leaders of the one hundred elite academies representing the Thirty Principalities of the Great Da-Qi Empire.
Dressed in flowing robes of gold-threaded brocade, jade crowns, and phoenix coronets, the tributary monarchs and grandmaster teachers chatted in hushed, respectful murmurs. Their wine cups shook whenever they looked toward the raised Dragon Dais at the northern head of the terrace.
Seated upon a throne of solid beaten gold was Crown Prince Yan Wuji.
Clad in a nine-clawed golden dragon robe, Yan Wuji radiated the oppressive, choking spiritual gravity of a Half-Step Transcendent Mortal. His jaw was square, his eyes were cold amber slits, and behind his broad shoulders flickered the faint, ghostly dark shape of an ancient sky dragon coiled ready to strike.
