At the exact center of the Central Star-Cluster, spanning ten thousand square miles of polished blood-obsidian flagstones, lay the sacred Galactic Ancestral Hall Plaza.
Towering over the northern end of the plaza stood a blinding, 10,000-foot-tall Solid-Gold Ancestral Statue flanked by eighty 1,000-foot golden statues of past main-clan patriarchs. Meanwhile, overhead hung the terrifying, ten-thousand-mile crimson blade of the [Rank-9 Peak Galactic Ancestral Blood-Guillotine Array]!
Surrounding the outer perimeter of the plaza sat ten million gathered main-clan elders, vassal sect masters, and galactic dignitaries. Including the notorious Sect Gambler Elder Qian (Rank 8 Peak, Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Coin Betting House). Who was already squinting through a pair of golden spirit-binoculars with his betting ledger open on his knee.
On the elevated blood-jade tribunal dais beneath the 10,000-foot golden statue stood Corrupt Main-Clan Patriarch Gu Tianba. Flanked by the Seven Ancient Clan Grand Elders (First Grand Elder Gu Mo at Rank 9 Early, Second Grand Elder Gu Sha at Rank 9 Early, and five Rank 8 Peak tribunal elders). Meanwhile, behind them cowered a sausage-lipped, dandelion-haired Golden Heir Gu Wuji (Rank 9 Early, Halo at 15%) and a bald, eyebrow-less Second Uncle Gu Yin.
HUMMMMMM—ROOOOOOOOAR!
At ten minutes before high noon, the purple blood-clouds above the plaza suddenly parted as a warm, golden-red aurora smelling of simmering beef brisket, toasted sesame, and sweet peach blossoms rolled across the sky!
