The grand, ostentatious convoy of the Celestial Dragon Empire's highest nobility continued its majestic voyage across the vast, varied landscapes of the continent. For days, the massive, golden carriages pulled by four-winged Golden Spirit Dragons cut through the clouds, leaving the oppressive heat of the Yao Clan's Secret Realm far behind. The journey was a slow, deliberate display of imperial wealth, stopping frequently at the most luxurious, heavily fortified resort cities to allow the beasts to rest and the royals to indulge in worldly comforts.
Within the meticulously manicured, profound-stone courtyards of the Soaring Crane Estate—a premier imperial hotel situated in the lush Green River Province—a tense, heavily perfumed gathering was taking place.
