The massive dining hall of Xueyu's Palace was a testament to the Shen Clan's staggering decadence.
The walls were lined with white jade pillars entwined with golden dragons, and the ceiling was a magical projection of the starry sky, shifting in real-time with the celestial bodies outside.
A long table of polished obsidian stretched across the center of the room, groaning under the weight of hundreds of dishes—spirit-beast meats simmered in medicinal broths, glowing fruits harvested from floating islands, and wine fermented from the nectar of thousand-year-old snow lotuses.
Around the perimeter, hundreds of Shadow Guards stood like silent ebony statues, their presence ensuring that not even a stray breeze would disturb the family's reunion.
At the head of the table stood the other two pillars of the main line: Leng Shuang and Feng Yuyan.
"Aha! My little nephew is finally here! I missed you so much!" Feng Yuyan's voice was like a playful bell as she bounced toward Haoran.
