The Golden Roc gazed solemnly toward the heavens.
The night sky was clear and vast, no clouds, no moonlight, only a few faint stars flickering in the southeast.
A gust of wind swept through as another Golden Roc descended from the sky.
Its feathers were sharp as blades, its entire body gleaming gold, and its eyes like twin daggers, cold and piercing.
“Ancestor, what has happened?” the newly arrived roc asked respectfully.
“I observed the heavens tonight,” said the elder on the mountaintop. “The demon star in the east has dimmed, the fortune of our demon race has weakened once again.”
“Go and investigate. What has occurred within the Nine Heavens?”
“We’ve been monitoring the Nine Heavens closely, but nothing major has happened,” the younger roc replied, puzzled.
“If the demon star has darkened, then either something grave has befallen our kind, or there’s trouble among the Sixteen Beast Races,” the elder said calmly.
“Go confirm it once more.”
“Yes, Ancestor,” the younger roc bowed, spreading his golden wings.
A flash of light, and the valley fell silent once more.
“Do you know of North Sea?” Xu Zimo asked Xie Changliu.
“Of course,” Xie replied. “Among the Nine Heavens are the Eighteen Great Seas, the North Sea is one of the greatest, ranking in the top three. It stretches eastward to the Four Domains, westward to the Lion’s Dominion, south to Heavenly Bay, and north to North Sea City. In the entire Mortal Ascension Heaven, who hasn’t heard of the North Sea? We’re heading there next, aren’t we?” Xie guessed.
Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
“Then let’s go. It’s been ages since I last visited,” Xie said with a faint smile.
North Sea City lay at the border between the Azure Frontier and Four Domains, spanning both territories. One could reach it from either side.
But Xu Zimo’s purpose this time was twofold, to find the Dragon Maiden and ask her help in fusing the Grand-Pivot God-Sword, and to seek the Nine Ancient God’s Path of Fire.
Their destination, North Sea City, the only city acknowledged by the sea itself.
Because North River City was one of Azure Frontier’s great cities, its teleportation arrays connected to nearly half the domain.
From there, they could teleport directly to North Sea City, far more convenient than traveling by conventional means.
As Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu made their way through the city, they drew countless stares, after all, the battle they had just fought was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
The teleportation array in North River City was operated by a family known as the Wang Clan, and using it required payment.
The two stepped into the array, and the world around them began to spin.
Chaotic streams of space energy swirled nearby. During teleportation, one had to remain perfectly still, even the slightest movement could disrupt the spatial coordinates.
Though they were traveling via space transmission, the distance between North River and North Sea City was immense.
Even through the array, their journey took over two full months before they finally arrived at North Sea City.
That was longer than Xu Zimo had expected. When the void before them shattered and light reappeared, they found themselves standing upon the earth of North Sea City.
“All new arrivals, change your clothes,” came the shout of a city guard.
The teleportation array of North Sea City was built outside its gates.
Dozens of travelers had arrived alongside Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu, all stepping out of the arrays.
Raising his head, Xu Zimo saw a vast city before him, one that shimmered like glass.
Calling it a “glass city” might’ve been an exaggeration, but every structure, the walls, towers, and streets, was built from a transparent, crystalline substance.
When sunlight struck it, light refracted in countless directions, creating a dazzling, dreamlike effect.
It was a city like no other.
No bricks, no stone, only that strange glass-like crystal.
“This is Mystic Ice,” Xie Changliu explained with a grin. “Impressive, isn’t it? Takes your breath away the first time you see it.”
“It’s said that long ago, the Dragon Maiden had a dream. In her dream, she saw a city of ice rising along the shores of North Sea City, magnificent and ethereal. When she awoke, she decided to build it for real, naming it North Sea City. But ordinary ice melted under the sun, so the dream seemed impossible. Then she discovered Mystic Ice Crystals deep within the northern sea, ice that never melts, immune to blade, fire, or water. With it, she built this city that stands eternal.”
“Not bad,” Xu Zimo said, his gaze moving from the glittering walls to the guards ahead.
Two sentries stood there, clad in armor seemingly sculpted from ice itself.
Their armor gleamed like frozen water; if they didn’t move, one could mistake them for statues.
Between them was a pile of folded robes, stacked high like a small hill.
The garments were long robes of black and white, simple yet dignified.
The guards themselves wore these robes over their armor.
Every traveler entering the city received one and had to put it on before proceeding.
“What’s going on?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
“These robes…” Xie Changliu frowned slightly, as if remembering something.
He quickly stopped a passerby. “Brother, what day is it today?”
“September ninth, the Hero’s Memorial Day. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?” the man replied, surprised.
Xie Changliu immediately understood and turned to Xu Zimo. “Come on, let’s get our robes. I’ll explain as we go.”
Though still confused, Xu Zimo nodded.
After receiving their black-and-white robes and putting them on, they entered the city together.
“In the history of the Nine Heavens,” Xie explained, “there once lived a great hero. It’s said that thirty million years ago, darkness engulfed the world. The Demon Sovereign ruled all, seeking to destroy creation and enslave all beings. At that time, the great hero Yan Yingzhou rose up. He slew the Demon Sovereign, dispelled the darkness, and restored peace to the world. That day was September ninth, the day forever remembered as the Hero’s Memorial Day. Every year since, all across the Nine Heavens, people wear black and white robes, the very colors of Yan Yingzhou’s battle garb, to honor him. And on this day, all combat is forbidden. The Nine Heavens remain at peace, if only for this one day.”
Xie Changliu chuckled. “After two months in transit, I completely forgot the date.”
“Yan Yingzhou…” Xu Zimo murmured.
“This festival has lasted thirty million years?” he asked.
“That’s right,” Xie nodded. “Neither the Heavenly Court nor any other ruling power dares to defy it.”
The two, dressed in their ceremonial robes, stepped into North Sea City.
It was still as lively as ever, no less grand than North River City.
Because it lay beside the sea, everything here carried the flavor of the ocean.
Crowds filled the streets. Puppet shows told tales of Yan Yingzhou’s battle against the Demon Sovereign, while gongs and drums thundered for the celebration.