A light but firm knock echoed on Kyrian’s door even before the first ray of light pierced the eternal clouds of the capital.
Kyrian opened his eyes instantly. His senses, always sharp, had already registered the sound and the presence on the other side of the door seconds earlier.
He sat up in bed, the simple sleeping robe still impeccable, and replied in a low, calm voice.
"Co in."
The door opened slowly. i Li entered, already dressed in an elegant robe of dark carmine tones, her hair tied up in a functional bun. Her eyes shone with the energy of soone who had been in motion for so ti.
"Good morning, Leader." She made a small, courteous bow, but her smile was practical.
"Sorry to wake you so early."
Kyrian nodded, dismissing formalities.
"It’s not a problem. What is it?"
i Li closed the door behind her and got straight to the point.
"Last night, after everyone went to sleep, I went to the comrcial district and arranged a carriage for rent. It’s discreet, comfortable, and the coachman is trustworthy. He works for a neutral family that rents to external forces. I thought it would be better than depending on invitations or walking around on foot."
Kyrian processed the information in silence. It was a smart decision. Having a better ans of moving around the capital.
"Good idea," he replied, with a short nod.
"It will help us a lot."
i Li seed satisfied with the approval.
"So, get ready. The Cloud Circle Alchemy Competition starts in the morning. It’s almost ti for us to leave."
Kyrian nodded again. i Li left the room with a faint smile, carefully closing the door.
He got up, changed out of his sleeping clothes into the official robe of the Main Branch of the Blood Court. Heavy fabric, deep carmine, subtle embroidery that marked his position. He tied his black hair back in a simple manner and left the room.
The central hall of the Crimson Lotus Residence was empty. No presence, no sound beyond the faint hum of the defensive formations.
Bai Zhu, Yan Ling, Kai, and Li Fen had already left early for their own matters.
i Li appeared from the opposite corridor, adjusting a small pouch at her belt.
"The others left a long ti ago. It’ll just be the two of us today."
Kyrian nodded.
"Understood."
They crossed the inner courtyard in silence. Upon reaching the main gate, a carriage was already waiting for them. It was discreet, just as i Li had promised.
It was made of polished dark wood, without flashy symbols, wheels reinforced with spiritual tal that absorbed sound. The coachman, a middle-aged man with an impassive expression, stood beside the open door. He looked as though he had arrived so ti ago.
The horses were still breathing calmly, as if accustod to waiting.
Kyrian and i Li boarded. The interior was spacious, upholstered in dark gray velvet, with small isolation formations that blocked external sounds.
As soon as the door closed, the carriage began to move with almost imperceptible smoothness.
Kyrian looked through the narrow window.
"How long until we get there?"
i Li shrugged lightly.
"I don’t know exactly. The coachman said he would take us straight to the Cloud Circle. It should be an hour, maybe a bit more, depending on the morning traffic."
Kyrian nodded and returned to observing through the window.
The capital was slowly awakening beneath the diffuse glow of the eternal clouds. The wide streets of the Fifth District gave way to even broader avenues as they approached the center.
Buildings of white-blue marble reflected the soft light, spiritual lanterns still lit began to go out one by one. Cultivators and rchants were already moving along the sidewalks, carrying boxes of herbs, crates of ingredients, and rolls of parchnt.
The air carried the scent of dicinal incense, freshly prepared tea, and the faint tallic aroma of distant forges.
Farther ahead, they passed through a circular plaza where a colossal statue of a cloud dragon hovered at the center, made of translucent white jade.
The statue seed alive, with gentle breezes making its scales reflect the light in hypnotic patterns.
Groups of young cultivators gathered there, chatting animatedly.
The carriage continued on, leaving the comrcial districts behind and entering a broader, more open area. The path rose slightly, skirting one of the great floating platforms of the capital. Suddenly, the horizon opened up.
They arrived at the Cloud Circle.
The place was impressive.
Five large pavilions of elegant architecture, all in white marble with silver details, were arranged in a perfect circle.
Each pavilion had curved roofs that seed to float, supported by subtle formations.
At the center of everything, an imnse arena. A circle of polished stone over two hundred ters in diater, surrounded by colossal stands that rose in tiers until they nearly touched the lowest clouds.
There were already thousands of people entering. Cultivators, rchants, nobles, and elders of secondary families, all converging toward the main entrances. The murmur was constant but organized. Guards in light-blue and white uniforms kept the lines orderly.
The carriage stopped in a reserved area near the main entrance. Kyrian and i Li got down.
Before they could head toward the common line, Kyrian thought of sothing. He took from his spatial ring the pendant given by Duke Rong. The dark coin with the symbol of a mountain wrapped in a whirlwind and the character "Favor" on the other face.
He showed it to the two guards watching the VIP entrance.
The guards’ eyes widened imdiately. Both bowed deeply, almost in unison.
"Young Master! Welco to the Cloud Circle!"
The bow drew imdiate attention. Heads turned. Murmurs arose around them.
"Who are they? Duke Rong’s pendant..."
"Look at the carmine robe... Blood Court?"
One of the guards straightened up quickly.
"Please, follow . I will take you to the upper stands."
Kyrian put the pendant away and nodded. i Li walked at his side, maintaining perfect composure.
They followed the guard through an exclusive side passage, climbing internal marble stairways that completely bypassed the common lines. They reached an elevated stand, isolated from the others, with polished jade seats and translucent canopies that filtered the light. It was an area reserved for high-ranking nobles and special guests.
As they entered, several gazes turned toward them. So older nobles inclined their heads in subtle greeting. A middle-aged woman in sky-blue robes smiled politely.
"Disciples of the Blood Court. It is an honor."
Kyrian rely nodded in response, without words. He and i Li chose two seats in the central row, with a perfect view of the arena.
The stand gradually filled. The murmur grew. Thousands of voices mingled, but the main sound ca from nearby conversations. The nobles around them did not hold back.
"This year, the level is high. I heard that Young Master Liang Chen of the Liang House will participate."
"Don’t forget Zhao Yu of the Zhao House. They say he has mastered ethereal fla control. His cauldron never explodes."
"And what about Sun Hao? Son of Grand Master Sun, the owner of the entire Cloud Circle. He is the absolute favorite. No one here cos close to the alchemical knowledge he inherited."
User Comments
0 comments from readers