Minutes passed peacefully.
The soothing melody of stringed instruments drifted through the grand hall while nobles conversed, servants hurried between tables, and guests enjoyed the lavish feast prepared by the Li Clan.
For a brief moment, everything felt normal... then the horns sounded.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Their deep notes rolled across the estate like distant thunder.
The music stopped, conversations died.
Every head turned toward the entrance.
The great doors swung open.
"GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!"
"GLORY TO THE EMPIRE!"
"GLORY TO THE SEVEN SOVEREIGNS!"
The cheers erupted like a tidal wave.
Be they Nobles, Servants or Warriors.
Even the elderly and the young.
Everyone rose to greet the arrivals.
From his mother's lap, John watched with wide golden eyes.
Finally...
The real monsters had arrived.
At the head of the procession walked Emperor Marcus.
The ruler of the Empire moved with effortless confidence, gilded robes trailing behind him like flowing sunlight. A jeweled scepter rested in one hand while a sword hung at his waist.
He was handsome.
Unnaturally so.
His features were sharp and symmetrical, his skin pale and flawless. Short blonde hair framed a face that seemed untouched by time, while his electric-blue eyes shone with an intensity that made most people instinctively lower their gaze.
There was no visible aura.
No pressure.
No grand display of power.
And yet...
The moment he entered, the entire hall seemed to revolve around him.
As though he were the center of the world.
The Sun itself.
Behind him walked the remaining Sovereigns, each a living legend, and each capable of ruling nations.
Lord Hu Lee, Sovereign of Fire.
His flamboyant robes were adorned with countless jewels and colorful embroidery. Bright crimson hair cascaded from beneath an elaborate headdress of exotic feathers.
His tanned skin was painted with intricate ritual markings that glowed faintly beneath the torchlight.
Tiny bells attached to his sandals chimed merrily with every exaggerated step.
He looked less like a ruler and more like a performer preparing for a grand show, the center of attention.
And judging by his grin...
He preferred it that way.
Lady Tei Lai, Sovereign of Water.
The hall seemed cooler the moment she entered.
Her azure skin possessed a faint shimmer reminiscent of moonlight reflecting upon the ocean. Layers of blue and green hair flowed behind her like gentle currents.
A crown woven from living flowers rested upon her head.
Shark leather armor protected her torso while a ceremonial skirt crafted from aquatic grasses swayed around her legs.
Most striking of all were her features.
Fin-like ears.
Webbed fingers.
Eyes that resembled the depths of the sea.
She offered the crowd a graceful wave.
The movement was elegant enough to make several young men forget how to breathe.
Lord Ting Wu, Sovereign of Ice.
At over two centuries old, he appeared scarcely older than a man in his thirties.
Snow-white hair fell neatly over his shoulders while cold blue eyes observed the world with quiet amusement.
He leaned lightly upon a cane carved from translucent ice.
A heavy black-and-white fur coat hung from his broad shoulders, crafted from the hide of a powerful demonic ferret.
Despite his fearsome reputation, his expression carried the warmth of a kindly grandfather.
The sort who might offer hot chocolate and warm cookies before freezing an army imto popsicles.
Lord Zi Za, Sovereign of Lightning.
He wore simple white martial robes accompanied only by a pair of worn sandals and a straw hat that concealed most of his purple hair.
Compared to the others, he looked almost ordinary.
Until one noticed the scar.
A jagged crimson mark stretched across his left eye.
The wound seemed to pulse faintly beneath his skin.
The moment his gaze landed upon Yue Li...
His hand drifted instinctively toward the sword at his waist.
Only for a moment.
But John noticed.
And so did Yue Li.
Lady Ann Ill, Sovereign of Steel.
Black armor covered her body from neck to heel.
A vermillion cape flowed behind her like a river of blood.
Her helmet rested beneath one arm, revealing long raven-black hair and piercing red eyes.
Unlike most warriors, she carried no visible weapon.
Yet somehow that only made her seem more dangerous, more mysterious.
Her gaze swept across the hall.
Studying.
Measuring.
Calculating.
Eventually her eyes found Yue Li.
Then...
John.
The armored Sovereign paused ever so slightly, her lips forming into a delightful smile.
Each ruler was accompanied by their own retinues, warriors dressed in styles matching their homeland and sect.
The sight alone was enough to overwhelm ordinary cultivators.
Before the newcomers could proceed further, two figures stepped forward.
Chi Li.
Azure Rose.
The Sovereigns of Earth and Wood.
Chi Li bowed first.
Perfectly, flawlessly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, esteemed Sovereigns."
His voice was calm and measured.
"I thank you all for attending my nephew's celebration and humbly hope you enjoy your stay."
Not a trace of irritation remained from his earlier private conversation.
He appeared every bit the dignified ruler.
Rose bowed as well.
Though "bow" was perhaps a generous description.
Her grin remained firmly in place.
"Emperor Marcus."
Her green eyes sparkled mischievously.
"I must admit, I was hoping you'd arrive a little later."
She sighed dramatically.
"I hadn't yet finished drinking all the liquor."
A few nearby attendants paled at her joke.
Others fought desperately not to laugh.
For a heartbeat...
The hall fell silent.
Then Marcus laughed.
A deep, genuine laugh.
His fingers ran through his golden hair.
"Lady Rose," he said warmly, "I regret robbing you of such an achievement."
Even some of the Sovereigns smiled.
"You truly do have a talent for causing trouble."
His gaze shifted toward Chi Li.
"And I trust everything has been proceeding smoothly, Lord Chi?"
The Emperor's smile remained unchanged.
Friendly.
Approachable.
Perfect.
Yet for a fleeting instant...
John felt something strange.
The golden shimmer hidden within his meager red core pulsed.
Just once.
As though reacting to Marcus's presence.
And suddenly, despite the Emperor's pleasant smile it felt like a facade, instead of a sun it was more appropriate to call him a black hole.
Vast.
Hungry.
And inescapable.
John felt drowsy and cold
Very cold.
Is something is wrong with him?
The thought appeared in John's mind suddenly.
For the first time after his reincarnation, he felt a deep skin crawling fear.