No short of a wasteland

"So this is home, huh?"

Zhang Wang was greeted by what was no short of a wasteland. It was desolate, with mars of battle that had never ebbed. A dark sky looms above. Everything was solemn and grey. 

He was dropped off conveniently on the edge of the Celestial Capital, a cobbled road stretched out ahead of him. Cautiously, he walked. The magnificent bamboo forest was as lifeless as stone. Without a single breeze that passed through and the leaves lied there, dead. In the distance, he could make out the Eternal Celestial Cradle Palace but where was its eternal divine magnificence? Of course, that too was good. Even the eternity of the heavens couldn't withstand time, it seemed.

Zhang Wang continued down the path, only his breath and footfalls made any sound. He thought of using techniques to suppress even that but wouldn't it have made things eerier? He decided to not even try, only mindlessly walking on.

Ah, there was time he called this home.