The morning mist burned away beneath a pale, sickly sun.
Thick plumes of oily purple smoke rose from the Inner Wall.
High atop the black star-iron battlements, an elderly man in flowing cinnabar silk stepped to the parapet.
Nine golden alchemical cauldrons were embroidered across his chest.
Each cauldron was ringed with Tier 6 imperial court insignias.
This was Imperial Grand Alchemist Xuan.
He was the Emperor’s personal apothecary. He was a master of Spirit Domain Early pill-craft.
Behind him stood thirty apprentice court alchemists.
