The sound of shattering wood carried across the upper terraces of Mount Lingxiao like a dry thunderclap.
Lin Ke stood at the threshold of the underground foundry, the cool air of the lower tunnels chilling the sweat soaking through the collar of his rough work tunic. In the courtyard above, the sect’s outer edge pine groves were snapping under an unnatural, downward sky shear.
A choking, oily stench rolled down the stairwells—the smell of boiling vulture animal fat and burning sulfur candles.
High above the mountain peaks, nine huge silhouettes of winged hunting beasts circled against a leaden sky. Each bird was forged of tightly packed violet flame, linked to the next by thick, braided chains of crackling crimson lightning.
The Nine-Vulture Sky-Lock Array.
Merchant Prince Zhao Wuji stood atop the mountain’s outer gate castle wall, his stitched silk robes whipping wildly in the gale. Behind him hovered a dozen armored guards, their axe-spears glowing with royal crushing weight wards.
In his hand, Zhao held a burning jade decree stamped with the roaring seal of Grand Ancestor Kuang.
“By order of the Grand Sovereign and the Royal Patent Registry!” Zhao’s voice bellowed down the stone canyon, amplified by brass megaphone formations. “Azure Cloud Sect has defaulted on safety covenants under Form Ninety-Nine C! All external shipments of spirit coal, grain, and healing roots are ended! The valley is quarantined!”
