Great Leiyin Temple

The former site of the Buddha Bone Temple, within Langzhong City.

Though it was deep into the night, dense hoofbeats and the towering baleful aura gathered around the soldiers still filled the surrounding miles.

Standard-issue tents stood in orderly rows across the ruins. Torches flickered, illuminating a conspicuous temple that rose above its surroundings in the distance. Its walls were dark red, and a bloody stench drifted from them on the wind.

A curfew was already in force throughout Langzhong City. If the Monitored Heavenly Bureau sent no one soon, they might have to impose a daytime curfew as well.

"The new emperor has taken the throne, and the palace is in chaos. I knew long ago we weren't getting reinforcements."

The Right General climbed onto the city wall and let out a heavy breath. From his vantage point, he looked toward the Buddha Bone Temple. A filthy rampart of fused flesh and skin held back the Military Strategists' baleful aura, with vein-like Buddhist script growing across its surface.

A lieutenant asked, puzzled, "What exactly is the Monitored Heavenly Bureau doing? If we wait much longer, the Dharma Sect will finish refining the Golden Body buried underneath."

The Right General shook his head. The situation had become a tangled mess: natural disasters, Evil Spectres, the Dharma Sect. The fact that they had sent a few registered outsiders already made their position clear.

"Pass on my orders. Seal the city tomorrow and impose a daytime curfew. People may enter Langzhong, but none may leave." A cold gleam crossed the Right General's eyes as he gazed at the houses below. "The day after, have everyone write home. Three days from now, slaughter the city to offer sacrifice to the baleful aura."

The lieutenant froze, his lips turning white.

A sacrifice to the