In the Bitter Life Mountains, no wind blew. No sand stirred. All living beings were quiet. No one made a sound. Blood-red light continued to spread through the dome of heaven, making it seem like it had been wounded and was bleeding profusely.0

On the rooftop, the Heir Apparent spoke of matters related to gods and karma, his voice echoing out into the deathly silence.1

“I am not a god, nor do I have any godsource. But I do have authority, though it’s different from that of a god.... My authority does not come from a lit godfire, but rather, from a blessing given by the heavenly daos of Revered Ancient. I have no way to help you control the godsource within you. But I can give you a direction. And that is hunger.” The Heir Apparent looked at Xu Qing.18

“Hunger?” Xu Qing said, and a moment later he glanced at the Captain. It wasn’t lost on him that every time the Captain saw the flesh of a god, he suddenly looked incomparably hungry.0

The Captain blinked a few times but didn’t say anything.3

Xu Qing thought about it for a moment.0

“We don’t have much time, Xu Qing,” the Heir Apparent said, looking once again at the redness spreading through the...0