The laborers' clothes are filthy as they trudge through the muddy streets, transporting crates of supplies that have come from the riverways to the alchemy workshops in the western hills. Some supplies are also delivered to the foot of the mountains near the Sacrificial Grand Hall, but they are not allowed to approach the Grand Hall itself. Only the Mountain People of the Jiamu Sect are permitted to carry these materials up the mountain.
Ian observes the demeanor of two groups: the Mountain People of the Jiamu Sect generally look vibrant and energetic, with smiles on their faces, while those from other tribes have a sullen complexion, their expressions numb beyond anything else.
Ian notes that most of these tribes come from the Zhenzhou and Tiechen Tribes, tribes whose leaders he had himself killed, and their lands are not far from the Jiamu Sect, unlike the Sheyan Tribe, whose leaders were also slain, situated in a canyon further to the north.
