The rhythmic pounding of hammers and the shouts of foremen filled the air at the once quiet crossroads.
Dust swirled lazily as thousands of laborers, their bodies slick with sweat and grime, toiled under the blazing sun, constructing the towering black pagoda.
The sharp clang of metal against stone reverberated in all directions, cutting through the stillness of the surrounding desert landscape.
The black pagoda, though still in its early stages, already dominated the horizon. Rising from a foundation of dark stone, its ominous silhouette hinted at the power and mystery it would one day hold.
Workers scaled scaffolding, moving swiftly, balancing on thin beams as they hammered the massive slabs of stone into place.
At the forefront of the construction site, the five most powerful clans in Dongping City kept a close eye on the work.
"Faster! Push harder!" bellowed the supervising head of the Feng Clan, his voice cutting through the din.
