A modern chemistry PhD is reborn in the Northern Song, just as a string of chemical blasts rocks the realm. A prophecy about the “Seven Altars” conceals a deadly threat, while the danger of cinnabar turning to blood closes in at every turn. He discovers that his opponent also possesses chemical knowledge far ahead of its time, and soon uncovers court power struggles and a conspiracy on the border. Swept along by the currents of history, he uses science to break the deadlock, facing off against a villain and protecting the people in a suspenseful clash between the ancient and modern worlds.
