"Even that golden-armored zombie from Xiangyin a millennium ago can't match this disturbance. In the heavily guarded area of the Capital, where the dragon spirit of the Imperial Mausoleum converges, what kind of evil dares act so boldly?"
Thunderclouds gathered over Mount Zhao, and outsiders couldn't see through the gloomy clouds, relying only on subjective inference.
"Indeed, positive thunder suppresses demons, making survival nearly impossible. This is heavenly thunder; this scourge has no chance of surviving, and thus acts without hesitation. If it were me, not only the Imperial Mausoleum, but I'd even dare to go to the Celestial Master's Mansion!"
To the southeast of the Imperial Mausoleum, white mist rose from the vast river. In the midst of the swirling clouds and mist, a pair of golden eyes, bright as torches and deep as abysses, pierced through the clouds, gazing towards Mount Zhao.
The archaic symbols within the golden eyes, obscure and mysterious, continuously arranged and rearranged, and when they reached a certain balance, the secrets of the universe would reveal themselves.
However, just as the colossal creature above the river was about to glimpse these secrets, a bolt of lightning descended from Mount Zhao in the distance, splitting towards it directly!
"??? The colossal creature widened its eyes, and after an instant of astonishment, a chilling terror engulfed it completely.
Before the divine thunder reached it, it could already feel currents of electricity running through its body!
No, I'm just here watching the commotion. What does this thunder disaster have to do with me? Why strike me for no reason?!
A lightning bolt, spanning hundreds of miles, struck the vast river surface. The dark yellow blood diffused across the river, and dozens of cyan and gold scales reflected dazzling light.
The colossal creature let out a sorrowful howl, then retreated into the unfathomable depths of the river, vanishing without a trace.
...
April 25th, it is auspicious for bathing, cleaning, avoid dealings, divination.
Outside the Capital City, within the Celestial Master's Hall.
Jiang Jingchen, one of the Seven Stars, was conversing with Master Lü when he suddenly heard the sound of thunder from outside the hall.
Celestial Master Lü took out a backup treasure mirror, forming a sword finger with his left hand, writing a symbol in the air, near the mirror's surface.
Once the symbol's light merged into the mirror, the scene of Mount Zhao more than a hundred miles away appeared on the treasure mirror.
The Celestial Master frowned, just about to raise his hand to calculate, when Jiang Jingchen suddenly spoke up, "Master, the divine thunder on Mount Zhao is a bit peculiar, and besides, today is not suitable for divination. Perhaps after the thunder calamity passes, I could go investigate and handle it."
Jiang Jingchen's little schemes were obvious. Everyone knew you couldn't evade heavenly thunder, and after the calamity passed, there might be some valuable treasures to pick up on-site.
Celestial Master Lü glanced at Jiang Jingchen, saying faintly, "Worldly taboos are merely shackles for mortals, how can they bind us."
As for this disciple, Celestial Master Lü wasn't particularly fond of him.
This was due to Jiang Jingchen encountering a bustling temple during his journey in Jin Sect six months ago.
If it were some obscure temple with little incense, he'd turn a blind eye, dismissing it as a scavenging sparrow not worth a few grains of rice.
But if you're indulging in lavish excesses every day, it shows a lack of awareness.
After all, as a modest village temple, without an Imperial edict or official backing, where did you gather the audacity to compete with tigers for treasure?
Looking at the temple, Jiang Jingchen felt his eyes burn with envy and resentment. Even after burning down the temple, his heart remained unsettled.
So, upon returning to the Celestial Master's Mansion, Jiang Jingchen's first move was to report to Celestial Master Lü, detailing how the Profound Lady Temple illegally possessed incense.
As the saying goes, those who aren't from the same family don't enter the same door, and indeed, Celestial Master Lü wasn't a magnanimous person.
He didn't mind competition among peers or tolerate the bald monks snatching incense, but as for a small temple, couldn't he handle you?
That very day, Celestial Master Lü was struck by thunder.
After this incident, Celestial Master Lü went into seclusion for half a year.
"Once, twice, but where's the third, the fourth?"
Hearing Jiang Jingchen's warning only strengthened Celestial Master Lü's determination to divine.
An evil force soon to be reaped by the heavens, could he, a truly righteous Celestial Master, not divine?
As the astrological calculations unfolded, a divine thunder suddenly pierced through the Celestial Master's Hall, striking directly onto Celestial Master Lü's forehead.
Amidst the scattering of smoke and debris, the hall, recently repaired, gained another large hole. In just an instant, Celestial Master Lü, was left with a fashionable burnt hairdo.
On that day, the Seven Stars became the Six Stars.
The thunderclouds over Mount Zhao were visible for miles. Besides the Celestial Master's Mansion, there were many skilled in divination and prophecy, who couldn't resist casting their calculations.
Outside the Capital City, a limping fox fled in panic.
At Cizhao Temple, the fat monk who dodged the first of the month couldn't escape the fifteenth.
In the season of April and May, summer thunder roared.
Today was destined to be a day of overtime for the gods of thunder.
...
The Dayong Imperial Mausoleum had a large hole broken open. By the time the Demon Hunting Bureau and Imperial Astronomical Bureau arrived, the evil spirit was long gone from within.
The deputy of the imperial clan office, overseeing royal lineage matters, personally led an inspection inside the mausoleum. After half a day's investigation, apart from the coffin of an empress from Emperor Wen Geng's period being missing, nothing else was amiss.
When this news reached the Capital City, it caused an uproar.
With the current dynasty already unstable, such an incident led many to whisper secretly, suggesting the Dayong Dynasty might be doomed. Why else would even its ancestral tombs get struck by lightning?
Perhaps it's a subtle hint from the heavens...
What subtle hint? This is clearly a blatant message that the Dayong Dynasty is coming to an end!
Agents from Nancuo Kingdom, Northern Territory rebels, and espionage networks in Yaozhou seized the opportunity to sow various narratives.