The normal timeline.
The anchored Shang-Zhou timeline.
After King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou succeeded.
Haojing.
King Fa of Zhou was gravely Zhong-ill and bedridden.
Mount Qi.
At the ritual altar for offerings to Heaven, Duke Dan of Zhou prayed without rest, day or night.
Heavy rain fell from the sky.
Day and night became indistinguishable.
The murky weather mirrored Duke Dan of Zhou's equally murky mood.
As King Fa of Zhou's younger brother, Duke Dan of Zhou prayed day and night, even prostrating himself before "Heaven." He wanted to offer himself as a sacrifice. If "Heaven" would help, he would give himself so that King Fa of Zhou could recover, trading his own life—or anyone else's.
In exchange for King Fa of Zhou's life.
He knew his prayers had an effect, but he did not know what that effect was.
Nor did he dare pray to the true "Heaven."
As Ji Chang's son, and a man who had begun establishing a new order, he knew very clearly what "Heaven" was. Even though he wanted to restrain "Heaven" through "ritual propriety," there had simply been too little time.
He had no confidence whatsoever that he could make his wish come true.
Amid these prayers.
Heavy rain began falling over Mount Qi. It was as though a gaping hole had been torn in the sky, and immense Great Floods poured down from above, causing untold flash floods in the mountains.
The sages who had accompanied Duke Dan of Zhou were terrified, believing this to be an ill omen.
Panic spread.
Only Duke Dan of Zhou remained fearless. After experiencing the Battle of Muye, there was little left that he found especially frightening.
What was happening now.
Was merely a few celestial phenomena.
What could these phenomena possibly do?
Especially when Di Xin