A decree descended from the Heavenly Emperor. The white-robed divine official carried the order and sent two rays of divine light toward the Thunder and Dipper Departments, where its contents manifested in their main halls.
Celestial officials in both departments saw the decree and understood, by and large, where the Heavenly Emperor stood.
The Kaiyang River basin stretched nearly ten thousand li, while the Water God's Water Palace stood relatively close to his principal temple at Cloud Moor Harbor.
Although rain was falling in Heaven-Bearing Prefecture, this stretch of water lay far from the capital and enjoyed gentle breezes and bright sunshine. The River God Temple at Cloud Moor Harbor was gradually regaining its former bustle, though the divine statue had yet to be finished.
Yet that afternoon, clouds suddenly began gathering over Cloud Moor Harbor's previously clear skies.
A little less than half the sunlight remained unobscured, but thunder was already sounding.
Rumble...
Thunder sounded without rain. The clouds piled up thick and heavy, while sunlight still shone on the other side, lending even the clouds a luminous quality.
The sight drew occasional glances skyward from people on the ground. They thought that even if rain came shortly, it would surely be a sunshower.
Those with unusually keen hearing, or perhaps some special gift from birth, might, if they listened carefully, hear a faint booming beneath the thunder.
This case involved the immortal Dao and the dignity of the Celestial Court, elevating its importance to a level it would not otherwise have warranted.
Above the clouds, the Thunder Department lent its might to the display, while the task of "inviting" the parties fell chiefly to the Dipper Department.
Boom, boom, boom, boom...
The Dipper Department beat its drums. Four Star Officers of the Star Lodges descended from heaven with