Winter City had been built against the hills, its houses arranged around a central axis occupied by Luo Palace and the Hall of Heroes. The Ancestral Temple would be situated in the city on the mountain. Though called Luo Palace, it was merely a collection of rather cramped houses. Most of the Luo Clan had migrated here only a few years ago, and they had yet to build a magnificent city.
Before the Hall of Heroes, the Luo clanspeople and the members of the other families and clans all knelt prostrate. Looking ever more aged, Luo Chen held the Divine Scepter and solemnly declared, "Ten years of frost have at last forged Deep Winter. Spirits of all who have passed, our clan has erected a beacon in this dark land of the bitterly cold far north. The Sage King's light shall illuminate the Northern Frontier. Rest in peace, rest in peace!"
A hundred thousand people bowed their heads, clasped their hands, and chanted in unison, "The Sage King's spirit dwells in heaven, his glorious name shall endure for ten thousand years.
His descendants shall enjoy great radiance, his blessings shall flow through generations without end."
After finishing the chant together, everyone repeated it three more times. Luo Chen was just about to descend from the altar when he suddenly stumbled. His body first swayed as he tried to steady himself, but then he fell straight down. The sudden turn stunned everyone. Only when the Divine Scepter struck the ground with a heavy crash did Luo You react. He rushed straight onto the altar, helped Luo Chen up, and shouted, "All clanspeople, return to your homes and remain calm."
The gathered crowd had no choice but to disperse and anxiously await news from Luo Palace. Three days later, when the bell