Chaoge City lay shrouded in night, in the darkest hour before dawn.
A sudden, sharp crash rang out from a residence not far from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, as though something had shattered.
The Duke of Lu jolted awake and propped himself up. Looking at the precious porcelain lying on the floor in more than a dozen pieces, his expression changed abruptly.
Who would suddenly visit so late at night? Could Immortal Master Jing Jiu have returned?
He suddenly felt a little dizzy. He felt somewhat better after getting up, but then heard a commotion outside. Realizing something was wrong, he pushed open the door to find the Duke's Residence already in chaos.
Freshly lit lanterns illuminated the covered walkways and pavilions one after another.
Lu Ming hurried over with the steward and others, still fastening his trousers.
"What happened?" the Duke of Lu asked his son, his expression grave.
"An earthquake," Lu Ming said. "It shook terribly just now."
Only then did the Duke of Lu understand why he had felt dizzy upon waking.
More and more people in the Duke's Residence woke and left their rooms for the courtyards, bewildered or afraid.
Things were much the same outside the Duke's Residence.
The startled citizens streamed into the streets, carrying children and leading the elderly, their clothes in disarray. Though they rubbed their eyes, all trace of sleepiness had vanished.
Bells echoed through the streets and alleys in warning. The faint sound of hoofbeats came from afar as the Divine Guard Army assembled, preparing to move out and maintain order.
Officials from the Chayuan Observatory rushed into the palace.
Moments later, officials from the Pure Heaven Bureau headed to every part of Chaoge City. The most powerful aura among them went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Before