At the moment when Qin Liuxi plunged into the Book Collection Pavilion of the Yufu Temple, immersed in the various arrays of the Buddhist Sect, the entire Da Feng was undercurrents surging. The common people suddenly discovered that there seemed to be quite a few Taoists and monks in the city streets. Although they felt it was somewhat strange, they did not think too deeply about it.

To the common people, whether it was the Buddhist Sect or the Taoist Sect, they were both paths of detachment. They would go to offer incense and pray to Buddha or seek the Dao, and these monks walking in the secular world, either seeking alms or spreading the teachings, wouldn’t make people think of anything like a doomsday.

Ordinary people might still believe in evil and heresy, for they always believed in the existence of such things, but something as far-fetched as doomsday was something they did not dare to think of or believe in.

Of course, even if it was doomsday, they might not care much, for they had already become somewhat numb because this year was too difficult.

Natural disasters frequently occurred, the harvest was poor, and prices soared. Countless people died in various ways due to the disasters. The pain hadn’t passed when another winter arrived, bringing another cold wave. How could they not be numb, how could they not despair?

Some people probably thought, if the end is coming, it wouldn’t matter, for they couldn’t escape death anyway.

So no one noticed that the Buddhist and Taoist sects, and even some wizards, were all moving for a reason, simply wanting to survive the coming winter in another way.

On November 20th, Emperor Kangwu went to the Holy Altar to offer sacrifices to the heavens and pray for the blessing of the world.

The Holy Altar is located next to the Yongyang Gate in the Shengjing East District near the outskirts of the capital, built against the Jade Mountain flowing by the moat. For better communication with the heavens, the Sky Ladder leading to the Holy Altar had ninety-nine steps, with railings on both sides linked by black iron chains for climbers to hold onto.

This time, to sincerely offer sacrifices to the heavens, half of the ministers who could move attended the court session, and some noblewomen came to accompany the emperor, making it a grand occasion. The Western Capital Camp was also dispatched to protect and maintain order.

But aside from the Saint, those accompanying the emperor had smiles hanging on their faces, yet were cursing inwardly. In this cold weather, where even breathing could puff out visible air, they were coming to the Holy Altar to offer sacrifices to the heavens. Wasn’t this a pointless fuss?

Look at the sky, gray and gloomy, it seemed it would snow heavily soon—it was too cold.

If they had this silver, it would be better to do something practical, like stocking more grain or preparing charcoal for heating. Everyone knew how difficult this year was; even the charcoal for heating was more expensive than in previous years due to scarce supplies.

The Holy Altar had long been prepared, just waiting for the imperial presence.

In the chilling weather, Minister of the Ministry of Rites Yan Dingbang was sweating coldly, glancing at the sky from time to time, with an uneasy feeling in his heart as if something was going to happen.

He approached Niu Guangpeng, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites also assisting in the sacrificial ceremony, and said, "Old Niu, are you sure it’s a good day? I feel my heart racing, something doesn’t seem right."

Niu Guangpeng’s eyelid twitched, and he scolded softly, "What nonsense are you saying? This is the auspicious day and time selected by the Observatory, how could it be wrong? Don’t jinx it."

Ah, ah, ah.

Just as he finished speaking, they saw a large crow perching on the stone beast Chi Wen at the roof ridge of the Temple of Heaven, cawing a few times. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

They both saw it clearly, exchanged a look, and their faces darkened.

How could there be a crow in such cold weather, and appearing at the moment of the Saint offering sacrifices to the heavens, it was too inauspicious.

"Get someone to scare it away with a feathered arrow." Niu Guangpeng said with a dark face.

The crow just stood at the tail of the auspicious beast, looking carefully, confirming that the auspicious beast in front of it was the same as the one it had seen before. As the feathered arrow came flying, it flapped its wings and flew away. The huge wings stirred up a small whirlwind and quickly disappeared.

And that auspicious beast emitted a sinister black aura, slowly spreading out.

It was exactly the hour of辰, the auspicious time had arrived.

Emperor Kangwu appeared on the Holy Altar surrounded by a crowd of nobles and a few sons of the princes, with the Minister of Rites reciting the verses and the people at the foot of the mountain chanting long live three times.

The flags of Da Feng fluttered in the cold wind, making a crisp shaking sound. Clouds were accumulating overhead, and the sky was darkening, not at all resembling an auspicious day for offering sacrifices to the heavens.

Emperor Kangwu also showed displeasure. Even though the Observatory said it was an auspicious day for offering sacrifices, the accumulating clouds overhead were hardly the sign of an auspicious day; was the person in charge of the Observatory about to be dismissed?

But since they had come, the sacrificial ceremony had to go on, and moreover, it was he himself who insisted on coming to offer sacrifices; the Saint was without fault, any fault lay with those below.

After a series of cumbersome processes, Emperor Kangwu personally recited the sacrificial texts, offered divine incense, and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Outside, the wild wind raged.

Someone felt the ground shake slightly and couldn’t help but be surprised, asking the person next to them: "Did you feel that?"

"What?"

"The ground seemed to shake."

The pitch-black sky suddenly began to fall with large snowflakes like goose feathers, and those standing outside shivered from the cold, while the ground shook slightly again.

This shake was much more obvious than before, and more than one person felt it.

There were sharp-eyed individuals who saw the auspicious beast Chi Wen at the roof ridge of the Great Sacrificial Hall seemingly come to life, enveloped in a sinister black fog, opening its huge mouth as if to swallow the ridge.

With a loud crack, the ridge broke, followed by a violent earthquake.

Everyone was stunned, and when they came to their senses, they screamed and fled in all directions.

The ground was moving!

Inside the Great Sacrificial Hall, just as Emperor Kangwu was inserting the incense stick, he was startled to the core by the sudden shaking.

Someone was the first to shout "protect the emperor," and the timid ones instinctively ran outside.

Emperor Kangwu was also escorted out by ministers and generals, but the ground trembled more strongly, causing him to stumble and almost fall.

The State Preceptor suddenly appeared in his sight.

"State Preceptor, save me quickly." Emperor Kangwu felt slightly relieved seeing him. Although recently he had been suspicious of the State Preceptor and didn’t trust him much, even listening to the words in his nightmare thinking that the State Preceptor was not of good intention.

But the State Preceptor had never harmed him, and now he suddenly appeared amidst the shaking ground, naturally making him feel deeply touched.

The State Preceptor was standing in the doorway of the hall. Above, Chi Wen had devoured the ridge, and the roofing tiles and beams were crashing down towards Emperor Kangwu.

Prince Zhao, who was closest to Emperor Kangwu, realized the opportunity for merit had come and shouted, "Father, watch out."

He lunged forward with his arms open, intending to shield Emperor Kangwu, but when he reached him, he pushed him with everyone shocked and horrified.

Yes, he pushed him.

As Emperor Kangwu fell to the ground, a white figure dashed forward to protect his upper body, but the beam crashed onto his lower body.

Crack.

Emperor Kangwu screamed in pain.

Prince Zhao: "!"

A familiar scene of being crushed by a beam.

Wait, who was he, where was he, what had his hands just done?

In full view of everyone, he had pushed his father, causing him to lie under the beam, being accurately crushed.

Had he committed regicide and patricide?

Amidst the strong shaking, Prince Zhao blacked out; he was done for.