Chapter 148: Chapter 37: Sacrifice to Heaven

After years of care from Hu Qianqian, Baisui Lake had become even more beautiful than before. In the center of Lake Heart Island stood a majestic, continuous mountain range, its peaks dotted with pavilions and towers, and its base encircled by waterside gazebos nestled in the forest.

On the main peak, Hu Qianqian had built a Garden Dojo for Wang Ping. Beside the dojo, a small creek flowed, driven by a water-controlling Array. To the east, she had planted at least three times the number of Spirit Wood Trees found on the summit of Qianmu Mountain. There was also a large-scale Gathering Spirit Array, which gathered enough Spiritual Qi not only for the dojo but also to benefit the ordinary disciples on the mountainside.

Disciples usually kept the place clean and tidy, but no one had ever lived there. After his tour, Wang Ping said with satisfaction, "From now on, if we have another gathering, let’s hold it here!"

The others all nodded involuntarily.

Below the northern cliff of the main peak’s dojo lay a well-ordered village for the Water Race. The architectural style featured the red and blue colors favored by Hu Qianqian. Her own cultivation chamber was on the highest level—this was also Hu Qianqian’s dojo, a secluded, independent world.

"This place is even better!"

Liu Chang was incredibly envious of Hu Qianqian’s dojo. ’I have to build a dojo just like this next to the deep pool at Sanhe Temple in the future,’ he secretly resolved. He began constantly pestering Hu Qianqian for advice.

The group stopped at the shallows outside the Water Race village to fish, drink, and chat...

In the blink of an eye, it was the final day of the dharma assembly.

...

The Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony.

For cultivators, this was an incredibly solemn affair—so solemn that to hold a Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, one first had to register with the Daoist Scripture Hall. Only after the Hall dispatched specialists to provide guidance and supervision could the ritual proceed.

Today, at the first crow of the rooster, a magnificent sacrificial altar had been erected in the huge square in front of the Inner Courtyard. At the very center of the altar were the spirit tablets for Heaven and Earth. To their sides were those for two Saints, and below them were tablets for over a hundred True Monarchs.

Some of these True Monarchs still existed in the mortal realm, so the placement of each of their spirit tablets was deeply significant. Even the slightest mistake could lead to major problems.

Naturally, the positions closest to the two Saints belonged to the True Monarchs of the Five Profound Sects, followed by the two sects of the Celestial Gate. The outermost ring was for the various Star Gods acknowledged by the mortal world, and the lowest-ranking seats were reserved for the Demon Race.

That’s right—there were even True Monarchs from the Demon Race among them, and they were acknowledged by both the mortal world and the seven major sects.

Two Qi Cultivators from the Daoist Scripture Hall would meticulously arrange each spirit tablet according to its orientation and exposure to light. Once confirmed, they would stand guard on either side without moving an inch, preventing anyone from disturbing the tablets.

There were no sacrificial offerings before the altar, only incense and candles. The absence of offerings was a rule specifically recorded in writing by the Daoist Scripture Hall, because if offerings were permitted, many places were fond of using human sacrifices.

「On the summit of Qianmu Mountain.」

Wang Ping put on his specially tailored ceremonial robes. It consisted of an ordinary Blue Daoist Robe with a deep blue Magical Robe worn over it. Prominent spots on the Magical Robe were marked with the five-element symbols of the Five Profound Sects. The collar was conspicuously marked with the insignia of his status as the fifth seat of the Daoist Scripture Hall and a Patrol Envoy, while the wide cuffs bore the mark of Qianmu Temple.

Yu Lian was also adorned for the occasion today. Her neck was decorated with the patterns of the Daoist Scripture Hall and Qianmu Temple, and a ribbon symbolizing a Spirit Snake hung from her tail. During the ceremony, she had to maintain a length of about five feet and coil around Wang Ping.

This was, in fact, a very serious matter. In the future, the devotees of Qianmu Temple would most likely carve their gilded statues for worship based on their appearance today. Yu Cheng Taoist already had such a statue, which depicted him as a stern and aloof young Daoist. It was probably an image of him from his youth, recorded by the temple’s followers after he attended some important celebration.

Just as the morning glow appeared on the horizon, Wang Ping arrived at the front hall. By now, the area was already a sea of people. The Prefecture City had even dispatched three hundred armored Government Soldiers to maintain order.

Outside the front hall, all the Inner Sect Disciples were waiting, with the exception of Zhao Qing, who was in seclusion and cut off from all outside information. On the periphery were some important guests, such as Feng Miao, Guangxuan, and Liu Chang, as well as Sect Leaders from local sects like Li Xingwen and Yuan Qing Taoist. They had arrived the previous day.

Upon his arrival, Wang Ping didn’t greet anyone. Led by a disciple in charge of etiquette, he took his designated position and faced the countless gazes from below.

"This feeling is awful!" Yu Lian communicated with Wang Ping in his Spirit Sea.

"Just bear with it. It’ll be over soon."

"Fine."

After their brief exchange, Yu Cheng Taoist, also dressed in ceremonial robes, walked to the very front. With a loud cry from one of the Daoist Scripture Hall’s Qi Cultivators, classical and dignified instruments began to play solemn ceremonial music.

Then, Yu Cheng Taoist took a step forward and descended the steps of the front hall. Wang Ping and the others immediately followed behind him.

They were to walk step-by-step toward the altar prepared in the Inner Courtyard. The devotees behind them would also follow, as this was one of their few opportunities to enter the Inner Courtyard.

It had been a long time since Wang Ping had walked this path. Treading it again felt like returning to a long-missed hometown, stirring memories of strolling through familiar fields.

Their progress was slow. By the time they reached the altar set up in the Inner Courtyard, the sun was just peeking over the horizon.

After Yu Cheng Taoist led Wang Ping and the others onto the altar, a Qi Cultivator from the Daoist Scripture Hall handed him the ceremonial text. Yu Cheng Taoist accepted it and began to recite it in his characteristically calm and aloof voice. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After reciting the text, they would, by custom, pray for good fortune. This was followed by offering incense, and finally, leading everyone present in the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine prostrations.

As tens of thousands of people knelt in unison, the music swelled, its sound deep and majestic, instilling an instinctual sense of both awe and profound longing.

By the time the ceremony of three kneelings and nine prostrations concluded, the sun had fully risen above the horizon. As sunlight spilled across the land, the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony was officially declared over.

Next came the exchange conference between the various sects.

The Three Flames Sect and the Pingdong Sect were at each other’s throats again, but then disciples from both sects were beaten up by disciples from Qianmu Temple.

It couldn’t be helped. Qianmu Temple was developing incredibly fast these days. It controlled the territory of two prefectures and had Wang Ping’s status as a Patrol Envoy, causing the sect’s resources to snowball.

There was no gathering after the exchange conference. Once the visiting guests were seen off, Qianmu Temple, which had been bustling for days, returned to its usual tranquility.

All of Wang Ping’s friends left with the other guests, except for Zuo Xuan. After all, everyone had their own business to attend to. Zuo Xuan wanted to ’hitch a ride’ when Wang Ping went to Jinhuai Prefecture to meet the Xiao Shan Lord, since Wang Ping was permitted to fly freely within Nanlin Road’s territory.

In the now-quiet little courtyard on the mountaintop...

Liu Shuang told Wang Ping that she planned to enter three years of quiet meditation to prepare for her breakthrough.

Wang Ping listened and nodded with satisfaction.

After Liu Shuang left, Wang Ping went to the back of the mountain. He planned to visit the Xiao Shan Lord tomorrow, but he needed to talk with his master first.

"We have already announced to the entire world that we are the Xiao Shan Lord’s people," Yu Cheng Taoist said magnanimously. "The Xiao Shan Lord is well aware of what we have to offer. You should be able to gain something from this visit."

During the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, the insignia of the Daoist Scripture Hall on Wang Ping’s robes was very conspicuous. And in Nanlin Road, the Daoist Scripture Hall was virtually synonymous with the Six Heart Sect.

"I’m just afraid we’ll lose our autonomy in many matters from now on."

"You don’t need to worry about that. We have paid our price; we are simply acquiring something of equal value in return. It’s just that acquiring this item comes with a prerequisite... Although the rules are made by those in power, they won’t proactively break them unless faced with exceptional circumstances. And you... you do not yet possess the qualifications to make the Lord break his own rules."