Chapter 278: Chapter 264 Sacrifice

The Divine Text experts pretended not to know and continued their discussions.

Zhou Leng glanced at the last eight characters of the inscription.

Those eight characters were not ritual language, but rather a warning to future generations to uphold etiquette and strive in cultivation upon entering here; breaking etiquette or neglecting the cultivation opportunity would lead to punishment.

He glanced at the others and continued to comprehend the first eight characters.

With Zhou Leng’s hint, the Divine Text experts quickly deduced important information.

The next day, Zhao Nandi represented the experts to announce the research findings.

“I have good news for everyone; our previous decision to research the direction of the copper furnace was very correct.”

“According to our joint research, we have come to preliminary conclusions.”

“Every time the Ancient River Sect opens its hall to transmit power, a ritual must be conducted.”

“If you enter forcibly without the ritual, you are recognized as an enemy and killed.”

“Next, we will research the ritual process or method, please wait a little longer.”

After speaking, Zhao Nandi sat next to Zhou Leng, hugging her knees and chatting in a low voice with him.

Since they had been studying Divine Texts all the time, Zhao Nandi was also exhausted; instead of talking about Divine Texts, they discussed other topics.

Studies, life, future, and even daily life.

After chatting for a long time, Zhao Nandi let go of her fatigue and continued to work energetically.

Zhou Leng watched her back.

She seemed quite lonely, rarely mentioning friends or family apart from one or two confidantes.

In contrast, Zhou Leng had a friend Zhang Xinglie, a classmate Rao Mingxian, a childhood friend Li Yuanhe, and familiar folks like Elder Song and Zhang Feng.

Others were cultivating, and Zhou Leng stood up, walked around the edge of the plaza.

This place was built atop the peak, steep on all sides, with no road up or down the mountain.

At the end of the plaza, besides the Transmission Hall, there were side doors on both sides.

Due to the deaths earlier, no one dared to explore deeply now.

Zhou Leng merely stood at the door and looked in, not following the Blood of Tyranny inside.

The Blood of Tyranny must possess something to have entered within.

Facing away from the crowd, Zhou Leng first took out the Guhe Token hanging around his neck.

A rectangular thin jade token, with green and black hues, carved with a star disc on one side, a long river on the other, floating above the river was an eight-cornered lamp.

Then he took out the Jade Tiger.

One side of the Jade Tiger was a tiger body, the other side was a smooth cut surface.

It closely resembled an ancient Tiger Talisman.

Zhao Nandi never mentioned how the Tiger Talisman came into her possession, nor did Zhou Leng ask.

Gently touching it, the Tiger Talisman had a smooth, warm texture, seemingly with no special traits.

Putting away the Jade Tiger, he walked to the hall entrance.

The main door was open, blocked by an invisible air membrane at the entrance.

Three statues could be faintly seen inside, while other areas were even more obscure.

Turning back, he walked away.

Centered around the copper furnace, numerous tents or sleeping pads were set up nearby.

Some even used solar generators.

Zhou Leng looked up at the sky.

A vast white expanse, no sun or moon, no alternation of day and night; yet the white light could power solar energy.

On the third day after entering, some Martial Artists finally couldn’t hold back, repeatedly asking Divine Text experts about progress.

The group of over three hundred Trial Takers slowly began to change.

The origins of these people were quite complex.

According to region, background forces, family background, and preference for martial arts, more than twenty small factions were formed.

The faction from Xiong City had considerable background, forming the largest group, attracting more people.

There was a small group with Pioneer Company background, and another with military background…

The forces around Rucheng, led by Rao Mingxing of the Rao Family, totaled over twenty people.

Because the Ancient River Ruins were located in the Yangtze River Delta, the forces nearby knew of it earlier, preparing earlier, resulting in more people from the Yangtze River Delta, totaling nearly a hundred.

The factions intermingled without opposition.

For example, people from Xiong City considered Zhang Xinglie as one of their own; those with military background did the same for Li Yuanhe, keeping each other informed of issues.

Zhou Leng was only known in the Rucheng area, clearly excluded by Rao Mingxing’s group and unfamiliar with other factions.

The Divine Text experts noticed Zhou Leng’s strong foundation and, coupled with being Zhao Nandi’s disciple, started considering him as one of their own.

During important Divine Text discussions, experts often invited Zhou Leng over.

Zhao Nandi was happier seeing her student valued than being praised herself.

Rao Mingxian and others were keen on networking within different groups.

Zhou Leng, Zhang Xinglie, and Elder Song were entirely indifferent, focusing on their own cultivation and study.

Zhang Xinglie increasingly realized the importance of Divine Text; besides cultivation, he self-taught Divine Text, often seeking advice from Zhou Leng.

A prodigy indeed, Zhang Xinglie’s learning ability was astonishing.

He had reached the level of a junior researcher within a few months and was nearing becoming a middle researcher, truly skilled in both martial and literary arts.

On the fourth day, Zhou Leng noticed the Divine Text experts hadn’t cracked it yet, worried about missing the trial.

Thus, he proactively called Zhao Nandi to an empty spot.

“Sister Nan Di, Elder Song seems to find your research too slow, suddenly guiding me on quite a bit.”

“Ah? What exactly?”

Zhao Nandi cast out a light screen, opened a notebook, ready to jot down at any time.

Zhou Leng began to slowly explain his research findings.

“A complete ritual, we definitely can’t do it because it requires some starry sky creature.”

“So, we just need to select the main steps.”

“From Elder Song’s guidance, through repeated deductions, I’ve found six indispensable steps.”

“The steps are reverence to the heavens, praising the gods, offering, oath-taking, incense burning, and worship. These six processes aren’t difficult.”

“What’s difficult is that we might not be able to pronounce the Divine Text, leading to the ritual’s failure.”

“There’s no other way but to try. Maybe we can invoke the power left by the Ancient River Sect without pronouncing the Divine Text.”

After Zhou Leng spoke, Zhao Nandi finished taking notes and led Zhou Leng to the copper censer to discuss the six-step ritual together.

The experts, knowing Zhou Leng studied under Song Juesi, did not question his background and directly engaged in discussion.

It took them more than half a day to finalize the ritual process.

Luckily, a few people carried Magic Spirit Bags, which contained many items and food. Although offering spicy strips and chocolate to the Ancient River Sect was inappropriate, pork head, roasted chicken, and the like were acceptable.

After a long preparation, a female expert lightly coughed and asked softly, “Nandi, have you ever had a boyfriend?”

“No,” Zhao Nandi replied.

“Well then… have you had any short-term contact?”

Zhao Nandi immediately understood, a faint blush appearing in her eyes, but she replied calmly, “No.”

“Good, then you will lead the ritual, make the offerings, and burn the incense. I’m sure you understand.”

“I understand.” Zhao Nandi nodded gently.

“From now on, Sister Nandi will be the current Saintess of the Ancient River Sect,” Zhou Leng roughly understood the experts’ intention.

Sacrificial rituals throughout the ages and regions often adopt similar practices.

Zhao Nandi’s expression returned to its cold indifference.

The experts formally announced the ritual, and everyone started preparing.

More than three hundred people were hiding greatness within.

It seemed their Magic Spirit Bags held everything.

Before long, they had constructed a decent-looking sacrificial site.

A large table was placed before the copper censer.

Under the table were a pig head, cow head, roasted whole lamb, along with chickens, ducks, and geese, even wrapped in red cloth.

Once everyone memorized the ritual process, Zhao Nandi changed into a long white Hanfu dress, her hairstyle also modified to an ancient style, and walked before the crowd.

Many glanced at her, and regardless of gender, held their breath.

Like a celestial being descended to earth, pure and untouched.

Like a princess visiting the mortal world, cold as a frost sword.

Her figure was tall and heroic, truly like an ancient female Cultivator stepping out of the Ancient River Sect’s great hall.

Zhao Nandi and the experts could not pronounce the Divine Text, so they translated some inscriptions from the copper censer into ancient script and wrote them on paper.

Zhao Nandi unfolded the paper with both hands, stood before the crowd, and recited the invocation to heaven and gods.

After the recitation, Zhao Nandi placed the offerings one by one on the altar.

Once the offerings were made, everyone began to take their oaths.

Zhao Nandi held three sticks of Concentration Incense, lit them, and placed them in the censer.

Everyone knelt down and began their worship.

They strictly performed the grand ritual of three kowtows and nine prostrations without any negligence.

Finally, everyone knelt on the ground, collectively raising their heads with hopeful eyes gazing forward.

There was no change on the altar, no change with the censer, and no change in the Transmission Hall.

The ritual had failed.

The crowd was unwilling, silently waiting.

After a full quarter hour, a Divine Text Expert sighed, “Perhaps the ritual process needs refinement, let’s study it further.”

The Trial Takers sighed, and some encouraged everyone.

“Such things are too normal, after all, this is an alien civilization. We are all outsiders; obtaining the inheritance directly is unlikely.”

“Indeed, every civilization has its own rules. When on someone else’s turf, you must abide by their rules.”

“The experts have done their best. Take it slow, we’ll succeed.”

“It’s already much better than expected. Initially, we thought there would be life-threatening dangers, but it’s a safe Transmission Hall.”

The crowd chatted to ease their frustration.

Zhou Leng and the Divine Text Experts gathered again for further discussion.

Soon, they improved the process.

Two hours later, they conducted the second ritual.

It failed again.

This time, no one spoke.

A faint sense of disappointment spread among the crowd.

Zhou Leng and the Divine Text Experts had to research once more. Under immense pressure, the experts began to debate, their words intense.

Zhao Nandi, dressed in her ethereal white attire, occasionally furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

After speaking with the Divine Text Experts, Zhou Leng and Zhao Nandi sat together, conversing quietly.

“Currently, two possibilities seem most likely.”

“One is the need for Divine Text pronunciation, but unfortunately, we can’t do that, and Elder Song certainly can’t either.”

“The other is a matter of identity. If an Ancient River Sect Elder were here, they might be able to start directly… how about you try?”

Zhao Nandi turned her gaze to Zhou Leng, a peculiar smile flickering in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you act as the current Holy Son?”

Zhou Leng instantly understood why Zhao Nandi was smiling, helplessly replying, “Yes.”

Zhao Nandi said, “Discuss it with the experts tomorrow. After all, you have experienced the Ancient River Illusion Realm, making you a Registered Disciple.”

On the next day, everyone conducted the third ritual.

Repeating offerings was highly disrespectful, so the previous offerings were put away.

An expert sighed, “Hopefully, this time will succeed. If not, we’ll really have to offer self-heating meals, military rations, and compressed biscuits to the ancestors of the Ancient River Sect.”

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