AWB Chapter 539 Temple Sacrifice
Chapter 539 Temple Sacrifice
Outside the temple, the usual raging snow and gale had subsided.
The thick, lead-gray clouds seemed to be parted by an invisible giant hand, revealing a rare, pristine blue sky.
Golden sunlight poured down without obstruction, illuminating the Temple of a Hundred Flowers, which was encased in ice, and even brought a touch of warmth to the people there.
The air was crisp and clear, with extremely high visibility; even the outline of the ruins of Baihua City, a hundred miles away, was faintly visible.
A lotus altar had been set up in advance on the spacious platform in front of the temple's entrance.
Each petal of the lotus platform is engraved with intricate life runes that flow with verdant radiance.
The center of the altar is not a flame, but a pool of ever-flowing, emerald-green spiritual liquid radiating a rich life essence.
The altar was surrounded by four totem flags representing the four major families, as well as other items used for sacrificial rites.
Although the mountain had experienced violent tremors earlier, this area seemed to have been unaffected.
The ice on the massive entrance to the temple had completely melted, revealing a white jade doorway carved with magnificent patterns.
Every three steps right next to the gate, there was a young girl dressed in a plain white sacrificial robe, holding a tender green branch.
They seemed to have received special training, their expressions solemn and sacred, as if the collapse of mountains could not change their demeanor.
At this moment, the elders of the four major families gathered under the huge gate of the temple, all looking sadly at the ruins of Hundred Flowers City that could be vaguely seen below the mountain.
That is where their ancestors lived for generations. Their ancestors spent thousands of years building Hundred Flowers City into the most beautiful place in the Four Directions Sword Alliance and even the Xingchuan Domain.
But now it has been destroyed in the process of Goddess Peak's revival.
"Don't be sad, everyone. We can rebuild Hundred Flowers City if it falls, but this is the only chance for the Goddess to return."
Our ancestors worked so hard and waited so long just for this day.
The reason we can stand here today in place of so many of our predecessors is not because we are so great, but simply because fate has chosen us.
"I think everyone should feel honored," an elder of the Yang family said loudly, leaning on his cane.
"Elder Qi is right. It is the long-cherished wish of our four families to bring the Goddess back to Goddess Peak. We are willing to pay any price. What is a mere Hundred Flowers City compared to that?"
"That being said, I am a little worried about the children at home."
"Brother Shouzheng, you're overthinking it. It's just a minor tremor. It might be a serious blow to Baihua City, but Huashen Mountain is still here, so they'll be fine."
"That's all I can think of!" the old man sighed softly.
“Shouzheng, I don’t recognize the girl behind you. It’s not appropriate to bring a stranger here at such a crucial moment!” The old man surnamed Yang came to Guan Shouzheng’s side with his cane.
“Brother Qi, there is no need to doubt. Guan Bi is my granddaughter who has been lost for many years. She has gained the recognition of the spirit seed and will become the patriarch of the Guan family in the future. I think she should be qualified to come here to witness the return of the goddess.”
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and they all turned their gazes toward Guan Bi.
Guanbi gracefully bowed to everyone.
"She does indeed resemble Xiao Qing quite a bit!" the old man surnamed Yang exclaimed, then silently returned to his original position and looked at the approaching red light in the distance.
Before long, the crimson flying boat arrived above everyone's heads.
The platform was completely silent, except for the fluttering of the flags as the airship landed. Everyone's expectant gaze was fixed on the airship's hatch.
As the hatch slowly opened, the patriarchs of the four major families, led by Yan Yang Shangren, filed out.
Li Linghui followed behind the group, calmly and slowly stepping out of the flying boat.
When everyone saw the flower wreath on Li Linghui's head, they were all stunned. They never expected that this year's Flower Queen would not be from one of the Ten Flower Boats.
Guan Bi's gaze also sharpened the moment he saw Li Linghui.
"She's not the woman who's with Shen Xu, so why did she become the Hundred Flowers Girl? What exactly is her relationship with Shen Xu?!"
Countless chaotic thoughts swirled in her mind, making it impossible for her to calm down.
At this moment, Master Yanyang's voice rang in everyone's ears, "I believe you all understand what we have sacrificed for today, and I don't want to go into unnecessary details."
The mission to bring back the goddess is either to succeed or die trying; otherwise, neither of us can escape the Sword Alliance's reckoning. I hope you are prepared for this.
Let’s get started!
As Master Yanyang finished speaking, the sunlight shone directly on the emerald green spiritual liquid in the center of the altar's lotus platform. The spiritual liquid refracted a seven-colored halo, enveloping the entire altar in a sacred glow.
Guan Shouzheng stepped out from among the elders, dressed in a dark blue sacrificial robe embroidered with ancient patterns. Under the watchful eyes of many, he slowly walked toward the altar.
Reaching the altar, he raised the sacrificial text above his head, facing the direction of the temple, and began to chant in an aged yet resonant voice, imbued with a strange rhythm of life:
"On this auspicious day, bathed in holy light! In accordance with Heaven and Earth, we give thanks for divine grace..."
The sound echoed through the silent valley, causing the altar runes to flow faster, and the lotus altar glowed faintly.
"Descendants of four races, upholding ancestral teachings, have finally achieved their full potential, their souls returning to the divine court..."
As he chanted, a soft blue aura emanated from his body, resonating with the life force within the altar.
The surrounding female priestesses simultaneously pointed the tender branches in their hands towards the altar, and the goddess flowers on the branches instantly bloomed brilliantly, filling the air with a rich fragrance.
After Guan Shouzheng finished reciting the eulogy, he respectfully placed it on the lotus altar.
The moment the sacrificial text came into contact with the spiritual liquid, it floated on it, the words on its surface flowing and emitting a faint golden light.
The remaining three clan elders stepped forward simultaneously, each throwing a symbolic object into the spiritual liquid at the center of the altar.
When the three substances merged, the emerald green spiritual liquid at the center of the altar began to boil and churn violently!
A magnificent seven-colored halo shone brightly, forming a strange beam of light that shot straight toward the enormous portal, merging with the pure sunlight reflected off the portal, creating a magnificent and sacred scene!
The temple doors swung open with a roar, revealing a vibrant interior filled with springtime beauty and blooming flowers, and an abundance of life force instantly filled the air.
But at this moment, none of the people in front of the temple walked towards the portal; instead, they stood on either side of the portal and bowed their heads slightly.
Guided by four young priestesses, Li Linghui, dressed in a magnificent gown, appeared calm and ethereal, seemingly detached from worldly affairs in the sacred atmosphere.
She had changed into her most solemn ceremonial robes, wearing a nine-petaled crown of a hundred flowers, and the dark blue mark between her brows was particularly striking in the sunlight, making her look like a true servant of the gods.
Sensing her approach, the temple's protective barrier rippled gently like waves at the entrance, releasing an even warmer and richer fragrance of flowers, as if welcoming her arrival.
The exotic flowers and plants within the barrier swayed gracefully in the sunlight, displaying unprecedentedly vibrant colors.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Linghui, enveloped in golden light, entered the temple without hindrance, like an infant nestled in its mother's arms, and her figure vanished.
The portal lit up slightly after she entered, then slowly closed.
As Li Linghui disappeared, the boiling spiritual liquid in the center of the altar lotus platform instantly subsided.
Guan Shouzheng led all the priests in bowing deeply three times in the direction of the temple.
The sun still shines warmly on Goddess Peak, and the mountain breeze is gentle.
A look of relief mixed with boundless anticipation appeared on everyone's faces.
After centuries of planning, today we finally see the results.