Chapter 940: Astonishing Developments
Outside of Planet Ancient Emperor on the bridge of rainbow mist, there were several thousand aristocrats and officials who did not qualify to go to the planet. They stood there solemnly with their heads bowed. Beyond the bridge were even more cultivators kneeling in worship.
It was generally the same throughout the imperial capital. Destiny roared like a dragon as bright light shone in the sky. The grand spell formation was active, bringing brilliance to human lands.
It wasn’t just like that in the capital itself. It was the same... in the Imperial Region, the seven counties, as well as Holytide, Nightspirit, Nightshade... and the border areas as well. There were solemn sacrifices being made everywhere. The governors and military forces throughout human lands had long since been notified. This was a grand ceremony for all humankind. Thus, people in all territories that knew what was happening were now all looking in the general direction of the Imperial Region.
All nonhumans who were in human lands now, as well as any organizations with unsavory elements, didn’t dare to cause any trouble on this, the day of the human ancestral sacrifices. They wouldn’t even cause minor bits of trouble. Trouble of any variety on a day like this would constitute disrespect for humankind in general. None of the nonhumans wanted to do something like that.
Within human lands, destiny aura surged. And because of the bloodline fluctuations, the sky above Revered Ancient trembled, and the clouds spread dramatically.
Allies everywhere were abiding by their treaties and agreements to offer similar sacrifices.
The Whitemarshes and Saias weren’t worth mentioning. But in the Moonrite Region, the Heir Apparent and his siblings sighed deeply as they ascended the Moonrite Altar and looked in the direction of the imperial capital. They were independent and had set down their own roots. However... that didn’t mean they wanted to be separate from humankind.
Outside of the borders of human lands, neighboring nonhumans were shaken, and sent large amounts of troops to the border. It wasn’t that they planned to launch invasions. Rather, they feared the possibility of humans using their ancestral sacrifices as a distraction to launch invasions.
The stronger species in the Revered Ancient mainland were all looking in the direction of the humans’ imperial capital. Many thoughts went through their heads. The truth was... some very dramatic things had happened to the Firemoons, and then almost immediately afterward, the humans carried out their ancestral sacrifices. In one short year, it was as if dramatic things were happening... one after another.
How could the powerful species not pay close attention? All of them were getting the sensation that dramatic events were on the horizon. On this day, humans were the focus of attention throughout Revered Ancient.
Myriads and myriads of wills converged. Myriads and myriads of minds were focused. Myriads and myriads of eyes watched. If there was some ceremony that could shake everything... then the wills, minds, and eyes of everyone in Revered Ancient were ready.
Meanwhile, streams of energy were emerging from the mysterious Planet Ancient Emperor. The remaining fragments of the strange time doors were swept up into a huge vortex. Rumbling sounds echoed out everywhere.
In the middle of the vortex, which was the focus of all gazes on Revered Ancient, was the majestic Temple of Heaven, as well as a hundred somber cultivators, the five imperial princes, and the emperor... alone at the front!
He wore no crown and had no shoes on his feet. That symbolized that he was one with both heaven and earth, and could carry out the ceremony with all sincerity. As he walked up the stairs of the altar, chanting accompanied his footfalls.
“The Forefathers of Deep Earth opened Revered Ancient. Services to the universe; blessings of celestial spirits; moral cultivation and martial might; the compassion of myriad species; generations continue; it lasts long and far.
“Strive for self-improvement; sacrifice and chant; tens upon tens of thousands of years pass; this is the east of Revered Ancient. Millions upon millions of descendants, spreading through the Big Dipper.”
The words echoed left and right. Whether it was the people on the bridge or the cultivators on the planet. All were shaken. Xu Qing also looked up. Everyone looked surprised.
It was because... the speech about the ancestral sacrifices didn’t mention Ancestral sacrifices. Instead... it mentioned the Forefathers!
The so-called Forefathers were the earliest immortals to come to the Revered Ancient mainland some tens upon tens of thousands of years in the past. They included members of many species, and one of them was human. They were the ones who established these lands, set up the first Ancient Emperor, and made sure that humans and nonhumans alike flourished.
Sacrifices which were made, not to Dark Serenity, but to humankind in general, were rare, though not completely unheard-of. In fact, this was how ancestral sacrifices were done during the time of Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity. And now Emperor Dark War was continuing that practice.
Everyone was shaken, yet that didn’t stop the emperor from continuing to climb the stairs. The chanting continued with a bit of trembling in the voice.
“And thus... in the ancient past, heaven lost authority, and earth lost reincarnation. After the Forefathers, events played out, species rose and fell, enemies clashed. Wars were fought and suffering abounded. There was 10,000 years of torment and the spilling of blood. Though Dark Serenity had risen up, the gods came. They wreaked havoc with their superior strength.
“Mountains and rivers were shattered. Living beings were plunged into misery and suffering. Chaos reigned. Dramatic events played out as neighbors went to war and society fell into great difficulty. Who was responsible for East Victory's failures? Who caught sight of Mirrorcloud weeping?
“Later, Crimson Mother of the Nightshades ran rampant, bringing darkness, coldness, and blood. But our troops went into battle, released the power of the sun at dawn, banishing humiliation and punishing the Nightshades. The heroic spirit of humankind was lit.
“Heaven and earth trembled. Opportunities presented. The cosmos opened and heroes appeared, ready to create glory for humans.”
The words echoed like thunder as the emperor... reached the top of the Temple of Heaven! There he stood, the center of all attention.
The sound of chanting drifted out again, but this time it didn’t come from the master of ceremonies. Instead, it came from the mouth of the emperor himself. It was his first time speaking up to this point.
“Constellations drift and time passes. The ancient slowly turns modern. The landscape becomes more beautiful, the people more elegant. As we strive through time toward the future, we are ready to face tribulation and war. Time and tide wait for no man.
“The mission is in my heart, and responsibility is my cloak. I, Dark War, can offer sacrifices with a clean conscience. I will live up to the dreams of my ancestors and fulfill the desires of my offspring. I swear to lift humankind up to the highest heights!
“Let the three sacrifices be carried out!”
The emperor looked up into the cosmos, through the void, and beyond Revered Ancient. There was a strange light in his eyes, and his expression was unusual. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
“First sacrifice. Map of Humankind!”
The emperor waved his right hand, causing a convergence of destiny aura that manifested into the form of a huge map. That map depicted all known human territory. That included the four regions.
“Second sacrifice. Register of Heroic Spirits!”
As the words left the emperor’s mouth, a large number of stone steles rumbled into existence. There seemed no end to them, and each one was covered with names. They were the names of all the cultivators that had died in the endless years since Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity left. It wasn’t even possible to calculate how many names there were.
Xu Qing struggled to control his breathing as he noticed that on the stone stele in the very front, there was a familiar name. It was... the palace lord of the Swordsage Palace in Sea-Sealing County. Kong Liangxiu! Grief rose up within Xu Qing, as it did within the hearts of many of the other humans. All of them could see the names of family members and ancestors, which bore witness to the misery humankind had experienced through the years.
“Third sacrifice. Wind and Rain!”
When the emperor spoke those words, a great wind began to blow, accompanied by heavy rain. The wind was the wind of humankind, which had blown through countless years of time, across endless wars and battles. It had been collected from within time itself. The rain was the rain of humankind, which had fallen over countless years, bearing witness to the development of human society, bearing witness to sorrow and grief. It had been gathered from many different generations.
Then they were put together to be delivered on this day. The meaning conformed to the idiom... a fitting wind and favorable rain , expressing the hope for good harvests and general prosperity.
Although, was it possible this entire thing was a mockery? After all, this wind didn’t fall from the sky. It blew from the lands up into the dome of heaven. And this rain didn’t fall onto humans. It swept from the human world up into the canopy of heaven.
As of this moment, even the most dim-witted person could tell that something strange was going on. As Xu Qing stood on the ancient planet, his heart raced. The gathered officials struggled to control their breathing, and their eyes shone with astonishment. It was the same outside the planet. The officials on the bridge were trembling as anxiety filled them. Not all of the commoners had reacted yet, but there were some among them who were very perceptive, and were visibly alarmed.
The ancestral sacrifices continued.
“I can only hope the Forefathers will bless my offspring. Sacrifice to the spirits as if they are present, offer all sacrifices without violation.”
After handing over all the sacrificial items, the emperor looked up into the dome of heaven, to the area beyond Revered Ancient... and kowtowed. Once. Again. And yet again! Every kowtow was performed with great decisiveness.
One bow. Three bows. Nine bows! Every single bow contained great determination! It almost seemed like this was a bidding of farewell!
Three kowtows and nine bows. In the world of Revered Ancient, the human’s three periphery regions weren’t affected much, but the lands in the Imperial Region started trembling. Mountains crumbled and rivers were rerouted.
And then... on the Temple of Heaven on Planet Ancient Emperor, illusory mountains rose up and river after river began to flow. That meant that the spirits of the mountains and rivers in the region were on the move!
Next, something like a sigh echoed out from the terrifying streams of energy in the area, as they started grouping together to form a host of shadowy figures. They approached the sacrificial offerings as if to partake in them. At the same time, an incredibly strong destiny aura erupted, covering the entire imperial capital, and forcing everyone to bow their heads from the great pressure.
The emperor looked at the mountains and rivers, and then the shadowy figures. He looked at the sacrificial offerings. Then he spoke in a voice that was raspy and soft.
“Please, accept these....”
He was planning to say the formal lines that indicated the sacrifice was over: please accept these sacrificial items . Except, before he could get halfway through the statement... something astonishing happened!
A voice rang out from behind the emperor.
“Dark War, are you really worthy to be the emperor of humankind? The ancestors have come, and heaven has opened. All humankind bears witness. And thus, as your son, I will wield the blade of humankind to put an end to you, you tyrannical, immoral, inhumane, and incompetent ruler who has brought nothing but violence and misery to the people!”
The voice echoed out into the void with a touch of madness. The world shook.
Xu Qing looked up. He knew instantly who that voice belonged to....
Atop the Temple of Heaven, the emperor slowly turned around. Of the five imperial princes standing behind him, four looked shocked, and were instinctively backing away. There was only one who stood there looking coldly at the emperor.
It was none other than... Ningyan!