Martial arts ascend to the gods

Chapter 266 Sacrifice
The experts on divine writing pretended to be unaware and continued their communication and discussion.

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

Those eight words are not sacrificial terms, but a warning to future generations that after entering here, they must observe etiquette and practice diligently. If they break etiquette or do not cherish the opportunity to practice, they will be punished.

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

With Zhou Leng's hint, the experts on divine writing quickly deduced important information.

The next day, Zhao Nandi announced the research content on behalf of the experts.

"I have good news for you all. Our previous choice of researching copper furnaces was very correct."

"Based on our joint research, we have come to a preliminary conclusion."

"Every time the Ancient River Sect opens a temple to teach skills, they have to hold a sacrifice."

"If you force your way in without offering sacrifices, you will be regarded as an enemy and killed."

"Next, we will study the sacrificial process or method. Please wait for a moment."

After Zhao Nandi finished speaking, he walked over to Zhou Leng and sat down, hugging his knees with his hands, chatting with Zhou Leng in a low voice.

Zhao Nandie was tired from studying the divine texts during this period, so he stopped talking about the divine texts and started talking about other things instead.

The past, studies, life, future and even daily life.

The two chatted for a long time, and Zhao Nandie's fatigue was swept away, and he continued to work with full energy.

Zhou Leng looked at Zhao Nandi's back.

She seemed very lonely, and apart from talking about one or two close friends, she rarely mentioned her friends and family.

On the other hand, Zhou Leng is surrounded by his friend Zhang Xinglie, his classmate Rao Mingxian, his childhood friend Li Yuanhe, and acquaintances such as Mr. Song and Zhang Feng.

While the others were practicing, Zhou Leng stood up and walked along the edge of the square.

This place is built on a mountain, with steep slopes on all sides and no way up or down the mountain.

At the end of the square, in addition to the main hall for transmitting skills, there is a side door on each side.

Since someone died there before, no one dares to explore further.

Zhou Leng just stood at the door and looked, without following the example of the Blood of Tyranny to enter.

The Blood of Tyranny must have mastered something before it could enter.

Zhou Leng turned his back to everyone and took out the Guhe brand hanging around his neck.

The rectangular thin jade plate is blue and black in color, with a star disk carved on one side and a long river carved on the other. On the long river, an octagonal lamp floats.

Then he took out the jade tiger.

One side of the jade tiger is the tiger's body, and the other side is a smooth cut surface.

It looks very much like the ancient tiger talisman.

Zhao Nandie never said where the tiger talisman came from, and Zhou Leng didn't ask.

Touching it gently, the tiger talisman felt smooth and seemed to have nothing special about it.

He put away the jade tiger and walked to the entrance of the hall.

The main door was open, but the entrance was blocked by an invisible film of air.

You can vaguely see three statues enshrined inside, but the rest of the place is even blurrier.

Turn around and walk back.

With the copper furnace as the center, many tents or sleeping mats are set up nearby.

Some people even use solar generators.

Zhou Leng raised his head and glanced at the sky.

It is all white, there is no sun or moon, no alternation of day and night, but only this white light can generate solar power.

On the third day, some warriors could no longer hold back and repeatedly asked the experts on divine texts about the progress.

The group of more than 300 trial-takers slowly began to change.

The origins of these people are very complicated.

The people are divided into more than 20 different small groups based on region, behind-the-scenes forces, family background, martial arts preferences, etc.

A group of people with strong backgrounds, such as Xiong Cheng, formed the largest group and attracted more people.

There is a small group with a background in the development company, and there is also a small group with a background in the military...

The forces around Rucheng are mainly led by Rao Mingxing, the head of the Rao family, with a total of more than 20 people.

Because the ancient river ruins are in the Yangtze River Delta, the forces nearby the Yangtze River Delta knew about it earlier and prepared earlier, so there were more people in the Yangtze River Delta region, accounting for nearly a hundred people.

The people have different forces, and they have some overlap with each other, but they are not in opposition.

For example, the people in Xiongcheng assumed that Zhang Xinglie was one of theirs, and those with a military background also assumed that Li Yuanhe was one of theirs, and they would inform each other of any matters.

Zhou Leng is only famous in the Rucheng area. Rao Mingxing's group obviously excludes him, and other forces are not familiar with him either.

The experts in divine writing discovered that Zhou Leng had a solid foundation in divine writing, and since he was Zhao Nandie's disciple, they had already treated Zhou Leng as one of their own.

When discussing important divine texts, experts would often call Zhou Leng over.

Zhao Nandi was happier to see his students being valued than to hear himself being praised.

Rao Mingxian and others care a lot about various groups and make friends with other people.

Zhou Leng, Zhang Xinglie and Old Song didn't care at all and focused on their own practice and study.

Zhang Xinglie became increasingly aware of the importance of the divine text. In addition to practicing, he studied the divine text on his own and often asked Zhou Leng for advice.

A top student is a top student. Zhang Xinglie’s learning ability is very scary.

Although he has only studied for a few months, he has already reached the level of a junior researcher and is getting closer and closer to a mid-level researcher. He is truly a man of both civil and military talents.

On the fourth day, Zhou Leng discovered that the expert on the divine text had not yet cracked it, and was worried about missing the trial.

So, he took the initiative to call Zhao Nandie to an open place.

"Sister Nan Di, Mr. Song seemed to dislike your slow research and suddenly gave me a lot of pointers."

"Ah? What are they?"

Zhao Nandi turned on the light curtain and opened his notebook, ready to take notes at any time.

Zhou Leng began to slowly explain the content of his research.

"We definitely can't do a complete sacrifice because we need to use some kind of space creatures."

"So, let's just pick out the main steps."

"I have repeatedly deduced from Mr. Song's content and found that there are six indispensable steps."

"They are worshipping heaven, praising gods, offering sacrifices, swearing, burning incense and worshipping. These six steps are not difficult." "What is difficult is that we may not be able to recite the sacred text, resulting in the failure of the sacrifice."

"There is no other way. We can only try. Maybe we can activate the power left by Guhe Sect without even reciting the divine text."

After Zhou Leng finished speaking, Zhao Nandi finished taking notes and took Zhou Leng to the copper furnace to discuss the six-step sacrifice together.

The experts had long known that Zhou Leng was a student of Song Juesi, so no one asked about the source and they went straight to the discussion.

It took most of the day to finalize the sacrificial process.

Fortunately, a few people were wearing magic bags, which contained a lot of sundries and food. Although offering spicy strips and chocolate to Guhe Sect was not appropriate, offering pig heads, roast chicken, etc. was still fine.

After everyone prepared for a long time, a female expert coughed lightly and asked in a low voice: "Nan Di, have you ever had a boyfriend?"

"No." Zhao Nandi said.

"So... have you had any short-term contact?"

Zhao Nandi understood instantly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, but he still said calmly: "No."

"Okay, then you will preside over the ceremony, present the offerings, and burn the incense. I believe you can understand."

"I understand." Zhao Nandi nodded slightly.

"From now on, Sister Nan Di will be the Holy Maiden of the Guhe Sect." Zhou Leng roughly understood what the experts meant.

Similar practices have been used in sacrifices throughout history, both in China and abroad.

Zhao Nandi's expression returned to its cold and indifferent state.

The experts officially announced the sacrificial ceremony, and everyone got moving and started preparing.

More than 300 people, many hidden talents.

It seems like they have everything in their magic bags.

Soon, a proper place for sacrifice was built.

A large table was placed in front of the copper stove.

Under the table were pig heads, cow heads, roasted whole lambs, chickens, ducks, geese, and even red cloth.

After everyone had memorized the sacrificial process, Zhao Nandi changed into a white Hanfu long skirt, even changed her hairstyle to ancient style, and walked in front of everyone.

Many people just took one look, both men and women, and held their breath.

Like a banished immortal descended to the world, free from all worldly affairs and without any flaws.

Like an imperial daughter descending to the mortal world, as cold as a frosty sword.

She had a slender figure and a heroic appearance, just like an ancient female monk who walked out of the main hall of Guhe Sect.

Zhao Nandi and the experts did not know how to pronounce the sacred text, so they translated some of the inscriptions on the bronze furnace into ancient Chinese and wrote them on paper.

Zhao Nandi spread out the paper with both hands, stood in front of everyone, and recited the content of praising heaven and God.

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

After offering sacrifices, everyone began to swear an oath.

Zhao Nandi held three incense sticks in his hands, lit them and inserted them into the copper censer.

Everyone knelt down and began to worship.

Everyone strictly performed the ritual of three kowtows and nine bows, not daring to be careless.

Finally, everyone knelt on the ground, raised their heads, and looked ahead with anticipation.

The altar did not change, the incense burner did not change, and the power transmission hall did not change either.

Everyone waited silently, nothing changed.

Failed.

Everyone was unwilling and waited quietly.

After a full quarter of an hour, a divine text expert sighed and said, "Perhaps the sacrificial process needs to be improved. We need to study it further."

Some trial takers sighed, while others encouraged everyone.

"This is very normal. After all, it is an alien civilization. We are all outsiders. It is unlikely that we can directly inherit it."

"Yes, every civilization has its own rules. When you arrive at someone's territory, you must abide by that person's rules."

"The experts have done their best. Just take your time and it will work."

"It's much better than I thought. I thought my life was in danger, but I didn't expect it to be a safe place in the Transmission Hall."

Everyone chatted to relieve their depressed mood.

Zhou Leng and the experts on divine writing gathered together again and continued to discuss.

Soon, new processes were improved.

Two hours later, everyone performed the second sacrifice.

Still failed.

This time, no one spoke.

A faint sense of disappointment spread among the crowd.

Zhou Leng and the experts on divine text had to study it again. Under tremendous pressure, the experts on divine text argued fiercely.

Zhao Nandi was dressed in a fairy-like white robe, occasionally frowning and thinking carefully.

After talking with the experts on divine writing, Zhou Leng and Zhao Nandi sat together and chatted in low voices.

"At present, there are two most likely possibilities."

"One requires the pronunciation of divine words, but unfortunately none of us know how to do it, and neither does Old Song."

"One is the identity issue. If an elder from Guhe Sect is here, I think we can start right away... Why don't you give it a try?"

Zhao Nandi turned his head and looked at Zhou Leng, and a strange smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"what happened?"

"Can you be the Holy Son of this generation?"

Zhou Leng instantly understood why Zhao Nandi was laughing, and said helplessly: "Okay."

Zhao Nandi said: "Let's discuss this with the experts tomorrow. After all, you have experienced the Ancient River Illusion, so you are considered a registered disciple."

On the second day, everyone performed the third sacrifice.

It is considered disrespectful to repeat offerings, so all previous offerings should be put away.

An expert sighed and said, "I hope this will be successful. If we fail again, we can only offer self-heating lunch boxes, military canned food, and compressed biscuits to the ancestors of Guhe Sect."

(End of this chapter)