Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 999 The Great Witch Appears Online
The statue wears a black crown, with an ancient and simple design. Twelve jade tassels hang in front of the crown, the jade pieces are warm and smooth, symbolizing his noble status as the son of an emperor and later a high-ranking official in the court.

On either side of his face, a totem of a vermilion bird spreading its wings is engraved, with intricate and detailed patterns on the bird's feathers. Nine strings of red jade beads hang from his chin, nine beads on each string, representing the extreme number of nine and subtly symbolizing the flourishing of the element of fire.

He wore a black robe and a crimson skirt, the colors of ancient imperial sacrificial attire. The robe was embroidered with gold thread, depicting the stars and ever-flowing flames. The layers of the robe were smooth and flowing, like clouds swirling around him, or like divine fire burning quietly on his body.

The statue has its hands clasped in front of its chest, in a solemn posture.

His left hand gently holds a cluster of stars, the Antares constellation, carved from red jade. The three stars stand in a triangular formation, their exquisite craftsmanship radiating a faint glow in the darkness, shimmering and gleaming, signifying his power to control the source of celestial fire. His right hand is held with fingers joined like a sword, the fingertips seemingly burning with invisible flames. Over a thousand years, the incense and prayers of believers have imbued his originally deep red sandalwood knuckles with a profound, dark hue, a testament to the passage of time.

The incense offered by believers at the foot of the altar has never been completely extinguished, and the wisps of smoke make the majestic face of the deity appear even more mysterious and unpredictable in the interplay of light and shadow.

Following proper etiquette, the three first stepped forward and respectfully offered three sticks of incense.

He then stood still, straining his eyes and activating his spiritual senses, desperately observing the statue and every inch of the surrounding space.

However, after a long while, they still couldn't see anything unusual.

“I have been here several times before and have carefully sensed that it is exactly the same as this time. The statue is empty and has no spiritual response. It is no different from an ordinary old wooden carving.”

Hui Ren shook his head in disappointment. His Zen mind was sharp, and he only saw a silent void.

On the other side, the Stone King silently spread out his rock-like palm, his five fingers bending and stretching at a terrifying speed that was difficult for the naked eye to perceive, and began to calculate.

He used his innate supernatural abilities to deduce celestial secrets and data.

The legends and stories related to this place, the changes over thousands of years, the records of human history, even the rammed earth composition of the earthen platform underfoot, the residual incense and prayer energy fluctuations in the air... all these seemingly unrelated pieces of information are transformed into data streams and added to the calculations.

However, after much deduction, nothing was found in the end.

But deep down, I don't think this place is really that "clean," I just resent myself.

Before meeting Xu Xuan, he could glean some of the secrets of this divination technique. However, after that, he was never able to successfully deduce any useful results again.

This supernatural power... is practically useless next to Xu Xuan.

Just as Hui Ren was disappointed and Shi Wang was secretly depressed, Xu Xuan stared at the statue for a long time. In the depths of his eyes, there was a faint white lotus phantom and the aura of the Evil Earth flowing. Then... he probably saw something.

“It’s not entirely without clues,” Xu Xuan said slowly. “Deep inside this statue, there is indeed a tiny, almost imperceptible fragment of spiritual energy, like embers about to be completely extinguished, which can be ignored.”

Upon hearing this, Hui Ren's glimmer of hope sank once again.

He sighed, "With just this little bit of remnant, it's like water without a source, a tree without roots. What are we going to do..."

Unexpectedly, Xu Xuan suddenly changed the subject, his tone carrying a strange confidence: "This humble monk may have a way to try to activate this ember of spirituality, allowing it to briefly revive and reveal some of the truth."

"It's just that the commotion is huge, and it can only be used when the atmosphere of the mortal world is filled with the scent of mortals, so the Liang Prince's Mansion will definitely know that a big commotion has occurred here."

Finally, the Father added in a somewhat subtle tone, "It seems that we don't have much time left."

Ok? !

Upon hearing this, Huiren looked at him with surprise and doubt.

This is not a job that monks should be good at!
Even Taoist priests who are skilled in rituals focus more on commanding and bestowing titles than on "activating" this primal spirituality.

Master Fahai... he really is a treasure of a monk, no wonder he has become so popular.

But what does it mean that time is running out?
We've only been out for less than an hour, haven't we? We've only just arrived at our first stop, right? It looks like this will be over soon, won't it?
Shi Wang also sighed: How come there's not much time left again?

Ever since I joined Baoan Hall, I've often heard this phrase. From the hall master and deputy hall master to the swordsmen and old Taoist priests below, they all often say this.

The ancient rules of cultivation seem to have been abandoned, and all cultivators in the new era are so courageous and diligent that they frighten ordinary people.

Is it almost demonic? No, even the demonic path wouldn't dare to progress this far.

Even my heart of stone is now feeling a little restless. Is this the trend the young master was talking about?
Regardless of what the two powerful guards thought, Xu Xuan turned and walked out of the quiet Ebo Terrace, rejoining the bustling crowd of people at the temple fair below.

As he walked through the crowd, he seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps explaining to the two people behind him:

“To awaken such an ancient spirituality that is almost extinct, relying on Buddhist meditation and chanting or Taoist talismans and edicts is like scratching an itch through a boot; the effect is not right. In such matters, the Nuo ritual passed down from ancient times is naturally more effective.”

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"Coincidentally, I know a little bit about the art of Nuo dance and Nuo ritual."

The gesture of pinching with two fingers is somewhat peculiar, but the meaning is very clear.

After speaking, he stopped in front of a vendor selling various masks, glanced at them, and casually picked up a seemingly ordinary wooden mask.

Regardless of how rough or gaudy the mask originally was, the moment his fingertips brushed against it, an invisible force, like a gentle breeze, swept across the mask's surface.

Once the power dissipated, it had completely transformed into the form Xu Xuan desired.

All I could see was the mask:
His forehead was raised high, like a strange bone, and engraved with mysterious swirling patterns resembling "flint." His eyebrows were no longer hair, but two lines cast from gold and bronze, with sharp edges like flames in flight.

Its enormous eyes, with their deep-set sockets, were set against a blood-red face, making it appear even more eerie and majestic.

His nose was straight as if cleaved by an axe, with flared nostrils. Below it was a gaping maw, revealing two rows of sharp, white fangs, one above the other.

This is the Nuo noodles that Xu Xuan casually made, imbued with his will.

From being bestowed by the Holy Emperor to creating it himself, this person's progress is clearly visible.

And when Xu Xuan slowly placed this Nuo mask, which was full of wildness, majesty and mystery, on his face.

"Om..."

An invisible, ancient spirituality, imbued with primal wildness and sacredness, suddenly appeared on the earth.

Then, under the astonished gazes of Huiren and Shiwang, his body began to sway slightly with a peculiar and ancient rhythm, and his demeanor instantly transformed from that of an ordinary person into that of an "ancient person".

In ancient times, powerful figures generally had exaggerated habits and appearances.

This is the character design of the extraordinary person, and it is absolutely essential to include it.

He then strode forward, as if drawn by invisible threads, and walked straight to the group of men and women performing a religious dance in the very center of the square, rudely disrupting their previously orderly formation. "Hey! What are you doing?! Where did you come from…?"

The man who had just been bumped into looked displeased and was about to step forward to scold and drive him away.

Such a professional occasion is not something that just anyone wearing a mask can join.

You should know that they also grew up from a young age.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

From somewhere, three heavy and distant drumbeats resounded!

At the same time, a wind unlike any other, carrying an ancient and desolate aura, swirled down from the high sky and swept across the entire square!
Amidst the drumbeats and ancient ambiance, the clamor of voices in the hall seemed to be severed by a sharp blade, instantly falling silent and solemn!
Everyone froze, their gazes involuntarily drawn to the figure in the center of the square wearing a strange Nuo mask.

Immediately afterwards, the sacrificial firewood at the edge of the square spontaneously combusted, sending up a straight column of blue smoke that rose into the sky, filling the air with a fragrance that was a mixture of the scent of pine and cypress and a certain sacred aroma.

The ancient ceremony began on its own, without anyone announcing it.

Xu Xuan opened his mouth, his voice no longer clear and bright as usual, but carrying a vast and ancient rhythm, like a prayer that had traveled through time, and began to chant:

We humbly behold the Great God, descended from Emperor Ku, a hero of Gaoxin. He descended to the Central Plains and settled in the Shang Dynasty.

His virtues are illustrious, and his achievements are magnificent. He discerned the stars and celestial bodies to regulate the seasons for the people, and he managed fire administration to teach people how to cook food.

By drilling wood to make fire, we can eliminate the foul odor; by observing celestial phenomena to determine the seasons, we can benefit agriculture and sericulture.

It truly laid the foundation for Chinese civilization and initiated the means for generations to enjoy food and clothing.

As the solemn sacrificial text was recited, Xu Xuan's body began to throb in unison with the ancient rhythm!
He stomped his feet heavily on the ground, then suddenly stretched out his body, his arms outstretched, the wide sleeves of his robe billowing like clouds hanging from the sky, the celestial constellations and flame patterns embroidered on them seeming to come alive.

The hanging strings of red jade beads collided with a loud bang, producing a clear and melodious sound that momentarily drowned out the mysterious drumbeats in the darkness!
The dance steps were heavy and powerful, each step seemingly punctuated by a pause in the heartbeat, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

The onlookers felt a slight tingling sensation under their feet, as if the ancient god who wielded fire was stepping out of the sealed mythology to the rhythm of the primordial world.

Hui Ren gasped.

The Buddha sensed that the spirituality of this world was being rapidly activated.

The earth, water, wind, and clouds all responded to the rhythm, and the people in the temple fair also contributed their spirituality to the Nuo ritual, becoming fuel for the fire.

All the feedback was incorporated into Xu Xuan's dance moves, helping him to continue jumping.

Is this what it means to know a little bit?

And is this dance really meant to please the gods?
Xu Xuan spun around rapidly, faster and faster, until his entire figure transformed into a dazzling crimson whirlwind in everyone's eyes.

The Vermilion Bird totem cast in gold and bronze on the mask seemed to come alive as it spun rapidly, spreading its wings as if about to take flight. Specks of golden, fiery trails appeared around it, swirling and radiating a scorching aura.

The stark white boar tusks on the mask appeared and disappeared in the flickering firelight, as if emitting a silent roar.

Its posture is fierce and domineering, as if it wants to tear apart and burn all the filth, plagues and misfortunes in the world, and restore the world to its former clarity!

Suddenly, the dance posture changed again, from extreme fierceness and violence to a "hunting" posture full of vigilance and oppression.

They crouched low, their steps becoming light and elusive, their eyes like torches, scanning the surroundings through the deep holes in their masks, like ancient ancestors searching for prey in the darkness.

Every solemn pause, every swift poke, seemed to be searching, locking onto, and expelling the invisible evil spirits and impurities.

Wherever it went, the villagers watching felt an invisible pressure, holding their breath and not daring to breathe, their backs turning cold, as if they could truly feel that the scorching divine power was forcing the hidden, cold ghosts to have nowhere to hide and to collapse one after another.

Like fire, it is surveying all directions!
Good heavens! Abbot Huiren finally realized something was wrong, because the ancient divine power was not gathered in the temple, but in the Zen master himself.

This isn't trying to please; it's inviting a god to possess you!
Finally, the drumbeats from the heavens came to an abrupt end at their most intense and soaring climax!

In the utter silence, the great shaman stood majestically in the center of the altar, seemingly one with the earth beneath his feet and the sky above his head.

With arms raised high towards the sky and fingers spread wide, he pointed steadily towards the location of the Heart Constellation in an incredibly precise and sacred manner.

At this moment, he is no longer merely a shaman playing the role of a god; he is the embodiment of the great god Ebo at this moment!

It is that ancient deity who communicates with heaven and earth, controls the fire, and guards the four directions; his majesty covers the whole land, causing all things to hold their breath.

In that instant of transition between extreme stillness and extreme movement.

"boom!"

A crimson-gold flame, purely formed from faith and law, appeared out of thin air and soared into the sky!

A fist-sized, brilliant spark flew out from the tightly closed Ebo Temple, tracing a graceful arc before landing precisely in Xu Xuan's still-raised hand.

The final pose wasn't actually part of the dance, but the dancer just couldn't resist showing off in front of others.

At this moment, the handsome face behind the mask was grinning from ear to ear.

He then glanced down at the sparks in his palm, sensing the hurried footsteps and subtle energy fluctuations coming from afar, and quickly suppressed all the strange phenomena around him.

"Let's go, the people from the Liang Prince's Mansion are here."

The ability to switch between stillness and movement, to bend and stretch, is exactly what it means.

Awakened, Hui Ren understood what it meant for the situation to be quite serious, and also realized why they didn't have much time left.

The burly, bald man turned to run, but as soon as he turned his head, he found that the equally muscular Stone King had already disappeared into the woods, vanishing in a few leaps.

Then a blur passed by, and the Zen master ran fast and lightly.

The Pure Land School truly deserves its reputation as the foremost school of Buddhism; its overall quality is truly exceptional.

The local monks could only leap into the forest after a few bounds and begin their retreat.

All that remained were the stunned crowd in the square and the lingering, sacred heat in the air.

　Five days, 4.7 words—this is my gift to my friends during the National Day holiday!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)