I sparked a mythological frenzy in Marvel.

Chapter 197 Ceremony

The Emperor was terrified. He hadn't expected that Xia Ling knew about the talisman in his hand, which was a gift from the gods!

The Emperor's hands trembled as he unconsciously gripped the talisman in his pocket, his last resort and the key he believed to be able to control everything.

He tried to hide his inner turmoil with his eyes, but Xia Ling's sharp gaze seemed to see right through him.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to panic." Xia Ling's tone was calm, but every word revealed an undeniable authority. "We are not trying to take anything from you, but the origin of this talisman and the secrets it hides are crucial to resolving the current problem."

After a moment's hesitation, the Emperor ultimately chose to compromise. He slowly took out the yellowed talisman from his pocket and handed it to Xia Ling with trembling hands.

The talisman was covered with ancient characters and mysterious patterns, emitting a faint glow, as if it contained some unknown power.

Xia Ling took the talisman and carefully examined the words and patterns on it, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"This is indeed the talisman of Amaterasu. I never expected it to fall into your hands." Xia Ling muttered to himself, seemingly recalling the ancient legends related to this talisman.

The Emperor stood by, his heart filled with unease, yet he dared not ask any questions. He could only pray silently, hoping that Xia Ling could use this talisman to help them eliminate the demons and save the island nation from its dire straits.

Xia Ling looked up at the Emperor: "Your Majesty, the power of this talisman is not something we can easily control, but since it has chosen you, it may mean that you have some special mission."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rose in the Emperor's heart: "Then... can you tell me what my mission is?"

Xia Ling shook her head: "The mission is not something that others tell you, but something you need to find and understand yourself. However, I can tell you that this talisman might be able to guide us to the source of the demon's power."

Xia Ling's words were like a warm current, slowly seeping into the Emperor's anxious heart. He stared intently at Xia Ling, as if he had grasped the last straw.

"Director Xia, I am willing to pay any price to save our country." The Emperor's voice was firm, but it could not hide the tremor within it.

Xia Ling nodded, her expression grave: "Then, the first thing we need to do is unravel the secret of this talisman. As far as I know, the talisman of Amaterasu not only contains divine power, but is also closely related to the ancient sealing techniques of the island nation. This talisman may be the key to opening the seal, or suppressing some kind of power."

As he spoke, Xia Ling took out a yellowed ancient book from his bosom. The cover was inscribed with the three large characters "Divine Talisman Record" in ancient script, giving it an ancient and mysterious appearance. He gently turned the pages, his fingers wandering between the lines, as if searching for something.

"According to ancient records, deciphering this type of talisman requires a specific time, place, and ritual. And the place mentioned here is actually the 'Shadow Shrine' located in the far north of the island nation." Xia Ling's gaze became profound, as if it had already pierced through the boundaries of time and space.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned: "Yūkage Shrine... what is that?"

He had never heard of this place in his own country, but that didn't matter; just because he hadn't heard of it didn't mean it didn't exist.

"It's the key to unlocking the secrets of the talisman." Xia Ling closed the ancient book, his gaze fixed firmly on the Emperor. "We need a journey, an adventure to the Shadow Shrine. There, we might find a way to control the power of demons, or even a way to seal them away."

The Emperor took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Very well, I am willing to go myself. For my people, for the future of this island nation, I must do this."

"Then let's get ready to leave quickly, otherwise who knows when the mastermind behind this will cause another disaster."

At this moment, however, a hint of hesitation appeared on the Emperor's face; he was about to take another risk.

He had nothing before and was in dire straits. He had no choice but to risk his life. Now that he was out of danger, did he really want to go again?

"Your Majesty, I must warn you first. You are not out of danger yet. Your throne is teetering on the brink of collapse. If you do not go this time, I may not be able to save you from the next crisis."

Xia Ling's words struck the Emperor's heart like a heavy hammer. The Emperor's face instantly turned pale; he knew full well that Xia Ling's words were true. Since the demons had wreaked havoc, his throne had been like a candle flame in a storm, threatening to be extinguished at any moment.

"I...I know." The Emperor's voice trembled slightly, but he tried to calm himself down. "I'm just...just a little scared."

Xia Ling nodded in understanding. He knew that the Emperor was just a puppet. Although he appeared to be very powerful, he was actually just a figurehead with many rules and regulations, and he really couldn't handle anything.

This expedition to the Shadow Shrine is undoubtedly another perilous adventure where life and death are uncertain.

"Your Majesty, I understand your concerns," Xia Ling said. "But please believe me, we will do everything in our power to protect you. Moreover, this expedition is not only to save the island nation, but also to save yourself. Only by finding a way to control the demonic power can you truly ensure the stability of your throne."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor nodded helplessly. If he truly wanted to break free from his past and become a real emperor, wielding power like his ancestors, then this was the time for him to dedicate himself.

"Alright, I've made up my mind." The Emperor took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. "I am willing to go to the Shadow Shrine in person. No matter how many difficulties and dangers lie ahead, I will go without hesitation."

Xia Ling smiled and nodded, knowing that the Emperor had made the right choice.

Next, all they need to do is prepare to set off as soon as possible for that mysterious and ancient Shadow Shrine.

As dawn broke, the Emperor and his entourage traversed the vast forests and winding mountain paths, finally arriving at the entrance to the Shadow Shrine. Just as legend had it, this place was perpetually shrouded in an eerie mist, so quiet that only their own breathing and the occasional low growls of wild beasts in the distance could be heard.

The shrine's gates were tightly shut, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to tell ancient and mysterious stories. The Emperor stood before the gates, a mixture of awe and unease in his heart. He took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the heavy doors.

The creaking of the hinges echoed through the empty shrine, carrying with it an ancient and solemn atmosphere. The shrine was dimly lit, with only a few faint beams of light filtering through gaps in the roof, illuminating a central altar. On the altar were some seemingly ancient offerings, and the familiar, faintly glowing talisman that the Emperor recognized.

"Is this... the Shadow Shrine?" the Emperor asked in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.

Xia Ling nodded, his gaze sweeping around as if searching for something: "That's right, the key to unlocking the secrets of the talisman is hidden here. But first, we need to perform a ritual to awaken the power of the shrine."

Under Xia Ling's guidance, the group began to set up the items needed for the ceremony.

They lit incense and candles, placed offerings, and began chanting ancient incantations according to the records in ancient books.

As the incantation was chanted, the air inside the shrine seemed to vibrate, and the ancient totems appeared to be activated, emitting a faint glow.

Suddenly, the talismans on the altar began to flash violently, and a powerful energy surged out, enveloping the entire shrine.

The Emperor and the others felt a powerful force lifting them up, as if they were in a strange space where light and shadow intertwined.

In the strange space where light and shadow intertwined, the Emperor and the others felt an unprecedented shock. The energy released by the talismans surged like a tidal wave, illuminating not only every corner of the shrine but also filling the air with an ancient and mysterious aura.

However, at that moment, a cold and powerful aura suddenly invaded, breaking the original peaceful atmosphere.

That was the power of demons. They seemed to sense the presence of the talisman and began to stir, attempting to seize this power.

"Oh no, the power of demons has invaded!" Xia Ling's expression changed drastically. He quickly looked around, trying to find traces of the demons.

The Emperor also felt the threat of this power, and a strong sense of fear welled up in his heart. Was he really not supposed to have come here?

If I had known, I should have stayed put, even if it was just as a decorative object, it would have been better than losing my life.

"Director Xia, we must stop them!" The Emperor's voice trembled violently; right now, the only person he could count on was the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Xia Ling nodded, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

He quickly directed the crowd to begin a more complex ritual, according to the records in the ancient books, to fight against the invasion of demons.

However, the demons were exceptionally powerful; they not only breached the shrine's defenses but also began to influence the emperor's mind.

The Emperor felt his consciousness begin to blur, as if he were being pulled by an invisible force and was about to fall into an abyss of no return.

"No! I cannot be controlled by demons!" the Emperor roared in his heart, struggling with all his might to stay conscious.

"Your Majesty, only you can save us now."

The Emperor was stunned, completely not expecting that he could still be involved at this time. Under these circumstances, what could he possibly do?

"Now I can use talismans to set up a magic array to seal the demons, but I need a descendant of the gods to act as the array's core."

"Right now, you are the only descendant of Amaterasu, making you the most suitable person to be the center of the formation."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face turned pale instantly. He said in a trembling voice, "I...I can't. I'm just an ordinary person. How could I possibly be a descendant of Amaterasu? Besides, I don't know how to cooperate with you in setting up the magic array."

Xia Ling stared intently at the Emperor, his gaze revealing an unwavering determination: "Your Majesty, you must believe that you are not only the Emperor of the island nation, but also the continuation of the bloodline of Amaterasu."

At this crucial moment, only you can shoulder this responsibility, and I will personally guide you; you only need to follow my instructions.

The Emperor was filled with fear and unease. Looking into Xia Ling's murderous eyes, he knew he had no way out. If he didn't do as he was told, he would probably die on the spot.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil: "Okay... fine, I'm willing to try, but you have to guarantee my safety."

Xia Ling nodded, his expression solemn and serious: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will protect you with my life. Now, please stand before the altar, close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax your mind and body, and feel the power within you."

Following Xia Ling's instructions, the Emperor slowly walked to the altar, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

However, when he tried to sense the power within his body, he found himself completely lost and could not feel any power at all.

Seeing this, Xia Ling gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, don't be impatient. Feeling power is not something that can be achieved overnight. Now, please concentrate and imagine yourself as the incarnation of Amaterasu, possessing boundless divine power."

Under Xia Ling's guidance, the Emperor gradually relaxed his mind and body, and began to imagine that he was the incarnation of Amaterasu Omikami, possessing endless divine power.

Gradually, he seemed to feel a warm power surging within him, weak yet exceptionally strong.

Under Xia Ling's guidance, the Emperor gradually immersed himself in that warm and unwavering power. He closed his eyes and focused intently on imagining himself as the incarnation of Amaterasu, the ancient divine power seemingly flowing into his body.

As his imagination deepened, the Emperor felt an unprecedented power awaken within him. This power, though initially weak, grew stronger and clearer over time. His heart raced; he could feel an ancient and mysterious force flowing through his veins.

Just then, Xia Ling's voice rang in his ears: "Your Majesty, please kneel down facing southwest now. That is the direction from which Amaterasu Omikami descends. Use your heart to feel that power and resonate with it."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor knelt down without hesitation, facing southwest.

His knees touched the cold shrine floor, but he was completely unaware of it, his entire attention focused on the power awakening within him.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed his mind to completely merge with that power. He could almost hear the ancient incantations flowing in his blood, incantations carrying boundless divine power, resonating with his body.

As the Emperor knelt in worship and his heart resonated with the spirit, the atmosphere within the shrine became even more solemn and sacred.

The ancient totems seemed to come alive, radiating an even brighter light. The runes on the altar also became brighter, releasing energy that surged like a tidal wave, enveloping the entire shrine.

The Emperor has successfully established a connection with that power. Now, they only need to wait for the right moment to use this power to set up a magic array and seal the demons.

However, at that moment, an even more powerful and chilling aura suddenly invaded the shrine!

(End of this chapter)