Chapter 29: Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony Begins
These past few days, everything was peaceful.
Perhaps with winter gone and spring breezes arriving, one could often hear the chirping of insects at night.
Several spring rains had fallen, and although the cold wind still carried a hint of chill, the tree buds and tender leaves near and far had gradually begun to sprout.
Senior Sister Zhu Mange visited several times, and Ye Yang, keeping his promise, guided her in Cultivation.
At the same time, he also heard that Senior Sister Zhu Mange's Justice Society had made quite a name for itself among the Disciples of the Flying Heaven Gate, with many Disciples considering it an honor to join.
Ordinary Disciples might not know, but Ye Yang, having grown up in the Flying Heaven Gate since childhood, understood more unique information than the average Disciple.
The higher-ups within the Sect had always expressed reservations about Disciple societies. Future assessment for appointments, and promotions in rank and position, were important areas of evaluation, especially for societies founded by Family Disciples, which were actually a negative factor.
This was because the Sect had many entanglements between Families, commoner Families, and master-Disciple relationships.
A hundred years ago, the Flying Heaven Gate actually had five major Families, with the Liu Family at its zenith. More than half of the three Grand Elders and four Vajra were Liu Family members, and roughly one-third of the remaining half were basically their partisans, almost turning the Flying Heaven Gate into the Liu Family Gate.
From then on, the Sect Leader's orders could not leave the Ancestral Hall, and his authority did not extend beyond three miles from the mountain gate.
Subordinate Families fought amongst themselves, paying lip service while acting in defiance, almost overthrowing the Flying Heaven Gate.
That was also the largest internal strife in the history of the Flying Heaven Gate. Later, the fourth Sect Leader formed alliances and brought in external aid to eliminate the Liu Family, and only then did the Flying Heaven Gate barely maintain itself, subsequently flourishing day by day.
Therefore, Ye Yang absolutely did not get entangled with the Justice Society. After assisting Senior Sister Zhu Mange with her Cultivation each day, he never inquired about other matters. Senior Sister Zhu Mange invited him several times, but he refused them all.
The Zhu Family's inherited art was the Five Lock Tiger Capture Spear. Unlike traditional spears, it had four hooked sickles attached five inches below the spearhead.
The hooked sickles were heavy and not suitable for a female Disciple to wield, so after Senior Sister Zhu Mange arrived at the Flying Heaven Gate, she learned a cold and alluring saber technique.
It was elusive and excelled in speed, like a thorny rose. When a saber strike was unleashed, the opponent would only appreciate the rose's full bloom, wanting to reach out and grasp it, but never realizing they had already been pricked and bled profusely.
After sparring with Senior Sister Zhu Mange, her hair fluttered, she panted fragrantly, and her head was drenched in sweat, wetting the hair at her temples.
During this period, with Ye Yang's help, her progress was very fast. She even felt that his saber skills were more formidable than some of the Sect's instructors.
She secretly marveled in her heart.
“These six hundred Spirit Stones were really well spent.”
Moreover, she felt as if he were a machine, continuously Cultivating saber techniques every day. These past few days, after each practice session with her, he would unfailingly swing his saber thousands more times. Ye Yang had previously told her about this Cultivation method, to swing the saber five thousand times daily.
But she could only persist for one or two days, perhaps three or four days, but in less than a week, she often couldn't keep it up. Later, she became occupied with mundane affairs, and couldn't even guarantee a thousand saber swings a day.
Watching him continue to swing his saber after teaching, drops of sweat flowed from his rigid body and resolute face, dripping onto his chest muscles, back, lower back, and pant legs.
Senior Sister Zhu Mange thought of the playful remarks made by their elders when they were children, and her face flushed slightly.
“Junior Sister Zhu, you don’t need to come for the next few days. We all need to prepare well for the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony.”
“Senior Brother Ye is absolutely right. I was thinking the same thing. I wish Senior Brother Ye success in Awakening his true essence.”
“And I wish Junior Sister success in all her endeavors.”
...
Winter passed, and spring arrived, another season.
Everything was peaceful, except for news from within the Sect.
Recently, a group of wild Tuo Yun Horses was discovered by the Luo River, below the Flying Heaven Gate.
The Tuo Yun Horse has golden horns and snowy hooves, is strong and robust, with flowing manes, seemingly treading on snow, hence the name Tuo Yun (Cloud Carrier).
Besides being able to leap over mountains and streams, and glide at low altitudes, the golden horn on its head can also control wild grasses and bushes to open up paths for long journeys.
For a long time, the Tuo Yun Horses within the Sect had lost much of their wildness.
This group of wild Tuo Yun Horses could be used to purify the Bloodline of the existing herd.
Their speed was so fast that even ordinary Martial Human Realm Cultivators could not catch up.
Possessing such mobile power would be a great aid, whether in pursuing enemies or escaping.
In fact, the Sect had long been aware of the whereabouts of this group of horses.
On the morning of the second day, Ye Yang and the others, already hidden in the dense water plants by the Luo River, saw the horse herd ahead.
This group of Tuo Yun Horses numbered about seven or eight, with five or six being adult horses and the rest foals.
Their bodies were a mix of cloud-white, their manes flowing, as they galloped on the water, heads held high, neighing loudly, like Dragons and tigers, their coats gleaming, extremely majestic and beautiful.
Wang Xijing waved his hand, and the Listening Rain Heavenly Fire Skill scattered countless sparks of fire, surrounding the group of Tuo Yun Horses.
Forming an encirclement.
A dense cloud of fiery mist appeared, enveloping the heavens and earth, concealing the tracks of the horse herd.
The Tuo Yun Horses reacted swiftly, responding as soon as the fiery mist appeared.
The mighty herd was suddenly startled, neighing towards the sky, and stampeding in all directions.
At this moment, several Cultivators suddenly appeared on the riverbank, rapidly approaching.
Ye Yang and the others let out intimidating sounds.
The scattered horses were quickly gathered back together.
They herded these horses onto the western mudflat, where a Formation had already been set up.
Soon, all seven or eight Tuo Yun Horses were within the Formation's range.
Suddenly, yellow mist permeated the air, and earth Qi surged, as a vajra-like wall suddenly appeared.
Iron-like vines suddenly grew from the ground, entangling the horses' legs. The seven or eight horses, caught off guard, quickly fell to the ground, frothing at the mouth.
This was the Formation “Small Vajra Wood Armor Formation”.
It could confuse directions and restrict movement. The vines were made from special caltrop seeds, wrapped in metal.
They were not afraid of the Tuo Yun Horses' control.
Seeing the seven or eight Tuo Yun Horses fall to the ground, everyone quickly stepped forward.
“Good, good! This group of Tuo Yun Horses is a complete Family, possessing the instinct to reproduce.”
“The Sect still has over a dozen horses. Now with twenty to thirty good horses together, Dragon Qi will naturally arise, and perhaps a Horse King will appear, giving birth to a Treading Cloud Horse.”
“The Treading Cloud Horse is as swift as lightning, treading on clouds, moving through clouds and mist, far surpassing ordinary flying Magical Artifacts.”
A rough male voice sounded. It was an old man of fifty or sixty, wearing a skullcap and smoking a dry pipe.
This was the Stable Steward of the Flying Heaven Gate.
He usually oversaw the grazing and placement of the Tuo Yun Horses.
At this moment, the Sect's precious Tuo Yun Horse herd had new additions, increasing by seven or eight at once.
He was very excited.
Most importantly, for a long time, the Tuo Yun Horses of the Flying Heaven Gate had interbred, and their Bloodline had degenerated. With closely related Bloodlines, breeding was difficult.
Now, with the replenishment of fresh Bloodline, it meant that these horses had renewed hope and possibility for reproduction.
At this point, after these horses were brought under control.
Wang Xijing waved his large sleeve, generating countless clear Qi.
The clear Qi enveloped the seven or eight strong horses, and they were transported to the Flying Heaven Gate.
During the spring equinox, the hillsides everywhere were covered with yellow and red wildflowers.
A spring rain slid down, dancing on the bamboo branches and leaves.
The Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony, held once every ten years by the Flying Heaven Gate, was about to begin.
On this day, as soon as Ye Yang stepped out, he saw that the Sect was clean as if scrubbed, adorned with red banners, red cloth jackets, and red lanterns.
Some devout people had even begun fasting three days prior, as sacred and solemn as the ancient ancestors sacrificing to heaven and earth.
In ancient times, across thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, fierce Yao Beasts ran rampant, and humans were the weakest of the hundred races. Ancient emperors led the common people to hunt fierce Yao Beasts, offering sacrifices to the heavens, and praying for the welfare of all people, until humanity grew strong.
Later, the Sects evolved and became the mainstream, and the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony was determined by each Sect based on their foundation, strength, and level.
Each sacrifice required a large amount of manpower, material resources, Yao Beast sacrifices, and bone and blood treasures. Therefore, to avoid too heavy a burden, the Flying Heaven Gate set the time for a sacrifice once every ten years.
Ye Yang walked into the grand hall for the sacrifice and found that it was already filled with Disciples. In the very front, there were five seats, four of which were currently occupied.
These were Wang Dong, Li Bayuan, the Flying Heaven Tiger, Yan Qingying, and in addition to these three, there was also a young man dressed in a green robe, with a precious sword hanging from his waist.
He had thick, dark hair, a slender build, a chiseled face, and bright eyes. He was Zhang Bu'er, the “Third Hero” of the Flying Heaven Gate.
Zhang Bu'er was the most popular person in the Flying Heaven Gate because he was brave, righteous, selfless, acted heroically, punished villains, and often sacrificed his own interests to help others.
However, Zhang Bu'er was also the person least close to the Disciples of the Flying Heaven Gate, because as long as someone asked him for help, he would assist, so he never confided in anyone and was often called the “walking central cool breeze,” blowing equally over everyone.
At the same time, he couldn't stand many people in the Sect bullying the weak, and he often spoke out righteously, standing up for others, offending many people, which is why he was called “Third Hero.”
There were five seats in the front, but among the more than a hundred Disciples present, no one stepped forward. Only four were seated, clearly indicating that the hierarchy had already been established.
“Senior Brother Ye, over here.”
Yan Qingying saw Ye Yang and quickly waved to him. Wang Dong on the side showed a slight smile, no other expression visible.
Li Bayuan, however, looked a bit displeased and snorted. Zhang Bu'er simply called out, “Senior Brother Ye.”
Ye Yang waved his hand, not wanting to push himself forward. Everyone was equal in participating in the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony to Awaken their true essence.