This is the second time in her life that Lou Yueniang has participated in the sacrificial ceremony of the Liuchuan Shenwang Temple.
The first time she participated in the sacrificial ceremony, she was still a young child.
Even though she is an ordinary person, she cannot kneel down at the place closest to the high platform to pray and receive God's blessings like those former priest candidates. She can only stand far behind - this is an extremely precious opportunity.
If it weren't for the old village leader's status in Anqi, she would never have been qualified to come and observe such a solemn and majestic ceremony.
Not to mention receiving every blessing of baptism in the holy spring under the auspices of the high priest here, and witnessing the arrival and prophecy of the Sky-reaching Snake Spirit with your own eyes.
Today, ten years later, she no longer needs her father as a backer. She has been recognized by everyone in Anqi based on her own abilities alone, and has the opportunity to stand on this sacred land again.
Colorful strips of cloth hung over the road were intertwined, and banners with golden snake totems were flying in the air.
The priests wore sacrificial robes with platinum patterns and waved their magic weapons in unison to form talismans.
The most devout believers knelt on the ground, familiar tones and hymns echoed in front of the statue of the God King that exuded soft light...
Just like it was ten years ago.
However, there are still some slight differences.
She turned her eyes slightly and looked at a familiar figure on the high platform.
Although that person wore the same sacrificial robe as the other priests, waved the same magical weapon, and recited the sacrificial incantation intently, he did not pay her any attention.
But in her eyes, he was nothing like the others. Perhaps it was the youthful youth, or the youthful and gradually maturing skin - she just couldn't move her eyes away from there.
"Hmph...that's the extent of your taste."
Dao Jinwen, who was standing beside her, snorted lowly and turned her head disdainfully.
"Even if a brat like that is standing on top, there's nothing to see."
Lou Yueniang turned her head in slight surprise, and then showed a knowing smile:
"It seems that you really like Hanlin's friend, you haven't moved your eyes away..."
Dao Jinwen suddenly showed an expression of embarrassment and anger after being exposed:
"What a joke! I don't like that kind of arrogant guy! I'm just looking at the priests! Although I wasn't selected this year... but sooner or later! Sooner or later I will become one of them!
"And ten years later, I will be qualified to go to the front! You are not qualified to stand with me in the future!"
In fact, everyone in Anqizhai knew that Dao Jinwen was interested in Ling Yao, because this girl really had no intention of holding back and covering up. She would make excuses every day to "get closer" to her, and she was so enthusiastic that she almost fell into love with her. I have to hide in Ling Linhan's room for the night in order to be "innocent".
To be honest, Lou Yueniang and Ling Linhan are in love with each other, but Dao Jinwen and Ling Yao are really "wishful thinking". It's just that Dao Jinwen has never been used to Lou Yueniang's temperament, and she just likes to find faults with others.
But facing Dao Jinwen's almost provocative words, Lou Yueniang was not annoyed. Instead, she gently stroked the hanging hair on her shoulders:
"Yeah. But it's normal for Jinwen to like that person. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Lou Yueniang turned her head slightly and looked at Ling Yao, who was also standing on the high platform.
Different from the priests who were wearing white robes with gold patterns, the young man was still wearing a blue-grey gown with left lapels and an off-white belt. There was a black medicine pouch without any patterns hanging around his waist, and a simple wrapper on his head. scarf.
But it was precisely this that made him stand out among them.
There was no magic weapon in his hand, and he was not chanting those scriptures in his mouth. Although he was always looking at the statue of the Snake King, he only had one hand on his waist, and the other hand was playing with the ice python wrapped around his arm. There is no trace of piety at all.
It was as if he was just standing there chatting away, waiting for the people in front of him to finish today's singing.
However, with this attitude, the priests on the high platform were not dissatisfied with him at all - not only did they let him continue like this, they even let him stand closest to the statue of the Snake King, as if to declare his lofty status to the world.
He neither bows down to the powerful nor is he bound by his status; he is free-spirited, unfazed by favors and humiliations, and is unrestrained.
Such a person is not only admired but also yearned for.
"If I hadn't met Han Lin first, maybe I would also like such a person."
Dao Jinwen raised her eyebrows when she heard this, but finally did not answer the question.
"Be more attentive. Today is the most important part of the sacrificial ceremony before Lord Tongtian Snake Spirit descends. Don't make us An Qi embarrassed over trivial matters! Especially you, Dao Jinwen, you still want to become a priest of the Temple of the God King, Don’t embarrass yourself in this situation!”
Lou Chuanyang gathered his thoughts and communicated with Dao Jinwen and Lou Yueniang.
Lou Yueniang naturally had no objection, and although Dao Jinwen almost wanted to speak, when she thought about the content of today's sacrifice, she snorted coldly and stopped being a monster.
Yes, today's sacrifice is very crucial - the high priest will open the holy spring baptism, attracting all the intelligent snake monsters in Liuchuan to come to the sacrifice site - this is a gift to the same kind of Lord Tongtian Snake Spirit, which embodies the spirit of Tongtian. The generosity of the snake spirits and the God King Temple also highlights that the God King Temple is recognized by the snake spirits and is a means for them to consolidate their lofty status.
The holy spring baptism on this day is also called the Feast of Ten Thousand Snakes by Ruchuan people.
Those difficult to pronounce and obscure syllables finally came to an end. Da Xikang raised the staff symbolizing the high priest and pointed it into the air. The gem-inlaid position on the staff suddenly glowed.
At the same time, the golden snake king statue also emitted a faint glow, and a white mist slowly poured out from its mouth, gradually filling the crowd.
As the view was obscured by fog, the sound of spring water came from the snake's mouth.
Crash--
All the priests shouted in unison:
"I respectfully invite Lord Snake Spirit to the banquet!"
Amid this echoing cry, a subtle strange sound finally came from the depths of the jungle.
Whisper, wobble, wobble...
At first, the sounds were just dots, but then they gradually gathered into a large swell of restlessness:
"Hiss..." "Hiss!" "Hiss—"
Finally, the mountains and plains are overflowing.
The priests standing on the high platform all behaved "very religiously", and no one paid attention to the snakes that made a big noise.
Ling Yao was not so restrained.
With the fog blocking people's sight, Ling Yao finally withdrew his gaze and glanced elsewhere.
Although no one looked back, it didn't mean that everyone present had no fear of the "Feast of Ten Thousand Snakes".
Not to mention the ordinary people in the audience who came to participate in the sacrificial ceremony, they are the official priests - yes, they refer to Nan Rong and Qiu. .
Oh, how pitiful. He remembered that the handbook said that at the Feast of Ten Thousand Snakes, there were so many snakes that they almost crawled on the priests. I don’t know if this kid will be scared to tears.
Although he touched his chin and smiled mischievously, it didn't look like he was sympathizing with Nanrong and Qiu.
In other words, it was soon too late for him to sympathize with Nanrong and Qiu.
Swish——
The holy spring water gushing from the mouth of the Snake King Statue flows on the high platform. The snakes who heard the news did not care about the priests standing aside. They swarmed up like evil ghosts and quickly piled up the high platform, covering Ling Yao. It was dumbfounded to see that.
"Wow... It's so cruel... I feel like a certain little dwarf is about to be buried... By the way, why don't you look too interested? The holy spring is also very effective in healing wounds, right?"
While Ling Yao secretly chatted with the little ice python, he unceremoniously poked a giant python beside him with his hand. The giant python turned its head slightly and showed a ferocious gaze.
"Ah... my hands are itchy. It's just my hands itching... hehe."
Ling Yao silently spread his hands with an expression of "I'm so innocent."
Facing the giant python's "warning", the ice python coiled on Ling Yao's arm suddenly straightened up and bared its fangs at the giant python fiercely.
Then after a period of "snake talk" that Ling Yao couldn't understand at all, the giant python turned its head back silently, as if nothing happened.
...Although I don’t understand what you two are talking about, I can see you rolling your eyes at each other! You are indeed rolling your eyes! Do you dislike each other? Hey!
With the continuous influx of snake monsters, the mist of the holy spring is also being absorbed bit by bit and slowly fading away. But people who are in the mist or even come into contact with the surging spring water will get some benefits to a greater or lesser extent.
This is just the holy spring that has been diluted countless times by the Temple of the God King. It is indeed the essence of earth veins that nourishes the water and soil of a place.
However, Ling Yao felt that today's holy spring baptism was a little different from the simple "lighting" baptism he had undergone in the main hall before.
Theoretically speaking, although the amount of holy spring used for the Feast of Ten Thousand Snakes is large, most of the energy is taken up by these snakes and then distributed among so many snakes and so many people. The benefit that a single individual can receive is actually limited. .
Therefore, the benefits that Ling Yao can get should be less than the "brightening" baptism.
But today, he felt that he had received real benefits.
The sea of consciousness is clear, the veins are bright, and the Dantian is smooth...
Could it be that his villain aura has been hidden and his benefits have returned?
The off-line thoughts only stayed for a moment, and Ling Yao quickly sank into meditation, digesting the energy in his body and the inspiration that emerged.
…
Fan Shansheng, who was also standing on the high platform, was also digesting the benefits brought by the holy spring baptism, but soon, he noticed something unusual.
As time goes by, the mist in the holy spring is rapidly melting. This speed is unusual.
The amount of holy spring used this year seems to be less than in previous years.
This sounds like a trivial problem, but these snake masters who are accustomed to holy spring baptism as an offering do not think it is trivial.
Originally, the total amount of holy spring water provided by the God King Temple was not large. Even a small drop of holy spring water was enough for them to fight for their heads.
Now these humans actually dare to deduct money?
These big men will definitely riot and make a big fuss on the high platform!
This is a devastating blow to the majesty of the God King Temple!
And the person who took out the holy spring water... the high priest Da Xikang could not make such a fatal mistake. It is impossible for others to use this matter to plot against themselves.
So...did he do it on purpose?
Fan Shansheng smelled a conspiracy.
Even if you don't hesitate to make such an ugly scene, do you have to deal with someone? Or is it that even if things get serious, as long as the plan succeeds, he can still restore the dignity of the Temple of the God King?
Fan Shansheng raised his head uneasily and looked at the group of snakes that had begun to become a little restless.
There were so many snakes that could not harm them. Even the priests of the Temple of the God King had no way of controlling the situation...
Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and turned to look at Ling Yao, who was standing not far away.
The priests can't control the snakes, but a guy called the "Snake Spirit Messenger" can logically do it!
If he can do it, the status and prestige of the God King Temple will be improved!
But if he can't do it... the Temple of God King can blame all the things on Ling Yao alone, and plant a few more charges on him...
——"Didn't this year's prophecy say that the so-called 'disaster' and 'savior' of Rukawa will be manifested? You must be mentally prepared. That 'disaster', if not Han Hanlin, might be me."
——"How do you know? Lord Tongtian Snake Spirit's prophecy is no joke!"
——"Of course it's not a joke. But...it may not be a true 'prophecy'. In fact, you know it in your heart, no matter whether the Sky Snake Spirit can be called a 'god' in the true sense, at least, he must not have predicted it." You are treated as believers who need to respond and be protected. Otherwise, the Temple of the God King would not... ha. And calling me a 'disaster' for wanting to mess with them doesn't seem to be a hard thing to accept."
——"But you are also the 'Snake Spirit Messenger' they recognize. How could they suddenly... Could it be that Master Tongtian Snake Spirit has noticed something?"
——"Yeah, it's the 'Snake Spirit Messenger' they identified, not the 'Snake Spirit Messenger' identified by Tongtian Snake Spirit. Even if it is really wrong in the end, it is only the fault of the Temple of the God King, not Tongtian Snake Spirit It's a mistake. And once they take back this title, I'm just an ordinary person. So, if they really want to take action, they will definitely make an issue from this angle."
——"Then...if they really want to deal with you like this, what are you going to do? In addition to ice pythons, can you really control other snakes?"
——"Well... if you dare to come out and mess around, I have done a little experiment, although the results are not very ideal... However, if they think that I can only control this ice python, they will be unlucky~"
"What's going on? Why did the fog disappear so quickly?"
"Oops, the snake spirits seem to be unhappy..."
"Oh my god, they seem to be glaring at the priests! If they are not even afraid of the priests, what should we do?!"
"Go back quickly! Go back quickly!"
The scene became chaotic.
Fan Shansheng, like the other priests, clenched the magic weapon in his hand.
"Snake...snake spirit messenger! Quick, calm them down!"
Finally, such a voice sounded.
Fan Shansheng looked at Ling Yao, who was still meditating.
So, what are you going to do?
