In the early morning, the sun breaks through the fog.
The first believer of the Raven Sect has not been idle since he said goodbye to Zhao Huai. He led a mighty team and traveled around the inner and outer cities of Jinzhou.
Not missing a street or an alley, I went around them all.
After a whole morning of hard work, we finally had a lot of people behind us, but most of them looked sallow and thin, and were dressed in ragged clothes, clearly looking like refugees. There were also a few people who were more luxuriously dressed, looked normal, and had interest in their eyes. and curiosity.
"Everyone, come with me."
The leading believer turned to face the crowd and smiled gently.
He led everyone through the streets and came to an open compound. This place was located at the junction of the inner and outer cities, and the area was very empty.
The courtyard is just the tip of the iceberg. This is actually a villa. The villa includes a courtyard, an inn, an ancestral hall and other places. This villa was originally the site of a Taoist temple in the former dynasty. During the war, the Taoist temple grew wild and grassy, and people who died died and escaped. After fleeing, the Raven Cult settled in, and after repairs, it finally returned to its former glory.
The leading believer walked in front, passed through the courtyard, and came to an ancestral hall.
In the center of the ancestral hall is a lacquered gold bronze statue of a crow's head, with feet on flying clouds, three heads and six arms, more than ten meters high. The crow's head has sharp eyes, looking far ahead, and has a strong body. The six arms on its back hold various weapons.
"This is the Crow Immortal we worship."
The leader of the believers stood in front of the bronze statue, bowed respectfully, and explained with a smile.
"Boom!"
The melodious bells sounded, and bursts of prayers came from the depths of the villa.
Seeing the confusion in the eyes of everyone present, the leader of the believers said in a soothing tone: "It's time for the ceremony. The saint is leading the members of the church to pray."
"What ceremony? Who is the saint?"
A man in the team asked curiously.
The leader of the believers answered with a smile: "As long as you enter the ceremony, you can become a true member of the Raven Cult."
"As for the Holy Lady, you will find out later."
Everyone stepped into the deepest part of the villa and came to a palace.
The space in the temple is very large, and there is a woman surrounded by a group of raven believers.
This woman wears a loose black robe with a silver raven pattern on it. There is a circle of copper bells on her left bare foot. She wears a white veil, and her silver hair is looming in the robe.
Even with the veil on, those extremely beautiful eyes are quite suffocating.
"This is our Lady Saint, who came all the way from Kyoto to preside over the ceremony."
The leader of the believers introduced with a smile.
This woman, who was called a saint, took a look at the people who came here with surprised and uncertain faces, and said:
"Welcome to join the Raven Cult. From now on, we will be a family."
The voice was slightly hoarse, but not cold, but very gentle and polite, like a spring breeze, as if it had a power to confuse people's hearts.
Everyone calmed down when they heard this voice. There were even men in the team who were directly fascinated. They stared at her and refused to let go.
After saying this, the woman in the center turned around again and looked to the other side.
Over there is a long table, ten meters long, which is filled with a variety of dishes, including fragrant rice, roasted whole pig, steamed fish, sauce-flavored roast duck, barbecued pork breast, etc. There are too many meats, fruits and snacks to count.
Someone was already feasting on the table. He pulled out a goose leg and nibbled it wildly, leaving his mouth full of oil.
These people were obviously recruited from outside just like this group of people.
The hungry refugees in the team swallowed hard while watching, their eyes full of envy, but they were also very afraid of the black believers surrounding them.
The woman in the center saw their expressions, smiled knowingly, and said warmly:
"Go ahead, finish eating and the ceremony will officially begin."
After saying this, the large number of hungry people in the team couldn't bear it anymore. They rushed over like crazy, ran very fast, and started to enjoy the meal.
At this time, the leader of the believers came to the saint and said respectfully:
"Lord Saint, the number of people this time should be enough."
"not enough.
The woman in black robe said expressionlessly.
"The more people, the better. Crow Immortal needs more faith."
"I'm sorry for my stupidity, but what's the point of needing so many people now? It's hard for these refugees to become powerful."
After hearing this, the woman in black robe said calmly: "You became the leader not long after you joined the church. It's normal not to know some things. These refugees are of great use to us."
"Whether it is the power of the Crow Immortal or the incense that overturns the fate of the country in Great Xia, these refugees are indispensable. In other words, they are the source of our strength."
After hearing this, the leader of the believers understood a little bit. He glanced at the jackdaw totem above his head with piety and said in awe: "Master Crow Immortal helped me break through the realm. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today."
The woman in black robe did not look at him again, but asked a believer beside her.
"The ceremony is all ready."
"Holy Maid of Initiation, everything is ready."
The believer nodded vigorously.
After a long time.
The people who were devouring their food were almost done. All the food on the table was wiped away, and the plates were all shiny.
"Let the ceremony begin."
With an order, the surrounding Raven Cultists dispersed and led the crowd to the center of the hall.
Many people looked around curiously, wondering what this ceremony was about.
The woman in black robe was covered in a faint silver essence, and the air around her suddenly became chilly.
In the dim hall, the body of the black-robed woman rose slowly, like a rising sun. A faint blue arc flashed in her eyes, and she shouted softly:
"Array up."
An unparalleled brilliance emitted from the ground of the hall, and the complex formation inscriptions finally appeared.
Everyone looked at the jackdaw totem above their heads with awe.
Everyone stood in it, like ants. In the center of the hall, there was a huge light group suspended in the air. In the dazzling light, it seemed that a jackdaw could be faintly seen.
After the formation was activated, invisible power of faith was pulled out of everyone's bodies.
Enter the glowing Jackdaw Totem.
At this moment, the Raven believers did not dare to say a word. They knelt on the ground one by one and worshiped devoutly.
Then the woman in black robe recited the incantation and started the second part of the mysterious ritual.
Blue light groups escaped into everyone's bodies, causing great changes.
"My head hurts! It seems like something has come in!"
"My whole body feels so itchy! What's happening!"
"What's wrong with me!"
The crowd began to wail and scream in agony, and complex talismans grew on everyone's body. The talismans were outlined together in the shape of a jackdaw.
These people were all branded with the raven mark, the symbols on their bodies flickered, and their eyes all changed.
The muscles bulged inexplicably and the veins popped out, as if the whole body had been lifted a lot. This was another method of the Raven Cult, exchanging lives for faith.
What is burned is life and what is gained is strength.
After a long time, the ceremony ended. The woman in black robe looked at the people below who had been transformed, nodded with satisfaction, and chuckled:
"Welcome everyone to officially join the Holy Cult of Raven."
The people in the team all had wild eyes, as if they had been brainwashed, and shouted loudly:
"Xin Crow Immortal! Destroy Daxia! Seize the country!"
...
