Before Dawn 7

The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was a grand affair, but Wushan was the only place not to participate.

Nan Zhi always loved excitement and wanted to go see it, but because of the imperial advisor's order, she could only guard the gate of Wushan.

This time, the Imperial Advisor was not the Grand Minister of Rites who was offering sacrifices to Heaven, but His Highness the Crown Prince.

This sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was the largest since the founding of the Yin Kingdom. In terms of the number of participants, the scale of the ceremony, and the quantity of offerings and sacred objects, it far surpassed all previous ceremonies, even those of the former royal family. Distant collateral branches were also invited back to participate.

If it weren't for the limited space at this altar for worshipping the heavens, I'm afraid all the people of the Yin Kingdom would have come here.

The sun rises in the east, and the sky begins to brighten.

His Highness the Crown Prince, dressed in a Taoist robe inscribed with the mythical creature Qilin and holding a jade tablet, walked at the very front. The Imperial Preceptor and the attendant followed behind him, followed by the King, the Queen, and a host of concubines and princes.

The drums beat, the black flags fluttered, and incense and candles burned brightly on the bronze cauldron. His Highness the Crown Prince stepped onto the blue brick steps, ascending the stairs one step at a time to reach the top of the Altar of Heaven for the sacrificial ceremony.

His Highness the Crown Prince held the jade tablet facing the sky and kowtowed, saying, "The Black Tortoise returns to its position, the Vermilion Bird returns to its gate. The Azure Dragon descends suddenly, the White Tiger roars. I am now the Crown Prince of Yin, and I swear by the divine mandate that my Great Yin shall endure forever!"

As the words fell, the clouds gathered, and a beam of golden light pierced through the clouds, illuminating the altar for sacrifice. In this light, celestial spirits shimmered, and golden phoenixes danced. The crowd gasped in amazement, kneeling in reverence for the divine blessing.

The Imperial Preceptor and Fu Lin stood to one side, both deep in thought.

"Come here, Fulin," His Highness the Crown Prince called out.

Fu Lin nodded, holding the jade tablet, and stepped forward. He stood before the massive altar, his face solemn. This was the last time he would stand at this altar of sacrifice, the place where he would exhaust his Taoist magic and immortal power to save the king and the crown prince.

He wanted to remember this last moment.

Holding the jade tablet, Fu Lin bowed and said, "I pledge my life to the gods to ensure the prosperity of my great Yin. Now I swear to Heaven that the King and His Highness the Crown Prince will enjoy peace and well-being."

His Highness the Crown Prince frowned: "Fu Lin, what are you talking about?"

Fu Lin laughed and said, "Your Highness, you saved my life, and today I will repay your kindness."

His Highness the Crown Prince pressed, "What are you going to do?"

“I hope His Highness the Crown Prince lives well and becomes a wise ruler,” Fu Lin replied.

As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Lin took over the duties of the Grand Minister of Rites in place of the Crown Prince. He placed the jade tablet high in the air, poured all his power into it, and the sky began to spin, the wind and clouds suddenly changed.

The light in the sky suddenly thinned. Fu Lin had poured all his strength into it, but he couldn't hold on. His body slumped backward, and his face stiffened.

The Imperial Preceptor was terrified and immediately tried to step forward to help, but he was repelled by the powerful airflow emanating from Fulan before he could even take a step. Even though he was the Imperial Preceptor and his Taoist skills were profound, he was still seriously injured and coughed up blood.

This terrified the king and queen.

They asked what had happened.

Those below the altar could only see the intense golden light from before thinning, and the sky becoming increasingly dense with clouds, like heavy blankets pressing down.

Blood trickled from the corner of Fu Lin's eye, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. This was beyond his imagination; he thought he could hand over the Mandate of Heaven to His Highness the Crown Prince, but how could he be receiving the punishment of the Mandate of Heaven at this moment?

His Highness the Crown Prince looked up at the sky, then at Fulin, and his expression instantly turned cold. He chuckled, "I thought you would succeed in changing it. But you failed..."

"Your Highness!" the Imperial Advisor exclaimed in surprise, "You know..."

His Highness the Crown Prince sneered: "How could I not know?"

Fu Lin said in a panic, "Your Highness, please do not interfere in this matter. I am only repaying a debt of gratitude. Please grant my request."

His Highness the Crown Prince laughed heartily, "Of course I agree. Otherwise, why would I have agreed to let you hold this celestial sacrifice? But... what can't you do!"

The Imperial Preceptor and Fu Lin were stunned for a moment, staring at His Highness the Crown Prince with unwavering conviction. Then they heard His Highness say, "If you fail to do this, my father will likely die. If you fail to do this, none of us will be able to ascend to immortality. If you fail to do this, my millions of subjects will be punished."

The king asked in confusion, "Your Highness, what are you saying?"

The Imperial Advisor advised, "Your Highness, you must not act rashly!"

His Highness the Crown Prince smiled broadly upon hearing this: "I never do anything I cannot succeed at. Since I cannot exchange the destiny bestowed upon you, then let me do it."

As he spoke, His Highness the Crown Prince conjured a dragon-shaped scepter. He raised it high, and in an instant, the scepter emitted a dazzling light, parting the heavy clouds. Golden light illuminated the earth, and all things were reborn.

People began to cheer again, awaiting God's blessings.

The light began to radiate, small beams descending from the sky and shining on the people. At first, they felt as if bathed in a gentle breeze, but soon they felt their bodies burning hot, followed by screams of agony.

Their souls began to leave their bodies, fly into the sky, and disappear into the clouds.

Fu Lin and the Imperial Advisor were shocked and tried to stop him, but were injured by the Crown Prince's scepter. The Imperial Advisor cried out, "Your Highness! You are the future ruler! This is tantamount to murder! You have always been gentle and benevolent, what has happened to you!"

“My dear Grand Preceptor,” the Crown Prince said, “gentleness and benevolence can only be shown when there is no danger. People naturally become selfish when threatened; this is an immutable truth.” “If one day I am unable to inherit the throne, do you think our great way will still exist?”

The Imperial Advisor was stunned: "Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

“My people, one day you will be proud of me. I will carry your hopes and make this world a better place,” said His Highness the Crown Prince. “Let us pay homage to the heavens together.”

As countless souls ascended to the heavens, Fulan was heartbroken. He had originally thought this sacrifice was for him, but he never imagined that it would be performed at the expense of millions of innocent people.

Fu Lin attempted to change the formation, forcibly stopping the Crown Prince's use of his scepter to suppress the countless souls. He also advised the Crown Prince, "This is a grave taboo! Your Highness! Do not regret it later."

His Highness the Crown Prince's expression was very gentle at this moment. He simply waved his scepter, and Fu Lin pressed down on him: "Fu Lin, you will be grateful to me in the future. Otherwise, as long as I suppress you, you will never be able to become an immortal."

"Bang—"

An echo resounded from the sky, shimmering with light and color, a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, two dragons soaring into the sky, and a clear, melodious zither tune drifted from somewhere, drowning out the cries and struggles. The soul was ripped from the body, leaving the body kneeling and withered.

His Highness the Crown Prince leaped into the air, greeted by two dragons and accompanied by a hundred birds.

Fulan shouted, "No!"

The Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed; those destined by the gods will attain immortality and become immortals.

The long river of history, scroll after scroll, comes to a close. Human flesh and blood are stripped away to create gods. Suffering and resentment are left to the people; history books are burned, leaving no trace of the nation.

The people thus transformed into vengeful ghosts. They sought to break free from the shackles of the gods, but were suppressed in this tomb, trapped within the stone tablets. They exhausted their spiritual power to create this history book.

What happened in the past does not cease to exist.

Huaiwen was heartbroken. She had never imagined that her master's path to immortality would be like this. Despair pierced her master's heart, yet he became a god because of destiny.

History records ask: "Do you want to become a new god?"

Huaiwen did not answer. What was even more surprising than her master was that the god revered by everyone in the world was actually her well-known Brother Bumian, the Crown Prince of Yin Kingdom, and the Heavenly Lord who was enthroned by millions of people.

The historical record also states: "If you wish, we can lift you up."

After a long while, Huaiwen asked, puzzled, "Why are you doing this? Is it for revenge?"

History records: "For two thousand years, we have prayed day and night for the Crown Prince to die suddenly, but as time goes by, the Crown Prince is safe and sound. Time will accumulate resentment and also wear down the edges. We have seen through this. Whether we report it or not, we are already dead. All we want is for the world to know."

"Who buried you here?" Huaiwen asked.

The historical record states: "It was the Crown Prince and Fu Lin."

Huaiwen was like a lost soul; she didn't want to believe that her master and the Heavenly Emperor were the instigators of this chaos. The gods that people revered and worshipped were the ones who caused their painful deaths—this was a collapse of trust.

With a sob in his voice, Huaiwen asked the history book, "If... I were to proclaim this history book to the world, would you cease your evil deeds from now on? Would you return to nature?"

"Yes," the historian replied.

"Why did you choose me..." Huaiwen asked painfully.

The historical record states: "I told you you were the destined one. If you weren't the destined one, you wouldn't be able to enter here at all."

"So Pei Suqin is the first, and I'm the second?"

“No,” the historian said. “Pei Suqin was never the first; you were. The reason she was able to come down to the tomb was because of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

"Your Highness?"

The historian replied, "Yes. As for why, you should find out for yourself."

"Where are A-Ling and Lord Nan Zhi?"

The history books did not answer, but instead asked: "Are you willing?"

Huaiwen knew what the history book was asking, and she understood the meaning behind its sudden question. She remained silent for a long time, wondering if the way of the world was simply the way of humanity, something created by human actions. She had fantasized about becoming a Taoist priest, living for the sake of all living beings.

In the end, it turned out to be a huge scam.

Could it be that her life was also a game controlled by others?

What is the meaning of life if one lives under the control of others?

Huaiwen was unable to answer.

But ultimately, a choice still had to be made. Huaiwen said to the historian, "I am willing to help you proclaim the history of the Yin Kingdom, but can you promise me one thing?"

"What is it?" the historian asked.

Huaiwen chuckled: "Please return to nature, do not linger in this world, and do not elevate me to become a new god. The story will always have its own course, and history should not repeat itself."

"good."

As the words fell, the history book shrank and landed in Huaiwen's hands. It was clearly just a history book, yet it felt incredibly heavy, almost too heavy to lift. It was the past of a nation, the past of its people; the long river of history was about to reveal another corner of its story.

"call--"

Huaiwen emerged from the stone tablet, just as Xuan Ye and Nan Zhi appeared. The two were very concerned for Huaiwen, fearing that something might have happened to her.

Huaiwen shook his head: "I'm fine. But where did you guys go just now?"

Nan Zhi remained silent. Xuan Ye then said that he had learned of a grand sacrificial ascension ceremony.

“I never imagined… that he would make me sleep for two hundred years…” Nan Zhi lowered her head, her emotions somber.

“I’ve always found it strange why Fu Lin made me know that Lu Yuan was a person from the Yin Kingdom who was killed, and why she let me know how to enter the tomb, and why… she guided me to discover these things…” Nan Zhi continued, “You ask me if I know why the Yin Kingdom was destroyed, I don’t know. It’s because on the day of the sacrifice, I guarded Wushan Mountain, and fell into a deep sleep in a daze…”

"When I woke up, two hundred years had passed. I really didn't know what had happened in the Yin Kingdom. After I woke up, Fulin came down from the divine realm and gave me guidance. Soon, I ascended to heaven."

"I wanted to ask why the Yin Kingdom perished, but the answer I received was nothing more than accepting the will of Heaven, something I couldn't resist. I returned to the old site of my homeland... but found nothing. A thousand years later, I learned that Lu Yuan was a member of the Yin royal family but had died... and that's when I began to have doubts."

“But everything about the past has vanished, and I can’t find it anywhere.” Nan Zhi smiled bitterly. “Then, eight hundred years ago, Pei Suqin died unexpectedly. I don’t understand how a perfectly healthy priest could die without the help of other priests… But what surprises me even more is… that her ghost has been able to live for so long…”

"For the past eight hundred years, I've been investigating." Nan Zhi raised her eyes, tears glistening in them. "Until you—appeared. From the moment your master brought you back to Fengqin Mountain, everything changed. He began to let me know many things, intentionally or unintentionally!"

“Huaiwen…” Nan Zhi’s voice trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say more about when.

They felt a jolt.

This powerful aura, standing majestically, cannot be ignored.

At this point, Huaiwen took out the history book and said, "Lord Nanzhi, I think it's time to awaken your missing memories of the history of the Yin Kingdom."