The smoke from the incense on the altar curled upward, condensing into a mass of green clouds that lingered in the air.
Mu Jinghe performed the three prostrations and nine kowtows, every movement executed with meticulous care.
Chen Zhou stood to the side of the altar from a bystander's perspective, watching the scene unfold.
He could sense the aura on Mu Jinghe—peak sixth-stage, only half a step away from the seventh-stage. To be honest, he was quite weak.
However, in the last millennium since the destruction of the Ancient Binghuo Kingdom, disasters had only just passed. For someone to grow to this level within a thousand years, this man could be considered to have some talent.
Mu Jinghe looked up at the gray, overcast sky.
“Gods of Central Province above,” he continued, “this subject has one more request.”
“In recent years, red fires have swept across Tianchi Province, and disasters have been constant.”
“Mount Chiyan erupted, its magma burning three thousand li. Seven counties were turned to scorched earth, the Great Marsh dried up, and countless living beings suffered the agony of hunger and thirst. The people are displaced, and the casualties are beyond count.”
“I have led my armies to fight the fires and sent men to dig wells for water, but it is like trying to extinguish a bonfire with a cup of water.”
“I know this is a heavenly punishment, a disaster brought about by my own lack of virtue.”
“I have been on the throne for three hundred and seventeen years. The population under my rule has dwindled from eighty million to less than three million today.”
“I am incompetent. I am willing to offer myself to atone for my sins, only praying that the gods of Central Province show mercy and save the people of Jiao Mu Kingdom.”
He knocked his head heavily against the ground. Then, Mu Jinghe straightened up and looked at a youth standing beside the offering table.
The youth was about twenty years old, with a tall, straight posture, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes.
He knelt at the head of the officials, clad in light armor with a sword at his waist. He seemed like a sharp sword drawn from its scabbard, radiating a keen edge.
“I have one more request,” Mu Jinghe turned back and continued toward the sky. “My lifespan is nearing its end, and I fear I do not have long in this world.”
“However, I have only one son, Mu Tianyou, who was bestowed by Lord Qing Lu a hundred years ago.”
“This child is exceptionally intelligent. He achieved Qi Induction at three, Core Shattering at seven, and reached the fifth-stage by fifteen. I make so bold as to pray for the compassion of the gods of Central Province. Please grant my son an opportunity so that he may carry the heavy burden of Jiao Mu Kingdom.”
“If this is granted, I am willing to serve as a slave for all my lives to repay the divine grace.”
After Mu Jinghe finished speaking, he prostrated himself once more, his forehead pressed against the yellow earth as he waited for a response.
A terrifying silence fell over the altar.
The officials did not dare to move, the commoners did not dare to move, and even the wind seemed to have stopped.
Only the fluorescent mushrooms continued to silently emit their faint light.
Chen Zhou narrowed his eyes and looked at the sky. According to the legends Tao Tuantuan had told, the false gods of Central Province did indeed respond to Jiao Mu Kingdom's prayer.
Sure enough, a moment later, a faint green light suddenly appeared on the horizon.
The green light was faint, like a wisp of light smoke seeping through the gaps in the clouds.
But even though it was so faint it was almost invisible, it caused everyone present to hold their breath involuntarily.
The light carried a heavy pressure, an intense presence that seemed to declare, “I am here, and you must all look upon me.”
The green light grew brighter and brighter, finally condensing into a blurry figure in the sky.
The figure gradually became clear, revealing a middle-aged man wearing a green robe.
The man had a refined face and held a roll of bamboo slips in his hand, looking much like a scholar. He stood in the air, looking down at Mu Jinghe on the altar with a gentle smile on his face.
“Mu Jinghe,” he spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it reached every corner of the altar.
“Lord Qing Lu has heard your prayer.”
Mu Jinghe's entire body trembled as he jerked his head up.
“Lord Qing Lu says you are a good monarch,” the middle-aged man continued. “Mu Tianyou, is it? He truly possesses a jiao-dragon talent that appears only once in a thousand years, as expected of someone Lord Qing Lu favored.”
“Rise. Lord Qing Lu has granted your request.”
Mu Jinghe's eyes instantly reddened. He kowtowed heavily, his voice choked with emotion. “Thank you, Lord Qing Lu! Thank you, Lord Qing Lu!”
The middle-aged man waved his hand. “Do not be so quick to give thanks.”
He descended from the air, landing on the altar. He walked over to Mu Tianyou and reached out, tapping the youth's forehead.
Mu Tianyou felt a warm current surge into his body, circulating through his meridians once before retreating.
“The opportunity is there, but there is a condition.”
Mu Jinghe hurriedly asked, “What condition? Please enlighten me, Ambassador!”
The middle-aged man looked into the distance, where the sky was a deep crimson. The terrestrial fire was still burning, changing the very color of the heavens.
“The strange fires in Tianchi Province are not a heavenly punishment from Central Province,” he said. “Deep underground, there is a red-banded giant snake causing trouble.”
Mu Jinghe was stunned. “A giant snake?”
“Yes,” the middle-aged man nodded. “This snake has lived for ten thousand years and has accumulated a massive amount of terrestrial fire within its body. As it travels underground, the terrestrial fire erupts wherever it passes, burning everything in its path.”
“To quench the strange fires, this snake must be slain.”
Mu Jinghe's expression changed. “Slain? This... how can that be done?”
The middle-aged man looked at Mu Tianyou. “He can do it.”
“Lord Qing Lu has bestowed a divine light upon him, giving him the power to battle the giant snake. But the premise is that he must act personally and slay that snake with his own hands.”
“Only then can the terrestrial fire be completely quelled.”
Mu Jinghe opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
Mu Tianyou suddenly spoke up. “Fine.”
Mu Jinghe snapped his gaze toward him. “Tianyou!”
Mu Tianyou looked at him with a calm gaze. “Imperial Father, I am willing.”
“But...”
“Did you not often say that a ruler must prioritize the people?” Mu Tianyou said. “Now that the people are suffering, how can I, as the crown prince, stand idly by?”
Mu Jinghe looked at him, his eyes reddening once more.
The middle-aged man smiled. “Good. You have spirit.”
He raised his hand, and a green light flickered in his palm.
“This divine light can protect you and help you slay the giant snake,” he said. “But remember, the divine light can only protect you for a time. To truly kill the snake, you must rely on yourself.”
Mu Tianyou nodded. “I understand.”
The middle-aged man struck the divine light into his body and then looked at Mu Jinghe.
“There is one more thing,” he said. “After slaying the giant snake, you must seal it underground. You need to construct a massive underground city beneath the Royal Capital to seal the snake's corpse.”
“At the same time, arrange for a portion of your citizens to move into the underground city.”
Mu Jinghe was confused. “Why must they live underground?”
The middle-aged man explained, “Though the giant snake will be dead, the terrestrial fire within it will not go out immediately. You need people to guard the underground, using human presence to suppress the terrestrial fire to ensure it does not reignite.”
“After a few years, once the terrestrial fire is completely extinguished, they may come out.”
Mu Jinghe gave a deep bow. “This subject shall follow the Ambassador's instructions.”
The middle-aged man nodded, and his figure gradually dissipated.
As the green light faded, the offerings on the altar were swept away, leaving only some fluorescent mushrooms still silently emitting their faint light.
Mu Tianyou looked down at the mushroom in his hand.
The light from the mushroom reflected on his face, making his eyes shine brightly.
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