Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Grand Ceremony

The Yang Family needed to prepare for the Grand Ceremony, and Chen Yang learned of this early on.

After all, being in the Yang Family’s territory, he was also "in the know"; as long as he wanted, there were no secrets he couldn’t uncover.

This matter had been instructed by Yang Guanfeng before he left.

It had already been three years since the last blood sacrifice to the spirits conducted by the five members of the Yang Family.

Now that the situation for the Yang Family was stable, and the Liang Family had settled on the northern bank, the Grand Ceremony had been put on the agenda.

According to Yang Guanfeng’s wishes, all the common people under the Yang Family’s rule must participate in the worship; only then would it be worthy of Chen Yang’s status.

After the arrangements were made, each household at the foot of the mountain started busying themselves over a month ago.

This was the first Grand Ceremony since the Yang Family established themselves, and its importance went without saying.

On the northern bank, the Zhao Family and the Liang Family led the way, while on the southern bank, a couple of larger households from the two villages also got involved in the preparations.

Now, looking around, the atmosphere for the Grand Ceremony was already very strong.

"Counting Liang Yi, the Yang Family now has six cultivators, and their cultivation realms have significantly improved since before; the effects of the blood sacrifice to the spirits are truly to be anticipated," Chen Yang thought to himself with delight.

However, he had experience with the worship on the mountain, while this was his first time witnessing the worship of ordinary people at the foot of the mountain.

"I wonder what benefits ordinary people can gain from their worship; I hope it will bring me a bit of surprise."

Time passed quickly once people got busy.

Chen Yang felt that he had merely glanced at the Talisman Inheritance and studied the healing gem, and suddenly it was already the day of the Grand Ceremony, ten days later.

"Don’t rush! Everyone, be steady!"

"One! Two! Raise!"

Under Zhao Dapeng’s loud command, the strong men from the northern bank village carried various large ceremonial vessels from the riverbank into the venue.

These ceremonial vessels were crafted in Baishi Town and transported to the Yang Family via the Linshan River.

Thanks to Gao Hui’s relationship with the Yang Family, these items were sold at cost price, and the shipping fees were waived.

Liang Yi was assisting Yang Xiaolei in setting up the altar at the foot of the mountain, determining the order and positions for each clan.

Whoosh—

A gust of wind blew as Zhao Qi and Liang Yi arrived at the scene.

The townspeople hurriedly set down their tasks and knelt to pay their respects.

"Get up."

Zhao Qi called out lightly, then took out a tiger demon corpse, over a span of ten feet long, from his storage bag and handed it to Yang Xiaolei.

Of course, the Grand Ceremony required offerings, and in addition to the chickens, ducks, fish, and cattle raised by ordinary people, a main dish was essential.

Once the tiger demon corpse was received, the village’s cooks began to get busy preparing.

"Liang Yi, how is the preparation at home?" Liang Yi stepped forward and asked.

"Don’t worry, brother; everything is already in order, and there won’t be any oversights," Liang Yi replied.

Liang Yi nodded and looked at Yang Xiaolei, saying, "Master Yang, my younger brother is not good at managing the household. I appreciate your care, and please bear with him more in the future."

"Master Liang, you are being too modest. We are all one family and do not speak of such formalities," Yang Xiaolei replied.

Zhao Qi then went to the riverbank to visit his father, Zhao Dapeng, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Upon seeing Zhao Qi appear, the surrounding villagers bowed and knelt in respect, except for the old man, who stood in a daze, looking as if he were foolish.

"B-but my son?"

After a long moment, Zhao Dapeng’s lips trembled as he spoke.

Zhao Qi immediately felt a pang in his nose and stepped forward to embrace his father.

"Father, it’s me."

"Woo woo woo—my son! I missed you…"

Hearing the confirmation, Zhao Dapeng could no longer hold back his emotions and cried on his son’s shoulder.

Seeing this scene, the villagers were also moved, shedding tears and covering their faces in sorrow.

After a heartfelt exchange, Zhao Dapeng began to chatter with care.

In the past, Zhao Qi always thought his father was wordy, but this time he gained a different understanding; it was not just rambling—this old man was using his clumsy way to express his love for his child.

He patiently listened to Zhao Dapeng’s words, responding to each point.

"Zhao Qi, the time is about right; we should head back," Liang Yi reminded him.

Upon Liang Yi’s arrival, Zhao Dapeng wiped away his tears and urged Zhao Qi to return to the mountain.

Watching the two individuals leave, Zhao Dapeng stood there grinning foolishly, looking as if he were transported back in time, sitting at the edge of the field, watching Zhao Qi play and frolic during the harvest.

Zhao Qi and Liang Yi returned to the Yang Family’s Forbidden Area together.

At the foot of the mountain, preparations were being hurriedly made, and on the mountain, everything was also nearly ready.

This time, Old Yu specially arranged a dedicated altar for Chen Yang, carved from a whole block of purple cloud fire jade, which was quite valuable.

Lying on it, Chen Yang felt a warm sensation, utterly comfortable.

Once the preparations at the foot of the mountain were complete, Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei, along with the Yang Family members, made their way to the plaza.

Behind them were the Zhao Family and Liang Family, followed by various clans in order, and further back, the southern bank of the Linshan River was already filled with kneeling people.

"This is the Songshan Yang Family, born under heaven and earth, venerating the Immortal Master and performing the sacrifice…"

Yang Feiyun led the chant, and the Yang Family stepped forward to light incense and candles, while the villagers behind them bowed and recited.

This phrase originally meant: born under heaven and earth, venerating the spirits for sacrifice.

Old Yu replaced the spirits with the Immortal Master, referring to Chen Yang on the mountain.

The fragrant smoke rose and filled the air.

With the sound of a crisp gong, the worship at the foot of the mountain began.

At the same time, in the Forbidden Area on the mountain, Old Yu brought the three children of the Yang Family to the main courtyard shrine.

Zhao Qi, Liang Yi, and Wu Tong knelt in their respective courtyards.

"Yang Family disciples, bow to the Spirit Stone Immortal!"

"The Immortal Master possesses boundless divine powers, protecting the descendants of the Yang Family and ensuring our family’s prosperous future!"

"Yang Family descendants, we honor the Immortal Master’s abilities and feel countless emotions, never daring to forget!"

"Today’s blood sacrifice to the spirits cannot repay even a fraction of the Immortal Master’s kindness; we feel truly ashamed. In the years to come, the Yang Family, generation after generation, shall continue this way to find peace!"

After speaking, six drops of essence blood slowly flew from Old Yu’s palm, transforming in mid-air into a strand of bright red spiritual energy, which was then absorbed into Chen Yang’s abdomen.

Whoosh—

Spiritual rain began to fall again, nourishing the white space within Chen Yang’s body.

This surge of spiritual power equaled the accumulation he had gained over eight years!

"Ah—so refreshing!"

After this set of nourishing treatment ended, two strands of soul fire appeared once more within Chen Yang.

These represented Zhao Qi and Liang Yi.

Zhao Qi’s soul fire was gentle and restrained, while Liang Yi’s danced and flickered, making them easy to distinguish.

Then, under Old Yu’s guidance, the Yang Family practitioners chanted the ritual again.

Clang clang clang—

This time, Chen Yang received six new ethereal consciousnesses.

After absorbing and digesting them, Chen Yang’s observing consciousness remained unchanged, but his sensing range expanded; now, the village on the northern bank at the foot of the mountain was entirely under his control.

He had thought this would be the end, just like last time.

But in the next moment, he suddenly felt himself surrounded by a mysterious power.

"What is this…?"

Chen Yang, filled with curiosity, sensed the source of this mysterious power.

Soon, he realized it came from the mortals at the foot of the mountain, those offering incense and worship.

"This is… the power of wishes from mortals?"

Chen Yang concentrated, drawing this mysterious power into himself.

The sensation of this mysterious power was even lighter than that of the invisible ethereal consciousness.

It seemed to vanish the moment it entered Chen Yang’s body, yet at the same time, it felt ever-present.

There was an indescribable feeling, elusive and hard to grasp.

"Well, I thought absorbing this power would resolve my confusion, but now I’m even more puzzled."

Chen Yang was unsure of the use of this power of wishes.

But his intuition told him it was likely connected to his advancement and breakthrough.

In the Gathering Qi stage, as long as he accumulated enough spiritual power, he could achieve a breakthrough. However, he was uncertain how to reach the Condensing Essence stage.

Now it seemed that the method for future advancement to Condensing Essence was very likely closely related to this mysterious power!