Chapter 357: What kind of divine sign would do?

On and around the Sacrificial Altar, all was dead silent.

Everyone was stunned by those words.

Burning? Sky burial?

This is clearly meant to take Tuan Tuan's life!

Jifeng and Xiao Ningxun's group all sprang to their feet.

Xiao Ningxun's eyes were red, his face full of anger, just about to speak.

Jifeng strode up to the Sacrificial Altar, lifted his head and glared at the Great Shaman on the stone pedestal: 'Bullshit!'

'What Eternal Heaven edict? I see, it's all your hocus-pocus made up!'

The Great Shaman's face went white: 'Second Prince! This is the Eternal Heaven's decree—how dare you defile it!'

'Damn your Eternal Heaven!' Jifeng snarled angrily, 'When the white deer knelt in worship a few days ago, why didn't you say the bloodline was impure?'

'Now you jump out wanting to burn and kill—do you take me for an idiot?'

'Jifeng!' Bateer also rose, shouting sternly, 'Before the Great Shaman, you cannot be insolent! This is a divine edict—what right do you have to question it?'

'Divine edict?' Jifeng turned, fixing him with a stare, a wicked smile curling his lips: 'Bateer, have you actually seen the Eternal Heaven with your own eyes?'

Only after death can ordinary people possibly see the Eternal Heaven.

Bateer's face suddenly changed: 'You!'

'Enough.'

A calm voice sounded.

Menggen's sunken eyes looked toward the Great Shaman on the Sacrificial Altar, and he spoke slowly: 'Great Shaman, is this truly the divine edict?'

The Great Shaman made a solemn gesture over his chest: 'Great Khan, it is absolutely certain.'

'This is the Eternal Heaven's decree; we mortals must obey.'

Wurenna let out a soft sigh, her voice full of resignation: 'If it truly is the Eternal Heaven's decree, for the sake of the grasslands' blessing, then…'

She trailed off, leaving it unsaid.

But everyone understood.

The herders all looked reluctant, yet none dared to speak up for Tuan Tuan.

In the herders' hearts, the Eternal Heaven is the ruler of all, and the Great Shaman is its envoy in the mortal world.

Who dares to oppose the deity's will?

Jifeng's eyes instantly turned blood-red.

He whirled around, looking at Tuan Tuan on the stone platform: 'You little brat, get down! Let's go—this lousy grassland, we don't need to stay!'

Tuan Tuan shook his head: 'Uncle Jifeng, I'm not leaving.'

'Tuan Tuan!' Xiao Ran exclaimed, 'They have no good intentions—why stay here?'

Xiao Ningxun coaxed softly: 'Yeah, Tuan Tuan, big brother will take you home—we're not doing this Holy Maiden business.'

Wurenna's lips curled: 'Want to leave? Don't even think about it without leaving your life behind!'

'Wait, brothers.' Tuan Tuan lifted his head, looking at the Great Shaman: 'Old sir, you said my bloodline is impure.'

But the white deer likes me, and the wolf likes me.

They don't mind my impurity at all.

The Great Shaman blinked, then replied: 'Holy Maiden, I didn't say your bloodline is impure—it's the Eternal Heaven that said so.'

'I have no grudge against you, no reason to harm you, and I wouldn't—it's simply heaven's will, and I can't do anything about it.'

Tuan Tuan pondered: 'Is the Eternal Heaven saying this because there was no divine sign just now, right?'

Seeing her keep asking, the Great Shaman grew anxious.

He just wanted to quickly put Tuan Tuan to death, fearing delays, and hurriedly said: 'Exactly, Holy Maiden.'

'Since you're the Holy Maiden, able to bestow blessings on the grasslands, ascending the altar should naturally bring a portent. Yet there's nothing—clearly your bloodline is impure.'

Tuan Tuan nodded: 'Oh, then may I try again?'

The Great Shaman was taken aback again.

'Divine sign? I've never even seen one!'

'You try and it'll appear? Impossible!'

'You're just asking for death!'

He looked at the little girl before him and smiled: 'All right,'

Tuan Tuan continued: 'What kind of divine sign would do?'

The Great Shaman blinked: 'What kind of divine sign?'

He scanned the Sacrificial Altar, pointing at the faint symbols on the stone pedestal: 'If the Holy Maiden can make these symbols appear, then even the Eternal Heaven would have no objection.'

'Hmph, who knows how old these symbols are—making them appear? Pipe dream!'

Wurenna sat back, lips curling: 'Not a bad idea, Great Shaman—let alone this little brat, none of the past Great Shamans could pull it off.'

'Oh,' Tuan Tuan's eyes shifted, 'I get it now!'

On and off the platform, everyone's eyes were fixed on her.

Tuan Tuan pulled a chain from his collar and undid it.

Jifeng saw the wolf tooth on the chain he had given her, his heart aching—he shouldn't have dragged Tuan Tuan into this, or she wouldn't be facing death.

He glanced at Xiao Ningxun, exchanged a look, and Xiao Er and Lu Qi also looked over.

In an instant, they were of one mind: if Tuan Tuan couldn't make those symbols appear, they must immediately take her away from the grasslands.

Xiao Er looked around; the nearest horses were cordoned off by the crowd, and even with lightness skills it would be hard to snatch them quickly.

He frowned tightly, looking at Bateer seated ahead—if all else fails, just tie him up!

Using him to threaten the Great Khan still offers a slim chance of survival.

Xiao Er took two steps forward, approaching Bateer, who was gazing at the Sacrificial Altar.

At this moment, Tuan Tuan on the stone platform had already undone the bone ring on the chain.

She raised her little hand, pointing at the indentation on the stone pedestal: "Grandfather, look, this ring is so tiny, my hand can't possibly fit into it!"

The Great Shaman suppressed his impatience: "So what?"

Tuan Tuan held up the bone ring: "Look, this fits just right!"

The Great Shaman looked at the bone ring in her hand: "What broken toy is this?"

And you dare bring it to the Sacrificial Altar?

He sneered, twitching the corner of his mouth.

Tuan Tuan walked to the stone pedestal, placed the bone ring into the circular recess, fitting perfectly with no gap.

She happily clapped her little hands: "Grandfather, look! This is the right one!"

The Great Shaman almost rolled his eyes at her: "What's the point? It's all in vain!"

What are you struggling for? Hurry up and die, Great Hadun, then you'll be at peace.

If you don't die, I will.

"Holy Maiden, don't delay any further."

"To die for the blessings of the grasslands is also the glory of the Holy Maiden……"

He hadn't finished speaking.

"Hum——"

A low, prolonged tremble, as if coming from deep within the Holy Mountain, suddenly echoed across the entire Sacrificial Altar without warning.

The Great Shaman's pupils contracted sharply!

In the circular recess on the stone pedestal, a ring of soft golden light suddenly burst forth!

That halo was at first the size of a bowl's rim, clear and dazzling, instantly dispelling all shadows around it.

Immediately, the ancient runes on the stone pedestal, worn smooth by time and invisible to the naked eye, were traced anew by that golden light, stroke by stroke!

One, two, three……

More and more of the runes lit up.

They flowed slowly within the golden light, as if suddenly given life.

The golden radiance ceaselessly flowed and expanded; in an instant, the three‑foot‑high stone pedestal was completely bathed in light!

The golden light kept intertwining and flowing, eventually converging on the four sides of the stone pedestal into four extraordinarily clear giant totems.

To the east stood a colossal white deer with its head held high toward the sky, lifelike, its eyes warm and compassionate, as if guarding the Holy Mountain.

To the south was a crimson‑flame horse king, its hooves treading fire, mane flying, it neighed skyward as if galloping across the horizon.

To the west appeared a silver giant wolf that howled at the moon, its eyes sharp, its bearing aloof—exactly the guardian wolf revered by the Blue Wolf Tribe through the ages.

To the north, a male eagle spread its wings and soared high, its feathers pure as snow, the tips of its plumage trailing a faint golden light—truly the Divine Eagle "White Feather" of the Kerey Tribe.

The herders exploded in an uproar!

"Eternal Heaven!"

"The Holy Maiden has manifested! The Holy Maiden has manifested!"

"It's the white deer! It's our guardian deity, the white deer!"

"And the crimson‑flame horse king! The blue wolf! The Divine Eagle White Feather!"

"The four great guardians of the grasslands are all assembled!"

"A divine sign! This is truly a divine sign!"

"Eternal Heaven above! The Holy Maiden manifests! Bestow blessings upon the grasslands!"

The herders went completely mad!

They flung themselves before the four golden‑glowing totems, tears and snot streaming as they kowtowed frenziedly.

Some trembled with excitement, others clung to those nearby and wailed loudly.

Many more stared wide‑eyed, mouths agape, as if trying to etch this scene deep into their souls.