Chapter 343: Opening the ancestral temple, childhood sweethearts, the Star-Plucking Hall is on fire

Third year of Great Xia, the ninth day of the ninth month.

Time flies, and three more years have passed in a flash.

Great Xia inner city, Residence No. 8 near the main building.

Shortly after nightfall, the hostess Cheng Fang had just changed into a ninth-rank Madam's court dress. After walking out of the door, she found that her husband Hong Gang was waiting outside the courtyard gate, and immediately turned and shouted into the house:

"A'Ye, hurry up and take the sacrificial offerings, we are leaving."

"Coming, Mother!"

After the response sounded for a while, a sturdy young man ran out of the house.

The young man was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a well-cut black Xia suit with full texture. A lifelike young snow mane pattern was embroidered on the back, a light red hair-binding crown on his head, a silver ring with a diameter of about three centimeters hanging around his neck, and a beautifully carved bone jade waist pendant hanging from his waist. The already graceful and luxurious dress, coupled with the confident smile between the young man's eyebrows, made him look even more spirited and extraordinary.

This young man is naturally Hong Gang's youngest son, Hong Ye.

Hong Ye was carrying a large wooden frame in his hand, which contained three pieces of high-grade beast meat with black light; two yellow candles as thick as a baby's arm; a pot of Green Yang wine; and three exquisite small porcelain cups.

Seeing that his parents were waiting for him outside the courtyard gate, he hurriedly ran over.

When Hong Ye walked in front, Cheng Fang suddenly discovered that her youngest son was already a head taller than herself at some point. Recalling the unruly kid who made her and Hong Gang angry all day long six years ago, he grew up so big in a blink of an eye, and a few moments of trance suddenly appeared in her eyes.

Of course, seeing her youngest son's extraordinary posture, she felt more satisfied in her heart, and the trance in her eyes quickly turned into thick pride.

"Well, not bad, everything is ready, finally a bit more steady!"

Hong Gang looked down at the wooden frame Hong Ye was carrying, and seeing that the sacrificial items were all there, he rarely praised Hong Ye.

Hong Ye, who was rarely praised by his father, smiled lightly upon hearing the sound: "It's the second time entering the ancestral temple, Father, you can put your heart at ease!"

Seeing his youngest son's steady posture now, like Cheng Fang, Hong Gang also felt a bit of trance in his eyes. However, he adjusted quickly, turned and walked towards the door first: "Let's go, today is the ancestral sacrifice day, there are already many people on the street, let's go over first."

Cheng Fang walked first. After Hong Ye locked the courtyard gate, he hurriedly ran to keep up with the two.

"Dad, is Big Brother not coming back for the ancestral sacrifice this year?"

This belongs to asking knowingly. They are all setting off for the ancestral sacrifice. Hong Ye asking at this time is clearly wanting to inquire about the recent situation of his big brother Hong Mu.

Hong Gang naturally saw through his youngest son's thoughts at once. Thinking that the brotherhood between the two was indeed deep, and they hadn't seen each other for almost half a year, it was normal for Hong Ye to want to inquire about his big brother's recent situation. He didn't have the heart to blame him, but instead felt a bit of relief.

Seeing his wife Cheng Fang next to him also staring at him, knowing that she was also worried about her eldest son, he spoke slowly: "The Longyuan Army went to Songyang Ridge for rotation, and they will definitely not return to Xia City in a short time. Rotation also takes six months. Mu'er last came back in June, and the next time he comes back will be the Cold Origin Festival at the beginning of the year."

Hearing that his eldest son would not come back until the end of the year, Cheng Fang's expression was a bit heartbroken.

Hong Ye was much more excited and continued to ask: "Songyang Ridge was garrisoned by the Cloud Flood Army before, right? The Longyuan Army went to rotate? They have been established for less than a year, their combat effectiveness should not be good yet, right?"

"Is it your turn to chew your tongue? I just praised you for being steady, and you started talking nonsense again."

Being reprimanded by his father, Hong Ye shrank his neck, but he wasn't afraid, and continued in a low voice: "I didn't say anything wrong. Who doesn't know that the Seventh Army's establishment qualification was originally Zhao Long's, and it wasn't the Longyuan team's turn. It was the Madam who had a big quarrel with the Lord, and then there was the Longyuan Army. The Longyuan Army Commander Zhou Yuan was originally a scout camp captain of the Dragon Martial Army, and it was also the Madam who personally went to ask Yu Wen Sizheng for the person."

Hong Gang's expression froze. Thinking that his son had lived in the inner city for a long time and was so close to the main building, it was not surprising that he could hear these gossip, but after thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said strictly: "In the future, you are not allowed to talk nonsense about any gossip related to the Lord and the Madam. If I find it again, I will directly use family law!"

"Got it, Dad, I will never say it again in the future."

Hearing that he was going to use family law, Hong Ye nodded repeatedly and agreed.

"Then Dad, do you know why the Longyuan Army went to Songyang Ridge to garrison?"

"I heard it was to deal with the beast tide in the Arrow Bamboo Forest. The Cloud Flood, Dragon Martial, Dragon Slayer, Tiger Leopard, Xuanwu, and Shenwu armies were all transferred to Mirror Valley. The Longyuan Army's combat effectiveness is slightly worse, so they were ordered to garrison in Songyang Ridge."

Hearing this answer, Hong Ye's face showed a hint of pride.

Sure enough, he didn't say anything wrong just now.

The Seventh Army Longyuan was only established in November last year. Its combat effectiveness was not as good as the previous six armies. Being able to be sent to Songyang Ridge for rotation meant that the Cloud Flood Army that was originally garrisoned must have more important tasks.

"The ninth of September, by the way, the beast tide in the Arrow Bamboo Forest every four months is just at this time. No wonder the entrance to the north of Red Wood Ridge has been blocked since the end of last month. Last time the third team said they were going to hunt in the north, they saw the hunting department had set up a hunting ban monument there before they even entered."

Hearing his son mention hunting, Hong Gang immediately became interested, stared at Hong Ye for a while, and smiled: "I heard from Han Yang that you performed quite well in the third team. Last time you hunted a low-level Lei Kui alone, is this true or false?"

Hong Gang's Green Wolf hunting team had long been upgraded to a high-level team. After the upgrade, they learned from other high-level teams and divided the whole team into three groups, targeting different levels of prey.

Because he served as the military preparation of the East Second District, Hong Gang was unable to separate himself, so he handed over most of the affairs of the hunting team to the deputy captain. The Han Yang he mentioned was the deputy captain of the Green Wolf team.

Hearing his father mention this, Hong Ye's face showed a hint of pride, and he nodded heavily: "It's true, my base strength is already 27,000 *jin* now, hunting low-level cold beasts alone is basically no problem."

Hong Gang had late-stage Cold-Resisting Realm cultivation, so he naturally saw through his youngest son's base strength long ago. Seeing his proud look, he still beat him: "It is indeed no big problem, but cold beasts are cunning after all, and their vitality far exceeds that of humans. In the future, be cautious, try to act in groups, and don't hunt alone."

"Got it, Dad!"

Hong Ye naturally understood these rules and nodded to indicate he understood.

The three walked along the street for a while and arrived at the main building. Entering the first floor of the main building, they continued to walk forward along the open passage in the middle, and soon passed through the main building and walked out from the back door.

As soon as he walked out of the back door of the main building, Hong Ye looked up at the brightly lit Star-Plucking Hall above, and couldn't help but sigh in a low voice: "The Lord has been in seclusion for almost four years. I heard that in these four years, he hasn't walked out of the Star-Plucking Hall once. Just this perseverance is unmatched in Xia City, no wonder his strength is so powerful!"

Hong Gang nodded upon hearing this, and a look of shock rose on his face. He also knew about Xia Hong's seclusion, but the point he and his son cared about was different. What he was thinking about at this moment was how strong Xia Hong's strength would be after he came out of seclusion this time.

The power of the Lord Xia Hong was all heard by Hong Ye.

But he was different. He had seen it with his own eyes. The last time Xia Hong made a move was the Yanglu Realm beast tide at the end of the second year of Great Xia.

At that time, Xia Hong held the Cold Blood Saber and slaughtered high-level cold beasts like cutting melons and vegetables. That scene was still vivid in his mind. Even today, Hong Gang can be sure that no one in the entire Xia City can do the same as Xia Hong.

And since that move, five years have passed.

After five years of seclusion, how strong will Xia Hong be when he comes out?

Hong Gang raised this question in his heart, his eyes full of anticipation.

Behind the main building, above is the Star-Plucking Hall, and below are the three pavilions of martial arts, medicine refining, and weapon refining, which are the most important in Great Xia at present. Behind the Medicine Refining Pavilion on the right, there is an extra 500-meter large medicine field. The space of that medicine field was actually obtained by hollowing out the south mountain wall.

The three walked along the edge of the medicine field and continued to walk inside for more than a hundred meters.

"Arrived at the ancestral temple!"

Reminded by Hong Ye's soft call, Hong Gang hurriedly looked up and looked forward. His expression immediately became pious, including Hong Ye who just called him, and his wife Cheng Fang, their expressions became the same as his.

At the deepest part of the valley, I don't know when, a square palace more than fifty meters high was built. The palace is more than thirty meters long. Almost all the materials used for the whole are iron. Both the inner and outer walls and the ground are faced with Jin Lin paint. I don't know how many coal stoves are in the hall. Under the reflection of the fire, the whole palace is emitting dazzling golden light, full of divinity, making people feel awe-inspiring.

The palace is divided into three floors. The top floor is directly open-air. There is a golden high platform above, and you can vaguely see ten glowing spirit tablets standing in order above the high platform.

"Enter the ancestral temple, first worship the sect master, then sacrifice to the main sect!"

Hong Gang spoke in a low voice, and then took his wife and son, and bowed respectfully and piously to the top of the high platform at the same time.

After worshiping, the family of three walked slowly towards the gate of the ancestral temple.

Hong Gang thought his family came early, but when they entered, they found that there were already hundreds of people on the first floor of the ancestral temple.

In the middle of the first floor of the ancestral temple, there is a cylindrical round platform fifteen meters wide, occupying half of the main hall. From top to bottom, there are thousands of spirit tablets, and many positions are empty. From the tablet text, it can be seen that these are the ancestral tablets of the Xia people.

"Go to the second floor!"

Hong Gang called his wife and son in a low voice, and immediately received the incomparably envious eyes of almost everyone in the hall who was worshiping.

"Is that the Hong family?"

"It is their family. Lord Hong was enfeoffed with a title in the second year of Great Xia, and two years ago he was promoted to an eighth-rank Red Sky Viscount. Last September, when the ancestral temple opened, the Hong clan was the first batch to obtain the qualification to open the sect, so naturally they can go to the ancestral hall for sacrifice."

"I heard that opening the sect can also have cultivation boosts, is it true or false?"

"The Chief Administrator said it personally, can it be false? Didn't you find that the disciples of those families who opened the sect all cultivate very fast?"

"Enfeoffing and opening the sect can really benefit descendants for generations!"

"Who in the camp doesn't want to be enfeoffed? Military contributions are hard to obtain!"

……………… ===== CHAPTER 344 =====