Chapter 75: Pulling the Gods Down from the Altar

Time passes, and the years flow like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, it is the beginning of the ninth month, the season of bountiful harvest.

In this era, which has initially moved past slash-and-burn cultivation but has not yet entered the stage of intensive farming, September is the harvest season for the vast majority of grain crops.

Although millet, broomcorn millet, rice, and wheat each have different requirements for climate and environment.

Within the borders of the Guifang State, all grain crops are basically planned according to a unified schedule, which can be considered a manifestation of the primary stage of agricultural civilization.

Naturally, once the harvest is roughly completed, the major factions of the Guifang State begin to stir.

Everyone knows that the Five Directions Gods will conduct their final large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial activities before the winter solstice arrives.

Especially after the entire army of the Guirong Clan was wiped out.

This slave-hunting activity carries a hint of retaliation.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is a large-scale military operation specifically held by the Guifang State to re-establish its prestige in this region.

In the primitive, barbaric age, large-scale slaughter and sacrifice are often the most direct ways to demonstrate deterrence.

"How are the preparations coming along on the priests' side?"

Sitting upright on the throne, the current ruler of the Guifang State, Chong Ming, asks in a low voice.

Below Chong Ming, the representatives of the major noble families of the Guifang State sit cross-legged, draped in various exquisite animal furs and silks.

Those animal furs and silks are not mere clothing.

They are engraved with various patterns and motifs related to the Five Directions Gods, which is distinctly different from the ruler Chong Ming.

Although the Guifang State ostensibly respects the concept of the Five Directions Gods as one, they are privately divided into different allegiances.

By extension, the major noble families of the Guifang State are actually divided into different factions based on their differing beliefs.

The ruler of the Guifang State is merely a product of compromise between the major factions and can only barely be considered a "co-ruler."

Chong Ming is the representative of the Houtian Clan and the strongest proponent of this large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial activity.

"The sacrifice has already begun, and the results of the divination are out."

After a brief silence, one of the noble representatives raises his head, looking directly into Chong Ming's eyes as he speaks.

"The tortoise shell has shattered, and the flames of war will not cease; this is not a good omen..."

Chong Ming's brow furrows instantly, and his gaze is filled with a sense of oppression at this moment.

"Are you questioning my decision!?"

In this current era, priests are the representatives of wisdom, and gods are the symbols of power.

The way to connect the two is through divination, so the results of divination often signify the gods' judgment on the future situation.

"Ruler, Zhong Wu is not questioning your decision..."

Just then, an old man takes the initiative to speak, interrupting the standoff between the two.

"It is just that the result of this divination is indeed ominous; perhaps we should make more sufficient preparations."

"Coupled with the reports of grain theft during this period, I feel this is an ominous sign."

Unlike the common people's superstition regarding divination, these nobles know the essence of divination better than anyone.

It is the will of the gods, yet it is not the will of the Guifang State.

When the major factions of the Guifang State want to jointly push for a certain result, even the Five Directions Gods must compromise.

And large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial rituals are undoubtedly the current "political correctness" of the Guifang State.

Especially with the large-scale theft of grain, this has almost become an inevitable choice.

"Then conduct more sacrifices!"

Sweeping his disdainful gaze over the nobles below, Chong Ming sets the tone without hesitation.

"For the glory of the Five Directions Gods, and also for the prestige of the Guifang State, we must sweep away those factions that harbor runaway slaves with the force of a thunderbolt!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Following the ruler's order, the surroundings of the Guifang State instantly turn into a purgatory.

Countless mountain folk are forcibly captured to become "human sacrifices," and even those local factions that had long since submitted to the Guifang State are no exception.

"You are truly insane..."

Seeing this scene, E Tu gives the exact same evaluation as last time.

Those local factions belonging to the Guifang State are, to a certain extent, the Guifang State's own reserve forces.

As long as conditions permit, the Guifang State can at any time incorporate those mountain folk into its own sphere of rule, becoming a part of itself.

In fact, even in the battle against the Tufang State thirty years ago, the Guifang State never did anything so outrageous.

"I also think they are insane..."

Quietly appearing beside E Tu, Xuan Hui's voice reveals a hoarseness and depth never heard before.

"They were also subjects of the Guifang State, yet now they have become 'human sacrifices'."

The position where the two are currently standing allows them to see the sacrificial altar in the distance and see those rolling heads hitting the ground.

Whoosh!

A visible, bloody aura shrouds the entire Cliff City.

The eerie ghost Qi continues to expand outward as the sacrificial ritual begins.

If not for seeing it with one's own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that such a gloomy and sinister place could actually be a city of the living.

Inside the inner city, the people of the Guifang State revel wantonly, venting the excitement brought about by this grand ritual.

Outside the city, those mountain folk who are not considered citizens of the Guifang State tremble, not even daring to look up toward the direction of the inner city.

"I still remember you telling me last time that this is called faith."

Not at all surprised by Xuan Hui's appearance, E Tu raises an eyebrow and says.

"Everyone is crazy; it's just that I haven't gone completely insane yet..."

Not avoiding the topic, Xuan Hui just taps the skull staff in his hand with a bitter smile.

"I previously believed that the mountain folk were not 'people,' just a group of talking livestock, two-legged sheep..."

"Yet I overlooked one point: perhaps in the eyes of the Five Directions Gods, we are also just a group of lambs providing faith!"

"When within their power, the gods will naturally watch over their lambs so they are not snatched away by wolf packs."

"But once the gods want to eat meat, they will also slaughter the lambs they have raised without hesitation."

These words from Xuan Hui have far exceeded the ideological scope of a priest, making even E Tu feel a sense of trepidation.

"Are you questioning your own gods?"

Looking at the skull staff in his hand, Xuan Hui speaks another, more profound set of words.

"Gods?"

"Only those who are believed in and worshipped are gods..."

"Those who are not believed in or worshipped are merely demons."

His tone is grim and calm; at this moment, a light emerges in Xuan Hui's eyes—a light called "rebellion."

"My teacher told me that priests are the mouthpieces of the gods, the executors of their will."

"But I have a different view: priests are the pioneers chosen by the people..."

"It is the priests who hold the gods high, and only then are the gods called 'gods'."

"When the gods betray their own people, even if they were once the ancestors of the Guifang State, the priests have the power and responsibility to pull them down from the altar!"

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(End of Chapter)