Chapter 75: Dragging the Deities Down from Their Altars

Time flows swiftly, and the years pass like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, it was already early September, the season of abundant harvest.

In this era, which had initially moved beyond slash-and-burn agriculture but had not yet entered the stage of intensive farming, September was the time when the vast majority of grain crops were harvested.

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

Within the borders of the Ghost Fang Kingdom, all grain crops were basically planned according to a unified schedule, which was also a manifestation of the early stage of agrarian civilization.

Naturally, once the harvesting was largely completed, the major powers within the Ghost Fang Kingdom began to stir with anticipation.

Everyone knew that before the winter solstice arrived, the Five Directional Deities would conduct their final large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial activity.

Especially after the complete annihilation of the Ghost Rong clan.

This slave-hunting campaign carried more than a hint of retribution within it.

It was no exaggeration to say that this was a large-scale military operation specifically held by the Ghost Fang Kingdom to re-establish its authority in this region.

In the primitive barbaric age, large-scale slaughter and sacrifice were often the most direct ways to demonstrate deterrent power.

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

Seated upon the throne, the current ruler of the Ghost Fang Kingdom—Chongming—asked in a low voice.

Below Chongming, the representatives of the Ghost Fang Kingdom's major nobility sat cross-legged, draped in various exquisite beast-fur robes and silks.

Those beast-fur robes and silks were not merely simple clothing.

Engraved upon them were various patterns and motifs related to the Five Directional Deities, entirely different from those of the ruler Chongming.

Although the Ghost Fang Kingdom ostensibly upheld the concept of the unity of the Five Directional Deities, privately each faction had its own allegiance.

By extension, the major nobles of the Ghost Fang Kingdom were actually divided into different factions based on their differing beliefs.

The ruler of the Ghost Fang Kingdom was merely the product of a compromise among the major powers, barely qualifying as a "common sovereign."

Chongming was the representative of the Howling Sky clan and also the most forceful proponent of this large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial activity.

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

After a brief silence, one of the noble representatives lifted his head, looking straight into Chongming's eyes as he spoke.

"The tortoise shell has cracked, and the flames of war will not cease; this is not an auspicious omen..."

Chongming's brows instantly furrowed, and his gaze at this moment was filled with oppressive force.

"Are you questioning my decision!?"

In this current age, priests were the representatives of wisdom, while deities were the symbols of power.

Divination was the method connecting the two, so the results of divination often signified the deities' judgment on future situations.

"My Lord, Zhongwu is not questioning your decision..."

Just at this moment, an elder voluntarily spoke up, interrupting the standoff between the two.

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

"Furthermore, there have been continuous reports lately of stolen provisions; I believe this is an ominous sign."

Unlike the common people's superstition regarding divination, these nobles understood the true nature of divination better than anyone.

That was the will of the deities, yet it was not the will of the Ghost Fang Kingdom.

When the major powers of the Ghost Fang Kingdom wished to jointly push for a certain outcome, even the Five Directional Deities had to compromise.

And large-scale slave-hunting and sacrificial rituals were undoubtedly the current "political correctness" of the Ghost Fang Kingdom.

Especially in the situation where provisions were being stolen on a massive scale, this had almost become an inevitable choice.

"Then conduct even more sacrifices!"

Sweeping a domineering gaze over the nobles below, Chongming decisively set the tone.

"For the glory of the Five Directional Deities, and also for the authority of the Ghost Fang Kingdom, we must sweep away those powers sheltering escaped slaves with the force of Lei Ting!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

With a single command from the ruler, the surroundings of the Ghost Fang Kingdom instantly turned into a living hell.

Countless mountain dwellers were forcibly captured to become "human sacrifices," and this included even those local powers that had long belonged to the Ghost Fang Kingdom.

"You have truly gone mad..."

Witnessing this scene, E Tu gave the exact same evaluation as last time.

Those local powers belonging to the Ghost Fang Kingdom were, to a certain extent, the Ghost Fang Kingdom's own reserve strength.

As long as conditions allowed, the Ghost Fang Kingdom could at any time incorporate those mountain dwellers into its own sphere of rule, making them part of itself.

In fact, even thirty years ago during the battle with the Tu Fang Kingdom, the Ghost Fang Kingdom had never done anything so absurd.

"I also think they have gone mad..."

Appearing quietly beside E Tu, Xuan Hui's voice revealed a hoarseness and depth never heard before.

"They are likewise subjects of the Ghost Fang Kingdom, yet now they have become 'human sacrifices'."

The location where the two currently stood offered a direct view of the distant sacrificial altar platform, seeing those rolling, severed heads falling to the ground.

Whoosh!

A bloody qi visible to the naked eye enveloped the entire City of Cliff Settlement.

Even more, gloomy ghostly qi continued to expand outward as the sacrificial ritual began.

If one had not seen it with their own eyes, it would be very hard to imagine that such a gloomy and bizarre place was actually a city of the living.

Within the inner city, the people of the Ghost Fang Kingdom indulged in wild revelry, venting the excitement brought by this grand ritual.

Meanwhile, outside the city, those mountain dwellers who were not regarded as people of the Ghost Fang Kingdom trembled with fear, not even daring to lift their heads to look in 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 raised an eyebrow and said.

"Everyone has gone mad; it is just that I have not gone completely mad yet..."

He did not evade the topic; Xuan Hui merely gave a bitter smile and tapped the skull scepter in his hand.

"I previously believed the mountain folk were not 'humans,' but merely a herd of talking livestock, two-legged sheep..."

"Yet I overlooked one point: perhaps in the eyes of the Five Divine Ones, we are likewise just a flock of lambs providing faith!"

"When able, the gods naturally watch over their lambs so wolves do not carry them off."

"But once the gods wish to eat meat, they will without hesitation slaughter the lambs they have tamed."

Xuan Hui's words far exceeded the priest's frame of thought; even E Tu felt a chill of fear upon hearing them.

"Are you questioning your gods?"

Gazing at the skull scepter in his hand, Xuan Hui spoke words of even deeper significance.

"Gods?"

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

"Those not believed in, not worshipped, are merely evil spirits."

His tone was grim yet calm; at this moment, light sparked in Xuan Hui's eyes—a light named "rebellion."

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

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

"It is the priests who raise up the gods; only then are they called 'gods'."

"When gods betray their people, even if they were once the ancestors of the Guifang Kingdom, priests have the power and duty to pull them down from their altars!"

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(End of Chapter)