Chapter 134: Elemental Sacred Ritual

Hermanubis' Power.

The priestly power handed down through the generations of the Red King's priestly lineage.

It is the divine might granted by the Red King while he was still alive to the most devout and loyal followers of this faith.

Sai Nuo's body contains this power.

And according to the standard definition,

One who possesses Hermanubis' Power is the most orthodox member of the Red King's lineage.

Luo De did not expect that.

The high priest actually would give this power to himself.

Sai Nuo also did not expect that.

Because Hermanubis' Power is never given to outsiders, because this power is also the Red King's exclusive grace, representing the orthodoxy of the priestly lineage; one who has not received the Red King's acknowledgment cannot possibly be granted Hermanubis' Power.

"Three Gods Covenant."

Nadixa sighed.

"Three Gods Covenant."

The real Luo De also repeated this sentence in the same tone.

"That's right, it's the Three Gods Covenant."

The high priest laughed and then, placing a hand on his chest, said, "May the Great Red Sand Sea King bless you with safe deliverance."

The Three Gods Covenant they spoke of.

That is, during the time when the three gods ruled Sumeru, the Great Merciful Tree King, the Red King, and the Flower God jointly established a covenant.

The three gods aided each other, were not enemies, and the same held for their followers.

It's just a pity.

Times have changed.

As the three gods who initially established the covenant passed away one after another.

This covenant has long been forgotten as the followers of the three gods went their separate ways, even turning into mutual enemies, each day claiming to be the orthodox of Sumeru and attacking each other.

After obtaining this Hermanubis' Power, Sai Nuo originally intended to leave directly.

But Luo De unexpectedly refused to leave, insisting on absorbing this power fully before departing.

What Sai Nuo found even harder to understand was that

The high priest actually agreed to this outright and even entrusted full responsibility for it to Sai Nuo.

"You are already a mature priest; we are old and cannot withstand the king's power; having you preside over the inheritance ritual is the safest."

With those words,

Sai Nuo could not refuse, so he gestured to Luo De and said,

"Come over."

"I will act as your guardian; remember, before the Dendro Archon is saved, do not let anyone know you possess such power."

On this point, Sai Nuo has ample authority to speak.

Think back to those days.

When he was young, the priests sent him out of the temple so that this lineage's most outstanding descendant would not be buried in the desert.

Unexpectedly, upon the Great Sage's order, Sai Nuo, discovered by the Academy, nearly ended up on an experimental table, becoming a test subject for analyzing this divine power of Hermanubis' Power.

If it weren't for Ju Leshi's unwillingness to collude with A Zha'er,

Who knows what Sai Nuo's childhood would have been like.

Thus, Sai Nuo, who had considerable experience with this matter, led the way while informing Luo De of the various dangers that could arise if others learned he possessed divine power, and also explained to him the side effects of using Hermanubis' Power.

In short, this side effect is:

That divine power is not something mortals can easily bear.

The problem Sai Nuo would encounter is difficulty controlling his emotions; a slight provocation would make him lose control, often resulting in him destroying property and hurting people, giving Ju Leshi constant headaches.

And he is almost the best-matched descendant of the priestly lineage with Hermanubis' Power.

Otherwise,

Like those predecessors who inherited Hermanubis' Power, some need many years to gain control of their power, while others develop mental abnormalities under the divine influence.

Sai Nuo's side effect of merely being unable to control his own emotions is already considered mild.

Soon.

The two soon arrived at a small palace deep within the temple.

This place is quite empty.

Apart from the ever-burning torches hung on the walls, there is only a statue whose face cannot be made out.

The high priest did not follow, just as he said, leaving everything for Sai Nuo to handle.

"This is the inheritance hall."

"All who are qualified to inherit Hermanubis' Power hold the ceremony in this sanctuary."

After a brief explanation, Sai Nuo took out the Red Sand Staff, inserted it into a groove in the ground, and immediately lightning flashed across his body; under the effect of Hermanubis' Power, a magic circle that previously left no trace suddenly flickered into a soft glow.

This magic circle is similar to the one used when sealing the Archon's remnants within Ke Lai's body.

The core of this magic circle is likewise an eye-shaped pattern.

Having done these,

Sai Nuo let go and stood, his expression solemn as he said, "Actually, in my personal opinion, I think you should still wait a bit, for after using Hermanubis' Power side effects will surely appear; these symptoms will make your behavior seem extremely abnormal to outsiders, easily revealing that something is off."

"But since you insist on doing this, I will not stop you."

"May the Dendro Archon bless you with smooth sailing."

From the mouth of a descendant of the Scarlet King priest saying, "May the Dendro Archon bless you," no matter how you hear it, it will always feel strange.

However, considering that Cyno knows that a fragment of Nadixa's divine sense is attached to Luo De's body.

Then there's nothing to fault in what he said.

In fact.

Luo De will insist on starting to absorb this Hermanubis power right now, and indeed it's also because this is Nadixa's request.

"With the Scarlet King's power, your identity as the Scarlet King's divine envoy will be more convincing, and you will also have greater self-defense capability."

"With me here, you can absorb it boldly without any side effects."

Finally, this sentence is the reason Luo De can be so bold.

Following Cyno's guidance.

Luo De first performed the worship ritual before the Scarlet King's statue, then stepped into the center of the magic array, sat cross-legged, and at the same time took out the crystal storing Hermanubis power, holding it in his palm.

"Ready."

After repeating the precautions once more, Cyno's hand grasped the Scarlet Sand Staff again.

After receiving Luo De's affirmative response, he activated the magic array.

Amidst the golden light filling the sky, the crystal in Luo De's hand shattered with a sound, turning into strands of golden light that shot straight into his body.

Seeing Hermanubis' power enter his body.

Cyno released the Scarlet Sand Staff, moved his hand, making several complex gestures in succession, and continuously chanted in ancient Sumeru language.

In the priest's lineage.

This inheritance ritual is also called the Holy Rite.

Not only the priestly lineage that Cyno belongs to, but also the Scarlet King descendant lineage that Kantisi belongs to has such a Holy Rite to pass on power.

Corresponding to the different elemental powers mastered by the inheritors, there are different Holy Rites.

For example, the Lightning Element Holy Rite that Cyno underwent is called "Blazing Glory Follows the Wolf's Path"; after the Holy Rite succeeds, reactivating Hermanubis' power will grant him the blessing of Lightning Elemental divine power, and Cyno will thereby become the Scarlet King's mounted envoy, the Initiate Oath Envoy, which is the form he manifests with a wolf's head and claws.

While the Water Element Holy Rite that Kantisi underwent is called "Grey Wagtail Deceives the Tide"; after the Holy Rite succeeds, she will gain an ability called "Scarlet Crown Prayer"; in this state, Kantisi's bodily functions will be greatly enhanced, and it is not the severely detrimental demonic state of the Eremites, but a comprehensive enhancement with no negative side effects, and the water elemental power she commands will also, under the blessing of divine power, exert even greater might.

Luo De now reveals the Ice Vision on the outside.

Therefore, Cyno is presiding over the Ice Element Holy Rite.

As he chanted, the temperature in the hall continued to drop, and white frost kept spreading across the walls and floor until it reached beneath their feet.

Despite this sudden drop in temperature, the lightly clad Cyno showed no reaction whatsoever.

He simply allowed the frost to cling to his feet, then kept climbing up to half his body, while the words in his mouth never paused, continuing to recite clearly and distinctly.

The final line of the prayer was finished chanting.

Luo De's body suddenly burst with golden light; the Hermanubis power he had just absorbed into his body surged out and rushed straight into the Ice Vision.

Immediately.

The temperature inside the holy hall plummeted greatly; even Cyno, who could previously rely on his own power to withstand the cold, inevitably shivered violently.

"Such abundant elemental power?"

Cyno crossed his arms, his body flashing with dazzling lightning, to counteract the influence leaking from the Holy Rite, and his eyes were full of surprise.

He had conducted many investigations on Luo De.

He knew that Luo De had obtained the Vision for about a year at most.

Yet the amount of elemental power he now displays is not much less than that of someone who obtained the Vision before the age of ten.

"No wonder the Dendro Archon took a liking to him."

Cyno's mouth curled into a smile.

Abundant elemental power is a good thing.

The more abundant the elemental power, the stronger the divine blessing obtained after the Holy Rite ends.

This is just too cold.

Even though Cyno, wearing only thin clothes and shorts, had already raised his elemental power to resist, he still inevitably felt as if his body might freeze solid.

Fortunately.

Fortunately, Luo De's Holy Rite did not take too long, and a pure white snowy owl appeared out of thin air from the combination of Hermanubis' power and Ice elemental power.

Similar to Cyno's Blazing Glory Follows the Wolf's Path.

The Ice Element Holy Rite that Luo De underwent is also a possession-type divine blessing.

The snow owl's eagle-head crown appeared on its head, its ten fingers grew sharp eagle claws, flashing cold light; even without personally testing its power, Cyno knows being grabbed by it would certainly be unpleasant.

Compared to these normal divine blessings of possession.

Luo De also grew a third divine blessing of possession on his back.

A pair of wings composed of Ice elemental power.

"Indeed worthy of being someone the Dendro Archon took a liking to."

Upon seeing those wings, Cyno again exclaimed in admiration.

How much power can the Holy Rite grant?

First, it depends on how compatible the inheritor is with the Scarlet King's power; second, it depends on one's own talent.

Moreover, each person's divine blessing is different.

Abundant elemental power.

It can only be said that after the Holy Rite ends, one can quickly obtain great power.

Because the divine blessing is a capability with growth potential.

Like when Cyno first received the inheritance and had only just obtained the Vision not long ago, the power of Blazing Glory Follows the Wolf's Path was quite limited, but as his age increased and his elemental power accumulated, becoming ever more abundant, the power of his divine blessing also grew stronger.

Getting back to the point.

Ordinary people performing the holy rite usually obtain a divine blessing with only one variation; Cyno, who has obtained two variations, is a genius that appears only once every few hundred years.

And Luo De, this outsider without priestly bloodline and also without Red King bloodline.

He actually obtained three variations in his first holy rite.

This cannot but be said to be a miracle.

Cyno had no jealousy; upon seeing Luo De's holy rite inheritance conclude, he prepared to step forward and offer a few congratulations.

However, he had only taken two steps.

He then saw Luo De, who just moments ago was covered in frost, suddenly erupt with a mass of firelight.

As soon as this flame appeared, the temperature inside the holy hall rose sharply.

Under the high temperature.

The frost melted, boiled, and turned into scalding water mist.

Cyno, immersed in it, felt as if after an ice swim he had instantly entered a sauna, an indescribable sour freshness.

"What is this situation?"

This unexpected event, never before seen in the holy rite, made Cyno involuntarily gasp in shock, repeatedly stepping back while carefully observing Luo De's abnormality.

Then he discovered where the problem lay.

"There's still another Vision?"

This discovery was huge; the usually unflappable Cyno instantly couldn't close his mouth.

Just as Dixiya had previously told Luo De.

People of the Tiwatedalu continent can obtain only one Vision in their lifetime.

A person like Luo De who possesses multiple Visions.

Unheard of, unseen.

But by now there was no time to think further.

The Hermanubis power still active had already activated the holy rite of fire elemental energy.

After a brief moment of astonishment,

Cyno, disregarding the discomfort from the drastic temperature shift, flashed forward, loudly chanting a spell, began to preside over a new holy rite of fire elemental energy, ensuring the holy rite proceeded smoothly.

This time,

The divine blessing Luo De obtained was no longer of the possession type.

But rather a very common divine blessing.

"How could it be a weapon?"

Watching Luo De's hand gradually condense a pure-flame-formed spear, Cyno furrowed his brow.

This can be said to be a rather ordinary divine blessing.

It's not that it's not strong.

It's simply too ordinary; in the past, most inheritors with poor talent obtained this kind of divine blessing.

But given Luo De's talent and affinity, manifesting a weapon is somewhat unsuitable.

However, after careful observation for a while,

Cyno immediately discovered that this spear was extraordinary.

"A shapeless weapon."

Cyno smacked his lips twice, then exclaimed again, "Truly quite different!"

Weapon-type divine blessings are very ordinary.

But a shapeless weapon divine blessing is not ordinary.

Such a divine blessing, according to the user's will, can freely change form in battle.

For example, when fighting a person, one would originally use a spear, but when the opponent guards against the spear it can instantly change into a bow, and further into flying daggers, short axes, great axes, shields, even armor—endlessly variable, leaving no way to defend.

One snowy owl possession, one shapeless weapon.

The fire elemental holy rite ended.

Cyno exhaled a breath.

Today truly broadened his horizons.

But just as he thought Luo De had finally finished the holy rite and could ask for clarification,

The third holy rite then opened again.

This time, it was a grass elemental holy rite.

Gazing at the surging green light before him, Cyno momentarily didn't know whom to direct his flood of complaints at.

(End of chapter)