Chapter 1096: Heaven Sacrifice

Xu Zengyi and the others' reply left Chen Wuji's mind slightly confused.

After thinking it over briefly, he asked Yu Yu Daozhang: "Daozhang, is the Buzhou Shan I know the same as what you know?"

"What the Marquis mentioned earlier is indeed the same."

"Then how did you come to know these things, Daozhang?" Chen Wuji asked.

"This story is a long one to tell." Yu Yu Daozhang said, "When I was young and wandered the four directions, I once stumbled upon a Digong on a small overseas island, and all this content comes from the bamboo slips found there."

"The content on those bamboo slips differs greatly from the historical records we know in many places, and I myself cannot tell truth from falsehood, so I have never dared to bring them forth."

Chen Wuji rose, bowed deeply with clasped hands, and said: "Daozhang, if convenient, I would like to see those records!"

"Of course not!" Yu Yu Daozhang readily agreed.

"In fact, I believe the content recorded on those bamboo slips should be true, but it is simply too vast and deeply involved, so I have never dared to show it lightly. If the Marquis could oversee this matter, it would be best, allowing us to discern truth from falsehood and reveal history's true appearance."

Chen Wuji said in a deep voice: "Daozhang, you who study heaven and man should know that history is not unchanging; historical texts are written by people, and to list classics as forbidden books while ruthlessly persecuting private collectors—I have seen such things even in old paper piles."

"Such artificial concealment can break a civilization's continuity, and this has never been mere sensationalism!"

Chen Li tilted his head, thinking, only to find his mind filled with bewilderment.

He could not recall which Chen clan classic recorded the act of listing ancient texts as forbidden books.

But thinking of Chen Wuji's frequent strange and odd remarks, he let it go.

Perhaps he learned it from Zhang Lao or elsewhere.

The Ciji Zhai was originally an ancient sect, so it is understandable that they would have more books.

"Since this mountain's original name is Buzhou Shan, we should return its original name to it—no need for renaming." Chen Wuji said, "We descendants fail to guard our ancestors' legacy, which is forgivable, but after great struggle to reclaim it, to then discard the name our ancestors left behind is somewhat unfilial."

Xu Zengyi and the others had no objection.

If the ancient records truly contain accounts of this mountain, then restoring its original appearance would naturally be best—returning to the source and clarifying the truth.

"My lord, the name and story of Qiumo Feng have cost everyone much thought; why not keep the story of this mountain peak, and simply prepend Buzhou Shan's name and its story?" Zhao Chen advised.

He too had stayed up several nights over this, and truly did not want all that effort to go to waste.

Chen Wuji thought for a moment, then agreed: "Note it down."

Zhao Chen and Chu Xiu immediately pulled out their brushes.

Chen Wuji chanted loudly: "Mount Changsha lies another three hundred seventy li to the northwest, called Buzhou Shan. Looking north, one sees Zhuque Mountain; facing it, Yue Chong Mountain; looking east, one sees Sangze, where the river waters flow underground, their source turbid and bubbling. Therein grow fine fruits, their shape like peaches, their leaves like dates, yellow blossoms and red stalks; eating them causes no fatigue."

It just so happened that he could recite this passage about Buzhou Shan from memory.

The Shan Hai Jing and the Dao De Jing were the two books he had read most in his previous life; though he cannot claim to memorize every word perfectly, about half of their content he can recite clearly, while the rest may suffer from missing or skipped characters.

"Exactly, exactly the same!" Yu Yu Daozhang exclaimed joyfully, "What the Marquis just said matches the ancient texts word for word—not a single character differs."

"Daozhang, I think my guess might be correct." Chen Wuji murmured.

Perhaps, on this land, ancient classics were once seized and burned as forbidden books.

Perhaps, this place shares the same origin as his homeland.

Perhaps also……

In short, the barbarians must die!

Especially those who love to braid their hair—they must die even more!

Chen Wuji glanced at Zhao Chen and Chu Xiu, who were writing furiously, and said: "Noted. Today, arrange for stones to be carved, bury a few at the mountain's base, and place one each in strategic locations. The text on stone will endure longer than that in books; even if descendants wish to alter it, they must still exert effort."

"Understood!"

……

The Heaven Sacrifice is a sacred and solemn affair, yet also extremely tedious.

On that towering Qiumo Feng piercing the clouds, Chen Wuji nearly froze into a grandchild.

As the chief officiant, once the ritual began, he could not make a single unnecessary movement.

Yu Yu Daozhang spoke humbly to the point of impossibility, knowing a little of this and a little of that, but when it came time to act, he surpassed everyone in mastery—the entire Heaven Sacrifice process was conducted under his direction.

Originally, this task fell to Xu Zengyi, because he understood it.

But just before the ritual began, the two briefly communicated, and Xu Zengyi decisively yielded the position to Yu Yu Daozhang, while he himself stood aside to assist.

Wei hour, the ritual neared its end.

The sacrificial officers, drawn from the Central Army's Guard Battalion, began taking the offerings from the altar and sending them to the Fenchai Lu and the Liaolu for burning, while music played the Xiping Zhang.

Chen Wuji finally caught a moment to breathe, able to move his stiffened body slightly, when—just as he moved, the heavens suddenly changed.

Originally, the sky was overcast with dark clouds, gray and dim, with a few snowflakes drifting down; suddenly, a rift tore open, a shaft of brilliant golden light poured down, striking the summit of Qiumo Feng, and through the edge of the clouds, faint rainbow hues could still be seen.

"My lord, an auspicious sign of great fortune—Heaven has received it!" Xu Zengyi exclaimed excitedly, whispering beside Chen Wuji, "The Mandate of Heaven returns, my lord!"

Xu Zengyi had not spoken those four words in a very long time.

This time, though his voice was low, he shouted with nearly all his strength, each word deliberate, his forehead veins bulging, tears glimmering in his eyes.

Chen Wuji lifted his gaze to the sky, his mind slightly blank.

He had once been a firm atheist, but after his own soul transmigration, to disbelieve further would strain credulity, yet he still did not believe this world harbored divine spirits.

If divine spirits existed, they should not treat all things in heaven and earth as straw dogs, as the Way of Heaven does.

But at this moment, he felt a slight stirring of belief.

"My lord, it is time to send off the Divine Emperor!" Yu Yu Daozhang reminded him.

Sending off the Divine Emperor is the penultimate step: first, the Qingping Zhang is played, then Chen Wuji performs the Three Kneelings and Nine Kowtows to send off the Divine Emperor—that is, to respectfully see off the Heavenly God.

"Wait a moment!" Chen Wuji suddenly broke precedent with these words.

They have just arrived riding upon heavenly golden light; surely we should let them behold the present mountains and rivers, enjoy the offerings—how could we rush them away so hastily?

Yu Yu Daozhang followed Chen Wuji's glance, looked once, and thus overlooked the matter of the time, saying nothing more, for it truly seemed as if they had just arrived.