Chapter 526: Peering at the God Sacrifice and Listening to Heaven's Sound

Having just acquired two hundred strands of seventh-tier incense, Lie Wang Shen naturally couldn't bear to spend them on listening, since he still needed to save them for weapon fusion and the Eight Directions Temple token.

Though he had only been in the temple less than a month, Lie Wang Shen still understood the principle of preparing for a rainy day.

With the seventh-tier incense untouched and not much sixth-tier left, these past days Lie Wang Shen mostly used low-tier incense for listening. Though the randomness was too great, with enough quantity, he would eventually stumble upon something useful.

After the Listening Seal advanced to seventh-tier, the lowest tier of listening obtained was also seventh-tier.

Hum~

With a single thought from Lie Wang Shen, wisps of incense of various colors rose into the air, flooding into the two wooden seals like a tide.

The next moment, all manner of listenings came pouring in, an utter cacophony.

【In the Dragon Tiger Temple late at night, some rejoiced while others worried. Dao child Long Long Xinglie's Ru Dao Gong succeeded, breaking through his seclusion. Among the fellow disciples who had entered seclusion together, several had already perished....... (Eighth-tier)】

【After the destruction of the Xieshen Sect's main altar, branch strongholds everywhere were hunted down. The entire Xieshen Sect lived in fear, fleeing in panic. Of the four great Dharma Kings, only the Dragon and Elephant Kings remained, carrying incense with them as they fled abroad..... (Ninth-tier)】

【Under a sky full of stars, someone in Yellow Dragon Mountain Manor let out a long howl, his voice like a dragon's cry, shocking everything within a hundred li. The Yellow Dragon disciples were all astonished and overjoyed...... (Tenth-tier)】

【The divine thief Mo Yin hid in Shendu. One day, Tian Tian Shezi, the master of Qinglong Pavilion, came seeking him at his door....... (Tenth-tier)】

【In Shendu City, at a guild hall, the Wudadao Sect and Xinyi Sect held a small gathering at night. Regarding the imperial court's moves, opinions diverged once more. Some felt they should cooperate with the imperial court to enter the Eight Directions Temple together, while others felt they should capture that outsider and force him to reveal the sacrificial ritual.......

Others also proposed an ambush on the Zhenwu Wang here.... (Tenth-tier)】

With all manner of listenings flooding his ears noisily, in the past Lie Wang Shen would have needed a while to digest them, carefully selecting.

But at this moment, he naturally classified the various listenings in his mind, and with a thought, had already picked out the useful ones one by one.

"The Mud Pellet Nine Palaces."

Lie Wang Shen's heart stirred slightly.

The Mud Pellet Nine Palaces differed from the acupoints he had opened before; what it enhanced was divine soul and spirit. With all nine palaces opened, his thinking had become sharper,

and dividing his attention ten ways was now orderly.

"According to the notes left by the Long Mo Daoist, the Mud Pellet Palace also seems to have a connection with cultivating spirit manifestations together....."

A thought flashing through his mind, Lie Wang Shen began to analyze the listenings he had obtained.

This batch of listenings was all-encompassing, covering the imperial court and the jianghu—truly a hodgepodge. Among them was mention of Long Long Xinglie.

This senior brother had entered the Dao and broken through, following Dou Yue, also breaking through to Grandmaster.

"When I descended the mountain, over ten senior brothers had already entered seclusion. I wonder how many will succeed in breaking through."

Lie Wang Shen sighed inwardly and continued analyzing the remaining few.

What drew his attention most was the small gathering of the Wudadao Sect and Xinyi Sect.

"This is the flaw of the Wudadao Sect having no unified command. Once there's a great enough temptation, they easily fall apart......."

Such things were not uncommon, and Lie Wang Shen was not surprised. But the information revealed in this listening was indeed rather plentiful:

"Who wants to ambush Wan Wan Zhuliu?"

Lie Wang Shen first thought of the Long Dao Master, but then felt it wasn't right. Given the Long Dao Master's temperament, he shouldn't, right?

"This kind of thing would be hard to reach a unified opinion on. Still, I need to find a way to contact the Long Dao Master......."

Since that armored brute had charged through the temple gate last time, Lie Wang Shen had been wanting to contact the Long Dao Master and Old Long Head. But they were far away in Shendu, and even if he returned to Star-Plucking Tower, he couldn't reach them.

As for going to Shendu......

"I'll wait for Old Zhou. Once he scouts a path, I can use those Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing to contact the other sects and indirectly reach the Long Dao Master."

Lie Wang Shen had his calculations in mind.

Regarding sects other than Dragon Tiger Temple, he was neither familiar with them nor trusted them much. But to oppose the imperial court, he naturally still needed to borrow the strength of the other sects.

But the specifics, he still wanted to meet with the Long Dao Master.

After pondering for a while, Lie Wang Shen continued listening.

Low-tier incense listenings were highly random, but with enough quantity, naturally there were quite a few useful ones. When the gray Dingxin Dingxin Shitai dimmed once more, Lie Wang Shen ended this listening session.

Out of nearly a thousand listenings, only four were possibly related to the Eight Directions Temple. This probability could only be called extremely small.

【In Yanshan Dao, Jiangzhou City, the still-unhealed Bai Xiang Wang was cornered in a bamboo grove late at night by an outsider named Chi He Lian, who sought incense for a small sacrifice to the Eight Directions Temple....

The latter, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, was captured by a purple-robed elder who called himself 'Qin Yun,' who forced out the sacrificial method and began planning the ritual..... (Eleventh-tier)】

【In a range of mountains, the wandering Immortal Gui, who had traveled many places and slain over a dozen gods, holding a great umbrella, began arranging a ritual, seemingly preparing to enter the temple..... (Eleventh-tier)】

【Within the imperial city, a fierce argument broke out. Many Wang Hou and noble clans quarreled in the hall. The Qian Emperor flew into a rage, swept his sleeves and left, going to prepare the ritual to be held tomorrow—a ritual that came from the Cloud Demon race beyond the heavens... (Eleventh-tier)】

【In Shendu City, imperial nobles fought openly and covertly for spots to enter the temple. The Qian Emperor grew weary of it and finally relented, preparing to select thirteen people from the imperial clan, great families, and the military to accompany Wan Wan Zhuliu into the temple at the next small sacrifice..... (Eleventh-tier)】

"Wan Wan Zhuliu!"

Lie Wang Shen's heart sank: "They're sending Wan Wan Zhuliu for the second small sacrifice?"

Wan Wan Zhuliu!

Recalling that blade before the temple, the joy Lie Wang Shen had felt from fully opening his Mud Pellet had vanished without a trace.

This wasn't drawing a blade—he wouldn't be facing a Zhenwu Wang of the same level, conjured from blade intent, but Wan Wan Zhuliu, the absolute Grandmaster who had stood atop the world's number one ranking for decades!

Wielding the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade, clad in the Sea-Calming Shan Xuan Turtle Armor—how could this be fought?

"This is bad!"

Lie Wang Shen opened his eyes. Stars dotted the night sky, and the ancient temple on the mountain path was faintly visible.

The imperial court, the outsiders, Star-Plucking Tower.......

The intelligence gathered from the various listenings churned in Lie Wang Shen's mind. He had still underestimated how much the imperial court valued the Eight Directions Temple.

After just one attempt, they dared send the pillar of the nation into the temple personally. Was the Qian Emperor not afraid of accidents?

"If it's really Wan Wan Zhuliu coming......"

Lie Wang Shen had a headache. This would require bringing Zhou Ying in to block the door. No—even if Zhou Ying blocked the door, he might not be able to stop Wan Wan Zhuliu.

Unless......

"Qin Yun!"

If only that former world's number one were here to block the door.....

"Qin Yun is also plotting to enter the temple, and not just him — there's also that spirit turtle bearing the burden of the hall."

Li Yuan's thoughts stirred again. Wan Wan Zhuliu was certainly powerful, but not necessarily truly invincible.

Moreover...

"If it really doesn't work out, what's wrong with me temporarily withdrawing?"

Thinking this way, Daoist Li instantly felt the world open up. With that token in hand, he could come and go freely — at worst he'd just have to hide for a few decades.

"If Wan Wan Zhuliu enters the temple, then the imperial court...."

After pondering for a long while, Li Yuan barely managed to suppress his scattered thoughts. He had lost his sleepiness, but a restless mind wasn't suited for cultivating either, so he sat cross-legged once more and began to listen to sounds.

This time, he prepared to listen to the Heavenly Sound.

Ever since the number of times one could listen to the Heavenly Sound became accumulable, he hadn't been in a hurry to listen. By now he had almost accumulated three listens' worth.

"Hoo!"

The moment Li Yuan's mind shifted, brilliant light burst forth from the Listening Wood.

Late at night.

Divine Capital, Imperial City.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the people have all left."

A guard bowed and reported.

In the study, Emperor Qian flipped through a silk scroll. Hearing the report, he didn't even look up, just waved his hand:

"Go, invite the Martial Suppression King and the Director of the Celestial Observatory over."

"Yes."

The guard bowed and withdrew, hurrying off to deliver the summons.

"Your Majesty!"

Before long, Zhao Zhao Tianxing strode in, cupped his hands, and saluted.

"Master Wu."

Emperor Qian granted him a seat.

"The King got held up — I'm afraid he won't be able to get away for a while."

Zhao Zhao Tianxing sat down.

"When it comes to extending one's lifespan and achieving immortality, one can't really blame them. But the rites aren't easy, and they're all old ministers who've served two reigns — how can they not understand their sovereign?"

Emperor Qian kneaded his temple, visibly displeased.

"These lords are getting on in years, after all."

Zhao Zhao Tianxing didn't go along with that line of talk. Those old ministers were either imperial clansmen or great noble families — those who'd served two generations of emperors were a dime a dozen. Their seniority ran too deep, and he had no wish to provoke them.

"Enough, let them be."

Emperor Qian was rather irritated: "As for how to divide those thirteen slots, I'll trouble Master Wu with it."

"This..."

Zhao Zhao Tianxing immediately could not sit still.

"Then it's settled."

Emperor Qian would not allow refusal. He raised his hand and tossed the silk scroll in his grasp over:

"Master Wu, take a look at this."

"This is... the God-Peering Rite?"

Zhao Zhao Tianxing took the silk scroll. With just one glance, his heart gave a jolt:

"Another ritual?"

"Master Wu should look first."

Emperor Qian paced out from behind the desk. Zhao Zhao Tianxing, who was reading the silk scroll, kept changing color — his hands were even trembling.

"Using the flesh and blood of a thousand spirit beasts as Offering, using vast quantities of incense as medium, to respond below to human fortune and ley lines, and above to the movements of the Heavenly Stars......"

"One may observe the evolution of the stars, observe the changes of worldly affairs, and penetrate the subtleties of the human heart..."

"... through this rite, one may peer upon the gods?!"

Zhao Zhao Tianxing suddenly raised his head: "Your Majesty, where did this silk scroll come from? What have you been spying on? The Eight Directions Temple? Or..."

"Where this silk scroll came from, Master Wu need not concern himself with."

Emperor Qian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, but looked toward the doorway. Wan Wan Zhuliu strode in armored and gripping a blade, the baleful aura on him not yet subdued — he seemed to have truly flown into a rage just now.

"Your Majesty."

Wan Wan Zhuliu cupped his hands and saluted:

"The God-Peering Rite is nearly prepared. We need only await the arrival of the Great Sun's purple qi before it can be performed."

"Mm."

Emperor Qian nodded, then looked at Zhao Zhao Tianxing: "Master Wu, I wish to use this rite to spy on that temple-opener. In your view, is it feasible or not?"

Everything's already prepared and you still ask me?

Zhao Zhao Tianxing sighed inwardly, but he understood Emperor Qian's meaning. He immediately took out his coins and cast a divination right there before the two men.

"The hexagram is peaceful, with no anomalies."

"Then all is well."

Emperor Qian's brow smoothed out. He glanced at the sky, then strode out.

Wan Wan Zhuliu followed closely behind. Zhao Zhao Tianxing put away his coins, heaved a sigh, and followed as well.

Whoosh~

Beneath the Star-Gazing Terrace, the night breeze blew gently.

On the prepared altar, Yellow Dragon Son held a large umbrella, apparently having waited for some time. Seeing the Grand Fortune monarch and ministers approach, he did not rise, merely gazing into the far east.

The Qian Emperor and the others said nothing, simply waiting in silence.

Soon, a pale flush of dawn had risen at the horizon.

"The time is about right!"

The Qian Emperor spoke.

On the altar, Yellow Dragon Son rose as well, holding the umbrella in one hand and pinching a horsetail whisk in the other:

"Begin the rite!"