Chapter 1618: I Will

“Long live the emperor!” At the same time, the commoners in the outer ring, the imperial capital, and the realm itself dropped to their knees and chanted long live the emperor.

For a time, their voices literally shook the whole realm.

For a time, the hearts of the people were as thick as a fog.

Logically speaking, Chu Xunxian’s coronation ceremony had come to an end. The Chief Libationist could withdraw now.

However, the old scholar stepped into the air until he was above the Altar of Heavens instead, sleeves flapping. He looked like a celestial.

“What is he planning?” The people watching the ceremony looked confused and puzzled.

It wasn’t just them. The Old Heavenly Master, the Dragon Subjugating Ze Master and more were puzzled as well.

It was at this moment the Chief Libationist made a grabbing motion. The vast purple qi in the horizon, the profound yellow qi on the ground, and the spiritual qi washing like with the wind all condensed into a single brush in the Chief Libationist’s palm.

Then, the Chief Libationist made a swiping motion and gently turned the thick, fog-like power of wishes into a piece of paper.

Bright red blood dripped down the Chief Libationist’s palm right after that. It gathered at the tip of the brush like ink.

“Today, a man named Yinghu uses the heaven, the earth, and the human as the brush, the people’s hearts as the paper, and his heart’s blood to make an offering to the heavens. May the heavens show mercy and sympathize with those who are suffering in the world. May the heavens expel the evils, clean the filth, and return a pure, unblemished world to humankind...”

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

With his blood as the ink, the Chief Libationist began writing many bloody words on the paper of nothing.

The bloody words floated in the air and clung to the shape they were granted. They glowed like the divine or the great power of the world.

“Is this an oration for a sacrificial offering?” Someone asked, “But why is he doing this?”

“He’s making a sacrifice to the heavens to borrow their strength...” The Old Heavenly Master and the Dragon Subjugating Zen Master exchanged knowing and shocked glances with each other though. “How could he? How could he?” The Chief Libationist had written over a hundred words in just a moment. However, his face was a little pale, and he was shaking like he was exhausted.

“A guest should bring the host a gift, right?” It was at this moment the Chief Libationist looked at the witnesses in the Altar of Heavens and smiled. “Will you assist me?”

“To make an offering to the heavens and repel the filthy and evil... it is our duty!” As soon as the Chief Libationist finished, Haotian Hong, Yue Hanhai and Xuanyuan Wang appeared on the sacrificial altar without a word.

Haotian Hong was holding the Clear Sky Mirror and occupying the Heaven position. Yue Hanhai was holding the Earthly Sovereign Bell and occupying the Earth position. Xuanyuan Wang was holding the Xuanyuan Sword and occupying the Human position.

The next moment, all three ultimate artifacts of humanity burst into dazzling light and manifested the great power of the Human Way. They rose into the sky and formed countless humanoid silhouettes behind the Chief Libationist’s back. There were male, female, old and young. They were all extending their hands and supporting the shaking Chief Libationist.

At the same time, Haotian Hong, Yue Hanhai and Xuanyuan Wang flicked their fingers and sent three beads of starry blood toward the tip of the Chief Libationist’s blood.

“The Clear Sky Mirror, Earthly Sovereign Bell, and Xuanyuan Sword...? Could they be...?”

The Clear Sky Palace, Earthly Sovereign Hall and Xuanyuan Mountain normally lived in seclusion. They rarely showed themselves unless the fate of humanity was at stake. Therefore, the large majority of the people present did not recognize the trio.

Despite this, the trio were recognized because they were wielding the Clear Sky Mirror, Earthly Sovereign Bell, and Xuanyuan Sword. The three sacred artifacts were that famous.

You must have heard of it if you were a human.

“Borrowing strength from the heavens, and art from the Dao... do you understand the consequences?”

The Old Heavenly Master wasn’t looking at the trio though. He was looking fixatedly at the Chief Libationist.

“It is my wish to die for the people,” the Chief Libationist replied smilingly.

“It is your wish to die for the people! What courage! What a resolution!” The Old Heavenly Master let out a sigh first and barked out a laugh later. He then turned to face everyone and pointed at the Chief Libationist. He asked, “Do you know what he’s doing?”

Before they could answer, the Old Heavenly Master answered his own question, “You all should know that the world is changing, and the signs of a great tribulation are appearing. Filth is corrupting in the human world, evils and villains are sprouting everywhere like weeds just like today’s Chu. The Strangers are rampaging, and the evils are poisoning. The world is restless, and the people are suffering.”

“But he, the Chief Libationist, wished to make a sacrifice to the world through the power of the wishes right now. He dares to borrow the power of the Heavenly Way to sweep clean the karmic hindrance, uproot the evils, and dispel the filth of humankind. He dares to return a pure and unblemished world to humanity.”

“Do you think this is possible?” The Old Heavenly Master’s words caused everyone’s eyes to widen like saucers, and their breaths to become stuck in their throats. The expression of disbelief was etched on everyone’s face.

“The power of the Heavenly Way is not something a human could borrow without consequences. At best, they would lose their lifespan. At worst, they would die.” The Old Heavenly Master asked again, “Do you think that what the Chief Libationist is doing is worth it?”

“I think it is possible, because he is the Chief Libationist, number one under the heavens. Is there anything the man can’t do?” The Old Heavenly Master kept asking and answering his own questions, “But I do not think it is worth it for the same reason. He is the Chief Libationist, the one and only Chief Libationist. What a shame would it be if he died!”

“However, I cannot help but respect his courage and resolution. I do not think I could have done the same thing if I was him. Thus, I am inferior to the Chief Libationist!”

The world was silent when the Old Heavenly Master was finally finished. Only the Chief Libationist’s brush was making rustling sounds as he continued to write more words in the air. It was as if he didn’t hear the Old Heavenly Master’s words.

As the Chief Libationist continued to write, the people could see that his once black hair was slowly turning gray, and his once smooth skin was gaining wrinkles.

There was no doubt that what the Old Heavenly Master said was true.

“If the Chief Libationist does not fear even death, then why should I fear losing a drop of blood essence? A hundred drops, a thousand drops, it does not matter!”

A drop of blood essence containing a tremendous amount of power appeared on the Old Heavenly Master’s fingertip and flew toward the Chief Libationist.

“Amitabha, this monk respects the Chief Libationist’s heart for the people. This monk is willing to aid you!”

The Dragon Subjugating Zen Master also sent a drop of blood that shone like the blazing sun toward the Chief Libationist.

“The Chief Libationist dares to go first for the people and all under the heavens. This junior has nothing but respect to offer. This junior will help you, mister!” Xuanying Trueman rose to his feet next.

“I will help you, Chief Libationist!”

“I will...”

......

Princess Royal Furi, the Divine Master of the Platform of Gods, the Martial Sovereign Xiahou Zun and more were exchanging complicated looks with each other.

They were envoys of Yan, Qi and Wei, and from their countries’ standpoint, they did not want the Chief Libationist to succeed as a matter of course. After all, assuming that the Chief Libationist succeeded, the filth and evils in Chu would be purified. It was impossible to say how long this state would last, but one thing for certain, Chu would be able to cling onto life for a while longer. Naturally, their plan to divide and conquer Chu would be impacted by this.

However, from their own personal standpoint, they could not help but be impressed by the Chief Libationist. It was because they knew that the Chief Libationist wasn’t doing this for Chu. He was simply doing it for the people of Chu.