Chapter 831: Dharma Assembly

Chapter 831: The Great Ritual

The Great Hall of Heaven in the Liang Dynasty was a circular pavilion with three tiers of eaves, its golden apex gleaming, its roof tiled in azure glazed tiles. Within, an ornate ceiling adorned with nine dragons shimmered brilliantly, dazzling to behold.

At this moment, a colossal bronze tree pierced through the azure tiles and soared into the heavens. Around the Hall of Heaven, eight ritual platforms stood in a circle, each occupied by a Taoist priest wearing a bronze mask with elongated eyes, seated cross-legged, awaiting orders from the Astronomical Bureau.

Beyond them, a vast sea of White Lotus followers surrounded the Hall of Heaven. Each wore white robes, their faces grave, many trembling with excitement as they clutched their hands tightly.

A gentle breeze stirred the white ribbons tied around their heads, causing them to sway and blend into one another, forming a vast ocean of white.

All eyes were now fixed upon Bai Lingmiao standing atop the Hall of Heaven. Her heart, already turbulent, grew even more so.

Yet thinking of what lay ahead, she forced herself to calm down. This matter concerned the fate of all living beings across the land—there could be no negligence.

"Stay calm. I've brought powerful reinforcements this time. I have confidence," said Xuan Pin beside her.

Bai Lingmiao nodded silently, feeling somewhat reassured.

"That's right. The Astronomical Department wouldn't have gone to such lengths without preparation. We must focus on our own tasks."

She repeated these words over and over in her mind—the actions she had to take next.

Though everyone had gathered, none moved. Time passed slowly, and all present seemed to wait for something in the tense atmosphere.

Just as the sun reached its zenith, the distant sound of bells rang out. Xuan Bi extended three pairs of hands from his robe, beginning to form seals.

A deep chanting arose from every White Lotus follower, marking the start of a new ritual.

"Open the altar, perform the rite!" With a blind Emperor Huang Pu Tiangang pointing his sword toward the sky, the eight priests atop the platforms, masked in bronze, began waving peachwood swords, scattering red talismans into the air.

As purple flames ignited from each ritual platform, the entire capital city was instantly enveloped by some unseen force. All citizens, involuntarily, joined in reciting sutras alongside them.

And as Xuan Hua Yi initiated his actions, the other illusions scattered throughout the six paths of Liang also received commands simultaneously, spreading his will to every corner of the empire.

With cooperation from local magistrates, anyone capable of speaking joined in the chanting.

Enticed by the promise of grain, everyone chanted earnestly. For the first time in history, the entire Qi Kingdom transformed into a grand White Lotus ritual—a spectacle unparalleled in scale.

In the very center of this great ceremony, Bai Lingmiao clearly sensed a difference from before. That invisible, intangible presence drew closer.

The twelve-petal golden lotus, radiating intense white light, was placed upon the bronze tree, illuminating everything around it.

Bai Lingmiao held her breath, sat cross-legged beneath the bronze tree, closed her eyes, and began chanting. "Mother of Eternal Birth, the people of the world need you. If danger threatens, we come to help!"

"Zi xiong Song Jiang bu shen ⑨ xi %YO∮Nδ%DX xie jiang λ¥∑λx can γ gan HX ①..." Xuan Pin’s incantation joined the chorus like a smooth eel weaving through the voices of the faithful.

But after that, Bai Lingmiao lost awareness entirely. She had fully immersed herself in the radiant light, sitting in meditation, trying once again to connect with Mother of Eternal Birth.

Amidst the vast chanting, she felt she was close—but always something blocked her path.

In the past, she would have seen Mother of Eternal Birth clearly, but now, something seemed to obstruct the connection.

Time passed slowly, with no change in her predicament. On the contrary, things worsened. It seemed she could no longer sense Mother of Eternal Birth at all.

Lost in confusion, Bai Lingmiao refused to give up. She struggled forward, attempting to draw closer to Mother of Eternal Birth.

She truly moved closer, and the sensation returned—thin though it was. She felt Mother of Eternal Birth again.

Bai Lingmiao called out repeatedly, yet Mother of Eternal Birth remained motionless, as if dead, separated only by a thin veil.

6...0ψ pan zhan? ψ chu zhi qie XY...

"Just then, Xuan Pin’s voice became clear in her ears. She felt she was moving faster."

Moreover, Bai Lingmiao saw threads connecting her body to an unknown Mother of Eternal Birth.

She stretched out four arms, pulling at those threads, striving to approach Mother of Eternal Birth.

Gradually, she drew nearer. So near that she could see the large black mass surrounding Mother of Eternal Birth.

It was precisely these things that kept Mother of Eternal Birth motionless!

Bai Lingmiao cautiously touched the blackness with a finger. In an instant, a powerful deathly aura flooded her heart, washing away her thoughts, leaving only the single idea of suicide.

With nothing left to live for, Bai Lingmiao slowly opened her eyes. She found herself not sitting atop the Hall of Heaven anymore—the massive bronze tree had vanished.

Only the twin lotus blooming with white light floated above her head, holding her aloft.

The world turned upside down. She floated in midair, facing a giant jade gate towering like a mountain before her.

But Bai Lingmiao now cared for nothing else. She reached up and pulled out a hairpin from her head, preparing to plunge it into her neck.

As the sharp pin neared her fair skin, a white-furred beast's claw firmly grasped her hand holding the pin.

"Li Sui!!" Er Shen opened his mouth full of fangs, shouting loudly to Xuan Pin who was blocking evil spirits nearby: "Something’s wrong here! Didn’t you say there’d be backup? Where is your help?"

Evil spirits surrounded the White Jade Capital from all sides, seemingly obsessed with the golden lotus, constantly attempting to approach. The situation was chaotic.

As soon as she spoke, several rifts tore open from below, slicing through the surrounding malevolent creatures.

Li Huowang, sword in hand, gritting his teeth, flew upward and stabbed his blade into the jade gate, securing himself there.

The “help” Xuan Pin had mentioned clearly referred to Li Huowang.

"What’s going on?! Why are you all approaching the White Jade Capital?! Don’t you know how dangerous it is here?" Feeling the gaze behind the gate, Li Huowang shouted to the others.

Xuan Pin swept her sleeve forcefully, wiping away the evil spirits before her, then turned to explain: "We’re closer to the White Jade Capital."

"Li Huowang! Help quickly!" Er Shen’s fangs clicked together, firmly locking Bai Lingmiao’s jaws shut, preventing her from biting her tongue to die.