Chapter 648: Miracle

Chapter 648: The Miracle

Zhao Changhe was somewhat wrongly accused. His understanding of the Sixiang Sect's doctrines was merely superficial; he had not read a single word of the sect's vast, ocean-like collection of ancient texts. Strictly speaking, he truly did not deserve to be treated as a deity of the Sixiang Sect. He had nothing to contribute to the discussion among his wives, so naturally, he was contemplating what practical role he could play during this ceremony.

He could not simply sit there like a statue, letting Zhuque and the others dryly introduce him to the followers as their Night Emperor.

When the sword was successfully forged earlier, many followers had witnessed it, so his ability to command respect was certainly not an issue. Unfortunately, that had not taken place during the ceremony itself. On the stage of the grand ritual, he still needed to display a bit of a "miracle" for the sake of appearances; otherwise, wouldn't a dry introduction be terribly awkward?

Miracles came in two varieties. One was rather abstract, involving the use of the Astral River Sword to resonate with the celestial stars. When the time came, the sky would inevitably blaze with shimmering stars, appearing as if they were obeying his commands. Just like when he had supported Sisi back then, the moment the Elven race beheld the phantom images of ten thousand spiritual beasts, they fell into utter, devout reverence.

However, in the eyes of discerning individuals, this kind of display would seem a bit like a parlor trick, as they could not see any practical benefit. Many of the Twenty-Eight Mansions were top-tier experts, including several on the Human Ranking, so trickery held little meaning.

Zhao Changhe looked at the furnace fire and thought to himself that if he wanted to produce something of practical effect, he could likely only work his magic on this flame. This would simultaneously fulfill his promise to help Zhuque break through her threshold. If he could enable their Venerable Zhuque to break into the domain of profound mastery right before the eyes of the entire congregation, the effect would speak for itself. Of course, there was a high probability he could not force a direct breakthrough on the spot, but a massive surge in her cultivation should not be difficult to achieve. The discerning minds would naturally understand, and this would also serve as the carrot the new deity dangled before them.

But as for how to help Zhuque break through, dual cultivation was the ultimate method. Yet, it could not be directly implemented, and certainly not during the grand ceremony. How to carry it out still required some careful thought.

As his mind pondered these questions, he blurted them out the moment he was asked. Only after speaking did he realize what he had done: "I did not mean it that way..."

Zhuque's face flushed with anger. "If the Venerable Deity wishes to rule the Four Images, it cannot be accomplished merely by relying on what lies three inches below the navel. You have not read a single word of this sect's ancient texts; with what face will you converse with the followers in the future? That reminds me, since the Venerable Deity just promised to accept the same punishment as Chichi, then starting from this very moment, you shall copy every single text of the Sacred Sect, from the ancient scriptures to the various martial techniques!"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

"Someone, come!" Zhuque swept her sleeves and departed. "Bring the four treasures of the study and have the King of Zhao copy the books!"

Zhao Changhe looked toward San-niang and Xia Chichi as if pleading for help, but the women who had been fighting just moments ago were now exceptionally united, turning their heads away at the exact same time.

...

At nightfall, as the first star shimmered in the firmament.

The major ceremonies of the Sixiang Sect always commenced at this hour.

In terms of the season, if the weather were clear enough to see the stars, the most distinct constellation at this time should be Xuanwu, nearly occupying the center of the entire celestial canopy. But now, snow was drifting on this winter night, and the clouds in the sky were quite thick, making it difficult to see the stars. Only one or two could be seen occasionally, flickering in and out of view, while the moon was essentially invisible.

The headquarters of the Sixiang Sect was located somewhere within the mansion of a high official in the capital, excavated underground to form an important altar. However, today's grand inauguration ceremony for the Sect Leader was no longer held at this crucial headquarters, which had been used for nearly ten years. Now that the Holy Maiden had become Her Majesty, the headquarters was the imperial palace.

Everyone gathered quite naturally at the Imperial Ancestral Temple; this was now the headquarters.

The underground space was not particularly vast, but the hierarchy within the Sixiang Sect was strictly enforced. One could catch a glimpse of this from how a Venerable could punish the Holy Maiden as easily as bullying a grandchild. Those qualified to enter the core underground chamber to participate in the sacrificial ritual numbered only a few dozen at most. All the others knelt in dense, packed crowds outside, watching the internal broadcast.

Though there were no stars in the sky above, they existed on the underground ceiling. Brilliant starlight, like lamplight, illuminated the high platform below the earth.

At the apex of the high platform, Zhao Changhe sat quietly alone. A low desk was spread out before him. Crossing his legs and holding a brush, he was serenely transcribing the ancient texts.

In the eyes of the onlookers, his bearing was truly profound and composed, as though he would remain unmoved even if the sky were to fall.

The significance of this grand ceremony to the sect members was unprecedented, for countless people had witnessed with their own eyes the forging of the Astral River and the descent of the Night Emperor.

Everyone was imagining in their minds that the Venerable Deity must be correcting the deficiencies within the doctrines at this very moment, imparting the correct understanding to everyone. The bearing of a god lay in the fact that he required no prior preparation; he wrote and decreed on the spot, and all living beings bowed their heads in obedience.

Zhuque and Xuanwu wore their most solemn ceremonial robes and their most standard masks, aligning themselves to the left and right before the platform.

Xia Chichi was the most unique one. Generally, when she acted outside, she utilized the Azure Dragon style, and the personnel she brought were usually from the Azure Dragon Hall, because the Azure Dragon faction was something she had won for herself. The ceremonial robe she routinely wore within the sect belonged to the White Tiger, signifying her inheritance of her mother's direct lineage; the robe she wore was a pure, crisp white, exceptionally handsome, a sight Zhao Changhe had only ever seen during the Langya Sword Debate.

Yet at this moment, she wore a white imperial robe, seemingly representing the union of the White Tiger and the Azure Dragon, an emperor's robe infused with the distinct characteristics of the Sixiang Sect.

Only then did the people recall that the original theme of today's ceremony was to establish the Sect Leader...

Standing at the edge of the platform, Zhuque calmly announced, "The prophecy of the era states that on the day the Four Images become one, the Sacred Sect shall establish its leader. The Sacred Sect was founded upon a foundation that does not appoint a single leader, governed instead collectively by the Four Image Venerables. Only when one who possesses all four images appears in the world can they become the Sect Leader. Therefore, for a thousand years in this era, the Sacred Sect has been without a leader."

"However, the current generation of Venerables has deliberated, and the interpretation of the prophecy was flawed. The so-called unification of the four images and the establishment of the sect leader actually signifies the descent of the Night Emperor into the world, rather than the concept of a mortal leader. The Sect Leader is the one closest to the deity, acting as his spokesperson. What does it mean to be closest to the deity? First, to be closest in relation to the deity, able to speak his mind..."

At this point, the eyes of nearly all the sect members shifted back and forth between Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi, revealing smiles that said, "We understand."

She was, of course, the closest to the deity. The first time everyone had heard the name Zhao Changhe was on the day the Holy Maiden entered the sect. Rumors had spread like wildfire: Have you heard? The new Holy Maiden slept with a bandit chief for two months, who knows how many positions they tried; can someone like that even become the Holy Maiden...

Back then, the Venerable had pushed past all objections to make her the Holy Maiden, and later, her own cultivation indeed commanded respect, slowly suppressing those doubts. Now they understood; the Holy Maiden serves the deity, it was always meant to be so.

If she wasn't the closest, who was? If she couldn't be the spokesperson, who could?

Zhuque's voice grew even colder: "...Second, to be the most thoroughly versed in the doctrines, able to explain the obscure; third, to possess the deepest cultivation, able to perceive the threshold of mastery; fourth, to be well-versed in multiple lineages, knowing a measure of each. This is to be close to the deity, yet not a deity, fit to be the leader of the Sacred Sect in the mortal realm."

"Today, the Holy Maiden Xia Chichi embodies both the Azure Dragon and White Tiger lineages, and has already touched upon the secrets of Xuanwu. Her Azure Dragon intent is already close to absolute mastery, her body merging with the stars, a flying dragon in the sky, traveling from Yangzhou to the capital in a mere instant; summoning the phantom of the Azure Dragon to shatter the camp of the Wang family—all these deeds are too numerous to recount."

"Today, Zhuque and Xuanwu have jointly deliberated, and Holy Maiden Chichi is deemed worthy of the position of Sect Leader, to speak on behalf of the deity and lead the gateway of the Four Images."

As the words fell, Xia Chichi took a step forward and began to ascend the stairs.

Just as Zhao Changhe had thought that the descent of a deity required some flair of a "miracle," in truth, even the Sect Leader needed to display a trick of her own.

As Xia Chichi ascended the stairs, the stars in the external sky, which had clearly been obscured by layers of clouds, suddenly began to shimmer. One by one, they peeked out their bright lights from behind the thick clouds, one star for every step she took. Gradually, the Azure Dragon of the East and the White Tiger of the West both lit up, and then Xuanwu appeared faint yet discernible. As for the intent of Zhuque, which was the only one she had not learned, Zhuque herself was helping her cheat, covertly lighting up the southern stars.

Thus, at the exact moment Xia Chichi stepped onto the high platform, the Four Images appeared simultaneously in the firmament.

The hearts of the sect members surged with profound emotion, and they prostrated themselves in worship.

The position where Xia Chichi stood was actually not at the very top. The "Venerable Deity" at the apex was still copying books, uttering not a single word. A short distance below him stood a dragon chair. Xia Chichi stood before the dragon chair, flicked her cloak, turned around, and took her seat high above.

Zhuque and Xuanwu glanced at each other, both stepping forward somewhat reluctantly, dropping to one knee: "Greetings, Sect Leader."

Damn it, originally they would have been very willing; establishing a sect leader was supposed to be done this way.

But after the fight today, they weren't willing at all, the little wench.

Originally, this gesture was just for show, and Xia Chichi was required to stand up and exchange courtesies, asking the two Venerables to rise. Then, the Venerables would perform a blessing ritual, patting her head or something, signifying that the Sect Leader must also respect the opinions of the Venerables and could not rule by dictation alone.

But this ritual had been altered.

The two Venerables inwardly twitched their noses as they stood to one side. Venerable Zhuque, from who knows where, brought up a cup of tea, lowering her eyes and cast: "Sect Leader, please have some tea."

"Mm." Xia Chichi leisurely reached out to take the tea, lifting the lid of the teacup to blow away the tea froth.

The Sixiang Sect followers: "???"

Venerable Zhuque, has your mind gone mad? You have personally trampled your own masterly status into the mud? Originally, although the Sect Leader was honored, the Venerables were considered a balancing force, preventing the leader from exercising absolute tyranny. What about now?

Zhuque's face beneath her mask flushed bright red, losing an immense amount of face. She secretly transmitted her voice: "Little wrench, that is quite enough. Say a few conventional words. If you don't speak up now, I am going to rebel!"

Xia Chichi felt incredibly delighted in her heart. Finally, she spoke unhurriedly: "We are merely acting on behalf of the divine intent, and do not deserve such courtesy from the Venerable. The Venerable is Our benevolent teacher; if We commit any faults in the future, the Venerable may criticize Us openly..."

The sect members felt the breath they had been holding finally ease. That was more like it... Truth be told, Zhuque had awed the Sacred Sect for so many years that her prestige was not something Xia Chichi could compare to; Zhuque was the true Sect Leader in the minds of the people. Even if they supported Xia Chichi as Sect Leader, in the eyes of many followers, it was actually due to her current status as the Emperor. In reality, the majority of the sect members recognized Zhuque far more than they did Xia Chichi.

Zhuque inwardly let out a huff, unwilling to bicker further with the little wench. Turning her head, she spoke again: "As everyone knows, today is not merely the grand inauguration ceremony of our Sacred Sect's leader, there is an even more important matter..."

Everyone's eyes fell upon Zhao Changhe, thinking to themselves that simply announcing the descent of the deity like this felt a bit lacking in substance.

Zhuque also hesitated slightly, but she carried on nonetheless: "Our Night Emperor has been found!"

As the words left her mouth, Zhao Changhe suddenly spoke up: "Venerable Zhuque..."

Zhuque was stunned for a moment. What kind of trick are you trying to pull now?

She could only steel herself to respond: "What instructions does the Venerable Deity have?"

"Matters of the divine do not require announcements... I have never heard of announcing that someone is a deity. For this ceremony, establishing the Sect Leader is sufficient." The brush in Zhao Changhe's hand did not stop, and without even raising his head, he continued, "As a deity, it is only proper to bestow a blessing upon the ceremony, rather than introducing trivial matters."

Zhuque said crossly, "How does the Venerable Deity intend to bestow a blessing?"

Have you even finished copying those books?

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly. "For me, the person I wish to bless most is Venerable Zhuque. The Venerable has spent more than ten years exerting her heart and soul for the Sacred Sect, without a single shred of selfish desire, supporting the most capable to become the Sect Leader while willingly serving as a pillar of support. The Sixiang Sect can exist without a deity, but it cannot exist without Zhuque."

Zhuque stared at him blankly. Although her heart found his words exceptionally gratifying, she had absolutely no idea why he was saying this at this particular juncture.

Zhao Changhe continued, "Let Zhuque be bestowed with the Nanming Primordial Fire, to eternally guard the southern heavens."

Following his words, he extended the brush in his hand and lightly made a single stroke toward the southern region of the underground ceiling.

As if his words carried the weight of law and his brilliant brush brought reality into being, the exact moment he made that stroke, a brilliant flame identical to the subterranean primordial fire poured forth from above the firmament.

The flames swooped down, swirling around the Vermilion Bird, gradually taking the form of a firebird, its phoenix cry piercing the nine heavens.

The disciples stood dumbfounded.

Earlier, when Xia Chichi ascended the stage, the response of the celestial stars was merely a resonance that could naturally be triggered when one's Four Symbols cultivation reached a certain level. Lower-level disciples, not understanding, thought it impressive, but those of higher skill knew it was nothing special.

But this move was utterly incomprehensible to all. Where did this fire come from? Why did it descend from the sky?

It was not merely true fire; its scorching heat and violent power even surpassed that of the Vermilion Bird Venerable herself! That was truly the South-Bright Lihuo, the source of the Vermilion Bird!

Zhao Changhe smiled. "Venerable, please come up."

The Vermilion Bird stepped onto the platform in a daze, wanting to grab him and ask what was going on, but under the gaze of the crowd she had to show respect to the deity. She could only kneel on one knee and lower her head. "Divine One..."

Zhao Changhe gently stroked her hair and said slowly, "Look..."

The Vermilion Bird's heart shook with a thunderous jolt; it seemed that with this touch, her mind entered a peculiar space.

In that space, magma covered the ground, and at the center, a blazing white fire source faintly radiated the most primal power of flame.

There were insights... For others, they would be extremely obscure, indescribable and inexplicable. But in the eyes of someone at the Vermilion Bird's level, it was no different from having the answer revealed and directly shown to you—utterly intuitive.

Her understanding and comprehension of flame instantly ascended to a higher level.

The star lords under the Vermilion Bird stared blankly as the flame intent on their Venerable surged and rose. All who cultivated fire could feel their own fire attribute being drawn by the Venerable, leaping with joy and submission. It was a unique worship before the deity who controlled flame—utterly unmistakable.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable, who had already fallen behind the Black Tortoise Venerable and had even been surpassed by Xia Chichi in the application of certain domain intents, once again took the lead.

And what could grant a Venerable such an elevation if not a true deity?

All the Four Symbols disciples prostrated themselves in full obeisance, facing the platform and murmuring, "The divine one has descended to guide our path..."

The Blind One stood to the side, arms crossed, watching coldly.

What divine descent? That was the natural Five Elements from the second page of the Heavenly Book. This fellow took the South-Bright Lihuo intent and stuffed it into the Heavenly Book for analysis, and the Heavenly Book analyzed it for the Vermilion Bird. Naturally, her level skyrocketed.

And it's not over yet; there's more to come, and that's the real deal.

Amid the worship of the multitude, Zhao Changhe said calmly, "The sect leader has been established, and the meritorious have received their blessings. Let the remaining cumbersome rites be simplified as much as possible. Everyone, disperse."

"We obey your command."

Zhao Changhe was still stroking her head. "All of you, withdraw... Vermilion Bird Venerable, stay."