Chapter 435: Unearthing King Zhou’s Remains! A Chronicle of His Life!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Master Li, it appears there are Oracle Bone Scripts inscribed on the cauldron. May I come down to assist you?” Both Luo Feng and Master Li found themselves entranced by the sight of the Nine Zhou Ding.
Chen Gang, positioned on the edge of the pit, leaned in with a broad grin. His demeanor was that of a groveling sycophant.
“Keep your distance, young man. Stay where you are comfortable. This is the Nine Zhou Ding. If you were to touch it and cause damage, what would be our course of action?” Master Li admonished him directly.
Startled by the rebuke, Chen Gang beat a hasty retreat. Subsequently, much laughter erupted from the staff surrounding them.
So, Chen Gang too had his day of humiliation? Had he not always been rather braggadocios? He used to insist on not participating unless he was the one handling the original artifacts for Oracle Bone Script translations.
Half an hour later, Luo Feng was no longer studying the bronze tripod with the rest, as there were more items hidden beneath it. Luo Feng had made an incredible discovery.
Ding.
[ A corpse ]
[ Originating from the Shang Dynasty ]
[ Valued at ten million yuan ]
“Valued at ten million yuan?”
Luo Feng was taken aback as he uncovered the corpse.
Based on the information inscribed in the Oracle Bone Script and the value provided by the system, it should be the remains of King Zhou. If it were not King Zhou’s, it would not have been so valuable.
Moreover, the Oracle Bone Script had noted that the Nine Zhou Ding was used to suppress King Zhou’s corpse, ensuring he could never reincarnate.
In all honesty, Luo Feng felt pity for King Zhou, once a magnificent emperor, doomed to end his days in such a location.
With great care, Luo Feng brushed away the surrounding soil and extracted the body before resuming his excavation. After all, there were still treasures awaiting below.
Ding.
He discovered a tortoise shell.
A tortoise shell?
Could it bear Oracle Bone Script?
Luo Feng’s heart swelled with excitement.
He understood that, in some respects, Oracle Bone Scripts held more value than some antiques. They contained volumes of information, whereas antiquities primarily showcased exemplary craftsmanship.
Though one could extract information from antiquities, the amount uncovered was often limited.
In haste, Luo Feng unearthed approximately forty pieces of Oracle Bone Scripts.
Upon confirming that there was nothing else below, Luo Feng emerged from the pit.
“Mr. Luo, could this corpse be that of King Zhou?” Chen Gang, largely ignored by the others, sidled up to Luo Feng.
“The Oracle Bone Scripts suggest so. I am convinced it is accurate. But Master Chen, did you not doubt my translation skills earlier? If that is the case, you should not be asking, correct? Should you not assume this is a fabrication? Therefore, there is no need to question me!”
Recalling Chen Gang’s earlier arrogant demeanor, Luo Feng could not resist responding with a sarcastic retort.
After all, he had been ridiculed by so many people. If he did not react in kind, he would seem out of place.
“Erm, this…” Unable to formulate his words, Chen Gang awkwardly coughed before adding, “I was merely curious.”
“What is inscribed on these tortoise shells?” Master Li approached and examined the tortoise shells Luo Feng had discovered alongside King Zhou’s corpse.
“Yes, I have interpreted the content,” Luo Feng nodded in affirmation.
“You have completed the interpretation?” Master Li voiced in disbelief, his eyes wide. How could he have read it so swiftly?
“Yes, I have completed the interpretation!” Luo Feng held aloft a tortoise shell and began to explain, “The inscription on this shell is about a person named Donglou Gong who inquired of the War Department whether this pit, where we stand, could serve to suppress the body of King Zhou and whether it was suitable for interring King Zhou’s body!”
“Of course, Donglou Gong was a descendant of Great Yu of the Xia Dynasty!”
“Taking into account the circumstances of that time, it appears Jiang Ziya was determining a location to suppress King Zhou, and he conducted additional divinations here. He also invited descendants of Great Yu to partake in the divination. Although King Zhou possessed the Nine Zhou Ding at that time, it was in fact crafted by Great Yu and belonged to the Xia Dynasty.”
Luo Feng paused briefly, then added, “I distinctly remember the records indicating that Donglou Gong was Houyi, a descendant of Great Yu!”
With this, Luo Feng put down one tortoise shell and picked up another, proceeding to elucidate, “The inscription on this shell is similar. It queries whether this location, the War Department, could serve to suppress King Zhou’s body.”
After inspecting over a dozen shells, he found that they all contained similar divination content.
Naturally, in ancient times, they would not risk everything on a single prediction. Such critical matters would surely warrant multiple divinations.
“The inscription on this shell essentially portrays Donglou Gong recounting some of King Zhou’s transgressions to his ancestors!”
“And informing his ancestors that he intends to utilize the Nine Zhou Ding to suppress King Zhou’s body!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Gang quickly questioned, “What were these transgressions exactly?”
Luo Feng responded, “The usual offences – indulging in alcohol, being swayed by the words of women, disrespecting the heavens, disbelief in gods!”
Placing the tortoise shell down, Luo Feng chuckled, “The transgressions listed here and those cited in the ‘oath of allegiance’ during the ceremony against King Zhou are essentially the same. There is nothing new or surprising about them..”
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