Especially by Zhao Zhu's side, there were dozens of subordinates holding clay pots, laughing as they patted Zhou Datong's shoulder and said: "Luckily, you weren't fooled by ghosts, otherwise, I would have poured this golden liquid on your face to wake you up..."
"..."
"..."
The most disappointing grasshead king in history has appeared!
It is said that other grasshead kings are decisive and lead their people to vie for the mandate of heaven, sparing no effort even at the cost of their lives, except for the Iron Threshold King, who clearly has the mandate of heaven upon him, with countless extraordinary followers and hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers who are loyal unto death.
When it seemed that this battle for the mandate of heaven was going to unfold above the Cang River—filling the river with corpses and oceans of blood—word came that the Iron Threshold King had already...
...surrendered!
Not only did the King of Mingzhou send a decree, lowering his status to recognize him as a sworn brother and yielding all military power to him, but even those among his followers who were discontent and sought to raise a rebellion, he personally led his confidants to capture and behead those who resisted the King of Mingzhou.
After the change at Cang River, the iron cavalry of the King of Mingzhou directly pointed towards Shangjing, with no further resistance.
Days later, the Ming King's decree echoed across the world:
"As the ruler of Central Xia, since the end of the barbarian's reign, the world has been filled with ominous, disasters abound, and crops fail to sprout on the land. Within the seas and borders, heroes contend, all striving for our people's survival, seizing disaster and claiming fortune, to adhere to the heavenly order."
"I, once a commoner of Mingzhou, embraced by heaven's favor and guided by the spirits of my ancestors, seized the opportunity to draw wise and extraordinary people to my side."
"I have beheaded hungry ghosts, slain the Jiao, and even destroyed a human demon bestowed by gods. Finally, with my generals, I demonstrated valor and might, pacifying the world. Now, with the combined pleas of civil and military ministers, officials, and all commoners, I am revered as the Emperor, to rule over all."
"Let it be known across the world, that all strange people are summoned to Shangjing. We honorably invite the exalted Master Hu Shanchuan as the main sacrificial, to worship the five grand sacrifices of heaven, in alignment with the people's hearts nationwide, to eradicate evil and protect our world's populace. Thus, the Luotian Festival is celebrated to announce to the world the righteousness of our cause!"
...
Upon hearing this decree, people from all paths across the world flocked to Shangjing.
First, the current Master of Ghosts, formerly the great walking ghost of the Red Lantern Society in Mingzhou, Hu Shanchuan, entered the capital to forge the Heaven Suppressing Treasure Seal, engraved with the words "Mandate of heaven received, long life and prosperity."
This seal with its majestic Purple Qi was set to replace the Twelve Ghost Altars, becoming the force to suppress the fortune of the world, substituting for the ancestral altar that had been destroyed for two hundred years. Various strange people also brought relics like the Stone Pavilion Skin and Yin General to Shangjing City.
During this convergence of heaven and earth's fortune, finally arriving in Shangjing was a carriage drawn by thirty-two horses, shaded by a blue canopy, and guarded in all directions by Golden Armored Warriors. It was personally escorted by the previous Daluo Dharma Sect Leader, National Master Dongxuan, entering through the main gate of Shangjing.
Drawing directly to the ancestral hall in Shangjing City, this space was once again the Hu Family Ancestral Hall, where it still received incense offerings.
Within the ancestral hall, Granny felt the vague aura from the carriage, her form slowly appearing at the hall entrance.
Inside the carriage laid Hu Ma, who, though lifeless, was not yet wholly gone, thus unable to directly enter the ancestral hall and could only be worshiped here first.
A blue canopy shielded the sun, incense guarded the body.
Others knew nothing of the Master of Zhensui Mansion entering the capital, but when he arrived here, the soon-to-be-heavenly-sacrificial Ming King Yang Gong, leading different surname king Zhou Datong and many generals who had rendered meritorious service, along with numerous path-following strange people.
Layer upon layer, countless people, whether kindred spirits, acquaintances, or complete strangers, at this moment, arrayed themselves respectfully, solemnly bowing to the one beneath the azure canopy.
Zhen Sui Hu Zhu, who accomplished unparalleled feats, not for gain nor glory, a flash of spiritual insight slaying Tai Sui, leaving his body to safeguard the world's people against evil.
Such homage must be paid!
Only Granny stood, her yin spirit form wavering, gently brushing Hu Ma's face with trembling hands, her voice holding a note of sorrow but more so of pride:
"My grandson, you are truly admirable..."
"Unyielding to the world, to the walking ghost, to the reincarnated..."
"But remember, Granny's words, never, do not ever wrong yourself..."
