Chapter 1993: Chapter 1990: Sinister Sacrifice
Zhang Lingyu gently shook his head, pointing at the stone pillar and said, "Do you see that stone pillar? That’s an ancient totem pole, and the carvings on it are sun patterns and shapes of the Divine Beast. Placed on the sacrificial altar, it’s used for worshipping Heaven and Earth."
"Worshipping Heaven and Earth would involve sacrifices. In ancient slave societies, slaves were treated like animals and used as sacrificial offerings. Human sacrifices seem cruel to us, but to the nobles of that time, a slave’s life was worthless, even less than that of livestock."
"When we walk and step on an ant, we don’t feel sad or cruel. At that time, nobles using slaves as sacrifices felt the same way."
"With the development of civilization, human sacrifices gradually disappeared, replaced more often by the Three Sacrifices, which are cattle, sheep, and pigs. Looking at the carving techniques and the pattern styles on this totem pole, it probably comes from the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period."
"Human sacrifices were more prevalent during the Yin and Shang Period, but they became fewer later. Fewer doesn’t mean none. Before Emperor Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng united the Six Kingdoms, during the era of war and division, slaves and war captives were used as flag sacrifices."
"The people decapitated and sacrificed on this altar could be war captives or slaves. However, what this sacrifice was for, is something only those of that time would know," Zhang Lingyu said in a sighing tone.
Though decisive in demon exorcism, her feelings about human sacrifice were akin to Xiao Manxuan’s. As a Demon Exorcist, she too was strongly against such sacrifices.
"Constructing an altar underground, is the intention similar to that Demon Exorcism Master, to suppress vengeful spirits?" Lin Tian walked to the stone table, gazing up at the totem pole, speculating on the altar’s purpose.
Upon closer look, Lin Tian found a layer of dark red, almost black substance on the totem pole, likely remnants of copious amounts of coagulated blood.
Even though thousands of years have passed, Lin Tian, being a zombie, sensed it keenly due to his sensitivity to blood. This led him to speculate that the altar was constructed to suppress vengeful spirits, as too many people died here on this ancient battlefield.
Zhang Lingyu shook her head, indicating uncertainty. She held the compass and stepped onto the altar, standing beside Lin Tian at the table. Suddenly, the compass needle spun quickly a few times, then stopped, pointing toward the totem pole.
"Could it be..." Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu exchanged a glance and had the same thought. Without a word, they both rounded the table and headed to the totem pole.
"What’s going on?" Xiao Manxuan approached, carefully avoiding the bones on the ground as she walked.
"The compass points to the totem pole," Zhang Lingyu said excitedly.
Afterward, she held the compass, walking around the totem pole twice, and during the movement, the needle stayed directed at the pole, further solidifying her thoughts.
"Yao Xiaoke’s jade pendant, the underground altar, the compass’s direction, the Yin Jade is very likely within the totem pole," Lin Tian voiced her thought.
All eyes lit up, including Xu Feibai’s. The Qiong Gou Jade, one of the three Divine objects, just the thought was thrilling.
"I don’t see it, are we supposed to smash the totem pole?" Xiao Manxuan walked around twice but couldn’t find the Qiong Gou Jade, expressing her confusion.
"We can’t smash the totem pole, it’s still needed for this altar, if broken it can’t be used," Zhang Lingyu immediately rejected.
"Then what to do?" Xiao Manxuan asked in frustration.
"Hmm..." Lin Tian made a curious noise, causing the two women to look up and see him staring at a part of the totem pole.
This section held a complete sun pattern, with flame patterns on the outside and a central circle. In the circle’s center, there seemed to be a depression.
But because it was wrapped in a layer of coagulated blood, the depression was obscured, unnoticeable unless inspected closely.
Lin Tian quickly scraped off the blood scabs, indeed revealing the depression, not containing the Qiong Gou Jade but a small stone ball.
"Mechanical Techniques," Xu Feibai suddenly said, rarely speaking, but when he did, it was never nonsensical.
Without further explanation from him, Lin Tian already pressed his thumb on the stone ball and exerted force, hearing a click as the ball sank.
The entire totem pole shook violently, dust and blood scabs falling off, followed by the sound of mechanical transmissions. The pole slowly descended, its base continuously sinking into the altar.
When about a meter was left, it finally halted. The top of the pole bore mysterious patterns resembling sun designs but internal moon-shaped carvings.
In the moon carving, there was a small groove. Upon seeing it, delight spread across all four faces. Because within the groove lay a jade, with a dark green hue, identical in shape to the Yang Jade!
"Yin Jade, Yin Jade, finally found it..." Xiao Manxuan was first to exclaim in sheer joy. Though she’d never seen the genuine Yin Jade, she recognized it at first glance.
Zhang Lingyu didn’t reach to take it, instead looked up at Xu Feibai with vigilance, Xu Feibai naturally understood her intent and said calmly, "Rest assured, though Yin Jade and Yang Jade form a pair, Yin Jade was found by you, it belongs to you."
"Let’s confirm its authenticity first," Lin Tian remained calm, picking up the Yin Jade.
As they picked up the Yin Jade, all eyes were on the compass needle. With the movement of the Yin Jade, the needle slowly rotated, consistently pointing at it.
"Seems it is indeed the true Yin Jade, can’t be fake," Lin Tian laughed, holding the Yin Jade.
Having obtained the Yin Jade, the next step was waiting for the right moment, initiating the ritual and opening the Netherworld channel, getting closer to Ying Gou.
Among the four Zombie Ancestors, Lin Tian had encountered three: first Nu Ba, then Houqing, later Jiang Chen, though Jiang Chen had been split.
Now, only Ying Gou remains. All four Zombie Ancestors have forged varying connections with him, as if there’s some fateful link.
Just as Lin Tian mused, suddenly the altar shuddered, Lin Tian assumed the totem pole was rising again, yet it showed no sign of ascent, the altar vibrated continually.
"What’s happening?" Lin Tian felt alarmed, sensing impending danger, a very unpleasant feeling.
"Could it be triggering a mechanism?" Xiao Manxuan guessed, firmly grasping Lin Tian’s arm to stop herself from swaying with the altar.
"Hurry," Lin Tian’s unease grew, as if a large hand tightly gripped his heart.
He wrapped an arm around Xiao Manxuan’s waist, swiftly leaping off the altar, Zhang Lingyu following, Xu Feibai unencumbered, reached the passage entrance faster than Lin Tian.
Just as they were about to dash into the passage, an icy aura swept through, seemingly cutting through their bodies.
Simultaneously, a visibly palpable energy wave burst from the altar, spreading, the touch of which turned bones to powder. The energy wave was swift, catching up to the four of them.
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