txolops Chapter 178 Offering Incense at the Nuwa Temple
Chapter 178 Offering Incense at the Nuwa Temple
"Your subject is willing to lead troops to quell the rebellion."
When Wen Zhong learned that someone in Beihai had rebelled, he immediately stepped forward and asked Emperor Xin for permission to act.
His request to lead the expedition did not surprise the court officials, as it was the Grand Tutor's duty.
However, when Venus stepped forward, all the officials in the hall couldn't help but show surprise.
"I am also willing to go."
The key reason why Taibai volunteered was the upcoming pilgrimage to Nuwa Palace.
This was destined to happen and could not be stopped; he only needed to leave a clone behind to act in secret.
If we can find even the slightest clue to prove Di Xin's innocence, that would be a great blessing.
Moreover, he also harbored a strong sense of curiosity:
Why was Wen Zhong able to fight in the North Sea for as long as seventeen years?
Di Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Since he was determined to appoint Tai Bai, he had to let him accumulate merits.
"In that case, let Grand Tutor Wen be the commander-in-chief and the Imperial Preceptor the supervising officer. We shall immediately muster our troops and set out to pacify the North Sea!"
After issuing the decree, Emperor Xin went straight back to the inner palace.
The conquests of the human army are far more complicated and intricate than battles between cultivators.
It took a full four months just to mobilize troops, procure provisions, and set off for the North Sea border.
During this period, although Taibai did not need to handle any specific military affairs, he still felt somewhat bored.
Just as the army arrived in Beihai, set up camp, and was about to confront the rebels, the classic scene of Nuwa Temple offering incense in Chaoge, far away, unfolded as scheduled.
The clone left behind by Taibai had already placed several image stones in several extremely hidden corners within the Nuwa Temple.
To ensure complete safety, he also entrusted several other coins to important officials such as Shang Rong and Huang Feihu.
Meanwhile, Taibai's own clone had long since hidden itself within the stone statue that bore an identical appearance to itself.
On this day, Emperor Xin led his civil and military officials through the high threshold of the Nuwa Temple and into the solemn and majestic main hall.
When the courtiers saw the lifelike statue, which was just like the current imperial advisor, their last doubts vanished completely.
If what Taibai had previously displayed might have been some kind of mysterious Taoist magic, then this exquisitely crafted statue before us could only be an undeniable miracle.
At this moment, everything inside the Nuwa Temple had already been arranged, with sacrificial offerings of three kinds of animals and various delicacies neatly displayed on the offering table.
"Your Majesty, please offer incense."
A moment later, Shang Rong respectfully presented three sticks of incense to Di Xin.
Di Xin accepted the incense stick, stepped forward, and solemnly bowed to the Holy Mother Nuwa and the special statue, his expression devout.
Shang Rong stood aside and read aloud the prepared eulogy, her words earnest, praising the Holy Mother's boundless merit in nurturing and creating humankind.
The sacrificial ceremony proceeded smoothly until its conclusion. Just as the courtiers were about to leave the hall in order with the king, an unexpected incident occurred.
Di Xin, who had been bowing his head respectfully, paused almost imperceptibly, and a barely perceptible daze and tremor flashed across his eyes.
This change is so subtle that even a cultivator whose cultivation has not reached the Great Luo realm would probably find it difficult to perceive, let alone a mortal with the naked eye.
"Guards! Bring me my sword!"
These words shocked the entire hall.
All the officials stood frozen in place, as if under a spell, looking at each other blankly, none daring to speak or move.
This place is where the Holy Mother of Humanity is worshipped, and in the hearts of the people, it is a sacred place to communicate and connect with the Holy Mother.
To brandish weapons in such a sacred place is a great disrespect and a desecration of holiness, and will surely incur divine retribution.
Seeing no response, a violent rage suddenly surged across Di Xin's face, and he roared again, his voice shaking the palace:
"Are you all deaf?! Bring me my sword at once!"
The guards of Emperor Xin, who were standing outside the palace, heard the king's angry shout. Although they were terrified, they dared not disobey the king's order. They could only lower their heads and quickly step inside, presenting the sword that symbolized royal power with both hands.
Di Xin grabbed the sword and yanked it out of its sheath, its cold light flashing.
Holding a sharp sword, he turned and walked towards the pink wall on one side of the hall, staring intently at the blank wall as if there was something there that attracted him.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Shang Rong was the first to react, terrified out of her wits, and rushed forward, her voice trembling as she pleaded with him.
"Our Holy Mother is the compassionate mother of our human race; she must not be profaned! Absolutely not!"
"King Wu Cheng! General Huang! Quickly, stop the King! Your Majesty, please sheathe your sword immediately!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty!"
……
In an instant, the entire main hall of the Nuwa Temple descended into chaos.
Whether they were newly appointed nobles or former officials, at this moment, no one cared about their differences or positions.
They rushed forward, each trying to dissuade the other, their voices a mixture of fear and anxiety.
Those old nobles and high-ranking officials, in particular, tried their best to dissuade him, and cold sweat was already seeping from their foreheads.
While they wanted to support an easily controllable monarch, they were even more afraid of incurring divine retribution for such blasphemous acts.
If Emperor Xin were to commit an irreversible act of rebellion in this sacred place today,
They feared that the retribution would affect them, and even their families, leading to their own deaths and the extermination of their clans.
However, Di Xin seemed oblivious to the chaotic pleas and dissuasion behind him. Holding his long sword, he continued to walk step by step toward the wall, slowly raising his arm.
Taibai, hidden in the shadows, witnessed the entire scene.
While the performance is unavoidable, the poems inscribed on the wall can be altered.
With a thought, he decided to use magic to interfere with Emperor Xin.
However, just as Taibai was about to take action, he suddenly felt a blur before his eyes, and his mind went blank and stagnant.
Before his secret spell could even touch Di Xin, it was as if it had been severed by an invisible force and vanished into nothingness.
Meanwhile, Di Xin, sword in hand, had inscribed blasphemous verses about Nuwa on the wall.
Upon seeing this, the courtiers were all horrified and repeatedly kowtowed before the statues of Nuwa and Taibai, pleading with them:
"We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"A tyrannical ruler! A foolish king!"
"Heaven intends to destroy my Shang Dynasty! Emperor Xin, you tyrannical and incompetent ruler!"
……
Faced with this chaotic accusation, Di Xin seemed not to hear it. Instead, he threw his sword to the ground, a mysterious smile on his face, and turned to walk out of the Nuwa Temple.
Shang Rong and the others did not leave with them.
They knelt before the wall and painstakingly erased the blasphemous words with their own hands until the marks were blurred, before taking their leave with heavy hearts.
Almost at the same moment the poem was inscribed, Li Bai suddenly regained consciousness.
He also witnessed Shang Rong and the others erasing the writing.
But a strange thing happened right away. After Shang Rong and his group left, those poems that should have disappeared reappeared on the wall as if by magic, as clear as ever.
Li Bai tried several more times, but found that the writing could not be erased at all.
Whenever he used his magic to eliminate them, they would reappear in an instant, as if they had grown into the wall.
"The person who acted in secret is extremely skilled."
Taibai muttered to himself, then with a flick of his sleeve, he smashed the entire wall to pieces with a single palm strike.
But just a moment later, the wall that had turned to dust was restored to its original state, with the poem still clearly visible, completely undamaged.
Taibai frowned, about to try again, when the statue of Nuwa suddenly underwent a strange change.
A solemn and sacred thought descended upon the Nuwa Temple, and Taibai immediately sensed it, bowing respectfully to the statue.
However, Nuwa's gaze fell upon the poem on the wall, and the fire of ignorance suddenly rose up. She immediately calculated with her fingers.
"Arrogant Emperor Xin! How dare you insult me like this!"
"Uncle-Master, you are wise. This matter is not as simple as it seems. There must be something fishy going on behind the scenes."
Upon hearing this, Nuwa manifested her divine thoughts from the statue and descended before Taibai in her true form.
She remained silent, gazing calmly at Taibai, waiting for him to provide evidence to prove his point.
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