I Come to Teach You Cultivation-Chapter 75 - 31: Dragging the Gods Down from Their Pedestal
Time flies, years flow by like a shuttle.
In the blink of an eye, it was early September, the season of harvest.
In this era, partially freed from slash-and-burn agriculture but not yet advanced to intensive farming, September was the time for harvesting most grain crops.
Millet, sorghum, rice, and wheat each have different requirements for climate and environment.
But within Guifang Kingdom, all grain crops were basically planned according to a unified schedule, which was an expression of a rudimentary stage of agricultural civilization.
Naturally, once the harvest was roughly complete, the major factions of Guifang Kingdom began to stir.
Everyone was aware that the Five Directions Gods would conduct the final large-scale slave capture and sacrifice before the winter solstice.
Especially after the complete annihilation of the Guirong Clan.
This slave capture carried a sense of retaliation.
It’s no exaggeration to say this was a large-scale military operation deliberately held by Guifang Kingdom to reassert its prestige in the region.
In the primitive era, large-scale slaughter and sacrifices were the most direct means of demonstrating intimidation.
"How are the priests’ preparations coming along?"
Seated on the throne, the current sovereign of Guifang Kingdom, Chongming, asked in a low voice.
Beneath Chongming, representatives of the noble factions of Guifang Kingdom sat cross-legged, draped in various exquisite beast robes and silks.
These beast robes and silks were not just clothing.
They were engraved with patterns and motifs related to the Five Directions Gods, completely different from Sovereign Chongming.
Though Guifang Kingdom openly respected the unified ideology of the Five Directions Gods, behind the scenes, each had its own allegiance.
Moreover, the noble factions of Guifang Kingdom were actually divided according to different beliefs.
The sovereign of Guifang Kingdom was merely the product of a compromise among the major factions, barely qualifying as a "common lord."
Chongming was the representative of the Heaven-Howling Clan and the most powerful advocate for this large-scale slave capture and sacrifice.
"The sacrifice has begun, and the results of the divination are out."
After a moment of silence, one of the noble representatives raised his head and looked directly at Chongming, speaking.
"The turtle shell is fractured, and the fires of war will not cease; this is not a good omen..."
Frowning instantly, Chongming’s gaze was filled with a sense of pressure at this moment.
"Are you questioning my decision!?"
In this era, the priest is the emblem of wisdom, and the gods are a symbol of power.
Divination links the two, so its results often signify the gods’ judgment on future situations.
"Sovereign, Zhong Wu is not questioning your decision..."
At this moment, an elder took the initiative to interrupt the confrontation.
"It’s just that the divination results this time are indeed ominous, and perhaps we should make more thorough preparations."
"Add to this the reports of grain supplies being stolen recently, and I think this is an ill omen."
Unlike the lower-class people who are superstitious about divination, these nobles understand its essence better than anyone.
It is the will of the gods, but not necessarily the will of Guifang Kingdom.
When the major factions of Guifang Kingdom want to push for a certain outcome collectively, even the Five Directions Gods must make concessions. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
And large-scale slave capture and sacrifice ceremonies are undoubtedly the "political correctness" of Guifang Kingdom at present.
Especially given the widespread theft of grain supplies, it has almost become an inevitable choice.
"Then perform more sacrifices!"
Surveying the nobles below with a domineering gaze, Chongming set the tone without hesitation.
"For the glory of the Five Directions Gods and to uphold Guifang Kingdom’s prestige, we must sweep away those who harbor runaway slaves with the force of thunder!"
...........................
With the sovereign’s command, the surroundings of Guifang Kingdom turned into a purgatory.
Countless mountain people were forcibly captured to become "human sacrifices," even the local forces that had long belonged to Guifang Kingdom were not exempt.
"You are truly mad..."
Witnessing this, Er Tu gave the same evaluation as last time.
Those local forces belonging to Guifang Kingdom, to some extent, are its own reserve forces.
As long as conditions permit, Guifang Kingdom can integrate those mountain people into its ruling faction at any time, making them a part of itself.
In fact, even during the war with the Tufang Kingdom thirty years ago, Guifang Kingdom never did anything so outrageous.
"I also think they’ve gone mad..."
Quietly appearing beside Er Tu, Xuan Hui’s voice revealed a hoarseness and depth never heard before.
"They too are citizens of Guifang Kingdom, yet now they have become ’human sacrifices’.
The two of them stood in a position where they could directly see the Sacrificial Celestial Terrace in the distance, watching as heads rolled to the ground.
Swoosh!
A tangible atmosphere of blood enveloped the entire Cliff City.
Sinister ghostly qi spread outward as the sacrificial ceremony commenced.
If not for witnessing it firsthand, it would be hard to imagine that such an eerie and grotesque place could be a city of the living.
Inside the inner city, the populace of Guifang Kingdom reveled carelessly, unleashing the excitement brought by this grand ceremony.
Outside the city, the mountain people, who were not considered citizens of Guifang Kingdom, trembled, afraid to even look in the direction of the inner city.
"I remember you told me last time that this is called faith."
Not at all surprised by Xuan Hui’s appearance, Er Tu raised an eyebrow and spoke.
"Everyone has gone mad, only I haven’t gone completely insane..."
Not avoiding the topic, Xuan Hui simply gave a bitter laugh and tapped the skull staff in his hand.
"I used to think the mountain people weren’t ’human,’ just a herd of talking cattle, two-legged sheep..."
"Yet I overlooked one thing; perhaps in the eyes of the Five Directions Gods, we’re just a flock of lambs providing faith!"
"When able, gods naturally watch over their flock to prevent them from being snatched by wolves."
"But once gods desire meat, they also won’t hesitate to slaughter their domesticated lambs."
Xuan Hui’s words went far beyond the typical thoughts of a priest, even making Er Tu’s heart race a bit.
"Are you questioning your god?"
Looking at his own skull staff, Xuan Hui replied with even more profound words.
"Gods?"
"Only those worshipped, those offered sacrifices, are gods..."
"Those not worshipped, not offered sacrifices, are merely evil demons."
His tone was chilling yet calm, and at this moment, a light called "rebellion" shone in Xuan Hui’s eyes.
"My mentor told me that priests are the tongues of the gods, the executors of their will."
"But I have a different perspective; priests are the pioneers chosen by the people..."
"It was the priests who held up the gods, hence they could be called ’gods.’"
"When gods betray their people, even if they were once the ancestors of Guifang Kingdom, priests have the right and duty to pull them down from the divine altar!"
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