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As the ninth prince of the Chen Dynasty, the last thing Liang Xiao wanted to see still happened.

The Guo Bei Academy is mobilizing in full force!

So quickly, so suddenly!

Liang Xiao was caught off guard, and in his mind, only one voice echoed.

Great Chen… is doomed!

His Liang family’s Great Chen is doomed!

No wonder Liang Xiao thought so.

Given the current scale of the Guo Bei Academy, what could possibly lead to its full mobilization?

There was only one possibility, raising troops to vie for the world!

Otherwise, there was no way the entire academy, with tens of thousands of students and educators, would all be mobilized, along with an increase in provisions, the bestowment of Foundation Establishment Spirit Pills, and a substantial reduction in the exchange prices of strategic resources such as talismans, Soldier’s Armor, and Magic Artifacts.

All of these were preparations for war!

And not just any war, but a massive and intense battle.

So, apart from the struggle for the world, what other possibility could there be?

Liang Xiao’s face was pale, his body was chilled, and despair surged in his heart.

Although the Great Chen had risen again several decades ago, pulled back from the brink of collapse, that was just it—it was only pulled back, and the situation had not been completely broken through to recreate Qiankun.

In recent years, his father the emperor had grown old and become muddled, lacking the vigorous talent of his younger years. Several of his decisions had led to the declining state of the land, worse than during Ying Zong’s time.

Given this, how could they withstand the Guo Bei Academy?

Great Chen, his Liang family’s Great Chen, was it really going to perish like this?

What could he do?

What should he do?

“Liang, what’s wrong?”

Just as Liang Xiao’s thoughts were in turmoil, a voice called out, bringing him back to reality.

“!!”

Liang Xiao jerked awake, looking at Li Da Niuy with a concerned expression, along with the inquisitive gazes of several roommates behind him and quickly said, “No, it’s nothing, just thinking about some matters.”

Li Da Niuy did not think anything of it: “You looked a bit pale, I thought you were feeling unwell… It’s our turn now, come on up.”

Although it was a junior academy, it classified students purely based on knowledge, not by age, family background, or identity. Hence, there were quite a few people like Liang Xiao, who were now distracted and absent-minded.

Even though they were not from the royal family of the Great Chen like Liang Xiao, they were influential nobles and came from prominent families. Their visit to the Guo Bei Academy was a strategic move by their families, an investment. Now seeing such actions from the academy, they naturally needed to ponder the underlying implications and see if it could help them and their families profit.

Liang Xiao was distracted and absent-minded, but in the end, he refrained from any rash actions and went to the academy with his roommates after breakfast to start the day’s studies.

At this point, what could he, a prince exiled from the capital, possibly do?

Escape the academy and send a warning?

Would that be of any use?

Recalling the chaos in the capital and within the palace, Liang Xiao shook his head, his despair gradually turning to resignation.

Destiny changes, and the divine right of kings shifts; this is the natural order.

As a prince of the Chen Dynasty, he was well aware of its condition.

To perish was expected—at least that would conform to the laws of nature!

In the past, he couldn’t change anything.

Now, he couldn’t change anything either.

So… let them handle it!

Liang Xiao calmed himself, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and proceeded to the academy to start his day’s lessons.

Unexpectedly…

“Xiao Liang.”

An educator entered the hall and directly called his name: “Someone from your family has come looking for you.”

“My family?”

Liang Xiao was startled, his expression one of bewilderment.

But soon he saw a familiar figure at the door.

It was his guard, Old Ma the coachman.

Liang Xiao was silent for a while, but ultimately, he walked out.

“Young master!”

“What is it?”

Outside the academy, faced with Liang Xiao’s inquiry, the coachman fell silent and did not speak; instead, his eyes conveyed a message.

Upon seeing this, Liang Xiao also fell silent, and after a long time, he finally said, “I’ve just started my studies, and it’s not good for me to take leave… you… go back.”

After speaking, he turned to leave.

“Young master!”

The coachman’s expression changed, and he hurriedly stopped him and whispered, “There’s trouble here; there may be great chaos soon. You must not stay for long; please follow this old servant and leave quickly!”

Although he was not enrolled, Old Ma could still see the alarming actions well beyond the academy in Guo Bei; as a member of the secret guard for the royal family, he could perceive the deeply disturbing signs.

Therefore, he had rushed here, hoping that Liang Xiao would leave with him.

“Leave?”

“Go where?”

Liang Xiao smiled and then shook his head, calmly saying.

“From now on in this world, there is no Liang Xiao, only Xiao Liang. Go back and tell my father that his son Xiao is already dead… if he still remembers that he has such a son.”

“Your Highness!”

The coachman’s face changed as he directly grabbed hold of him.

Liang Xiao’s expression remained unchanged as he indifferently looked at him, “This is the academy, I advise you to conduct yourself with dignity.”

“Your Highness…”

“Amitabha!”

The coachman’s expression changed again as he was about to speak, but a resonant Buddhist chant suddenly echoed in his ears.

Turning his head, he saw a monk who had appeared at some unseen moment.

It was…

“Master Wuhua!”

Seeing Wuhua, Liang Xiao was also somewhat surprised, but he quickly understood his purpose for coming.

With the changes at the academy, even he, a newcomer to this small school, had noticed the signs; how could Wuhua, who had been accepted into the Shennong Main School and hired as a Guest Educator, be unaware?

His arrival this time was obviously to give guidance to him, to prevent him from making a misstep and choosing a path he should not take.

As expected, Master Wuhua cast his eyes downward and said to the coachman, “Within the academy, you must not recklessly resort to violence.”

With that said, he waved his sleeve and the coachman felt his hand lighten. Regaining his senses, he saw that Liang Xiao had moved behind Wuhua.

“Your Highness, Master Wuhua…”

“Amitabha!”

Seeing this, the coachman wanted to speak, but Wuhua shook his head to interrupt, “No need for more words, just follow me and all will become clear.”

“This…”

Upon hearing this, not only the coachman hesitated, but Liang Xiao also frowned.

Wuhua, understanding his thoughts, spoke softly, “I have already requested leave for you, and the academy has approved it, come with me.”

Liang Xiao, upon hearing this, fell silent, and in the end did not speak, silently following Master Wuhua’s footsteps.

The coachman had no choice but to follow along.

The three of them left, walking outwards, and soon they had left the small school under the Shushan Sword Institute.

Upon leaving the school and reaching the outside, they saw that the bustling market was still as busy with carriages and horses, and pedestrians were like woven threads.

It was just as before, yet there was something different.

All kinds of shops, whether it be wine houses, tea rooms, grain shops, clothiers, or even medical halls, pharmacies, and residential houses—every building had vermilion and yellow talismans tightly affixed above their entrances.

In front of the main doors, there were also offering stands and incense tables, laden with the three sacrificial offerings of meat, fruits, vegetarian dishes, grain, fish, and other various offerings. Incense was inserted, emitting curls of green smoke that were soothing to the heart and mind.

If such a scene were present in just one household, it might not be significant.

But when thousands of households across the entire area are doing the same, it becomes extraordinarily startling.

Apart from the vermilion and yellow talismans and the offering stands, there were many apricot-yellow Taoist flags erected on both sides of the streets.

“This is…”

Liang Xiao’s pupils constricted as he turned to Wuhua, “A sacrifice ritual?”

Wuhua nodded and said calmly, “Luotian Dajiao!”

“What?”

“Luotian Dajiao?”

Upon hearing this, both Liang Xiao and the coachman’s faces changed color.

One was a royal prince, the other was a member of the royal secret guard, both with extensive knowledge and experience, and they understood what the Luotian Dajiao signified.

It was a grand ceremony of Taoism, extremely solemn and of profound significance!

Within the Dao Zang, there were the texts “Ritual Procedures of Luotian Dajiao,” “Three Dynasty Ceremony of Luotian Dajiao,” and “The Supreme Dongxuan Lingbao Heaven Speaks of the Superior Mysteries of the Luotian Dajiao”, which mentioned this ceremonial sacrifice.

This ceremony was extremely solemn, necessitating the establishment of nine grand mana altars, convening the emperor, officials, as well as the worship of myriad people toward the deities of heaven and earth.

Among them, the top three altars belong to the Universal Heaven, which required the emperor to preside over the worship of three thousand six hundred sacrificial positions; the middle three altars, the Cycle of Heaven, presided over by the nobles, offered worship to two thousand four hundred sacrificial positions; and the lower three altars, the Luotian, where the common people offered sacrifices to one thousand two hundred sacrificial positions.

Universal Heaven, Cycle of Heaven, Luotian, with the nine grand mana altars combining the force of the emperor, nobles, and all people, paid homage to seven thousand two hundred sacrificial positions, worshiping the supreme beings of the Three Realms, the eminent saints of the ten directions, the jade realms, gold palaces, and celestial truths…

The official entities of the Three Realms, all the mighty spirits!

Sacrificing to heaven and earth, to the deities, to… the Great Dao!

Through this, one could draw upon supreme might, bringing down boundless divine skills!

It was a secret weapon of Taoism!

It required the devoted effort of an entire nation—the emperor, nobles, and all citizens, offering incense in every home, offering sacrifices in every household, for a period of forty-nine days to complete the ceremony successfully!

The resources needed were vast, consuming the effort of the multitude, and even impacting the very foundation, so it was not to be initiated lightly.

Yet its power was immensely terrifying—once the ceremony began, with the nine mana altars invoking the deities of the entire universe, combining the power of the Great Dao from the ten directions, and blessed by the highest correctness of the law, all malevolence and evil would be repelled with ease!

Throughout more than three hundred years since the founding of the Chen Dynasty, there had only been three instances of the Luotian Dajiao, along with two Buddhist Water-Land Dharma Assemblies of the same stature.

These five major sacrifices all bore significant implications.

One was to quell rampaging demons, one to alleviate the disaster of drought demons, one to execute the Demon Emperor of Mount Mang, and another to subjugate the ghost gods of the Netherworld.

The last one, even closer to him, was several decades ago, during the early reign of Emperor Xian Zong, where the Holy Monk Duxing invited the Buddhist community from the ten directions to hold a Water-Land Dharma Assembly.

By virtue of the assembly, Holy Monk Duxing greatly increased his mana, joining forces with the Buddhist community from the ten directions to cleanse the demons of the Northern Territory, providing potent support for the rejuvenation under Xian Zong.

Such grand sacrifices had the power to significantly enhance mana and Taoist cultivation, and even surpass the limits that regular regulations could not. Practiced by Taoism, one could become a Taoist Cultivator and a Heavenly Master; practiced by Buddhism, one could become a Great Virtuous Monk.

It was by this power that Holy Monk Duxing was able to cleanse the demons of the Northern Territory; even several millennia-old demons were sealed within their lairs by the Buddhist Law, never again able to wreak havoc or commit evil.

Such was the power of these grand sacrifices and ceremonies.

Now, was Guo Bei county also about to hold a Luotian Dajiao?

Liang Xiao did not doubt whether they could afford to hold it—with the current potential of Guo Bei Academy, a million citizens offering incense, a Luotian Dajiao could easily be conducted.

But the question was, what was the purpose of holding this Luotian Dajiao?

Could it be to cleanse the Orchid Ghost Realm?

Or was it to bless and enhance the military might, rallying troops to vie for control of the realm?

That Thunder Lightning Mana King, said to have reached the pinnacle of True Man, if blessed with the power of Luotian Dajiao, would become almost invincible—even if not quite a Heavenly Master, he would be at the extreme realm of True Monarch. Across the land, who could stand against him?