Chapter 287: Descending Divine Platform

He wasn’t just living in a dream; the Golden-Armored Bronze Figure technique held immense value in reality. As for Yujin, he could buy it again from Songyang Prefecture, and Li Fubo might even get him a special friend's price.

Hmm, perfect!

He Lingchuan held the jade slip containing the secret scroll of the Bronze Figure technique. A large amount of information naturally appeared in his mind, as if engraved. Crafting the bronze figures was a meticulous task, allowing no room for error. Fortunately, while this learning method didn't allow him to immediately master the technique, it at least ensured his memory would be flawless.

Leaving the Pengcheng Bureau, the two set off for the God-Descent Platform.

That year, Zhong Shengguang chose a location outside the city for his offering to the gods, selecting the northwest highlands five *li* behind Panlong City. Normally, few people went there, but now it was bustling with carriages and horses, all heading towards the highlands.

He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling hired a spacious carriage.

Looking around, the travelers on the road were all common folk from Panlong City. Some couldn't afford a carriage and simply walked.

It was important to note that the dirt road outside the city was uneven. Some sections were still covered in snow, making it much harder to traverse than the city roads. Moreover, the sky was already half-dark, with ominous clouds hanging low, threatening a blizzard at any moment.

Yet, the Panlong City residents around them walked and chatted, seemingly unconcerned about the weather.

"It won't snow," Sun Fuling said, seeing him frequently look up at the sky and knowing his concern. "Every year on the Heavenly Sacrifice Day, the sky is this oppressive. Everyone is used to it by now."

He Lingchuan rubbed his hands together. "Finally, I'll get to see Commander Zhong." Counting the time within this dream, he had been here for several months but hadn't even met Zhong Shengguang or General Hong.

He had offered wine at Zhong Shengguang's grave and seen the commander transformed into a black jiao. But what did Zhong Shengguang himself look like?

"You'll be disappointed," Sun Fuling chuckled softly. "Lord Zhong won't be here."

"Huh?" He Lingchuan was baffled. "It's his daughter's memorial day, and he's not attending?! What kind of ruthless father is this?"

"Lord Zhong will perform the sacrifice at his residence. He said he was ashamed of his daughter and unworthy to preside over the Heavenly Sacrifice, so Wen Daolun is performing it in his stead."

"If he's ashamed of his daughter, why doesn't he erect a shrine for Zhong Wuzhan in the city?" Panlong City had the Niantian Lady Temple, as well as living shrines for Zhong Shengguang and General Hong.

Sun Fuling found it amusing. "Who erects a shrine for a sacrifice?"

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. "So he still views his daughter as a sacrifice, not a hero who saved the city's people?"

Sun Fuling glanced at him and slowly said, "Are you speaking up for her?"

"What am I, a nobody?" He Lingchuan chuckled self-deprecatingly. "My thoughts don't matter." He was still just a patrol guard, not even a squad leader.

Soon, the carriage reached its destination.

The God-Descent Platform was ahead. There were too many people, so the carriage couldn't proceed. Everyone got out and continued on foot.

Fortunately, the path wasn't rugged. On one hand, Panlong City had sent people to level this section of the mountain road. On the other, the God-Descent Platform was located on the edge of the Chipa Plateau.

The Chipa Plateau had a unique terrain. It was tens of *zhang* higher than the Panlong Wilderness itself. Looking down from the cliff edge of the plateau, one could see a treacherous landscape of jagged, interlocked peaks below.

However, people walking on the plateau itself didn't find it too strenuous.

As He Lingchuan walked uphill with the crowd, he realized that the God-Descent Platform itself was a massive platform protruding outwards. It hung isolated on the edge of the Chipa Plateau. A single leap from there would take one directly to the Panlong Wilderness below.

Of course, while the body would descend, the soul would ascend to heaven.

When He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling arrived at the God-Descent Platform, it was already packed with people, layer upon layer. Everyone sat kneeling, with lowered heads and downcast eyes. If any child dared to make noise, they would immediately draw angry glares from the crowd. Parents had to silence them at once, or others would take it upon themselves to discipline the child.

Sun Fuling had reminded He Lingchuan on the way that disrespecting the Zhong family daughter on the God-Descent Platform was forbidden. Outsiders who had spoken ill here were beaten to death.

It turned out the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony had already begun. Now, only one voice resonated throughout the venue: Wen Daolun's recitation of the sacrificial eulogy.

Written in the ornate "four-six parallelism" style, the language was meticulously chosen.

His voice was calm, with measured intonation.

He Lingchuan listened to a couple of lines; their meaning was simply to praise Zhong Wuzhan for sacrificing herself for her home, her sincerity moving heaven and earth. Sacrificial eulogies from ancient times were always flowery and extravagant, seemingly meant to be plastered everywhere. He Lingchuan only caught the part about the deity Niantian descending with thunder to take the sacrifice, and then he focused his attention on the platform itself.

This God-Descent Platform was originally about the size of two football fields. However, a corner was missing from its front edge.

The shape of this corner... how to put it? It looked as if someone had drawn a circle and then cut it out directly.

Thus, the outermost edge of the God-Descent Platform had become a neat, smooth arc, unlike a natural formation.

This enormous gap made the altar, built from green square stones, appear miniature.

On the altar stood an obelisk, shaped like a sword pointing skyward, but it bore no inscription.

On the offering table in front of the altar were sacrificial animals: a pig, an ox, and a goat.

For a commander's daughter to receive such offerings was not in accordance with the rites of Xiluo Kingdom. But clearly, Zhong Shengguang didn't care, nor did the people of Panlong City.

He Lingchuan, however, wondered why Zhong Shengguang had chosen this spot for his offering back then.

Others performed such offerings secretly, wishing no one would know. Yet, the venue he chose was open and flat, easily accommodating thousands of spectators.

Besides Zhong Shengguang no longer caring about Xiluo Kingdom's prohibitions, and besides him holding absolute power in Panlong City, openly performing even forbidden offerings, were there perhaps further political considerations?

For instance, to let the people of Panlong City witness firsthand the immense sacrifice the Zhong family made for the safety of Panlong City and the welfare of every citizen?

Public sentiment needed to be won.

If this were true, then Zhong Shengguang's profound grief over losing his beloved daughter, even if genuine, was also meticulously calculated.

He was truly an ambitious and ruthless figure, one who could use even his own suffering as a bargaining chip.

For some reason, He Lingchuan suddenly thought of He Chunhua and then sighed.

Sun Fuling, beside him, immediately turned to look, her bright eyes like water.

She raised a finger to her lips, not shushing him, but instead pointing skyward.

The sky at this moment was nothing short of bizarre and ominous. It wasn't even *bushi* (3 PM), yet the world was devoid of light. Strong winds raged, and the dark clouds overhead were so thick they seemed to press down on the mountain peaks. Looking up, people could see tumultuous waves below the clouds, as if an inverted sea clung to the heavens.

The common people crouched low, not daring to breathe.

At this point, Wen Daolun finished reciting the eulogy and released his hand. The golden-red parchment inscribed with the sacrificial words was swept skyward by the strong winds, spontaneously combusting in mid-air and turning to ash in a few breaths.

He Lingchuan watched the ashes fly into the clouds and disappear.

Then, a brilliant light erupted between heaven and earth as a bolt of lightning struck down.

Before He Lingchuan closed his eyes, he vaguely saw its root-like shape. It struck directly below the God-Descent Platform.

Then came the second bolt of thunder.

This wasn't logical. Shouldn't lightning strike the highest point? Why did it ignore the obelisk on the cliff and instead plunge straight into the valley?

Perhaps in response to his skeptical question, twenty breaths later, just as he thought it was all over, another bolt of thunder struck.

This time, its shape was different from before. It was actually a colossal circular pillar of light that struck perfectly into the missing section of the God-Descent Platform, fitting like a glove!

No living creature dared to keep their eyes open. Even Wen Daolun, the chief priest, turned his head away.

Heavenly might was unstoppable.

When He Lingchuan opened his eyes, he smelled a strong burnt odor. The dark clouds in the sky gradually dispersed, and soon a ray of sunlight pierced through a gap, forming a focused beam from high above that landed precisely on the God-Descent Platform.

Its splendor and solemnity were beyond description.

He Lingchuan looked around to see the Panlong City commoners prostrate on the ground, murmuring prayers. Everyone's expression was far more devout than before.

The deities still favored this place—who could possibly doubt it now?

Wen Daolun descended from the altar and stood aside.

The main sacrificial ceremony was complete, and solemnity was no longer required. So, commoners came forward with baskets to offer their tributes, then bowed respectfully. Those more particular would press their children's heads to make them kowtow three times.

When the incense was almost burned out, Wen Daolun would go up to light new sticks.

City guards maintained order on the side; everything proceeded smoothly.

He Lingchuan observed that the common people mostly offered fruits, vegetables, and pastries. In this season of intertwined wind and snow, fruits were certainly not cheap, and those of good quality were even more expensive.

The lives of Panlong City residents were still far from prosperous.

Some children even placed their beloved toys on the altar.

He Lingchuan even saw a teenager take out fresh flowers from under his outer coat. He carefully removed the outer oil paper and gently placed them at the base of the obelisk.

The flowers weren't crushed, but their delicate petals instantly became covered with a layer of white frost.

Fragile things, it seemed, truly couldn't survive in Panlong City.

Only then did He Lingchuan truly grasp the genuine feelings of Panlong City residents towards the Zhong family.

It didn't even require verbal expression.

Those who sacrificed themselves for the lives of an entire city were, by all means, worthy of remembrance and respect.

Sun Fuling tugged at his sleeve. She split the prepared offerings with him, and they both stepped forward together.

He Lingchuan looked down and saw that besides a few large crystal pears, she had also brought a box of meat pies.

The box was elegant, and it bore a brand name: Wenxiangyi.

These meat pies were actually a brand from a renowned old establishment.

There were too many commoners attending the Heavenly Sacrifice; the offering table couldn't hold everything. So, these fruits were placed around the obelisk.

He Lingchuan placed his offerings, bowed with Sun Fuling, then walked towards Wen Daolun.

Wen Daolun's personal guards immediately stepped forward to block them.

However, Sun Fuling had already spoken up:

"Mr. Wen."

Wen Daolun turned his head and saw them. "Isn't this Xu Shichu's female disciple? Come here, come here."

Only then did the personal guards allow them to pass.

Sun Fuling knew his time was precious and didn't bother with formalities. She stated directly, "Mr. Wen, I've come to call in a favor."

Wen Daolun looked bewildered. "A favor?"

"Two months ago, you and I played chess at Shumian Academy..."

Wen Daolun immediately let out an "Ah." "All right, all right, I remember now. Tell me."

"My friend here has been told that he's destined for misfortune, and he'd like Mr. Wen to show him a clear path." Sun Fuling gestured towards He Lingchuan, who immediately clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Please, Mr. Wen, enlighten me."