Chapter 635: The Most Popular Moon Festival Drama

As soon as the captain spoke, Wu Jianwu raised his head, feeling a profound sense of ease.

The role assignment filled him with an unprecedented sense of superiority, and he muttered to himself inwardly:

"Though Second Ox may play dirty, the Five Virtues always possess a pure heart!"

He didn't voice this verse aloud, but his expression clearly betrayed it. Seeing this, the captain responded with an appreciative smile.

As everyone received their respective roles, Ling'er emerged from Xu Qing's collar, looking at the captain with an expectant chirp.

"Senior Brother Second Ox, what about me? What about me?"

"You? The Divine Official's little companion!" the captain replied without hesitation, and Ling'er instantly became overjoyed and deeply satisfied.

"And you, Little Li, you'll follow Little Ning Ning. Your role is the eunuch who reads out the Ancient Emperor's decree."

Li Youfei had no particular requests for his role, especially after seeing Xu Qing would simply be acting as a prop. He quickly nodded, daring not to say more.

"And you?" Xu Qing asked calmly.

"Me? Haha, I'm getting old, so I won't be taking center stage. I'll leave this opportunity to hog the limelight to you youngsters. You are the pillars of the future. I'll simply work behind the scenes, ensuring everything runs smoothly for you."

The captain struck a casual pose, then handed the jade slip containing the script to everyone.

Wu Jianwu was the most diligent, memorizing the script repeatedly and carefully cultivating his emotions. Ning Yan also seemed captivated by the storyline; though not as intently as Wu Jianwu, he was still quite engaged. Youjing, however, showed far less interest. She merely glanced at it, then let out a cold laugh and resumed slapping the human-skin lantern.

Whether it was a release of her inner killing intent or simply the satisfying texture of the human-skin lantern, she found the action incredibly soothing.

The captain paid no mind to Youjing's actions. He observed his assembled team with satisfaction, feeling both excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead.

"Everyone, pay close attention! When the time comes, all beings throughout the entire Sacrificial Moon Grand Domain will see you. I'll also be doing your makeup shortly, and thanks to Sister You's sponsorship, the ancient costumes are all ready."

Wu Jianwu nodded vigorously, and Ning Yan grew more serious as well. Only Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged.

His script was indeed extremely simple, lacking any dialogue or substantial content. He merely needed to act as the gushing blood at the moment the Red Mother was beheaded. After all, Xu Qing's first role was "Blood."

As for the Divine Official of the God-Slaying Platform, that role also had no lines. All he needed to do was deliver a single, decisive blow. Though called a Divine Official, the role was essentially that of an executioner.

Consequently, Xu Qing's attention gravitated towards the broken altar. The ancient aura emanating from it was potent, and the weathered marks of millennia were evident everywhere. This reminded Xu Qing of the Tai Cang One-Blade Temple, which also bore the marks of vast temporal changes.

"I wonder if one can gain insights here?" Xu Qing pondered, his thoughts drifting.

To ensure everyone fully understood their roles, the captain, as the mastermind of this performance, felt it crucial to explain everything thoroughly, helping them truly get into character.

He cleared his throat, stepped forward, and leaped onto a pile of broken rocks, looking down at those below. "Ladies and gentlemen."

"We will be performing two acts this time. You've all read the script in your hands, so you should understand your respective missions."

"The first act is titled 'The Fiend Mother's Ancient Chaos!'" The captain's voice resonated with passion.

Xu Qing paid little heed. He gazed at the shattered altar stones, silently sensing and experiencing the ancient passage of time. Meanwhile, the captain's voice seemed to drift to him as if from another era.

"This story primarily depicts the Red Mother before her apotheosis. She was arrogant and tyrannical, wreaking havoc across Wanggu and corrupting all corners. Eventually, the Sovereign grew displeased and personally intervened to suppress her!"

"Of course, some narration will be needed here, and I'll handle that myself!"

"When the scene opens, the Sovereign will appear between heaven and earth. The background will be heavily emphasized—with the sun, moon, and stars, wind, rain, and thunder, and countless divine abilities and spells, all creating a dazzling array of colors, looking incredibly magnificent. I'll take care of this part."

As he spoke, the captain's face was animated, clearly already fully immersed in the role himself. Within Xu Qing's mind, a vague image began to form as he listened.

"Then, within this environment, we'll emphasize the Sovereign's immense power and majesty. Beneath the celestial canopy, he will denounce the Red Mother with nine grave accusations!"

"The Red Mother, however, will be defiant and utterly despicable, even attempting to devour the Sovereign! At that point, the Sovereign will raise his hand and critically injure the Red Mother with a single palm, ultimately capturing her alive."

"Here, you must convey the Sovereign's invincible aura. Ning Yan, you need to truly grasp the essence of the Sovereign; he is a figure of kingly stature. So, I suggest you recall any great figures you've encountered in your own memory."

"I believe in you; you can definitely do this."

The captain looked at Ning Yan encouragingly. Ning Yan's father came to mind, and he nodded.

"As for Sister You..." The captain looked at Youjing.

Youjing gave him a cold stare.

The captain smiled, his voice softening. "Sister You, I won't need to say much to you here. However, portraying the Red Mother might be a bit challenging for you, Sister You. After all, the Red Mother is inherently sinister and malevolent—that's her nature, but it's not yours."

"Sister You, your nature is inherently kind. So I believe if you simply act contrary to your own nature, it will be a truly authentic performance."

Youjing scoffed.

The captain blinked, then continued. "Next is the second act, which also serves as the climax of our play."

"The story unfolds with the Red Mother, captured alive by the Sovereign, being brought to this very location. No matter how fiercely she struggles, it will prove futile, as she is ruthlessly suppressed."

"This scene will require the aid of magical arts to enhance the atmosphere: the heavens and earth will change color, winds will churn, and a roaring will echo from all directions. In essence, it will be an overwhelming display of power."

"Within this dramatic atmosphere, the Red Mother will be forcibly brought to her knees before the Sovereign. The Sovereign will then bow to the sky, entreating the Xuan You Ancient Emperor. The Ancient Emperor's projection will arrive, and the eunuch will read the imperial decree."

"Again, it's all about enhancing the atmosphere!"

The captain was exceptionally earnest, clearly having thoroughly analyzed the script. As he spoke voluminously, Xu Qing's body subtly quivered. As the images in his mind formed, he faintly sensed a wind rising in the area, carrying with it ancient whispers.

Xu Qing couldn't discern the whispers' exact meaning, yet the captain's voice continued to echo clearly.

"Then, the Sovereign will raise his hand in accordance with the decree. Xu Qing, as the Divine Official of the God-Slaying Platform, at this moment you must raise the great blade and bring it down directly!"

"But pay attention: when you perform as the 'Blood,' its release must appear as natural as possible."

"While this deviates slightly from the original narrative, there's no alternative. We simply cannot replicate the Sovereign's true divine abilities—the scale of using the heavens as a blade, the earth as a platform, and the sun and moon as connections is far too immense. So, for now, this is our only option."

The captain harbored a trace of regret. He wished he could fully portray the Sovereign's divine abilities, which would be far more impactful. Alas, these were the Sovereign's own powers, and without reaching a sufficient level of cultivation, it was impossible to perfectly manifest them.

"If Shizi and the others were willing to help, that would be ideal..."

The captain's eyes scanned the surroundings, but he didn't see the figures of the old elders. He suppressed his thoughts and turned to Youjing.

"Sister You, remember that when you're beheaded later, you must display intense hatred. This..."

"The moment I see your face, my hatred is already at its peak!" Youjing interrupted him, staring at the captain with a chilling voice.

The captain blinked, choosing not to acknowledge the comment. He stepped back a few paces and looked at Wu Jianwu. "Little Sword, just be yourself."

"Little A Qing, what... what are you doing?"

The captain looked at Xu Qing in surprise, noticing he seemed to be in a state of deep insight. A slight shock went through him, and he whispered a reminder. "Little A Qing, it's not wise to just indiscriminately seek insights here..."

Xu Qing nodded.

Curious, the captain asked, "Did you gain any insights?"

"I heard some whispers," Xu Qing replied, looking up into the distance.

The captain froze at his words, his heart churning. He marveled at Xu Qing's insight, then cleared his throat. "Then... continue."

The captain left Xu Qing undisturbed. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hands, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, and declared loudly, "Places, everyone! The God-Slaying Performance, first rehearsal begins!"

Wu Jianwu instantly slipped into character, standing with his hands behind his back. Li Youfei quickly ran over to join him for their scene. Beside them, Ning Yan flew into the sky, looking down at Youjing. He inwardly recalled his Imperial Father's demeanor, and his expression gradually became majestic, his aura naturally beginning to manifest.

"Demoness!"

Youjing looked up, her gaze cold as she met Ning Yan's. Ning Yan's newly risen aura crumbled under that gaze.

"Stop!" the captain exclaimed, agitated. "Little Ning Ning, your emotion isn't quite right. Let's restart!"

The rehearsal continued, with everyone putting in great effort. However, Ning Yan repeatedly struggled, leaving the captain no choice but to ask Xu Qing to step in. Xu Qing, maintaining an impassive expression, walked out while continuing his insights. He hovered in the sky, looking down at Youjing.

Under Xu Qing's gaze, Youjing actually frowned, a hint of seriousness in her eyes, and she inexplicably felt a pressure in her heart. Ning Yan, observing intently, learned from Xu Qing's shifting expressions, and his performance improved slightly.

The captain watched all this, his heart filled with emotion. This wasn't the complete script, he mused. His original version had contained elements of love, hate, and resentment, weaving in several intricate emotional storylines.

However, the thought of Shizi and the elders being present, witnessing him direct a performance featuring their own Imperial Father, made the captain worry he might not get to continue directing. So he had to give up on that idea. Seeing Ning Yan still not quite hitting the mark, the captain stepped forward, about to speak, when suddenly a cold snort echoed from the sky. It resonated within everyone's minds, causing all those rehearsing to shudder, their bodies and souls trembling.

"What in the world is this nonsense you're putting on!"

As the words boomed like thunder, the figures of Shizi and the others appeared in the sky. Fifth Grandma remained expressionless, Princess Mingmei frowned, and Old Eight stood by with folded arms, sneering at Chen Er Niu.

Xu Qing lowered his head and bowed towards the sky.

"Esteemed Elder..." The captain hastily adopted an ingratiating demeanor, about to explain, when Shizi's voice, imbued with majesty, rang out.

"Your portrayal is completely inaccurate!"

"Xu Qing, you needn't play the 'Blood' nor portray the Divine Official. Go and sit amidst the shattered stones of the altar and try to comprehend the lingering killing intent of this God-Slaying Platform."

"This will be of immense benefit to your cultivation. If you can manage to comprehend even a trace of the God-Slaying Platform's killing intent here, you will have gained a tremendous boon, making this journey truly worthwhile."

"Of course, everything depends on your own insight; how much you gain is entirely up to you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing's eyes gleamed with an unusual light. He bowed his head in acknowledgment, then headed directly for the altar. He had long desired to go and gain insight there, and now he quickly approached, settled cross-legged amidst the shattered stones, closed his eyes, and began to sense the aura of the place.

"As for you, go and portray the Divine Official. Aren't you typically a guard? Just be yourself; it will be a natural fit," Shizi pointed at the captain.

The captain cowered, inwardly reluctant but daring not show it on his face. He quickly ran over and took Xu Qing's place.

"You all continue; I'll make the adjustments for you!"

As Shizi spoke, he descended and settled down with Princess Mingmei and the others at the side. Under their watchful eyes, everyone began the rehearsal, albeit nervously. This time, it was Shizi, not the captain, who called for a halt.

Under his direction, the original script and dialogue were adjusted. Gradually, everyone immersed themselves in their roles, slowly recreating the scenes from Shizi's memories. The atmospheric enhancements, too, were far more realistic than anything the captain could have produced.

As they watched, a look of reminiscence surfaced in the eyes of Shizi, Princess Mingmei, and the other two. Only Xu Qing remained outside the performance. He sat cross-legged amidst the shattered altar, silently sensing the aura of the place. As time passed, Xu Qing vaguely sensed a wind emanating from the void, blowing over him, settling in his heart, and creating faint ripples.