https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-461-Grass-Head-the-Eight-Decaying-Gods/12918825/
Chapter 460: The Blessing of the Blessing Corpse
Chapter 460: The Blessing of the Blessing Corpse
No one is stupid...
In this town, after subduing the demon corpse and with the arrival of so many commoners, the One Coin Sect is willing to bring out its best to make this Lantern Festival Fair lively and splendid.
This has made the ordinary sect members and the commoners who came to the fair full of confidence, even disregarding the county magistrate outside.
However, those who have entered the Mansion and gained abilities are not easily deceived. On the contrary, it is these capable individuals who have many thoughts in their minds. Considering this and that, they are not in a hurry to say anything or do anything, which makes the surface appear peaceful.
Hu Ma heaved a low sigh, looking at Elder Sun's anxious face, he knew that he had the idea of taking a risk. Not knowing how to comfort him, he simply said, "Don't rush to say these things, let's wait and see, there might be a turning point."
"Wasn't that demon corpse so powerful before, and now it's not captured?"
"..."
"What are you still waiting for?"
Elder Sun glanced outside, and behind the window paper, he saw countless heads illuminated by the firelight. But he didn't feel festive; he only felt disturbed and confused, and his face grew even more worried.
He sighed softly and said, "I know about capturing the demon corpse. Many people say that there's a sage hidden in this Stone Horse Town, and the Fairy Miao Shan hasn't been straightforward with us these days. She only keeps telling us not to worry, but who can truly put their minds at ease?"
"The more lively this fair is, the more uneasy I feel!"
"I don't know what the Fairy Miao Shan is thinking. She doesn't mention anything about the outside world and only wants to hold this fair. Doesn't she consider that the guardian deities of your pavilion are all dead? What will you use to bless the commoners later?"
"It's better to be low-key. Think about the Red Lantern Goddess Guild. Even with such high spiritual power, the Red Lantern Lady stays in Mingzhou to gain blessings from blood sacrifices..."
"..."
After speaking for a while, he seemed to feel that he shouldn't talk about the One Coin Sect like this, so he shook his head and said, "Sigh, it's better for Young Master Sun to join the Red Lantern Goddess Guild."
Just then, a burst of trumpets and drums sounded from the street outside, and the crowd on the street became excited and agitated.
Even Sun Family's Young Master Sun, who was guarding the door outside, hurriedly knocked on the door and said, "Father, Uncle Hu, come and see, the altar is here..."
"There's nothing on the altar, and they still want to set up an altar?"
Elder Sun was also stunned for a moment. He stood up and opened the window to look outside. In the distance, the crowd had split into two sides, and countless commoners were shouting and kneeling by the roadside.
At the other end of the street in Stone Horse Town, a huge object was slowly approaching. From afar, it was a large wooden palanquin adorned with red flowers, surrounded by numerous devotees. In front were the disciples of the Dharmaraja, dressed as pathfinding spirits, jumping and skipping.
On both sides were paper-clothed musicians holding suonas and striking copper gongs, creating a ceremonial atmosphere.
On the altar, at its four corners, stood the four Dharmarajas of the One Coin Sect, their upper bodies bare and faces smeared. They held bowls of clear water, dipping and sprinkling it towards the sect members on both sides of the road and the commoners kneeling on both sides, seeking blessings.
The massive altar, carried on the shoulders of strong One Coin Sect warriors, moved forward in three-step intervals, with the four Dharmarajas sprinkling sweet dew to bestow blessings.
This street, which ran through the entire Stone Horse Town, was only three or four li long, but it was now filled with kneeling commoners, their faces full of anticipation, awaiting blessings from the deities on the altar.
This spectacle was even more impressive than when the One Coin Sect first established its pavilion and summoned the four guardian deities. The most crucial thing was that the existence enshrined in the center of the altar made Elder Sun's eyes widen in surprise...
...A red lantern!
There was no Nine-Heavens Lotus Mother or Great Fortune and Wealth-Blessing God, nor any other fancy names and statues of deities. There was only a single, enchanting red lantern.
Mysterious and eerie, the red lantern was surrounded by the four Dharmarajas and countless devotees, drifting slowly from the other side of the street.
It attracted the attention of countless commoners in the town and led many to bow their heads towards it.
This was what set the One Coin Sect apart from other sects. The Red Lantern Goddess Guild worshipped the Red Lantern Lady, and the Blue Robe Sect worshipped the Blue Robe Evil Ghost. But the One Coin Sect worshipped whatever was enshrined on its altar.
The devotees didn't even know whom they were worshipping.
Of course, for Elder Sun, this was completely different. When he saw the red lantern, he was completely dumbfounded.
He stared at the red lantern, high on the altar, gently swaying in the night wind, and thought he must have seen wrong. He rubbed his eyes vigorously and turned his head back towards Hu Ma, saying, "Brother Hu... your Red Lantern Lady..."
'The One Coin Sect has no guardian deities, so they had to borrow our Red Lantern Lady for a while...'
Hu Ma hadn't intended to discuss this issue, but since it came up, he felt a bit embarrassed and said, "No, this has nothing to do with our Red Lantern Lady..."
"There are many who use red lanterns as magical artifacts and substitutes in the spirit world. Perhaps the One Coin Sect's choice is just a coincidence."
"..."
"..."
Whether Elder Sun believed it or not was unknown, but this matter had nothing to do with him. If Brother Erguotou wanted to find the person responsible, he wouldn't find it on his head...
...Besides, what could he do even if he did?
As a devoted attendant to the Scarlet Lantern Lady, I was tasked with managing her affairs, but the One Coin Sect took a liking to me and wanted me to lead their family. How could I possibly betray the Red Lantern Goddess Guild for them?
That's unreasonable.
So, if I help the Scarlet Lantern Lady expand her influence and gather more incense worship, wouldn't that be a great achievement?
Putting aside these thoughts for now, I noticed the altar approaching, and Hu Ma, with his heightened senses, was intrigued by the Lantern Festival Fair. The altar slowly made its way from the other end of the town, allowing all the commoners to receive the blessings of the sweet dew.
This sweet dew, as it's called, is the clear water held by the four Dharmarajas at the four corners of the altar. Every three steps, they would dip the water and sprinkle it in all directions, bestowing blessings upon the people.
The most crucial part was that the commoners who were sprinkled with this 'sweet dew' on their heads seemed to instantly feel rejuvenated, as if experiencing the arrival of some divine presence. Their expressions became increasingly devout and excited.
"Is this what blessings feel like?"
Hu Ma, having already learned the secrets of the One Coin Sect and with his heightened divine soul from achieving the Dharmakaya, had sharper vision and keenly noticed this crucial detail.
There was truth and deception.
What Hu Ma could discern was that these so-called blessings were actually soul nourishment. Every drop that fell would invigorate the commoners' soul light.
The soul light was closely tied to one's life force, and even a slight touch of spiritual power could make one feel refreshed and experience a different sensation from usual.
But on a deeper level, it seemed that the One Coin Sect was, in a way, bestowing blessings upon the people. These people had low destiny and thin blessings, and with the One Coin Sect's blessings, they could gain more blessings and live better lives.
However, the One Coin Sect was just a makeshift operation. How could they have such power to bestow blessings upon the people?
His mind flashed to the ten large vats.
They were called Evil Suppressing Vats, and their power came from the blessings within.
But destiny, blessings, and destiny were all abstract concepts, hard for ordinary people to comprehend. Trying to understand them could be harmful.
Ordinary people might know the terms, but they couldn't grasp their concrete meanings or the specifics they represented.
Only those who had reached a certain level of cultivation could perceive their existence. Hu Ma, having gained insight from the One Coin Sect, had a glimpse of these concepts, expanding his knowledge.
What blessings?
The ten vats contained corpses, as the records stated. They were nourished with the blood, flesh, and bones of the Earth Deity, along with the remains of enlightened demons and corpses that died under specific conditions, remaining undecayed and uncorrupted. These were called 'Blessing Corpses,' a bizarre existence.
Speaking of which, this was as mysterious as the Dark General.
However, there were indeed folk tales about accumulating blessings by nurturing such strange entities.
The ten vats of the One Coin Sect were filled with the wealth of devotees, their prayers creating thick blessings. This was why the One Coin Sect could still hold the Lantern Festival Fair even after the death of their protective deities.
To be clear, those protective deities were just nominal members of the One Coin Sect, working for them. The ten vats were the true foundation the One Coin Sect had built over the years.
...
...
"Hmm, a makeshift operation doing big things..."
As Hu Ma understood the situation, he couldn't help but sigh softly, "The leader of the One Coin Sect is clueless, and his assistants aren't exactly sages either. But the sect's most fundamental method was taught by a sage, using the most mysterious means to accomplish the most righteous task."
"They've accumulated resources over the years to prepare for this Lantern Festival Fair. Then, through the word of the commoners, spreads the fame of the One Coin Sect, attracting more incense worship."
"With more incense worship, they gain the popular will, which is destiny..."
"..."
It was clear that not only Hu Ma had realized this, but Elder Sun, upon seeing the altar, had already narrowed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. His talisman armor and weapon were quickly retrieved by those beside him.
At the banquet behind them, the old pavilion master of Great Treasure Bao, the head clerk of the Ten Thousand Horses Guild, and the dryad's son-in-law, along with other high-level cultivators from various sects, lost their interest in the food and drink. They exchanged glances, nodding slightly to each other.
The entire Stone Horse Town was abuzz with the appearance of the altar, and the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival Fair continued to rise. Hu Ma stood amidst the crowd, narrowing his eyes.
Those outside the town would likely not allow the One Coin Sect to hold such a grand event, as it would have a significant impact.
I hadn't planned to get involved, but since I'm here...
PS: Thanks to 【Zhuo Yao】, 【Chief Genius Gege Wu】, 【Kevin Taoist】, 【An Xiao Guo Zi】, 【Bingshue Xiaoxue'er】, 【BGC】, and 【Yi|Lu Ren Jia|Yi】 for becoming new alliance leaders.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
