Chapter 927: The Sacrificial Altar
Chapter 927: The Sacrificial Altar
The airport in Tong Shiyea bustled with a solemn air under the twilight's glow. A silver-white streak gradually descended from the horizon, piercing through the clouds and landing on the lengthy runway.
"The Egyptian Archaeological Bureau's plane has just touched down at Tong Shiyea Airport just a few minutes ago," a female reporter announced into the camera lens, broadcasting live.
"This archaeological expedition is led by none other than the Bureau's director, Isis Ishudal herself."
"Director Isis, a well-known participant in the first-generation Dueling City Grand Prix, who achieved an impressive quarterfinalist position in the prestigious tournament amidst a gathering of gods," the reporter continued.
"Her younger brother, Malik Ishudal, is even more renowned as the runner-up of the first-generation Dueling City Grand Prix and the former holder of the divine card, 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'."
"It is rumored that the Egyptian Archaeological Bureau has arrived for a significant collaboration with the Kaiba Corporation on a crucial project. The outside world speculates that there has been a major discovery in the field of Duel Archaeology."
The television screen displayed an image of Isis Ishudal.
Isis, now over thirty years old, had a chocolate-hued complexion, well-maintained, appearing no different from her younger days, with an added touch of maturity.
Facing the camera and the extended microphone, she scanned the room with an expressionless gaze before calmly responding, "Egypt is considered by many to be the birthplace of Duel Monsters. We at the Egyptian Archaeological Bureau have always taken it upon ourselves to unearth precious relics and vigorously promote the development of the Duel Monsters world."
"We will continue to maintain a close collaboration with the Kaiba Corporation, jointly advancing the progress of Duel Civilization."
In a hotel's executive suite, Malik Ishudal leaned back into the soft sofa, watching his sister's response on television with a smile, and teasingly said, "Sister, you're quite the natural in front of the camera. You're getting more and more adept at handling these interviews."
Malik flipped through his schedule.
"There's quite a lot planned for these days. Let's see...banquet, opening ceremony, banquet, oh, and golf."
Isis Ishudal replied with a hint of indifference, "We're not here to play, Malik."
"I know," Malik said.
He put away his smile and gazed out the window, lost in thought for a moment.
By now, the sky had darkened, and the night sky was filled with countless stars. The city streets bustled with traffic, even in the late hours, maintaining its busy demeanor.
"All three divine gods have left this world," Malik said, "With the departure of the divine gods, the soul of the Pharaoh has returned to the underworld. I thought that this was the end of the three-thousand-year-old curse that our Tomb Guardian clan has carried for generations. I truly believed it would all be over."
He turned to Isis, whose expression remained cold and unmoved.
"But nothing ever truly ends, does it, sister?" he said. "Every time you think you've escaped the past, it finds a way to catch up with you. Our Tomb Guardian clan will never truly have the fate of being able to stop fighting, right?"
Isis gently closed her eyes, and after a moment, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"It's not fate, Malik," she whispered, "We fight because we choose to fight. Because we are warriors, and no matter the era, the world will always need warriors."
"Well, I had a hunch you'd say something like that," Malik said with a hint of resignation. "But I think you also know that darkness is about to descend once more. And this time, there won't be a Pharaoh standing at the forefront of that darkness."
"Yes, the Pharaoh is no more."
Isis smiled faintly.
"But fear not, for a new ruler will always rise in this world."
Deep within the mountains, amidst the dense forest, a thick blanket of dark clouds loomed, as if the deep night sky had swallowed the last rays of sunlight. The clouds churned like boiling ink, and black lightning gathered within, each flash accompanied by a deafening roar, as if the wrath of a god was hidden within.
This was the gathering place of the Shenglin Sect.
High above, a jet was approaching the area.
"There's strong interference ahead, along with abnormal storms and lightning," the pilot informed You Xuan.
"I'm sorry, but it seems we can't proceed any further," the pilot apologized.
"It's fine," You Xuan said as he strapped on his jet-powered glider. He tapped a button to open the airlock and smiled at the pilot.
"Thank you for your efforts. I'll take it from here."
With that, he leaped out and vanished into the cloud sea.
Countless followers of the Shenglin Sect gathered in the forest clearing, encircling the sacrificial altar.
The high priest stood at the center of the altar, presiding over this sacred ritual. The followers' faces were solemn, their eyes filled with devotion, as they chanted ancient incantations in unison.
Suddenly, at the high priest's command, they all raised their hands.
In an instant, everyone felt as if a part of their soul had been drawn away. Within seconds, their bodies became exhausted, as if drained after an intense all-night duel. Those with weaker constitutions felt their legs go weak, and some even collapsed to the ground.
This was a sacrificial ritual. Sometimes, the offerings were living souls; other times, they were fairies. Occasionally, the followers had to offer their own energy.
Of course, the Yeshen deity was polite, at least in that he would leave his followers with a breath of life when taking their vitality. They might feel exhausted, but they wouldn't die.
After all, if the followers perished, the Yeshen deity would have to find new recruits, which would be quite troublesome. The deity did possess a basic awareness of sustainable development.
In return, the Yeshen deity would occasionally show them divine miracles.
Commonly, this would be in the form of lightning strikes or a few bolts of lightning. Sometimes, a tree would be felled, and other times, the deity would possess a priest or other high-ranking follower, delivering divine decrees.
Well, divine decrees was a nicer way of putting it; in simpler terms, it was the deity assigning new tasks.
But today, things went beyond expectations.
A particularly dazzling heavenly thunderbolt, like the wrath of a god, struck the altar directly. Instead of the expected explosion upon contact, it transformed into swirling whirlpools of lightning, encircling the altar.
All the followers widened their eyes in astonishment, and for a few seconds, they stared in disbelief.
Then, someone shouted, "Yeshen deity? It's the Yeshen deity!"
Everyone's bodies tingled with excitement.
Yes, it had to be the Yeshen deity, or at least an incarnation of the deity!
This was the first time such a thing had happened. In the past, the deity would only convey messages through priests or other high-ranking followers, and there had never been an instance of the deity personally descending in an incarnation.
So, everyone immediately prostrated themselves in worship.
You Xuan, who had landed in the center of the altar, brushed off the dust from his clothes and looked down at the devoted followers kneeling below.
Then, he burst out laughing.
He raised his hand solemnly.
"You may rise."
(End of Chapter)
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