The World of Nine Songs of the Sky.
Great Qin Empire.
Xianyang.
Since King Ying Zheng of Qin began constructing altars on a grand scale, proclaiming that the Great Qin was destined by heaven and that deities would manifest on the day of the sacrifice, inviting all schools of thought and forces from the Six States to observe the ceremony, Xianyang, both within and without, has been rife with undercurrents.
Inside and outside Xianyang.
Undercurrents surged.
Prime Minister's Mansion.
Officials from Lu Buwei's faction gathered, discussing animatedly.
"Prime Minister, what exactly does the King intend to do?"
A young official was utterly bewildered: "It's one thing for the King to sacrifice to the gods, but why declare that deities will manifest? And why invite all schools of thought and forces from the Six States to observe?"
"If no deity manifests, won't he lose face completely?"
"It's that young brat who'll lose face. The sacrifice was his idea, and the Prime Minister didn't support it. If that brat becomes a laughingstock, won't it only highlight the Prime Minister's prestige?"
Another official said dismissively.
This matter seemed to be entirely to their advantage, with no downsides.
Even if it might harm Qin's prestige, it was nothing serious.
The young official shook his head and said, "Although the King is young, he is not foolish. And in recent years, the King has been secretly suppressing the Prime Minister, seeking to gain power!"
"He must know that if the deities cannot manifest, his prestige will suffer greatly, and he will no longer be able to suppress the Prime Minister. The fact that he dares to do this suggests he has some reliance, and we must be on guard!"
"What reliance could there be in sacrificing to the gods? I heard he even specifically invited the Yin-Yang School. I think he must be planning to use their unorthodox methods to pull off some trickery!"
"How easily can the various schools of thought and the forces of the Six States be deceived?"
"The King doesn't actually need to deceive the various schools of thought or the forces of the Six States; he only needs to deceive the common people!"
"As long as he can deceive the common people, it will greatly boost his prestige!"
"That's true!"
"Then we absolutely cannot let him succeed!"
"Exactly!"
"We'll find someone to observe him secretly. If that young brat Ying Zheng tries to use any deceptive tricks, we'll expose him and make him lose face!"
...
Lu Buwei sat at the head of the table, watching his subordinates and retainers discuss, but he did not offer an opinion.
He also remained silent about everyone's desire to disrupt Ying Zheng's sacrifice.
He clearly acquiesced.
"Alright, it's almost time. We should depart!"
Lu Buwei looked at the sky, stood up, and said.
"Yes, Prime Minister!"
Everyone followed Lu Buwei out of the city.
The altar was built in the center of a wide, open plain outside the city, constructed from earth, wood, and jade, costing Ying Zheng immense financial and material resources.
If this sacrifice were to fail, he would surely be accused of squandering resources and depleting the national treasury.
Surrounding the altar were neat rows of Old Qin armored warriors, holding long halberds.
Brave and spirited.
The Black Dragon banner fluttered in the wind, and the battle cries soared.
Mighty.
Grand.
Moving like thunder.
Still as a mountain.
Outside the armored warriors were 100,000 common people from within and outside Xianyang.
The various schools of thought, and the forces of various states.
They were all hidden among the crowd, secretly observing.
There were even assassins mixed in with the populace, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
On a mountaintop not far away.
A figure shrouded entirely in a black robe stood calmly, their profound and unfathomable gaze directed towards the tall, majestic altar in the center of the plain.
Behind him were numerous stunningly beautiful women, each with captivating charm and graceful bearing.
"Lord Donghuang, what exactly does Ying Zheng intend to do? Are there really gods in this world?"
A clear and moving voice rang out, like the cry of a phoenix, soft, melodious, and refreshing.
The speaker was the woman standing first on the left of the black-robed figure.
The woman was tall and graceful, with three thousand strands of silky black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, adorned with a beautiful and luxurious golden crow hairpin.
Her skin was as smooth and delicate as琉璃, and as pure and tender as mutton-fat jade.
She had the appearance of an immortal fairy, elegant and mysterious.
Her eyes seemed to hold endless stories.
Profound.
Charming.
As if they could draw one's mind in, intoxicating and making it impossible to extricate oneself.
She was the second-in-command of the Yin-Yang School, Dongjun Yan Fei.
"You'll see."
A calm voice, devoid of any emotion, emanated from Donghuang Taiyi, who was shrouded in a black robe.
His gaze remained unwavering, fixed on the front.
The Yin-Yang School excelled in observing the stars and predicting the future.
Fate is unpredictable, but not entirely inscrutable.
Ever since Ying Zheng began chanting the 'Contemplation Method,' the grand cosmic forces had shifted.
The Yin-Yang School, skilled in observing the stars and generally predicting future trends, naturally discovered that Qin, or rather Ying Zheng, seemed to have undergone some changes that they could not comprehend.
And at this very moment.
Ying Zheng sent them a message, stating that he would be sacrificing to a great true god.
Not the fictional or deceptive false gods of legend.
But a true god capable of manifesting.
The changes in Qin, coupled with the god Ying Zheng spoke of, captivated the Yin-Yang School.
This led Donghuang Taiyi to personally attend today.
He had never seen a true deity.
Nor did he know if deities truly existed.
But since the opportunity arose.
Regardless of whether it was real or fake.
He wanted to see it.
"I went to the palace earlier and met with the King of Qin. I discovered that he actually possessed the cultivation of a Grandmaster!"
The beautiful woman standing beside Yan Fei's red lips slightly parted, her voice ethereal.
She had rare purple long hair, styled into an exquisite bun, adorned with a beautiful and noble blue hairpin.
A pure white veil, like snow, covered her flawless jade-like face, precisely concealing her eyes, adding a touch of unique mystery to her aura.
Her figure was graceful and her curves exquisite.
A light blue, luxurious long dress trailed with a long train.
Beneath the hem of the skirt, a pair of long, beautiful legs, like ivory pillars, were revealed.
Every movement.
Exuded grace.
Noble and elegant.
She was the Moon God of the Yin-Yang School, and also Yan Fei's younger sister.
Other places.
Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Agriculturalism...
Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei...
The various schools of thought and the forces of the Six States had all arrived.
Inside Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng, clad in a black dragon robe, with the Tianwen sword hanging at his waist, ascended his exclusive carriage and slowly left the city, escorted by the army.
Zhao Gao attended to him, with Luo Net's top experts secretly deployed around.
In the carriage behind the procession, Jing Ni had already shed her metal wristguards and fishnet attire, changing into a beautiful long gown.
Her figure was slender and graceful.
Her curves were exquisite, delicate, and enchanting.
Like a magnificent peony.
Noble.
Elegant.
The Jing Ni sword lay flat on her fair, rounded thighs, her demeanor cold, her gaze sharp as a torch.
Stunningly cold and beautiful.
And like a blooming rose.
Beautiful.
Stunning.
Seductive.
Before long.
Ying Zheng's carriage arrived at the sacrifice site.
The civil and military officials had already arrived, waiting respectfully.
Seeing Ying Zheng, they all bowed: "Greetings, Great King!"
"Rise!"
Ying Zheng stood on the carriage, raising his hand in a gesture.
The ceremony concluded.
Ying Zheng stepped down from the carriage and ascended the altar.
The imperial altar had a multitude of elaborate rituals.
Ying Zheng could not omit them.
He waited patiently.
"What trick is King Qin playing? Mandate of Heaven, divine manifestation? What a joke!"
"Indeed, since ancient times, besides those who pretend to be gods, has any deity ever manifested?"
"Deities are simply nonexistent, all fabricated stories, and only those ignorant common people believe them!"
Many among the various schools of thought and the forces of the Six States grew restless.
They had seen too many such sacrificial ceremonies!
Which emperor didn't hold a few every year?
They had thought Ying Zheng's claims were so grand that there would be something different.
But in the end, it was just this?
...