Manduo Mountain Village.
"O, Upper God on high, You are truly magnificent! So there really are True Gods in this world..."
A beautiful matron with a graceful figure and alluring charm shivered, her eyes filled with shock, her excitement indescribable.
She was none other than the mistress of Manduo Mountain Village—Madam Wang, whose given name was Li Qingluo.
She was also Murong Fu's maternal aunt.
"Auntie, how is it? I didn't lie to you, did I? The God of Hongmeng is the one and only True God, incomparable to those false gods. You merely prayed once, and now you are already at the Innate Peak!"
Murong Fu thoroughly enjoyed the astonished expression on Li Qingluo's face as he spoke with a smile.
He had rushed over from Canhe Village to tell Li Qingluo about the God of Hongmeng. Then, under her skeptical gaze, he had her pray with him once.
"Innate Peak?"
Li Qingluo returned to her senses, only then realizing that her Cultivation Level had indeed broken through.
Although she was the daughter of Wu Yazi and Li Qiushui, her Cultivation Level was quite poor, originally just at the Houtian realm.
And now, she had reached the Innate Peak.
"I really broke through to the Innate Peak! The Upper God is truly great, so generous!"
Li Qingluo's body trembled like a flower in the wind, her emotions at this moment beyond words.
Murong Fu struck while the iron was hot, hurriedly saying, "Auntie, a breakthrough in your Cultivation Level is nothing. If you offer sacrifices to the Upper God and spread His teachings, you will receive even greater divine grace. Not to mention improving your Cultivation Level, achieving immortality and eternal youth is not just a dream."
"Eternal youth!"
"Eternal youth!"
These words seemed to possess an infinite magic, irresistible to any woman.
Especially for a matron in her forties like Li Qingluo, it was even harder to resist.
She took great care of herself, but wrinkles had still appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her skin had begun to sag.
She didn't want to grow old, but against time, she was powerless.
But now, the hope for eternal youth had appeared.
"Nephew, how should I offer sacrifices to the Upper God?" Li Qingluo asked, her eyes blazing with eagerness. Her gaze towards Murong Fu no longer held its previous disgust but was full of fawning praise.
"Auntie, I am preparing to offer sacrifices to the Upper God, and right now, we lack a centerpiece sacrifice. I came here today hoping to have you join me in worshipping the Upper God."
"You're so thoughtful, Nephew. Yuyan was indeed right about you. Tell me, what do you need? Anything I have, I'm willing to offer as a sacrifice to the Upper God!" Li Qingluo readily understood and generously declared.
These sacrifices are for the Upper God, and the more I offer, the greater the benefits I will receive.
Although Murong Fu would undoubtedly benefit the most, she had no alternative.
All matters concerning the sacrifice were in Murong Fu's hands.
She could only rely on Murong Fu.
"Auntie, you've witnessed the majesty of the Upper God. To be honest, the treasures and martial arts secret books we offer are, in truth, merely mundane items of little worth to the Upper God!"
"But besides these, we can't find anything better!" Li Qingluo frowned. Her most precious possessions were gold, silver, jewels, and the martial arts secret books left by Li Qiushui in the Lang Huan Jade Cave.
"Auntie, you have one more thing. I received a God's Revelation and saw the future: Cousin Yuyan is the one favored by destiny in our world!" Murong Fu revealed his true intentions. Fearing that Li Qingluo might not understand, he elaborated, "One favored by destiny is blessed with great fortune, like a favored child of the heavens!"
"No way!" Li Qingluo's expression changed, and she sternly refused, her voice sharp, "I can gather other beautiful women, but I cannot offer Yuyan as a sacrifice! She is my only daughter!"
"Auntie, you misunderstand," Murong Fu said, his expression unchanging as he patiently persuaded her. "Offering Cousin Yuyan as a sacrifice doesn't mean taking her life. Instead, it allows her to ascend to the God's kingdom to serve the Upper God. This is a blessing countless women couldn't hope to attain even in a hundred lifetimes!"
"Auntie, think about it. Once Cousin Yuyan ascends to the God's kingdom and serves the Upper God, won't achieving immortality and eternal youth be effortless?"
"This is a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step, far better than becoming an empress in the mortal realm! She will be ascending to the God's kingdom to serve the Upper God!"
"Auntie, surely you don't want to prevent Cousin Yuyan from obtaining such an immense opportunity? Would you truly stop her from ascending to the God's kingdom?"
Murong Fu's words struck Li Qingluo's heart deeply, and his last sentence provided her with the perfect justification.
This isn't selling my daughter; it's for her own good.
What reason do I have to refuse?
"Can Yuyan really ascend to the God's kingdom?" Li Qingluo asked for confirmation, her heart now swayed.
As the saying goes, when one person achieves enlightenment, their entire household benefits.
If Wang Yuyan could ascend to the God's kingdom to serve the Upper God, she, as her mother, would certainly gain even greater benefits. And this isn't a bad thing for Wang Yuyan either.
"Of course! You've already witnessed the magnificent majesty of the Upper God, Auntie. Would I ever deceive you?" Murong Fu hurriedly reassured her, knowing the matter was essentially settled.
As for Wang Yuyan, with him and Li Qingluo present, it wouldn't be an issue at all.
"Mother, Cousin, are you really going to sacrifice me to that... Upper God?"
Just then, a pleasant, yet sorrowful voice suddenly rang out. A girl with exquisitely delicate features stood at the door, her beautiful, watery eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Murong Fu and Li Qingluo.
She was dressed in a white gown that perfectly outlined her delicate and graceful figure. She was like a masterpiece of the Creator, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Cousin, the Upper God is the most exalted and great True God. If you ascend to the God's kingdom to serve Him, immortality and eternal youth will be as easy as turning over your hand. This is an enormous opportunity that ordinary people can hardly hope for in a hundred lifetimes..." Murong Fu spoke with great fervor, painting a fantastical picture, but Wang Yuyan didn't truly hear any of it. She only understood that her beloved cousin intended to sacrifice her to some god.
And her mother had actually agreed.
"Fine, fine, fine! Since you want to sacrifice me to this god, then go ahead! I'll consider this life as returning what I owe you!" Wang Yuyan shouted through her tears.
She had completely lost all hope in Murong Fu.
"Auntie, please try to persuade Cousin Yuyan. Let her pray for a while. After she witnesses the grandeur of the Upper God, she will surely be captivated. I'm going to prepare the sacrificial matters," Murong Fu said.
"Alright!" Li Qingluo nodded.
Time passed quickly.
The setting sun dyed the sky a bloody red, casting a crimson hue over everything. Bao Butong and the four great retainers arrived with a fleet of large ships.
On board were carefully constructed altars. There were also offerings: the three sacrificial animals, six kinds of livestock, and the five grains, along with gold and silver treasures, Spiritual Ginseng, and martial arts secret books.
Upon receiving the news, Murong Fu rushed over and took personal charge, ordering the altar to be moved ashore and then arranging all the sacrifices upon it.
Simultaneously, the martial arts secret books and some rare treasures from the Lang Huan Jade Cave at Manduo Mountain Village were also placed upon the altar.
Wang Yuyan walked over gracefully. She cast a cold glance at Murong Fu, remained silent, and directly ascended the altar.
In that moment, she seemed to have aged ten years. Not in physical age, but in maturity.
She had finally seen Murong Fu's true colors.
How foolish I had been before.
It wasn't entirely her fault. She had grown up in Manduo Mountain Village, never venturing out. She was simple-minded and had met very few men in her life. Besides Murong Fu, the others were all servants and household retainers. What I had thought was love was merely a consequence of having no other choice. I had met so few men.
"Yuyan, once you ascend to the God's kingdom, you must serve the Upper God well and not be willful!" Li Qingluo said tearfully, her heart heavy with reluctance as she tried to comfort Wang Yuyan. "Your cousin said that if we believe in the Upper God and strive to spread His faith, we too might have the chance to ascend to the God's kingdom one day. Then, we can be reunited!"
Wang Yuyan still didn't speak.
"Cousin, don't blame your aunt. If you must blame someone, blame me," Murong Fu stepped forward and said. "A mortal's life is fleeting, a few short decades before rosy cheeks turn to bleached bones. To be able to ascend to serve the Upper God, to achieve immortality and enjoy eternal life—this is a blessing that countless people might not encounter in a hundred lifetimes. Your aunt is only doing this for your own good."
If I were twenty years younger, I too would wish to ascend and serve the Upper God! Li Qingluo sighed inwardly, her thoughts unintentionally drifting to that heartless Duan Zhengchun. It is truly too late for regrets now.
"Young Master!"
A delicate, virginal fragrance heralded their arrival. Ah Zhu, elegantly dressed and accompanied by Ah Bi, walked in gracefully. Her movements were light, her figure slender and graceful.
Dressed in red, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her lovely, pretty face bloomed with a smile like the first blossoms of spring, exuding a captivating charm.
Her skin was snow-white and tender, smooth and radiant.
Her petite, delicate frame was full of life and charm, a truly rare beauty.
Murong Fu's eyes brightened. "Very good," he said, thoroughly satisfied. "From now on, you belong to the Upper God. Once you arrive in the God's kingdom, serve Him devotedly!"
"Yes, Young Master."
Although Ah Zhu was not pleased to be offered as a sacrifice, she did not resist.
She was originally a Murong family maid; now, she was merely changing masters.
Moreover, after reciting the "Meditation Method" and witnessing the majesty of the Upper God, she had already become a devout believer.
"Go on up!" Murong Fu said, his heart filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. For this sacrifice, he had put forth almost everything he currently possessed.
Although reciting the "Meditation Method" had earned him divine grace and significantly advanced his Cultivation Level, he still felt no certainty that the Upper God would actually descend.
Ah Zhu stepped onto the altar built of jade stone, standing beside Wang Yuyan, who was robed in white. One in red, the other in white; like plum blossoms and orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums, each possessed her own unique beauty and charm.
Everything was ready.
Murong Fu stood at the very front of the altar.
Li Qingluo was next.
Then came Bao Butong and the four great retainers.
Finally, there were the thousands of servants from Canhe Village and Manduo Mountain Village.
THUD.
Murong Fu knelt directly on the ground and prayed fervently:
"Great God of Hongmeng, You are the God of Creation, the God of all beings, the Creator and The Sovereign of the universe and all things within it.
You are our Father and our God.
Your light illuminates the path before us.
You are our faith."
As Murong Fu prayed devoutly, the throngs kneeling behind him joined in. Their voices merged into a mighty torrent, growing ever louder.
"Your devout followers offer these most precious sacrifices as proof of our unwavering faith in You!
We pray for Your blessing, so that Your humble followers may spread Your divine radiance throughout the world, letting Your light shine upon all lands!
May Your Divine Power be eternal! May Your Divine Fire never be extinguished!
Great God of Hongmeng! Most exalted and sacred! The one True God!"
At the prayer's culmination, Murong Fu's fervent voice, carrying both humble supplication and a kind of manic excitement, grew louder and louder.
Finally, his voice boomed like thunder, reverberating throughout Manduo Mountain Village.
And as he prayed, the heavens began to transform...