The materials required for the Marquis Ritual were not many.
Zhao Hongxiu and the others had prepared them for him long ago.
The massive altar, great cauldron, golden bell, carriage, ceremonial canopy, and the rest—nothing was missing.
They had even been prepared according to the highest standards of the Marquis Ritual.
Everyone remaining at Peach Blossom Dock gathered around the altar.
They wore bright red robes, held sandalwood incense, and silently recited scriptures they had already memorized hundreds, even thousands, of times.
Zuo Yan, Mingyue, and the others had all come.
Even the Princess Consort had returned from the Underground Imperial Capital.
The old Prime Minister Yue Manlou and Hou Jun had come as well.
What surprised Chu Qing was this:
Sima Fengchang had also quietly come over in a red robe.
Chu Qing smiled and nodded to everyone before stepping onto the altar.
He lit the sandalwood incense, bowed to Heaven and Earth, then bowed to the Four Directions.
He chanted the scriptures.
He burned the ceremonial memorial.
Then he stirred his Spirit and Energy and activated the ritual.
The instant the ritual activated, Heaven and Earth shook.
The Liuli River trembled wildly.
The river water boiled like a great dragon, soaring into the air and coiling above Chu Qing's head.
The rivers below churned.
Within ten thousand miles of the Liuli River, fish and shrimp leaped from the waters, and every aquatic creature rejoiced.
The ritual continued.
Yue Manlou and the others remained on guard, afraid that the Unique Association would suddenly strike at Chu Qing.
Yet:
Even as the ritual neared its end, there was still no movement.
That made them secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
At the final stage of the ritual:
Chu Qing loudly proclaimed:
"I, Chu Qing, command the Liuli River, and am