Mount Tai.
It was said to be where Heaven and humanity met.
"Having received the Mandate of Heaven, may it enjoy longevity and eternal prosperity."
In ancient times, if an emperor had not come here to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth after ascending the throne, he could not be considered legitimate.
Today, the foothills of Mount Tai were crowded with people, shoulder brushing against shoulder.
Three thousand virgin girls stood beside the stairs leading up Mount Tai. Each carried a flower basket and continuously scattered flowers.
At the summit of Mount Tai stood a temple built entirely of white jade.
A huge golden statue of a deity stood inside the Mount Tai Temple, shining brilliantly.
Outside the temple.
Countless prominent figures had gathered there, waiting for the Heavenly Emperor's sacrificial ceremony to begin.
Among them were Moon Goddess of the Yin-Yang School, Gan Luo, and Tian Heng of the Agricultural School.
Even Xiaomeng, Sect Master of the Daoist School, was waiting outside.
They were shocked by the enormous thirty-meter-tall golden figure before them, then frowned deeply.
Ying Zheng had gone to such great lengths to create such a magnificent spectacle. If the final result proved disappointing, it would likely damage his authority.
After all, the world had only recently become peaceful. Even Xiaomeng, with her temperament of pursuing tranquility and noninterference, did not want to see the flames of war rekindled.
Just then, waves of excited cheers rang out.
Several thousand Iron-Blooded Soldiers, clad in armor, led the way. Ying Zheng sat atop the dragon carriage as he approached the temple.
All around him, many commoners knelt on the ground, gazing at Ying Zheng with fervent eyes.
In front of the temple, on the circular altar.
Amid everyone's anticipation, Ying Zheng walked toward the altar.
Gai Nie, the Great Qin Sword Saint, followed behind Ying Zheng to guard him.
The ministers knelt directly below the altar, while the commoners could only remain on either side.
But this still did nothing to diminish their excitement.
They knew nothing about the Heavenly Emperor. Their happiness came entirely from Ying Zheng.
As the man who had drawn upon the remaining might of six generations and unified the world,
his status in the hearts of these old Qin people was no less than the reverence people in the fifties and sixties had shown for the Great Teacher.
Of course, this was merely the opinion of these old Qin people.
At the head of the ministers, Wei Liaozi knelt on the ground, but he was heartbroken by Ying Zheng's actions.
Watching Ying Zheng walk step by step toward the altar, he felt as though it represented the gradual decline of the Qin State.
Yet he could do nothing.
Mount Tai was where Heaven's authority was bestowed upon humanity.
Even though he did not believe in ghosts and gods, he still held this place in deep awe.
He dared not show the slightest disrespect.
Besides!
He looked up at the frenzied expressions of the surrounding commoners, then gave a bitter laugh.
If he had just criticized Ying Zheng, these commoners would probably have attacked him en masse!
On the altar, Ying Zheng was already worlds apart from his former self. Although he did not turn his head, he could still sense the changes in everyone's emotions.
Apart from Wei Liaozi below the altar, the Yin-Yang School, Confucian School, Daoist School, Agricultural School, and the others all regarded Ying Zheng's sacrifice to the Heavenly Emperor with contempt.
"Hmph! Mayflies know nothing of the seasons, and summer insects cannot be told of ice!"
Ying Zheng did not explain. Once the sacrifice began, they would naturally understand how laughable their current thoughts were.
Ying Zheng came to a large three-legged bronze cauldron on the altar and stood there, then suddenly turned around.
After the crowd erupted in fervent cheers, they gradually fell silent.
"I have unified the Six States and brought the world under one rule. I built the Great Wall to suppress the Dragon Veins of the Nine Regions, defend my Great Qin, and protect my realm. With Mount Tai above us, I announce to the world in the name of the First Emperor: from this day forth, all people of Great Qin, regardless of gender or age, rank or status, shall worship the Heavenly Emperor, Emperor Donghua. These words shall remain unchanged throughout the Nine Regions and unaltered through all eternity!"
With the aid of transcendent power, Ying Zheng's voice resounded throughout Mount Tai.
After speaking, he lifted his robe and knelt before the divine statue.
"I pray that Your Majesty protect my Great Qin, granting it eternal prosperity, and let the people live and work in peace, free from calamity!"
Everyone was utterly horrified by this sight.
This was not Ying Zheng's first Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. In the past, even when offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, he had merely bowed slightly.
When had they ever seen Ying Zheng kneel?
Who exactly was this Emperor Donghua? How could he make the First Emperor kneel to this extent?
In a corner of the altar.
When a middle-aged man saw Ying Zheng kneel, a trace of excitement flashed through his eyes.
"Make your move!"
His lips moved slightly a few times. Dozens of men disguised as commoners and guards immediately sprang into action around him.
Soon, a guard standing on the altar to maintain order flashed a vicious look. He discarded his heavy halberd, drew a dagger, and stabbed at Ying Zheng when no one expected it.
"How dare you!"
Gai Nie truly deserved to be called the Sword Saint. Although Ying Zheng's action had distracted him for a moment, he still moved later but arrived first, blocking Ying Zheng's front.
His long sword flashed from its sheath. A streak of white light passed, and the assassin clutched his throat and collapsed dead!
Although he had failed, it was as though he had started something. Countless assassins tore off their disguises and charged at Ying Zheng.
The altar instantly descended into chaos.
"Protect His Majesty! Protect His Majesty!"
Panicked cries rang out one after another. However, as the ministers and commoners below fled in terror, the surrounding soldiers found it difficult to reach the altar immediately.
"Your Majesty, leave quickly!"
Regardless of how dissatisfied Wei Liaozi had been with Ying Zheng before, he still moved in front of him at the first opportunity.
Although Wei Liaozi was nearly seventy, he was worthy of being Great Qin's State Grandee. A dozen ordinary men could not get near him.
With him and Gai Nie guarding Ying Zheng, they actually managed to hold back the enemy's assault for a time.
Seeing this from a short distance away, Gongzi Jia immediately shouted furiously.
"If you don't act now, this Dog Emperor will escape!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a rumble came from the sky.
Everyone followed the sound and saw a gigantic Mechanical Bird flying up from the foot of the mountain. The gale stirred by its flight made it difficult for everyone to remain standing.
"The Mohist School's Mechanical Bird!"
Wei Liaozi's brows knitted together, and he spoke with an ashen expression.
The Mechanical Bird flew over the densely packed crowd and came to a steady halt above the altar.
Several figures then leaped down from the Mechanical Bird.
"Jing Ke, Xue Nu, Dao Zhi!"
Gai Nie looked at the three men and tightened his grip on his bronze sword.
He knew all of them. In a one-on-one fight, none of them would be his match.
But if they attacked together, even he could not defeat them immediately.
And that was exactly what happened. Gai Nie was entangled by the three of them, while the other assassins desperately held Wei Liaozi back.
There was now no one left beside Ying Zheng.
"Gather and disperse with the flowing sand; life and death leave no trace!"
A low murmur rang out. Another figure appeared atop the Mechanical Bird in the sky.
He had snow-white hair and held the Shark Tooth Sword, his eyes gleaming excitedly as he looked at Ying Zheng.
Killing the First Emperor would be enough to let him make a name for himself in the history books!
Amid the terrified gazes of the crowd, Wei Zhuang unleashed a full-powered slash at Ying Zheng!
"Not good!"
Gai Nie and the others felt their hearts sink to the bottom. The smiles had also vanished from the faces of Moon Goddess and the others from the Yin-Yang School.
"Gan Luo, go save him!"
Moon Goddess's voice was filled with urgency.
Their plans still required Ying Zheng's help. They only wanted Ying Zheng to reinstate the Yin-Yang School's influence; they did not want him dead.
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