Ritual (Seeking Collection)

"Since I am the Creator, and my mysterious energy is the source of spirituality... I should be able to alter the world of dreams, or in other words, interfere with reality through the spirit."

With this thought in mind, Aaron entered the dream world.

He navigated with practiced ease to the interior of a building, a place where only core members of the cult could gather, and where the High Priest occasionally imparted knowledge of the occult.

He was in luck today; the one on the podium was none other than the High Priest himself.

The old man, bald with wrinkled, tattooed skin, had wisps of black flame leaking from his eyes—a manifestation of spirituality that had reached a certain stage and was on the verge of overflowing.

He spoke slowly, his voice deep:

"Everyone here has experienced the initial awakening of their spirituality. I shall teach you how to resist sickness, how to avoid danger, how to gain power... and perhaps, eventually, how to ascend that radiant staircase, draw near to our deity, and achieve immortality!"

After fully stirring the emotions of the congregation below, the High Priest's smile grew even wider: "Of course, with your currently shallow spirituality, you can only touch upon the simplest of rituals. Remember, all rituals require the participation of one's spirit. Therefore, those who are not true Unburnt need not attempt them, unless you wish to consume your own life force as a substitute!"

The High Priest picked up a twig at random: "The ritual I am about to demonstrate has only one simple effect: pathfinding! It can help you find a way out as quickly as possible... Note! This is not just for when you are idiotically lost; if you encounter dangerous species skilled in deception, or become trapped in mysterious mists, it can also provide you with a way out!"

"The entire ritual is divided into the rite, the necessary items, the incantations, the target, the prayer, the offerings, and so on... Note, we can only pray to the great Black Sun, the Lord of the Eclipse. The rite cannot have the slightest error, or it will lead to terrifying consequences..."

Aaron stood to the side, nodding from time to time.

It was evident that, thanks to the tireless corruption—or perhaps, the whispers—of those great existences, the occult system of this world was expanding rapidly, even giving birth to a unique mysticism.

It encompassed numerous secret traditions and subjective verification methods, involving ritualism, transcendental languages, meditation, spiritualism, dowsing, numerology, natural magic, witchcraft, astrology, and alchemy; it was truly all-encompassing and filled with wonders.

On the podium, the High Priest continued: "There is also a choice of timing for the ritual. Our Lord favors the hours of dawn and dusk, when the transition between day and night offers the highest probability of success. Do not attempt it at high noon when the sun is at its most intense; last time, a fellow believer unfortunately burned himself to a crisp..."

"When praying, avoid ambiguity, slurred speech, or long pauses, lest the Lord feel offended..."

Aaron nodded, having gained some understanding of ritualism: "These mysterious rituals primarily use one's own spirituality to pry open the mysterious, communicate with the great existences in the void, and pray for power... However, is the Black Sun the type of fellow who treats believers with gentleness?"

He felt that this High Priest had only grasped a fraction of the sacrificial path and was far from proficient.

Perhaps the connection was merely to a tiny glimmer of the Black Sun's radiance, and the so-called ritual feedback was just the natural reaction of that light, much like an automated program.

"Otherwise, given the madness of the Black Sun, anyone communicating with Him should be a raving lunatic!"

Aaron thought with a mocking tone, wondering what expression the Black Sun Cult would have if they truly managed to contact the Black Sun.

"Alright, the current situation is that I cannot interfere with this world... but what if someone else takes the initiative to contact me?"

"For example, a believer uses their own spirituality to trigger a ritual, connecting to an unknown existence in the void..."

Aaron pondered for a moment, then felt somewhat dejected: "Uh... are there any lunatics crazy enough to pray to the unknown?"

"And my connection, or rather my range of perception, certainly cannot compare to those Black Sun fellows... It's quite difficult to pose as an Evil God."

"If I were to design a ritual for myself, what should the honorific be? The Creator above Creation? The Great Observer behind the multiple veils? Huh? Even if I designed the honorific, I have no way to tell it to my believers..."

Aaron realized he had reached a dead end.

To interfere with the world, one must have believers—to have believers, one needs to establish rituals and honorifics—to get the honorific into the ears of believers, one needs to interfere with the world first!

"This is a damn paradox!"

Aaron muttered to himself: "I suppose I'll just continue being an invisible spectator... Maybe I'll stumble upon some idiot or lunatic who uses a ritual with an unclear target, and it just happens to be sensed by me!"

On the stage, the High Priest had finished today's lecture.

He looked down at the many Unburnt, his eyes filled with a desire and greed that were barely concealed.

It was only then that Aaron noticed Xiu had mingled among the Unburnt, clearly having completed the first stage of the ritual and successfully awakened her own spirituality.

"This woman actually has quite a talent for the Path of Darkness."

The fellow who was currently powerless in reality couldn't help but make a sour, mocking remark.

He followed Xiu all the way back to the small cabin where she lived with the two children.

By now, there were no more watchers outside the cabin; it seemed they had been fully accepted by the Black Sun Cult.

Entering the house and checking the surroundings with vigilance, Xiu quickly shut the door.

"Auntie Xiu!"

Inside the house, Aike and Lin were both present, and they let out a cheer upon seeing her.

"Alright, I have become an Unburnt and learned the incantations; we can leave this place."

Xiu pulled back a floorboard, revealing a large bag filled with the black bread and canned goods they had saved up over the past few days, along with other wilderness tools.

"I have inquired, and the Black Sun Cult is not as simple as it appears on the surface... The rumored burning of living people does exist, and the High Priest may be waiting for specific spiritual numbers and dates... We must leave, we cannot stay, hmm... even if we are outside, we can continue to study the Path of Darkness..."

Xiu did not realize that she had already been subtly changed without knowing it.

For instance, she no longer resisted the faith of the Black Sun.

This escape was merely a desire to get away from the Black Sun Cult, not to get away from the Black Sun itself!

"But... Auntie Xiu, do we really have to leave? I feel like those uncles and aunts are very kind; they even gave me and my sister candy."

A look of hesitation appeared on Aike's face.

Xiu's expression shifted, suddenly becoming bewildered and pained...

She seemed to have thought of something, her face turning deathly pale: "This influence is too terrifying... If it affects me, an adult, like this, you two children must leave here immediately and stay away from the 'mysterious'!"