The old man did not place "Qin Ran" on the stone altar. Instead, he handed him over to the four maidservants who had been waiting for some time.
The four maidservants carried "Qin Ran" into a room off to one side.
A pool, incense, flower petals.
The four maidservants meticulously washed "Qin Ran's" entire body and changed him into clean, fitting white clothes. Throughout the process, "Qin Ran" remained asleep.
Only...
The corners of his mouth kept turning upward.
As though he were desperately holding back a laugh.
His face also could not help revealing an expression of enjoyment.
The four maidservants, their heads lowered as they worked, did not notice anything unusual.
By the time they looked up, "Qin Ran" had returned to his unconscious state.
When "Qin Ran" was placed on the stone altar once more, an oil lamp had already been lit at each of the altar's four corners.
Clear oil, flames the size of peas.
Threads of fragrance drifted from the burning flames. Unlike the heavy scent of incense, this fragrance brought calm and peace.
Clearly, some kind of tranquilizing medicine had been added to the oil.
Of course, that was far from the oil lamps' only purpose.
"You should feel honored."
"Not only have you become one chosen by my lord, but you will also gain supreme 'glory' once again in your own form!"
Standing before the altar, the old man looked at "Qin Ran" and spoke softly.
After speaking, the old man fell to his knees and began praying under his breath.
As the old man prayed, the flames in the oil lamps shot up from pea-sized sparks and became three-foot pillars of fire.
"Hear my voice, O great one!"
"You are the child of the heavens."
"You overlook the earth."
"Your majestic body