"Xinzhan, Xinzhan."
A voice called out beside Cheng Xinzhan's ear.
"What is it, Patriarch?"
Cheng Xinzhan answered. He recognized the Tongxuan Patriarch's voice.
"Where are you? Do you have any free time lately?"
Shi Tongxuan asked.
"I'm at Iron-Raft Mountain in Qilu. I have time. What is it? Please go ahead."
Cheng Xinzhan replied.
"See if you can make a trip to the Three Xiang. Our Three Xiang Daoist Sect has driven off the Heavenly Silkworm Sect and reclaimed Mount Jiuyi, completing the recovery of the entire Three Xiang and cleansing the hibiscus land. Everyone is preparing to ascend Mount Jiuyi to report to Emperor Shun through sacrifice, and they would like you to serve as chief officiant. They asked me to contact you."
Shi Tongxuan's voice brimmed with delight.
"Really!"
Cheng Xinzhan was delighted to hear it too, his joy spilling into his voice. But then he said,
"I will certainly attend the ceremony to offer my congratulations, but there is no need to make me chief officiant. I contributed nothing to reclaiming Mount Jiuyi. How could I preside over the sacrifice? Such an honor would be more than I could bear."
Shi Tongxuan laughed heartily at that and replied,
"I might as well tell you the truth. It isn't your contributions everyone values, but your ritual offerings and ceremonies. The grandest ritual ceremonies held in the Divine Land in recent years have all been your work. That is why everyone thought of inviting you to lend this occasion its grandeur."
Cheng Xinzhan laughed too upon hearing this and said,
"That is no problem. I can come early to help plan things, but serving as chief officiant is absolutely out of the question. My skin truly isn't that thick."
"All right, come over first and we can discuss it."