Twelve jade pillars, carved from the twelve earthly branches, stand around the cold pool, forming a perfect circle that perfectly matches the shape of a full moon.
The statues of Zouyuejun and Gaoyuejun, once placed on their corresponding pillars, emitted a radiant light, but not a dazzling one; rather, it was a soft, luminous glow, like the gentle moonlight.
One symbolizes the beginning of a new era, implying the rising of a new day; the other symbolizes the masculine aspect of the moon, implying the height of summer.
Changming stared blankly at the incantations praying to the moon goddess on the balustrades, as if trying to think or recall something, and finally uttered only this one sentence—
"This seems to be... an extremely ancient symbol of the twelve phases of the moon, the moon goddess... Where did you receive this inheritance, my lord?"
Chen Shuangbai simply smiled.
Changming immediately realized he had spoken out of turn and said no more.
Next, Chen Shuangbai brought out many spiritual materials, mostly spiritual jade, crystals, and spiritual wood containing the essence of water, wood, and moonlight. Under Changming's guidance, with the pair of Moon Lord Jade Images and the twelve Moon Pillars as the core, he began to set up the real Lunar Rites that was the Jade Spirit Clan's heritage in Changming's memory.
Chen Shuangbai visited the Book Collection Cave again recently, asking the Book Spirit to help him search for relevant records about the Jade Spirit Clan. In the end, he found a few words among the vast sea of records.
The Jade Spirit Clan is an ancient race that lived on this continent tens of thousands of years ago. They were born from the essence of jade, are natural elves, are skilled in the arts of water and earth, worship the bright moon, and are very proficient in magic.
Wherever the Jade Spirit Clan has lived for a long time, the earth's veins will gradually give rise to jade mines. If this accumulation takes too long, new Jade Spirit Clan may be born.
However, the conditions for reproduction were too harsh, Jade Spirit Clan eventually disappeared into the long river of time.
Changming is not a true Jade Spirit Clan, but rather an "accident" born by chance, nurtured by the aura of a powerful Jade Spirit Clan, many years after the fortuitous opportunity Jade Spirit Clan's demise.
Perhaps because it inherited some of the Jade Spirit Clan's heritage, Changming itself still retains some of the Jade Spirit Clan's habits, including this rudimentary Lunar Rites.
But no matter how Chen Shuangbai listened, she couldn't help but be suspicious...
Changming form might be a paperweight, or a ritual object or jade artifact used in sacrifices, hence the rudimentary memories related to it within his sea of consciousness.
The entire setup process was quite complicated.
But Chen Shuangbai handled it with ease, or rather... this was originally his forte.
It took three full days for the foundation of the Moon Worship Array to take initial shape.
Changming, sensing the refreshing spiritual energy surging within him, was quite surprised and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's far more remarkable than I imagined... My lord, you truly have a connection with the Grand Yin!"
Chen Shuangbai smiled but didn't say anything.
He suddenly remembered something else, took out the jade horn that resembled a deer antler, and asked Changming, "This jade horn was left behind by the Clear and Bright Jade Venerable. Perhaps... it can enhance the ritual?"
Changming thought for a moment, then took it and submerged it in the pool.
That night.
The sky was clear and the moon, as bright as a plate, hung high in the sky.
The cool moonlight shone down, piercing through the thin clouds and mist at the peak, pouring down onto Cloud-Resting Terrace without any obstruction.
Chen Shuangbai stood by the cold pool, Changming crouched in the center of the formation. The white jade carving shimmered with a warm luster under the moonlight, and its emerald eyes became even more dazzling.
"My lord, we may begin!"
Chen Shuangbai nodded, then leaped into the air and landed in the center of the Twelve Moon Pillars, hovering in mid-air.
The handsome Daoist priest sat cross-legged, and a golden incense burner leaped out, hovering in front of him. A tiny spark inside flickered in and out, and the pure fragrance transformed into wisps of smoke that drifted out from it.
The Changming hung in the very center of the icy pool, radiating light. It opened its mouth and emitted a melodious chant, as if from ancient times, reciting an ancient mantra about the Grand Yin spirit nurturing all life, nourishing all things, and being the mother of all beings.
Clad in Qingyun clouds and Bai Ni,
Raise your long arrow and shoot the Heavenly Wolf.
I wield the remaining bow and surrender.
I draw water from the Big Dipper and pour cassia wine.
It sounded like the croaking of a toad, yet also like the chirping of birds; it seemed like celestial maidens singing in a heavenly palace, yet also like the howling of ghosts from the depths of the earth...
Amidst the pure fragrance and the melodious ancient songs, fleeting glimpses of light vanished like shadows, swirling and tumbling within the aroma, ultimately transforming into a sincere offering to the twelve moon goddesses.
The moonlight permeating the air seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, slowly converging towards the location of Changming.
But this was not plunder; they were invited.
The moonlight seemed moved by this ancient ballad, descending from the heavens to come and gladly keep its promise.
The " Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method " operates autonomously.
Numerous mysteries flowed through Chen Shuangbai's mind.
Chen Shuangbai felt like she had become a bridge.
A bridge connecting the bright moon in the sky with the base of this formation.
The divine inscriptions and patterns carved on the twelve pillars of the month glowed with a soft light one after another in this ancient song, their radiance flowing and their energy connecting, subtly forming a complete halo that linked him with the Changming, the Cold Pool, and the bright moon in the sky.
Feiguang and Gray Ball stood guard to the side.
Grand Yin) nurtures all things; it is the mother of all things.
The source of Feiguang's bloodline, the [ Cold Moon Golden-Plumed Eagle ], had a tendency to worship the moon, while Gray Ball, being a mushroom spirit, was also nourished by the moonlight. In this tranquil smoke, the two gradually fell into a comfortable slumber.
Only Changming still remembers his duty.
The twelve phases of the moon, the cycle of the four seasons, the interplay of yin and yang...
The formless and intangible moonlight that rushed down from the heavens gradually transformed into tassel-like substances, falling onto the cold pool. Instead of sinking, it floated on the surface, like radiant pearls.
Pure, clean... truly the Essence of the Moon!
I don't know how much time passed.
After the smoke slowly dissipated, Chen Shuangbai slowly woke up.
His cultivation level hadn't improved much, but his soul had been greatly satisfied, as if all the filth had been washed away in clear water, restoring its original purity, and his brows shone with an undisguised divine light.
This ritual pleased not only the moon goddesses but also Chen Shuangbai's own soul.
This is a gift from the Grand Yin.
Changming, bouncing on the surface of the pool, flicked his tongue and collected the round, sparkling pearls from the moon, finally presenting them to Chen Shuangbai with a proud expression. "My lord, these are the spoils of this moon-worshiping ceremony!"
Chen Shuangbai picked up a moon pearl, feeling the pure moonlight power within, and was very satisfied.
"Good!"
In the future, on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, when the moon is full, Changming can begin the Lunar Rites again.
The energy supply for [ Great Yin Dao Fruit ] has finally found a stable source.