Dragging the Gods Down from Their Altars
Time flies, and years pass quickly.
Before we knew it, it was early September, a time of harvest for all things.
In this era when we had largely moved beyond slash-and-burn agriculture but had not yet entered the stage of intensive farming, September was the harvest season for the vast majority of grain crops.
Millet, sorghum, rice, and wheat each have different requirements for climate and environment.
However, within the territory of the Guifang Kingdom, all food crops were basically planned according to a unified schedule, which can be regarded as a manifestation of the early stage of agricultural civilization.
Naturally, once the harvest was largely complete, the various forces in the Guifang Kingdom began to stir.
Everyone knew that the Gods of the Five Directions would conduct one last large-scale slave-hunting and sacrifice before the winter solstice.
Especially after the complete annihilation of the Guirong Clan.
This slave-hunting operation also had a vengeful element to it.
It is no exaggeration to say that this was a large-scale military operation deliberately launched by the Guifang Kingdom in order to rebuild its prestige in the region.
In primitive, Savage Wilderness times, large-scale killings and sacrifices were often the most direct way to demonstrate power and intimidation.
"How are the priests' preparations going?"
Seated on his throne, Chongming, the current ruler of the Guifang Kingdom, asked in a low voice.
Below Chongming, representatives of the nobles of the Guifang Kingdom sat cross-legged, draped in various exquisite animal-patterned robes and silks.
Those animal-patterned robes and silks were not simply clothing.
It is also engraved with various patterns and designs related to the Gods of the Five Directions, which are completely different from those of the Emperor Chongming.
Although the Guifang Kingdom outwardly reveres the concept of the unity of the Gods of the Five Directions, they secretly each have their own subordinates.
By extension, the various noble families of the Guifang Kingdom were also divided into different factions based on their beliefs.
The ruler of the Guifang Kingdom was merely a product of compromise among various powers, and could only be considered a "Common Lord" in a perfunctory manner.
Chongming was the representative of the Roaring Heaven Clan and the strongest promoter of this large-scale slave capture and sacrifice activity.
"The sacrifice has begun, and the divination results are in."
After a brief silence, one of the noble representatives raised his head and looked directly into Chongming's eyes.
"A shattered tortoise shell and raging war—this is not a good omen..."
His brows furrowed instantly, Chongming's eyes were filled with a sense of oppression at that moment.
"Are you questioning my decision!?"
In this day and age, priests represent wisdom, and gods symbolize power.
The way to connect the two is through divination, so the results of divination often reflect the gods' judgment on the future situation.
"Your Majesty, Zhongwu is not questioning your decision..."
Just then, an old man spoke up, interrupting the standoff between the two.
"However, the outcome of this divination is indeed significant, so perhaps we should make more thorough preparations."
"Furthermore, there have been reports of stolen supplies lately, which I consider an ominous sign."
Unlike the superstitious belief of the lower classes in divination, these nobles understood the essence of divination better than anyone else.
That was the will of the gods, not the will of the Guifang Kingdom.
When the major powers of the Guifang Kingdom want to work together to achieve a certain outcome, even the Gods of the Five Directions must compromise.
The large-scale slave capture and sacrificial rituals are undoubtedly the current "politically correct" Guifang Kingdom.
Especially in the event of large-scale theft of grain and supplies, this became almost an inevitable choice.
"Then we'll offer even more sacrifices!"
With a disdainful glance over the nobles below, Chongming set the tone without hesitation.
"For the glory of the Gods of the Five Directions, and for the prestige of the Guifang Kingdom, we must sweep away those forces that shelter runaway slaves with overwhelming force!"
With a single command from the king, the area surrounding the Guifang Kingdom instantly transformed into a living hell.
Countless Mountain Folk were forcibly captured and turned into "human sacrifices," and even those local forces that had long belonged to the Guifang Kingdom were no exception.
"You guys are really crazy..."
Upon seeing this, Deception Rabbit gave the exact same evaluation as last time.
Those local forces belonging to the Guifang Kingdom were, to some extent, the Guifang Kingdom's own reserve forces.
Given the right conditions, the Guifang Kingdom could bring those Mountain Folk under its rule and make them part of its territory at any time.
In fact, even in the battle with the Tufang Kingdom thirty years ago, the Guifang Kingdom had never done anything so outrageous.
"I think they're crazy too..."
Appearing silently beside Deception Rabbit, Xuan Hui's voice revealed an unprecedented hoarseness and depth.
"They were also citizens of the Guifang Kingdom, yet now they have become human sacrifices."
From their current position, the two could see the sacrificial altar in the distance and the piles of human heads falling to the ground.
Tumultuous!
A palpable stench of blood enveloped the entire Cliff Settlement City.
The eerie ghostly aura continued to expand outwards as the sacrificial ritual began.
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that such a gloomy and eerie place could actually be a city inhabited by living people.
Within the inner city, the people of the Guifang Kingdom revelled wildly, venting their excitement over the grand ceremony.
Outside the city, the Mountain Folk, who were not considered citizens of the Guifang Kingdom, trembled in fear and dared not even look up toward the inner city.
"I remember you told me last time that this is called faith."
Not at all surprised by Xuan Hui's appearance, Deception Rabbit raised an eyebrow and said.
"Everyone's gone mad, but I'm not completely mad yet..."
Without avoiding the topic, Xuan Hui simply smiled wryly and tapped the skull scepter in his hand.
"I used to think that the Mountain Folk weren't human, but just a group of talking livestock, two-legged sheep..."
"However, I overlooked one point: perhaps in the eyes of the Gods of the Five Directions, we are merely a flock of lambs offering faith!"
"Whenever it is within their power, the gods will naturally protect their lambs from being carried away by wolves."
"But when the gods want to eat meat, they will not hesitate to kill the lambs they have raised."
Xuan Hui's words were far beyond the priest's comprehension, and even Deception Rabbit was somewhat alarmed upon hearing them.
Are you questioning your own god?
Looking at the skull scepter in his hand, Xuan Hui uttered something even more meaningful.
"Gods?"
"Only those who are worshipped and revered are gods..."
"Those who are not worshipped or revered are nothing but demons."
His tone was stern and calm, but at that moment, a light shone in Xuan Hui's eyes—a light called "rebellion."
"My teacher told me that priests are the mouthpiece of the gods, the executors of their will."
"But I have a different view. The priests are the pioneers chosen by the people..."
"It is the priests who exalt the gods, and that is why the gods are called gods."
"When gods betray their people, even if they were once the ancestors of the Guifang Kingdom, the priests have the right and responsibility to pull them down from their altar!"
Monthly Pass / Recommendation Pass