Chapter 700: Day and Night Inverted, an Omen of Great Disaster!

"Your royal brother asked This Chen to offer you some guidance," Chen Changsheng said. "This Chen does not know much about the Way of Ghost Cultivation, but as for other paths, I can certainly help. Is there anything you don't understand, or anything you wish to learn?"

Xianle paused at these words. "I haven't thought about that."

"You can think about it now," Chen Changsheng said.

"Mister, what are you skilled in?"

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment. "If you are asking what I am skilled in..."

"The Art of Imperial Decree, sword arts, Formations, and the path of divine sense. This Chen knows a little about all of them."

"It seems ghost cultivation cannot learn the Art of Imperial Decree, and as for Formations and divine sense..."

Xianle wasn't particularly interested in the latter two, so she said, "Then I will learn the sword."

"It seems This Chen can only teach you sword arts, then," Chen Changsheng said somewhat helplessly.

Xianle smiled. "It doesn't matter. Anything is fine."

"Today is rather rushed. It would be impossible to teach you in person," he said. "This Chen will leave behind a trace of Sword Intent and a few sword stances for now. Comprehend them well."

Saying that, Chen Changsheng raised his hand and tapped Xianle's brow.

A gleam of golden light flowed from his fingertip and entered her brow.

A Sword Mark was imprinted squarely upon Xianle's forehead.

Xianle froze for a moment, reaching up to touch her brow.

A few simple sword moves and stances surfaced in her mind. They were foundational and not overly difficult.

"Once you master what you know now, the Sword Mark will teach you more advanced sword arts," Chen Changsheng said. "Progressing step by step is the only way to master the sword."

Xianle blinked. "What an incredible method..."

"In addition, take a trip to the Jingzhaoyin Office tonight," Chen Changsheng said. "This Chen might not return for a short while. Although you have these sword arts and stances, you still need someone to guide you. This Chen knows a Sword Immortal of ghost cultivation. Their path aligns well with yours, making them the perfect fit."

Xianle paused. "Ghost cultivation can also produce a Sword Immortal?"

Yet what astonished her even more was something else.

Ghost cultivation actually still existed in the Mortal World.

In her early years, the City God Lord had told her that the lineage of ghost cultivation was practically extinct in the Mortal World. Xianle had searched for it in the past, but her efforts had all been fruitless, and she had eventually given up.

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Naturally, there are."

As they spoke, the City God suddenly appeared at the door.

"Mister, the Investiture Scroll has begun."

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng immediately stood up.

"We will chat again when I return."

"Also, please inform the others for me," he added. "They do not need to wait for This Chen."

Xianle nodded, then asked, "Where are you going?"

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Just taking a long trip."

Saying this, he walked out of the side hall.

The City God glanced at Xianle, then turned and followed Mister Chen into another hall, pulling the doors shut behind them.

Xianle opened her mouth, feeling lost for a moment.

She still had so much left to say...

A sudden wave of melancholy washed over her, likely because his departure was far too rushed.

...

Meanwhile, in the plaza of the Imperial Palace.

Yan Ruchu held his breath in absolute focus, silent in deep thought for a long time.

The hundred officials knelt on the ground, bowing three times for the heavenly sacrifice.

Sheet after sheet of yellow paper fell into the Ritual Cauldron, igniting into a roaring fire. The scorching heat distorted the air, warping the sight of everything around it.

The blazing sun hung high in the sky.

Yan Ruchu glanced left and right, then spoke up, "I still have a request!"

His voice rang out.

The officials present looked bewildered.

Among them, the officials from the Ministry of Rites were the most astonished, freezing as if stunned.

According to the scheduled procedures, this was not supposed to happen.

By all rights, the heavenly sacrifice should have ended here.

Yan Ruchu turned back and said, "I invite the Bureau of Celestial Mandate to perform the rites."

The official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate froze. He hadn't received any such arrangement either, but imperial decrees could not be defied. He immediately stepped forward.

The official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate asked, "Your Majesty, what should be the main focus of this ritual..."

Although it was a heavenly sacrifice, the specific rites naturally varied depending on what was being sacrificed to.

Yan Ruchu thought for a moment and said, "Perform the sacrifice through a separate edict. It concerns the City God Temple and the Way of Reincarnation."

The official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate's lips trembled. "Your Majesty, this..."

Yan Ruchu cast a cold glance at him and merely said, "Bureau of Celestial Mandate."

Feeling the oppressive weight of that gaze, the official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate instantly understood.

If he did not perform this ritual, it might very well mean his death.

"I receive Your Majesty's decree!"

Trembling with fear, the official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate stepped forward.

He picked up the Wooden Sword and the yellow paper. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally began to brandish the sword and perform the rites.

He chanted Daoist scriptures, invoking Reincarnation and the City God, and recited the path of the separate edict, sending his voice up to the heavens.

He stood holding incense candles, while green smoke drifted in all directions.

The official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate dared not let his focus slip, nor did he dare to wonder what Your Majesty was actually trying to do. Amidst a heavenly sacrifice, he simply didn't have the courage.

Even though he possessed no true mystical abilities, his heart had never lacked reverence.

"It's not over yet?"

Qing Tianyou felt somewhat surprised by this.

Mo Yuan looked at him and said, "There is something else."

The eyes of the crowd turned toward him.

Mo Yuan didn't offer any further explanation. He just watched quietly and said, "There will be a grand spectacle in a moment."

The official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate finally finished the rites.

Yan Ruchu, who had been waiting in the back, stepped forward.

He used the flame of a Talisman to light the incense candles.

Standing before the Ritual Cauldron, he remained silent for a long time before letting out a long breath.

He opened his eyes and gazed up into the nine heavens.

"Since ancient times, the City God Temple has protected the mortal towns, allowing the dead to rest in peace, free from the chaos of malevolent ghosts. However, Reincarnation is flawed and remains unclear."

The moment these words were spoken, the eyelids of the official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate twitched wildly, but he dared not stop him.

The kneeling officials were equally astonished, entirely unsure of what Your Majesty meant by this.

"I wish to perfect the great dao of reincarnation, align the Yellow Springs, establish the Underworld, and complete Reincarnation!"

Yan Ruchu's words echoed out.

The phenomena in the sky suddenly shifted.

Layers of thick clouds swept over.

In an instant, fierce winds churned.

The incense in the Ritual Cauldron instantly flickered wildly, and the green smoke rising straight into the firmament began to sway.

"What's going on..."

"This..."

The plaza suddenly erupted into a clamor.

A nearby eunuch furrowed his brows at the sight and shouted, "Silence!!"

His single word spread across the plaza, and utter quiet immediately returned.

In the blink of an eye.

The sky, which had been perfectly clear with a blazing sun just a moment ago, was swallowed by dark clouds.

The sky grew dim, as if day had transitioned into night.

Yan Ruchu's heart stirred slightly, but he felt no fear. Instead, he stepped forward and spoke again.

"Reincarnation of all spirits! The Yellow Springs shall be divided! The path to the Underworld shall open, and the great dao of reincarnation shall be made whole!"

Holding the incense, Yan Ruchu knelt on the ground and shouted, "I ask!"

"For the heavens and earth to grant this!"

"Whoosh!!"

A violent gale blew in right on the heels of Yan Ruchu's words.

Seeing this, the official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate trembled in terror. He hurried forward and whispered, "I ask Your Majesty to reconsider. Heaven and earth are enraged! It is still not too late to retreat."

Yan Ruchu ignored him. Instead, he bowed deeply.

"I ask the heavens and earth to grant this!!"

His voice seemed to pierce through the entire plaza, falling into the ears of every single person present.

Suddenly, the sky changed colors entirely.

In just a fraction of a second, the sole remaining glimmer of light was completely blotted out by the clouds.

The howling wind left the official of the Bureau of Celestial Mandate looking utterly lost.

He looked around in a panic, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"Day and night inverted... A great omen... An omen of great disaster..."