bookbashuk Chapter 342 The Ceremony of the Holy Son, Selection
Chapter 342 The Ceremony of the Holy Son, Selection
Chapter 342 The Ceremony of the Holy Son, Selection
Soon after, under Xuan Cang's guidance, Lu Yu was placed in a quiet and elegant courtyard.
Although the courtyard was not grand, it was extremely exquisite and full of spiritual energy, clearly a residence prepared specifically for receiving important guests or core members of the clan.
After Lu Yu settled down, Xuan Cang did not leave immediately. Instead, he solemnly explained to him the details of tomorrow's Holy Son Ceremony.
"Your Highness,"
Xuan Cang lowered his voice, but spoke clearly, "The Grand Ceremony tomorrow will be presided over by the Grand Elder, and all the elders of the Elder Council will also be present to witness it."
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's a crucial point concerning the clan's internal structure—"
I'm not sure if I should say this or not.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, looked calmly at Xuan Cang, and said gently, "Palace Master Xuan Cang, please speak freely. I am new here and need to understand these things."
Seeing Lu Yu's earnest expression, Xuan Cang no longer hesitated and solemnly said slowly, "Your Highness may not know, but in our clan, the highest authority is held by the Council of Elders. Any major matters concerning the direction of the entire clan, resource allocation, or even the establishment of a Holy Son, must be discussed and approved by the Council of Elders before they can be implemented."
He emphasized each word, saying, "Therefore, it can be said that controlling the Elder Council is equivalent to controlling the lifeline of the entire Futu Ancient Clan."
"Currently, there are nineteen permanent seats in the Elder Council."
Xuan Cang held up three fingers and counted them one by one, "Among them, the Qing lineage occupies six seats, the Mo lineage and the Xuan lineage each occupy five seats, and the remaining three seats will be held by other relatively powerful branch lineages or those who have made special contributions to the clan."
He emphasized, "The allocation of these seats is not absolutely fixed. According to clan rules, if any lineage can produce a Saint-rank Heavenly Sovereign, that one person alone will have enough influence in the Elder Council to be equivalent to five seats. However, Saint-rank individuals are extremely rare—"
Xuan Cang looked at Lu Yu, his eyes becoming meaningful: "And Your Highness, you have already gained the approval of the Grand Elder. The branch seats in the Elder Council have always respected the Grand Elder's opinion."
"Tomorrow's ceremony will be more of a formality for the bloodline test; the most important thing is that afterwards, one must publicly choose a main lineage to join."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "Until you clearly choose your allegiance, all three factions will do their utmost to win you over and will not truly offend you. But once you publicly choose—"
Xuan Cang lowered his voice further, tinged with a hint of warning: "The two factions that are eliminated will not only have no intention of trying to win you over, but may even see you as their greatest threat. Overt and covert suppression, obstruction, and even more intense reactions will likely be unavoidable."
"After all, no one wants to see a sacred seed that can completely disrupt the balance and lead their race to a state of absolute dominance," completely standing on the opposite side of themselves.
"This is the true significance of tomorrow's choice, Your Highness."
Xuan Cang gave Lu Yu one last deep look. "Once chosen, you will no longer be just a Holy Son, but also the future pillar of a certain main lineage, and at the same time—you will become a thorn in the side of the other two lineages."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "The competition is so fierce. Has the Futu Ancient Clan always been like this?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Cang's face revealed a complex smile, a mixture of emotion and helplessness: "It has always been so, Your Highness. This is the survival rule of ancient clans."
"Resources are limited, and power is tempting. Without such brutal competition and checks and balances, my Futu Ancient Clan would probably not have been able to stand for such a long time in this vast world."
He paused, lowered his voice, and sighed heavily, "But precisely because of this, since the Grand Elder, the three main branches have been vying for power, hindering each other, and constantly consuming each other. Top talents and resources are often difficult to truly concentrate, and are always consumed and lost in endless infighting."
"As a result—our Futu Ancient Clan has not produced a new Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign for ten thousand years. This may be one of the reasons why our clan appears strong but is actually plagued by constant hidden dangers."
Having said that, Xuan Cang sighed softly, took half a step back, and bowed respectfully to Lu Yu: "What I said today was an overstepping of my bounds. The affairs of the clan are complicated and complex, and it is not my place to comment. I hope Your Highness will forgive my presumption."
He straightened up, his expression returning to its previous respectful tone: "Whatever Your Highness chooses tomorrow is entirely up to you. Whatever decision Your Highness makes, this old man will follow."
"It is late, Your Highness. You should rest early and be well-rested for tomorrow's ceremony. I shall take my leave now."
After Xuan Cang finished speaking, he bowed again, then turned and slowly walked out of the courtyard without saying anything more.
Lu Yu narrowed his eyes, watching Xuan Cang's figure disappear outside the courtyard gate, his gaze deep, remaining silent for a long time.
He didn't move again, but stood quietly in the courtyard, looking up at the sky of the Floating Pagoda Realm, which was different from the outside world and seemed to be eternally shrouded in an ancient halo.
"The ancient Futu clan, no wonder—"
He muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the silent courtyard, "The internal strife has reached this point, hindering us endlessly. We possess vast resources and an ancient bloodline, yet we are trapped by the outdated rules of the Elder Council and factional infighting, unable to produce a single saintly artifact for millennia. How can such stagnation and rigid adherence to the old ways not lead to decline?"
He shook his head, suppressing these thoughts for the time being, and then recalled Qing Xuanjun, whom he had met during the day. The extraordinary talent and domineering power of that Qing Clan leader had left a deep impression on him.
"Qing Xuanjun————"
Lu Yu frowned slightly and murmured, "It seems that this name has not been heard of in the hundreds of years since. With the talent, strength and status he has shown today, if nothing unexpected happens, he will at least be a giant who will be famous throughout the world in the hundreds of years to come, and may even really step into the Saint Rank. Such a person should not be unknown."
A sense of unease and vigilance crept into his heart: "Could it be—that in the infighting within the Ancient Buddha Clan, or in some future upheaval, something unexpected happened to him, preventing him from truly rising to power, or—that he perished along the way?"
The next day, before dawn.
The melodious and ancient sound of the bell rang out from the deepest part of the Buddhist realm. It was faint at first, then spread out layer by layer, and finally turned into a magnificent and vast sound wave, echoing among the mountains for a long time.
clang!
The bell tolls, and the grand ceremony begins.
Swish!Swish!Swish!
-
As the bell rang, the entire Buddhist realm seemed to be awakened instantly.
Countless gusts of wind rang out from all directions, and streaks of light shot into the sky from all places. Whether it was a towering black tower, a continuous palace, or an ordinary mountain dwelling, figures emerged from all of them, rushing towards the source of the bell sound and the core of the mountain range.
A warm yet solemn atmosphere permeated the world. All the Futu people, and even the invited guests, were aware of this.
Today marks the start of the Holy Son Ceremony of the Ancient Buddha Clan!
Outside the courtyard where Lu Yu was, a maidservant hurried over and bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, the time is approaching. Please follow me."
Lu Yu opened his eyes in the quiet room, a glint of light flashing in them before he regained his composure. He pushed open the door and, led by a maid, transformed into a streak of light, merging into the swirling light and shadow.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the pace gradually slowed down. The view ahead suddenly opened up, with a majestic main peak, like a giant pillar reaching into the sky, piercing through the sea of clouds and soaring straight into the heavens, its imposing presence breathtaking.
That was the venue for the grand ceremony, Tianzhu Peak.
The entire mountain peak is covered with well-arranged white jade platforms, crystal clear and with faint spiritual patterns. Several slightly lower peaks around it have also been opened up into tiered viewing seats. At this moment, light and shadow fall, and the place is bustling with noise and excitement.
Lu Yu was led to a seat with an excellent view on the front of the main peak. After sitting down and looking up, he saw twenty prominent giant jade platforms directly opposite him, surrounding the summit plaza like stars around the moon.
The tallest, ancient jade platform in the center belongs to the Grand Elder, while the other nineteen platforms, each a different color, represent the nineteen seats of the Elder Council.
At this moment, most of the figures on these jade platforms were already seated comfortably. Each of them exuded an aura as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, and simply sitting there seemed to bring them into harmony with heaven and earth, with an invisible pressure enveloping the entire area.
Countless gazes came from all directions, especially from the nineteen jade platforms, some curious, some scrutinizing, some expectant, and finally all converged on Lu Yu, who had just taken his seat.
Just as all eyes were focused on them, the hazy spiritual light above the twenty jade platforms suddenly rippled outwards like waves. Four figures appeared almost simultaneously on their respective jade platforms.
On the left jade platform, the dark light was deep and mysterious. A middle-aged man dressed in black robes, with a cold face and a deep and murderous aura between his brows, quietly appeared. He was Mo Xing, the leader of the Mo Clan.
His gaze swept across the entire room like lightning, finally lingering on Lu Yu for a moment, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
On the right jade platform, the mysterious light was contained, and an old man with a gray-white robe, white hair and beard, and a seemingly gentle face appeared. He was Xuan Qing, the head of the Xuan lineage.
His gaze also fell on Lu Yu, carrying a scrutinizing look and a hint of subtle calculation.
What is most breathtaking is the jade platform surrounded by pure energy in the Qingmai area.
Qing Xuanjun, dressed in a blue robe, stood tall and straight, with a calm expression.
He did not deliberately display his aura, but his profound and imposing demeanor and the mysterious array patterns that flowed around him made the place he was in seem like a world of his own, and his aura subtly overshadowed Mo Xing and Xuan Qing.
Finally, all eyes, filled with utmost reverence, turned to the highest point in the center. There, the spiritual light slowly dissipated like smoke, revealing an aged figure dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a somewhat hunched posture.
The moment he appeared, the entire bustling Tianzhu Peak instantly fell into absolute silence. An invisible pressure, as vast and boundless as a galaxy, spread out, making the pressure emanating from all the elders seem insignificant.
He is none other than Futu Xuan, the current Grand Elder of the Futu Ancient Clan.
Fu Tu Xuan slightly raised his eyelids, his seemingly cloudy eyes slowly sweeping across the area below. When his gaze passed over Lu Yu, there seemed to be a momentary pause, or perhaps nothing at all.
He gently tapped the jade platform with his wooden cane.
thump.
A soft yet profound sound resonated deep within everyone's soul, spreading through their hearts.
"The time has come."
The aged yet peaceful voice, though not loud, clearly resonated throughout every corner of Tianzhu Peak.
"The Ceremony of the Holy Son begins."
As the words of the Grand Elder Futu Xuan faded, an ancient black stone tablet slowly rose from the ground in the center of the summit plaza.
The surface of the stone tablet is as smooth as a mirror, with hidden dark golden patterns flowing within, exuding a sense of calling from the depths of one's bloodline. This is the "Spirit Vein Tablet" used by the Futu Ancient Clan to verify their bloodline.
An elder with white hair and beard, dressed in an ancient sacrificial robe, stepped forward and solemnly announced, "Please, clansman Lu Yu, perform a blood test to verify your origins!"
Countless gazes instantly focused on Lu Yu. His expression remained calm as he slowly stepped forward. Following the instructions, he drew his fingers like a knife and lightly made a cut with his fingertip. A drop of crimson blood, tinged with a faint golden light, seeped out and dripped onto the smooth surface of the stone tablet.
The moment the blood touched the surface of the monument, a buzzing sound!
The stone tablet suddenly burst forth with dazzling brilliance, and the dark gold patterns spread and intertwined wildly as if they had come alive. The entire tablet trembled violently and emitted a deep, dragon-like hum.
Immediately afterwards, eight incredibly clear, ancient divine vein phantoms of different colors soared into the sky from the surface of the monument, intertwining and radiating a vast and sacred aura that made one's soul tremble!
"The Eight Divine Veins! It really is the Eight Divine Veins!"
"Our bloodline has returned to its ancestral form, and our divine lineage has manifested! Heaven blesses our race!"
After a brief silence, gasps and exclamations of surprise erupted from the surrounding stands. Even the elders on the nineteen jade platforms could not hide the shock and fervor in their eyes.
The Eight Divine Veins that have been scattered abroad—these are sacred seeds!
The radiance gradually subsided, and the eight illusory images of divine veins slowly disappeared into the stele, leaving only eight clear marks on the surface of the stele, radiating an eternal faint light.
The master of ceremonies, suppressing his excitement, proclaimed loudly, "Bloodline verification confirmed! You are indeed a pure descendant of our ancient Futu clan, possessing eight divine veins, and with unparalleled talent! Please proceed to the ancestral stele," to inscribe your name and light your soul lamp!
As instructed, Lu Yu walked to the other side to a more ancient, weathered monument whose aura seemed to have spanned countless years.
He dripped his blood onto it again, and the blood quickly seeped into the monument.
After a moment, a spiritual light shone on the surface of the monument, and Lu Yu's name slowly appeared, the characters ancient and vigorous.
At the same time, a bronze lamp beside the monument silently lit up, its steady flame subtly connecting with his name.
This is the Soul Lamp, whose name is inscribed on the ancestral monument. As long as the Soul Lamp remains lit, the person will live on forever.
"The bloodline has been proven, the name has been inscribed on the ancestral tablet!"
The master of ceremonies turned to the twenty jade platforms, bowed, and said, "Please, members of the council, make the decision!"
The First Elder, Fu Tu Xuan, spoke slowly, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority: "The appearance of the Eight Divine Veins is an omen of great prosperity for our clan. Our clansman Lu Yu possesses pure blood and unparalleled talent. According to ancestral rules, he should be established as the Holy Son. Do any of you elders have any objections?"
His gaze swept calmly over the nineteen jade platforms. In the brief silence, on the Qingmai jade platform, Qing Xuanjun's eyelids were slightly lowered, his expression indifferent. Mo Xing, the leader of the Momai, had a solemn expression, and Xuan Qing, the leader of the Xuanmai, had a slight shift in his gaze, but in the end, no one voiced any objection.
"Since there is no objection,"
Fu Tu Xuan nodded slightly. "The position of the Holy Son has been established. However, upon his return, the Holy Son must understand the lineage and establish a solid foundation. According to the clan rules, the Holy Son may choose to enter one of the three main lineages, inherit its traditions, enjoy its resources, and also bear its responsibilities."
His gaze fell back on Lu Yu: "Lu Yu, come forward."
Lu Yu walked to the center of the square again, facing the twenty jade platforms and countless eyes on the scene.
"The three main lineages, Mo, Xuan, and Qing, each have their own distinct lineages and are all pillars of our clan."
Fu Tu Xuan slowly said, "You may choose any lineage to join. Only after you have chosen will the ceremony be complete. Now, state your choice."
In an instant, all sounds disappeared, even the wind seemed to stand still.
The sixteen elders, the heads of the three lineages, and even tens of thousands of clansmen and guests all held their breath, waiting for Lu Yu's decision.