Hearing Wen Mingzhong's assessment, Chen Chuan took it very seriously. He halted and asked, "Mr. Wen, do you think this anomaly affects us?"
Wen Mingzhong replied, "Judging by the anomaly's field radius and how deeply rooted it is, it must have been laid down long ago. I just ran a rapid calculation using the active conscious entity, and it is very likely that this anomaly has existed for as long as a century."
He paused briefly. "The report from the investigation I commissioned just came back. At my request, that martial artist checked a good number of the unconscious Youdu locals as swiftly as possible. Every single person examined now has a connection to this anomaly."
In a calm, steady tone, he added, "If that is the case, I have a bold personal conjecture: the populace that has bred and lived in this city for over a century is most likely entangled with this anomaly."
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. Over a hundred years ago? That was back when the former dynasty occupied Youdu.
Could it be a ritual meant for defense? Or did it serve some specific purpose? He recalled Emperor Wenguang's recent series of bizarre actions. Was there a connection between the two?
To be cautious, he asked Wen Mingzhong, "Does this anomaly affect us? If so, can you deduce roughly to what extent?"
"Commander," Wen Mingzhong said, "for an anomaly to sustain itself over the long term, it must have a targeted subject, whether the outcome is benign or harmful. During this entire time, we have had no large-scale conflict with Youdu. We can therefore infer that we are not the target. The anomaly itself holds no direct connection to us."
Chen Chuan nodded slowly. He trusted Wen Mingzhong's professional expertise, and moreover, he indeed had not felt any warning signs of danger.
He said, "Mr. Wen, please continue observing. If anything develops, inform me as soon as possible."
"Understood, Commander."
After ending the transmission, Chen Chuan slowed to a stop. By now, they had arrived before that expanse of mist and cloud.
He pointed a finger, sending a spiritual impact surging into it in an instant. Ripples stirred through the mist, but it elicited no strong resonance from the field. This reaction was indeed somewhat characteristic of an anomaly.
However, it was even more likely that a ritual had originally been deployed here, which in turn had triggered an anomaly planted long ago, causing the latter to overlay the former. If so, things would be exceedingly troublesome.
Judging by what Wen Mingzhong had reported, the scale of this anomaly was likely immense, entangling countless people. Whatever the former imperial house's purpose might be, it certainly could not be cleared away through conventional means; he had to find the crucial nexus within.
Mingchengzi stood at the very front. He had also discerned that an anomaly was likely involved—or what the Xuan Sect referred to as an "inner demon."
Frowning, he stroked his beard, his mind racing through various possibilities. If things were as he suspected, this inner demon might temporarily be impossible to purge, meaning they would have to wait.
Still, although he could not physically reach the ritual outside Anye Palace, the fortunate thing was that the anomaly did not obstruct his observation. Once he identified a path and the inner demon ceased to be an obstacle, he could dismantle it immediately and breach the area through that route.
He observed intently, calculating silently in his mind.
In truth, the Fulong Faction had secretly investigated this place in the past.
It was not that they harbored ulterior motives; rather, they understood emperors all too well. The faction's role was inherently a form of restraint, making it inevitable that some emperor might become discontented and clash with their interests, so precautions had been taken well in advance.
In fact, the reason Mingchengzi himself had survived was precisely due to this foresight.
When he departed, he had taken all the relevant sect records with him, subsequently analyzing them in depth, waiting for the day they would prove useful.
Thus, his claim of possessing a way to crack it was no boast.
Just then, everyone suddenly heard a long, resonant chime of a bell. The sound seemed to originate from the sky above.
The group looked up, only to witness a wondrous spectacle.
The entire sky seemed to crack open, and through the breach poured a dazzling beam of light that should never have existed in the Melded Lands. Wherever it shone upon Youdu, all dust and filth were swept away, leaving the ground pristine and refreshed; even the trees sprouted fresh buds and green leaves.
From that rift, ethereal and melodious sounds drifted down, accompanied by flower petals carrying an extraordinary fragrance. Vaguely, the clatter of carriages and horses could be heard.
Moments later, indistinct silhouettes appeared in the heavens. Amidst auspicious mists and glowing clouds, celestial figures seemed to drive carriages, bearing ceremonial insignias of every kind as they descended along that beam of light, passing straight into the mist outside Anye Palace without meeting the slightest resistance.
Chen Chuan watched this unfold, sensing clearly that these were not gods, immortals, or demons from the other world.
The Ring of the World was no mere ornament. Even here in the Melded Lands, entities from the other side could not easily project their power into this domain. This had to be the work of the anomaly before them.
Inside Yunmeng Court, numerous pavilions and halls were bathed in a sea of golden light. Suddenly, the upper section of the grand hall rolled upward like a drawn curtain, melting slowly away. Fresh blossoms and jeweled garlands drifted down from above, accompanied by a soaring celestial melody.
A cloud-treading carriage and horses materialized, flanked by countless divine maidens and celestial beings. All wore crane-feather robes, some holding horsetail whisks, some clutching dragon staves, some cradling gourds, and others grasping lotus branches. Plumed canopies and parasols were held aloft, their deportment graceful and carefree.
Behind them followed attendant youths, female court officials, and celestial maidens carrying incense burners, flower baskets, platters, and precious vases.
Beholding this scene, Emperor Wenguang was overjoyed. Rising from his seat, he declared, "The celestial guests have arrived! Today, We shall ascend to Heaven and attain immortality!"
Another bell chimed. The celestial carriage in the air appeared to move slowly, yet arrived within the hall in a mere breath.
A celestial being beside the carriage called out loudly, "The auspicious hour has arrived! We have come to invite Your Majesty to ascend to immortality!"
"We invite Your Majesty to ascend to immortality!"
"We invite Your Majesty to ascend to immortality!"
All the celestial beings repeated the phrase in the exact same cadence, wearing identical smiles.
"Good, good, good! Ascend to immortality, ascend to immortality!"
Emperor Wenguang was beside himself with excitement, stepping forward to board the carriage.
Consort Teng stepped in to stop him. "Your Majesty, do not rush. How could such a matter be hurried? Please drink this cup of Ascension Water first." With that, she presented a golden chalice as large as a human head.
Seeing that it was completely empty, Emperor Wenguang could not help but wonder, "Beloved consort, there is no water in this."
Consort Teng offered an enchanting smile. "Your Majesty is a divine being; the chalice must be filled with Your Majesty's sacred blood."
Emperor Wenguang realized at once. "So that is it! Bring a blade! Bring a blade!"
"At your service, Your Majesty."
Consort Teng handed Emperor Wenguang a small knife she had prepared long before.
Snatching it, Emperor Wenguang sliced his arm open without hesitation and let his blood pour into the cup. Soon, it filled the golden chalice to the brim. At the same time, an alluring fragrance wafted from within, stirring deep longing.
Only when the blood was about to spill over the rim did he shake his sleeve, cast the knife aside, and eagerly raise the cup with both hands, tipping his head back to drink it down.
Crimson blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, streaming along his off-white lapels in thin lines down to the floor, spreading beneath his feet.
Ignoring the blood on his lips, he asked hurriedly, "Beloved consort, what else must be done?"
Consort Teng beamed. "We must ask Your Majesty to change your robes."
Emperor Wenguang said, "Good! Come, change Our robes!"
Immediately, numerous celestial maidens and youths came forward carrying washing basins and vessels, crowding around Emperor Wenguang as they escorted him behind the desk to the couch.
By this point, the celestial beings outside urged Emperor Wenguang to ascend with ever-increasing urgency.
Emperor Wenguang grew anxious as well. "Beloved consort, be quick. We cannot wait any longer."
"Your Majesty, soon, very soon."
Curtains on both sides suddenly fell, screening them from view, though Emperor Wenguang's silhouette could still be seen faintly through the light inside.
Consort Teng then stepped forward, untying Emperor Wenguang's topknot so his hair cascaded down. She reached out, seized his hair in one hand, grabbed a blade with the other, and severed his head with a single slash. Through the curtain, she could be seen lifting Emperor Wenguang's head, turning to place it in the basin to wash it several times. The fragrance grew even more intense.
After the silhouettes within the curtain washed the headless body, the screen was pulled back. Emperor Wenguang sat there expressionless, his face deathly pale, uttering not a word.
Consort Teng supported him as he walked forward, whispering into his ear, "Your Majesty, ascend to immortality."
As the two descended the steps, the celestial beings parted to either side and bowed to them, chanting in unison, "Ascend to immortality, ascend to immortality..."
After helping Emperor Wenguang onto the carriage, just as it was about to set off, Consort Teng said, "Wait. How can His Majesty ascend without protection? We invite Prince Lin to escort the carriage!"
An attendant called out loudly, "Prince Lin has arrived!"
Several palace guards strode forward, carrying a flat couch upon their shoulders. Seated upon it was a young man of magnificent stature, his temples and beard bristling like halberds. Yet his eyes were completely hollow and lifeless, dull and dazed, as though he were merely an empty shell.
In a breath, Prince Lin was carried into the hall. Yet he was not helped onto the carriage; instead, he was placed upon the imperial throne where Emperor Wenguang had previously sat.
Another bell chime sounded, and all the celestial beings turned their heads in unison toward Emperor Wenguang on the carriage.
Consort Teng smiled faintly and said, "The hour has arrived. Set forth—His Majesty ascends to immortality."
A plume of mist rose around the carriage and the celestial beings, carrying them aloft toward the rift in the sky.
At that exact moment, a long toll of a bell echoed through all of Youdu. Wisps of vapor drifted from every soldier and citizen in the city, whether unconscious or in hiding, coalescing into an unprecedentedly massive pillar of vapor that surged toward the rift above.
Chen Chuan noticed the phenomenon as well, and saw that even the fabric woven by the anomaly began to shimmer and waver like light on water.
Mingchengzi's eyes snapped wide at the sight. He seized a ritual implement and hurled it forward. Wherever it passed, the white fog was torn open with ease, revealing a glimpse of the scene within.
Chapter 1434