Chapter 57: Opening the Altar for Sacrificial Rites

Ascending the mountain to gather spiritual essence is an event open to all officials and clerks. This means whether one belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bureau of Heavenly Works, the Bureau of Weavers, the Ministry of Martial Affairs, the Directorate of Letters, the Divine Temple, or any other government department, they are all eligible to participate.

"It is truly lively these past two days. Aside from the Spring Festival, I doubt anything compares to the liveliness of the Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening," Chen Ziyu said as he walked down the street, looking at the bustling crowd with a wide grin.

His family ran a commercial shop in Anping District. With such a high volume of foot traffic, business naturally flourished, so he was naturally in high spirits.

"Qian Dong, are you going for the Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening?" Chen Ziyu asked, looking at Qian Dong beside him. He didn't even bother asking Zhao Xing, knowing full well that his older brother would definitely go.

"Of course I'm going, why wouldn't I?" Qian Dong replied.

"Aren't you afraid of getting beaten black and blue? There are quite a few experts coming this year," Chen Ziyu asked.

"Me? Afraid?" Qian Dong snorted. "The more experts there are, the better it is for people like us to go. If there were few experts, I wouldn't even bother!"

"Oh? How so?" Chen Ziyu asked, completely baffled.

"I've only just reached the second stage of Qi Gathering. If I happen to cross paths with an expert at the eighth or ninth stage, they'll be the ones begging me not to die," Qian Dong said, puffing out his chest.

Zhao Xing: "..."

Wait a minute, what on earth are you proud of?

Chen Ziyu said, "Dongzi, while there are rules forbidding murder during the mountain ascent, you surely can't expect people to spare you from being robbed just because you're weak, right?"

Zhao Xing chimed in out of nowhere, "If you really run into a ninth-stage martial artist, they can use their supreme mastery to cut you a hundred times, and every single cut will avoid your vital organs."

Qian Dong: "..."

"Well, we can't just *not* go, it only happens once a year," Qian Dong said, somewhat deflated.

"I wouldn't recommend going. You're only at the second stage of Qi Gathering. If you encounter ferocious beasts on the spiritual mountain, you won't even know how you died," Zhao Xing said.

"Understood, Big Brother."

..........

"You must exercise the utmost caution during this mountain ascent. You are only at the fourth stage of Qi Gathering; if you encounter an expert, give them a wide berth. The moment you make any gains, descend the mountain immediately, and do not force your luck," Xue Wenzhong exhorted earnestly.

He had originally been against Zhao Xing going, but Chen Shijie held the opposing view, believing that Zhao Xing was fully capable of handling himself. Coupled with Zhao Xing's own desire to go, Xue Wenzhong had eventually been persuaded.

"I understand, Teacher. I am going up the mountain purely to try my luck. My primary concern will be ensuring my own safety, and only after that will I search for spiritual essence."

The profession of an agricultural official was somewhat disadvantaged and not known for combat prowess. It was only natural for Xue Wenzhong to have such worries.

After giving his admonitions, the elderly agricultural official led Zhao Xing into his study and handed him a strap-on bamboo box about half the height of a person.

"This is a literary bamboo box that I made myself. It preserves a batch of seeds inside."

"Among them are the 'Vajra Bamboo' and 'Evergreen Ivy' that you are familiar with."

"You excel in the art of strawmen. After the mountain opens, you don't need to rush up on the first day to vie for the foremost offerings; just spend some time crafting a few strawmen for self-protection, and wander around the foothills."

"There are also five Divine Mobility Talismans inside, ten Viscera-Guarding Pills, and fifteen Tianyuan Pears..." The elderly agricultural official muttered as he strapped the bamboo box onto Zhao Xing's back.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Zhao Xing turned around, feeling a heavy weight settle on his shoulders once he put it on.

The bamboo box was quite heavy indeed. Just how many things had been stuffed inside?

Literary bamboo, originally known as mild bamboo, was used to craft bamboo boxes that could keep fruits from spoiling and seeds from perishing.

Ascending the mountain to gather spiritual essence carried dangers, so officials and clerks were not barred from carrying treasures, provided they did not exceed the third tier.

Zhao Xing was considered one of the most promising clerks in Gucheng for official appointment. Because both Xue Wenzhong and Chen Shijie wanted him not to miss the opportunity yet feared for his safety, they had filled the entire bamboo box to the brim.

"Tomorrow, higher-ranking officials from the commandery will arrive. Neither Chen Shijie nor I will have the leisure to see you again. Do not overtrain these past two days, and rest well to keep your spirits high," Xue Wenzhong nagged incessantly.

"Understood, Teacher." Zhao Xing listened quietly until Xue Wenzhong finally stopped talking, at which point he took his leave.

.............

On September twenty-first, Ji Ming, a rank six-B official from the Nanyang Commandery Supervisory Office, Fan Dongping, a rank six-B official from the Bureau of Agricultural Affairs, and several other rank seven and eight officials from various departments arrived at the East Gate of Gucheng aboard a Flowing Cloud Flying Skiff.

Li Wenzheng led a multitude of people to welcome them three miles outside the city, and a grand ceremonial guard escorted them all the way into the city with gongs and drums beating.

The commoners both inside and outside the city immediately knew that high-ranking officials had arrived in Gucheng.

Junior clerks of the Bureau of Agricultural Affairs lacked the standing to participate in the welcoming ceremony outside the city.

However, by the afternoon, Fan Dongping—belonging to the same administrative system—came to inspect the Bureau of Agricultural Affairs, affording them a chance to witness the imposing presence of a rank-six powerhouse.

"To actually send a rank-six official over—Old Chen is certainly held in high regard," Zhao Xing watched from afar from the upper balcony of the Huai-Liu Courtyard.

Normally, since this wasn't a major mountain-opening year, sending a rank-seven official would have been more than enough just to go through the motions.

Since there was no other reason, it could only mean that Chen Shijie, as the chief official, commanded genuine prestige and was valued by the higher-ups.

"Jinggong, you are a native of Xishang Commandery. Have you grown accustomed to Nanyang Commandery after three years here?" Fan Dongping asked with a smiling expression.

Jinggong was Chen Shijie’s courtesy name.

Following half a step behind Fan Dongping, Chen Shijie chuckled softly upon hearing this and replied, "Thank you for your concern, My Lord. Nanyang Commandery has fine mountains, pristine waters, and abundant produce; even my stubborn old bones have started to grow a bit soft here."

Fan Dongping raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you something, Chen Jinggong? Are you roundaboutly scolding Nanyang's agricultural officials for indulging in comfort and lacking enterprise?"

"How would I dare? In my heart, Lord Fan has always been wise and formidable."

"Hahaha!" Fan Dongping stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

The accompanying officials, such as Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, and Pang Yuan, all felt a trace of surprise in their hearts. Why was Fan Dongping chatting so casually with Chen Shijie? Could it be that Chen Shijie truly had influential backing? Was that the real reason Fan Dongping had come this time?

..............

On September twenty-second, the Autumn Equinox.

At the foot of East Lake Mountain, in the Earth Altar Square.

Since the卯 (Mao) hour, temple ceremonial officers had been busy setting things up there, preparing for the mountain-opening sacrificial rites.

Along the perimeter of the Earth Altar Square, markers designated the various departments, dividing the areas for observers.

Zhao Xing had rushed to the Earth Altar Square bright and early, heading directly to the designated observation area for the Bureau of Agricultural Affairs.

He saw dozens of long tables set up across the Earth Altar Square, upon which were laid sacrificial offerings of the three beasts, jade ritual vessels, incense, and yellow paper.

By the end of the Mao hour, the observing officials and clerks had taken their respective places one after another. East Lake garrison soldiers maintained order, as the influx of tourists and merchants who had come to watch the spectacle was simply too massive.

At the first quarter of the Chen hour, the sacrificial ceremony officially commenced.

First, the temple ceremonial officers chanted prayers and paid homage to the deities (yin deities enfeoffed by the imperial court), chief among them being the Earl of East Lake and Lord Caoxi.

Next, County Magistrate Li Wenzheng took the stage. His voice, resonant like chiming jade and booming gongs, carried for a hundred miles as he prayed for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and peace and well-being for the common folk of Gucheng.

By the time this entire sequence of rituals concluded, it was already the first quarter of the Si hour.

Yet the surrounding crowds only seemed to grow, with no sign of diminishing.

After all, this was an annual grand event.

"Why isn't it over yet? I'm listening to this to the point of falling asleep."

"Almost there, it'll be the turn of the Xishan fellows to take the stage right away."

"Shh, watch out or Chen Shijie will hear you."

"Aren't you also shouting his name directly? What are you putting on airs for?"

"..."

"They're coming!"

"Mother, look! They're opening the mountain!"

Amidst the officials and commoners standing on tiptoe in eager anticipation,

Chen Shijie, chief official of the Gucheng Bureau of Agricultural Affairs, along with seven other agricultural officials, ascended the Earth Altar and unleashed the mountain-opening spell.