The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

After an incense stick has burned.

The auspicious time has arrived.

An elder priest, with white hair and beard and dressed in an ancient ceremonial robe, holding a jade tablet, walked to the side of the altar, faced downwards, and channeled his spiritual power, his voice loud and resonant, piercing the clouds:

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

"play music--!"

The musicians who had been waiting on both sides of the altar immediately struck the chime bells and blew the jade chimes, playing ancient, solemn, and dignified sacrificial music. The music was magnificent, as if it had traveled through a thousand years, carrying the vastness of worshipping heaven and earth and the remembrance of ancestors, echoing on the towering mountain peak.

"Welcome the gods—!"

The Master of Ceremonies sang again.

The three clan elders, Zuo Xiuxian, Zuo Zhaocheng, and Zuo Yuxuan, walked forward with solemn expressions, and each picked up three sticks of "divine incense" that had been prepared beforehand and were as thick as a child's arm.

This incense is made from a variety of rare and precious medicinal herbs. When lit, the smoke rises straight up and lingers for a long time. It is said to be able to communicate with heaven and earth and reach the spirits of ancestors.

The three elders simultaneously channeled their spiritual power, sparks flying from their fingertips to ignite the incense sticks.

"puff--"

Three large incense sticks were lit simultaneously, and wisps of blue smoke rose straight up, ignoring the mountain wind, soaring into the sky, intertwining and swirling in the air to form three distinct columns of smoke.

"kneel--!"

The Master of Ceremonies chanted.

"Whoosh—!"

On the plaza, apart from Zuo Qingqiu standing on the top of the altar, everyone, including the three clan elders, regardless of whether they were cultivators or mortals, and regardless of their seniority, faced the altar, knelt down, and bowed in worship.

Ten thousand people knelt together, creating a magnificent and solemn scene.

Zuo Qingqiu remained standing; this was the privilege of the chief officiant.

She calmly watched the three large incense sticks burn, watched the smoke rise, and watched the dark mass of people kneeling below.

"Sacrifice—!"

As the master of ceremonies chanted the rites, the prepared offerings were carried up one by one. The three sacrificial animals, already cleaned, were placed on jade platters before the incense table. The five grains, served in golden goblets and jade bowls, were arranged on either side. Seasonal fruits, fine wines, and other delicacies were displayed in abundance, filling the huge incense table to the brim.

These are all precious items carefully prepared by the Zuo family, imbued with spiritual energy, and are of considerable value.

Offering sacrifices to ancestors in this way demonstrates both piety and strength.

The offerings have been completed.

The Master of Ceremonies turned to Zuo Qingqiu, presenting with both hands a jade scroll bound in gold thread and emitting a faint spiritual light: "Please, Ancestor, read the sacrificial text to comfort the spirits of our ancestors!"

Zuo Qingqiu took the jade slip; it felt cool to the touch.

She unfolded the jade slip, her gaze sweeping over the eulogy written in vermilion ink with flowing, elegant strokes. The eulogy was jointly written by several elders of the Zuo family who were well-versed in literature. Its language was ornate, using parallel prose and six-character phrases, employing the utmost in elaborate praise. It was nothing more than a eulogy to the virtues of the ancestors, announcing to the family the recent emergence of a remarkably talented descendant who had brought glory to the clan, and praying for the ancestors' blessings, and so on.

She glanced at it, closed the jade slip, and did not read it aloud.

The crowd below held their breath, waiting for the ancient ancestor to speak.

Zuo Qingqiu paused for a moment, and then her clear, melodious voice resounded throughout the square. Though not loud, it reached everyone's ears with unparalleled clarity, carrying a peculiar power that touched their very hearts:

"In the 3643rd year of our clan's calendar, the year was Gui Mao, the first day of the second month of autumn was Jia Zi."

"Qingqiu, the unworthy descendant of Zuo, respectfully offers this simple offering before the spirits of our ancestors."

Her voice was calm and dignified, not in the ornate parallel prose of the jade slip, but in the more ancient and concise classical Chinese, yet it possessed a profound and weighty power.

"We humbly acknowledge our ancestors, who laid a magnificent foundation, overcoming countless hardships to establish the clan. Through their accumulated virtue and benevolence, their lineage has flourished for three thousand years, a testament to the blessings and grace bestowed upon their descendants."

First, briefly describe the hardships of our ancestors in starting their business and the prosperity of our family lineage.

"Qingqiu received family instruction from a young age. Although she was a woman, she dared not forget her roots. At the age of six, she sensed the Qi and was fortunate enough to enter the path of Taoism. At the age of twenty-five, she established her foundation and was able to glimpse longevity. At the age of over one hundred, she entered the Purple Palace and began to understand the Great Tao. Now, at the age of two hundred and twenty, she was fortunate enough to receive the favor of the heavens and glimpsed the mystery of thunder magic. She was able to attain the [Yin Thunder Fruit Position] and, by chance, obtained the Golden Elixir and was ranked among the True Lords."

He recounted his cultivation journey in the simplest way possible. There was no boasting, only a calm narration, yet the information contained within filled all the clansmen below, whether they understood it or not, with awe and boundless longing. Sensing Qi at six, establishing the Foundation Establishment at twenty-five, reaching the Purple Mansion at over a hundred, and the Golden Core at over two hundred… What an astonishing speed of cultivation!

"This is not just Qingqiu's good fortune, but also the blessing of our ancestors, the favor of Heaven, the cultivation of our sect, and the teachings of our masters. Although Qingqiu is dull-witted, I have diligently cultivated day and night without daring to slack off. Fortunately, I have not failed in my mission and have been able to glimpse the gate to the Great Dao."

His humble words carried a confident air of neither servility nor arrogance.

"Now that Qingqiu has ascended to the position of True Lord, he should diligently uphold his original heart, cultivate the Great Way, take it as his duty to glorify his family and protect his clan. May all descendants of the Zuo clan abide by the ancestral teachings, diligently cultivate themselves, be friendly and respectful to their brothers, and maintain harmony among relatives. Internally, they should cultivate themselves and manage their families; externally, they should do good deeds and accumulate virtue. May the family's reputation not decline, the family's rank be forever secure, the descendants prosper, and blessings be long-lasting."

This is a promise to our ancestors and an expectation for future generations.

With utmost sincerity, I offer this humble sacrifice to Heaven; to comfort the spirits of my ancestors. May you accept this offering!

Finally, we offer sacrifices to our ancestors and pray that they may enjoy the offerings.

After the eulogy was read, Zuo Qingqiu placed the jade slip on the incense table and then took three specially made "offering incense to heaven" from the side.

This incense is finer than the incense for communicating with the divine, yet it is crystal clear and exudes a rich spiritual energy.

She pointed her fingers like a sword, and a wisp of immortal energy overflowed from her fingertips, which she gently flicked.

The three sticks of incense burned spontaneously without fire, the smoke a pale gold color, rising straight up, faintly outlining the words from Zuo Qingqiu's sacrificial text in the air, flashing by in an instant, as if she had truly sent her prayers to the ancestral abode in the netherworld.

"I bow again—!"

The Master of Ceremonies then sang a song at the opportune moment.

"Thump—!"

Ten thousand people kowtowed again, their foreheads touching the cold white marble floor, producing a uniform and muffled sound.

Zuo Qingqiu held burning incense and bowed three times before the ancestral tablets.

Each time he bowed, everyone in the square followed suit and kowtowed.

The atmosphere was extremely solemn and respectful.

After bowing, she inserted the incense sticks into the largest purple-gold incense burner in the center of the incense table.

"The ceremony is complete!"

The Master of Ceremonies' voice carried a hint of excitement and relief.

The sacrificial music rang out again, even more magnificent and stirring than before.

The three clan elders rose, faced downwards, and proclaimed in a loud voice: "The ancestral worship ceremony is complete! Our ancestors have heard the good news of our clan's passing and will surely bless the Zuo clan, ensuring its eternal glory for thousands of generations to come!"

May our ancestors bless us! May our ancestors live forever!

May the Zuo clan prosper! May their rule last forever!

A thunderous roar of cheers once again echoed across the towering mountain peak, soaring into the sky. All the clansmen, whether cultivators or mortals, were now immersed in a fervent sense of pride and excitement.

The Zuo family has produced a Golden Core True Monarch! From now on, the family's status will be completely different, and their lives may become easier!

Zuo Qingqiu stood atop the altar, looking down at the bustling crowd below, her face calm and expressionless.

The ancestral worship ceremony has been completed.

Next, it's her turn, this "ancient ancestor," to fulfill some necessary "duties."