To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The closer it gets to the sacrificial ceremony, the stronger the festive atmosphere becomes in Duyou City.

In his spare time from cultivation, Gu Fan would also visit the lower city, partly to see Lin Chen and impart some basic knowledge, and partly to experience the customs and culture of the Qin Kingdom.

After several visits, Gu Fan gained a better understanding of the situation in the Qin state.

What Lin's father said was true; the lives of the people of Qin were not as happy as they appeared on the surface. What was being revealed at this moment was more like the festive atmosphere that had accumulated during a major holiday.

Just like poor families also celebrate the New Year.

Those unintentional glimpses of sorrow, and the hatred for the rampant officials, are all hidden in unknown corners.

On the day of the sacrificial ceremony, disciples of the Rebirth Sect arrived early in the morning to guide Gu Fan to the square in front of the Reincarnation Hall.

In the center of the square stands a black altar several meters high, gleaming with a faint, dark light. At its top are sacrificial altars, incense tables, bells, tripods, and other ritual implements.

Thousands of black-robed disciples stood around the altar, their postures upright, holding lotus-painted banners, their expressions solemn, their eyes fixed intently on the altar. At the very front were dozens of Golden Core cultivators.

At the end of the altar lies the Hall of Reincarnation, which, like a blooming black lotus, is surrounded by rich spiritual energy.

An area surrounding the plaza was also designated for heretical cultivators.

Looking around, Gu Fan saw many people dressed in Chu-style clothing, as well as some people wearing Confucian robes and monk robes. They must have been invited by the Rebirth Sect to attend the ceremony.

As a Golden Core cultivator, Gu Fan received even more prestigious treatment. The Rebirth Sect specially set up a viewing platform facing the altar, where several Golden Core cultivators had already arrived.

Gu Fan stepped onto the viewing platform and unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.

It was Su Nanzhi.

When Su Nanzhi saw Gu Fan, her eyes widened immediately. Then, she composed herself and pretended to be unfamiliar with him, saying through divine sense, "It's been many years since we last met. Fellow Daoist has actually cultivated to the late stage of Golden Core. I am quite envious."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fan jokingly replied via telepathy, "Fellow Daoist is only a hair's breadth away from the late stage, so why envy me? When you take the Condensing Pivot Pill, you might even reach the Nascent Soul stage before me."

"Then I will take your kind words with me." Su Nanzhi turned her head and smiled gently.

Gu Fan then asked curiously, "Why are you here, fellow Daoist?"

"It's just a coincidence," Su Nanzhi explained. "Most of the people on the stage are from cultivation families in the Chu Kingdom, here to trade with the Qin Kingdom. I am one of them."

After speaking, Su Nanzhi countered, "And what brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

Gu Fan calmly mentioned sealing the tainted cauldron, and Su Nanzhi blinked and praised, "Fellow Daoist's actions are always unpredictable."

Su Nanzhi had lost count of how many times she had been shocked by Gu Fan's methods.

Gu Fan and Su Nanzhi chatted idly, having no interest in socializing with others. Su Nanzhi was naturally aloof and reserved, keeping people at arm's length, so no one dared to approach her for a conversation.

The two waited for half an hour, when suddenly a drumbeat sounded.

Accompanied by the sound of drums, the disciples of the Rebirth Sect shouted in unison, "Welcome, Master!"

The sound waves pierced through the clouds and split the rocks, echoing endlessly for a long time.

A moment later, a beam of light flew out from the Samsara Palace and landed steadily in the center of the altar. It was a middle-aged male cultivator with disheveled hair and an unrestrained and dashing demeanor. The power fluctuations of the late Golden Core stage were spread out without reservation, causing the scene below to fall silent instantly.

"This is Xie Linyuan, the leader of the Rebirth Cult," Su Nanzhi introduced in a low voice, her tone somewhat solemn.

Gu Fan's brows twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "I've heard that the Rebirth Sect reveres True Monarch Crossing the Dust, followed by the Sect Leader and the Holy Maiden. Why is only the Sect Leader showing up now?"

"The sacrificial ceremony has always been presided over by the religious leader."

Although Su Nanzhi had doubts, she patiently explained: "I have been in charge of the Su family's external transactions for nearly a hundred years, and I have also participated in several sacrificial ceremonies. The most recent one was forty years ago, and each time it was presided over by Master Xie himself."

"It is said that during the grand ceremony, True Lord Duchen will respectfully receive the Dao Ancestor's decree in the Hall of Reincarnation, and the Holy Maiden will be serving by his side, so she will not appear. As for her position in the sect, what you said is correct, but I have also heard that in addition to the Holy Maiden, the Rebirth Sect also has the position of Holy Son."

"The Holy Son?" Gu Fan asked.

"That's right." Su Nanzhi nodded slightly: "The Holy Son is a pre-selected High Priest, chosen personally by the current High Priest. Currently, the Rebirth Sect has no Holy Son. These rules have been passed down since the founding of the Qin Kingdom. The Holy Son and Holy Daughter have changed several times, which is not a secret in the cultivation world of the Western Continent."

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Gu Fan's eyes.

Just then, Xie Linyuan on the altar slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it could be heard throughout the entire square, exuding the majesty of a sect leader.

"Today, the grand ceremony for the passing of the deceased begins. Xie Linyuan is here to respectfully welcome fellow Daoists from all nations and elders from various sects to attend the ceremony."

"I teach my disciples to be compassionate, abide by the rules, cultivate themselves with a tranquil mind, protect the people of my Qin state, and transmit the true Dharma of reincarnation."

"May the Dao Ancestor bless our religion to prosper and our lineage to endure. May the Qin Kingdom enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests, and may the people live in peace and happiness. May all fellow Daoists have a smooth path on their Dao and live to a ripe old age."

"Now that the grand ceremony has begun, please grant the Dao Ancestor's seal. All disciples, please pay your respects!"

As soon as Xie Linyuan finished speaking, the earth-shaking drumbeats sounded again, and spiritual light suddenly rose on the altar, forming a half-bright, half-dark, slowly rotating gray-black wheel.

As soon as Xie Linyuan finished speaking, the earth-shaking drumbeats sounded again, and spiritual light suddenly rose on the altar, forming a half-bright, half-dark, slowly rotating gray-black wheel.

The Daoist patriarch did not appear in the world; only his Dharma seal was passed down.

When the Dharma seal appeared in the world, the disciples of the Rebirth Sect bowed down in unison the instant the spiritual light rose, their expressions extremely respectful.

Although Gu Fan and other cultivators from other paths were not of the Samsara lineage, they still bowed respectfully to show their reverence for the Dao Ancestor.

Then, Xie Linyuan said in a deep voice, "Offer sacrifices!"

As soon as he finished speaking, three Golden Core elders of the Rebirth Sect personally carried the palanquin forward and presented three strange demonic beasts. Xie Linyuan personally wielded a knife to butcher them and respectfully placed the offerings before the altar.

Finally, he lit three sticks of incense and slowly inserted them into the ancient cauldron on the altar.

"May the Dao Ancestor protect us!"

After doing all this, Xie Linyuan shouted loudly and bowed down under the Dao Ancestor's seal.

Thousands of disciples of the Rebirth Sect followed closely behind, shouting in unison. The sound waves rolled and reached down to the city. Countless mortals knelt down upon hearing the sound, whispering their wishes.

In the western part of the city, Lin Chen's family was also among the crowd.

Only Hulu was squatting on the table, holding a piece of pastry in his hand, staring with his round eyes, completely bewildered.

At this point, the sacrificial ceremony had reached its climax.

If the Dao Ancestor manifests his power and bestows blessings, that would be the best possible outcome.

Unfortunately, since the Qionghua Realm was shattered, the sects of the East and West Continents have held countless sacrifices, but there has never been a response from the Dao Ancestor. The Grand Ceremony of the Rebirth Sect was no exception.

Even after Xie Linyuan stood up, the Dao Ancestor's seal remained completely still, showing no sign of efficacy.

Just as Gu Fan thought the sacrificial ceremony was about to end, a deafening roar came from the Hall of Reincarnation.

"You bitch!"

With this shout, a layer of light suddenly rose around the Samsara Hall, completely enveloping the entire hall.

Xie Linyuan had somehow acquired a formation flag in his hand. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with madness as he stared intently at the Samsara Palace, his aura becoming increasingly violent.

When Gu Fan saw the light screen, his heart skipped a beat.

He was very familiar with that light screen; it was the third-tier high-grade array that he had sold to Yun Shuwan.

Zhenxuan Sealing Array.