Chapter 1

The sunlight warmed his face.

A cacophony of noise echoed in his ears, and Zhao Li yawned, lazily opening his eyes. The surroundings came into view, the waves of noise surged over him, and the unfamiliar environment left him momentarily dazed. He blinked and took in his surroundings.

Where am I?

Around him were men and women of all ages dressed in simple clothing. He and two other children, both in their teens, sat in the center of the crowd. Everyone surrounded them, bowing on the ground with their hands raised high. The colored beads on their wrists clinked together, producing a clear sound. There were many people, so the sound was quite loud.

What’s happening?

Zhao Li’s mind was frozen. On his right was a nervous young boy, and on his left was a clean-faced girl. Her cheeks were marked with a horizontal line of red cinnabar, and her smile was gentle as she softly comforted the boy.

Then she noticed Zhao Li and gave him a slight smile. Her voice was soft, like a breeze from a valley, and she took his hand. The warmth in her palm and the kindness in her smile made Zhao Li’s instinctive guard relax.

It was only then that he noticed his and the other two children’s clothes were different from the others.

The others wore gray or blue clothes, very simple in style.

Their clothes were pure white like clouds, with light golden trim at the cuffs. The clothes seemed to have been sprinkled with spices, carrying a rich fragrance and a hint of medicinal scent, which stimulated his mind, helping him regain some clarity and spirit from the strange daze.

Zhao Li lifted his gaze to look further, his heart gradually filled with awe.

Under the azure sky, tall bronze flags stood, with crimson banners embroidered with ancient patterns in light gold. The war flags fluttered like clouds in the wind. At the very center, a circle of white stone was built, layer upon layer, rising high.

At the very center, a bronze tree spread and grew.

Its branches pointed to the sky like swords.

In front of the bronze tree, various spices burned in the flames.

The smoke rose along the bronze tree to the higher sky.

Thus, the crimson war flags danced more intensely in the clouds and smoke. An old man, dressed in clothes made of sheepskin, with bare feet, held a dagger in one hand and a large bronze bell in the other. Accompanied by the sound of the bell, he danced on the white ground, wearing a bronze mask on his face.

A circle of young women knelt around, chanting ancient syllables.

The bronze tree, the dance, and the ancient chanting all carried a profound and solemn meaning, like the vast sky, which made Zhao Li feel inexplicably uneasy.

In his memory, he had completed his work, using both his computer and phone to catch up on the progress of an event.

He had been playing two games, both known as one of the "Three Illusory Gods," and the game events were about to end, so he had to do this. After that, he should have been so tired that he fell asleep.

But no matter what, he shouldn’t be here, in this unfamiliar environment, a place that defied his understanding, which made him increasingly wary. He wanted to stand up, but for some reason, his limbs couldn’t move. After regaining his consciousness, the sense of powerlessness began to quickly fade.

But it would take some time to fully recover his strength.

The luxurious, even noble, clothes he wore gave him some reassurance.

Finally, the old man stopped dancing, and the chanting of the people abruptly ceased. In the vast silence, only the wind remained.

The old man spoke to Zhao Li and the other two children in a language Zhao Li didn’t understand, his voice ancient and rhythmic.

Two young women, dressed in white and with tight waists, descended from the high platform with the same steps.

They bowed to the boy on Zhao Li’s right and then helped him step by step up to the high platform.

Zhao Li thought about what he had just seen and formed a guess. This was probably some kind of ceremony. From the two children, it seemed likely that they were of high status and were undergoing a coming-of-age ritual. But why was he here?

Unfamiliar language, unfamiliar environment.

Zhao Li had a guess, but his mind was already in a mess. At that moment, the boy ascended the high platform, and the white-haired old man, holding a bronze bell and a dagger, danced around him.

Then he stood in front of the burning incense, facing the bronze tree that pointed to the sky, spread his arms, and loudly prayed. The others bowed their heads and responded in a different voice, a continuous sound like a tide.

It must be a ceremony...

Zhao Li felt a slight relief.

Then he saw the old man turn his head.

The sound of the bronze bell suddenly became sharp and rapid.

The bronze dagger, like a hunting eagle, pierced into the boy’s chest. The luxurious white clothes were instantly stained with red blood, the golden trim turning red. Zhao Li’s pupils contracted as he watched the gentle boy fall silently on the high platform like a piece of rotten wood.

The crowd of thousands erupted in loud cheers.

Zhao Li’s voice, filled with confusion and anger, was drowned out by the crowd.

They raised their hands, and the prayer beads on their palms clinked continuously.

Their words were like flames, like the wind that blew the war flags.

Zhao Li’s anger didn’t last long. Not long after the boy fell, the two young women came down and approached him, bowing respectfully and then extending their hands to help him up.

Clearly, Zhao Li was the next one to be sacrificed. The dagger would pierce his heart like a pig or some other beast, and he would lie flat on the ground, dead in this place.

Zhao Li’s muscles tensed and then relaxed.

He maintained a stern face as the two women led him away, glancing at the kneeling girl beside him. Her smile was gentle, but her eyes were hollow, and her hands, tightly clenched on her knees, were a clear detail he had missed upon waking.

But even if he had noticed, what could he do?

There were at least a thousand people here.

Zhao Li didn’t have time to think further as he was already led up to the high platform.

He saw a white jade table in front of the flames, on which were placed unknown large animal bones, bronze weapons, and a pearl like an eye, offered in front of the flames and the bronze tree.

The child who was just alive lay on the ground, and the intricate carvings on the white stone platform were filled with the fresh blood flowing from the young heart. The carvings reflected the firelight, flickering with the flames, as if breathing.

Zhao Li’s face was expressionless.

He stood in the center of the high platform like the child before, or like a piece of wood, as the two women stepped back. The old man danced with ancient steps in front of the bronze tree, and the flames spewed smoke, which rose to the sky, mixing with the wind and clouds, supporting the crimson war flags.

Finally, the war flags rolled like a river over the heads of the prostrate people.

The old man stood in front of Zhao Li, spread his arms, and loudly prayed to the bronze tree.

Everyone bowed their bodies.

Only the girl was a bit slower, and she saw the man’s eyes change, almost instinctively shouting out and then covering her mouth, her eyes wide.

Zhao Li silently reached out, grabbed the large, pale animal bone, and took a step forward. His left hand followed his right, gripping the bone tightly. The pallor, gentleness, kindness, and even weakness on his face turned into a fierce expression.

Then he stepped forward, twisted his waist—

Exerted his strength!

An unprecedented smoothness, the power burst from his toes, through his calves, thighs, waist, shoulders, and arms, and finally, his body, like a taut war bow, suddenly relaxed. The animal bone made a dull sound as it cut through the air.

In the instant the old man turned his head, the pale animal bone struck his chin with precision and force.

The bronze mask on the old man’s face was knocked off.

A dull sound, like a war drum, instantly echoed through the special platform, and everyone lifted their heads. They heard a roar filled with intense emotion, like a lion’s roar, though they didn’t understand its meaning.

The wind from the animal bone blew into the fire, and the various spices danced, making the flames suddenly intense and vigorous.

The figure threw the animal bone, striking the two women who rushed up, and used his arm to tightly grip the old man’s neck.

He grabbed the bronze dagger and pressed it firmly against the old man’s throat.

Standing on the high platform, he looked down at everyone.

PS: New book, please support...