MTLNOVEL Ch. 5
Chapter 5: Rituals
Does the ceremony really work?
It should, otherwise the progress bar wouldn’t show the words “Ceremony Strengthening.”
But can staying behind really share in the ceremony’s power?
Li Qi didn’t know, he was purely gambling on a chance.
A life muddled away, just a hauler selling his hard labor day after day?
He didn’t want that.
...
At this very moment, on the other side.
At the River-Observing Tower overlooking the Li River.
To monitor the river’s flow at all times and oversee the city, a towering lookout was built on the riverbank.
A hundred zhang tall, piercing the sky, taller than most modern skyscrapers.
The lower floors were taverns and entertainment, but past thirty zhang no idle folk were allowed. The top floor was managed by river officials responsible for river supervision, ship traffic control, and dredging embankments.
The prosperity of Li Prefecture depended entirely on the river.
Its safety and stability determined the livelihood of the entire prefecture, an importance not to be understated. So normally, only officials were allowed on the top floors of River-Observing Tower.
But today, the top floor was filled with multiple altars, and nine masked shamans dressed in strange garb.
These shamans wore lotus leaves and water plants, lotus crowns on their heads, their faces painted with seven-colored patterns, bodies twisting as they chanted softly.
Between the altars and shamans stood a man with disheveled hair, holding a wooden paddle, dressed in simple, loose robes.
Surrounded by altars, he chanted:
“Heaven and Earth have boundaries, each gives birth to their own resources. Craftsmen of the Tang, horns of the east, metals of the west, horns of the south, ores of the north - if these lands cannot flourish, they must move elsewhere; this is the flow of fortune!”
“Alas! Spirit of the Li Prefecture River, connecting the four directions’ treasures to support it, crafting boats to sail the waters, commanding ninety million followers over ten thousand li; your deeds are boundless and the people revere you!”
He called out his ritual words while moving the paddle in dance.
Nearby, shamans beat crocodile-skin drums vigorously.
Crocodiles, anciently called “Tuo,” had skins perfect for drums that pleased water gods.
Amid the commotion, a strange energy subtly rose throughout Li Prefecture City.
From the altars, streams of water suddenly surged forth.
These streams flowed toward the man with the paddle.
He continued chanting:
“At the start of spring, heavenly time brings life! Harmonizing cold and warmth, nature flowing freely, opening spirits and delighting the body, washing away mental stains, clear and pure, spotless and intangible, shining with precious sands, illuminating every depth! Pouring forth in turn, removing my disasters!”
He was submerged by the flowing water.
The surrounding shamans stopped, drenched in sweat, collapsing to rest.
Though their dance seemed light, their exhausted state looked like they’d gone ten days without rest, their muscles spasmed, sweat poured like springs, unable to move.
At that moment, a young scholar stepped forward.
If Li Qi were here, he would immediately recognize this young scholar, the same one who had been with the Strong-Force Gang!
“The great affairs of the nation lie in rites and warfare. The prefect annually leads the worship ceremony with such care, the king would surely be pleased,” the scholar said, watching the water-wrapped man.
“Mister Zhu, your words are well taken. Worship is the foundation of the Way of the Shaman. The Great Lu Kingdom was founded on Shamanism, respecting ghosts and gods, how could we not care deeply for worship?” the prefect floated in the water, speaking normally.
Looking closely, his chest rose and fell, he was breathing underwater.
“Founded on Shamanism? Yet no shamans, no grand diviners, no palace seers or dream interpreters, just prefectures and magistrates, kings and officials. Is this still Shamanism or something else?” Mister Zhu smiled.
But the prefect’s smile faded, his expression turning complicated.
“Your words are harsh. Of course Great Lu’s foundation is Shamanism, but human way teachings are adept at gathering the power of all people. To expand and strengthen the state, one must borrow the skin of humanity,” the prefect quickly explained.
“That’s for the best,” Mister Zhu nodded, seeming about to speak more.
But the prefect cut him off, “I hear you’ve been mingling closely with commoners lately. Why is that?”
“I divined a few years ago during a grand ritual that an ‘Outer Dao object’ would appear in Li Prefecture City, so I sent them to find it,” Mister Zhu waved off the topic lightly.
“An Outer Dao object is odd but often useless junk. Using a grand ritual to search for it is a bit… extravagant,” the prefect cautioned.
“No matter. The ritual’s for fortune-telling, not treasure hunting. It was just an accidental gain,” Mister Zhu answered casually.
Suddenly, he frowned, “Prefect, your ceremony seems weaker?”
“It’s near the end, weakening is normal and it fluctuates,” the prefect said without much concern. Immersed in the water, he began drawing power.
Indeed, it had weakened, but only by less than one ten-thousandth, well within normal range.
Mister Zhu glanced thoughtfully towards downstairs.
In a corner below,
Li Qi held a strange posture, chanting the ritual text.
Where did he get it? From the prefect himself!
It was that passage:
“In the Qinghua Palace dwells the Spirit of the Li Prefecture, commanding forty-two divisions and ninety million followers, governing all matters along the Li Prefecture’s ten thousand li and myriad spirits. You haulers belong to one division, guiding boats and pulling ships, alleviating natural disasters and aiding the underworld. Today’s river-opening ceremony dissolves calamities and sins; you shall be rewarded!”
Not sure why, this world used characters similar to Chinese, and Li Qi, being somewhat educated, understood.
He made small changes, replacing “You haulers belong to one division, guiding boats with dedication” and tweaking the rest to:
“Today’s river-opening ceremony, my division dissolves calamities and sins, please reward us!”
Did it work?
Of course!
Because the progress bar moved!
He tried many times, altering words and body movements repeatedly. At first, standing still did nothing.
Even when the river ceremony bar hit 99.6%, there was no sign of shared benefit.
Then Li Qi tried other ways.
He changed posture, modified the prayer, and tried repeatedly, still no effect.
He realized one function of the progress bar was to confirm if something was effective.
If it worked, the progress bar would describe the progress!
After trying for a full 45 minutes, finally, when he knelt fully before the river, chanting the prayer, the progress bar popped up:
“Ceremony Strengthening: 1%.”
Just as he discovered the method, the river ceremony progress bar reached 99.8%.
(Chapter End)