862 Waiting in the Rain of Peach Petals (1/2)

Perhaps it was because the invisible massive array being broken in by this sword, there came a tender breeze in the front yard, lifting a few autumn leaves.

One piece of leaf felt on the blade of that sword. But it was not split for the sword was calm and peaceful. The leaf bounced up a bit and fell onto the ground again.

It was an unsettling sort of calm.

Everyone had since realized who this sword belonged to. No one but Liu Bai would have dared to barge in and accomplish it in such a short instant.

Inside the sacred sedan with radiance of lights, the Hierarch leaned forward.

He felt irritated. This was because Liu Bai's sword was pointing towards the Divine Hall of Light, even if it meant no offense nor respect. Moreover, that sword had shown up later than himself.

This implied that Liu Bai saw himself above the Hierarch.

He was the Hierarch of the Divine Halls of West-Hill. By placing himself above the Hierarch, Liu Bai was placing himself above all of humanity.

...

The Hierarch was seriously wounded by the Twenty-Three-year Cicada in the back mountain of the Academy. He was blinded, his arms were broken, and his Ocean of Qi destroyed. It took him a lot to get back to the Peach Mountain. He thought he was destroyed, and dared not to come out of the radiating lights because of his fear. But no one could have expected that Haotian would come to the human world.

Since the moment he began following Haotian, he had regained his faith and courage which he lost decades ago. Haotian had already punished Zhishou Abbey in his rage. And thus, the Hierarch became the only one who represented Haotian in the human world. As long as he stayed in the Peach Mountain, he would be undefeatable. No one could defeat him, not even Liu Bai. The Drunkard and the Butcher would not dare to show him any disrespect either.

Therefore, he did not try to hide his anger toward this invasive sword. Yet, despite his resentment, the sword just hovered there calmly without even the slightest reaction.

Out of the five guest ministers in the Divine Halls of West-Hill, Xiahou was gone. The Sage of Calligraphy was already in seclusion. Liu Bai was still the most respected guest minister. His sword was enough to represent his presence, and this was already showing respect to the Rite to Light. Therefore, even the Hierarch could not do anything about it.

The head of Revelation Institute was standing by the Hierarch's sacred sedan. He was in charge of the agenda of the day. Since the Hierarch did not give further instructions, he announced the official debut of the ceremony.

Sacred music resounded from around the Peach Mountain, resonating in the front yard and was heard by all the participants. The Qi of Heaven and Earth echoed with the music, and along with it arose a warm breeze that replaced the chilling autumn wind.

The peach buds in the valley bloomed in full and their petals were lifted by the breeze. They drifted down the Peach Mountain and gathered above the front yard, dancing in the breeze.

Tons of peach petals sent forth a mystic fragrance. It was not a regular scent of peach blossoms but was stronger than any earthly fragrance and sweeter than any sugar. It was not too overwhelming, just like a refreshing fresh breeze after the rain.

Tens of thousands of followers looked up to the dancing peach petals, enjoying the dazzling beauty and the refreshing fragrance.

They had passed strict exams and traveled a long way to come to the Rite to Light. They were the most devout followers on earth. Based on some very simple logic, devoutness always came from suffering. Therefore, most of them had experienced a lot of sufferings, and many were seriously ill or even dying, carried all the way to the West-Hill by their families.

When the mystic fragrance came, the ill or disabled felt sudden relief, as though they were liberated from any negative energy or sufferings they had undergone. They were refreshed and even seemed to see the sacred kingdom of Haotian through that fragrance.

The lame threw away their crutches, kneeled with trembling hands and prostrated towards the Peach Mountain. Those previously lying on stretchers struggled to get on their feet and prostrated despite of the objection from their families.

Although it was autumn, the front yard of Peach Mountain was as warm as spring with countless peach blossoms dancing in the breeze and spreading their charming fragrance. All of a sudden, the breeze disappeared, and peach blossoms fell toward the ground.

The falling peach blossoms turned into a rain of petals.

Tens of thousands of followers kneeled in the rain of petals. Those petals fell on their bodies, changed into soft beams of lights, penetrated through their clothes and skins, melted into their blood and disappeared.