I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 359 - 359 358. The moonlight is beautiful_1

Chapter 359: 358. The moonlight is beautiful_1 Chapter 359: 358. The moonlight is beautiful_1 Seven days passed quickly.

After the palace examination, the remaining selection process was just a formality.

During this time, both within the Great Shrine of Harmony Island and throughout Island City, rumors about the new Shrine Maiden were flying high.

The day after the palace examination, the Sanada Family sent someone to seek out Lu Ban, hoping to establish good relations. They even brought Sanada Makoto to stage a mock conflict in front of Lu Ban, much like the ruse of Zhou Yu against Huang Gai.

It must be said that families who have held power for a long time, though there may be one or two members who fail to understand the way things work, can on the whole discern what is to their advantage and will swiftly change course to form connections when they see their priestess has little chance of becoming the successor.

As for Lu Ban, he didn’t really mind.

He was someone who would be leaving this world in a few days, disappearing from people’s sight. Sucking up to him was pointless.

Besides the Sanada Family, naturally, there were other visitors. Lu Ban’s residence, once rather quiet, was now bustling with visitors, which made it hard for him to even take a nap.

Finding this bothersome, Lu Ban simply had the aloof Priestess Sister move him to another residence, and then spent his days wandering around He Dao, gathering intelligence and obtaining firsthand information about this world.

The political power on Harmony Island was relatively loose, with a few prominent lords as the main authorities, balancing each other out. Many years ago, there were several wars between these lords, but each was hastily concluded with the sudden invasion of polluted beings. Now, the overall power of Harmony Island has weakened, and the Island Stewards have become the actual rulers of their respective islands.

For example, Amber’s home on Sakura Island, being far from Harmony Island, had effectively formed a more isolated political structure.

The ships of the Island Stewards are mostly used to fend off pirates. Out on the high seas, pirates have formed structures similar to governments and stand in opposition to the central governance of Harmony Island.

In Harmony Island, the gap between the rich and the poor is not as pronounced as it is in the Abandoned Capital. The poor people are fishers or net menders who can secure their livelihood, dressed simply, while the wealthy wear luxurious clothes. But everyone can walk down the same street, or to put it another way, the level of productive forces on Harmony Island has not developed enough to enter industrialization, so the accumulation of primitive capital has not become so rampant.

As for Gallery Flower Street.

Lu Ban visited it with an investigative attitude, accompanied by Xia Dao. Perhaps because of the presence of a priest, the ladies were well-behaved, sitting uprightly, earnestly answering Lu Ban’s questions, and occasionally punctuating with question marks.

In the end, Lu Ban expressed his concern about the safety and hygiene issues of Flower Street, and offered suggestions for improvement. He had a cordial conversation with the person in charge of Gallery Flower Street, exchanging opinions, and the visit concluded smoothly.

Since the upcoming events were quite straightforward, Lu Ban let Laika go ahead to the site in advance to avoid any surprises that could startle the local flora and fauna if he were to suddenly appear in an unexpected place.

“The Fire Transmission Ceremony is the most important ritual of the Shrine, during which the new Shrine Maiden will inherit the Pure Fire from her predecessor and complete the succession. Afterward, she will enter the Shrine Maiden Pavilion and light her first flame,” the aloof Priestess Sister explained as she dressed Lu Ban in the ceremonial attire.

“Once the Fire Transmission Ceremony concludes, the Shrine Maiden’s succession will have been officially completed, and the Great Shrine of Harmony Island will announce the new era name for the Shrine Maiden’s service. By the way, the current era name is ‘Kazami’,” she informed him, quite seriously.

“What year is it now in the ‘Abundant Harmony’ calendar?” Lu Ban couldn’t help asking.

“It’s the thirty-seventh year of Abundant Harmony,” the Priestess Sister immediately responded.

“Does a Chief Priestess serve for so long?” Lu Ban remarked with a sigh.

No wonder the lords fought over the position of Chief Priestess. After all, once successful, it meant more than thirty years in power, something anyone would find tempting.

“Thirty-seven years is considered short. The selection process was rushed because the tenure of the previous Shrine Maiden Lord was brief, and they couldn’t wait for a Shrine Maiden with the right spiritual qualities. Historically, the tenure of a Shrine Maiden Lord has ranged from thirty to one hundred fifty years, with the longest being one hundred sixty-eight years,” the Priestess Sister added.

“After the former Shrine Maiden Lord abdicates, she will retire to the Pure Fire Hall. Having been in contact with the Pure Fire for so long, even their breath is unbearable for ordinary people. Even we cannot see the Shrine Maiden Lord on a regular basis.”

“So how many Shrine Maiden Lords are there in the Pure Fire Hall now?” Lu Ban asked, curious.

“I don’t know. Only the most venerable Priestesses have access to the Pure Fire Hall. Matters concerning the Shrine Maiden Lords are taboo for common Priestesses like us,” the Priestess Sister shook her head.

“Alright,” Lu Ban didn’t press further, sensing she probably knew no more.

The thought of Amber serving as a Shrine Maiden for decades, lonely and separated from people while guarding the world, filled him with profound loneliness.

It felt like standing at the very edge of the world.

Dressed in his outfit, Lu Ban looked at himself in the bronze mirror.

Already handsome, the formal attire made him look even more composed and restrained.

“…It’s not bad,” he muttered.

The aloof Priestess Sister snapped out of her reverie.

At that moment, Lu Ban saw a girl standing at the doorway from over her shoulder. She was dressed in white, with scarlet hakama and a Pine Crane Pattern Chihaya draped over her shoulders, her head adorned with a Golden Crown and her hair pinned up with decorative hair sticks.

“Shrine Maiden Lord.”

Noticing the person behind her, the aloof Priestess Sister immediately stepped back several paces and bowed to Amber.

“You may leave now.”

Amber waved her hand, signaling the other to leave, leaving only Lu Ban and herself in the room.

“How is it?”

Amber lifted her sleeves and turned her body slightly.

“Not quite right, maybe you should take it off.”

Lu Ban teased half-jokingly.

“That won’t do, I’ve made my decision.”

Amber caught on to Lu Ban’s meaning and merely pursed her lips in a smile.

She reached into her bosom and pulled out something, placing it in Lu Ban’s palm.

“This is an Amulet I got for you, I hope it keeps you safe.”

The Amulet was quite ordinary, just like any other acquired at the Great Shrine of Harmony Island, but coming from the Chief Priestess, it might indeed have some lucky effect.

[Lucky Amulet]

[Received an Amulet blessed by the Shrine Maiden of the Great Shrine of Harmony Island]

[People are accustomed to seeking blessings from the deities, and the Shrine Maidens convey the divine will on their behalf]

[How to interpret it varies from one person to another]

As this was happening, such texts from the System flickered across Lu Ban’s vision.

Seeing these, Lu Ban realized he was in a world on the brink of peril.

Filth could invade the Island at any moment, and the everlasting Pure Fire was slowly consuming everything.

“Please take good care of this world.”

Lu Ban placed his hand on the one Amber used to give him the Amulet.

“Yes, I will,” Amber replied with a nod and then said.

“Do you know, if one becomes a Shrine Maiden, they can wield the true power to oversee the world, and no matter where you are in the future, I will be able to see you.”

“That would be wonderful.”

Lu Ban smiled.

Outside the door, several Shrine Maidens were urging Amber on; it seemed she had broken the rules to sneak out and see Lu Ban.

“I should go to the ceremony now.”

Amber lowered her eyelashes.

“Then I’m off.”

“Bon voyage.”

Lu Ban waved his hand in farewell.

Amber approached the door, lifted her head slightly, and looked up at the clear sky.

“The moon should be very beautiful tonight.”

“Yes, it should,” Lu Ban replied.

Outside, the gently falling cherry blossoms created a pale pink path, along which Amber, dressed in ornate attire, slowly walked away.

Lu Ban remained unmoving until she disappeared at the end of the Scarlet Torii.