I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 360 - 360 359. Fire Transmission Ceremony_1

Chapter 360: 359. Fire Transmission Ceremony_1 Chapter 360: 359. Fire Transmission Ceremony_1 The ritual was quite routine for Lu Ban.

After some formalities, Amber, dressed in splendid attire, departed under the guidance of the older shrine maidens and entered the main hall’s courtyard, where the Shrine Maiden Pavilion stood.

Lu Ban saw a long ladder being set up, and the shrine maidens took Amber into the Shrine Maiden Pavilion. After a while, the shrine maidens left, leaving the Shrine Maiden Pavilion hanging lonely in mid-air.

In the prolonged silence, Lu Ban felt as if something ethereal was entwining around the pavilion, a fleeting connection forming between the Divine Sakura and the Shrine Maiden Pavilion.

The next moment, the Pure Fire was ignited.

Previously, Lu Ban had thought the Shrine maiden’s Pure Fire was dazzling enough, but Amber’s Pure Fire surpassed all before it.

For a time, the entire world turned into shades of black and white, with even the midday sun unable to compete with Amber’s brilliance.

Within that radiant Pure Fire, swirls of multi-colored black began to flow, enveloping the Shrine Maiden Pavilion.

Lu Ban seemed to hear Amber’s voice; his heart skipped a beat as images surfaced in his mind.

Like the silhouette of a young girl shooting an arrow from her longbow under the moonlight’s reflection.

Like the yearning glimpse of a girl peering through a window at playful sailors on a ship.

Like the serene sleeping face of a girl adrift on the lonely sea, embracing her body as she slept.

Like the smile of a girl in plain clothes, expressing her longing and admiration for a future life.

Like the silhouette of a girl, looking up and remarking on the beauty of the moonlit night in front of her home.

The surrounding light gradually dimmed, and everyone’s vision was restored.

After a moment of silence, the crowd began to cheer.

They celebrated the arrival of the new Shrine Maiden, the dawn of a new era, and the joy of Harmony Island’s continued existence.

Lu Ban saw the ceremony’s conductor raise a board, which declared the era of Harmony Island under Amber as the Shrine Maiden.

Spring Harmony.

Spring Harmony and fair weather indeed made for beautiful days.

The flames of the Shrine Maiden Pavilion gradually extinguished, and everything returned to normal.

In Lu Ban’s view, falling cherry blossoms formed the System’s cold and indifferent text.

[Mission Requirement: Escort the shrine maiden to the Great Shrine of Harmony Island 1/1]

[Mission Requirement: Witness the birth of the new Chief Priestess 1/1]

[Mission Requirement: Find and eliminate invading enemies Chosen by Gods 2/2]

[Mission Completed]

[Would you like to return?]

[Yes/No]

Below was a countdown.

Lu Ban could stay in this world for at most one more day.

He didn’t choose to return immediately but went back to his own courtyard.

“I’m still somewhat concerned.”

Lu Ban glanced at the Shrine Maiden Pavilion.

He wondered if Amber felt scared being alone inside.

According to the aloof Priestess Sister, Amber had to stay in the Shrine Maiden Pavilion for at least one day and one night to allow the Pure Fire to fully accept her.

It must be an excruciating process.

In the evening, while having dinner, Lu Ban told the aloof Priestess Sister that he planned to leave.

“You’re leaving?”

The shrine maiden found it a bit incredible.

Lu Ban was now the person most valued by the new Shrine Maiden, and his own strength was formidable, making him likely a person of great influence.

How could such a man renounce all power and continue to live as a ronin?

“Yes, just like she belongs here, I truly don’t,” Lu Ban said, gesturing towards the distant Shrine Maiden Pavilion.

“Alright then.”

The Priestess Sister seemed a bit melancholic.

“Tomorrow should be the naming ceremony for that child; she will officially become a shrine maiden of the Shrine. I have asked my superiors to allow me to mentor her, and I wanted to invite you to attend.”

The Priestess Sister spoke again.

“That’s really great.”

Lu Ban clapped his hands.

Although this aloof Priestess Sister seemed rather unsociable, her nature was actually quite nice, earnest and responsible. The little girl would surely grow into an outstanding shrine maiden under her tutelage.

“Speaking of which, what name did you give her?”

Lu Ban casually asked, though he figured they probably wouldn’t tell him, he was still a bit curious.

“She comes from Changfeng Island, so we named her after the meaning of maple leaves.”

To his surprise, the Priestess Sister did not evade the question but answered directly.

“Her name is Red Leaf.”

Clang—

The chopsticks in Lu Ban’s hand fell onto the table, causing the Priestess Sister some confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

She asked.

“No, nothing.”

Lu Ban picked up the chopsticks.

He stopped himself from speaking further.

Indeed, Red Leaf had mentioned that when she was a child, her family was attacked by pollution, and she was saved by the Pure Fire of a Shrine Maiden, but Lu Ban had not expected that she was actually this little girl.

If he hadn’t completed the mission, then perhaps he wouldn’t have brought the pollution to Changfeng Island where Red Leaf lived; she wouldn’t have lost her parents and might have grown up as a fisherman’s daughter, living an ordinary and peaceful life.

However, now Lu Ban had completely changed the trajectory of her life.

If nothing unexpected happened, Red Leaf would grow up at the Great Shrine of Harmony Island, become an understudy to a Shrine Maiden, then go to Song Island to investigate the pollution incident, and eventually go through the cruel events Lu Ban had seen in the hairpin, becoming the Calamitous Shrine Maiden.

Red Leaf’s future was Lu Ban’s past.

Although he was not sure how the time paradox of the Silent Lands was calculated, Lu Ban’s current actions had already formed a closed loop in Red Leaf’s fate.

The state of Red Leaf he had observed was now fixed, an inevitable conclusion of fate.

No matter what Lu Ban did, it would not change Red Leaf’s ending.

Just as her leftover crystal had been buried in the soil of the Divine Sakura, little Red Leaf would eventually become the one Lu Ban had encountered.

“She could just not train so hard, not be obsessed with saving the world, and live a safe and peaceful life.”

Lu Ban said.

The aloof Priestess Sister was a bit puzzled, not understanding why Lu Ban was saying these things.

After dinner, just as Amber said, the moon was beautiful.

Clear moonlight filtered through the falling cherry blossoms onto the ground, creating a frost-like effect. Lu Ban sat inside the house, feeling that this journey was not as straightforward as it seemed due to Red Leaf’s situation.

Stepping out into the courtyard, Lu Ban gazed at the bright moon and suddenly felt as if someone was behind him.

He turned his head and saw the Priestess with black hair and cherry eyes standing in the yard.

“Who are you, exactly?”

Lu Ban asked.

The other person didn’t speak but turned and walked out of the courtyard, pausing at the gate to look back at Lu Ban, as if to beckon him to follow.

Lu Ban followed.

The two of them, one after another, moved through the quiet torii gates.

Lu Ban recognized the path as somewhat familiar.

Soon, he arrived at his destination.

The main hall of the Great Shrine of Harmony Island.

In the yard stood the Shrine Maiden Pavilion.

Amber was up there.

The Priestess disappeared without a trace, leaving only the shrine maidens stationed at the entrance of the yard.

Lu Ban took another look at that loft.

He pulled out the [Twisted Mask of Pain] and placed it on his face.

Transforming into smoke, Lu Ban infiltrated the moonlight and soared up towards the Shrine Maiden Pavilion.