My Pet Beast is Super Fearsome
Chapter 554 - 553: Turns Out I am the Clown

Chapter 554: Chapter 553: Turns Out I am the Clown

[Name]: Ancient Shu·Sanxingdui Golden Mask

[Attribute]: Unknown

[Quality]: ★★★★

[Condition]: Intact

[Function]: Sacrificial Dance: Serves as a medium for communicating between heaven and earth, delivering beautiful prayers to the gods worshiped.

Divine Favor: During the sacrificial dance, one can communicate with the worshipped deities and listen to their teachings.

[Description]: The ancient Shu, leaving no trace in the long river of history, is enveloped in mystery. It is generally believed that such golden masks represented the highest social status, those who held the power of life and death and could communicate with deities.

[Name]: Ancient Shu·Golden Scepter

[Attribute]: Unknown

[Quality]: ★★★★

[Condition]: Intact

[Function]: Sacrificial Dance: Serves as a medium for communicating between heaven and earth, delivering beautiful prayers to the gods worshiped.

Divine Punishment: During the sacrificial dance, the holder of the scepter, with the permission of the worshipped deities, can borrow a portion of the deity’s power, the strength of which is limited by the scale of the ritual.

[Description]: The ancient Shu, leaving no trace in the long river of history, is enveloped in mystery. The golden scepter unearthed at Sanxingdui represents both political and religious power, used by the highest political and religious figures of ancient Shu. This scepter symbolizes the king’s power, possessing divine capabilities to transcend heaven and earth.

The Sanxingdui Sacrificial Pit three-piece set.

This was found in the national treasury as the highest-grade sacrificial vessel; it was impossible for Shao Zifeng not to covet them.

Unfortunately, these three sacrificial vessels had clear usage restrictions; they could only be used during rituals, thus barring most people from using them.

Furthermore, even if Shao Zifeng intended to preside over future rituals in the name of Nuwa, the drawbacks of these items were evident, particularly the limitation on ritual sites.

One must know that conducting a ritual requires the support of massive amounts of manpower and resources, as well as time for preparation—unless someone foolishly attacks you during a ritual, these items could only serve as decorations at other times. In actual combat, enemies would not give you time to prepare a ritual.

Therefore, Nuwa suggested that Shao Zifeng, after this ritual, should inform the current ’Great Leader’ about the methods of using these three items.

After all, as the central city of Great Xia, should someone dare to attack, these items could serve as a last resort.

Moreover, in the future, more Guardian Spirits might awaken, and rituals are likely to reemerge as a historical tradition.

After a moment of deep thought, Shao Zifeng gently placed the golden mask on his face.

The golden mask was very light and thin, fitting perfectly around the forehead. The moment its cool touch met his skin, Shao Zifeng felt revitalized, even his thoughts became more lively.

Nan Lixuan, who was observing closely, looked slightly puzzled, "Zifeng, are you..."

Shao Zifeng gently shook his head and pointed at the base of the bronze giant, "There are two more here, put one on."

The Sanxingdui Sacrificial Pit unearthed three golden masks, forged from beaten gold leaf, shaped to resemble the facial features of the bronze giants, with exceptionally large ears and noses, and hollowed eyes and eyebrows—exquisitely made, looking very imposing as if they symbolized authority and divinity.

Other than the one on Shao Zifeng’s face, the other two had varying degrees of damage.

Seeing that Shao Zifeng was serious, Nan Lixuan hesitated for a moment, then picked up one mask and put it on his face.

However, as the forehead portion of his mask was missing, it kept sliding down. The researchers behind him, seeing the old man scraping his ear and scratching his cheek, were confused and discussed quietly among themselves.

"What is Professor Nan doing?"

"I don’t know, but are we really going to dance later... it’s so uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable? I tried letting go yesterday, danced a round, and it actually felt quite thrilling,"

Seeing Nan Lixuan wearing the mask, Shao Zifeng, holding the golden scepter, turned around.

When everyone saw Shao Zifeng in a dark robe, holding the golden scepter, and wearing the golden mask, they all showed a look of surprise.

However, their attention was quickly drawn to Nan Lixuan, especially since he kept his head tilted to prevent the mask from slipping off. Add to that his spiky silver hair, someone in the crowd couldn’t help but laugh first, soon leading to a chorus of quiet laughter from everyone.

Nan Lixuan’s face could hardly maintain its composure, and he scolded, "Shut up, prepare for the sacrifice."

Shao Zifeng stepped forward, raised the scepter in his hand, his expression unseen beneath the majestic golden mask, but the inexplicable solemnity gradually silenced the laughter.

Recalling the sacrificial text passed down by the divine spirit, Shao Zifeng took a deep breath and began, "Nuwa, the holy goddess of ancient times, she who transforms all things. Today we recount the legend of Empress Nuwa, who created mankind and mended the heavens, revisiting the arduous journey of our forebears, to inspire the great endeavors of the children of the East."

The mouth of the golden mask was just a horizontal line, but as Shao Zifeng’s words came through it, they seemed to automatically acquire an echo effect, carrying an unusual sense of depth.

Though none had ever participated in a sacrifice before, the researchers’ fundamental respectability was commendable, as they all stood solemnly in place once Shao Zifeng began the recitation.

"Our forefathers, mighty and glorious. From the valleys and the hills, light was scattered."

The profound voice rose, quieting the minds of all present with the recitation.

At that moment, Beibei, who was perched foolishly in the hands of a bronze statue, suddenly shuddered. It lifted its head, looking around as if it noticed something had changed.

"In primordial times, before the dawn of civilization, people’s lives were bleak, the lands shrouded in suffering. But there was Empress Nuwa, righteousness to heal the deepest wounds..."

The sound of the recitation enveloped everyone’s ears, and each person could almost see the scenes from the ancient times in front of them, where the forebears lived in hardship, and a woman patiently taught them agriculture and fishing, inspiring a sense of reverence in their hearts.

Although the image of the divine spirit Nuwa varied in everyone’s hearts, the faith directed toward it rapidly gathered around the ritual instruments.

"Jade cups float over, the grand ceremony solemn. May it bless the great Xia with auspiciousness and bring peace to the world. All under one mother, humbly we offer this feast."

Buzz!

As the last syllable fell, all the ritual instruments suddenly resonated.

The entire park seemed enveloped by an invisible force, and the leaves of trees and plants appeared lustrously vivid.

At this moment, Shao Zifeng felt a force surge towards the scepter in his hand, as if he could manipulate this power at will.

The trees rustled without wind, and a faint, blurry haze of five-colored radiances shimmered, a towering serpentine woman’s apparition intermittently visible within the radiance.

Shao Zifeng guessed this must be due to the effect of the golden mask. The researchers saw nothing, and just as he was about to remind Nan Lixuan it was time for the "Sacrificial Dance", he saw the old man standing there dumbly, his body slightly trembling, his skin under the mask flushed red.

Then he remembered, Nan Lixuan was also wearing a mask. This reaction must be because he saw the apparition of Nuwa.

Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment, ready to have the researchers perform the "Sacrificial Dance", but when he looked around, everyone’s reactions were exactly like Nan Lixuan’s.

In the misty five-colored radiance, the apparition of Nuwa’s eyes shone like bright moons.

A unique and majestic voice arose in everyone’s hearts.

"I am Empress Nuwa."

Seeing this, Shao Zifeng’s face darkened.

So the "Sacrificial Dance" you taught me is unnecessary now.

In the end, the joke’s on me.

(PS: Today, by force, I was recommended a question on social media. Reading someone else’s story, my heart couldn’t calm down for a long time. It’s been six years since I last enjoyed sweet love, and I wasted another year just last year, crying.)