Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Raven Ritual

Early morning, the first sun breaks through the fog.

The first raven cultist of the Raven Sect had wasted no time after bidding farewell to Zhao Huai, leading a huge procession, touring around the inner and outer city of Jinzhou again and again.

Not a single street or alley was left untouched, all were covered.

Thanks to the efforts of the whole morning, many people followed from behind, but most of them looked thin and yellow-skinned, dressed in shabby clothes, and seemed to be refugees. Only a very few of them were dressed more luxuriously, looking more normal, with interest and curiosity in their eyes.

“Please follow me.”

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The leading cultist turned his head to face the crowd and smiled gently.

He led the crowd through the streets to an open courtyard. This place was located on the border of the inner and outer city, with a spacious area.

The courtyard was just the tip of the iceberg, as this was actually a mansion. This mansion included a courtyard, warehouses, an ancestral hall, etc. The original site was an ancient Taoist temple from a previous dynasty. The Taoist temple was overgrown with weeds during the time of chaos, leaving it to decay. After the Raven Sect took residence and renovated, it finally regained its former grandeur.

The cultist leader walked ahead, passing through the courtyard and arrived at an ancestral hall.

Located in the center of the ancestral hall was a lacquered gold bronze statue of a crow-headed man stepping on a cloud, with three heads and six arms, standing more than ten meters tall. The eyes of the crow head were sharp and looked forward, the human body was sturdy and strong, with the six arms wielding various weapons.

“This is our worshiped Crow Immortal.”

The cultist leader stood in front of the statue and performed a respectful ceremony, laughing as he explained.

“Dong! ”

With melodic bell sounds ringing out, a series of prayers came from the depths of the Mansion.

Seeing the confusion in the eyes of the crowd, the cultist leader reassured them in a soothing tone: “The ceremony is about to begin, and the Saintess is leading the members of the sect in offering blessings.” “What ceremony? Who is the Saintess?”

A man in the crowd asked curiously.

The cultist leader smiled and replied, “Once you participate in the ceremony, you will become a true member of the Raven Sect.”

“As for the Respected Saintess, you will know soon.”

Everyone ventured deeper into the Mansion, arriving at a Main Hall.

The space inside the hall was vast, and a woman surrounded by raven cultists in the center.

The woman was dressed in a loose black robe adorned with silver raven patterns, with a circle of copper bells on her bare left foot. She wore a white veil, with silver hair faintly visible through the robe.

Even with the veil on, her stunning eyes were breathtaking.

“This is our Respected Saintess, who has come all the way from the capital city to preside over the ceremony.”

The cultist leader introduced with a smile.

The woman known as the Saintess glanced at the crowd, who were wearing expressions of astonishment, and spoke:

“Welcome to the Raven Sect, from now on, we are a family.”

Her voice was slightly hoarse but not cold, instead, it was very gentle and courteous, like a spring breeze engulfing the listener, seemingly having the power to bewitch one’s heart.

Upon hearing her voice, everyone’s heart calmed down, and some men in the crowd were even directly infatuated, their eyes fixed on her, unwilling to let go.

After finishing her words, the woman at the center turned back, looking to the other side.

There was a long table over ten meters long, laid out with a variety of dishes:

steaming rice, roast whole pig, steamed fish, roast duck with soy sauce, barbecued venison, and countless fruits and desserts.

Some people were already feasting at the table, grabbing a leg of a goose and crudely tearing into it, eating with oil all over their faces.

These people were clearly the same as those brought in from outside.

The refugees in the crowd, their stomachs rumbling in hunger, were swallowing hard as they looked at the feast, their eyes full of envy and fear toward the dark-robed cultists surrounding them.

Seeing their expressions, the woman in the center revealed a knowing smile and gently said:

“Go ahead, after eating, the ceremony will officially begin.”

Upon her words, a large number of hungry refugees could no longer hold back, rushing towards the feast like madmen, running fast and starting to enjoy their meal.

At this time, the cultist leader approached the Saintess and respectfully said: “Respected Saintess, there should be enough people this time.””Not enough.” The black-robed woman said emotionlessly.

“The more people, the better. Lord Crow Immortal needs even more faith.” “Forgive my ignorance, but how can so many people be useful now? I’m afraid these refugees can’t generate much power.”

After hearing this, the black-robed woman said indifferently: “You haven’t been in the sect for long, so it’s normal for you not to know some things. These refugees are of great use to us.”

‘Whether it’s the power of the Crow Immortal or the perpetuation that can overthrow the Fortune of the Xia, these refugees are indispensable. In other words, they are the source of our strength.”

The cultist leader had a better understanding after listening. With great devotion, he looked at the crow totem above his head and said reverently: “Lord Crow Immortal helped me break through my realm. Without him, there would be no me today.”

The black-robed woman didn’t look at him again but asked one of the cultists by her side.

“Is everything ready for the ceremony?” “Respected Saintess, everything is ready.” The cultist nodded vigorously.

After a long time.

When the people devouring their food almost finished, the table was swept clean with shiny plates.

“Let the ceremony begin.”

At the command, the raven cultists around scattered, guiding the crowd to the center of the Main Hall.

Many people looked around curiously, wondering what the ceremony was about.

The black-robed woman’s body exuded a faint silver qi, and the surrounding air suddenly became cold.

In the dim Main Hall, her body slowly rose, like a rising sun. Her eyes flashed with a hint of dark blue light, and she shouted:

“Activate the formation.”

An unparalleled brilliance erupted from the ground in the Main Hall, revealing the intricate formation engravings.

Everyone gazed at the crow totem above their heads in awe.

They stood inside like mere ants. A massive ball of light floated in mid-air at the center of the Main Hall. Within its dazzling glow, a faint silhouette of a crow seemed to appear.

After the formation was activated, invisible faith energies were drawn out from their bodies.

And entered the luminous crow totem.

At this moment, the raven cultists dared not make a sound, kneeling on the ground and praying devoutly.

Then the black-robed woman recited an incantation, initiating the second phase of the mysterious ceremony.

One blue light orb after another entered the people’s bodies, causing great changes.

“My head hurts! It feels like something got in!” “My whole body is itchy! What’s growing on me!”

“What’s happening to me!”

The crowd began to wail and moan in pain. Complex markings grew on each person’s body, forming the shape of a crow when connected.

Each of them was marked with the raven’s imprint. The symbols on their skin flashed, and their eyes all changed.

Their muscles bulged inexplicably, and their veins popped out, as if their entire bodies had been greatly enhanced. This was another means of the Raven Sect exchanging life for faith.

Burning their life force to gain power.

After a long while, the ceremony ended. The black-robed woman looked at the transformed people below, nodded satisfactorily, and said with a smile: “Welcome, everyone, to officially join the Holy Raven Sect.”

The people in the ranks, with fanatical eyes like they had been brainwashed, shouted loudly:

“Believe in Lord Crow Immortal! Destroy the Nia! Seize the land!”