si-mexico Chapter 532 Grand Ceremony Opening
Chapter 532 Grand Ceremony Opening
Before dawn, the City of Flowers had already awakened.
A thin mist, like a light veil, enveloped the area, filling the air with the crisp, moist scent of earth and a rich, subtle fragrance.
The tips of the petals are adorned with glistening morning dew or glimmers of light, resembling tiny stars.
The envoys, dressed in gowns embroidered with various patterns, carried jade bottles and silver pots and gently sprinkled the specially made "spiritual nectar" on every flower and tree along the main street, bridges, and squares.
The dew, upon touching the ground, transforms into a misty, spiritual energy, silently nourishing the flowers and trees.
The air was filled with the crisp scent of dew and a solemn, tense atmosphere.
The enormous white jade goddess statue atop Mount Huashen, bathed in a hazy, holy glow from a pre-arranged array of soft light, silently gazed toward the direction of Goddess Peak.
On the Jade Belt River, hundreds of pleasure boats of all sizes were already moored. At this moment, they had extinguished all their dazzling lights, leaving only strings of specially made, simple, and dim yellow lanterns on both sides of the boats.
Like starlight floating on black silk, reflected in the mirror-like river water.
A tranquil galaxy seemed to stretch across the heavens and earth, with each lamp representing a flower boat participating in the grand ceremony.
As the appointed time approached, the elders from the four ancient families, dressed in ancient sacrificial robes, slowly ascended to the highest point of the altar set up beneath the statue of the deity.
They danced an ancient sacrificial dance around a giant white jade lotus flower, while chanting obscure and ancient prayers.
The sound was deep and resonant, echoing in the silence.
As the last syllable fell, a pure cyan beam of light shot from the tip of the elder's scepter and entered the center of the white lotus.
"Boom!" The white jade lotus flower suddenly bloomed!
Countless soft, vibrant emerald green beams burst forth from the lotus heart, instantly illuminating the entire altar and rapidly spreading to light up all the specially made lampposts lining the streets.
In an instant, the darkness was dispelled, and the entire central area of Hundred Flowers City was gently enveloped by the holy light that symbolized the life force of the goddess.
At the same time, the lanterns on all the flower boats on the Jade Belt River also turned into various colored lights, and the river surface instantly transformed into a flowing neon!
The grand opening ceremony of the Hundred Flowers Festival was abruptly launched amidst this dazzling tapestry of colors.
……
The city's alleys were deserted as crowds flocked to the brocade avenue.
When the first golden rays of morning sunlight pierce through the clouds and fall precisely on Mount Huashen.
A deep, resonant bell, seemingly emanating from the depths of the earth, rang out within Huashen Mountain.
The bells tolled three times, and the entire city fell into a sacred silence, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
The crowd was as vast as the sea, yet it was unusually quiet, with only suppressed breathing and the rustling of clothes.
The echoes of the bells had not yet faded when the sunlight completely enveloped Huashen Mountain.
The judging panel and many high-ranking officials from Baihua City also came to the public's attention as the morning light shone.
"It's a pity that Lord Aoki still hasn't arrived, otherwise this matter wouldn't have been my responsibility," Master Yanyang sighed.
"The teleportation array that Lord Aoki was using malfunctioned, and he was accidentally teleported to the 'Lanchuan Domain'."
However, Lord Aoki sent a message saying that if she cannot arrive in Hundred Flowers City in time, we need not wait for her any longer, and the Venerable One need not feel pressured. "Lv Qingfeng said.
“I’ve heard a little about this matter. The teleportation array in Tianhe really needs to be inspected. Fortunately, Lord Qingmu is alright. If something had happened, the Tianhe Sword Sect would probably be held responsible.” Master Yanyang looked at Bailu.
Upon hearing this, Bai Lu, standing behind Lü Qingfeng, became enigmatic. The teleportation array in the Heavenly River wouldn't malfunction; what happened to Qingyun was probably not a natural disaster but a man-made one.
"Master, the time has come. Please announce the start of the ceremony," Jiang Tao, the leader of the Hundred Flowers Alliance, whispered a reminder.
Master Yanyang nodded, then walked to the front of the crowd, looked down at the impatient crowd below, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"The grand flower festival now begins!"
The resounding voice echoed throughout the entire Jinxiu Avenue.
The grandest of the pleasure boats resounded with magnificent music!
Bells and drums resounded on Mount Huashen, and the massive crowd around them erupted in cheers as loud as a tsunami.
With a series of "thump-thump" sounds, the colorful rainbow-colored petals on both sides of the brocade avenue bloomed with a bang, as if carved from jade!
Rays of seven-colored light shot straight into the sky, instantly transforming into a gentle rain of light that fell from the sky.
Wherever the light and rain touched, it was as if a fuse had been lit—along the beautiful avenue, the riverbank, the houses, the city walls…
All the flowers inside and outside the city bloomed at a speed visible to the naked eye, layer upon layer, vying for attention!
At this moment, it is no longer just "flowers blooming", but "a surging tide of flowers"!
A vibrant, dazzling wave of color, accompanied by the deafening yet harmonious sound of petals unfurling, instantly engulfed the entire City of Flowers!
The fragrance of flowers, so rich it was almost tangible, formed a colorful mist that swirled and flowed above the city.
The residents of Baihua City, dressed in their most appropriate clothes, crowded on both sides of the street, their faces beaming with the purest joy.
The children screamed as they chased after the flying flower essences and glowing seeds, their faces covered in shimmering pollen.
The elderly sat on swings woven from flower vines, squinting their eyes, breathing softly, their faces filled with bliss.
Residents nearby place baskets at their doorways or windowsills to catch the petals that fall from the sky, believing it will bring good luck for the year.
Every household brought out their homemade honey wine and flower cakes, placed them on the makeshift street tables, and warmly invited neighbors and even strangers to share them.
Vendors set up stalls selling simple garlands, fresh flower pastries, and handicrafts made from special flower petals, and their business was booming.
……
"Ancestor, we still haven't found Ji Ling Shuang. Bai Lu is completely unresponsive." Song Han frowned as he spoke to Yan Yang Shangren inside Zui Xian Ju.
"If we can't find her, so be it. She's no longer important to us."
"Irrelevant? Why?"
"There are some things you don't need to know yet," Master Yanyang said calmly.
"What about my engagement with Ling Shuang?!"
Master Yanyang looked coldly at Song Han, "Do you want to marry her?"
Song Han lowered his eyes. "I don't want to!"
"The marriage agreement between the Song and Ji families will not change. You will marry another daughter from the Ji family." Master Yanyang looked out the window at the scenery.
After Song Han left, a man in black robes appeared out of thin air in the room.
"You were so confident when you came to us for cooperation, but you even needed us to remind you when Guo Yao switched the goddess's vessel. We have serious doubts about your abilities and planning."
"Guo Yao is too meticulous in her work, with each step linked to the next. I was indeed caught off guard."
But the result didn't change. She used Shen Xu as a smokescreen, but she didn't expect that Shen Xu would become her weakness.
It is not too late.
Now that Qu Lan has arrived at the temple, Guo Yao's scheme has fallen apart, and nothing can stop the goddess's return.