Chapter 527: Turning the Waters Turbulent

In the great hall, rows of various meats hung neatly in mid-air.

His first reaction was to assume it was cured meat, but the shapes seemed off. On closer inspection, he realized they were human corpses!

These bodies had been eviscerated and split in half, then hung on hooks from the ceiling, much like pigs and sheep are suspended on a modern-day slaughterhouse line.

Pei Mianman couldn't help but exclaim, "How can such a cruel form of torture exist in this world?"

Zuan, too, felt a double dose of physical and psychological discomfort. While he had previously witnessed numerous sacrificial pits, those contained mere skeletal remains, offering a less profound visual impact.

These bodies, however, were merely air-dried, not skeletonized, and their forms were indistinguishable from those of livestock he had seen.

He had always known the term 'human sacrifice,' but he'd assumed it was merely a metaphor. He never imagined that people were literally treated as livestock.

"This isn't a form of torture; it's a sacrificial rite called 'Mao Ji'," General Yachang explained, his tone seeming more patient as he addressed Pei Mianman's query.

"Mao Ji?" Zuan pondered. The way the bodies were split open and spread apart did indeed resemble the Chinese character '卯'.

General Yachang continued, "When we offer sacrifices to the heavens, the most solemn offerings are human victims. We present their internal organs, blood, and heads to the heavens. The remaining parts of the human sacrifices are prepared by grilling, stewing until tender, or air-drying into cured meat..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Zuan interrupted, his heart pounding. "Why does that sound like you're describing how to cook?"

"It *is* cooking," General Yachang replied with a puzzled expression. "They are, after all, food offerings for the deities. According to custom, when the gods partake of the sacrifices, they also bestow blessings. Therefore, after the ceremony, those who performed the sacrifice will share in the offerings to receive divine protection. Often, only individuals of noble status are deemed worthy to partake of these offerings."

Zuan was speechless.

His stomach churned; this entire revelation was truly an assault on his worldview.

Pei Mianman fared even worse, stumbling aside to dry heave.

Unwilling to linger, they hurried forward, soon arriving at an altar table laden with various bronze vessels. Mi Li had previously explained their names to Zuan, but the characters were too obscure for him to recall.

He noticed that some basin-like and bowl-like vessels contained a paste-like substance, which surprised him. Logically, this place had existed for tens of thousands of years, and even in a refrigerator, anything organic should have long since decayed. Why then did these offerings still retain their original appearance from the time of sacrifice? It truly seemed that some mysterious power was preserving everything.

Seeing him gaze at the paste, General Yachang explained, "This is called 'Hai Ji,' which involves mincing people into a meat paste. Only individuals of very high status, often a regional leader, are qualified to become such an offering. This is an exceptionally precious sacrifice; would you care for a taste?"

With that, he scooped out some of the meat paste and offered it to them.

"No, absolutely not!" Zuan and Pei Mianman simultaneously recoiled, waving their hands in unison.

This was truly too grotesque. He couldn't fathom what the people of the Shang Dynasty were thinking.

Zuan suddenly understood. No wonder King Zhou in the 'Investiture of the Gods' was always depicted mincing people into meat paste. For instance, Ji Boyi Kao, the eldest son of Marquis of the West Ji Chang, and Marquis of the East, Queen Jiang's father, were both chopped into meat paste and then fed to others.

At the time, he had believed these acts were merely fictional exaggerations meant to underscore King Zhou's depravity and cruelty. Now he realized this was a common sacrificial practice among the Shang people.

"What a pity," General Yachang remarked, a look of disappointment on his face that suggested they didn't appreciate a good thing. He then casually put his finger into his mouth to taste it. "It's been many years since I've savored such a delicacy. Thank you for awakening me earlier."

Zuan was speechless.

Pei Mianman was speechless.

Both were on the verge of breaking down. Being in the presence of someone so accustomed to cannibalism made them deeply uncomfortable.

He quickly pulled Pei Mianman along, eager to move away from the grotesque human meat paste.

Further along the path, they came across another large bronze cauldron. Unlike the empty cauldrons outside, this one was filled with a substance resembling meat jelly, where various fats had congealed together.

Zuan sighed helplessly, "No need to tell me, this is human flesh too, isn't it?"

General Yachang, who had followed close behind, nodded. "This cauldron can hold over forty people. Only the Great King's cauldron is permitted to be this large."

His voice was tinged with both envy and reverence as he spoke. He placed his withered hand on the cauldron's rim, and wisps of black energy dispersed. The mass of congealed meat jelly within the cauldron began to slowly liquefy, faintly revealing various human remains bobbing on the surface.

Pei Mianman couldn't bear to look any longer, retreating directly behind Zuan, opting for an 'out of sight, out of mind' approach.

Zuan's heart also pounded wildly. Noticing General Yachang's eager expression, he quickly declared, "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you even *think* about scooping that up to eat, I don't care about this trial; I will truly vanquish evil and demons!"

General Yachang looked puzzled. "Sacrificing to the Heavenly Deities is the most sacred and solemn act in the world," he stated. "These offerings are blessed by the deities; what could they possibly have to do with demons?"

Zuan knew he spoke the truth, as this was indeed a custom of the Yin-Shang people, which was why he hadn't reacted with immediate hostility. "Human sacrifice has long been abolished in later generations," he said. "In any case, please refrain from such actions in our presence."

"Very well then," General Yachang conceded, sensing the primordial energy swirling around Zuan's sword. Realizing the power disparity, he did not press the issue. He withdrew his hand from the cauldron, and the meat jelly, which had begun to bubble, gradually settled.

A thought stirred in Zuan's mind, recalling the East Yi princess's request. He quickly asked General Yachang, "Could you use your long halberd to probe for human heads inside?"

He certainly didn't want to retrieve them himself; frankly, that large pot of meat jelly was too gruesome to touch.

"Human heads?" General Yachang questioned, confused, but he nonetheless extended his long halberd into the cauldron and began to stir.

Zuan suppressed his discomfort and watched intently. While a few human heads did surface during the stirring, none were close to the size of the young girl's head.

With no other option, he gave up and continued onward.

Soon after, General Yachang announced, "We have reached the trial location."

Zuan and Pei Mianman surveyed their surroundings. The walls were intricately carved with various patterns, resembling both murals and magical formations.

In the center stood a small circular platform, upon which rested a peculiar bronze artifact. This bronze piece had only three legs and appeared to be shaped like a bird.

"Three-legged Golden Crow?" Zuan's first thought was this, but he quickly shook his head upon noticing that what appeared to be the third leg was, in fact, the bird's tail feathers.

The entire surface of the bronze artifact was intricately patterned. Its beak, chest, and neck bore cicada motifs, while the high crest featured feather patterns on the outside and inverted *kui* patterns on the inside. Each side was adorned with a grotesque, two-headed *kui* creature. Its wings were decorated with coiled long snakes interspersed with rhombus patterns. The back of its neck displayed a beast-face motif, and beneath the handle at its back, a design of a bird soaring with outstretched wings was etched.

The sheer complexity and abundance of the ornamentation were truly awe-inspiring.

At this moment, General Yachang gazed at the bronze artifact with profound reverence. "This is the Queen's favorite *xiao zun*," he stated, "and it also serves as the entrance to the trial."

The character 'Xiao' refers to an owl. The Yin-Shang people believed this silent, nocturnal bird to be imbued with mystery, much like an envoy sent by the deities to inspect human dwellings. This belief is why they crafted such an exquisite owl-shaped *xiao zun*.

'Zun' denotes a wine vessel.

Zuan promptly asked the crucial question, "How does one activate the trial?"

General Yachang pointed. "Each of you place a hand on one of the *xiao zun*'s wings, and the trial will begin. I wish you good luck."

Zuan, however, did not immediately approach. Instead, he said to Pei Mianman, "Manman, the outcome of this trial is uncertain. It would be best for us to rest and recuperate first."

Pei Mianman shared his sentiment. They both consumed various spiritual elixirs and sat down to rest and meditate. Their previous battles had significantly depleted their energy, and entering such a perilous trial naturally required them to be in peak condition.

General Yachang, standing nearby, shook his head, the corners of his mouth subtly upturned in a hint of mockery. For countless years, no pair of men and women had succeeded here. Their cultivation levels were the weakest he'd seen; what difference would any amount of preparation make?