The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 495 - 307: The Nirvana Ceremony is about to Begin

Chapter 495: Chapter 307: The Nirvana Ceremony is about to Begin

Seven days had passed in the blink of an eye.

During these seven days, the Divine Capital had returned to a rare period of tranquility. Since Qing Yu’s arrival in Northern Zhou two years ago, it was the first time that such calmness prevailed, devoid of any waves of trouble or undercurrents of turmoil.

Even people like Yi Qianshan only dared to search for Feng Jiu’s whereabouts in the dark, not bold enough to make their presence known.

After all, General Yi should be at Kuocang Pass now, defending against the Golden Wolf Han Court on the Northern Grassland. Showing up in the Divine Capital would be considered desertion.

For a moment, the Divine Capital could be said to have experienced a peace that had not been seen for decades. Even the dandies who took to the streets to tease the young maidens were rarely seen.

However, those in the know understood that this peace was the calm before the storm.

Everyone was watching, waiting to see into whose hands the future of Northern Zhou would fall.

And now, the final moments of tranquility were about to vanish.

On the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month, within Fenglai Mountain.

The gaunt Feng Tianming, supported by Feng Qiwu, walked slowly towards the mountain’s summit.

"Father Emperor, watch your step," Feng Qiwu said with caution.

For some unknown reason, the number of memorials suddenly decreased these days, and Feng Tianming took this rare opportunity to visit Fenglai Mountain for a stroll.

After all, following today, it would be time for father and son to part.

"Father Emperor, there’s a small pavilion on the top of Fenglai Mountain that was built by the Grand Ancestor. We can go there to enjoy the panoramic view of the scenic mountains and rivers," Feng Qiwu suggested with a smile.

He had visited Fenglai Mountain just two months ago when he had arranged to meet with Miss Si from the Si Family for an outing. However, unexpectedly, Si Qingwei and his younger sister had been attacked by Gong Ziyu. If it hadn’t been for someone’s rescue, both could have met with disaster.

"Fenglai Mountain was where the Grand Ancestor chose to establish the Divine Capital. I, too, have visited several times when I was young, but unfortunately, I hadn’t come here at all since my ascension to the throne," Feng Tianming lamented.

"Then, Father Emperor should take a good look," Feng Qiwu suggested with a laugh.

But the reply from Feng Tianming was still a sigh, "Regrettably, I still won’t be able to take a good look this time."

"Why..."

As they were talking, they had already reached the summit of Fenglai Mountain.

Only to see that the small pavilion built by the Grand Ancestor no longer existed. Instead, a foundation inscribed with complex Array Patterns spread across the entire top of the mountain, with crimson lines making the green hills seem as if they were ablaze with flames.

"Father Emperor, this..."

Feng Qiwu’s trembling finger pointed towards the stone pillars standing around the perimeter of the Array Plate. On these pillars, phoenixes fluttered about. Although they were carved, they gave off the impression of living creatures.

Of course, what made Feng Qiwu tremble were not these pillars, but the people bound to them with iron chains, heads drooping in unconsciousness.

"Second Imperial Brother, Fourth Imperial Brother, the Seventh, the Twelfth, Imperial Sister, and..."

Feng Jiu incredulously shifted his gaze toward the center of the Array Plate.

There, a sacrificial altar was set up, surrounded by stone pillars that were twice as large as those on the periphery. Tied to these pillars with fiery-red Flame Crystal Chains was a breathtakingly beautiful woman in palace attire.

Princess of Northern Zhou—the elder princess Feng Mingxiao.

Even the Divine Communication Venerable could hardly escape the Flame Crystal Chains, punishment locks specifically made by the Imperial Clan Court of the Northern Zhou Imperial Family to punish criminals of the Imperial Family, designed to restrict those who practiced the Phoenix Sky Strategy.

What’s more, Feng Mingxiao had also been stricken with Phoenix Tears, which suppressed Fire Element True Energy.

"Father, you... what exactly..."

Feng Qiwu didn’t know what he should say, nor did he know what he wanted to say. His mind was in chaos, and everything in front of him didn’t seem like a joke, nor did it seem like it was done with good intentions.

Facing his son’s incredulous interrogation, Feng Tianming gently freed himself from his support, his somewhat hunched figure straightened in an instant, as he sighed and looked at the nine stone pillars surrounding the Array Plate, "Eighth Brother, originally you didn’t need to come here. Unfortunately, due to the nonsense your mother and Sixth Brother stirred up, we can’t even muster nine people."

"Can’t muster... what do you mean..." Feng Qiwu’s mind was still a mess, he could only dully ask.

"It means that the nine blood relatives needed as sacrificial victims can’t be assembled now," jeered the strikingly beautiful woman in palace attire atop the altar.

"Tianming, I’ve come to realize that I have underestimated you all along. I never thought that my own brother would have such a vicious heart."

"A petty man is not a gentleman, a man without poison is not a husband. Imperial Sister, it’s not that you underestimated me, but that you never saw through me from the beginning to the end," Feng Tianming replied indifferently.

At this moment, Feng Qiwu understood from the information in their conversation what his respected father intended to do, "Blood relatives... sacrificial offerings, Father, you... you’re going to perform the Nirvana Ceremony?!"

Although he wasn’t as versed in all sorts of martial arts like Feng Jiu, Feng Qiwu still had some knowledge of this forbidden technique of the Feng Family.

His father, was planning to use the lives of his own sister and children to aid his own Nirvana Rebirth, a transformation of flesh and soul.

"Father, what about stabilizing the Nine Dragon Sky Array?"

Feng Tianming’s reply was still one of despair, "After adding Feng Jiu, using the bodies of you fourteen princes and princesses as a suppression object will suffice."

"You..."

"Be at peace and go, Eighth Brother."

The Cold Eunuch quietly appeared behind Feng Qiwu, grabbing his shoulder, and the immediate coldness robbed him of the power to resist.

"Eighth Prince, please."

With a gentle nudge, Feng Qiwu’s immobile body floated up and leaned against a stone pillar as chains automatically bound him.

And at this moment, perhaps hearing Feng Qiwu’s previous indignant shout, the other princes and princesses bound to the stone pillars also slowly awakened.

"This... Father, what is this..."

"Father..."

"Waaaah..."

The sudden loud crying made everyone involuntarily focus their gaze on the last pillar.

There, Little Princess Feng Chuhuan was crying her heart out, a picture of misery.

This young little princess didn’t really understand what was happening, but seeing her brothers and aunt bound to the stone pillars, she felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding and just wanted to cry.

"Feng Tianming!" Feng Mingxiao shouted angrily from the center of the altar, "Han’er isn’t even of age yet, do you really have the heart to let her die so young?"

"Father, it’s one thing for us brothers to die, but the little sister is still so young, she hasn’t yet experienced the joys of the human world, she mustn’t die a wrongful death like this!!" Feng Qiwu also cried and struggled desperately.

Regrettably, his struggling and crying couldn’t shake that man’s resolve.

Six blood relatives, the success rate was already less than fifty percent, with one less, would it be thirty percent? Or twenty percent?

Feng Tianming was unwilling to miss out even on half a percent.

"You were born into this world, it was I who gave you life, and now, it is time to return your lives to me."

Feng Tianming stepped emotionlessly into the Array Plate, taking his place on the altar as the one to be sacrificed.

The auspicious time was approaching, the Nirvana Ceremony was about to begin.