World Memorial Ceremony (1) . . .
The day following Cha Nantian's initiation of the massacre, Chen-Xing City, the capital of the Kingdom of Chen, witnessed a peculiar atmospheric phenomenon.
It was a sunny day, with a pristine blue sky and pleasantly mild temperatures. The residents basked in the delightful weather, the wind brushing gently across their faces, invigorating their spirits. Even the elderly, with their weary bodies, inhaled the crisp air with gusto, savoring a feeling of relief.
On this day, the heaviness that had lingered in the sky, accompanied by the lingering stench of bloodshed, had dissipated. Peaceful and serene, it was a day filled with joy and tranquility.
As the sun ascended in the sky, a series of rainbows appeared, one after another, encircling the sun. There was no rain, so the presence of rainbows was perplexing. Gazing upwards, people marveled at the spectacle. It wasn't a mere illusion; the rainbows indeed adorned the sky.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt streaked through the otherwise cloudless sky, tearing it asunder with a resounding crack. People were taken aback. How could there be lightning without any clouds? The unexpected event left everyone with a sense of foreboding.
Their gazes remained fixed on the rainbows in the sky, for they sensed that something significant was about to occur.
Cha Eun Xiao stepped out of his room, cradling Bing-Er, and contemplated the enigmatic sky. Even the king, who appeared on the verge of breaking down, emerged from his chamber, gazing at the sky with a furrowed brow, deep in thought.
As more rainbows materialized, they slowly converged in the sky, drawing the collective attention of the city's inhabitants. They were determined not to miss this rare and mystical occurrence, recognizing that it might be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
As the rainbows continued to gather, they took on the form of a staircase ascending into the sky. The rainbows at the summit also merged, forming new structures above.
Whispers filled the air as the people puzzled over this celestial display. Someone exclaimed, "Oh, that... it looks like an altar!"
"Indeed, it resembles an altar," another concurred. "But why would there be an altar here? What is happening?"
"Could it be a rainbow altar? Is our god going to perform a commemorative ceremony for someone?" another speculated.
"That seems unlikely. Regardless of who the gods are, it's unusual for them to erect an altar here."
"You're right. This is clearly beyond human capabilities."
"Indeed, even the king, the most formidable martial artist in the Sky Origin Stage, or the legendary Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall couldn't achieve this."
"The whole situation is strange, perplexing..."
"Mysterious..."
"Shh, enough chatter! We mustn't disturb the gods. We'll regret it for the rest of our lives if we miss this chance."
Under the watchful eyes of the people, an altar took shape in the sky. It was enshrouded in mist, and three incense sticks composed of rainbows were lit upon it.
The rainbows began to converge more rapidly, and soon, three distinct words appeared: "World Memorial Ceremony."
These words manifested suddenly in the sky, striking a chord within the hearts of all those who beheld them. A profound sense of astonishment rippled through the onlookers.
"It's an altar," someone whispered, a revelation shared by many.
The rainbows continued their movement, weaving more words into existence above the altar:
"All lands bow;"
"All seas kowtow."
"Control the rise and fall with one hand;"
"House of the Chaotic Storms."
These lines were the initial offerings from the rainbow script, with the last line providing a crucial hint.
"The House of the Chaotic Storms! That's what it signifies!" The realization resonated with profound astonishment.
The king read the words aloud, "House of the Chaotic Storms... What does Master Bai intend to achieve with this elaborate display? What is the House of the Chaotic Storms aiming to convey through such a grand spectacle?"
"It's unfathomable," another voiced, encapsulating the collective sentiment of bewilderment.
As the rainbows continued to move, two sets of words appeared consecutively, forming a pair of elegiac couplets:
On the left: "How many heroic figures died in the nine thousand years of chaos!"
On the right: "How many countries collapsed during the three hundred times of decay!"
The sky above became a vast canvas for these somber verses, casting a pall of solemnity across the entire Land of Han-Yang.
People stood rooted to the ground, their gazes fixed upon the sky, overwhelmed by a sense of melancholy. The weight of these words left them on the verge of sighing.
The "nine thousand years of chaos" epitomized the tumultuous legacy brought to the world by the House of the Chaotic Storms. Irrespective of a kingdom's power and authority, when the House of the Chaotic Storms emerged, it marked the beginning of its decline and eventual fall. Shifts in power required a multitude of battles, each a gruesome affair with countless heroic souls lost.
Kingdoms, be they mighty or minor, disappeared into the annals of history, their stories recorded in the chronicles of time.