Chapter 265 - 261: Grand Sacrificial Ceremony

"Furthermore, it's possible our route happened to pass through a crucial Demon Beast breeding ground or a place where resources are gathered. They might have attacked us out of a primal, protective instinct."

"As for my theory about a more intelligent Demon Beast directing them... thinking about it, while the chances are slim, we can't rule out the possibility of a Demon Beast leader with special abilities using low-level Demon Beasts as scouts."

Jiang Xu thought for a moment before continuing his analysis.

"Additionally, it could be that something in our cargo or among the passengers is particularly attractive to Demon Beasts, like a rare Spirit Medicine or some other Treasure that could drive them into a frenzy. While Demon Beasts don't possess human-like intelligence, their instincts could drive them to fight to the death over resources vital for their survival."

As the two discussed, all sorts of possibilities surfaced in their minds, but they also realized that the information they currently had was insufficient to determine the truth.

During this time, Jiang Xu had completely discarded his first impression of Master Fatty.

First impressions were extremely important.

In the fields of psychology and sociology, this is also known as the "primacy effect."

A first impression is the initial judgment or perception formed when first meeting or interacting with someone, based on information gathered during that brief contact, such as their appearance, words, actions, and attitude.

This impression is often profound and lasting, significantly influencing subsequent interactions and evaluations.

A judgment formed from a first impression takes five or six more profound impressions to overturn.

Master Fatty's current performance had truly made Jiang Xu look at him in a new light.

'I understand now. If you want to understand a person, you have to do it from multiple, comprehensive angles. Even with my Thousand-Faced Illusion Body, what you see at a glance is always just one side of the story.'

After coming to this realization, Jiang Xu suddenly felt his mind become exceptionally clear. With a thought, he opened his panel.

Sure enough, in the column for the Thousand-Faced Illusion Body, the Skill Level had instantly increased by fifteen points.

All his observation and imitation over the past few days had only yielded a total of five Skill Level points. Now, with an increase of fifteen points, it had instantly reached one-twentieth of the total required.

'Perhaps I've been taking the long way around. Practicing bit by bit can certainly make one's Magic more proficient.'

'But once a Magic has reached a higher Realm, this kind of foolish method is no longer effective, or at least its efficiency is very low.'

'At that point, what you need is insight—to comprehend the mysteries of the Magic. Only then can the Skill Level increase rapidly.'

Jiang Xu was now discovering that the utility of his panel was gradually diminishing.

Or perhaps it hadn't diminished, but rather, after he advanced to Foundation Establishment, the Magic and Cultivation Techniques he needed to practice had undergone a qualitative change.

If Cultivation now were as easy as it was during Qi Cultivation, it just wouldn't make sense.

Fortunately, the difference wasn't too drastic. It simply meant that the time required for his Magic to reach a perfect Realm would be further extended.

"Fellow Daoist Ying, do you think there will be any more incidents on the rest of the voyage? And roughly how long until we reach the first of the Seven Star Islands?"

Master Fatty shook his head.

"Incidents? It's only an incident if it's unforeseen! If you want to know what might happen, you should ask the Crew Leader. He's in charge of the voyage."

"As for the first island, Greed Wolf Island, it's not far. However..."

At this, Master Fatty paused deliberately.

"What about Greed Wolf Island?" Jiang Xu quickly picked up the thread.

"Ah, Greed Wolf Island. It's not just some ordinary island. To be precise, every island within the Seven Star Islands has a story to tell."

Master Fatty began to explain in a leisurely tone.

"Greed Wolf Island is the first stop in the Seven Star Islands. It's said the island's name comes from ancient celestial myths, named because its geographical location corresponds to the Greedy Wolf Star in the heavens."

"People believe it is protected and influenced by the Greedy Wolf Star. Its Feng Shui is uniquely blessed, granting it exceptionally rich Spirit Vein resources and a special environment for Cultivation."

"The reason Greed Wolf Island makes people's faces turn pale at its mere mention, aside from its abundant Cultivation resources, is its complex and treacherous terrain and its unpredictable environment. The climate on the island is volatile; one moment it can be clear skies, and the next, a storm could suddenly brew, often causing outsiders to lose their way or even fall into perilous situations."

"Within the Youxian Sea, the customs are also quite peculiar. The people on the Seven Star Islands all revere the power of nature and the stars, and Greed Wolf Island is no exception."

"They hold regular sacrificial ceremonies, especially when the Greedy Wolf Star is at its peak. They conduct a grand celebration to pray for wisdom and strength from the Greedy Wolf Star and use the power of the stars to achieve breakthroughs in their Cultivation."

"The architecture on the island is even more meticulously arranged according to ancient Feng Shui principles. Important locations like the Cultivation Hall and sacrificial altars are all strictly placed according to the bagua positions corresponding to the Greedy Wolf Star, striving to resonate with the celestial body."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. I need to do a quick calculation."

Master Fatty's right hand began to move, his fingers tapping against his knuckles as he started to calculate the days.

"Phew, what a relief!"

Master Fatty broke into a relieved smile.

"There's still a year until Greed Wolf Island holds its grand sacrificial ceremony. By then, we'll be long gone. It won't affect us at all!"

'A grand sacrificial ceremony?'

Jiang Xu's heart skipped a beat.

'He felt like he'd heard that term somewhere recently... From Xiong Liangsheng!'

HISS!

'Could it be...'

Jiang Xu hurriedly asked for more details.

"Fellow Daoist Ying, what's the story with this grand sacrificial ceremony you mentioned?"

Hearing this, a mysterious glint flashed in Master Fatty's eyes as he began to recount the specifics of Greed Wolf Island's grand sacrificial ceremony.

"This Greedy Wolf Star sacrificial ceremony is the grandest event on Greed Wolf Island. When it takes place, the entire island goes on high alert, and everyone, from local residents to visiting Cultivators, must abide by a series of strict rules."

"During the ceremony, the islanders hold a grand ritual at the Greedy Wolf Star altar in the center of the island. They worship the Greedy Wolf Star God, praying for a year of peace and bountiful harvests. At the same time, many Cultivators choose this time to enter secluded Cultivation, hoping to achieve a breakthrough in their Cultivation under the baptism of starlight."

"However, as spectacular as the ceremony is, it also hides considerable danger. The power of the Greedy Wolf Star reaches its zenith during the sacrificial period. For a Cultivator, this is undoubtedly a rare opportunity for Cultivation, but for those unable to control this power, they risk a backlash that could have severe consequences."

"Not only that, but at this time, the Demon Beasts in the surrounding seas are also affected by the stellar fluctuations. Their temperaments become more frenzied, and they are prone to gathering and attacking the island."

"Furthermore, on the day of the grand ceremony, some of the island's ancient Restrictions and Arrays will be activated to prevent invasions. Anyone who wanders in without knowing the situation will likely face a devastating catastrophe."

At this point, Master Fatty suddenly stopped. He glanced around, hesitated for a moment, but finally sighed. Instead of speaking aloud, he sent a message to Jiang Xu with his Divine Sense.

"I'm only telling you this much because I've taken a liking to you, and I'm worried you'll blunder into some taboo without understanding. I couldn't be bothered to tell this to an ordinary person."

"Let me tell you, the taboos of this Greedy Wolf Star sacrificial ceremony are no joke. First and most importantly, it is absolutely forbidden to approach the Greedy Wolf Star altar during the ceremony, especially entering the altar's core area without permission. That's a great disrespect to the Greedy Wolf Star God. The light punishment is damage to your Cultivation; the severe punishment is having your soul obliterated, never to be reborn."

"Second, all forms of fighting and conflict are strictly prohibited on the day of the ceremony. Doing so would disrupt the harmony and stability of the entire island, disturbing the flow of stellar power. In serious cases, it could cause the island's entire Defensive Array to spiral out of control."

"Furthermore, Cultivators participating in the sacrifice must maintain a pure state of mind, free of any evil or distracting thoughts. Otherwise, under the catalytic power of the Greedy Wolf Star, it's easy to succumb to inner demons and lose one's sanity. Also, all participants must hold a special invitation. Anyone without one will be considered an illegal trespasser and be hunted down by the Isle Master's Mansion and the island's Law Enforcement Team."

"Finally, for a period after the ceremony ends, a vast amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi will converge on the island. This is the best time for Cultivation, but it's also when Demon Beasts are most active. Many Cultivators try to hunt Demon Beasts for Spiritual Materials at this time, but they often fall into danger due to greed and impatience."