468: Chapter 468 Knowledgeable

The male scout said, "It is an ancient Shamanism ritual that guides the souls of deceased relatives to leave, preventing them from lingering in the human world."

"In previous years, the Soul Sending Grand Ceremony would wait until the seventh full moon night after the New Year, but this time, it started on the third full moon night."

Gu Zhiyao, having stayed in Khitan before, found it strange and asked, "What is the reason? Did they say?"

The female scout replied, "According to the Grand Shaman, too many people from the White Wolf Cavalry and Iron Kite Army died in battle last year."

"They were all the bravest warriors, and their souls are exceptionally powerful. If they linger in the human world for too long, they will turn into vengeful spirits, so these souls need to be guided as soon as possible."

"The families of the deceased are also looking forward to the Soul Sending ritual, wanting the souls to rest in peace early, so they have all gone there."

Gu Zhiyao frowned and said, "Just because more people died in the war? But Khitan fights with Great Gan every year, and they never started the ceremony early for those killed in battle before."

"Yes, so some of us find it strange, but the Soul Sending Grand Ceremony is just a large group of the elderly, women, and children gathering together. It doesn't involve the Khitan army, so there shouldn't be any problem."

The male scout looked nervously at Lin Xiao, fearing that the Prince of Zhenbei would be dissatisfied with his answer.

"You mean... people from all Khitan tribes will come to participate?" Lin Xiao asked.

"Exactly, this is the most important annual festival for the entire Khitan."

Lin Xiao thought for a moment, stood up, and said to Gu Zhiyao, "I'll go take a look. You stay here."

Gu Zhiyao hurriedly stood up and said, "Your Highness, take me with you. I can run on my own."

She also faintly sensed that this matter was unusual.

Lin Xiao didn't mind: "As you wish."

After clarifying the location of the ceremony, the two left the tent directly.

On the high ground about a dozen miles north of Shanglin City stood the oldest Hala Temple of the Khitan.

Lin Xiao intentionally slowed down, and Gu Zhiyao was barely able to keep up.

"Does Your Highness know why Shanglin City is only the third largest city in Khitan, yet it has the largest Hala Temple?"

"Is there a story behind this?"

Gu Zhiyao smiled and said, "Because in the beginning, this was the capital of Khitan. The Khitan were not purely nomadic, but semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral."

"The earliest powerful tribes were near Shanglin City, relying on the waters of the Black River to irrigate their fields, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses."

"However, later the Yelü Family from the northeast coast, who were once a destitute tribe living by fishing, suddenly became powerful."

"The Yelü Family produced several strong leaders who unified the Khitan people, and only then was the royal capital moved to Liaocheng by the sea."

Gu Zhiyao then teased him with a riddle: "Does Your Highness know how the Yelü Family made their fortune?"

"Since they were fishing by the sea, there's only one way to make a fortune: trade."

Lin Xiao didn't even have to think twice. "They must have gained benefits by doing business with someone across the sea."

Gu Zhiyao's eyes lit up. "As expected of Your Highness. Indeed, the Yelü Family obtained fine iron from the Japanese across the sea, which greatly increased their strength."

"The White Wolf Cavalry was the first Khitan cavalry unit to be equipped with fine iron weapons and armor."

Lin Xiao frowned: "Japanese? They really are everywhere..."

Although Lin Xiao hadn't had specific contact with the Japanese here, from the known intelligence, they were much the same as those in his original world—all of a kind!

"Actually, a hundred years ago, the Gan Dynasty had two plans to cross the sea and eliminate the Japanese nation, but because the winds and waves were too great, both expeditions were unsuccessful."

"The Japanese were terrified and sought out the Yelü tribe, exchanging ironware for their fish and animal skins."

"Although it seemed like a bit of a loss, once the Khitan were unified, the pressure on Great Gan in the northeast increased sharply, so the matter of eliminating the Japanese nation was never brought up again."

Gu Zhiyao explained eloquently.

Lin Xiao teased, "I didn't expect Dr. Gu to know so much."

"Of course, I have traveled the world and know many things," Gu Zhiyao said proudly.

While chatting, the two had already arrived at the Hala Temple.

Even though it was late at night, hundreds of torches still illuminated the ancient temple and the nearby tents brightly.

"Your Highness, are we just going to go in directly like this?"

Gu Zhiyao frowned; these were all civilians. Even if the Central Plains and Khitan were enemies, it wouldn't be right to just kill them indiscriminately.

"Are you worried that this Prince will slaughter the innocent?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.

Gu Zhiyao gave a sweet smile, like a quiet orchid blooming in the night.

"Your Highness is a great hero; you certainly wouldn't, right?"

Lin Xiao gave a light snort and didn't answer. Instead, he leaped directly outside the temple and strode toward the entrance.

Seeing him so blatant, Gu Zhiyao was flustered and hurriedly followed.

She muttered to herself, if it really came down to it, she would save as many as she could. What a sin...

As expected, several Shamanism followers guarding the temple immediately came forward to block them.

"Who goes there!?"

"Who dares to intrude..."

Before they could even act, their vision went dark, and they fell unconscious.

Lin Xiao walked past the guards with a calm expression, as if he were just passing by chance.

Gu Zhiyao hurriedly went up to check and found that without exception, these people had been knocked out by a 'shock'!

"It can be done like this?"

She had never imagined someone could control True Qi so precisely, only stunning people without taking their lives.

Gu Zhiyao looked at the man's back with a gaze of amazement.

"Could he really be an Earth Immortal..."

Since the Tianwu Grand Tournament, the 'rumors' that the Prince of Zhenbei was an Earth Immortal had never ceased.

However, most people still found it too outrageous and remained conservatively observant.

Gu Zhiyao hadn't quite believed it before, but after experiencing these past two days, she couldn't help but wonder...

Pushing forward all the way, Lin Xiao met no resistance; after all, the true experts had already gone to war.

He successfully reached the main hall of the temple, where the bloody scent he had noticed upon entering became even more intense.

"Your Highness, the smell of blood here is very strong, and it's not from livestock," Gu Zhiyao also noticed the abnormality.

But strangely, the main hall looked very normal, without any pooled blood.

Fortunately, Lin Xiao was already well-acquainted with the tricks of these charlatans.

As soon as he activated Dragon Seeking and Point Locating, he immediately locked onto a plain-looking mural wall.

Lin Xiao walked up and struck the mural wall with his palm, immediately revealing a downward passage inside.

"Your Highness, how did you know there was a secret passage here?"

Gu Zhiyao looked surprised; she had just been about to say there might be a secret room here.

"I'm not as well-informed as Dr. Gu; this Prince was just guessing."

After Lin Xiao finished speaking, he went down first on his own.

Gu Zhiyao naturally heard the playful mockery in his voice and shook her fist at him angrily, but she still quickly followed.

Halfway through the passage, two rocks suddenly extended from the front and back, trapping the two of them in place!

"They've discovered us!" Gu Zhiyao's heart tightened, sensing trouble.