"Go, go to where you belong."
The High Priest suddenly stirred. He gave an instruction to the masked figure behind him, who obediently walked towards the large, blood-red cauldron in the center of the hall.
Who was this person, anyway?
Was he also one of the sacrifices?
I watched the masked man with great confusion, my mind beginning to speculate about his identity.
Judging by the High Priest's attitude towards him, which was completely different from how he treated the other Shepherd God representatives designated as blood sacrifices, his status was clearly extraordinary. After all, he had just stood behind the High Priest to officiate the blood sacrifice.
Now that the blood sacrifice was complete, and the large cauldron in the center of the hall was filled with crimson blood, what did Tian Man want him to do next?
Under my gaze, the masked man slowly approached the cauldron. With force, he tore off his sleeve, revealing a translucent arm.
Holy cow!
Despite having witnessed many bizarre things since entering this temple, this scene still managed to shatter my worldview.
Regardless of this masked person's gender, the arm that was revealed was crystal clear and covered in green lines!
These green lines weren't drawn on; they were hidden beneath the pale skin. I could even see something emerging from his wrist – a verdant branch!
This was beyond my imagination, a literal plant-person! How could a human body grow plants inside it?!
"High Priest, what is this?!"
Despite my shock, I instinctively turned to the High Priest, attempting to extract some information from him.
"Hahahaha! This is my most proud creation! Legend has it that in ancient times, humans and gods could procreate, giving birth to demigods. Many tribal leaders at the time were such beings, half-human, half-god."
To my surprise, the High Priest didn't conceal anything when I asked. Instead, he boasted about this individual's origin like a craftsman whose work had been affirmed.
However, I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but as the High Priest explained this history, I distinctly heard a hint of hatred in his tone, as if he held a deep animosity towards the demigods.
"As the gods no longer appeared in the mortal realm, the demigods were virtually wiped out, and even their existence gradually faded into myths and legends. But I haven't forgotten!"
The High Priest's tone gradually grew fanatical, and his eyes held a madness I couldn't comprehend, like a lunatic on the verge of destroying the world.
"The demigods, born from the union of Shepherd Gods and humans, are the perfect vessels for presiding over rituals! Look, Badu! He was born for you!"
The High Priest pointed at the demigod standing by the cauldron, his gaze fixed on me with malice.
What, this demigod was going to do something for me?
As I watched, the demigod extended his arm, exposed to the air, into the cauldron and began to stir.
Seeing this, my face was filled with question marks. I felt like I had traveled to medieval Europe, where a witch was stirring a cauldron of green liquid with a wooden stick. The only difference was that this demigod was using his own arm, but the scene was almost identical to what I imagined.
The High Priest had been boasting for so long, and this was it?
I had expected the demigod to perform some kind of transformation, or perhaps drink the entire cauldron of crimson liquid in one gulp.
Although I was now treading on dangerous ground, my inherent nature as an observer of spectacle couldn't help but feel a bit bored.
As time ticked by, the demigod's stirring speed increased. The crimson liquid in the cauldron gradually turned green as he stirred, and the thick, pungent odor slowly disappeared.
Suddenly, the demigod stopped and yanked his arm out of the cauldron.
Are you Duracell batteries or what?
I stared dumbfounded at the demigod. The arm that had been submerged in the cauldron was now gone, leaving only the remnants of bone.
He had literally dissolved his own arm?!
This wasn't the end. After exchanging a look with the High Priest, the demigod unceremoniously tore off his robes, revealing his own pale body beneath!
The scene was now extremely bizarre: a naked person stood before the cauldron. Even stranger, despite removing his clothes, the demigod did not remove his mask.
Under my watchful eyes, the demigod raised his hand, made a strange symbol on his chest, and then leaped directly into the cauldron!
What was that?!