bookrebus Chapter 729 The Rain Prayer on the Star Gazing Platform (Page 12)
Chapter 729 The Rain Prayer on the Star Gazing Platform (Page 12)
Qingshi Town, a name that carries a touch of poetry and hides a few ancient legends. The mountain to the west of the town, though not high, is named "Guanxing Ridge" (Star-Gazing Ridge) because of the star-gazing platform atop its summit. The platform is not a magnificent structure, but simply a huge, weathered stone base, standing alone atop the mountain like a silent guardian, gazing upon the world from ancient times to the present. Legend has it that it was once a sacred place where ancient priests observed the movement of stars and communicated with the gods of heaven and earth. However, with the passage of time, faith was lost, and the skills were extinct. The platform has long since become a desolate ruin overgrown with weeds, rarely visited except by the occasional shepherd child or herb-gathering villager who happens to pass by.
However, tonight, this quiet stargazing platform is destined to welcome a special visitor.
At the east end of town, the light in Aunt Lin's house was still on late at night. In the dim yellow glow of the oil lamp, Aunt Lin looked at her daughter, Lin Muxue, her eyes filled with worry, confusion, and a hidden hope.
"Xue'er, you...you really want to go?" Aunt Lin's voice was a little hoarse, with barely concealed anxiety. "It's so dark outside, the mountain road is difficult to walk on, and...and you have to wear that...clothes?" Her gaze fell on the strange armor neatly folded beside her daughter.
The armor was a deep silver-gray, neither gold nor iron, its thin texture subtly exuding the cold, hard feel of metal. The plates were fine and dense, like fish scales or stardust, covered with intricate and ancient patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. This was the "Stardust Armor," passed down through generations of the Lin family, a relic existing only in family legends. It was said that wearing it would create a mysterious resonance with the stars in the night sky, enhancing one's so-called "priestly power."
Lin Muxue turned around, moonlight streaming through the window lattice onto her young yet resolute face. She was about ten years old, with delicate features but unusually bright eyes, possessing a calmness and determination beyond her years. "Mother, I must go." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm. "Luoxing Town hasn't seen a decent drop of rain for three months. The crops in the fields are almost withered, and the wells are empty. If this continues, none of us will be able to hold on."
She walked to the table and gently stroked the cold surface of the Stardust Armor. "Have you forgotten what Grandfather said? Our Lin family ancestors were priests who protected this land, possessing the ability to communicate with heaven and earth and pray for rain. This Stardust Armor, and these Star-Summoning Pendants, are proof of our power."
As she spoke, she picked up an exquisite wooden box placed beside the armor and opened the lid. Inside lay seven jade pendants of different shapes, each carved into a different star map or rune pattern, their material warm and lustrous, faintly shimmering. These were the "Star-Calling Pendants," also heirlooms of the Lin family, complementing the Stardust Armor and serving as a medium for guiding and gathering the power of the stars.
“The Stardust Armor helps me better sense the power of the stars, while the Star Summoning Pendants can guide these powers.” Lin Muxue took out the Star Summoning Pendants one by one and carefully tied them to the ribbon at her waist. “I consulted the tattered books left by my grandfather. Although many parts are blurred, I roughly understand the steps of the rain-praying ritual. Tonight is a full moon night and a special celestial event with three stars aligned, making it the perfect time to hold the ritual. I must go to the Star Gazing Platform and use the last priestly power of our Lin family to pray for rain for Falling Star Town.”
Looking at the unwavering determination in her daughter's eyes, Aunt Lin's lips moved, but she ultimately only let out a long sigh. She knew her daughter's temperament; once she made up her mind, nothing could change it. Besides, what she said was true; the drought had reached its worst point, and despair was etched on the faces of the townspeople. As her mother, how could she not be anxious and worried? But could those ancient legends really be believed? Could her daughter truly awaken the dormant power? Her heart was filled with uncertainty and fear.
"Mother, don't worry." Lin Muxue sensed her mother's worry, went over and gently hugged her. "I will be careful. I will take the water, incense burner and candles you prepared." She pointed to the basket that had been prepared in the corner.
Aunt Lin silently helped her daughter tidy up the basket, then took out a coarse cloth headscarf, intending to put it on her, but Lin Muxue gently pressed her hand down. "Mother, no need. The Stardust Armor itself has the power to ward off evil spirits."
Lin Muxue said no more and began to put on the Stardust Armor. The armor felt unexpectedly light, as if she were merely draped in a thin layer of silver gauze, yet she could clearly feel its close fit to her body. The ancient patterns seemed to come alive, warming slightly with her breath. An indescribable, strange sensation spread from the armor throughout her body, as if every pore had opened, greedily inhaling some invisible energy in the air.
Next, she put on the seven Star-Summoning Pendants one by one. Some were tied to her wrists, some hung in front of her chest, and some dangled at her waist. When the last pendant was put on, she could clearly feel that there seemed to be a subtle connection between these pendants, and at the same time, there seemed to be an invisible thread connecting them to the Stardust Armor on her body.
"I'm leaving, Mother. Get some rest, don't wait for me." Lin Muxue slung the basket containing the ritual supplies over her shoulder, giving her mother one last look, her eyes filled with guilt, but without the slightest hesitation. She didn't tell her mother that the ancient texts recorded that this rain-praying ritual was extremely taxing on the practitioner, and might even carry unknown risks. She didn't want to attract more attention and criticism before she succeeded. At this moment, she was simply a solitary traveler carrying the family's mission and the hopes of the entire town.
She quietly opened the door and, like a light night bird, disappeared into the deep darkness. Aunt Lin chased after her to the door, gazing in the direction her daughter had vanished. Tears finally welled up in her eyes, and she clasped her hands together, silently praying to the dark night sky.
The night was quiet and profound.
Lin Muxue walked alone on the mountain path leading to Stargazing Ridge. The path was rugged, with dense forests on both sides. The night wind rustled the leaves, adding to the eerie atmosphere. But she wasn't afraid. The Stardust Armor covered her body, bringing a strange sense of security. Moreover, as she continued to climb, she could clearly feel that the Stardust Armor and the Star-Calling Pendant at her waist seemed to be becoming more and more "active."
The patterns on the Stardust Armor shimmered with increasingly distinct light, as if a slumbering beast was slowly awakening. A faint warmth emanated from the parts of the armor that touched her body, and this warmth flowed through her blood, gradually relaxing her body, which had been tense due to nervousness.
The Star-Calling Pendants began to emit a clearer glow. The jade pendant "Yaoguang Pendant," engraved with the Big Dipper, hanging on her chest, was the first to light up, emitting a soft, pale blue light, like the morning star in the night sky. Next, the "Yinghuo Pendant" (Mars) at her waist warmed slightly, emitting a dark red halo; the "Suixing Pendant" (Jupiter) on her wrist swirled with a warm, bluish-green light... The seven Star-Calling Pendants, like seven tiny stars, lit up one after another on her body. Between the pendants, a faint humming sound seemed to rise, clear and melodious. The "gentle tinkling of the pendants" was just as Lin Muxue had sensed earlier; they seemed to be truly responding to the vast, boundless starry sky above her.
Lin Muxue looked up. The night sky was exceptionally clear, without a single cloud. Countless glittering stars adorned the deep night sky, like diamonds set in black velvet. The Milky Way was clearly visible, like a silver ribbon stretching across the heavens. The moonlight, bright as water, illuminated the mountain path ahead.
She could feel that the stars in the night sky were no longer distant specks of light, but had transformed into living, powerful individuals. Her Stardust Armor acted like a sensitive receiver, constantly capturing the faint signals from the stars, while the Star-Calling Pendants served as bridges, amplifying, guiding, and converging these signals into her body. Her mind was more focused than ever before, and her senses became exceptionally acute. She could "hear" the trajectories of the stars and "sense" the different attributes of their power—some gentle, some fiery, some serene, and some dynamic.
The feeling was wonderful, both strange and familiar, as if she was born to communicate with these stars.
After walking for more than an hour, Lin Muxue finally reached the top of Guanxing Ridge.
We've arrived at Wangxingtai.
The scene before her was more dilapidated than she had imagined, yet also more awe-inspiring. It was a massive, irregularly shaped circular stone base, over ten zhang in diameter, paved with huge bluestone slabs. Many slabs were broken and displaced, overgrown with weeds and moss, and much of the base's edge had collapsed. Even so, its former grandeur and solemnity were still evident. In the center of the base, there seemed to have once been a higher altar, but now only a low, incomplete stone platform remained.
The entire Star Gazing Platform resembles a giant natural formation, quietly bathed in moonlight and starlight, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
Lin Muxue took a deep breath and walked to the center of the Star Gazing Platform. She put down the basket, first took out the incense burner, placed it on the low stone platform, and then lit three sticks of incense. The wisps of smoke rose gently, carrying a faint fragrance of herbs and trees, drifting into the night sky. Next, she took out the bowl of water and carefully placed it next to the incense burner.
Having done all this, she stepped back a few paces and began to formally put on the Stardust Armor. As the last plate was fastened, the Stardust Armor seemed to merge with her body. A powerful stream of information flooded her mind—ancient knowledge about stars, rituals, and the application of power; some of it she had read in ancient texts, others fragments of memories inherited from the Stardust Armor itself.
She closed her eyes, regulated her breathing, and gradually synchronized her heartbeat with the stellar pulse emanating from her Stardust Armor. The seven Star-Summoning Pendants on her body shone brighter, hovering a short distance around her and slowly rotating like a miniature star map. The soft clinking of the pendants became clearer, sometimes rapid, sometimes soothing, as if playing a silent symphony of stars, guiding her spiritual power.
"Buzz..." The patterns on the Stardust Armor lit up completely, and the silver-gray armor seemed to transform into a huge star gem, radiating dazzling light. A faint silver light shield formed around Lin Muxue's body, isolating her from the surrounding darkness.
She slowly opened her eyes. At that moment, it seemed as if stars were spinning deep within her pupils, shooting out two bright beams of light that shot straight into the sky!
"In the name of the Lin family priest, I, Lin Muxue, hereby pray!" Her voice was no longer gentle, but solemn and dignified, carrying a strange penetrating power that echoed across the silent mountaintop. "I pray to the stars in the night sky to hear my call! I pray to the gods who govern water to have mercy on this parched land!"
She stretched out her hands, palms facing upwards, and the power within her body began to circulate slowly, guided by the Stardust Armor.
"Shake the Light Pendant, draw upon the power of the Big Dipper, locate the four directions, and gather spiritual energy!" Lin Muxue shouted in a low voice.
The Yao Guang pendant (one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper) on her chest suddenly shone brightly, its pale blue halo spreading out to form a huge star map projection, hovering above her head. The star map slowly rotated, radiating stable and pure energy, acting as an anchor point to initially gather the scattered stellar power around her. At the same time, a clear humming sound emanated from the pendant, carrying a sense of guidance and stability.
"The Jupiter Pendant, imbued with the essence of wood, nourishes all things and enriches life!"
The Jupiter pendant on her wrist shone brightly with a bluish light, and a gentle, vibrant energy emanated from it, flowing down her arm to her palm. This energy was warm and inclusive, carrying the scent of growing plants, as if it could awaken the slumbering earth. The pendant trembled gently, making a rustling sound like a spring breeze rustling through leaves.
"The Star Pendant draws upon the power of water, gathers cloud energy, and nurtures sweet rain!"
Another star-summoning pendant at her waist, engraved with a Mercury pattern, glowed with a deep blue light, and a cool, moist power flowed into her body. This power was fluid and ever-changing, like a mountain spring or a thin mist in the air. Lin Muxue could feel this power resonating with the sparse moisture in the air, striving to attract and gather it. The sound emitted by the star-summoning pendant was like water droplets falling into a deep pool, clear and melodious.