Sludge suction system

Upon hearing Lan Yun's words, the emperor, seated on his dragon throne, trembled violently, nearly losing his balance and falling from the chair. His eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at Lan Yun kneeling below, utterly unable to believe what he had just heard. Could it be that even his only beloved son was to make such a tremendous sacrifice for the sake of the nation? For a moment, the emperor stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, his thoughts instantly becoming chaotic, a torrent of ideas rushing through his mind, overwhelming him.

Meanwhile, the gaze shifted to the other side. Hua Yu stood there quietly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the figure kneeling before her, pleading with the emperor—it was her beloved Ning Yuan. Watching Ning Yuan sacrifice himself to protect the Great Fish Kingdom, Hua Yu felt as if a thousand sharp blades had pierced her heart, causing unbearable pain. At this moment, she was experiencing an unprecedented and intense internal struggle. On one hand, she couldn't bear to part with Ning Yuan; on the other hand, as the incarnation of the Xuan Tian Mirror, she had to collect the totem fragments to fulfill her mission, not only for herself but also for Xiao Zha, and for the Xuan Tian Mirror, she couldn't give up this opportunity. Thus, these two emotions, like two ferocious beasts, tore and fought within Hua Yu's heart, tormenting her to the point of unbearable pain.

Lan Yun noticed the immense pain and inner turmoil in Hua Yu's expression beside him, and a pang of sorrow gripped his heart. He slowly rose, walked to Hua Yu's side, and gently placed his hand on her trembling shoulder, softly comforting her, "Yu'er, I know the depth of your affection for me, and I know you are the extraordinary woman mentioned in the ancient prophecy, capable of saving our Great Fish Kingdom from its dire straits. For you, I would gladly give my precious life and even my soul, without a single complaint. To be able to exchange my sacrifice for the long-term peace and stability of the Great Fish Kingdom, and to help you unravel the many mysteries surrounding you, is not only an unparalleled honor for me, but also my greatest wish in this life. So, please don't feel sad or upset for me, okay?"

After saying that, he hugged the crying Hua Yu tightly. His heart was also filled with reluctance. He wanted to stay with his lover a little longer. He was also reluctant to part with Hua Yu. However, he knew that the person in front of him had a greater mission to complete. He could not be a burden to Yu'er.

“Yu’er, actually, I overheard what you and the old man said that day. I know you’re not an ordinary woman; there are many mysterious things about you that I can’t be selfish and deprive you of the right to find the totem fragments for my own insignificant love. I love you, I love you so much that I’m willing to pave the way for you with my life. After I’m gone, you must take good care of yourself. I will become the soul of the totem fragments and always protect you, my dearest Yu’er.” Lan Yun whispered in Hua Yu’s ear.

After hearing this, Hua Yu burst into tears. The man in front of her was willing to protect her with his own life. Lan Yun was the first man who had given her so much warmth since she came to the Great Fish Kingdom. She couldn't bear to part with him.

Standing to the side, the Imperial Advisor witnessed scene after scene unfolding before him, a bitter and sorrowful feeling welling up within him. However, he knew he bore the heavy responsibility for the future of the entire Great Fish Kingdom. After a fierce internal struggle, he finally made a resolute decision. He took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward, and respectfully bowed to the Emperor seated on the dragon throne, saying, “Your Majesty, the chosen one and the royal family members willing to sacrifice themselves for the Great Fish Kingdom are now ready. We only need to wait ten days, until the night of the full moon, to formally begin the sacred altar ceremony and save the Great Fish Kingdom from its current precarious state. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Lan Yun and Hua Yu, who were kneeling on the ground, immediately shouted in unison:

"I beg my father to grant my request!"

"Your Majesty, please grant my request!"

Immediately afterwards, they both slammed their heads heavily onto the cold, hard ground to show their utmost sincerity. At this moment, the two raised their heads, their gazes fixed on the emperor high above them, their eyes shining with unwavering determination, as if no force could stop them from completing this mission.

The emperor looked down at the kneeling crowd below, his heart heavy with complex emotions. He knew, of course, that the long-standing, mysterious prophecy was about to come true, and what was truly tragic and helpless was that the very survival of the Great Fish Kingdom depended on such a tremendous sacrifice from a couple deeply in love. Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but sigh deeply, but faced with this situation, he had no other choice but to silently nod, agreeing to the request of the Grand Preceptor and the others.

For the next ten days, Hua Yu and the Imperial Preceptor were busy preparing for the sacrificial ceremony.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the sacred mountain sacrifice on the night of the full moon, the Imperial Preceptor first consulted a vast collection of ancient books and scriptures. The yellowed pages were turned in the dim candlelight as he searched for every clue and taboo related to the sacrifice.

He then personally ascended the sacred mountain to survey the land considered holy. He measured the location with his steps and determined the timing with an astrolabe, ensuring that the feng shui and spiritual energy of the sacrificial site were perfectly aligned with the moonlight. Subsequently, he dispatched his attendants to collect rare herbs and holy spring water to refine the pure incense and purifying talisman water needed for the sacrifice.

In the palace's secret workshops, the Imperial Advisor personally oversaw the creation of sacrificial implements. He crafted these ritual objects, symbols of totems and royalty, from refined gold and jade, each line imbued with mystical power and prayers. Simultaneously, he selected the most loyal and purest-blooded guards and priests, training them day and night in the rituals and dances, ensuring their performance on the night of the full moon accurately conveyed reverence for the gods and totems.

The Imperial Preceptor also secluded himself for five days to meditate, purifying his mind and seeking a deeper connection with the gods and spirits. In a secret chamber, he drew mysterious talismans, each stroke shimmering with a faint blue light. These talismans would be placed around the sacrificial site to protect the sanctity and tranquility of the ceremony, weaving a tight and spiritually powerful net of preparation for the upcoming full moon night sacrifice on the sacred mountain.

Following the instructions of the Imperial Preceptor and in accordance with ancient records, Hua Yu personally sewed the embroidered robes for the sacrificial ceremony, meticulously embroidering mysterious spiritual patterns stitch by stitch, each stitch imbued with her piety.

Following the Imperial Preceptor's instructions, she went alone to the Spirit Lake at the foot of the sacred mountain. The lake water was clear and icy, reflecting her resolute face. Hua Yu rolled up her sleeves and stepped into the lake, ignoring the biting cold, to pick the spirit lotus that only grew when the moon was at its fullest. Her hands were cut by the lakeweed, and her blood mingled with the lake water, but her eyes remained steadfast.

Back at her residence, Hua Yu laid out the various rare flowers, herbs, and spiritual objects she had collected, and prepared incense for the sacrificial ceremony according to a secret palace recipe. Wisps of smoke rose, filling the entire room, the fragrance seemingly able to connect heaven and earth. At the same time, she practiced the sacrificial dance steps in the courtyard under the moonlight, her movements light yet solemn. Every turn, every bend, she meticulously considered, striving to harmonize with the rhythm of the moon, as if her life was inextricably linked to this sacred mountain sacrifice, allowing no room for slackening.

Lan Yun simply stayed quietly with Hua Yu, enjoying their last intimate moments together, and patiently awaiting the full moon ten days later.