Sludge suction system

Time flies like an arrow; ten days have passed in the blink of an eye, and the long-awaited full moon night has arrived.

That night, the moonlight, like water, bathed the earth. The emperor, personally leading the imperial advisor, Hua Yu, and numerous entourage, arrived at the foot of the sacred mountain in a grand procession. The emperor carefully took out the mysterious token he always carried from his robes and gently inserted it into the groove of the tightly closed stone door before him. A deep rumble resounded, and the heavy stone door slowly opened to both sides, revealing a winding path leading straight to the summit. This was the entrance to the royal mausoleum.

They took a deep breath and stepped onto the stone steps, their steps firm yet somewhat heavy, as they climbed towards the summit. Along the way, they remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts and missions.

Finally, after a difficult trek, they reached the summit of the sacred mountain. Standing there, they could clearly see a strange blue light shimmering on the peak. However, compared to before, the light had dimmed considerably, flickering like a candle in the wind. Clearly, the magic contained within the totem fragment was gradually dissipating over time, and if no action was taken in time, it would likely become completely useless.

Knowing the urgency of the situation, no one dared to delay, and they quickened their pace to the massive altar located in the center of the mountaintop. The Grand Preceptor, with a solemn expression, directed his subordinates to quickly and methodically begin preparations for the sacrifice. Some were responsible for arranging the offerings on the altar, while others busied themselves lighting the sandalwood incense in the censers; the entire scene was tense yet orderly.

In the stillness, everyone quietly awaited that crucial moment—the arrival of the full moon.

"Xiao Zha, do you think something will happen when we get the totem fragment?" Hua Yu asked Xiao Zha with some concern.

"Host, that totem fragment was originally part of the Xuan Tian Mirror. You are the spirit of the Xuan Tian Mirror, so you should be able to subdue this totem fragment. Don't worry too much," Xiao Zha replied to Hua Yu in his mind.

Soon, the sacrificial ceremony will begin.

At the summit of the sacred mountain, the night, like a vast black ribbon, weighed heavily on this ancient land. The stars twinkled sparsely, like indifferent bystanders witnessing the solemn and tragic ritual to come. The cool moonlight poured down like water, outlining the sacrificial site with a chilling and mysterious silver edge. The shadows of the boulders and ancient trees, jagged and menacing in the moonlight, added to the solemnity and gravity.

The Imperial Preceptor stood majestically in the center of the circular altar. His robe, embroidered with intricate and mysterious runes, gleamed eerily in the moonlight, each rune seemingly whispering secrets of past rituals. His tall crown accentuated his frosty expression. He waved his hands, sending spiritual sand cascading from his fingertips, shimmering with strange and unsettling light. He chanted incantations, the obscure spells echoing softly through the valley, as if trying to pierce the veil of time and awaken slumbering gods and ancient powers.

Hua Yu, dressed in a pristine white sacrificial robe, gracefully stepped onto the altar. Her face, illuminated by the moonlight, appeared exceptionally beautiful, yet the worry and solemnity in her eyes were undeniable. The delicate patterns on her robe swayed gently with her movements, seemingly concealing countless untold stories. The melodious music began, and she started to dance. At first, her steps were light and graceful, like a spring breeze rippling across a lake. Her arms, like willow branches swaying in the wind, stretched and swayed softly, her wide sleeves resembling flowing clouds. Wherever she went, wisps of moonlight seemed to be drawn into her dance, weaving a dreamlike tapestry of light and shadow.

As the dance reached its climax, Hua Yu's movements became increasingly agile and graceful. She twirled and leaped, her skirt billowing like blooming flowers. At this moment, a gentle breeze rustled through the forest, the leaves whispering as if in accompaniment to her dance; the distant mountain streams flowed babbling, seemingly in rhythm with her steps. The entire sacred mountain seemed to be infected by her passion and dedication, immersed in this grand and solemn sacrificial dance.

The moonlight grew increasingly intense, pouring down like milk, illuminating the sacred mountain as bright as day. The ground beneath the altar trembled violently, and a faint light burst forth from the direction of the royal tomb, instantly drawing everyone's attention. A palm-sized, rhomboid crystal—a fragment of the Great Fish totem—slowly emerged. Its texture was neither gold nor jade, its surface covered with mysterious and delicate patterns. The pale blue light shone like the last glimmer of light in weary eyes, gently rippling yet unable to conceal its dimness and depletion. It seemed to have endured countless storms throughout the long years, now clinging to the last thread of its former glory with only this faint glimmer of light, quietly awaiting a turning point and redemption.

As everyone's attention was drawn to the totem fragments, the royal prince, Lan Yun, strode into the sacrificial altar with heavy yet resolute steps. He wore a deep blue robe, his posture upright, yet unable to conceal the profound pain and reluctance etched into his very being. From the moment he entered the altar, his gaze was fixed on Hua Yu, his eyes filled with deep affection and longing, as if he wanted to imprint her image forever into his soul, as if this one glance was their eternal farewell. Hua Yu also looked at Lan Yun, tears glistening in her eyes, her lips trembling slightly. She wanted to call out, but the heavy atmosphere choked her throat; a thousand words were contained in that single exchange of glances. They had once strolled hand in hand among blooming flowers, poured out their hearts to each other under the starry sky—those beautiful memories had now become the sharpest blades, piercing their hearts.

Lan Yun walked slowly towards the center of the altar, each step feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds, each step landing on Hua Yu's heart. He stood before her, and time seemed to stand still. Lan Yun reached out a slightly trembling hand and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Hua Yu's ear, his fingers lingering briefly on her cheek, as if trying to remember this last tender touch. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the tears that threatened to spill and the countless unspoken words of love. The future they had dreamed of, those ordinary yet happy days, had all vanished like bubbles in the cold night wind.

Finally, Lan Yun took a deep breath, slowly turned around, and faced the totem fragment emitting a faint glow. He slowly clasped his hands together, palms facing each other, placed them before his chest, and began to chant an ancient sacrificial incantation. The words of the incantation were obscure and difficult to understand, yet they seemed to carry the history and prayers of the Great Fish Kingdom for thousands of years. Each word was uttered from Lan Yun's mouth, his voice trembling slightly at first, filled with longing for the mortal world and reluctance to part with Hua Yu. Every note seemed to weep blood. He remembered the sunrises and sunsets they had watched together; those warm times were now unattainable. His heart was filled with sorrow, yet he was unwavering in his determination to complete this sacrifice, for Hua Yu, for the Great Fish Kingdom.

As the eulogy was chanted, the air around Lan Yun began to tremble slightly, as if an invisible force was gradually gathering. His body was slowly enveloped in a soft blue light, which at first resembled a light morning mist, light and thin, but then gradually became denser, like a blue flame being ignited, growing ever stronger. His face appeared exceptionally resolute under the blue light, yet it could not conceal a trace of pain and determination. He knew that this departure would be forever, a separation between life and death, that he would forever leave his beloved Hua Yu, and leave this world filled with their memories.

The emperor could no longer bear to watch. His son, whom he had lost and then found again, would soon vanish like a breeze before his very eyes. Tears streamed down his face, adding to the sorrow of this tragic sacrifice.

The ceremony is still ongoing.