Chương 84: The River God Festival, the Old Giant Softshell Turtle Monster

"Chief Su, please look… the auspicious hour has arrived. May we begin?" The fishing village's chief was also surnamed Su, from the same clan as Su Zhe. He glanced at the homemade sundial in the village, the wrinkles on his aged face slowly easing, then looked toward Su Zhe and asked with a trace of humility.

"All right!" Su Zhe nodded. The Su River Festival. The River God Festival. It was an ancient tradition. The Customs of Lu County recorded: A monster once appeared in the Su River. It devoured people and was said to be descended from dragons. Later, a divine man appeared and suppressed it beneath the riverbed. That divine man came to be known as the River God of the Su River. From then on, sacrifices were offered every year to worship Lord River God.

The common folk feared that, if they neglected Lord River God, the monster would emerge again and devour people. Su Zhe had grown up beside the Su River, so he was no stranger to the Su River Festival. Only, in the past, it had usually been hosted by Village Chief Su. If they were lucky, they could even invite a few martial lords to attend. Now, as Su Zhe recalled that old legend, a strange feeling rose in his heart.

"Those legends from Lu County, like the Blood Refining Divine Venerable and the Blacksmith Ancestor… though some parts were off, they were mostly true…"

"As for this River God of the Su River, who knows whether that's true or false?" Su Zhe gazed at the river and thought to himself. In this world, even gods freaking existed. So what was a River God? Or the son of a dragon?

"The Su River God Festival begins!" Su Zhe steadied his mind, not daring to delay the auspicious hour. Sinking his qi into his dantian, he suddenly spoke. His voice was not piercing at all, yet it rolled like muffled thunder, spreading along the hidden currents of the Su River and reaching the villages all around it. It covered a radius of dozens of li. Such a miraculous display left the villagers of the fishing village wildly excited.

In the past, being able to invite even one martial lord to the River God Festival had been an enormous honor for the village. It meant the village was developing well, that the villagers were prosperous, and that every household could pool together a considerable sum for the festival. But today… The priest presiding over the River God Festival was one of their own.

This person was, first, the incarnation of Lu County's thousand years of fortune; second, the chief of Tiejiang Bang (Blacksmith Gang), the number one expert of Lu County; third, the disciple personally chosen by the Asura Child Matriarch of Zhu Jian Shanzhuang (Sword Casting Villa); and fourth, the great hero who had turned the tide and saved Lu County… Though he was young, his titles were frighteningly numerous. This also represented the village's supreme honor.

Even the villagers felt their faces glowing with pride. At Su Zhe's command—"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Gongs and drums thundered, shaking the fields in every direction. The drummers struck with all their strength, the rhythm booming like thunder and stirring everyone's blood. On the banks of the Su River, the River God Festival began. The altar towered high, built from stacked bluestone, simple and solemn.

Offerings covered it: plump cattle and sheep, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fragrant sacrificial wine. Colorful banners snapped in the wind. On the great flags was embroidered the image of the River God, majestic and awe-inspiring. The villagers gathered, every face solemn.

"Di! Di! Di!" A sharp sound rang out. The king of instruments, the suona, made its entrance. The crowd carried the sacrificial offerings and slowly walked toward the altar. Men and women, young and old, were all dressed in their finest clothes, their hearts full of reverence. The children's eyes were wide with curiosity as they stared at the grand scene. Incense smoke curled upward, rising straight into the clouds, as if carrying the villagers' devotion to the River God.

The river breeze brushed their faces and lifted the hems of their clothes, as though it were the River God's response. Su Zhe climbed to the highest point of the altar. The fierce wind whipped around him, sending his robes flying wildly.

"The Sacrificial Address to the River God of the Su River!" Su Zhe unfurled the sacrificial scroll, his voice low and steady.

"In the twenty-first year of Emperor Jing of Great Qian, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the people of the fishing village offer sacrifice before the honored presence of the River God of the Su River."

"River God above, your divine might is vast and awe-inspiring. By the banks of the Su River, our village has long depended on you. In the past, a monster brought disaster, devouring people and taking lives. Fortunately, a divine man descended and suppressed the monster beneath the river, protecting the peace of our village. For his virtue, all people were grateful, honoring him as the River God and worshiping him year after year."

"Today, we present offerings: plump cattle and sheep, fresh fruits and vegetables, and rich, mellow wine. We humbly pray that the River God shows mercy and protects our fishing village. May the five grains flourish, may every field ripen, and may the granaries be full. May the fishing hauls be plentiful, may no net return empty, and may fish and shrimp fill the storehouses.

We further pray that our village thrives with descendants, that every household lives in harmony, and that old and young alike remain healthy and safe." Su Zhe's voice was full and powerful. With one breath of inner force, it surged like a rushing river, long and unbroken.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!" The great drum beat out the rhythm. It meant the sacrificial address had reached its end.

"We humble folk offer this sacrifice with sincere hearts. We respectfully pray that the River God protect us for all generations. May you enjoy these offerings!" As Su Zhe's final word fell—"Rumble!"

"Crash!" The river surface, which had been fairly calm, suddenly erupted with waves dozens of zhang high. White spray shot straight into the clouds, like a giant dragon bursting from the river and soaring into the sky.

"Lord River God has shown himself!"

"Lord River God has shown himself!" … This shocking change made the villagers' faces turn pale with terror. Some froze in place. Some wet themselves. Even more dropped to their knees, trembling as they cried out, "Lord River God, spare us!"

"Roar!" The waves fell. A small mountain emerged from the Su River. Then came a furious roar. Su Zhe focused his gaze, and even he could not help sucking in a breath of cold air. There, in the river, was a giant softshell turtle. It stood five zhang tall, its body over a dozen zhang long, like a small mountain crouched on the water. Its shell looked as though it had been forged from black jade, indestructible and flashing with a mysterious dark sheen beneath the sun.

Its eyes were like two enormous lamps, blazing bright, as though they could see through the underworld. Its four limbs were thick as massive pillars. With a slow stroke, they stirred up surging river water. Its might intimidated everything around it, making all who saw it feel fear. Now that it had appeared, the river churned and the wind and clouds changed color, as if the entire Su River lay under its control.

"A monster! A monster!" The giant turtle's eyes were blood-red. It swept out a claw, its sharp talons instantly piercing three unlucky victims. Then it brought them into its mouth. With another thrust of its head— The turtle's head shot out like an arrow. In a single movement, out and back, it seized another three or four people.

"Crunch! Crunch!" A terrifying chewing sound rang out.

"Waaah!"

"Run!"

"It's the monster from the river… the monster has come out!" … Everyone panicked. They trampled over one another. Children wailed.

"Hmph!"

"What monster? With me here today, how dare you harm people's lives, you evil beast?" When Su Zhe saw this, his eyes nearly split with rage. Bloodshot streaks filled his pupils, red veins running through them as fury overtook him. Su Zhe leaped into the air. With his Great Perfection Flood Dragon Step, he strode across the water. Radiant light scattered from his hands as the Forging Hammer and Star Hammer appeared. The twin hammers danced! Twin Bull Horns! Boom!

This strike was heavy and fierce, aimed directly at the giant turtle. It smashed down on the giant turtle's head. The giant turtle had been about to eat more villagers. Caught off guard, it was struck by Su Zhe's hammer. It immediately felt as if a mountain had slammed straight onto its skull. Su Zhe possessed the strength of two flood dragons, three tigers, and fourteen bulls! He had also cultivated the Tiger Form and Snake Form of the Twelve Forms to the Outer Three Harmonies realm.

This strike carried almost one hundred and fifty thousand jin of force!

"Roar!" The giant turtle howled in pain, raising its head to the sky. Blood seeped from its eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Its pair of lantern-sized eyes fixed tightly on Su Zhe. The evil creature remembered him. This two-legged sheep before it was far more dangerous than the others! But his qi and blood surged powerfully through his body. He was an enormous tonic!

"Roar!" The giant turtle stirred the river water and charged at Su Zhe. It opened its bloody maw, as if it wanted to devour everything, swallow Su Zhe alive, and turn him into a great tonic…