novelzi Chapter 574 - 54: Abnormality
Chapter 574 - 54: Abnormality
Upon noticing the emergence of the Jade Seal, the spirit within me became restless, and a powerful desire to claim it as my own surged.
The horse-faced man, Zhu Yong, could no longer smile.
The seal originally appeared in the Zhou era, in the Pre-Qin times it was generally referred to as seals, until the Qin Dynasty when seals and stamps were distinguished.
When a minor emperor named Emperor Qin Shi Huang took Lantian jade, ordered Li Si to engrave it in small seal script, inscribing on it ’Mandated by Heaven, Granting Longevity and Prosperity’.
The seal became exclusively the emperor’s official stamp, directly symbolizing supreme authority.
And due to the minor accomplishments of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
The seal, beyond the six directions... acquired an extremely legendary aura.
It was not only a token of ’Divine Right to Rule, Orthodox Legitimacy’, but also the seal passed down through successive emperors after Qin, known as... the ’Heirloom Seal of the Realm’.
For emperors of successive dynasties, possessing the Jade Seal symbolized ’Mandated by Heaven’, losing it signified ’The End of Fate’, and those who ascended the throne without it were mocked as "blank emperor", seemingly lacking confidence and despised by the world.
Of course.
This was all before the Heirloom Seal went missing.
However, regardless, because of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first domestic monarch to call himself emperor... the Jade Seal indeed became a symbol sustaining autocratic feudal rule.
Even after the Heirloom Seal went missing.
Every emperor still vigorously proclaimed that acquiring the Heirloom Seal was ’Heaven’s Mandate’, either through inheritance or recreation, to declare themselves the true Son of Heaven.
The original Jade Seal carved by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, under the intense pursuit of the highest power in the feudal dynasty and influenced by countless ideologies.
It had long been equated with the supreme authority of the feudal dynasty, and endowed with an extremely strong sense of sanctity.
And the Authority Ability of the horse-faced man, it can be said, was completely born from the most important sacrificial rites of the feudal dynasty.
It could be said to be an extension of the feudal dynasty.
Therefore, his desire for the Jade Seal was intense.
Almost uncontrollable.
The moment he stopped smiling, he instinctively reached out to Hecate, seemingly wanting to touch the Jade Seal.
Hecate quickly took a step back.
The horse-faced man noticed her movement, suddenly sobered up, and forcibly suppressed his inner agitation, looking at the Jade Seal floating above Hecate’s palm, hoarsely asked, "Where did it come from? ...Who re-engraved the Jade Seal?"
"Who told you this is a re-engraved Jade Seal?"
Seeing the expression on the horse-faced man, Hecate guessed she had bet correctly, and calmly said, "Take a closer look."
"..."
The horse-faced man carefully examined the Jade Seal in her hand.
The seal is four inches square, five dragons intertwine at the top, with a flaw at one corner, patched with gold.
He stiffened slightly, then suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp: "Are you saying this is the genuine Heirloom Seal of the Realm? Impossible! Where did it come from?"
"Where it came from is none of your concern... As for whether it’s the true Heirloom Seal of the Realm, I don’t know."
Hecate curled her lips, regaining the upper hand: "I only know this thing is very important, far away from your territory it’s fine, but once it approaches, the entire Jade Seal starts to jump, as if drawn by something.
Honestly, this thing is of no use to me, it has no unusual properties in my hands, I can completely give it to someone in need."
"...What do you want?"
Hearing Hecate’s words, the horse-faced man breathed rapidly, his chest heaving.
He desperately wanted to calm down and revert to his previous demeanor.
Because even a three-year-old knows... when you show a strong desire for something, you can only be led by the nose by the holder.
However.
The horse-faced man could not calm down.
After all, that was the Heirloom Seal of the Realm! Endowed with an extremely strong sense of sanctity... the Heirloom Seal representing ’Heaven’s Mandate’!!!
Although he could deny it a million times... and could deny it a million times for entirely different reasons!
Yet he still could not suppress the emerging thought—what if it’s real?
Not to mention obtaining this Jade Seal, what it means for him as an Empowerer of the National Sacrificial System! With this Jade Seal! To what extent his power could surge!
Just holding the Jade Seal itself... was enough to make him tremble all over!
After all, the domestic feudal dynasty lasted too long, and the entry into modern society too short.
The effect of the Heirloom Seal, the countless heroic figures and ideologies resting upon it have not yet dissipated... So much could be done.
Mandated by Heaven, Granting Longevity and Prosperity.
Heaven’s Mandate.
Just thinking of these words, the horse-faced man couldn’t help but shiver.
Most importantly, the Anomaly Realm extending from the tomb of that first domestic monarch to be called emperor is still unexplored, shrouded in mystery.
And whether it’s Celestial Strategy Mansion or Self, they both think it’s due to the lack of a token.
Then could this token... be the Jade Seal?
Deep within that Anomaly Realm... what else could lie hidden?
The horse-faced man was very curious.
Therefore, he truly desired the Jade Seal in Hecate’s hand!
He desired it immensely!
Utterly uncontrollable!
This desire, even made him unable to distinguish whether it was because of his national sacrificial authority ability and the lineage of the feudal dynasty, or because of his own ambition.
"I just said, I cannot let the Church’s reputation be damaged."
Upon hearing the horse-faced man’s words, Hecate once again curled her lips, gently raised her hand, letting the Jade Seal continue to float, its continually emanating yellow aura filling the entire room: "I only care about this one thing, the Jade Seal is of no effect to me, if you are willing to cooperate, I’d be very willing to return it to my ally so it could serve a greater purpose."