The grand hall, just as Liu Cheng had described, was quite dilapidated, yet amidst its decay, one could still discern its former magnificence.
A few steps served as a symbol of the emperor, indicating that this place was also built to showcase the status of its constructor.
Ascending the nine steps, they entered the hall. It was a single-level structure with a high platform in the center, square in shape, and eight stone statues standing around it.
There were no other decorations.
Shen Bao searched the surroundings in confusion, frowning. "There's nothing strange here. Why would wild beasts fear it?"
Generally, what could affect wild beasts was either the presence of a special magnetic field or a unique scent that could instill fear and keep them away.
Yet, as they entered the hall, they found nothing, which was truly bizarre.
Liu Cheng nodded. "Second Young Master is right. I searched this hall several times back then and found nothing unusual, so I still don't understand what's going on."
Both men looked puzzled. Only Ye Fan, with a solemn expression, slowly walked towards the square platform.
The top of the platform was smooth and flat, with a groove along its edge. In the center of the platform was an indented cavity, about the size of a palm. This cavity was connected to eight grooves around it, like rays of sunlight, extending to the grooves on the edge.
On the sides of the platform, dragons and phoenixes were carved, with dragons twisting among auspicious clouds and phoenixes soaring through seas of mist.
"Is there something wrong with this platform?"
Seeing Ye Fan staring at the platform with a serious expression, Shen Bao asked in a low voice, fearing he might disturb Ye Fan's thoughts.
Ye Fan shook his head. "This platform always gives me a strange feeling, as if I've seen it somewhere before."
"Seen it before?"
Shen Bao frowned. "This place is so well-guarded. You must be here for the first time, right? How could you have seen it?"
Liu Cheng also frowned, looking at Ye Fan in bewilderment.
But Ye Fan nodded firmly. "I have a distinct impression of this pattern. It seems to be some kind of ancient sacrificial pattern. Look at the top of the platform; the grooves along the edge are meant to channel some liquid, which then converges in the central cavity."
Ye Fan had barely finished explaining when Shen Bao and Liu Cheng's expressions changed drastically.
"Blood?"
They both exclaimed almost in unison.
Ye Fan glanced at them and nodded heavily, his face grave.
"Ancient sacrifices often involved living sacrifices, so these grooves were for blood. The blood would converge in the center, using it as a conduit to achieve their sacrificial purpose."
Nowadays, people know that such sacrifices were simply a disregard for human life. But in those times, people believed in gods, thinking that by offering sacrifices, they could communicate with the divine and fulfill their wishes.
Such inhumane sacrifices were naturally not feasible in modern times.
"But what was this sacrifice for? Even ancient people had a purpose for their sacrifices. What was their purpose?"
Liu Cheng asked, full of confusion.
"Resurrection."
Ye Fan said with a heavy tone.
These four words stunned Shen Bao and Liu Cheng once again, and they exchanged glances.
They naturally didn't believe in such absurd things.
"How do you know?"
Ye Fan pointed to the side of the platform.
"Dragons and phoenixes are symbols of ancient emperors, and they are also ideal beings for people to communicate with the divine, as they are both supreme beings in legends. Dragons and phoenixes bring good fortune, soaring into the sky, symbolizing the soul ascending after death, receiving guidance from the gods to achieve resurrection."
Immortality and resurrection have always existed throughout China's five thousand years of history. It was not only the desire of rulers but also their attachment to the world.
"For their impractical goals, they disregarded human life. What was the point?"
Liu Cheng sighed helplessly.
Ye Fan sneered, "It's simply greed. Whether it's ancient people or modern people, as long as they are human, human nature is greedy. There's nothing strange about it. It's just that modern society doesn't allow them to disregard human life, but schemes and tricks can harm more people. This is human nature, unavoidable."
Shen Bao was not concerned with these matters. As an enforcer, he was accustomed to such things.
"But how does this altar affect those demonic beasts? Why are they afraid?"
Hearing Shen Bao's question, Liu Cheng also nodded. "Yes, even if this altar is terrifying, it shouldn't be so much that wild beasts dare not approach. After all, this fear hasn't been used for hundreds of years, so it poses no threat to the beasts."
Looking at their puzzled eyes, Ye Fan smiled faintly. "We'll know once we activate this altar."
Activate?
At this, both Shen Bao and Liu Cheng showed fear.
"You know how to activate this altar?"
They looked at Ye Fan as if they had seen a ghost.
This was an altar from hundreds of years ago. Let alone whether it could still be activated, even if it could, it would likely require blood as a conduit. Had Ye Fan gone mad?
Seeing the fear in their expressions, Ye Fan smiled.
"Don't be afraid. We're just activating it, not performing a sacrifice, so we don't need blood."
Then, Ye Fan stood before the platform, examining it closely, occasionally looking up at the surroundings.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head.
"Second Brother, Liu Cheng, help me move these stone statues over."
Although they were confused, seeing the serious expression on Ye Fan's face, they nodded and, as Ye Fan requested, strained to push the statues.
These statues were as tall as a person and looked incredibly fierce.
With rumbling sounds, the eight stone statues were moved to the vicinity of the platform, perfectly aligning with the eight extending grooves.
"This is designed according to the Eight Trigrams. Qian is the head, Kun is the feet, Xun is the chest, Zhen is the abdomen, Kan is the shoulders, Li is the arms, Gen is the hands, and Dui is the legs. Arranging these eight stone figures in this manner will form a human shape."
Ye Fan spoke to himself, but these words were mere fantasy to Shen Bao and the others; they couldn't comprehend them at all.
Next, Ye Fan slowly walked behind the stone statues, fumbling around them.
"What are you looking for?"
Seeing Ye Fan's actions, Shen Bao asked, perplexed.
"The mechanism to trigger the stone figures."
Ye Fan replied calmly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Then, he slowly twisted the head of a stone figure.
Immediately, a hole appeared on the chest of the stone figure, and a moment later, a bright red liquid flowed out from the hole.
Following the same procedure, Ye Fan triggered the mechanisms of the other seven stone figures.
As the liquid flowed into the grooves, it finally converged in the center.
"Rumble."
Instantly, the square platform split open in the middle, and a cloud of yellow smoke erupted from it.
"Get back."
Ye Fan shouted urgently, then pushed Shen Bao away, covering his own mouth and nose.
Shen Bao and Liu Cheng reacted quickly and retreated upon seeing this.