Hearing Zouyu's agonized groans, a dense crowd of Jing People burst forth from the surrounding stone walls.
Although they seemed somewhat afraid of strangers, they quickly gathered into three large groups and, organized by a wizard wearing a jade mask, conducted a kneeling worship while burning various spices and dried mushrooms.
For a moment, the whole cave was shrouded in mist.
This was the most ancient form of sacrifice.
The "Zhou Rituals" mention that sacrificial offerings to the Heavenly Emperor were made with grain, to the sun, moon, and stars with solid firewood, and to Si Ming, the wind and rain masters with burning oils.
"Burning offerings," "solid firewood," and "burning oils" all involved burning items for worship, akin to the incense and candles in modern Taoist temples and monasteries.
This ancient race, the Jing People, still retained this custom.
Li Yan could distinctly smell the Power of Incense gathering, all being absorbed by the prone Zouyu, easing its pain.
