The silence that followed the end of the sermon was absolute.
For seven days, Ethan's voice had filled the air, resonating in the marrow of millions. Now, the sudden absence of that divine cadence felt like a physical weight. No one moved. No one dared to breathe too loudly, as if terrified that a single sudden motion would shatter the delicate, sacred atmosphere lingering over the valley.
Ethan remained suspended at the apex of the five hundred meter monument, his dark robes fluttering gently in the morning breeze. He swept his gaze across the vast ocean of humanity and beast, letting the quiet stretch until the tension reached its peak.
Slowly, he uncrossed his legs and stood up in midair.
The simple action triggered a ripple through the crowds below. Millions bowed their heads simultaneously, pressed their foreheads to the cool earth, and cried out in unison:
"We pay homage to the Dao Ancestor! May the Ancestor live as long as the heavens!"
