Chapter 1565: Initiation Ceremony

"Charlie, everything is ready, and I believe you are too."

He received a call from Lawrence again, and to be honest, he felt a little nervous.

Because now, he wants to join one of the most mysterious organizations in the world in a real sense.

Masonic initiation ceremony.

Arriving in Washington by private plane, Li Zitao arrived at 1733 Sixteenth Street, Northwest District, only a few blocks away from Washington.

This is a replica of a BC temple, the Temple of King Mausolus.

The original mausoleum!

The main entrance of the palace is a huge bronze gate guarded by two seventeen-ton Sphinx statues, which are majestic, majestic, and heavy with history.

"Charlie, welcome, my brother." Lawrence, who was waiting in front of the door, was wearing the iconic full dress of the Masonic Society.

Lambskin apron, ribbons, white gloves, and a jeweled necklace around the neck gleamed like a silent all-seeing eye.

Li Zitao walked quietly through the copper door, and the two copper doors behind him made a 'buzzing' sound and gradually closed.

A rectangular ashlar corridor like a corridor comes into view, surrounded by many forks, leading to numerous ceremony rooms, auditoriums, closed darkrooms and libraries.

These astrolabe-like rooms make it a complex labyrinth, and there is also a hollow wall in which two human skeletons are hidden.

Li Zitao asked curiously, "Who are they?"

"Hush!" Lawrence, who was walking with his head bowed in front of him, made a gesture of silence, and said softly, "Be quiet, the ceremony is sacred and solemn."

"If someone misunderstood, it would make things difficult for you in the meeting."

Then, Li Zitao regained his composure, and followed him to the most sacred and mysterious room in this building—the synagogue.

It was a perfectly square room, chiseled like a cave.

Huge monolithic green granite pillars prop up the 100-foot-high dome, surrounded by a circle of hand-carved cowhide chairs made of Russian walnut.

The thirty-three-foot high seat stands alone on the west wall, facing a hidden pipe organ, and the surrounding walls are covered with ancient characters, like a dazzling kaleidoscope.

Egyptian, Hebrew, astronomy, alchemy, occultism, and some inexplicable symbols that seem magical but puzzling.

Tonight, countless well-placed candles were lit in the synagogue.

The candlelight was dim, and a beam of bright moonlight slanted down from the wide skylight above the dome, illuminating the treasure of the store in the synagogue.

A huge altar made of Belgian black marble stands in the center of the release hall.

Li Zitao was standing on the huge altar, and the bright and quiet moonlight shone on him, like the protagonist on the stage illuminated by a searchlight.

That's right, he was the main character here today.

Leaders from all walks of life sat on the surrounding calfskin chairs.

But now they only have one identity, that is 'brothers. '

Sitting on the supreme chair by the west wall was an old man over sixty years old. Li Zitao was sure that he had never seen him.

Soon, someone brought a human skull and put it in his hand.

At the same time, he was dressed in traditional ceremonial attire, the loose white linen and trousers worn by medieval pagans before the gallows.

The chest is open, the left trousers are rolled up to the knee, and the cuff of the right arm is rolled up to the elbow.

Around his neck was a heavy noose noose.

It has its own name in the meeting - the drag rope.

Changing clothes in front of everyone made him feel a little ashamed.

Fortunately, the evil dragon he raised won back his face.

I believe that everyone who sees its ferocious expression can't help but gasp.

Otherwise, why would the room suddenly cool down.

"It's time." The Holy Supreme, that is, the 60-year-old man who Li Zitao still has no memory of, stood in front of him.

With a look of power and wisdom on his face, he said in a serious and solemn tone: "Swear, complete your ceremony."

According to ancient tradition,

All enrollees start at level one.

In other words, to become a level 33 great sword, Li Zitao needs to take 33 oaths.

The Supreme One pressed a ritual dagger against his chest, and the icy cold made Li Zitao a little nervous.

The blade was facing his heart, and the feeling that his life was hanging by a thread was not good.

Although he knew very well that the other party would never stab a dagger into his heart, it didn't mean that his body instinct wouldn't react.

The urge to fly up, break the opponent's neck and kill him, he finally suppressed it.

"Can you solemnly swear in your own name that you are a free and willing member of this honored and secret brotherhood. Your intentions are not motivated by greed or other impure motives."

"I swear." Li Zitao said calmly.

In fact, he is lying, and his purpose of joining is naturally not so pure.

And what he can be sure of is that the purpose of everyone joining here is not pure, don't imagine this place as a sinless and holy place.

"From now on, this oath will become a thorn in your heart." The other party's voice suddenly rose: "If you break the oath, it will break through the ground, pierce your chest, and let you bleed to death. "

A solemn atmosphere enveloped the auditorium, and Li Zitao made vows one by one.

Neck and throat cut...ears and tongue cut...heart and lungs...burned to death.

There is no place to bury the dead... Destroyed bones and ashes...

The vicious oath came out of his mouth, and he could sense that the people present hidden in the darkness were staring at him intently.

"Brother." The old man put his hand on his shoulder, and his expression was a little tired.

It has been about an hour and a half since the first oath was sworn, which is not an easy task for him at his age.

"The final oath." Hearing this, Li Zitao couldn't help being shocked.

Finally at the last step, someone stepped forward to fill the skull in his hand with blood-like red wine.

Li Zitao was sure it wasn't blood, because the aroma of the grapes made him swallow his saliva involuntarily.

"If I deliberately or violate the previous oath... the mellow fragrance entering my throat at this moment will become a deadly poison, and I will die in pain in torture."

His heart skipped a beat, Li Zitao stabilized his hands holding the skull, and slowly put it to his mouth.

Gudong!

The sound of rapid heartbeat echoed in his eardrum, and everything around him seemed quiet.

Until he drank the last drop of wine, what he imagined did not happen.

"Congratulations, my brother." Li Zitao was hugged by Lawrence as he moved away the skull that was blocking his view.

Then look at the people standing around me, familiar and unfamiliar.

Everyone has a smile on their face, at least at this moment, they are all friendly brothers.