Chapter 259: Confluence of All Streams, the Ancestral Line
Chapter 259: Confluence of All Streams, the Ancestral Line
In Yunzhou, at the Tianzhao Divine General Manor.
In the Wang Family's Pingchuan Courtyard.
In the secluded and elegant courtyard, only a few elderly servants were attending to the place. The courtyard was extremely quiet, with birds perched on the branches. However, they were suddenly startled by an urgent voice from inside the house and took flight.
In the main hall of the courtyard, Li Jiangying and Li Rumei, siblings, were looking anxiously at the elderly man before them.
"Grandpa, we just sensed the Ancestral Call. Something has happened in Qingzhou!"
"Please, go and save our parents."
Both of them were pleading with the elderly man, who was their grandfather, the Sixth Patriarch of the Wang Family, Wang Zhenping.
Earlier, while they were cultivating in the courtyard, their bloodlines suddenly stirred, sensing a distant call from their Ancestor, urging them to return.
They knew that this was the Blood Summoning Secret Art, a ritual the Li Family would only use in dire straits, at the cost of sacrificing an Ancestral Heroic Soul.
When the bloodline connection was activated, all those with Li Family blood would feel it and rush to gather.
Wang Zhenping's face was grim. He had already known about the disaster in Qingzhou from family intelligence, but he hadn't expected the situation to be so dire that it would force the Ancestor's blood summoning. This was a last resort.
The Wang Family was a million miles away from Qingzhou, too far to send troops in time. By the time reinforcements arrived, the outcome would likely be decided, and they wouldn't be able to influence the result.
Although the Wang and Li families were related by marriage, they were so far apart that they rarely communicated. In such a situation, even distant relatives were less helpful than close neighbors, let alone families at opposite ends of the Dayu Dynasty.
Thinking of his beloved only daughter still in Qingzhou, his heart tightened. He had strongly opposed the marriage, but his daughter insisted on marrying the eighth son of the Li Family.
After the marriage, she wasn't as happy as he had hoped. She often wrote letters back, complaining, which pained him to read.
In this era, divorce without a valid reason was unheard of, especially since the Li Family was a Divine General Manor and her husband was a general defending a region. If she complained about his frequent absences and asked for a divorce, the entire Wang Family would become a laughingstock in the court, disgraced by the common people.
Moreover, their children were already grown, so they had to make do.
But now, with Qingzhou in peril, his daughter might also be doomed.
"This Li Family is utterly incompetent!"
Wang Zhenping's face was grim. He looked at his grandson and granddaughter, his anger subsiding, and said:
"Sending the Wang Family army now would be too late. I will go personally to bring your mother back, hoping it's not too late."
Seeing their grandfather agree, both siblings were overjoyed and quickly knelt to thank him.
Seeing their understanding, Wang Zhenping's anger eased slightly. These two children had been a comfort to him over the years.
"Grandpa, we want to go too", Li Rumei said hurriedly after bowing.
Wang Zhenping's expression changed, and he firmly said, "You two must stay here. Don't go anywhere!"
"But this is the Ancestor's blood summons. If we don't go, we might regret it in the future", Li Jiangying said, a hint of fear in his eyes.
Wang Zhenping took a deep breath. He knew that if the secondary lineage of the Divine General Manor, which had moved out centuries ago, didn't show up, it would be understandable, as they might have lost their connection. But as the current main lineage, if they didn't attend, they would lose face.
"I don't know if I can reach your mother in time. If I don't, you two will be the last of the Li Family's bloodline. With your Divine Wanderer Realm cultivation, going there would be meaningless."
Wang Zhenping said solemnly, "If the Li Family survives this calamity, I will personally visit them to explain on your behalf. Given their situation then, I don't believe they will deny you!"
The siblings exchanged a glance, their faces pale. Li Rumei clenched her fingers tightly, her face filled with anxiety.
Suddenly, Li Jiangying said, "Grandpa, what if we go to the Mourning River first?"
Wang Zhenping was taken aback, realizing he had been thinking too narrowly. Yes, how had he not thought of this?
Going to the Mourning River would block the Ancestor's blood summons, and they wouldn't be able to leave easily. This would provide an explanation for their absence.
His eyes gleamed as he looked at Li Jiangying and smiled.
"Good grandson, you are clever. I will have Uncle Xianzhou take you there. You will go to the Yinsha Level of the River of the Dead. During this time, you should review the records of previous attempts and the conditions of the Mourning River. With your Divine Wanderer Realm strength, you have a chance to pass. That's 1000 points of Virtue. Work hard!"
Previously, Wang Zhenping had brought his grandson and granddaughter over because the Virtue Treasure Vault had opened.
The numerous treasures that could be exchanged inside were dazzling, and with Virtue, one could quickly enhance their strength, far surpassing geniuses of the same realm.
During this period, the Wang Family had also become a target for various factions to court. Countless Noble Families and Jianghu martial artists hoped to accumulate Virtue in the Mourning River through the Wang Family.
Family benefits should not go to outsiders; thus, the younger generations were naturally brought in first to receive these benefits.
This was also the reason why Li Jiangying and her brother were with the Wang Family.
"Uh-huh!"
Upon hearing Wang Zhenping's words, Li Jiangying's eyes sparkled. Even just destroying the Mourning River would yield 10 points of Virtue, but if they could clear it, the 1,000 points of Virtue would allow them to exchange for a vast amount of treasures.
The Sword Heart required only 100 points of Virtue and could increase the speed of weapon comprehension.
Similarly, the Master's Heart also cost 100 points, meaning that if they could clear the Mourning River, with the family's resources and the exchanged Master's Heart, they could swiftly reach the Tianren Realm without any hindrance!
Many geniuses relied on resources to reach the Fifteen Li Realm Limit but would get stuck at the Tianren Realm. Now, with the Virtue Treasure Vault, it was like a fast track for these geniuses.
"Remember, try to clear the Mourning River. Don't just destroy it with brute force. Now, the Mourning River is a precious resource. If you destroy it, it will disappear, and the loss of Virtue will be a hundredfold."
Wang Zhenping cautioned them.
Now, the Mourning River was no longer a terrifying existence but a scarce resource that was protected. At least the Mourning Rivers explored by the Wang Family were all guarded by the military, prohibiting ordinary people from exploring them.
After all, destroying it would cause it to disappear, resulting in low returns. Now, the goal was to clear the Mourning River for maximum benefit. However, clearing it was extremely difficult, so now, when exploring the Mourning River, one either had to choose to fail and restart or clear it. This was the strict rule the Wang Family had set for the Mourning River, unlike before when the goal was simply to destroy it to reduce the number of Mourning Rivers in Dayu.
This reversal of fortune was quite normal.
If eating excrement could grant immortality, even dogs would be lining up.
"Your talent is not bad. Although you can't match Li Qianfeng of your Li Family, with the support of the Wang Family and the current Mourning River resources, we can leave these low-level Mourning Rivers for you to accumulate Virtue. Once you have ten thousand points, you can exchange for the Ultimate Force State cultivation, which can help you surpass the Limit. Once you obtain it, you will far outstrip other prodigies, not even Li Qianfeng can compare."
Wang Zhenping said before leaving, giving the two more instructions and care.
Hearing their grandfather's earnest advice, the siblings nodded, their eyes gleaming.
During their time at the Wang Family, they had learned a lot and broadened their horizons, especially regarding the Ultimate Force State, which they greatly coveted.
If they could obtain it, the Li Family would no longer be mere spectators in the True Dragon election in the future!
"I'll be going now. I've already sent a message to Uncle Xianzhou to adjust the time of your entry into the Mourning River."
Wang Zhenping said, then handed the two children over to his old steward and hurriedly left.
The siblings exchanged a worried glance, uncertain if their grandfather could bring their mother back.
"Unfortunately, I heard that the rogue died, depriving us of the chance to catch up."
Li Jiangying gazed in the direction her grandfather had gone, her eyes flickering as she whispered.
As a member of the Li Family's current generation, since that young man emerged two years ago, they had all been overshadowed by him.
That young man was so brilliant and dazzling that even the personal disciple of the Buddhist Master was completely overshadowed. They, of course, were even less significant.
Being a young man himself, how could he not feel angry and envious?
The news of Liangzhou spread, and both siblings had heard it. They knew the gap between them and that young man had widened even further. They had already been disheartened, but they had to thank Chong Er for bringing the Virtue Treasure Vault into the world. This gave them hope, a chance to catch up.
Even though the young man had already taken the lead, advancing far, far ahead, he would eventually stop once he reached the Fourth Establishment Realm.
Just like the elders in their family, who, after reaching the Fourth Establishment Realm at the age of thirty-four, remained at that stage for decades, even centuries, until they perished in battle, never breaking through again.
The higher the realm, the slower the progress. They had fallen behind in the initial sprint, but that didn't mean they couldn't catch up later.
The Virtue Treasure Vault and the resources of their maternal family were now their greatest hope and confidence.
"That man is too arrogant; even the heavens can't stand it. Do you think the family's current predicament is because he was too rampant in Liangzhou, causing the Demons to vent their Wrath on our Li Family?"
Li Rumei gritted her teeth when mentioning him, a flash of hatred in her bright eyes.
"It's possible, but those Demons should be attacking Heavenly Gate Pass, not the Li Family. There might be another reason."
Li Jiangying said, a murderous intent flickering in his eyes. "I was planning to accumulate Virtue and exchange it for Ultimate Realm cultivation from the treasure vault, to challenge him properly in the future and return that slap he gave you. Now he's dead, and if Mother is in danger this time, even if he is dead, I won't let him off. I will find his lingering soul in the Mourning River and make him beg for death!"
Hearing her brother's words, Li Rumei's eyes filled with worry.
"Mother will be fine, right? Grandfather should make it in time. He is in the Ultimate Mastery Realm, not much worse than Second Uncle..."
"It's too far..."
Li Jiangying's eyes also showed concern.
...
...
The Ancestor Blood Call released from Qingzhou resonated throughout Dayu.
"It's the Ancestral Call! The family is in trouble!"
"How could our Li Family come to this? What happened in Qingzhou?"
"Father, we are surnamed Zhao, so why do we feel the call?"
"Your grandmother was surnamed Li and married into our Zhao Family. The Li Family blood in you is thin, but if you can feel it, it means you still have Li Family blood!"
"Thanks to your grandmother's connections, our Zhao Family's business has thrived and we've established ourselves in Yunwu City."
"Should we go there too?"
"Yes, of course. It's your grandmother's family, and the Li Family has protected Dayu for a thousand years. Now that they are in trouble, how can we not go?"
"Master, are you going too?"
"Yes, my disciples, wait for me here. If I don't return, your eldest brother will take over."
"Great-Grandmother, are you going too?"
"Yes, get my horse ready."
From the Nineteen Provinces, from every state, city, town, and village, those who felt the blood call were all shocked. Some hesitated, but more chose to set out resolutely, heading toward Qingzhou.
Like scattered stars converging into a river, they all gathered toward the land of Qingzhou.
It was their ancestral home, the Divine General Manor that had carried the glory for over three thousand years, the direction they often looked to in remembrance.
Their departure also alarmed the various forces in the Nineteen Provinces. The bloodline of the Five Great Divine General Manors had spread far and wide over thousands of years. With the actions of these people, almost all the forces in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty learned about the situation in Qingzhou.
This included major forces like the Heavenly Mechanism Tower.
Some of them were of Li Family blood, serving as Elders and Tower Lords. They not only left themselves but also mobilized the power within their forces, sending all the available forces to aid Qingzhou.
This was the deep-rooted bloodline foundation of the Divine General Manor.
They traveled in groups, some riding swift horses, others flying swiftly.
Some descended from famous mountains, swords in hand, rushing to the distant lands.
Some emerged from prestigious towers, soaring into the sky, determined to head to the Great Province where Demons wreaked havoc and mass suffering had befallen.
The dispersion of a Li Family Ancestral Heroic Soul called forth countless blood relatives from thousands of miles away, converging on the province now plagued by Demons and suffering.
(End of Chapter)
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