https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-91-Granting-of-a-Peerage-First-Update-/13450033/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-93-Li-Hao-s-Aspirations-Additional-Chapter-for-the-Patriarch-of-Solitary-Star-Soul-/13450036/
Chapter 92: The True Dragon Contention [Second Update]
Chapter 92: The True Dragon Contention [Second Update]
"Li Hao."
Seeing Li Hao, Li Tiangang's face lit up with a smile. "Come, follow me to the Ancestral Hall to pay respects to the Ancestor."
"Alright." Li Hao nodded.
After leaving the Mountain and River Courtyard, the two of them flew, one in front of the other, heading to the deepest part of the Divine General Manor.
They arrived at the Ancestral Hall on the hillside, where Li Tiangang and Li Hao, dressed in white, landed on the square outside the hall. They then walked towards the grand and majestic hall that had borne the Li Family's glory for a thousand years.
"Fifth Master!"
Li Hao saw Fifth Master Li Qingzheng by the door of the Ancestral Hall and immediately called out.
Hearing Li Hao's voice, the usually solemn Li Tiangang's expression changed, and he frowned. He glanced at Li Hao, who had already run ahead to greet his uncle.
"It's Li Hao."
Li Qingzheng's eyes brightened slightly as he turned around with a delighted look. "What brings you here to see me?"
He then noticed the tall man behind Li Hao. "Hmm, Tian Gang is back too."
"Fifth Master, the black stones are about to lose again", Li Hao said, glancing at the chessboard in front of Fifth Master, and laughed.
Fifth Master bared his teeth slightly. "Don't talk nonsense; the game isn't over yet."
At this moment, Li Tiangang walked over, his expression respectful and humble. He bowed slightly.
"Uncle, how have you been lately?"
Li Qingzheng, no longer paying attention to Li Hao's annoying commentary on the chess game, looked up at Li Tiangang and smiled. "We haven't seen each other for over a decade. You've grown much stronger. Why are you growing a beard now? How's life in Yanbei? Is it tough?"
"It's good."
Li Tiangang smiled. "It's just a bit of wind and sand. I've gotten used to it. There are frequent battles in the border regions, and I don't have time to shave, so I've gotten used to keeping it."
Li Hao, hearing this, looked up at him. Indeed, compared to the vague figure in his memory, his father had transformed from a tall and handsome young man into a middle-aged man with a beard.
He suddenly felt that he had neglected his father somewhat.
"You've grown up, no longer as mischievous as before."
Li Qingzheng chuckled, his eyes filled with a touch of nostalgia.
The young man had grown up, while they had aged.
Although their realms allowed them to live for a long time, humans were different from the Demon Race, whose longevity was akin to hibernation, with battles mostly for hunting and survival.
Humans, on the other hand, lived for two things:
Human relationships.
With emotions came desires, leading humans to engage in battles, acts of chivalry, and the pursuit of fame, often leaving them with injuries, both old and new, which shortened their lifespans.
Living a long life wasn't difficult if one lived within the realm, enjoying wealth and comfort, avoiding weapons and swords, and leading a life of peace. One could live for hundreds, even thousands of years.
However, in the maelstrom of the city, it was extremely challenging to remain unmoved by the turmoil and avoid the urge to act.
For example, a neighbor who had been friendly and often gifted you eggs and vegetables might one day be bullied by a villain. If you couldn't stand by and do nothing, you would be drawn into the conflict.
If you could stand by, your Dao heart might be damaged, leaving you feeling uneasy.
Such a life, spanning hundreds of years, would be long and arduous.
"Since I'm a father now."
Li Tiangang smiled, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes, but it quickly faded.
The rigors of time would harden a once-soft and young heart, creating a tough exterior that was both stronger and more restrained.
"Uncle, I've brought Li Hao here to pay respects to the Ancestor and to seek guidance on the True Dragon of this generation."
Li Tiangang, no longer lingering on the past, returned to the main topic.
Li Qingzheng, understanding his purpose, nodded and turned his gaze to Li Hao.
His eyes softened with a smile. "Li Hao's talent is unparalleled, surpassing your ninth brother. He is the fastest to reach the Fifteenth Li Realm in our Li Family's thousand-year history, setting a new record."
"When Jun Ye became the True Dragon of your generation, it was a pity he died young, and you took over temporarily."
"But in Li Hao's generation, he is truly head and shoulders above the rest, outpacing everyone by a wide margin."
Hearing his uncle's high praise, Li Tiangang's face broke into a smile.
Indeed, in terms of talent, his son was at the pinnacle!
This filled him with pride and a sense of achievement.
"Go ahead."
Li Qingzheng smiled.
Li Tiangang nodded and gave another slight bow before turning to lead Li Hao to the prayer mat in front of the ancestral hall.
"Li Tiangang, the 107th generation descendant of the Li Family, pays respects to the ancestors!"
"Li Hao, the 108th generation descendant of the Li Family, pays respects to the ancestors!"
Father and son knelt and bowed together.
In the hall, numerous Memorial Tablets began to tremble and emit a faint light, with Divine Souls appearing on them.
After Li Hao finished his bow and raised his head, he noticed something he hadn't seen before. Although many of the ancestors' Heroic Souls were present, several Memorial Tablets remained dim, with no Heroic Souls appearing.
Among them, the nearest Memorial Tablet bore a familiar name:
Li Junye, the 107th generation descendant of the Li Family.
On the left side was his title: Guardian Marquis.
On the right side was his military rank: Heavenly Mandate General.
This was the Memorial Tablet of Ninth Uncle, but no Heroic Soul appeared on it.
For other ancestors, the Memorial Tablets also listed titles and military ranks, or achievements. Only a few had titles but no military service, with a poem of praise written on the other side.
For ordinary families, the Memorial Tablets were simpler, often inscribed with "Ancestral Souls of All Generations", summarizing all ancestors in one stroke.
Most commoners, after all, faced frequent displacement over time, losing their family records and having to resort to this method.
Only those who could be called "noble families" had more complete family records and traditions, with each ancestor clearly listed and remembered.
"Tian Gang, I heard you've been fighting in Yanbei. How many monsters have you slain?"
A light laugh echoed through the hall.
Li Tiangang looked up and saw it was his Third Uncle, Li Xuanyin.
His Heroic Soul still appeared in his prime, around thirty, with a handsome face and a noble demeanor.
Li Tiangang's eyes flickered. In his youth, Third Uncle had been the one who favored him the most, but unfortunately, Third Uncle died young.
Among the six brothers of his father's generation, three had died in battle, leaving only Second Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Fourth Uncle, who had been away for many years.
His father and Sixth Uncle had both passed away.
Their Heroic Souls, however, had yet to return, trapped in the Mourning River, unable to break free.
For nearly a century, the Demon Plague had been rampant, and their defense of the Border Pass had been costly, leaving them unable to rescue them.
Even if they had the resources, it would be difficult, as it was a Yudu-Class Mourning River. To rescue them, one would need to clear the entire Mourning River, a feat even those in the Fourth Establishment Realm found challenging. It would require a joint effort from several others to succeed.
"Nephew, I greet you, Third Uncle."
Li Tiangang first bowed and then said, "Almost all the monsters that crossed Yanzhou have been eliminated."
"Good!"
Li Xuanyin laughed heartily. He detested monsters the most, as the person he loved had been killed by them, fueling his deep hatred.
"Where is Qing Qing? Why didn't you bring her along?" Li Xuanyin asked.
Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly, and he whispered, "She's gone."
Gone... Li Xuanyin was taken aback. Just as he was about to ask more, he noticed Li Hao standing beside him and immediately stopped. His energy fluctuated, and he transmitted a message:
"Did she leave?"
Li Tiangang's expression remained unchanged as he replied, "Yes."
Li Xuanyin couldn't help but show a hint of regret. He had been very satisfied with his niece-in-law, not to mention her noble background. He had been the first to speak in favor of the marriage.
"You brat, how long are you going to keep reminiscing? Wasn't he here to discuss important matters?"
At that moment, a scolding voice came from above Li Xuanyin.
Li Xuanyin's neck shrank, and he turned to see his father, who couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.
"Father, Tian Gang is still here, and so is his son. Can you give me a bit of face?"
"I think you deserve a beating. We expend energy to awaken, and you're wasting it. If you want to waste it, fine, but don't drag the ancestors along. I want to kick you!"
"Father..." Li Xuanyin hung his head, looking quite aggrieved.
Li Hao stared in disbelief.
The dignified and composed Third Uncle, who had just been acting so mature and suave, was now being scolded like a child.
Or, rather, a son.
But to be honest, this Great-Grandfather had quite a temper.
"What are you yelling about? Xuanyin only said a few words, reminiscing a bit. It's just a little energy. If you can't handle it, go back!"
At that moment, a withered old man's figure appeared above Great-Grandfather Li Xuanyin, scolding him irritably.
Great-Grandfather, who had just been in a foul mood, immediately shuddered and turned his head, saying helplessly, "Father, this boy really needs a good scolding..."
"I think you're the one who needs a scolding", Great-Great-Grandfather sneered.
"You brats, stop all this nonsense. Do you have any respect for your elders? Hurry up and get to the main topic. I want to go to sleep after this", another voice chimed in.
Great-Great-Grandfather's expression changed slightly, and he nodded quickly, giving his son a stern look.
Great-Grandfather looked somewhat helpless and turned to glare fiercely at Li Xuanyin.
Li Xuanyin's face turned awkward, and he forced a smile at Li Tiangang, not daring to speak again.
Seeing this, Li Hao found it hard to suppress a laugh, almost bursting out.
Gathering together over a hundred generations of ancestors certainly made for a lively scene.
The Li Family Ancestors had built their legacy alongside the First Emperor, establishing a thousand-year lineage. However, this "thousand-year" legacy actually spanned over three thousand years, making it one of the two oldest among the five Divine General Manors.
The Dayu Dynasty, with its history of over three thousand five hundred years, was now in its twilight.
It's a pity that waking the Ancestral Heroic Souls requires energy. Otherwise, I could set up a mahjong game for them to play... Li Hao thought to himself.
The image made him feel quite amused.
"Brat Sun, you dare to bluff your grandpa?"
"Four concealed pungs? You dare to draw a winning tile from the ancestors? I'll beat you to death!"
"Someone! Who's this little brat’s son? Come and discipline him..."
Thinking of these scenarios, Li Hao found it hard to keep a straight face.
"Enough, let's get to the main topic", an Ancestral Heroic Soul above them said.
Li Tiangang nodded respectfully, his expression solemn. "Tian Gang is here today to ask the Ancestors to decide on the True Dragon candidate."
"Tell us about this generation first", one of the Ancestral Heroic Souls said.
Li Tiangang nodded and proceeded to recount the information he had gathered over the past two days from his Elder Sister-in-Law.
"From what you've said, there aren't many qualified descendants in this generation. However, your son's talent is truly monstrous, surpassing all of us when we were young. He can easily match several others."
"If there's no doubt about it, there's no need to drag it out. Besides, he has already entered the Cultivation stage."
"But we can't just give it to him outright. We need to assess his character and ensure others are convinced. The selection process will still take place, but we can move it up to two months from now. This will give everyone some time to prepare."
The Ancestors quickly deliberated and reached a decision.
Li Tiangang nodded and bowed respectfully again.
Li Hao, seeing this, followed suit and bowed as well.
"Boy, keep an eye on your son. Don't let him become the next Jun Ye", an Ancestor from several generations back advised as they were about to leave the shrine.
Li Tiangang nodded quickly.
The other Ancestor Divine Souls gradually faded into silence.
"Let's go", Li Tiangang said, leading Li Hao away.
Li Hao looked at Fifth Master and asked, "Can I stay and play with Fifth Master for a bit?"
Li Tiangang was taken aback and frowned. "Fifth Master doesn't have time to play. The True Dragon selection is in two months, and you have a lot to prepare. Although you are the most talented, you can't afford to fall behind in other areas. We don't want people talking behind your back."
Li Qingzheng smiled and said, "Li Hao's talent is unmatched. Tian Gang, don't worry too much. But I won't keep Li Hao any longer. You just got back, so spend some time with your son."
Li Tiangang nodded and bowed to him in farewell.
Seeing this, Li Hao waved to Fifth Master. "Fifth Master, I'll come back to play with you next time."
"Go on, go on", Li Qingzheng waved, smiling.
He watched as the father and son walked away.
In the now quiet shrine, only the countless memorial tablets remained, along with Li Qingzheng and the lonely chessboard in front of him.
After a long while, he slowly withdrew his gaze, looked at the chessboard, thought for a moment, and picked up a white piece, placing it down softly.
"It's your move."
After a moment, he reached for a black piece from the other chess box, pondered for a bit, and gently placed it down.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
