Chapter 280

Li Zhuiyuan ignored Zhao Yi's pleading gaze and withdrew his hand. He stood up, moved to another spot, sat down, and placed his hiking bag in front of him like a desk. He then took out paper and a pen and began to draw.

Zhao Yi's hand hung in mid-air, a self-mocking smile on his face. How could he have been so naive as to seek comfort from the young man? No, from the other's perspective, did his recent display appear utterly foolish? Perhaps Li Zhuiyuan had even spared his feelings, restraining any look of disgust. Zhao Yi lowered his head, his hands falling to his sides, and stared at the ground. His heart still pounded in his ears, and his eyes were filled with confusion and terror.

Embarking on the Lantern River Journey, truly casting aside life and death, was no empty boast. Anyone capable of facing death head-on was already extraordinary; face it enough times, and one would naturally grow accustomed, then slowly numb. But Zhao Yi had truly died just now. It wasn't merely a brush with death, which would have excited him rather than terrified him.

A single stroke in the Book of Life and Death, followed by the wilting and falling of the peach blossom on his chest—though it lasted only an instant, what he experienced was a nearly eternal, desolate descent. If he hadn't "come back to life," then death would have been death. But precisely because he *had* "come back to life," he was forced to endure the damn aftertaste!

Run Sheng stood some distance away, leaning on his Yellow River Shovel. He had been diligently preparing defenses, but he hadn't anticipated the attack unfolding in such a manner. The "Ad-hoc Captain" was just a playful jab; no one truly thought Zhao Yi was incompetent. Yet, even he hadn't fully withstood the first incense stick. It was fortunate that he had taken it on beforehand; any other person would have had no chance of survival.

In truth, everyone knew Zhao Yi had acted as a shield for everyone else this time, except for Xiao Yuan and Meng Meng.

The Liang sisters approached. They weren't in a hurry to check on Zhao Yi; instead, they wanted to ask the young man whether their leader could endure the next two incense sticks. They felt uneasy and sought a clearer answer.

A wave of anger and impatience crossed the despondent Zhao Yi's face. He wanted to use this time to be quiet, whether it was to wallow in negativity or despair, to indulge in a rare moment of emotional luxury. But these twins insisted on forcing him to look up right now. What was the point of asking Li? He had no reason not to wholeheartedly help him block the next two incense sticks; if Zhao Yi couldn't hold on, the third stick might randomly choose one of Li's own people. Asking now was useless and merely a pointless emotional outburst.

As the Liang sisters walked past him, Zhao Yi grabbed both their hands. He looked up, his previous negative expression completely gone, replaced by a feigned dejection mixed with a hint of casual indifference.

"I'm fine. Don't bother him; just listen." The Liang sisters exchanged glances, gave up on their inquiry, and then turned to sit beside Zhao Yi, signifying their presence, their willingness to accompany him, and to offer him confidence and encouragement.

A flush of annoyance appeared deep in Zhao Yi's eyes. He knew that while the sisters could be eccentric and liked to show their individuality, they also understood priorities and knew whose side they were on. Their actions weren't wrong. Yet, at this moment, he genuinely didn't need this kind of impractical concern. Their behavior, far from helping him, would only distract him, forcing him to manage their emotions. Sometimes, care and concern, even if well-intentioned, can be more irritating than comforting.

Zhao Yi desperately wanted to curse, to explode in anger, to tell them to get lost and let him have some quiet time to clear his head. But what he showed was a forcibly plastered-on "natural smile": "Let me think and reflect for a moment. There's still another hurdle to get over."

Hearing this, the Liang sisters didn't sit down but moved further away. Zhao Yi finally lowered his head again, grinding his teeth, his eyes wild, his expression contorted. He wasn't sure if it was because his emotional process had been interrupted, or if the lingering dread of death was still spreading, but either way, he felt even worse than before.

Tan Wenbin shifted his gaze from Zhao Yi, lit a cigarette, and looked at the beautiful scenery outside. With his left hand, he felt the side pocket of his hiking bag, where the incense sticks were kept.

He had already made up his mind: if Zhao Yi couldn't bear it and died completely during the next incense stick, Tan Wenbin would follow Zhao Yi's earlier example and actively take on the third stick. If someone had to die, it would have to be a life given willingly.

As he exhaled a smoke ring, Tan Wenbin casually glanced at the Liang sisters. It wasn't that he hadn't considered sacrificing their lives; he wasn't a Bodhisattva—in fact, Bodhisattvas seemed even more ruthless. Using an outsider's life was always preferable to choosing from one's own people.

But it seemed one had to actively volunteer; there was no way to force it. If one's heart wasn't sincere, if one wasn't willing, the incense stick wouldn't fall upon them. In that case, scheming against the Liang sisters would be pointless. Furthermore, if Zhao Yi died, their journey would be considered over. They would likely not choose to continue on for revenge, but would directly withdraw.

That left only himself, Run Sheng, and A You as choices for the third incense stick—a three-way choice. Among their own group, there could be no voting, no ranking by seniority, no ordering by team value, nor could Xiao Yuan designate someone. All of that would damage team morale. Therefore, someone had to volunteer, to sacrifice themselves.

At this thought, Tan Wenbin's hand, holding the cigarette, began to tremble. Not from fear, but rather from excitement, even a hint of eagerness.

Lin Shuyou leaned over. "Brother Bin." Tan Wenbin gave Lin Shuyou a sidelong glance. This kid had just ruined his moment of tragic self-pity.

"Hm?"

"It's my first time seeing Three-Eyes like this. Is death really that terrifying?"

"You can ask the Boy Spirit; he's died before." "I did ask the Boy Spirit. He said it was different. After he died, his soul first transformed into a vengeful ghost, retaining his consciousness. He also said that Zhao Yi's recent death was an extremely thorough form of annihilation."

Tan Wenbin exhaled a smoke ring. "Then go ask Three-Eyes." Lin Shuyou replied, "He doesn't seem to want to talk right now. Just a moment ago, the Liang sisters..."

Tan Wenbin said, "You're different." Lin Shuyou began, "I..."

Li Zhuiyuan, who was drawing, paused, looking at Zhao Yi. Seeing Zhao Yi still sitting there, processing his emotions, the young man frowned slightly. He knew that ordinary death wasn't that terrifying; it was like falling asleep. But Zhao Yi had just been erased from the Book of Life and Death and instantly cursed to death—a slow, torturous form of annihilation among deaths.

But time was short. At the pace of the first incense stick, the shadowy figure in official robes would soon reappear; the countdown for the second stick had already begun. The young man wanted to help Zhao Yi survive, but Zhao Yi's current state would lower his chances. Li Zhuiyuan looked at Lin Shuyou, who was standing there talking to Tan Wenbin.

Lin Shuyou noticed Xiao Yuan's gaze and pointed to himself. Li Zhuiyuan then looked at Zhao Yi, lowered his head, and continued drawing. Tan Wenbin commented, "See, Xiao Yuan wants you to comfort Three-Eyes."

Lin Shuyou replied, "But I don't know how to comfort him..." Tan Wenbin suggested, "The scenery here is nice. Go pick him up, walk around here, feel the breeze, and look at the view." Lin Shuyou responded with a confused, "Huh?"

Tan Wenbin said, "Never mind. You do have a grudge against Three-Eyes, after all." Lin Shuyou countered, "Grudge or not, I don't want him to die, especially not like this."

Tan Wenbin smiled; he had always understood why Zhao Yi treated A You differently. Lin Shuyou walked towards Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi sensed footsteps approaching him, and instinctively, an aversion arose. But before he could even look up, before his emotions could shift, his feet were already off the ground; he had been lifted onto someone's back.

A You remained silent, simply taking off running with Three-Eyes on his back. At first, Zhao Yi was startled, then speechless, then he burst into a mix of laughter and tears. He was extremely familiar with A You's back; back on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, he had spent almost the entire journey on A You's back. The young man's back wasn't particularly broad, and being trained in martial arts, his muscles and bones were hard, making it a bit uncomfortable. Yet, his back always provided a sense of security, because you knew that once he lifted you, he would never drop you midway.

Yin Meng, a preserved plum in her mouth, walked over to Tan Wenbin and watched Lin Shuyou, who was carrying Zhao Yi and sprinting down the slope. Zhao Yi deliberately leaned back and let go of Lin Shuyou.

Lin Shuyou, afraid he would fall, had to use his arms to press Zhao Yi closer to his back. "Whoa!" "Don't shout." "I'm alive! I'm not dead!" "Don't move around, hold on tight!"

Yin Meng remarked, "A You really is good at comforting people." Tan Wenbin replied, "A You has matured a lot in recent years, but his core hasn't changed." Yin Meng then asked, "Want a preserved plum?" Tan Wenbin said, "Yes."

Yin Meng picked up a preserved plum and offered it to Tan Wenbin. Tan Wenbin didn't take it, asking instead, "Do you have a fresh bag?" Yin Meng retorted, "It's not like I made them myself. Are things so bad between us now?" Tan Wenbin said, "Look where this journey is taking us."

"Oh, you're right. I understand." Yin Meng took an unopened bag from her pocket and handed it to Tan Wenbin. The Liang sisters then walked over, their gazes becoming somewhat complex as they watched their leader below, shouting and laughing on the man's back, a complete contrast to his earlier self.

Tan Wenbin asked, "Want a preserved plum?" Liang Yan said, "No." Liang Li added, "It's already quite sour." Tan Wenbin commented, "Your leader has always lacked a sense of security, ever since he was a child."

Liang Yan questioned, "Security?" Liang Li chimed in, "We lack it too, because of him."

Tan Wenbin shook his head. "He could have made you two light the incense, but he didn't." Others couldn't force the sisters to willingly light the incense, but Zhao Yi could. They were his subordinates, and he was very good at charming women. The two sisters fell silent. Yin Meng spat out a plum pit and glanced at Tan Wenbin. Their captain was truly busy, not only maintaining their own team's morale but now also moonlighting as a morale booster for the neighboring team.

Tan Wenbin flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and stepped on it with his shoe. Regardless, Zhao Yi was helping him bear the burden right now. The commotion below abruptly ceased.

Everyone on the slope, except for Li Zhuiyuan, collectively looked down. Lin Shuyou had carried Zhao Yi to the small riverbank at the bottom of the slope.

His idea was simple: play in the water, splash around, which might make people happier. Then, the figure in official robes appeared in the water.

It was only two meters away from them, head bowed, holding an incense burner. Only two incense sticks remained in the burner; the shorter one had already burned down by a third. After a moment, the figure vanished before their eyes.

Lin Shuyou asked bluntly, "Three-Eyes, you're going to die again." Zhao Yi replied, "Yeah." Lin Shuyou then said, "Then go ahead and die."

Zhao Yi countered, "You're speaking too soon. I still have a little time, enough to write several wills. So, tell me, are you scared?" For the first time, Lin Shuyou didn't blush. He simply turned and silently carried Zhao Yi back. Zhao Yi then said, "Kid, don't be so melodramatic. Are you comforting me, or am I comforting you?"

Lin Shuyou replied, "It doesn't matter anymore." Zhao Yi said, "Fine."

Lin Shuyou had intended to carry Zhao Yi back to his original spot, but at Zhao Yi's request, he instead carried him to Xiao Yuan. Zhao Yi rubbed his wrist, then touched his chest, exclaiming in surprise:

"Hey, my Life-Death Seam has changed somewhat." The Life-Death Seam, stimulated by a true transition between life and death, had become different from before.

Li Zhuiyuan stated, "Now isn't the time to think about gains; if you die, it'll all be for nothing." Zhao Yi steadied himself. After a moment, he opened his hands, examined his palm lines, then placed his hands on his face, feeling his bones.

"It seems something has been left inside me. I need some time to investigate exactly what it is." "Then what were you spaced out about just now?"

"Li, not everyone can be as heartless and devoid of desire as you." Li Zhuiyuan looked up at Zhao Yi, then lowered his head and crumpled all the papers in front of him into a ball, with a yellow paper tucked in the middle. After it spontaneously ignited, it set all the other papers alight.

"No!" Zhao Yi quickly bent down, unwilling to stomp on them with his feet, and extinguished the flames with his bare hands. "I was wrong, okay? I shouldn't have said that about you!" His quick action saved most of the drawings, though the edges were singed.

In every drawing, the figure was himself, with various patterns appearing on his body and a common feature: a black dot on his glabella. Zhao Yi immediately closed his eyes, formed a hand seal, and his Life-Death Seam opened with a speed that surpassed his expectations.

But Zhao Yi had no time to concern himself with that right now. He simply raised his hands, and a black mark appeared on his glabella. It had no discernible pattern, looking like a drop of ink—exactly like the one in the young man's drawings. "What is this?" Zhao Yi rubbed it with his right hand, while his left made calculations. "It's... it's..."

Li Zhuiyuan stated, "It's a Puppet Seal. The Underworld's term for it should be 'Substitute Death and Return to Life'." Zhao Yi asked, "You knew this all along?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Actually, you could have figured it out early too." "I can't remove it; it seems to have locked onto me. This shouldn't be possible; how could something like this be left on me in such a short amount of time? And..."

Zhao Yi's gaze sharpened as he began to activate it. The black dot on his glabella repeatedly deepened and lightened, as if flickering. "...There's a response, a very strong connection. How is that possible? It can't be."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "The Book of Life and Death." Zhao Yi countered, "But my name has already been crossed out."

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "But you didn't die." Zhao Yi pressed, "Then how can there be such a clear response, as if it's specifically targeting and binding me? Is my name the only one recorded in the Book of Life and Death?"

Li Zhuiyuan explained, "There's a whole group of names there, and you're quite unremarkable. But the one whose name is crossed out becomes the most noticeable." Zhao Yi then asked, "So, the next incense stick is a puppet? They want to turn me into a puppet?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Originally, I couldn't guess it. It would have been a random choice through elimination. But you died and came back, which ironically confirmed the form of the second incense stick." Zhao Yi continued to flip through the drawings, which were filled with the young man's previous deductions for breaking the situation. Connecting this with the young man's earlier act of burning paper, it was clear he wasn't angry because of Zhao Yi's teasing.

"No, Li, you deduced all this, and it all failed?" "Yes." "What are you doing?!" "Hm?"

"Aren't you capable? Aren't you powerful? Yet now you clearly know what I'm facing, but you can't deduce a way to break free? Also, I think the methods drawn on these papers are quite good. Can't we try them?" "Trying them would lead to death. It's pointless." "You..." "Have you forgotten how quickly everything happened when the first incense stick burned out?"

"I remember." "When everything can happen instantaneously, any amount of prior preparation becomes utterly futile. Furthermore, for others hit by this puppet art, there might genuinely be opportunities for remedy and breakthrough—controlling limbs beforehand, sealing consciousness. Even if they become a controlled puppet, they could still put up a fight. But your consciousness, due to the Life-Death Seam, I'm not confident I can seal it; you might not even be able to do it yourself. And if you were controlled, if they ordered you to commit suicide, even if your limbs couldn't move, you'd still have too many options to end your own life. In short, according to my deductions, if the intensity is like the first incense stick, prior arrangements will be useless, and post-event remedies will be too late."

Zhao Yi sighed, "Another death trap? Is *he* that powerful?" Li Zhuiyuan corrected, "Not *he*, but *they*. Didn't we confirm there are six of them?" Zhao Yi exclaimed, "But this is ridiculous! With this method, doesn't that mean they can kill anyone they want, and whoever they want to die will die?"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "If the King of Hell calls for your death at the third watch, who dares keep you until the fifth? Isn't that quite apt?" The young man paused, then continued, "Also, we mustn't fall into a misconception: they cannot leave Fengdu; they're trapped. But the intensity of their methods hasn't decreased because of this. And with six of them backing it, the power of this magic... it's severely overpowered. This disparity means they see us the way we see ordinary people. We have countless ways to make an ordinary person die irresistibly and silently. By the same token, they can do the same to us."

Zhao Yi asked, "Then what's the point of going to Fengdu if the difference is so vast?" Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I wasn't eager to go in the first place." Zhao Yi clarified, "I mean, what's the significance of going to Fengdu anymore?"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "There is. The disparity is clearly so immense, yet they're still preventing us from going to Fengdu. Isn't that even stranger?" Zhao Yi sighed, "Alright, alright. I won't be around to see it. When you do, heh heh, don't forget to report it during the family ancestral rites..."

Li Zhuiyuan interjected, "The deduction failed, but a method has been found." Zhao Yi mumbled, "...my son." Li Zhuiyuan stood up, looking at the discarded papers in Zhao Yi's hand. "When the difference in power is too great, mere deduction becomes useless. No matter how skilled an ant is, it can never be a match for a human."

Zhao Yi asked, "Brother, could you be more specific?" Li Zhuiyuan asked back, "Do you remember how you survived the first incense stick?"

Zhao Yi replied, "I wish I'd been shameless enough to ask for one more flower." Li Zhuiyuan said, "That curse, *it* blocked it for you. You know very well that even if it were willing to give again, the same person couldn't produce a second flower... And it's precisely because of your unique nature that the flower could truly be effective."

Zhao Yi rubbed his nose and slowly said, "I think I'm starting to understand your thoughts. Instead of focusing on methods, it's better to..." Li Zhuiyuan finished, "It's better to directly find a high-destiny being and let the 'tall one' take the hit for you." Zhao Yi cursed, "Damn it, the spirits of my Zhao family ancestors aren't with me. If I'd known, I should've secretly dug up my ancestral grave before the family split."

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "They're not?" Zhao Yi asked, "You mean *it*?"

Zhao Yi flipped his palm, and a string of copper coins fell into it. With a flick, they instantly formed a sword. Li Zhuiyuan said, "This is Zhao Wuyang's sword. It not only carries the bloodstains from when Zhao Wuyang slayed demons and monsters, but also his essence, energy, and spirit."

Zhao Yi questioned, "But my ancestor is dead, unlike the one under the peach blossom forest who is still alive. Even if this sword was used by my ancestor and bears his traces, where would this destiny come from without him personally activating it?" Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I can be your ancestor."

Zhao Yi uttered a confused, "Hm?" Li Zhuiyuan explained, "I have a way to mimic Zhao Wuyang's aura. Though it won't be much, I imagine it should be enough."

When using the Twelve Edicts of Fengdu, to enhance the power of his spells, Li Zhuiyuan would use the Liu clan's Qi-Observing Art to create a semblance of a Great Emperor's aura for himself. As a successor to a Great Emperor, he was able to pull off the impersonation. Similarly, thanks to Zhao Yi constantly supplying him with Zhao family techniques recently, Li Zhuiyuan had also learned the main Zhao family lineage, the one left by Zhao Wuyang. And, if all went as expected, he likely knew more of it than most people named Zhao.

Zhao Yi asked, "How else do I need to cooperate?" Li Zhuiyuan began, "Hmm, I need you to give me..." Zhao Yi interrupted, "Whatever you want, if I have it, it's yours!"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Give me a kowtow."

The turn of events had exceeded everyone else's imagination. When two supremely intelligent people are present, they can figure out most problems on their own. Others, even if they brought their brains, would only be dead weight.

Just like now, no one understood why this was happening. Run Sheng was asked to retrieve the simple, pre-assembled offering table set from a hiking bag.

After lighting the incense and candles, Li Zhuiyuan sat upright behind the offering table, while Zhao Yi stood before it. Zhao Yi first performed the Zhao family's traditional bow for elders towards the young man, then knelt down and began to kowtow, loudly proclaiming: "Ancestors above, please accept the homage of your descendant!"

Li Zhuiyuan sat formally, unmoving, as Zhao Yi performed the kowtows with meticulous precision. When the ritual was complete, Zhao Yi stood up. Li Zhuiyuan felt a slight tremor in his eyelids.

Zhao Yi was one of the very few in his clan who could read Zhao Wuyang's notes. Therefore, given Zhao Yi's status and his exceptionally "intimate" relationship with his ancestor Zhao Wuyang, an outsider accepting his homage would truly need to worry about being unworthy. Fortunately, Li Zhuiyuan's overt identity was also prominent enough to handle it. For the sake of survival, for the sake of the River Journey, it was merely an empty ritual; no one would feel uncomfortable about it.

Zhao Yi began, "Li..." Li Zhuiyuan raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi immediately lowered his head and bowed, saying, "Ancestor, from now on, I rely on you." The show hadn't even started yet, but the atmosphere had to be kept hot until curtain call.

Li Zhuiyuan needed Zhao Yi to provide him with greater legitimacy, so that at the critical moment, he could better mimic Zhao Wuyang's aura. The young man beckoned to Zhao Yi, who immediately trotted over and presented the copper coin sword.

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head and pointed to Zhao Yi's chest. Zhao Yi understood, dismantled the sword, and pressed all the copper coins onto his heart.

Li Zhuiyuan cautioned, "This method can only be used once. The price for using it to save your life is that you will no longer be able to sense Zhao Wuyang's spirit, if he has left one behind." Zhao Yi said indifferently, "My ancestor has already walked his path. Now, I should walk my own. Don't... don't you also have no spirits left behind in your family?"

Li Zhuiyuan said, "There's one more thing: if you're still alive after the second incense stick, then what the third one is will be pretty much certain." Zhao Yi replied, "They'll finish things off in the safest way possible."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. The first incense stick was the Book of Life and Death's curse, and the second was the puppet art of "Substitute Death and Return to Life"—both high-level, recondite techniques. It was much like how Granny Liu, back in Nantong, wielded a sword to manipulate geomantic forces and destroy the lineage of a Taoist temple in Dujiangyan. While such methods were undoubtedly clean and conveyed an air of aloof ease, they were prone to accidents and couldn't ensure complete eradication in time. When Li Zhuiyuan and the others entered that temple, there were still survivors inside. For the six figures orchestrating this from behind the scenes, they couldn't possibly allow themselves to set up such a scheme and fail to kill even one person. Two incense sticks yielding no results would be their absolute last limit for maintaining dignity. Therefore, what the third incense stick would be was practically obvious.

Zhao Yi mused, "They'll need to find a vessel, right? The judges, ghost marshals, and ghost generals on the mudflats that night—that was their method of descent." Li Zhuiyuan looked around. "Yes, so you really picked a good spot." Zhao Yi added, "When A You carried me down earlier, I didn't get a good look, but I could feel it. The geomancy here is excellent; there must be tombs."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "I observed from a high vantage point earlier. Within a three-li radius from where I stand, there are twelve tombs, two of which are high-grade." Auspicious burial grounds were treasures, akin to prime real estate in modern cities. Everyone wanted to crowd into such places and establish their properties. It was perfectly normal for an excellent site to be chosen by multiple tombs. For truly outstanding sites, like Mount Beiman, they had, throughout history, become as crowded as shared apartments or even pigeon coops.

Zhao Yi said, "I didn't think of this at first. I remember when we got off the car, you... Ancestor, you teased me. Did you already think of it then?" Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I'm not an immortal." Zhao Yi sighed in relief, "Phew, you scared me."

Li Zhuiyuan admitted, "However, at the time, I did feel that stopping where there might be a large tomb would be unwise." Zhao Yi asked, "Then, Ancestor, why didn't you make me change locations? We can still change now, it's not too late." Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. "There's no need. Threats should remain visible. Soon, I'll set up formations to deal with whatever might emerge from those two high-grade tombs. If we were to move to a seemingly completely clean place, we really wouldn't know what they might conjure up from underground."

Zhao Yi said, "The third incense stick will be the hardest." Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I will do my absolute best to block it for you. I won't allow my people to die for you, but I can accept playing all my trump cards." Zhao Yi said, "That's enough, Ancestor. I can feel your great kindness."

Young Master Zhao knew very well that Li was willing to go to this extent, which was truly beyond reproach. This was a gamble that after these three incense sticks, there would be no more major disturbances on the way to Fengdu, giving his subordinates time to recover and heal. Otherwise, with a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people in a vehicle, a single mishap could lead to their unexpected demise.

Li Zhuiyuan reminded him, "As for those two sisters, after the second incense stick passes, you should go comfort them." My people won't be sacrificed for you; yours, you can do as you please with. Zhao Yi replied, "I'll do my best."

Li Zhuiyuan probed, "Is this you using retreat as a means of advance?" Playing the emotional card at this moment shouldn't be overdone; giving them freedom and considering their well-being might make them more devoted and willing to fight for you. Zhao Yi stammered, "I swear... Ancestor, I've had a change of heart."

Li Zhuiyuan simply said, "Oh." Zhao Yi pleaded, "Ancestor, look, I didn't even trick them into lighting the incense for me. See how much I've changed? I genuinely want to build my team properly and turn over a new leaf, really."

Li Zhuiyuan countered, "You're trying to pull chestnuts out of the fire. In fact, you've already reaped great benefits. You just didn't expect it to come so fiercely." Zhao Yi protested, "Ancestor, you wrong me!"

At that moment, the shadowy figure in official robes reappeared. Only a third of the second incense stick remained in the censer. Li Zhuiyuan specifically stood up, moved closer, almost face-to-face with the robed figure, and carefully observed the burning incense stick.

The young man was calculating the time, because only by successfully activating his power at that precise instant could he give Zhao Yi a chance to survive. A moment too early or too late would fail. The robed figure vanished.

Li Zhuiyuan disliked this feeling of something appearing and disappearing without a trace, practically declaring its intent to target you, yet leaving you helpless to do anything but passively endure.

Zhao Yi intentionally teased, "Ancestor, do you need me to give you a leg massage or a shoulder rub?" Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Just lie down there." Zhao Yi promptly said, "Alright!"

Zhao Yi found a flat spot and lay down. Li Zhuiyuan picked up his paper and pen again, preparing to quickly draw the formation diagrams so Tan Wenbin and the others could help set them up. Under normal circumstances, the formation should target the two high-grade tombs, ideally affecting the entities as soon as they emerged.

However, setting it up that way would significantly reduce the formation's power. Li Zhuiyuan also felt that, given the intensity of the third incense stick, he wouldn't have the luxury of dividing his attention. So, it would have to be a choice between two, targeting only one spot, gambling everything on that single tomb.

He felt his pocket for a coin, found none, and was too lazy to ask for one. Li Zhuiyuan simply took out his small compass. The two high-grade tombs were located to the east and west. After placing the compass down, the young man placed his finger against the needle and gave it a slight flick, sending it spinning rapidly.

When it stopped, it pointed steadily due west. Was that the one? Then that would be it. Li Zhuiyuan put down the compass and raised his pen to draw the formation diagram. But just as the tip was about to touch the paper, the young man glanced down at the compass again.

His compass had an error. Following the corrected direction, Li Zhuiyuan stood up and observed. In that direction, there was precisely a small tomb. Generally, people buried in high-grade tombs held higher status and power, making it easier for them to accumulate karma. After death, whether they became zombies or revenants, they tended to be more powerful.

After a moment of hesitation, Li Zhuiyuan made his final decision. He would disregard the two high-grade tombs; the formation would focus solely on the small tomb. Since it was a gamble on luck, he decided to trust his current good fortune.

The diagram was drawn. The finishing touches were a bit rushed due to time constraints, but Tan Wenbin should be able to understand it. "Brother Bin." "Yes, Xiao Yuan."

"Take this, and distribute it for setup." "Understood!" Tan Wenbin turned to look at Zhao Yi, who was lying nearby, and encouraged him, "Hang in there, brother."

Zhao Yi replied, "It's fine. I trust my ancestor." Tan Wenbin said, "Yeah, don't worry. Your ancestor definitely won't let you down. After all, your ancestor is my brother." Zhao Yi retorted, "No way! You actually have the nerve to come over and make sarcastic remarks at a time like this?" Tan Wenbin replied, "Isn't it because I'm afraid I'll miss the chance? Should I organize everyone now to come over and observe a moment of silence while you're still alive?"

Zhao Yi said, "Sure, but don't just observe silence. According to village funeral customs, you have to kowtow." Tan Wenbin scoffed, "Since when do elders kowtow to their juniors?"

When Xiao Yuan handed him the diagram, Tan Wenbin knew Zhao Yi would definitely survive the second incense stick. This formation was clearly not set up for the second stick; there simply wasn't enough time.

Tan Wenbin went to delegate the tasks. Even the Liang sisters were called over and assigned duties by Tan Wenbin. In terms of understanding formations, these two sisters were actually far more advanced than he and the others; they could use formations to assist and boost abilities during combat.

The Liang sisters looked at Zhao Yi, who was lying there. Tan Wenbin said, "Get to work first. He'll be fine. If you keep staring, not only will you feel uncomfortable, but it will also affect his state of mind." The Liang sisters no longer hesitated, taking the formation diagrams to place the flags.

Only Li Zhuiyuan remained by Zhao Yi's side; everyone else had gone to the hillside, a considerable distance away. Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Do you find it too quiet?" Zhao Yi reached up and touched the copper coin sword on his chest. "Only solid."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded and closed his eyes. Zhao Yi closed his eyes as well. This short period was now sliced into incredibly detailed fragments; every breath could be felt from beginning to end.

Finally, the shadowy figure in official robes reappeared. This time, it stood on Zhao Yi's other side.

The incense stick in the burner was almost entirely consumed. Based on the previous experience, there was only a very brief moment left. "Buzz!" The sound of the incense extinguishing.

The ink dot on Zhao Yi's forehead appeared, and a terrifying black almost instantly enveloped his entire being. Utterly powerless to resist, Zhao Yi lost control of his body. His mouth opened, his muscles twitched, all his meridians prepared, and even his heart braced for one final beat before the most crisp explosion. Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes. Around him, geomantic energy rapidly swirled.

At this moment, what surfaced in the young man's mind was the stone tablet behind the mountain temple. The inscription on the tablet clearly stated that this sword was left for the descendants of the Zhao clan to slay demons and uphold justice. Yet, when he, a non-Zhao descendant, approached, the tablet still split open, bestowing this incredibly precious copper coin sword upon him.

Perhaps because his own lineage had numerous Dragon King spirit tablets, and he had experienced many traces left by the Qin and Liu clan Dragon Kings in his early life, the young man could actually empathize more with the Dragon Kings in some respects. The Zhao family's core technique began to circulate. The young man raised his chin, spread his hand, palm facing downwards.

Before him, towering, cloud-piercing mountains seemed to appear, each one despair-inducing. These were the extraordinarily brilliant individuals who stood in Zhao Wuyang's way in his generation. He acknowledged them, admired them, and even believed they were truly stronger than him. Yet, his steps did not falter; he continued to advance with unwavering resolve. Some mountains collapsed on their own; some were mere mirages; others he surmounted. Until finally, he became the most towering and majestic peak in the eyes of everyone from the generation behind him.

Born from the wilderness, neither humble nor arrogant, he achieved great fearlessness through a magnanimous heart—this was Zhao Wuyang! At this moment, though he was merely impersonating Zhao Wuyang, Li Zhuiyuan's heart found a measure of solace. Fengdu, the Great Emperor, and even any one of the six figures who had acted this time, were all towering mountains to him at present.

But these mountains existed only in the present. He could continue to advance, while they, however formidable, could only remain stationary, unable to move. Terrifying as they were, in the end, that was all they could be.

Zhao Yi's body contorted; his self-destruction entered its final phase. Li Zhuiyuan's palm descended, and he intoned gravely, "Break!"

The copper coins on Zhao Yi's chest instantly strung together into a sword, its tip pointing directly at Zhao Yi's heart. "Snap!" The dense black seemed to be pierced, and the remaining despair-inducing darkness swarmed towards the copper coin sword. The copper coin sword first turned black, then brittle, and finally... disintegrated into dust. Before it could settle, it was swept away by the wind, leaving no trace.

Li Zhuiyuan's chest tightened, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. He staggered back several steps before managing to steady himself. Zhao Yi slowly awoke. He had experienced the sensation of death once more, but this time, he detached from that feeling incredibly quickly. It wasn't a matter of "once bitten, twice shy," but rather that when he sat up, he discovered the copper coins... were gone.

All gone! Not a single coin left, completely gone, not even a speck of residue or ash remained! This was his most precious ancestral relic, acquired by trading from the Zhao family treasury, and the sword hadn't even warmed in his hands yet. "Anc... Xiao Yuan, there's something I think we need to discuss again." "No discussion."

"You can't do this, Li!" Li Zhuiyuan swallowed the blood in his mouth, then opened a can of Jianlibao and began to drink.

Zhao Yi slammed his hands on the ground, protesting unwillingly, "Do you know, this makes me look so stupid. I gained nothing, and it was all for nothing..." "It was used to save your life."

"But even if I hadn't made that exchange with you, and the sword was still in your hands, you would still have used it to save my life. You wouldn't have been reluctant, you wouldn't have even hesitated." "Yes, that's true."

"So, Ancestor, could you please..." Li Zhuiyuan set down the beverage can and said to Zhao Yi with a serious expression:

"Zhao Yi, between you and me, there isn't just the enmity of taking the sword, but also the grievance of destroying it. Though I come from a fallen family, I will not endure such humiliation from you! Today, I, Li Zhuiyuan, swear to the heavens: This debt, I will certainly settle with your Jiujiang Zhao family in the future!"

Zhao Yi was speechless.