Chapter 314

In the courtyard, Tan Wenbin held a bowl of nameless soup. He ate it with a spoon while circling and admiring his favorite lotus vat.

Lin Shuyou also went to get a bowl, thinking of asking others if they wanted some. Looking up, he saw Runsheng sitting motionless in a shadowy corner, while Li Zhuiyuan sat on a bench by the water channel, eyes closed in thought.

A-You (Lin Shuyou) could only carry his bowl and walk over to Tan Wenbin.

"Brother Bin, since you like this vat so much, why don't we get one at Old Man Li's house too?"

"That would require Old Man Li to agree to clear the courtyard, demolish the house, dig the foundation ten meters deep to set up a formation, and then carry out annual repairs and maintenance."

"If that's what it takes, then it's impossible. Brother Bin, you really know a lot."

"Yes, you can be like me and read more books on formations."

Li Zhuiyuan was replaying his memories.

The first node was the "three incense sticks" incident on the way to Fengdu last time. Although Zhao Yi barely survived, he had actually benefited from the first two incense sticks.

The second node was when Zhao Yi was sent to Su Luo to deal with the Bodhisattva's contingency plan. Zhao Yi used the black leather book's secret technique, which he had left within the tomb owner Su Luo, bringing about side effects for himself.

However, putting aside the side effects, the experience of being able to use the black leather book's secret technique was inherently extremely valuable. Even if he wouldn't learn it, it would surely greatly improve his own puppetry skills.

On Ghost Street, facing the hordes of ghosts controlled by the Bodhisattva who were charging the gate, he had to secretly change the lock of the Gate of Hell. This act prematurely drained Zhao Yi's energy, preventing him from dying a dramatic death.

The memory froze here: Li Zhuiyuan stood on Ghost Street, with Zhao Yi in front of him, just moments before his death.

Lin Shuyou had died earlier, a tragic and heroic death that aligned with A-You's mindset. Zhao Yi's death, by contrast, was rather haphazard.

In the memory, the young man's hand waved gently forward, and Zhao Yi died. He waved it back, and Zhao Yi lived again.

After repeating this many times, with Zhao Yi dying and coming back to life multiple times, the young man finally moved past this memory.

Next came the Emperor's gift.

In the early stages, it was indeed a gift, but later it became a "retaliation." Su Luo, who originally only had initial side effects, was endowed with higher vitality by the Emperor.

No matter what Zhao Yi was doing, Su Luo could naturally awaken and take over the body. This meant that, in terms of strength, Su Luo was actually on par with Zhao Yi.

In the new memory, Li Zhuiyuan stood on the hood of a truck, looking through the front windshield at the people inside the driver's cab.

Inside, besides Zhao Yi, he himself was sitting in the passenger seat.

The memory played forward, backward, forward again, backward again. Each time, Su Luo appeared naturally and took control of Zhao Yi.

Then, he himself, from the passenger seat, stepped on the brakes just in time, preventing the truck from plunging down the slope.

In the next memory, Zhao Yi was strung up and beaten in a peach orchard until his spirit and flesh almost disintegrated. Afterwards, Qing'an stripped "Su Luo" onto a peach tree, which was actually a transfer to Qing'an himself.

Li Zhuiyuan stood beneath the peach tree, side-by-side with his past self from the memory, both witnessing "Su Luo" emerging from the tree.

Immediately, Li Zhuiyuan shifted his attention to Qing'an.

Given Qing'an's personality, it either wouldn't help, or if it did, it wouldn't care about the cost, because it was already seeking death and had nothing it couldn't bear to lose.

Therefore, it was impossible for Qing'an to covet "Su Luo's" meager power. It must have only stripped "Su Luo's" personality onto itself, while all of "Su Luo's" power remained within Zhao Yi.

Broadly speaking, Zhao Yi's gains during that "wave" in Fengdu had two main aspects:

First, his life-death threshold crossed a major step, undergoing a qualitative change. Second, he absorbed Su Luo's power, which was equivalent to absorbing another version of himself.

Secondary improvements included his puppetry skills, and possibly something related to Su Luo's susceptibility to possession. After all, Zhao Yi had once entered Su Luo's body, and Su Luo later entered his. With such deep and thorough interaction, if he hadn't gained any insights, he wouldn't be Zhao Yi.

Comparatively, quantifiable increases in power, such as absorbing strength and improvements in puppetry, were not the key.

Instead, the effects of the qualitative change in his life-death threshold and his mastery of Su Luo's characteristics could not be specifically estimated.

The final memory was of the recent thunder-and-rain night, when Zhao Yanglin's group was killed.

Zhao Yi had clearly held back his strength, as their side had numerical superiority and a clear advantage.

The memory faded, and Li Zhuiyuan slowly opened his eyes.

This meant that Zhao Yi had been continuously gaining and accumulating power recently, but had not yet truly displayed his current specific strength.

It wasn't that Zhao Yi was deliberately hiding things from him, but for people like them, restraint was an instinct.

Every time Lin Shuyou improved, he yearned to immediately find someone to fight. Zhao Yi would not.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up.

This caused Lin Shuyou, who was opposite him, to feel a little awkward. He was holding a jar, scraping the last bit of soup into his bowl.

"Brother Yuan, would you like some?"

"You eat it."

"Oh, alright," Lin Shuyou said as he ate. "Three-Eyes was really impressive at the dinner table today."

Tan Wenbin: "You could be even more impressive next time you go back to your hometown, if you abandon ethical and moral constraints."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Lin Shuyou choked on his soup.

Tan Wenbin: "I'm not lying to you. There aren't many mediums in your family temple who can successfully perform a séance anymore, are there?"

Lin Shuyou: "I don't know. When I called home from Nantong, neither my master nor my grandfather told me."

Hearing this, Tan Wenbin smiled and nodded.

Placing his bowl and chopsticks on the stone table, Tan Wenbin said:

"Beforehand, I only had a slight guess. But when I saw Zhao Yi truly return to the Zhao family as himself, I felt that my previous worries weren't that big of a deal. Originally, the enemy being in the dark while we were in the light was a disadvantage. But if we know where the hidden enemy is, then being in the open actually becomes an advantage."

Lin Shuyou put down his bowl and spoon and said, "They don't dare reveal their identities in front of Three-Eyes. Now it's their turn to feel anxious, suspicious, and uneasy."

Tan Wenbin: "This is Jiujiang, the Zhao family's territory. Zhao Yi has a natural home-field advantage here. Tomorrow morning, we'll be heading from the outer residence to the ancestral home in the mountains for ancestor worship. I think Zhao Yi will make his move against them soon."

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Who are 'they'?"

Tan Wenbin was startled, then looked thoughtful.

Lin Shuyou: "The group of people who were at the family banquet table today."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Weren't you two sitting at the table as well?"

Lin Shuyou: "But how could Three-Eyes possibly..."

Tan Wenbin: "Brother Yuan, do you mean that Zhao Yi might treat us all equally?"

Lin Shuyou: "But Three-Eyes invited us to Jiujiang to help him..."

"I don't think Zhao Yi would do that, but the current Zhao Yi now has the motivation to do so." Li Zhuiyuan walked to the lotus vat, put his hand into the water, and white mist began to recede. The young man continued, "He intends to personally ignite the Zhao family, burning both the family and the people who infiltrated it."

Ice crystals formed on the surface of the vat. As the young man moved his palm upward, the ice crystals rose with it, congealing into an ice lotus.

Li Zhuiyuan: "We didn't simply come to Jiujiang to help him. All along, Zhao Yi and I have been getting what we need from each other. Even this trip to Jiujiang is because I have my sights set on the Zhao family treasury.

"If this pile of decaying firewood that is the Zhao family still has a large combustible portion remaining after burning those people, then from Zhao Yi's perspective, he would inevitably consider whether he should also burn us along with them."

In the shadowy corner, Runsheng's eyes glowed green for a moment, then the light receded.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Lin Shuyou: "On Mount Qingcheng, you beat Xu Ming. The purpose of that was to put pressure on Zhao Yi in advance, hoping to better achieve the upcoming cooperation.

"I'm not trying to sow discord between you. Zhao Yi has been with us for so long, and we're all so familiar with each other; it's natural for feelings and trust to develop.

"However, we are 'on the river,' experiencing a 'wave.' Any cooperative relationship must constantly be re-evaluated based on the changing situation.

"From now on, seriously navigate this 'wave.' Do not consider the Zhao family treasury our primary objective.

"And don't think we are helping Zhao Yi, or bestowing favors upon him from a superior position.

"Maintain a suitable distance, be mindful of boundaries, and treat Zhao Yi as another team within this 'wave.' Re-adapt, seek common ground while respecting differences, and strive for cooperation."

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

Li Zhuiyuan cast a final glance at Tan Wenbin, then returned to his room to rest. Runsheng left with him.

Lin Shuyou bit his lip, sometimes frowning, sometimes looking melancholic.

Tan Wenbin reached out, put an arm around Lin Shuyou's shoulder, and patted him gently.

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, will Three-Eyes really burn us?"

Tan Wenbin: "You've misinterpreted Brother Yuan's words superficially. Didn't you hear Brother Yuan say that he himself believes Zhao Yi won't make a move against us?"

Lin Shuyou: "Then..."

Tan Wenbin: "What Zhao Yi initially intended was to prune the Zhao family himself, making it easier for him to control its future resurgence. Now, the situation has escalated, the nature of things has changed, and the entire Zhao family might cease to exist. Zhao Yi has transformed from someone who wanted to protect a broken jar into someone who wants to smash it with his own hands.

"What Brother Yuan just spoke about is actually a type of interpersonal relationship. When you meet childhood friends you played in mud with, wearing open-crotch pants, as your respective identities and statuses change, you can't just throw mud at them anymore, can you?

"At this time, adjusting and changing the mode of interaction isn't for active estrangement, but precisely to better maintain the relationship you originally shared."

Lin Shuyou: "I understand."

Tan Wenbin: "Do you really understand?"

Lin Shuyou said with firm eyes, "If Three-Eyes dares to make a move against us, my golden mace will smash his eyeballs."

Tan Wenbin: "Sigh. Next time, you should discuss this kind of question with Runsheng."

After saying this, Tan Wenbin also returned to his room to sleep.

Lin Shuyou stood still, looking up at the moon above the courtyard.

He was originally the one who disliked Three-Eyes the most, but upon hearing Brother Yuan say that Three-Eyes might also make a move against them, his heart became the most conflicted.

"Kid, Old Tian, Three-Eyes' Old Tian, is still living in Nantong, you know..."

"That's why he likes you so much. The more someone lacks something, the more they crave it."

"Splash."

Lin Shuyou turned his head to look at the lotus vat.

On the surface of the vat, the ice lotus that Brother Yuan had casually created earlier shattered and fell apart.

Zhao Yi returned to his small courtyard.

At this moment, he stood at the courtyard entrance, with Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er standing outside.

Choosing the Third Branch to replace them was originally the simplest option.

The Third Branch had a detached status; one only knew how to feign elegance, while the other spent their days moping and lamenting.

But no one expected that, as the charade went on, 'their own' son would return.

If it were just ordinary third-generation descendants from other branches, they could easily be manipulated, killed, buried, or replaced. It would be a simple matter.

However, this person standing before them was different. They dared not act recklessly, and even when probing, they had to be extremely careful.

"I've said it before, my courtyard doesn't welcome you. Please leave."

Zhao Yi dismissed them mercilessly.

Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er exchanged a glance, then turned to leave. The father let out a long sigh, while the mother looked back every few steps.

Zhao Yi ignored them, went back to his room, and lay down on the small bed.

Old Tian's bed was originally a temporary setup. Others had young maidservants to sleep with them; he had an old man to sleep with him.

When an adult's weight lay on it, the slightest movement produced creaking sounds from beneath.

As a child, he and Old Tian slept together on this small bed, falling asleep to the sound of the swaying bed mixed with the wind fanned by a palm-leaf fan.

Zhao Yi's eyelids slowly lowered. His vision blurred, then fiery flashes appeared.

The fire consumed not just the bed and the room, but the entire Zhao estate was engulfed in flames, and his ears were filled with the piercing screams of the Zhao family.

Zhao Yi's expression remained calm. This level of mental turmoil could not substantially affect him.

If the Zhao family was destined for hell, then he, Zhao Yi, should be the one to personally open the gate.

All hands that tried to reach out would be severed by him!

Early next morning, long before dawn, the estate was already bustling.

The auspicious hour for ancestor worship was very early, meaning their departure from the outer residence would be even earlier. Furthermore, after returning from the ceremony, they would also have to entertain guests arriving that day.

The Zhao family members wore relatively retro clothing today, predominantly blue. The procession carrying offerings was ready, awaiting the arrival of the family head and the four branches.

Zhao Shan'an arrived, standing on the steps.

The other four branches also arrived. The First Branch couple, with their two sons; two people from the Third Branch stood there; the Fourth Master of the Fourth Branch looked quite young, while the woman beside him had wrinkles on her face, and next to them stood a very young pair of twin siblings.

Zhao Shan'an's gaze lingered a moment longer on the Second Branch; they had brought their illegitimate son as well.

It was a bit absurd, considering he had just been brought home and hadn't even had time for the "homecoming ceremony." But the Second Branch had always been absurd.

Zhao Yi was the focus of everyone's attention. Upon his arrival, he nodded to Zhao Shan'an, then walked down one side, passing in front of the people from the four branches.

In front of the four people from the First Branch, Zhao Yi remained indifferent the entire time.

Zhao Shan'an nodded slightly. He was sure the First Branch had been replaced, as the contrast in their behavior before and after was too obvious.

Of course, it was understandable. Replacing a person was easy, but simultaneously replacing a person and managing the operations of a family was too demanding.

When he reached the Second Branch, Zhao Yi stopped.

Zhao Yi: "Second Uncle, still strong in old age."

Tan Wenbin: "I'm old, can't compare to you, Yi-ge'er."

Zhao Yi: "Second Uncle isn't old at all, and you're quite promiscuous. Be careful not to kill yourself."

Tan Wenbin looked embarrassed, his gaze wandering, as if something scandalous had been exposed. He immediately stepped forward and leaned closer to Zhao Yi, lowering his voice:

"Yi-ge'er, your Second Uncle also has his unspeakable difficulties, truly."

His voice was lowered, but for those present, it was still clearly audible.

Zhao Yi somewhat disdainfully pushed away "Second Master Zhao," then wiped his hand on Second Master Zhao's clothes.

Then, Zhao Yi looked at his... Second Aunt.

Zhao Yi: "Second Aunt has certainly become younger."

Lin Shuyou was somewhat awkwardly unsure how to respond, mainly because Brother Yuan wasn't reminding him internally, leaving him at a loss.

However, this reaction was quite fitting.

Zhao Yi glanced at Li Zhuiyuan.

When he looked down at Li Zhuiyuan, a hint of softness appeared in Zhao Yi's eyes.

Zhao Yi: "I don't recall the Second Branch having you."

Zhao Shan'an said, "Your Second Uncle just brought him back from outside the other day."

"Oh, just brought back from outside?"

Zhao Yi bent down, looked at Li Zhuiyuan, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

This was the first time Young Master Zhao had shown such an expression since returning home.

He cupped the young man's face in his hands, a meaningful look in his eyes.

"So, brought back from outside..."

Zhao Yi's hands rubbed Li Zhuiyuan's face, and just before withdrawing, he gently pinched it.

Zhao Shan'an witnessed all of this, as did the other branches.

He ignored the First Branch, even interacted with the 'disgusting' Second Master Zhao of the Second Branch, and showed even more enthusiasm toward the young man just brought back from outside.

If Zhao Yi truly knew something, then it indicated that the Second Branch... had not been replaced.

Next, Zhao Yi walked in front of his "parents."

"Father, you look haggard."

"It's you who's been working hard outside."

"Mother, you must take care of your health."

"My son, now that you're back, will you leave again?"

Zhao Yi didn't answer. He left his "parents" and walked directly past the Fourth Branch.

Being overly gentle with his parents, on the contrary, proved that they were fakes.

It could be said that through Zhao Yi's series of actions, the First, Third, and Fourth Branches all recognized each other's identities; the previous mist and confusion had cleared.

Zhao Shan'an's fingers, hidden behind his back, rubbed gently. He felt that this seemed too simple.

Zhao Yi walked to the front of the ancestor worship procession and waved his hand towards the back: "We can depart now."

Zhao Shan'an: "Depart for ancestor worship."

Six large palanquins: the first was for Zhao Shan'an, the second for Zhao Yi, and the remaining four were for the four branches.

The palanquins were lifted, leaving the estate.

At the front, middle, and back of the procession, suona and gongs and drums played, moving forward with lively steps.

Their presence created a special kind of isolation.

Lin Shuyou, sitting in a palanquin, reached out and lifted the curtain. Although it was still dark outside, cars occasionally drove past, yet none of them found anything unusual about such a distinctively styled procession on the road at this hour.

Looking down at the palanquin bearers beneath, he could only see their hands and shoulders holding the poles, and their legs walking below. Their heads and torsos in between were invisible.

Lin Shuyou lowered the curtain and asked, "Brother Bin, what kind of spell is this?"

Tan Wenbin: "Qimen Dunjia."

As he answered, Tan Wenbin glanced at Brother Yuan sitting opposite him. Brother Yuan's silence indicated his answer was correct.

Lin Shuyou: "How interesting."

Tan Wenbin: "Can't the Kid do it?"

Lin Shuyou: "They have no spiritual essence; they are neither living beings nor ghosts. It's not the same kind of technique that the Kid knows."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Binbin, listen closely. Are there other groups following on the periphery?"

Tan Wenbin listened intently, then replied, "Brother Yuan, I don't hear anything."

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes.

The eerie procession passed through the city, where light and shadow intertwined. The woods on both sides grew denser and denser, and the incline became steeper and steeper. Yet, sitting in the palanquin, they felt no bumps at all.

When the sky finally began to lighten, the procession had fully entered the mountains. Everything around them was quite primitive, but soon, a thick mist arose, completely obscuring their vision.

"Palanquins down!"

All palanquins landed.

The sacrificial items were also set down. The musicians and palanquin bearers all vanished.

Everyone stepped out of their palanquins. The immediate surroundings were clear, but the distant areas were entirely shrouded in white mist. Combined with the fact that they were in the Lushan mountain range, it truly lived up to the saying, "One cannot know the true face of Lushan."

A towering stone stele stood ahead, inscribed with four powerful characters:

Jiujiang Zhao Clan

Inside, it should be the area of the Zhao family's ancestral home.

As the family head, Zhao Shan'an should have stepped forward, placed his hand in the stele's groove, and announced their arrival.

He had indeed prepared himself, his right palm becoming slick with what seemed like blue liquid circulating, forming the rhythm of the Zhao family's foundational technique.

At this moment, Zhao Yi stepped in front of him.

Zhao Shan'an clenched his right hand and said, "Yi-er, you've just returned. Why don't you announce our arrival to the elders of the ancestral home? They'll surely be delighted to know you're back."

Zhao Yi shook his head: "Most likely not."

Zhao Shan'an pretended not to understand, but in his mind, he was analyzing: Did this mean he had already "lit the lamp twice" and come down from the river?

Zhao Yi stepped forward, placed his hand on the stone stele, and closed his eyes.

The stone stele trembled slightly.

The thick fog ahead parted to both sides, revealing a clear path lined with stone sculptures.

The stone sculptures wore bamboo hats, rope clothes, and stood leaning on swords. Although weathered and somewhat indistinct, they still exuded an imposing, formidable aura.

These were carvings of the Zhao family's Spirit Guardians.

Most of the Zhao family's Spirit Guardians were in the ancestral home in the mountains.

A small portion were in the outer residence, their tokens in the family head's hands.

On that thunder-and-rain night, Second Master Zhao brought out four Spirit Guardians because he sensed someone was setting a trap to lure and kill Zhao Xu, so he wanted to turn the tables.

As for why he had command over four Spirit Guardians... one could only say that the most disreputable son in the family was often the best at buttering up the old man.

Zhao Shan'an touched the token in his sleeve. Unfortunately, the Spirit Guardians that could be commanded by this token were all dead.

He regretted this. Although individual Spirit Guardians were not particularly powerful, if their numbers reached a certain level and they combined into formations, the effect could still make one's scalp tingle.

If the old man hadn't been made overly confident by his feigned weakness that day, and hadn't immediately summoned the Spirit Guardians to form a defensive line behind him, but instead insisted on personally stepping forward to deal with him, this insignificant challenger, it wouldn't have been so easy for him to quietly kill the old man.

It was a pity. This token could only be controlled by the essence blood of living Zhao family members. Afterwards, he had to suppress and bury all those Spirit Guardians, which was truly a waste.

Zhao Yi turned around and said to everyone, "We can go now. Please get into your palanquins."

Zhao Shan'an: "Depart for ancestor worship."

Zhao Yi: "Yi-er, this doesn't follow tradition. With the ancestral home ahead, how can we, the younger generation, ride in palanquins?"

Zhao Yi: "The elders took pity on us and specifically instructed it."

After speaking, Zhao Yi pulled out talismans. One by one, they flew out and adhered to the six palanquins. The palanquin bearers who had disappeared earlier slowly reappeared.

Zhao Shan'an: "It seems the elders are fond of Yi-er. Let's all benefit from his good fortune."

Everyone then returned to their respective palanquins.

The first palanquin lifted off and moved forward, passing the stone stele.

Next was the second... third... fourth...

Those in front might not have noticed, but those behind felt it distinctly.

Li Zhuiyuan, in the fourth palanquin, said, "The distance between the palanquins has widened."

Tan Wenbin: "So soon."

Li Zhuiyuan: "If even you think it shouldn't be happening, then those further behind will feel it even more."

Tan Wenbin: "This style doesn't quite seem like Zhao Yi."

Li Zhuiyuan: "This style is actually very much like Zhao Yi. Even the most sophisticated plan seeks nothing more than to catch one off guard. Once you have that premise, everything can become very simple.

"They, in fact, made the same mistake Zhao Yi did earlier. When Zhao Yi had already 'shown his hand' by returning home, they were still being secretive, unwilling to shed their disguised skin."

The people from the Fourth Branch were in the sixth and last palanquin.

The elderly woman said, "The distance between the palanquins has increased."

The seemingly younger man said, "Zhao Yi, the spellcaster, is in the second palanquin, and he's separated by the Zhao family's barrier. It's normal for the spell's effect to be delayed."

The woman nodded and said, "Has he truly lit the lamp twice or not?"

The young man: "I don't know. There's more than just our team in this 'wave.' When everyone gathers, the karmic energies interfere with each other, making it difficult to perceive and even harder to deduce."

The woman: "If he has lit the lamp twice, then it's understandable. If not, how did he dare to return?"

The young man: "There's no need to guess this anymore. Besides the Second Branch, the other factions are probably also wondering about this. We're not the only ones with a headache, in any case."

The last palanquin lifted off and passed the stone stele.

By this time, this palanquin had pulled a considerable distance away from the one in front of it.

The environment within the barrier was complex and unique; normal spatial perception from the outside world no longer applied.

The thick fog closed in.

On the stone stele, from the spot where Zhao Yi had placed his hand, trickles of fresh blood continuously seeped out, gradually forming a blood-red palm print.

Zhao Yi, sitting in the second palanquin, reached out and tore a layer of skin from his right palm.

It was very thin and tender, revealing reddish flesh underneath.

Zhao Yi's hands began to cross, and lines of fresh blood overflowed, continuously wrapping around them.

The next moment, Zhao Yi interlaced his fingers, brought them together, and pushed them upwards—Nuo Opera Puppetry!

At the entrance, the outer layers of all the stone sculptures on both sides of the road began to peel off. Streaks of fresh red continuously surged upward from the base of the sculptures.

If one could move the sculptures at this moment, they would see a very new formation drawn beneath each one.

"Clang!"

The sixth palanquin landed.

The people from the Fourth Branch lifted the palanquin curtain and stepped out.

Just then, the outer skins of the stone sculptures had almost completely peeled off, revealing the shriveled bodies of the Spirit Guardians inside. As they moved, their bodies seemed to inflate, becoming full, and even strange green vein-like marks appeared on their pale faces.

The numerous stone sculptures, arranged in two rows, divided into four groups and formed a formation, blocking and surrounding the Fourth Branch members.

The woman: "What does this mean?"

The young man: "It means, he really dares to do this."

The twin siblings were the first to tear off their disguises, revealing their true forms.

"Is that Zhao Yi crazy?"

"But why does he think these Spirit Guardians alone can stop us?"

"Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!"

All the Spirit Guardians' bodies trembled collectively. Immediately after, they simultaneously drew their sabers and swords, first stabbing themselves in the chest, then pulling them out.

Blue flames spilled from their wounds, and their aura strength surged dramatically.

This meant that all the Spirit Guardians had less than a quarter of an hour left to exist. After that, they would all turn to dust.

The faces of the four members of the Fourth Branch all grew serious.

The woman said in a deep voice, "He isn't using these things to stop us."

The young man: "He wants to use them to inflict as much damage and weakening on us as possible."

The woman gritted her teeth and said, "He's truly willing to sacrifice so much."

The young man: "Now I'm starting to doubt whether he actually wants to protect the Zhao family."

The Spirit Guardians changed their previous defensive and containment formation, switching all four directions to offensive formations.

Then, all the Spirit Guardians let out silent growls and, like madmen, charged forward collectively!

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin, what kind of trees are these outside?"

Outside the palanquin, a peculiar forest appeared. The tree roots were black, the main trunks were white, and the branches and leaves were all green.

At a glance, one might think they were specially painted to prevent insects.

But in this location, that was clearly impossible; even for pest control, they wouldn't use paint.

Tan Wenbin: "It's recorded in 'Records of Jianghu Oddities and Monsters.' These are called Burial Trees."

Lin Shuyou: "Are Zhao family members buried there too?"

Tan Wenbin: "They should be. The conditions for being formally buried in the ancestral graves are very strict. Most Zhao family members throughout history could only be buried here, guarding the ancestral graves, sheltering them from wind and rain."

Lin Shuyou: "So this area is also part of the Zhao family's ancestral graves, but only considered the periphery?"

Tan Wenbin: "Yes."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Not just ancestral graves, but also formations. Each tree is an independent formation eye. The bones buried beneath are all formation patterns. Many people who were on the verge of death but not yet fully deceased were buried prematurely, their souls becoming formation spirits after death, unable to be reincarnated."

After the young man finished speaking, both Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou fell silent.

After a long while, Lin Shuyou finally spoke: "The Zhao family does things so ruthlessly?"

They don't even spare the remains of their ancestors throughout generations; after death, people are exploited and utilized again.

Li Zhuiyuan: "The Zhao family is skilled at management."

Lin Shuyou mumbled, "No wonder Three-Eyes is so ruthless to himself. It's inherited."

Just then, Lin Shuyou's eyes widened. He saw a person standing by the roadside outside the palanquin—it was Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi stood there, eyes closed, motionless.

Lin Shuyou pointed at him and exclaimed, "Th-th-Three-Eyes!"

Tan Wenbin sensed carefully and said, "It is indeed him."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's not him."

Even the young man couldn't detect anything amiss about that person, as if he truly were Zhao Yi.

However, Zhao Yi had his eyes closed, deliberately not looking at the palanquin where they were sitting. This action was to avoid misunderstanding.

Li Zhuiyuan: "The life-death threshold."

At this moment, Zhao Yi, sitting in the second palanquin, had already lowered his head.

If one were to approach his palanquin now, they would find that he was already dead, devoid of life. Apart from his physical shell remaining, he was as dead as could be.

Chen Cui'er: "I can't see the Fourth Branch's palanquin anymore."

Zhao Heming: "I can't see the palanquins ahead either. The environment here is unique, so it's normal."

Chen Cui'er: "The Zhao family's ancestral land truly is a world of its own."

Zhao Heming: "After all, it's a family that once produced a Dragon King."

Chen Cui'er: "A family that only produced one Dragon King is already like this. I'm very curious how terrifying the foundations of those orthodox Dragon King families must be."

Zhao Heming: "Instead of admiring others, why don't we join forces and establish a Dragon King family of our own?"

Chen Cui'er looked at her husband with a smile, her face radiant.

Just then, Zhao Yi's voice came from outside the palanquin: "Father, Mother, do you remember this place?"

The palanquin landed.

Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er stepped out of the palanquin and came outside. The area they faced corresponded to a peculiar forest.

Zhao Yi: "Do you remember that year, when I rode in a palanquin with you both to this place? You held my hand and led me into this forest to play. Those were some of the few warm memories from my childhood."

Zhao Heming: "Yi-er, what is the meaning of this?"

Chen Cui'er: "My son, are you getting emotional from seeing this place?"

Although they had now entered the Zhao clan's ancestral grounds, they were still some distance from the ancestral home. Moreover, the sacrificial ceremony hadn't begun, and none of the Zhao family elders had appeared.

Zhao Yi opened his mouth and, from the tip of his tongue, spat out a folded purple talisman.

Upon seeing this talisman, Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er's eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhao Yi threw the talisman forward.

The talisman drifted into the forest.

"Boom!"

It was as if lightning was born from the ground, followed by a vast expanse of thunderfire surging towards Zhao Yi.

Chen Cui'er and Zhao Heming didn't understand what this meant, because they could confirm that the person before them was the real Zhao Yi.

So what was he doing now? Committing suicide?

Zhao Yi's figure was quickly engulfed by the thunderfire. As he dissolved, Zhao Yi turned around, looked at Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er, and smiled.

Although this area was not the core location of the Zhao family's ancestral graves, it was still part of them.

Just now, Zhao Yi had set his own ancestral graves on fire.

The thunderfire he personally attracted was only the first step. Next, various formation effects and the irrational resentment of the Zhao family's deceased spirits would become the second and third waves of immense power, roaring towards this place.

Zhao Yi had, in essence, detonated a field of lightning in front of Zhao Heming and Chen Cui'er.

The two of them originally had a chance to escape and could have gotten away in time. However, in the beginning, they were still playing Zhao Yi's parents, and later they didn't believe Zhao Yi would commit suicide, thus delaying their reaction. By the time they realized, both of them and their palanquin were surrounded by thunderfire.

In the distance, distorted Feng Shui phenomena were being activated, and resentment continuously festered.

Sometimes, sophisticated schemes require only the simplest execution.

Inside the second palanquin.

"Hiss! Ah!!!"

Zhao Yi, who was supposed to be dead, suddenly lifted his head.

Black lines emanating from his life-death threshold covered his entire body.

Then, his skin began to crack, curl up as if scorched, and then shed in large patches.

Zhao Yi, covered in blood, stood up, then squatted down again. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to quickly stand up once more.

With a flick of his finger, all the bottles and jars placed in front exploded, and medicinal powder instantly filled the entire palanquin.

"Ah!"

This pain was no less than that of an ordinary person having a patch of skin peeled off and then having coarse salt vigorously rubbed into the raw flesh.

Before long, Zhao Yi was completely covered in medicinal powder.

Zhao Yi found a blue robe and put it on. He then took out a talisman, pressed it onto the robe, and the talisman burned, setting the robe itself alight.

When the flames died down, the melted fabric of the robe was tightly fused with Zhao Yi's skin.

Zhao Yi let out a long breath and sat back down.

He gently clapped his hands twice.

Behind him, the third palanquin, carrying the First Branch, landed directly at a fork in the road.

The four people from the First Branch stepped out of the palanquin.

First Master Zhao: "It seems there's something wrong with the palanquin."

First Mistress Zhao: "Will things really be this simple?"

First Master Zhao: "In any case, let's divine which path we should take first."

First Mistress Zhao sat cross-legged, took out a tortoise shell, and began to shake it.

This was the Zhao family's ancestral land, with a peculiar energy field, so divination would take more time.

First Mistress Zhao: "The divination is complete; take the left path."

Just then, the palanquin behind them, which was carrying the Second Branch, was carried over perfectly normally.

Tan Wenbin lifted the curtain, looked at the First Branch who were stopped there, and asked, "What's wrong?"

First Master: "The palanquin is broken."

Tan Wenbin: "If the palanquin is broken, why aren't you walking instead of waiting here?"

First Master didn't speak.

Tan Wenbin: "Heh, surely you haven't forgotten even the way to the ancestral home, have you?"

First Master: "You go your way; stop wasting words."

Tan Wenbin: "What a joke!"

After saying this, Tan Wenbin lowered the curtain.

Lin Shuyou gave Tan Wenbin a thumbs-up.

They were all fakes, but Brother Bin's fake act was so convincing, it truly captured the essence of Second Master Zhao.

The palanquin carrying the Second Branch bypassed the stopped palanquin in front and took the left fork in the road.

Seeing this, the four members of the First Branch no longer bothered with their broken palanquin and also headed for the left fork.

Li Zhuiyuan tapped the palanquin wall behind him with the back of his hand.

The Second Branch's palanquin, which had been moving normally, landed.

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou looked at Li Zhuiyuan. Runsheng also finally opened his eyes at this moment.

Li Zhuiyuan:

"Let's get out of the palanquin and help Zhao Yi stop the First Branch."

Inside the second palanquin.

Zhao Yi, whose entire body was a mess of flesh, so terrifyingly gruesome upon closer inspection, his throat moved, and he let out a hoarse voice:

"Thanks, Li."