Chapter 1744 - 315: 20,000-Word Epic - _2

The notes and aspirations of the ancestors guided his path forward, allowing him to maintain his composure and remain uplifted even when facing pressure from the Li family. This is like his "father".

It can be said that after seeing this head, Zhao Yi and the Zhao family... were completely severed.

What salvation, what reduction, what revival... Now, what he wants is the destruction of the Zhao family.

The white in his left eye became increasingly indifferent, and the black in his right eye grew even deeper.

The newly broken through Life and Death Door, under the influence of Zhao Yi's mood, was gradually being completely filled.

Great Elder: "Without the blessings of the ancestors and the protection of the light, this domain cannot continue, and we won't be able to maintain this state.

As you said, Yi'er, we might lose ourselves, become monsters, decay, and fall, bringing disaster to the mortal world and inviting greater calamities.

This is not the life we want; such living is indeed worse than death.

Fortunately, we have our ancestors, protecting the descendants, carving out this pure land for our Zhao family and safeguarding this peace for the world."

Zhao Yi: "Did the ancestors have to suppress the Jianghu during their life, and suppress their descendants after death?"

"Suppression..." The Great Elder sighed, "Let's consider it as such. We originally intended to strive forward, but indeed we couldn't reach that height. We are ashamed to face our ancestors, grateful for their unwavering support."

Zhao Yi was adept at perceiving human hearts; he knew that people will seek to justify their actions for inner comfort. These people have been lying here for so long, existing for so long, that they've thoroughly enriched and solidified a set of theories to rationalize themselves.

Great Elder: "Originally, such existence could be maintained indefinitely."

Zhao Yi knew this was laying the groundwork.

The Great Elder continued, "Every generation, they light a lamp and walk the Jianghu, and in the end, only the Dragon King of that generation can leave that lamp burning.

Only when the Dragon King falls does the lamp extinguish.

Actually, our Zhao family's original abode was not Jiujiang.

Back when Jiujiang had a Jiao dragon, it stirred the rivers and lakes, ravaging the surrounding populace.

In his twilight years, aware that his end was near, our ancestor came here specifically, using his body as a foundation, to establish the Jiang Locking Tower and slay the wicked Jiao.

Since then, our Zhao family has rooted in Jiujiang, taking upon the mission to suppress the Jiao and control the river.

Our forefather, Zhao Lu Hai..."

The name the Great Elder mentioned is the figure in the first scroll, only ranking just below the ancestor Zhao Wuyang in the ancestral hall.

"… Forefather Zhao Lu Hai invoked the ancestor's head from under the Jiang Locking Tower, enshrining it here to rekindle the ancestor's lamp.

After all, the Jiao Long was dead, so rather than letting the ancestor's blessings continue to shine externally, it'd be better to migrate them internally to protect the descendants. This is only right, isn't it?

Presumably, the ancestor would approve of this approach.

The ancestor had done so much for this Jianghu, for the mortal world, it's time to seek well-being for the descendants."

Zhao Yi: "Since the ancestor's lamp reignites, why is the lamp in the treasure vault extinguished?"

Great Elder: "Initially, that lamp was the first to be ignited, but later that flame was transferred into the ancestor's head. Only in this way can the fragrance of the oil waft out its blessings and merits."

Zhao Yi: "So, that lamp is still burning?"

Great Elder: "Yes, that's why the lamp needs to be protected."

Zhao Yi looked up, gazing once more at the layout of the ancestral home from below.

"I understand now, the lamp cannot be too far, or the flame here will extinguish; nor can it be too close, nor can it be under the same layout, otherwise, this flame would return to the lamp itself.

No wonder why the Zhao Family Treasure Vault's Forbidden Array are so complex, the true purpose of that vault is to seal that lamp.

The ancestor sealed within the ice beneath the lamp was not surviving off that lamp; he was the one sent out among you, to protect that lamp.

That ancestor... is Zhao Lu Hai."

There are scrolls in the ancestral hall, and in the previous room, too, but the figures on the scrolls often differ from reality. Moreover, the one frozen in the ice couldn't possibly be recognized.

Since this method was devised by Zhao Lu Hai, and here was built first by Zhao Lu Hai, it's natural that the one to protect that lamp is Zhao Lu Hai.

He wouldn't trust anyone else.

Even having one more person nearby to watch over the lamp, he wouldn't agree. Besides himself, no one was allowed to approach that lamp.

He didn't even trust other Zhao Family members surviving here with him.

Perhaps, it's out of fear that inside might unexpectedly emerge a genuine "freak" who took the inscriptions on scrolls literally.

Yet, this caution of his was somewhat excessive, because as fact would have it, all the elders who've lain here for so many generations have integrated perfectly.

It's just unknown whether Zhao Lu Hai himself who first laid out this place later transformed... or if from the start he had the intention of not wanting to die.

Great Elder: "Yi'er, did you know, that for a long period of time in the past, the flame on the ancestor's head was far more stable and fervent than what you see now?"

Zhao Yi: "The flame, shrunk?"

"Yes, it shrunk. The flame, which had always been stable, first wavered at the time of your birth."

"At my birth?"

"That night, I had the second elder relay a message to the outer residence, inquiring if anything had happened at home. I learned that you had been born.

The second elder had your grandfather bring you here to the ancestral home. I personally opened my eyes to see you, even held you in my arms.

These events, you might not remember.

Back then, I stared at the Life and Death Door on your forehead for quite a while.

An exceptional child born, the Zhao family is set to thrive.

Heh heh,