Chapter 1746 - 315: 20,000-Word Mega - (Part 4)

Zhao Yi personally witnessed the devastation within the Daoist Temple on Qingcheng Mountain. Old Mrs. Liu, from thousands of miles away, used Feng Shui to reverse-engineer a killing calamity and ended a family's inheritance.

If a war were to break out, Old Mrs. Liu alone would be enough to cleanse the inner and outer residences of the Zhao family through several cycles.

Among the top forces within Jianghu, who isn't aware of the current state of the Qin and Liu Families? But why has no one dared to target them yet? Do they really think these families are benevolent?

Zhao Yi couldn't even imagine what reaction the one named Li would have if he learned of this secret.

However, Zhao Yi now wasn't afraid of Li finding out.

The Great Elder endured Zhao Yi's disrespect and continued speaking:

"The real problem arose after you started Zou Jiang. At first, it was fine. The ancestral flame on the skull stabilized for a period after changing twice.

But the deeper you delved into Zou Jiang, the frequency of changes in the ancestral flame began accelerating continuously.

It has been shrinking, getting smaller and smaller until it reached its current size.

Yi'er, do you know why I've stubbornly held on, forcing myself to live until now?

Do you know why the third, fourth, and fifth elders have also been pushing themselves?

Because..."

Zhao Yi: "Because the flame is too small, too small for you to fit inside."

This domain is constructed upon the ancestral flame of the skull, and its space, or carrying capacity, is limited.

Generations of Zhao family elders have already occupied a large portion of the area. As the flame shrinks, the carrying capacity decreases as well.

Now, it's decreased to a point where the Great Elder can't determine if he can fit in anymore.

Anyway, asking those already inside to come out to make room for oneself is impossible.

Moreover, they inside have to worry that if the flame continues shrinking, they'll begin to be eliminated internally.

Great Elder: "Yes, the flame has grown too small. If not for your appearance, I might have thought it was because the forefathers' blessings were running out. But due to your birth, and the linkage you created with the flame...

Additionally, just yesterday, I had another dream.

It was identical to the last one.

Still, two dragons soared above Jiujiang.

Now I finally understand the actual reason for the weakening of the ancestral skull flame.

The meeting of the two dragons,

your changes and growth have siphoned off the Dragon King Qi from our Zhao family.

Yi'er,

we didn't mistake you back then, nor did the ancestors.

You truly possess the demeanor of a Dragon King!"

This was both a compliment and a revelation.

Zhao Yi: "So, you all want me to..."

Great Elder: "We all survive by relying on this domain created by the ancestral skull flame. We were naïve to think there could be augmentation, adjustment, or even replacement.

The reality is, it's impossible.

So, for us, for these forebears of yours, for this Zhao family...

Zhao Yi,

surrender by reigniting the flame a second time and end Zou Jiang."

When the Great Elder revealed their ultimate goal, Zhao Yi looked around, and the immense absurdity made him start doubting his past twenty-odd years of life.

Yi'er, you truly possess the demeanor of a Dragon King.

Zhao Yi, reignite the flame a second time and cease Zou Jiang.

It's hard to imagine how these two statements, so sincere and earnest, could be said together.

Zhao Yi spread his hands open, his black-and-white eyes passing over the Great Elder, and looked at the Zhao family forebears above:

"Do you all remember the purpose of constructing this place?"

The construction here was meant to enter the game with one's body, baiting the waves, to facilitate the outstanding descendants in cutting through and achieving great merit.

This was the original intent behind building this place. At least, the Great Elder said so initially—and under those portraits in that room, these oaths were present too.

Now,

to preserve this place, they demand their excellent descendant from the Zhao family to surrender and end Zou Jiang.

What an immense... irony.

Great Elder: "Times change, Yi'er. Achieving the status of Dragon King is undoubtedly honorable, but the continued existence of the family is the longer-term consideration.

Does the title of Dragon King truly matter that much?

Look at Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu; back in the day, they were prestigious within this Jianghu. Even if their generation didn't produce a Dragon King, the family heads still could issue the Dragon King's Order, and Jianghu acknowledged it!

Moreover, later on, their Dragon King's Courts even forged marriage alliances.

Yet now?

They end up in pitiable straits with only lone widows and orphans."

Zhao Yi's mind conjured up the spiritless memorial tablets he saw in the East Room.

"I've told you, don't compare yourselves with a true Dragon King's Court. Your Zhao family doesn't deserve to."

"Fine, no more comparisons, no mention of those two families."

"Additionally, I'm very curious about what exactly you know about the outside world?"

"Too many people have come, entangled with too much cause and effect. Some things I can see clearly, others are shrouded in fog. Plus, you set that forest ablaze, and before you came here, my ears were filled with countless descendants' resentful wails—it was truly noisy."

"Do you know that the great calamity is already at the doorstep? Even if I reignite the flame a second time now, do you think it's still possible?"

"As long as the ancestral skull flame can be restored to its original state, the disaster will pass."

"It seems your mind is only focused on laying down inside."

Suddenly, Zhao Yi realized something.

That the Great Elder was forcing himself to stay alive precisely because he couldn't get inside there.