The Old Tree danced wildly within this blood-red domain—his leaves had grown back!
After so many years, the Li family was once again utilizing the "Ancestral Spirit Formation," channeling the power of the people of the Azure Cloud Region through his body!
One by one, the Spiritual power of the Li family members surged, and they slowly opened their eyes.
The branches of the Old Tree lifted Li Wei forward, carrying him through the night sky to look down upon the colossal Heart.
Within the blood-red Immortal Domain, the Qi Luck of Heaven and Earth that had been stolen from the Duravia Trade Prefecture was being returned to the mortal world.
High above, the thunder tribulation signaling the breakthrough to the Mahayana realm was gradually dissipating, until the roar of thunder was heard no more.
Watching the fearful gazes of the many eyeballs rolling ceaselessly within the Heart on the ground, Li Wei still felt a sense of pity for this Zhao Clan Ancestor.
From the very beginning, he had felt no anxiety whatsoever regarding this Immortal Zhao Clan that devoured the Qi Luck of Heaven and Earth!
This was simply because, long ago, the Li family had received a commendation from the Imperial Capital.
The Human Emperor was old, and the world assumed that old bastard could no longer control anything—but the Human Emperor was not blind.
"Did you think your cries for help would truly evoke any mercy from us?"
"Your existence is not exactly a secret." Li Wei felt the Spiritual power filling his body once more.
The last time he had utilized the Ancestral Spirit Formation Diagram was during the confrontation with Tian Xing; now, his capacity to hold mana was far greater!
The Yin-Yang Blood had bolstered his body's capacity for mana to an entirely different level.
One by one, his clansmen opened their eyes.
Li Wei sneered,
"The six clan elders of the Zhao family reappeared in the mortal world—how could you, an Integration Realm cultivator, possibly be absent?
The Zhao family's frantic theft of the Heaven and Earth's Qi Luck could only have been for your sake.
In truth, the Human Emperor granted us the authority to manipulate Qi Luck a long time ago."
"You have been devouring Qi Luck for over a hundred years.
You are an Integration Realm cultivator, after all, so we were unable to retrieve that Qi Luck directly from your body.
Zhao Buqun's formation sealed you, but it also sealed that Qi Luck within you."
"Resurrection from the dead—what a formidable ability.
The souls of your descendants had already dissipated, yet they are able to exist in this world once more.
All of this is due to nothing other than the existence of Qi Luck."
Li Wei narrowed his eyes.
"You were waiting—waiting to exhaust all the Qi Luck to transform your descendants into flesh and blood.
We were also waiting—waiting to destroy Zhao Buqun's formation, and also... waiting for you to release all of your descendants.
Now is the time for that Qi Luck to be returned to the mortal world.
Your heart can no longer acquire Qi Luck; furthermore, you can no longer devour the flesh and blood of your descendants.
And yet you still wish to break through to the Mahayana realm?"
"No! No! No!!!"
The Heart began to shatter.
The Zhao Clan Ancestor roared in fury as the eyeballs upon it burst one after another.
From within the Heart emerged an elder, withered and gaunt as dry wood.
He glared with deadly ferocity at the members of the Li family held aloft upon the giant tree!
The network of blood vessels extended by his heart began to slowly fade.
Just as Li Wei had predicted, he was indeed unable to devour the flesh and blood of his descendants!
"You have ruined me."
Suddenly, a sinister wind rose up within the entire Immortal Domain.
The Zhao Clan Ancestor knelt listlessly in the mire of flesh and blood formed by the shattered heart.
With trembling hands, he grabbed chunks of flesh from the heart and frantically stuffed them into his mouth, swallowing them in a chaotic frenzy.
It was useless! Useless!
That flesh no longer held the Qi Luck of Heaven and Earth.
It had lost the bloodline connection that bound it to him and was now nothing more than ordinary meat!
Yet before him, that Old Tree, the Coffin, and the descendants of the Li clan were still devouring the feast he had spent such painstaking effort to prepare!
"You have ruined me!!!
For one hundred and sixty thousand years... For one hundred and sixty thousand years, I maintained that disgusting form!
For one hundred and sixty thousand years, I was trapped in this prison!
For one hundred and sixty thousand years, I revived those good-for-nothing wretches time and time again!
You..."
The Integration Realm Spiritual power surrounding the Zhao Clan Ancestor raged madly, sending flesh and blood flying through the air.
He roared at the Li clan members, "You have ruined me! But you have forgotten—I am still at the Integration Realm! Killing you would be like crushing ants!!!"
When an Integration cultivator rages, heaven and earth tremble!
Even the members of the Li clan, who were sharing the burden of the Spiritual power, felt their expressions change as they summoned their own Spiritual power to withstand the oppressive might of the Integration Realm cultivator.
The black mist surrounding Li Wei rippled backward under this crushing pressure.
He shook his head.
"You have expended so much painstaking effort to resurrect your descendants that even I can sense you are merely strong on the outside but hollow on the inside.
Whether or not we are ants to you, you will soon find out.
But before that, there is someone who wants to settle a score with you even more than we do."
"What???"
The Zhao Clan Ancestor looked around in shock.
The Immortal Domain was covered in flesh and blood.
Step... step...
Within this mire of flesh and blood, hunched figures resembling malicious ghosts closed in on the Zhao Clan Ancestor.
Their eyes were bloodshot, and their resentment surged to the heavens!
These figures became increasingly distinct.
Coming from all directions, in densely packed crowds—the Zhao clansmen!!!
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"
These cries rose and fell in waves throughout the Immortal Domain, followed by a charge that disregarded death itself!
The Zhao Clan Ancestor trembled all over.
"I am your Old Ancestor! You are nothing but blood sacrifice—how dare you?!!"
...
"Why do you not resist?"
Why...
Why?!!
Li Yaowen's voice echoed in their minds.
"Kill him!"
The six elders of the Zhao Clan floated into the air, their bodies stained with fresh blood.
Zhao Feimeng stared blankly at the ground, watching the clansmen charging one after another to kill their "Old Ancestor."
Even she did not understand why—knowing full well that she was already dead, and that her clansmen were already dead—she had still sealed the Old Ancestor.
She did not understand why she had been so madly driven to make her clansmen stronger, to make them thrive and remain by her side forever.
"We are already dead, and we are no longer 'us.' What is the meaning of our existence?"
Zhao Feimeng gazed blankly at the five other clansmen.
All six of them were lost in confusion.
Yet, as they looked down at the ground where their clansmen were charging toward the Old Ancestor one after another, unafraid of death, they suddenly smiled.
One hundred and sixty thousand years—such a vast expanse of time.
Relying solely on instinct, they had continued to strengthen the clan.
Driven by the most primal thoughts within their very blood and bones, they had struggled for the sake of the family in every way possible.
"Our lives have meaning.
That meaning lies in the fact that we are still striving for the clan.
One hundred and sixty thousand years ago, we had a disagreement regarding the sealing of the Old Ancestor.
So this time..."
Zhao Feimeng reached out her hand and drew Zhao Qingguang, who was still kneeling and wailing on the ground, up into the clouds.
The six clan elders of the Zhao family looked at this child—the only one whose soul was still intact—and they all let out a long sigh.
"There is still a bloodline. We still have a bloodline left."
Fairy Bai stroked Zhao Qingguang's head.
She seemed to understand now why she had subconsciously insisted on letting Zhao Qingguang become the Clan Head.
Zhao Jingmiao, too, furrowed his brows; given his temperament, he would typically kill anyone who disobeyed him, even his own clansmen.
Yet, when Zhao Qingguang had wanted to hand over the children of his Xianhe lineage, he had still spared Zhao Qingguang's life.
It turned out that there had been signs all along.
It was because only Zhao Qingguang could count as a complete member of the Zhao clan; even after dying time and again, his soul still remained.
"Ancestors, Qingguang has failed you. Qingguang was wrong, Qingguang was wrong!"
Zhao Qingguang kowtowed repeatedly, wailing without end.
"Sigh." Zhao Buqun helped Zhao Qingguang up.
Then, the six of them shook their heads and gazed into the distance.
Over there stood the towering ancient tree.
Its branches held aloft the members of the Li clan one by one.
These Li clansmen seemed to sense their gaze and were looking back at them.
At this moment, a sudden wave of envy rose within the hearts of the six Zhao clan elders.
They had lost their memories of one hundred and sixty thousand years ago, yet when the Great Demons arrived back then, they must have been much like these Li clansmen—standing together to face a dangerous enemy.
Perhaps they, too, had once united in heart and strength, charging together toward a beautiful future.
"This humble one shamefully implores the Li family to aid my Zhao clan just this once.
I beg you all to spare Qingguang's life."
"My Zhao clan's bloodline should not fade into oblivion."
As if realizing what was happening, tears streamed down Zhao Qingguang's face.
"Ancestors! Ancestors!!!"
The Li family members continued to furrow their brows.
The six Zhao clan elders could no longer concern themselves with the Li family's reaction.
Channeling their Spiritual power, they sent Zhao Qingguang flying out of the Immortal Domain.
Upon seeing that the Li family did not attack Zhao Qingguang, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Then, the six of them exchanged glances and threw their heads back in laughter.
Alongside the clansmen who were marching to their deaths, they charged toward the Zhao Clan Ancestor!
"Our lives have meaning!"
"We are still alive! We slay the enemy together, and together we forge ahead for the future of our clan!"
"And together, we shall die!"
Kill!
The six Zhao clan elders charged forth alongside their clansmen.
The Li family members watched all of this in silence, yet in this moment, even they could not suppress the stirring in their hearts.
These Zhao clansmen had lived for one hundred and sixty thousand years within the lies of the Heart.
They were new souls, beings who seemingly should never have belonged in this world.
Yet, in this moment.
They were complete.
They were the true members of the Immortal Zhao Clan!
---
Donate on Ko-fi ➡️ [https://ko-fi.com/darktea] ⬅️
Get Early Access to 70 Chapters: Search for "Dark Tea" on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!